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Today we're covering Trump and Putin’s Ukraine conversation, how fast food is becoming faster, and a productivity hack from the inventor of the telephone.

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President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska Friday seeking breakthrough on the three-year Ukraine conflict, but emerged without concrete agreements. Trump shifts Monday to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wasn't included in the Putin summit.

Putin used the platform to press Ukraine demands while Trump's language evolved from immediate cease-fire calls to broader peace negotiations. The summit gave Putin international legitimacy despite war crimes charges, with analysts saying Russia achieved key diplomatic objectives.

European allies expressed concern about being sidelined as Trump pursues direct negotiations between the warring parties. The meetings represent Trump's most significant diplomatic push to end the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands since 2022.

Trump’s schedule with Zelensky here.

Marvel Studios is relocating most upcoming productions from Georgia to the United Kingdom, citing rising labor costs (WSJ). The move marks a significant shift for Disney's superhero franchise, which filmed nearly two dozen projects in Atlanta over the past decade.

Georgia's film industry has declined sharply, with production spending dropping nearly 50% over three years. The state recorded 245 projects in fiscal 2024, down from 412 in 2022, as studios increasingly film overseas for cheaper labor and tax incentives (Hollywood of the South).

The exodus has left thousands of entertainment workers unemployed, including crew members who built careers around Marvel's consistent Georgia presence. Industry officials hope the downturn proves temporary as global production shifts continue reshaping filmmaking locations.

BTS of Spider-Man 4 in Glasglow.

McDonald's announced Thursday it will deploy "Ready on Arrival" technology across top markets to reduce customer wait times by over 50 percent. The geofencing system alerts workers when mobile order customers approach, enabling food preparation before arrival.

The digital transformation includes AI-powered kitchen tools and equipment monitoring across 43,000 restaurants globally. CEO Chris Kempczinski said the system has eliminated wait times entirely in some locations, with rollout active in five of six major markets.

McDonald's broader "Digitizing the Arches" strategy aims to modernize operations and reduce crew stress from managing counter, drive-thru, and delivery orders simultaneously. The company targets 250 million loyalty program users by 2027, up from 185 million currently.

More fast food technology here.

Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized communication but struggled with scattered focus despite his genius mind. His solution? Assign specific locations to specific cognitive tasks—a method neuroscience now proves actually works.

Bell's 3-Location System:

Why Your Brain Loves Location Cues: Your neurons create "if-then" pathways linking places with behaviors. Sit in that productive window seat once, and your brain builds a "window seat = focused work" connection. The more you reinforce it, the faster you'll drop into flow state.

Build Your Own Bell System: Start small with what you have. Kitchen table for financial planning. Bedroom chair for reading. Even your closet for meditation. The key is consistency—always do the same task in the same spot. Avoid mixing activities or you'll confuse your brain's location signals.

Full story here.

NFL's banned performance booster tested by office worker. GQ journalist experiments with ammonia-based salts after league stopped providing them to players. Results: instant alertness boost but harsh nasal burn described as "water full of bees." Coworkers had mixed reactions from energized productivity to teary-eyed regret.

Read the full experiment here.

> Short-seller Andrew Left bets against Palantir citing "absurd" 80x price-to-sales ratio despite 144% stock surge (More).

> Air Canada flight attendants defy government back-to-work order keeping fleet grounded despite binding arbitration ruling (More).

> Six Flags ride malfunction strands 32 guests for over an hour on Maryland SteamWhirler before rescue (More).

> California almond orchards face unprecedented rat invasion causing $109M-$311M losses across 100,000 acres (More).

> Chick-fil-A launches fall menu featuring Pretzel Cheddar Club sandwich and Cherry Berry Sprite drinks nationwide (More).

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