AP-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-GLOBAL

Breathtaking virus numbers show normal life still far away

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa is poised to join the top five countries most affected by the coronavirus, while breathtaking numbers around the world are a reminder a return to normal life is still far from sight. Confirmed virus cases worldwide have topped 14 million and deaths have surpassed 600,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data. That’s after the World Health Organization reported a single-day record of new infections at over 237,000. Death tolls in the United States are reaching new highs, and India’s infections are over 1 million. In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said as many as 25 million could have been infected.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS

No end in sight, Congress confronts new virus crisis rescue

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Congress approved the eye-popping $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill in March, it was the biggest rescue of its kind in U.S. history. Now, with the pandemic worsening, it’s clear that package was only the start, and Congress returns to work Monday to try to draft another one. The current round of aid is running out. Extra employment benefits expire and so does a federal eviction freeze. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is poised to roll out his $1 trillion-plus proposal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already has pushed through a more sweeping $3 trillion effort. Big spending that Congress hoped to avoid now seems inevitable.

AP-EU-EUROPE-SUMMIT

EU leaders resume ‘grumpy’ summit on budget, virus fund

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are hunting for compromises as a summit to reach a deal on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund enters its second day. Tensions are running high, and a full day and night of discussions by the 27 leaders on Friday only added to the irritations over how the huge sums should be spent and what strings should be attached. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte told reporters after Friday’s marathon talks that the atmosphere “was grumpier this evening than this afternoon.” The EU executive has proposed a 750-billion euro fund to be sent as loans and grants to the most needy countries.

AP-VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST

The Latest: British scientists: No normality until vaccine

British scientists are dismissing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s hope the country may emerge from coronavirus lockdown and return to normality by Christmas. Johnson announced more easing of restrictions, with people urged to return to public transit and workplaces. He says sports fans should return to stadiums by October and remaining restrictions could be lifted from November, “possibly in time for Christmas.” But epidemiologist John Edmunds says a return to pre-pandemic normality wouldn’t be possible until there’s a vaccine for the virus. England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, says social distancing is needed for a “prolonged period.” Britain has more than 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, the highest total in Europe.

AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-TRUMP-TESTING

Reality shows shortfalls of Trump’s claim to ‘best testing’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Snapshots from around the U.S. are revealing shortfalls in what President Donald Trump describes as the “best testing in the world.” In Pittsburgh, adults who are afraid they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus are being asked to skip testing if they can quarantine at home for 14 days. Hawaii will wait another month to lift a two-week quarantine on visitors because of test supply shortages and delays in results. In Sun Belt states where the virus is surging, lines of cars with people seeking tests snake for hours in the beating sun, often yielding results so far after the fact that they’re useless. Public health experts say the testing system is in shambles.

AP-US-ELECTION-2020-BIDEN-RUSSIA

Biden: After intel briefings, warns of election interference

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden says he’s begun receiving intelligence briefings as he warned that Russia, China and other adversaries were attempting to undermine the upcoming U.S. election in November. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee wasn’t specific and offered no evidence while addressing a virtual fundraiser Friday. But, in the process, he confirmed receiving classified briefings after suggesting as recently as late last month that he wasn’t getting them. Biden received intelligence briefings while vice president but told reporters he wasn’t getting them as of June 30. Classified briefings are traditionally provided to major-party nominees once they win the primary, but Biden won’t formally become the nominee until the party’s convention next month.

AP-ML-IRAN-PLANE-CRASH

Iran sends downed Ukrainian plane’s black box to France

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s semi-official news agency say the black box from the Ukrainian passenger jet that Iranian armed forces mistakenly shot down in January has been taken to France for reading. The news agency said Saturday the downed jet’s black box was transported to Paris on Friday, accompanied by Iranian civil aviation and judicial officials. Iran accidentally shot down the Boeing 737-800, killing all 176 people aboard, after mistaking it for an incoming missile. Iranian armed forces had been bracing for a counterattack after launching missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq in response to the killing of its top commander, Gen. Qassim Soleimani, in a U.S. strike earlier in January.

AP-US-DEPUTY-FATAL-SHOOTING

FBI to review LA deputy killing of 18-year-old shot in back

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI says it will review the death of an 18-year-old man who was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy last month. The agency said Friday that it will review “all available evidence to determine what federal response is warranted.” Autopsy results released last week showed Andres Guardado Pinedo was shot five times in the back on June 18. The Sheriff’s Department has said the shooting occurred in an unincorporated area near the city of Gardena after two deputies on patrol spotted Guardado with a gun and he ran. His family denies the gun was his.

AP-US-JOHN-LEWIS-FAITH

Religious faith was a lifelong constant for Rep. John Lewis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Religious faith was a lifelong constant for Rep. John Lewis. He spent his boyhood in Alabama preaching to a make-believe congregation of chickens and siblings. He went on to be inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to learn nonviolence protests tactics from ministers and other teachers. Lewis often cited religious faith as a reason for his activism. Lewis worried aloud that some didn’t understand the importance of religion to the civil rights movement. Lewis died Friday at age 80.

MAYFLOWER MAKEOVER

Its $11M makeover complete, the Mayflower II is sailing home

The replica of the Mayflower is ready for its journey from Connecticut back home to Plymouth, Massachusetts, after more than three years of renovations and several months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayflower II is scheduled to be towed from the preservation shipyard at the Mystic Seaport Museum to New London, Connecticut, on Monday for two weeks of sea trials before heading up the coast. The 64-year-old historic reproduction of the ship that brought the Pilgrims from Europe in 1620 is scheduled arrive back at the harbor just down the road from the Plimoth Plantation living history museum on or around Aug. 10.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

×