Author: Andrew Rogers

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison became the world’s richest person after Oracle shares surged 40% in early trading.Ellison’s 41% stake is now valued at $393bn, slightly above Elon Musk’s $384bn, Bloomberg reports.The rise marks Oracle’s largest single-day increase and the biggest one-day wealth gain on Bloomberg’s index.Ellison, 81, also holds Tesla shares, a sailing team, the Indian Wells Open, and a Hawaiian island.He has a close relationship with Musk, serving on Tesla’s board and investing $1bn in Twitter.Musk frequently visits Ellison’s Hawaiian island, Lanai, highlighting their long-standing personal and professional ties.Both Ellison and Musk have connections to Donald Trump, though Musk’s…

Apple will unveil its thinnest iPhone yet at Tuesday’s annual event in Cupertino.The iPhone 17 series will include standard, Pro, Pro Max, and the new iPhone Air.iPhone Air is expected to be Apple’s lightest flagship, inspired by its slim MacBook line.Apple will also introduce Apple Watch series 11 and upgraded AirPods earbuds.The new AirPods may feature live translation, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.Apple plans to announce launch dates for iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe.Trump’s tariffs could increase iPhone costs and disrupt the global supply chain.Tim Cook moved production to India and shipped iPhones to the US to limit tariff effects.Investors…

New York Attorney General Letitia James has hired a major law firm to manage federal subpoenas amid two ongoing investigations. The move signals heightened legal defenses as she faces scrutiny from federal authorities in Albany. James brought on Munger, Tolles Olson LLP, to respond to the subpoenas, according to the state comptroller’s office. A spokesperson said details about the cost of the legal work were not immediately available. The legal team includes experienced lawyers such as Martin Estrada, former U.S. attorney for Southern California, firm chair Brad Brian, and co-managing partner Hailyn Chen. This hiring follows James’ retention of personal…

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said the company is close to a US tariff deal as it aims to grow its affordable electric car market in Europe. Trump-era tariffs have already cost the group “several billions,” even with a planned reduction from 27.5% to 15%. Volkswagen plans major US investments to secure a better deal and may localise Audi production. Porsche Impacted by Tariffs and Weak China Market Blume noted Porsche is being squeezed by tariffs and a weak Chinese market, costing several billion euros this year. US-bound Porsches are mostly made in Germany, making them more affected than VW, BMW,…

This Sunday, 7 September, Europe will witness a blood moon—a total lunar eclipse lasting around 82 minutes, the longest since 2022. The Earth will pass directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow fully across the lunar surface. Only red-hued light refracted through Earth’s atmosphere will illuminate the moon, giving it the iconic “blood” appearance. Throughout history, such events carried deep cultural significance. In Babylon, China, and Central America, blood moons were often seen as ominous portents of death, war, or divine punishment. By contrast, West Africa’s Batammaliba people interpret lunar eclipses as symbolic battles between the sun…

Max Verstappen set a new Formula 1 record to claim pole for the Italian Grand Prix, clocking 1:18.792 and averaging over 164mph. The Red Bull star edged out McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a thrilling qualifying session. Verstappen’s performance marked a major turnaround after last year’s struggles at Monza, giving Red Bull fresh momentum under new team principal Laurent Mekies. Ferrari also impressed at their home race, with Lewis Hamilton making his Monza debut for the Scuderia and qualifying fifth, just behind Charles Leclerc, though a grid penalty will push him down to 10th. Norris narrowly avoided…

A new ultrasound “helmet” may provide a non-surgical way to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, a study suggests. Unlike deep brain stimulation (DBS), which requires electrodes implanted deep in the brain, the device uses mechanical pulses to target regions with unprecedented precision—up to 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound. Developed by Oxford University and University College London, the helmet contains 256 sources and fits inside an MRI scanner. In tests on seven volunteers, researchers successfully targeted a tiny brain region, producing measurable effects in connected areas. Experts say similar precision could help Parkinson’s patients by reducing tremors and…

Labour could stop badger culling by 2029, but only with a major focus on testing and vaccination, according to a government-commissioned report. The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, warns ministers have only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038 without increased investment. The disease costs taxpayers around £150m a year, and more than 210,000 badgers have been culled since 2013. Godfray said badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but this does not automatically require culling. The report recommends non-lethal controls, including microchipping cattle and scaling up vaccination programs for both cattle and badgers. “We…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has started a drive to bring back the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly, once common across Lancashire and Greater Manchester’s peat bogs. These insects rely on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost due to human activity. LWT has restored habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation, and is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the project. “These insects play vital roles in the ecosystem,” the trust said. The large heath butterfly pollinates plants, the bog bush cricket aids decomposition and serves as bird food, and the…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the flightless kākāpō, from the deadly H5 avian influenza before spring migration brings infected birds to its shores. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated up to 10 birds from five endangered species, including kākāpō, takahē, kakī, tūturuatu, and kākāriki. Using a licensed poultry vaccine, four species developed strong antibodies lasting six months, offering hope for protecting key breeding populations in captivity and managed island populations. New Zealand’s program comes amid global efforts to…