AP National News

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian lawyer says a court in Cairo has sentenced one of the country’s most prominent activists to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news. Alaa Abdel-Fattah was first sentenced in 2014 on charges of taking part in an unauthorized protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer. He was

By AMY FORLITI and SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Closing arguments are next in the manslaughter trial of the suburban Minneapolis police officer who says she meant to use her Taser instead of her gun when she killed Daunte Wright as he tried to drive away from a traffic stop. Former Brooklyn Center

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and TOM HAYS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is speeding to a conclusion with closing arguments. A prosecutor told jurors Monday that the 59-year-old Maxwell is a dangerous predator who helped Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. A defense lawyer told the Manhattan federal

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

The Associated Press Stocks are falling in early trading Monday, continuing a weak stretch as traders keep a wary eye on global increases in COVID-19 cases. Traders also got news over the weekend that a key U.S. senator wouldn’t support President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion domestic spending bill, putting its passage in doubt. The S&P

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

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s main nurses’ union has warned that exhaustion and surging coronavirus cases among medical staff are pushing them to the breaking point. That is adding to pressure on the government for new restrictions to curb record numbers of infections driven by the omicron variant. The warning Monday

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The jurors now responsible for assessing 11 charges of fraud and conspiracy against former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes are scheduled to begin their first full day of deliberations on Monday. They have plenty of evidence to review after a three-month trial that captivated Silicon

By MIKE CORDER Associated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The European Union’s executive commission has authorized a fifth COVID-19 vaccine for use in the 27-nation bloc Monday. It gave the green light Monday to the two-dose vaccine made by U.S. biotech company Novavax. The commission confirmed a European Medicines Agency recommendation to grant conditional

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain’s main nurses’ union has warned that exhaustion and surging coronavirus cases among medical staff are pushing them to breaking point. That is adding to pressure on the government for new restrictions to bring down record-high infection numbers driven by the omicron variant. The warning Monday throws

By JIM GOMEZ Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The death toll from the strongest typhoon to batter the Philippines this year has climbed to 375, with more than 50 others still missing. Officials say several central provinces are struggling with communication and power outages and are pleading for food and water. At its strongest,

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