AP News Digest 3:25 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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IRAN-PLANE CRASH — Iran acknowledges that its armed forces “unintentionally” shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. By Nasser Karimi and Joseph Krauss. SENT: 950 words, photos. With IRAN-PLANE CRASH-INVESTIGATION — US experts concerned about Iran's handling of crash probe (sent).
UNITED STATES-IRAN — Confronted by persistent questions about his military action in the Middle East, President Trump and his top officials offer a string of fresh explanations, with Trump now contending Iranian militants had planned major attacks on four U.S. embassies. By Ben Fox. SENT: 970 words, photos, video. With IRAN-THE LATEST.
TRUMP-TRAVEL BAN — The White House is considering dramatically expanding its much-litigated travel ban to additional countries amid a renewed election-year focus on immigration by President Trump, according to six people familiar with the deliberations. Two of the people said seven countries — a majority of them Muslim — would be added to the list. By Jonathan Lemire, Lisa Mascaro and Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,040 words, photo.
TRUMP-CLAIMING CREDIT — Many presidents have acted as cheerleader-in-chief for the good things that have happened on their watch, but Donald Trump has taken the art of self-marketing to a whole new level. From a lower cancer death rate to the prevalence of “Merry Christmas” greetings, Trump is happy to give himself a public pat on the back. By Kevin Freking. SENT: 840 words, photos.
OMAN —Oman announces that culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said has been named as the new ruler of the Arabian country and the successor to longtime ruler Sultan Qaboos. By Aya Batrawy. SENT: 600 words, photo. With OMAN-OBIT-SULTAN QABOOS — Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who modernized Oman, dies at 79 (sent).
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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COLOMBIA-UBER — Lawsuit forces Uber to stop operating in Colombia. SENT: 610 words, photo.
CANADA-US-CHINA-HUAWEI — Canada prosecutor says essence of Huawei CFO case is fraud. SENT: 590 words, photo.
CHINA-PNEUMONIA — China reports 1st death from new type of coronavirus. SENT: 260 words, photo.
YOSEMITE-OUTBREAK — Stomach illness outbreak at Yosemite prompts major clean-up. SENT: 240 words, photo.
CNN-LABOR-SETTLEMENT — CNN agrees to record $76M settlement over labor dispute. SENT: 160 words.
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TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT — Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House will take steps next week to transmit the articles of impeachment against President Trump. The move ends a three-week standoff but confronts the Senate with only the third trial in U.S. history to remove a chief executive. SENT: 1,130 words, photos, video.
ELECTION 2020-YANG — After months of running on offbeat campaign strategies, Andrew Yang has arrived at a point in the 2020 campaign that is governed by the conventional rules of election. The candidate powered by online buzz is now living firmly on the real, and often uncool, campaign trail through Iowa and New Hampshire. SENT: 1,260 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-MONEY — Billionaire presidential contenders Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer are testing whether vast amounts of personal wealth can buy the ultimate political prize. Both have drastically outspent every other candidate in the Democratic race. SENT: 1,190 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-CALIFORNIA-BUTTIGIEG-BIDEN — Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg chased California votes in dueling events, looking to sway Democrats in the state that delivers the largest haul of delegates in the presidential contest. SENT: 560 words, photos, video.
ELECTION 2020-MISSISSIPPI SENATE — Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy is aiming for a rematch of a U.S. Senate race that he lost to Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi in 2018, in hopes of reversing the outcome. To compete with her in November, he will first have to push past two candidates in the Democratic primary. SENT: 540 words, photo.
SURVEILLANCE COURT — The FBI lays out new protocols for how it conducts electronic surveillance in national security cases, responding to a Justice Department inspector general report that harshly criticized the bureau's handling of the Russia investigation. SENT: 530 words, photo.
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UNITED NATIONS-SYRIA-CROSS-BORDER AID — Russia scores a victory for its close ally Syria, using its veto threat to force the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution significantly reducing the delivery of cross-border humanitarian aid and cutting off critical medical assistance to over one million Syrians in the northeast. SENT: 1,050 words, photo.
TAIWAN-ELECTION — The future of Taiwan’s democracy is on the line as the self-ruled island’s voters decide on whether to give independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen a second term. SENT: 870 words, photos. With TAIWAN ELECTION-AP EXPLAINS — AP Explains: Taiwan's election and its standoff with China (sent).
AUSTRALIA WILDFIRES — Two wildfires merged to form a massive inferno in southeast Australia, near where a man suffered serious burns protecting a home during a night of treacherous conditions during the nation’s unprecedented fire crisis. SENT: 690 words, photos.
KOREAS-US-NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY — A North Korean official says the U.S. and South Korea are dreaming if they think that President Donald Trump's sending a birthday message would get leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table. SENT: 690 words, photos.
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SOUTHERN-STORMS — Tornadoes destroyed homes in Arkansas and Missouri and also caused damage in Oklahoma as severe storms threatened much of the South over the weekend, officials say. SENT: 740 words, photo.
TRUMP-LAWYER INVESTIGATION — President Donald Trump's ex-personal lawyer tells a judge he's the victim of a continuing campaign of “character assassination” by prosecutors who oppose his time behind bars being trimmed from three years to one. SENT: 410 words, photo.
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ECONOMY-JOBS REPORT — U.S. employers added 145,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, signaling that the job market remains strong at the start of 2020 even if hiring and wage gains have slowed somewhat more than a decade into an economic expansion. SENT: 840 words, photos.
BOEING-CEO-COMPENSATION — The Boeing CEO who was ousted last month for the company’s botched response to two crashes and the grounding of its best-selling plane will walk away with $62.2 million, the company discloses. With FAA-BOEING-FINE — FAA seeks to fine Boeing $5.4 million over faulty Max parts (sent).
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OBIT-NEIL PEART — Neil Peart, the renowned drummer and lyricist from the influential band Rush, has died at 67. SENT: 1,220 words, photos.
MILAN FASHION WEEK-WATCH — Milan Fashion Week opens on a festive note, with Sister Sledge dressed in shimmering jumpsuits belting out their hit “We Are Family” to fete Canadian twins for the 25th anniversary of their Made-in-Italy brand. By Fashion Writer Colleen Barry. SENT: 600 words, photos.
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BBO--ARBITRATION — Outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a $27 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, the largest one-year salary for an arbitration-eligible player, while Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant got an $18.6 million, one-year deal. Among 155 players eligible for arbitration at the start of the day, just 20 remained headed for hearings next month after exchanging proposed arbitration salaries with teams. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 800 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Vincent K. Willis 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.