AP News Digest 3:30 a.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-GLOBAL — New flareups of COVID-19 are disrupting the peak summer vacation season across much of Europe, where authorities in some countries are reimposing restrictions on travelers, closing nightclubs again, banning fireworks displays and expanding mask orders even in chic resort areas. By Sylvie Corbet, Frances D’Emilio and David Crary. SENT: 950 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN PROFILE — Joe Biden’s journey to accepting the Democratic presidential nomination is grounded in cycles of loss and recovery. He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident in 1972, suffered a pair of brain aneurysms and in 2015, lost his son, Beau, to brain cancer. Biden also lost two presidential campaigns. But he has become known for making connections at difficult times -- and for getting back up. By Laurie Kellman. SENT: 2,680 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,070 words is also available.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
BELARUS-POLICE-BRUTALITY — Hundreds of people released from custody after a violent crackdown on protests in Belarus are sharing their accounts of harsh treatment at the hands of police. As they reunited with loved ones, they displayed the bruises on their bodies, saying police had beaten them mercilessly with truncheons. Some also spoke about being threatened with gang rape. They also recounted being held n harsh conditions in overcrowded cells, being threatened with dogs and being refused food. By Yuras Karmanau. SENT: 1,270 words, photos.
PACIFIC WAR-75-JAPAN ANNIVERSARY — Japan marks the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito expressing “deep remorse” over his country’s wartime actions at a somber annual ceremony curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic. By Mari Yamaguchi. SENT: 820 words, photos. With PACIFIC WAR-75-KEY EVENTS — Japan marks 75th anniversary of war end with no Abe apology; PACIFIC WAR-75-SOUTH-KOREA — Moon extends olive branch to Tokyo over wartime history; PACIFIC WAR-75-PAST-AS-PROLOGUE — 75 years later, can Asia shake off shackles of the past? (all sent).
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Korea announces stronger social distancing restrictions for its greater capital area where a surge in COVID-19 cases has threatened to erase the hard-won gains against the virus. The two-week measures starting Sunday will allow authorities in Seoul and towns in neighboring Gyeonggi Province to shut down high-risk facilities such as nightclubs, karaoke rooms, movie theaters and buffet restaurants if they fail to properly enforce preventive measures, including distancing, temperatures checks, keeping customer lists and requiring masks. SENT: 760 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PERU CLOWNS — Circuses in Peru are built around clowns, providing work for more than 500 of the characters. But the shows have been struggling in recent years, their patrons lured away by the internet, video games and other live entertainment, and then the pandemic hit. SENT: 270 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-MEXICO — Mexico’s point man for the coronavirus pandemic says he thinks the country reached its peak of infections over the last three weeks. SENT: 220 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BLOOD OF THE RECOVERED — A new report suggests blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors may help coronavirus patients -- but it wasn’t a rigorous study and experts now wonder if it’s too late for science to get a clear answer on how and when plasma should be used. By Lauran Neergaard. SENT: 800 words, photos.
COLOMBIA-AUTOMATED RESTAURANT — A Colombian fast food chain is planning to turn its branches into automated restaurants at a moment when the coronavirus pandemic has slammed the food service industry worldwide. SENT: 590 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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TRUMP-TIK TOK — Trump orders Chinese owner of TikTok to sell US assets. SENT: 280 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SEPT-11-ANNIVERSARY — Group vows to stage twin beams of light for NYC 9/11 tribute. SENT: 250 words, photo.
SHERIFF-ARRESTED-FLORIDA — Florida sheriff removed following sex scandal investigation. SENT: 240 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-MARGE SIMPSON — Marge Simpson has advice for a lawyer with the Trump campaign: Do not name call. SENT: 280 words, photos.
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ELECTION 2020-POST OFFICE — The U.S. Postal Service is warning states coast to coast that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted, raising the possibility that millions could be disenfranchised. By Brian Slodysko and Amy Beth Hanson. SENT: 970 words, photos.
TRUMP-POLICE — Seeking to amplify his law-and-order message, President Donald Trump tells hundreds of New York Police Department officers that “no one will be safe in Biden’s America” if the former Democratic vice president defeats him in November. SENT: 400 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-CONSPIRACY — President Trump dodges a question about whether he supports QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory. A reporter asked the president about the theory at a White House briefing after Trump tweeted his congratulations to a QAnon-supporting candidate. SENT: 460 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN ENDORSEMENT — A major union representing U.S. postal workers endorses Joe Biden, a move that comes after President Trump acknowledged he was starving the postal service of money in order to make it more difficult to vote by mail in November’s election. SENT: 550 words, photo.
NOT REAL NEWS — A wide range of false information spread swiftly on social media after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden chose Sen. Kamala Harris to be his running mate. SENT: 1,500 words, photo.
2020 CENSUS — If you haven’t filled out the 2020 census form yet, you may be getting an email, call or questionnaire in the mail asking you to answer the questions. SENT: 340 words, photo.
UNITED NATIONS-US-IRAN-ARMS EMBARGO — The U.N. Security Council was voting Friday on a U.S.-sponsored resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, with veto-wielding Russia and China strongly opposed to it and likely abstentions from America’s European allies. SENT: 800 words, photos. UPCOMING: Results will be announced Friday evening. With UNITED STATES-POMPEO — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday called for the world to unite around a long-shot bid to indefinitely extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran. SENT: 920 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIKERS FOR TRUMP — While the pandemic has bottled up most in-person get-out-the-vote efforts across the country ahead of the presidential election, a group called Bikers for Trump is defying public health recommendations in an effort to get people voting. SENT: 960 words, photos.
GEORGIA LAWMAKER-LEWIS COMMENTS — The speaker of Georgia’s House of Representatives is taking a leadership post away from a state lawmaker who remarked that the late U.S. Rep John Lewis’ “only claim to fame was that he got conked on the head.” SENT: 520 words, photo.
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RACIAL INJUSTICE-GEORGIA PROTEST — Suburban Atlanta’s Stone Mountain Park, home of a giant sculpture of Confederate leaders, says it will close its gates in the face of a planned right-wing rally. The event has sparked fears of violence, especially before an all-Black militia said earlier this week that it would cancel plans to show up. Other groups were still planning to counterprotest. SENT: 410 words, photos. With PORTLAND PROTESTS — Portland police declare unlawful assembly amid protests (sent).
KILLING SEA LIONS — U.S. authorities have given wildlife managers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho permission to start killing hundreds of sea lions in the Columbia River basin in hopes of helping struggling salmon and steelhead. SENT: 620 words, photos.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers and Los Angeles prosecutors have agreed to postpone extradition proceedings that would send the imprisoned former film producer from New York to California to face sexual assault charges, citing the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 200 words.
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MEXICO-TOURISM — Mexico’s Pacific coast resort of Acapulco is putting its hopes on a return of tourists as the number of coronavirus cases drop and the violence that drove travelers away slowly declines. SENT: 660 words, photos.
BRITAIN-V-J DAY — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is paying tribute to veterans of the multinational World War II campaign against Japan, which formally ended 75 years ago some three months after Nazi Germany had been vanquished in Europe. SENT: 530 words, photos.
INDIA-INDEPENDENCE-DAY — India’s prime minister says his country has done well in containing the coronavirus pandemic and announced $1.46 trillion infrastructure projects to boost the sagging economy. SENT: 440 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN — A female member of Afghanistan’s peace negotiating team and a former parliamentarian survived an assassination attempt, Afghan officials say. SENT: 330 words photo.
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ELECTION 2020-CONVENTION TV COVERAGE — The Democratic and Republican conventions will lack for crowds but not television coverage. The standard political gatherings that were to unfold for the Democratic Party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and for the GOP in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be largely virtual, constrained by the coronavirus. By Television Writer Lynn Elber. SENT: 410 words, photo.
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BKN--RAPTORS-DEFENDING THE CROWN — Winning an NBA title last season satisfied one quest for the Raptors star Kyle Lowry. Now, the defending champions return to the playoffs, with their on-court leader determined to win the whole thing again. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 950 words, photos.
FBC--AP TOP 25 POLL — The Associated Press will release its preseason Top 25 on Aug. 24. With almost half of major college football planning to sit out the fall season, the AP addresses how voting will work. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 500 words, photos.
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