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The ideal database for AI agents doesn’t exist yet, says Percona CEO
Percona CEO Peter Farkas says the database industry was caught unprepared by AI’s iterative workloads, in which agents may generate and assess around 150 attempts before selecting a result. Existing databases can support these applications, but he believes none is currently an ideal fit and that a purpose-built system may eventually be needed. Farkas argues…
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Warren Buffett steps down as chair of Berkshire Hathaway after over 50 years
Warren Buffett, 96, has stepped down as chair of Berkshire Hathaway after 60 years leading the company’s transformation from a failing textile manufacturer into a $1 trillion conglomerate. His son Howard, 71, takes over as chair, whilst Buffett remains as chair emeritus and board director. This marks a significant generational transition at one of the…
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Private jets pollute up to 14 times as much as commercial planes and are undertaxed in US, report says
A new report says private aviation in the US is expanding rapidly while wealthy owners pay a disproportionately small share of aviation taxes. Private jets produce up to 14 times more direct carbon emissions per passenger than commercial flights, raising concerns about climate damage and public subsidies. The report estimates that private jets and charter…
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‘I pay a lot more for fewer and fewer items’: five US shoppers on their food budgets
Despite Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to reduce grocery prices “on day one” of his second term, American consumers continue to face high food costs more than two years later. Over half of Americans report struggling to afford groceries, driven by supply chain disruptions, tariff disputes, international conflicts, cuts to Snap benefits, and climate crises.…
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‘Eating is my superpower’: Nigella turns up the heat on Bake Off
Nigella Lawson is joining The Great British Bake Off as a judge, replacing Prue Leith and bringing renewed attention to the long-running programme. She says she wanted a more collaborative role after years of working largely alone, while Paul Hollywood says she quickly understood the show’s tone and fitted seamlessly into the team. Lawson and…
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Billionaire Warren Buffett, 96, steps down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and names his successor, as he says: ‘Father time always wins’
Warren Buffett, 96, has stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway effective immediately after more than 60 years leading the $1.03 trillion investment conglomerate. His son Howard, 71, succeeds him in the role, continuing a family succession after Buffett stepped down as chief executive officer eight months earlier. This marks a significant leadership transition for…
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Kim Kardashian hospitalized for condition linked to disease that killed her father Robert at age 59
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she was hospitalised with esophagitis, an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the oesophagus. The condition has emotional significance because her father, Robert Kardashian, died from oesophageal cancer aged 59 in 2003, prompting concern from her family in a trailer for the eighth season of *The Kardashians*. The trailer…
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OpenAI ‘ethically hacked’ with help of Anthropic’s Claude chatbot
US cybersecurity researchers ethically hacked OpenAI systems using Anthropic’s Claude chatbot and OpenAI’s own GPT-5.6 Sol, exposing vulnerabilities in employee accounts and related software infrastructure. The researchers accessed several staff ChatGPT accounts through an internal discussion forum and then reached OpenAI’s GitHub service, highlighting how AI tools can make sophisticated cyberattacks faster and easier. The…
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Burnham faces demands to come clean with Brits about Russian ‘shadow war’ and hike defence spending – as France, Poland and Germany step up warnings
Andy Burnham and the Labour Government are facing pressure from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to explain how Britain will respond to Russia’s alleged “shadow war” against NATO countries. The calls follow warnings that Moscow could use drones, rockets and other hybrid tactics to intimidate European states supporting Ukraine, with…
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Workers in New York seek to create first AutoZone union as company resists
Workers at an AutoZone store in White Plains, New York, are seeking to become the first employees at the US-based retailer to unionise. Their election to join United Auto Workers Local 259 is due to begin on 25 September, despite what workers describe as an intensive company campaign against the effort. The dispute matters because…