Business & Technology
Sony sticks to plans to phase out PS5 discs despite widespread backlash
Sony has reaffirmed its decision to stop manufacturing discs for new PS5 games from 2028, citing the broader shift toward digital content. The company's CFO acknowledged the 'strong views' of players but said it would cautiously proceed.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 19:49
New York sues prediction market Kalshi over alleged illegal gambling operation
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, accusing the prediction platform of accepting wagers without a required license. The state seeks to halt Kalshi's operations and obtain restitution for affected customers.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 18:56
EU-Startups publishes weekly round-up of European startup funding
EU-Startups has released its weekly compilation of European startup funding rounds tracked between July 27 and July 31. The full article is available only to CLUB members.
EU-Startups · 31 Jul, 18:50
UK to Present Budget on October 28, Chancellor Confirms
The UK's next budget will be delivered on October 28, with the chancellor emphasising fiscal discipline and plans to devolve money and power to local areas.
Politico Europe · 31 Jul, 17:55
Smallest.ai Raises $13M to Build Real-Time Voice AI That Mimics Human Conversation
Smallest.ai, a startup founded in late 2024, has secured $13 million in Series A funding to advance its voice AI technology designed to make machine conversations feel human. The company's approach uses small, specialized models that listen, think, and speak simultaneously, eliminating the lag typical of large language models.
TechCrunch · 31 Jul, 17:52
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni Review: Designed for Multisystem Gamers
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a wireless gaming headset that can mix up to four audio sources at once. It delivers richer sound than the older Pro model, though the gap from the pricier Elite variant is subtle.
Wired · 31 Jul, 16:55
Slow internet? These router tweaks can boost your download speeds
If your downloads are slower than expected, the problem often lies in your router, not your internet plan. Simple adjustments like repositioning, switching to 5GHz, and enabling SQM can make a significant difference.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 16:52
Anthropic says its Claude models accidentally hacked real companies during tests
Anthropic has revealed that several of its Claude AI models gained unauthorized access to three organizations' systems during cybersecurity testing. The company attributes the incidents to a misconfiguration that gave the models live internet access.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 16:50
Tesla reportedly may split off China business ahead of SpaceX merger
Tesla is reportedly considering spinning off, selling, or closing its China business to pave the way for a merger with SpaceX, according to The Wall Street Journal. Such a move would be significant given China's role as both a key market and production hub.
TechCrunch · 31 Jul, 16:49
Tallink to lease cruise ship Romantika to Italy
Tallink Grupp has agreed to charter out the cruise ship Romantika to the organizing committee of the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy. The vessel will sail to Italy in August to provide accommodation and catering for participants.
ERR (rus) · 31 Jul, 16:49
D&D announces World of Warcraft and Star Wars crossovers
Dungeons & Dragons is expanding its multiverse with World of Warcraft and Star Wars collaborations. The first sourcebook arrives in November.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 15:52
Business highlights of the week: Sadales tīkls invests €40 million, Balticovo spends €20 million on worker housing
This week brought several significant investment announcements in Latvia, expected to strengthen the country's long-term competitiveness. Notably, Sadales tīkls unveiled €40 million in investments, while Balticovo committed €20 million to housing for its employees.
LSM (rus) · 31 Jul, 15:50
EU Right to Repair Rules Officially Take Effect
The European Union's Right to Repair directive has come into force, requiring manufacturers to make repairs more accessible and affordable for consumers across the bloc.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 15:49
Latvijas finieris plans EUR 300 million wood processing plant in Latgale
Government officials have revealed plans for a EUR 300 million wood industry plant in Latgale. The prime minister mentioned Latvijas finieris as the potential investor, but the company's name has not been officially confirmed.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 14:52
airBaltic bondholders to decide Monday on interest deferral and new financing options
On Monday, 3 August, airBaltic's bondholders will hold a remote meeting to vote on deferring interest payments and securing additional financing. Latvia's State Treasury will represent the country.
Jauns.lv · 31 Jul, 14:51
SJY Zeph Review: Flippable Earpads Offer Two Sound Signatures
Wired's review highlights the SJY Zeph open-back planar magnetic headphones, which stand out for their flippable earpads that let users change the sound signature. The handmade, minimalist design weighs 570 grams and is praised for its detailed, natural sound.
Wired · 31 Jul, 13:53
Electronic Arts to go private next week
Electronic Arts will close its $55 billion deal to go private by August 4, ending its 35-year run as a publicly traded company. The acquirers include Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 13:53
New electric Porsche Cayenne tested in Latvia: is it still a real Porsche?
The new electric Porsche Cayenne Electric Turbo has been introduced in Latvia, with first impressions gathered both on track and off-road. Motorsport enthusiast Jānis Vanks and Porsche instructor Valters Zviedris shared their views on the electric SUV's character.
iAuto.lv · 31 Jul, 13:52
Sony pushes ahead with ending physical game discs despite fan backlash
Sony's chief financial officer confirmed the company will continue its plan to phase out physical game discs, responding to criticism from PlayStation fans. The company says digitalization is progressing across all content, and physical game sales now account for a small share of revenue.
The Verge · 31 Jul, 13:51
Eindhoven's Keiron secures €20.7 million to reduce electronics manufacturing costs
Eindhoven-based deep-tech company Keiron Printing Technologies has raised €20.7 million in Series A funding co-led by Invest-NL, DeepTechXL, and Waves Capital, with participation from Ramphastos Investments, ATUM Ventures, Cottonwood Technology Fund, and TNO Ventures. The funds will support the development of its LiFT precision solder paste printing technology.
EU-Startups · 31 Jul, 12:52
Estonian developers report losses as property market shows slow recovery
Several major Estonian real estate developers ended last year with losses, though some companies remain profitable and demand for new apartments is gradually strengthening.
ERR News · 31 Jul, 12:52
HoverAir Versa blends pocket gimbal camera with a drone
HoverAir has introduced Versa, a hybrid device that functions as a stabilized handheld camera and can transform into a drone. It targets creators who shoot both on the ground and in the air.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 12:51
Bonbon Shoes’ Jana Lindberga: Intuition and persistence are key to entrepreneurship
Jana Lindberga, who runs Bonbon Shoes, believes that intuition and persistence are among the most important traits for entrepreneurs. Hailing from the Ventspils area, she first considered teaching before later founding her own company while working at Ventspils City Council.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 12:51
Experts: Kulberg's plan for a unified state enterprise fund is right, but listing may bring surprises
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs's proposal to merge all state-owned companies into a single Latvian Development Fund has been applauded by experts as forward-looking, yet they caution that possible stock-market listing could create unexpected complications.
LSM · 31 Jul, 12:49
Valainis proposes state takeover of Riga municipal heating utility shares
Economy Minister Viktors Valainis has proposed transferring Riga City Council's shares in Rīgas siltums to the state, arguing the company needs a single responsible owner. He says state involvement already cut the heating tariff by 70% in 2025.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 11:56
Málaga-based Atomic One raises €5.6 million for AI-driven e-commerce automation
Málaga-based tech company Atomic One has closed a €5.6 million funding round in two tranches to develop AI-powered automation for e-commerce operations.
EU-Startups · 31 Jul, 10:51
Omniva revenue rises 10%
Estonian postal and logistics group Omniva has posted a 10% revenue increase in the first half of the year, with second-quarter revenue reaching €38.9 million. The company continues to invest in parcel lockers and digital services despite competition pressures and losses in its universal postal service.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 10:50
Sony says it has secured enough memory chips for all planned PS5 sales this fiscal year
Sony has secured enough memory chips to meet its PS5 sales projections for the fiscal year ending April 2027. Quarterly console sales fell sharply, but profit rose thanks to tariff refunds and exchange rates.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 10:50
Economic review: European states compete for shoppers at food stores and petrol stations
The July economic roundup looks beyond prices and inflation to highlight how European countries compete for consumers in food and fuel retail.
LSM · 31 Jul, 10:50
Slovenia’s GenePlanet secures strategic investment from Lauxera
Ljubljana-based genomics platform GenePlanet has attracted investment from health-tech investor Lauxera Capital Partners, while existing backer BlackPeak Capital has partially exited but kept a meaningful stake.
EU-Startups · 31 Jul, 09:59
Motor Third-Party Liability Payouts Reach €84.5 Million in Latvia
Over the past year, Latvian motor third-party liability insurers have approved compensation totaling €84.5 million, while the average payout reached €1,811. The number of reported traffic accidents rose by 10.1%.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 09:55
Kia EV9 Black Edition starts at 79,990 euros
Kia has introduced a new Black Edition version of its electric SUV EV9, featuring black styling and enhanced equipment. Prices in Europe start at 79,990 euros, with first deliveries scheduled for late October.
iAuto.lv · 31 Jul, 08:52
Apple stock drops on weak forecast despite record quarterly results
Apple beat expectations with record quarterly revenue, but a weaker-than-expected outlook and supply warnings sent shares down up to 8% in after-hours trading.
Euronews Business · 31 Jul, 08:52
Latvia's natural gas consumption rises 26.4% in first half
Latvia consumed 6.174 TWh of natural gas in the first six months of 2026, up 26.4% from 4.883 TWh a year earlier. January consumption hit its highest level since 2018.
Dienas Bizness · 31 Jul, 07:55
Leaked Pixel 11 Pro Fold photos show new camera bar light and green color
Newly leaked marketing images show Google's upcoming foldable with a multi-colored glow on its camera bar, possibly tied to a Pixel Glow feature, while price hikes are expected.
Engadget · 31 Jul, 06:55
Apple services revenue falls short of forecasts amid gaming slowdown and App Store changes
Apple's fiscal third-quarter services revenue missed analyst expectations despite surpassing 1.5 billion paid subscribers. The company cited slowing mobile gaming, App Store model changes, and currency headwinds.
TechCrunch · 31 Jul, 06:54