Business & Technology

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

Manchester-based BidScript raises €701k pre-seed, reports up to 50% higher tender win rates
AI-powered tender management platform BidScript has secured €701k in pre-seed funding, bringing its total pre-seed to over €876k, and plans to use the capital to expand into new markets and develop its product.
EU-Startups · 2 Jul, 14:38

Housing prices in Latvia rise faster than EU average
In the first quarter of this year, housing prices in Latvia increased by 10.9% compared to the same period last year, significantly outpacing the average growth in the European Union.
Jauns.lv · 2 Jul, 14:37

Amazon Is Ready to Deploy Its Kuiper Satellite Broadband Service
With the successful launch of 29 additional satellites, Amazon now has over 390 operational satellites in orbit, enough to begin providing continuous satellite broadband service in initial latitudes. The company plans to accelerate deployment using next-generation rockets.
Engadget · 2 Jul, 14:37

8 Best Travel Adapters (2026): Expert Recommendations
Wired's expert tested and selected 8 travel adapters and chargers, from universal devices to compact charging stations, and offers advice on voltage converters, plug types, and wattage.
Wired · 2 Jul, 14:37

OpenAI Offers US Government 5% Stake in AI Boom
OpenAI has proposed giving the U.S. government a 5% ownership stake to ease tensions with the Trump administration and address public backlash against AI.
The Verge · 2 Jul, 13:37
Rips App: Digital Card Pack Ripping as Gambling
The Rips app, where users pay to open digital card packs and win physical cards, has become a popular way to spend thousands. Since its launch in October 2025, it has been downloaded over 6 million times.
Wired · 2 Jul, 13:36

Meta Introduces Subscription for Smart Glasses Features – A New Era for Consumer Tech
Meta will require a monthly subscription to unlock advanced features on its smart glasses, including Conversation Focus, an audio enhancement tool.
Wired · 2 Jul, 12:36

OpenAI Reportedly Proposes Giving US Government a Stake in Leading AI Companies
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly proposed that leading AI companies, including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, xAI, and Meta, give the US government a 5% stake in their businesses to share the benefits of the AI boom with the public.
Engadget · 2 Jul, 12:36

Czech VC firm Orbit Capital raises Growth Debt Fund II to €107 million
Prague-based venture capital firm Orbit Capital has surpassed its initial target by closing its Growth Debt Fund II at €107 million, reinforcing its position as a leading venture debt platform in Central and Eastern Europe.
EU-Startups · 2 Jul, 11:39

EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin criticises 'frugals' over proposed long-term budget cuts
EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin warns that further cuts to the EU's long-term budget may not make it cheaper for taxpayers, criticising the 'frugal' countries.
Euronews Business · 2 Jul, 11:39

Dativa and RTU Develop AI-Powered Document Editor DokEdit for Web Browsers
Latvian IT company Dativa, in partnership with Riga Technical University (RTU), is creating a new web-based document editor called DokEdit that uses artificial intelligence to streamline document preparation, error correction, and online signing.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 11:38

Latvia and Estonia Open Business Forum “Stronger Together” in Tallinn
During President Edgars Rinkēvičs’ state visit to Estonia, the Latvian-Estonian business forum “Stronger Together” was opened on July 2, focusing on defense, dual-use, and high-tech cooperation.
Labs of Latvia · 2 Jul, 11:38

Spain's unemployment falls below 2.3 million for first time since January 2008
Spain's registered unemployment dropped to 2,291,982 in June, the lowest level since before the financial crisis. The decline was driven by the services sector, but the number of people with no previous employment rose.
Euronews Business · 2 Jul, 10:37

Valainis meets Tesla representatives to discuss self-driving car regulations in Latvia
On July 1, Latvian Economics Minister Viktors Valainis met with Tesla representatives to discuss the development of automated driving technology and necessary regulatory improvements in Latvia. The meeting included a demonstration of Tesla's FSD system and a review of international experience.
iAuto.lv · 2 Jul, 09:36

Finnish industry returns to growth: sales volume exceeds €91 billion
After several years of decline, the value of Finnish industrial production grew to €91.7 billion in 2025. The chemical sector remains the largest industry.
ERR (rus) · 2 Jul, 08:37

Google ordered to pay €1.28 billion for antitrust violations in price comparison
A Swedish court has ruled that Google must pay €1.28 billion to price comparison site PriceRunner for illegally favoring its own shopping service in search results.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 08:37

Indian Tech Tycoon Bets $30M of His Own Money to Build AI Alternative to Microsoft Office
Indian entrepreneur Bhavin Turakhia is investing $30 million of his personal funds into Neo, a new workplace software platform built from the ground up for AI, aiming to displace traditional office suites like Microsoft Office.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 08:36

Land Drones in Modern Warfare: From 30 Kilos to Several Tons
Military land drones, weighing from 30 kg to several tons, are becoming increasingly important in armed conflicts, but Latvia still prioritizes air defense.
LSM · 2 Jul, 08:36

'Beautiful blobs': Scientists take step toward creating synthetic life with self-reproducing droplets
Researchers have built tiny quivering blobs using lab-made DNA that can feed, grow, and multiply, marking a milestone in synthetic biology.
The Guardian Science · 2 Jul, 07:37
Stock prices mostly fall in US and European exchanges on Wednesday
Stock markets in the US and Europe declined on Wednesday after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh stressed the need to curb inflation and ahead of the release of US employment data for June.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 07:36

EU cement industry faces existential threat from rising imports and high energy costs
With EU cement imports surging from 2.4 million to 14.2 million tonnes since 2016 and exports halved, the industry warns of an existential threat. Leaders call for tighter carbon regulations, support for low-carbon technologies, and a robust ETS to maintain competitiveness and sovereignty.
Politico Europe · 2 Jul, 06:37

Head of Nordic Investment Bank: Latvia and several regional economies have stagnated for years
The president of the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) stated that Latvia and several other countries in the region have experienced prolonged economic stagnation, despite occasional positive quarterly GDP figures.
Dienas Bizness · 2 Jul, 06:36
Russia warns Apple over default search engines and missing Russian apps, giving company until July 15 to comply or face a fine of up to $52 million
Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has issued a warning to Apple because iPhones and iPads come with a foreign search engine by default and fail to preinstall Russian apps. The company has until July 15 to fix the violations or risk a fine of up to 4 billion rubles (about $52 million).
Meduza · 2 Jul, 05:38

Sony will stop making physical copies of PlayStation games in 2028
Sony announced that from January 2028, all new PlayStation games will be available only in digital format, ending physical disc production. The company cites consumer trends, with digital downloads accounting for 78% of game purchases.
Ars Technica · 2 Jul, 04:38

Latvia to Ban Import of Certain Industrial Goods from Russia and Belarus
The Latvian government has agreed to ban imports of specific industrial products from Russia and Belarus, though concrete proposals are not yet public.
LSM · 2 Jul, 04:38
Russia gasoline and diesel prices rise again; 30% jump in occupied Sevastopol
According to Rosstat, gasoline prices in Russia rose by 1.6% and diesel by 2.2% in the last week of June. The sharpest increase was recorded in occupied Sevastopol at 30%, while prices fell in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Meduza · 2 Jul, 04:37

WhatsApp usernames already raising impersonation red flags
WhatsApp has started rolling out username reservations, allowing users to be found by handle instead of phone number, but impersonation concerns have drawn scrutiny from regulators in India, the app's largest market.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 04:37

Trump Administration Refuses to Extend USMCA Trade Deal, Starts 10-Year Countdown to Termination
The Trump administration has refused to extend the USMCA trade agreement, triggering a 10-year countdown to its termination unless the three countries agree on amendments to address U.S. concerns over jobs and trade deficits.
Pravda — ziņas · 2 Jul, 04:37

Volkswagen Considers Bringing China-Developed Cars to Europe
Volkswagen is evaluating whether to introduce models originally designed for China to the European market, either by import or local production.
iAuto.lv · 2 Jul, 04:36

Ashton Kutcher Leaves Sound Ventures to Launch New VC Firm with Morgan Beller
Ashton Kutcher is departing Sound Ventures, the firm he co-founded 11 years ago, to start a new venture capital fund with Morgan Beller, focusing on early-stage investments in AI infrastructure, energy, and deep tech.
TechCrunch AI · 2 Jul, 03:38

Superworms could replace beetles for cleaning skeletal remains
Researchers propose using superworm larvae as a safer and equally effective alternative to dermestid beetles for cleaning bones in museums and forensics.
Ars Technica · 2 Jul, 03:37

Teenager Allegedly Linked to Scattered Spider Hacking Group Arrested, US Authorities Say
US authorities have arrested a teenager suspected of being a member of the cyber hacking group Scattered Spider, which has been tied to attacks on Marks & Spencer and Transport for London.
Sky News · 2 Jul, 03:37

Apple reportedly planning new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro releases early next year
According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing four new iPad Pro models and a new entry-level MacBook Pro, targeting a release in the first half of 2027. The company is also preparing its first M7 processor.
TechCrunch · 2 Jul, 03:36

US home battery installations hit record high on rising electricity costs
In early 2026, US residential battery installations set a record of 673 megawatts, driven by state incentives and rising electricity prices.
Ars Technica · 2 Jul, 02:38