AP News Digest 5:40 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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ONLY ON AP
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MOROCCO-US-WESTERN-SAHARA — Plans by the United States to open a consulate in Western Sahara mark a turning point for the disputed and closely policed territory in North Africa. The U.S. move recognizes Morocco’s authority over the land in exchange for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel. By Mosa'ab Elshamy. SENT: 920 words, photos.
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TRUMP’S FUTURE — Democrats’ momentum for a fresh drive to quickly impeach outgoing President Donald Trump gained support Saturday, and a top Republican said the president’s role in the deadly riot at the Capitol by a violent mob of Trump supporters was worthy of rebuke. But Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania didn’t say what he was willing to do. By Darlene Superville and Alan Fram. With AP Photos. SENT: 950 words.
TRUMP-SOCIAL MEDIA BANS — Though deprived of his big online megaphones, Donald Trump does have alternative options of much smaller reach. The far right-friendly Parler may be the leading candidate, though Google and Apple have both removed it from their app stores and Amazon decided to boot it off its web hosting service. By Frank Bajak. With AP Photos. SENT: 950 words.
INDONESIA PLANE — Indonesian divers has located parts of the wreckage of a Boeing 737-500 at a depth of 23 meters (75 feet) in the Java Sea, a day after the aircraft with 62 people onboard crashed shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. By Victoria Milko and Enda Tarigan. SENT: 915 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BATTERED-BRITAIN — The crisis facing Britain this winter is depressingly familiar: Stay-at-home orders and empty streets. Hospitals overflowing. A daily toll of many hundreds of coronavirus deaths. The U.K. is the epicenter of Europe’s COVID-19 outbreak once more, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government is facing questions, and anger, as people demand to know how the country has ended up here — again. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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AFGHANISTAN — A roadside bomb exploded in Afghanistan’s capital, killing at least three people in a vehicle, the latest attack to take place even as government negotiators are in Qatar to resume peace talks with the Taliban. SENT; 260 words, photos.
INDONESIA-LANDSLIDES — Two landslides triggered by heavy rain in Indonesia left at least 11 dead and 18 injured, officials say. SENT: 130 words, photos.
GOP-ATTORNEYS GENERAL — Alabama’s attorney general is calling for an investigation into who may have authorized a branch of the Republican Attorneys General Association to promote the pro-Trump rally in Washington D.C. that preceded a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. SENT: 540 words.
GEORGE FLOYD-MINNEAPOLIS POLICE — A Minneapolis police officer who criticized the department in a magazine article after the death of George Floyd has been reprimanded for speaking to the media without seeking permission. SENT: 270 words.
ISRAEL-PROTESTS — Thousands of Israelis renew weekly demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for the long-serving leader to resign over corruption charges against him and his alleged mishandling of the coronavirus crisis. SENT: 260 words, photo.
HOTEL CONFRONTATION — A 22-year-old California woman who wrongly accused a Black teenager of stealing her phone and tackled him at a New York City hotel in a widely seen video has been charged after returning to the city. SENT: 310 words.
SAN DIEGO-PROTESTERS CLASH — Supporters of President Donald Trump has clashed with counter-protesters in San Diego, prompting police to declare the gathering an unlawful assembly because of acts of violence. SENT: 140 words, photos.
KYRGYZSTAN-ELECTION — Voters in Kyrgyzstan cast ballots in an early presidential election that will also determine how much power the next president has. SENT: 280 words, photo.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — More than 380 people have tested positive in a growing COVID-19 outbreak south of Beijing in China’s Hebei province. Hebei health authorities said that 40 new cases had been confirmed Sunday morning, bringing the total to 223. Another 161 people tested positive but showed no symptoms. China does not include such asymptomatic cases in its official tally. SENT: 410 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — California health authorities has reported a record one-day total of 695 coronavirus deaths as many hospitals strain under unprecedented caseloads.SENT: 450 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA — A curfew meant to curb a surge in coronavirus infections has taken effect across Quebec. The measure is needed to prevent gatherings that have fueled the rampant spread of the virus, Premier Francois Legault said in announcing the rules earlier in the week. SENT: 300 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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TRUMP-BORDER-VISIT — President Donald Trump is expected to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday to highlight his administration’s work on the border wall, the White House says. SENT: 240 words, photos.
US-TAIWAN — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced Saturday that the State Department is voiding longstanding restrictions on how U.S. diplomats and others have contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, another move that is expected to upset China as the Trump administration winds to an end. SENT: 340 words, photo.
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BRITAIN-WORLD ROLE-BREXIT — Britain’s new U.N. ambassador says the government is feeling “gung ho” about continuing its role as an important player on the world stage despite its exit from the European Union. SENT: 800 words, photo.
PAKISTAN-POWER-OUTAGE — A major technical fault in Pakistan’s power generation and distribution system caused a massive power outage that plunged the country into darkness overnight, the energy minister says. SENT: 230 words, photo.
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FBN--RAMS-SEAHAWKS — Cam Akers rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, Darious Williams returned Russell Wilson’s interception 42 yards for a score, and the Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks 30-20 in the NFC wild-card playoff game. By Sports Writer Tim Booth. SENT: 920 words, photos.
FBN--BUCCANEERS-WASHINGTON — Tom Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers past Washington 31-23 in their NFC wild-card game. Brady outdueled little-known opposing quarterback Taylor Heinicke to get his first playoff victory not in a New England Patriots uniform. By Sports Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 960 words, photos.
FBN--COLTS-BILLS - The Buffalo Bills earned their first playoff victory in a quarter-century when Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, scored another rushing, and Micah Hyde batted down Philip Rivers’ desperation pass for a 27-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts in a wild-card game. SENT: 920 words, photos. With: FBN-BILLS-FANS — A lucky 6,700 Bills fans enjoyed the game in person (sent).
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Vincent K. Willis can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, (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.