AP News Digest 7:15 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.
----------------—
ONLY ON AP
----------------—
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS LOANS-CATHOLIC — The U.S. Roman Catholic Church used a special and unprecedented exemption from federal rules to amass at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid, with many millions going to dioceses that have paid huge settlements or sought bankruptcy protection because of clergy sexual abuse cover-ups. By Reese Dunklin and Michael Rezendes. SENT: 2,200 words, photos. An abridged version of 940 words is also available. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SMALL-BUSINESS-LOANS-CATHOLIC-TAKEAWAYS.
----------------—-
TOP STORIES
-------------------
TRUMP-SUPREME COURT — President Donald Trump won the White House on the promise of bringing a conservative shift to the Supreme Court. But even with two justices Trump hand-picked, the court has shown it is no rubber stamp for him or his administration’s policies. By Jessica Gresko and Zeke Miller. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS — International students worried about a new immigration policy that could potentially cost them their visas say they feel stuck between being unnecessarily exposed during the coronavirus pandemic and being able to finish their studies in America. By Suman Naishadham, Cheyanne Mumphrey and Hilary Powell. SENT: 1,040 words, photos, video.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ISRAEL-PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM — With an unprecedented new surge in coronavirus cases battering Israel’s economy, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest confidants was dispatched to a TV studio recently to calm the nerves of a jittery nation. Instead, critics saw a flippant comment by Cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi as symptomatic of a bloated, out-of-touch government. By Aron Heller. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
AP EXPLAINS-VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA — In just three weeks, India went from the world’s sixth to the third-worst hit country by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. By Emily Schmall and Aniruddha Ghosal. SENT: 840 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — Trump’s campaign reboot is getting a reboot. He will take baby steps back out onto the road after a multiweek hiatus caused by a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases and after his planned comeback in Oklahoma fizzled. He’ll hold his first in-person fundraiser in a month in Florida and then a rally on Saturday night in New Hampshire. By Jonathan Lemire and Bill Barrow. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
SKOREA-SEOUL-MAYOR — Seoul’s mayor left a note saying he felt “sorry to all people” before he was found dead, officials in the South Korean capital say as people began mourning the liberal legal activist seen as a potential presidential candidate. SENT: 440 words, photos.
---------------------------------------------—-
----------------------------------------------—
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRAZIL-TRANSGENDER ISOLATION — About 50 LGBTQ people have sheltered from the new coronavirus in a formerly abandoned building a few blocks from Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach. That self-imposed lockdown is one of few ways this traditionally marginalized group has found to minimize COVID-19 risks, while others remain vulnerable on the streets. SENT: 510 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — The traditional British summer getaway to the sun-soaked beaches of the Mediterranean Sea is set to pick up steam as U.K. quarantine restrictions are removed from dozens of countries, including France, Greece and Italy. SENT: 600 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHINA — Two World Health Organization experts will spend the next two days in Beijing to lay the groundwork for a larger mission to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. SENT: 450 words, photo. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Australia’s Victoria state reports the new daily record of 288 coronavirus cases, which also reflects a record number of tests exceeding 37,500. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-VENEZUELAN MIGRANT — A Venezuelan social worker who fled to Peru for a better life succumbed to the coronavirus at age 30. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AFRICA — The coronavirus storm has arrived in South Africa, but in the overflowing COVID-19 wards the sound is less of a roar than a rasp. SENT: 600 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA-GOING-BACKWARD — Two largely rural Northern California counties that two months ago defied Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order to more quickly reopen businesses are on the verge of mandatory closings. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
Find more coverage of the Virus Outbreak in AP Newsroom.
-------------------------—
-------------------------—
RACIAL INJUSTICE-HOMELAND SECURITY — Some protesters who have clashed with authorities in the Pacific Northwest have faced off against federal officers whose presence reflects Trump’s decision to make cracking down on “violent mayhem” a federal priority. SENT: 990 words, photos.
RACIAL INJUSTICE-DOCTOR-GUN — A Colorado police department where officers were fired after re-enacting the chokehold death of a young Black man is under scrutiny again after video emerged of an officer pulling a gun on a doctor trying to park at a refugee center he operates. SENT: 510 words, photo.
---------------------------------------------
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
---------------------------------------------
Malaysia-Media Freedom — Malaysian police grill Al Jazeera over report on immigrants. 550 words, photos.
BOSNIA-SREBRENICA-PHOTO GALLERY — Scenes from hell: 1995 Srebrenica genocide in photos. SENT: 480 words, photos.
TROPICAL WEATHER — Tropical Storm Fay moves toward mid-Atlantic, New England. SENT: 210 words.
PHILIPPINES-TV NETWORK CLOSED — Lawmakers vote closes down Philippines’ largest TV network. SENT: 480 words, photos.
FRANCE-NOTRE DAME — Notre Dame Cathedral to rebuilt as before — no modern twists. SENT: 330 words.
DEPUTIES-SHOOTING-CALIFORNIA — Three deputies shot, suspect dead in Northern California shooting. SENT: 200 words.
NEPAL-LANDSLIDE At least 10 killed, 30 missing in Nepal landslides. SENT: 140 words.
CALIFORNIA-DEADLY ATTACK — Son says dad was killed asking for directions in California. SENT: 490 words.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-AIRCRAFT-CARRIER — Navy carrier sidelined by virus returns home to San Diego. SENT: 360 words, photos, video.
USC GYNECOLOGIST-SEXUAL ABUSE — New sex abuse charges against former USC campus gynecologist. SENT: 370 words.
—————————————————
——————————————————
ELECTION 2020-REPUBLICANS-VIOLENCE — Republicans are trying to convince voters that the rare looting and violence that marred largely peaceful social justice protests foretell a wave of mayhem to come if Democrats are elected in November. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-IOWA — Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has lined up a senior team in Iowa, a sign Democrats see the state where Trump beat them handily in 2016 as within reach. SENT: 530 words, photos.
TRUMP-HURRICANE-DORIAN — Political pressure from the White House and a series of “crazy in the middle of the night” texts, emails and phone calls caused top federal weather officials to wrongly admonish a weather office for a tweet that contradicted Trump about Hurricane Dorian in 2019, an inspector general report found. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein. SENT: 840 words, photo.
------------------———
--------------------——
CHINA-UNITED STATES — China says it will retaliate against U.S. officials and institutions following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on three local officials of the ruling Communist Party over human rights abuses in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. SENT: 530 words, photo.
ISRAEL-ANNEXATION — French President Emmanuel Macron is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to annex Palestinian territory in the West Bank, warning that it would violate international law and threaten long-term peace efforts. SENT: 200 words. With ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS Israeli troops kill Palestinian accused of hurling firebombs
SINGAPORE-ELECTIONS — Wearing masks and plastic gloves, Singaporeans vote in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s long-governing party to power. SENT: 770 words, photos. With SINGAPORE-ELECTION-GLANCE.
KOREAS-US — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says she doesn’t expect her brother to meet Trump this year, saying there’s no reason for the North to gift Trump high-profile meetings when it’s not being substantially rewarded in return. SENT: 450 words, photos. With JAPAN-US-KOREAS — U.S. envoy, after Seoul visit, reassures Japan of alliance.
UNITED NATIONS-SYRIA-ISLAMIC STATE — The U.N. counterterrorism chief says his office received information that 700 people died recently in two camps in northeast Syria, where about 70,000 mainly women and children connected to Islamic State fighters are detained in “very dire conditions.” SENT: 540 words, photo. With UNITED NATIONS-SYRIA-HUMANITARIAN — Russia and West in showdown over aid to Syria’s rebel area; IRAN-SYRIA — Iran signs agreement to bolster Syria’s air defense systems.
VENICE-FLOOD BARRIERS — Venice has conducted a trial run of an ambitious anti-flood system of 78 inflatable barriers in hopes of protecting the lagoon city from devastating high tides. 340 words, photo.
JAPAN-FLOODS — Parts of Japan still searching for missing people and evacuating those stranded by deadly floods and mudslides are bracing for more pounding rains through the weekend. SENT: 270 words, photo.
——————————————
——————————————-
FINANCIAL-MARKETS — European stock markets opened higher while Asian prices followed Wall Street lower on worries economic recoveries might fade as coronavirus cases increase in the United States and some other countries. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 610 words, photo.
CHINA-AUTO-SALES — China’s auto sales rose 1.8% in June over a year earlier but fell by double digits for the first half of 2020 after the country shut down to fight the coronavirus, an industry group reports. By Business Joe McDonald. SENT: 310 words, photos.
————————————
————————————
BRITAIN-JOHNNY DEPP — Johnny Depp describes the breakdown of his marriage to Amber Heard in a London court, saying the last straw came when feces were found in the couple’s bed after a party. SENT: 700 words, photos.
PEOPLE-NAYA RIVERA — Authorities plan to renew the search for “Glee” star Naya Rivera, who is believed to have drowned in a Southern California lake while boating with her 4-year-old son. By Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton. SENT: 510 words, photos.
——————
——————-
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE SPORTS — The Big Ten Conference announces it will not play nonconference games in football and several other sports this fall, the most dramatic move yet by a power conference because of the coronavirus pandemic. By Sports Writer John Zenor. SENT: 980 words, photos.
NBA RESTART — The NBA’s bubble fills up and gets put into action, with the final eight teams scheduled to arrive and the first six teams set to take the practice floors for the first time. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 720 words, photos.
—————————————-
HOW TO REACH US
----------------------————
At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Daniel P. Derella (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Phil Holm (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.