Month: December 2021

By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step to fight climate change, the Biden administration is raising vehicle mileage standards to significantly reduce emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases. A final rule being issued Monday would raise mileage standards starting in the 2023 model year, reaching a projected industry-wide target of 40

By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Poland and Lithuania have joined Ukraine to urge stronger Western sanctions against Moscow amid a Russian troops buildup near the Ukrainian border that fueled fears of an invasion. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has amassed 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and is preparing for

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has ordered two German diplomats to leave in response to the expulsion of two Russian envoys after a German court’s ruling that blamed Moscow for the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago. Moscow has angrily rejected the Berlin court’s verdict and the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s governor says he’s tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing cold-like symptoms.. Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted Monday morning that he received a positive rapid test as part of his regular testing routine. Hogan is a cancer survivor and says he’s been vaccinated and has had a booster. In the

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — People in crisis and those trying to help them will have a new three-digit phone number, 988, to reach the national suicide prevention network starting in July. Federal health officials announced Monday more than $280 million to smooth the transition from the current 10-digit number, 800-273-8255. Three-digit

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and TOM HAYS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is speeding to a conclusion. The jury began deliberations late Monday in Manhattan federal court. The jury went home after less than an hour. Earlier, a prosecutor said during closing arguments that the 59-year-old Maxwell is

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to work following a week of isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. His office announced Monday that Ramaphosa had mild symptoms and was treated at his official residence in Cape Town by South Africa’s military health service as the country

LONDON (AP) — The government of Belarus says it has summoned a British diplomat in protest after its embassy in London was “attacked” and a diplomat injured. The Belarus Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday that a group of people smeared the facade of the embassy building and then physically assaulted Belarusian diplomats who

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — When he sat down at his parents’ house to write a simple, melodic song for his band Fleet Foxes’ debut album, Robin Pecknold had no idea he’d be writing a modern-day holiday standard. But unexpectedly, that’s what “White Winter Hymnal” has turned into, a staple

By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer Biogen is slashing the price of its Alzheimer’s treatment months after the drug debuted to widespread criticism for an initial cost that can reach $56,000 annually. The drugmaker said Monday that starting in January it will cut the wholesale acquisition cost of the drug by about 50%. That means

By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA, Mass. (AP) — When Microsoft urges shareholders to reject an activist investor’s proposal, shareholders almost always abide. So it was a shock when nearly 78% of shareholders at Microsoft’s Nov. 30 annual meeting voted to demand accountability from the company in responding to sexual harassment complaints, including allegations

VIENNA (AP) — Austria has reported fewer than 2,000 new coronavirus cases as the last few regions in the country reopened restaurants and hotels. It’s the lowest number since October and stands in stark contrast to rising cases across much of Europe. Austria went into a 20-day lockdown on Nov. 22 in response to a

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — More than a decade ago, Matthew Viragh was a Texan with a dream. He wanted to serve moviegoers booze and prepared food as they sat in their seats. In Brooklyn. But he had a state Prohibition-era liquor ban to contend with first. Viragh hired a

PARIS (AP) — The Paris prosecutor’s office said it has received a manslaughter lawsuit for failure to help in the tragic capsizing last month of a boat in the English Channel that cost the lives of at least 27 people trying to reach Britain. The manslaughter lawsuit, filed by the humanitarian organization Utopia 56, accuses

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The European Union’s drugs regulator has given the green light to a fifth COVID-19 vaccine for use in the 27-nation bloc, granting conditional marketing authorization to the two-dose vaccine made by U.S. biotech company Novavax.  The European Medicines Agency decision to recommend granting conditional marketing

Associated Press Moderna said Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine should offer protection against the rapidly spreading omicron variant. Moderna said lab tests showed the booster shots now being used — half the original dose — increased by 37 times the level of antibodies able to fight omicron. A full-dose booster was

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a series of measures to encourage lira-denominated savings, easing pressure on the beleaguered Turkish currency. The announcement came Monday after the lira tumbled to an all-time low of 18.36 against the dollar after Erdogan over the weekend stood firm on his policy to lower

BEIRUT (AP) — The U.N. chief has called for an impartial and transparent investigation into last year’s massive Beirut port explosion to ensure justice. The call came after Antonio Guterres paid tribute on Monday to the victims of the blast, expressing solidarity with the families’ quest for justice. The explosion on Aug. 4, 2020 rocked

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Leaders of Bulgaria and Greece have discussed bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with an emphasis on reducing their reliance on Russian gas through the speedy completion of a gas interconnector linking the neighboring countries. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with his Bulgarian counterpart, Kiril Petkov, and the country’s president,

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers expect record-breaking sales for the holiday shopping season, but low-income customers are struggling as they bear the brunt of the highest inflation in 39 years. The government’s report last week that consumer prices jumped 6.8% over the past year showed that some of the

By LIZ WESTON of NerdWallet Despite what you may hear about the advantages of rolling over a 401(k) from a former employer into an IRA, it’s hardly a no-brainer. It’s true that an IRA will give you many more investment options. However, the costs could be much higher, leaving you with much less money in

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium’s health ministers have agreed to start vaccinating children aged between 5 and 11 against the coronavirus. Ministers from the country of 11.5 million said the vaccination is highly recommended to children with conditions that put them at high risk for complications from COVID-19. Those children will be invited to receive their

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has denounced domestic violence against woman as “nearly satanic” and said parents should never slap their children. Francis made the comments in a televised encounter with an abused woman who recently fled her home with her four children. Their meeting was broadcast late Sunday on the private Mediaset network’s TG5

BERLIN (AP) — A truck ran into a U.S. military vehicle on a highway in Bavaria on Monday in what German police said was an accident. The truck driver was believed to have been killed on Monday, but the military said there were no known injuries among U.S. personnel. The U.S. military vehicles were on