Apple News Today

BBC News explains why Russia is attempting to capture Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. The Wall Street Journal takes us inside one of Shanghai’s mass quarantine centers, where there are no showers and lights are on 24/7. Reuters details how the city’s strict coronavirus policy is pitting neighbor against neighbor. It took Vice less than 24 hours to order an endangered tiger on Facebook. The Los Angeles Times introduces us to the guys who claim they created the term “420” half a century ago as code for smoking marijuana together. And they have proof.

Many people are confused by the latest news about masking on planes and transit. USA Today breaks down what’s changed and what health officials recommend. Before Jerry Sandusky, Penn State football had another serial sexual predator. ESPN has the untold story of his crimes and the fight to bring him to justice. Politico visits Alaska to cover Sarah Palin’s congressional run and finds many people who express mixed feelings about her return to state politics. Kamala Harris is a Wordle fan. The Ringer asked her about how she plays.

A Russian Orthodox bishop is justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with religious dogma. The Washington Post reports that this religious figure is creating a rift in the global Orthodox Church.   An investigation by ProPublica looks into the tax filings of the top 400 earners in the U.S. — and lays out how the ultrawealthy are able to pay a much lower tax rate than most other Americans.    NPR explains why the families of gig workers who are killed on the job aren’t guaranteed survivor’s benefits.    The New Yorker profiles a professional baby namer who, for a few thousand dollars, will create a bespoke list of options for parents looking for creative and original names for their child.

When Amber van Moessner was growing up, she never questioned whether the man who raised her was her biological father. But when she was in her late 20s, she took a 23andMe genetic test and discovered that she was conceived via a sperm donor. Van Moessner’s story kicks off the podcast series BioHacked: Family Secrets, hosted by T.J. Raphael. Shumita Basu interviews Raphael and van Moessner about the donor-conception industry. This is a preview of that conversation. Listen to the full episode on Apple News In Conversation.

Elon Musk has launched a hostile-takeover bid for Twitter. The Verge explores how Musk might change the app.   COVID is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. The Atlantic spoke to people who have lost loved ones to the virus and experienced intense isolation and a lack of societal support.    Today Major League Baseball commemorates the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game. A former Los Angeles Times sportswriter arguesthat the annual celebration glosses over the fact that the bigotry that existed before Robinson joined the league was largely allowed to persist.   It’s been 50 years since giant pandas were introduced to the National Zoo. The Washington Post looks at the role their presence has played in diplomacy and conservation efforts.

Holding Putin accountable for alleged war crimes may be difficult because of how the International Criminal Court works. Vox explains. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows has been removed from North Carolina voter rolls while under investigation for potential election fraud. It follows a New Yorker story looking into questions around the address he registered at in 2020. The new Apple TV+ podcast ‘Run, Bambi, Run’ examines the murder trial and prison escape of Laurie Bembenek. Weddings that were postponed during the pandemic are crowding the calendar this year. The Washington Post looks at how the industry is struggling to keep up.

Police have named suspect in the shooting attack on the subway in Brooklyn. CNN has the story. Biden has a new plan to keep gasoline prices under control. Critics say it could damage the environment and some cars. Bloomberg explains. Many colleges waived standardized-testing requirements during the pandemic. NBC News checks in and finds that some universities say their classes have become more diverse, and that they're planning to make the change permanent. Inflation is sky-high. So how is AriZona iced tea still 99 cents? The Los Angeles Times has the answer.

The Washington Post explains what the appointment of a new top commander says about Russia’s potential war plans in Ukraine. NBC News reports on his controversial battlefield reputation. Many polling officials are considering leaving their roles after a difficult couple of years. At an election workers conference in Georgia, NPR finds a new crop of public servants who are stepping in to fill the void. Companies in a booming Indiana county are facing problems finding workers. Bloomberg Businessweek visits to understand where jobs in America are at right now. The Washington Post tells the surprising story of Bruce Willis’s on-set double.

The Texas Tribune reports on what happened to the woman who was recently jailed and charged with murder over a self-induced abortion. America has a shortage of doctors. Vox looks into what’s holding so many medical-school graduates back from becoming physicians. Major political developments have been taking place in two countries that have major implications for the U.S. CNN reports on the first round of the French presidential election, while the BBC covers the unrest in Pakistan. It’s not just you. Many of us are more forgetful right now. The Wall Street Journal spoke with memory experts for recommendations on improving recall.

The Wall Street Journal looks at Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic confirmation to the Supreme Court and some of the key cases she’ll hear in her first term. A half-century ago, pioneering civil-rights attorney Constance Baker Motley could have been the first African American justice on the highest court. Politico examines her career. Bloomberg explores how rising food and fuel prices are destabilizing governments worldwide. The Atlantic reports on how America seems to be heading into another coronavirus wave with little political will to adequately measure or respond to it. Major 401(k) changes are coming. CNN explains what to know.