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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A rundown of AP's year-end coverage.

EDITORS:

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…

Bahrain grants emergency use for Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine

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

Fugitive is killed, 2 US marshals shot in Bronx gunfight

NEW YORK (AP) — A fugitive who shot a Massachusetts state trooper in the hand during a traffic stop two weeks ago was killed early Friday during a gunfight with U.S. marshals in New York City that left two of the o…

AP PHOTOS: Peru's monuments mostly left alone in protests

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Attacked in other countries during social and political protests, historical monuments and statues in Peru's capital came out of recent street demonstrations practically intact.

EU police agency Europol warns of fake coronavirus vaccines

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — European Union police agency Europol issued a warning Friday highlighting the risk of organized crime scams linked to COVID-19 vaccines, including the possibility criminals will try to…

EU extends ban on Pakistan's airline from flying to Europe

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The European Union’s aviation safety agency has extended a ban imposed on Pakistan's state-run airline this year barring it from flying to Europe after a plane crash that killed 97 people in the po…

Saudi FM says ‘final agreement’ in Qatar crisis within reach

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Saudi foreign minister on Friday expressed optimism the yearslong boycott of Qatar by four Arab nations, including the kingdom, may be nearing an end. His remarks came just ho…

Man linked to white supremacist group to plead guilty

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — A Maryland man who is scheduled to plead guilty Tuesday in a case stemming from his alleged membership in a white supremacist group wants a federal judge to immediately sentence him at the …

Saudi foreign minister welcomes 'progress' on Qatar crisis talks, says a ‘final agreement’ appears to be within reach

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi foreign minister welcomes 'progress' on Qatar crisis talks, says a ‘final agreement’ appears to be within reach.

California fire danger remains high even as winds ease

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fire danger remained high Friday amid unpredictable wind gusts and dry conditions in Southern California, as crews made progress against blazes that burned several homes and injured two firefight…