AP News Digest 3:45 am
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ONLY ON AP
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THE-AP-INTERVIEW-PAKISTAN-FOREIGN-MINISTER — Pakistan's top diplomat has some ideas from his country on how to engage the new Taliban government in Afghanistan. Be realistic. Show patience. Engage. And above all, don’t isolate. Those are the pillars of an approach emerging in Pakistan to deal with the fledgling government that is suddenly running the country next door once again — Afghanistan’s resurgent, often-volatile Taliban. By Edith M. Lederer. SENT: 1,150 words, photos, video.
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TOP STORIES
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UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY — The inequity of COVID-19 vaccine distribution will come into sharper focus as many of the African countries whose populations have little to no access to the life-saving shots step to the podium to speak at the U.N.’s annual meeting of world leaders. By Pia Sarkar. SENT: 580 words, photos. UPCOMING: Debate scheduled for 9 a.m. Also see UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY-MIDEAST and UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-YEMEN below.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — The U.S. has moved a step closer to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to seniors and others at high risk from the virus. The Food and Drug Administration signed off on such shots as a way to shore up protection in people with underlying health conditions and high-risk jobs. This is not a done deal yet: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to weigh in on who it believes should get boosters and when. By Matthew Perrone, Lauran Neergaard and Mike Stobbe. SENT: 930 words, photo.
HAITIAN MIGRANTS-BORDER CONVERGENCE — Several factors converged to cause the sudden surge in Haitian migrants to the Texas border over a matter of weeks. Descriptions from Haitian migrants and advocates in contact with them reveal a phenomena produced by confusion over the Biden administration's policies and the power of WhatsApp used by migrants to share tips and information that often gets distorted and can quickly go viral within an immigrant community. By Juan A. Lozano, Maria Verza and Julie Watson. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. With MEXICO-BORDER-IMMIGRATION — Feeling trapped, migrants’ fears grow in Mexican border city.
INDO-PACIFIC TENSIONS — With increasingly strong talk in support of Taiwan, a new deal to supply Australia with nuclear submarines, and the launch of a European strategy for greater engagement in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. and its allies are becoming growingly assertive in their approach toward a rising China. President Joe Biden will play host to the leaders of Japan, India and Australia for an in-person security dialogue about keeping the region free and open. By David Rising. SENT: 1,170 words, photos.
TROPICAL STORMS-FLOOD INSURANCE — After being pummeled by two tropical storms that submerged basements, cracked home foundations and destroyed belongings, Northeast U.S. residents still in the throes of recovery are being hit with another unexpected blow: Thousands of families are now swamped with financial losses because they didn't have flood insurance. By Bobby Caina Calvan and David Porter. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
WESTERN WILDFIRES-DELIVERING RVS — A man and his daughter are bringing donated motorhomes to people who have lost everything in wildfires in the American West. Woody Faircloth and 9-year-old Luna mainly have been driving the recreational vehicles from Colorado to California to give a quick place to live to people whose homes and businesses have burned. The pair recently delivered their 95th RV. Faircloth says his nonprofit fills a gap for wildfire victims who often wait months for emergency housing. By Noah Berger. SENT: 880 words, photos.
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TRENDING NEWS
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MISSING TRAVELER — No signs of Gabby Petito’s boyfriend after days of searching in Florida. SENT: 540 words, photos.
MELVIN-VAN-PEEBLES — Melvin Van Peebles, godfather of Black cinema, dies at 89. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.
THERANOS-FOUNDER-FRAUD-TRIAL — Former U.S. defense secretary testifies in Elizabeth Holmes fraud trial. SENT: 740 words, photos.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-PORTUGAL SUCCESS — As Portugal closes in on its goal of fully vaccinating 85% of the population against COVID-19 in nine months, other countries in Europe and beyond want to know how it was accomplished. SENT: 1,090 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-DELTA-KIDS — The delta variant is causing a surge in infections among kids in the U.S. and elsewhere, but experts say there are no strong signs yet that it is causing more severe disease for young patients. By Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner. SENT: 350 words, graphic.
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WASHINGTON
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CONGRESS-BUDGET — Biden presses fellow Democrats to hasten work on his big “build back better” agenda, telling them to come up with a final framework and their best topline budget figure as the party labors to bridge its divisions in Congress ahead of crucial voting deadlines. SENT: 1,060 words, photos, video. With CONGRESS-DEBT LIMIT-EXPLAINER — Why the debt limit is again roiling Washington.
CONGRESS-POLICING — Bipartisan congressional talks on overhauling policing practices end without an agreement, marking the collapse of an effort that began after killings of unarmed Black people by officers sparked protests across the U.S. SENT: 790 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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RWANDAN AMPUTEE — A Rwandan woman who was orphaned during her country’s genocide and lost part of her leg to childhood cancer hopes to open a nonprofit clinic providing affordable prosthetics to her fellow countrymen. SENT: 650 words, photos.
OHIO-STATE-TEAM-DOCTOR — A federal judge dismissed some of the biggest unsettled lawsuits over Ohio State’s failure to stop decades-old sexual abuse by now-deceased team doctor Richard Strauss, saying it’s indisputable Strauss abused hundreds of young men but agreeing with OSU’s argument that the legal window for such claims had passed. SENT: 790 words, photos.
COLORADO-RIVER-DROUGHT — The U.S. government released projections that indicate an even more troubling outlook for the Colorado River, which serves 40 million people in the American West. SENT: 530 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY-MIDEAST — Observers say Arab countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen are all teetering on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe with skyrocketing poverty and an economic implosion that threatens to throw the region into even deeper turmoil if left unheeded. SENT: 970 words, photos.
UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-YEMEN — The head of the U.N. food agency is warning that 16 million people in Yemen “are marching towards starvation” and says food rations for millions in the war-torn nation will be cut in October unless new funding arrives. SENT: 640 words, photo.
GERMANY ELECTION-CLIMATE BATTLE — After 24 days on a hunger strike, Henning Jeschke is frail and gaunt, but determined to go on, hoping to pressure the three candidates for chancellor of Germany into meeting him for a debate about the climate crisis ahead Sunday’s general election. UPCOMING: 990 words, photos, by 5 a.m. With GERMANY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN — Floods, books & kids: Highlights of German election campaign.
ICELAND-ELECTION — Climate change is top of the agenda when voters in Iceland head to the polls for general elections on Saturday, following an exceptionally warm summer and an election campaign defined by a wide-reaching debate on global warming. SENT: 870 words, photos.
KASHMIR-DAL LAKE-PHOTO GALLERY — Weeds, sewage choke Kashmir’s famed Dal Lake. SENT: 400 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Asian shares were mostly higher after the Federal Reserve signaled it may begin easing its extraordinary support measures for the economy later this year. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 510 words, photos.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS — The Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. By Economics Writer Paul Wiseman. UPCOMING: 130 words after release of report at 8:30 a.m., and then expanded, photo.
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SPORTS
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ON FOOTBALL-PLAYOFF EXPANSION — After failing to reach a consensus on the proposed 12-team format, the road to expanding the College Football Playoff has entered the negotiation stage. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
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ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
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MUSIC-AMERICANA-AWARDS — Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile added another trophy to her shelf as she won artist of the year at the 2021 Americana Honors and Awards show, while country singer Sturgill Simpson took home the album of the year award. By Entertainment Writer Kristin M. Hall. SENT: 580 words, photos.
TV-Q&A-MAYIM-BIALIK — Mayim Bialik knew she’d be busy around this time of year, but not this busy. By Television Writer Lynn Elber. SENT: 780 words, photos.
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