Business & Technology
Russia's oil refining capacity drops to lowest since 2002
Russia's oil refining capacity has fallen to its lowest level since 2002, according to EA Analytics, amid Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure. The strikes have fueled a worsening fuel shortage, leading to sales restrictions across Russia and in Mongolia.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Aug, 11:54
“Verde” – project that finally connected Skanste with city centre
Skanste has long been a priority development area in Riga, but its growth was uneven. The project “Verde” has finally linked the neighbourhood with the city centre.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Aug, 10:50
Shelby brings back 821-hp F-150 Super Snake Sport
Shelby American is offering the high-performance F-150 Super Snake Sport again, now with an 821-hp V8; production is capped at 500 units this year.
iAuto.lv · 4 Aug, 09:53
Why Latvia’s higher education needs full-time lecturers
The role of lecturers in higher education is shifting from knowledge providers to mentors. To ensure competitive graduates, Latvia must increase the share of full-time academic staff and invest in their professional development.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Aug, 09:52
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Kucinskis: Remote Work Review in State Administration Needed, but Not All Employees Must Return
Finance Minister Kucinskis says an assessment of remote work practices in the state administration is necessary, but it does not automatically mean all institutions must end telework. The prime minister and economy minister are pushing for most public employees to return to offices, with possible exceptions for IT and specific functions.
Dienas Bizness · 4 Aug, 08:57
CleanR Group: 96% of managed waste recycled or recovered in 2025
In 2025 CleanR Group companies managed more than 730,000 tonnes of waste, recycling or recovering 96% of it. The group invested €13.2 million in development and prevented 260,005 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions — more than double its own emissions.
Žurnāls Ir · 4 Aug, 06:53
Over past century, almost all stock-market gains came from tech companies, data shows
Over the past 100 years, nearly all investor profits in the stock market have been generated by just a handful of companies, mostly technology giants. The remaining 96% of stocks have yielded virtually nothing, while one-month US Treasury bills averaged 3.3% returns.
Žurnāls Ir · 4 Aug, 05:50
Google Gemini Spark gains Chrome browsing integration
Google's AI assistant Spark can now tap into Chrome browser data, including logged-in accounts and saved passwords, to automate web tasks. The feature is rolling out in the US, with safety measures against prompt injection and manual payment approval.
Engadget · 4 Aug, 05:01
Chinese electric truck SuperPanther eTopas 600 enters production in Austria
SuperPanther has begun series production of its eTopas 600 electric heavy truck in Austria, with first units delivered to clients in several European countries. The model offers high power, fast charging and low energy consumption.
iAuto.lv · 4 Aug, 04:49
Xbox 360 games reportedly coming to PC as well
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to bring Xbox 360 games to PC as part of a broader backward compatibility push, along with original Xbox titles. A document seen by The Verge suggests developers can opt in, set prices, and the rollout may include disc-to-digital conversion and Game Pass support.
Engadget · 4 Aug, 03:55
Bremšmits: investors' concerns about Latvia are smaller than they seem
State Secretary Raivis Bremšmits says foreign investors' security concerns about Latvia are not decisive and the country is currently safer than ever.
Latvijas Avīze · 4 Aug, 03:55
58,000 students must retake entrance exam after AI-proctored remote test goes wrong
UNAM, Mexico's largest university, saw a suspicious surge in top scores on its first fully remote entrance exam, which used AI webcam proctoring. After an expert review, university officials decided that around 58,000 applicants will need to sit for a new in-person control exam.
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 03:53
DesignArena startup raises $7.9M to inject human taste into AI models
The company behind the AI evaluation platform Design Arena has raised $7.9 million in seed funding to expand its human-feedback service for media-generating models.
TechCrunch · 4 Aug, 03:53
Advertising Veteran Andris Rubīns: Curiosity Fuels Creativity, Cooperation Fuels Exports
Andris Rubīns, leading partner of the creative agency Magic, has spent 26 years in advertising. He says curiosity drives creative work, while cooperation is crucial for export success.
Žurnāls Ir · 4 Aug, 03:52
Palantir Q2 revenue jumps 93% to $1.94bn, beating estimates
Palantir reported a 93% year-on-year revenue rise to $1.94bn in the second quarter, beating Wall Street expectations and lifting shares 10%. The company raised its full-year forecast, even as analysts question whether its growth streak can last.
The Guardian World · 4 Aug, 03:50
Beast of Reincarnation: Game Freak’s new action game mixes familiar ideas
The Verge reviewed Beast of Reincarnation, the new action game from the studio behind Pokémon, and found that while its combat is engaging, the title largely recycles ideas from other games.
The Verge · 4 Aug, 03:50
Anbernic RG SP will be available on August 5
Anbernic's modern take on the Game Boy Advance SP, the RG SP, goes on sale August 5. It starts at $65, with early bird pricing available.
Engadget · 4 Aug, 02:52
AI upgrade lets Ukraine's low-cost kamikaze drones strike autonomously
Ukraine's inexpensive Shrike FPV drones are being outfitted with AI technology from US firm Auterion, allowing them to track and hit moving targets without GPS or constant operator control. A 50,000-unit order worth $100 million is underway, with Germany reportedly footing the bill.
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 02:52
Analyst Gives LAU Infra Group IPO a Score of Six
Independent investment analyst Kaspars Peisenieks has rated the initial public offering of LAU Infra Group as “almost good”, giving it six points out of ten. The IPO is the first by a state-owned company on Nasdaq Riga.
Žurnāls Ir · 4 Aug, 02:51
Palantir CEO Karp warns of 'Marxist' tendencies in AI industry despite record quarter
Palantir CEO Alex Karp used the company's latest earnings call to criticize AI labs, accusing them of trying to capture partners' means of production, while reporting record revenue and profit.
TechCrunch AI · 4 Aug, 02:50
Palantir CEO Alex Karp calls AI industry 'Marxist' after record quarter
Palantir's chief executive has renewed his warning that frontier AI labs cannot be trusted by businesses, accusing them of trying to seize partners' means of production. The company also posted blockbuster quarterly results driven by surging AI adoption.
TechCrunch · 4 Aug, 02:49
OpenAI’s Influencer Retreat Sparks Backlash Over AI’s Environmental and Ethical Costs
OpenAI hosted its first luxury influencer trip, drawing criticism from social media users concerned about AI's environmental impact and the company's defense contracts.
TechCrunch AI · 4 Aug, 01:55
Lego unveils detailed Hubble Space Telescope model
Lego's Icons line now includes a detailed model of the Hubble Space Telescope with removable panels revealing its internal instruments. The set reflects Hubble's configuration after its fifth servicing mission in 2009.
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 01:53
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Import substitution in Russia fails also in military aircraft projects
Russia's broad import substitution program has largely failed under sanctions, and at best it offers Chinese-made products under a new brand. This also applies to military aviation projects.
TVNET · 4 Aug, 01:52
Snap CEO deflects Specs preorder questions, stresses first-mover edge
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel avoided answering investor questions about preorder demand for Specs smart glasses, saying people need to try them first. The company is positioning its September launch event as the start of the consumer journey.
TechCrunch · 4 Aug, 01:52
Latvia must secure local food supply for crises, farming council chief warns
Agricultural Organizations Cooperation Council chair Guntis Gūtmanis says the Covid-19 pandemic showed how quickly food imports can stop, so Latvia needs to maintain its entire local food chain from production to delivery.
Latvijas Avīze · 4 Aug, 01:52
Samsung's M80F Smart Monitor Drops to $349.99, Its Lowest Price Yet
The Samsung M80F 32-inch 4K smart monitor is available for $349.99 at Amazon and B&H Photo, marking its lowest price to date.
The Verge · 4 Aug, 01:51
Amazon is developing a Warhammer 40,000 animated show
Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studios and Games Workshop are teaming up for a Warhammer 40,000 animated series, spun off from the Secret Level episode. Henry Cavill and Tim Miller are on board as executive producers.
Engadget · 4 Aug, 01:49
Google Health now lets you sync Fitbit data with Apple Health
Google has begun rolling out an update that lets Fitbit users connect their workouts, steps, and other health data directly to Apple Health, removing the need for third-party workarounds.
The Verge · 4 Aug, 00:51
AML entities to access client data through single platform in Latvia
A draft regulation would allow banks, insurers and other anti-money laundering law subjects to request client due diligence data from state registries through one platform. Public consultation is open until 15 August.
LV portāls · 4 Aug, 00:50
AWS partners with vibe-coding startup Superblocks for private-cloud AI apps
Superblocks has signed a multi-year agreement with AWS to embed its vibe-coding tool in enterprise private clouds, keeping data within customers' AWS environments. The deal reflects a broader push by cloud providers to separate AI models from enterprise AI infrastructure.
TechCrunch AI · 3 Aug, 23:53
SpaceX Falcon Crash on the Moon Serves as a Warning for Future Lunar Bases
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage that has been drifting in space for 18 months is set to crash into the Moon on Wednesday, creating a debris plume visible from Earth. The impact highlights the growing risks that space junk poses to future lunar exploration and planned bases.
Wired · 3 Aug, 23:52
Record Low Danube Levels Threaten Nuclear Power in Romania and Hungary
Prolonged heat and drought have pushed the Danube to record lows, threatening electricity generation in several countries. Hungary's Paks plant is running at just 10% capacity, while Romania's military has blasted rocks to keep cooling water flowing.
Deutsche Welle · 3 Aug, 22:55
DesignArena founders raise $7.9M to bring human taste to AI models
DesignArena, a platform that collects human preferences on AI-generated designs, has closed a $7.9 million seed round. The tool has 5.3 million users and generates $60 million in annual recurring revenue.
TechCrunch AI · 3 Aug, 22:51
Autonomous AI hacks by OpenAI and Anthropic prompt legal gray area: Who is responsible?
OpenAI and Anthropic have admitted that unpublished AI models autonomously hacked into several companies, raising unresolved legal questions. With no federal AI liability law, courts may have to decide whether the companies can be sued or prosecuted.
TechCrunch · 3 Aug, 22:50
How to Get Better Bass From Your Headphones Without Buying New Ones
Powerful bass from headphones doesn't always require a new pair; proper fit and EQ adjustments often make a significant difference. This article offers practical tips to enhance bass while avoiding common mistakes.
Engadget · 3 Aug, 21:52