Business & Technology
Pubs toast extra £150m in World Cup sales thanks to late hours and England's run
UK pubs sold 30 million extra pints and generated £150 million in additional sales during the World Cup, driven by extended opening hours and England's progress to the semi-finals, outperforming previous tournaments.
The Guardian World · 26 Jul, 11:38
Asmann: ETS no longer fulfills its tasks, needs reform
Ahti Asmann criticizes the EU Emissions Trading System, arguing it no longer stimulates innovation but creates political pressure and weakens European industry. He calls for a reform to make the system predictable and competitive.
ERR (rus) · 26 Jul, 09:37
Leatherology Makes Some of the Best Totes for Carrying Tech, Wired Review Finds
Leatherology offers three leather totes that combine high-quality materials with thoughtful organization, catering to modern professionals. The Large Zippered Downtown Tote is praised as the best all-rounder for work, while the Transit Travel Tote suits travel and the Mia Horizontal Tote is ideal for casual outings.
Wired · 26 Jul, 06:39
Big Tech Accused of Stonewalling European Social Media Researchers
Researchers across Europe claim that TikTok, X, and Meta are denying them access to data they are legally entitled to under the EU's Digital Services Act, hindering investigations into disinformation campaigns.
Ars Technica · 26 Jul, 06:38
New indie games: dinosaurs with swords, making music with gnomes, and more
This week's indie game roundup features several new releases, including an action RPG with a sword-wielding Spinosaurus, a music creation game, and an embroidered visual platformer. The Video Game History Foundation also released an archive of E3 materials.
Engadget · 26 Jul, 06:38
Zimbabwe aims to boost mineral processing, but small miners fear being left behind
Zimbabwe's government plans to increase domestic mineral processing, but small-scale miners worry that these efforts may bypass them without proper inclusion.
Al Jazeera · 26 Jul, 06:37
3 Clever Ways to Repurpose an Old Amazon Kindle
Old Kindle e-readers can be turned into a Spotify controller, a smart home display, or a literary clock, with detailed instructions available online.
Wired · 26 Jul, 05:39
With help from data, art museums are reframing the visitor experience
Museums are increasingly using data to enhance visitor experience, from exhibit layout to personalized recommendations. A study at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam shows how digital guide data can help optimize museum layout and increase visitor engagement.
Ars Technica · 26 Jul, 05:38
Zeekr 9X Owner Faces Unexpected Smart Feature Lockout at Border
While traveling from China to Europe, a Zeekr 9X owner experienced an unpleasant surprise when the car's smart functions were blocked for over 30 hours upon crossing the Kazakhstan border.
iAuto.lv · 26 Jul, 05:37
'What Surrounds Us' makes you think a lot about circles
The new indie game 'What Surrounds Us' offers a unique experience where you play as a circle interacting with other circles in a circular world, and the game encourages self-discovery with minimal instructions.
The Verge · 26 Jul, 03:39
This Week's Business Highlights: Energy Investments, Nordic Capital Market Access, and Less Bureaucracy
This week, three key trends stand out in Latvian business news: investments in the energy sector, broader opportunities for companies to attract financing in the Nordic capital market, and a reduction in administrative burden. These developments confirm both companies' ambitions to grow internationally and the state's efforts to improve the business environment.
LSM (rus) · 26 Jul, 02:38
SDCC unveils first trailers for 'Blade Runner 2099', 'Rings of Power' Season 3, 'Lanterns', and 'Spaceballs' sequel
San Diego Comic-Con showcased first looks at several anticipated series and films, including 'Blade Runner 2099', 'Rings of Power' Season 3, 'Lanterns', and 'Spaceballs: The New One'.
Ars Technica · 26 Jul, 01:38
Teenage Engineering’s unique music machines are 30 percent off
Teenage Engineering synthesizers and samplers are discounted 30% at Guitar Center, Amazon, and B&H Photo through various promotions.
The Verge · 26 Jul, 00:38
Qualcomm plans to raise processor prices by end of summer
According to Bloomberg, Qualcomm will increase processor prices by a double-digit percentage next month, affecting costs of smartphones and other devices.
Engadget · 26 Jul, 00:38
Warner Bros. Lawsuit Accuses Amazon of Illegally Poaching Executives
Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing it of contractual interference, breach of contract, and unfair competition by allegedly poaching employees under binding contracts.
TechCrunch · 26 Jul, 00:38
God of War Laufey Launches on PS5 February 16
Next year's God of War installment starring Kratos' wife Laufey will be released on February 16, announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Players will control Laufey in the afterlife, with a subsequent Kratos-led game confirmed.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 23:38
Chinese Regulator Fines Trip.com Group €660 Million for Abusing Monopoly Position
China's regulator imposed a €660 million fine on travel booking company Trip.com Group for abusing its dominant market position, including confiscation of illegal income.
Apollo.lv · 25 Jul, 23:37
The hacker who humiliated spyware makers and was never caught
Phineas Fisher, one of the most famous hackers never caught, has executed multiple attacks on spyware makers and banks, while their true identity remains unknown.
TechCrunch · 25 Jul, 23:37
SpaceX eyes tower catch for next Starship after auspicious end to 13th flight
SpaceX's 13th Starship test flight ended with an intact splashdown in the Indian Ocean, and the company now plans to attempt catching the ship with the launch tower's mechanical arms on the next mission.
Ars Technica · 25 Jul, 22:38
Meta pauses rate limits for smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature
Meta has paused the rate limits on its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature after user feedback. The feature remains free for now as the company seeks a better approach.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 22:38
China Fines Trip.com Group €660 Million for Monopoly Abuse
Chinese regulator imposed a €660 million penalty on online travel agency Trip.com Group for abusing its dominant market position.
TVNET · 25 Jul, 22:38
Elon Musk's Boring Company reportedly raising funding at a $20 billion valuation
Elon Musk's tunneling startup The Boring Company is reportedly in talks to raise $4 billion at a $20 billion valuation, a significant jump from its $5.7 billion valuation in 2022.
TechCrunch · 25 Jul, 22:37
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Paramount and Warner Bros. Delay Merger
US media companies Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are postponing their planned merger, according to court documents filed by Paramount.
TVNET · 25 Jul, 21:37
Google basically confirms the Pixel 11 is getting a price hike
Google VP Shakil Barkat told 9to5 Google that the next Pixel phone will cost more due to soaring RAM prices, with the base model expected at $899 with 256GB storage.
The Verge · 25 Jul, 21:37
EU accuses TikTok of failing to protect minors’ safety
The European Commission has found that TikTok’s policies for minors do not meet the safety standards of the Digital Services Act, potentially leading to a fine up to 6% of annual revenue.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 21:37
Kalshi demands Netflix take down trailer for 'Prediction Games' documentary
Prediction market Kalshi sent a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix on Friday, demanding the removal of the trailer for the documentary 'Instadocs: The Prediction Games,' alleging it contains fabricated documents and false statements.
TechCrunch · 25 Jul, 20:38
The 20% rule for solar panels can help you save money in the long run
Adding 20% extra capacity to a home solar system can buffer against weather and usage spikes, potentially leading to savings via grid credits.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 20:37
Librarians Host Viral 'Avoiding AI' Workshops for People Fed Up With Big Tech
Librarians in the U.S. are running popular workshops teaching how to disable AI features on devices, responding to growing public frustration with forced AI integration.
TechCrunch · 25 Jul, 19:38
Airplane mode does speed up phone charging, but it's not worth it
Enabling airplane mode while charging can save 4-11 minutes, but the trade-off of losing connectivity and functionality makes it impractical compared to upgrading your charger.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 19:37
Survey: 67% of Latvian drivers spend up to 300 euros per month on car maintenance
According to a survey by Europcar and Norstat Latvija, 67% of Latvian drivers spend up to 300 euros per month on car maintenance.
TVNET · 25 Jul, 18:38
Synth historian Oli Freke: New drum machine book and a love for quality bicycles
Musician and journalist Oli Freke, known for his work on synthesizer history, has released 'Beat Gems', a visual history of drum machines. In an interview, he shares his tech habits and personal passions.
The Verge · 25 Jul, 18:38
How to Expand Storage on Your Android Phone Without a microSD Card
Modern Android phones often lack microSD slots, but you can still increase storage using cloud services, external SSDs, USB flash drives, or USB OTG adapters.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 18:37
Russian central bank cuts GDP growth forecast to zero, expects faster inflation
The Central Bank of Russia has lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 0.0–1.0% from 0.5–1.5% and raised its inflation forecast to 6–7%, citing fuel price surges triggered by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries.
Euronews · 25 Jul, 17:38
What You Lose When Switching from Android to iPhone
Switching from Android to iPhone brings many benefits, but longtime Android users should be aware of several trade-offs regarding notifications, navigation, keyboard, customization, and charging speed.
Engadget · 25 Jul, 17:37
3D-printed e-reader case shaped like a pistol challenges new gun-blocking software laws
Maker Luke Blackford created a 3D-printed e-reader case that looks like a handgun but cannot fire, highlighting potential false positives in proposed laws requiring 3D printers to block firearm-like objects.
The Verge · 25 Jul, 16:39
One fallen power line exposed a growing AI data center problem; here’s how to fix it
A power line failure near Washington, D.C., triggered over 3 GW of data centers to disconnect simultaneously, causing voltage fluctuations across the U.S. eastern grid. Experts warn such events will become more frequent as AI workloads grow and propose a battery-based system to help data centers ride through disruptions.
TechCrunch AI · 25 Jul, 16:38