Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.
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TOP STORIES
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LEBANON-CEASEFIRE-WHAT’S-NEXT — There is relief over a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, but Lebanese are now facing the realization of the challenges that lie ahead. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement raises multiple questions. Will Hezbollah fully remove its fighters and arsenals? Can the Lebanese army ensure it does so? Who will foot the bill for rebuilding? The World Bank estimates Lebanon has suffered some $8.5 billion in damage. Lebanon faces internal tensions including a long financial crisis and anger among Hezbollah’s opponents. By Kareem Chehayeb. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. WITH: MIDEAST-WARS — The Israeli military says its warplanes fired on southern Lebanon after detecting activity by the militant Hezbollah group at a rocket storage facility there Thursday. SENT: 1,130 words, photos, video, audio; MIDEAST WARS-THE LATEST — SENT.
SYRIA-OPPOSITION — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have pushed on with their advances on government-held areas in the country’s northwest. They have reached the outskirts of Syria’s second largest city Aleppo and are wrestling control of strategic towns and villages from government forces. Syria’s state media says projectiles from insurgents landed in the student accommodations at Aleppo’s university, killing four people, including two students. This week’s advances have been the largest by the rebels on government-held areas in years. SENT: 550 words, photos.
MEXICO-US-TRUMP-TARIFFS — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she is confident a tariff war with the United States can be averted. But her statement Thursday, the day after a phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, did not make clear who had offered what. On Wednesday, Trump wrote that Sheinbaum agreed to stop unauthorized migration across the border. Sheinbaum wrote that “migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border.” Trump earlier threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports unless Mexico stops the flow of migrants and drugs. SENT: 530 words, photo, video. WITH: MEXICO-US-TARIFFS-PRODUCTS — Mexicans are worried Trump's threats of 25% tariffs could affect a range of products and threaten regional economies. SENT: 740 words, photos, video.
TRUMP-ENERGY-DOMINANCE — President-elect Donald Trump is creating a National Energy Council that he says will establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world. The council will be led by Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department. It will be key in Trump’s pledge to sell more oil to allies and his intent to move away from President Joe Biden’s focus on climate change. But Trump’s wishes are likely to run into real-world limits. U.S. oil production under Biden is already at record levels. By Matthew Daly. SENT: 1,060 words, photos. WITH: TRUMP-TRANSITION-ATTACKS — At least five Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut were targeted by bomb threats on their homes Thursday, a day after Trump Cabinet picks and appointees reported threats. SENT: 520 words, photos, audio.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-ENERGY-REPAIRS — Workers at one of Ukraine’s thermal power plants struggle to repair damage and keep electricity flowing as Russia continues its campaign of attacks targeting the country’s power grid. In the latest large-scale strike, damage to the energy infrastructure caused power disruption for more that a million Ukrainians. Despite the ongoing risks, workers at a power plant operated by Ukraine’s biggest private energy operator say they feel compelled to do their best to keep the lights on and heat homes through the winter months. SENT: 660 words, photos. By Illia Novikov. WITH: FRANCE-BRITAIN-INTELLIGENCE — U.K. intelligence chief accuses Russia of "staggeringly reckless" sabotage campaign. SENT: 480 words, photo.
BLACK FRIDAY — After weeks of pushing early deals, retailers in the United States and some other countries are promising bigger discounts on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it has lost some luster. In the U.S., analysts envision solid sales, though perhaps not as robust as last year’s. Despite inflation easing, many shoppers are being cautious with discretionary spending. Retailers are more under the gun to get shoppers to buy early and in bulk since there are fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. By Anne D'Innocenzio. SENT: 810 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: INDIA-AMAZON-PROTEST — Amazon workers in India join Black Friday strike action for better wages and working conditions. SENT: 370 words, photos.
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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES
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STATELESS-NICARAGUANS — Hundreds of Nicaraguan religious leaders, students, activists, dissidents and journalists are “stateless.” President Daniel Ortega’s government stripped them of their citizenship, homes and government pensions. The United Nations says they are among 4.4 million stateless people worldwide struggling to find jobs, education and healthcare, open bank accounts and marry without valid ID documents. The Nicaraguans are scattered across the U.S., Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain in limbo as they struggle to recover from physical and psychological trauma. By Megan Janetsky and Sonia Perez D. SENT: 1,140 words, photos, video.
ZIMBABWE-MAGGOT FARMING — It was an alarming, even sickening, suggestion: Farmers in Zimbabwe hit hard by drought should farm maggots to feed their animals and boost their household incomes. But the smelly solution has been embraced after some convincing in a country where people have traditionally associated flies with diseases such as cholera. The larvae of the black soldier fly don’t spread disease and they are a rich source of affordable protein. The collection of food waste for maggot farming also helps limit trash and greenhouse gas emissions. By Farai Mutsaka. SENT: 1,030 words, photos, video.
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RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
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RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-DESERTERS — Desertion is starving the Ukrainian army of desperately needed manpower and crippling its battle plans at a crucial time in its war with Russia. Soldiers, lawyers and Ukrainian officials tell The Associated Press that tens of thousands of tired and bereft Ukrainian troops have walked away from combat and front-line positions. Military commanders and soldiers say entire units have abandoned their posts, leaving defensive lines vulnerable and accelerating territorial losses. SENT: 1,220 words, photos. WITH: NORTH-KOREA-RUSSIA — Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders. SENT: 860 words, photos, video; RUSSIA-CRACKDOWN — Jailed Kremlin critic convicted again and handed new prison term for opposing the war in Ukraine. SENT: 560 words, photos.
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MORE NEWS
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FRANCE-NOTRE DAME — After more than five years of frenetic reconstruction work, Notre Dame Cathedral showed its new self to the world Friday, with rebuilt soaring ceilings and creamy good-as-new stonework erasing somber memories of its devastating fire in 2019. SENT: 380 words, photos.
SANTA TRAIN — Since 1943, the people of Appalachian Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee have looked forward to Santa’s arrival. Not in a sleigh on their rooftops, but on a train. At each stop of the CSX Santa Train there are dozens to hundreds of people. SENT: 760 words, photos, video, audio.
THANKSGIVING-PARADE — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marched, soared and roared into its second century as a holiday fixture despite a drenching rain and a brief disruption from pro-Palestinian demonstrators. SENT: 540 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: MACY’S-THANKSGIVING-DAY-PARADE-PHOTO-GALLERY — From Santa to celebrities, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in pictures. SENT: 180 words, photos.
SOUTH-KOREA-BORDER-STARBUCKS — Coffee drinkers can sip their beverages and view a quiet North Korean mountain village from a Starbucks shop at a South Korean border observatory. Customers have to pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory that overlooks a North Korean mountain and a nearby village. SENT: 300 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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IRAN-NUCLEAR — Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, according to a statement Friday from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. SENT: 630 words, photo.
IRELAND-ELECTION — Ireland is voting Friday in a parliamentary election that will decide the next government and whether Ireland bucks the global trend of incumbents being ousted by disgruntled voters after years of pandemic, international instability and cost-of-living pressures. SENT: 750 words, photos.
GEORGIA-POLITICS — Police and protesters brutally clashed in Georgia late Thursday after the country’s ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. SENT: 590 words, photos.
TAIWAN-LAI-TRAVEL — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will stop over in Hawaii and Guam on his trip to the South Pacific in a move expected to draw objection from China. Lai is due to depart Taiwan on Saturday for a weeklong trip to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. SENT: 280 words, photos. WITH: TAIWAN-PARAGUAY — Paraguay’s foreign minister said Friday his country is committed to its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and has no plans to break in favor of China. SENT: 360 words, photos.
SENEGAL-FRANCE — France’s President Emmanuel Macron has for the first time recognized the killing of West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944 as a massacre. SENT: 490 words, photo. WITH: CHAD-FRANCE — Chad ends a defense agreement with former colonial ruler France. SENT: 290 words, photo.
BRITAIN-ASSISTED-DYING — British lawmakers started a historic debate Friday on a proposal to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, an issue that has divided Parliament and the country. SENT: 710 words, photos. WITH: BRITAIN-MINISTER-RESIGNS — British Transport Minister Louise Haigh resigned over a decade-old fraud conviction for claiming her cellphone was stolen. SENT: 250 words, photo.
MALAYSIA-FLOODS — Malaysia prepared on Friday for its worst floods in a decade after heavier-than-expected monsoon rains caused severe flooding that killed three people and displaced more than 80,000. SENT: 260 words, photos, video.
INDONESIA-LANDSLIDE — Rescuers have recovered two more bodies from a tourist bus hit by a landslide triggered by torrential rains on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, bringing the death toll to nine. At least 20 people have died in other landslides and floods in the region this week. SENT: 290 words, photos.
PHILIPPINES-MARCOS-DUTERTE — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday that filing impeachment complaints against the vice president, who is facing a legal storm after publicly threatening to have him killed, would be a waste of time for Congress. SENT: 630 words, photos.
PLASTIC-POLLUTION-TREATY — Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution inched closer to an agreement Friday in South Korea, with more countries saying they want to address the total plastic on Earth. SENT: 660 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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GENERATIONAL TOBACCO BAN — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” SENT: 720 words, photos.
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BUSINESS
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CHINA-SILVER-ECONOMY — Many older Chinese are looking beyond traditional care homes, worried about abandonment and quality issues. Their strong preference to age at home is driving a boom in universities, home care services and communities catering to older adults. SENT: 1,180 words, photos.
EUROPE-ECONOMY — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November, but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. SENT: 380 words. WITH: WTO-DIRECTOR-GENERAL — Member countries of the World Trade Organization agreed Friday to give Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a second four-year term. SENT: 130 words.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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SUPER-BOWL-PERFORMERS — The Super Bowl will have some Louisiana flavor: Multi-talented performer Jon Batiste will hit the pregame stage to sing the national anthem, while Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle are to perform “America the Beautiful.” SENT: 330 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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BEARS-STRUGGLES — The Chicago Bears could have celebrated a huge comeback and an upset win on Thursday. Instead, poor clock management on their final drive ended their bid and extended their losing streak to six games after a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. SENT: 570 words, photos.
GIANTS-COWBOYS — DeMarvion Overshown returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown, Rico Dowdle ran for a score in his first career 100-yard game and the Dallas Cowboys held on for a 27-20 Thanksgiving Day victory over the New York Giants. SENT: 830 words, photos.
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HOW TO REACH US
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