Business & Technology
Molten Salt, Sand, and Sweat: The Weird Batteries That Could Store Renewable Energy
From liquid air and molten salt to sand and human sweat, alternative battery technologies are being developed to store renewable energy without relying on scarce minerals like lithium and cobalt.
The Guardian Science · 19 Jul, 14:37
First Rocky Planet with Atmosphere Confirmed in Habitable Zone
Astronomers have confirmed a rocky exoplanet with an atmosphere located within the habitable zone of its star, 48 light-years away.
Wired · 19 Jul, 13:37
Facebook experiences widespread outage – users worldwide unable to access accounts on desktop
Thousands of Facebook users globally encountered problems Sunday trying to log into their profiles on the desktop version of the social network. The mobile app continued to function without issues.
Jauns.lv · 19 Jul, 11:36
Latvia Enhances Protection of Energy Facilities Amid Fear of Russian Provocations
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said in a Reuters interview that Latvia is stepping up security at energy sites, including the Inčukalns gas storage and a hydroelectric plant, due to potential Russian provocations. He also called on NATO to improve air defense, increase troop presence, and integrate anti-drone systems developed with Ukraine.
iAuto.lv · 19 Jul, 10:37
Bank of England to stop accepting bonds linked to coal for key loans
The Bank of England will no longer accept bonds tied to thermal coal as collateral for loans to commercial banks from October, citing financial risks from the transition to a greener economy.
The Guardian World · 19 Jul, 08:37
US dollar hits record high in Iran as rial weakens amid renewed regional conflict
The US dollar surpassed 1.94 million Iranian rials on July 18, 2026, as the rial lost 43.7% of its value since the start of the year. Inflation reached 88.6%, the highest since World War II.
Euronews Business · 19 Jul, 06:38
WRC Delfi Rally Estonia: Impressive Jumps on SS10 Stage
Spectators at the WRC Delfi Rally in Estonia witnessed impressive jumps by rally crews on the SS10 stage. The video shows the longest jumps of the leading drivers.
iAuto.lv · 19 Jul, 06:38
Latvian accommodation prices push travelers to look abroad
A social media debate highlights that vacationing in Latvia now often costs more than trips to Poland or even Asia, prompting many to reconsider local tourism.
Latvijas Avīze · 19 Jul, 06:38
Facial recognition smart locks: surprisingly good, but not without trade-offs
Facial recognition is making its way into smart locks, offering hands-free convenience. Testing four models, the Eufy FamiLock E40 proved fastest and most feature-rich, though it has a short battery life and a high price tag.
The Verge · 19 Jul, 05:37
Russians turn to cash, straining slowing wartime economy
Amid rising uncertainty from the war, cash withdrawals in Russia surge, complicating tax collection and exacerbating the economic slowdown.
BBC World · 19 Jul, 03:37
ZA/UM Studio Layoffs Follow Poor Sales of Zero Parades
ZA/UM Studio, known for Disco Elysium, has laid off up to 32 employees citing weak commercial performance of its recent spy RPG Zero Parades: For Dead Spies.
Engadget · 19 Jul, 00:37
Dave Eggers told OpenAI staff that ChatGPT was ‘silencing an entire generation’
Author Dave Eggers, invited by Sam Altman to speak at OpenAI, sharply criticized ChatGPT, claiming it has made teachers' lives catastrophic and prevents students from learning to write.
The Verge · 19 Jul, 00:36
China's Moonshot AI Releases Kimi K3, Igniting Debate on Open Source and US Competition
Chinese company Moonshot AI launched a new open-source AI model, Kimi K3, which independent analyses show is competitive with frontier models, sparking concerns in US markets and among policymakers.
TechCrunch · 18 Jul, 23:37
France tightens restrictions on Polymarket access
France's gambling regulator has ordered internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket, deeming it an illegal gambling site.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 23:37
Chinese open-source AI model Kimi K3 sparks debate and market jitters
Moonshot AI's new Kimi K3 model, competitive with top proprietary models, has caused a Nasdaq dip and reignited debates over AI regulation, national security, and the future of open-source AI.
TechCrunch AI · 18 Jul, 22:37
Waymo appears to pause San Francisco service amidst power outage
Waymo said it's making temporary adjustments to its robotaxi service in San Francisco after a power outage affected about 7,000 PG&E customers.
TechCrunch · 18 Jul, 22:36
Pixel 11a might return to a flagship processor with Tensor G6
A leaked report suggests the Google Pixel 11a could feature the flagship Tensor G6 chip instead of an older processor, reversing a trend from the Pixel 10a.
The Verge · 18 Jul, 21:36
Apple Bans Home Service Ads in Upcoming Apple Maps Advertising
Apple has published advertising guidelines for its upcoming Apple Maps ads, prohibiting home service ads such as plumbing, electrical, and roofing. The ads are expected to launch in summer 2026 in the US and Canada.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 21:36
Federal employees can download TikTok on their work phones again
The Department of Justice has announced that federal employees may once again use TikTok on government devices, reversing a 2022 ban after a deal transferred TikTok's U.S. operations to a joint venture backed by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX.
TechCrunch · 18 Jul, 20:37
Google open-sources its 3D emoji set
Google announced it is fully open-sourcing its 3D emoji set on World Emoji Day, releasing raw .OBJ files for community use in VR, apps, or memes.
The Verge · 18 Jul, 20:37
X and music publishers quietly settle opposing lawsuits
Social network X and major music publishers have agreed to drop their lawsuits against each other, with settlement terms undisclosed.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 20:37
Sesks and Francis hold seventh in Rally Estonia; Pajari extends lead
Latvian crew Mārtiņš Sesks and Renārs Francis finished sixth in stages 12 and 13 of WRC Rally Estonia on Saturday, maintaining seventh overall. Leader Sami Pajari increased his advantage over Oliver Solberg to 21.4 seconds.
iAuto.lv · 18 Jul, 20:36
Blackcurrant exports hit record high; potential for other berries?
Latvia's berry exports are growing, with blackcurrant exports reaching historically highest levels. Frozen bilberry sales abroad are also increasing, but some producers say local market should be prioritized first.
LSM (rus) · 18 Jul, 20:36
Russia's Wildberries and Ozon opt out of compensating sellers for war damage
Ozon and Wildberries have updated their seller agreements to exclude compensation for goods damaged or lost due to military actions, drone strikes, and similar events.
Meduza · 18 Jul, 19:37
AI developments: NATO summit, Anthropic model, and warning on guardrails
Politico Europe rounds up four key AI stories: security questions at NATO summit, Anthropic's less powerful model, a warning that guardrails may be too late, and new hacking capabilities of advanced models.
Politico Europe · 18 Jul, 19:37
Multiple EV models discontinued or killed off in the U.S. in 2026
Several electric vehicle models, including the Honda Prologue, Tesla Model S and X, and Volkswagen ID.4, have been discontinued or withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2026, driven by the end of the federal tax credit, tariffs, and shifting consumer preferences.
TechCrunch · 18 Jul, 19:36
GoPro Max 2 bundle with extra accessories discounted to $369
The GoPro Max 2 accessory bundle, which includes an extension pole, extra batteries, and a memory card, is available for $369 on Amazon—just $70 more than the base camera alone.
The Verge · 18 Jul, 18:37
How Does the Apple Watch Water Lock Feature Actually Work?
Apple Watch's water lock disables the screen and ejects water from the device to help it dry faster. Available since Series 2, it activates automatically during water sports.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 18:36
China warns UK over British Steel nationalisation, demands fair resolution
China's Foreign Ministry said it will monitor the UK's nationalisation of British Steel, previously owned by Chinese firm Jingye, and urged a mutually acceptable solution including compensation, warning that the issue affects investor confidence.
Al Jazeera · 18 Jul, 17:37
600-mile road trip proves EV charging no longer sucks
TechCrunch reports on a 600-mile road trip with an electric vehicle, highlighting significant improvements in public charging infrastructure compared to 2023.
TechCrunch · 18 Jul, 17:36
Guardian journalist Carter Sherman shares her fond memory of being terrified by Ocarina of Time
Carter Sherman, a reporter at The Guardian, reveals her personal habits and cultural favorites, from her French press coffee to her collection of quotes for inspiration.
The Verge · 18 Jul, 17:36
The Verge Editor Shares Top Reading Tools and Community Favorites
In Installer No. 136, David Pierce highlights the most popular reading devices, apps, and reader tips from both his own experience and the community.
The Verge · 18 Jul, 16:38
Wireless Android Auto: A Tiny Adapter Makes Your Commute Easier
A small adapter converts your car's wired Android Auto to wireless using Bluetooth and 5GHz Wi-Fi Direct, but it has some trade-offs like slower speed and faster battery drain.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 16:36
OpenAI to notify parents if their teen gets banned from ChatGPT for violence
OpenAI will now alert parents when their teenage child's ChatGPT account is deactivated for violating policies on violent threats or acts.
Engadget · 18 Jul, 15:38
India's first private orbital rocket successfully launches
India has successfully tested its first private-sector orbital rocket, Vikram-1, becoming the third country to achieve this milestone. The rocket delivered payloads into orbit and carried experimental equipment.
Al Jazeera · 18 Jul, 15:37
Itera Latvija Appeals Inclusion in FID Sanctions List
SIA Itera Latvija has appealed a court decision regarding its inclusion in the Financial Intelligence Unit's (FID) published list of sanctioned entities.
Apollo.lv · 18 Jul, 15:37