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.
———————-
ONLY ON AP
———————-
THE AP INTERVIEW-POPE FRANCIS-LGBTQ — Pope Francis is criticizing laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, he called on those Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church. By Nicole Winfield. SENT: 750 words, photos, video.
THE AP INTERVIEW-POPE FRANCIS-PAPACY — Pope Francis says he hasn’t even considered issuing norms to regulate future papal resignations. In his first interview since the death of retired Pope Benedict XVI, Francis has told AP that he plans to continue for as long as he can as bishop of Rome, despite a wave of attacks by some top-ranked cardinals and bishops. Francis addressed his health, his critics and the next phase of his pontificate, which marks its 10th anniversary in March. By Nicole Winfield. SENT: 1,090 words, photos.
THE AP INTERVIEW-POPE FRANCIS-TAKEAWAYS — Pope Francis says continued dialogue with Chinese authorities is a guiding principle in his efforts to safeguard his flock who are a small minority in that Asian nation. SENT: 450 words, photos.
———————-
TOP STORIES
———————-
AMERICA-MASS KILLINGS — America has more guns than people — and it’s starting 2023 with a steady barrage of violence after three years of isolation, stress and infighting during the pandemic. In California alone, mass killings have claimed the lives of two dozen people over just eight days. The victims include 11 people killed celebrating the Lunar New Year at a dance hall, seven farmworkers killed in Half Moon Bay and a 17-year-old mother and her baby shot dead in an attack that killed five generations. By Maryclaire Dale. SENT: 1,060 words, photos. With NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-FATAL SHOOTING — Suspect in shootings at Half Moon Bay farms was employee; CALIFORNIA-SHOOTING — “It’s insane”: California copes with third massacre in eight days; TEXAS-SCHOOL-SHOOTING-FAMILIES — Uvalde families press urgency after California shootings.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR-MILITARY AID — In what would be a reversal, the Biden administration is poised to approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, as international reluctance to send tanks to the battlefront against the Russians begins to erode. A decision to send a bit more than 30 tanks could be announced as soon as Wednesday, though it could take months for the tanks to be delivered. By Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee. SENT: 910 words, photos.
PERU-PROTESTS — Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Peru’s capital and were met with volleys of tear gas and pellets amid clashes with security forces just hours after President Dina Boluarte called for a “truce” in almost two months of protests. The antigovernment protest was the largest – and most violent — since last week, when large groups of people, many from remote Andean regions, descended on the capital to demand Boluarte’s resignation, immediate elections and the dissolution of Congress. By Daniel Politi. SENT: 870 words, photos.
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS-UNSAFE SECRETS — The discovery of classified documents at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence is scrambling the blame game in Washington. Lawmakers from both parties seem united in frustration with the string of mishaps in the handling of the U.S. government’s secrets. By Calvin Woodward and Chris Megerian. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos by 8 a.m. Also see PENCE-CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS and CLASSIFIED CONUNDRUM below.
LEBANON-HEZBOLLAH ENVIRONMENTALISTS — Green Without Borders is a non-governmental organization that says its main aim is to protect green areas and animal habitat around Lebanon as well as planting trees in rural areas. But the organization, which is active in southern Lebanon, including areas along the border with Israel, is accused by Israel and the U.S. of being an arm of the militant group Hezbollah. By Bassem Mroue and Fay Abuelgasim. SENT: 1,040 words, photos.
ASIA-LUNAR NEW YEAR-TRAVEL — The beaches and temples of Asian travel hotspots like Bali and Chiang Mai are the busiest they have been since the pandemic struck three years ago, but they're still relatively quiet. Chinese tourists who used to visit by the millions have yet to return in big numbers, even after Beijing relaxed COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Lunar New Year began this week without much of a bang. By Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 930 words, photos.
—————————————
MORE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
—————————————
NEW ZEALAND-UKRAINE-DEATH — The parents of a New Zealand scientist who was killed in Ukraine said he helped save hundreds of people while volunteering in the dangerous Donbas region. SENT: 490 words, photo.
———————-
TRENDING
———————-
TICKETMASTER-HEARING — Senators grill Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift fiasco. SENT: 910 words, photos.
AUSTRALIA-PEOPLE-YE — Official: Australia could deny Ye entry over antisemitism. SENT: 380 words, photo.
MIKE TYSON-RAPE LAWSUIT — Woman files suit accusing Mike Tyson of rape in early ’90s. SENT: 340 words, photo.
GUARDIANS-FRANCONA’S SCOOTER — Police recover Guardians manager Francona’s stolen scooter. SENT: 340 words, photo.
MISSING HIKERS-CALIFORNIA — Searchers find second hiker in area where Julian Sands missing. SENT: 320 words, photos.
SLAYINGS-FOOTBALL PLAYER CHARGED — Ex-college receiver Marcus Randle El convicted in two killings. SENT: 200 words.
———————-
WASHINGTON
———————-
PENCE-CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS — Documents with classified markings were discovered in Pence’s Indiana residence last week, his lawyer says, the latest in a string of recoveries of papers meant to be treated with utmost sensitivity from the homes of current and former top U.S. officials. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
CLASSIFIED CONUNDRUM — The mishandling of classified documents is not a problem unique to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. SENT: 1,310 words, photos.
———————-
NATIONAL
———————-
HAWAII MURDER-INNOCENCE PROJECT — A judge ordered a man released from prison immediately after his attorneys presented new evidence and argued that he didn’t commit the crimes he was convicted of and spent more than 20 years locked up for: the 1991 murder, kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman visiting Hawaii. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.
SEVERE WEATHER — A powerful storm system took aim at the Gulf Coast, spawning a tornado that downed utility poles and power lines, overturned vehicles and ripped roofs off homes and businesses in communities east of Houston. SENT: 480 words, photos, video.
———————-
INTERNATIONAL
———————-
NEW ZEALAND-NEXT PRIME MINISTER — Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister, following the unexpected resignation last week of Jacinda Ardern. Hipkins, 44, has promised a back-to-basics approach focusing on the economy. SENT: 420 words, photos, video.
SOUTH KOREA-JAPAN-SHIP SINKING — Ships searching in wind-whipped waters between South Korea and Japan have picked up at least 14 of the 22 crew members from a cargo ship that had sunk. SENT: 530 words, photos.
NETHERLANDS-HOLOCAUST SURVEY — A Jewish group that commissioned a survey on Holocaust awareness in the Netherlands said that the results show “a disturbing lack of awareness of key historical facts about the Holocaust,” prompting calls for better education in the nation that was home to diarist Anne Frank and her family. SENT: 690 words, photos.
———————-
HEALTH/SCIENCE
———————-
LIBERIA-FOREST INVESTIGATION — An international investigation completed in 2020 uncovered widespread illegal logging in the rainforests of Liberia, with complicity and lawbreaking at the highest levels of the nation’s forests agency, according to an unpublished report obtained by The Associated Press. SENT: 900 words, photo.
———————-
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
———————-
FINANCIAL MARKETS — Asian shares were mixed after Wall Street indexes finished little changed as investors awaited earnings results from major global companies. By Business Writer Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 650 words, photos.
CHINA-YELLEN-AFRICA — The Chinese government says the United States should stop pressuring it on debt relief for Zambia and get its own financial house to avert a default and possible repercussions for the global economy. SENT: 250 words, photos.
———————-
SPORTS
———————-
HALL OF FAME-NEXT YEAR — A look at next year's Hall of Fame ballot, which features Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer among a solid group of newcomers. By Baseball Writer Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 a.m. With HALL OF FAME — Scott Rolen elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS — Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes will be the old man among the starting quarterbacks in the conference title games. By Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 a.m.
———————-
HOW TO REACH US
———————-
At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Wally Santana (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@ap.org or call 844-777-2006.
