AP News Digest 3 am

Wednesday 15 December 2021 05:22 GMT

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.

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ONLY ON AP

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ANTI-VACCINE-KENNEDY — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine group has thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. An investigation by The Associated Press finds that Children’s Health Defense has raked in money and followers as Kennedy used his star power as a member of one of America’s most famous families to open doors, raise money and lend his group credibility. By Michelle R. Smith. SENT: 3,820 words, photos.

THE AP INTERVIEW-AFGHANISTAN KARZAI — Afghanistan’s former president says the Taliban, who had already reached the gates of Kabul, were invited inside to stop chaos caused by the sudden flight of U.S.-backed president Ashraf Ghani In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Hamid Karzai said he requested the Taliban enter Kabul to “protect the population.” He says that was needed to prevent the rampaging of marauding criminal gangs that would take advantage of the security vacuum Ghani’s departure had created. Karzai has a plan for Afghanistan’s future that includes traditional approaches like the loya jirga, a grand council of Afghans. By Kathy Gannon. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-VOTER FRAUD — An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump finds fewer than 475 — a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. By Christina A. Cassidy. SENT: 3,200 words, video, photos. An abridged version of 1,100 words is also available. With ELECTION 2020-VOTER FRAUD-STATE SUMMARIES — Details from AP review in each of six swing states.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-800K-DEAD — The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available practically for the asking last spring. By Heather Hollingsworth. SENT: 490 words, photos.

MIDWEST TORNADOES-ONE STREET — When a tornado touched down in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the middle of the night, its violence was centered on one friendly subdivision. It’s a place where everyone waved at one another, and giggling children spent afternoons tooling around on bicycles on the sidewalks. Fourteen people died in a few blocks. Eleven of them were from a single street. Entire families were lost. Between them were seven children. Two of those were infants. Neighbors who survived are so stricken with grief they struggle to speak of it. By Claire Galofaro and John Raby. SENT: 1,100 words, photos, video. MIDWEST-TORNADOES-TELETHON — “Kentucky United” telethon raises $3 million for tornado victims. Also see MIDWEST TORNADOES-BIDEN below.

MYANMAR-PUSH FOR SANCTIONS — In February, Myanmar’s military took over the country’s government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from a gas field called Yadana. Now there is a groundswell of support in Myanmar for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the country’s single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments have refused to take that step amid objections from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. By Kristen Gelineau, Victoria Milko and Lori Hinnant. SENT: 2,500 words, photos. An abridged version of 900 words is also available. With MALAYSIA-US-MYANMAR — Blinken says U.S. weighing new sanctions on Myanmar; MYANMAR-GEMS — Myanmar gems industry targeted in push for sanctions.

CONGRESS-DEBT — Congress approves a $2.5 trillion debt limit hike, sending legislation to avert a catastrophic default to President Joe Biden for his signature. The flurry of action comes just before a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for avoiding a national default. By Brian Slodysko. SENT: 700 words, photos.

CAPITOL BREACH-MEADOWS — The House votes to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee investigating the Capitol insurrection. By Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 960 words, photos, video.

MIGRATION-IRAQ-YOUTH MIGRATION — Across universities in northern Iraq, the specter of unemployment haunts both students and teachers. Many speak of growing empty seats in classrooms; students who had left for Europe. Those who remain are making plans to follow. Iraqi Kurdish youth in the Kurdish-run north face a tough choice: Endure unemployment and corruption at home or try to sneak into Europe at the risk of financial ruin or even death during a perilous journey. By Samya Kullab. SENT: 930 words, photo.

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