AP News Digest 5:30 a.m.
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 6 years, 5 months AGO
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
————————-
ONLY ON AP
————————
VIRUS OUTBREAK-FRANCE NURSING HOME TESTS — A region in France’s far east, which has been struck particularly hard by coronavirus deaths, has ordered tests for all nursing home residents and staff. The elderly residents have been confined to their rooms since mid-March to protect against infection, and officials in the Haut-Rhin region are hoping that mass testing will allow them to recover a degree of freedom. By Lori Hinnant and Jean-Francois Badias. SENT: 630 words, photos.
----------------
----------------
VIRUS OUTBREAK — South Korea reports fewer than 10 new coronavirus cases for the first time in two months as U.S. governors ease lockdowns amid pressure worldwide from businesses and the public to limit the pandemic’s economic damage. Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter under curbs that left churches empty. The leader of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christians held a service in a desert monastery that was shown on television. By Hyung-Jin Kim and Joe McDonald. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN-DOCTOR AND STUDENTS — A doctor in Britain glimpsed the first rays of light in his struggle with COVID-19 when three of his former students announced their presence to him when he went to hospital. Having endured a severe deterioration in his COVID-19 symptoms after around 12 days of contracting the virus, Dr. Poorna Gunasekera was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on March 30. A day or two longer, and he’s sure he wouldn’t have survived. SENT: 940 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-GAGA TV SPECIAL — Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Shawn Mendes and others sang classic songs brimmed with messages of hope and change during a TV special aimed at fighting the coronavirus, while Beyoncé and Alicia Keys spoke passionately about how the virus has disproportionately affected black Americans. Beyoncé made a surprise appearance on Saturday’s TV special “One World: Together At Home,” thanking “delivery workers, mail carriers and sanitation employees” for their hard work during the pandemic. By Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu. SENT: 850 words, photos.
Find more all-format coverage on the Virus Outbreak featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
UNITED NATIONS-NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS — U.N. experts have recommended blacklisting 14 vessels for violating sanctions against North Korea in a report that accuses the country of increasing illegal coal exports, imports of petroleum products and continuing with cyber attacks on financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges to gain illicit revenue. By Edith M. LEDERER. SENT: 960 words.
------------------———————————————
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
------------------———————————————
OFFICERS SHOT-TEXAS — Texas police officer killed, 2 others wounded in shooting. SENT: 170 words, photos.
EX-MAYOR KILLED PLANE CRASH — Ex-mayor who quit after criticizing Trump dies in crash. SENT: 300 words.
ISRAEL-LEBANON — Israel accuses Hezbollah of ‘provocative’ activity. SENT: 180 words.
--------------------—————————————-
MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
--------------------——————————————
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AFGHANISTAN-GIRL POWER — The members of Afghanistan’s prize-winning girls’ robotics team are trying to build a simple ventilator from used car parts. They say they are on a life-saving mission, hoping to help their war-stricken country battle the new coronavirus. SENT: 570 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — South Korea reports eight more cases of the coronavirus, the first time a daily increase has dropped to a single digit in about two months. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the additional figures took the country’s total to 10,661 with 234 deaths. It said 8,042 people have recovered and been released from quarantine and 12,243 others were undergoing tests to determine whether they contracted the virus. SENT: 620 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-EASTER — A handful of Eastern Orthodox priests held mass for the Christian holiday of Easter in an empty Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem due to restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Eastern Christian rites mark Easter, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected after his crucifixion, a week after the Catholic calendar. SENT: 340 words photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA-DELIVERYMAN — A Moscow businessman tired of being stuck at home roaming the internet due to the coronavirus lockdown has temporarily switched to the low-paid but physically active job of delivering meals. SENT: 240 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BROADWAY PERFORMER — The wife of Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero, who specialized in playing tough guys on Broadway, says her husband will have to have his right leg amputated after suffering complications from the coronavirus. By Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy. SENT: 300 words, photo.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SPAIN-PHOTO-GALLERY — A small percentage of workers are keeping Spain going during a coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 20,000 of their fellow citizens. These grocers, butchers, drivers and pharmacists are unified by their courage and one piece of equipment: the face mask. SENT: 340 words, photos.
—————————————————-
—————————————————-
HONG KONG-PROTESTS — The United States condemns the arrests of at least 14 veteran pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on charges of joining massive anti-government protests last year, saying the police action jeopardizes a high degree of autonomy guaranteed the southern Chinese city. SENT: 560 words, photos.
LEBANON-FAMED HOTEL — One of Lebanon’s landmark hotels that survived the country’s bloody 15-year civil war and various other bouts of fighting is shutting down amid the country’s economic crisis and coronavirus pandemic, a hotel executive said Saturday. SENT: 540 words, photos.
———————-
———————-
SEVERE WEATHER — A chance of severe weather is again in the forecast for the Deep South a week after a tornado outbreak killed at least 36 people in the region. “Numerous severe storms appear likely Sunday from east Texas to South Carolina,” the National Weather Service said in an alert. SENT: 220 words, photos.
------------------
-----------------—
FBN--NFL DRAFT-FASHIONABLE FLEX — Versatility, once a detriment, is all the fashion at the NFL draft. “Tweener” used to have a negative connotation in an age of specialization. Now, says one draft analyst, “it’s never been more important.” SENT: 810 words, photos.
------------------—————-
HOW TO REACH US
--------------------————-
At the Nerve Center, Vincent K. Willis can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, 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.