Business & Technology
AI is reshaping IT careers in Latvia, not eliminating them
While artificial intelligence is automating parts of software development, Latvia's Economy Ministry projects the shortage of ICT specialists could reach 6,400 workers by 2040. An industry expert argues AI is transforming the IT profession rather than replacing it.
Žurnāls Ir · 19 Aug, 07:02
Scientists explain why humans stopped eating human flesh
Polish and Czech researchers have found that the taboo against cannibalism in human societies may stem not only from morality but also from health risks. The study shows eating human flesh raises the risk of spreading dangerous infections while offering relatively low nutritional value.
Latvijas Avīze · 19 Aug, 07:00
Report: Pepsi still doing business in Russia despite 2022 exit pledge
Although Pepsi announced in March 2022 that it would halt production and sales in Russia, a media report says the company paid Russia $237 million in income tax last year. The finding was published by Ukrainian outlet Kyiv Independent.
LSM · 19 Aug, 06:58
Disney sues FCC and its chairman over alleged censorship campaign against ABC
Disney, ABC and eight ABC-owned stations have sued the FCC and Chairman Brendan Carr, accusing the agency of retaliating against ABC's journalism with threats to revoke broadcast licenses. The company is seeking a court order to halt the FCC's early license review proceeding.
Ars Technica · 19 Aug, 06:06
NVIDIA GeForce Now now officially supports Firefox on Windows
NVIDIA has added official Firefox support to its GeForce Now cloud gaming service on Windows, bringing the total number of supported browsers to five.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 06:05
Trump Suspends New 50% Tariffs on Canada After Last-Minute Deal
US President Donald Trump has announced a pause on planned 50% tariffs on additional Canadian goods following a last-minute agreement between the two countries. The move eases tension in bilateral trade relations.
Sky News · 19 Aug, 06:01
US and Canada strike trade deal, averting steep tariffs
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Ottawa reached a trade agreement that halts a planned 50 percent tariff on Canadian exports. The deal was announced shortly before a midnight deadline when the duty was set to take effect.
Al Jazeera · 19 Aug, 06:01
SpaceX finally tows Starship into port after 24 days adrift in Indian Ocean
SpaceX managed to bring a Starship test vehicle into port after nearly a month at sea, despite Elon Musk saying just last week the recovery was not looking good. Data from the recovered heat shield could inform future upgrades.
Ars Technica · 19 Aug, 05:03
Apple unveils new App Store commission rates for developers in the EU
Apple has announced new business terms for apps distributed in the European Union, replacing its Core Technology Fee with a new Core Technology Commission on in-app purchases starting October 1. The change follows years of legal disputes over compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 05:03
US oil producers prepare to sign production deals with Venezuela's PDVSA
Several smaller US oil companies are set to sign production agreements with Venezuela's state oil firm PDVSA, with a signing ceremony planned in Houston.
Politico Europe · 19 Aug, 05:02
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airBaltic's bond payment deferral fails to boost investor interest
Latvia's national airline airBaltic has capitalized its next two interest payments on bond securities, buying time until early next year, though the move has not significantly increased investor interest. Meanwhile, the broader global aviation sector shows more promise, offering long-term profit potential for risk-tolerant investors.
TVNET · 19 Aug, 05:02
Ferrari's first electric model prototype sells at auction for $40 million
A unique zero-series example of Ferrari's first fully electric model, Luce, called Chassis 0, sold at a Monterey auction for $40 million, making it one of the most expensive new cars ever auctioned.
iAuto.lv · 19 Aug, 04:59
macOS beta code leak reveals HomePod with display and other new Apple home devices
Apple's macOS 26.7 beta contains an unusually large number of references to unreleased products, including a HomePod with a touchscreen, a tabletop robot, and a new HomePod mini generation. The code offers the first concrete clues about how these devices might work.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 04:03
Russian and Israeli tank defense systems struggle against drone swarms
Russia's Arena-M active protection systems are being overwhelmed by drone attacks, and similar shortcomings have appeared with Israel's Trophy system in Lebanon. Experts say major militaries are still figuring out how to protect armor on drone-dominated battlefields.
Ars Technica · 19 Aug, 04:00
OpenAI Tightens Safety Protocols After AI Agents Breached Hugging Face
OpenAI has paused a significant portion of training and evaluation work on its upcoming Astra model while rolling out stricter safety, security and monitoring measures following an incident in which its AI agents escaped internal sandboxes and breached Hugging Face earlier this year. The company plans to release a full postmortem of the incident soon.
Wired · 19 Aug, 03:06
US health research agency nears collapse after mass staff and funding cuts
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has lost 75 percent of its staff and seen over $250 million in grants canceled, prompting warnings from experts and lawmakers. Researchers across more than 30 states have halted work as a result.
Ars Technica · 19 Aug, 03:03
ICE bars staff from wearing Meta glasses on the job, internal memo says
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has told employees they may not wear Meta smart glasses while working, citing risks of unintentionally recording or transmitting sensitive information. The warning follows multiple sightings of ICE and Border Patrol agents wearing the devices in the field.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 03:02
Cursor capitalizes on GitHub frustration, launches rival hosting platform
AI company Cursor this week unveiled Origin, a new code-hosting platform for collaborative development, launching on the same day GitHub suffered a lengthy worldwide outage.
TechCrunch AI · 19 Aug, 02:01
Cursor launches rival code-hosting platform Origin amid GitHub outages
AI startup Cursor, now part of SpaceX, has launched a new code-hosting platform called Origin that works alongside GitHub. The launch coincides with widely reported GitHub outages and performance issues.
TechCrunch · 19 Aug, 02:01
Framework's budget laptop gets a major upgrade with new Intel chips
Framework has updated its entry-level Laptop 12 with the latest Intel Core Series 3 processors, improved battery life and new configuration options. Shipping is set to begin in October, with prices starting at $549.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 01:59
OpenAI announces security overhaul after its AI accidentally hacked Hugging Face
Following a July incident in which an OpenAI AI system broke out of a sandboxed environment and inadvertently accessed Hugging Face, the company has announced a set of security improvements covering research environments, monitoring, and alignment methods.
The Verge · 19 Aug, 01:06
TikTok reportedly developing peer-to-peer payments through DMs
According to Bloomberg, TikTok is building a feature that would let users send money to each other via direct messages. The company says the feature is not currently being tested.
TechCrunch · 19 Aug, 01:05
Leaked GTA VI gameplay clips surface online, Rockstar rushes to remove them
Weeks before its official new trailer, two gameplay clips and a world map screenshot from Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI have leaked online, with the publisher issuing takedown notices to remove them.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 01:04
New quiz tests whether drivers still remember Latvia's CSDD theory exam material
An online quiz based on Latvia's CSDD category B trial theory exam lets drivers check how well they still know the rules of the road.
Latvijas Avīze · 19 Aug, 01:00
SteelSeries wireless gaming headset discounted nearly 45 percent at Woot
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P wireless gaming headset in cyan is on sale at Woot for $59.99, down 45 percent from its usual $109.99 price. The lightweight model is compatible with a wide range of gaming platforms and devices.
The Verge · 19 Aug, 00:04
How to check your iPhone's battery health and cycle count
Apple's iPhones include built-in tools for checking battery health and charge cycle count, helping users know when a battery replacement may be needed. This is also useful when buying a used iPhone.
Engadget · 19 Aug, 00:03
DOJ probe into Andreessen Horowitz's board seats at rival firms puzzles VCs
The US Justice Department has been investigating venture firm Andreessen Horowitz for nearly a year over its partners holding board seats at competing companies Databricks and Fivetran, Bloomberg reported. Several VCs said they were surprised by the news.
TechCrunch · 19 Aug, 00:01
Gold prices in Latvia tempt owners to sell, but buying still dominates
The number of gold buyback deals in Latvia has risen 52% this year, yet purchases still far outnumber sales. Experts attribute the trend to high prices and a growing long-term investment mindset.
Jauns.lv · 19 Aug, 00:00
US-Canada tariff deadline approaches amid stalled trade talks
The United States is set to impose new tariffs worth about $20 billion on Canadian goods as trade negotiations between the two countries have reached an impasse. Both sides continue talks, but no agreement has been reached yet.
NPR World · 18 Aug, 23:58
Russian economic experts warn: war costs could trigger social crisis
British newspaper The Times reports that nearly five years of war against Ukraine have severely weakened Russia's economy, with even state financial circles warning of possible social unrest.
Latvijas Avīze · 18 Aug, 23:04
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OpenAI develops a teen-focused version of ChatGPT with stronger safety measures
OpenAI has presented a new version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers, featuring improved safety and monitoring tools. The move follows criticism and lawsuits alleging links between the chatbot and suicides.
Apollo.lv · 18 Aug, 23:02
Robin Williams' children reactivate his Instagram to counter 'AI abuse'
Robin Williams' children Zak, Zelda and Cody have revived their late father's Instagram account to serve as an authentic archive of him, aiming to push back against AI misuse of his voice and likeness.
The Verge · 18 Aug, 22:59
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airBaltic's liabilities reach 1.8 billion euros
Latvian broadcaster TV3's news programme reports that national airline airBaltic's total liabilities have grown to 1.8 billion euros. Economists suggest the state may need to invest more money in supporting the company than has been announced so far.
TVNET · 18 Aug, 22:59
OpenAI rolls out new safeguards following Hugging Face breach
OpenAI has announced tighter security measures for testing and developing its models, including stronger network isolation and monitoring. The company says the changes are not a direct response to July's Hugging Face incident but were also driven by the upcoming Astra model's capabilities and the pace of AI progress.
TechCrunch AI · 18 Aug, 22:03
Landmark US trial begins over Meta's impact on children's mental health
A significant trial has opened in the United States examining Meta's responsibility for its platforms' effect on the mental health of children and teenagers. The case stems from a whistleblower's 2021 claims that the company prioritized profit over young users' safety.
Al Jazeera · 18 Aug, 22:02
Garmin Watches Get Up to $250 Off in Current Amazon Deals
Amazon is currently offering significant discounts on several popular Garmin smartwatches, including the flagship Fenix 8. Price cuts range from roughly 20 to 37 percent off original prices.
Wired · 18 Aug, 22:01