LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday defended his Treasury chief against opposition claims that she misled the public and the markets about the state of the public finances before last week’s budget, a tax-raising economic plan that was preceded by contradictory leaks to the media and the accidental early publication of the entire statement.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) – The Olympic flame began its journey Wednesday to the Milan Cortina Winter Games – missing a little of its usual magic. Bad weather lashing western Greece forced organizers to move the torch-lighting ceremony indoors, from Olympia’s ancient stadium and temples to a nearby museum.

PARIS (AP) – Ukraine’s president spoke optimistically Monday about the progress of revising the Trump administration’s peace plan, saying “it looks better” and the work will continue during talks on how to end Russia’s nearly four-year war.