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.

LONDON (AP) – The British economy barely grew in the final three months of 2025, official figures showed Thursday, with critics blaming uncertainty surrounding the government’s budget for lower than anticipated business investment and consumption.

BERLIN (AP) – One-day strikes by unions representing pilots and cabin crew at Lufthansa caused a wave of flight cancelations Thursday at Germany’s biggest airline.

Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in the country, the company said, the latest move in an ongoing government effort to tighten control over the internet.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Dutch branch of French-based luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton has agreed to pay half a million euros ($595,000) in an out-of-court settlement linked to a money laundering investigation, the Netherlands’ national public prosecution office announced Thursday.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Dubai International Airport maintained its crown as the world’s busiest airport last year as officials said Wednesday that a record 95.2 million passengers transited through its terminals, part of the emirate’s continued economic boom.

HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings warned of legal action on Thursday against a Danish logistics and ports group, after the latter was tapped by Panamanian authorities to temporarily take over the operation of two critical ports at both ends of the Panama Canal from the Hong Kong conglomerate.

PARIS (AP) – Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket is scheduled to make a powerful debut with a new equipment configuration Thursday, flying with four boosters to carry Amazon’s internet satellites. The launch will take place at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.