Technology News Era

Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast — the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In today’s episode, Andrii and Linnea talk about a new European space mission, AI-generated podcasts, antiquated tech in German trains, and much more. In the interview section, we’re featuring a conversation with Oscar Kneppers, CEO of the Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship, or ACE. He’s also founded several well-known local publications and one of the country’s major startup accelerators, Rockstart. Here are the stories and… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/a6AlDsr

Big change is here for big tech — and it might just improve your life along the way. First, some context is in order. For the past several years, tech companies and EU regulators have been battling it out over app stores, fair access, and the digital market in general. This led to the EU bringing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to life in 2022. While the DMA is complex and multifaceted, its rules are broadly aimed at making the digital economy fairer and more open. This means companies that are often gatekeepers to digital content, such as Apple and… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/tbMqAC9

US-based VCs are holding tight to a large amount of cash as they navigate a capricious startup environment and investment landscape. While deemed an important enough technology to warrant export restrictions, quantum computing is not high on the list of safe investment bets, and has also suffered from the drop in funding activity. However, across the pond, things are looking brighter for the European quantum ecosystem. That is according to a report released today by Finnish quantum hardware company IQM, along with VCs OpenOcean and Lakestar. The report analyses VC investment, government funding, as well as national quantum strategies. Globally,… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/vgGW19M

Dutch challenger bank bunq has reported its first full year of profit, a welcome cash cushion as the company plans its UK relaunch. Bunq, which is Europe’s second largest neobank, said it made €53.1mn in net profit in 2023, a dramatic jump from the €16.5mn loss it incurred the year previous. Riding this momentum, bunq has now submitted its application for an E-Money Institution (EMI) licence in the UK, three years since Brexit invalidated the one it had.  “The UK is home to the second-highest number of digital nomads globally, so naturally, we want to be there,” said bunq founder… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/bqNy8Mv

On the shallow surface of Instagram, Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas was a quintessential influencer. The flamboyant Nigerian portrayed a lavish lifestyle of private jets, luxury cars, and designer clothes. His glamorous adventures had earned him over 2 million followers and millions of dollars. But his posts concealed a darker reality. The 41-year-old was “one of the most prolific money launderers in the world,” according to the FBI. By his own admission, Hushpuppi conspired to launder over $300mn in just 18 months. One of his alleged clients was a certain Kim Jong Un — the supreme leader of North Korea. With his… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/rd549ui

Nuclear energy is undergoing a renaissance. Across Europe, governments are pouring huge amounts of money into new power plants while startups are busily working on smaller, modular alternatives.  Most of these plants rely on uranium, the radioactive metal that fuelled the atomic age (and contributed to a couple of catastrophic meltdowns). However, Swiss startup Transmutex wants to reinvent nuclear energy using a lesser-known element called thorium.  Uranium’s forgotten cousin Thorium is a lead-like metal that is mildly reactive, but four times more abundant than uranium and a lot safer to handle. However, thorium is a fissionable material but not a… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/ideQqVM