Sunday, May 3, 2026
Iran has handed the U.S. a formal 14-point response to Washington's proposal to end the war, but Trump says he doubts a deal is possible while keeping military strikes on the table. Energy prices have soared throughout the conflict, and budget carrier Spirit Airlines has now collapsed, citing fuel costs from the war as the final blow.
The Pentagon has pulled 5,000 troops from Germany, with Spain and Italy potentially next in line, deepening European fears that Washington is no longer a reliable security partner. Germany's defense minister is publicly downplaying the impact, but the move has accelerated pressure on Europe to rearm independently.
Maryland has become the first U.S. state to outlaw algorithmic surveillance pricing in grocery stores, blocking retailers from using AI to dynamically raise prices based on customer data or shopping patterns. The law targets a practice that consumer advocates say quietly inflates bills without shoppers realising it.
The Academy has overhauled its rules to explicitly bar AI-generated performances and screenplays from Oscar consideration, while also expanding eligibility for international films. The changes take effect for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, drawing a hard line as AI-generated content edges closer to mainstream film production.
Greg Abel presided over his first Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting as CEO, facing a crowd noticeably smaller than the 40,000 shareholders who used to pack Omaha's CHI Health Center to hear Warren Buffett speak. The session tested whether the company's $397 billion cash pile and institutional culture can hold their gravitational pull without its founder in the chair.
