European vibe-coding startup Lovable has raised $400 million in a Series C round, confirming earlier reports that the company was seeking a new funding round at a valuation of $13.3 billion.

Menlo Ventures and the Scaleup Europe Fund led the round, with more than a dozen additional investors participating. The new funding comes just eight months after Lovable raised $330 million at a $6.6 billion valuation.

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Rapid Growth Drives New Funding

Lovable reached $500 million in annualised revenue in June, highlighting the rapid growth of its AI-powered software development platform. The company says its projects now number around 60 million and attract 900 million monthly visitors.

Alongside its growth in users, Lovable has expanded its technology infrastructure. The company has developed its own AI model while continuing to offer access to other leading models.

In June, Lovable also signed a multiyear agreement with Google Cloud that is expected to increase its usage of the platform fivefold.

Expanding Beyond Vibe Coding

Lovable has also begun investing in other European startups working on AI-powered development tools. Among them is Danish company Atech, which is developing software designed to bring vibe coding into hardware development.

With the latest funding, Lovable is now positioned to further expand its platform and infrastructure as demand for AI-assisted software development continues to grow.

More than 640,000 Grubhub drivers and customers are set to receive a share of $23.8 million following allegations that the food delivery company misled workers about potential earnings and engaged in other deceptive practices.

The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it is distributing the money to 640,038 consumers, with most receiving checks by mail and some getting payments through PayPal. The payouts follow a lawsuit filed by the FTC and Illinois attorney general in December 2024.

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Settlement Follows Multiple Allegations

The complaint accused Grubhub of misleading drivers about potential earnings, restricting customers’ access to their accounts and funds, and listing restaurants on its platform without their permission.

According to the complaint, Grubhub at one point listed as many as 325,000 restaurants that were not affiliated with the company. Regulators alleged that these listings helped make the platform appear larger, while some restaurants that requested removal were allegedly encouraged to enter paid partnerships instead.

Under the settlement, Grubhub must make several changes to its business practices. Driver earnings claims must be more accurate, customers must have a way to challenge account restrictions that prevent access to their accounts or funds, and restaurants must give consent before being listed on the platform.

Grubhub Faces Further Legal Pressure

The payout comes only a month after a federal judge gave final approval to a separate settlement worth nearly $25 million involving about 60,000 Grubhub delivery drivers in California.

Other food delivery companies have also faced scrutiny over their treatment of drivers, customers and restaurants. DoorDash has faced criticism and legal challenges over driver compensation, while Uber Eats has faced allegations involving customer charges and restaurant listings.

Twitch will allow Amazon to use creators’ content to train generative AI models, with streamers automatically included unless they manually opt out. The policy has sparked backlash across the Twitch community, particularly because livestream recordings contain extensive amounts of creators’ voices, video and other original material that could be valuable for training AI systems.

Twitch Defends The Opt-Out Approach

During a livestream on the official Twitch channel, Head of Community Mary Kish and Chief Product Officer Mike Minton addressed viewers who questioned why participation was not opt-in. Minton acknowledged that this was one of the main complaints in the chat, saying that if participation were voluntary from the start, “nobody would opt in.”

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Twitch’s community has generally been sceptical of generative AI, partly because many AI systems have been trained on books, images, videos and other online material without creators’ consent. Against that backdrop, the company announced the change by highlighting a new setting that allows users to opt out of having their channel content used to train generative AI models across Amazon.

Questions Remain Over Existing Content

The announcement also raised questions about whether Twitch content had already been used for AI training. When a viewer asked whether Amazon had previously used their videos, Minton said he did not know what content Amazon had already used for model training.

Twitch noted that its approach is not unique. Meta, for example, uses public content from Facebook and Instagram to train its AI models, although the options for opting out vary by country and platform settings. Kish said Twitch’s decision to provide an opt-out option reflects feedback from its creator community.

How To Opt Out

Creators who do not want their content used for Amazon’s generative AI training can disable the feature through their channel settings. Users need to open their channel settings rather than the Creator Dashboard, select Security And Privacy, find Training For Generative AI and switch the option off.

The policy puts the decision in creators’ hands, but only after they take action to exclude themselves, raising broader questions about who should control the use of livestream content as generative AI continues to expand.

Anthropic has begun watermarking content generated by Claude, adding invisible code that allows AI-generated material to be identified by computer systems.

The move is part of the company’s effort to comply with the European Union’s AI Act Transparency Code, which requires AI-generated or AI-edited content to carry machine-readable indications. While regulators have welcomed greater transparency, some Claude users have raised concerns about the potential impact at work and in education.

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Users Question Who Could Be Affected

Reddit discussions have focused on whether watermarking could expose people who use Claude for tasks such as reorganising text, summarising documents or finding alternative wording.

Critics argue that users could be identified even when AI played only a supporting role. Others have pushed back, saying the issue arises mainly when people present AI-generated material as entirely their own.

Some users have also questioned whether watermarking amounts to Anthropic taking credit for their work, arguing that they provide the instructions, context and revisions while Claude simply acts as a tool.

Supporters counter that the technology is not about ownership but about identifying AI-generated material when its use could have important consequences.

Transparency Vs Privacy

Not all criticism centres on people trying to hide their use of AI. Some users have questioned the broader principle of watermarking, pointing to the irony of requiring attribution for AI-generated content when leading models were trained on large amounts of human-created material.

Despite these concerns, many Reddit users support watermarking as a practical way to distinguish AI-generated content from human work.

At the heart of the debate is a broader question for generative AI: as these tools become part of everyday work and education, how much responsibility should users have to disclose when they rely on them?

Cyprus’ involvement in space was once seen as an unlikely dream. Fourteen years later, the country is preparing its first small satellite and has become increasingly connected to major international space networks.

Founded in 2012, the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) has played a central role in developing the sector and establishing links with organisations including NASA, the European Space Agency and Lockheed Martin.

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From Childhood Fascination To National Ambition

CSEO President George Danos developed an interest in space as a child, when his parents bought him his first telescope. After studying at Imperial College London and spending around 15 years working abroad, including with Richard Branson’s Virgin group, he returned to Cyprus and founded CSEO.

One of the organisation’s early goals was to bring Cyprus into the European space community. The country became an ESA cooperating state in 2016 and has since progressed to associate membership.

International cooperation has expanded further, with CSEO developing links with space agencies and researchers in the US, Japan, France, Italy, Israel and the UK. NASA’s then chief scientist James Green also visited Cyprus in 2018 to mentor teams participating in space innovation competitions.

Rather than competing with larger space powers, Danos said, CSEO’s role is to connect Cyprus to the international space ecosystem.

Building A Space Sector

CSEO focuses on four areas: education, innovation and start-ups, research and development, and international cooperation. Its Nicosia facilities include satellite manufacturing and testing equipment, a thermal-vacuum chamber, vibration-testing systems, an ISO-7 clean room and mission-control and communications facilities.

Research covers space health and space weather. Work with the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics examines how space conditions affect genes, while artificial intelligence and modelling are being used to study the effects of solar activity on satellites, telecommunications and electricity networks.

First Satellite Nears Completion

A major milestone is now approaching, with CSEO’s first CubeSat nearing completion and discussions under way with launch providers. Once in orbit, its camera will demonstrate technology for detecting wildfires, while additional payloads will focus on space health and space weather. One satellite cannot provide a full wildfire monitoring service, Danos noted. A larger constellation would eventually be needed to turn the technology into a comprehensive service.

Looking further ahead, he wants to develop an international satellite constellation carrying different sensors to study the Sun’s effects on Earth and climate.

Could A Cypriot Go Into Space?

A Cypriot astronaut remains a long-term ambition, although Danos believes such a mission should have a clear scientific or economic purpose. “The goal of having a Cypriot into space is important,” he said, stressing that it would require cooperation between government, industry, academia and NGOs.

For now, CSEO is focused on strengthening Cyprus’ research capabilities, developing local expertise and expanding international partnerships. “Our country has made great strides in space and the future ahead looks great,” Danos said.

Cyprus’ summer court recess is a “very good” system that serves several purposes, according to Nicosia Bar Association chairman Stefanos Skordis, who said there is no need to change the current arrangement.

The Supreme Court and district courts observe a summer recess from July 10 to September 9. While trials are generally not held during this period, judges can still hear urgent cases and deal with other judicial matters when required.

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Recess Allows Courts To Prepare For New Year

Skordis said the summer period should not be viewed simply as a holiday, as judges and lawyers continue working on paperwork, pending matters and preparations for the new judicial year.

He also noted that similar arrangements exist in other countries, with courts limiting hearings or introducing special procedures for urgent cases during the summer.

Procedural deadlines generally exclude the summer recess, apart from the final seven days of the period, unless a court decides otherwise.

Similar Systems Across Europe

Several European countries operate comparable systems. Greece has special summer court divisions from July 1 to September 15, while Spain generally treats August as a non-working month for judicial proceedings, with exceptions for urgent cases. Italy also limits proceedings during August, mainly continuing to hear labour disputes.

Belgian courts generally close from July 1 to August 31, while Ireland, which shares a common-law tradition with Cyprus, limits court sittings during judicial holidays but allows special hearings for urgent matters.

A similar approach is followed by the Court of Justice of the European Union, where proceedings are generally suspended during its judicial holiday from July 16 to August 31, unless urgent circumstances require otherwise.

Paralimni’s town centre is moving closer to a major redevelopment after the municipality secured planning permission for a project aimed at modernising the area and boosting commercial activity.

Paralimni-Deryneia municipality said the permit was issued on August 10, clearing an important step in its wider development programme. Plans include resurfacing roads, upgrading pavements, adding trees and green spaces, creating service areas and increasing parking capacity.

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The project is intended to make the town centre more accessible and functional for residents, businesses and visitors while preserving Paralimni’s local identity, history and traditions.

Revised Plans Retain Vehicle Access

A key change from the original proposal is the decision to retain vehicle access through the centre instead of fully pedestrianising the area. The revised plans were submitted in 2025 following a public consultation on traffic management.

Proposed changes include new one-way systems on Griva Digeni, Constantinoupoleos, Tassou Markou and Kolokotroni streets, alongside improvements to paved areas, greenery, public spaces and parking.

Project costs have also evolved as the plans have been developed. A government programme announced in 2025 allocated €11.2 million for the square and wider town-centre redevelopment, while more recent estimates put the square at €4 million plus VAT and the wider redevelopment at €7 million plus VAT.

Construction cannot begin yet, as the municipality must complete detailed drawings and technical studies before applying for a building permit and securing the remaining approvals.

New Square And Parking Facility Planned

A separate project will create a new public square near the Ayios Georgios church. Plans include an events area, park, monument spaces and extensive greenery, with accessibility a key priority. The municipality aims to launch the construction tender during the first quarter of 2027.

Meanwhile, construction is already under way on a three-storey multi-storey car park on Antonis Papadopoulos Street. The €6.76 million facility will provide 296 parking spaces, including 17 for people with disabilities and three for electric vehicles, as well as a lift.

The car park is being built under an 18-month contract awarded to N. Gavriel & Sons Ltd, with five-sixths of its construction cost financed by the Department of Town Planning and Housing.

Together, the town-centre redevelopment, new square and parking facility form part of a broader programme to transform central Paralimni and strengthen its role as a commercial and social hub.

The Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) has taken another step forward after Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (Admie) submitted an investment request for the Cyprus-Israel electricity link to the energy regulators of both countries.

Marking the next stage of the project under the European Union’s Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) framework, the application comes amid renewed efforts to advance the strategic connection between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. French infrastructure investment group Meridiam recently became the majority shareholder in the GSI project company, while Greek and Israeli officials have also stepped up discussions on the Cyprus-Israel section.

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Investment Framework Moves To Regulatory Review

Admie said the request follows completion of the required cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cross-border cost allocation proposal (CBCA). Authorities and grid operators in Cyprus and Israel were consulted during the studies, which also incorporated updated forecasts for electricity demand, renewable energy development and future grid requirements.

According to the findings, the Cyprus-Israel interconnection remains economically viable under all scenarios examined. The project is also expected to strengthen electricity supply security, support renewable energy integration and connect the eastern Mediterranean electricity market more closely with the wider European grid.

Regulators in Cyprus and Israel will now formally assess the investment request and jointly determine how the project’s costs will be allocated between the two countries and recovered through regulated revenues.

Following approval of the investment framework, the project can move towards a final investment decision, allowing financing arrangements to proceed. Admie also plans to attract additional investors to the Cyprus-Israel section, following the model used for the Greece-Cyprus leg.

1,000MW Link To Connect Cyprus And Israel

Designated by the EU as a Project of Common Interest, GSI will have a transmission capacity of 1,000MW using a 500kV high-voltage direct current system. A planned submarine cable between Cyprus and Israel will stretch approximately 324 kilometres at depths of up to 2,400 metres, allowing electricity to flow in both directions.

Last week, Energy Minister Michael Damianos welcomed Meridiam’s entry into the project and said Cyprus would await the European Investment Bank’s due diligence assessment before considering whether the Republic should become a shareholder.

Separately, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US International Development Finance Corporation chief executive Ben Black to prioritise GSI, citing its importance for regional energy security and cooperation.

Silicon Valley leaders have long argued that artificial intelligence will make technology and services dramatically cheaper. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has described a future where intelligence becomes extremely inexpensive, while Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has predicted that AI and robotics will create greater abundance and drive down costs.

So far, those benefits have yet to materialise at scale. AI adoption remains relatively slow, while the enormous investment needed for data centres and AI infrastructure is putting pressure on electricity prices, supply chains and other costs. For the Federal Reserve, this creates a difficult balancing act: AI could eventually boost productivity and reduce inflation, but its current buildout is contributing to higher prices.

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OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji said AI needs to be adopted by organisations and generate measurable value before its broader economic impact becomes visible in productivity statistics.

AI Adoption Remains Uneven

Capital spending on AI infrastructure in the U.S. is expected to reach $581 billion this year, according to Goldman Sachs Research, with global investment potentially reaching $1 trillion.

Despite the scale of spending, adoption remains far from universal. A May survey by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 17% to 20% of U.S. businesses reported using AI, with adoption significantly higher among large companies.

Companies that have implemented AI at scale also highlight the challenges. Julie Averill, former CIO of Lululemon, said successful deployment requires changes in employee behaviour and trust in the technology. OpenAI has observed a similar divide: its most advanced business users deploy AI at around eight times the rate of average companies.

Why Productivity Gains May Take Time

Economists point to the limits of automation. AI can perform individual tasks effectively, but many jobs combine tasks that are difficult to automate.

Stanford professor Charles Jones refers to these as “weak links”. Radiology, for example, involves interpreting scans but also communicating with patients and working with colleagues. AI can automate part of the job without eliminating the profession itself.

As a result, the full economic impact of AI may not become clear until businesses adopt the technology more broadly and reorganise their operations around it.

AI Adds To The Fed’s Policy Challenge

AI’s economic impact has become part of the Federal Reserve’s policy debate. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh has argued that AI could eventually become a significant disinflationary force by increasing productivity and strengthening U.S. competitiveness.

Other officials are more cautious. In July, the Fed kept interest rates at 3.5% to 3.75%, while some officials expressed concern that AI infrastructure spending could add to inflationary pressures.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari pointed to massive data-centre investment as a new source of demand. Household electricity prices rose 10% in the two years through July, compared with a 6.2% increase in overall consumer prices. Meanwhile, shortages of chips and other AI components are pushing up costs. JPMorgan Chase estimates that DRAM prices could rise 400% by the end of 2026 compared with 2024.

Warsh has consequently adopted a more cautious tone, saying that while AI investment is laying the groundwork for future growth, the timing and scale of its economic effects remain difficult to predict.

For the Fed, the challenge is clear: AI could eventually deliver major productivity gains, but the cost of building that future is already showing up in the economy.

A hot and exceptionally dry summer is disrupting nuclear power generation across Europe, forcing governments and energy companies to take extraordinary measures to maintain electricity supplies.

In Romania, state-owned Nuclearelectrica warned that it could shut down its last operating reactor as water levels in the Danube continue to fall. The country has declared an energy emergency through August and has resorted to measures including dredging the river and sinking rock-filled barges. Romanian naval forces also carried out a controlled underwater explosion to improve water flow to the cooling systems of the Cernavoda nuclear plant.

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Romania’s two nuclear reactors typically generate around a fifth of the country’s electricity. Hungary has seen some relief after rainfall raised Danube water levels, allowing another turbine at the Paks nuclear plant to restart. Two of its eight turbines are now operating, with the plant supplying nearly half of the country’s electricity.

France Faces Heat, Drought And Jellyfish Disruptions

France is facing similar challenges. Nuclear power provides around 70% of its electricity, but EDF has reduced output at several reactors because of environmental conditions. Three reactors at the Gravelines plant were also shut down after a large influx of jellyfish triggered automatic safety measures.

France’s nuclear power plants have faced repeated disruptions this summer amid extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Because many nuclear plants rely on rivers or coastal waters for cooling, low water levels and unusually high temperatures can directly affect their operations.

European governments are now considering measures including upgraded cooling systems and scheduling maintenance around periods of extreme heat.

Treating Extreme Heat As An Emergency

The U.K. has also stepped up its response. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee as the country prepared for temperatures of up to 38°C.

Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit analyst Gareth Remond-King said the decision to treat extreme heat as an emergency may have come “a little overdue,” arguing that drought, wildfires and rising temperatures point to a broader climate crisis.

Heat Could Weigh On Europe’s Economy

The impact extends beyond energy infrastructure. An analysis by Dutch bank Triodos estimated that Europe’s extreme summer heat could cost the economy around €180 billion, largely because of weaker labour productivity. Triodos’ analysis estimates the impact at roughly 1% of EU GDP, equivalent to the bloc’s expected economic growth for 2026.

Heat is affecting the economy through lower agricultural output, higher food and electricity prices, reduced energy production, transport disruption and declining worker productivity. The latest disruptions highlight how increasingly extreme weather can affect not only Europe’s energy security but also economic growth and critical infrastructure.