President Trump attacked a skier representing the U.S. at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina, saying that it is too bad that Hunter Hess is on the team and that it was hard to support him, after Hess sought to distance himself from the Trump administration's policies.
It is exceptionally rare for a sitting president of the U.S. to criticize a member of the country's Olympic team. The Olympics in Italy are becoming an indicator of how Trump's policies are playing both with young members of the Olympic team and on the world stage.
Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai Given 20-Year Sentence, Adding Friction to U.S.-China Ties
HONG KONG-A Hong Kong court sentenced former tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken 78-year-old critic of China's Communist Party, to 20 years in prison, a ruling that adds further friction in U.S. relations with China.
President Trump said last year that he had asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free Lai. Trump is expected to meet Xi in China in April, and Lai's case could add another sticking point to negotiations between the world's two largest economies.
Conservatives Surge to Surprise Victory in Thai Elections
The conservative party of Thailand's current prime minister surged to a surprise victory in Sunday's national elections, riding a wave of nationalist sentiment set off by two rounds of deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year.
The result could inject some stability into the country's turbulent politics, where more progressive leaders repeatedly have been removed from power through military coups or court rulings. The winning Bhumjaithai party is much more aligned with Thailand's military-royalist establishment, which keeps a firm grip on the politics of the U.S. ally.
Epstein Island Emails Reignite Feud Between Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman
The Justice Department's release of its Jeffrey Epstein files has given some powerful people fresh fodder to embarrass their foes. Few of these feuds have been as prominent as the crossfire between billionaires Reid Hoffman and Elon Musk.
The latest Epstein files revealed that both tech titans had deeper connections with the sex offender than either previously acknowledged. The two men were once part of the so-called PayPal mafia, a group that went on to invest or found successful Silicon Valley companies. But they have sparred for years over presidential politics and tech policy.
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This article is a text version of a Wall Street Journal newsletter published earlier today.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-09-26 0509ET
