Business & Technology
A fifth of Latvia's economy still operates in the shadows
A new SSE Riga study shows Latvia's shadow economy stood at 21.8% of GDP last year, with envelope wages growing sharply while, unlike Lithuania, no real improvement is visible.
Žurnāls Ir · 26 Aug, 07:43
Tesla to recall millions of cars in China over deadly flush door handles
Tesla will recall three million vehicles from the Chinese market because its flush-mounted door handles can jam shut after severe crashes, trapping occupants. China has become the first country to ban such handles outright starting in 2027.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 07:38
Commodore and CD Projekt Red unveil Cyberpunk 2077-themed Commodore 64
Commodore has teamed up with CD Projekt Red to create the "Commodore 77," a Cyberpunk 2077-styled edition of its Commodore 64 Ultimate. Pre-orders are open for $377, though no shipping date has been announced.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 06:44
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El Niño Effect: Food Prices in Europe and Latvia Set to Climb
The El Niño climate phenomenon is behind a string of disruptions in European and Latvian food markets, and analysts warn this is likely to push food prices higher, especially toward the end of the year.
TVNET · 26 Aug, 06:43
Wages rise, but Latvia's shadow economy keeps growing
An SSE Riga study shows Latvia's shadow economy grew to 21.8% of GDP in 2025, with envelope wages remaining its largest component. Experts say rising prosperity alone has not reduced people's motivation to hide income, pointing instead to the need for tax policy changes.
Dienas Bizness · 26 Aug, 06:37
India's Ringg raises $10M from Peak XV to expand voice AI beyond phone calls
Indian voice AI startup Ringg has secured $10 million from Peak XV Partners, extending its Series A round to $15.5 million. The company, which processes 20 million call attempts monthly, is shifting from simple call automation toward more complex enterprise workflows.
TechCrunch AI · 26 Aug, 06:35
ChatGPT's task scheduling tool now available to free accounts
OpenAI has opened up its upgraded ChatGPT task scheduling feature to free account holders and added the ability to share scheduled tasks with others. Paid subscribers can now also trigger prompts automatically based on activity in Gmail, Slack and GitHub.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 05:39
Latvian government blocks wind farm project, risking hundreds of millions in damages
Latvia's Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday rejected a wind farm project by SIA "K2 Ventum" in Dienvidkurzeme, opening the door to litigation and potential losses of hundreds of millions of euros. Several ministers criticized the decision as legally and economically unfounded.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 05:36
Instagram rolls out First Draft tool that automatically trims Reels clips
Meta has added a new Instagram feature called First Draft that automatically cuts silences and pauses from video clips to simplify Reels editing. The tool will launch on iOS first.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 04:38
Robotics startup Generalist reaches $3B valuation after new funding
Robotics startup Generalist has reached a $3 billion valuation following an additional funding round led by 8VC. The company is building a universal AI model designed to operate a wide range of robots.
TechCrunch · 26 Aug, 04:37
Google's motion-sickness-easing Motion Assist feature begins rolling out on Android
Google has started rolling out Motion Assist, a feature that displays moving dots on screen to help reduce motion sickness while using a phone in a moving vehicle. It is currently appearing on Pixel phones running Android 17.
Ars Technica · 26 Aug, 03:42
CRKD unveils three Gibson guitar controllers for rhythm game Stage Tour
Peripheral maker CRKD has partnered with RedOctane Games to create three Gibson-branded guitar controllers for the upcoming rhythm game Stage Tour, launching December 10 on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders are open now.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 03:38
OpenAI loses data center chief as string of high-profile exits continues
OpenAI's head of data centers, Chris Malone, left the company last week, according to the Wall Street Journal, marking the latest in a string of over 13 executive departures this year.
TechCrunch AI · 26 Aug, 03:35
World's busiest spaceport set to quiet down as SpaceX shifts Falcon 9 to customer missions
SpaceX has wrapped up its run of Starlink launches from Florida aboard Falcon 9, whose first-stage booster just set a fleet record with its 37th flight. All future Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches from the site will now carry customer payloads instead.
Ars Technica · 26 Aug, 02:38
Mosseri says it's 'news to me' that Instagram staff limited his access to teen safety data
Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified in Meta's social media addiction trial, denying knowledge of employees being told to limit the data he saw about harm to teens. States' lawyers are seeking penalties of up to $1.4 trillion.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 02:36
Oil prices fall for second straight day as US pivots from Iran strike threats to sanctions
Oil prices dropped for a second consecutive day as traders concluded the risk of renewed military strikes on Iran had eased after Washington opted for broader economic sanctions instead, while Pakistani mediators reported constructive talks with Iran's president.
France 24 · 26 Aug, 01:38
Brazil fines TikTok $30 million over child data privacy violations
Brazilian authorities have fined TikTok owner ByteDance $30 million for illegally collecting children's personal data. The company has been ordered to delete the improperly obtained data as the country steps up scrutiny of major tech firms.
Al Jazeera · 26 Aug, 01:37
Garmin unveils Fenix 9 smartwatches with brighter screens and faster maps
Garmin has officially launched its rugged Fenix 9 smartwatch lineup, featuring brighter displays, quicker map panning and several new tracking features. The devices go up for order on August 28th.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 01:36
'Lego Skylines' announced — a new blocky city builder from Iceflake Studios
A new city-building video game called 'Lego Skylines' was revealed at Gamescom's Opening Night Live, developed by the studio currently working on 'Cities: Skylines II'. The game will launch on multiple platforms, though no release date has been set.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 01:35
NYT: US-Canada Trade War Explained by Bureau Chief
The New York Times' Canada bureau chief explains how the United States and Canada ended up in a trade war and how people north of the border are experiencing the tension.
The New York Times · 26 Aug, 00:41
Daniel Mullins' card game Inscryption discounted to just $8 on Steam
Online retailer Humble is currently selling the acclaimed deckbuilder Inscryption for nearly a third of its usual price. The discount comes as developer Daniel Mullins showcased his upcoming title Pony Island 2: Panda Circus at Gamescom 2026.
The Verge · 26 Aug, 00:41
X sends cease-and-desist letters to open-source project Nitter over alleged scraping
X Corp has sent cease-and-desist letters to Nitter, an open-source tool that let people read X posts without an account, demanding it shut down permanently. The flagship Nitter.net instance is now offline while its creator seeks legal advice.
TechCrunch · 26 Aug, 00:39
Beijing's humanoid robot games showcase both record sprints and fiery falls
At the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, robots broke Usain Bolt's 100-meter record but others fell apart or caught fire, highlighting both progress and limits in robotics. Experts say true autonomy remains far off.
Ars Technica · 26 Aug, 00:38
Remastered The Witcher 3 arrives September 29, free for existing owners
CD Projekt Red will release a remastered version of The Witcher 3, including both DLC expansions, on September 29 as a free upgrade for current owners. The studio also teased a third expansion, Songs of the Past, coming next year.
Engadget · 26 Aug, 00:36
Early Labor Day sales bring discounts on kitchen appliances
Ahead of the US Labor Day holiday, several retailers are offering discounts on popular kitchen tools and appliances, from cookware to coffee makers and multi-cookers. The discounts are smaller than Black Friday or Prime Day but still notable.
Wired · 26 Aug, 00:36
CD Projekt Red to release remastered version of The Witcher 3 on September 29
CD Projekt Red will launch a remastered edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on September 29, featuring improved visuals and combat. The upgrade will be free for existing owners, and the game will reach Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time.
The Verge · 25 Aug, 23:36
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Sharp Screens, Uneven Design
Wired's review of Google's new Pixel 11 Pro Fold praises its bright OLED displays while criticizing its asymmetrical design and a camera that falls short of other 'Pro' models.
Wired · 25 Aug, 22:43
Researchers study how to preserve glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent art from fading
US researchers have found that humidity is a major factor in the degradation of glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent pigments used in art, information that will help museums improve conservation practices. The research, which includes a collection of designer Stephen Sprouse's work, aims to support long-term preservation of such art and fashion pieces.
Ars Technica · 25 Aug, 22:41
Taiwan charges nine over smuggling of high-end AI servers to China
Taiwanese prosecutors on Monday charged nine people, including staff from Nvidia and Super Micro, over the illegal export of advanced AI servers to mainland China. The case adds fresh friction to the US-China rivalry over artificial intelligence technology.
The Guardian World · 25 Aug, 22:39
Stable Diffusion maker Stability AI raises $76 million in new funding
AI image generation company Stability AI has closed a $76 million Series B funding round backed by major music and gaming industry players, bringing its total funding to $232 million.
TechCrunch AI · 25 Aug, 22:37
Instagram rolls out 'First Draft' tool to speed up Reels editing
Instagram has launched "First Draft," a new feature that automatically assembles an initial cut of a Reel from selected clips in under 10 seconds. The tool is currently available only on iPhone.
TechCrunch · 25 Aug, 22:36
Microsoft unveils Xbox 25th anniversary Halo-themed accessories
Microsoft has opened pre-orders for a limited-edition Xbox 25th anniversary accessory collection styled after the original Halo special edition console. Most items come in translucent green to match the new Xbox Series X25 console.
The Verge · 25 Aug, 21:38
How and when to turn off Find My iPhone
Apple recommends disabling Find My only before selling, giving away or repairing a device, while it should never be turned off after a device is lost or stolen. The guide explains the safe way to do it and the risks to avoid.
Engadget · 25 Aug, 21:35
Canada to impose $19.9bn in counter-tariffs on US goods
Canada will impose tariffs worth $19.9bn on US goods starting September 8, after trade talks with Washington broke down. Hundreds of product categories are affected.
Al Jazeera · 25 Aug, 20:41
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026: what to expect from the trailer showcase
Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live returns Tuesday with teased looks at several major upcoming games, while CD Projekt Red revealed The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release.
The Verge · 25 Aug, 20:40
Why movie tie-in video games have all but disappeared
Video games released alongside blockbuster films used to be common practice, but the trend has nearly vanished in recent years. Ballooning production costs and lengthy development cycles are the main culprits.
Engadget · 25 Aug, 20:35