Georgia Runoff Election, ADVISORY

Georgia's runoff election for its two Senate seats takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Polls open at 7 a.m. Eastern and close at 7 p.m. Eastern. The AP plans the following coverage. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit

Virus aid, police reform dominate new US laws for 2021

Responses to the coronavirus pandemic and police brutality dominated legislative sessions in 2020, leading to scores of new laws that will take effect in the new year.

Kenya: Al-Shabab kills man taking pregnant wife to hospital

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A police report says extremist gunmen ambushed an ambulance carrying a pregnant woman and killed her husband before setting the vehicle ablaze in northern Kenya, as such attacks are again on the rise.

A low-key Memphis guitar legend builds on a musical legacy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — It’s 1966 and a thunderstorm illuminates the night sky in Memphis, Tennessee. Two Stax Records musicians, guitarist Steve Cropper and singer Eddie Floyd, sit in a room inside the Lorraine Motel, struggling to fashion a song about love and superstition.

A low-key Memphis guitar legend builds on musical legacy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — It’s 1966 and a thunderstorm illuminates the night sky in Memphis, Tennessee. Two Stax Records musicians, guitarist Steve Cropper and singer Eddie Floyd, sit in a room inside the Lorraine Motel, struggling to fashion a song about love and superstition.

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The Latest: Highest-tier limits extended to most of England

LONDON — The British government has extended its highest tier of restrictions to three-quarters of England’s population, saying a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus has reached most of the country.

Landslide in Norway leaves 10 injured, more than 20 missing

HELSINKI (AP) — A landslide smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people, leaving 21 unaccounted for and destroying several homes, authorities said. Some 700 people were evacuated amid fears of further landslides.

AP Sportlight

Dec. 31

Jags limp into finale with QB Glennon, without RB Robinson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The worst (and potentially best) season in Jacksonville's relatively brief history is coming to a close.

British lawmakers approve post-Brexit trade deal with EU

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Parliament voted resoundingly on Wednesday to approve a trade deal with the European Union, paving the way for an orderly break with the bloc that will finally complete the U.K.’s long and divisive Brexit journey.

In Greece, ‘vaccination selfies’ anger unions, opposition

Greece’s center-right government says senior state officials will no longer be given priority for the COVID-19 vaccination after posts on social media by Cabinet ministers receiving the shot triggered a backlash from health care unions and opposition parties.

US home contract signings at record levels in November

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes declined last month, but was still a record high for November when a seasonal slowdown traditionally seeps into the real estate market.

US bomber mission over Persian Gulf aimed at cautioning Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday for the

Watchdog approves use in UK of 'vaccine for the world'

LONDON (AP) — Britain authorized an easy-to-handle coronavirus vaccine Wednesday and decided to stretch out the time between doses to allow more people to get some level of protection faster as infections surge. The first greenlight for the shot dubbed the “vaccine for the world” brought a measure of hope that the pandemic could be brought under control.

Changes to New Hampshire sexual assault laws taking effect

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Changes to New Hampshire state laws on sexual assault take effect in the new year.

Joe and Jill Biden to appear on 'New Year’s Rockin’ Eve'

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Seacrest will have a special pair of guests alongside the music stars at this year's New Year's Eve celebration on ABC — the president-elect and the future first lady.

Ronaldo plans 'many years' playing as 36th birthday looms

Approaching his 36th birthday in February, Cristiano Ronaldo has no intention of slowing down.

Iran allocates payment to families of Ukraine crash victims

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s cabinet has created a compensation fund to pay the families of the 176 victims of a Ukrainian passenger plane that was shot down by Iranian forces outside Tehran last January, the president announced Wednesday.

Virus, policing topped 2020 issues in state legislatures

Responses to the coronavirus pandemic and police brutality dominated legislative sessions in 2020, leading to scores of new laws that will take effect in the new year.