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

The Latest: NIH director: 'No compromises' on safe vaccine

NEW YORK — The National Institutes of Health director is telling Congress that AstraZeneca’s suspension of its coronavirus vaccine study shows there will be “no compromises” on safety in developing the shots.

German villagers want top court to save homes from coal mine

BERLIN (AP) — Villagers living on the edge of a vast German coal mine said Wednesday they have lodged a case with Germany's top court in a bid to save their homes.

Officials: Fugitive's stolen trailer had explosives inside

DALTON, Ga. (AP) — A Texas fugitive wanted in the shooting of a Georgia sheriff's deputy was hauling explosives in a stolen trailer at the time of the shooting, state officials said Wednesday.

Book: Trump said of virus, 'I wanted to always play it down'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump talked in private about the “deadly” coronavirus last February, even as he was declaring to America it was no worse than the flu and insisting it was under control, accordin…

Greece: Major wildfire near Athens forces home evacuations

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities ordered thousands of homes near Athens evacuated Wednesday as a large wildfire raged out of control among scattered country residences, damaging buildings while strong winds …

Head of Israel's biggest bank expects deals soon with UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel’s biggest bank expects to strike deals soon with major lenders in the United Arab Emirates for the first time, its CEO said after meeting top Emirati business leaders on We…

Mozambique accused of abuses in its fight against extremists

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Amnesty International Wednesday accused Mozambique’s government forces of torturing suspected members of an Islamist insurgency in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province, as well as …

US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will pull thousands of troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan by November, the top American commander for the Middle East said Wednesday, as President Donald Trump tries to make good…

Third person dies in small plane crash near airport

MCMINNVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A third person has died in a small plane crash near a Tennessee airport, officials said.

BC-150-actives-n

Judge: US park hasn't shown enough done to inform of fire

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. park officials have failed to show enough was done to keep the public updated as a deadly wildfire spread from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016, a judge ruled.

The Latest: Berlusconi fighting virus, talks to supporters

ROME — Ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi, hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia, has told his supporters he’s fighting to recover from this “hellish illness.”

Suicide bomber kills 3, including child, in Somali capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A Somali official says a suicide bomber killed at least three civilians, including a young boy, at a restaurant in Somalia's capital Wednesday evening.

New project to probe Hurricane Maria deaths in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. researchers who estimated that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria are now investigating deaths that might have been missed and could be lin…