AP News Digest 7 a.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-US SURGE — States face a deadline to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine as many reported record infections, hospitalizations and deaths, and hospitals were pushed to the breaking point — with many fearing that the worst is yet to come. The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 hit an all-time high in the U.S. on Thursday at 100,667, according to the COVID Tracking Project, while new daily cases now are averaging 210,000 and deaths are averaging 1,800 per day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. By Michael Rubinkam and Tammy Webber. SENT: 900 words, photos.
SENATE-GEORGIA-MONEY — Democrats and Republicans are pouring millions of dollars into Georgia’s dueling Senate runoff races ahead of the Jan. 5 election. The state has long been a Republican stronghold, but it is emerging as a swing state after Democratic President-elect Joe Biden narrowly won it during the Nov. 3 election. By Brian Slodysko and Bill Barrow. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.
BIDEN-AGRICULTURE — President-elect Joe Biden’s choices for secretary of agriculture are as diverse as the department of 100,000 employees that she or he would represent. The emerging choice between Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and several other potential candidates seems like another test of Biden’s vision for the Democratic Party. By Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 1,050 words, photo.
BIDEN-CABINET DIVERSITY — President-elect Joe Biden is under increasing pressure to expand racial and ideological diversity in his Cabinet and other top jobs, and even is beginning to draw rebukes from activists who fear he’ll far short on promises to build out an administration that looks like the country it governs. By Will Weissert, Lisa Mascaro and Steve Peoples. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SWITZERLAND-SKIING — While the COVID-19 pandemic has led France, Italy and Austria to shut or severely restrict access to their ski stations this holiday season, Switzerland is keeping its slopes open, a move that has driven a wedge among European leaders and fanned grumbling and envy among many business owners. By Jamey Keaten. SENT: 840 words, photos
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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BORDER-WALL-LAWSUITS — Appeals court rules for Trump taking military money for wall. SENT: 260 words.
YEMEN — Cargo ship attacked off Yemen under unclear circumstances. SENT: 280 words.
CHINA-COAL-MINE-DISASTER — Chinese state TV reports 18 coal miners killed by lethal gas. SENT: 70 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING-OFFICIAL — Wyoming health official: ‘so-called pandemic’ communist plot. SENT: 380 words.
BUDDY THE ELF MEETS DAD — Scene from ‘Elf’ comes to life as Buddy meets dad in Boston. SENT: 280 words, photos.
MARY-TRUMP-INTERVIEW — President Trump’s niece says her uncle should face prosecution after he leaves White House. SENT: 870 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — Much of California is on the brink of sweeping new restrictions on businesses and activities, a desperate attempt to slow the frighteningly rapid escalation of coronavirus cases that threatens to overwhelm hospitals. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA-VACCINE — Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations in Moscow starting Saturday, a precursor to a sweeping Russia-wide immunization effort. SENT: 550 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PANDEMIC'S FUTURE — The U.N. health chief declared Friday that positive results from coronavirus vaccine trials mean the world “can begin to dream about the end of the pandemic,” but he said rich and powerful nations must not trample the poor and marginalized “in the stampede for vaccines.” SENT: 930 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Korea’s capital begins began enforcing stricter distancing rules as the country added nearly 600 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day. SENT: 140 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Optimism is finally building in Washington for a COVID-19 aid bill that would offer relief for businesses, the unemployed, schools and health care providers, among others struggling as caseloads are spiking. Success is not certain and considerable differences remain over details, such as whether to issue a second round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 700 words, photos, video.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN ELECTORS — California certified its presidential election Friday and appointed 55 electors pledged to vote for Democrat Joe Biden, officially handing him the Electoral College majority needed to win the White House. SENT: 700 words, photos.
ELECTION-2020-WISCONSIN — A judge hearing President Trump’s federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s win in Wisconsin has said that the president’s request to “remand” the case to the GOP-controlled Legislature to pick new electors was “bizarre.” SENT: 510 words, photos.
DEVOS-STUDENT LOANS — The Trump administration on Friday suspended all federal student loan payments through the end of January and kept interest rates at 0%, extending a moratorium that started early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of this month. SENT: 460 words, photos.
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ROMANIA-ELECTION — Romanians will vote Sunday in a legislative election expected to restore some measure of stability in a country with one of the European Union’s highest emigration rates, and bring to power a generation that came of age in a time of national turmoil and strongly identifies as European. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.
KUWAIT — Kuwait begins voting for its National Assembly, the first election since the death of its longtime ruling emir at a time the oil-rich nation struggles with serious economic problems during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 510 words, photos.
BREXIT — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union’s top official are set to discuss the state of play of post-Brexit trade discussions later Saturday after negotiators paused talks in light of their inability to bridge an array of differences. SENT: 360 words, photos.
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CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES — Fire danger remained high Friday amid unpredictable wind gusts and dry conditions in Southern California, as crews made progress against blazes that burned several homes and injured two firefighters. SENT: 720 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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JAPAN-ASTEROID — Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully releases a small capsule and sent it toward Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on our planet, the country’s space agency says. SENT: 750 words, photos.
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GOOGLE-AI-RESEARCHER — The furor over the abrupt departure of an artificial intelligence scholar from Google is the latest incident raising questions about whether the tech giant has strayed so far away from its original “Don’t Be Evil” motto that it now routinely ousts employees who challenge management. SENT: 720 words, photos.
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FBN--VIRUS OUTBREAK-NFL — The NFL is further limiting player access to team facilities as it attempts to enhance safety during the pandemic. In a memo sent to the 32 clubs and obtained by the AP, teams must close their facilities for two days after games, with some exceptions. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 410 words. With NFL-COVID-19 Cases (sent). For weekend use.
BBO--TOP FREE AGENTS — The free agent market received a small boost this week, although it remains to be seen whether teams will be eager to take advantage. A record 59 players became free agents when their teams declined to offer them contracts by the tender deadline. By Baseball Writer Noah Trister. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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