THREAD: As the world battled the coronavirus last year, China was waging another struggle online: pushing the idea that the virus was a U.S.-made bioweapon.
The @AP collaborated with The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (@DFRLab) on a 9-month project to identify those who spread misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus.
At first, China worked to contain COVID conspiracy theories. But after weeks of fiery rhetoric from President Trump and top Republicans, Beijing fought back.
China launched what may be its first truly global digital disinfo campaign.
Tweets by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, which broadcast speculation that the U.S. Army engineered COVID-19, was cited over 99,000 times, in at least 54 languages, by accounts with hundreds of millions of followers. Then Chinese state media syndicated his ideas.
During the first half of 2020, there were millions of coronavirus-related interactions on Twitter with 829 accounts linked to the Chinese, Russian and Iranian governments.
Chinese state media and Foreign Ministry accounts were among the most retweeted.
China’s foreign ministry says it resolutely rejects disinformation, but will defend itself against the aggression of hostile forces seeking to politicize the epidemic.
Learn more about some of the people and groups behind some of the most viral misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus, as identified in a 9-month investigation by @AP and @DFRLab.
The donors on @Philanthropy's annual #Philanthropy50 list gave a combined total of $24.7 billion to charity in 2020. They supported a broad range of causes, including COVID-19 relief, racial justice efforts and food banks. apne.ws/wTPSaAC
Amazon founder @JeffBezos and his ex-wife, @mackenziescott, were Nos. 1 and 2 in @Philanthropy’s annual rankings of the 50 Americans who gave the most to charity last year. Bezos gave to fight climate change and Scott to help 512 smaller organizations. apne.ws/oCF7PIE
Michael Jordan, who called the death of George Floyd a "tipping point" for his $50 million donation to racial justice causes, made the #Philanthropy50 list of 2020's top donors at No. 31. apne.ws/6cTpFDy
THREAD: Despite having billions in cash and other funds, Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. took billions more from an emergency relief program for small businesses slammed by the coronavirus. Church officials say they needed the money to save jobs.
When the coronavirus pandemic besieged the U.S. economy, Washington hastily knit a safety net for small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program. @ReeseDunklin & @MikeRezendes found the Roman Catholic Church was perhaps the biggest beneficiary.
The Catholic Church doesn’t sound like a small business. But a special exception the U.S. church helped lobby into the program’s rules made its thousands of parishes, schools and other affiliated entities eligible.
BREAKING: Democrats say in impeachment trial brief that President Trump aimed a “loaded cannon” at the U.S. Capitol by inciting a mob and must be convicted and barred from office. apne.ws/Fx4Embp
The Democrats' legal brief forcefully links former President Trump’s baseless efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election to the deadly Capitol riot, saying he bears “unmistakable” blame for actions that threatened American democracy. apne.ws/YfezJ6t
One of Trump's attorneys, David Schoen, said he will argue that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president. Schoen said efforts to bar Trump from office are undemocratic and his words are protected by free speech. apne.ws/ny5n6uJ
BREAKING: Larry King, television's everyman interviewer of the famous and obscure, dies at 87, according to network he co-founded. apne.ws/0ddVCjI
A longtime nationally syndicated radio host, King was a nightly fixture on CNN from 1985 through 2010 and won many honors, including two Peabody awards. apne.ws/8v6l2sj
King conducted an estimated 50,000 on-air interviews. He welcomed everyone from the Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga. apne.ws/PoE8AG3
BREAKING: Hank Aaron, the baseball legend who endured racist threats with stoic dignity as he broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, has died at 86. apne.ws/KdCfkRy
“Hammerin’ Hank” set many career hitting records during a 23-year career spent mostly with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, including RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. But the Hall of Famer will be remembered for one swing above all others. apne.ws/q7FRCLX
As he closed in on a cherished home run record, Aaron was the target of extensive hate mail and was shadowed constantly by bodyguards. “If I was white, all America would be proud of me,” he said almost a year before he passed Ruth. “But I am black.” apne.ws/h3Hrc22
THREAD: Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on the steps of the U.S. Capitol that a week earlier had been battered by an insurrectionist siege, gazing at a sea of flags instead of crowds. (1/8) apne.ws/lUCGl8n
Two weeks after a mob besieged the Capitol, ritual took center stage. And in that ritual, many found comfort, @anthonyted writes. (2/8) apne.ws/fpHVa1D
From a seat on the inaugural platform, The @AP witnessed a ceremony like no other. (3/8) apne.ws/ctmVYL1