Supreme Court agrees to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The conservative-majority court took up the case Monday. The companies went to the Supreme Court after Colorado’s highest court allowed a lawsuit from Boulder to proceed. The companies say the lawsuits present a serious threat to the industry. President Donald Trump's Republican administration also urged the high court to block the case. The industry is facing dozens of lawsuits from state and local governments that argue the companies deceived the public about fossil fuels' contribution to climate change.

Panama orders occupation of 2 key canal ports after Supreme Court ruling

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama has ordered the occupation of two key ports at the ends of the Panama Canal. It comes after its top court ruled that the operator’s contract is unconstitutional. The government on Monday ordered the Panama Maritime Authority to occupy the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals. The decree cites urgent social interest. It covers cranes, vehicles and computer systems and software. Panama’s Supreme Court has already voided the original approval law and a 2021 extension. The operator is CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company. It has run the terminals since 1997. Panama says APM Terminals temporarily administers the ports. CK Hutchison has started arbitration and threatened lawsuits.

Supreme Court decision against Trump's tariffs raises uncertainty, but markets stay calm

BANGKOK (AP) — China has urged the United States to stop imposing one-sided tariffs. South Korea’s trade minister says the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Donald Trump’s tariffs has increased uncertainty for businesses. Financial markets took the news in stride, though, as most Asian share benchmarks advanced. While the court's decision may lower tariffs on some countries' exports to the U.S., it has raised questions about Trump's future moves, potentially disrupting arrangements worked out in trade negotiations since he announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries in April 2025. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the U.S. will stand by its trade deals and expects its partners to do the same.

From dabblers to day traders, individual investors' impact on Wall Street grows

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For years, retail investors were dismissed by some on Wall Street as “dumb money.” That’s no longer the case. Analysis shows they outperformed two of the most popular, professionally managed index funds last year and accounted for $5.4 trillion in trading activity across stocks and exchange-traded funds, according to Vanda. That included buying sprees during big stock market swoons that set them up for big gains when the market bounced back by the end of the year. The rise of retail investors has followed the advent of more access to financial education, sophisticated trading tools and a shift toward zero-commission on trades.

From bakeries to beauty shops, Russian businesses are feeling the pain from a new wartime tax policy

As Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marks four years, the pressure on Russia’s economy is starting to show. Oil revenues are dwindling, the budget deficit is up and military spending that fueled robust economic growth has leveled off. Seeking to fill state coffers, the Kremlin has tapped consumers and small businesses for funds: Value-added tax has been raised by 2%, and revenue thresholds for requiring businesses to pay it have been lowered drastically. That prompted an outcry in the small and medium business sector. Entrepreneurs say they were dealing with a steady decrease in demand for their goods and services, a sudden increase in costs as their suppliers adjust to the tax reform, and much higher tax bills.

EU hits pause on US trade deal as it seeks clarity over latest Trump maneuver

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe's asking for answers about US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 15% global tax, or tariff, on imports. That's because the EU already had a trade deal with the US, reached over the summer. The Supreme Court struck down Trump's use of an emergency law to impose tariffs on Friday, but Trump quickly cited a different law to justify a 15% rate for goods coming into the U.S. that goes into effect Tuesday. The head of the EU Parliament's trade committee says the latest tariff announcement is inconsistent with a deal reached with the EU's executive commission last summer. The committee is pausing ratification until it learns more.

Ontario's premier says 'the walls are closing in' on Trump after Supreme Court tariff decision

TORONTO (AP) — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says pressure is building on President Donald Trump as courts and Congress push back on his tariff agenda. On Monday, Ford pointed to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from Friday that struck down many Trump tariffs under an emergency law. Ford called it an economic war and said Canada should avoid a bad deal. He said some tariffs are still hitting aluminum, steel, autos, and lumber. Ford warns Trump could scrap the USMCA trade pact under review this year. He also cited a rare House vote against the tariffs and said inflation is rising.

US stocks drop after Trump ramps up his tariffs and investors dump potential AI losers

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slumped after President Donald Trump ramped up his newest tariffs, while investors continued to punish companies that could be losers in the artificial-intelligence revolution. The S&P 500 sank 1% Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.1%. Cybersecurity and software stocks fell to some of the market’s sharpest losses on worries AI-powered rivals could undercut their profits. The U.S. dollar’s value edged lower against other currencies, while gold continued to rise as Trump’s latest tariff move raised uncertainty. Bitcoin briefly fell below $64,000 but remained above its low point reached earlier this month. Treasury yields sank.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI safety representatives summoned to Canada after school shooting

TORONTO (AP) — The Canadian government has called representatives of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to Ottawa. The company says it considered but did not alert Canadian police about the activities of a person who months later committed one of the worst school shootings in the country’s history. Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said Monday that he expects the company’s top safety representatives to explain its protocols and how it decides to forward cases to law enforcement when he meets with them on Tuesday. OpenAI said last June that the company identified the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar via abuse detection efforts. The 18-year-old killed eight people in a remote part of British Columbia this month and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Ruling against Trump's tariffs creates new uncertainty in US trade relations with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court decision striking down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs has added a wrinkle to already complicated U.S.-China relations. Both countries already are navigating shifting ground to avoid an all-out trade war that would disrupt the global economy while still jostling for a position of strength in negotiations. Friday's court ruling would seem to strengthen China’s hand, but analysts predict Beijing will be cautious in exploiting the advantage because it knows that Trump has other ways of levying taxes. Both sides also want to maintain a fragile trade truce and stabilize ties ahead of Trump’s highly anticipated trip to Beijing.