AP News Digest 3:30 am

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. —————————————- NEW/DEVELOPING —————————————- SWEDEN NOBEL CHEMISTRY — The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry UPCOMING: Announcement at 5:45 a.m. —————————————- TOP STORIES —————————————- CONGRESS-BUDGET — The push by President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats for a $3.5 trillion package of social and environmental initiatives has reached a turning point, with the president repeatedly conceding that the measure will be considerably smaller and pivotal lawmakers flashing potential signs of flexibility. —————————————- NATIONAL —————————————- CALIFORNIA OIL SPILL-DELAYED RESPONSE — Amplify Energy’s emergency response plan for a major oil spill like the one unfolding in coastal Southern California depended heavily on a quick shut down of its pipeline if sensors pick up a sudden loss of pressure. —————————————- BUSINESS/ECONOMY —————————————- FINANCIAL-MARKETS — Asian shares slipped in cautious trading, shrugging off a rally on Wall Street led by technology companies and banks that erased most of the losses from the previous day’s sell-off. —————————————- ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT —————————————- PEN GALA — PEN America held one of New York’s first major indoor literary gatherings since the pandemic began last year, as hundreds met for the organization’s annual gala to honor writers, community servants, political dissidents and prominent public figures.