AP News Coverage Advisory, 10:20
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.
_______________
HIGHLIGHTING _______________
VIRUS-OUTBREAK (sent, developing)
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS (sent, developing)
FINANCIAL MARKETS (sent, developing)
AP POLL-GENDER EQUALITY (sent)
KOBE BRYANT-MEMORIAL (sent, developing)
JUSSIE SMOLLET (sent, developing)
-------------———————— WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT '__________________
OBIT-KATHERINE JOHNSON — NASA: Mathematician portrayed in “Hidden Figures” has died. SENT: 150 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.
POLAND-AUSCHWITZ-HUNTERS — Auschwitz Museum upset at scene in Amazon series "Hunters." SENT: 330 words, photos.
GERMANY-CARNIVAL — German Carnival floats take aim at racism in wake of attack. SENT: 260 words, photos.
HUAWEI-NEW PHONE — China’s Huawei debuts latest version of folding phone. SENT: 340 words, photos.
NEPAL-EVEREST — Sherpa team to attempt to scale Everest in 5 days in final days of winter to set a new climbing record. SENT: 330 words, photos
-------------———————— INTERNATIONAL -------------————————
VIRUS-OUTBREAK — The new virus took aim at a broadening swath of the globe, with officials in Europe and the Middle East scrambling to limit the spread of an outbreak that showed signs of stabilizing at its Chinese epicenter but posed new threats far beyond. SENT: 960 words, photos. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-AT A GLANCE (sent)
MALAYSIA POLITICS — Malaysia's king accepted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's shocking resignation but reappointed him as interim leader following the collapse of the ruling alliance in a major political upheaval less than two years after its historic election victory. SENT: 650 words, photos.
TRUMP — President Donald Trump basks in India's warm embrace in a visit that offered him massive, colorful crowds at a mega-rally, lavishing praise on his ideologically aligned counterpart and luxuriating in a sunset tour of the famed Taj Mahal. SENT: 1,150 words, photos, video. With TRUMP-NEW DELHI PROTESTS — As President Donald Trump was being feted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, Hindu nationalist and communist groups held pro- and anti-U.S. street demonstrations in the capital. SENT: 410 words, photos; TRUMP-THE LATEST (sent)
BRITAIN-ASSANGE — The U.S. government began outlining its extradition case against Julian Assange in a London court, arguing that the WikiLeaks founder is not a free-speech champion but an “ordinary” criminal who put many lives at risk with his secret-spilling. SENT: 900 words, photos.
ISRAEL-SETTLER SUPPORT — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is eager to court the votes of the country's influential West Bank settlers in critical elections next month. President Donald Trump's Mideast plan seemed just the key to ramping up their support. The plan envisions Israel's eventual annexation of its scores of West Bank settlements — a longtime settler dream. But in the weeks since Trump's plan was unveiled, Netanyahu has stumbled over his promises to quickly carry out the annexation, sparking an outcry from settler leaders. That could chip away any goodwill he hoped to gain from the plan ahead of the vote. SENT: 1,000 words, photos, video. With ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — Gaza militants resumed their intense bombardment of southern Israel, with some rockets slipping through Israel's Iron Dome defense system and one landing in the yard of a kindergarten. SENT: 500 words, photos.
NORTHERN TRIANGLE ASYLUM — The United States government is preparing to expand a program that sends asylum seekers to Guatemala before they can formally ask to stay in the U.S. The program that began in November has been called “deportation with a layover” because many migrants give up and return to the countries they fled rather than wait to be processed by Guatemalan authorities. The U.S. plans to begin transfers to Honduras and El Salvador too. Hundreds of asylum-seekers have arrived in Guatemala since November. International law does not allow the U.S. to deport them directly back to their home country. By Sonia Perez D. and Christopher Sherman. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 11 a.m. This is the Tuesday spotlight.
FRANCE-EX-PRIME-MINISTER-TRIAL — He was the front-runner to be president of France. Instead, former Prime Minister Francois Fillon is going on trial to face fraud charges after he used public funds to pay his wife and children for work they allegedly never performed. SENT: 770 words, photos.
ZIMBABWE-DROUGHT-HUNGER-ELDERLY — The United Nations' World Food Program says more than half of Zimbabwe's 15 million people are in need of food assistance, making the southern African country among the world’s most food insecure countries. SENT: 940 words, photos.
_______________________
MORE ON VIRUS-OUTBREAK -------------————————
IRAN VIRUS OUTBREAK — An Iranian lawmaker from the city of Qom says a staggering 50 people have died there from the new coronavirus this month, even as the Health Ministry insisted only 12 deaths have been recorded to date. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japanese health officials and experts on a government panel acknowledged that the quarantine of the virus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess was not perfect, but defended Japan's decision to release about 1,000 passengers after 14 days. SENT: 560 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK-EUROPE — Police manned checkpoints around quarantined towns in Italy's north on Monday and residents stocked up on food as the country became the focal point of the outbreak in Europe and fears of its cross-border spread. SENT: 920 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK — China announced it has postponed its most important political meetings of the year because of the outbreak of the new virus, a significant step for an authoritarian government that has always kept tight control over its political calendar. SENT 280 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK-BARBERS TAKE A HAIRCUT — Need a trim in Beijing? You might have to wait. Even getting a haircut has become a challenge in China now that most barbershops are temporarily shut to avoid public gatherings amid the virus outbreak. SENT: 410 words.
CHINA-VIRUS OUTBREAK-ECONOMY — China's government promised tax cuts and other aid to help companies recover from its virus outbreak while a spike in new cases in Iran, Italy and South Korea raised the prospect of wider disruption to tourism and other global industries. SENT: 700 words, photos.
-------------———————— WASHINGTON/ POLITICS -------------————————
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS – Bernie Sanders and his top advisers entered the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential primary convinced he was a front-runner. They believed the political insurgency flag he planted in 2016 was still flying and that his strong stances on climate change, canceling student debt and providing universal health care would reignite strong support among young voters. Unlike 2016, this time Sanders' movement would have a political machine to propel it. SENT: 1,500 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-WATCH — Why are there 8 candidates still in the race? SENT: 870 words, photos.
ELECTION 2020-CHILD CARE — Bernie Sanders has joined fellow progressive Elizabeth Warren in proposing that a “wealth tax” can fiance government-funded child care from infancy through age 3 for every American family, then provide universal pre-kindergarten programs after that. SENT: 170 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-BLACK VOTERS — Black voters aren't unanimous in how they're approaching the rapidly evolving Democratic contest. That's a challenge for Joe Biden as he seeks a commanding win in South Carolina on Saturday. After disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, he can't afford losing much black support here. UPCOMING: 800 words by 1 p.m., photos.
DEMOCRATS-AFTER IMPEACHMENT — There are signs in some House races that impeachment might not be the political weapon Republicans have hoped. Democrat Elissa Slotkin's town hall last week featured none of the booing or rowdy chanting that characterized five of her public events during the impeachment proceedings. SENT: 980 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
AP POLL-GENDER EQUALITY — Roughly 3 in 4 Americans support the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, nearly 50 years after it passed Congress in 1972, a new poll from the Associated Press-NORCE Center for Public Affairs Research finds. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
ARMY TRAINERS-AFRICA — The Army, for the first time, will send soldiers from one of its new training brigades to Africa in the coming weeks, expanding the use of the new specialized units as the Pentagon looks at possible troop cuts on the continent. By Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 970 words, photos.
FACT CHECK-WEEK — In their boisterous presidential debate, several Democrats sold short the health care plans of rivals and Mike Bloomberg distorted his position on the “stop and frisk" police strategy when he was New York mayor. In an audacious league of his own, President Trump celebrated the elimination of a tax that still exists. By Calvin Woodward, Hope Yen and Josh Boak. SENT: 2,190 words, photos.
-------------———————— NATIONAL -------------————————
KOBE BRYANT-MEMORIAL — Thousands of mourners will gather in Staples Center on Monday to say farewell to Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The basketball superstar and his 13-year-old daughter will be honored in a public memorial at the arena where Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe and Gianna Bryant died along with seven others on Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash. SENT: 360 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing. With KOBE BRYANT MEMORIAL-VICTIMS — The six passengers traveling with Kobe Bryant and his daughter in the helicopter that crashed into a Southern California mountainside last month were joined by their love of basketball. SENT: 900 words, photos. KOBE BRYANT MEMORIAL-TIMELINE (sent).
JUSSIE SMOLLET — Actor Jussie Smollett is due to make his first court appearance on a new set of charges accusing him of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack last year. The former “Empire” actor is expected to plead not guilty to the six felony counts of disorderly conduct during Monday's hearing. SENT: 490 words, photo.
OPIOID CRISIS-PURDUE-BANKRUPTCY — OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma launched an ad campaign to tell people harmed by their powerful prescription opioid where they can file claims against the company. The $23.8 million campaign is part of Purdue's bankruptcy proceedings as it tries to resolve close to 3,000 lawsuits over its role in the opioid crisis. SENT: 410 words.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — Jurors at Harvey Weinstein’s New York City rape trial are set to resume deliberations after signaling they are at odds on the top charges in the closely watched #MeToo case. SENT: 270 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.
-------------———————— BUSINESS -------------————————
FINANCIAL MARKETS — U.S. stocks tumbled in early trading and followed a broad sell-off in overseas markets as as a surge in virus cases and a worrisome spread outside of the original epicenter in China sent investors running for safety. SENT: 440 words, photos.
-------------———————— SCIENCE -------------————————
MICROPLASTICS RISK — Most people are familiar with the growing crisis caused by plastic bags, water bottles and other large plastic debris contaminating oceans worldwide. But another type of plastic is causing alarm among researchers and conservationists. Scientists say “microplastics” are turning up everywhere in oceans, from the water itself to the guts of fish and the poop of sea otters and giant killer whales. By Gillian Flaccus. SENT: 860 words, photo.
-------------————————
HOW TO REACH US
-------------————————
At the Nerve Center, Dave Clark 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.