The delicate art of crafting the perfect Viennese apple strudel hinges on one often-overlooked element: the translucency of its phyllo dough. This seemingly simple characteristic is anything but trivial—it’s the hallmark of mastery, a visual testament to the baker’s skill. When held against light, a well-stretched phyllo sheet should resemble gossamer, with a luminous quality that hints at the layers of flavor and texture to come. Achieving this requires not just technique, but an almost intuitive understanding of the dough’s behavior.

In the ever-shifting landscape of global trade, President Donald Trump’s approach to tariffs has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Hours before his “reciprocal” tariffs were set to take effect last month, Trump claimed that countries were desperate to make deals, with some even “kissing my a**.” However, the reality was far from the optimistic picture he painted. Instead of a flood of deals, financial markets plummeted, and impacted nations prepared retaliation plans, exacerbating the losses experienced after the initial tariff announcement on April 2.

In a move that has become somewhat characteristic of his administration’s approach to trade policy, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would delay the imposition of a 50% tariff on European Union (EU) imports until July 9. This decision follows a pattern of declaring impending tariffs, causing market confusion, and then walking back or delaying the threatened levies. The latest delay came after a “very nice call” between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during which von der Leyen requested more time for negotiations.

In a poignant speech at a pre-graduation ceremony at Princeton University, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the importance of integrity and public service. Amid months of relentless personal attacks from President Donald Trump, Powell’s message resonated deeply, offering both a reflection on his own experiences and a guiding light for the future leaders in the audience.

In a surprising turn of events, the American penny, a coin that has been minted for over 230 years, is set to undergo a significant change. The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday that it plans to start winding down the production of the one-cent coin. Despite this move, the penny will remain legal tender and continue to be used by thousands of retailers across the country for the foreseeable future. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the history of American currency, raising questions about the practical implications and the cultural significance of the penny.

In a move that has sparked widespread concern among journalists and media organizations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has imposed new restrictions on press access at the Pentagon. These constraints, announced on Friday night, have been described by the Pentagon Press Association as a “direct attack on the freedom of the press and America’s right to know what its military is doing.” The association’s strong reaction underscores the severity of the situation and the potential implications for democratic oversight and public accountability.

In a series of events that highlighted the fragility of digital infrastructure, the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced significant accessibility issues over the past few days. The platform, which boasts an average of 250 million daily active users, faced widespread outages and degraded performance, affecting thousands of users across the United States and beyond. This incident underscores the critical need for robust infrastructure and failover mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted service.

President Donald Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs has sent shockwaves through the American economy, prompting a wave of price increases across various sectors. The tariffs, which include a 10% baseline levy on most imports and a 30% tariff on most Chinese goods, have led to significant cost increases for businesses. These additional costs are now being passed on to consumers, affecting everything from groceries and clothing to toys and automobiles. As companies struggle to absorb the financial strain, many have announced price hikes, highlighting the far-reaching impact of these trade measures.

In a surprising turn of events, McDonald’s has announced the closure of its alien-themed spinoff, CosMc’s, just two years after its launch. The chain, which opened five locations in 2023, aimed to capture a growing market segment dominated by specialty coffee and beverage chains like Dutch Bros., Scooter’s, and Swig. These chains have become particularly popular with Gen Z consumers, prompting McDonald’s to experiment with a new concept that focused on sweet drinks and light snacks. However, despite its innovative approach, CosMc’s failed to achieve the desired traction, leading to its imminent closure.

In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union (EU), citing a lack of progress in ongoing trade negotiations. This move has sent shockwaves through global markets and has been met with a mix of concern and defiance from European leaders. The threat underscores the ongoing challenges in US-EU trade relations and raises questions about the future of transatlantic economic cooperation.

In an era where wellness trends dominate the global conversation, one company has emerged as a leader in addressing a problem that many consumers might not even realize they have: chronic dehydration. According to Mike Keech, CEO of Liquid I.V., a significant portion of the population—both in the US and worldwide—suffers from chronic dehydration without even knowing it. This insight has driven Liquid I.V. to become one of the most prominent brands in the hydration market, capitalizing on the broader “better for you” wellness trend that has swept the food and beverage industry over the past few years.

In a significant development for the American steel industry, President Donald Trump announced a partnership between US Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel. This partnership, according to Trump, will keep the headquarters in Pittsburgh and draw $14 billion in investment toward the US economy. The announcement has sparked a mix of reactions, ranging from optimism about job creation and economic growth to concerns about foreign control and national security.

Markets that had begun to stabilize in the face of lingering debt concerns were jolted back into turmoil on Friday as President Donald Trump reignited the trade war narrative with a series of provocative tariff threats. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower by 256 points, or 0.61%, while the broader S&P 500 fell 0.67% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slid 1%. All three major indexes finished the week in the red, marking their worst performance in several weeks. The Dow and Nasdaq each posted their worst week in five weeks, while the S&P 500 experienced its worst week since early April.

In a landmark deal, RedBird Capital Partners announced on Friday that it has successfully acquired Telegraph Media Group for £500 million (nearly $675 million). This acquisition marks the culmination of a protracted bid that spanned two years, during which RedBird faced significant regulatory hurdles. The deal not only secures RedBird’s position as the sole controlling owner of The Telegraph, a right-leaning British news outlet founded in 1855, but also signals a new era of investment and expansion for the storied publication.

In a bold move, President Donald Trump has demanded that Apple and other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung produce their phones in the United States or face a 25% tariff. This demand comes after Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Apple CEO Tim Cook over the company’s plan to manufacture iPhones in India. Trump’s stance is part of a broader strategy to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US and reduce dependence on foreign production. However, the feasibility of this demand is highly questionable, given the complex and deeply entrenched global supply chains that currently support smartphone production.

In a remarkable turn of events, the palm-sized plush toy known as Labubu has become so popular that its distributor, Pop Mart, has had to suspend all in-store sales across the United Kingdom. This decision follows chaotic scenes of queueing, crowd surges, and even reported fights, highlighting the toy’s cult following and skyrocketing demand. The suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and comfort of customers, but it also underscores the toy’s meteoric rise in popularity and its impact on both the toy market and social media.

In a landmark decision, Denmark has become the first European country to set its national retirement age beyond the 60s, with lawmakers voting to raise it to 70. This move, which will apply to individuals born after December 31, 1970, marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to welfare and employment. The current retirement age in Denmark is 67 on average, though it can extend to 69 for those born on or after January 1, 1967. The change is aimed at ensuring “proper welfare for future generations,” according to Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen.

In a bold assertion, US President Donald Trump recently declared that iPhones sold in the United States should be manufactured within the country, rather than in India or elsewhere. Trump’s vision, however, faces significant hurdles, both economic and logistical, that make the idea of US-based iPhone production a complex and potentially unviable proposition.

In a remarkable trend that has captured the attention of both immigration experts and the general public, the United Kingdom has seen a record number of Americans applying for British citizenship in the first quarter of 2025. According to data released by the UK Home Office on Thursday, a total of 1,931 Americans submitted applications between January and March, marking the highest number since records began in 2004. This represents a 12% increase from the previous quarter, which itself had seen a significant spike in applications coinciding with Donald Trump’s re-election in late 2024.

In a striking shift from the previous administration’s approach, the Trump administration has embarked on a path of significantly reducing corporate accountability, dropping a wide array of enforcement actions against major companies. This move has raised alarm bells among consumer advocates who argue that it undermines essential consumer protections and emboldens businesses to act with impunity.

In the intricate and high-stakes game of global trade, America’s most prominent retail chains find themselves in a precarious position, akin to walking a tightrope. These retail giants are attempting to mitigate the financial repercussions of tariffs by raising prices for consumers, all while navigating the delicate balance of not alienating their customer base or incurring the wrath of former President Donald Trump. This balancing act is fraught with challenges, as companies grapple with the complex task of communicating the impacts of tariffs to their stakeholders without triggering adverse reactions from the administration or the public.