AP News Digest 3 a.m.

APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Britain

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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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-UNDER-THE-KNIFE — Hospitals in Europe are now better able to treat virus patients and better equipped for the double challenge of fighting COVID-19 while also doing other medicine. One of the biggest hospitals in Paris this month reopened all 22 of its operating rooms. It is again performing surgeries that were stopped during virus surges that pushed France’s death toll past 55,000. By John Leicester. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.

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TOP STORIES

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VIRUS OUTBREAK — U.K. health authorities begin rolling out the first doses of a widely tested and independently reviewed COVID-19 vaccine, starting a global immunization program that is expected to gain momentum as more serums win approval. By Danica Kirka. SENT: 910 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TRUMP-VACCINE — Trump aims to take credit for the speedy development of forthcoming coronavirus vaccines, even as his administration is coming under scrutiny for failing to lock in a chance to buy millions of additional doses of one of the leading coronavirus vaccine contenders this summer. By Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 990 words, photos. UPCOMING: 1,100 words after 2 p.m. event.

BIDEN-DEFENSE — President-elect Joe Biden will nominate retired four-star Army general Lloyd J. Austin to be secretary of defense, people familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press. If confirmed by the Senate, Austin would be the first Black Pentagon chief. By Robert Burns, Michael Balsamo, Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller. SENT: 890 words, photo.

TRUMP-LEGAL CHALLENGES-JUDGES — President Donald Trump and allies say their lawsuits aimed at subverting the 2020 election and reversing his loss to Biden would be substantiated, if only judges were allowed to hear the cases. But judges have been among the harshest critics of the legal arguments put forth by Trump’s legal team. By Colleen Long and Ed White. Sent: 990 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-SAFE HARBOR — Happy Safe Harbor Day, America. Other than Wisconsin, every state appears to have met a deadline in federal law that essentially means Congress has to accept the electoral votes that will be cast next week and sent to the Capitol for counting on Jan. 6. Those votes will elect Biden as the country’s next president. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 750 words, photo.

OBIT-CHUCK YEAGER — Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager, the World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who showed he had the “right stuff” when in 1947 he became the first person to fly faster than sound, has died. He was 97. SENT: 1,290 words, photos.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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OBIT-NATALIE-DESSELLE-REID — “B.A.P.S.” star Natalie Desselle Reid dies at 53. SENT: 270 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Lawmakers are giving themselves more time to sort through their end-of-session business on government spending and COVID-19 relief. SENT: 730 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-BIDEN — The health care team assembled by Biden points to stronger federal management of the nation’s COVID-19 response, a leading role for science and an emphasis on fair and equitable distribution of vaccines. SENT: 890 words, photos. With BIDEN-HEALTH SECRETARY — Becerra’s big challenge: Vaccinating Americans against virus.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says social distancing measures will be tightened as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge, with a ban on nighttime dining and more businesses ordered to close. SENT: 650 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

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INTERNATIONAL

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NEW-ZEALAND-MOSQUE-SHOOTING-REPORT — A comprehensive report into last year’s Christchurch mosque shootings in which 51 Muslim worshippers were slaughtered sheds new light on how the gunman was able to elude detection by authorities as he planned out his attack. SENT: 900 words, photos.

INDIA-SAVING-ARTISANS — An Indian couple has launched a campaign to help traditional artisans sell their products on an online platform called Direct Create. SENT: 610 words, photos, video.

UNITED STATES-IRAN — As the Pentagon pulls troops out of the Middle East in the coming weeks, under orders from Trump, U.S. military leaders are working to find other ways to deter potential attacks by Iran and its proxies, and to counter arguments that America is abandoning the region. SENT: 730 words, photos.

HONG-KONG-CRACKDOWN — Hong Kong police arrested eight pro-democracy activists over their role in an unauthorized protest last summer, widening a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. SENT: 300 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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SEATTLE-PROTESTS-POLICE-CONTEMPT — A federal judge has found the Seattle Police Department in contempt of court for the indiscriminate use of pepper-filled “blast balls” and pepper spray during Black Lives Matter protests in recent months. SENT: 630 words.

GHOST-GUNS-LAWSUITS — Families of those killed and wounded in a rural California shooting rampage three years ago are suing manufacturers and sellers of “ghost gun” kits that provide easy-to-assemble firearm parts that make it difficult to track or regulate owners. SENT: 550 words, photos.

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SCIENCE

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JAPAN-ASTEROID — Japanese space agency officials were delighted by the return of a small capsule containing asteroid soil samples obtained by their Hayabusa2 spacecraft and they are anxiously waiting to look inside after preparations are complete. SENT: 490 words, photos.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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FILM-WARNER BROS-CHRISTOPHER NOLAN — Christopher Nolan, one of Warner Bros.’ most important filmmakers, has come out strongly against the company’s decision to debut its films on HBO Max and in theaters in 2021. By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. SENT: 460 words, photo.

FILM-CLOONEY-HONORED — George Clooney’s co-stars, friends and collaborators gathered virtually to share anecdotes and praise his contributions as actor, director, humanitarian and colleague — not to mention Sexiest Man Alive twice over. By National Writer Jocelyn Noveck. SENT: 660 words, photos.

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BUSINESS

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower as surging coronavirus infections in the United States and some other countries tempered investor optimism about development of possible vaccines. By Joe McDonald. SENT: 430 words, photos. With JAPAN-ECONOMY Japan’s economy grows 22.9% in 3Q, bouncing back from COVID.

INTERNET-DEVICES-VULNERABILITIES — Researchers at a cybersecurity firm say they have identified vulnerabilities in software widely used by millions of connected devices — flaws that could be exploited by hackers to penetrate business and home computer networks and disrupt them. By Technology Writer Frank Bajak. SENT: 500 words.

AUSTRALIA-DIGITAL-PLATFORMS — Australia’s government will reveal legislation in Parliament that would make Facebook and Google pay for journalism. SENT: 490 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-OLDER COACHES — Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Tennessee’s Rick Barnes are among the coaches 65 and up who have contracted COVID-19. By Sports Writer Cliff Brunt. SENT: 720 words, photos.

BEHIND THE CALL — The player-driven “My Cause My Cleats” campaign has taken a foothold in the NFL. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 850 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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