AP News Digest 7 a.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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TRUMP — President Donald Trump pressured Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to “find” enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state’s presidential election, repeatedly citing disproven claims of fraud and raising the prospect of “criminal offense” if officials did not change the vote count, according to a recording of the conversation. By Jeff Amy, Darlene Superville and Kate Brumback. SENT: 1,130 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: TRUMP-GEORGIA-FACT CHECK — President Donald Trump put forth a dizzying array of fuzzy accounting and outright false claims in an extraordinary phone call to Georgia’s secretary of state. SENT: 1,720 words, photos.
WASHINGTON-PIVOTAL WEEK — The tumult of 2020 isn’t over yet. The opening week of the new year will be dominated by a collision of events that will test America’s commitment to democracy, shape President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration and determine the future of the Republican Party. By Will Weissert. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
SENATE-GEORGIA-TRUMP EFFECT — For more than four years, President Donald Trump has dominated the Republican Party and the whole of American politics. Now Georgia decides what comes next as two Senate runoffs elections not only determine which party controls the Senate but offer the first clues about how long Trump can maintain his grip on the nation’s political affairs once he loses the White House megaphone. SENT: 1,070 words, photos. WITH: EXPLAINING-ELECTION 2020-GEORGIA RUNOFF — This week will find us back in a familiar place — waiting for Georgia to count votes. SENT: 755 words, photos.
CONGRESS-ELECTORAL COLLEGE — The extraordinary Republican effort to overturn the presidential election is condemned by an outpouring of current and former GOP officials warning that the effort to sow doubt in Joe Biden’s win and keep President Donald Trump in office is undermining Americans’ faith in democracy. By Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 1,325 words, photos. WITH: TRUMP-DEFENSE SECRETARIES — In an extraordinary rebuke of President Donald Trump, all 10 living former secretaries of defense cautioned against any move to involve the military in pursuing claims of election fraud. SENT: 600 words, photos.
BRITAIN-ASSANGE — A British judge has rejected the United States’ request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges, saying it would be “oppressive” because of his mental health. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said Monday Assange was likely take his own life if sent to the U.S. The U.S. government said it would appeal the decision. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 730 words, photos. DEVELOPING.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — Britain on Monday took another giant step in the fight against COVID-19, ramping up its immunization program by giving the first shots in the world from the vaccine created by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. SENT: 560 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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PERSIAN GULF TENSIONS Iran has begun enriching uranium up to 20% at an underground facility, a short technical step from weapons-grade levels. Meanwhile, fears mounted on Monday that a South Korean-flagged oil tanker had been seized by Tehran. The vessel, bound for the United Arab Emirates went into Iranian territorial waters, with a security firm saying it fears it’s been seized. SENT: 670 words, photos.
NORWAY-LANDSLIDE — Norwegian officials insisted Monday that there was “still hope” in finding survivors in air pockets five days after a landslide killed at least seven people as it carried away homes in a village north of the capital. Three people are still missing. SENT: 340 words, photos.
EAST TEXAS-CHURCH SHOOTING — A 21-year-old man who hid from police in an East Texas church was charged with first-degree murder and felony assault in a shooting that left the pastor dead and two other people injured Sunday, a local sheriff said. SENT: 525 words, photo.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK — The U.S. ramped up COVID-19 vaccinations in the past few days after a slower-than-expected start, bringing to 4 million the number of Americans who have received shots, Dr. Anthony Fauci says. The government’s top infectious-disease expert also said on ABC’s “This Week” that President-elect Joe Biden’s pledge to administer 100 million shots of the vaccine within his first 100 days in office is achievable. And he rejected President Trump’s false claim on Twitter that coronavirus deaths and cases in the U.S. have been greatly exaggerated. SENT: 850 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Thailand has registered 745 new coronavirus cases, with a new death reported in Bangkok, where a semi-lockdown went into effect. SENT: 535 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA VACCINE — India has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines, paving the way for a huge inoculation program to stem the coronavirus pandemic in the world’s second most populous country. By Aniruddha Ghosal and Sheikh Saaliq. SENT: 760 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-INDIA-VACCINE-MANUFACTURER — AP Interview: India bars company from exporting vaccines. SENT: 505 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SOMALIA-HIDDEN-PANDEMIC — As richer countries race to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, Somalia remains the rare place where much of the population hasn’t taken the coronavirus seriously. Some fear that’s proven to be deadlier than anyone knows. SENT: 740 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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TRUMP-LEGACY-BASE — Their candidate may have lost the election, but President Donald Trump’s supporters have no intention of fading away. After spending weeks amplifying Trump’s unfounded claims that the November election was rigged against him, many of his loyal fans are eagerly awaiting his next ventures, including a potential presidential run in 2024. BY Jill Colvin. SENT: 1,065 words, photos.
CONGRESS-PELOSI — Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly reelected as speaker, giving her the reins of Democrats’ slender House majority as President-elect Joe Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities. SENT: 1,085 words, photos.
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MALAYSIA-TEEN DEATH — A Malaysian coroner has ruled the death of a French-Irish teen, whose body was found near a Malaysian jungle resort where she vanished while on holiday, was most likely a misadventure that didn’t involve other people. SENT: 530 words, photos.
OBIT-URQUHART — British diplomat Brian Urquhart, an early leader of the United Nations who played a central role in developing the U.N. practice of peacekeeping, has died, according to his family. He was 101. SENT: 400 words, photo.
NIGER-VIOLENCE — Islamic extremists staged attacks on two villages in Niger near its border with Mali, killing at least 100 people, Niger’s prime minister said. SENT: 250 words, photos.
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HEAD-ON CRASH-9 DEAD — Investigators are asking for the public’s help to determine what led up to a head-on crash that killed seven children and two adults in central California on New Year’s Day. SENT: 350 words, photo.
DEADLY YEAR-ST. LOUIS — St. Louis recorded its worst homicide rate for 50 years in 2020, even though the total number of homicides last year fell just short of the city’s all-time record. Police said 262 people were killed in St. Louis last year. SENT: 210 words, photos.
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BUSINESS
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Asian stock markets have risen on 2021’s first trading day, boosted by optimism about the rollout of coronavirus vaccines after Wall Street ended the year on a new high. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 475 words, photos.
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OBIT-GERRY MARSDEN — Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British group Gerry and the Pacemakers that had such hits as “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and the song that became the anthem of Liverpool Football Club, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” has died. He was 78. SENT: 660 words, photos.
FILM-BOX OFFICE — In its second weekend in U.S. theaters, “Wonder Woman 1984” earned an estimated $5.5 million in ticket sales according to studio estimates. It’s a 67% drop for the superhero sequel, which is simultaneously playing on 2,151 screens and streaming free for HBO Max subscribers. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 270 words, photo.
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FBN-PLAYOFF LOOKAHEAD — Welcome to the postseason, Cleveland. The Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 and made the playoffs in 2002. It didn’t return until this season. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 600 words, photos.
TOKYO-200 DAYS — The countdown clock for the postponed Tokyo Olympics has hit 200 days to go. Also, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said he’d consider calling a state of emergency as new coronavirus cases surge to record numbers in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Japan has never had a lockdown for the coronavirus, attempting to juggle the economy and health risks. It’s nearing deadline time for Tokyo Olympic organizers, the International Olympic Committee, and various Japanese government entities as they try to pull off the Games in the middle of a pandemic. SENT: 530 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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