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AP News Digest 5:35 a.m.

Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 4 years, 1 month AGO
| December 20, 2020 3:18 AM

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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TOP STORIES

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FEDERAL AGENCIES HACKED — Contradicting his secretary of state and other top officials, President Donald Trump suggested without evidence that China — not Russia — may be behind the cyber espionage operation against the United States and tried to minimize its impact. In his first comments on the breach, Trump scoffed at the focus on the Kremlin and downplayed the intrusions, which the nation’s cybersecurity agency has warned posed a “grave” risk to government and private networks By Jill Colvin and Matthew Lee. SENT: 1,100 words, photos. With CYBERSECURITY SPLIT — Pentagon plan on cyber split draws strong Hill criticism. By National Security Writer Robert Burns. SENT: 5310 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — Top congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $1 trillion, clearing the way for votes as early as today. By Andrew Taylor and Christopher Rugabar. SENT: 840 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-INDONESIA-VACCINE — In October, Indonesian diplomats and Muslim clerics stepped off a plane in China. While the diplomats were there to finalize deals to ensure millions of doses reached Indonesian citizens, the clerics had a much different concern: Whether the COVID-19 vaccine was permissible for use under Islamic law. By Victoria Milko. SENT: 1,080 words, photos,..

TRUMP — President Donald Trump floated naming lawyer Sidney Powell, who was booted from his campaign’s legal team after pushing unfounded conspiracy theories, as a special counsel investigating allegations of voter fraud as he grasps for straws to stay in power. By Jonathan Lemire, Jill Colvin and Colleen Long. SENT: 730 words, photo.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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GIRL ABDUCTED-FLIGHT — Sheriff: Man arrested on cross-country trip with 12-year girl. SENT: 540 words, photos.

BOSNIA-MOSTAR-ELECTION — Bosnian city of Mostar holds 1st local election in 12 years. SENT: 260 words, photos

FIJI-CYCLONE — Fiji cyclone death toll rises to 4 with 1 missing. SENT: 140 words, photos.

IDITAROD-RACE — 2021 Iditarod race in Alaska to be about 140 miles shorter. SENT: 180 words photo.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ITALY-NEW-POOR — The coronavirus pandemic is revealing pockets of economic insecurity in Italy’s wealthy north, where thousands of people are turning to charity for the first time. Italian agriculture lobby Coldiretti estimates in the Lombardy region the virus has created 300,000 people it described as the “new poor.’’ SENT: 910 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ASIA — The outbreak in Sydney’s northern beach suburbs has grown to 70 cases with an additional 30 in the last 24 hours, and authorities say they may never be able to trace the source. SENT: 430 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — California hospitals are battling to find beds to house patients amid fears the explosion of coronavirus cases will exhaust staffing resources. SENT: 690 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-THAILAND — Thousands of people lined up for coronavirus tests in a province near Bangkok on Sunday, as Thai authorities scrambled to contain an outbreak of the virus that has infected nearly 700 people. SENT: 440 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — Israel begins its coronavirus inoculation drive, aiming to vaccinate some 60,000 people a day in a bid to stamp out the illness that is once again surging among its population. SENT: 370 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NETHERLANDS — The Netherlands is banning flights from the U.K. for at least the rest of the year in an attempt to make sure that a new strain of coronavirus that is sweeping across southern England does not reach its shores. SENT: 240 words, photo.

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

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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INTERNATIONAL

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AFGHANISTAN — A car bomb blast that rocked Afghanistan’s capital has killed at least nine people, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Masoud Andarabi told reporters that the attack wounded around 20 others, including a member of parliament, Khan Mohammad Wardak. Andarabi says the lawmaker was in “good condition.” SENT: 430 words, photo.

NIGERIA-SCHOOL-ATTACK — Gunmen in Nigeria abducted more than 80 Islamic school students in northwestern Katsina state, but the pupils were quickly rescued by security forces after a fierce gun battle, police announce. SENT: 300 words.

NEPAL=-POLITICS — Nepal’s president has dissolved Parliament after the prime minister recommended the move amid an escalating feud within his Communist Party that is likely to push the Himalayan nation into a political crisis. SENT: 210 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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FBN--BILLS-BRONCOS — The Buffalo Bills capture their first AFC East crown since 1995 with a 48-19 rout of the undermanned Denver Broncos. Josh Allen picked apart Denver’s makeshift secondary and also ran for two scores. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 930 words, photos.

FBC--T25-ACC CHAMPIONSHIP — Trevor Lawrence had 412 yards of offense and three touchdowns, Travis Etienne ran for 124 yards and a score and No. 4 Clemson dominated No. 2 Notre Dame 34-10 to win its sixth straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship. SENT: 970 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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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.

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