Business & Technology
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WhatsApp Removes Requirement to Provide Phone Number
The messaging platform WhatsApp is making a historic change by no longer requiring users to provide a phone number to use the service. The move is positioned as a privacy protection measure.
Apollo.lv · 3 Jul, 03:37
Last chance to apply — Startup Battlefield Australia applications close July 6
Applications for Startup Battlefield Australia will close on July 6, 2026. Selected startups will pitch live in Sydney on August 19, competing for up to $15,000 in Stripe credits and a spot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco.
TechCrunch · 3 Jul, 03:36
Can Cursor Remain an Open Platform After SpaceX Acquisition?
SpaceX's $60 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor raises questions about whether it will continue to offer rival AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Wired · 3 Jul, 02:38
Private space startups complete orbital rendezvous mission for US Space Force
True Anomaly and Rocket Lab executed a complex rendezvous mission for the U.S. Space Force, showcasing private sector capability in orbital reconnaissance and inspection.
TechCrunch · 3 Jul, 02:36
Meta quietly launches 'Pocket' app for creating generative AI minigames
Meta has soft-launched a new mobile app called Pocket that lets users create their own minigames using generative AI, but it is not yet available in the US and no official announcement has been made.
Engadget · 3 Jul, 02:36
New macOS Malware 'PamStealer' Uses Clever Techniques to Steal Passwords Stealthily
Researchers have discovered a novel macOS malware that combines multiple clever tactics to infect Macs and steal login passwords, staying hidden by masquerading as legitimate apps and delaying suspicious prompts.
Ars Technica · 3 Jul, 01:38
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Cyberattack on Latvijas valsts meži: no evidence of election interference
Despite conspiracy theories on social media, the cyberattack on Latvijas valsts meži was not aimed at influencing the upcoming Saeima elections; the perpetrator is a financially motivated ransomware group.
Apollo.lv · 3 Jul, 01:37
Jack Selby uses Arizona connections to secure stakes in hot startups like Etched
Thiel Capital's Jack Selby, leveraging his ties to Arizona, invested in Nvidia rival Etched by promising to help the startup move chip production to TSMC's Arizona facility.
TechCrunch · 3 Jul, 01:37
Tesla driver faces manslaughter charges after crashing into home, killing woman in Texas
Michael Butler, 44, was arrested after his Tesla Model 3, operating on Full-Self Driving, crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila. Evidence shows Butler had searched for information about the system being too timid prior to the crash.
The Verge · 3 Jul, 01:37
Russia permits sale of lower-grade gasoline as fuel crisis continues
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree allowing the sale of Euro-3 gasoline until the end of 2026, aiming to prevent destabilization of the fuel market following Ukrainian drone strikes on oil facilities.
Meduza · 3 Jul, 01:36
IQM, Europe’s first public quantum company, admits future of the tech is uncertain
Finnish quantum computing company IQM went public on Nasdaq via a SPAC on Thursday, but share prices remained below the IPO price, with the company admitting in its prospectus that large-scale commercial traction may never occur.
TechCrunch · 3 Jul, 00:38
Meta Launches New 'Pocket' App with AI-Powered 'Gizmos'
Meta has released a new app called Pocket, enabling users to create and share interactive AI-generated experiences. The app is not yet available in the US.
The Verge · 3 Jul, 00:37
Cloudflare to Automatically Block Mixed-Use Web Crawlers Serving AI Companies
Cloudflare announced it will automatically block mixed-use web crawlers that index websites for search engines and simultaneously collect data for AI training, starting September 2026, giving website owners more control over their content.
Engadget · 3 Jul, 00:37
Sandwich shop's IPO reveals just how far AI hype has gone
Jersey Mike's, a submarine sandwich chain, mentions artificial intelligence 22 times in its IPO filing, highlighting the extent of investor obsession with AI.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Jul, 23:37
Sandwich Shop in AI Hype: Jersey Mike's IPO Reveals Tech Frenzy
The sandwich chain 'Jersey Mike's' mentions artificial intelligence 22 times in its IPO filing, despite selling sandwiches, not technology.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 23:37
Trump administration cuts regulations on US commercial fishing
The Trump administration is slashing commercial fishing regulations, including reopening New England waters to scallop fishing that had been banned since 1994 due to overfishing.
Al Jazeera · 2 Jul, 23:36
Meta quietly launches Pocket, an app for vibe-coded gaming with AI
Meta has released Pocket, an app that lets users create small interactive games and apps using AI prompts, based on its acquisition of the Gizmo team earlier this year.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Jul, 22:38
Google and Amazon's green goals falter as AI costs mount
Google and Amazon reported significant increases in carbon emissions, indirectly driven by the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence. Emissions rose 25% and 16% respectively last year, putting their net-zero pledges at risk.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 22:37
Weber marks down grills and griddles before July 4th
Ahead of Independence Day, Weber offers discounts on grills and griddles, saving up to $100 on select models.
The Verge · 2 Jul, 21:37
Spotify Confirms Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader Flags Suspicious Activity
Trader Caleb Davies, who made over $1.2 million on prediction markets, alerted Spotify and Kalshi to potential bot-driven manipulation of Spotify charts. Spotify investigated and found evidence of artificial streaming, removing over 500,000 fake streams.
Wired · 2 Jul, 21:36
Housing lending in Latvia rises but still lags behind eurozone
According to the Bank of Latvia's latest Financial Access report, housing lending in Latvia has been increasing since 2024, with continued growth in 2025, but overall market activity remains among the lowest in the eurozone.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 21:36
Anthropic in Talks with Samsung About Custom AI Chip
AI company Anthropic has entered discussions with Samsung to develop a custom chip, aiming to reduce dependence on Nvidia and address chip shortages, according to a report from The Information.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Jul, 21:36
Boeing-owned Wisk Aero sued by former manager who raised safety concerns
Former software manager Briahna O’Neill has filed a lawsuit against Wisk Aero, alleging she was fired after reporting that the company reduced FAA-required software testing to meet a 2025 test flight deadline.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 20:36
LAIDA Chairman Normunds Žieds: Clear Vision and Goal – Key to Long-Term Success
In an interview with Dienas Bizness, Normunds Žieds, head of Purple Corner and chairman of the Latvian Architects, Engineers and Designers Trade Union, emphasizes that long-term success of organizations and companies is based on a clear vision and goal.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 20:36
The Era of Physical Game Discs Is Ending
After decades of accumulating physical games, the industry is moving toward a digital future—Sony plans to end PlayStation disc production, and Microsoft continues digitizing games.
The Verge · 2 Jul, 19:36
Alpine Ends Production of Combustion-Engine A110; Next Generation Will Be Electric
The last internal combustion Alpine A110 has rolled off the line in Dieppe, France, marking an era's end. The next-generation model will be fully electric.
iAuto.lv · 2 Jul, 18:37
OpenAI proposes donating 5% of its equity to a US sovereign wealth fund
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has proposed giving 5% of the company's equity to a US sovereign wealth fund to secure good relations with the administration and address political blowback. Discussions remain preliminary and may require congressional approval.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Jul, 18:37
Melinda Gates' venture firm backs Magnify Ventures' $46.6M Fund II
Early-stage venture firm Magnify Ventures has raised $46.6 million for its second fund, with Melinda French Gates' Pivotal Ventures as a limited partner.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 18:36
Tesla Q2 sales jump 25 percent as automaker recovers from tough 2025
Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles in the second quarter of 2026, a 25% increase year-over-year, signaling a recovery after a difficult 2025 sales year.
The Verge · 2 Jul, 17:38
US Government Hit by Another Cyberattack: DHS Platform Breached
The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a breach of its Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), used for sharing intelligence among federal, state, and local agencies. Senator Mark Warner warns that the exposure of sensitive information could risk national security.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 17:37
Germany's ruling coalition reaches agreement on tax reform
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the ruling coalition has agreed on a tax reform that will lower the burden for low- and middle-income earners by increasing taxes on the wealthy.
ERR (rus) · 2 Jul, 17:36
Tesla's second-quarter sales surge, beating expectations
Tesla delivered over 480,000 vehicles in Q2 2026, up more than 120,000 from Q1, its best second quarter ever, easily beating Wall Street estimates.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 16:37
EU car industry clashes over strategy to fight Chinese competitors
European car suppliers and manufacturers are divided over Brussels' "Made in Europe" strategy to protect the EU market from Chinese competition.
Euronews Business · 2 Jul, 16:36
HDMI 2.1 vs USB-C vs DisplayPort: Which connection is better for your monitor?
This article compares the three main video connection standards, explaining their strengths for different use cases.
Engadget · 2 Jul, 16:36
Rivian raises EV sales forecast on strong Q2 production and R2 launch
Rivian increased its annual delivery forecast from 62,000–67,000 to 65,000–70,000 vehicles, citing robust second-quarter output and the start of deliveries for the new R2 SUV.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 15:36
Estonian cheesemaker Andre Farm pulls out of major supermarket chains
Estonian cheesemaker Andre Farm has stopped selling through major supermarkets due to high costs; production halved but profitability unchanged.
ERR News · 2 Jul, 14:38