Month: September 2025

• European airports are warning of delays and cancellations following a “cyberattack.”
• Brussels Airport said an attack had targeted a service provider for check-in and boarding systems.
• London’s Heathrow Airport and Berlin Brandenburg Airport have also reported issues.

Several major European airports are warning of delays and cancellations on Saturday after a “cyberattack” affected check-in and boarding systems.

Brussels Airport said in an update on its website that a “cyberattack” on Friday night had hit a service provider for check-in and boarding systems, “affecting several European airports.”

“This means that at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible,” it said.

In a post on X, London’s Heathrow Airport said that service provider Collins Aerospace “is experiencing a technical issue” that could lead to delays for departing passengers.

“While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling,” it added.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has also reported “longer waiting times at check-in.”

Collins Aerospace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• Reid Hoffman says he pays for max subscriptions across all AI tools.
• The LinkedIn cofounder says he often takes an initial prompt and then feeds it to multiple agents.
• Hoffman’s AI hack illustrates the wide range of the AI market.

Reid Hoffman’s personal AI hack is quite simple: Use everything.

“I simply do the max subscription across all of them and frequently when I’m doing something I’ve actually already put on running — and now it’s the Open AI open-source model on my laptop to front end to parsing it out to multiple agents,” Hoffman said during a recent episode of “Moonshots with Peter Diamandis.”

Datasage cofounder Dave Blundin, who joins Diamandis on the podcast, asked Hoffman if, as a Microsoft board member, he receives any special perks like dedicated GPUs. Hoffman was on OpenAI‘s board until 2023, when he stepped down to avoid conflicts with other AI investments.

Hoffman said he doesn’t, but instead relies on his max subscription approach to meet his AI needs.

“Run it on ChatGPT, run it on Copilot, run it on Gemini, run it on Claude, and then integrating what comes back on anything that is kind of more substantive,” he said.

It still isn’t everything, Hoffman said.

“I’ve got the personal hack, but not the personal cloud.”

Hoffman has previously said he uses AI deep research once a day. He’s also using AI to make sure he’s asking the right question.

“My first prompt is, ‘Give me the deep research prompt that will solve these or target these kinds of things.’ And then, so I write in a paragraph or speak in a paragraph, then it comes back with a page and a half, then I edit it, and then I submit it. And that’s the prompt that I’m beginning to drive and work off of.”

Hoffman, a venture capitalist who cofounded LinkedIn, is outspoken on some of his AI views. He just published a book with journalist Greg Beato titled “Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future.” Hoffman has even gone so far as to use AI to help create a “deepfake twin” to explore deepfake tech.

Replicating Hoffman’s AI hack doesn’t come cheap.

The top-tier, pro-level subscriptions to the leading AI assistants cost at least $100 a month. ChatGPT Pro is $200. Google’s Gemini, without promotional pricing, is $249.99 a month. All told, Hoffman could be spending at least $650 monthly, not including the cost for Microsoft’s Copilot, which is $99 a year, plus the cost of an Office 365 license.

Then again, Forbes estimates Hoffman is worth $2.5 billion.

• This fall, people are showing their status with chunky bags, high-neck jackets, and expensive jeans.
• Some of the latter pieces are especially reminiscent of styles from the early 2000s.
• Luxury cookware and designer candles are also having a moment.

Pumpkin spice lattes aren’t the only stars of fall this year.

Designer jackets, expensive jeans, and statement candles will also be in the spotlight throughout the 2025 autumn season.

In appearance alone, these items evoke style and taste. And thanks to their high price tags, they also showcase affluence.

Here are the luxury items you might want to add to your home and wardrobe as the leaves start to fall.

The sunglasses you’ll see every man wearing cost between $800 and $2,000.

You might think sunglasses are a summer accessory. Generally, that’s true.

But if you wear Jacques Marie Mage, you know they’re not exclusive to one season.

The California label is the go-to brand for fashion fans, business people, and celebrities looking to enhance their everyday looks with statement shades.

Each pair costs upward of $800 and is said to be made with quality craftsmanship, bold design, and vintage flair.

Lyst reported in its 2025 Q2 Index that the designer brand experienced a 34% increase in demand between May and June, and the social-media buzz has only continued to grow since then.

If you need new jeans this year, you might want to consider those from Agolde.

Agolde makes jeans for everyone, but a few groups are especially fond of the designer denim. Successful women swear by them for casual days at work, and influencers have been raving about the brand online for months.

Each pair costs between $198 and $298, with dozens of designs and colorways available. Of course, they’re not the most expensive jeans on the market — but it’s not the price tag that makes them stand out. Instead, it’s the quality.

Fans say Agolde jeans are flattering, comfortable, and modern. Many have included the brand in their autumn fashion videos on TikTok, recommending its jeans as the ones “you need to be wearing for fall.”

The shoe of the season is a mix between ballet flats and sneakers.

Gen Z brought ballet flats back in fall 2023. Then, thin sneakers took over last year.

What happens when you mix the two together? Ballerina sneakers, or sneakerinas, as some fans call them.

The footwear typically has rubber soles like tennis shoes, rounded toes reminiscent of flats, and lace or ribbon that evokes the ballet-core aesthetic.

Brands like JW Pei, Asics, Puma, and Ecco have recently embraced the style, releasing shoes that cost between $80 and $130 per pair.

But if you really want to stand out in style, you should go the designer route. Hermès’ version costs $990, and Miu Miu’s suede ballerina sneakers cost $1,020.

There’s no fall jacket quite like those from Bode.

If your TikTok is filled with fashion videos, you’ve likely seen more than a few focused on Bode’s Senior Cord jackets. The corduroy pieces have become widely coveted around the world.

Each piece is custom-made for customers who have answered thorough surveys about their favorite things, meaningful moments in their lives, and more.

No two jackets are alike, making them highly exclusive and deeply personal. At $2,100, they’re also pricey, signaling an investment made in fashion.

Though people find ways to wear them all year, fall is the ideal time to show them off.

The early 2000s are back in the form of accessories.

When Chloé sent models down its Fall/Winter 2025-2026 runway in March, many were seen wearing high-neck jackets and carrying wide purses with flashy hardware.

Now, shoppers can’t get enough of the styles. The designer brand’s Paddington bag, which was first released in 2005, is seeing the biggest resurgence.

Some Gen Z shoppers are carrying the $2,750 revamped versions, while others are seeking out the originals, which have skyrocketed in price on resale platforms since the runway show.

Equally trendy are Chloé’s high-neck jackets, which retail between $2,890 and $5,790. Some styles, including the $5,790 option, have already sold out.

Candles look as good as they smell this year.

Searches for “fall candles” spiked on September 1, and platforms like TikTok have quickly become inundated with videos about the best scent options for autumn.

Everyone has different recommendations, but many of them have one thing in common: stunning presentation.

Massive candles in decorative glass jars, like the $122 ones from Anthropologie and the $385 options from Baobab Collection, are becoming home statement pieces.

They’re classic, chic, and the complete opposite of the novelty candles that took off between 2023 and 2024.

With another season comes another trendy Le Creuset piece.

Le Creuset cookware is a consistent symbol of wealth in any kitchen.

For the fall specifically, though, pumpkin-shaped dishes from the brand’s Harvest Line will get you extra attention.

Searches for “Le Creuset Pumpkin” soared at the end of August, and social posts that show people unboxing the pots have garnered millions of views in recent weeks.

The $425 Signature Pumpkin Cocotte is especially popular. The shade Flamme Doree has already sold out.

Warsaw – Polish and allied aircraft took off early Saturday to secure Polish airspace, following Russia’s airstrikes on western Ukraine near the Polish border, according to NATO member Poland’s armed forces, reports 24brussels.

The operational command confirmed a heightened readiness, stating, “Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness.”

As a result of Russian missile and drone threats, nearly all of Ukraine experienced air raid alerts throughout its territory. In response, Polish and allied air forces conducted operations to prevent further attacks and ensure the security of airspace following the cessation of Russian airstrikes.

Additionally, Russian military jets intruded into Estonian airspace on Friday, prompting accusations of an “unprecedentedly brazen” breach by the Estonian government. This incident is part of an escalating pattern of Russian military provocations that have heightened anxieties within the NATO alliance.

How did the Russian MiG-31 fighters enter Estonian airspace?

Three Russian MiG-31 fighters unlawfully entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday. In response, Italian F-35 fighters, part of NATO’s air defence mission in the Baltic, were deployed to intercept the Russian jets and issue a warning, according to officials from both Estonia and Italy. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte commended the prompt and resolute action taken by allied forces.

Why does Russia deny violating Estonian sovereign airspace?

Russia’s defence ministry refuted claims of violating Estonian airspace, asserting that the MiG-31 jets were conducting a “scheduled flight in strict compliance with international airspace regulations” and did not breach any borders, as verified by objective monitoring.

When did Russian drones violate Poland airspace?

In a related context, a week prior, numerous Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that any drones posing a direct threat were eliminated and characterized the incident as “an act of aggression.” He noted that this marked the first instance of an alliance member responding with gunfire in the ongoing conflict. Polish forces reported tracking over ten objects, with those presenting a threat neutralized accordingly.

• Ashley Jablow is a career coach who helps mid-career professionals navigate career transitions.
• She says clients may feel stuck due to financial obligations and caregiving responsibilities.
• Her four-step process includes self-discovery, iterative action, and more.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ashley Jablow, a 44-year-old career coach based in Richmond, Virginia. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

Most clients come to me because they feel stuck in their careers. They’ve picked up their heads at 30, 40, 50, or beyond and realized that the life and career they chose for themself at 20 no longer fulfills them.

As a career coach who helps mid- and senior-career professionals navigate career transitions, I see that these changes later in life aren’t always as easy as they might be if done earlier. Many of my clients have constraints and existing structures created by financial obligation, caregiving responsibilities, existing careers, and more.

My job is to help people clarify what they want and take actionable steps toward achieving their goals. These are the four steps I take my clients through who want to pivot their career after 40.

Step 1: Discover who you are right now

Although your instincts might be to rage-quit your current job or jump right into solution mode, it’s important to take a step back, open your field of vision, and get curious about who you are at this point in your life.

If asking deep, probing questions like, “Who am I?” is uncomfortable, you simply need to become curious about what topics you’re drawn to — what creates goosebumps and excitement.

I think a lot of mid-career folks don’t spend enough time feeding the fire within them and pursuing things simply because they excite or inspire them.

The purpose of this exercise isn’t to figure out your next career move but to ignite a curiosity and sense of wonder about what makes you who you are. For example, I love stationery supplies like pens, brushes, and notebooks. That doesn’t necessarily mean I should become a stationery designer.

The discovery phase is also about looking outside ourselves and seeing what we’ve missed while existing in our insulated bubbles. For example, look at how the job market has changed and how recent advancements, like AI, might change the opportunities that are available to you.

Step 2: Define your constraints

Next, it’s time to pause and set parameters for the rest of your brainstorming. Consider dealbreakers, criteria for success, and current constraints such as location, salary, time commitment, etc.

Though it may feel like your existing life structures constrain you, I see identifying constraints as a helpful tool for acknowledging your reality and setting criteria accordingly.

Step 3: Imagine your dream life

Using your imagination will be your greatest tool for coming up with creative solutions to your constraints.

This phase is all about being broad and exploratory. We should ask ourselves, “If I had a magic wand, where would I go, and what would my life look like?”

This can involve making a vision board or writing a vivid depiction of your future. Imagination isn’t just for five-year-olds on the playground, and it’s one of the most underutilized tools for creative problem-solving.

Step 4: Iterate to reach your goal

Once you’ve considered your near-term constraints and long-term vision, you might identify a potential goal or area of interest.

For example, a client might decide to quit their job and go to business school. But rather than taking radical action, I’d advise them to consider the smallest, fastest, and cheapest ways they could test if this is a worthwhile decision. This is what I call iterative action.

They could speak to a peer who went to business school and ask them questions about their experience, buy an “Economics for Dummies” book to see if the topics interest them, or even sign up for an online course, like an MBA crash course, to get a sense of what it might be like.

The cool thing about taking iterative action is that the more we take small steps, the more we learn about ourselves, and the less risky a career pivot becomes. We might even find that we’re building confidence in our ability to make good decisions and follow through on our goals.

Do you have a story to tell about changing careers after 40? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mike Plummer, an 81-year-old REI employee in Jacksonville, Florida. Business Insider has verified Plummer’s current employment. He has worked at REI for 13 years. Plummer does not work out of financial necessity, but doesn’t have any plans to retire soon. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I look back and sometimes think maybe I shouldn’t have left corporate so soon, but I took a buyout, left at 55, and I don’t regret it.

I just turned 81, and in two years, I’ll hit my 15-year mark with REI, a national retail chain that sells outdoor gear and apparel. This is a motivator. My wife is 74 and still works part-time, too. We’re financially in a position where we don’t need to keep working, but we have no real plans to retire fully.

We both get asked a lot, “Why are you still working? You don’t need the money.” But in your 70s and 80s, friends are dying or have medical issues, and you lose that social connection. I work because I have to keep moving, building connections, and engaging with new things.

I’ve been working almost all of my life

When I was about 8, I started helping out at my dad’s convenience store, where we lived in the back. Then, in high school, I worked at a grocery store in the meat market with the butcher, cutting chicken heads. Since I had to pay for college myself, I went as a co-op student and studied engineering.

At my first job, the company would pay for graduate school if I could get in. I got two master’s degrees from New York University, the first in engineering in 1969. But after two years in mechanical engineering, I didn’t think that was going to be my area, so I got my second master’s in operational research in 1971.

I worked in various analytic and management-type roles, and then, in the 1980s, I worked for a couple of years at a startup company. It was a fun time, and it got me interested in the organizational side of business. Starting in 1990, I went to work for a credit card company.

In 1996, I did the same type of program at the credit card company and got a third master’s, this time in organizational development and change from Pepperdine University. I retired as the assistant vice president of training and development in 1999 and left to start working with my wife at her HR consulting company.

My mom inspired me to keep working

After my dad died, my mom was really bored, so she got a job at McDonald’s for about five years in her late 70s.

Besides working with my wife in her consulting business, I also taught a graduate course in organizational development at Webster University from 2005 to 2020. Before REI, I fiddled around with other part-time jobs. I worked for a couple of years at a cruise terminal as a check-in agent because I liked the idea of it, and I was a golf ranger for a year or two.

REI gives employee discounts, and I was motivated at first because I love biking. I started out working on the floor in other departments, but I always wanted to move toward the biking area. I’m now in the action sports department, which includes kayaking, hiking, and biking.

I like interacting with people and stocking and organizing my section. Last year, I won REI’s highest employee honor, the Anderson Award. I worked about 24 hours a week until I cut my hours back two years ago. Now, I only work two days a week, usually from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It helps me stay active and engaged, have a purpose, and connect with friends. I look forward to working at REI with young people and a very diverse group.

When I started, I was the only person over 65 at my store, but now there are about 4 or 5 of us older employees

We call ourselves the Silverbacks. One of the guys is into social connections, and he’s really good at helping young people and mentoring them. One woman is a retired Navy captain who works in the bike shop.

In 2019, I decided to design a survey for my store about joy levels at work on my own. The older people were happier in their jobs and in their lives, and less interested in getting promotions. They had found something that they liked and were good at.

Three years ago, my store manager told me about this author who wrote a book about the secrets of aging well. She encouraged me to see if he could do a talk at our store. Six months later, I got him to do a workshop at four stores in Florida, including ours.

We don’t need my paycheck to keep up with our lifestyle, but I don’t have any plans to retire soon

When I started with REI, I set up a separate account to deposit my earnings. I now make $18 an hour, but when I started, it was only $9 or $10. I made around $7,700 last year, and REI automatically enrolls you in the 401(k) program, which it matches.

I’ll use my paycheck to buy fun stuff from REI or anywhere else. My wife and I both receive pensions from our former employers and Social Security, and take a 4% annual withdrawal from our 30-year 401 (k)s. We expect to continue receiving $40,000 a year from my wife’s HR consulting business until she retires.

My son and I like going to watch horror movies together, and I use my check to pay for those tickets. Now that I’m not making that much since I cut my hours, I’m a little more careful with what I spend.

I’m trying to stick it out for at least two more years to hit the 15-year mark, and maybe more, before I leave REI. My doctor says I’m healthy, but I’m at an age where I could have a major health problem at any time. I enjoy working there, but I’m trying to focus on living the best life I can.