AP News Digest 7:30 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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NEW/DEVELOPING
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COLLEGE ADMISSIONS-BRIBERY — Feds seek 21 months for Hot Pockets heiress in college scam. SENT: 380 words.
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ONLY ON AP _______________
ELECTION 2020-BLOOMBERG'S MONEY — Mike Bloomberg's spending on charity and politics has skyrocketed in recent years, which has made him one of the most important philanthropists and political donors in the country. Those investments have given Bloomberg a foundation of connections and goodwill that is helping the former New York mayor's presidential campaign. By Ryan J. Foley and Michelle R. Smith. SENT: 2,990 words, photos, graphic. With abridged.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-PLACIDO DOMINGO — An investigation into legendary singer Placido Domingo by the U.S. union representing opera performers finds more than two dozen people who say they were sexually harassed or witnessed inappropriate behavior by the superstar when he held senior management positions at Washington National Opera and Los Angeles Opera, according to people familiar with the findings. By Jocelyn Gecker. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
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TOP STORIES _______________
VIRUS OUTBREAK — Police man checkpoints in quarantined towns, governments issue travel warnings and more flights are suspended as officials desperately seek to stop the seemingly inevitable spread of a new virus. By Kim Tong-Hyung and Matt Sendesky. SENT: 860 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-AT A GLANCE; VIRUS OUTBREAK-GLOSSARY.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SKOREA CITY SUFFERS — As fears of a soaring viral outbreak grip the southeastern South Korean city of Daegu and nearby areas, many residents are struggling as they try to avoid the disease. By Hyung-Jin Kim. SENT: 1,040 words, photos. Also see VIRUS OUTBREAK below.
EGYPT-OBIT-MUBARAK — Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian leader who for nearly 30 years was the resolute face of stability in the Mideast before being forced by the military to resign after 18-day nationwide protests that were part of the Arab world's 2011 pro-democracy upheaval, has died. He was 91. By Samy Magdy. SENT: 740 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-DEBATE — Bernie Sanders faces an unprecedented assault from his Democratic rivals as the party's turbulent nomination fight threatens to explode on the debate stage. By Steve Peoples, Meg Kinnard and Bill Barrow. SENT: 1,180 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Updates throughout the day; debate at 8 p.m. With ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-FIVE QUESTIONS — Is Bloomberg still a target? Can Biden throw a punch? ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST. Also See 2020 ELECTION below.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
TRUMP — President Donald Trump says he's optimistic about the prospects of inking a trade deal with India despite moves by both sides that created doubt about the ability to reach an agreement. By Jonathan Lemire and Jill Colvin. SENT: 980 words, photos. UPCOMING: Updates throughout the day. With TRUMP-NEW DELHI PROTESTS — New violence erupts in Indian capital over citizenship law; TRUMP-THE LATEST.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN-LEGAL IMPACT — New York prosecutors are hailing Harvey Weinstein's conviction as a pivotal moment that could change the way the legal system views a type of sexual assault case historically considered difficult to prove. By Maryclaire Dale and Jennifer Peltz. SENT: 860 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — The head of Iran's counter-coronavirus task force tests positive for the virus himself, authorities announce, showing the challenges facing the Islamic Republic amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK-FACTORY BLUES — Factories that make the world’s smartphones, toys and other goods are struggling to reopen after a virus outbreak idled China’s economy, but even with the ruling Communist Party promising help, companies and economists say it may be months before production is back to normal. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY — A tourist hotel in the Canary Islands is placed in quarantine after an Italian doctor staying there tests positive for the new coronavirus, evidence that the epicenter of the outbreak in Europe is spreading with vacationing Italians. SENT: 550 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY-SPREAD — First virus cases reported confirmed in Austria, Croatia.
TAIWAN-VIRUS OUTBREAK-STUCK IN HUBEI — About 1,000 Taiwanese are stuck behind doors in locked-down Chinese cities because their government cannot agree with China on how to arrange charter flights back to Taiwan. c
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says that the success of new measures such as letting employees work from home and expanding hospital treatment capacity will determine whether the country can control its virus outbreak. SENT: 610 words, photos.
UNITED STATES-KOREA — The United States and South Korea are considering curtailing joint military exercises due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus, officials say. SENT: 590 words, photos.
TOKYO-THE-PROSPECTS — Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the IOC, estimates there's a three-month window to decide the fate of the Tokyo Olympics, which are being threatened by the fast-spreading virus from China. By Sports Writer Stephen Wade. SENT: 1,070 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-TEAM-WORLDS-POSTPONED Virus cases in South Korea delays table tennis team world championships.
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2020 ELECTION
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ELECTION 2020-BUTTIGIEG — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is hoping for a good showing in Saturday's South Carolina primary, but a relatively small but nonetheless influential number of black South Carolinians may be resistant to him because he is gay. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-SOLDIERING ON — Sanders' ascendance brings louder calls for some rivals to drop out; ELECTION 2020-BLACK VOTERS — Generational split among South Carolina black voters could hurt Biden.
ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS-BIG CHANGE — Democrats' desire for dramatic political change emerges as a driving force in the party's presidential primary battle, one that extends beyond the progressive wing and presents challenges for candidates running on promises of moderation. SENT: 940 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-SANDERS-FLORIDA — Sanders comments on Castro could pose hurdles in Florida; ELECTION 2020-TEXAS — As Sanders surges, Texas liberals take their own shot.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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MELANIA TRUMP — Melania Trump visits “happiness” class at Indian school. SENT: 190 words, photos.
KOBE BRYANT-MEMORIAL-FANS — Kobe Bryant fans from near and far find closure at L.A. memorial. SENT: 730 words, photos.
JAPAN-OBIT-OLDEST MAN — World's oldest man, who said secret was smiling, dies at 112. SENT: 220 words, photo.
MUSHROOMS IN THE CITY — Mushrooms grow from beer waste in the cellars of Brussels. SENT: 430 words, photo.
MINNESOTA-EX-ASSISTANT-INVESTIGATION — University of Minnesota investigating ex-hockey assistant sex allegations. SENT: 630 words.
RAPIST-RELEASE — Appeals court blocks release of ''Bolder Than Most” rapist. SENT: 390 words, photos.
CHINA-SWEDISH-BOOKSELLER — China sentences Swedish bookseller to 10 years in prison. SENT: 720 words, photo.
OBIT-STEVE ROSS — Steve Ross, founder of New England Holocaust Memorial, dies. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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MARDI GRAS — Revelers dressed in costumes and reaching for beads thrown from floats will take to the streets when Carnival season reaches its peak, their celebration tinged with grief after two paradegoers were hit and killed by floats in the run-up to Fat Tuesday. SENT: 440 words, photos. With GERMANY-CARNIVAL CRASH — Dozens remain hospitalized in Germany after Carnival crash.
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SYRIA-LAUGHING UNDER BOMBS — A Syrian father would do anything for his 3-year-old daughter Salwa — even forcing himself to laugh with her at the sound of exploding bombs. SENT: 570 words, photos. With SYRIA — Syrian troops press ahead with campaign as strike kills three.
MALAYSIA-POLITICS — After months of resisting pressure to hand over the premiership to his named successor, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad finally quit this week, but in a confounding twist, the 94-year-old leader emerged more powerful than before. SENT: 940 words, photos. With MALAYSIA-POLITICS-AP EXPLAINS.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Shares open lower in Europe after a mixed session in Asia, where Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index skids more than 3% as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urges fresh efforts to contain the outbreak of a new virus that has spread from China to nearly three dozen countries. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 690 words, photos.
JAPAN-BOEING — Japanese carrier ANA is ordering 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, bringing its fleet of the planes to 103 by 2025. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 240 words, photo.
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MEDIA-MSNBC-SANDERS — MSNBC's Chris Matthews apologizes to Sanders for comparing the Democratic senator's win in the Nevada caucus to the Nazi takeover of France. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 810 words, photo.
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HOW TO REACH US
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