Business & Technology
Latvia enters European unicorn index for the first time with company FYUL
Latvia has made its debut in the Hurun Emerging Europe Unicorn Index 2026 through FYUL, a company valued at 1.5 billion US dollars. The Baltic states outperform Germany, France and the Netherlands in unicorns per million inhabitants.
Labs of Latvia · 23 Oct, 18:54
Apple Music hides an interactive iPod tribute for the device's 25th anniversary
On the Apple Music website, an error page now opens a playable virtual version of the original iPod with more than a thousand songs. It marks 25 years since the famous music player was unveiled.
Engadget · 23 Oct, 18:53
Meta delays new business terms after publisher pushback over AI data scraping
Meta has pushed the start of its new business terms to November 20th. Publishers feared the terms would let the company scrape news sites to train artificial intelligence.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 17:54
Local Producers Struggle to Win School and Kindergarten Food Contracts in Latvia
Latvian school and kindergarten kitchens need about 30,500 tonnes of food a year, and local producers supply roughly 66% of it. The head of the cooperative Provinces Produkti says an organic certificate alone is not enough to succeed in public procurement.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 16:55
Russian government considers ending subsidized mortgages for IT workers early
Russian authorities are discussing an early end to the preferential mortgage program for IT specialists, citing limited budget funds. Rates on loans already issued will reportedly stay unchanged for their full term.
Meduza · 23 Oct, 16:54
Latvia Opposes Lower Cod Bycatch Limit in the Baltic Sea for 2027
The European Commission proposes substantially raising the 2027 catch limits for herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea while cutting the cod bycatch limit. Latvia's Ministry of Agriculture promises to oppose the proposal, and fishermen fear for the industry's future.
LSM (rus) · 23 Oct, 15:56
Brick launches $129 app blocker aimed at bedtime doomscrolling
Brick, the company behind a phone app-blocking gadget, has released the Brick Night. It uses Bluetooth to switch on automatically when a user enters the bedroom, aiming to curb doomscrolling in bed.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 15:53
Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars posts a loss and will cut 2,500 jobs
Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars recorded a net loss of 5.7 billion kronor in the third quarter. It plans to save five billion kronor by eliminating about 2,500 jobs worldwide.
iAuto.lv · 23 Oct, 14:56
Milan's Phononic Vibes raises €25 million to expand noise control technology
Italian company Phononic Vibes, which develops noise and vibration solutions, has closed a €25 million financing round. Its technology is already used with Deutsche Bahn and in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
EU-Startups · 23 Oct, 14:54
Riga Airport to Offer Flights to 63 Destinations This Winter
Riga Airport's winter flight season begins on 25 October with the switch to winter time, offering regular flights to 63 destinations in 30 countries. New routes are planned, and several popular routes will see more frequent service.
Jauns.lv · 23 Oct, 14:53
Russian Central Bank Holds Key Interest Rate at 14%
Russia's Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 14% on Friday, 23 October, as widely expected. The decision balances inflation risks against the burden of high borrowing costs.
The Moscow Times · 23 Oct, 13:55
Turtle Beach Vulcan II XP Reviewed: An Affordable Mechanical Keyboard With Compromises
In a Wired review, Turtle Beach's gaming-oriented Vulcan II XP mechanical keyboard is judged a decent entry-level option for its price, but one with several build-quality flaws.
Wired · 23 Oct, 13:54
Plastic surgeon Ansis Ģīlis: no saving on quality in medicine
Ansis Ģīlis, medical director of the Plastic Surgery Clinic in Latvia, says lowering quality standards for short-term gains is unacceptable in healthcare. In a profile for the business daily Dienas Bizness he describes his path from doctor to manager and how the field has changed.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 13:53
PC shipments fall 21% in third quarter
Market research firm Counterpoint reports that global personal computer shipments dropped 21% year on year in the third quarter of this year. About 57 million devices were shipped, compared with more than 70 million a year earlier.
Kursors.lv · 23 Oct, 12:53
London's Cognitive Credit raises €35.73 million to scale its AI and data platform for credit markets
London-based corporate credit data and analytics provider Cognitive Credit has secured a €35.73 million ($40 million) strategic growth investment. The round was led by growth equity firm Summit Partners.
EU-Startups · 23 Oct, 12:53
Opinion: Robotics are essential for Europe's energy transition
A new opinion piece argues that Europe's shift to cleaner energy is not only about building infrastructure, because operating and maintaining a fast-growing asset base will be a major challenge too. The headline names robotics as essential to that transition.
EU-Startups · 23 Oct, 11:54
Berlin cybersecurity startup Cygrid exits stealth with €2.66 million in funding
Cygrid, a Berlin-based cybersecurity startup, has emerged from stealth with a €2.66 million pre-Seed round. Its platform is meant to keep AI agents from accessing confidential company data.
EU-Startups · 23 Oct, 10:55
Great Britain's retail sales fall in September as households cut back
The Office for National Statistics reports that retail sales volumes in Great Britain fell 0.4% month on month in September, more than forecast. The data comes a week before Chancellor John Healey presents his budget.
The Guardian World · 23 Oct, 10:55
MICHELIN Guide selection of Latvian restaurants to be announced on 5 November in Riga
On 5 November, the Palladium concert hall in Riga will host an event announcing the latest MICHELIN Guide selection of Latvian restaurants and honouring their teams. The event is organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Labs of Latvia · 23 Oct, 09:56
Lux Express Extends Riga–Liepāja–Palanga–Klaipėda Bus Route to 3 January
Bus operator Lux Express has extended its seasonal Riga–Liepāja–Palanga–Klaipėda service for the second time, and trips will now run until 3 January. The company says demand for travel to the Lithuanian coast has held up after the summer.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 09:55
Finland Outraged Over Illegal Felling of 250,000 Trees for Google Data Centre
Finland ordered Google earlier this month to pause deforestation in two villages after about 250,000 trees were cut without the required environmental assessments. The case has sparked a national debate on data centres' impact on nature and local communities.
Delfi · 23 Oct, 09:55
“EA Sports FC 27” Gets PEGI 16 Age Rating in Europe
The football simulator “EA Sports FC 27” has been given a PEGI 16 age rating in Europe. Earlier releases in the series were usually rated PEGI 3 or PEGI 12.
Kursors.lv · 23 Oct, 09:54
Rinkēvičs: Government can be formed by Latvia's Independence Day
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs says a new government can still be formed by the November 18 national holiday. He hopes coalition talks will begin next week.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 08:55
Latvia Explores Dairy and Meat Export Opportunities in Kazakhstan
Latvia is stepping up talks with Kazakhstan on exporting dairy, meat and food technology, and on setting up joint production. Trade between the two countries reached 85.5 million US dollars in the first half of 2026.
Latvijas Avīze · 23 Oct, 08:54
Smartwatch charger shaped like a Kisses chocolate candy
Design brand miniduct has created the Kisses Smart Watch Power Bank, a smartwatch power bank styled after the well-known chocolate candy. It is meant for topping up a watch during the day.
Kursors.lv · 23 Oct, 08:54
Oura Sues Rival Ultrahuman Again Over Smart Ring Patents
Smart ring maker Oura has filed a new lawsuit in a U.S. court against India's Ultrahuman, seeking to stop sales of its redesigned Ring Pro. It is the latest in a long-running series of patent disputes between the two companies.
TechCrunch · 23 Oct, 07:55
Bite Latvija to introduce an atomic clock in its network in 2027
Telecom operator Bite Latvija plans to add an atomic clock to its mobile network in the first half of 2027 so the network keeps running when GPS signal is unavailable. Its Lithuanian sister company, Bite Lietuva, bought such a device this autumn.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 07:55
Klaipėda Port Handled Almost 7 Million Tonnes More Cargo Than All Latvian Ports Combined in Nine Months
Lithuania's Klaipėda port handled over 30 million tonnes of cargo in January–September 2026, while total turnover in Latvian ports fell 9.7% to 23.06 million tonnes. Latvian ports are struggling with falling transit and the near-disappearance of coal in Ventspils.
Latvijas Avīze · 23 Oct, 07:54
Record Number of Entries in Tourism Category of Latvia's 2026 Export and Innovation Award
The tourism category of Latvia's top business award has drawn 36 entries, more than ever before. Winners will be announced on 3 December.
Jauns.lv · 23 Oct, 07:54
Latvijas Pasts cautious about impact of new parcel handling fee
From 1 November, a handling fee will apply to all parcels from third countries. Latvijas Pasts, the national postal service provider, is assessing the impact on residents and postal operators cautiously.
LSM (rus) · 23 Oct, 07:53
Comcast loses more broadband customers and calls rivals' low prices "irrational"
US cable and internet company Comcast lost 144,000 residential broadband customers in the third quarter of 2026, more than a year earlier. It is pursuing a major restructuring that will bring a charge of over $1 billion in the fourth quarter.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 06:56
US tech stocks tumble as investors fret over AI spending
The Nasdaq, the US stock index dominated by technology companies, fell 2.6 percent. Investors continue to debate whether artificial intelligence is a bubble.
Al Jazeera · 23 Oct, 06:55
Woman warns others to be careful after power bank catches fire at her home
A woman has said on the social network Threads that a power bank she bought two months earlier caught fire in her home. Other users shared similar experiences in the comments and reminded readers of safety precautions.
Latvijas Avīze · 23 Oct, 06:54
Latvia's general government debt is 11,700 euros per resident, well below Europe's highest levels
Latvia's general government debt stands at 11,700 euros per resident and 48% of GDP, so the country still meets the Maastricht criterion of keeping debt below 60% of GDP. Belgium's debt per resident is 60,100 euros, Bulgaria's 5,500 euros.
Dienas Bizness · 23 Oct, 06:53
Fall 2026 earnings watch: Tesla, SpaceX, Meta and Netflix under the microscope
The tech outlet The Verge is tracking big tech companies' earnings reports and investor calls this fall. Its roundup covers Tesla, SpaceX, Meta and Netflix, along with talk of a possible Tesla–SpaceX merger.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 05:56
NASA Safety Panel Estimates About 22 Starship Launches Needed for a Moon Landing
A member of NASA's safety advisory panel, Precourt, said the Artemis IV mission may require around 22 flights to refuel its lander in orbit. SpaceX founder Elon Musk rejected the figure, saying it will be 6 to 8.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 05:56