AP News Digest 7 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.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — The hunt for ventilators and other medical supplies is consuming the U.S. and Europe, as new virus infections soar. Political paralysis stalled efforts for quick aid from Congress and more governments tightened restrictions, sending U.S. futures and many Asian markets down. New York City is quickly becoming a hotspot for the new coronavirus, and the mayor says hospitals are 10 days away from running out of basic supplies. By Lori Hinnant and Foster Klug SENT: 750 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-LATEST, VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING, VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NEW-YORK-PHOTO-GALLERY (all sent).
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FUNERALS — The coronavirus that has upended nearly every element of public life also has dramatically changed the way people grieve for the dead. Ministers have closed their doors to funerals. Fear of quarantine has prevented families from flying in to pay their last respects. BY Don Babwin and Amy Taxin. SENT: 980 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS -- The latest economic rescue package being negotiated in Washington is now nearly $2 trillion, but the Senate has yet to agree on the parameters of the package, on Sunday voting against advancing the measure to a full vote. Talks continued on Capitol Hill with the goal a new vote Monday morning. Senate re-convenes at noon. EDT. By Andrew Taylor, Jonathan Lemire and Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,300 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PRESIDENTS IN CRISIS -- Most American presidents will confront a crisis — or crises — during their time in office, whether it is a natural disaster, war, economic downturn, public health threat or terrorism. Historians say what matters is how they respond. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
FINANCIAL MARKETS — U.S. futures have declined and Australia's share benchmark plunged 8.5% as work on more stimulus for the U.S. economy hit snags in the U.S. Senate. Shares also dropped in Hong Kong and South Korea early Monday. However, Japan's Nikkei 225 index held steady, gaining 0.5% after the International Olympic Committee said it plans to discuss potentially changing the timing of the Tokyo Games, due to begin in July. By AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenback. SENT 660 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-POMPEO — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in Kabul on an urgent visit to try to move forward a U.S. peace deal signed last month with the Taliban. Pompeo's trip to the Afghan capital on Monday comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel. Since its signing, movement on the peace deal has stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan, with the country's leaders squabbling over who was elected president. By Rahim Faiez and Kathy Gannon. SENT: 900 words, photos.
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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Syrians are rushing to stock up on food and fuel amid fears that authorities will resort to even stricter measures after reporting the first coronavirus infection in the country, where the healthcare system has been decimated by nearly a decade of civil war. SENT: 790 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-YOUNG AND BEWILDERED — America's young people have grown up with school shootings, social media pressures, climate change and terror attacks. But the coronavirus pandemic could test a generation in ways they have never faced. One expert likens the impact to that of the Great Depression. As they're being asked to study at home and distance socially to help their more vulnerable elders, how will they cope? SENT: 990 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CRUISE SHIPS — A cruise ship that had to cut short its trip because of the coronavirus and mechanical problems docked Sunday in Honolulu's harbor. The Norwegian Jewel, which carried about 2,000 passengers, docked in the evening, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. SENT: 375 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BUSINESS FALLOUT — Air Canada is laying off more than 5,000 flight attendants as demand plunges amid travel controls imposed to fight the coronavirus. French President Emmanuel Macron called on employees at supermarkets and other businesses deemed essential to stay on the job. The United Arab Emirates is suspending passenger flights and transit of passengers through Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, for two weeks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. SENT: 390 words.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-BAILOUT POLITICS -- In the fall of 2008, an unlikely alliance of lawmakers, regulators and Bush administration officials banded together to rescue an economy they feared was hours away from collapse. More than a decade later, those same political forces are shadowing a new debate in Washington over emergency government spending — only with far more taxpayer money at stake and even greater uncertainty over Americans’ futures. By Julie Pace and Steven Sloan. SENT: 1,120 words, photos
FACT CHECK-WEEK -- President Donald Trump is revising history as to how he described the dangers of the coronavirus as it swept across China and showed early signs in the U.S. His claims don't match his rhetoric over the last two months before the World Health Organization declared the virus outbreak a pandemic. By Hope Yen, Calvin Woodward and Tom Krishner. SENT: 1,580 words, photos.
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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — Israeli forces have shot and killed a 32-year-old Palestinian man who was hurling rocks at Israeli troops. SENT: 160 words.
EGYPT-CHILDREN — An international right group says Egyptian security forces have arbitrarily arrested, forcibly disappeared and tortured children as young as 12 while prosecutors and judges turned a blind eye. Human Rights Watch says it documented abuses against 20 children who were between the age of 12 and 17 at the time of arrest. SENT: 480 words, photos.
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JAPAN-SOFTBANK — The Japanese technology and telecoms company SoftBank plans to buy back up to 4.5 trillion yen ($41 billion) of its assets as it seeks to trim its gigantic debt burden. The company's founder, Masayoshi Son, said Monday that the move reflected “the firm and unwavering confidence we have in our business." Tokyo-based SoftBank will buy up to 2 trillion yen ($18.1 billion) of its shares. It earlier announced a 500 billion yen ($4.5 billion) share repurchase. SENT: 380 words.
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-TOKYO GAMES — The Tokyo Olympics are going to happen — but almost surely in 2021 rather than in four months as planned. This seems clear after the International Olympic Committee said it was considering a postponement. Major Olympic nations like Canada and Australia are adding pressure by making it clear they will not go if the games are staged this year. SENT: 790 words, photos.
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