AP News Digest 3 a.m.
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TOP STORIES
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK — In the global race to vaccinate people against COVID-19, Africa is tragically at the back of the pack. In South Africa with the continent’s most robust economy, only 0.8% of the population is fully vaccinated. The continent of 1.3 billion people is facing a severe shortage of vaccine at the same time a new wave of infections is rising across Africa. By Gerald Imray. SENT: 920 words, photos.
BIDEN — Set to embark on the first overseas trip of his term, President Joe Biden is eager to reassert the United States on the world stage. He hopes to steady European allies deeply shaken by his predecessor and push democracy as the only bulwark to rising forces of authoritarianism. By Jonathan Lemire and Aamer Madhani. SENT: 1,270 words, photo. UPCOMING: 1,300 words after 8:30 a.m. departure.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-INVESTIGATION-EXPLAINER — Once dismissed by most public health experts and government officials, the hypothesis that COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab is now receiving scrutiny under a new U.S. investigation. What are intelligence agencies looking for? By Christina Larson and Nomaan Merchant. SENT: 1,120 words, photo.
HARRIS-LATIN AMERICA — Vice President Kamala Harris came to Latin America to deliver a message. She bluntly told migrants not to come the United States, spoke of the evils of government corruption and urged nations to increase enforcement at their borders. It was a first step toward establishing herself on a core foreign policy issue that has bedeviled American presidents at least since Ronald Reagan. By Alexandra Jaffe. SENT: 1,110 words, photos, video.
HOSTAGES-AFGHANISTAN — A new report says advocates for Americans held hostage overseas are concerned the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan could make it harder to bring home captives from the country. By Eric Tucker. SENT: 480 words, photo. With AFGHANISTAN — Official: 10 HALO Trust staff killed northern Afghanistan.
POLICE-SHOOTING-MINNEAPOLIS-NOOR — The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Mohamed Noor, a former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of third-degree murder in the shooting death of an Australian woman who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home. By Steve Karnowski. SENT: 490 words, photos.
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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
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INDIA-HIGHWAY COLLISION — Bus with migrant workers collides with van in India; 17 dead. SENT: 170 words, photo.
DEADLY CRASH — Three girls killed, one badly injured in California hit-and-run. SENT: 240 words.
SAN DIEGO-OFFICERS KILLED — Report: Wrong-way driver in deadly crash had diabetes. SENT: 220 words.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-AIDS-AND-COVID — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a declaration calling for urgent action to end AIDS by 2030, noting “with alarm” that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities and pushed access to AIDS medicines, treatments and diagnosis further off track. SENT: 720 words, photo. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE — Biden ends talks with a group of Republican senators on a big infrastructure package. He has started reaching out to senators from both parties as he strives to build bipartisan compromise. SENT: 820 words, photos.
VIRGINIA-ELECTION-GOVERNOR’S-RACE — Terry McAuliffe a longtime fixture of Democratic politics, handily won his party’s nomination for Virginia governor in his quest for a second term, setting up what’s expected to be a hotly contested general election against a wealthy businessman and political newcomer, GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin. SENT: 790 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIDEN — For months, Biden has laid out goal after goal for taming the coronavirus pandemic and then exceeded his own benchmarks. Now, though, the U.S. is on pace to fall short of his aim to have 70% of Americans at least partially vaccinated by July 4. SENT: 1,120 words, photos, video.
CONGRESS-VOTING BILLS-EXPLAINER — Most Democrats want to pass a sweeping election overhaul called HR1 on a party-line vote, but moderate Sen. Joe Manchin favors finding a bipartisan way to update the Voting Rights Act through another bill called the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. SENT: 1,190 words, photos.
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NATIONAL
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SEX-THERAPIST-MORMON-OUSTER — A decision by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to kick out a sex therapist who had publicly challenged the faith’s policies on sexuality has triggered concerns from mental health professionals. SENT: 860 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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COLOMBIA-PROTESTS — Human Rights Watch accused police officers in Colombia of responsibility for the deaths of 20 people and other violent actions against protesters during recent civil unrest, including sexual abuse, beatings and arbitrary detentions. SENT: 710 words, photos.
MONGOLIA-PRESIDENTIAL-ELECTION — Mongolians began voting for a new president amid COVID-19 restrictions and efforts to revive the economy of the vast landlocked nation of just 3 million people. SENT: 360 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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AUSTRALIA-G7 — The World Trade Organization should penalize “bad behavior when it occurs,” Australia’s prime minister says ahead of a Group of Seven leaders’ meeting in Britain where he hopes to garner support in a trade dispute with China. SENT: 360 words, photo.
FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian shares were mixed after China reported a big jump in factory gate prices at a time when inflation is a top investor concern. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 700 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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GENDER EQUITY — College softball coaches are questioning the format and scheduling of the Women’s College World Series. By Sports Writer Cliff Brunt. SENT: 770 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Shuji Kajiyama (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.