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.
_______________________
ONLY ON AP
_______________________
VATICAN-LEGION OF CHRIST — Five suspects are scheduled to be tried next month in the latest case against the disgraced Legion of Christ religious order. They're charged with trying to obstruct justice and to extort the family of a young man who was molested by a priest when he was 12. As part of the scheme, the accused offered the family 15,000 euros if he would tell authorities that the abuse never happened. The cardinal who was sent by the order to clean up the Legion told the boy's mother that the settlement offer was just the way it's “done in Italy.” By Nicole Winfield and Maria Verza. SENT: 2,650 words, photos, 1,200-word abridged version. This is the Tuesday spotlight.
_______________________
_______________________
CHINA-OUTBREAK - China says it may postpone its annual congress in March, its biggest political meeting of the year, because of the virus outbreak. The standing committee for the National People’s Congress says it believes it is necessary to postpone the gathering to give top priority to people’s lives, safety and health. The announcement came as the military dispatched hundreds more medical workers and extra supplies to the city hit hardest by a 2-month-old outbreak. By Yanan Wang. SENT: 810 words, photo. WITH: CHINA-OUTBREAK-AT A GLANCE (SENT) ; CHINA OUTBREAK-AUTOMAKERS - Automakers are reopening factories in China that were idled by anti-virus controls as they try to reverse a sales slump in their biggest market. SENT: 470 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK-QUARANTINED AMERICANS - Two charter flights carrying passengers from a cruise ship that was quarantined in Japan amid a virus crisis have landed in the United States. The first plane carrying American passengers landed at a Northern California air force base just before midnight Sunday. A second flight touched down at a San Antonio air force base around 2 1/2 hours later, early Monday. Passengers will be quarantined for two weeks to make sure they don't have the new virus that's been spreading in Asia. SENT: 650 words, photos. WITH: JAPAN-OUTBREAK-SHIP — Japanese officials have confirmed 99 more people infected by the new virus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454,. SENT: 230 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-DEMOCRATS — A growing number of Democratic lawmakers, union officials, state leaders and party strategists agree that Bernie Sanders is a risky nominee to put up against President Donald Trump. There's less agreement about whether — and how — to stop him. By Steve Peoples and Alan Fram. SENT: 1,190 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020 — With the Nevada caucuses less Democratic presidential candidates campaigning Sunday were fixated on a rival who wasn't contesting the state. SENT: 1,270 words, photos; ELECTION 2020-WATCH — Who can show strength with voters of color? SENT: 850 words, photos
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Election s featured topic page in AP News.
SEVERE WEATHER-MISSISSIPPI - People in and around the Mississippi capital of Jackson are bracing for more flooding as the rain-swollen Pearl River continues to rise. By Rogelio V. Solis and Rebecca Santana. SENT: 860 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Developing.
AFGHANISTAN-REFUGEES — After 40 years of wars and conflict, more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees still live in neighboring Pakistan. They feel abandoned by their own government, increasingly unwelcome in their reluctant host country and ignored by the U.N. But for the first time in years, there’s a faint hope of returning home. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
_______________________
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
_______________________
FATAL BAR SHOOTING — One dead, three hurt after motorcycle gang shootout at Texas bar. SENT: 110 words.
PAKISTAN-TOXIC LEAK — Toxic gas leak kills five, sickens dozens in Karachi port city. SENT: 150 words, photos.
RWANDA-GOSPEL MUSICIAN DIES — A popular Rwandan gospel musician who in 2015 was found guilty of conspiracy to murder or harm President Paul Kagame was found dead in a police cell Monday in the capital, Kigali, authorities said. SENT; 360 words.
PORTUGAL-RACISM — The president and the prime minister of Portugal added their voices Monday to a national outcry over racist abuse aimed at a black FC Porto soccer player who walked off the field after hearing monkey chants. SENT; 510 words.
DURIAN FRUIT THEFT — Police in Hawaii are investigating the theft of fruit valued at about $1,000 including durian, which is known for its powerful odor. SENT: 180 words.
PEARL HARBOR-VETERAN DIES — One of the remaining USS Arizona crew members who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor has died. SENT: 220 words, photos.
TESLA-GERMANY — A German court has temporarily halted the site preparation for Tesla Inc.'s first electric car factory in Europe. SENT: 220 words, photo.
_______________________
_______________________
FACT CHECK-WEEK — President Donald Trump is misrepresenting the Justice Department's handling of the legal case of his confidant and spreading a variety of other distortions, including about the border wall and voter fraud. By Hope Yen and Calvin Woodward. SENT: 2,400 words, photos.
_______________________
_______________________
SYRIA — Syria's military says its troops have regained control of territories in northwestern Syria “in record time,” vowing to continue to chase armed groups "wherever they are." The announcement on Monday came hours after troops consolidated the government's hold over the key Aleppo province, capturing over 30 villages and hamlets in the western countryside in one day and securing the provincial capital that had for years remained within range of opposition fire. SENT: 580 words, photos.
BURKINA FASO-KILLINGS — Gunmen killed 24 civilians, including a church pastor, and kidnapped three others on Sunday in Burkina Faso, an official said. It was the latest attack against a religious leader in the increasingly unstable West African nation. SENT: 320 words
KASHMIR-UK-VISA — Indian officials have denied a British lawmaker entry after she landed at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. An accompanying aide told The Associated Press that Debbie Abrahams, a Labour Party Member of Parliament who chairs a parliamentary group focused on the disputed region of Kashmir, was unable to clear customs after her valid Indian visa was rejected. SENT: 580 words, photos.
INDIA-WOMEN IN ARMY — India’s top court has ordered the government to grant permanent commission and command positions to female officers in the army on par with men, asserting that the government's arguments against the policy were based on gender stereotypes. SENT: 370 words.
AUSTRALIA MEDIA RAIDS — The Australian Federal Court has ruled that a police raid last year on the country’s national broadcaster was legal, prompting fears of increasing secrecy in Australia's institutions. SENT: 430 words.
_______________________
_______________________
MISSISSIPPI SHOOTINGS — The ex-wife of a Mississippi man on trial in the shooting deaths of eight people has testified that a sheriff's deputy became the first victim when he was shot in the face by the man she described as “abusive" and “controlling." SENT: 610 words, photos.
CARJACKING-SUSPECT KILLED — Police officers have fatally shot a man connected to carjackings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Authorities in Massachusetts say the 31-year-old man shot Sunday night was believed to have been the suspect in carjackings in Lowell, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire, earlier in the day. SENT: 340 words.
_______________
_______________
GENERAL MOTORS —ASIA PULLBACK General Motors says it's pulling out of Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as part of a strategy to exit markets that don't produce adequate returns on investments. By AP Auto Writer Tom Krishner SENT: 700 words, photos.
_______________________
_______________________
ELTON JOHN-PNEUMONIA -- Elton John intends to play his remaining shows in New Zealand and Australia after illness caused the singer to lose his voice and cut short a performance. SENT: 500 words, photos.
LONDON-FASHION WEEK — Gale force winds and a deluge of rain may be causing havoc to much of Britain, but for the fashion crowd the show must go on. Storm Dennis didn't stop models, celebrities and fashion insiders from donning their finest to attend London Fashion Week. SENT: 330 words, photos.
_______________
_______________
BKN-ALL-STAR GAME - Anthony Davis made a game-ending free throw to give Team LeBron a 157-155 win over Team Giannis in the revamped NBA All-Star Game. The game's format was overhauled to put in elements for charity and ensure that someone was going to hit a shot to end the game. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.
DAYTONA 500 - The Daytona 500 has been postponed by rain for the first time since 2012. The stoppage dampened NASCAR's season opener that started with a ballyhooed visit from President Donald Trump. The race was postponed after two lengthy delays totaling more than three hours. By AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT. 560 words, photos. DEVELOPING: The race will now begin at 4 p.m. Monday.
--------------
HOW TO REACH US
--------------
At the Nerve Center, Mae Anderson 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.