BILZEN-HOESELT, Belgium (AP) – Leaders from across the European Union are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle as the 27-nation bloc faces antagonism from U.S. President Donald Trump, strong-arm economic tactics from China and hybrid threats from Russia – challenges that have prompted a rethink of Europe’s approach to diplomacy and trade.
The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident killed Saturday by Border Patrol officers. “We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday.
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.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) – Federica Brignone tilted her head up toward the sky and watched the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic unit leave behind a trail of the country’s colors amid the jagged peaks of the Dolomites as the sun finally peeked through the clouds of what had been a gray day at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
MILAN (AP) – Francesca Lollobrigida of Italy claimed her second gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday, winning the women’s speedskating 5,000 meters by an incredibly narrow margin to the delight of the home crowd.
MILAN (AP) – An all-time great comeback and a controversial exclusion are dominating the Milan Cortina Olympics on Day 6. Later Thursday, Chloe Kim of the United States seeks to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals in women’s halfpipe. And NHL players are joining the action in their opening men’s hockey games.
HONG KONG (AP) – China moved on Thursday to curb a fierce price war among automakers that has caused massive losses for the industry, after passenger car sales dropped nearly 20% in January from the year before, the fastest pace in almost two years.
TOKYO (AP) – Japanese technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group Corp. swung back into profitability in the last quarter of 2025 as its investments in OpenAI and other ventures paid off, the company said Thursday.
McDonald’s focus on value is paying off. The fast food giant said Wednesday that its global same-store sales – or sales at locations open at least a year – jumped 5.7% in the October-December period. That’s better than the 3.9% Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
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.
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.
BILZEN-HOESELT, Belgium (AP) – Leaders from across the European Union are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle as the 27-nation bloc faces antagonism from U.S. President Donald Trump, strong-arm economic tactics from China and hybrid threats from Russia – challenges that have prompted a rethink of Europe’s approach to diplomacy and trade.
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.










































































































































