Rio mayor hands city's key to King Momo as Carnival kicks off

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The mayor of Rio de Janeiro gave King Momo the key to the Brazilian city on Friday, ushering in the symbolic Carnival monarch’s five-day reign over the festivities.

Russia fires barrage at Ukrainian cities as US-brokered talks unclear

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities in overnight attacks, officials reported on Thursday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was “hesitating” about another round of U.S.-brokered talks on stopping the fighting.

Sex workers at Nevada brothel fight for the first-ever unionization

PAHRUMP, Nev. (AP) – Nevada is the only state where people can legally purchase sex, and now sex workers at one of the state’s oldest brothels are fighting to become the nation’s first to be unionized. “We want the same things that any other worker wants. We want a safe and respectful workplace,” said a worker at Sheri’s Ranch in Pahrump.

Kim Jong Un's daughter is close to being designated North Korea's future leader

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.

Editorials from New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Palestinians look to salvage Gaza's history from the ruins of Israel's military offensive

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Muneer Elbaz remembers the joy of visiting the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza with his family, praying at a site where people have worshipped over centuries as empires came and went.

The Trump Report: Latest Updates

The immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to mass detentions, protests and two deaths is coming to an end, border czar Tom Homan said Thursday. “As a result of our efforts here Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” Homan said at a news conference. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched Operation Metro Surge on Dec. 1.

EU legal adviser says billions in funding for Hungary were wrongly released

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) – The advocate general for European Union’s highest court on Thursday urged the court to annul a 2023 European Commission decision to release billions in funding to Hungary that had been suspended over rule-of-law and corruption concerns.

Trump's EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned climate change

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressive move by the Republican president to roll back climate regulations.