Business & Technology (231)

France fears cheap energy may end up powering US tech giants

French tech leaders and politicians are concerned that the country's strategic electricity supply could be used by American AI companies, undermining France's edge in the AI race.

Politico Europe · 16 Jul, 17:37

Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 to Rival Anthropic's Opus 4.8, Sources Say

Chinese AI lab Moonshot is set to release Kimi K3, a model with 2–3 trillion parameters that may match or exceed Anthropic's Opus 4.8. The company is also raising capital at a $31.5 billion valuation.

TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 17:36

Moonshot AI Prepares Powerful Open-Source Model Kimi K3 to Rival Anthropic's Opus 4.8

Chinese AI lab Moonshot AI is set to release its new open-source model Kimi K3, which is expected to match or surpass Anthropic's closed-source Opus 4.8 in performance and become the largest open-weight AI model from China.

TechCrunch AI · 16 Jul, 17:36

Email Remains the Top Attack Vector for Startups: Five Mistakes Founders Make

Startups often neglect email security, but data shows phishing is the most common initial attack vector, and a single compromised inbox can destroy an early-stage company.

EU-Startups · 16 Jul, 16:37

Ninja's Crispi Microwave Combines Microwave and Air Fryer Functions

Ninja introduces its first microwave, the Crispi, which also serves as an air fryer. Available for $449, it offers a flatbed design and multiple presets to heat and crisp food.

The Verge · 16 Jul, 16:36

EU orders Google to open Android and Search to rivals

The European Union has ordered Google to give competitors greater access to Android and Google Search under the Digital Markets Act.

The Verge · 16 Jul, 15:38

XPeng Unveils Budget EV L03 with Ferrari-like Styling and Competitive Specs

Chinese EV maker XPeng has launched its global budget model L03, priced from €35,600, featuring up to 320-mile range, fast charging, and a design reminiscent of the Ferrari Luce.

Wired · 16 Jul, 15:37

Paris-based Syntetica Raises €26.1 Million to Industrialise Nylon Recycling Technology

French deep-tech Syntetica has secured €26.1 million to build its first commercial demo plant with Michelin, aiming to recycle mixed nylon textile waste in a single process.

EU-Startups · 16 Jul, 15:37

Tet to cease paid terrestrial TV service from next year

From 1 January 2027, Tet will no longer provide paid terrestrial television service due to the expiry of its rights.

LSM · 16 Jul, 15:37

UK Officially Nationalizes British Steel

The UK government announced on Thursday it has fully nationalized British Steel, taking the company into state ownership after taking over its day-to-day management from China's Jingye Group last year. This is the first time since 1988 that the company is state-owned.

Dienas Bizness · 16 Jul, 15:37

World's most profitable airlines: Record profits meet Iran war headwinds

Top nine carriers earned $25.11 billion collectively, but the Iran war has closed airspace and spiked jet fuel prices, threatening to halve industry profits.

Euronews Business · 16 Jul, 15:36

Instagram to Alert Parents If Teens Ask AI Chatbot About Suicide or Self-Harm

Meta is rolling out a new safety feature that will notify parents if their teenager asks Instagram's built-in AI chatbot about suicide or self-harm.

Sky News · 16 Jul, 14:38

Chery Tiggo 9 Covers 1,029 km Across Baltics on One Tank and One Charge

In a three-day journey, a Chery Tiggo 9 plug-in hybrid covered 1,029 kilometers across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on a single tank of fuel and one battery charge, validating the manufacturer's claimed maximum range in real-world conditions.

iAuto.lv · 16 Jul, 14:38

Google Play removes Russian apps VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and Max

Google Play has removed Russian social media apps VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, along with the messaging app Max, citing new EU sanctions.

Ukrainska Pravda (EN) · 16 Jul, 14:38

Ultrahuman's former hardware VP raises $5.5M for devices that control AI agents

Aina, a startup founded by ex-Ultrahuman hardware VP Apoorv Shankar, has raised $5.5 million to build action-oriented devices that control AI agents rather than just passively record. Its first product is Dune, a context-aware macro keypad.

TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 14:37

Omio Group to acquire Rail Europe, creating rail distribution giant

Berlin-based travel technology company Omio Group has agreed to acquire Rail Europe, a French rail distribution platform founded over 90 years ago. The deal combines Omio's multimodal booking platform with Rail Europe's extensive B2B network, aiming to create a global leader in rail distribution.

EU-Startups · 16 Jul, 13:36

airBaltic plans to raise short-term financing from bondholders

Latvia's national airline airBaltic is planning to raise short-term financing from its bondholders, Reuters reports, citing a company notice.

LSM (rus) · 16 Jul, 13:36

Cambridge's Silicon Microgravity secures €7.08 million to scale its GPS-free sensing and navigation tech

Cambridge-based startup Silicon Microgravity has raised €7.08 million to accelerate commercialization of its GPS-free sensor and navigation technology across defence, space, and semiconductor sectors.

EU-Startups · 16 Jul, 12:37

Netflix Releases VHS-Quality Version of 'Stranger Things' First Season

Netflix has launched a special 'VHS' edition of the first season of 'Stranger Things', designed to mimic the look and feel of watching a VHS tape.

Engadget · 16 Jul, 12:37

xAI sues user for generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes with Grok

xAI has filed a lawsuit against Terry Wayne Harwood, accusing him of using Grok to generate sexualized images of real people without their consent.

Engadget · 16 Jul, 11:38

Escaping Beijing: Why some young Chinese are quitting the capital

Amid economic slowdown and rising living costs, a growing number of young Chinese are leaving Beijing in search of a better quality of life and lower expenses elsewhere.

Al Jazeera · 16 Jul, 11:38

LIAA Expands Promotion of Latvian Regional Tourism, with Focus on Latgale

The Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) has significantly expanded communication activities this summer to boost tourism demand in Latvia's regions, especially Latgale, while moving some international activities from autumn to the summer season.

Latvijas Avīze · 16 Jul, 11:37

CUPRA Raval – A Small Electric Car with Big Character

CUPRA introduces the Raval, its smallest model built on the Volkswagen group's MEB+ platform. The car stands out with sporty design, practical trunk, and a range of up to 446 km.

Jauns.lv · 16 Jul, 11:37

Keeping a Separate Energy Ministry: A Security Issue, Not an Administrative One

The Latvian Wind Energy Association stresses that energy security is a matter of national security, not just administration, and advocates for retaining a separate Ministry of Energy.

Dienas Bizness · 16 Jul, 11:36

New Volkswagen ID. Cross: Electric Crossover with Up to 211 HP and 436 km Range

Volkswagen has unveiled the new ID. Cross electric crossover, available with two battery options and a range of up to 436 km. The model will hit the market in autumn 2026 with a starting price of around €28,000.

iAuto.lv · 16 Jul, 10:38

Audi Unveils Updated Q3: More Towing Capacity and Richer Equipment

Audi has launched the updated 2027 Q3 with enhanced standard features, increased towing capacity for the hybrid version, and new digital functions.

iAuto.lv · 16 Jul, 09:37

Latvia faces shortage of roofers; queue for services is several years

The Latvian Roofers Association reports an increasing shortage of professional roofers, leading to a waiting list of several years for work orders.

LSM (rus) · 16 Jul, 09:36

Riga Office Market Becomes Tenant-Driven as Supply Outpaces Demand

According to the latest “Latio” commercial property report for H1 2026, Riga’s office segment is firmly a tenant’s market due to an oversupply of new high-quality space and the rise of hybrid work. Landlords are compelled to offer discounts and flexible solutions to attract clients.

Dienas Bizness · 16 Jul, 08:38

The Race for AI Data Centers Arrives in India: Google's New Campus Raises Resource Concerns

India is building new AI data centers to secure a foothold in the global AI race, but Google’s new campus could strain the region’s already limited energy and water resources, causing anxiety among local residents.

The New York Times · 16 Jul, 08:36

First Human Treated with Gene Therapy Aimed at Reversing Cellular Ageing

A world-first gene therapy has been administered to a human, targeting the reversal of ageing in cells. The trial focuses on retinal cells to improve vision, and if proven safe, could pave the way for a new class of rejuvenation therapies.

The Guardian Science · 16 Jul, 07:38

Wall Street Stocks Rise on Favorable US Inflation Data; European Markets Mixed

US stock markets advanced on Wednesday following the release of favorable inflation data, while European exchanges showed varied movements without a clear trend.

Dienas Bizness · 16 Jul, 07:36

Fake seasonal online stores on the rise – LMT data shows record cyber threats

In June, LMT cybersecurity solutions blocked over 262 million threats, including a surge in fake stores and scam ads using artificial intelligence.

Dienas Bizness · 16 Jul, 06:36

Daniel Ek's body-scanning startup Neko Health raises another $700M

Neko Health, the health assessment startup co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, has secured $700 million in Series C funding.

TechCrunch · 16 Jul, 05:38

Engineer Compiles Definitive List of Computers in Jurassic Park

A Google engineer has cataloged every identifiable computer from the 1993 film Jurassic Park, revealing the production's attention to detail with machines like Thinking Machines CM-5 and SGI workstations.

Ars Technica · 16 Jul, 05:37