Business & Technology
Uzbekistan turns investor proposals into economic reform roadmap
Uzbekistan plans to prepare a formal roadmap based on 120 recommendations from foreign investors submitted during the Tashkent International Investment Forum.
Euronews Business · 19 Jun, 11:20
2028 Mercedes-Benz VLE first drive: an electric grand limousine with an 8K living room
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the VLE, an all-electric minivan that features a 31.3-inch 8K screen, 22-speaker Dolby Atmos audio, and massaging seats, but lacks full self-driving capability. It arrives in the US in late 2027 at a yet-unannounced premium price.
Engadget · 19 Jun, 10:21
Copenhagen's Festina Finance secures over €25 million to modernise pensions and life insurance platforms
Danish fintech Festina Finance has raised over €25 million in growth funding from Birchway Capital to accelerate the development of its cloud-native pension and insurance platforms and expand internationally.
EU-Startups · 19 Jun, 10:21
CC: Competition in Latvia's banking sector remains weak, dominated by four major banks
The Competition Council (CC) has found that competition in Latvia's credit institution sector is limited – the market is dominated by four banks, customer mobility is low, while the entry of a new player is seen as positive.
Dienas Bizness · 19 Jun, 10:21
US launches trade probe into Germany over medicine prices
The US Trade Representative's office has initiated a trade investigation into Germany's drug pricing, alleging that Germany underpays for innovative medicines, forcing US patients to shoulder a disproportionate share of research and development costs.
Euronews Business · 19 Jun, 10:20
Autoeksperts opens new service near Riga airport, faces shortage of qualified staff
Auto service center Autoeksperts has expanded with a new branch near Riga airport. The company highlights an industry-wide shortage of qualified electricians and mechanics as cars become more complex.
iAuto.lv · 19 Jun, 09:21
Conexus Plans to Increase Natural Gas Transmission Tariffs from October
AS Conexus Baltic Grid plans to raise natural gas transmission system service tariffs from October 1, 2026, with a phased increase that will have minimal impact on end-user bills.
Apollo.lv · 19 Jun, 09:21
MJL Development to Invest Over €20 Million in New Riga Residential Complex
Real estate developer MJL Development has obtained a building permit for a residential project named “Terra Dunte,” planning to construct 183 apartments by early 2028.
Dienas Bizness · 19 Jun, 09:20
Rail freight volume in Latvia drops 18.5% in first five months
In the first five months of 2026, Latvia's rail freight volume fell by 18.5% year-on-year to 3.067 million tonnes, according to the Ministry of Transport.
TVNET · 19 Jun, 09:20
Sleep Expert Warns: Sleep-Deprived Driver as Dangerous as Drunk Driver
Every fifth serious road accident in Latvia is alcohol-related, but lack of sleep poses similar risks. Over 60% of drivers have driven while sleepy in the past year. Experts urge evaluating fitness before driving and taking breaks if needed.
iAuto.lv · 19 Jun, 08:20
EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia for 12 Months for First Time
The European Union has for the first time extended sanctions against Russia for 12 months instead of the usual six. The sanctions target Russia's fossil fuel revenues, arms industry, and financial institutions, requiring unanimous consent from all 27 member states.
Dienas Bizness · 19 Jun, 07:21
How to pay with Google Wallet using your Samsung Galaxy Watch
Samsung Galaxy Watch users can use Google Wallet for contactless payments, but must meet requirements: Wear OS 2.0 or newer and regional support.
Engadget · 19 Jun, 06:22
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Second Pension Pillar: Private Money or Part of Social Insurance?
In Latvia, the debate on early withdrawal of second pension pillar savings has resurfaced, but experts emphasize that these funds are not simply private money but part of the mandatory social insurance system. Several initiatives, including “ManaBalss” and the party “Latvia First,” are collecting signatures to allow voluntary access, while the Bank of Latvia warns of long-term deficit risks.
TVNET · 19 Jun, 06:22
Android verification is coming: Google confirms timeline and supported app stores
Google has shared an updated rollout timeline for Android developer verification, starting in September 2026 in select countries, with multiple app store partners and new APIs for developers.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 06:21
Bank of Latvia economist warns against negative effects of second pillar pension reform
Oļegs Tkačevs, an economist at the Bank of Latvia, argues that early withdrawal of second pillar pension savings, as done by Estonia and Lithuania, would harm Latvia's economy in the long run and reduce future pensions.
Žurnāls Ir · 19 Jun, 06:21
Microsoft discovers new self-propagating malware that steals cryptocurrency
Microsoft has uncovered a new worm named Crypto Clipper that spreads via USB drives, monitors clipboard content for crypto wallet addresses and seed phrases, and exfiltrates data through Tor.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 05:21
EU leaders back stronger trade defences amid China export surge
EU leaders agreed to strengthen trade defences in response to a surge in Chinese exports seen as an existential threat to European industry, while also seeking constructive dialogue with Beijing.
France 24 · 19 Jun, 05:20
Snap's Specs: Impressive Tech Marred by Uncomfortable Design
Snap's new AR glasses offer impressive features, but photos reveal a bulky, heavy design that may deter users. The Vergecast discusses whether the specs can overcome their physical shortcomings.
The Verge · 19 Jun, 04:22
Record-Speed Satellite Rescue: NASA's Swift Mission Gets a Lifeline from Katalyst's Link Spacecraft
In under a year, NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have built and prepared a satellite to boost the aging Swift observatory's orbit, aiming to save a critical astrophysics mission from atmospheric reentry.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 04:20
Elastic Agrees to Acquire AI Startup DeductiveAI for Up to $85M
Enterprise software company Elastic has agreed to acquire DeductiveAI, an AI startup focused on detecting and fixing software bugs, for up to $85 million, sources say.
TechCrunch AI · 19 Jun, 04:20
Telegram Ban in India Sparks Surge in VPN and Alternative App Downloads
India's week-long ban on Telegram over exam fraud concerns led to a sharp spike in downloads of VPNs and rival messaging apps, with some services seeing record increases.
TechCrunch · 19 Jun, 04:20
YC Demo Day Highlights 11 Promising Startups, Defense Tech and AI Tools Dominate
Y Combinator's Spring 2026 Demo Day showcased 11 standout startups picked by investors, with defense tech company 9 Mothers achieving a valuation exceeding $200 million, the highest in the batch.
TechCrunch · 19 Jun, 03:21
Meta Employee Revolt: New AI Unit Sparks Anger and Demoralization
Meta employees are in open revolt over the company's new AI unit, where thousands were transferred after layoffs. Workers complain of menial tasks and loss of control, and management's morale-boosting attempts, like a hackathon idea, have backfired.
Wired · 19 Jun, 03:21
You can now use the Game Boy Camera with your phone
Epilogue has released a mobile app called Flashback that, with the GB Operator accessory, lets you connect the Game Boy Camera to a smartphone and take photos.
The Verge · 19 Jun, 03:21
Taiwan Accelerates Drone Production for Defense and US Military Needs
Amid rising Chinese threats, Taiwanese companies, including Thunder Tiger, expand drone manufacturing, supplying both the US military and Ukraine's allies while developing partnerships with Western tech firms.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 03:20
Steam Controller Orders Delayed: New Reservations May Not Ship Until 2027
Valve has announced that due to overwhelming demand and component shortages, new Steam Controller reservations will not be fulfilled until 2027 at the earliest.
The Verge · 19 Jun, 02:22
Snap Spins Off AI Video Team into New Company Dotmo, Citing Costs
Snap is spinning off its generative AI video team into a separate company, Dotmo, to focus on interactive gaming experiences, citing high costs. The move is Snap's second major spinoff this year.
TechCrunch AI · 19 Jun, 02:22
FDA advisors unanimously vote to approve Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after agency drama
Independent FDA advisors voted 9-0 in favor of approving Moderna's seasonal mRNA flu vaccine, following a controversial initial rejection by a Trump appointee. The vaccine, mRNA-1010 (mFlusiva), was shown in a Phase 3 trial to be 27% more effective than a standard flu shot.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 02:21
Early Prime Day 2026 Deals: Big Discounts on Breville and Ninja Espresso Machines
Amazon Prime Day 2026 has started early with significant discounts on two top-selling espresso machines – the Breville Barista Express and the Ninja Luxe Cafe Pro – saving up to $200.
Wired · 19 Jun, 02:20
Only 200,000 Latvians Voluntarily Save for Retirement; Low Youth Participation Raises Concerns
Data from the Bank of Latvia shows that only about 200,000 residents make voluntary savings for the future, with a worryingly low number of young people. Although total savings have tripled over the past decade, a third of contract holders have not made contributions in the last year.
Žurnāls Ir · 19 Jun, 01:21
Fake fan images flood social media during World Cup – from Hitler lookalike to AI beauties
After Germany's win over Curaçao, a screenshot of a fan resembling Hitler went viral, but it was digitally altered; similarly, several videos of attractive female fans were entirely AI-generated, part of a clickbait scheme.
France 24 · 19 Jun, 01:21
AI inference startup Baseten reportedly raising $1.5B months after its last mega-round
AI inference company Baseten is near closing a $1.5 billion funding round at a $13 billion valuation, just five months after its $300 million Series E, according to The Wall Street Journal.
TechCrunch · 19 Jun, 01:21
Global investors urge Europe to ease regulation to attract capital
At the FII Institute summit in Rome, global investors stressed that Europe must accelerate reforms and cut red tape to compete with the US and Asia for investment.
Euronews Business · 19 Jun, 00:21
Google discontinues Nest Home Mini and Nest Audio
Google has confirmed it will stop production of the Nest Home Mini and Nest Audio smart speakers, shifting focus to the new Google Home speaker and deeper Gemini chatbot integration.
Engadget · 19 Jun, 00:21
NASA Tells Northrop Grumman to Stop Work on Lunar Gateway HALO Module
NASA has halted work on the Lunar Gateway's HALO module after shifting focus to a Moon base. Contractor Paragon was told to stop developing the life-support system.
Ars Technica · 19 Jun, 00:21
Investment expert Toms Kreicbergs: Saving and investing improves life, not restricts it
Investment expert Toms Kreicbergs believes people need to see that saving and investing will make life better, not limit it. He comments on current debates about the second pension pillar.
Žurnāls Ir · 19 Jun, 00:21