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A war in Ukraine could push food prices up even more · Apple News Today

• 0:00
  [MUSIC FADES IN]
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  Shumita Basu, Narrating: Good morning! It's Wednesday, February 23rd. I'm Shumita Basu.
• 0:02
  Duarte Geraldino, Narrating: And I'm Duarte Geraldino. This is "Apple News Today." Each morning, hear about some of the most fascinating stories in the news, and how the world's best journalists are covering them.
• 0:03
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  Basu: Ukraine's top security official says the country is imposing a national state of emergency. The summit between President Biden and President Putin is off. The U.S. Secretary of State has also canceled a meeting with his Russian counterpart, following Putin's decision to send troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
• 0:05
  [START ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  President Joe Biden: This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014. And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions.
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  [END ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  Geraldino: Lately, we've seen oil prices rise and markets get more volatile. You've probably heard about that. But here's something you may not know yet. A broader conflict might drive up your grocery bills. "CNBC" looks how the conflict is on a collision course with another problem we've been dealing with: the supply chain crisis.
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  Basu: Russia and Ukraine provide around 30% of the world's wheat exports. Ukraine is often called the "breadbasket of Europe." A full-scale invasion of Ukraine would mean a huge hit to the global supply chain, cutting off crops that make up so much of what we eat.
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  Geraldino: Wheat and corn prices were already rising last year. But lately, they've been soaring even faster. Corn is up nearly 15% since the start of the year. You've probably noticed how much more you're paying for food than before the pandemic. If things get worse in Ukraine, grocery prices might get even higher.
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  Basu: And it's not just stuff we eat. Russia and Ukraine also are key sources of minerals and commodities that the world uses. Things like copper, nickel, platinum. Batteries, microchips, cars, these are all things that have gotten more expensive lately because of shortages. All that could get worse if war interrupts mining in those countries. So, as you watch what's happening in Ukraine, remember that the stakes go way beyond the region.
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  [GENTLE MUSIC]
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  Geraldino: So, here's a perspective we haven't heard much in all the stories about teaching students about race, gender and U.S. history. We've heard about angry parents. We've heard about tense school board meetings. But a "Washington Post" piece takes us right into the classroom to hear from teachers. Many say new rules and new scrutiny have them feeling scared and nervous. They're not sure what they can say, and they're censoring themselves.
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  Basu: Education reporter Laura Meckler wrote this story. She points out, dozens of states have passed, or are considering, new rules about how race can be taught in schools. And it's had a chilling effect on teachers. They say some of these rules are vague and breaking them can have severe consequences.
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  Laura Meckler: You know, a teacher could lose their teaching license. In other cases, the stakes are of a different sort. You know, you end up on the front page of the local newspaper when a parent comes and complains at the school board meeting about you.
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  Geraldino: Meckler spoke to one high school educator in New Hampshire, and she's made major changes to the way she's been teaching.
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  Meckler: She used to talk about privilege in her classroom, including white privilege, during a unit that she taught on race. But this year, she is not planning on doing that.
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  Basu: In one town in Oklahoma, school administrators told teachers to avoid using the term "diversity" in the classroom. One high school English teacher there said he was so disturbed by that, he reached out to the ACLU. He's now a plaintiff in a suit challenging the new state law. This teacher, who is white and has been teaching for 18 years, told the "Post," this year, he's had to "edit" himself in a way he never thought about before.
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  Geraldino: Meckler also told us a lot of teachers are playing it safe, you know, trying to stay out of trouble. There's this nervous "don't-rock-the-boat" feeling in the air. And many say all of this is affecting what they can talk about with their students.
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  Meckler: I think teachers who have these concerns and who are making adjustments worry that students are just gonna miss out on a rich conversation about what's happening in our country today, as well as sort of the less attractive elements of our history.
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  Basu: Last year, Nikki Vargas' grandmother told the family she had met someone new. His name was Bram. They met on Facebook. He looked like a perfectly nice guy. You know, well dressed. His profile showed they liked the same music. He even had a picture of himself shaking hands with Joe Biden. He seemed like a catch to her grandmother. But Nikki, who wrote about this for "Cosmo," was suspicious. So she did some poking around online and found out Bram was a fake.
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  Geraldino: Yeah, Nikki's grandmother was wrapped up in what's called a "romance scam," which are becoming increasingly common. According to the Federal Trade Commission, they hit an all-time high last year. Victims were taken for more than a half billion dollars. Older people are often targets. But if you've seen that Netflix doc, "The Tinder Swindler," it's clear younger people can fall for these scams too.
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  Basu: Usually, it happens like this. A person reaches out online, there's a little flirting, it starts to feel like a relationship, still online, but sometimes even in person. And the next thing you know, this person is in a jam. They need a hero. They really need some cash. Oh, and they'll definitely pay you back.
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  Geraldino: According to "AARP" magazine, there isn't one set of character traits that determines who falls for scams in general. It's not consistently about age or income, or even education. It's about where people are in their lives. In that moment, people tend to fall for scams when they're emotionally vulnerable. And scammers look for them. They often check obituaries to find someone whose partner just died. And they search dating websites to target people who seem lonely.
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  Basu: In Nikki's case, she was able to alert her grandmother to the scam before she lost any money. And Nikki writes, her grandma actually took the news pretty well. She flipped her hair and told her, "Honey, I've got other boyfriends."
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  Geraldino: Okay, okay. So, you are about to hear something pretty crazy. The world's number one ranked chess player, Magnus Carlsen, losing a match with a teenager. Listen to how excited the announcers get.
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  [START CHAMPIONS CHESS TOUR ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  Kaja Snare: Wow! What a crazy moment, you guys. Sixteen-year-old about to beat Magnus Carlsen.
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  David Howell: Yup, and he's just trying to cling on.
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  [END CHAMPIONS CHESS TOUR ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  But the five-time world champ could not cling on.
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  [START CHAMPIONS CHESS TOUR ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  Kaja Snare: It's a historical moment, and it's here. Mangus Carlsen, the world champion, loses to sixteen-year-old year old Praggnanandhaa! Look at Pragg. He can almost not believe it!
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  [END CHAMPIONS CHESS TOUR ARCHIVAL CLIP]
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  Basu: That winner was Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. Or as you heard the announcer say, Pragg. He is sixteen years old, and this week he became the youngest chess player ever to defeat Magnus Carlsen since he became world champion.
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  Geraldino: "CNN" has the story of this remarkable Indian player. When he was ten, he became the youngest International Master. Throughout this match, "CNN" says Pragg stayed cool and collected while Carlsen made key mistakes. And when it was clear the teen was going to win, this young man covered his mouth in shock.
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  Basu: Now, because of the time difference, the match didn't end until past two a.m. local time in India. So, when he was asked how he was going to celebrate, Pragg simply said he was pretty tired, and he was looking forward to going to bed.
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  Geraldino: You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app.
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  Basu: And when you're in the app, keep listening to hear narrated articles from our News+ partners.
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  Geraldino: We'll talk with you again tomorrow.
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