Apple News Today

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the world, with four Olympic gold medals and 25 world championship wins. At age 24, she is still breaking new ground in the sport, and she will be leading the U.S. gymnastics team in Tokyo this month. And Biles has accomplished all of this tremendous success while facing many challenges in her personal life. In WSJ. Magazine, sports reporter Louise Radnofsky has a profile of Simone Biles. Radnofsky spoke with Biles about her remarkable career and how she keeps gymnastics in perspective amid enormous pressure. Radnofsky’s article, called “Simone Biles Will Not Be Denied,” is available to read (and listen to) in Apple News+.

The Atlantic explains why the term “breakthrough infections” may be creating confusion about just how well the COVID-19 vaccines are working. Families are starting to get the new child-tax-credit payments. The Washington Post breaks down a program that’s being called the biggest anti-poverty effort in decades. CNN has an update on the deadly flooding in Europe, where dozens of people are dead and hundreds missing. Venus is relatively close to Earth, but we know surprisingly little about our “sister planet.“ Popular Science spoke with scientists working on the first NASA-funded missions to Venus in decades. Gizmodo reports on new research that has identified 14 living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci.

The price of bitcoin has been up and down in recent months. But either way, the environmental cost of mining cryptocurrency is very high. Bloomberg looks at how growing concern about all the energy consumed is leading miners to search for new power sources. Many special policies that made telemedicine easier during the pandemic are going away. Stat explains how this shift is presenting challenges for doctors and patients. National Geographic reports on new research showing trout can get addicted to meth. It’s an environmental concern, because it shows how the drugs people use can enter waterways through the sewer system and harm fish. Many Americans are confronting extremely long waits for passport renewals. The Wall Street Journal breaks down why and has tips on how to deal with the problem.

The Miami Herald looks at how recent protests in Cuba may influence President Biden’s policy toward the country. Senate Democrats say they have agreed on a $3.5 trillion budget that they can pass without Republican support. CNN has details on what’s inside. As Britney Spears’s fight to exit her legal guardianship continues, Politico looks at how it’s driving Congress to call for reform to the conservatorship system. A Washington Post investigation reveals how a legacy of racial discrimination makes it harder for some Black families in the Deep South to get federal disaster aid. A solo cyclist just finished the Tour de France route the old-fashioned way, to raise money for charity. The Wall Street Journal reports on how the ride is even more challenging without the support crews and fancy hotels the pros use.

The top U.S. military official in Afghanistan has stepped down, the Washington Post reports. Post journalist Pamela Constable discusses this symbolic end to America’s 20-year war. Texas Democrats flew to Washington, D.C., to prevent state Republicans from passing new restrictions on voting. The Texas Tribune’s Alexa Ura explains what’s happening. For decades, the Olympics has been controversial because of the financial and environmental burden it can place on host cities. Popular Science explores a provocative proposal to end this by creating a permanent Olympic city. A copy of Nintendo's Super Mario 64 sold for more than $1.5 million, a record for a video game. Vice explains why unopened games are fetching such high prices.

As high temperatures continue to scorch the American West, the BBC reports on how the intense heat is making it harder to fight wildfires. Texas is again at the center of the fight over the future of voting rights. As state Republicans try to pass new restrictions on voting, the attorney general is facing criticism over the arrest of a Black man accused of illegally voting because he cast a ballot while on parole. The Washington Post has the story. Vox reports on how expiration dates on food labels can confuse people into throwing away perfectly good food. In Maine, populations of poisonous caterpillars are booming, and it’s making people miserable. The Atlantic explains the role of climate change.

A growing field of experts seeks to rewrite the limits of the human lifespan. The actual science that may eventually yield the keys to immortality is in its infancy, and there are several promising areas of research. But a burgeoning industry of enthusiasts and opportunists may be taking advantage of that science to push questionable treatments and products. Jacqueline Detwiler-George recently wrote about the expectations and reality of life extension for Popular Mechanics in an article called “Can Science Cure Death?,” available to read (and listen to) in Apple News+.

Authorities say two Americans are among those under arrest in Haiti in connection with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Reuters reports. The police chief says more than two dozen heavily armed commandos were part of a foreign hit squad. NPR puts the current political turmoil in context. Last year saw an increase in driving deaths in the United States, even as fewer miles were driven during the pandemic. Road & Track looks at what’s going on. The Wall Street Journal shares some advice on how to safely have work drinks again after months locked down and drinking at home. Zaila Avant-garde is the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s first African American champion. ESPN has her story.

The latest story in ProPublica’s series The Secret IRS Files looks at how billionaire owners of professional sports teams can legally avoid paying taxes. Reporter Justin Elliott joins the show to talk about what the investigation uncovered. The highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus is tearing through the U.S., putting unvaccinated people in special danger. Bloomberg looks at why vaccination rates are lower in communities that voted for Trump. Climate change may be shrinking animals around the world. Vox explains the surprising new research. The Washington Post reports on how rescheduled weddings are creating a glut of nuptials this summer as lockdowns end, which is exhausting and expensive for guests.

The highly contagious delta variant is now the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States. The L.A. Times explains why Black residents are suffering from higher rates of hospitalizations. Food prices are surging to the point where they could could change the diets of people around the world and rock the global political landscape, according to the Washington Post. Star American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson is barred from the Olympics in Tokyo after testing positive for marijuana. USA Today reports on the latest decision from track officials. A controversial new law governing wine labels in Russia has French champagne producers outraged. The Guardian has the story.