AP News Digest 3 a.m.
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TOP STORIES
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BRITAIN-MEGHAN-AND-HARRY-INTERVIEW — Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Meghan and Harry has produced several revelations, from Meghan saying she experienced suicidal thoughts, Harry saying he felt “trapped” in royal life and the couple revealing the sex of their second child. Meghan, who is biracial, told Winfrey in the interview airing Sunday night in the U.S. that there were discussions among the royal family about how dark her son’s skin would be. By Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. SENT: 1,140 words, photos. WITH BRITAIN-MEGHAN-AND-HARRY-INTERVIEW-QUOTE BOX; BRITAIN-MEGHAN-AND-HARRY-INTERVIEW-THE LATEST.
BIDEN-CONGRESS -- With President Joe Biden on the verge of his first big legislative victory, a key moderate Democrat said Sunday he’s open to changing Senate rules that could allow for more party-line votes to push through other parts of the White House’s agenda such as voting rights. By Hope Yen. SENT: 780 words, photos.
IRAQ-POPE — Pope Francis wrapped up a historic whirlwind tour of Iraq that sought to bring hope to the country’s marginalized Christian minority with a message of coexistence, forgiveness and peace. By Nicole Winnfield and Samya Kullab. SENT: 610 words, photos.
GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICER TRIAL — The fate of a former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck as the Black man said he couldn’t breathe will be decided by 12 residents of Hennepin County who will be picked after extensive grilling about their views. SENT: 780 words, photos. WITH: George Floyd-Officer Trial-Timeline (sent).
CUOMO-SEXUAL HARASSMENT — The two top Democrats in New York’s legislature withdrew their support for Gov. Andrew Cuomo amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment and undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins became the first senior Democrat in the state to say he should resign. By Karen Matthews and Davide Porter. SENT: 880 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-WOMEN UNDER FIRE — Prominent activist Sima Samar has been fighting for women’s rights in Afghanistan for the past 40 years. She says in an interview that she is worried about the future at a time when violence is on the rise, peace talks between rival Afghan groups are stuck and the U.S. mulls its departure from her country. By Kathy Gannon. SENT:1,050 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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JAPAN-TSUNAMI-ANNIVERSARY-THEN-&-NOW-PHOTO GALLERY — Tsunami scars linger a decade later in Japan. SENT: 470 words, photos.
MACKENZIE SCOTT-REMARRIES — MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has married a Seattle science teacher. SENT: 280 words, photo.
FILM-BOX OFFICE — Audiences hold back, even as more movie theaters open. SENT: 280 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK — Workers such as restaurant servers and retail clerks are balancing the anticipation of better earnings with concerns about keeping themselves safe as states lift mask mandates and ease restrictions on businesses. Some workers say they’re worried about getting COVID-19 as crowds return and resistance from co-workers and customers when they try to enforce their employers’ ongoing mask requirements. SENT: 1,240 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE LATEST (sent).
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIETNAM — Vietnam has administered its first COVID-19 doses to the front-line workers who made the nation’s relative success in controlling the pandemic possible. SENT: 310 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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JILL BIDEN -- Jill Biden once said she’d never let her platform as first lady “go to waste.” She has filled the opening days of her new role with virtual meetings, teaching her community college English class, official travel, running errands in the Washington area and moving the family’s dogs into the White House. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.
UNITED STATES-SOUTH KOREA -- The United States and South Korea have reached agreement in principle on a new arrangement for sharing the cost of the American troop presence, which is intended as a bulwark against the threat of North Korean aggression, both countries announced. By Robert Burns and Matthew Lee. SENT: 670 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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HAVARD-COMFORT WOMEN — A Harvard University professor has ignited international uproar after he alleged that Korean women who were kept as sex slaves in wartime Japan had actually chosen to work as prostitutes. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
TRUMP-LEGAL TROUBLES-ESTATE — A century-old estate that Donald Trump owns in suburban New York is subdued by the former president’s standards, but it could end up being one of his bigger legal nightmares. SENT: 1,540 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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MYANMAR SANCTIONS — The escalation of violence in Myanmar as authorities crack down on protests against the February 1 coup is adding to pressure for more sanctions against the junta. But countries are struggling over how to best confront military leaders inured to global condemnation. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
CHINA-EXPLAINING THE CONGRESS — Midway through its annual session, China’s ceremonial parliament is focusing on boosting the economy, building self-reliance in technology and further squeezing room for political opposition in Hong Kong. SENT: 700 words, photo.
PHILLIPINES-DEADLY POLICE RAIDS — Philippine police backed by military forces killed nine people in a series of raids over the weekend against suspected communist insurgents, with authorities saying the suspects opened fire first. SENT: 540 words, photos.
HONG KONG-POLITICS — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Monday that the Hong Kong government “fully welcomes” the reforms to the city’s electoral system, after Beijing proposed a major revamp that will increase central government control over Hong Kong politics. SENT: 550 words, photos.
AUSTRALIA-MYANMAR — Australia has suspended defense cooperation with Myanmar and is redirecting humanitarian aid because of the military coup and the detention of an Australian citizen. SENT: 390 words, photos.
CHINA-US — China’s foreign minister warned the Biden administration to roll back former President Donald Trump’s “dangerous practice” of showing support for Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by Beijing as its own territory.. SENT: 490 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/TECH
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Asian shares were mixed Monday, as some indexes were lifted by hopes for a gradual global recovery after the U.S. stimulus package passed the Senate over the weekend. SENT: 590 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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BKN-ALL-STAR-GAME — Even in the strangest NBA All-Star Game of them all, LeBron James was still the perfect captain. Team LeBron showed off its high-flying and long-range skills during a dominating run to close out the first half. That set up a 170-150 romp over Team Durant in the league’s 70th midseason showcase. By Paul Newberry. SENT: 860 words, photos. With BKN-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NBA-ALL-STAR — Embiid, Simmons to miss All-Star Game over contact tracing. SENT: 710 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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