Stories from United States

Meta is projected to surpass Google in global advertising revenue for the first time. The company's revenue is estimated to reach $243.5 billion. This growth suggests that investments in artificial intelligence are being successfully monetized.

Eleven people face trespassing charges following a demonstration outside the Federal Immigration Office in Burlington. Burlington Police reported that approximately 40 people gathered outside the ICE facility yesterday and blocked the building's entrance.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before Congress for the first time in several months. Senator Jack Reid of Rhode Island accused Hagseth of providing bold assurances of success that serve as a disservice to the Commander-in-Chief and troops. The US Secretary of Defense suggested during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the CECC-Le-Feu, in place since April 8, might make the requirement for Congressional authorization for strikes obsolete. Under current terms, Donald Trump must request Congressional authorization to continue strikes in the Middle East involving the US, Israel, and Iran after a 60-day period. The White House is reportedly seeking to bypass parliamentary validation for these operations. US Secretary of Defense Hegseth is scheduled to hold a joint press conference on May 5, 2026. He will appear alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane.

The DEA reports that fentanyl remains the primary cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid described as 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. An estimated 4,000 Americans under the age of 25 die annually from fentanyl.

Meta platforms has increased its capital expenditure forecast for the year by approximately $10 billion. This shift comes after the company reported higher-than-expected spending levels. Shares of the company were trading lower in after-hours trading following the report.

Google's enterprise AI tool, Gemini, saw its active user base grow 40% quarter on quarter. This metric was reported alongside other financial data. Analysts had previously expected an average of $91.6 billion in certain metrics.

CBS data from mid-March shows a decline in Donald Trump's popularity among young people by 28% and among Latinos by 25%. The Al Araby Radio report attributes the decline in Trump's popularity to the impact of the war. A poll by IB Norx indicates a decline in Donald Trump's popularity to 36 percent. The report suggests the war has caused a collapse in his solid electoral base. Economic consequences resulting from the conflict are contributing to the erosion of his support. Polling shows a 13-point drop in popularity in less than two years, with only 43% of Americans satisfied with his performance. American satisfaction with President Trump's performance has reached a level that is causing concern for his administration. The news was discussed by broadcasters in London and Doha.

John Deere has moved a large distribution center from Illinois to Indiana. The company described the move as a business decision. The relocation involves the Illinois-based company shifting operations across the state line.

U.S. officials stated that the maker of OxyContin used illegal marketing practices to fuel a kickback scheme for overprescribing addictive opioid medications.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI revenue run rate has surpassed $15 billion. AWS growth is projected to accelerate toward 25.6% following a $100 billion infrastructure deal with Anthra. The growth is linked to the company's overall prospects and the benefits seen in AWS.