AP News Digest 4 a.m.

APTOPIX Myanmar (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

_____________

TOP STORIES

_____________

IRAQ — At least 10 rockets targeted a military base in western Iraq that hosts U.S.-led coalition troops, the coalition and the Iraqi military say. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties. By Samya Kullab. SENT: 360 words photo.

BIDEN-VACCINE PROMISES-ANALYSIS — President Joe Biden aims to manage expectations as he navigates the urgent need to inoculate Americans against the coronavirus, tempering bullish proclamations about the nation’s vaccine supply with warnings about the challenges ahead. By Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller. SENT: 970 words, photos, video. With VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIDEN — Biden vows enough vaccine for all U.S. adults by end of May; VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Biden urges Senate Democrats to rally behind $1.9 trillion virus bill.

IRAQ-POPE-SISTANI — In Iraq’s holiest city, a pontiff will meet a revered ayatollah and make history with a message of coexistence in a place plagued by bitter divisions. One is the chief pastor of the world-wide Catholic Church, the other a pre-eminent figure in Shiite Islam whose opinion holds powerful sway on the Iraqi street and beyond. Their encounter will resonate across Iraq, even crossing borders into neighboring, mainly Shiite Iran. By Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kullab. SENT: 1,330 words, photos.

CAPITOL BREACH-SECURITY — Federal law enforcement and military officials are set to testify in the second Senate hearing about what went wrong on Jan. 6, facing questions about missed intelligence and botched efforts to quickly gather National Guard troops that day as a violent mob laid siege to the U.S. Capitol. By Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 500 words, photo. UPCOMING: 800 words after 10 a.m. hearing.

UNITED STATES-CHINA — Biden took office promising to move quickly to restore and repair America’s relations with the rest of the world, but one major nation has yet to see any U.S. effort to improve ties: China. The Biden administration has yet to back down on any of former President Donald Trump’s actions against Beijing. By Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee. SENT: 970 words, photo.

CALIFORNIA-HIGHWAY CRASH — Barely a mile from where an SUV packed with 25 people struck a tractor-trailer — killing 13 inside — a cemetery with unmarked bricks is a burial ground for migrants who died crossing the border from Mexico to remote California desert. Authorities are investigating whether human smuggling was involved in Tuesday’s early-morning collision that killed the 22-year-old male driver of the SUV and 12 passengers. By Elliot Spagat. SENT: 860 words, photos, video.

———————————————————————-

MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

———————————————————————- VIRUS OUTBREAK-US — Texas becomes the biggest state to lift its mask rule, joining a rapidly growing movement by governors and other leaders across the U.S. to loosen COVID-19 restrictions despite pleas from health officials not to let their guard down yet. SENT: 980 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SEYCHELLES-HERD IMMUNITY — The president of Seychelles says he hopes enough residents will soon be vaccinated against COVID-19 to stop the spread of the virus. SENT: 530 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-KENYA-VACCINES — Kenya has received just over 1 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the first batch from the global COVAX initiative that was created to ensure that low- and middle-income countries have fair access to vaccines. SENT: 290 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA-VACCINE-EQUITY — California’s governor says a commitment to equity is driving his administration’s centralized approach to vaccinating residents. SENT: 920 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CANADA — The health minister of Canada’s most populous province says Ontario seniors won’t receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine since there’s limited data on its effectiveness in older populations. SENT: 560 words.

_______________________________

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

_______________________________

PEOPLE-DOLLY-PARTON — “Vaccine, vaccine": Dolly Parton sings “Jolene" rewrite before shot. SENT: 180 words, photo.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FAUCI-SMITHSONIAN — Dr. Fauci presents his personal virus model to Smithsonian. SENT: 300 words, photo.

TURKEY-KANGAL DOGS-PHOTO GALLERY — Livestock-guarding dogs breed Turkish pride. SENT: 250 words, photos.

CREIGHTON-MCDERMOTT-APOLOGY — Creighton coach McDermott apologizes for “plantation” remark. SENT: 470 words, photo.

AFGHANISTAN-MEDIA KILLINGS — IS claims killing of three female media workers in Afghanistan. SENT: 500 words, photos.

________________________

WASHINGTON/POLITICS

________________________

TRUMP-MONEY — Trump is calling on his supporters to send their contributions directly to his own committees. SENT: 750 words, photo.

BIDEN-CABINET-HEALTH — Biden’s pick for health secretary is taking heat for his defense of abortion rights from a tag team of Republicans looking to define him — and the new administration — as out of the mainstream. SENT: 930 words, photo. UPCOMING: 990 words after 10 a.m. hearing.

TRANSPORTATION-INFRASTRUCTURE — America’s infrastructure scores near-failing grades for its deteriorating roads, public transit and storm water systems due to years of inaction from the federal government, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. SENT: 780 words, photo.

BIDEN-BUDGET DIRECTOR — Biden’s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden, withdraws her nomination after facing opposition from key Democratic and Republican senators for her controversial tweets. SENT: 660 words, photo, graphic. With BIDEN-CABINET — Biden’s Cabinet half-empty after slow start in confirmations.

CONGRESS-ELECTIONS BILL — House Democrats are poised to pass a sweeping elections and ethics bill, offering it up as a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country. SENT: 690 words, photos.

RENEWABLES-BIDEN — Biden wants to change the way the U.S. uses energy by expanding renewables, but he will need to navigate a host of challenges — including the coronavirus pandemic and restoring hundreds of thousands of lost jobs — to get it done. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.

___________

NATIONAL

___________

KELLEN-WINSLOW-II-RAPE — Kellen Winslow II — once the highest-paid tight end in the NFL — could face more than a decade in prison for multiple rapes and other sexual offenses against five women in Southern California, including one who was homeless when he attacked her in 2018. SENT: 500 words, photo.

MICHIGAN-OFFICIALS-SEVERANCE — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer faced growing criticism after the disclosure of two additional employment-separation deals for former top officials, a day after her administration acknowledged that a key leader in the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic was paid $155,000 following his sudden resignation. SENT: 700 words, photos.

_________________

INTERNATIONAL

_________________

MYANMAR-JOURNALIST CHARGED — Authorities in Myanmar have charged Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw and five other members of the media with violating a public order law that could see them imprisoned for up to three years, a lawyer said Tuesday. SENT: 460 words, photo. With MYANMAR — Myanmar forces use violence again against protesters.

AUSTRALIA-RAPE ALLEGATION — Australia’s attorney-general denied having sexual contact with a 16-year-old who had accused him of raping her 33 years ago and says he would not resign as the nation’s top law officer. SENT: 480 words, photo.

PERSIAN-GULF-TENSIONS — An Israeli-owned cargo ship that suffered a mysterious explosion last week has left Dubai’s port and was transiting the Gulf of Oman, satellite tracking data shows. SENT: 350 words, photo.

JAPAN-NUCLEAR — The head of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant says there’s no need to extend the current target to finish its decommissioning in 30-40 years despite uncertainties about melted fuel inside the plant’s three reactors. SENT: 510 words, photos.

___________________

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

___________________

FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Stocks advanced in Asia after a wobbly day on Wall Street, when the S&P 500 gave back most of its gains from a day earlier. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 670 words, photos.

—————————————

ENTERTAINMENT

—————————————

MUSIC-GRAMMYWATCH-BENTONIA-BLUES — In the small town of Bentonia, Mississippi, juke joint owner Jimmy “Duck” Holmes is the last carrier of a dying musical storytelling tradition. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.

________

SPORTS

________

NFL WOMEN’S FORUM — Organizers of the NFL’s fifth annual Women’s Career in Football Forum were worried about conducting the event virtually, yet they pulled it off. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 820 words, photos.

___________________

HOW TO REACH US

___________________

At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Hiro Komae (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.