UK judge refuses US extradition of WikiLeaks founder Assange

LONDON (AP) — A British judge on Monday rejected the United States’ request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges over the publication of secret U.S. documents a decade ago, saying…

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Vaccination campaign picks up speed around the world

The drive to vanquish the coronavirus gained ground Monday when Britain introduced another COVID-19 vaccine and the first people inoculated in the U.S. began rolling up their sleeves for their second and final dose.

Alaska court to hear challenge to Arctic refuge oil leases

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Conservationists will try to persuade a U.S. judge on Monday to stop the Trump administration from issuing leases to oil and gas companies in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Israel says Palestinian arrested in killing of settler

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's internal security agency on Monday released details about a detained Palestinian suspected of killing an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank last month.

Lebanese composer, lyricist, Elias Rahbani dies at 82

BEIRUT (AP) — Elias Rahbani, a Lebanese composer and lyricist who wrote the music for some of the Arab world’s top performers, including Lebanon’s diva Fairouz, has died after battling COVID-19, his family said. He…

Family asks for help in release of Kashmir separatist leader

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The family of a prominent separatist leader from disputed Kashmir who is being held in an Indian jail for alleged anti-state activities appealed Monday to the United Nations for help in securing he…

France's go-slow coronavirus vaccination strategy backfires

PARIS (AP) — France’s cautious approach to rolling out a coronavirus vaccination program appears to have backfired, leaving barely 500 people inoculated in the first week and rekindling anger over the government’s …

Stocks dip as trading starts for year of great expectations

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are holding close to their record highs Monday, as trading gets underway in a year where the dominant expectation is that a powerful economic rebound will eventually sweep the world.

Big issues expected for scaled-back Nebraska session

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers will begin a new session Wednesday that’s likely to be scaled back because of the pandemic, but they’ll still have a lot of big issues to debate, including a proposed $230 mill…

US construction spending increases solid 0.9% in November led by strong gain in home building

WASHINGTON (AP) — US construction spending increases solid 0.9% in November led by strong gain in home building.

Greek Church tells priests to ignore pandemic closure order

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten virus restrictions before the planned reopening o…

AP Sportlight

Jan. 5

Ted Danson and Holly Hunter combine for comedy 'Mr. Mayor'

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a government office right there in the very title of Ted Danson’s new series, but the new NBC comedy “Mr. Mayor” is anything but political.

AP source: Panthers ask permission to talk to GM candidates

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have begun their search for a new general manager.