Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, April 12, 2021:
COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The South African variant may be able to at least partially evade the Pfizer vaccine, according to a real-world study in Israel that has not been peer reviewed. In Michigan, Gov. Whitmer is asking the White House to up the federal vaccine allotment to the state, which is facing the worst surge in the country. The Biden administration says that’s not on the table, though it will help Michigan administer doses faster. Georgia, North Carolina, and Colorado have temporarily shut down sites administering the J&J vaccine after some people experienced relatively minor adverse side effects, including dizziness and nausea. CBS NEWS
IRAN NUKE SABOTAGE
Iran is calling a blackout that hit its Natanz underground atomic facility an “act of nuclear terrorism.” No country has taken responsibility for the suspected act of sabotage, though The New York Times and other outlets are reporting that Israel had a role. The power failure at Natanz, which holds nuclear centrifuges and has been the target of suspected American and Israeli operations in the past, comes as the U.S. and Iran are delicately trying to revive the nuclear deal. AP
MN POLICE SHOOTING
The National Guard has been deployed to the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center after police shot and killed a Black man during a traffic stop, sparking overnight protests and looting. According to the police, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was pulled over for a traffic violation when officers determined he had an outstanding warrant. They tried to arrest him, he “re-entered the vehicle” and was shot, then drove several blocks and crashed. The shooting happened 10 miles from the courthouse where Derek Chauvin is on trial. CNN
CARIBBEAN VOLCANO
Power has returned to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent after the La Soufrière volcano erupted in a plume of ash and soot on Friday, leading to an island-wide blackout. Thousands of residents have been evacuated as seismologists are warning that the eruption is probably not over. Neighboring countries like Barbados are urging residents to stay indoors as the ash makes its way there. The last time the volcano erupted was in 1979. ABC NEWS
IN MEMORIAM
THE PRINCE: Prince Harry will attend the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, who died on Friday at the age of 99. Buckingham Palace says Harry is returning to London while Meghan Markle will stay behind in California on doctor’s orders because she is pregnant. Harry’s attendance at Philip’s funeral amid his rift with “The Firm” could overshadow the service, which is expected to be a small affair that pays tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh’s decades spent at the side of Queen Elizabeth in service of the crown. OBIT
THE RAPPER: Earl Simmons, the rapper better known as DMX, also died on Friday at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack that left him in a coma. DMX was remembered coast-to-coast over the weekend as an extremely influential New York artist whose raspy voice and explicit lyrics belied a funny and gentle side that has resurfaced in clips on social media in the aftermath of his death: SEE THEM
AMAZON BEATS UNION
Amazon successfully held off a potentially historic unionization attempt at one of its fulfillment centers in Alabama, in a major blow to organized labor. Amazon employees at the Bessemer plant overwhelmingly rejected union representation by a vote of 1,798 to 738 from a pool of about 6,000 eligible voters. The national union, RWDSU, is claiming that Amazon intimidated workers by, among other things, forcing them to attend anti-union meetings. Amazon says the employees were subject to plenty of anti-Amazon messaging from the media and politicians and still voted against unionizing. POLITICO
HISTORIC GREEN JACKET
Hideki Matsuyama became the first Asian-born man to win the Masters after entering the final day with a four-shot lead that he never gave up. Matsuyama was congratulated by his hero, Tiger Woods, for becoming the first Japanese man to win a golf major. In a touching moment after his historic win, Matsuyama’s caddie, Shota Hayafuji, bowed in a show of respect to the course at Augusta National: SEE IT
SPOTTED...
…Henry Cavill, aka Superman, going Instagram official with girlfriend Natalie Viscuso, a film executive and former star of MTV’s Super Sweet 16: SEE PIC
...Beyoncé, in tweed micro shorts and a matching blazer, for her 13th wedding anniversary date night with Jay-Z: SEE PIC
MOVIE MUSICAL CHAIRS
Paramount is the latest studio to reshuffle its upcoming release slate, with no less than three Tom Cruise movies affected. The Top Gun sequel is moving from July to November, which bumps Mission: Impossible 7 from November to next Memorial Day. That in turn bumps M:I 8 to 2023. The G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes moves up, from October to July, while the next Jackass movie gets bumped a month, from September to October, and Dungeons & Dragons with Chris Pine goes from 2022 to 2023. VARIETY
LEFTOVERS: WARM BEER FOR ALL
Pubs across Britain are serving their first pints today after months of lockdown, as the country enters the first phase of its reopening that’s scheduled to culminate on June 21. Thousands of businesses are opening with capacity restrictions in place as the UK appears to have emerged from the worst of the pandemic, with about half the population at least partially vaccinated. In true British fashion, the reopening celebration comes during a cold snap that’s bringing freezing temps, rain and even snow across the isle. GUARDIAN
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