Author: Andrew Rogers

Amazon’s cloud division suffered at least one outage last year involving an internal AI system, according to reports.An incident in December lasted about 13 hours after an AI agent automatically deleted and recreated part of its environment. The disruption affected only a limited number of services, the company said.Amazon argued the problem was caused by misconfigured access controls and described it as user error rather than an AI failure. AWS underpins large parts of the internet and many public-sector systems.A separate outage in October briefly knocked dozens of websites offline and renewed concerns about reliance on a few major providers.…

Airbus has proposed building two separate fighter jets to rescue Europe’s stalled Future Combat Air System.The €100bn programme is shared by Germany, France and Spain. The dispute centres on who leads development of the next-generation aircraft.Airbus represents Germany and Spain, while Dassault Aviation speaks for France.Clashing military requirements have deepened the stalemate. Chief executive Guillaume Faury said a split solution could protect Europe’s long-term defence capability.He added that governments must decide whether to proceed with one jet, two designs or drop that pillar entirely.German chancellor Friedrich Merz recently signalled the current concept does not meet Germany’s needs, especially on nuclear…

Top athletes including Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Federica Brignone have raised alarm over rapidly shrinking glaciers during the Winter Olympics in Cortina.They say warming temperatures are already changing how and where they train. Glaciers once visible from the host town have largely disappeared.Major ice now survives only at higher elevations, with the Marmolada melting quickly.Scientists report Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s. Vonn said many glaciers she skied as a child no longer exist.Shiffrin added that snow-sport athletes witness climate change first-hand on mountain peaks.Brignone said the retreat of ice…

China is making fast progress in brain-computer interface technology. Shanghai-based startup NeuroXess recently reported early human trial results that suggest major potential for neuroscience innovation. In the trial, a patient was able to control a computer cursor just days after receiving a brain implant. This success demonstrates both the speed of learning and the precision possible with advanced BCI devices. NeuroXess’ breakthrough highlights China’s growing expertise in cutting-edge neuroscience. While much BCI research has focused on labs in the United States and Europe, China is rapidly closing the gap with practical human applications. Brain-computer interfaces connect the human brain directly…

Senior UK banking figures will meet this week to begin work on a domestic card payments network.The project aims to reduce reliance on US-owned systems run by Visa and Mastercard. The talks will be chaired by Vim Maru of Barclays and involve major lenders and payment firms.City investors will fund the new company, known as DeliveryCo, with government support.The Bank of England is preparing the technical blueprint. Concern about geopolitical risk has accelerated the long-running plan.About 95% of UK card transactions currently depend on the two US networks.Executives warn that losing them would severely disrupt the economy as cash use…

Volkswagen is preparing a new restructuring drive to cut costs by 20% by 2028.Plant closures are reportedly being considered as competition from Chinese carmakers intensifies. Chief executive Oliver Blume and finance chief Arno Antlitz presented the savings plan to senior managers.The goal is to secure stable profits despite weak sales, high costs and rapid industry automation. The group had already announced a major overhaul that will cut 35,000 jobs by 2030 and save €10bn.It says earlier measures have produced savings in the double-digit billion-euro range. Pressure is rising as the EU’s trade deficit with China grows and Chinese brands expand…

The shift from injections to tablets is pushing weight-loss drugs further into the mainstream.New daily pills that mimic the appetite hormone GLP-1 could broaden access and demand.Analysts predict the sector could reach $200bn by the end of the decade. Melody Ewert switched from Zepbound to the new oral Wegovy after her insurance costs surged.She had already lost weight with medication and lifestyle changes.She now reports steadier appetite control with the daily pill.Other patients say tablets are simpler and avoid injections. Novo Nordisk launched the first GLP-1 weight-loss pill in the US in December.Prescriptions quickly reached about 50,000 a week.The drug…

Formula 1 faced fresh criticism after pre-season testing in Bahrain.Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both questioned the new regulations.The rule overhaul introduced new engines, chassis, tyres and fully sustainable fuel. Mercedes set the fastest times with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.Ferrari followed with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.McLaren placed fifth and sixth with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.Verstappen finished seventh but showed strong straight-line speed for Red Bull. Drivers spent most sessions learning complex energy management systems.The new power units split output almost equally between combustion and electric power.Verstappen called the result “not fun” and “the opposite of racing”.He warned he…

US inflation dropped to 2.4% in January after last year’s tariff-driven price swings. The consumer price index rose 0.2% for the month, while core inflation increased 0.3%. Economists had expected a slightly higher annual rate of 2.5%. Prices moved sharply during the past year. Inflation hit 2.3% in April, climbed to 3% by September, and eased to 2.7% by late autumn. The White House called the new figure proof that its economic agenda controls inflation and dismissed tariff-related spikes. Investors now watch the data for signals on interest rates. The Federal Reserve paused cuts in January and will decide again…

The top legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has said the European Commission wrongly released billions of euros to Hungary. Advocate general Tamara Ćapeta argued that Hungary failed to complete the judicial reforms required to unlock about €10bn in suspended funds. The commission froze payments in 2022 over concerns about corruption and rule-of-law breaches under prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2023, it concluded that sufficient reforms had been made and lifted the suspension. The European Parliament challenged that decision, claiming the commission made serious errors and acted without proper justification. Ćapeta said the commission failed to properly assess…