AP News Digest 3:35 a.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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CAPITOL BREACH-LAW ENFORCEMENT FAILURES — Three days before the riot at the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon asked Capitol Police if they needed National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building, top Justice Department officials reached out to offer up FBI agents. But in both cases, Capitol police turned them down. By Nomaan Merchant, Lolita C. Baldor, Michael Balsamo and Colleen Long. SENT: 1,400 words, photos
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TOP STORIES
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CAPITOL BREACH — A police officer has died from injuries sustained as President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol, a violent siege that is forcing hard questions about the defeated president’s remaining days in office and the ability of the Capitol Police to secure the area. The U.S. Capitol Police said that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters” during the riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the melee. By Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Daly. SENT: 990 words, photos, videos. With CAPITOL-BREACH-THE-LATEST.
TRUMP — With 12 days left in his term, Trump has finally bent to reality, acknowledging his electoral defeat amid growing talk in Washington of trying to force him from office early. By Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller. SENT: 1,300 words, photos, video. With TRUMP-PENCE — Hurt feelings, anger linger after Pence, Trump clash.
TRUMP-DEPARTURES — A steady stream of Trump administration officials are rushing to the exits as a protest against the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol, even as others wrestling with the stay-or-go question conclude that they owe it to the public to see things through to the end. By Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller and Kevin Freking. SENT: 940 words, photos.
BIDEN-INAUGURATION SECURITY — President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration was already going to be scaled back with the pandemic raging. But after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, questions began to arise about whether having a presidential ceremony on the steps of the same building could also pose a serious security risk. By Will Weissert. SENT: 1,200 words, photo. Also see BIDEN-ECONOMIC TEAM below.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — The U.S. registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before — nearly 3,900 — on the very day the mob attack on the Capitol laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic. Skyrocketing caseloads there are threatening to force hospitals to ration care and essentially decide who lives and who dies. By Carla K. Johnson and Lisa Marie Pane. SENT: 680 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VACCINE-VARIANT — New research suggests that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two highly contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. By Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard. SENT: 500 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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NEW-ZEALAND-SHARK-ATTACK — Woman dies in suspected New Zealand shark attack. SENT: 130 words, photos.
HOTEL CONFRONTATION — Woman who falsely accused Black teen of theft is arrested. SENT: 420 words.
ILLINOIS CONGRESSWOMAN-HITLER REMARK — More demand Illinois congresswoman who cited Hitler resign. SENT: 600 words.
MEXICO-US — Mexico leader condemns Twitter, Facebook for blocking Trump. SENT: 360 words, photo.
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VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-HOSPITAL-WAIVERS — Facing a massive surge in coronavirus cases, California has been issuing waivers allowing hospitals to temporarily bypass the nation’s only strict nurse-to-patient ratios. SENT: 920 words, photo. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — For nurses, California’s virus outbreak has a personal toll.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CZECH-CREMATORIUM-FULL — The biggest crematorium in the Czech Republic has been overwhelmed by mounting numbers of pandemic victims. SENT: 510 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRAZIL DEATHS — Brazil has seen its coronavirus deaths surpass 200,000, pushing the second highest toll in the world higher even as Brazilians are again crowding their beaches. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SEYCHELLES — The Indian Ocean island nation of the Seychelles says it will begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations on Sunday with the 50,000 doses it has of the Chinese-developed Sinopharm vaccine. SENT: 240 words.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Japan began its first day under a coronavirus state of emergency with much of life as usual, including morning commuter trains shuttling crowds of mask-wearing people at bustling stations. SENT: 340 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — Australia is nearly halving the number of passengers allowed to arrive by plane in a bid to prevent the spread of a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in Britain. SENT: 410 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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BIDEN-ECONOMIC TEAM — Biden is set to introduce the governor of Rhode Island, the mayor of Boston and a small-business advocate from California as the newest members of his economic team. SENT: 600 words, photos. UPCOMING: 800 words after 1:30 event. With BIDEN — Biden blames Trump for violence at Capitol that’s shaken U.S.
FAITHFUL-DEMOCRATS — The Rev. and Sen.-elect Raphael Warnock shares more than a party with Biden: Both Democrats made faith a central part of their political identity on the campaign trail — and their victories are emboldening religious liberals. SENT: 960 words, photo.
CONGRESS-JOSH HAWLEY — Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is being scolded and blamed for the riots at the U.S. Capitol. SENT: 1,100 words, photos. With BOOKS-HAWLEY — Simon & Schuster drops book by Hawley.
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INTERNATIONAL
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INDONESIA-RADICAL CLERIC — A convicted firebrand cleric who inspired the Bali bombers and other violent extremists walked free from an Indonesian prison after completing his sentence for funding the training of Islamic militants. SENT: 990 words, photos.
CHINA-US-TAIWAN — Taiwan says it welcomed the upcoming visit of a U.S. ambassador to the island in the final week of the Trump presidency in a move that China has already strongly warned against. SENT: 350 words, photo.
SKOREA-JAPAN-SEX SLAVES — A South Korean court ordered Japan to financially compensate 12 South Korean women forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II, the first such ruling expected to rekindle animosities between the Asian neighbors. SENT: 610 words, photos.
NKOREA-PARTY-CONGRESS — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un underscored the need to drastically improve his nation’s ties with the outside world as he addressed a major political conference for the third consecutive day. SENT: 740 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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RACIAL INJUSTICE-LOUISVILLE POLICE — Louisville city leaders praised the former Atlanta police chief who has been hired to oversee their struggling department in the wake of Breonna Taylor’s death, but some critics questioned if she was the right choice after a rocky departure from her previous job. SENT: 730 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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ECONOMY-JOBS-REPORT — America’s employers likely cut back again on hiring last month — and might even have shed jobs — with the economy under pressure from a resurgent virus that has led many consumers to reduce spending and states and cities to reimpose business restrictions. By Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber. SENT: 530 words, photo. UPCOMING: Report at 8:30 a.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SMALL BUSINESS — Millions of business owners are about to get additional help weathering the coronavirus outbreak. By Business Writer Joyce M. Rosenberg. SENT: 810 words, photo.
FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian shares were mostly higher on hopes for additional economic stimulus after Biden takes office. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 580 words, photos.
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TV/MEDIA
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CONGRESS-ELECTORAL-COLLEGE-PROTESTS-CONSERVATIVE-MEDIA — Many media outlets that appeal to conservatives condemned violence in the wake of the riot at the U.S. Capitol following a demonstration by Trump’s supporters. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 980 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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OUTDOOR HOCKEY-CLIMATE FEARS — A warming climate in Canada and other places is threatening the very existence of outdoor hockey. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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