Businesses face pressure to respond to immigration enforcement while also becoming a target of it

Businesses are coming into the crosshairs of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, whether it’s public pressure for them to speak out against aggressive immigration enforcement or becoming the sites for arrests themselves. On Sunday, after the U.S. Border Patrol shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies signed an open letter calling for “an immediate deescalation of tensions." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can enter public areas of businesses without a warrant but needs a judicial warrant for private spaces. Enforcement against employers includes I-9 audits and workplace raids. Businesses have been educating employees on their rights. But there's been a public outcry for them to take a stand against ICE.

Minnesota CEOs issue joint letter urging de-escalation in Minnesota after shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies signed an open letter posted on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website on Sunday calling for state, local and federal officials to work together, as businesses grapple with how to address tensions in the state and across the country following two fatal shootings by federal agents amid a massive immigration enforcement operation that has spurred protests. CEOs that signed the letter included 3M CEO William Brown, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry, General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, Target incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Helmsley, and others. Over the past two weeks protesters have targeted some businesses they see as aiding federal immigration enforcement, including Minneapolis-based Target.

European Union opens investigation into Musk's AI chatbot Grok over sexual deepfakes

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators have opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X after its AI chatbot Grok started producing nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images. The scrutiny from Brussels comes after Grok sparked backlash by using AI to undress people, including children, in images. Sme governments have banned the service or issued warnings. The EU's executive is examining whether X has met its obligations under the Digital Services Act to contain illegal content. An X spokeswoman said the platform remains committed to safety and has zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity.

US stocks rise as gold hits another record and the dollar's value sinks again

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are ticking higher, while other markets make louder moves, including another record-breaking rush for the price of gold. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday to win back its losses from last week’s dip. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 170 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%. Baker Hughes helped lead the way after the energy technology company delivered a stronger profit report than analysts expected. Gold's price briefly topped $5,100 per ounce for the first time, and silver surged even more. The U.S. dollar's value slid again against other currencies, particularly against the Japanese yen.

More than 11,400 flights canceled Sunday as massive winter storm sweeps across US

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A massive winter storm set the stage for a brutal travel day Sunday, with airlines warning of widespread cancellations and delays at some of the nation’s busiest airports. More than 11,400 flights canceled Sunday as massive winter storm sweeps across US, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Aviation analytics company Cirium says their data shows that Sunday will be the highest cancellation event since the pandemic — with over 29% of all U.S. departing flights axed.

California Post brings brash New York-style tabloid news to the West Coast

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aiming to shake up the Golden State’s media landscape, the California Post has launched a new tabloid newspaper and news site that brings a brash, cheeky and conservative-friendly fixture of the Big Apple to the West Coast. The Los Angeles outpost of the New York Post will be “digital first” — with social media accounts and video and audio pieces — but for $3.75 readers can also purchase a daily print publication featuring the paper’s famously splashy front-page headlines. Of course, the Post’s infamous gossip column will get a Tinseltown version, Page Six Hollywood, that will keep a snarky eye on red carpets and celebrity culture.

Trump administration invests in another US rare earth miner to loosen China's grip on supply

The U.S. is taking a minority stake in an Oklahoma rare earth miner, the latest government investment in the sector as it seeks to minimize its reliance on imports of a material used prevalently in smartphones, robotics, electric vehicles and many other high tech products. China processes more than 90% of the world’s critical minerals and has used its dominance in the market to gain leverage in the trade war with Washington. USA Rare Earth said Monday that the U.S. Commerce Department is investing $1.6 billion in the company to advance work on a mine in Texas and to build a magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma.

Myanmar uses 'ghost ships' to import aviation fuel for deadly air attacks, Amnesty says

BANGKOK (AP) — Amnesty International says Myanmar's military is using evasive tactics to import aviation fuel for air attacks in its civil war. The group says Myanmar is employing "ghost ships" that disable tracking systems to avoid detection. Amnesty says that despite sanctions, Myanmar imported over 109,000 tonnes of aviation fuel in 2025, a 69% increase from the previous year. The report highlights the use of ships that change names, flags or ownership, and often conduct open-water transfers. Amnesty called for a ban on shipping aviation fuel to Myanmar to prevent further civilian harm in the country's civil war.

US Treasury Department ends contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton after Trump tax leak

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department has cut contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton after a former contractor leaked tax information about wealthy individuals, including Donald Trump. The contractor, Charles Edward Littlejohn, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2024. He had leaked data to The New York Times and ProPublica between 2018 and 2020. Prosecutors described the leaks as unprecedented in IRS history. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the firm failed to safeguard sensitive data. Booz Allen Hamilton has 31 contracts with the Treasury, totaling $21 million. The firm has not commented on the matter.

UAE conglomerate plans legal action against Lebanon over $1.7B investment losses

BEIRUT (AP) — The Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group plans to take legal action against Lebanese authorities over investment losses of $1.7 billion. The company says its businesses in Lebanon have suffered due to the country's economic meltdown, which began in 2019. Al Habtoor Group claims Lebanese authorities and the central bank have imposed measures preventing access to funds. The group runs among other businesses a hotel and a theme park in Lebanon. It says it has exhausted all efforts to resolve the dispute amicably. The statement did not specify where the legal action will be taken.