AP News Digest 3 a.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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COVID-DISINFORMATION — The rumors began almost as soon as the disease itself. Claims that a foreign adversary had unleashed a bioweapon emerged at the fringes of Chinese social media the same day China first reported the outbreak of a mysterious virus. Today, a year after the World Health Organization warned of an epidemic of COVID-19 misinformation, that conspiracy theory lives on, pushed by Chinese officials eager to cast doubt on the origins of a pandemic that has claimed more than 2 million lives globally. By Erika Kinetz. SENT: 3,700 words photos, video. An abridged version of 1,140 words has also been sent. With COVID-DISINFORMATION-SUPERSPREADERS — The superspreaders behind top COVID-19 conspiracy theories; COVID-DISINFORMATION-TAKEAWAYS.
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TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT — A day after former President Donald Trump won his second Senate impeachment trial, bipartisan support appeared to be growing for an independent Sept. 11-style commission into the deadly insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol. By Hope Yen. SENT: 1,030 words, photos. WITH: TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-LEGAL — Impeachment isn’t the final word on Capitol riot for Trump.
Find complete coverage of the impeachment in the AP Newsroom hub.
BIDEN-CAMP DAVID — Joe Biden is spending his first weekend as president at Camp David, the historic retreat used by every president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt first went there in 1943. It’s also been the site of major diplomatic negotiations and policy discussions throughout history. By Alexandra Jaffe. SENT: 920 words, photos.
MYANMAR — Myanmar’s military leaders extend their detention of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose remand was set to expire and whose freedom is a key demand of the crowds of people continuing to protest this month’s military coup. SENT: 610 words, photos.
FRANCE-RADICALS-ON-THE-RADAR — More than three dozen police officers descended on a small private school in Paris, blocked the 92 students inside their classrooms, took photos everywhere, and grilled the school director in her office. Hanane Loukili, the director of the MHS middle and high school, later learned the Nov. 17 scene was carried out by a team from a special cell sweeping schools, shops, clubs or mosques to rout out radicalization. Loukili insists she is no radical. But such operations illustrate French efforts to fight extremism as lawmakers prepare to vote on a bill aimed at snuffing it out. By Elaine Ganley. SENT: 1,010 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ISRAEL-FAKE-NEWS — After surging ahead in the race to vaccinate its population against the coronavirus, Israel is blaming online misinformation for a sudden slowdown in the campaign. Now, officials are fighting back. Israel’s Health Ministry, which is spearheading the vaccination efforts, is employing both warnings and incentives as it tries to persuade reluctant holdouts to get immunized. By Isaac Scharf and Ilan Ben Zion. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.
NASCAR-DAYTONA-500 — Michael McDowell stormed through a crash scene to win the Daytona 500, snapping an 0-for-357 streak with a fiery pileup in his rearview mirror. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 790 words, photos.
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JAPAN-MURAKAMI — Author Murakami hosts live jam for relaxation amid pandemic. SENT: 360 words, photos.
TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-BURR — N.C. GOP to vote on censuring Sen. Burr after impeachment vote. SENT: 190 words, photos.
ONE GOOD THING-CHINESE NEW YEAR — Many Malaysian workers and students are stranded in Singapore over Lunar New Year. SENT: 430 words, photos.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ZEALAND — As people in Auckland adjusted to a new lockdown, health officials say they’d found no evidence the coronavirus had spread further in the community, raising hopes the restrictions might be short-lived. SENT: 330 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ZIMBABWE-CHINA-VACCINES — Zimbabwe has received its first COVID-19 vaccines with the arrival of an Air Zimbabwe jet carrying 200,000 Sinopharm doses from China. SENT: 510 words.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-PHILIPPINES — The Philippine government’s approval for reopening many movie theaters, video game arcades and other leisure businesses closed since last year was postponed at least another two weeks after mayors feared it will bring new coronavirus infections. SENT: 450 words.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DUBAI-AIRPORT — Dubai International Airport saw the coronavirus pandemic push passenger traffic down by an unprecedented 70% in 2020 compared to the previous year, even as the airport held onto its prized title as the world’s busiest for international travel. SENT: 550 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VACCINE-RESIGNATIONS — Peru’s foreign minister resigned amid an uproar over government officials being secretly vaccinated against the coronavirus before the country recently received 1 million doses for health workers facing a resurgence in the pandemic. SENT: 330 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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INTERNATIONAL
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SYRIA-ISRAEL — Israel fired several missiles targeting areas near the Syrian capital, Damascus, Syria’s state news agency reported. An opposition war-monitoring group says the strikes killed six Iran-backed fighters. SENT: 210 words.
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WINTER-WEATHER — Snow and ice blanketed large swaths of the U.S., prompting canceled flights, making driving perilous and reaching into areas as far south as Texas’ Gulf Coast, where snow and sleet were expected overnight. SENT: 940 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/TECH
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian shares started the week off with a rally, as Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed above 30,000 for the first time since August 1990. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 670 words, photos.
JAPAN-ECONOMY — The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 12.7% in October-December, marking the second straight quarter of growth, amid a recovery from the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 490 words, photos.
AUSTRALIA-DIGITAL-PLATFORMS — Seven West Media has become the largest Australian news media business to strike a deal with Google to pay for journalism in a partnership announced before the nation’s Parliament considers draft laws to force digital giants to pay for news. SENT: 730 words, photos.
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