AP News Digest 3:15 a.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPAIN-PANDEMIC HOSPITAL — As a surge of coronavirus infections is again putting Spain’s public health system against the ropes, an emergency hospital once seen by many as an extravagant vanity project is getting a fresh opportunity to prove its usefulness. The Nurse Isabel Zendal Hospital in Madrid was built in 100 days at a cost of $157 million, more than twice the original budget. As the curve of contagion turned increasingly vertical after Christmas and New Year’s, the Zendal has been busy. Critics say the local conservative government should have spent the money on shoring up the public health care system instead. By Aritz Parra. UPCOMING: 1,030 words by 5 a.m., photos.
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TOP STORIES
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BIDEN-IMMIGRATION — President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration, hoping to provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status, a massive reversal from the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies. By Lisa Mascaro and Bill Barrow. SENT: 540 words, photos.
BIDEN-GREAT EXPECTATIONS — Biden has evoked Franklin Delano Roosevelt in promising a remaking of America unseen since the New Deal. Can Biden’s great expectations be met? By Will Weissert. SENT: 1,250 words, photos. With BIDEN-GREAT EXPECTATIONS-LIST.
BIDEN-CABINET-NATIONAL SECURITY — Biden’s nominees to head the State Department, the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community face a series of confirmation hearings None is likely to be confirmed by the time Biden takes the oath of office. By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor And Matthew Lee. SENT: 820 words, photos. UPCOMING: 950 words after hearings begin at 10 a.m. Also see YELLEN-CONFIRMATION HEARING below.
BIDEN-INAUGURATION-ROBERTS — Someday, perhaps, John Roberts will swear in a new president who doesn’t wish someone else was chief justice of the United States. Wednesday won’t be that day. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 800 words, photo. With BIDEN-INAUGURATION-SECURITY — The U.S. Capitol complex temporarily locks down; BIDEN-INAUGURATION — Biden, Kamala Harris pitch in on Martin Luther King Jr. Day services; INAUGURATION-BLACK AMERICANS — Harris speaks at an event celebrating Black Americans. SENT: 450 words, photos. Event begins at 8 p.m.
Find more coverage of the inauguration on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VARIANTS — The race against the virus that causes COVID-19 has taken a new turn: Mutations are rapidly popping up, and the longer it takes to vaccinate people, the more likely it is that a variant that can elude current tests, treatments and vaccines could emerge. By Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione. SENT: 990 words, photos.
DUBAI-SICK IN PARTY TOWN — Masks off the minute you step inside. Bars packed and pulsing like it’s 2019. Social media stars waving bottles of champagne. DJs spinning party tunes through multi-hour brunches. Since becoming one of the world’s first destinations to open up for tourism, Dubai has promoted itself as the ideal pandemic vacation spot. It cannot afford otherwise, analysts say, as the virus shakes the foundations of the city-state’s economy. By Isabel Debre. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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KASHMIR-TOURISM-PHOTO-GALLERY — Snow fills Kashmir resort with tourists again. SENT: 250 words, photos.
CAR THIEF-RETURNED CHILD — Police: Thief in Oregon berates mom for leaving kid in car he stole. SENT: 230 words.
THAILAND-ROYAL-INSULTS — Thai court gives record 43-year sentence for insulting king. SENT: 760 words, photos.
MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS — Four hurt in string of shootings in Pocono Mountains community. SENT: 220 words, photo.
TOLEDO OFFICER KILLED — Ohio police officer killed in armed standoff with man. SENT: 270 words.
PAKISTAN-MISSING-CLIMBER — Russian-American climber found dead on Pakistani mountain. SENT: 260 words.
MEXICO-VIOLENCE — Twelve slain, dumped on road in rural dispute in southern Mexico. SENT: 80 words.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS — Inside hospital rooms across America, where the sick are alone without family to comfort them, the grim task of offering solace falls to overworked and emotionally drained hospital chaplains who are dealing with more death than they’ve ever seen. SENT: 910 words, photos, video.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — China is dealing with coronavirus outbreaks across its frigid northeast, prompting additional lockdowns and travel bans ahead of next month’s Lunar New Year holiday. SENT: 380 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Chancellor Angela Merkel is holding a virtual meeting with the governors of Germany’s 16 states to discuss the country’s pandemic measures amid concerns that new mutations of the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge in cases. SENT: 290 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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YELLEN-CONFIRMATION HEARING — Treasury Secretary-nominee Janet Yellen is calling on Congress to do more to fight a deep pandemic-induced recession, saying the threats of a longer and even worse downturn are too great to cut back on support now. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 400 words, photo. UPCOMING: 700 words after 10 a.m. hearing.
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INTERNATIONAL
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AFGHANISTAN-CHILDREN — Some 10 million children in war-ravaged Afghanistan are at risk of not having enough food to eat in 2021, a humanitarian organization says, and called for billions in new funds for aid. SENT: 600 words, photos.
INDONESIA-EARTHQUAKE — Relief workers work to clear up rubble of collapsed buildings on an Indonesian island where a deadly earthquake left thousands of people homeless. SENT: 480 words, photos.
IRAN-DRILL — Iran’s military kicks off a ground forces drill along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, state TV reported, the latest in a series of snap exercises that the country is holding amid escalating tensions over its nuclear program and Washington’s pressure campaign against Tehran. SENT: 370 words, photos.
ARGENTINA-CHILE-QUAKE — A powerful earthquake struck in northwestern Argentina near the border with central Chile just before midnight, shaking people in parts of both countries. SENT: 200 words.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Shares advanced in Asia as the coming changing of the guard in the U.S. raised hopes for more support for the economy and more aggressive measures to fight the pandemic. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 600 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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AUSTRALIAN-OPEN — Australian Open officials rule out any change in the best-of-five set format for men’s singles matches at the season-opening tennis major as three more COVID-19 cases — two of them players — were reported among the international arrivals for the tournament. By Sports Writer Dennis Passa. SENT: 820 words, photos.
METS-GM-EXPLICIT-TEXTS — New York Mets general manager Jared Porter sent graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office, ESPN reported. SENT: 750 words, photo.
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HOW TO REACH US
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