Pentagon memo maps out plan to expand diversity in the force

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has endorsed a new slate of initiatives to expand diversity within the ranks and reduce prejudice, calling for more aggressive efforts to recruit, retain and promote a more racially and ethnically diverse force, The Associated Press learned on Friday.

The Latest: WHO: Vaccine program will get 2 billion doses

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization says its program to help get COVID-19 vaccines to all countries in need, whether rich or poor, has gained access to nearly 2 billion doses of several vaccine candidates.

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Egyptian court acquits men accused of abusing Coptic woman

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian criminal court acquitted three Muslim men accused of stripping naked an elderly Coptic Christian woman and parading her through the streets of a village in southern Egypt in 2016, the state's official news agency reported.

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Dec. 19

Stocks hold close to records as wait continues for Congress

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are holding close to their record levels Friday, as a week marked by tentative optimism for the economy’s prospects comes to a close.

Shutdown deadline looms over COVID-19 relief talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a key issue proving difficult to resolve, a midnight government shutdown loomed ominously closer Friday though congressional negotiators seemed tantalizingly close to agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. An air of exhausted frustration infused the Capitol.

The Latest: VP Pence gets vaccine during White House event

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence is getting vaccinated for the coronavirus during a White House event aimed at convincing skeptical Americans the vaccines are safe.

Sexual assault charge dropped against rapper Mystikal

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped rape and kidnapping charges against New Orleans rapper Mystikal, who was released from jail on a $3 million bond almost two years ago.

Prosecutor adopts drug decriminalization measure early

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt in Portland said Thursday he isn’t waiting until February to implement a policy that will decriminalize possession of all drugs in personal use amounts.

Illegal winery busted at Alabama town's sewage plant

RAINSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say they've busted an illegal winery that was operating at a municipal sewage plant in a small north Alabama town.

Demand is low for COVID-19 antibody drugs but shortages loom

U.S. health officials are seeing an astonishing lack of demand for COVID-19 medicines that may help keep infected people out of the hospital, drugs they rushed out to states over the past few weeks as deaths set new records.

In public housing, a small debt can get poor tenants evicted

CRISFIELD, Md. (AP) — Public housing is supposed to be a solution to homelessness, not a cause of it.

Turkish philanthropist on trial for alleged failed coup ties

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish philanthropist businessman and human rights defender denied accusations of espionage and attempting to overthrow the government in connection with a failed coup four years ago, telling a court on Friday that he opposes all efforts to take over power by force.

Ex-governor of Mexico's Jalisco state shot to death

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The former governor of Mexico’s troubled western state of Jalisco was shot to death early Friday at a restaurant in the Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta.

The Latest: Azar: Moderna vaccines ship if FDA gives OK

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says shipments of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine will begin this weekend if the FDA grants emergency use authorization as expected on Friday.

Official: Rickshaw bomb kills 15 kids in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —

Bartell Drugs settles over filling invalid prescriptions

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice says it and Bartell Drugs have resolved allegations that the pharmacy chain filled invalid prescriptions between July 2016 and August 2020 in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

No breakthrough in India, China talks on border tensions

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian and Chinese foreign ministry officials held another round of talks on Friday but didn’t report any breakthrough in ending a monthslong military standoff along their disputed border in eastern Ladakh.

The Latest: Biden marks anniversary of deaths of wife, child

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on