Apple News Today

As President Biden’s trip to Europe continues, Politico says one of his major challenges will be aligning with other Western leaders on China strategy. And CNN looks at America’s complicated diplomatic dance with Russia. A provocative new piece in the Atlantic argues that the daily commute is an important way to keep work and life in balance. The Wall Street Journal reports on the rise of built-to-rent suburbs. Scientists have long speculated on what causes the northern lights. NPR says one experiment has finally solved the mystery.

For decades, researchers have struggled to develop a viable vaccine for malaria, which disproportionately impacts people in Africa. The Washington Post highlights efforts to apply lessons from the fight against COVID-19 to malaria. Many parents of color say remote learning has meant their children experienced less bullying and racism in school. USA Today reports that some now want to keep their kids in virtual classrooms. And the L.A. Times looks at a survey of Black parents on education during the pandemic. The Republican governors of Florida and Texas are battling with cruise companies over vaccination rules. CNN explains the high-stakes fight. To add superstar James Harden to their roster, the Brooklyn Nets gave up their first-round draft picks through 2027. The Wall Street Journal makes the surprising connection between this monumental trade and a talented basketball player in sixth-grade.

In a new investigation into secret IRS documents, ProPublica reveals how American billionaires manage to pay little or no income tax — without breaking the law. For months now, some scientists have been calling attention to the once-controversial idea that the coronavirus originated in a laboratory. Vox lays out what we know and don't about the lab-leak theory. The growth of for-profit medical schools is raising questions about how the U.S. will train its next generation of doctors. NPR looks at the issue. National Geographic's cartographers say they now recognize a fifth ocean: the Southern Ocean, which encircles Antarctica.

Hundreds of people in more than a dozen countries have been arrested in a vast operation targeting organized crime. Suspects thought they were messaging via an encrypted app. CNN reports on how it was actually a digital trap laid by the FBI and the Australian Federal Police. NBC News reports on the new Senate report on the Capitol insurrection. Many businesses struggling to find adult workers are hiring more teenagers. The Wall Street Journal looks at the young people making good money in the current job market. The U.S. relies on college sports as a key way to identify and develop athletes for the Summer Olympics. But the L.A. Times explains that athletic-department budget cuts could affect America’s ability to rack up medals at future games. In Southern California, feral peacocks are driving some residents crazy with their earsplitting mating calls. The Washington Post reports on how the issue of what to do about them is dividing communities.

Kamala Harris is visiting Guatemala and Mexico in her first trip abroad as vice president. Politico and the Los Angeles Times examine the stakes. The U.S. housing market does not have enough homes listed for sale to meet demand. The Wall Street Journal explains how “whisper listings” might be making matters worse. When it comes to alcohol, America tends to swing between extremes of indulgence and temperance. The Atlantic draws on research and history to look into whether the problem may be not just how much Americans drink, but how often they drink alone. NBC Sports has the story of the latest big win for gymnast Simone Biles.

A down-on-his-luck father, his drug-addicted son, and the work trip from hell. That’s the set-up for Bearman’s new story for New York Magazine — available to read (and listen to) only in Apple News+. In this special edition of Apple News Today, host Shumita Basu talks to him about this strange saga involving an ill-fated Nas concert, a gun-toting client who won’t let them leave Angola, and the enduring power of family. News+ subscribers can read, and listen to, Part II here.

When U.S. politicians talk about the “digital divide,” they often focus on the lack of broadband access in rural areas. But even where service is available, many families simply can’t afford it. Vox looks at research showing cost is more of a factor than access. CNET examines what governments and the private sector are doing. This week, the NFL promised to end “race-norming” in brain-injury settlements. The Washington Post and ABC News explain the controversial practice. Many businesses have suffered during the pandemic, but some have had surprising success. BuzzFeed News spoke with people who found themselves in the right place at the right time. CNN reports that a forthcoming government report on UFOs has no evidence confirming sightings were of alien spacecraft, but also doesn’t definitively determine what the objects were. A crumpled, previously crashed 1960 Jaguar recently sold for $127,552. Bloomberg looks at the growing trend of collecting derelict cars.

Israel could soon get a new leader. Reuters looks at the unusual and fragile coalition that says it has enough votes to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving prime minister. As ransomware attacks become increasingly common, many companies are turning to professional negotiators to get their computer systems unlocked. The New Yorker speaks to a negotiator to take us inside the shadowy process. The true scale of the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is unknown because the government has shut down communications and access to the area. But National Geographic managed to get Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario inside to document what’s happening. In order to offset higher costs, some companies are downsizing their products, while keeping prices the same. The Washington Post explains the pandemic trend known as “shrinkflation.” The mullet is making a comeback. Vogue talks to top stylists to find out why.

As violent crime rises in Atlanta, the Washington Post reports that some residents of a wealthy, mostly white neighborhood are considering forming their own city. Pandemic-triggered workplace measures such as flexible hours and hazard pay may be coming to an end for many people. Vox looks at why some employers are starting to roll back these changes. An experimental gene therapy has had some success in partially restoring lost vision. The Wall Street Journal sums up the findings. One of the largest fossil discoveries in California history happened thanks to a ranger on routine patrol. The Guardian shows what’s been found.

In the Atlantic, new research quantifies the decades-long financial impact of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. And NPR gets reactions from Black business leaders. Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the French Open, citing mental-health issues. Sports Illustrated explains the significance. And Jonathan Liew writes in the Guardian that the dispute over whether she would participate in press conferences should be a wake-up call for sports journalism. National Geographic reports on what minors can do if they want to get a COVID vaccine but their parents won’t allow it. Do highway signs that try humor as a way of delivering safety messages actually work? Marketplace takes a look.