Google offers AI mode for photos, email for more personalized answers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Google is leveraging its artificial intelligence technology to open a new peephole for its dominant search engine to tailor answers that draw upon people’s interests, habits, travel itineraries and photo libraries.

Japan records a 5th straight yearly trade deficit

TOKYO (AP) – Japan posted a trade deficit for the fifth straight year in 2025, according to government data released Thursday, as exports were hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and a diplomatic rift with neighboring China.

Ryanair CEO dismisses Elon Musk's idea of buying the airline as feud escalates

LONDON (AP) – The CEO of Ryanair on Wednesday dismissed Elon Musk’s idea of buying the budget airline and shrugged off insults from the billionaire, in a war of words that erupted over installing Starlink systems on aircraft. The spat between one of the world’s richest individuals and one of Europe’s most outspoken corporate bosses has been escalating for days.

Editorials from The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others

Jan. 19 – The Washington Post says Congress has dropped the ball regarding oversight of ICE, DHS. Geraldo Lunas Campos died at a Texas detention center on Jan. 3 while pleading for air as guards choked him, according to a fellow detainee. The local medical examiner’s office is considering classifying his death as a homicide, The Post reports.

Inflation fears are high. A new poll shows one group is particularly worried

WASHINGTON (AP) – Anxiety about costs and affordability is particularly high among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians, even at a moment when economic stress is widespread, according to a new poll. About half of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults said they wanted the government to prioritize addressing the high cost of living and inflation.

EU lawmakers vote to hold up Mercosur trade agreement

BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union lawmakers on Wednesday voted to hold up ratification of a major free trade agreement with the Mercosur group of South American countries over concerns about the legality of the deal.

FTC says it will appeal Meta antitrust decision

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it will appeal the November ruling in favor of Meta in its antitrust case against the social media giant. The FTC said it continues to allege that, for more than a decade, Meta Platforms Inc. has “illegally maintained a monopoly” in social networking through anticompetitive conduct.

Berkshire Hathaway eyes selling off it's 325 million Kraft Heinz shares

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Warren Buffett’s successor appears to be considering his first significant move after taking over as CEO this month. Kraft Heinz warned investors Tuesday that Berkshire Hathaway may be interested in selling its 325 million shares in the name brand food giant that Buffett helped create back in 2015. The news came in a filing with stock market regulators.

Iconic hot dog maker Nathan's Famous is sold for $450 million

Nathan’s Famous, which opened as a 5-cent hot dog stand in Coney Island more than a century ago, has been sold to packaged meat giant Smithfield Foods in a $450 million all-cash deal, the companies announced Wednesday.