AP News Digest 3:45 a.m.

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

————————-

RACIAL INJUSTICE-FEDERAL ARRESTS — A Trump administration crackdown has already led to more than 300 arrests on federal crimes in the protests that erupted following the death of George Floyd. An AP analysis shows that while many are accused of violent crimes like arson for hurling Molotov cocktails, burning police cars and assault for injuring law enforcement, others are not — prompting criticism that at least some arrests are a politically motivated effort to stymie demonstrations. By Michael Balsamo, Alanna Durkin Richer and Colleen Long. UPCOMING: 1,170 words, photos by 5:30 a.m.

--------------———

TOP STORIES

-------------------

VIRUS OUTBREAK-INDIA-DEATHS — India is now second in the world with the number of reported coronavirus infections with over 5.1 million cases, behind only the United States. Its death toll of only 83,000 in a country of 1.3 billion people, however, is raising questions about the way it counts fatalities from COVID-19. Experts say its official death toll is likely an undercount. By Aniruddha Ghosal and Sheikh Saaliq. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.

TROPICAL WEATHER — Rivers swollen by Hurricane Sally’s rains threatened more misery for some residents of the Florida Panhandle and south Alabama, even as the storm’s remnants were forecast to dump as much as a foot of rain and spread the threat of flooding to Georgia and the Carolinas. Coastal residents, meanwhile, looked to begin the recovery from a storm that turned streets into rivers, ripped roofs off buildings, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and killed at least one person. By Jay Reeves, Angie Wang and Jeff Martin. SENT: 890 words, photos, videos. With TROPICAL WEATHER-THE LATEST.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN — Joe Biden is set to join Senate Democrats for an online lunch. The virtual event will be a homecoming, of sorts, for the former senator who is now the party’s presidential nominee. Biden will be fielding questions on the race for the White House and the down-ballot effort to wrest the Senate’s majority control from Republicans. By Lisa Mascaro and Bill Barrow. SENT: 780 words, photo. With ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-SUPREME COURT — Biden under pressure to unveil list of potential Supreme Court picks.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

WESTERN WILDFIRES-SMOKE STRETCHES EAST — The smoke from dozens of wildfires in the western United States is stretching clear across the country — and even pushing into Mexico, Canada and Europe. While the dangerous plumes are forcing people inside along the West Coast, residents thousands of miles away in the East are seeing unusually hazy skies and remarkable sunsets. By Susan Montoya Bryan. SENT: 500 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-LAUNCHED-DURING-PANDEMIC — Among the businesses the coronavirus outbreak has pummeled are an untold number of companies that were on the verge of launching or that were in their early days when the virus hit. Some owners have had to put the business on hold, while others have changed their products and services to find new customers. By Joyce M. Rosenberg. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.

UNITED STATES-IRAN-SANCTIONS — The United States is preparing to declare that all international sanctions against Iran have been restored, despite overwhelming opposition. Few countries believe restoring all international sanctions is legal, and the U.S. move could provoke a credibility crisis at the United Nations. By Matthew Lee and Edith M. Lederer. SENT: 960 words, photo.

------------------------------------------------