• Miley Cyrus changed the lyrics to her hit song "Flowers" after selling out the Hollywood Bowl.
• She held a two-night run at the venue in October, her first full solo concert in four years.
• Some fans say "Flowers," released in early 2023, is a diss track to her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

After selling out a two-night residency at the Hollywood Bowl in October, Miley Cyrus changed the lyrics of an integral part of her hit song, "Flowers."

She ad-libbed about selling out the iconic venue before the chorus: "Started to cry, but then remembered I sold out the Hollywood Bowl!"

She added similar lyrics to "Flowers" in 2024 when she performed it after winning her first Grammy.

The ad-lib now seems to be a way for Cyrus to celebrate her wins, and fans have suggested since its release in 2023 that the song was written as a diss track against her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. The two married in 2018 and divorced a year later.

Representatives for Hemsworth did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here are the Easter eggs you may have missed in "Flowers."

Miley Cyrus released her single "Flowers" in 2023 — and many fans think the song takes aim at her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.

As Business Insider previously reported, Cyrus and Hemsworth met on the set of "The Last Song," which was released in 2010, and dated on and off for several years. The couple married in 2018 and divorced a year later. The split was finalized in January 2020.

While Cyrus hasn't confirmed that "Flowers" is about her relationship with Hemsworth, the single's release date, lyrics, and other hidden details offer a few clues to the song's meaning.

The song was released on Liam Hemsworth's birthday.

The buzz around "Flowers" began when fans noticed its release date.

The single dropped on January 13 — Hemsworth's 33rd birthday — a detail that was not lost on Cyrus' fans. 

 

Miley’s telling the world she can love herself better ON LIAM’S BIRTHDAY?! she definitely didn’t lie when she said she’s got nerve https://t.co/Pp7fi5yuqa

— 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 (@mileywrld) January 1, 2023

"She definitely didn't lie when she said she's got nerve," one user tweeted. 

Many fans think "Flowers" resembles Bruno Mars' song, "When I Was Your Man."

In "When I Was Your Man," Mars sings that he wishes he "bought you flowers, and held your hand."

Although Mars isn't credited as a songwriter on "Flowers," Cyrus sings "I can buy myself flowers," and "I can hold my own hand" in a similar tune to Mars' hit. 

According to Billboard, some fans have speculated that Hemsworth dedicated Mars' song to Cyrus during their first engagement — though those theories are unconfirmed.

The song's opening verse could refer to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

"We were good, we were gold/ Kind of dream that can't be sold/ We were right till we weren't/ Built a home and watched it burn," Cyrus sings in the opening verse. 

According to Us Weekly, the fire metaphor could be referring to the home Cyrus shared with Hemsworth, which burned down during the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

It’s been a heartbreaking few days. This is what’s left of my house. Love. Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires. To help: https://t.co/YQCE1cLaej & @happyhippiefdn https://t.co/vtLFytFmNw

— Liam Hemsworth (@LiamHemsworth) November 13, 2018

Cyrus has said that the loss of the couple's Malibu home is partially what led her and Hemsworth to get married. 

Some fans have drawn comparisons between a clip from the song's music video and a past red-carpet moment.

In 2019, while attending the Vanity Fair Oscars party, an Access Hollywood reporter asked Cyrus and Hemsworth what a dance number would look like between the couple.

WAIT A MINUTE https://t.co/YA76DVsz7T

— out of context hannah montana (@OCHannahMontana) January 4, 2023

When Cyrus began dancing on Hemsworth, her then-husband, he shut it down, saying, "We're not doing this. Not on the carpet."

One Twitter user put that video side by side with a promotional clip Cyrus posted on the platform, in which she appears to do a similar dance move — while the lyrics "I can love me better" play in the background.

In October 2026, Cyrus changed the lyrics to "Flowers" and performed it at the Hollywood Bowl.

After selling out shows at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2026, Cyrus changed the pre-chorus lyrics to "Flowers."

In the original version, Cyrus sings: "I didn't wanna leave you/I didn't wanna fight/Started to cry, but then remembered I," before belting out the chorus.

This past weekend, however, Cyrus changed that to: "I didn't wanna leave you (but I had to)/I didn't wanna fight (but we did)/Started to cry, but then remembered I sold out the Hollywood Bowl."

Cyrus has ad-libbed her hit single before: At the 2024 Grammys, she sang, "Started to cry, but then remembered I just won my first Grammy!"

Fans took to social media to applaud Cyrus' lyric change, with one YouTube commenter saying they "love how she's filling it in with different achievements."

Cyrus also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, her late godmother, during the concert, breaking down in tears as she recalled memories of Parton. Cyrus then performed Parton's hit song "Jolene."

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in January 2023 and was most recently updated in October 2026.

• John Carreyrou told Business Insider that he loves the new Elizabeth Holmes doc as "a great piece of art."
• But audiences who want an accurate retelling of Theranos' downfall should read his book, he said.
• It comes as people allege that he's "missing the point of the film."

John Carreyrou has seen "You Can See Everything" twice.

The reporter, whose award-winning investigation for The Wall Street Journal helped bring down blood-testing startup Theranos, told Business Insider that he liked the documentary. It follows Elizabeth Holmes, the startup's CEO, in the 34 days before she reported to federal prison in 2023.

The film — co-directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim — has inspired a mix of reactions from viewers, ranging from shock to boredom to sympathy for Holmes.

Carreyrou doesn't see that ambiguity.

"The film is a great piece of art, but let's not confuse that art with the underlying facts," he told Business Insider.

It mirrors what he's been writing on X. Carreyrou has been pushing back on people who, he said, had accused him of "missing the point" of the film — namely, that Holmes is unknowable.

"She went after Tyler Shultz and Erika Cheung with everything she had," he wrote, referring to the two company whistleblowers at the center of his 2015 story. "I was threatened with litigation on a daily basis for months on end. It was a ruthless cover-up of a breathtaking fraud, and she was at the controls."

He has also reposted a Monday morning interview with Schultz, who said that Holmes "knows that she did something wrong," and alleged that, during the film, she brought out a different device when she was asked to show Theranos' hardware.

The documentary does not retrace every detail of the Theranos scandal or the reporting that exposed it. Instead, it puts viewers inside Holmes' home as she insists that she was wrongly convicted.

For audiences, it's raised bigger questions about performance, self-deception, and whether the film's subject can ever be fully believed.

Carreyrou has told Business Insider that if audiences "have questions afterward or want more context about the Theranos saga, I would encourage them to read my book."

He ended his X post by saying he "loved the film." He also gave a nod to its early Oscar buzz.

"#BestPicture, IMO," he wrote.

• Abdulrahman Alfozan will stay jailed pre-trial, a San Francisco judge decided Monday.
• The engineer is accused of bugging a conference room at OpenAI, and he has been fired.
• Alfozan posed a risk of non-appearance, the judge said, after discussing his ties to Saudi Arabia.

A former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging the AI startup's office was denied release by a San Francisco judge on Monday, meaning he'll have to mount his defense from jail.

The Justice Department arrested Abdulrahman Alfozan on October 9 and charged him with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications. He's accused of placing a recording device behind a television in an OpenAI conference room — an FBI affidavit includes photos of the device wrapped in toilet paper, and a man they say is Alfozan peering behind the TV.

On Monday, the engineer wore a yellow surgical mask and a jail-issued orange sweatshirt to the San Francisco courthouse. Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse prodded Alfozan's legal team about the risk that he might not appear for a future court hearing.

Tse said that Alfozan's wife and son had traveled to Saudi Arabia with no plans to return, and went back and forth with Yasin about a one-way ticket that Alfozan had previously booked to the country. Tse said that Saudi Arabia and the US do not have an extradition agreement, and expressed skepticism that he had sufficient ties to the Bay Area to prevent his departure.

William Pernik, Alfozan's attorney, argued that, rather than being detained, Alfozan should be fitted with an ankle monitor, ordered to stay home, and have limits placed on his use of technology. The lawyer also said Alfozan is willing to put up "essentially all the money his family has" as bond, including a roughly $1 million investment account.

"Everything this man has, he's willing to surrender, and say, 'I'm not going anywhere,'" Pernik said.

Pernik and Nas Yasin, another of Alfozan's attorneys, cited his coming naturalization interview as evidence of his local ties.

"He was weeks away from achieving every immigrant's dream in this country," Pernik said.

Yasin told Tse that she learned Alfozan's wife had obtained a short-term visitor visa to return to the US, to help improve her husband's case for ties to the Bay Area.

Tse also asked Alfozan's legal team a slew of questions about his relationship with Saudi Arabia, including a commitment by the Saudi consulate to pay his bond and support his legal effort.

Nick Parker, an assistant US attorney, appeared for the prosecution. He argued that the threat of forfeiting a $1 million bond wouldn't be enough to convince Alfozan to return if he made it out of the US, because he might be able to earn more money in Saudi Arabia.

"There is a real threat here that once he leaves, the case is over," Tse responded.

The judge scheduled the case's next hearing for early November.

OpenAI called the recording device "sophisticated" when the arrest went public, though it said it hadn't found signs that he'd taken AI model weights, source code, or customer information. OpenAI fired Alfozan.

Alfozan's charge carries a maximum penalty of 5 years. Pernik said in a statement last week that the allegations "appear wholly out of character for him."

Alfozan, 35, has a green card that makes him a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He attended MIT, then worked at Facebook (now Meta) from 2017 to 2023. After a stint at the engineering startup Nash Technologies, Alfozan joined OpenAI in 2025.

FBI agents have already taken Alfozan's Saudi passport.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at scouncil@businessinsider.com, or over text, Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 415-757-8198. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Dean Karnazes holds the world record for the longest distance a human has ever run nonstop.
• His advice for going farther than you think you can: redefine success before the race begins.
• When the pain hits, Karnazes says there’s one rule: keep moving — even if you have to walk.

For decades, scientists have tried to understand what separates people capable of extraordinary endurance from everyone else. Is it genetics? VO₂ max? Pain tolerance? Mental toughness?

Dean Karnazes has spent more than 30 years giving them a remarkable case study.

He's run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days, crossed Death Valley in the middle of summer, and in 2005 set the record for the longest nonstop run — covering 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes.

Even that wasn't enough.

"I actually made it 350 miles, which was somewhat of a letdown because I thought maybe I could run 500 miles," Karnazes told me. "That was kind of the ultimate goal." His world record still stands today, 21 years later.

After decades of ultrarunning, Karnazes says he's learned that doing hard things comes down to a handful of simple habits that anyone can practice.

Don't make winning the goal

Karnazes has finished on the podium plenty of times, but he says that's never been what pulled him to the starting line.

"I do it for the adventure," he said. "Both the inner and the outer adventure. I've never really said I want to win a race. I just thought, be the best Dean that Dean can be on race day."

He says approaching races that way has changed how he defines success. The podium, if it comes, is just the cherry on top.

That mindset, he says, has kept him motivated through hundreds of marathons and ultramarathons, long after chasing trophies stopped being interesting.

Redefine what success looks like

When Karnazes gives advice to new ultrarunners, he doesn't start with mileage or pace.

"Just set your goal on finishing," he said. "Don't say I want to do it in sub five hours or sub six hours. Just say, 'For me, success is reaching the finish line before the cutoff.'"

Karnazes says that approach has a way of changing how you see your own limits.

"You'll prove to yourself that you're better than you think you are. And you can go further than you think you could."

Keep moving, even if you have to slow down

The advice sounds simple, but following it is another story.

At some point during his 350-mile run, Karnazes stopped trusting what he was seeing.

After nearly three days without sleep, he said he started hallucinating. He felt as though he had left his own body and was watching himself from above.

"When you're in these altered states, it's as though you don't have conscious control of your mind," he said. "You're fighting your mind to stay present, but your mind gets away from you."

Despite that, he kept running.

I asked Karnazes for his advice to aspiring ultrarunners who worry they'll hit a point where the pain becomes too much.

"You walk if you have to," he said. "You slow down, you push through the pain, and you come out the other side, and you're rejuvenated."

• The Marines are fielding new medical gear to treat casualties when evacuation is delayed.
• New portable blood coolers and warmers will help corpsmen treat wounded troops closer to combat.
• AI-assisted ultrasounds could help front-line medics identify internal injuries and prioritize evacuation.

The US Marine Corps has begun fielding new medical equipment meant to help troops survive when wounded service members can't be quickly evacuated from the battlefield.

The new technology is designed to store blood, identify internal injuries, and treat wounded service members closer to the battlefield as the military prepares for future wars in which casualties may be unable to reach a hospital for hours or even days.

The equipment includes improved, lighter-weight mobile blood coolers, better blood warmers, and small AI-assisted ultrasound devices and is designed to help Navy corpsmen and other providers treat casualties with less bulky equipment and less reliance on extensive medical infrastructure.

During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, US air supremacy frequently allowed helicopters to quickly evacuate wounded troops to well-equipped and defended medical facilities near the battlefield.

The proliferation of drone warfare and other technological advancements seen in Ukraine has, however, raised doubts about whether rapid casualty evacuations will be possible in future conflicts. Now, military planners assume that a sophisticated foe is likely to possess tools that could severely disrupt military tasks such as casualty evacuation, resupply, and communications.

Throughout the post 9/11 wars in the Middle East, the military planned on getting wounded troops to advanced medical facilities within an hour, said Navy Capt. Shari Gentry, the Marine Corps' deputy medical officer, speaking to reporters at a media event near Quantico, Virginia. "And we do not foresee that being the case."

The Corps has already begun distributing the systems to medical units, with some equipment reaching troops deployed to the Middle East.

Among the new devices is a portable refrigerator capable of storing approximately 30 units of blood, potentially enough for four seriously wounded Marines, according to military medical guidance. Each battalion aid station is set to receive one, giving medical personnel a supply of blood closer to the battlefield.

Weighing about 60 pounds, it replaces a system that weighs over twice as much and uses rechargeable batteries already common throughout the Marine Corps. The smaller refrigerator allows medical teams to maintain blood supplies without relying continuously on generators or fuel deliveries, said Navy Cmdr. Kyleigh Hupfl, the Corps' clinical lead for Expeditionary Medical Systems.

The capability has already proved useful in the Middle East, Hupfl said. The Corps accelerated delivery after units raised concerns about the reliability of existing refrigeration equipment. One unit told her that the new device allowed it to maintain a ready supply of blood throughout its deployment.

Small deviations in temperature can render blood and other pharmaceuticals unusable. "We need to be able to bring cold chain distribution forward without relying on heavy generators, and we need to be able to do that in a sustainable way," she said.

The service is also fielding new portable blood warmers that can deliver warmed fluids faster than the previous equipment. The warmer works by passing blood through a tube, warming it before it flows into a patient's veins. Such warmth is crucial to prevent hypothermia, a serious complication in injured patients.

Another major change involves portable ultrasound machines equipped with AI-assisted imaging. Previously held only at higher levels of battlefield medical care, the new machines are now being pushed toward the lowest level of tactical care, known as Role 1 facilities, where Navy corpsmen and physicians provide immediate life-saving care for wounded Marines.

The AI software helps users identify anatomical structures on ultrasound images, allowing providers with less ultrasound experience to spot signs of internal bleeding or other injuries that might otherwise be difficult to detect. That information can also help medical teams determine which casualties need evacuation or surgery most urgently, said Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Brown, the chief biomedical equipment technician for the Corps' Expeditionary Medical Systems.

"I have 10 people that are hurt. Who should I get out?" Brown said of the dilemma and the new ultrasounds being fielded to front-line medics to address it. "And at the end of the day, that's what's going to save their life."

• The Fantasy Bra was a staple of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show before it was canceled in 2019.
• The diamond-encrusted bra was always extravagant and worn by a top model at the VS Fashion Show.
• Kylie Jenner brought it back in 2026, modeling the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever created.

Victoria's Secret brought some extra sparkle to its runway on Sunday night.

The brand's annual fashion show, which returned in 2024 after being canceled five years earlier, was held in Los Angeles, with models including Adriana Lima and Barbara Palvin donning their wings for the occasion.

Since making its comeback, the fashion show has been more than a spectacle for Victoria's Secret. It's also been a way to attract a new generation of shoppers by leaning into nostalgia. Elizabeth Preis, Victoria's Secret's chief marketing officer, previously told Fast Company that the show was about "brand consideration for the audience that doesn't currently shop with us."

This year, the brand ramped up its social media promotion and made 17 times as many runway items available to purchase, Barron's reported.

The 2026 show also brought back a symbol of Victoria's Secret's heyday: the Fantasy Bra, an elaborate piece of lingerie often worth millions that hadn't appeared on the runway since 2018.

Kylie Jenner modeled the bra for its comeback. Designed by Jacob & Co., it's the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever created at $50 million.

Take a look back at other Fantasy Bras Victoria's Secret has designed over the years.

The Fantasy Bra was first introduced by Victoria's Secret in 1996 via a massive New York City billboard.

Worn by Claudia Schiffer, the diamond-encrusted lingerie was dubbed the "Million Dollar Miracle Bra."

It was modeled for the Victoria's Secret catalog and advertisements, such as the massive one displayed in New York City.

Tyra Banks wore the next one in 1997.

The "Diamond Dream Bra" was much more understated than the original. It was crafted from white satin, lined with diamonds, and had one 42-carat teardrop gem hanging from its center.

Though the bra cost $3 million, it was never modeled on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway — only by Banks at a private event held later.

Gisele Bündchen modeled the "Red Hot Fantasy Bra" in 2000.

The ruby-covered bra and matching panties modeled by Bündchen for a catalog were the most expensive lingerie set created by Victoria's Secret at the time, costing $15 million when they were designed.

Heidi Klum sparkled in 2001 when she donned a less colorful but equally extravagant version of the garment.

Called the "Heavenly Star Fantasy Bra," the sparkling white piece was decorated with 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires, 2,300 round white diamonds arranged in a wave pattern, and a 90-carat diamond at the center.

It cost $12.5 million on its own, making it the most expensive bra in the world at the time, according to the Guinness World Records. It was also the first Fantasy Bra modeled during a televised Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Karolína Kurková was chosen to debut the 2002 "Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra."

The $10 million piece had a floral theme, with 1,150 rubies in the shape of roses, 1,600 emeralds arranged like leaves, and diamonds forming smaller flowers around them.

Like its predecessor, this Fantasy Bra also featured a massive diamond in its center — this one a 60-carat Mouawad Mondera stone.

Klum returned in 2003 with an $11 million bra that took 370 hours to make.

Dubbed the "Very Sexy Fantasy Bra," the 2003 design was a chainmail-style piece made from a mix of 2,809 white diamonds, yellow-orange sapphires, rhodolites, and amethysts.

It also featured the Mouawad Excelsior Diamond —a 69-carat piece cut from the second-largest diamond in the world — hanging from its center.

Likely because it was see-through, Klum modeled it on the runway over a standard red bra.

The "Sexy Splendor Fantasy Bra" took center stage in 2005.

Modeled by Gisele Bündchen, the see-through piece cost $12.5 million and was crafted from 22 rubies and 2,900 pavé-set diamonds in a floral pattern.

Hanging from its middle strap was the 101-carat Mouawad Splendor Diamond pendant.

Kurková modeled her second Fantasy Bra in 2006.

The "Hearts on Fire Fantasy Bra" was one of the most dazzling ever seen on the Victoria's Secret runway.

Valued at $6.5 million, the silver bra was covered in tiny diamonds from its straps to its cups. It also had two thin straps in the middle, with a 10-carat flower-shaped pendant hanging from them.

Victoria's Secret put a holiday twist on the famous lingerie in 2007.

The diamond-covered, $4.5 million "Very Sexy Holiday" bra — modeled by Selita Ebanks — stood out thanks to the rubies, emeralds, and yellow sapphires arranged in the shape of holly across its cups.

Its Mouawad gems totaled 1,662.51 carats.

Victoria's Secret fans saw the dark side of the Fantasy Bra in 2008.

Adriana Lima modeled the $5 million "Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra."

It was covered in black diamonds and had strings of rubies and white diamonds across it, for a total of 3,900 gems.

Victoria's Secret kept the edgy aesthetic going in 2009.

The black "Harlequin Fantasy Bra" modeled by Marisa Miller was lined with white diamonds and decorated with brown gems in crisscross patterns — the work of Italian jeweler Damiani.

The $3 million piece also included a 16-carat heart-shaped diamond hanging from its center.

The Fantasy Bra returned to its roots in 2010.

Lima modeled the "Bombshell Fantasy Bra," a $2 million semi-sheer garment set with 3,000 diamonds, sapphires, and topaz stones, in shapes inspired by stars and constellations.

It took 1,500 hours for Damiani to create the piece.

The 2011 "Fantasy Treasure Bra" was blue and lined with pearls.

Modeled by Miranda Kerr, the $2.5 million bra — designed by London Jewelers of New York — was covered in a mix of 3,400 diamonds, citrines, aquamarines, and pearls, the latter of which were also strung in rows beneath its cups.

Like other Fantasy Bras before it, the 2011 piece featured massive white and yellow diamonds, each weighing around 8 carats, that hung from its center.

Alessandra Ambrosio was selected to walk the 2012 runway in the "Floral Fantasy Bra."

Another London Jewelers of New York creation, the peach-colored bra was valued at $2.5 million.

It had amethysts, sapphires, rubies, and diamonds in the shape of flowers set in 18-karat pink and yellow gold, as well as a 20-carat radiant-cut diamond hanging from a sparkling pendant.

The "Royal Fantasy Bra" was worn by Candice Swanepoel in 2013.

Designed by Mouawad, the "Royal Fantasy Bra" featured 5,400 multicolored gems — a mix of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires — and 18-karat yellow gold.

Its center stone, adorned with a diamond bow, was a 52-carat pear-shaped ruby.

The next year was the first and only time Victoria's Secret created two Fantasy Bras.

Crafted over 1,380 hours by Mouawad artists, the "Dream Angels Fantasy Bras" stood out in 2014 thanks to an array of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and multicolored gems over 18-karat gold.

Adriana Lima modeled the blue version, and Alessandra Ambrosio modeled the red. Each cost $2 million.

The 2015 Fantasy Bra, modeled by Lily Aldridge, had a summer flair.

Called the "Fireworks Fantasy Bra," the $2 million piece was covered in 6,808 gemstones.

White diamonds covered its cups, while multicolored sapphires, garnets, amethysts, topazes, tourmalines, peridots, quartzes, citrines, and tsavorites were used to create the firework-esque swirls across them.

Jasmine Tookes dazzled in the 2016 "Bright Night Fantasy Bra."

Created over 700 hours by Aziz and Walid Mouzannar, the $3 million bra was one of the most luxurious ever made for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The geometric piece featured 9,000 round-cut diamonds and emeralds in clusters, creating a cutout effect across its cups. 

Lais Ribeiro sported the "Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra" in 2017.

This $2 million piece was created with 6,000 white diamonds, yellow sapphires, and blue topazes.

While the bra featured a signature stone hanging from its center — a giant blue topaz — its golden collar with a second loose gem was unique.

Elsa Hosk modeled the Fantasy Bra created by Victoria's Secret in 2018, before the brand took a hiatus from the runway.

Designed by Atelier Swarovski, the $1 million "Dream Angels Fantasy Bra" was a netted bralette covered in 2,100 tiny diamonds.

It also had diamond-encrusted rope straps and a matching body chain that sat across it.

Kylie Jenner brought the Fantasy Bra back to the Victoria's Secret runway in 2026.

Jenner walked the runway in the much-anticipated bra, designed by Jacob Arabo of Jacob & Co., to the cheers of Kris Jenner and Timothée Chalamet.

Arabo said ahead of the show that it was his goal to create "the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever made," and he delivered.

The bra was made entirely of diamonds and gold, unlike bras from past years that had a fabric base. It was made of 4,410 diamonds in total, including a 75.54-carat Natural Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond hanging from the center, as Victoria's Secret shared on Instagram after the show.

The 2026 Fantasy Bra took over 1,000 hours to make and is worth a whopping $50 million.

• Saudi Arabia is postponing the "Future Investment Initiative" conference, which was set for later this month.
• The announcement came as fighting has renewed between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.
• The conference, which was set to return Wall Street titans to Riyadh, will now take place next year.

Saudi Arabia has postponed a gathering of Wall Street titans as instability spreads across the Middle East amid the US-Iran War.

On Monday, Princess Maha Bint Mishari Al Saud announced that officials were postponing the Future Investment Initiative, which was scheduled for October 26 through the 29th until next year.

"This decision comes from a deep commitment to our partners, members, speakers, and delegates," Princess Maha said in a statement. "Because this is our landmark tenth edition, we want to ensure it delivers the full scale, extraordinary quality, and unforgettable impact that our community has come to expect and truly deserves."

The postponement comes after a recent attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which left at least 13 people dead, the Associated Press reported. Before the announcement, CNBC reported that some delegates were prepared to land in Bahrain and then drive around five hours to Riyadh.

The conference, which has become a major gathering since its launch in 2017, was set to feature the likes of Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

"We will announce the new 2027 dates very soon," the statement said.

Houthi rebels have attacked Saudi Arabia in recent weeks as an informal 2022 truce between the two sides deteriorated amid the US-Iran War. In 2015, Saudi Arabia began a bombing campaign against the rebels after they seized Sanaa, Yemen's capital.

• The tech world is buzzing with thoughts about the fresh Elizabeth Holmes doc.
• From "sympathetic" to "uncanny" to "innovative" to "boring — the film is inspiring huge reactions.
• If you haven't seen it, don't worry. We're holding the movie spoilers.

Elizabeth Holmes is back on the silver screen, and the tech world has has thoughts.

Holmes, the disgraced Theranos founder, is the subject of Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's new documentary, "You Can See Everything."

Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors after her blood-testing startup falsely claimed it could run hundreds of diagnostic tests from a small amount of blood. She has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Since the film's theatrical release on Friday (it grossed an impressive $15 million in its opening weekend), people who work in and around tech have been sharing their reactions.

And don't worry if you haven't seen the film yet: We're keeping it spoiler-free.

Holmes' legacy

Audiences can't pin down how they feel about the film's central characters.

John Loeber, a San Francisco-based investor and the former CEO of Limit, said the film brought him back to a 2019 party when he ran into Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans.

"Double take. She's not in jail?" he wrote Saturday on X about the encounter. Seeing them on screen was equally "uncanny."

"I have never before seen a movie where I have personally met the leading cast. And I was not prepared for the level of surprise and weirdness in seeing their faces — especially Billy, whom I had not thought about in seven years — on the big screen," he wrote.

Nick White, a former software engineer turned YouTube and Kick streamer, said the film reminded him of "why I left the tech industry."

"There are so many narcissistic, delusional morons in that industry who genuinely believe they're geniuses," he wrote on X.

Last week, ahead of the doc's release, a tech crowd got a sneak peek of the doc at a Manhattan movie theatre rented out by AI startup Extend — Business Insider reporter Henry Chandonnet was there.

That audience couldn't settle on what to make of Holmes, either. Some said she had become a meme. Others called her an utter psychopath, while one attendee said the film had unexpectedly made Holmes seem sympathetic.

Mostly 'great,' a few 'boring'

There's a range of feelings about the film itself.

Songwriter Grimes — whose own artistic career has circled Silicon Valley — called the film "innovative" and called the movie's second half "artistic futurism."

The pseudonymous X user roon, who runs a well-followed techno-optimist Substack from Silicon Valley, called Fielder's filmmaking talent "almost incomprehensible" — but said he was wasting it on "some quite boring subject matter."

John Carreyrou, the former Wall Street Journal investigative reporter whose investigation helped expose Theranos, disagrees. He called it "a great film."

Carreyrou also wrote an op-ed for The New York Times, published on Sunday, about his jealousy around the Fielder and Oppenheim's access to Holmes — and his own worries about personal safety.

But the film, he wrote, is the "#BestPicture," he wrote on X, referencing its early Oscar buzz.

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expanding NYC's free 2-K program, adding 10,000 more seats across the city.
• New York's under-five population dropped post-pandemic, spurred by high childcare and housing costs.
• For parents to comfortably afford childcare in New York, they need to make $300,000.

As families flee cities across the country in search of more affordable housing and childcare, New York City is angling to keep its youngest residents.

On Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that 10,000 more seats under his signature free childcare for two-year-olds program will be covered in fall 2027. Under the expansion, all of the Bronx and Staten Island's school districts will be eligible.

"For far too many New York City families, the joy of welcoming a child comes with a terrifying set of questions: How will I afford child care? Will I need to give up my job? Will I be forced to leave the city I love?" Mamdani said in a statement. "Today, for 10,000 more families, we have an answer."

Those affordability questions loom large for urban parents around the country. Cities including New York have seen their under-five population fall since the onset of the pandemic.

Between April 2020 and July 2024, the population of children under five fell by 18% in New York City, per an analysis from the Economic Innovation Group. That population collapsed by 15% in San Francisco, 15% in Chicago's Cook County, and 14% in Los Angeles County over the same period. Lowering childcare costs, a key plank of Mamdani's platform, was one area where even CEOs agreed with the socialist.

In New York, families with kids under six were more than twice as likely to leave the city as families without younger children, according to a Fiscal Policy Institute analysis.

The share of two-year-olds in New York City's population fell as families fled the city during the pandemic, before rebounding somewhat in 2024 and 2025.

For parents still in the city, childcare costs for toddlers in care centers reached $23,400 annually in 2024, per an analysis from the comptroller's office. That means a New York family would have to earn at least $334,000 to pay only 7% of their family income for childcare, the federal definition of affordable.

The new 2-K program, which has reportedly faced implementation problems including funding and payment delays, initially targeted a handful of districts based on economic need and childcare demand.

Even as providers wrangle with funding issues and the program's rollout, children across the city recently started their first days in 2-K. At a Friends of Crown Heights center in Brooklyn, mother Jessica Arroyo said it meant "everything" to have her daughter accepted into 2-K.

"I can work in peace," Arroyo said. "She can learn, make new friends."

Are you a New Yorker or childcare provider involved with 2-K? Share your story with this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com.

• Netflix's film chief Dan Lin is out after two years.
• He's the latest top exec to exit following a 6% cut at the streamer, its biggest since 2022.
• New content chief Peter Rice will oversee film until a successor to Lin is announced.

Film head Dan Lin is out at Netflix, the latest exec to be ousted in the wake of the streamer's biggest layoff since 2022.

Lin was hired as film chair in 2024 with a mandate to bring greater cost discipline and variety to Netflix's films, which had focused on big-budget output under his predecessor, Scott Stuber. Lin cut big upfront paychecks to actors, reduced staff, and reorganized his department. He oversaw a slate that included Oscar-winning "KPop Demon Hunters," "Happy Gilmore 2," and "Frankenstein."

Lin's exit is the latest big shocker at Netflix. Also out in recent days was chief content officer Bela Bajaria, who was replaced by Hollywood veteran Peter Rice, a former exec at Disney and Fox.

Rice will oversee film until a new head is announced, Netflix said in a statement confirming Lin's departure.

Last week, Netflix laid off 1,000 employees, or about 6% of global head count. That was the streamer's largest cull since 2022, when the company lost subscribers for the first time in more than a decade.

The streaming giant has been hampered by slowing engagement growth and a stock price that has declined more than 40% over the past year. The streamer is contending with the rise of free, ad-supported streaming led by YouTube and the popularity of social video. In recent months, Netflix has turned to podcasters and creators to bulk up its library.

Netflix is set to report third-quarter earnings after the bell on Tuesday.

• WalletHub released a report ranking the safest cities in the US.
• The ranking analyzed 182 US cities based on 41 safety indicators across three categories.
• Juneau, Alaska, was ranked the safest city in the US, while New Orleans was ranked the least safe.

American cities face a range of safety concerns, and the risks can vary significantly depending on location.

In some cities, natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods pose the greatest threats to locals. In others, safety concerns may instead center on financial security or the overall safety of homes and communities.

WalletHub compared a total of 182 cities — the 150 largest cities in the US, plus at least two of the most populous cities in every state — to determine the safest and least-safe cities in the US.

WalletHub examined 41 safety indicators across three categories: home and community safety, natural-disaster risk, and financial safety.

To evaluate home and community safety, WalletHub looked at factors including crime rates, traffic and pedestrian fatalities, and the number of emergency responders per capita.

The natural-disaster risk ranking was determined by cities' risk-index scores for natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires.

The financial safety ranking considered factors such as poverty and unemployment rates, as well as identity theft complaints per capita.

To conduct its analysis, WalletHub looked at data from sources including the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Here are the top 10 safest and least-safe cities in the US.

1. Juneau, Alaska

Out of the 182 cities WalletHub examined, Juneau was ranked the safest city in the US. It ranked 46th in home and community safety, fourth in financial safety, and first in natural-disaster risk.

Juneau featured the lowest murder rate and lowest pedestrian fatality rate, and there have been no recorded terrorist attacks or terrorist-related incidents in the past decade. The risk of natural disasters in Juneau is particularly low, with the second-lowest risk of flooding and tornadoes.

Financially, Juneau has the 21st-lowest percentage of residents below the poverty line.

2. Warwick, Rhode Island

As the second-safest city in the US, Warwick's home and community safety was ranked ninth, its natural-disaster risk was ranked fifth, and its financial safety was ranked 46th.

Warwick had the fourth-lowest number of aggravated assaults per capita and the sixth-lowest number of thefts per capita.

3. Overland Park, Kansas

Overland Park rounded out the top three safest cities in the US, with its home and community safety ranking fourth and its financial safety ranking seventh.

The Kansas City suburb placed 138th in WalletHub's natural-disaster-risk category. The greater Kansas City area had received 88 tornado warnings by June 2026, ABC affiliate KMBC reported.

However, Overland Park had the 19th-lowest pedestrian fatality rate and the 15th-lowest traffic fatality rate among the 182 cities WalletHub analyzed. It also had the 14th-lowest unemployment rate in the country and the third-lowest share of residents who are living in poverty.

4. Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is relatively safe from natural disasters, with its natural-disaster risk ranked third overall. Its financial safety was ranked 24th, and its home and community safety was ranked 43rd.

5. South Burlington, Vermont

South Burlington, Vermont, tied with Burlington for third place in natural-disaster risk. The two cities are only miles apart.

South Burlington's financial safety ranked higher, in sixth place. Its home and community safety ranked lower than Burlington's, at 51st.

6. Virginia Beach, Virginia

WalletHub ranked Virginia Beach 22nd in home and community safety, 10th in natural-disaster risk, and 55th in financial safety.

7. Cedar Rapids, Iowa

In Cedar Rapids, the city's home and community safety ranked 10th, its natural-disaster risk ranked 23rd, and its financial safety ranked 42nd.

8. Casper, Wyoming

Casper's financial safety ranking placed it in the top 10, in ninth place. Its natural-disaster risk ranked 19th, and its home and community safety ranked 32nd.

9. Boise, Idaho

Boise was ranked No. 33rd in home and community safety, 41st in natural-disaster risk, and fifth in financial safety.

10. Yonkers, New York

WalletHub's ranking named Yonkers as the 10th-safest city in the US. Out of 182 cities, it ranked third in home and community safety, 59th in natural-disaster risk, and 108th in financial safety.

Keep reading for the bottom 10 cities, which are ranked the least safe in the US.

173. St. Louis, Missouri

Out of the 182 cities WalletHub examined, St. Louis ranked 177th in home and community safety and 146th in financial safety.

The Missouri city ranked relatively well in its natural-disaster risk ranking, however, coming in at 34th.

174. Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland ranked well in WalletHub's natural-disaster risk rating, coming in at 74th.

In the financial safety category, the city ranked 153rd. The lowest category it was ranked in was the home and community category, ranking 175th.

175. Houston, Texas

Houston's financial safety ranking placed the city 163rd. Its natural-disaster risk ranked 170th, and its home and community safety ranked 171st.

176. Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville was ranked 170th in home and community safety, 177th in natural-disaster risk, and 166th in financial safety.

177. Detroit, Michigan

WalletHub ranked Detroit 173rd in home and community safety and 67th in natural-disaster risk.

It was ranked the least safe city in the US for financial safety, coming in at 182nd.

178. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, the city's home and community safety ranked 176th, its natural-disaster risk ranked 137th, and its financial safety ranked 159th.

179. Memphis, Tennessee

WalletHub ranked Memphis as the second-worst city for financial safety, coming in at 181st, behind Detroit.

The city ranked 179th in home and community safety, and jumped to 60th in the natural-disaster risk category.

180. Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore was ranked 180th in home and community safety. It ranked 174th in financial safety, and performed better in the natural-disaster risk category, placing 106th.

181. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ranked the second-least-safe city in the US, Baton Rouge came in 181st for home and community safety, 130th for natural-disaster risk, and 144th for financial safety.

182. New Orleans, Louisiana

Out of the 182 cities WalletHub examined, New Orleans is considered the least safe city in the US, largely due to its home and community safety, where it ranked the least safe, and its financial safety, where it ranked 172nd.

As a hurricane-prone city, New Orleans ranked better in the natural-disaster risk category, however, coming in at 104th.

• There was a lot to see at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Sunday night.
• Kylie Jenner modeled a $50 million bra that featured no fabric.
• Adriana Lima, on the other hand, walked her 21st show at 45 years old.

Los Angeles lived up to its "city of angels" nickname over the weekend.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show went to the West Coast this year and was hosted at Sony Pictures Studios on Sunday night. Gigi Hadid, Candice Swanepoel, and other iconic models all hit the runway.

Of course, there were lots of lingerie and athleisure looks on the red carpet, too.

Still, you might not have caught some of the night's best details — like the significance of certain outfits and the celebrities who made surprise appearances.

Here's what you might have missed.

Kylie Jenner modeled the 2026 Fantasy Bra, which is worth $50 million and features zero fabric.

For the first time since 2018, Victoria's Secret sent a Fantasy Bra down the runway at its famed fashion show.

It collaborated with jewelers Jacob and Co. to create the one-of-a-kind piece, which took over 1,000 hours and 15 artisans to make.

On Instagram, Jacob and Co. said the bra features 4,410 diamonds totaling 1,373 carats. One of those is the brand's 75.54-carat natural Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond, which hangs in the middle of the bra.

It's valued at $50 million, which makes it the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever shown on the Victoria's Secret runway.

It was also a massive surprise that Jenner, 29, who never previously walked for Victoria's Secret, had the honor of wearing the special piece. It's usually reserved for veteran models of the show.

Barbara Palvin walked the runway six weeks postpartum.

Palvin walked her fifth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Sunday — and it was one of her most impressive appearances.

The 33-year-old model delivered her first child, a son, six weeks earlier, as she and her husband Dylan Sprouse announced on Instagram in September.

Backstage at the show, Palvin told People that it was "empowering" to walk the runway, but also "not that big of a deal."

"I'm going to be six weeks postpartum tomorrow, which I think in the US most people have to go back after six weeks," she told the publication.

It's also not the first time Palvin has walked the runway after a major health event. In 2025, her husband revealed that she'd broken her foot four weeks earlier and still walked the runway in heels.

Dylan Sprouse cheered Palvin on from the audience.

The former "Suite Life of Zack and Cody" actor, who married Palvin in 2023, was seen in videos applauding and cheering for his wife as she walked the runway.

He's made memorable appearances at past Victoria's Secret shows as well, including one time in 2018 when he brought burgers to the model backstage after the show.

Adriana Lima made history by walking in her 21st Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

You couldn't miss Lima as she walked the runway in a lime-green, lace one-piece with a plunging neckline and waist cutouts. She also wore green sandals, jewelry, and a pink floral back piece.

The 45-year-old model first walked for the brand in 1999 and was named an Angel in 2000. She's since walked while pregnant, and in three different Fantasy Bras.

Though she technically retired from the show in 2018, Lima returned when the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show made its comeback in 2024.

Elsa Hosk wore the night's biggest Angel wings.

Hosk, 37, stepped onto the runway wearing a sheer, beige bodysuit and massive Angel wings made from brown feathers and flowing gold fabric.

On Instagram, the model confirmed they were the biggest wings worn on the 2026 runway.

"Thank you for trusting me and letting this new mama walk with the most gorgeous and biggest wings of the show," she wrote across an Instagram story.

Hosk gave birth to her second child, a daughter, at the end of July.

• Anthropic said it has been hiring a smaller number of junior technical positions.
• Entry-level hires in technical departments fell from 27% to 9%, the AI company said.
• AI agents have spread across the firm to write code, fix bugs, and handle other tasks.

Anthropic's own data offers a stark warning for entry-level tech employees in an AI-heavy workplace.

The company behind the AI chatbot Claude said in a newly released internal report that it has been hiring for a "smaller share of junior technical positions" as AI agents have been deployed across the firm to write code, fix bugs, and handle other tasks.

By August, Anthropic said its interactive AI agents were logging six hours of work for every hour a human employee logged.

A chart published in the new report titled "How Employment is Changing at Anthropic" shows that junior workers made up 27% of hires in technical departments at the company in early 2025. By June of this year, that number had plummeted to 9%.

The share of junior-level workers in technical departments had also declined over the same period from 21% to 14%, while open roles for junior positions slid to 6% after topping 20% late last year, the chart shows.

That downward trend was less pronounced in non-technical departments, where hiring of junior workers fell from 31% to 26% over the same timeframe, while their share of head count rose from 23% to 25%. Junior job openings in non-technical departments, meanwhile, dropped from 31% to 13%.

Anthropic said the changes came as AI usage inside the company rapidly expanded.

"As AI agents diffused through the company, Anthropic began producing more code per person, closing more sales per rep, and processing more contracts," the report said. "Following the same employee over time, output rose as they adopted new AI tools."

It added, "We find that even as the company grows, relative hiring in junior technical positions has slowed. Productivity for both engineers and non-technical employees has leapt up and did so sharply when they adopted coding agents."

The findings land as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has emerged as one of the tech industry's most prominent voices on how AI could disrupt jobs.

Amodei has repeatedly said that AI may eliminate up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs over the next several years.

"We, as the producers of this technology, have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what is coming," Amodei said in an interview last year.

• At 55, I thought I would have already figured out where I want to retire in the next few years.
• Instead, I've been living out of suitcases and housesitting in different places to see what I like.
• I still don't know where I will retire, but I do have a much better idea of what I want — and don't.

I always thought I'd be settled somewhere for good by age 55, with a comfortable home, established garden, and chest freezer in the garage.

But after growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, raising my kids in Seattle, and becoming an empty nester, I realized I had no idea where I wanted to settle down.

For the first time in more than 20 years, I suddenly had the freedom to choose where I wanted to live.

So at 52, I started housesitting in exchange for places to stay so I could travel without depleting my savings. I quickly realized how much I enjoyed the nomadic lifestyle and how this gave me the opportunity to test out places I might eventually want to live in.

After a few months, I liked it so much that I gave away almost everything I owned, put the rest in storage, and decided to do it full-time.

That was almost three years ago. Since then, I've lived in dozens of cities, towns, and remote islands, from northern Washington to the southeastern coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula.

Housesitting has changed my mind about what I thought I wanted

I typically stay in each home for two weeks to three months at a time, which allows me to get to know a new place without signing a lease, buying a house, or committing to a community.

Instead, I chat with locals, visit the library and grocery store, explore nearby nature trails, and try to imagine what it would be like to live there.

I ask myself a lot of questions: Can I tolerate this climate? Do I feel able to connect with this community? Could I live without whatever thing this place might be missing … which is sometimes as simple as my beloved Trader Joe's?

Throughout my stays, I've learned new things about myself and what I really want.

For example, I'd long pictured myself settling in a city since I've spent most of my life in major metropolitan areas.

So, I was thrilled to book a housesitting job right across the street from my old high school in San Francisco. I couldn't wait to walk the same streets I did in my youth and revisit my old haunts.

But the nostalgia wore off quickly, and a $105 street-cleaning ticket reminded me of the hassles of city life. I realized that a noisy, crowded, expensive city isn't where I want to settle after all.

These days, less traffic, more green space, and a slower pace feel more like my style.

After that stint in the city, I went to the other extreme and booked a multi-week housesit on a remote Pacific Northwest island where the closest grocery store was a ferry ride away — long enough to require ice packs and a cooler to get my frozen food home before it defrosted.

At first, I couldn't imagine staying there for more than a few weeks, but I quickly fell in love with the solitude and have returned several times.

I realized that being surrounded by water, going days without talking to another person, hearing owls hoot at night, and watching a mother deer and her fawn wander across the yard made the extra effort of island life worthwhile.

I was willing to plan errands around the ferry schedule and give up some of the conveniences I'd always taken for granted for that kind of peace.

Turns out, I'm more open to living in a remote place than I expected.

Now, I'm rethinking what it means to settle down — and if I'd even stay in the US

I'd also never even considered moving abroad until I booked a five-week housesitting gig for an American woman who had retired in La Paz, Mexico.

I felt inspired by my client's willingness to give up familiar comforts and conveniences to risk starting over in a new country in search of the life she wanted.

Although I'm not sure Mexico is where I want to settle, I loved my time in the Sonoran Desert and haven't ruled out retiring outside of the US. This experience helped me learn what living abroad was really like and realize I'm more capable of making that jump than I ever imagined if it's what I ultimately choose.

After trying out more than 50 locations in three years, I still don't know where I eventually want to retire. But I know I want to be somewhere I can walk in nature, enjoy some solitude without feeling isolated, and engage with a community when I'm ready for company.

Above all, I'm searching for a place that makes me feel at home — even when I'm visiting for the first time.

• Screenshots of Vinted listings circulating on social media show products being offered for a fraction of their retail prices.
• The suspected stolen merchandise was listed after looting in France.
• Vinted told The Telegraph it had taken immediate action to identify and remove listings connected to the violence.

Resale websites including Vinted have removed suspicious listings after they were flooded with apparently stolen goods in the wake of riots that swept across France.

Perfumes, designer handbags, cosmetics and even Pokémon cards have appeared on second-hand marketplaces following a weekend of violence that saw shops ransacked, The Telegraph — which, like Business Insider, is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network — reported.

Screenshots circulating on social media show products being offered for a fraction of their retail prices, including bags overflowing with Sephora cosmetics advertised for as little as €10 (£8.40).

The listings have triggered suspicions that looters are trying to sell stolen goods online. eBay and Vinted have removed some items and stepped up their monitoring of suspicious activity.

One advert on Vinted showed six Sephora lip glosses being sold for €15, while another offered six tubes of cleansing cream for just €12.

Sephora France sells comparable own-brand lip glosses for around €13 each, meaning six would ordinarily cost around €78.

Other listings included Christian Dior perfumes advertised for €250 and large quantities of make-up still in their original packaging.

In one case, Pokémon trading cards allegedly stolen from a shop in Lille were advertised on Vinted, with some still bearing their original price stickers.

Hundreds of cards were reportedly found scattered across streets in the northern French city after a fire at Le Coin des Barons, a shop specialising in collectable cards.

A trophy said to have been stolen from French e-sport club Team Vitality was advertised on eBay for €1,250.

The silver StarLadder Counter-Strike trophy was photographed against a graffiti-covered wall and listed under the title: "STOLEN RARE VITALITY CS2 TROPHÉE."

Team Vitality confirmed that its Paris premises had been looted during Saturday's unrest, with trophies and computer equipment stolen and display windows smashed.

The listings emerged as France struggled to contain some of its worst civil unrest in years, caused by anger over the cost of living and deteriorating public services.

More than half a million people joined demonstrations on Saturday, with violent clashes breaking out in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities.

French authorities said more than 2,400 people had been arrested by Sunday, while nearly 1,000 police officers were injured.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has stepped up powers to ban protests as he acknowledged intelligence "failures" over the riots.

The unrest has spread beyond France, with demonstrations about living costs and public spending also taking place in Belgium, Portugal and Italy.

French retailers have been left counting the cost, with supermarket giant Carrefour reporting damage to 50 stores, including 20 that were looted.

'We have zero tolerance for it'

Sephora closed its French stores on Saturday evening and kept them shut on Sunday after several branches were ransacked.

Vinted said it had taken immediate action to identify and remove listings connected to the violence.

A spokesman said: "The sale of stolen goods, or soliciting them, is strictly prohibited on Vinted, and we have zero tolerance for it."

The company said it had stepped up monitoring and would take action against offenders, including permanently banning accounts. It added that it was working with law enforcement and French authorities to identify suspicious sellers.

An eBay spokesman said: "The sale of stolen property is strictly prohibited on eBay."

The company said it used technology to identify suspicious activity and worked closely with police to investigate criminal behaviour.

The spokesman added: "If we receive confirmation from law enforcement that an item has been stolen, we remove it immediately and take action against the seller."

This story originally appeared on The Telegraph and is courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces, and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from Business Insider, POLITICO, The Telegraph, WELT, BILD, Onet, and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms.

• Prosecutors say an ex-OpenAI employee accused of planting a recording device appears to have received support from the Saudi government.
• A federal magistrate judge ruled on Monday that Abdulrahman Alfozan should remain in custody.
• Prosecutors said that Alfozan frequently communicated with a member of the Saudi Royal Family.

Federal prosecutors say that a former OpenAI employee accused of planting a recording device received "what appears to be considerable support from" the Saudi government.

Prosecutors made the disclosure in a motion to keep Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national and former OpenAI employee, in custody pending trial. US Magistrate Judge Alex G. Tse ruled on Monday that Alfozan should remain in custody.

Alfozan had been in contact as recently as October 5 with an unnamed member of the Saudi Royal Family, whom he frequently communicated with on WhatsApp over the last two years, prosecutors said.

"In May 2026, the individual told the defendant, 'Saudi needs you more then [sic] the US!' to which the defendant responded '100,"' indicating he agreed," prosecutors wrote.

The FBI arrested Alfozan on October 9. According to a criminal complaint, Alfozan planted a recording device in the back of a TV in an OpenAI conference room where sensitive discussions take place. OpenAI's security cameras caught Alfozan near the conference room on multiple occasions, despite his lack of authorization to the high-level meetings held there, prosecutors said.

"In the days surrounding the time period that the device was installed, OpenAI executives met with government officials in that very room," prosecutors wrote in a filing on Sunday. "Defendant's conduct could pose a danger to the national security of the United States."

The complaint included a photo of what prosecutors said was Alfozan peering behind the TV where the recording device was found.

In addition to his WhatsApp messaging, prosecutors wrote that an unnamed member of the Saudi military booked a flight for Alfozan's wife and son on October 11, despite an existing reservation for an October 12 flight, which prosecutors said was "paid for by the Saudi government."

Prosecutors also disclosed more information about Alfozan's alleged efforts to plant the device. According to the filing, Alfozan's iPhone had photos of "what appear to be the input/output panels on televisions and other electronic devices in various locations in OpenAI buildings."

Those locations, prosecutors wrote, included "another conference room where sensitive meetings frequently occurred."

Other files on the phone, including a note modified as recently as September 13, listed "Riyadh tasks" like "finding an apartment and a job for the defendant's wife, as well as obtaining an ID and a Saudi passport for his son," the filing said.

Another note titled "OpenAI leave" suggested that Alfozan "was planning an '[e]arly … pick up' of the devices he had installed or intended to install and then extending his planned parental 'leave to full.,'" prosecutors wrote.

As part of their reasons for requesting that the former OpenAI engineer remain in custody, prosecutors wrote that Alfozan's wife and son left the US without him and are now in Saudi Arabia. The filing also said "both of his parents and all (or all but one) of his siblings" are in Saudi Arabia.

In a separate filing, William Pernik, Alfozan's attorney, said that the former OpenAI engineer did not pose a flight risk.

"Mr. Alfozan was made aware of OpenAI finding the device per its own filings and OpenAI's public statements, approximately eight to ten days before he was arrested," Pernik wrote. "If his intention was to flee, he would have done so at that time."

Pernik said that prosecutors' previous disclosure that Alfozan had purchased a one-way ticket to Saudi Arabia lacked context.

"Seventy percent of the airline bookings in his email since January 2021 (96 of 138) were one-way tickets," Pernik wrote.

• France's cost-of-living protests descended into violence and looting over the weekend.
• Hundreds of thousands demonstrated amid growing anger over the cost of living and public services.
• From soaring energy prices to declining incomes, five figures help explain the unrest.

France's growing anger over the cost of living erupted into scenes of looting and violence over the weekend.

While most of the hundreds of thousands of people who demonstrated across the country did so peacefully, clashes broke out between police and some protesters, with officers firing tear gas.

The unrest began as student protests over worsening school conditions, but has since grown into a broader movement fueled by frustration over the unaffordability of life in France.

The financial pressures facing French households are familiar to Americans: surging energy prices, wages struggling to keep pace with inflation, and the difficulty of making ends meet.

Here are four numbers that help explain the financial frustrations driving the protests.

1. The poverty rate is at a 30-year high

INSEE defines monetary poverty as having a standard of living below 60% of the national median, adjusted for household size. In 2024, that threshold was €1,337 a month for someone living alone.

France's monetary poverty rate stood at 15.4% in 2024, its highest level since annual records began in 1996, according to INSEE data published in July. The figures are the latest available because calculating poverty rates requires detailed tax and benefits records, which take time to compile and analyze.

That means around 9.8 million people in mainland France were living below the poverty line.

2. Energy prices are up more than 60% since 2015

It's not just Americans who are grappling with rising energy costs.

Energy prices in France increased by more than 60% between 2015 and the first half of 2026, according to INSEE. Electricity prices rose 43% over that period, while fuel prices were 31% higher at the end of 2025 than in 2015.

As with much of the world, the war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz crisis sent fuel prices soaring. By April 2026, fuel prices in France were 30% higher than at the end of 2025, per the INSEE report.

Rising fuel costs were behind French protests in September, and members of that movement have joined students and trade unions in the riots over the past week.

3. Nearly 3 in 10 French people can't afford unexpected expenses

Data from Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency, shows that 28.8% of people in France lived in households that couldn't afford an unexpected expense without borrowing or seeking financial help in 2025.

France isn't particularly unusual in the wider European context — the EU average was also around 29% — but the figures illustrate the financial insecurity facing almost a third of households as people protest over the cost of living.

4. More than 40% of French people experienced some difficulty making ends meet

More than four in 10 people in France (41.1%) lived in households that reported at least some difficulty making ends meet in 2025, according to Eurostat data.

Of those, 19.4% reported some difficulty, 13.7% reported difficulty, and 8% reported great difficulty, highlighting the widespread financial strain facing French households.

• As a sommelier, wine is my job — and sparkling wine is my favorite. Costco's a good place to get it.
• Costco has solid prosecco and cava, plus fancy vintage Champagne like Henriot
• There are also great sparkling wines from brands like Roederer Estate and Moët & Chandon.

I wasn't sure if my husband and I would be able to get the full value out of our Costco membership, but I was wrong.

Although not every location sells alcohol, our local Costco does — and I've found this bulk retailer has some of the best wine prices.

This comes in handy because, as a certified sommelier, I buy a lot of wine for tastings, events, and even my own collection. And every time I go to Costco, I seem to discover something new, whether it's a unique variety or an especially great deal.

Here are some of the best sparkling wines I've found at Costco so far.

Editor's Note: Prices and availability may vary.

The Kirkland Signature Prosecco feels like a steal.

Typically around $10 a bottle, Kirkland Signature's prosecco is one of the most affordable sparkling wines I've seen at Costco.

Don't let the price fool you, though. This wine is from the "Superiore" area of the Italian prosecco region, meaning the winemaking standards are higher.

The Kirkland Signature bottle is on the sweet side, and it's perfect for brunch mimosas.

Moët sells millions of bottles of its Champagne every year.

Moët & Chandon Champagne is probably the most iconic wine on this list.

As a sommelier, people often ask for a glass of Champagne whenever they want something fizzy. However, true Champagne has to be made in the Champagne region of France — trust me, it actually makes a difference.

The flavors are much more complex and layered than a standard sparkling wine. There's also something special and luxurious about Champagne.

This bottle is amazing on its own, but also shines with salty snacks such as potato chips, mixed nuts, and popcorn.

Kirkland Signature's Champagne is also hype-worthy.

You may not expect much from the Kirkland Signature brut Champagne, but it's hard to find another bottle like it.

It's true Champagne that I've typically seen for about $21 — it's rare to find a large bottle of the stuff at such a low price.

This variety is a little lighter and fresher than some Champagnes, but if that doesn't bother you, it's a total winner.

Roederer Estate makes a stunning $20 sparkler.

If regions don't matter to you, try this pick from Roederer Estate.

Some big Champagne brands purchase land and make Champagne-style sparkling wines worldwide. In this case, Louis Roederer bought property in Northern California's Anderson Valley.

Its sparkling brut is a delight and I've seen it for $20 to $30 a bottle. In comparison, the brand's true French Champagne goes for closer to $60 to $80.

I like the Californian Roederer Estate stuff so much that I served it at my own wedding.

If you've got Champagne taste on a beer budget, try cava.

Choosing cava is a great way to save money on sparkling wine.

The Spanish sparkler uses the same production method as Champagne but rarely costs more than $20 a bottle. Costco even has one from Blanchard Perez that I've seen for under $10.

Cava is generally dry, with little to no sweetness. I love serving it with appetizers and tapas.

I've also found solid sparkling rosés at Costco.

The only thing more on trend than sparkling wine is sparkling rosé, and Scharffenberger Cellars has a bottle for around $20 at Costco.

The affordable Californian wine is made from grapes grown in Mendocino County and has a cheerful effervescence.

It pairs well with light dishes such as salads, shrimp cocktail, and smoked salmon dips.

For when only fancy vintage Champagne will do, turn to Henriot.

I wanted to include one special, pricier wine on the list, and that spot went to the $150 bottle of Henriot I found at Costco.

It's a vintage Champagne, which means all the grapes were harvested in the same year.

Henriot has been around for over 200 years, and it's one of the few larger brands that's still independent and family-owned. For me, this Champagne hits all the marks for complexity, flavor, acid, and finish.

This story was originally published on February 19, 2025, and most recently updated on October 19, 2026.

• I was living with my boyfriend when we broke up, and he suggested that we stay roommates.
• After looking into my options, I realized that living together might be the best financial move.
• It was awkward at first, but acknowledging the situation and setting boundaries helped.

I met my ex in Spain, on a warm October night in 2024. He approached me as we were both walking home from a boxing class and confidently started a conversation.

About two weeks later, we went on our first date. A few months after that, we took our first weekend trip together. In April, he surprised me with a key to his home. By June, I'd moved in.

Our relationship was built on genuine care for one another. Throughout our relationship, we always sought to support each other's well-being and growth. Of course, we had bumps here and there, but they were never significant enough to change our respect for each other.

That's why, when we agreed to break up in August because we saw our lives going in different directions, I wasn't at all surprised that we found a way to continue living together.

We broke up, but I stayed at my ex's house

Under normal circumstances, I would've moved out as soon as possible. I've always believed that you can't start to heal from a breakup until you cut all ties and communication with your ex.

So, I bought the boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, started looking for apartments, and began packing.

But then two weeks later, I lost a freelance contract that contributed a significant portion to my income. This, coupled with the fact that I was already in the middle of a lengthy visa process to make Spain my long-term home, only added to the stress of going through a breakup.

Seeing the distress I was enduring, my ex sat me down and suggested that I continue to live with him until I was able to get back on my feet again.

My first thought was that people would think I was out of my mind for choosing to live with an ex. Then, I started weighing the pros and the cons.

If I stayed, housing would be one less thing I'd have to worry about … but every day, I would have to see someone I'd just broken up with. Worst of all, I'd have to treat my ex like a roommate, as if we didn't just spend the past two years in an affectionate relationship.

If I decided to move out, I wouldn't have to see my ex every day, and I could focus on healing my broken heart alone — but I'd be in a tough financial situation.

Unlike my ex — who's lenient and open to pulling some extra weight when I can't make rent or contribute 50/50 on utilities — I knew that a landlord wouldn't necessarily care about my personal situation once the first of the month rolled around.

I chose to keep living with him.

At first, there was an adjustment period

Those first few weeks were awkward. We'd already had separate bedrooms because of my ex's insomnia, but the changes to our routines and interactions felt foreign.

Instead of getting a text inviting me to come cuddle with him on Sunday mornings, my phone remained silent. Instead of getting ready and walking to the gym together in the afternoon, I started going in the morning.

Instead of sitting down to have dinner together, we ate at different times in different rooms. Whenever we saw each other, we would force a smile, say hi, and go our separate ways.

We didn't acknowledge the strangeness of our situation until one moment broke down the barrier. I was used to having crying sessions in my room, but this time, one snuck up on me while I sat in the living room. The stress of my breakup, finances, and living situation had just built up too much.

My ex was passing through the living room when he saw me crying and gently asked if he could give me a hug. I nodded.

This interaction prompted us to finally discuss the elephant in the room (well, house): Living with your ex is weird. Simply addressing the situation and talking about how we were both coping instantly made it feel a little bit lighter.

We found a new way to live together

What followed was a conversation about how we wanted living together to look like. We knew we were doing something unusual, which was daunting, but also meant we were free to make our own rules.

Our first decision was to stop acting like strangers. Barely acknowledging each other's existence just didn't work for us, so we welcomed a level of friendliness into our new relationship.

Then, we decided we'd continue offering each other a certain level of emotional support. My ex recently took a leave of absence from work to heal from burnout and contemplate his next career move.

Meanwhile, I was struggling to find full-time work and sustain the life I was building abroad. Being there for each other when one of us needed a listening ear felt important.

Lastly, we agreed not to cross any lines that would confuse the other person. We weren't in a romantic relationship anymore, so we decided that any affection beyond a friendly hug would be prohibited.

With this, our living situation went from something that felt unbearable to something that works for us. In the next few months, I plan to save enough from my freelance work to move out. Until then, I'm happy knowing I have a home, even if it's with my ex.

• I moved to the US from South Korea when I was five, but I've traveled back almost every year since.
• The country is so much more than just Seoul, its popular capital city.
• Some of my favorite lesser-known South Korean cities are Suwon, Incheon, and Gyeongju.

I was born in South Korea and moved to the United States when I was 5 years old. I've traveled back almost every year since.

Usually, when people ask me for South Korean travel recommendations, what they really want are ideas for things to do in Seoul.

I can understand why tourists flock to the capital city of South Korea: Seoul has culture, technology, tons of entertainment, and amazing fashion and cuisine.

However, if you ask me, you're missing out if you don't visit some of the other, lesser-known cities that contribute to South Korea's heartbeat.

Here are four of my favorite cities to visit in South Korea that aren't Seoul.

I always go the distance for Busan

About four hours south of Seoul lies Busan. Growing up, my family visited this city over the summer to swim, soak up the sun, and eat incredibly fresh seafood.

You don't have to treat Busan exclusively as a warm-weather getaway, though: My favorite time to visit Busan is actually in the fall, when the days are sunny and the nights are breezy with sea-salt air.

My favorite destination in Busan is Gamcheon Culture Village, a steep slope dotted with hundreds of colorfully painted homes.

During the Korean War, refugees first settled in this area. Later, Gamcheon was restored and enhanced with brightly colored exterior paint to attract tourism.

Today, Gamcheon Village stands as a beloved landmark in Busan, where visitors can get lost in the twisted alleyways and enjoy stunning views overlooking the hilly scenery.

I also strongly recommend that anyone who visits Busan dedicate one morning to waking up early and watching the sunrise over Haeundae Beach.

In my opinion, the view alone can wash away any negative feelings, even for a brief moment.

When you're in Busan, don't forget to check out the Jagalchi Market for excellent fish and the Nampo-dong Food Alley for the best street food.

Suwon is a chill day trip from Seoul

If you want to stay in Seoul for most of your trip but crave an easy day trip with a laid-back vibe, Suwon is your answer. Whenever I take the hour-and-a-half-long bus trip, excitement brews in my stomach.

The main attraction of this very chill city is the Hwaseong Fortress, a towering stone-and-brick fortress that passes through the center of Suwon. It was built in the 18th century to protect the city, and in 1997, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

I love to walk the length of the fortress — because of the lack of high-rise buildings, it's an excellent way to take in the city's scenery, which includes a mix of traditional houses, cozy little cottages, and low-rise industrial buildings.

Running along the length of the historical site, the city has many unassuming, cute cafés where you can get delicious coffee drinks and desserts.

It's nice to sit down outside one of them and lose track of time, soaking up the beautiful street art that paints the alleyways of Suwon.

Gyeongju is rich with history

Once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju is filled with landmarks that bring the country's deep history to life.

From the grand Bulguksa Temple and the mystical Seokguram Grotto to the ancient royal tombs scattered throughout Tumuli Park, the city offers a rare glimpse into Korea's royal past and Buddhist origins.

Strolling through Gyeongju, especially in the later hours of the day, immerses you in a peaceful blend of quiet ponds and lantern-lit walkways.

You can't leave Gyeongju without trying Hwangnam-ppang, a small soft pastry filled with sweet red-bean filling. This treat is a local specialty of Gyeongju — so much so that locals and visitors refer to it as Gyeongju bread.

You can find this treat at various food shops and vendors throughout the city.

Incheon is more than just an airport hub

Anyone who flies into South Korea will instantly recognize Incheon, at least by name. It is home to the country's largest international airport.

Long before the airport's creation in 2001, though, there was the Incheon port through which goods from China arrived and were sold.

The port also paved the way for the establishment of Incheon's Chinatown, where the blend of Chinese and Korean flavors endures in the neighborhood's small slew of standout restaurants.

I recommend taking a walk through the streets and alleyways of the neighborhood while munching on street food. I'm personally partial to the giant fried dumplings and tanghulu, or skewers of sugar-coated fruit, that I've enjoyed there.

If you have a chance, enjoy a sit-down meal of jjajangmyeon, a Chinese-Korean black bean noodle dish, and soak up some of the bustling area's history and culture.

This story was originally published on December 24, 2025, and most recently updated on October 19, 2026.