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.
Oil and gas exports have sustained Russia’s finances throughout its war against Ukraine. But as the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaches, those cash flows have suddenly dwindled to lows not seen in years.
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.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) – When the powder settled on the Olympic moguls course, Elizabeth Lemley was basking, true to her nickname, in the glow of a gold medal. The 20-year-old American freestyle skier, called “Lizard” by her teammates, had slid and leapt over the slope’s icy bumps to land an unbeatable run, leading a red, white and blue 1-2 medal grab.
TESERO, Italy (AP) – Jens Luraas Oftebro of Norway overcame a 28-second time disadvantage to chase down a pack of skiers, narrowly avoided a costly crash and then slugged it out uphill in deep, slushy snow to hold off his chief rival to win the gold medal in the Nordic combined normal hill competition.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) – Chloe Kim got the drama over early in Olympic halfpipe qualifying Wednesday, nailing her first run on the way to a top finish and a spot in the final where she’ll go for her third straight title. Kim showed no signs of rust in her first contest since injuring her shoulder four weeks ago – a setback that jeopardized her status as the favorite.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 130,000 jobs last month, but government revisions cut 2024-2025 U.S. payrolls by hundreds of thousands. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, the Labor Department said Wednesday. The report included major revisions that reduced the number of jobs created last year to just 181,000.
Kraft Heinz said Wednesday it’s pausing its plans to split into two companies. Steve Cahillane, who became CEO of Kraft Heinz on Jan. 1, said he wants to ensure that all of the company’s resources are focused on profitable growth. “I have seen that the opportunity is larger than expected and that many of our challenges are fixable and within our control”.
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.
LONDON (AP) – In an earlier era, Britain’s royal family might have tried to bury the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Not during the reign of King Charles III. Since October, the king has stripped his younger brother of the right to be called prince and forced him to move out of the royal estate.








































































































































