AP News Digest 2 p.m.

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Saudi Arabia says end to yearslong Qatar boycott 'in reach'

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia's top diplomat said Friday that an end to the yearslong boycott of Qatar by the kingdom and three other Arab nations “looks in reach” for all involved, though he offe…

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Palestinians: West Bank teen wounded by Israeli gunfire dies

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A 13-year-old Palestinian died on Friday after being shot by Israeli troops during clashes with a stone-throwing crowd in the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency repo…

Police: Nearly 30 found in Texas human smuggling operation

HOUSTON (AP) — More than two dozen people who police in Texas believe were being held as a part of a possible human smuggling operation have been removed from a house in Houston.

Big fire hits Michigan marina, sending smoke for miles

LASALLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Fire swamped an enormous building loaded with boats Friday in southeastern Michigan, sending smoke for miles along Lake Erie.

Mexico City hospitals are filling up, but so are the streets

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Sometimes Latin American dance tunes on the radio — salsa, cumbia, ranchera — bring a little cheer into the emergency room of Mexico City’s Ajusco Medio hospital, which is operating well over nor…

Bahrain now 2nd nation to grant Pfizer shot emergency use

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The island kingdom of Bahrain said it has become the second nation in the world to grant an emergency-use authorization for the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and its German p…

Venezuela's Maduro seeks to tighten his grip via election

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — With the political opponents of President Nicolás Maduro boycotting Sunday's election for the National Assembly, his socialist party is expected to dominate the vote, giving him control of…

Pelosi optimistic, says momentum growing for COVID-19 relief

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave an optimistic assessment of the prospects for a mid-sized COVID-19 relief bill and a separate $1.4 trillion governmentwide spending bill on Friday, teeing up expect…

Council won't appoint new prosecutor in Breonna Taylor case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A council of Kentucky prosecutors said Friday it does not have the legal authority to appoint another special prosecutor in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor, despite a plea from Taylor's…

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Bahrain says it is granting emergency-use authorization for coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer, German partner BioNTech

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain says it is granting emergency-use authorization for coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer, German partner BioNTech.

California attorney withdraws from Rittenhouse criminal case

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — A California attorney for an Illinois 17-year-old accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding a third during a night of unrest in Wisconsin is extracting himself from his criminal defen…