AP News Digest 3:30 a.m.

Thursday 01 April 2021 03:33 EDT

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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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ONLY ON AP

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-J&J SUPPLIER — The company at the center of quality problems that led Johnson & Johnson to discard an unknown amount of its coronavirus vaccine has a string of citations from U.S. health officials for quality control problems. Emergent BioSolutons has been cited repeatedly by the Food and Drug Administration. By Richard Lardner and Linda Johnson. SENT: 950 words, photo.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK — France is now Europe’s latest coronavirus danger zone, but President Emmanuel Macron is resisting calls for dramatic action. He decided to stick to a strategy that aims to offer a “third way” between freedom and lockdown. It is meant to keep both infections and a restless populace under control until mass vaccinations take over. The government refuses to acknowledge failure, and it blames delayed vaccine deliveries and a disobedient public for soaring infections and saturated hospitals. Macron’s critics blame arrogance at the highest levels. By Angela Charlton. SENT: 940 words, photos.

BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE-ANALYSIS — Infrastructure was a road to nowhere for former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama. But Joe Biden believes he can use it to drive America to the future after a dozen years of false starts. The trip is unlikely to be smooth. By Josh Boak. SENT: 960 words, photos. With BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE-CONGRESS — Democrats aim for July vote as Congress digs in on infrastructure; BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE-GLANCE. Also see BIDEN-ABANDONED WELLS below.

IMMIGRATION-BORDER-RELEASES — Overwhelmed and underprepared, U.S. authorities are releasing migrant families on the Mexican border without notices to appear in immigration court or sometimes without any paperwork at all — a time-saving move that has left migrants confused. By Elliot Spagat. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

CALIFORNIA-OFFICE-SHOOTING — A child was among four people killed in a shooting at a Southern California office building that left a fifth victim and the gunman critically wounded, police say. The violence in the city of Orange southeast of Los Angeles was the nation’s third mass shooting in just over two weeks. By Stefanie Dazio and Robert Jablon. SENT: 460 words, photos.

SAME-SEX-MARRIAGE-20-YEARS — Twenty years ago, the mayor of Amsterdam married four couples in City Hall as the Netherlands became the first country with legalized same-sex marriages. Today, same-sex marriage is legal in 28 countries worldwide, including most of Western Europe. Yet its spread has been uneven. Taiwan is the only place in Asia to take the step; South Africa is the only African country to do so. Added together, the countries with same-sex marriage are home to about 1.2 billion people, roughly 15% of the world’s population. By David Crary and Mike Corder. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

GAZA-HAMAS-FORCED-DIVORCE — After months of torture and interrogations in a Hamas prison, Palestinian activist Rami Aman says he was offered an unconventional proposition: Divorce your wife and you are free to go. By Fares Akram. SENT: 1,280 words, photos. An abridged version of 940 words is also available.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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DUBAI-ART-IN-THE-PANDEMIC — In Dubai, an art show’s return reflects city’s new normal. SENT: 740 words, photos.

BIDEN-BASEBALL — Biden says Texas Rangers making mistake by allowing full capacity. SENT: 570 words, photo.

SAN-FRANCISCO-SCHOOLS-RACIST-TWEETS — San Francisco school board member sues over tweet response. SENT: 370 words, photo.

NEW-ZEALAND-BUSINESSMAN-PLEADS-GUILTY — New Zealand businessman guilty of having child abuse images. SENT: 430 words, photo.

MEXICO-CHILD MIGRANTS — Mexico finds 3-year-old Honduran boy near U.S. border alone.

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AP News Digest 3:30 a.m.

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