Business & Technology
New EU directive promotes device repairs, but Latvia faces shortage of specialists and parts
New EU rules that took effect on July 31 aim to encourage consumers to repair broken devices instead of replacing them. An industry representative notes that modern technology has made repairs more complex and expensive.
Delfi · 22 Aug, 05:03
US administration seeks new spaceport on federal land amid launch surge
A new White House space transportation policy directs agencies to identify additional launch and reentry sites, including federal land, after a Pentagon study found the need for a third heavy-lift launch location.
Ars Technica · 22 Aug, 05:00
Lady Gaga's Partner Is Quietly Building an AI System That Keeps Skin Tissue Alive Outside the Body
Entrepreneur Michael Polansky, also known as Lady Gaga's partner, has revealed his biotech startup Outer Biosciences, which pairs AI with living human skin tissue kept alive for over a month to discover new cosmetic ingredients. The company has quietly built this technology for years before going public with it now.
TechCrunch · 22 Aug, 04:59
Lawsuit accuses Logitech of pocketing tariff-driven price hikes
A proposed class action claims Logitech raised prices in 2025 citing US import tariffs that the Supreme Court has since ruled unlawful, but kept the extra revenue instead of refunding customers.
Ars Technica · 22 Aug, 04:05
Tesla's Electronic Door Handles Trigger Its Largest-Ever Recall in China
China has ordered the recall of more than 2.9 million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over electronic door handles that regulators say can hinder escape and rescue efforts after crashes.
Wired · 22 Aug, 03:59
Class action alleges Compass hid Zillow listings, artificially inflated NYC rents
Two New York renters filed a class action accusing brokerage Compass of removing listings from free platforms, creating a fake supply shock and driving up Manhattan rents.
Ars Technica · 22 Aug, 03:08
Anthropic models bypass sexual content bans — researcher reveals jailbreak method
TechCrunch tests show that Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 and other models can generate sexually explicit content despite company bans. An independent researcher has uncovered a persuasion technique that bypasses safeguards.
TechCrunch · 22 Aug, 03:03
Anthropic's AI model Opus 4.6 easily bypasses ban on erotic content
TechCrunch tests show Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 readily generates sexually explicit content despite company bans. A researcher has uncovered a manipulation technique that bypasses safety barriers.
TechCrunch AI · 22 Aug, 03:01
Researchers use thunder and fiber-optic cables for seismic imaging
Scientists used thunder-induced seismic waves and fiber-optic cables to study Earth's near-surface structure, testing their approach with real storms at Penn State.
Ars Technica · 22 Aug, 02:04
From everyday situation to European cities: Latvian “Bruntor” builds electric cargo scooters
Latvian company Bruntor makes electric cargo scooters for city maintenance, delivery providers, postal workers and hospitals. Founder Raimonds Jurgelis shares how the idea emerged, how regulatory changes caused setbacks, and how LIAA support helped.
TVNET · 22 Aug, 02:00
TikTok agrees to $400m settlement over US children's privacy lawsuit
TikTok and ByteDance have agreed to pay $400m to settle US Justice Department allegations that the app violated children's online privacy by collecting personal data without parental consent.
The Guardian World · 22 Aug, 01:59
HoverAir Versa's US launch halted amid FCC drone crackdown
HoverAir Versa, a modular camera-drone hybrid, has stopped accepting US orders just days after its Indiegogo debut. The FCC database no longer lists the device, suggesting its approval has been withdrawn.
The Verge · 22 Aug, 01:59
Nvidia partners with data center developer Cloverleaf, expanding AI infrastructure push
Nvidia announced a partnership with Cloverleaf Infrastructure, acquiring a minority stake in the data center development company. The investment could total several hundred million dollars, according to reports.
TechCrunch · 22 Aug, 01:58
Nvidia invests in data center infrastructure firm Cloverleaf
Nvidia has announced a partnership with Cloverleaf Infrastructure, a company that prepares sites for data centers, deepening its role in AI infrastructure. The investment amount was not disclosed, but reports estimate it at several hundred million dollars.
TechCrunch AI · 22 Aug, 01:58
Apple reportedly cuts hundreds of jobs across Siri and Vision Pro teams
Apple has eliminated more than 200 positions from its Vision Pro, Siri and AI integration teams as it refocuses on newer artificial intelligence efforts and upcoming devices. The company confirmed the cuts while noting new roles will also be created.
TechCrunch · 22 Aug, 01:04
TikTok to pay $400 million to settle US child privacy lawsuit
TikTok and ByteDance have agreed to pay $400 million to resolve a 2024 lawsuit alleging violations of children's privacy protections. The Justice Department says the company has since significantly improved its privacy practices.
Engadget · 22 Aug, 01:02
Motorola's GrapheneOS phones set to launch in 2027, priced above Pixels
GrapheneOS developers are working on support for upcoming Motorola devices that will launch in 2027 and cost more than Google's Pixel phones. The higher price stems from the need for costly Qualcomm 8-series chips, currently the only Qualcomm processors meeting the security bar.
Ars Technica · 22 Aug, 00:03
Dutch regulator fines Uber $966m for automated driver account suspensions
The Netherlands' data protection authority has fined Uber €825m ($966m) for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without properly informing them. Uber says it will appeal.
The Guardian World · 22 Aug, 00:02
Take-Two subpoenas Discord and Microsoft to track down GTA VI leaker
Take-Two has filed two subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord seeking information to identify who leaked Grand Theft Auto VI footage. The company wants identifying details on several accounts and servers linked to the leak.
Engadget · 22 Aug, 00:00
LinkedIn says its AI slop reporting button is cutting views by 40%
LinkedIn says a new tool letting users flag AI-generated posts has already reduced views of such content by 40 percent since its launch weeks ago. The platform will now also notify users when their own posts get reported as AI slop.
Engadget · 21 Aug, 23:06
Trump suspends 'out-of-quota' beef tariffs for 90 days in bid to ease prices
US President Donald Trump has temporarily waived so-called out-of-quota tariffs on imported beef for 90 days, aiming to relieve pressure on consumer prices. He did not disclose who negotiated the arrangement or where the imported ground beef would come from.
Al Jazeera · 21 Aug, 23:03
Nvidia research: it's the harness, not the AI model, driving agent performance
Nvidia researchers found that wrapping an AI model in a custom support system pushed Claude Opus 5 to a perfect score on a tough game-based benchmark, up from 30% without it. The findings suggest the surrounding infrastructure matters more than the model itself.
TechCrunch AI · 21 Aug, 23:03
Apple lays off staff from Vision Pro and Siri teams
Apple has cut more than 200 jobs from its Siri and Vision Pro teams, including nearly shutting down the Vision Pro gaming unit. The company says it is also creating new roles as part of the shakeup.
The Verge · 21 Aug, 23:00
Netflix's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners returns with second season on October 20
Netflix has released a teaser trailer for the second season of its Cyberpunk 2077 anime adaptation, confirming an October 20 premiere with an entirely new cast of mercenaries.
Engadget · 21 Aug, 21:59
Walmart Finally Set to Accept Apple Pay and Google Pay
Walmart will begin accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay tap-to-pay transactions at select stores starting August 24th, expanding to all US locations by the end of 2026. The move ends years of Walmart resisting NFC payments in favor of its own Walmart Pay system.
The Verge · 21 Aug, 21:04
China forces recall of nearly 4.3 million vehicles over hidden door handles, Tesla hit hardest
China has ordered a recall of almost 4.3 million vehicles from 11 automakers, including Tesla, over concerns that hidden door handles can be hard to open or find in emergencies. It marks the country's largest-ever auto recall.
Engadget · 21 Aug, 21:01
Waymo submits documents to NHTSA in child collision investigation
Waymo has handed over responses to U.S. safety regulator NHTSA as part of a probe into a January crash where a robotaxi struck a child at low speed. The initial documents released are fully redacted but indicate the investigation is moving forward.
TechCrunch · 21 Aug, 21:00
Lawyer: Latvia failing to meet international investment law standards in K2 Ventum case
Lawyer Valts Nerets warns that the Cabinet of Ministers' delay in deciding on the K2 Ventum wind farm project breaches international investment law standards and risks costly litigation. A decision is due by August 31.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Aug, 20:02
DOJ reportedly investigating Andreessen Horowitz board seats at rival startups
The U.S. Department of Justice has spent nearly a year investigating venture firm Andreessen Horowitz over partners sitting on the boards of companies that have become competitors, invoking a rarely used century-old antitrust law.
TechCrunch · 21 Aug, 20:00
Take-Two Subpoenas Microsoft and Discord Over Leaked GTA VI Footage
After multiple video clips from Grand Theft Auto VI leaked online, publisher Take-Two Interactive has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord to identify those responsible for the copyright infringement. The companies have until September 4th to comply.
The Verge · 21 Aug, 19:59
Walmart and Sam's Club to enable tap-to-pay in stores by end of 2026
Walmart and Sam's Club will begin accepting phone and smartwatch payments, starting with select locations on August 24 and expanding to all US stores by year's end.
Engadget · 21 Aug, 19:01
CSDD creates dedicated webpage section on cybersecurity incident
Latvia's Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) has launched a new section on its website gathering all current information about a cyberattack on its information system. The section will be continuously updated with the latest details.
iAuto.lv · 21 Aug, 19:00
China Orders Its Biggest-Ever Car Recall Over Retractable Door Handles, Tesla Among Nine Automakers Affected
China's product safety regulator has ordered Tesla and eight other automakers to fix retractable door handle systems on electric vehicles after incidents where occupants struggled to exit cars following crashes.
The New York Times · 21 Aug, 18:59
Oura Sued Over Claims It Misled Consumers About Sleep-Tracking Accuracy
A proposed class action filed by Clarkson Law Firm accuses smart ring maker Oura of misleading consumers about its sleep-tracking accuracy. The lawsuit claims Oura rings cannot directly measure sleep stages and instead rely on AI-generated estimates.
TechCrunch · 21 Aug, 18:02
Why the US is seeing a wave of major food recalls this year
A string of high-profile food recalls in the US, from eggs to lettuce to berries, has fueled a sense of crisis, but experts say the overall recall count isn't dramatically higher than past years even as illness numbers rise.
The Verge · 21 Aug, 18:00
Top YouTube Creators Face Backlash Over AI Platform Endorsements
Prominent filmmakers Matti Haapoja and Sam “Kold” Kolder are facing criticism after posting unlabeled videos promoting the AI platform Higgsfield. Critics argue the videos function as disguised advertising and that generative AI threatens creative professions.
The Verge · 21 Aug, 17:04