AP News Digest 2 p.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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ONLY ON AP
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MIGRANTS CROSS ATLANTIC — Migrants and asylum-seekers are increasingly crossing a treacherous part of the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago near West Africa, in what has become one of the most dangerous migration routes to European territory. By Renata Brito. SENT: 1,430 words, photos, video, graphic. An abridged version of 990 words has also been sent.
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ELECTION 2020-BIDEN — Joe Biden hammers President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak ahead of Biden’s planned trip to Wisconsin, a pivotal swing state that’s becoming a focal point for political debate over protest-related violence, police treatment of minorities and the actions of vigilante militias. By Bill Barrow and Will Weissert. SENT: 920 words. UPCOMING: Developing from afternoon events, 900 words by 5 p.m., photos, video. WITH: ELECTION 2020-THE LATEST and ELECTION 2020-DEBATES- Representatives from Fox News, C-SPAN and NBC will moderate the upcoming debates. SENT: 175 words, photos. WITH: ELECTION 2020-BIDEN FUNDRAISING — Biden raises over $360 million in August, shattering record. SENT: 580 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — President Trump uses the benefits of incumbency to his advantage, making a personal appearance in a key battleground state for the ceremonial purpose of declaring the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina a World War II “Heritage City.” By Kevin Freking and Deb Riechmann. SENT: 360 words. UPCOMING: Developing from 2 p.m. event, 500 words by 4 p.m., photos, video.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — Mental health therapists’ caseloads are bulging. Waiting lists for appointments are growing. And anxiety and depression are rising among Americans amid the coronavirus crisis, research suggests. In the latest study to suggest an uptick, half of U.S. adults surveyed reported at least some signs of depression, such as hopelessness, feeling like a failure or getting little pleasure from doing things. By Lindsey Tanner. SENT: 905 words, photos.
PUBLIC HEALTH-VACCINE — Millions of Americans are counting on a COVID-19 vaccine to curb the global pandemic and return life to normal. While one or more options could be available toward the end of this year or early next, the path to delivering vaccines to 330 million people remains unclear for the local health officials expected to carry out the work. By Lis Szabo. 1,963 words, photos. An abridged version of 1075 words is also available.
GERMANY-RUSSIA-NAVALNY -- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the same type of Soviet-era nerve agent that British authorities identified in a 2018 attack on a former Russian spy, the German government said. The findings — which experts say point strongly to Russian state involvement — are likely to increase tensions between Russia and the West. By Geir Moulson. SENT: 925 words, photos.
US WWII SURRENDER-75TH ANNIVERSARY -- Dozens of veterans from across the United States will be watching the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on a screen from their homes instead of in person in Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor. The commemoration was originally planned to be a blockbuster event with parades through Waikiki, movie premiers, gala dinners and thousands of people gathered to honor the veterans. But a surge in coronavirus cases in Hawaii and across the nation led organizers to limit the ceremony to only those veterans who already live in Hawaii. By Caleb Jones. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 3 p.m.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-FDA SHAKEUP — A second Trump administration appointee at the Food and Drug Administration is ousted in the wake of the agency’s botched announcement about an experimental therapy for COVID-19, which medical experts said damaged the health regulator’s credibility with the public. SENT: 467 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PERU-DEATH RITES -- Burial was a tradition for both Peru’s indigenous Inca culture and the Spanish who colonized the country. And millions of Peruvians would visit their loved ones’ graves at least once a year, many more frequently, to eat and drink and pay tribute to the deceased on the Day of the Dead every November. The arrival of the coronavirus pandemic has been a blow to that tradition. SENT: 525 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — Australia’s hot spot Victoria state extends its state of emergency for another six months as its weekly average of new coronavirus infections dips. SENT: 320 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GREECE -- Greek authorities are imposing a 14-day quarantine on an overcrowded migrant camp on the island of Lesbos after a man who had been living outside the official camp tested positive for the coronavirus. SENT: 350 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS-DIPPING INTO SAVINGS - Some owners are dipping into savings or retirement accounts to ensure the survival of their companies. It’s a step that owners don’t take lightly — they’re essentially betting that their business will recover from the recession and they’ll be able to recoup the money. SENT: 900 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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GUN VIOLENCE-BAR BETTING — Authorities are investigating a Long Island bar that posted on Instagram that it was taking bets on whether Chicago or New York City would see more shootings over Labor Day weekend. SENT: 275 words.
TV-ROYAL NETFLIX DEAL -- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have a new home: Netflix. Six months after detangling their work lives from the British royal family, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have signed a multiyear deal with the streaming service. SENT: 325 words, photos.
TV TIGER KING - Carole Baskin, the reality TV star who became a pop culture sensation with Netflix’s docuseries “Tiger King” is joining “Dancing With the Stars.” SENT: 200 words, photos.
ODD-HAMSTER-DNA — Wheel-y mysterious: German police baffled after someone left hamster DNA on a train. SENT: 128 words.
GRACELAND GRAFFITI-BLM --Messages of Black Lives Matter and “Defund the Police” were spray painted on several tourist attractions in Tennessee on Monday night, including Graceland, the Elvis Presley estate, authorities said. SENT: 250 words, photos.
ZIMBABWE-ELEPHANTS DYING -- Zimbabwe investigating deaths of 22 elephants, more expected. SENT: 485 words.
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UNITED STATES-CHINA DIPLOMATS — The Trump administration steps up its battle with China by further restricting the ability of Chinese diplomats to travel, hold meetings with academics and host cultural events in the United States. SENT: 440 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-ERNST-CORONAVIRUS — Echoing a discredited conspiracy theory, vulnerable Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is questioning whether government statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths have been inflated. SENT: 460 words, photo.
UNITED STATES-INTERNATIONAL COURT — The Trump administration imposes sanctions on the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and one of her top aides for continuing to investigate war crimes allegations against Americans. By Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee. SENT: 440 words, photos.
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CHICAGO VIOLENCE-SQUAD CAR SHOOTING -- Relatives of a man fatally shot by Chicago police after gunshots were fired at an unmarked police car don’t believe he fired those shots and want to see police body camera footage of the incident. SENT: 325 words.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS-BRIBERY — Another wealthy parent was charged Wednesday with trying to bribe his child’s way into an elite university as a fake athletic recruit, a day after two former college coaches caught up in the nationwide admissions bribery scandal were hit with additional charges. SENT: 455 words, photos.
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EMIRATES-ISRAEL — Saudi Arabia announced that flights to and from the United Arab Emirates “from all countries” will now be able to use its airspace — a statement apparently allowing flyovers by Israel following a deal to normalize UAE-Israel relations. SENT: 725 words, photos.
LEBANON-CONTROVERSIAL-DAM — A controversial mega dam in Lebanon funded by the World Bank has activists and locals voicing their opposition to what they describe as not only an environmental crime, but also a project that mirrors Beirut’s governance crisis and corruption issues. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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MED--VIRUS OUTBREAK-TREATMENTS -- New studies confirm that multiple types of steroids improve survival for severely ill COVID-19 patients, cementing the cheap drugs as a standard of care. An analysis of pooled results from seven studies found that steroids reduced the risk of death in the first month by about one-third compared to placebo treatment or usual care alone in these seriously ill patients who needed extra oxygen. SENT: 525 words, photos.
SCI-BLACK HOLES — Black holes are getting stranger — even to astronomers. They’ve now detected the signal from a long ago violent collision of two black holes that created a new one of a size that had never been seen before. SENT: 670 words, photos.
SUDAN-POLIO-OUTBREAK -The World Health Organization says a new polio outbreak in Sudan is linked to an ongoing vaccine-sparked epidemic in Chad — a week after the U.N. health agency declared the African continent free of the wild polio virus. By Medical Writer Maria Cheng. SENT: 430 words, photo.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks were broadly higher on Wall Street, extending the market’s milestone-setting run. SENT: 400 words, photos, developing.
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KIDS BLACK PANTHER — In their driveways or in their bedrooms, using little cardboard boxes or piles of backyard dirt, young fans of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman paid their respects with lots of Wakanda salutes and mock funerals attended by action figures. SENT: 950 words, photos.
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BKN—THUNDER-ROCKETS — The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder play the last game of the NBA’s first round, with the winner of Game 7 advancing to face the Los Angeles Lakers. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 9 p.m.
FBN—NFL ECONOMICS-ATTENDANCE — NFL teams aren’t likely to be playing on blank slates this season. Some could have fans in the stands on a limited basis, but most if not all will find ways to spruce up their stadiums with advertising and messaging to keep some revenue flowing in. By Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m.
TEN-US OPEN — Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are in action on Day 3 at the U.S. Open. Play starts at 11 a.m.; night session at 7 p.m. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos.
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