• Elton John attacked UK plans to let Big Tech train AI on creative work without permission or pay.
• He called ministers "absolute losers" and accused them of "thievery on a high scale."
• John warned that young artists "haven't got the resources" to take on Big Tech.

Elton John has accused the UK government of betraying artists with plans to allow Big Tech to train AI on creative works without permission or payment.

The 78-year-old music icon said the plans meant "committing theft, thievery on a high scale," in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

He was commenting on the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would allow companies to train AI on works such as music and books, unless the copyright holder specifically opts out.

John said he was "very angry," calling the government "absolute losers."

He told the BBC that young artists "haven't got the resources" to take on Big Tech and that the legislation would "rob young people of their legacy and their income."

"It's criminal, in that I feel incredibly betrayed," he said.

The bill was passing through the country's parliament until earlier this week, when the House of Lords voted to amend it to require tech companies to disclose and seek consent before scraping copyrighted material.

But the lower house, the House of Commons, rejected that change, sending the bill back into parliamentary limbo.

In his BBC interview, Sir Elton called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "wise up," saying he was prepared to take ministers to court and "fight it all the way."

The UK Government had not responded to a Business Insider request for comment when this article went live.

John was one of over 400 musicians, writers, and artists — including Paul McCartney — who signed an open letter to the Prime Minister earlier this year, warning that AI needed proper copyright safeguards to protect artists.

Sir Paul McCartney warned in January that AI could "rip off" artists and result in a "loss of creativity."

• The Mexican navy ship Cuauhtémoc hit the Brooklyn Bridge after losing power on the East River.
• Two crew members died. At least 22 others were injured, including two in critical condition, Eric Adams said.
• The ship was in New York on a goodwill tour.

Two people died after a Mexican navy sailing ship lost power and its masts crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.

The ARM Cuauhtémoc, which was visiting on a goodwill tour, lost power on the East River and drifted toward the bridge at around 8.20 p.m. Saturday.

Footage uploaded to social media shows the ship drifting backward down the river and its masts striking the bridge, as onlookers scream and shout.

The two dead were crew members, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on X.

Sheinbaum said that the Mexican ambassador to the United States and the Mexican Consulate General were supporting the Mexican navy.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, and the Secretariat of the Navy will continue to provide updates," she wrote.

At a press conference, NYPD Chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship departed Pier 17 to head out to sea, but the pilot maneuvering the ship "lost power."

New York Mayor Eric Adams shared on X that, as well as two deaths, 22 people were injured, and two of them were in critical condition.

"We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn't much worse," Adams wrote.

FDNY Chief of Training Michael Meyers said, "Once the marine units arrived on scene, we knew immediately that we had a serious incident with a boat striking the bridge, so we had reports of people in the water."

Meyers said marine units removed and treated the aided, setting up a casualty collection point and an EMS staging area on Pier 16.

"The police, fire and EMS did a tremendous job of working together to get everyone off of that ship safe," he said.

• A UK warship shot down a supersonic missile in what the Royal Navy called a "historic first."
• The HMS Dragon warship "obliterated" the missile in a test off the coast of Scotland.
• The Type 45 air defense destroyer is one of the UK's most advanced warships.

One of the British Royal Navy's most advanced warships, the HMS Dragon, completed a "historic first" when it shot down a supersonic missile in a test off the coast of Scotland on Friday, the force said.

The Type 45 air defense destroyer fired a modified Sea Viper missile and "obliterated" an "incoming high-speed target" that was designed to imitate some of the latest and most advanced threats facing the force around the world, the navy said in a press release.

It added that it marked "the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target," which it said was "significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres."

Footage shared by the Royal Navy on X shows the strike, which occurred as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, a large-scale NATO live-firing exercise taking place in Norway and the UK this year.

Commander Iain Giffin, the commanding officer of the HMS Dragon, said the strike was "a huge moment" for the destroyer.

"Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners," he said. "Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats."

The HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer and one of the UK's most advanced warships.

It forms part of the Royal Navy's six "Daring Class" destroyers, which were custom-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile combat.

With more than 200 crew, the vessel plays a key role in Britain's air defenses, using its Sea Viper missile system to seek out and neutralise threats. Dragon can also be deployed to provide assistance in disaster relief scenarios and counter-narcotics boarding operations.

The UK has been testing out a range of new strike capabilities on its warships in recent years.

In 2024, the UK's Ministry of Defence first showed off its new DragonFire laser weapon, with video footage showing it in action off the coast of Scotland.

The laser directed energy weapon is a high-power, low-cost weapon system designed to target aerial threats with "pinpoint accuracy," according to the UK government.

A UK Ministry of Defence official told Business Insider in March that it was planning to deploy the weapon on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027.

• Ministers from NATO states slammed Putin for sending lower-ranked officials to peace talks in Turkey.
• Estonia and the Netherlands called the Russian president's move a 'slap in the face.'
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia's delegation was 'theatrical' and 'decorative.'

Ministers from NATO countries have criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to forgo attending peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey and instead send lesser-ranked officials.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called Putin's delegation a "slap in the face for Ukraine and for all of us."

"Putin is not taking this opportunity very seriously and we must continue to support Ukraine," he said.

Tsahkna's comments were echoed by the Netherlands' Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who said that the lower-level officials sent to Istanbul in Putin's place were an insult, Dutch media reported.

Russia and Ukraine have been under pressure from the Trump administration to engage in talks over a potential cease-fire, and Putin initially suggested meeting in Istanbul.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the war dragging on for three years.

Putin said on Sunday that he was open to holding "direct negotiations" with Ukraine, "without any preconditions."

However, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to be in attendance, the Russian delegation is being led by Putin's former culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy called the Russian delegation "theatrical" and "decorative," and when asked by reporters whether he had a message for Putin, replied: "I'm here. I think this is a very clear message."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that there were "no plans for Putin to travel to Turkey or meet Trump over the next few days."

In February, an Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy blew up in spectacular fashion.

Afterward, Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelenskyy "disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office," and that "he can come back when he is ready for Peace."

Since then, Ukraine has tried to show its willingness to engage in talks.

Meanwhile, Trump downplayed Putin's absence in comments on Thurday, saying he "didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there."

Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that "nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together."

• The US Transportation Secretary said Newark Airport could see reduced flights in the coming weeks.
• Sean Duffy told NBC's "Meet the Press" that the focus was on safety.
• Newark has faced a number of air traffic control equipment outages in recent weeks.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he plans to reduce the number of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport over the "next several weeks."

Duffy spoke to NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday morning, as another air traffic control outage again grounded flights at the airport. Operations have since returned to normal, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

"I hate delays, I hate cancellations," Duffy said. "But I want you to get where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely."

In recent months, Newark has experienced a series of air traffic control equipment outages, which have raised concerns among travellers.

"There was a telecommunications issue at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport airspace," the FAA said in a statement about the outage on Sunday. "The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed. Operations have returned to normal."

Communications and radar displays at the airport suffered another outage on Friday, too, lasting about 90 seconds.

Duffy said in the interview on Sunday that he is "concerned about the whole airspace" in the United States because equipment used by most airports is now outdated.

"The equipment that we use, much of it we can't buy parts for new," Duffy said. "We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down. You're dealing with really old equipment. We're dealing with copper wires, not fiber, not high-speed fiber, and so this is concerning."

In addition to equipment problems, there is also an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In 2023, a report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA "lacks a plan to address" the staffing issues, which "in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations."

Air traffic controllers also have specific age requirements, which makes hiring more difficult. The FAA requires air traffic controllers to retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.

Duffy told NBC he planned to address the shortage of air traffic controllers by extending the retirement age from 56 to 61 and by offering bonuses to incentivize them to stay in the job.

"I'm going to give them a 20% upfront bonus to stay on the job," Duffy said. "Don't retire. Keep serving your country."

• The Chengdu J-10C jet is a key component of China's air power strategy.
• The jet is easily manoeuvrable in dogfights.
• The J-10C is being used in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.

China's Chengdu J-10C fighter jet, also known as the "Vigorous Dragon," has come to prominence following its involvement in this month's conflict between India and Pakistan.

The single-engine, multirole aircraft flown by Pakistan's air force was involved in the shooting down of several Indian fighter jets this week, Pakistan's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Some of the downed Indian aircraft included the French-made Rafale fighter, according to the Pakistan government's news agency.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that India and Pakistan has agreed a "full and immediate cease-fire" following US mediation.

About 80% of Pakistan's military gear is made by China. The country received its first batch of the jets — upgraded versions of the original J-10 — in 2022. They can carry bombs, air-to-air missiles, and rockets.

Relentlessly upgraded since its debut in the 2000s, the J-10 is Beijing's answer to Western light fighters such as the American F-16 and Sweden's Saab Gripen.

The Chinese-designed and manufactured jet could prove to be a game changer on the global arms market.

David Jordan, a senior lecturer in defence studies at King's College London, told Business Insider: "Think of the J-10C as roughly equivalent to a late-model F-16, but with some features — like its long-range missile suite — that could give it the edge in certain scenarios."

The J-10 was China's first major attempt to produce a modern, homegrown combat aircraft. It entered service in 2004 as the J-10A, a single-engine, multirole fighter with a canard-delta wing configuration — a design choice that prioritizes agility over stability, giving it manoeuvrability in dogfights.

The J-10 was designed to be flexible and equally capable in air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions. It can carry a mix of precision-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, and medium-range air-to-air weapons.

While ultimately a homegrown Chinese project, it drew inspiration from abroad, including input from Israeli designers and Russian engine tech.

By 2008, the upgraded J-10B had been given a redesigned intake to reduce radar visibility, the addition of a passive infrared search and track sensor, digital radar warning receivers, and a revamped cockpit featuring full-color multifunction displays and a wide-angle heads-up display.

The J-10C, which started rolling off production lines around 2015, marked another big step forward. This version introduced an AESA radar — a significant leap that boosted detection range, targeting precision, and electronic resistance.

It also brought in datalink systems, satellite comms, missile approach warnings, and tweaks to reduce radar signature even further. The fighter still has a Russian-made AL-31F engine, which is seen as a limiting factor, but more recent versions are reportedly testing the Chinese WS-10 engine.

The Pakistan-Indian conflict is one of the first times the jet has been used in live combat.

Chengdu Aircraft Company stock soared by more than a third this week on the Shenzhen stock market, suggesting investor confidence in the J-10C.

Jordan said: "You may well see a very viable competitor to Western products entering contests for the purchase of new fighter aircraft," added Jordan.

That could pose a challenge for Western defence manufacturers, he added.

Although the J-10C is not China's most advanced fighter — that distinction belongs to the fifth-generation stealth J-20 — it may well be the most commercially viable.

• India and Pakistan agreed to an immediate cease-fire on Saturday after US mediation.
• It followed days of rising tensions and cross-border strikes between the two nations.
• President Donald Trump has since floated "substantially" increasing trade with New Delhi and Islamabad.

President Donald Trump has floated "substantially" increasing trade with India and Pakistan after the two countries announced an immediate cease-fire on Saturday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised India and Pakistan for their "strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership" and said that, "while not even discussed," he was "going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations."

He added that he would also work with Islamabad and New Delhi to find a solution regarding the contested region of Kashmir.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Trump's comments in a statement on Sunday, thanking the US for its help brokering the truce and saying it looked forward to working more closely with Washington on "trade, investment, and economic cooperation."

It comes after a series of drone and missile strikes between the long-time rivals that were sparked by an attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir last month.

Following US pressure and diplomatic efforts, a "full and immediate" cease-fire was declared on Saturday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying that he and Vice President JD Vance had spent 48 hours engaging with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif.

"I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site," Rubio wrote on X.

However, both India and Pakistan have since accused each other of violating the cease-fire.

India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, said in a statement Saturday that there had been "repeated violations" of the truce and that India's armed forces were "giving an adequate and appropriate response."

A spokesperson for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it was India that had carried out violations and that Islamabad remained committed to upholding the terms of the cease-fire.

"We believe that any issues in smooth implementation of the ceasefire should be addressed through communication at appropriate levels. The troops on ground should also exercise restraint," they said.

Western leaders have also been pushing to broker another crucial cease-fire deal between Russia and Ukraine this weekend.

The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and Poland met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire from Monday, or face more sanctions.

"Russia must agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on X.

• Boeing may deliver the new Air Force One jets by 2027, two years earlier than projected.
• The company has faced cost overruns and operational challenges, with the program $2 billion over budget.
• That timescale would allow Donald Trump to fly on the jets while he's still president.

Boeing could now deliver the next-generation Air Force One aircraft while President Donald Trump is still in office, a US Air Force official said.

The planes could be delivered by 2027 — two years earlier than previously expected, but still five years behind the original schedule.

Darlene Costello, the acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, revealed the update during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"We are looking at the requirements that are being potentially traded off to get to that date, and so I would not necessarily guarantee that date, but they're proposing to bring it into '27," she said.

One major change already agreed is the relaxation of a requirement that Boeing staff working on the project hold top-level security clearances, which had contributed to previous delays. Additional holdups were caused by supplier changes, engineering challenges, and pandemic-related workforce constraints.

"We are absolutely committed to delivering an aircraft with the communications and defensive capabilities required for presidential transport," Costello told the hearing.

The revised timeline comes as Boeing works with the Air Force to streamline requirements for the new VC-25B jets — modified 747 aircraft that will replace the ageing VC-25As. The updates aim to reduce production delays that have plagued the $3.9 billion program.

During his first term in office, Trump struck a deal with Boeing to acquire two new 747-8 aircraft, with initial delivery scheduled for 2024.

The two planes had been ordered by Transaero, a Russian airline that filed for bankruptcy before they were delivered.

Both planes, which first flew in 2016, have logged fewer than 20 hours in the air and have been at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio since 2019 for conversion.

Since taking on the fixed-price contract, Boeing has struggled with cost overruns and operational disruptions.

The aerospace giant recently acknowledged that the program is now $2 billion over budget.

If Boeing manages to meet the 2027 target, Trump could fly on the new aircraft while still in office.

The president has previously criticized delays in the project, prompting renewed pressure on Boeing from both the Air Force and political leaders.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Sixteen states and D.C. are suing the Trump administration over blocking EV charger funding.
• The lawsuit targets the Department of Transport for halting the $5 billion NEVI program.
• Tesla was a major funding recipient, receiving $31 million from the initiative.

A coalition of 16 states and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration for suspending a $5 billion electric vehicle charging initiative.

The suit targets the Department of Transportation, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, the Federal Highway Administration, and its Acting Administrator Gloria M. Shepherd, over the abrupt halt of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program.

NEVI was established under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and was a central component of the Biden administration's push for a national EV charging network.

Tesla was one of its top recipients, receiving $31 million to expand its Supercharger network in partnership with public initiatives.

However, an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office directed federal agencies to freeze funds allocated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The lawsuit, backed by states including California and Colorado, argues that the executive branch does not have the authority to withhold or redirect the funding, and that the FHWA unlawfully revoked funds that Congress had directed to states for building infrastructure.

The plaintiffs said that the FHWA's action to immediately freeze more than $2.7 billion in NEVI funds disrupted projects already under contract or in planning, causing long-term financial and logistical harm.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the move, calling it "another Trump gift to China."

Newsom added that "instead of hawking Teslas on the White House lawn, President Trump could actually help Elon — and the nation — by following the law and releasing this bipartisan funding."

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said that the Department of Transportation was "breaking the law" by withholding funding.

"Congress had the foresight to authorize funding to build this important infrastructure, and it must be restored immediately," he said. "I will not hesitate to take them to court to ensure they follow the law."

• Bill Gates said his charitable foundation would shut down in 2045.
• He made the announcement to mark the 25th anniversary of the organization.
• Gates said it was more important to spend its resources now rather than in the future.

Bill Gates has revealed plans to shut down his charitable foundation at the end of 2045 — several decades earlier than intended.

"There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people," Gates said in a blog post.

"That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned," he added. "I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world."

The Microsoft cofounder initially made the announcement in an interview with The New York Times to mark the 25th anniversary of the Gates Foundation, which is the third-largest charitable foundation in the world.

The organization was launched in 2000 by Gates and his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, when they were 44 and 35, respectively.

Gates said in the interview that the foundation had "achieved far more than I — or I think anyone — expected" and helped reduce the number of childhood deaths from 10 million to 5 million a year.

Asked why he was announcing plans to sunset the operation, he said it made a "big difference" to spend its resources "now versus later."

"We're not trying to steward our money for some weird legacy thing," Gates said. "If we were trying to be a forever foundation, instead of being able to spend $9 billion a year, we'd have to drop down to spending like $6 billion a year.

"Normally we're saving lives for $2,000 or $3,000. But given the problems that are out there, we're actually now saving lives for less.

"And this is a miraculous time. A lot of the hundred billion we've spent is to build a pipeline, and the most important stuff the foundation is doing is the stuff that's in the R&D pipeline right now."

Gates stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2008 to devote more time to the foundation.

It held $69 billion in assets as of 2020 and had an endowment of $75.2 billion as of 2023.

The foundation has donated tens of billions of dollars to causes such as global health, gender equality, and water sanitation programs.

Warren Buffett, who made headlines last week when he announced he was stepping down from Berkshire Hathaway, was central to the Gates Foundation.

He served as a trustee of the foundation from 2006 to 2022, and his contributions to the foundation totaled $36 billion as of 2022.

French Gates resigned from her positions as cochair and trustee of the foundation in 2024, following her divorce from Gates in 2021.

• Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration's Ukraine policy as "modern-day appeasement" of Russia.
• The former president told the BBC that conceding territory to Putin won't satisfy his ambitions.
• He said that anybody who thinks Putin would stop after territory concessions "is just foolish."

Former President Joe Biden called the Trump administration's pressure on Ukraine to give up territory to Russia in exchange for a cease-fire "modern-day appeasement."

In his first interview since leaving the White House, Biden told the BBC on Monday that Putin cannot be appeased.

"I just don't understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he's going to take significant portions of land that aren't his, that that's going to satisfy him," Biden said.

He added that anybody who thinks Putin would stop after territorial concessions as part of a peace deal "is just foolish."

President Donald Trump has pushed for a peace deal since returning to office in January.

Trump's defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has called a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders "unrealistic," and last month, Vice President JD Vance said the US was going to "freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today."

Keith Kellogg, the US's special envoy for Ukraine, told Fox News on May 6 that under a cease-fire proposal, Russia and Ukraine would retain the territories they currently hold, freezing things in place for "a period of time," with a 20-mile demilitarized zone.

He likened it to Germany after the end of World War II.

"We say that over time things will change, and that's what we tell the Ukrainians," Kellogg said. "The same thing when you look at what happened with Germany. The Germans always wanted a unified Germany after World War II. They didn't get it right away, but eventually they got it."

But Biden said that Trump's Ukraine policy could also have a broader impact on US and European relations.

"Europe is going to lose confidence in the certainty of America and the leadership of America," he said.

Biden also criticized the Trump administration's approach to NATO. "I don't understand how they fail to understand that there's strength in alliances," Biden told the BBC. "It saves us money overall."

• Greg Abel's forthcoming promotion to CEO of Berkshire Hathaway offers lessons for moving up.
• If you want to get a big promotion — or just got one — there are ideas you should keep in mind.
• Experts advise Abel and others who move up to figure out what to keep and what to change.

Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's handpicked Berkshire successor, has a massive legacy to live up to.

Buffett spent 60 years transforming Berkshire Hathaway, his multinational conglomerate holding company, from a failing textile mill into a $1 trillion company.

The coming ascension of Abel, the chairperson of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, to replace Buffett is a reminder that getting a big promotion often involves a good deal of spadework. Once you get the gig, there are important things to keep in mind as you step into the role.

Business Insider asked corporate observers for their advice on pathways to getting promoted and succeeding when you do.

Find your mentors

If you're hoping to move up, it's important to find senior leaders to guide you, Andy Lopata, coauthor of "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," told BI in an email.

He said this might include a boss whose job you hope to one day land and other mentors who can be objective in guiding you as you forge key relationships and plan your next steps.

Stewart Friedman, an organizational psychologist and emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, told BI in an email that when he interviews job candidates, he'll ask, "How will your experience working with me contribute to your development towards your most important goals?"

It's an important consideration, Friedman said.

"If your boss isn't thinking this way, then they are not priming you for taking the steps you need to prepare for your future," he said.

Look for signs of confidence

Long before getting good news about the role you've been shooting for, you'll likely need to put in hard work and look for signs that your boss is confident that you'll succeed.

One indication you might be set to climb is if your boss trusts you with "high-stakes decisions" and not just easy wins, Deborah Grayson Riegel, who teaches leadership communication at Wharton and Columbia Business School, said in an email to BI.

If your boss asks you to stand in for them in key situations where "the stakes (and titles) are high," it can be a sign they're testing and showcasing your executive presence and credibility, she said.

Riegel said not all parts of moving up will necessarily be frictionless. A boss who views you as heir apparent might also offer candid feedback, even when it's uncomfortable. That person might also give you autonomy to lead and then support you when you stumble, "which you will," she said.

"That kind of trust signals they're preparing you for more than your current role; they're preparing you for theirs," Riegel said.

If you get the job, don't just mimic

If you're lucky enough to get the job and will soon take over, it can be important to honor your boss's legacy without mimicking it. That's the case for Abel, Herminia Ibarra, a professor of organizational behavior at London Business School, told BI via email.

"No one wants a replica," she said.

While Buffett led through "extreme delegation," Ibarra said, Abel is often more hands-on. She said he'll need to use his instincts to make "bold, well-judged" moves even while maintaining the company's decentralized approach.

"A successor is always chosen for a reason; Abel must understand why he won the succession contest and lead from that strength," Ibarra said.

Keep some things

Alisa Cohn, an executive coach, likewise said it's important to stake out your own position and not pretend you're the old boss. That includes not promising things will stay the same.

At the same time, she said, it can help to hold onto some aspects of leadership that are popular or have worked well.

In Abel's case, that includes Buffett's annual shareholder meeting, which has for years been a big event for investors well beyond the company, Cohn said.

Keep your colleagues' success in mind

If you're like Abel, 62, and you've been a longtime employee at a company, you've likely built up many relationships with coworkers. Moving up the ladder can change some of those dynamics.

It's important to be aware of that, Cohn said.

Rising to the position where you're in charge can lead to jealous coworkers, she said. If you're the one moving up, it's important to let your one-time peers know that their success remains important to you, Cohn said.

"Show them early that you have their backs and want to support them and help them succeed," she said.

Make your mark

Cohn said one way you can establish yourself is by demonstrating you have strong judgment. For Abel, that could include big decisions on large investments, she said.

A successful, high-profile acquisition or investment soon after his takeover would "reassure" investors and others that Berkshire's historic investment discipline remains intact, Cohn said.

She said Abel should continue to differentiate himself by ensuring the business managers are acting in the interest of the collective, "and taking action if they aren't."

Whitney Johnson, a leadership advisor, told BI in an email that leadership transitions can spread fear because of uncertainty.

"Calm the lizard brain by communicating relentlessly. Articulate what will change, but emphasize what remains constant," she said.

• Tesla sales fell by up to 81% in some key European EV markets in April, signaling a major downturn.
• Growing competition from rivals like China's BYD have affected Tesla sales.
• Demand may have also been hurt by a backlash over Elon Musk's politics.

Tesla has seen a sharp decline in sales in key European markets, with electric vehicle registrations dropping by up to 81% in six major markets in April, compared to the same month last year.

Car registration figures for France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, and Denmark, revealed double-digit declines for Tesla sales, Reuters reported.

Many of these are high-income countries with robust charging infrastructure — typically fertile ground for Tesla.

Sales fell by 59% year-on-year in France, 81% in Sweden, 74% in the Netherlands, 50% in Switzerland, 33% in Portugal, and 67% in Denmark.

The main exceptions were Norway and Italy, which respectively saw a 12% and 29% increase in Tesla sales compared to April 2024, registration data from the Norwegian Road Federation and Italian Transport Ministry showed.

However, Italian sales were still down an overall 4% in the first four months of 2025, per the Transport Ministry.

Why the two countries didn't follow a similar pattern of decline was unclear, and the overall trend suggests a significant drop-off in crucial markets.

This could partly be attributed to political tensions tied to Elon Musk's divisive role in the Trump administration and advocacy for right-wing European parties.

The "Tesla Takedown" movement arose earlier this year after Musk voiced support for parties including Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany.

So far this year, two Tesla sites, including the vehicles there, were defaced with orange paint in the Swedish cities of Stockholm and Malmö, as well as the Tesla branch in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Demonstrations against Musk and Tesla were held across cities in the Netherlands, and protestors also gathered outside Tesla showrooms in Portugal and Denmark. A further 12 Teslas were set on fire in Toulouse, France.

Alongside resistance to Musk and his politics, the Tesla drop-off in Europe could linked to growing competition in the EV market, notably from Chinese firms.

Tesla's aging model lineup has struggled to match newer EVs from rivals like China's BYD, whose models feature cutting-edge charging speeds and lower prices.

Professor Peter Wells, director of Cardiff University's Centre for Automotive Industry Research, told the BBC News in March: "We've not seen the level of innovation in terms of the product range that perhaps Elon Musk should have been looking for. I think that is a big part of their problem."

In a 2011 interview with Bloomberg, Musk rejected the possibility of BYD becoming a viable competitor.

But last year, BYD reported $107 billion in revenue, compared to Tesla's $98 billion. It also reported its first-quarter earnings increased 100% compared to the same period last year.

BYD has rolled out 1,000 kW chargers that are four times more powerful than Tesla's current chargers. These chargers, it says, can add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes of charging.

The Tesla rival has also aggressively expanded outside China in recent years.

Tesla's dominance in Europe is waning — and reversing the trend may be Musk's toughest challenge yet.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• The South Texas residents, who are mostly tied to SpaceX, voted overwhelmingly to create the city of Starbase.
• A SpaceX vice president was voted in as the city's first mayor.
• It shifts local zoning and permit control from the county to a new SpaceX-aligned city council.

Elon Musk can now add "city founder" to his résumé after residents surrounding his SpaceX complex in South Texas voted this weekend to incorporate the area as "Starbase."

The near-unanimous decision — 212 votes in favor to just 6 against, according to county election data — formalizes SpaceX's dominance in the remote coastal area it has rapidly reshaped over the past seven years.

SpaceX employees and their families make up virtually all the residents within the roughly 1.5-square-mile zone, which was previously known as Boca Chica.

The city's first elected officials — all current or former SpaceX staff who ran unopposed — were swept into office on the same ballot.

Bobby Peden ran unopposed for mayor of Starbase, receiving 216 votes.

Peden has worked at SpaceX for over 12 years, and his current title, according to LinkedIn, is "VP - Texas Test & Launch."

Incorporating as a city moves local controls like zoning rules and building permits away from Cameron County officials and puts them directly in the hands of the new, SpaceX-aligned city commission.

A shortage of housing is causing problems for SpaceX, with hundreds of workers looking to move to the area for the company's Starship program that one day aims to send a spacecraft to Mars.

SpaceX previously tried to buy out locals near Boca Chica Village, claiming it was "not safe" to live there anymore. While many took the buyout, some stayed.

About 500 people, mostly the families of roughly 260 employees, live on-site.

The vast majority of Starbase's 3,100-plus workforce commutes daily, many from Brownsville nearby, where there is a nine-foot-tall golden bust of Musk on the road leading into the SpaceX facility.

Despite the near-unanimous vote, the incorporation has been met with resistance from some.

The South Texas Environmental Justice Network activist group has held protests and called on Texas to contact their state representatives to oppose the plans.

"Boca Chica Beach is meant for the people, not Elon Musk to control," the organization said in a statement on its site. "For generations, residents have visited Boca Chica beach for fishing, swimming, recreation, and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe has spiritual ties to the beach. They should be able to keep access."

The vote caps a stunning, decadelong transformation of the once-sleepy Boca Chica village.

SpaceX has rapidly terraformed the quiet coastline into a futuristic industrial campus, all geared towards Musk's goal of reaching Mars.

• Warren Buffett announced he is stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO at the end of the year.
• He has recommended that Greg Abel, a vice chair at the company, succeed him.
• Tributes have been pouring in from business leaders such as Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, and Tim Cook.

Warren Buffett said he would step down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO after 55 years, eliciting tributes from investors and business leaders.

Buffett, 94, made the announcement on Saturday during the company's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. The crowd gave Buffett two standing ovations, acknowledging his career as the longest-serving chief executive of an S&P 500 company.

He said he intended to step down at the end of 2025 and recommended to the board of directors that Greg Abel, now a vice chair at the company, take over as CEO.

Buffett has remained an enduring force as an investor and businessman since purchasing Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, then a New England textile mill, and transforming it into a $1 trillion conglomerate that spans multiple industries.

Following Buffett's announcement, business leaders from across the globe shared tributes.

Bill Gates

In a statement to Business Insider, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates called Buffett "one of the greatest CEOs ever" and "hands-down the most successful investor of all time."

Buffett and Gates have been friends for 30 years, meeting in the 1990s. They have worked together on philanthropic efforts for decades, though their friendship has cooled in recent years.

"He has built an extraordinary company in Berkshire Hathaway, and he's done it with wisdom, integrity, and a phenomenal sense of humor. But Warren hasn't been satisfied with setting an example as a businessman. When he decided to give his wealth back to society, he set an example as a philanthropist, too. His legacy will inspire generations to come," Gates said.

Tim Cook

The Apple CEO praised Buffett in an X post on Saturday.

"There's never been someone like Warren," Cook wrote. "It's been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. And there's no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg."

Jamie Dimon

Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase and a fixture of Wall Street, praised Buffett in a message after the investor's big announcement.

"Warren Buffett represents everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself — investing in the growth of our nation and its businesses with integrity, optimism, and common sense," he said, per Reuters. "I've learned so much from him to this very day, and I am honored to call him a friend."

Brian Moynihan

Bank of America Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan told Business Insider that Buffett "has achieved unparalleled success over a seven-decade-plus career."

Bank of America was one of Berkshire Hathaway's largest holdings before it began to sell shares last year.

"Beyond his business success, his unprecedented philanthropic giving continues to be an example to follow," Moynihan told BI over email. "His life lessons delivered to young and old are as valuable as his business acumen. I have personally learned so much from him and look forward to continuing to benefit from his insights. He has been a tremendous supporter and investor in Bank of America and our nation's economy and the innovative spirit of the United States."

Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman, the billionaire CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, said on Monday he "wouldn't bet against Berkshire."

"I think they will be a little bit more aggressive about buying back stock. I don't see Berkshire waking up in six months and Berkshire announcing $100 billion acquisition," Ackman told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

The billionaire hedge fund manager said that Buffett's replacement, Greg Abel, "is a superb operator" who nonetheless may be cautious early on.

"I think the new CEO will be and the new board, not the new board, the current new CEO and the current board will be a little bit more careful on the first deals because if Berkshire's first deal turns out not to be a good one, you know, I think that the market will kind of frown upon that," Ackman said. "But I think the business will do very well."

Bill Gross

Billionaire investor and PIMCO cofounder Bill Gross told Business Insider via email that Buffett's vision set him apart from other investors.

"His vision was not limited to an optimistic vision of the future," Gross told BI. "Through his insurance holdings that by their structure allowed for the investment of premiums at a near zero cost into higher returning assets such as Coke, AMEX and Apple and in so doing he created a spread which over time led to billions and the recognition not just as a stock picker but as a financial structural wizard."

Gross also congratulated Buffett and recalled on X the first time his firm gave Berkshire one of its first loans in the mid '70s.

"I knew nothing about insurance and candy stores but was sold by his long-term vision of the economy and markets," Gross wrote. "Congratulations my friend — not just on the numbers — but on the philanthropy and the years. Having a cherry Coke with you was a highlight of my career."

Mark Cuban

Cuban told Business Insider in an email that Buffett was his "investing hero" and shared a photo of him with the investing legend at a Dairy Queen in Omaha.

"We used to go to DQ in Omaha," Cuban wrote. "It was the highlight of my year."

Following the announcement, Cuban also reposted on X a video showing Buffett receiving a standing ovation during the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting.

Spencer Hakimian

Hakimian, the founder of Tolou Capital Management, shared a video on X of Buffett receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting.

"Curtain call for the captain," Hakimian wrote.

Ron Olson

Olson, a Berkshire Hathaway board member, told CNBC that Buffett has "lived a life full of surprises. Very few of his decisions have been anything but sensational. I am very anxious to see Warren become the Charlie Munger for Greg Abel."

Olson also believed Abel "is ready" for the role.

"I have no doubt about that. We've known it for a long time," Olson told the outlet.

French Hill

The Arkansas GOP congressman and former businessman told CNBC that Buffett, Abel, and Berkshire Hathaway's board "have done a magnificent job over the last decade preparing shareholders for today."

Hill added that he's admired Buffett since his college days.

"When I got out of government in 1993 and went back to the private sector in investment management, it was Warren Buffett who was my role model — a man I've never personally met, but I've admired all these years," Hill told the outlet.

Stephen Squeri

The chairman and CEO of American Express told Business Insider via email that Buffett "has had one of the most storied careers in the history of American business."

Squeri added that Buffett's "vision and deep sense of responsibility to shareholders is unmatched, and his humility and humor are rare qualities in a leader that have made working with Warren a delight."

He added that American Express, in which Berkshire Hathaway holds a minority stake, looks forward to "continuing to work with Greg as he builds upon Warren's legacy."

Seth Klarman

The CEO of the Baupost Group hedge fund told BI over email that Buffett ran an "investment marathon" for decades and excelled in all conditions.

"But he is more than an investor — he is a visionary business leader, teacher, role model, and philanthropist. I've always seen him as a mentor, and I suspect he'll keep contributing in all of these spheres far into the future. There will be no other like him!"

Howard Marks

The co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management told BI in an email that it is "impossible" for anyone to measure up to Buffett.

"He is the single most influential investor of all time — the Isaac Newton of investing," Marks said.

"He says when he started in the early 1950s, he was able to buy dollars for 50 cents — and he makes it sound easy," Marks added. "But the thing is, even if the opportunities were there, nobody else did it. There weren't multiple Warren Buffetts."

Jim Cramer

Jim Cramer, the host of the CNBC show "Mad Money," called Buffett "our only G.O.A.T." in an X post on Sunday.

"In awe of Buffett and congratulate him on the greatest run of all time," Cramer wrote.

• The US footwear industry is urging Trump to exempt shoes from new tariffs.
• Leading brands like Nike and Adidas are concerned about high costs and job losses.
• Brands warned that the shoe industry is "uniquely vulnerable" to the impact of Trump's trade war.

The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America trade group (FDRA) is calling on President Donald Trump to exempt footwear from new tariffs.

More than 80 leading US footwear companies, including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers, addressed a letter to Trump urging him to protect their goods from tariffs.

"Our industry is uniquely vulnerable," the letter states.

"With some of the highest tariff rates already in place—especially on children's and low-cost shoes—these new tariffs are simply unsustainable. They won't bring manufacturing back, but they will hurt families at the register."

The letter calls the situation an "emergency that requires immediate action and attention," warning that US footwear workers and consumers will suffer, citing concerns about imminent footwear job losses, added costs for consumers, and reduced consumer spending.

The coalition of manufacturers, brands, and retailers argued that, unlike many other goods, shoes already face some of the highest import taxes in the US tariff code, with rates hitting 20%, 37.5%, or even higher, particularly on children's shoes and lower-priced footwear favored by working families.

They highlighted that many companies are already grappling with how to pay the sudden, unforeseen tariff costs on merchandise ordered months ago that is only now arriving at US ports.

"The inability to pay for these immediate and unforeseen additional tariffs places many US footwear businesses at imminent risk," they warned.

Instead of broad tariffs affecting everyday consumer goods, the footwear executives suggested a "more targeted approach" focused on strategic items would better serve national security interests without inflicting "unnecessary pain on American families."

The letter concludes with a clear request: "We respectfully ask you to remove footwear from any reciprocal tariff regime."

Adidas warned on Tuesday that the sweeping tariffs could drive up the costs of all its products in the US, as the company is reliant on imports.

"Since we currently cannot produce almost any of our products in the US, these higher tariffs will eventually cause higher costs for all our products for the US market," CEO Bjørn Gulden said.y.

• Warren Buffett criticized tariffs during his Q&A at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting on Saturday.
• "Trade should not be a weapon," Buffett told investors in Omaha, Nebraska.
• Buffett did not mention President Donald Trump by name while hitting out at tariffs.

Warren Buffett hit out at President Donald Trump's global trade war on Saturday, saying trade should not be a "weapon."

Speaking at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett did not directly name Trump, but made clear his distaste for tariffs.

Buffett made the comments in response to the first question during his widely watched Q&A, the centerpiece event of the annual meeting.

"Trade should not be a weapon," he said."

Buffett called the policies a "big mistake," warning that protectionist policies could have negative repercussions for the US.

"I do think that the more prosperous the rest of the world becomes, it won't be at our expense, the more prosperous we'll become, and the safer we'll feel, and your children will feel someday," Buffett added.

"I don't think it's right, and I don't think it's wise," he said. "The United States won. I mean, we have become an incredibly important country, starting from nothing 250 years ago. There's not been anything like it."

The comments are his most direct yet on the global trade war sparked by Trump's imposition of sweeping tariffs at the beginning of April.

Buffett's comments came after the company reported that its first quarter profits fell by around 14% compared to 2024 to $9.6 billion, while its cash stockpile rose to more than $347 billion.

Buffett's holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, has surged despite volatile financial markets since Trump's election last year.

The conglomerate is up more than 20% since Trump won victory on November 5, in spite of the S&P 500 being down almost 2%

Trump's administration has imposed tariffs of 145% on China, which were countered with retaliatory Chinese levies of 125%.

• The US-Ukraine minerals deal grants US firms access to critical resources like graphite and lithium.
• But experts warn that commercial opportunities are limited, and certainly won't be immediate.
• Even if Ukraine could fast-track approvals, the ongoing war may deter investors, one expert told BI.

The US and Ukraine signed a deal this week granting US companies access to critical minerals like graphite and lithium in the war-torn country. But industry watchers say the deal's impact will be slow and limited.

The newly signed deal between the US and Ukraine — part of often-fraught negotiations between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — gives US companies access to Ukraine's reserves of critical natural resources as part of a planned reconstruction fund.

It also aims, in part, to diversify supply chains and support US firms producing goods like solar panels and EV batteries.

In the past, Trump has said that the minerals deal with Ukraine could net the US $500 billion from rare earths alone.

But experts say the deal is more symbolic than practical — at least for now — due to security, investment, and logistical hurdles that dampen expectations for any near-term payoffs.

Timothy Puko, director of corporate commodities at the Eurasia Group, told Business Insider that any commercial outcomes from the deal are "severely limited."

"This is almost entirely about politics and keeping Washington interested," he said. "With very little there to lure in serious investment or production that could materially bolster supply chains."

Cullen Hendrix, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the deal is "more smoke than fire" when it comes to reshaping US critical mineral supply chains.

However, he added that it "provides Ukraine with an important lifeline and, in theory, shields them from a mountain of post-conflict debt."

Transactional approach

The agreement between the US and Ukraine comes at a time of rising supply-chain uncertainty, amid an ongoing US trade war with China from which 90% of the world's rare earth metals are sourced.

But there are uncertainties over the available resources in Ukraine.

Erik Jonsson, a senior geologist at the Geological Survey of Sweden, told BI in March that "Ukraine has a solid mining industry, but it's not based on rare earths."

While the agreement gives the current administration political cover to continue backing Ukraine, Hendrix emphasized that it "won't markedly change" the US mineral security landscape in the short or medium term.

Scott Young, geo-technology director at the Eurasia Group, said that while Ukraine holds large deposits of critical minerals, there's nothing particularly distinctive about them.

"It's a question of extraction—and even more importantly, processing and refining," he added. "To extract, you need capital, permits, infrastructure, and a workforce to mine the raw ore profitably. And even then, the infrastructure to transport and process that ore may not be in place."

These constraints are compounded by volatile mineral prices and rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and China.

Hendrix also cautioned against the assumption that identified resources will translate easily into viable reserves.

"Ask anyone in mining," he said. "Lots of things — logistics, prices, capital expenditures—can stall or kill projects."

Long lead times

Michelle Michot Foss, a minerals expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, told BI that without serious investment in extraction and processing, resources will remain untapped.

She called the new deal a "long-lead-time deal" fraught with "a multitude of risks and uncertainties that investors and policymakers will face."

And Foss pointed to past disappointments as a cautionary tale for those looking to get involved.

"Ukraine promoted their shale plays years ago, and companies positioned with licenses," she said, referring to Chevron and Shell's shale gas projects launched in 2013.

However, lackluster drilling results and political instability halted both efforts.

Young said that permitting is the biggest bottleneck for most mining companies, and even if Ukraine could fast-track approvals, the ongoing war with Russia could deter investors who operate on multi-decade timelines.

"The mismatch in timing and the volatile geopolitical environment will likely put downward pressure on near-term interest from cautious foreign investors," he said.

• Temu is ceasing direct Chinese exports to the US, shifting to a local fulfillment model.
• The change follows the closure of a trade loophole allowing duty-free imports under $800.
• Higher prices are expected as import taxes may now apply to previously exempt goods.

The era of ultra-cheap goods shipped directly from China via Temu is coming to an end.

The e-commerce giant, which added "import charges" to customers' orders at the end of April, announced a dramatic overhaul of its US business model.

Temu is ceasing direct-from-China shipments in response to the federal government closing a long-standing trade loophole.

The "de minimis" exemption allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the US duty-free, a critical advantage Temu and competitor Shein exploited to offer cheap prices.

The exemption, born from a 1938 law meant to simplify customs, became a linchpin of modern e-commerce logistics. Its $800 threshold fueled an explosion of small packages flooding US ports, accounting for the vast majority of import entries, according to CBP data.

Washington moved to close the loophole under the Trump administration, with the two-pronged goal of cracking down on illicit shipments like fentanyl smuggled in small packages and creating fairer competition for American retailers burdened by tariffs bypassed by foreign shippers.

Similar concerns about the rule's exploitation were previously flagged by the Biden administration.

In a statement shared with Business Insider, the company said: "Temu's pricing for US consumers remains unchanged as the platform transitions to a local fulfilment model. All sales in the US are now handled by locally based sellers, with orders fulfilled from within the country.

"The move is designed to help local merchants reach more customers and grow their businesses. This shift is part of Temu's ongoing adjustments to improve service levels."

The impact on consumers is expected to be direct: higher prices.

Goods once exempt could now be hit with hefty import taxes or fees, potentially starting at $100 or based on percentages exceeding 100% of the value. Policy watchers have consistently warned that these new costs would likely be passed on to shoppers.

Besides the cost, officials said the huge number of these packages overwhelmed customs workers and strained inspection resources.

The UK and EU are both considering similar policy shifts, which could prompt a hike in prices in Europe soon.

• The US is canceling its M-10 Booker program, citing design flaws and redundancies.
• The light assault vehicle was deemed too heavy for its intended use.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to shift US focus to advanced drone capabilities.

The US Army is canceling its M-10 Booker light assault vehicle program as part of efforts to focus on advanced weaponry like drones.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed the move, calling the assault vehicle approved under the previous administration "a mistake," and citing issues with its 42-ton weight and design.

"What came out of our procurement system wasn't good," he told reporters on Thursday, adding that the Army would learn from what had happened.

Driscoll said it was too heavy for many of its intended missions, including operations like airdrops from US Air Force transport aircraft.

The M-10 Booker, designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is technically classified as an infantry support vehicle or "assault gun," rather than a traditional light tank.

Development on it began in 2022, after General Dynamics was awarded a $1.14 billion contract. The Army originally planned to acquire over 500 M-10s, and initial deliveries took place in February 2024.

It was the US Army's first new major armored vehicle in two decades, with the Army saying that it would allow "light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries."

Although initially conceptualized as relatively lightweight and air-droppable, its design evolution resulted in a vehicle too heavy to operate as intended. An issue realized only after it was too late, Defense One reported in late April.

"This is not a story of acquisition gone awry," Alex Miller, the Army's chief technology officer, told the outlet. "This is a story of the requirements process creating so much inertia that the Army couldn't get out of its own way, and it just kept rolling and rolling and rolling."

The cancellation of the M-10 Booker program is part of a wider restructure ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In an official memo released on Thursday, Hegseth called for a strategic move away from many longstanding assets like Humvees and helicopters toward areas like advanced drone capabilities.

As part of this, Hegseth said that every division of the US Army should be equipped with drones by the end of 2026.

He called for crewed attack helicopter formations to be restructured and augmented with "inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries."

The memo instructed Army leadership to aggressively reassess inventory, terminate funding for "obsolete systems," and cancel or reduce programs deemed "ineffective or redundant."

Beyond the M-10, areas targeted for cuts include some crewed aircraft, ground vehicles, and older generations of unmanned aerial vehicles.