Business & Technology
Latvia's budget deficit in Q2 smaller than EU average, Eurostat data show
Latvia's general government budget deficit reached 2.9% of GDP in the second quarter of this year, below the EU average, according to Eurostat. Compared with the first quarter, the balance worsened by 1.4 percentage points.
NRA · 21 Oct, 13:53
Porsche Mission S concept drops central screen for driver-focused supercar cabin
German sports car maker Porsche has unveiled the Mission S concept car in New York, previewing its future design language. It will form the basis of a new supercar positioned above the 911.
Kursors.lv · 21 Oct, 12:55
Britain’s Skyfly raises €8.91 million for its two-seat Axe eVTOL and the Longbow defence project
Skyfly Technologies, a British developer of electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off aircraft, has closed an €8.91 million ($10 million) Seed round. The money is meant to bring the two-seat Axe eVTOL to market and to develop Longbow for defence.
EU-Startups · 21 Oct, 12:53
Major sellers boost share of sales on Ozon after Ukrainian drone strikes on Wildberries
Major sellers' share of sales on Russian e-commerce platform Ozon reached 60% by late summer 2026. Experts link the shift to Ukrainian drone strikes, which hit rival Wildberries' logistics facilities harder.
Meduza · 21 Oct, 12:53
Germany Eases Data Center Rules: Reusing Waste Heat No Longer Mandatory
Germany's government has scrapped a requirement for new data centers to reuse waste heat, leaving only a duty to assess feasibility, after industry complaints. Critics say climate goals are being sacrificed to ride the AI boom.
Wired · 21 Oct, 11:56
Latvian finance platform Digilo starts using a humanoid robot in its office
Finance and investment platform Digilo, together with RoboReady, says it is the first company in Latvia to use a humanoid robot in daily office work and at events. The company also plans to use the robot to teach students financial literacy.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 11:53
Ukrainian Brigade Releases Video of Wounded Soldier Evacuated by Heavy-Lift Drone
Ukraine's 92nd Separate Assault Brigade has published a video showing a wounded soldier being evacuated from the front line by a heavy-lift drone. The operation is described as the first of its kind in the world.
Kursors.lv · 21 Oct, 10:54
Who owns India's textile traditions in the age of AI-enabled mass production?
An Al Jazeera feature examines who owns India's textile traditions as AI-enabled mass production becomes possible. Technology meant to preserve a craft can now reproduce it digitally without involving the craftsperson.
Al Jazeera · 21 Oct, 09:56
China Moves to Tighten Control Over Exports of Leading AI Models
China has drafted rules on exporting artificial intelligence technology. They show how the country is trying to balance national security risks with its wish to outpace the United States.
The New York Times · 21 Oct, 09:55
ChatGPT users can now lock private conversations with a PIN
OpenAI, the US artificial intelligence company, has introduced a privacy feature that lets users lock sensitive chats in ChatGPT. Conversations can be protected with a four-digit PIN or biometric authentication.
Kursors.lv · 21 Oct, 09:54
Irish LegalTech startup EstateMin raises €1 million for US expansion
EstateMin, an Irish-founded startup whose AI platform helps law firms manage estate matters, has raised €1 million in pre-Seed funding. The money is meant to fuel growth in the US.
EU-Startups · 21 Oct, 09:53
Wall Street Stocks Mostly Rise, European Shares Fall; Oil Slips From $110
US stock indices mostly rose on Tuesday, while major European markets and Asian bourses fell. Oil prices briefly topped $110 a barrel before easing on signs of further US-Iran talks.
Dienas Bizness · 21 Oct, 09:34
Leapmotor to Build B05 at Stellantis Plant in Zaragoza, Spain
Chinese electric carmaker Leapmotor International plans to produce its compact B05 hatchback at Stellantis' Zaragoza plant in Spain. It will be the second Leapmotor model built there, alongside the B10 crossover.
iAuto.lv · 21 Oct, 09:34
12 Latvian Start-ups Join First National Defence Pre-Accelerator Programme DIAL
Latvia's first national defence pre-accelerator programme, DIAL, has admitted 12 start-ups working in defence or dual-use fields. Each receives funding of up to 120,000 euros and commercialisation support.
Kursors.lv · 21 Oct, 09:31
Huawei Watch D3 smartwatch with round-the-clock blood pressure monitoring goes on sale in Latvia
Technology company Huawei has launched its new HUAWEI WATCH D3 smartwatch on the Latvian market. It monitors blood pressure around the clock, including during sleep.
Kursors.lv · 21 Oct, 08:33
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Ryanair chief expects Europe's biggest-ever airfare increase next year
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of low-cost airline Ryanair, said on Tuesday that Europe will see the most significant rise in air ticket prices in its history next year.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 07:31
Google unveils Fitbit Edge: how it differs from the cheaper Inspire 3
Google has launched the Fitbit Edge, a $180 health and fitness smartwatch. Compared with the $99.95 Fitbit Inspire 3, it has a wider screen, an aluminum case, built-in GPS and a broader set of health sensors.
Engadget · 21 Oct, 06:34
PHP Maintainers Warn of Two Emergency Security Patches Due Within Hours
The maintainers of the PHP programming language say they will release fixes in about 12 hours for two vulnerabilities, each rated 9.2 out of 10 for severity. Website administrators are urged to prepare to update.
Ars Technica · 21 Oct, 06:33
Ethical fashion report: Shein outscores several Australian retailers
A report by Australian aid organisation Baptist World Aid finds that online fast-fashion company Shein, with 28 points, outperforms several Australian retailers including Myer. Only 13% of surveyed companies could show they pay a living wage to any workers in their supply chain.
The Guardian World · 21 Oct, 06:33
Investors Seek to Take Over 18 airBaltic Aircraft and Lufthansa Contracts
Aviation entrepreneur Oleg Yevdokimov, representing European investors, proposes creating a new airline, ACMI Riga, to take over 18 airBaltic aircraft and its Lufthansa contracts. The offer has been passed to Latvia's Ministry of Transport, but the investors' identities and planned investment remain unknown.
NRA · 21 Oct, 06:32
SEB Bank Executive: Latvia's Growth Held Back by Indecision, Not Lack of Capital
In an opinion piece for the magazine Ir, SEB bank management board member Arnis Škapars argues that capital availability is no longer Latvia's main obstacle; willingness to invest and decide is. He calls for greater use of private capital, including in defence.
Žurnāls Ir · 21 Oct, 06:32
Latvenergo: Price, Not Availability, Is the Key Natural Gas Issue
State energy company Latvenergo says there is enough gas in the Baltics, but that this does not guarantee a stable price. Filling of the Inčukalns storage facility in October was lower than a year earlier.
Dienas Bizness · 21 Oct, 06:31
Meta drops the word "train" from its commercial terms, but media groups still urge regulators to step in
Meta's commercial terms of service, due to take effect on October 30, have drawn criticism from publisher groups in the US, UK and Europe. They are urging regulators to stop the terms from kicking in, citing concerns about scraping of website content.
Ars Technica · 21 Oct, 05:34
SpaceX to try catching Starship and its booster next month, Musk says
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company will attempt to catch both the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster next month. Success would mark the first full recovery of an orbital launch vehicle.
The Verge · 21 Oct, 05:33
Before You Buy: Five Things to Know About the Foldable iPhone Duo
Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, starts at $1,999, with pre-orders opening Friday. It comes with several trade-offs compared with regular iPhones, though a number of deals are on offer.
Engadget · 21 Oct, 05:33
Toyota Land Cruiser 250 With Round Headlights: 75th Anniversary Edition for Germany
To mark 75 years of the Land Cruiser off-road vehicle, Japanese carmaker Toyota is offering a limited edition of 75 units on the German market. It is priced at 84,750 euros in Germany.
iAuto.lv · 21 Oct, 05:31
OpenAI Acquires Biotech Software Startup Orchestra Bio
US artificial intelligence company OpenAI on Tuesday acquired Orchestra Bio, a four-year-old startup that builds AI agents for biotech firms. The financial terms were not disclosed.
TechCrunch AI · 21 Oct, 04:34
Microsoft reportedly projects $1,200 to $1,800 price for 2028 Project Helix
Fortune reports that Microsoft plans to release Project Helix hardware in 2028 at a price of roughly $1,200 to $1,800. The same profile covers expected changes to Xbox Game Pass and shifts inside the company's Xbox division.
Ars Technica · 21 Oct, 04:33
What You Can Do With the Apple Watch Ultra 4 Action Button
The orange action button on the Apple Watch Ultra 4 lets users trigger one preselected function with a press, from a flashlight to automations built in the Shortcuts app. Tech outlet Engadget reviewed the available options.
Engadget · 21 Oct, 04:32
US aviation regulator approves Boeing 737 Max 10 for passenger service
The US Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday certified the Max 10, the largest model of Boeing's 737 Max family. The company expects to begin deliveries to airlines in 2027.
France 24 · 21 Oct, 04:32
SpaceX's AI Business Outperforms Expectations in Third Quarter
Elon Musk's SpaceX reported $14.6 billion in third-quarter revenue, with artificial intelligence making up 52% of income. The company posted a $4.4 billion net profit for the quarter.
TechCrunch AI · 21 Oct, 03:34
Guinea-Bissau police search vaccine researchers' offices over planned infant trial
Judicial police in Guinea-Bissau searched the Bandim Health Project's premises in Bissau and seized a batch of hepatitis B vaccines. A planned vaccine trial on infants, pursued by allies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has not been authorized.
Ars Technica · 21 Oct, 03:33
SpaceX and Tesla Boards Set Up Special Committees to Weigh a Possible Merger
The boards of SpaceX and Tesla have each formed committees of independent directors to review a potential combination of the two companies. Elon Musk says he supports the idea but that it is not a certainty.
TechCrunch · 21 Oct, 03:33
How Much Power Can a 1 kW Wind Turbine Produce for a Home?
Engadget explains that a 1 kW home wind turbine could produce around 2,400 kWh a year in good conditions, which is under a quarter of the average US household's consumption.
Engadget · 21 Oct, 03:32
YouTube appears to be testing a hidden dislike button
YouTube seems to be testing moving its dislike button into a submenu, based on screenshots shared by several users. Google has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The Verge · 21 Oct, 03:31
Florida Woman Arrested After Threats She Wrote to an AI Chatbot
A 30-year-old woman in Florida, US, has been arrested after writing to the AI chatbot Claude about attacking a sheriff's office building. The chatbot's developer, Anthropic, alerted police.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 02:34