AP News Digest 5:30 a.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 https://newsroom.ap.org.
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK - The director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology says claims promoted by the Trump administration that the global coronavirus pandemic originated at the Chinese laboratory are a “pure fabrication.” President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have repeatedly said they suspect the virus was somehow released from the laboratory. Most scientists say it was passed from bats to humans via an intermediary species likely sold at a wet market in Wuhan late last year. By David Crary, Amy Forliti, and Geir Moulson. SENT: 930 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
HONG KONG-PROTESTS — Hong Kong police have fired volleys of tear gas in a popular shopping district as hundreds took to the streets to march against China’s proposed tough national security legislation for the city. Pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong have sharply criticized China’s proposal to enact a national security law that would ban secessionist and subversive activity, as well as foreign interference and terrorism in the semi-autonomous territory. SENT: 510 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
TRUMP-ARMS CONTROL -- Time is running out on an arms control treaty that, if it’s allowed to expire in February, will leave the world with no legal restrictions on U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons for the first time in nearly half a century. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is the only remaining U.S.-Russia arms control pact. Russia has offered to extend it, but President Donald Trump is holding out. He wants to get China into a three-way treaty, but that effort is still in the starting blocks. By Deb Riechmann. SENT: 860 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-STRANDED MOROCCANS — It’s a reverse migrant crisis: Moroccan workers trapped in Spain have been begging their own government to let them come back home. And after more than two months, they’re finally being heard. Hundreds of Moroccans headed to work in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta one day in March thinking they’d be home for dinner. SENT: 800 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SOUTH AFRICA-LONG EXIT — South Africa is struggling to balance its fight against the coronavirus with its dire need to resume economic activity. The country with the Africa’s most developed economy also has its highest number of infections — more than 21,000. The economic effects fall hardest on the millions of Africans who rely on daily trading to earn money to eat. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Six million Australians have downloaded a mobile phone app that helps health authorities trace coronavirus infections. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the COVIDSafe app is playing a strong role in Australia’s response to the pandemic and several countries have expressed interest in learning from its positive impacts. SENT: 370 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-OREGON - The Oregon Supreme Court is giving a rural judge until Tuesday to toss out his ruling that found the governor’s coronavirus restrictions are invalid. SENT: 640 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW YORK -- The daily death rate attributable to the coronavirus continues to fall in New York. The state on Saturday reported 84 fatalities, its lowest number in weeks in what Gov. Andrew Cuomo described as a critical benchmark. The death tally peaked at 799 on April 8. The death rate is considered a lagging indicator and has remained stubbornly high even amid other signs of encouragement. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FLORIDA DATA DASHBOARD - Records show that the woman who raised questions about Florida’s COVID-19 data had been reprimanded and ultimately fired for violating Health Department policy by making public remarks about the information. SENT: 900 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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EX-CONGRESSMAN-MOTORCYCLE CRASH — The Alaska Baseball League has canceled its summer season, as the future of sports worldwide remains uncertain during the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 170 words, photo.
ARIZONA PLANE CRASH-REPORT — A federal report concludes that a single-engine plane with six people aboard crashed in Arizona in 2018 because it was overweight and had an undetected engine problem. SENT: 400 words, photos.
TUNISIA MIGRANTS — At least one migrant has drowned, six are missing and over 80 have been rescued off Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast. SENT: 220 words.
JERUSALEM CHURCH — Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher has reopened to visitors after a two-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. SENT: 190 words, photo.
JAPAN-OBIT-WRESTLER-HANA KIMURA — Hana Kimura, a Japanese pro-wrestler who appeared in the latest series of the popular reality show “Terrace House,” has died. She was 22. SENT: 200 words, photos.
SCI-HOME LAUNCH-TRUMP - President Trump to attend Wednesday’s NASA astronaut launch in Florida. SENT: 275 words, photos.
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ELECTION 2020-ALABAMA SENATE: Jeff Sessions is pushing back at President Donald Trump’s criticisms on his recusal in the Russia investigation when he was attorney general. Sessions responded to Trump on Saturday morning, tweeting that the president was “damn fortunate” that he recused himself as required by law. SENT: 430 words, photo.
FACT CHECK-WEEK -- When President Donald Trump doesn’t like the message, he shoots the messenger. So it was this past week when he took very personally a scientific study that should give pause to anyone thinking of following Trump’s lead and ingesting a potentially risky drug for the coronavirus. He branded the study’s researchers, financed in part by his own administration, his “enemy.” A look at recent rhetoric and reality as the pandemic’s death toll approached 100,000 in the U.S. SENT: 2,030 words, photos. Find AP Fact Checks at https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
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EID — Muslims around the world have begun celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. This year millions are under strict stay-at-home orders and many fear renewed coronavirus outbreaks. The three-day holiday beginning Sunday is usually a time of travel, family get-togethers and lavish daytime feasts after weeks of dawn-to-dusk fasting. SENT: 950 words, photos.
ISRAEL-NETANYAHU — Israel’s prime minister was set to appear in court for the opening of his corruption trial, the first criminal proceedings against a seated Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu is accused of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. He has denied any wrongdoing, and has dismissed the charges against him as a “witch hunt” by media and law enforcement. SENT: 350 words, photos.
NKOREA-NUCLEAR — North Korea’s state media say leader Kim Jong Un has convened a key military meeting to discuss bolstering its nuclear arsenal and putting his country’s strategic armed forces on a high alert. It’s his first public appearance in about 20 days. SENT: 420 words, photos.
HONK KONG-UK PATTERN — The last British governor of Hong Kong says China has betrayed the semi-autonomous territory by tightening control over the city it had promised could keep freedoms not found on the mainland. Chris Patten told an interview with The Times of London: “What we are seeing is a new Chinese dictatorship.” SENT: 440 words, photo.
CHINA-CLUBS DISQUALIFIED — Economic woes are taking a toll on China’s professional football clubs, with 11 being disqualified for failing to pay wages and five closing shop on their own terms, including top-tier Chinese Super League side Tianjin Tianhai. SENT: 290 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-CEASE-FIRE - The Taliban and Afghanistan’s president have announced a three-day cease-fire ahead of a major Islamic holiday that begins Sunday to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. The Taliban order, which was soon followed by an announcement via Twitter from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announcing the agreement, comes just days after U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in the area. SENT: 620 words, photos.
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SAN FRANCISCO-PIER FIRE -- A fire broke out before dawn on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf and destroyed a warehouse. Fire officials said one firefighter suffered a hand injury. Investigators were trying to determine whether homeless people were inside. The fire tore through the warehouse before dawn Saturday, sending thick smoke over the waterfront and causing its walls to collapse. SENT: 600 words, photos.
BOY FOUND DEAD-FLORIDA — Officials say a Miami woman faked her son’s abduction and instead led him to a canal where he drowned. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle says 45-year-old Patricia Ripley is also facing attempted and premeditated murder charges because she pushed the boy into another canal the same night, but witnesses rescued 9-year-old Alejandro Ripley the first time. SENT: 500 words, photo.
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GLF--CHARITY MATCH - The purpose of the Sunday’s exhibition in Florida -- Tiger Woods-Peyton Manning vs. Phil Mickelson-Tom Brady -- is to raise $10 million for COVID-19 relief courtesy of four of the biggest stars from golf and football. Another appeal: a chance to see Woods play for the first time in 98 days. SENT: 770 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Shameka Dudley-Lowe 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.