Financial Times: PitchBook: defense tech companies making drones, battlefield AI, and more have raised $12.3B across 175 deals YTD, up from a $9.95B total from 158 deals in 2025  —  Funding this year has already surpassed 2025 total as soaring valuations fuel fears of a hype cycle

Mach's approach differs sharply from some of its peers.

Luz Ding / Bloomberg: Tencent starts testing the new Xiaowei AI assistant powered by WeLM and DeepSeek models in its WeChat app in China, in an effort to catch up in the AI race  —  Tencent Holdings Ltd. has started testing a new AI assistant for WeChat as part of its efforts to catch up with peers in China's white-hot artificial intelligence race.

Dakin Campbell / The Information: Source: Morgan Stanley is pitching data center developers to use leveraged loans rather than bonds, and estimates ~$15B will be issued this year in such loans  —  Morgan Stanley, one of the most active banks in financing data center developers, is now pitching some of those same clients …

Mila Kunis says she doesn't want her marriage to Ashton Kutcher to stop evolving. Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images Mila Kunis says knowing Ashton Kutcher since her teens has made their marriage easier. That's because they both already knew "the good, the bad, the ugly" about each other, she said. Moreover, their long history has given them confidence that they can continue evolving together. Mila Kunis says years of growing up together taught her and Ashton Kutcher to embrace change in their relationship. During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show" on Sunday, Kunis said reconnecting with Ashton Kutcher in her late 20s came with a unique advantage: They already knew each other's history. The pair first met while starring on "That '70s Show" as teenagers. As a result, neither had to explain how they had changed over the years. "He knew me through all of them, and I knew him through all of it, through like the good, the bad, the ugly, you know, and vice versa," Kunis told host Drew Barrymore. "So, when we reconnected, there was no getting to know each other, but let me tell you all these hidden secrets. Let me tell you about all my baggage." There was "nothing to hide" between them, she added. "Our fundamentals, our foundation, everything is built on respect because we've known each other since I was 14 and he was 19," Kunis said. After reconnecting, Kunis and Kutcher married in 2015. They have two kids together. She added that knowing each other for so long has made it easier to embrace change within their relationship. "It's seeing that people can grow and evolve. It's also just knowing that at all moments in our lives we will be able to grow together because we already have," Kunis said. She doesn't worry about whether Kutcher will like the person she's becoming, she said: "He's not going to go, 'Well, that's not the person I married.' He'll be like, 'OK, let's go for a ride.'" Kunis is not alone in that view. Other celebrities have also said that long-term relationships require accepting that a partner will not always be perfect — or stay exactly the same. Goldie Hawn has said that while she and Kurt Russell don't love everything about each other, they don't view those differences as dealbreakers. "Why is that a reason to break up? Why is that a reason to say this isn't working?" Hawn said. Seth Rogen has said that the key to his 15-year marriage is accepting that people change. "Sometimes your partner changes with you, and you have several relationships with the same person that have new parameters, new boundaries, and new guidelines that are reflective of who you are as you become different people," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider

Sydney Morning Herald: WiseTech's shares fell 11% after Australian police probed co-founder Richard White over sex exploitation claims; WiseTech shares are down ~67% in the past year  —  Federal police are investigating billionaire businessman Richard White over claims he exploited a woman's immigration status …

Courtesy of Silverwood Silverwood offers affordable housing with homes starting at $400k and a unique kindness pledge. Silverwood's first residents, including families and retirees, moved in during the summer of 2025. Silverwood plans to build homes, schools, and parks to foster a diverse community. Amid an exodus of outpriced Californians fleeing the Golden State in search of affordable housing and intentional community, a sprawling neighborhood development in the heart of the Inland Empire is aiming to keep them home and inject a multibillion-dollar boost into the local economy. The team behind Silverwood, a master-planned 9,000-acre residential community located in Hesperia, spent the last year generating buzz for its low-for-California home prices as well as its kindness pledge — a document that all residents are required to sign. "I can't tell you the number of times residents have stopped me and said how much they appreciate the idea and the way it is being lived out," John Ohanian, general manager of Silverwood, told Business Insider. "If this is our legacy at Silverwood, I will be so proud." The neighborhood has proved a popular alternative for Californians seeking greener pastures. Silverwood sold more than 40 homes in its first two weeks after officially opening in April 2025, Ohanian said. Since then, sales have climbed to 225 properties as of June 2026. "The first year was a success," Ohanian said. "We had strong community engagement, experienced strong buyer interest, and made our place despite no softening in the mortgage market and general economic ups and downs." Courtesy of Silverwood The development team estimates that 300 families will call Silverwood home by the end of the year. Ohanian said the neighborhood aims to add 500-700 households a year thereafter, totaling more than 15,000 homes over the life of the project. There are also school sites, three fire stations, 380 acres of park space, and more than 160 miles of trails. A community grounded in kindness Ohanian had been eyeing the land on which Silverwood now sits for years before purchasing it in 2012. He and his team spent more than a decade planning, designing, and eventually building the development. "This property is surrounded by the mountains. You can see Big Bear on one side and a lovely panorama of mountains on the other," he told Business Insider. "It wants to be an outdoor lifestyle kind of community." Ohanian said the team wanted to create the kind of small-town California neighborhood that he remembers from his own childhood. Inspired by former Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait's kindness campaign, Ohanian instituted a pledge encouraging residents to foster empathy, acceptance, and tolerance, which all Silverwood employees, partners, subcontractors, and residents must sign to be part of the community. Mother-and-daughter residents Tracy Smith and Clair Mattig-Smith moved into the neighborhood in November and said they immediately started seeing the kindness pledge in action. "My mom and I decided to buy gifts for all the neighbors on our street during the holidays," Mattig-Smith told Business Insider. "We dropped them off, and then three days later, all our neighbors did the same. We started a trend." An affordable and accessible oasis Between 2024 and 2025, about 216,000 Californians left the state, according to California Department of Finance data, with several people citing rising costs as their driving reason. Housing prices, in particular, have driven scores of native Californians from their home to states like Texas, Arizona, and Florida. That exodus was on Ohanian's mind as he oversaw the development of Silverwood. Houses in the community start in the $400,000s and go up to nearly $800,000s. Courtesy of Silverwood "There hasn't really been an opportunity for people like this," Ohanian said of Silverwood's affordable home prices. "Californians feel like they can go to Texas and pay $400,000 for a house or go to Orange County and pay $1 million." "In bringing a product to market that's desirable in price point, we hope we'll get people to start thinking about what California used to be like," he added. The mix of affordability and intentional community is what sparked Mattig-Smith's interest in Silverwood last year. The 42-year-old mother of four had been planning to move her household, including her 67-year-old mother, Smith, from Apple Valley, California, to Texas in search of a lower cost of living and a stronger sense of community. "I feel like life in general is a little slower in Texas," Mattig-Smith told Business Insider. "It seems like there's more community, and people actually know their neighbors." Cultivating a California community Silverwood's builders are conscientious about building a community that reflects California's unique makeup, Ohanian said. "We would love it to be a community that's pretty diverse in terms of ethnicity," he told Business Insider. "We generally believe that leads to a better fabric for life." Thus far, Silverwood residents include many young families with young kids, as well as several retirees and Valley transplants, Ohanian said. Smith said she loves to sit on her front porch and watch the different families and residents who have become her neighbors, including retired couples, young families, and other multi-generational households. Several builders partnering with the community offer multi-gen products, such as houses with outdoor casitas or internal apartments. The focus on multi-gen living was another draw for Mattig-Smith and her mother. "The idea of having a multigenerational homefront where we're all together was so nice. It's amazing to watch my grandkids grow from babies into adulthood," Smith told Business Insider. Ohanian said a couple of families have bought houses in Silverwood right next door to one another. Watching the first residents moving in was a full-circle moment. "It was almost 13 years since we purchased the land before we finally got to greet our first residents," Ohanian said. Silverwood held a summer celebration last June for everyone who had bought a home, gathering new residents on the village green to start cultivating the community right away. Smith attended the get-together and said she was greeted with nothing but friendly smiles. "I went and introduced myself to several people who have already bought or are on the waiting list to buy," she said. "Kids were running around playing with their parents, there were families, and older couples. It was so lovely." Read the original article on Business Insider

Dog-sitting brings Jennifer Martinez the bulk of her side gig income Jennifer Martinez Jennifer Martinez, a product manager in NYC, said she began feeling a financial pinch a few years ago. She started side hustling and now does dog-sitting, ceramics, content creation, and consulting. She said it's made her more confused about how she wants her career to progress. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Martinez, a 35-year-old product manager based in New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity. I've worked as a product manager at an AI startup in New York City since 2017, in a fully remote role that allows me to pursue several side gigs. Like many other people in NYC, I've been feeling more financially stressed. My income has increased slightly over the years, but it hasn't kept pace with how much prices have gone up. About two years ago, I decided I wanted to feel a little less money-strapped, because I have financial goals. I'm in my 30s. I've always wanted to own a home and travel more. All of these things had started to feel increasingly out of reach. I started hearing more and more about layoffs, and I was not sure if my career would even exist in the future. I started seeing people around me getting laid off, and I thought I really needed some financial cushion. Dog sitting for the money My first experience with side hustles was dog-sitting in NYC two years ago, and it's still where I get the bulk of my side-hustle income. At first, I wondered whether I would encounter nightmare dogs that started eating my furniture or tried to bite me, but nothing like that ever happened. I have a dog at home for around 20 to 25 days a month, and I charge about $65 per night. I roughly earn about $1,000 monthly from dog sitting on Rover. Are you a side hustler? Do you use AI to help manage multiple workflows? Have you turned your side gig into your main job? We want to hear from you. Fill out this short form to share your story. It's helped me more than just financially. Because I dog-sit in my neighborhood, I've started meeting my neighbors, which has brought me closer to my local community. It also helps me stay healthy. Having dogs with me encourages me to go outside, especially during stressful times at work. There have been times when I've had back-to-back meetings all day and haven't been able to take a lunch break, and dog-sitting forces me to go for a walk in the middle of the day. It also gives me company, because remote work can get really lonely. Ceramics for the creative outlet Martinez said her ceramics side gig is more about mental health and a creative outlet. Jennifer Martinez I started doing ceramics during the pandemic. At the time, I was living in a house with nine people, and I needed a place outside the home and away from my roommates to avoid feeling suffocated. I took a ceramics course and joined a studio where I could come in and work on my pieces as I pleased. Ceramics helps me get away from my phone and calms me down. I love creating pieces with an earthy aesthetic, like the Cyclades Islands in Greece. They've all got this white-and-blue architecture, which is the vibe I'm into. I created an Etsy shop and tried selling pieces I was making. Over the last year, I've been making snack plates, and have sold about 15 plates for $60 each so far. I also create TikTok content about preventing burnout. All my side hustles are geared toward health and wellness, so I document them on social media. I've been surprised that I've gotten a lot of requests recently on LinkedIn for product consulting. I've taken some of those gigs and earned a few hundred dollars here and there. It's made me more confused I started side hustling to find answers about what would make me happier and what would help me feel less financially stressed or burned out. I struggle to find fulfillment in the ways I earn the majority of my income. I'm transitioning to another senior product management role to try something new and increase my job satisfaction. And I also struggle with not being able to earn income from the things that make me happier. My ultimate goal is still to turn one of my side hustles into a full-time job. Ideally, becoming a full-time ceramicist or having some kind of handmade art business would be my dream. But I'm not quite there yet. Side hustling has actually made me more confused. I thought I would have more clarity around the direction I want to go in, but because I'm experimenting with all of these things, I've realized there are a lot more possibilities. Read the original article on Business Insider

Henny Sender / Nikkei Asia: Sources: ByteDance shares are trading at a $600B+ valuation in gray markets; an IPO is unlikely and its growth continues to benefit its Chinese and US backers  —  Henny Sender is the founder and managing partner of Apsara Advisory, a strategic consultancy for financial services companies.

Wataru Suzuki / Nikkei Asia: China adds ten US companies, including MP Materials and Teal Drones, to export controls and bars government purchases from 46 US companies, including Anduril  —  BEIJING — China on Monday announced new restrictions on exports and government procurement targeting dozens of American companies …

Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena in "House of the Dragon." Theo Whiteman/HBO Rhaena Targaryen bonds with a wild dragon in "House of the Dragon" season three. In the original book, "Fire & Blood," the wild dragon is claimed by a character called Nettles. Here's what happens to Nettles in the book and how Rhaena's story was changed for the show. Warning: Spoilers ahead for the "House of the Dragon" season three premiere and the book "Fire & Blood." "House of the Dragon" season three opens with Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) face-to-face with a wild dragon. For many characters, this encounter would spell their end. In the "Game of Thrones" universe, dragons are vicious, volatile, and don't typically take well to strangers — especially a dragon like Sheepstealer, who's spent his life isolated from humans, feral and riderless. Instead of suffering a fiery death, however, Rhaena manages to bond with Sheepstealer. She climbs on his scaly back and becomes a dragonrider for the first time in her life. In season two, as Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) seeks new dragonriders to join her army, Rhaena is put forth as a potential option. After all, Rhaena's sister, Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), her mother, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), and father, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Damon), all successfully claimed dragons of their own (Moondancer, Vhagar, and Caraxes, respectively). Alas, Rhaenyra says, the last time her stepdaughter tried to claim a dragon, Rhaena nearly died in the attempt. Rhaena's bond with Sheepstealer will come as quite a shock to her family members — just as it surely will to book readers. In George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," the original inspiration for HBO's "House of the Dragon," Sheepstealer is claimed by a mysterious character named Nettles. Meanwhile, Rhaena meets a very different fate. Here's what happens to Nettles in the book, and how Rhaena's story was changed for the show. Nettles bonds with Sheepstealer in an unconventional way Rhaena confronts Sheepstealer in "House of the Dragon." HBO Before the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, it was accepted wisdom in Westeros that only trueborn Targaryens could be dragonriders. That changes when Rhaenyra recruits new dragonriders to strengthen her army. In the book, the plan is credited to her son Jacaerys (Harry Collett), the Prince of Dragonstone; he issues a call for bastards with Targaryen blood, known as "dragonseeds," promising riches and knighthood to anyone who claims a dragon. Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing — older dragons who'd previously been claimed by other riders — bond with Addam of Hull, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf the White, respectively. Sheepstealer, one of three wild dragons living on Dragonstone, poses a greater challenge. The "vicious, ill-tempered beast" kills many hopefuls and burns many more, including Addam's brother, Alyn, though he survives. The teenager Nettles, described as "cunning and persistent," takes an unconventional approach. Knowing that Sheepstealer has a taste for mutton, she kills a fresh sheep each morning and delivers it to the wild dragon, "until Sheepstealer learned to accept and expect her." It's unclear whether Nettles has any Targaryen ancestry, since she's "a bastard of uncertain birth" who grew up on the streets of Spicetown and Hull. Whoever she is, she becomes Sheepstealer's first and last rider. In the book, Nettles allies with Rhaenyra and forms a close relationship with Daemon Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." Theo Whitman / HBO Shortly after claiming Sheepstealer, Nettles pledges her dragon to Rhaenyra and fights for the future queen in the Battle of the Gullet, alongside Jacaerys and the other dragonseeds. While Ulf and Hugh seem to enjoy the bloodshed and relish their newfound power, Nettles does not. "She had flown with the others, fought as bravely, burned and killed as they had, but her face was black with smoke and streaked with tears when she returned to Dragonstone," the book reads. The dragonriders help Rhaenyra seize the Iron Throne from her half-brother. Later, Queen Rhaenyra sends her husband Daemon to find and kill her other half-brother, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Rhaenyra also sends Nettles to join Daemon's mission. Since Aemond's dragon Vhagar is the biggest and fiercest in the world, they will most likely need both Caraxes and Sheepstealer to bring her down. Using Maidenpool as their base, Daemon and Nettles spend months hunting Aemond to no avail. During this time, the two grow strangely close. The fictional historians in "Fire & Blood" speculate that Daemon and Nettles fell in love; the maester of Maidenpool says they had dinner together every night, and Daemon "doted upon the brown girl as a man might dote upon his daughter." (Interestingly, the character who replaces Nettles in the show is literally Daemon's daughter.) Before long, Rhaenyra is betrayed by Ulf and Hugh. Despite pledging fealty to the queen, it seems the dragonseeds have no loyalty toward Rhaenyra — only ambition for themselves. Shaken and paranoid, Rhaenyra sends word to Maidenpool that Nettles has been judged guilty of treason and must be executed. Instead of capturing the girl, however, Maidenpool's maester shows Daemon the letter. The next morning, Daemon helps Nettles escape on Sheepstealer, and they share a sorrowful goodbye: "Her cheeks were stained with tears," the maester says. After she flies away, neither Nettles nor Sheepstealer is ever seen again. Instead of returning to Dragonstone, as Rhaenyra requested in her letter, Daemon flies to Harrenhal. He tells the Lord of Maidenpool, "If my nephew Aemond dares face me, he shall find me there, alone." Rhaena doesn't claim a dragon in the book until much later Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena in "House of the Dragon." Theo Whiteman/HBO In the show, Rhaena is tasked with escorting Rhaenyra's three youngest sons to the Vale and protecting them from the war. She is also entrusted with three dragon eggs. Rhaenyra tells her stepdaughter, "Should all come to ruin here, you will bear our hope for the future." Still, Rhaena is hurt by the assignment. She knows that she's seen as less valuable to her family because she's not a dragonrider. Instead of escorting Rhaenyra's sons to their second safe location, she runs away and seeks Sheepstealer instead. In the book, however, Rhaena's path to becoming a dragonrider plays out differently. Although she is still desperate for a dragon, her own having died as a hatchling, she is committed to her charge. The book says she "prayed nightly" for one of the eggs to hatch. Rhaena remains in the Vale throughout the war, even after Rhaenyra's son Joffrey returns to his mother's side. Eventually, Rhaenyra is forced to flee King's Landing, and King Aegon II emerges from hiding to retake the Iron Throne. Still, the war does not end. Lady Jeyne Arryn assembles an army to march on King's Landing from the Vale, and Rhaena joins them — firepower in hand. One of her eggs had finally hatched, and Rhaena named the dragon Morning. Eammon Jacobs contributed to a previous version of this story. Read the original article on Business Insider

Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in "House of the Dragon" season two. Theo Whiteman / HBO "House of the Dragon" tells the story of the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons. To increase her odds in battle, Rhaenyra recruits "dragonseeds" as dragonriders in season two. Here's a list of all the new dragonriders who joined the ranks in seasons two and three. Warning: Spoilers ahead for the "House of the Dragon" season three premiere. As its title suggests, "House of the Dragon" focuses largely on the fabled dragonlords of Westeros. The HBO series is based on George R. R. Martin's fictional history book "Fire & Blood." It tells the story of the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, which fractured the family and decimated the dragon population. Flash forward about 170 years, when "Game of Thrones" begins: there are very few Targaryens left alive, and the dragons have already been extinct for generations. (That is, until Daenerys steps into that funeral pyre.) Legend has it that only members of House Targaryen, directly descended from the Blood of Old Valyria, are able to communicate and bond with dragons. In Martin's books, the ancient Valyrians believed they were literally related to dragons — and many Targaryens who ruled Westeros believed themselves to be closer to gods than men. However, in "House of the Dragon" season two, we see that merely a drop of Valyrian blood can do the trick. Bastards known as "dragonseeds" are able to claim dragons just as well as the incestuous royal family. Three low-born men join the ranks of dragonriders in "House of the Dragon" season two. In the season three premiere, yet another character makes history by claiming a wild dragon, something previously thought to be impossible — or at least exceedingly dangerous. Here are all the new dragonriders that appear in "House of the Dragon" seasons two and three. Eammon Jacobs contributed to a previous version of this story. Addam of Hull bonds with Seasmoke. Addam of Hull and his dragon, Seasmoke, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra Targaryen. Theo Whiteman/HBO "House of the Dragon" season two introduces two important brothers, Addam and Alyn of Hull (played by Clinton Liberty and Abubakar Salim, respectively), who are both shipwrights in the powerful Velaryon fleet. Addam and Alyn are both bastards, having grown up in the shipyard with only a mother. In "Fire & Blood," some historians claim their father is Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan), the late husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), but the show confirms what many suspect: their father is actually Laenor's father, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), also known as the Sea Snake. Corlys had long been married to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), and he struggles to admit his infidelity. After his wife's death, he finally begins to accept Addam and Alyn as his sons. In fact, Addam's true parentage is impatient to reveal itself. He spontaneously bonds with Seasmoke, previously claimed by Laenor, after the dragon chases him down. Addam readily bends the knee to Rhaenyra, and he joins her army as the first non-Targaryen dragonrider. Ulf accidentally claims Silverwing. Tom Bennett as Ulf the White in "House of the Dragon" season two. Ollie Upton/HBO Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), nicknamed for his Targaryen-esque hair color, pops up a few times throughout the second season. He witnesses the hanging of the ratcatchers after the murder of Jaehaerys Targaryen, and he's also in the bar when King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) takes his new Kingsguard knights out for a drink. On this boozy night, Ulf confides to his tavernmates that his father was Prince Baelon the Brave — making him the illegitimate half-brother of Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine). Ulf even refers to King Aegon as his nephew. In this scene, it's unclear if Ulf is just drunk and inventing stories to make himself seem impressive. (In the book, he's also known as Ulf the Sot, on account of his apparent alcoholism.) In episode seven, however, Ulf's claim seems to bear weight. When Rhaenyra puts out the call for new dragonriders to join her service — offering honor and knighthood in exchange — he reluctantly heads to Dragonstone after some encouragement from his drinking buddies. When confronted with a real-life dragon, Ulf flees through the caves beneath the island. During his attempted escape, Ulf comes face to face with Silverwing, the former dragon of Queen Alysanne Targaryen. It's unclear why, but Silverwing takes a liking to Ulf. The book says that Silverwing, along with Seasmoke and Vermithor, had grown "accustomed to men and tolerant of their presence." It also makes clear that these are unpredictable creatures: "Who can know the heart of a dragon?" Ulf claims Silverwing and takes flight above King's Landing. At this point, Ulf is sworn to serve Rhaenyra — but it remains to be seen where his boastful, reckless nature will lead him. Hugh Hammer bonds with Vermithor during the Red Sowing. Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer in "House of the Dragon" season two. Ollie Upton/HBO Rhaenyra's attempt to find new dragonriders is known in the book as the Red Sowing; at least a dozen people were killed and many more burned in their attempts to claim a dragon, including the Lord Commander of her own Queensguard. "House of the Dragon" season two, episode seven, "The Red Sowing," depicts this bloody sacrifice as Rhaenyra sends bastards and low-born hopefuls to their death. Most are set aflame by Vermithor, the former dragon of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) is not one of these unlucky victims. The blacksmith was introduced in the season two premiere, asking King Aegon for advance payment in exchange for his labor. At that time, Hugh's daughter was suffering from an illness that eventually took her life. Hugh believes that his mother was Saera Targaryen, the ninth daughter of King Jaehaerys. Like Ulf, Hugh answers Rhaenyra's call, believing it's a chance to improve his family's life. "I tried to make my way with my own hands. I could not protect you. I could not keep our girl alive," Hugh tells his wife before departing for Dragonstone. "We would never want again. If I claimed a dragon, they'd make you a lady." Unlike Ulf, Hugh has strength and grit. As others flee from Vermithor's rampage, Hugh stands his ground and even saves someone else from the bursts of dragonflame. When the bloodthirsty dragon locks eyes with Hugh, the blacksmith yells defiantly, "Come on!" That seems to do the trick. Vermithor, nicknamed the "Bronze Fury," is one of the oldest and biggest dragons in Westeros. He'll be a deadly weapon under Hugh's control. Rhaena Targaryen secretly claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer. Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen in "House of the Dragon" season two. Theo Whiteman/HBO Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) is the second daughter of Prince Daemon and his late second wife, Lady Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell). Unlike her sister Baela Targayen (Bethany Antonia), who rides Moondancer, Rhaena did not bond with a dragon as a child. Instead, Rhaena's hatchling was sickly and died young. Throughout the show, Rhaena struggles with being overlooked and dismissed by her family, especially her father. In season two, she's sent to the Vale to look after Rhaenyra's three youngest sons. She's also meant to escort the boys on their voyage across the narrow sea, to the free city of Pentos — but she decides to run away instead. In the season two finale, Rhaena finds Sheepstealer, a wild dragon roaming the Vale. In the book, Sheepstealer is described as "a notably ugly 'mud brown' dragon" with a "taste for mutton." Despite being riderless and isolated from people his entire life, Sheepstealer almost never harms the shepherds. In the show's season three premiere, Sheepstealer allows Rhaena to mount his back. The dragon strands Rhaena on a cliffside, where he brings two helpings of mutton to share. They bond — but instead of Sheepstealer bending to his rider's will, Rhaena seems to become wilder to match the dragon's nature. Later in the episode, Rhaena flies Sheepstealer into battle, but she can't command the dragon as her family members can theirs. Rhaena's attempt at heroism quickly becomes a disaster when Sheepstealer burns the wrong warships, destroying the fleet commanded by her own grandfather, Corlys, and unintentionally causing the death of her cousin, Prince Jace (Harry Collett). This is a major change from the book, in which a mysterious young girl called Nettles is the one to claim Sheepstealer. Although it's unclear if Nettles has Valyrian ancestry, she manages to charm the wild dragon by killing sheep and leaving their carcasses for it to eat. It seems that "House of the Dragon" is scrapping Nettles in favor of expanding Rhaena's role — but this change comes with its own complications. Rhaena has now unwittingly made herself an enemy of Rhaenyra, whereas in the book, Nettles is the queen's ally. In the book, Alyn of Hull is rejected by Sheepstealer. Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull in "House of the Dragon" season two. Ollie Upton/HBO In "House of the Dragon," Alyn of Hull does not attempt to bond with a dragon. Much like his father, Corlys, he's better suited to salt and sea than to fire and blood. In the book, however, Alyn does attempt to answer Rhaenyra's call for more dragonriders. He initially seeks the wild dragon Grey Ghost, a "notably shy dragon who avoided men and their works for years at a time." When Alyn can't find Grey Ghost, he tries to claim Sheepstealer, but the dragon rejects and burns him. "Sheepstealer would have none of him," the book reads. "When he stumbled from the dragon's lair with his cloak aflame, only his brother's swift action saved his life. Seasmoke drove the wild dragon off as Addam used his own cloak to beat out the flames. Alyn Velaryon would carry the scars of the encounter on his back and legs for the rest of his long life." Read the original article on Business Insider

The trailer for "House of the Dragon" season three teases an aerial assault on King's Landing. HBO "House of the Dragon" is a "Game of Thrones" prequel focused on House Targaryen. The Targaryens are dragonlords, and some dragons have more than one rider throughout history. Several dragons, including Vermithor and Sheepstealer, were recently claimed by new riders. Warning: Spoilers ahead for the "House of the Dragon" season three premiere. "House of the Dragon" season three kicks off with a bloody and spectacular bang, and a brand new dragonrider enters the fray. At this point in the "Game of Thrones" timeline, there are more dragons than at any other time in Westerosi history — and plenty of people who are eager to wield their power. In the HBO franchise's second season, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) recruited dragonseeds to bolster her army as she plots to seize the Iron Throne from her half-brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). As the original Targaryen conqueror proved over a century before, the more dragons a ruler has, the more likely they are to quash opposition. Although Rhaenyra's mission proved successful, at least a dozen hopefuls were killed in the process, with many more burned and maimed. "Dragons are not horses," it says in "Fire & Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based. "They do not easily accept men upon their backs, and when angered or threatened, they attack." All the dragons featured so far in the show are listed below, along with their riders. Note: Some dragons have accepted more than one rider in their lifetimes. Eammon Jacobs contributed to a previous version of this story. Vhagar is the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros. Vhagar in "House of the Dragon." HBO Vhagar was originally bonded to Queen Visenya Targaryen, one of Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wives. Along with their other sister, Rhaenys, the trio invaded Westeros, overpowered the realm with their three dragons, and installed Aegon as the first Targaryen king. Over a century later, Vhagar is the last remaining dragon from the days of the conquest. She is formidably huge, battle worn, and fierce — described by Daemon as a "hoary old bitch." Laena Velaryon is the first in the show to ride Vhagar. Nanna Blondell as Laena Velaryon in "House of the Dragon." HBO After Visenya, Vhagar is claimed by Prince Baelon Targaryen, the father of Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine). Baelon dies tragically of a sudden illness in 101 AC (meaning "after conquest"). Just a few years later, Vhagar is claimed again by Lady Laena Velaryon when she is about 12 years old. Laena (Nanna Blondell) is the only daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). She also becomes Prince Daemon's second wife. We see Laena fly Vhagar in season one as she and her husband cross the narrow sea to Pentos. Unfortunately, Laena goes through a traumatic birth in episode six that puts both her and her child at risk. As she bleeds out, Laena turns to Vhagar to end her suffering, commanding her dragon to breathe fire with that all-important phrase: "Dracarys." Aemond Targaryen claims Vhagar after Laena's death. Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen in season two, episode four of "House of the Dragon." Theo Whitman/HBO After Laena's death, a young Prince Aemond Targaryen (Leo Ashton) sneaks out in the middle of the night to confront Vhagar. Surprisingly, the boy manages not to die, but to bond with the fiercest dragon in Westeros. Fast forward a few years, and a teenage Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is a formidable dragonrider. Together, they are known as the greatest power in Westeros. Rhaenys Targaryen was bonded to Meleys until both were killed by Vhagar. Rhaenys rides Meleys in "House of the Dragon" season one. HBO Meleys was originally bonded to Princess Alyssa Targaryen, the fifth child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and mother to both Viserys and Daemon. A few years after Alyssa's death, the dragon known as the "Red Queen" was claimed by a young Rhaenys after she sneaked into the Dragonpit. Daemon was apparently furious when Rhaenys claimed Meleys: "His own mother's dragon, the fastest beast ever known, and she'd have none of him — but bent her neck to Rhaenys," Daemon's daughter says in the show. Meleys makes an explosive entrance in season one, when she bursts through the floor of the Dragonpit during King Aegon's coronation. Although Rhaenys decides against attacking Aegon and his family at that moment, she flies straight to Dragonstone to warn Rhaenyra of the usurpation. Soon after, Rhaenys joins the future queen's army. Rhaenys flies into her final battle in the fourth episode of season two, "The Red Dragon and the Gold." She clashes at Rook's Rest with both Aegon on Sunfyre and Aemond on Vhagar, the latter of which overpowers her. Both Rhaenys and Meleys fall to their deaths. Aegon Targaryen rides Sunfyre into battle at Rook's Rest. Aegon rides Sunfyre in "House of the Dragon" season two. HBO Aegon II Targaryen, the eldest son of King Viserys and Lady Alicent Hightower, bonded with Sunfyre as a child. With his bright golden scales, Sunfyre is known as the most beautiful dragon in the realm. In season two, we see King Aegon II drunkenly ride Sunfyre into battle at Rook's Rest, where he clashes with Rhaenys and her ancient dragon Meleys. As Meleys clamps down on Sunfyre's neck, the pair are attacked midair by Aemond riding Vhagar. The combined force is too much for Sunfyre, and the dragon plummets to the ground. Aegon II survives the fall but suffers serious burns and lifelong injuries, leaving him bedridden. Sunfyre is assumed dead after the battle at Rook's Rest. Helaena Targaryen is bonded to Dreamfyre. Phia Saban in "House of the Dragon." Ollie Upton / HBO Dreamfyre was originally claimed by Princess Rhaena Targaryen, the eldest child of King Aenys I Targaryen, making her one of the oldest dragons still alive in Westeros. In the book, Dreamfyre is described as slender with blue scales and silver markings. The audience has yet to see Dreamfyre in "House of the Dragon," but we know she's bonded to Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban), King Aegon's sister-wife. In season two, Rhaenyra mentions that Helaena doesn't ride Dreamfyre because she "has no taste for it." Aemond later begs his sister to fly Dreamfyre into battle, saying he cannot win this war with Vhagar alone — but Helaena refuses. Dreamfyre is sheltered in the Dragonpit, but she offers little protection for King's Landing without a rider. Alicent's fourth son, Daeron Targaryen, has a blue dragon named Tessarion. Daeron and Tessarion march with the Hightower army. HBO Unlike his siblings, Prince Daeron Targaryen was raised in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower. In season two, Alicent's youngest child is mentioned as a useful chess piece by Aegon's small council. They remark that his blue she-dragon, Tessarion, is "nearing fighting age." In the book, Tessarion is the youngest dragon of fighting weight in Aegon's camp during the Dance of the Dragons. She was claimed by Daeron when both were young. The pair will soon make their onscreen debut; Tessarion can be seen in the trailer for season three. It seems that Daeron is marching with an army led by Alicent's cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton). Prince Daemon commands Caraxes. Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." Courtesy HBO Caraxes is the former mount of Aemon Targaryen, the son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, until the prince's death at the hands of Myrish pirates. Also known as the "Blood Wyrm," Caraxes may not be the biggest dragon in the gang, but he's immediately recognizable thanks to his red scales and snakelike neck. Caraxes was later claimed by Aemon's nephew, Prince Daemon, who often uses the dragon to intimidate both his allies and his enemies. Rhaenyra Targaryen rides the yellow-scaled Syrax. Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and her dragon Syrax in "House of the Dragon" season two. Theo Whiteman/HBO Syrax is a much younger dragon compared to the likes of Vhagar and Caraxes, but she's decently sized and agile in the sky. Princess Rhaenyra bonded with Syrax as a child, and she's the dragon's only rider. Rhaenyra even named the dragon herself, according to "Fire & Blood," after a Valyrian goddess. Jacaerys Velaryon rode Vermax until both died in the Battle of the Gullet. Harry Collett as Jace in "House of the Dragon." Courtesy of HBO Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), aka Jace, was Rhaenyra's eldest son. The public record states that his father was Lord Laenor Velaryon, though more likely, he and his two brothers were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. In an attempt to quell the rumors about their parentage, King Viserys ordered a dragon egg to be placed in each of the boys' cradles, so they could instantly claim the dragons that hatched. Those who believed that Jace and his brothers were bastards doubted they could bond with dragons, or that the eggs would hatch at all — but they were proven wrong. Jace's dragon was named Vermax. He was one of the youngest dragons in Rhaenyra's active army, and the pair didn't see any combat for two full seasons. (However, Jace did fly Vermax to the Wall, the Vale, and the Twins to treat with Houses Stark, Arryn, and Frey, respectively.) In the season three premiere, Jace flew Vermax into his first and last battle. The dragon was impaled and pulled into the sea. Jace survived the drowning, but when he emerged on the surface, he was shot to death by enemy arrows. Baela Targaryen is bonded to Moondancer. Baela rides Moondancer in "House of the Dragon" season two. HBO Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), the eldest daughter of Daemon and Laena, is the only person to ever claim Moondancer, a young and relatively small dragon. In the book, Moondancer is actually too small to hold a rider for much of the war — but in the show, Baela is already a skilled dragonrider. In season two, Baela is tasked by her aunt-slash-stepmother, Rhaenyra, to scout the area surrounding King's Landing. In episode three, "The Burning Mill," Baela flies Moondancer over a field and, upon spotting him from the sky, attempts to attack Ser Criston Cole. Alas, Cole and his soldiers take cover in the trees. In the season three premiere, Baela joins Jace at the Battle of the Gullet. She succeeds in saving his life, using Moondancer's size and agility to rush to his rescue — but Moondancer isn't quick enough to save him a second time. Lucerys Velaryon rode Arrax until both were killed by Vhagar. Luke rides Arrax in "House of the Dragon" season one. HBO Arrax bonded with Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), aka Luke, after his egg was placed in the prince's cradle. The young dragon was seen for the last time in the season one finale, when Luke flew to Storm's End at the behest of his mother, Rhaenyra. Arrax, the smallest rideable dragon in Rhaenyra's camp, was not yet battle-ready — but that didn't stop Luke's uncle Aemond from swooping down on them in fury. (Remember, Luke cut out Aemond's eye when they were children, and Aemond has never gotten over it.) In the tense scene, both Luke and Aemond lost control of their mounts. Arrax spat fire at Vhagar, even though Luke tried to stop him, and Vhagar responded by chomping down on Arrax, killing both the dragon and his rider. The episode's director, Greg Yaitanes, said Aemond "didn't set out to kill Luke, but he also was out there playing a very dangerous game." As a result, Aemond provoked the wrath of Rhaenyra, and he'll be known to history as a kinslayer. Seasmoke was originally claimed by Laenor Velaryon. Theo Nate as a young Laenor Velaryon in "House of the Dragon." Ollie Upton/HBO In season one, Laenor rode the silver-grey Seasmoke into battle at the Stepstones. He also flew to King's Landing for his wedding to Rhaenyra, alongside his mother, Rhaenys. Seasmoke was left riderless when Laenor faked his own death to flee Westeros. In season two, Rhaenyra observes that Seasmoke has grown restless. It's unclear whether that means his bond with Laenor was severed by distance or whether Laenor died offscreen. Addam of Hull bonds with Seasmoke in season two. Addam of Hull and his dragon, Seasmoke, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra Targaryen. Theo Whiteman/HBO Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) unintentionally becomes a new dragonrider in season two, when Seasmoke chases him down. Instead of attacking, Seasmoke surprises Addam by bending his neck. After the bonded pair takes to the skies, Addam pledges his allegiance to Rhaenrya. Hugh Hammer claims Vermithor in the Red Sowing. Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer in "House of the Dragon" season two. Ollie Upton/HBO Vermithor makes his onscreen debut in the season one finale, when Daemon visits the dragon in the caves beneath Dragonstone. Vermithor is the second-biggest dragon alive (after Vhagar) and known as the "Bronze Fury." He was bonded to King Jaehaerys I Targaryen from birth, and went unclaimed for decades following the king's death. Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith from King's Landing, bonds with Vermithor during the "Red Sowing" in season two. He believes himself to be the bastard son of Princess Saera Targaryen, the estranged daughter of King Jaehaerys I. Ulf the White bonds with Silverwing. Ulf bonds with Silverwing in "House of the Dragon." HBO Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), a low-born resident of King's Landing, says he's the illegitimate son of Baelon the Brave — making him the half-brother of Prince Daemon and the late King Viserys. Ulf answers Rhaenyra's summons to Dragonstone when she hopes to find more dragonriders. He bonds with Silverwing, the previous mount of Queen Alysanne Targaryen, in the caves beneath the island. Ulf and Silverwing immediately take to the skies, flying recklessly over King's Landing. Rhaena claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the season three premiere. Sheepstealer and Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) in "House of the Dragon." HBO Rhaena goes hunting for Sheepstealer, a wild dragon that roams the Vale, at the end of season two. Despite the dragon's longtime isolation, Rhaena makes contact swiftly and becomes a dragonrider for the first time. Rhaena bonds with Sheepstealer as they live together in the wilderness. However, when she attempts to return to Dragonstone, she finds herself unable to fully control her mount. Rhaenyra's thirdborn son, Joffrey, has a young dragon named Tyraxes. Joffrey Velaryon with Baela Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." HBO Although Tyraxes has not yet made his onscreen debut, the young dragon bonded to Rhaenyra's third son after his egg was placed in Prince Joffrey's cradle. In the show, Joffrey is still too young to be a dragonrider, although in the book, he's all too eager to prove his chops in battle. Rhaenyra's fourth son, Aegon III, also has a hatchling named Stormcloud. Aegon the Younger is bonded to a baby dragon named Stormcloud. HBO Rhaenyra and Daemon's first son, nicknamed Aegon the Younger, bonded with Stormcloud when both were babies. In the show, the dragon is still a hatchling. The couple's second son, Viserys II, has a dragon egg that has not yet hatched. They've all been sent away to shelter in Essos for the duration of the war. Read the original article on Business Insider

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<p><a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/">sqlite-utils</a> is my combined Python library and CLI tool for working with SQLite databases. It provides an extensive set of higher-level operations on top of Python's default <a href="https://docs.python.org/3/library/sqlite3.html">sqlite3 package</a>, including support for <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/cli.html#transforming-tables">complex table transformations</a>, automatic table creation <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/cli.html#inserting-json-data">from JSON data</a> and a whole lot more.</p> <p>I released <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/changelog.html#rc1-2026-06-21">sqlite-utils 4.0rc1</a>, the first release candidate for sqlite-utils v4. The major version bump indicates some (minor) backwards incompatible changes, so I'm interested in having people try this out before I commit to a stable release.</p> <h4 id="new-feature-migrations">New feature: migrations</h4> <p>There are two significant new features in this RC compared to the previous 4.0 alphas.</p> <p>The first is support for <strong>database migrations</strong>. This isn't a completely new implementation - it's a slightly modified port of the <a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-migrate">sqlite-migrate</a> package I released a few years ago. I think that package has proved itself over time, so I'm now ready to bundle it with <code>sqlite-utils</code> directly.</p> <p>Here's what a set of migrations in a <code>migrations.py</code> file looks like:</p> <pre><span class="pl-k">from</span> <span class="pl-s1">sqlite_utils</span> <span class="pl-k">import</span> <span class="pl-v">Database</span>, <span class="pl-v">Migrations</span> <span class="pl-s1">migrations</span> <span class="pl-c1">=</span> <span class="pl-en">Migrations</span>(<span class="pl-s">"creatures"</span>) <span class="pl-en">@<span class="pl-en">migrations</span>()</span> <span class="pl-k">def</span> <span class="pl-en">create_table</span>(<span class="pl-s1">db</span>): <span class="pl-s1">db</span>[<span class="pl-s">"creatures"</span>].<span class="pl-c1">create</span>( {<span class="pl-s">"id"</span>: <span class="pl-s1">int</span>, <span class="pl-s">"name"</span>: <span class="pl-s1">str</span>, <span class="pl-s">"species"</span>: <span class="pl-s1">str</span>}, <span class="pl-s1">pk</span><span class="pl-c1">=</span><span class="pl-s">"id"</span>, ) <span class="pl-en">@<span class="pl-en">migrations</span>()</span> <span class="pl-k">def</span> <span class="pl-en">add_weight</span>(<span class="pl-s1">db</span>): <span class="pl-s1">db</span>[<span class="pl-s">"creatures"</span>].<span class="pl-c1">add_column</span>(<span class="pl-s">"weight"</span>, <span class="pl-s1">float</span>)</pre> <p>This defines a set of two migrations, one creating the <code>creatures</code> table and another adding a column to it.</p> <p>You can then run those migrations either using Python:</p> <pre><span class="pl-s1">db</span> <span class="pl-c1">=</span> <span class="pl-en">Database</span>(<span class="pl-s">"creatures.db"</span>) <span class="pl-s1">migrations</span>.<span class="pl-c1">apply</span>(<span class="pl-s1">db</span>)</pre> <p>Or with the command-line <code>migrate</code> command:</p> <div class="highlight highlight-source-shell"><pre>sqlite-utils migrate creatures.db migrations.py</pre></div> <p>The system is deliberately small: it doesn't provide reverse migrations, so any mistakes you make should be fixed by deploying a fresh migration to undo them.</p> <p>Its predecessor has been used by <a href="https://llm.datasette.io/">LLM</a> and various other projects for several years, so I'm confident that the design is stable and works well.</p> <p>The new migrations feature <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/migrations.html">is documented here</a>.</p> <h4 id="new-feature-db-atomic-transactions">New feature: db.atomic() transactions</h4> <p>This feature is a lot less exercised than migrations, so it deserves more attention from testers.</p> <p>Previously, <code>sqlite-utils</code> mostly left transaction management up to its users, via a <code>with db.conn:</code> construct that reused the <code>sqlite3</code> mechanism directly.</p> <p>SQLite supports nested transactions in the form of savepoints, so I wanted an abstraction that could make those as easy to use as possible.</p> <p>I borrowed the terminology "atomic" from Django and Peewee. Here's what the new API looks like:</p> <pre><span class="pl-k">with</span> <span class="pl-s1">db</span>.<span class="pl-c1">atomic</span>(): <span class="pl-s1">db</span>.<span class="pl-c1">table</span>(<span class="pl-s">"dogs"</span>).<span class="pl-c1">insert</span>({<span class="pl-s">"id"</span>: <span class="pl-c1">1</span>, <span class="pl-s">"name"</span>: <span class="pl-s">"Cleo"</span>}, <span class="pl-s1">pk</span><span class="pl-c1">=</span><span class="pl-s">"id"</span>) <span class="pl-k">try</span>: <span class="pl-k">with</span> <span class="pl-s1">db</span>.<span class="pl-c1">atomic</span>(): <span class="pl-s1">db</span>.<span class="pl-c1">table</span>(<span class="pl-s">"dogs"</span>).<span class="pl-c1">insert</span>({<span class="pl-s">"id"</span>: <span class="pl-c1">2</span>, <span class="pl-s">"name"</span>: <span class="pl-s">"Pancakes"</span>}) <span class="pl-k">raise</span> <span class="pl-en">ValueError</span>(<span class="pl-s">"skip this one"</span>) <span class="pl-k">except</span> <span class="pl-v">ValueError</span>: <span class="pl-k">pass</span> <span class="pl-s1">db</span>.<span class="pl-c1">table</span>(<span class="pl-s">"dogs"</span>).<span class="pl-c1">insert</span>({<span class="pl-s">"id"</span>: <span class="pl-c1">3</span>, <span class="pl-s">"name"</span>: <span class="pl-s">"Marnie"</span>})</pre> <p>More details <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/python-api.html#transactions-with-db-atomic">in the documentation</a>.</p> <h4 id="backwards-incompatible-changes">Backwards incompatible changes</h4> <p>The backwards incompatible changes in v4 were described in the alpha release notes. For <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/changelog.html#a0-2025-05-08">4.0a0</a>:</p> <blockquote> <ul> <li>Upsert operations now use SQLite's <code>INSERT ... ON CONFLICT SET</code> syntax on all SQLite versions later than 3.23.1. This is a very slight breaking change for apps that depend on the previous <code>INSERT OR IGNORE</code> followed by <code>UPDATE</code> behavior. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/652">#652</a>)</li> <li>Python library users can opt-in to the previous implementation by passing <code>use_old_upsert=True</code> to the <code>Database()</code> constructor, see <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/python-api.html#python-api-old-upsert">Alternative upserts using INSERT OR IGNORE</a>.</li> <li>Dropped support for Python 3.8, added support for Python 3.13. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/646">#646</a>)</li> <li> <code>sqlite-utils tui</code> is now provided by the <a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils-tui">sqlite-utils-tui</a> plugin. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/648">#648</a>)</li> <li>Test suite now also runs against SQLite 3.23.1, the last version (from 2018-04-10) before the new <code>INSERT ... ON CONFLICT SET</code> syntax was added. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/654">#654</a>)</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p>And for <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/changelog.html#a1-2025-11-23">4.0a1</a>:</p> <blockquote> <ul> <li> <strong>Breaking change</strong>: The <code>db.table(table_name)</code> method now only works with tables. To access a SQL view use <code>db.view(view_name)</code> instead. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/657">#657</a>)</li> <li>The <code>table.insert_all()</code> and <code>table.upsert_all()</code> methods can now accept an iterator of lists or tuples as an alternative to dictionaries. The first item should be a list/tuple of column names. See <a href="https://sqlite-utils.datasette.io/en/latest/python-api.html#python-api-insert-lists">Inserting data from a list or tuple iterator</a> for details. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/672">#672</a>)</li> <li> <strong>Breaking change</strong>: The default floating point column type has been changed from <code>FLOAT</code> to <code>REAL</code>, which is the correct SQLite type for floating point values. This affects auto-detected columns when inserting data. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/645">#645</a>)</li> <li>Now uses <code>pyproject.toml</code> in place of <code>setup.py</code> for packaging. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/675">#675</a>)</li> <li>Tables in the Python API now do a much better job of remembering the primary key and other schema details from when they were first created. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/655">#655</a>)</li> <li> <strong>Breaking change</strong>: The <code>table.convert()</code> and <code>sqlite-utils convert</code> mechanisms no longer skip values that evaluate to <code>False</code>. Previously the <code>--skip-false</code> option was needed, this has been removed. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/542">#542</a>)</li> <li> <strong>Breaking change</strong>: Tables created by this library now wrap table and column names in <code>"double-quotes"</code> in the schema. Previously they would use <code>[square-braces]</code>. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/677">#677</a>)</li> <li>The <code>--functions</code> CLI argument now accepts a path to a Python file in addition to accepting a string full of Python code. It can also now be specified multiple times. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/659">#659</a>)</li> <li> <strong>Breaking change:</strong> Type detection is now the default behavior for the <code>insert</code> and <code>upsert</code> CLI commands when importing CSV or TSV data. Previously all columns were treated as <code>TEXT</code> unless the <code>--detect-types</code> flag was passed. Use the new <code>--no-detect-types</code> flag to restore the old behavior. The <code>SQLITE_UTILS_DETECT_TYPES</code> environment variable has been removed. (<a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues/679">#679</a>)</li> </ul> </blockquote> <h4 id="try-it-out">Try it out</h4> <p>You can install the new RC like this:</p> <div class="highlight highlight-source-shell"><pre>pip install sqlite-utils==4.0rc1</pre></div> <p>Or try the CLI version directly with <code>uvx</code> like this:</p> <div class="highlight highlight-source-shell"><pre>uvx --with sqlite-utils==4.0rc1 sqlite-utils --help</pre></div> <p>Come chat with us about it in the <a href="https://discord.gg/Ass7bCAMDw">sqlite-utils Discord channel</a>, or file any bugs in <a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/issues">GitHub Issues</a>.</p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/migrations">migrations</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/projects">projects</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/sqlite">sqlite</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/sqlite-utils">sqlite-utils</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/annotated-release-notes">annotated-release-notes</a></p>

<p><strong>Release:</strong> <a href="https://github.com/simonw/sqlite-utils/releases/tag/4.0rc1">sqlite-utils 4.0rc1</a></p> <p>See <a href="https://simonwillison.net/2026/Jun/21/sqlite-utils-40rc1/">sqlite-utils 4.0rc1 adds migrations and nested transactions</a>.</p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/sqlite-utils">sqlite-utils</a></p>

Martin Woodtli moved with his mom, who had Alzheimer's, to Thailand so she could get better care. In the process, he started a care home. Amanda Goh/Business Insider In 2002, Martin Woodtli decided to move his mother, who had Alzheimer's, from Switzerland to Thailand. He had spent years watching the disease slowly change his family. When his mother was first diagnosed, his father stepped in to care for her. Woodtli had already quit his job in social services to help as her condition worsened, but the emotional and physical strain became too much for his father to handle. His father eventually fell into depression and later died by suicide, leaving Woodtli — an only child — to shoulder the responsibility alone. Have you chosen a retirement, assisted living, memory care, or long-term care community in Asia for yourself or a loved one? We'd love to hear about your experience. Fill in this short form to share your story. Follow Amanda Goh for more on this topic. "I had to decide what I was going to do now," Woodtli, now 65, told Business Insider. He began looking into care facilities across Switzerland, but many of them felt institutional, with a hospital-like atmosphere. They were also expensive. Woodtli then considered another option: returning to Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, where he had lived and worked with Doctors Without Borders for four years in the '90s. Woodtli started Baan Kamlangchay in 2003, in a neighborhood just outside Chiang Mai city center. Amanda Goh/Business Insider During his time in Thailand, he had noticed that respect for older adults is deeply ingrained in the culture. Over time, Woodtli began to see Chiang Mai as a place that could offer his mother a better quality of life. In 2003, he made the leap. A risk that changed their lives Woodtli planned to live in a house in Chiang Mai with his mother, with support from a team of three caregivers — recruited through local hospitals — on rotating shifts. Woodtli kept an open mind. "If it works, wonderful. If it doesn't work, we'll go back after a two-week holiday," he said. The change in environment made a noticeable difference for his mother. "My mother used to be very isolated because she was afraid to say something, especially in a group, because she noticed that she could not express herself that well anymore," said Woodtli, who has a background in social work and psychotherapy. Woodtli said he saw his mother grow more comfortable in her new environment and felt he wanted to do the same for others. Amanda Goh/Business Insider In a more comfortable setting with familiar faces from her care team, she developed her own communication style. "She was not shy anymore," he said. Increasing interest As he watched his mother, then in her 70s, settle into her new life, Woodtli realized he wanted to help others facing similar challenges. Within a year, Woodtli started Baan Kamlangchay, a dementia care home in a neighborhood just outside the city center, using money inherited from his late father. In 2003, a Swiss filmmaker made a documentary about him and his mother's journey. After that, more families from Switzerland and Germany began reaching out. Chiang Mai was already popular with overseas visitors and retirees, thanks in part to its low cost of living and relative accessibility — its international airport is about an hour's flight from Bangkok. Thailand's long-stay visa options have also helped the city attract a sizable foreign community. Thai civil registration data recorded 160,958 foreign residents in Chiang Mai in 2025, or about 9% of its roughly 1.8 million people. Today, Woodtli and his Thai wife continue to run the facility, which now cares for around 10 residents, whom he refers to as guests. All are living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Unlike many Western care facilities, Baan Kamlangchay residents don't live in a single building. Instead, they are spread across eight houses in a residential neighborhood shared with local Thai people. Woodtli, too, lives in a house in the village with his family. Guests may move between their homes and shared spaces within the neighborhood with their caregivers. Amanda Goh/Business Insider The idea was to make daily life feel normal, Woodtli said, allowing guests to see different people and interact with others outside the care home. "It is a very natural way of living," he said. Elderly care facilities in Thailand are generally classified based on the services they provide, Kom Vachiravarakarn, a partner at the Bangkok-based law firm Kudun and Partners, told Business Insider. Facilities providing regulated healthcare services require a medical facility license, he said. Non-medical elderly or dependent care businesses usually fall under a different license that covers services such as daily living assistance, accommodation, and supportive care, he said. Baan Kamlangchay operates as a registered company in Thailand and has caregivers but no on-site medical staff. Instead, residents rely on local healthcare providers when needed, Woodtli said. The cost of care For many families, the challenge isn't just how to care for a loved one, but how to afford it. The average cost of nursing home care in the US is around $112,420 a year, or about $9,368 a month, per data from the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Cost of Care Survey in 2024. Costs are similarly high in Switzerland, where dementia care in a nursing home costs around 89,756 Swiss Francs a year, or roughly $9,400 a month, based on 2019 estimates — the most recent available — from nonprofit Alzheimer Switzerland. Costs at Baan Kamlangchay start from around $2,900 a month. This includes lodging, around-the-clock care, and meals, Woodtli said. Woodtli regularly interacts with guests, often speaking with them in their native German. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Caleb Johnston, an associate professor of human geography at the UK's Newcastle University, told Business Insider that he views the migration of people to Thailand for care and palliative support as a "small but meaningfully growing phenomenon." They're driven by Thailand's lower costs, large caregiver workforce, and growing private care sector serving international clients, he said. At another facility at the top end of this market in Chiang Mai, comprehensive care costs around $3,500 a month, including accommodation, meals, excursions, therapy, and a one-to-one care worker-to-resident ratio. "You simply won't find that level or quality of care in any Western country today unless you're prepared to pay a king's ransom," Johnston said. But cheaper care comes with other costs. "There are also harder questions about social networks, access to long-standing friendships, and the symbolic weight of dying far from where one has lived," he said. These aren't trivial trade-offs, but for many, the alternative at home has become so untenable that Thailand feels like the only viable alternative, he added. A trio of caregivers At Baan Kamlangchay, each guest has a consistent team of three caregivers who rotate shifts and stay with them throughout the day. At night, one sleeps in the same room, Woodtli said. "The relationship is so important because it's much more than in a care center, where you just do your duty and move from one person to another," Woodtli said. "Here, the caregivers are very close to each guest." Guests can participate in activities or swim in the pool. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Woodtli estimates he manages about 50 team members, including caretakers, cooks, and other support staff. Throughout the day, residents escorted by their caregivers can move between their homes and shared spaces, including a communal dining area and an activity hub with a pool. Meals are typically European, with dishes like pumpkin soup prepared by a cook who previously worked in a hotel. Woodtli also runs a small convenience store, open to everyone, where residents can pick up everyday items and interact with local villagers. It helps them maintain a sense of independence, he said. Anke Blomberg, whose mother Gerda has lived at Baan Kamlangchay for eight years, told Business Insider she appreciated that it doesn't feel like a facility. When her mother developed dementia, Blomberg first hired a live-in caregiver in Germany, but her mother wasn't comfortable sharing the home she had lived in with her late husband. She then looked into local care facilities, but found them impersonal. Woodtli also started a minimart in the neighborhood to create opportunities for guests to interact with local Thai residents. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Eventually, she came across Baan Kamlangchay online and, with her husband and mother, traveled to Chiang Mai for a month to see it firsthand. Over that time, her mother got used to the environment and grew comfortable with the close, hands-on care, Blomberg said, adding that she now visits her about twice a year. "After so many years now, I'm really convinced I did the right thing for her," Blomberg said. Woodtli said many guests stay for years, and most remain there until the end of their lives. Woodtli's mother was one of them — she lived there until she died in 2006. "I think of it, really, as their last holiday," Woodtli said. Read the original article on Business Insider