Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fighting the political battle of his uproarious life over the “Partygate” scandal; The Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election is seeking security help from the FBI; The FDA granted full approval to Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, and more.

National

Moderna gets full FDA approval for vaccine given to 200 million Americans

About two years in and 75 million pandemic infections later, the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval Monday to Moderna’s vaccine against the novel virus that causes Covid-19.

The headquarters of drugmaker Moderna in Cambridge, Mass. (Barbara Leonard/Courthouse News)

Americans ready to accept Covid and move on with life

Covid-19 is officially here to stay and it’s time we all accept it as part of our everyday lives, a sizeable majority of Americans say in a new survey.

A Pharmacist fills a syringe with the Moderna Covid-19 booster vaccine at the Antwerp Expo vaccine center in Antwerp, Belgium on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

With $1.15 billion, Biden pushes states to plug abandoned oil wells, curb methane leaks

The Biden administration announced Monday it would release more than $1 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to help states cap off abandoned oil and gas wells that leak methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

A flare to burn methane from oil production is seen on a well pad near Watford City, North Dakota, Aug. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Regional

Georgia DA investigating Trump asks FBI for security help

The prosecutor investigating whether Donald Trump and others committed crimes by pressuring Georgia election officials to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 election win is seeking help from the FBI out of security concerns after the former president called for protests at a rally over the weekend.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Conroe, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, organized by the political action committee Save America. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Judge refuses to suppress evidence from warrant that ‘opened door’ on bribery scheme at LA City Hall

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar failed to convince a federal judge that evidence collected by the FBI during a 2016 search warrant that "opened the doors" on a massive bribery scheme shouldn't be allowed at trial.

International

‘Partygate’ report unleashes torrent of rage against Johnson

The House of Commons was the scene of high emotions and political drama on Monday as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson bullishly defended himself in the face of growing evidence that he held boozy parties at Downing Street in violation of lockdown rules.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street as he makes his way to the House of Commons in London on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Socialists win surprise outright majority in Portugal; far right make gains

The center-left Socialists, led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa, outperformed expectations and picked up enough votes in Portuguese snap elections on Sunday to obtain a slim majority in parliament and not need the support of other parties to pass legislation.

Socialist party supporters react to exit poll results in Lisbon, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Turmoil delayed, Italy retains 80-year-old president

After a week of opaque negotiations and divisive back-room politics, Italy's political parties over the weekend reelected Sergio Mattarella as president, a move that keeps the technocratic government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi intact for now.

The ballots are counted during a voting session in the Italian parliament in Rome on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)

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