AP News Digest 7 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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RUSSIA-NAVALNY — Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma after a suspected poisoning, arrived in Berlin on a special flight early Saturday for treatment by specialists at the German capital’s main hospital. A representative of the NGO that arranged the flight confirmed that the plane had landed and that Navalny was in stable condition. By David Rising. SENT: 870 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-POSTAL SERVICE — The House is convening for a rare Saturday session to address mail delivery disruptions. Democrats are poised to pass legislation to reverse recent changes in postal operations and send emergency funds to help the agency before the November election. By Lisa Mascaro, Anthony Izaguirre and Christina A Cassidy. SENT: 600 words, photos. UPCOMING: 800 words after House opens at 10 a.m. With ELECTION 2020-POSTAL SERVICE-REPUBLICANS — Congressional Republicans in tight races this fall are under pressure from both directions as the Postal Service has been thrust into the middle of election-year politics (sent).
ELECTION 2020-DNC-BIDEN — Some Democrats worried Joe Biden was past his prime, and the questions fed President Trump’s narrative that his 77-year-old Democratic challenger is “confused” and incapable of presidential duties. Biden did much to dispel that caricature Thursday during his 24-minute address accepting his party’s presidential nomination. By Bill Barrow and Will Weissert. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-HARRIS-NAME — Kamala Harris’ supporters say the way top Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, mispronounce Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ first name is not only disrespectful, it’s racist. By Sara Burnett. SENT: 800 words, photos.
Find more coverage of the conventions and Election 2020 on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK — As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. And half the dead were people of color — Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asian Americans. That’s according to an analysis of government data by The Associated Press and The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization. By Anna Flagg and Damini Sharma of The Marshall Project and Mike Stobbe and Larry Fenn of The Associated Press. SENT: 1,240 words, photos, video.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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PORTLAND-PROTESTS — Smoke filled the air outside a police precinct in Portland, Oregon, as authorities worked to clear a crowd accused of damaging patrol vehicles, throwing projectiles and pointing lasers at officers. SENT: 210 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DATA-BREACH — The FBI is investigating a data breach that may have compromised the identity of people with the COVID-19 virus in South Dakota. SENT: 400 words.
SKOREA-CHINA — Senior South Korean and Chinese officials reaffirmed plans to arrange a summit between their leaders “at an early date” once coronavirus concerns subside, Seoul’s presidential office says. SENT: 330 words, photos.
NATIONAL-ENQUIRER-PECKER — David Pecker is stepping down as CEO of the National Enquirer’s parent, ending a reign that saw the company entangled in a campaign-finance scandal that sent President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer to jail. SENT: 280 words, photo.
BELARUS-FACES-OF-PROTEST-PHOTO-GALLERY — In Belarus, protesters show pride, worry, empathy. SENT: 570 words, photos.
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ELECTION 2020-BATTLEGROUND SWING COUNTIES — While the fight for northern swing states rages more intensely in the metro areas, a Democratic effort has been going on for months to shave President Trump’s winning margins in pivotal rural and small-town regions. By Thomas Beaumont. SENT: 880 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-DNC-TRUMP — President Trump spent the week of the Democratic National Convention forsaking what has historically been an incumbent’s greatest advantage: He’s in the job his challenger wants. By Zeke Miller. SENT: 810 words, photos.
NATION’S CAPITAL-BABY PANDA — The National Zoo’s giant panda Mei Xiang gives birth to a wiggling cub, delivering what the zoo calls a “much-needed moment of pure joy” at a time of global pandemic and social unrest. SENT: 490 words, photos. UPCOMING: 650 words after 7 a.m. press event.
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Korea is banning large gatherings, closing beaches, shutting nightspots and churches and removing fans from professional sports in strict new measures announced Saturday as it battles the spread of the coronavirus. SENT: 980 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ICU-NURSE — Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami. His COVID patients plead with him. They’re unable to speak hooked up to breathing machines, often desperately gasping for a bit of air. He sits on their bed, grasps their hand, strokes their cheek and prays. While other nurses rotate in and out of the COVID-19 ICU unit to limit their exposure to the virus, he’s asked to stay permanently. He says it’s his calling, playing the role of nurse and family as one patient after another dies. SENT: 770 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MEXICO'S FLOATING GARDENS — The famous “floating gardens” of Xochimilco reopened to visitors Friday after a five-month lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 450 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES — Firefighters and aircraft from 10 states began arriving in California Friday to help weary crews battling some of the largest blazes in state history as weekend weather threatened to renew the advance of flames that have killed six people and incinerated hundreds of homes. SENT: 780 words, photos. With CALIFORNIA-WILDFIRES-PROTECTING HOMES — With stretched crews, homeowners join California firefight (sent).
FEDERAL-EXECUTION-LETHAL-INJECTION-Q&A — Lawyers trying to halt next week’s federal execution of their client say an autopsy on an inmate put to death by a lethal injection last month shows he suffered “extreme pain” before he died. By Legal Affairs Writer Michael Tarm. SENT: 770 words, photo.
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PAKISTAN-TALIBAN — Pakistan issues sweeping financial sanctions against Afghanistan’s Taliban, just as the militant group is in the midst of U.S.-led peace process in the neighboring country. The orders identified dozens of individuals, including the Taliban’s chief peace negotiator Abdul Ghani Baradar and several members of the Haqqani family, including Sirajuddin, the current head of the Haqqani network and deputy head of the Taliban. SENT: 590 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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TROPICAL WEATHER-DUAL THREAT — Two newly formed tropical storms could become almost simultaneous threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast early next week. They could even get sucked into an odd dance around each other. Or they could fall apart as they soak the Caribbean and Mexico this weekend. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein. SENT: 830 words, photo.
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DOLLY-PARTON-MURAL — Tourists are flocking to Nashville to see a new mural of Dolly Parton that celebrates her position on Black Lives Matter. By Entertainment Writer Kristin M. Hall. SENT: 320 words, photos.
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INDY 500-ROOKIE WATCH — The five-man rookie class that will start the Indianapolis 500 are bringing a cosmopolitan flair to the world-renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They hail from five different countries, collectively speak a half-dozen languages, and they happen to be pretty fast, too. Dutch driver Rinus VeeKay will start fourth for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” and Spain’s Alex Palou will start right behind him on the 11-row grid. Canadian driver Dalton Kellett, Mexican star Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew of the U.S. all qualified among the top 24 in the 33-car field. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 900 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At The Nerve Center, Mae Anderson can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.