AP News Digest 2 p.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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ONLY ON AP
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BRAZIL-CRACKDOWN-ON-CRITICISM — Two 22-year-old law students created a Twitter account with a stated mission to call out Brazilian websites for spreading “hate speech and Fake News,” and to torpedo those sites’ advertising revenue. Vitriol poured in, directed toward the students’ account. They had targeted the website Jornal da Cidade, which sued Twitter for release of the account’s data. Believing their identities are soon to be revealed after a ruling against Twitter, the pair decided to leave their city and reveal their identities to The Associated Press. The backlash is part of a growing trend to instrumentalize the judiciary against those who target conservative websites. By David Biller. SENT: 1,970 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,000 words is available.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States headed Sunday from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, with the first shots expected to be given in the coming week to health care workers and at nursing homes. Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine will set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history at a critical juncture of the pandemic that has killed 1.6 million and sickened 71 million worldwide. By Matthew Perrone, Mike Stobbe and Morry Gash. SENT: 770 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-EXPLAINING-VACCINE-SHIPMENTS — How much COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped in US? SENT: 660 words, photos; VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST (sent)
ELECTORAL COLLEGE-EXPLAINER — Voters cast their ballots for president more than a month ago, but the votes that officially matter will be cast Monday. That’s when the Electoral College meets. Some questions and answers about the Electoral College. By Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman. SENT: 840 words, photos, audio. With ELECTORAL-COLLEGE-EXPLAINING-OTHER-COUNTRIES — How do other democratic nations select leaders? SENT: 810 words, photos.
Find the AP’s full coverage plan for Monday’s Electoral College vote here.
SENATE-GEORGIA-TRUMP — Many Republican voters in Georgia are angry. They’re convinced that widespread voter fraud — claims that are baseless — cost President Donald Trump the election to Democrat Joe Biden. But will those concerns put them on the sidelines for runoff elections Jan. 5 that will determine party control of the U.S. Senate? Interviews with voters and party activists in the state reveal little sign that Trump’s voters are planning to stay home in protest. By Ben Nadler and Bill Barrow. SENT: 870 words, photos. With ELECTION-2020-GEORGIA — Georgia high court rejects latest Trump election appeal. SENT; 350 words, photo.
BIDEN-CABINET CHALLENGE — As he completes his Cabinet, Joe Biden is aiming for a historically diverse administration without overlooking longtime allies in the Democratic establishment. He also has to please the broad coalition that helped him win. And he must contend with congressional Republicans suspicious of many of his picks and ready to derail his policy goals. It’s all putting a lot of pressure on the president-elect. By Will Weissert and Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.
REL-REPARATIONS-CHURCHES — In the past year, there has been a surge of interest among U.S. religious groups in the concept of racism-linked reparations. It’s particularly notable among long-established Protestant denominations that were active during the era of slavery. By David Crary. SENT: 1,510 words, photos, video. An abridged version of 1,000 words is also available. This is the Monday Spotlight.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS — Holocaust survivors honored with online event amid pandemic. SENT: 170 words.
CHINA-MOON-PROBE — Chinese capsule with moon rocks begins return to Earth. SENT: 320 words, photos.
CHINA-NANJING-MEMORIAL — China looks forward on anniversary of 1937 Nanjing massacre. SENT: 230 words, photos.
PAKISTAN-BLAST — Roadside bomb wounds 23 near Pakistan police station. SENT: 200 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NONPROFITS — The American spirit of generosity this holiday season may be no match for the coronavirus. Despite record amounts of charitable donations this year, the effects of the pandemic are suffocating nonprofits across the country as organizations face soaring costs and demand for help, yet are largely without their own support systems. SENT: 960 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Most stores shut, tight limits on social contacts, no singing in church and a ban on fireworks sales: Germany is ratcheting up its pandemic restrictions in an effort to cut the stubbornly high rate of coronavirus infections. SENT: 540 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS-STATES — No “blue state bailout” is a rallying cry for many congressional Republicans as attempts to provide more federal aid to a nation stricken by an ever-worsening coronavirus pandemic remain stuck in neutral. Yet it’s not just Democratic states asking for help amid plunging tax revenue, rising joblessness and a stuttering economy. Plenty of Republican-led states are feeling the pain, too. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-DEATHS — Italy has eclipsed Britain to become the nation with the worst official coronavirus death toll in Europe. SENT: 320 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Japan’s daily coronavirus cases have exceeded 3,000 for the first time while the government delays stricter measures for fear of hurting the economy ahead of the holiday season. South Korea also hit record numbers. SENT: 440 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Bahrain says it approved the use of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine, following its earlier approval of a vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Separately, Kuwait has granted emergency use for the Pfizer vaccine. SENT: 350 words, photo.
PAKISTAN-PRISONS — A new human rights report is harshly criticizing Pakistan’s response to COVID-19 in its overcrowded prisons. SENT: 530 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-RURAL DOCTORS-PHOTO GALLERY — Italian doctors fighting pandemic in rural areas. SENT: 360 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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TRUMP-BOARD ALLIES — His time in the White House rapidly ending, President Donald Trump is rewarding some supporters and like-minded allies with the perks and prestige that come with serving on federal advisory boards and commissions. It’s not unusual for outgoing presidents to make a flurry of appointments to boards and commissions before leaving office. But to one expert on the federal bureaucracy, "nobody does these things with more politicization than Trump.” SENT: 770 words, photos.
TRUMP-DEFENSE BILL — President Donald Trump comes up with a new rationale to threaten a veto of the annual defense policy bill that covers the military’s budget and pay raises for service members: China. He’s not saying what his concerns are, but Republican lawmakers have said the bill would deter Chinese aggression and needs to become law as soon as possible. The legislation has passed Congress by margins large enough to override a potential veto. SENT: 530 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-IOWA CAUCUSES — A new audit report blames the national Democratic Party’s involvement in the Iowa caucuses for problems that delayed the results for days at the beginning of the 2020 presidential nominating battle. SENT: 530 words.
ELECTION-2020-MAYOR-EL-PASO — El Paso residents have elected a new mayor, handing a defeat to incumbent Mayor Dee Margo in favor of his predecessor, Oscar Leeser, in a runoff race defined by the city’s coronavirus crisis. SENT: 280 words, photo.
CUOMO-HARASSMENT ALLEGATION — A former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is now running for Manhattan borough president is accusing the Democratic governor of sexual harassment. SENT: 340 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-GEORGIA — President Donald Trump has lost his latest legal challenge seeking to overturn Georgia’s election results. SENT: 370 words, photo.
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RACIAL-INJUSTICE-SAVING-BLM-MURALS — During protests after George Floyd’s death, the streets of countless major cities became temporary galleries of artwork conveying collective pain and anger. But as these ephemeral artworks began to come down or be wiped from walls, patchworks of artists and activists rushed to preserve them. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
FRESH-FOOD-INITIATIVES — Arizona nonprofits have joined other groups around the U.S. working to bring fresh produce and healthy food options to residents in low-income and racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. The efforts have grown increasingly important with hunger on the rise amid the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
CLERGY ABUSE-PENNSYLVANIA-FEDERAL PROBE — Two years ago, the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia joined the long line of ambitious prosecutors investigating the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of priest-abuse complaints. But as U.S. Attorney William McSwain’s tenure likely nears its end with President-elect Joe Biden set to take office next month, there’s no sign that any sweeping church indictment is afoot. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.
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BREXIT — Teetering on the brink of a no-deal Brexit departure, Britain and the European Union stepped back from the void and agreed to continue trade talks, although both downplayed the chances of success. SENT: 930 words, photos.
IRAN — Iran summoned the German envoy to Tehran after the European Union condemned the execution of an Iranian journalist whose work helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017, Iranian state media has reported. SENT: 440 words, photos.
ISRAEL-US-IRAN — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would be a mistake “to go back to business as usual with Iran,” signaling resistance to an expected push by President-elect Joe Biden to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran. SENT: 310 words.
NIGERIA-STUDENTS KIDNAPPED - Hundreds of Nigerian students are missing after gunmen attacked a secondary school in the country’s northwestern Katsina state, police have confirmed. SENT: 310 words, photos.
POLAND-PROTEST — Thousands marched in Warsaw and other Polish cities to protest the country’s right-wing government, the latest demonstrations after a high court ruled to tighten the country’s already restrictive abortion law. SENT: 440 words, photos.
BELARUS-PROTESTS — Crowds of people took to the streets in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in a weekly protest against the country’s authoritarian leader who won a sixth term in office in a disputed election. SENT: 440 words, photos.
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FBC-T25-COLLEGE-FOOTBALL-POLL — The first top-10 shakeup in more than a month pushed Coastal Carolina to No. 9 in The Associated Press college football poll. Alabama was a unanimous No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M as those teams held their spots for a sixth straight week. SENT: 530 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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