Business & Technology
Riga Airport to become live animal export hub
The Latvian government has approved amendments designating Riga Airport as an official export point for live farm animals, enabling for the first time the air transport of live hoofed animals from Latvia. Initial estimates suggest several thousand cattle could be shipped by the end of the year.
Delfi · 21 Jun, 10:21
Second-generation Škoda Karoq to arrive in 2028
Škoda is accelerating development of the new Karoq, which will be based on the updated Kodiaq platform and retain internal combustion engines. Development will take just three years, with a market launch scheduled for 2028.
iAuto.lv · 21 Jun, 10:21
Scammers exploit GTA VI anticipation with fake beta offers
Fraudsters send fake beta invitations for Grand Theft Auto VI, aiming to steal personal data and bank details. No official beta exists, so gamers should be wary.
The Guardian World · 21 Jun, 09:21
US aviation officials turn to AI for tackling runway issues
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has partnered with tech company Palantir to deploy artificial intelligence solutions for runway safety, with the long-term aim of predicting potential incidents.
Politico Europe · 21 Jun, 05:21
Musician and YouTuber Hainbach on Lab Gear, 'Breath of the Wild', and Swiss Army Knives
German experimental composer Hainbach (Stefan Paul Goetsch) discusses his unorthodox instruments, prolific output, and personal passions in an interview.
The Verge · 21 Jun, 03:21
How to customize your Kindle screensaver: tips and options
Amazon Kindle users can personalize their device's sleep screen by removing ads, displaying book covers, or using a workaround to show custom images.
Engadget · 21 Jun, 02:21
Signal’s Meredith Whittaker wants you to remember that AI chatbots ‘are not your friends’
Signal President Meredith Whittaker warns that AI chatbots are not sentient beings and should not be treated as friends. She criticizes Microsoft's plan to let Copilot handle Christmas shopping, calling it a backdoor in Signal’s context.
TechCrunch · 21 Jun, 00:21
Raimonds Simanovskis: Finding a Good Business Partner Is Harder Than Finding a Spouse
eazyBI founder Raimonds Simanovskis shares insights on startup challenges, emphasizing that choosing the right team and partner is more critical than the initial idea.
Delfi · 20 Jun, 23:22
In the Weights: A new AI-centric vanity search that measures how well models remember you
Former OpenAI employees Thomas Dimson and Joey Flynn have launched In the Weights, a website that queries multiple AI models to see how well they recall a person without using web search, assigning a strength score.
TechCrunch · 20 Jun, 23:21
In the Weights: A New Tool to Measure How Well AI 'Remembers' You
In the Weights is a new website that evaluates how well various AI models can recall a person without web search, assigning a strength score.
TechCrunch AI · 20 Jun, 23:21
Founders Fund Bets on Humanely Killed Fish with Robotic System
Shinkei Systems has developed a robot called Poseidon that kills fish instantly, reducing stress and extending shelf life. Backed by Founders Fund, the company supplies fish to 50 Michelin-starred restaurants and has begun exporting to Japan.
TechCrunch · 20 Jun, 22:21
The Atlantic creates searchable database of music used to train AI
Atlantic reporter Alex Reisner uncovered four datasets containing millions of tracks used to train AI models and made them publicly searchable. The datasets include artists like Lady Gaga, Radiohead, and Bruce Springsteen.
The Verge · 20 Jun, 22:21
NASA Tests Ernest Rover That Can Drive Faster and Lift Its Wheels to Climb Obstacles
NASA is developing the Ernest rover prototype, capable of speeds up to 0.6 mph and individually lifting its wheels to overcome rough terrain, testing new technologies for future Mars and Moon missions.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 22:21
Bank of Russia cuts rate to 14.25% as fuel crisis and war costs fuel inflation risks
Russia's central bank lowered its key interest rate to 14.25% on Friday, less than analysts expected, citing pro-inflationary risks from higher budget spending and a fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries.
Euronews Business · 20 Jun, 21:21
Epic is building a ground-up rebuild of its launcher that will be 5x faster
Epic Games has confirmed it is working on Launcher V2, a complete overhaul of its store client that promises up to five times faster cold starts and 6.5 times faster restoration from the system tray.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 21:21
Nobel laureate John Jumper leaves DeepMind for rival Anthropic
John Jumper, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, is leaving Google DeepMind to join Anthropic after nearly nine years. Separately, Character AI co-founder Noam Shazeer also announced his departure from DeepMind this week to join OpenAI.
TechCrunch · 20 Jun, 20:21
NASA's Swift Boost mission will launch later this month to rescue a falling telescope
NASA's Swift Boost mission is set for June 27 to rendezvous with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and boost it to a higher orbit, as its orbit is decaying faster than expected.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 20:21
Claude Guillemot, Ubisoft Co-Founder, Dies in Plane Crash
Claude Guillemot, who co-founded Ubisoft with his brothers in 1986, has died in a plane crash near La Baule, France. He was 69.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 19:22
Apple iOS 27 brings smarter Wallet, enhanced Maps, and more
Apple has released iOS 27 with several significant upgrades, including smarter bill splitting in Wallet, customizable location sharing in Find My, and new Maps features.
TechCrunch · 20 Jun, 18:20
Carmakers Ditch Android Auto: Data Control and Subscription Fees Behind the Shift
Major automakers, including General Motors, are abandoning Android Auto for proprietary systems to retain user data and unlock subscription revenue, with some like Rivian and Tesla never adopting the platform.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 17:22
Moves of the Diamond Hand: A Weird Dice-RPG Adventure in Early Access
Cosmo D's "Moves of the Diamond Hand" is an early access dice-based RPG set in the bizarre Off-Peak City, where players roll dice for nearly every action. It blends absurd humor, deep mechanics, and a mysterious story that won't be complete until 2027.
The Verge · 20 Jun, 17:21
Iraq to Diversify Crude Oil Exports via Syrian Ports
Iraq will expand its agreement with Syria to diversify crude oil and petroleum product export routes after the war in the Persian Gulf affected its traditional supply lines.
LSM · 20 Jun, 17:20
Average weekly electricity exchange price in Estonia drops to 5 cents per kWh
During the week of June 15-21, the average electricity price in the Estonian price zone of the Nord Pool exchange fell by 27% to approximately 5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
ERR (rus) · 20 Jun, 16:20
UK to Scan Asylum Seekers' Faces for Age Checks Despite Known Flaws
The UK Home Office plans to deploy facial age estimation technology for asylum seekers by 2027, despite internal reports showing significant inaccuracies and racial bias, particularly against Sub-Saharan Africans.
Ars Technica · 20 Jun, 15:22
Nothing's Budget Brand CMF Won't Release a New Phone This Year
Nothing's budget sub-brand CMF has decided not to launch a new smartphone this year due to rising memory prices, instead focusing on other product launches.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 15:21
Zīle: new EU air passenger law bans airlines from charging for children to sit next to parents
After 13 years of political battles, the European Union has adopted a new air passenger law that prohibits airlines from charging for children to sit next to their parents on planes.
LSM · 20 Jun, 15:20
Steam Next Fest Brings Thousands of Demos and New Indie Games to Explore
Steam Next Fest is live with countless game demos, including a 5D platformer, a chaotic driving game, and an autobiographical title tackling heavy themes.
Engadget · 20 Jun, 14:20
Home Batteries: How They Work and How Much They Cost
Home batteries are becoming more accessible, helping to reduce electricity costs and provide backup power. Experts explain key factors to consider before purchasing.
Wired · 20 Jun, 14:20
Siri AI Hands-On: A Smarter, More Helpful Assistant
Apple's revamped Siri, powered by Google Gemini, is more conversational and personalized but still has rough edges in its beta form.
Wired · 20 Jun, 13:20
Scientists Invent a Way to Brew Espresso With Ultrasonic Waves—No Hot Water Required
Colombian researcher Francisco Trujillo and a team at the University of New South Wales in Australia have developed a new method to brew espresso using high-frequency sound waves at room temperature, eliminating the need for hot water.
Wired · 20 Jun, 12:21
Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline: An African project that could reshape global energy markets
After repeated delays, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline officially restarted work in early June, linking Nigeria, Niger and Algeria to export natural gas to Europe.
France 24 · 20 Jun, 11:21
SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan Review: Versatile and Quiet
SwitchBot's battery-powered Standing Circulator Fan offers quiet operation, 3D airflow, a nightlight, and smart home integration, but lacks the power for large rooms.
The Verge · 20 Jun, 10:21
Competition for employees intensifies – wages rise faster in some sectors
While overall wage growth in Latvia remains moderate, some sectors see significantly higher salary increases as employers compete for qualified specialists. The highest demand is still in lower-paid service and retail jobs.
Delfi · 20 Jun, 10:20
Five transporters of illegal border crossers detained in Augšdaugava region within 24 hours
The State Border Guard of Latvia detained five individuals in the Augšdaugava region within one day for transporting people who had illegally crossed the border.
iAuto.lv · 20 Jun, 08:21
Elon Musk's business empire: The companies behind the world's richest man
Elon Musk has built several revolutionary companies including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, becoming the first person to surpass a net worth of $500 billion.
Euronews Business · 20 Jun, 08:21
FICIL: Shadow economy in Latvia persists due to political decisions and illegal construction in Pierīga
Evita Goša, head of the FICIL Shadow Economy Working Group, states that the shadow economy is not decreasing because pre-election measures removed key cash transaction restrictions and private houses in Pierīga are often built undeclared.
Delfi · 20 Jun, 07:21