Business & Technology
Russian marketplaces seek hundreds of billions of roubles in aid after drone attacks
The Association of Digital Platforms, representing major Russian e-commerce companies, has asked the government for financial support after drone attacks. Businesses say the requested amount could reach hundreds of billions of roubles.
Ukrainska Pravda (EN) · 14 Aug, 18:08
Kog looks to squeeze more AI inference performance out of existing GPUs
French startup Kog is developing software to speed up AI inference on standard data center GPUs. It aims to deliver a 10x speedup for a major large language model by September.
TechCrunch AI · 14 Aug, 18:05
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hits $33 in The Verge's latest deals roundup
The Verge highlights a $33 price for the acclaimed RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Xbox, along with Pixel 11 preorder bundles, a discounted Gigabyte gaming laptop, and 4K Blu-ray deals.
The Verge · 14 Aug, 18:02
Apple proposes 15% commission on purchases made outside the App Store
Apple has submitted a court proposal for commissions on purchases made via external links in apps. The plan includes a 15% fee for standard apps and 5% for small business developers.
TechCrunch · 14 Aug, 18:01
SIA Mobilly reports system disruptions
Problems were observed in the Mobilly system on Friday evening, according to IT company SIA Mobilly. No further details about the cause have been released.
Jauns.lv · 14 Aug, 17:59
US courts to publish data on government spyware use in wiretaps
The U.S. judiciary will begin disclosing how often judges authorize wiretaps conducted with hacking tools and spyware, starting with the 2028 Wiretap Report published in 2029, following years of calls for transparency.
TechCrunch · 14 Aug, 17:09
Two Female-Led UK FinTechs Join Forces as Cashflows Invests in Blackpool’s Tap & Go
London-based payments company Cashflows has invested in Blackpool startup Tap & Go, a specialist in card payment technologies and merchant services. The investment amount remains undisclosed.
EU-Startups · 14 Aug, 17:04
Latvian government seeks Saeima's permission to join up to €30 million airBaltic financing
The cabinet wants the Saeima to authorize participation in temporary financing for airBaltic of up to €30 million, and also to extend the state loan repayment deadline to the end of the year.
Latvijas Avīze · 14 Aug, 16:05
LTA: MERE crisis freezes over 1.65 million euros; FID prepares guidance
The Latvian Traders Association says frozen funds and goods for producers and suppliers in the closed MERE chain exceed 1.65 million euros, while the Financial Intelligence Service has begun drafting legal guidance on debt recovery and food donations.
BNN · 14 Aug, 16:02
Latvian government to ask Saeima for right to support airBaltic with up to 30 million
After an extraordinary meeting, the Latvian Cabinet decided to ask the Saeima for permission to take part in raising additional financing for airBaltic of up to 30 million.
LSM (rus) · 14 Aug, 16:00
Sweden's biggest startup investments in 2026: Stockholm companies take the lead
Sweden's startup ecosystem is drawing major funding rounds in 2026, with Stockholm-based firms at the forefront. This week, Lovable announced a €343 million Series C round.
EU-Startups · 14 Aug, 15:10
Important in Latvian business this week: Riga Festival, Aloja-Starkelsen and Elvi investments
The week's economic events show that growth is driven not only by large investments and exports, but also by economic activity in cities and regions.
LSM · 14 Aug, 15:01
Latvia ranks among world leaders in rapeseed exports
Latvia is among the world’s leading exporters of rapeseed seeds, rapeseed oil and rapeseed meal, according to Dienas Bizness.
Dienas Bizness · 14 Aug, 14:59
AI Companion Firm Hires 'Masturbation Consultants' for Wellness Study
Joi AI, a company offering artificial intelligence companions, conducted a 28-day experiment with 10 'masturbation consultants' to explore whether AI-guided self-pleasure could become a wellness ritual, reporting reduced stress and cravings.
Wired · 14 Aug, 14:06
Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle maker Pony.ai are expanding their partnership to deploy 2,000 robotaxis across four European cities, though specific timelines and locations remain undisclosed.
TechCrunch · 14 Aug, 14:04
Trump imposes drone tariffs of up to 100%, with lower rates for EU and UK
US President Donald Trump has signed an order imposing tariffs on imported drones, reaching 100% for heavy or advanced models, while EU producers face 15% and UK drones 10%. The move, citing national security, aims to encourage domestic production.
Euronews Business · 14 Aug, 14:03
Association: Wind developer used fake images in EIA, government threats unfounded
An association has urged Latvia's government to resist pressure from wind developer K2 Ventum, claiming its environmental impact assessment relied on manipulated images and its €120 million damages threat is unjustified.
Dienas Bizness · 14 Aug, 13:09
Latvia: Young drivers cause most accidents involving uninsured vehicles, LTAB data shows
According to the Latvian Motor Insurers' Bureau, road accidents involving uninsured vehicles are most often caused by drivers aged 18–29 and least often by drivers aged 50–59, while the overall share of such accidents has declined.
iAuto.lv · 14 Aug, 12:06
Berlin AI insurtech startup omni:us acquired by Dortmund's adesso to embed AI into core insurance systems
German insurance software provider adesso has acquired Berlin-based startup omni:us, which specialises in AI-powered claims processing. The company plans to gradually integrate omni:us technology into its core insurance platform.
EU-Startups · 14 Aug, 12:03
BP returns to Venezuela with Gulf partners as post-Maduro energy opening accelerates
BP has signed an agreement in Caracas to operate the second phase of the offshore Loran gas project, alongside partners from Abu Dhabi and Qatar. The deal marks the latest sign that Venezuela's energy industry is reopening to foreign investment after Nicolás Maduro's removal.
Euronews Business · 14 Aug, 12:02
Recipe Plus invests €20 million in pharmaceutical supply center in Riga
Pharmaceutical and medical goods distributor AS Recipe Plus has invested €20 million in establishing a supply center in Riga, the company announced.
LSM · 14 Aug, 11:59
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Indexo to restructure into financial holding company
Indexo is separating its pension management business from the parent company and transferring it to a subsidiary as part of a group restructuring. The move is designed to create a holding structure for future growth, without affecting pension plan members.
Dienas Bizness · 14 Aug, 10:03
Allied fighters shoot down drone that entered Latvia's airspace; threat neutralized, says military
Early Friday morning, NATO Baltic air-policing jets shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace, according to the National Armed Forces. Residents in several municipalities of Latgale and Vidzeme were alerted, and the threat is now over.
iAuto.lv · 14 Aug, 09:02
Ruta Ezerskiene: Sustainable success requires clear priorities and financial resilience
Ruta Ezerskiene, chairwoman of Citadele Bank's management board, says lasting success depends on a relevant client offering, a strong team, clear priorities, disciplined execution and sufficient financial resilience to keep investing in tougher times.
Dienas Bizness · 14 Aug, 07:58
Graf: State's inconsistent shareholder role has hindered state-owned companies
Graf believes the current state shareholding model is inefficient and has hindered the development of public companies. He urges the prompt introduction of centralised state capital management.
Dienas Bizness · 14 Aug, 07:06
Experts: Flock can't tech its way out of the stalker cop problem
Civil liberties groups say Flock's new search safeguards are easily bypassed and amount to a PR exercise rather than meaningful protection.
Ars Technica · 14 Aug, 06:12
HP OmniBook X Flip laptop gets $300 discount
Best Buy has cut the price of the HP OmniBook X Flip by $300, bringing it to $699.99. The article also highlights deals on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, an Anker power bank, and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
The Verge · 14 Aug, 06:08
Can Europe quit American Big Tech? Brussels Playbook reruns popular episode
The Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast is on summer break and has rerun a June episode exploring Europe's dependence on U.S. tech companies and whether Brussels can build alternatives.
Politico Europe · 14 Aug, 06:02
Fifteen everyday spending habits quietly draining your budget
Small routine purchases, from takeaway coffee to bottled water, can add up to thousands of euros over a year, financial experts say. The article lists 15 habits behind the so-called invisible spending that may explain where the money goes.
Latvijas Avīze · 14 Aug, 05:11
Spotify alternatives: What other music streaming services offer
As Spotify faces criticism over artist pay, AI content and its founder's defense-tech investment, alternatives such as Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz and Coda offer different approaches to streaming, including higher royalty transparency and user-driven discovery.
Engadget · 14 Aug, 05:11
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Reduced VAT on food proves successful: prices drop markedly in July
The experiment with a reduced value-added tax on food appears to have worked in consumers' favor, as July saw significant price declines, easing earlier doubts that retailers would pocket all the benefits.
TVNET · 14 Aug, 05:10
US wait times for cancer surgeries are getting longer and longer
A new study finds that wait times for cancer surgery in the US have increased across six major cancer types over the past decade, with more patients facing delays of 30 days or more.
Ars Technica · 14 Aug, 05:07
Trump declares 100 percent tariffs on many drones and all aircraft parts
President Trump has imposed 100% tariffs on drones with thermal cameras, drones over 25kg, and all parts for unmanned aircraft over 25kg, while most other drones face a 25% duty. Companies that commit to US manufacturing may avoid the tariffs.
The Verge · 14 Aug, 05:06
Jaguar Type 01 interior revealed: minimalism and four separate seats
Jaguar has revealed the interior of its first all-electric GT Type 01, featuring four individual seats, a minimalist design and a digital rear-view monitor. The world premiere is scheduled for October 6, 2026 in New York.
iAuto.lv · 14 Aug, 05:03
Ukrainian drone teams take out entire US tank brigade in war game exercise
During the Combined Resolve exercise in Germany, Ukrainian drone operators simulated destroying an entire US tank brigade, highlighting how drone warfare from Ukraine now shapes NATO training. US troops had to repeat the scenario with “respawns” to adapt their tactics.
Ars Technica · 14 Aug, 04:08
X tests tool that lets users see if their posts have been 'shadowbanned'
X is experimenting with a new tool that gives users insight into whether their posts have been limited by the algorithm. The feature, currently available to a small group of testers, is part of a broader release of more algorithm code.
Engadget · 14 Aug, 04:05