Why China Wants All Of Your Data; The Stakes Of The Taliban-ISIS-K Conflict; OnlyFans Whiplash

Plus, the new ownership model for vacation homes that's driving communities crazy

View this email online by Christopher Dean Hopkins Stories You May Have Missed Matt Chinworth for NPR For months, hackers vacuumed enormous amounts of data out of Microsoft exchange servers, indiscriminately sucking up emails, calendars and contacts from a tens of thousands of seemingly random accounts. The White House said the Chinese government was behind it, but what was China after? An NPR investigation points to a well-publicized Beijing goal: become the world leader in artificial intelligence. Thousands of kids nationwide have already restarted school only to have it yanked away again because of positive coronavirus tests or quarantines. Scrambled schedules and returning to online learning aren't the only risks: Infections caught at school are giving entire families COVID-19, even if they've been vaccinated. Meet your new neighbors, SmithLeeJohnsonFranklinMunoz LLC. A startup that's blasted to a billion-dollar valuation is snapping up real estate, then selling off shares in the homes to individual families. The new ownership model is circumventing local regulations on timeshares and short-term rentals — and sparking aggressive pushback in some communities. Sister Doris Engelhard, 72, is the world's last nun Brewmeister, crafting bock and helles lagers to help fund her Bavarian cloister. She says beer is part of her region's soul, but she's picky about it: "I only brew beer that I drink myself, so if the other sisters want to drink a wheat beer, they'll have to buy it themselves." Newsletter continues after sponsor message Podcasts of the Week Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images Attacks at the Kabul airport by a group called ISIS-K killed 13 U.S. service members and scores of Afghans this week, and were swiftly condemned by the Taliban. Consider This examined the conflict between the two Islamist groups — as well as al-Qaeda — which threatens further violence for Afghans, and a possible hotspot for plotting terrorist attacks against the west. It was news that broke the internet: OnlyFans, a website synonymous with porn, would ban ... well, porn. The site had become a haven and lifeline for sex workers during the pandemic, and the announcement led to a scramble for alternatives — at least until OnlyFans just as abruptly walked back the decision. 1A spoke with two sex workers who use the platform about the tumultuous week. Demi Skipper was looking for a distraction in the middle of quarantine when she remembered a TEDx talk about a man who made a series of swaps that turned a paper clip into a house. She decided to try something similar, starting with a bobby pin, and documenting her effort on TikTok. The Indicator caught up with her about how things were going and the weird things she's learned about value.  Giving feedback at work can feel nerve-wracking, but if you do it well, it can really improve your life at work. Life Kit provides tips, including focusing on impact and making sure it's a dialogue. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy