Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Thursday, August 26, 2021:
Programming Note: The Need2Know podcast is taking a break until after Labor Day. It will return on September 7!
COVID-19 LATEST
FDA APPROVAL: Moderna has officially completed its submission to the FDA for full approval of its vaccine. Meanwhile, Pfizer, which was granted full approval Monday, has begun submitting data for full FDA approval for the third dose of their vaccine. Johnson & Johnson also says that people who received their single dose regimen could benefit from a booster after six months. CNN
DELTA FINES: The airline says that beginning in November, unvaccinated employees enrolled in the company’s health care plan will have to pay an additional $200 a month. The company says the fines are “necessary to address the financial risk” that remaining unvaccinated “creates for our company.” NEWSWEEK
U.S. HOSPITALIZATIONS: Hospitalization rates have nearly doubled in August, and yesterday surpassed 100,000 for the first time since January. States seeing the worst uptick are Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, Idaho and Florida -- a state which is also now seeing about 200 deaths per day on average. WSJ
AFGHANISTAN LATEST: SECURITY THREATS
The U.S. is now urging Americans outside the gates of the Kabul airport to leave immediately due to Islamic State (IS) security threats. They’re also cautioned against traveling to the airport. The security alert warns Americans to “avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative.” There are about 1,500 Americans left in the country, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the government is trying to give them instructions on how to evacuate safely. REUTERS
FUKUSHIMA WASTE RELEASE
The operator of the Fukushima power plant said it plans to build an undersea tunnel in order to release massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water into the ocean. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings says it wants to release the water about half a mile away from the plant to avoid interference with local fishing. They’re aiming for a release date of spring 2023. AP
CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the measures introduced in two infrastructure bills will help get the U.S. on track to meet its climate goals by 2030. Both the $1 trillion bipartisan bill and the $3.5 trillion bill recently passed by the House will lead to emissions reductions of about 45%, and state-led initiatives in New York, California and Hawaii would help hit the 50% target, Schumer said. REUTERS
ONLYFANS REVERSES BAN
After fierce user backlash, online subscription platform OnlyFans says it is reversing its decision to ban pornographic content. A spokesperson said that the previously proposed changes are no longer needed “due to banking partners’ assurances that OnlyFans “can support all genres of creators.” CNBC
CYBERSECURITY ROUNDTABLE
President Biden met with big tech CEOs, including Apple’s Tim Cook, IBM’s Arvind Krishna and Google’s Sundar Pichai, to address increasing cybersecurity threats. Biden said that the government can’t tackle the issue on its own. The White House says that leaders from this group plan to invest billions in cybersecurity efforts, including Google, which has committed to a $10 billion effort over the next five years AP
‘GOOD 4 U’ FOR GIVING CREDIT
Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo has retroactively added two members of Paramore to the writing credits of her hit single “good 4 u.” Fans have noted the similarities between Rodrigo’s song and Paramore’s 2007 hit “Misery Business,” and there are plenty of mashups online to show for it. Lead singer Hayley Williams and ex-guitarist Josh Farro are now listed as co-writers of Rodrigo’s song. This is the second time Rodrigo has added artists to song credits. VARIETY
WILLIAMS WITHDRAWS
Tennis legend Serena Williams announced ahead of the U.S. Open that she would be withdrawing from the tournament. Williams says her torn hamstring hasn’t healed since Wimbledon. Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have also withdrawn, citing knee surgery and foot issues, respectively. ESPN
SPOTTED…
… Vice President Kamala Harris laying flowers at the Hanoi, Vietnam memorial marking where late Senator John McCain’s plane was shot down. “He was an extraordinary American… and really lived the life of a hero.” Harris said. WATCH
… Rapper Lil Nas X, calling out double-standards after skater Tony Hawk announced his line of blood-infused skateboards to little fanfare -- or criticism. Lil Nas X earlier this year partnered with Nike to release a limited-edition Air Max style containing a drop of human blood, and caused quite the controversy. SEE IT
LEFTOVERS: WELL, ‘NEVERMIND’ THEN
The man who was photographed naked underwater as a baby and later ended up on the iconic Nirvana “Nevermind” album cover is suing the band, alleging that the image constitutes child pornography. Nonsexualized nude photos of infants are generally not considered child porn under the law, but the man’s lawyer says that the dollar bill on a fishhook, digitally imposed and seen dangling in front of the baby, makes him appear “like a sex worker.” NBC NEWS
Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!
Updated August 26, 2021 at 11:18 am ET to add video.
