Sunday, September 13, 2026
55.0°F

AP News Digest 7:20 a.m.

| June 9, 2020 4:30 AM

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.

-------------------

ONLY ON AP

-------------------

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.

-------------------

TOP STORIES

-------------------

AMERICA PROTESTS — The black man whose death has inspired a worldwide reckoning over racial injustice will be buried in Houston, carried home in a horse-drawn carriage. George Floyd, who was 46 when he was killed, will be laid to rest next to his mother. On May 25, as a white Minneapolis officer pressed a knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, the dying man cried out for his mother. By Juan A. Lozano and Nomaan Merchant. SENT: 830 words, photos. With AMERICA PROTESTS-THE LATEST.

ELECTION 2020-DEFUND THE POLICE — Key Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, are rejecting liberal calls to “defund the police” as President Donald Trump and his allies point to the movement as a dangerous example of Democratic overreach. Supporters of the “defund the police” push say it’s a symbolic commitment to end systemic racism and shift policing priorities rather than an actual plan to eliminate law enforcement agencies. By Steve Peoples, Alan Fram and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 990 words, photo. With POLICE REFORM-THINGS TO KNOW — A look at Democrats’ sweeping proposals to overhaul policing.

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 amid large global protests against violence by police and racism. By Sudhin Thanawala. SENT: 750 words, photos. Also see MORE ON AMERICA PROTESTS below.

Find more coverage of America Protests in AP Newsroom.

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: 1,220 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST.

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. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 1,060 words, photo. Also see MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK below.

Find more coverage of the Virus Outbreak in AP Newsroom.

KOREAS-TENSIONS — North Korea says it is cutting off all communication channels with South Korea, a move experts say could signal Pyongyang has grown frustrated that Seoul has failed to revive lucrative inter-Korean economic projects and persuade the United States to ease sanctions. By Hyung-jin Kim. SENT: 840 words, photos.

--------—-----------------—-----—

MORE ON AMERICA PROTESTS

-----------------—---------------—

AMERICA PROTESTS-FRANCE — Virus containment measures have made tensions even worse between police and marginalized residents of France’s low-income neighborhoods, many of whom are Arab or black and trace their roots to former French colonies. SENT: 980 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-GLOBAL — More statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britain’s streets, following the unauthorized felling of a monument to slave trader Edward Colston in the city of Bristol, the mayor of London says. SENT: 530 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-NATION’S CAPITAL — As the nation’s capital emerges from a violent and chaotic 10-day stretch of protests, a different mood is taking hold. SENT: 840 words, photos, video.

AMERICA-PROTESTS-CONFEDERATE-MONUMENTS — A judge in Richmond issues an injunction preventing Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration from removing an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee for 10 days. SENT: 630 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-ATLANTA-EXCESSIVE FORCE — Two police officers who were fired after video showed them using stun guns on a couple of college students during a large protest in Atlanta are looking to get their jobs back. SENT: 220 words, photos.

AMERICA-PROTESTS-WASHINGTON-STATE — Just days after Seattle’s mayor and police chief promised a month-long moratorium on using a type of tear gas to disperse protesters, the department used it again during an overnight demonstration. SENT: 960 words, photos.

A separate wire advisory has been sent detailing the AP's complete coverage of the protests.

------------------------------------—

MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

-----------------—-----------------—

VIRUS OUTBREAK-FEDERAL WORKERS — A small number of workers are voluntarily starting to return to their desks at federal agencies, three months after Americans began sheltering in place and worksites began closing for the coronavirus lockdown. SENT: 660 words, photo.

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-ASIA — New Delhi reverses orders that limited the scope of coronavirus testing and reserved hospital beds for city residents as the Indian capital’s caseload continues to surge. SENT: 720 words, photos.

——————————————————————

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

—————————————————————-

ISRAEL-PEOPLE-BAR REFAELI — Israeli model Bar Refaeli signs plea bargain for tax evasion. SENT: 410 words, photo.

BRITAIN-ROYALS-PRINCE PHILIP — Still beside the queen at 99: Prince Philip to mark birthday. SENT: 850 words, photos.

OFFICER PUNCHES STORE OWNER — Black store owner in Alabama reports robbery, gets punched by officer. SENT: 420 words.

BTS-PROTESTS — K-pop fans become an unexpected ally to American protesters. SENT: 650 words, photo.

STUDENT-KILLED — Bond hearing scheduled for man accused in Uber rider’s death. SENT: 200 words, photos.

NEW ZEALAND-FANS RETURN — Crowds return: 35,000 fans expected at New Zealand rugby matches. SENT: 450 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-CHARLOTTE SCUFFLE — North Carolina officer “assaulted in broad daylight” at protest. SENT: 460 words, video.

AMERICAN PROTEST-FLORIDA-MOLOTOV COCKTAIL — Florida man charged with having Molotov cocktail at protest. SENT: 280 words.

-------------------

WASHINGTON/POLITICS

-------------------

ELECTION 2020 — Trump and Biden won’t face each other directly in Tuesday’s presidential primaries, but voting in Georgia and West Virginia gives both campaigns an opportunity to prove they can assemble a coalition strong enough to win in November. UPCOMING: Updates throughout the day; first polls close at 7 p.m.

ELECTION 2020-SOUTH CAROLINA — In the next step of a race already on pace to become the most expensive in South Carolina history, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is taking on three little-known GOP challengers in a primary election, the last marker ahead of an expected general election face-off with Democrat Jaime Harrison. SENT: 380 words, photo.

ELECTION-2020-GEORGIA — The Democratic candidates vying to take on Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia in November face off in a primary election after weeks of delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 670 words.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.

-------------------

INTERNATIONAL

-------------------

HONG KONG-PROTESTS-ONE YEAR — A year on from the start of Hong Kong’s anti-government protests, the leader of the semi-autonomous Chinese city says that all sides should learn from the difficulties and challenging times over the past year. SENT: 560 words, photos. With HONG KONG-PROTESTS-TIMELINE.

PERSIAN GULF-TENSIONS — As tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S., the Islamic Republic appears to have constructed a new mock-up of an aircraft carrier off its southern coast for potential live-fire drills. SENT: 830 words, photos.

SYRIA — Suspected Russian airstrikes pound villages on the edge of the last rebel enclave in northwestern Syria, sending thousands of civilians fleeing, activists report— scenes unseen in the area since a cease-fire three months ago. SENT: 320 words.

LIBYA — A unit affiliated with Libya’s east-based forces that have been trying to capture Tripoli but are now on the retreat, order the country’s largest oil field to halt work just hours after it restarted operations, the national oil company says. SENT: 450 words, photo.

SOUTH CHINA SEA — Philippine officials fly to a disputed island in the South China Sea to inaugurate a beach ramp built to allow the “full-blast” development of the territory in a move likely to infuriate China. SENT: 550 words, photos.

NEPAL-INTERVIEW — Nepal’s foreign minister says that the country is still waiting for a response from India on holding talks to resolve a border dispute that has strained relations between the South Asian neighbors. By Binaj Gurubacharya. SENT: 450 words, photos.

MALAYSIA-ROHINGYA — Malaysian authorities detain 269 Rohingya refugees and find a body on board a suspected smuggling boat they said had been intentionally damaged so it couldn’t be turned back to sea. SENT: 390 words.

-------------------

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

-------------------

FRANCE-AVIATION — France’s government is pumping $16.9 billion in rescue money into the pandemic-battered aerospace industry, in hopes of saving its hundreds of thousands of jobs and keeping Airbus and national airline Air France globally competitive. SENT: 600 words, photos.

FINANCIAL MARKETS — Shares open lower in Europe after a day of gains for most Asian markets. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 640 words, photos.

HONG KONG-CATHAY PACIFIC — Financially battered Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific Airways becomes the latest airline to get government support to survive the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 700 words, photo.

BON-APPETIT-JOURNALISTS-PROTEST — The editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit resigns after a photo of him dressed in a stereotypical Puerto Rican costume surfaced on social media. By Business Writer Tali Arbel. SENT: 670 words.

-----------—-

SPORTS

-----------—

PLAYOFF-PLETHORA — 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. By Baseball Writer Ben Walker. SENT: 700 words, photos.

TOKYO-Q&A — It’s been 2 1/2 months since the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So where do the games stand? By Sports Writer Stephen Wade. SENT: 1,040 words, photo.

————————————-

ENTERTAINMENT

————————————-

MUSIC-SALZBURG-FESTIVAL — The Salzburg Festival will be one of classical music’s few offerings in the summer of the coronavirus pandemic, staging a reduced 100th anniversary celebration with capacities limited to about 50%. SENT: 520 words, photo.

-------------------

HOW TO REACH US

-------------------

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.