Business & Technology
NASA Tells Northrop Grumman to Stop Work on Lunar Gateway HALO Module
NASA has halted work on the Lunar Gateway's HALO module after shifting focus to a Moon base. Contractor Paragon was told to stop developing the life-support system.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 00:21
Investment expert Toms Kreicbergs: Saving and investing improves life, not restricts it
Investment expert Toms Kreicbergs believes people need to see that saving and investing will make life better, not limit it. He comments on current debates about the second pension pillar.
Žurnāls Ir · 19 Jun, 00:21
Rivian faces class action lawsuit over self-driving claims in early vehicles
A class action lawsuit alleges Rivian misled customers about the autonomous driving capabilities of its first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 23:22
US Gas Prices Drop Below $4 for First Time Since March After Iran Deal
Following the preliminary US-Iran agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, average US gas prices fell below $4 per gallon, offering some relief to drivers, though prices remain higher than before the conflict.
The Guardian World · 18 Jun, 23:21
OpenAI Hires AI Pioneer Noam Shazeer and Former White House Policy Chief Dean Ball Ahead of IPO
OpenAI is adding two heavyweights — Google DeepMind legend Noam Shazeer and former Trump White House AI policy official Dean Ball — as it prepares for its public debut, with Ball set to lead a new Strategic Futures team.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 23:20
OpenAI brings in two heavy hitters ahead of its IPO
OpenAI has hired Noam Shazeer, a co-author of the landmark 'Attention Is All You Need' paper, and Dean Ball, a former Trump White House AI policy official. Shazeer joins from Google DeepMind, while Ball will lead a new Strategic Futures team.
TechCrunch AI · 18 Jun, 23:20
Instagram now allows unique captions for each carousel slide
Instagram has added a long-requested feature, letting users write separate captions for every photo in a carousel post.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 22:21
Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Singles View AI Negatively in Dating Context
A new survey by Match Group reveals that 47% of U.S. singles have a negative opinion of AI in romantic settings, while 64% see potential benefits.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 22:21
HBO Max annual plans get 28% discount through July 15, 2026
HBO Max is offering a 28% discount on annual subscription plans, reducing the ad-supported tier to $78.99, the Standard plan to $132.99, and the Premium tier to $164.99 per year.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 22:20
Rivian owners sue over false promises on self-driving features
A class action lawsuit alleges Rivian misled customers about the autonomous driving capabilities of its first-generation R1T and R1S vehicles, claiming they would achieve Level 3 autonomy but failing to deliver.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 21:21
Apple opens up third-party app stores in Brazil
Following an agreement with Brazil's competition regulator, Apple is allowing alternative app stores on iOS devices. A 5% Core Technology Fee will apply to apps distributed outside the App Store.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 21:20
Chinese company unveils self-driving toilet that comes to you
A Chinese company called Yueban has introduced the Xiaoban, an autonomous toilet that navigates through homes and care facilities using lidar and ultrasonic sensors, similar to robot vacuums.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 21:20
Karamo Brown Launches Kē, a Wellness App Featuring His AI Digital Clone
Life coach Karamo Brown has released the Kē app, offering personalized fitness and meal plans, meditation, community support, and an AI-powered digital clone for real-time advice.
TechCrunch AI · 18 Jun, 20:21
The Onion's Relaunched InfoWars to Debut on July 2nd
The satirical news outlet The Onion has announced that its revamped InfoWars platform, acquired from Alex Jones, will launch on July 2nd as a comedy and cultural hub, alongside a $100,000 donation to Sandy Hook families.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 20:21
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Saeima supports simplified micro-enterprise tax regime for individuals
The Saeima has approved in the first reading amendments introducing a simplified tax payment system for individuals providing services to other individuals with an annual turnover not exceeding €25,000.
TVNET · 18 Jun, 20:21
Texas Government Data Breach Exposes 3 Million Driver’s Licenses and Passports
A data breach at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has compromised over 3 million driver's licenses and passport numbers, the state's attorney general announced. The incident is among the largest data breaches in Texas this year.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 20:20
Expert: Tech is profoundly political, reveals European and US values
Rayna Stamboliyska says that tech regulation reflects political values, citing the US export ban on Anthropic's latest AI tools as an example.
France 24 · 18 Jun, 20:20
Google Calendar now lets you use any color you want for your events
Google Calendar has significantly expanded its event color options, offering up to 200 colors, including an RGB color picker for web users.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 19:21
Humanoid robots and smart homes take centre stage at VivaTech 2026 in Paris
Paris hosts VivaTech 2026, showcasing practical AI applications from humanoid robots by Unitree to Samsung's smart refrigerators, highlighting growing industry interest.
Euronews · 18 Jun, 19:20
Silicon Valley's Elite Financial Advisers Say This Era of Wealth Is Different
Private wealth managers serving high-net-worth tech clients report increased activity as employees and early investors at SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic anticipate major liquidity events. The definition of wealth has shifted, with clients forming family offices earlier and employing sophisticated tax strategies.
Wired · 18 Jun, 18:22
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Readiness for VAT reduction on food confirmed – pilot project starts July 1
During a working seminar at the Ministry of Economics, all involved parties confirmed their readiness to apply a reduced VAT rate of 12% on bread, fresh milk, poultry meat, and eggs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
TVNET · 18 Jun, 18:21
Tech Worker-Backed PAC Brings $5M Knife to Big Tech’s $100M Gunfight
A new super PAC, Guardrails Alliance, launched with $5 million to advocate for AI legislation, taking on deep-pocketed opponents like Leading the Future with over $100 million from tech leaders.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 18:20
Budapest’s brightest: 10 Hungarian startups making us take notice
Hungary's capital has become a significant innovation hub in Central Europe, with 10 promising startups founded since 2021 making an impact in fields like agtech, robotics, cybersecurity, and AI.
EU-Startups · 18 Jun, 17:22
Winners Announced in the “Latvian Motorcycle of the Year 2026” Competition
The best motorcycle models of 2026 in Latvia were awarded in 15 categories, with the BMW R 1300 R taking the main prize.
Jauns.lv · 18 Jun, 17:22
Akai refreshes MPC One and Key 37 workstations with faster processors and more memory
Akai has released updated versions of the MPC One and MPC Key 37, featuring 8-core processors, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage, promising faster load times and support for larger projects.
Engadget · 18 Jun, 17:21
Spotify Launches Reserved Ticket Sales for Superfans – First Access to Live Concerts
Spotify announced a new feature called 'Reserved by Spotify' that holds two concert tickets for top fans before general sale. The system launches in the US for Premium subscribers, starting with artist Role Model.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 17:21
Amazon Prime Day 2026 kicks off June 23 – The Verge offers comprehensive guide
Amazon Prime Day 2026 starts June 23 and runs until early June 27. The Verge has compiled a guide featuring top deals, category roundups, and shopping tips.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 17:20
Latvia to introduce compensation mechanism for losses caused by military incidents
The Saeima has adopted amendments providing state compensation for direct losses from military incidents, including those caused by foreign military equipment.
Dienas Bizness · 18 Jun, 16:21
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Bundle Nearly Half Off for Prime Day
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle is on sale for $182.97, the lowest price ever for this combo. The device features a color E Ink screen, ideal for comics and illustrated books.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 16:21
Ghost in the Shell keyboard: a stunning blend of anime art and competitive gaming tech
Iqunix has released two Ghost in the Shell-themed mechanical keyboards based on the EV63, featuring 8K polling, Hall effect switches, and designs inspired by the 1995 film, at a premium price of $249.
The Verge · 18 Jun, 15:21
Pixi's new iOS app turns text messages into interactive AR experiences
Pixi launched an iOS app that uses AI-powered AR characters in iMessage, which react to surroundings and emotions, making digital communication more dynamic.
TechCrunch · 18 Jun, 15:21
Samsung The Frame Pro 2026 Review: Anti-Glare Upgrade and AI Enhancements Make It the Best Art TV Yet
Samsung's 2026 The Frame Pro earns a 9/10 rating from Wired, praised for its improved anti-glare coating, intuitive new Tizen OS, and exceptional Neo QLED picture quality. However, the price jumps to $2,000, and access to the full art library requires a monthly subscription.
Wired · 18 Jun, 15:21
EY's Jad Shimaly on how AI is reshaping business and the workplace
In an interview with France 24 at VivaTech, EY executive Jad Shimaly explains how artificial intelligence is already boosting productivity, transforming recruitment and consulting.
France 24 · 18 Jun, 15:20
Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75% as Iran conflict weighs on economy
The Bank of England kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, as policymakers assess the economic fallout from the Iran conflict and rising energy costs.
The Guardian World · 18 Jun, 14:22
New €500 million growth fund E2D targets European DefenceTech scaling gap
VC firms Earlybird and AVP launched E2D, a €500 million growth fund dedicated to dual-use and defence technology companies, aiming to provide European capital for scale-up and reduce reliance on US investors.
EU-Startups · 18 Jun, 14:22
13 Best Essential Oil Diffusers 2026: Tested and Reviewed
Wired editors tested over a dozen essential oil diffusers and highlight top picks for various needs, including the Urpower Aroma, Pura Smart, and Aera.
Wired · 18 Jun, 14:21