AP News Digest 7 a.m.
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TOP STORIES
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CHRISTMAS PARADE-SUV — An SUV sped through barricades and into a Christmas parade in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, leaving at least 5 people dead and more than 40 injured. Police have said a “person of interest” is in custody but have not provided details about the person or any possible motive. One video showed a woman screaming, “Oh my God!” repeatedly as a group of young dancers was struck Sunday. A father talked of going “from one crumpled body to the other” in search of his daughter. Members of a “Dancing Grannies” club were among those hit. By Scott Bauer and Mike Householder. SENT: 820 words, photos, video.
HAITI-KIDNAPPED MISSIONARIES — Two of 17 members of a missionary group who were kidnapped more than a month ago are safe and “in good spirits” after being freed in Haiti. Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement Sunday saying it could not give the names of those released, why they were freed or other information. SENT: 330 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AUSTRIA LOCKDOWN — Austria has gone into a nationwide lockdown in a desperate effort to contain skyrocketing coronavirus infections. The lockdown in the Alpine nation comes as average daily deaths have tripled in recent weeks and some hospitals have warned that their intensive care units are reaching capacity. The lockdown will last at least 10 days but could extend to 20 days. SENT: 470 words, phots.
CHINA-PENG APPEARS — Peng Shuai’s appearance in a video call with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach aired after the Chinese tennis player was out of public view for almost three weeks. It offered few details, no follow-ups on her allegations, and invited more questions for the IOC, Peng, and China. By AP Sports Writer Stephen Wade. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
AFGHANISTAN-FALLING INTO POVERY —Many Afghan families who once had steady, stable incomes have plummeted into desperation, uncertain of how they will pay for their next meal. The economy was already in trouble under the previous, U.S.-backed government and was worsened by both the coronavirus pandemic and a drought that drove up food prices. After the Taliban takeover in August, the world cut off funding to the government and many development projects, pulling the rug out from under much of the middle class whose jobs depended on the outside money. By Lee Keath. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
CONGRESS-BUDGET-METHANE — A Democratic plan to impose a fee on methane emissions from oil and gas wells has cleared a key hurdle, but it faces strong opposition from the oil and gas industry and criticism by centrist Sen. Joe Manchin By Matthew Daly. SENT: 910 words, photos.
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TRENDING NEWS
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EUROPE-WHATSAPP — WhatsApp is adding more details to its privacy policy and flagging the information for European users. SENT: 330 words, photo.
INDONESIA-DENMARK — Denmark and Indonesia have signed a pair of agreements that aim to boost the large Asian nation’s green and sustainable development goals. SENT: 190 words, photos.
STATE OF DEMOCRACY-REPORT — Democracy is deteriorating across the world, with countries notably taking undemocratic and unnecessary actions to contain the coronavirus pandemic, an intergovernmental body said in its new report Monday. SENT: 620 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — After slow starts, vaccination campaigns in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region now boast inoculation rates that rank among the world’s best. The countries with high rates include both richer and poorer ones, some with larger populations and some with smaller. But all have experience with infectious diseases, like SARS, and strong vaccine-procurement programs. By David Rising and Sopheng Cheang SENT: 1200 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NEW ZEALAND — Bars, restaurants and gyms can reopen in Auckland from early December but customers will be required to show proof they’ve been fully vaccinated. SENT: 530 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AUSTRALIA — The Australian government expects 200,000 vaccinated foreign students and skilled workers will soon return without quarantining when the country further relaxes pandemic restrictions next week. SENT: 480 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA — Russia’s coronavirus death toll continues to hover near all-time highs, but the number of new infections has continued to decline. SENT: 480 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GERMANY — Germany’s health minister says the rapid rise in coronavirus cases means it’s likely everyone in the country who isn’t vaccinated will have caught COVID-19 by the end of the winter, and some of those will die. SENT: 240 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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AFRICA-UNITED STATES — Traveling across Africa, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saw firsthand the limits of America’s influence abroad. Blinken confronted authoritarianism, growing threats from newly energized extremists, and persistent challenges posed by COVID-19 and climate change, all of which have stubbornly resisted various U.S. interventions. By Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
US-ELECTIONS-2022-VERMONT SENATE — Vermont’s sole congressman, Democrat Peter Welch, says he will run for Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy’s Senate seat next year. Welch made the announcement Monday, a week after the 81-year-old Leahy said he would not seek reelection to a ninth term. SENT: 600 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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CHILE-PRESIDENTIAL-ELECTION — A conservative lawmaker with a history of defending Chile’s military dictatorship and a former student protest leader are headed to a polarizing presidential runoff after failing to garner enough votes to win the country’s election outright. SENT: 740 words, photos.
CHINA-SOUTHEAST ASIA — Despite regional frictions, Chinese leader Xi Jinping says his country will not seek dominance over Southeast Asia or bully its smaller neighbors. Xi made the remarks Monday during a virtual conference with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, marking the 30th anniversary of relations between the sides. SENT: 1000 words, photos.
ISRAEL-NETANYAHU TRIAL — A one-time spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu has taken the stand against him in a corruption trial in Jerusalem. Nir Hefetz, a former spokesman for Netanyahu and a key prosecution witness, began testifying on Monday. SENT: 450 words, photos.
ITALY-MIGRATION-CALABRIA-ROUTE — Officials in southern Italy are seeing a sharp increase in the number of migrant crossings using a lesser-known smuggling route from Turkey to the southern region of Calabria, in the “toe” of boot-shaped Italy. SENT: 1,080 words, photos.
INTERPOL ELECTION — The world police agency meets in Istanbul this week to elect new leadership. But human rights groups are warning that Interpol’s powerful network of global cops could end up in the hands of authoritarian governments. SENT; 1,210 words, photos.
VENEZUELA-ELECTIONS — Venezuelans have cast ballots for thousands of local races under the scrutiny of international observers in an election that for the first time in four years included major opposition participation. SENT: 970 words, photos.
SOUTH CHINA-SEA — The Philippine military has defiantly redeployed two supply boats to provide food to Filipino marines stationed at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea after China’s coast guard used water cannons to forcibly turn the boats away in an assault last week that drew angry condemnation from Manila. SENT: 760 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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AHMAUD ARBERY-GEORGIA TRIAL — Attorneys in the murder trial over Ahmaud Arbery’s death are scheduled to deliver closing arguments. Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley planned for jurors to hear final words Monday from prosecutors and defense attorneys for the three white men charged. SENT: 290 words, photos.
KENOSHA-PROTEST SHOOTINGS-RITTENHOUSE — Kyle Rittenhouse says in a new interview that he’s “not a racist person” and supports the Black Lives Matter movement. SENT: 370 words, PHOTOS
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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
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MUSIC-AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS — South Korean superstars BTS were crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards on Sunday, brushing aside challenges from Taylor Swift, Drake and The Weeknd as they took home a total of three awards. SENT: 840 words, photos. WITH: MUSIC-AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS-LIST (sent).
FILM-BOX OFFICE — Busting ghosts is still a fairly lucrative business after almost 40 years. Heading into Thanksgiving weekend, the latest attempt to revive “Ghostbusters” drew a sizable audience to theaters, while the awards darling “King Richard,” like most dramas in the pandemic era, is struggling. SENT: 640 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks are mixed in Asia after ending mostly lower on Wall Street Friday, despite the Nasdaq’s first close above 16,000. A resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S., Europe and some other regions is weighing on investor sentiment. 650 words, photos.
PAKISTAN-IMF — The International Monetary Fund says it has reached a preliminary agreement with Pakistan, toward reviving a $6 billion bailout for the Islamic nation. SENT: 420 words.
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SPORTS
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STEELERS-CHARGERS — Justin Herbert threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams with 2:17 remaining and the Los Angeles Chargers held off the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-37 on Sunday night. Los Angeles (6-4) had a 27-10 lead going into the fourth quarter before the Steelers (5-4-1) rallied to take a 37-34 lead on Chris Boswell’s 45-yard field goal with 3:24 left. SENT: 1,070 words, photos.
LIONS-BROWNS — Nick Chubb caught a touchdown pass and ran for 130 yards as the Cleveland Browns held on to avoid a season-wrecking upset and keep Detroit winless with a sloppy 13-10 victory over the Lions. SENT: 980 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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