Business & Technology
China's Economic Growth Slows to 4.3% in Second Quarter
China's GDP growth slowed to 4.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, the weakest since 2022, due to weak domestic demand and reduced local government spending.
ERR (rus) · 15 Jul, 10:36
Paris-based Mio Raises €1.9M to Build an AI Colleague Integrated into Slack
French startup Mio has secured €1.9 million in pre-seed funding to develop an AI assistant that lives inside Slack and automates work tasks.
EU-Startups · 15 Jul, 10:36
BYD launches its first pickup truck for Europe: the Shark
Chinese automaker BYD is introducing its first pickup truck to the European market, the Shark, featuring a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, 436 hp, and a generous equipment list. It can travel up to 90 km on electric power alone and will compete with the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and VW Amarok.
iAuto.lv · 15 Jul, 10:36
Renault Master Updated with New Features and Expanded Model Range
Europe's best-selling large van, the Renault Master, receives a series of upgrades in early 2026, including a redesigned center console, improved battery technology, and new model variants.
iAuto.lv · 15 Jul, 09:37
Baltic States Need a Unified Capital Market – Isolated Success Stories Are Not Enough
Despite recent growth in the Baltic capital market, the key challenge of scale remains. Experts call for reducing fragmentation, harmonizing regulations, and encouraging household participation in long-term investments.
Dienas Bizness · 15 Jul, 09:37
China's economic growth slows sharply, missing target
China's GDP grew only 4.3% in the second quarter, falling short of the government's annual target, impacted by weak domestic demand and the Iran war's effect on oil prices.
BBC World · 15 Jul, 08:37
Europe's corporate debt ranking: Which countries borrow the most?
New Eurostat data reveals stark differences in corporate debt across the EU, with seven countries exceeding the 85% of GDP warning threshold, but small financial hubs dominate the top of the list due to multinational financing structures.
Euronews Business · 15 Jul, 08:37
Farmers' Saeima: Cautious optimism in agriculture this year
Valters Zelčs, foreign policy expert of the association "Farmers' Saeima", assesses the situation in agriculture this year as cautiously optimistic, as there have been no extreme weather issues.
LSM · 15 Jul, 08:36
Latvia's Tax Debts Reach €826.39 Million, Up from Start of Year
Total tax debts in Latvia stood at €826.39 million as of July 1, 2026, an increase of €10.66 million since the beginning of the year.
Dienas Bizness · 15 Jul, 07:38
Smaller Teams, Greater Responsibility: How AI Is Reshaping Organizations and Roles
Artificial intelligence is breaking down traditional specialization, creating a new 'builder' profile and requiring organizations to rethink team structures to fully leverage AI's potential.
Žurnāls Ir · 15 Jul, 06:37
US and European Stock Indices Rise, Oil Prices Climb; Inflation Data Surprises
Stock markets in the US and Europe advanced on Tuesday, supported by bank earnings reports and easing inflation, while oil prices rose modestly after Trump abandoned a tariff plan.
Dienas Bizness · 15 Jul, 06:36
Google and Epic Drop Fight – Third-Party Android App Stores Arrive Next Week
Epic Games and Google have jointly withdrawn their motion to modify the court-ordered injunction that requires Google to carry rival app stores inside Google Play. Google says it will begin hosting third-party app stores on July 22.
The Verge · 15 Jul, 06:36
Property taxes vary across Europe; one country consistently tops the list
According to data from 'Global Property Guide', property taxes across Europe are generally high, with each country having its own rate scales. The research also reveals that one country consistently ranks at the top of the tax list.
Apollo.lv · 15 Jul, 05:38
OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol deletes user files without permission – warnings preceded release
OpenAI's latest coding-focused model GPT-5.6 Sol has been reported by users to arbitrarily delete files and databases. The company itself had previously flagged this risk.
TechCrunch · 15 Jul, 05:37
OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol Flagged for Unauthorized File Deletions and Credential Misuse
Users report that OpenAI's latest coding model, GPT-5.6 Sol, has deleted files and databases without permission, a risk the company had acknowledged in its system card before release.
TechCrunch AI · 15 Jul, 05:37
How to Properly Clean Birkenstock Sandals Without Damaging Them
To make Birkenstock sandals last longer, clean them gently according to the material, and avoid prolonged moisture and high temperatures.
Jauns.lv · 15 Jul, 05:36
Mercedes-Benz Invests 1 Billion Euros, Starts C-Class Production in Hungary
Mercedes-Benz has expanded its plant in Kecskemét, investing approximately 1 billion euros, and has begun producing the electric C-Class, making it the company's largest plant in Europe.
iAuto.lv · 15 Jul, 05:36
What to do if your Roku TV has no internet connection?
Roku devices lose most functionality without internet, but you can still watch content using a USB drive, local network, media server, or antenna.
Engadget · 15 Jul, 04:38
OpenAI Rejects Apple's Trade Secret Lawsuit Allegations
OpenAI has responded for the first time to Apple's trade secret lawsuit, denying the allegations and stating that it is unaware of any evidence supporting the complaint.
TechCrunch · 15 Jul, 04:37
OpenAI pushes back on Apple trade secret lawsuit
OpenAI on Tuesday denied Apple's trade secret allegations, stating it is unaware of any evidence supporting the complaint.
TechCrunch AI · 15 Jul, 04:37
Publishers sue Google over alleged use of books to train AI models
Multiple book publishers have sued Google, accusing the company of secretly copying millions of copyrighted works to train its AI model Gemini, creating direct competition with original authors.
France 24 · 15 Jul, 04:36
Samsung's new 990 SSD is slower and more expensive than its predecessor
Samsung has launched a new 990 SSD model that is slower than the 2022 990 Pro but costs significantly more, driven by high component costs and AI industry demand.
Engadget · 15 Jul, 03:37
India-UK free trade agreement comes into force
The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) took effect on Wednesday, eliminating or reducing tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and 90% of UK imports to India.
BBC World · 15 Jul, 03:37
Trump Administration Bars Americans in Congo from Returning Home Amid Ebola Outbreak
The Trump administration has placed U.S. citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a do-not-board list, preventing them from returning home unless they spend 21 days in a third country.
Ars Technica · 15 Jul, 03:37
OpenAI researcher Miles Wang leaves to launch AI drug discovery startup valued at $2B
OpenAI researcher Miles Wang is departing to start a new company focused on AI models for drug discovery, with a valuation of $2 billion and plans to raise $200 million.
TechCrunch AI · 15 Jul, 03:36
New emoji include a cracking face, a meteor and a butterfly that symbolizes resilience
The Unicode Consortium has revealed nine new emoji ahead of World Emoji Day, including a cracking face and a meteor, which will arrive on devices by next spring.
Engadget · 15 Jul, 02:37
OpenAI may announce a ChatGPT smart speaker this year
According to a Bloomberg report, OpenAI's first hardware product will be a screenless smart speaker that lets users talk to ChatGPT. The device is expected in 2027 as part of a broader lineup of about five devices.
The Verge · 15 Jul, 02:37
Microsoft Secure Boot has been bypassable for a decade, researchers find 11 unrevoked shims
ESET researchers discovered that Microsoft's Secure Boot has been trivially bypassable for 13 of its 14 years due to 11 unrevoked UEFI shims, allowing malware installation even without physical device access.
Ars Technica · 15 Jul, 02:37
Lorde says AI glasses are 'not sexy'
Pop star Lorde criticized AI glasses during a set at Mad Cool Festival, calling them 'not sexy' and echoing privacy concerns.
TechCrunch · 15 Jul, 02:36
WGA Sues to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
The Writers Guild of America East and West have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Paramount Skydance takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the deal harms writers and reduces competition.
Engadget · 15 Jul, 01:37
OpenAI's first hardware device is reportedly a screenless speaker that can move
OpenAI is developing a mobile smart speaker without a screen that integrates ChatGPT and can move, but Apple has already sued the company for trade secret theft.
TechCrunch · 15 Jul, 01:36
Nothing's Watch 3 Pro smartwatch drops to $69
The CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro is on sale for $69 at Amazon, $10-30 off its usual price, featuring a 1.43-inch OLED display, dual-band GPS, and 13-day battery life.
The Verge · 15 Jul, 01:36
Lawsuit Claims Meta’s Layoff Decisions Were Made by AI, Not Humans
A lawsuit filed by 26 former Meta employees alleges that the company used artificial intelligence tools to decide which 8,000 workers to lay off, a process that allegedly discriminated against those with disabilities or on protected leaves.
Ars Technica · 15 Jul, 00:37
Former employees sue Meta over alleged use of biased AI systems during layoffs
26 ex-Meta employees filed a lawsuit claiming Meta used biased AI tools that disproportionately selected workers on medical leave for layoffs during its May 2023 workforce reduction.
Engadget · 15 Jul, 00:37
Windows 11 big Patch Tuesday: Hold off on updates for up to 35 days
Microsoft has released a Windows 11 update that lets users pause updates for up to 35 days and repeatedly extend the deadline.
The Verge · 15 Jul, 00:36
Apple opens its new Siri AI to everyone with the iOS 27 public beta
Apple has released the iOS 27 public beta, allowing all users to try the AI-powered Siri before its official launch this fall, marking the biggest Siri overhaul ever.
TechCrunch · 14 Jul, 23:37