AP News Digest 2 p.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, 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.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-YEMEN-HOUTHIS — An investigation by The Associated Press finds that the coronavirus pandemic is taking a deadly toll on the war-weary population of Yemen. The situation is exacerbated in the Houthi-controlled north where the rebels have suppressed information about the virus, severely punished those who speak out, enforced little mitigation measures, and promoted conspiracies and claims by the Houthi minister of health that their scientists are working on developing a cure for COVID-19 to present to the world. By Maggie Michael. SENT: 1,460 words, photos, video.
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AMERICA PROTESTS — Hundreds of mourners packed a Houston church for the funeral of George Floyd, capping six days of mourning for the black man whose death has led to a global reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice. Floyd, 46, was to be laid to rest next to his mother in the suburb of Pearland. He called out for her as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck May 25. Cellphone video of the encounter ignited protests and scattered violence in cities across the U.S. and around the world. By Juan A. Lozano, Nomaan Merchant and Adam Geller, SENT: 745 words, photos. WITH: AMERICA PROTESTS-THE LATEST.
AMERICA PROTESTS-POLICE MISINFORMATION — George Floyd died after suffering a “medical incident during a police interaction.” A 75-year-old protester in Buffalo “tripped and fell.” And an injured Philadelphia college student was the aggressor in a skirmish with an officer. Police officers and their departments have long tried to spin, mislead or even lie to paint their actions in the most favorable light and at times justify or cover up abuses. By Ryan J. Foley. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos, by 3 p.m.
TRUMP-RACISM — In the weeks since George Floyd died, President Donald Trump has shared lots of opinions about the need for “law and order,” fighting crime and the dangerous ideas of the “liberal left.” When it comes to addressing racism, not so much. Trump has remained largely silent on that, except to argue that a strong economy is the best antidote. By Aamer Madhani, Darlene Superville and Jonathan Lemire. UPCOMING: 1000 words by 4 p.m., photos.
AMERICA PROTESTS-TRUMP — President Donald Trump advances an unfounded conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo, New York, who was pushed down by police officers, tweeting without evidence that the confrontation may have been a “set up,” again siding firmly with police over protesters. By Carolyn Thompson and Jill Colvin. SENT: 680 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.
ELECTION 2020 — Long lines snake around polling places, and some voters faced hourlong waits as Georgia held its twice-delayed primary election amid a shortage of poll workers and social-distancing precautions caused by the coronavirus. By Bill Barrow, Ben Nadler and Steve Peoples. SENT: 990 words. UPCOMING: Developing, 950 words by 6 p.m., photos, video. Eds: (Polls close at 7 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — As many countries gingerly start lifting their lockdown measures, experts worry that a further surge of the coronavirus in under-developed regions with shaky health systems could undermine efforts to halt the pandemic, and they say more realistic options are needed. By Maria Cheng and Mauricio Savarese. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
Find more coverage of the Virus Outbreak in AP Newsroom.
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AMERICA'S PROTESTS-GLOBAL — London’s mayor announced that more statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britain’s streets after protesters knocked down the monument to a slave trader, as the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis continued to spark protests — and drive change — around the world. SENT: 890 words, photos.
AMERICA PROTESTS-QUICK CHANGE - In the two weeks since George Floyd’s killing, police departments have banned chokeholds, Confederate monuments have fallen and officers have been arrested and charged. The moves come amid a massive, nationwide outcry against violence by police and racism. SENT: 670 words, photos.
AMERICA PROTESTS-MEDIA — Alexis Johnson figures she wasn’t the loser when the Pittsburgh Post Gazette pulled her off coverage of protests triggered by George Floyd’s death. Her readers were — denied the perspective of a black woman with family roots in law enforcement working in her hometown. Nobody anticipated it would lead to a staff revolt and become a national story, part of an extraordinary week where the news media’s sluggishness in promoting diversity became part of the national conversation. By Media Writer David Bauder. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos.
A separate wire advisory has been sent detailing the AP's complete coverage of the protests.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MASK CONFUSION — It’s an issue that’s been argued about for months, both by experts and by people strolling through parks all over the world: Can people who don’t feel sick spread the coronavirus, and if so should we all be wearing masks to stop it? Even the World Health Organization can’t seem to get it straight, and on Tuesday scrambled to explain seemingly contradictory comments it has made in recent days. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 4 p.m.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CHINA-GLOBAL-DONOR — As the coronavirus spread, the world’s richest communist dug into his deep pockets. Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and a member of the ruling Communist Party, helped to pay for 1,000 ventilators delivered to New York in April. Ma’s foundation also is giving ventilators, masks and other supplies in Africa, Latin America and Asia. SENT: 1,060 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-STATE LEGISLATURES — The nation’s ongoing battle against the coronavirus is dividing lawmakers along partisan lines in state capitols. In some legislative chambers, the divisions can be seen simply by looking at lawmakers’ faces. Many Democrats are wearing masks during debates while many Republicans are not. As with the U.S. House, some legislative chambers also have split along partisan lines over Democratic proposals to allow lawmakers to submit votes without attending in person. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 5 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LIVES LOST-FAMILY OF DOCTORS — A northern New Jersey family of five doctors has lost two members to COVID-19. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-EUROPE REOPENS -- Just as summer beckons, Europeans are re-inhabiting their cafes, parks and beaches abandoned during months of lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. It remains to be seen when Europeans can freely cross borders, visiting one another’s countries in the usual European summer mashup of cheap flights, train connections and long-distance drives. But for now, people are reclaiming their freedom of movement at home with obvious relief -- and some trepidation. SENT: 715 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-HERD IMMUNITY — What is herd immunity and could it work with COVID-19? Herd immunity is when a virus can no longer spread easily because enough people are immune to it. That lowers the chances of the virus jumping from person to person and reaching those who haven’t been infected yet. SENT: 150 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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ISRAEL-PEOPLE-BAR REFAELI -- Israeli model Bar Refaeli signs a plea bargain deal with authorities to settle a long-standing tax evasion case against her and her family. SENT: 390 words, photos.
SWITCHED AT BIRTH-LAWSUIT — Two men who believe they were switched at birth nearly 80 years ago are suing a Roman Catholic diocese in West Virginia. SENT: 400 words.
EPSTEIN-GRAND JURY — A judge has ruled against a Florida newspaper’s effort to gain release of state grand jury transcripts involving the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. SENT: 260 words.
HONDA CYBERATTACK — Japanese carmaker Honda says it has been hit by a cyberattack. SENT: 270 words, photo.
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AMERICA PROTESTS-CONGRESS — Republicans in Congress are quietly trying to cobble together legislation to change police practices and accountability, distancing themselves from President Trump’s “law and order” approach following the death of George Floyd and the eruption of protests across the nation. It’s an abrupt turnaround after years of black deaths at the hands of the police. By Lisa Mascaro UPCOMING: 700 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
AMERICA PROTESTS-CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS — The military is reexamining its traditional embrace or tolerance of Confederate Army symbols, including whether to rename Fort Bragg and other Army bases that honor Confederate Army officers. UPCOMING: 850 words by 4:30 p.m., photos, graphic.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.
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PERSIAN GULF-TENSIONS — Iran appears to have constructed a new mock-up of an aircraft carrier off its southern coast for potential live-fire drills. This comes as tensions remain high between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. The target is seen in satellite photographs that were obtained on Tuesday by The Associated Press. It resembles the Nimitz-class carriers that the U.S. Navy routinely sails into the Persian Gulf from the Strait of Hormuz. The ship’s appearance also comes as Iran announced it will execute a man authorities accuse of sharing details on the movements of a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard general whom the U.S. killed in a January drone strike in Baghdad. By Jon Gambrell. SENT: 785 words, photos.
BURUNDI-OBIT-NKURUNZIZA -- Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of a heart attack at age 56, the government announced, ending a 15-year-rule marked by deadly political violence and a historic withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. SENT: 500 words, photos.
INTERNATIONAL COURT-DARFUR -- Authorities say Sudanese militia leader Ali Kushayb has been arrested on war crimes charges related to the conflict in Darfur. An International Criminal Court spokesman says that Kushayb surrendered to authorities in a remote corner of northern Central African Republic near the country’s border with Sudan. Central African Republic’s attorney general confirmed to The Associated Press that Kushayb had been extradited to The Hague. SENT: 590 words, photos.
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FATAL POLICE CHASE - Police video and documents released more than a year after the in-custody death of a black man in Texas show that sheriff’s deputies repeatedly used a stun gun on him despite multiple pleas that he couldn’t breathe following a chase after he failed to dim his headlights. SENT: 775 words.
TITANIC ARTIFACTS — The U.S. government will try to stop a company’s planned salvage mission to retrieve the Titanic’s wireless telegraph machine, arguing the expedition would break federal law and a pact with Britain to leave the iconic shipwreck undisturbed. U.S. attorneys filed a legal challenge before a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia. The expedition is expected to occur by the end of August. SENT: 460 words, photo.
MISSING KIDS-HOME SEARCHED -- Investigators returned to search the Idaho home of a man with ties to the mysterious disappearance of two children who haven’t been seen since last year. It’s the second search of Chad Daybell’s home in a case that has vexed investigators for months and attracted worldwide attention. Seven-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Ryan, 17, haven’t been seen since September, and police say both Chad and Lori Daybell lied to investigators about the childrens’ whereabouts. SENT: 450 words, photos.
SEVERE-WEATHER — The remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal moved across parts of the Midwest after lashing the South, unleashing downpours and bringing gusty winds as more high winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms were forecast. SENT: 300 words, photos.
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Wall Street hit the brakes, a day after its remarkable, weekslong rally brought the S&P 500 back to positive for the year and the Nasdaq to a record high. SENT: 600 words, photos. UPCOMING: Will be updated through trading, about 800 words by 5 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CRUISES — The cruise industry is scrubbing its ships and hoping to set sail later this summer. But with images of coronavirus-ravaged ships still fresh in many minds, there could be years of choppy water ahead. The global cruise industry expected to carry 32 million passengers and take in $71 billion in revenue this year. That will fall by at least 50% this year, says Euromonitor International, a consulting firm. SENT: 995 words, photos.
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MUSIC DALAI LAMA — The Dalai Lama’s first-ever album will be released on July 6. It features teachings and mantras set to music by the Tibetan spiritual leader. SENT: 700 words, photos.
FILM-SPIKE LEE — Spike Lee’s latest, “Da 5 Bloods,” is one of the rare films to put front and center the experience of African American veterans. The script originally was written for former white soldiers. Lee rewrote it and added a Trump-supporting character played by Delroy Lindo to make his first Netflix film an examination on the racial dimensions of American patriotism. By Film Writer Jake Coyle. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-STADIUMS-FINANCES — Sports franchises and college athletic departments already have been crushed financially by COVID-19. Now, they may have to deal with reduced crowds and invest in expensive new technology to keep fans safe and interested. That may not be a big deal for leagues with lucrative TV contracts, but it could be crippling for others. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BBO--PLAYOFF PICTURE — Major League Baseball is talking about having as many as 16 teams in the playoffs this year if the season is able to start after a long delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The 16 teams would be a big increase over the 10 clubs that have made the postseason in recent years. In fact, it would mean more than half of the 30 MLB clubs get into the postseason. That’s been more common in the other major sports, but would represent a huge change for baseball. MLB presented that plan in its latest proposal to players in an effort to start the season. By Ben Walker. SENT: 720 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK TICKETING — Faced with the possibility that college football games will be played in stadiums with reduced capacities as a safeguard against the coronavirus, athletic administrators at schools with high ticket demand are formulating plans to determine who gets a seat. By College Football Writer Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Richard A. Somma can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Courtney Dittmar (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.