Business & Technology
WHO: Cause of Russian Lab Worker's Death Still Unconfirmed
The World Health Organization says Russia has not yet reported a confirmed cause of death for a researcher at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute. This uncertainty prevents an assessment of the risk or of Russia's response measures.
Ars Technica · 13 Oct, 04:58
How to Turn Old Hard Drives Into a RAID Array
Tech outlet Engadget explains how old computer hard drives can be combined into a RAID array for faster transfers and protection against a single drive failing. The guide covers the main RAID levels and setup methods.
Engadget · 13 Oct, 04:57
Blogger Pushes Back on Rich Hickey: AI Language Models Are Still a Tool
A blog post responds to Rich Hickey's October 11 article claiming that large language models are automation rather than tools. The author argues that using them well is a matter of skill and that they remain instruments a human can wield.
Hacker News (≥150 p.) · 13 Oct, 03:58
Paris Motor Show opens with record Chinese presence and a new EU-China deal on hybrid imports
The Paris Motor Show has opened with a record number of Chinese car brands, while European makers present their latest models. The European Union has also announced a deal with China to limit hybrid vehicle imports.
France 24 · 13 Oct, 03:58
Unvaccinated 39-Year-Old Woman Becomes Sixth Measles Death in Pennsylvania Outbreak
A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman from Franklin County has died of measles, the sixth death in Pennsylvania's outbreak. The outbreak has sickened more than a thousand people in the US state since April.
Ars Technica · 13 Oct, 03:58
What a Cheap Android Phone Under $300 Should Have, According to Engadget
Tech outlet Engadget lists the minimum specifications to look for when choosing a budget Android smartphone. Key criteria include screen, RAM, battery and cameras.
Engadget · 13 Oct, 03:56
How to Boost Your Old GPU's Performance Without Buying a New One
Tech site Engadget has compiled tips for raising frame rates in PC games using the graphics card you already own. The advice covers AI-based upscaling, lower graphics settings and cleaning the card.
Engadget · 13 Oct, 02:57
Latvia to introduce special tax regime for start-up micro-businesses
Latvia's parliament approved legislative amendments in September that create a start-up micro-enterprise tax regime from 1 April 2027. It aims to curb the shadow economy and ease tax payment for small-scale activity.
Delfi · 13 Oct, 01:59
Space exploration game No Man's Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad
Developer Hello Games and Apple announced that the space exploration and survival game No Man's Sky is heading to iPhone and iPad. The mobile version includes all updates released so far, though some features are limited.
Ars Technica · 13 Oct, 01:58
New project to help Latvian food producers enter the UK market
The cross-border project "CB-Food UK", launched this June, will help small and medium-sized food companies from Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden prepare for exports to the United Kingdom. The Enterprise Europe Network is involved in the initiative.
TVNET · 13 Oct, 01:57
Amber Latvijas Balzams Moves Some Production to Lithuania, Including "Riga Champagne"
Alcoholic beverage maker Amber Latvijas Balzams, which is in financial difficulty, is cutting costs and already produces part of its range in Lithuania. Production of "Rīgas šampanietis" has moved there, and the drink is now called "Rīgas dzirkstošais".
NRA · 13 Oct, 01:56
How to use Google Gemini Spark to automate tasks
Google's AI assistant Gemini Spark can carry out user-assigned tasks in the background across Google apps. It requires a paid subscription and is not available in every region.
Engadget · 13 Oct, 01:56
Latvijas balzams weighs insolvency as shareholders to meet on November 3
Amber Latvijas balzams, the maker of Riga Black Balsam, has called a shareholder meeting for November 3 to decide whether it can keep operating or should enter insolvency. In early October it asked a court to end its legal protection proceedings.
Meduza · 13 Oct, 00:59
Epic Games reportedly shifts to an "AI-first" game development model
According to Bloomberg, Epic Games will have AI models write all the code and guide the art for its shooter made with Disney. The project has been delayed indefinitely.
Ars Technica · 13 Oct, 00:58
Sorkin's "The Social Reckoning" struggles at the box office
Aaron Sorkin's "The Social Reckoning", a sequel to "The Social Network", earned only $5.5 million in its opening weekend. Meanwhile, the horror film "Other Mommy" took in $27.5 million.
The Verge · 13 Oct, 00:57
Musk: Humanoid Robots Could Number One Billion Within a Decade
Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk told China Media Group that artificial intelligence and robots could create an abundance of goods and services. He estimates the number of humanoid robots worldwide could reach at least one billion within ten years.
NRA · 13 Oct, 00:57
Meta's Muse AI Agent Generates Explicit Sexual Content, and the Company Says It Is Allowed
Meta's Muse AI agent produced explicit sexual conversations in WIRED's tests, and the company says this does not breach its rules. Consumer advocates and privacy experts warn of safety and data-breach risks.
Wired · 12 Oct, 23:58
Epic Games delays Disney game to build it with far more AI
Video game studio Epic Games has reportedly postponed its Disney-backed game so the project can be made largely with artificial intelligence, Bloomberg reports, citing its sources.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 23:56
Norway fines Microsoft subsidiary Xandr $9.6 million over use of Grindr user data
Norway's data protection authority has fined Xandr, an adtech company owned by Microsoft, 92 million kroner. The regulator says the firm used sensitive data of users of the dating app Grindr for advertising without explicit consent.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 22:58
EU to cap Chinese hybrid car imports with annual quota
The European Union will introduce a quota of 350,000 Chinese hybrid cars per year. It takes effect in December and is meant to halve their share of the EU market.
LSM · 12 Oct, 22:58
Meta unveils new AI models Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full
Meta says it has caught up with the AI frontier after more than a year of rebuilding its efforts, as it introduced two new models. They are rolling out to subscribers, and Muse Wonder is also available through the company's API.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 21:56
US Air Force to buy WindBorne balloon data in contract worth up to $49 million
The U.S. Air Force has signed a contract with California startup WindBorne Systems to buy atmospheric data from its autonomous weather balloons. The deal could be worth up to $49 million, though only $1.7 million has been ordered so far.
TechCrunch AI · 12 Oct, 20:58
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Latvia's goods exports to Russia and Belarus up 23.1% in eight months
Latvia exported goods worth 800.611 million euros to Russia and Belarus in the first eight months of 2026, according to the Central Statistical Bureau. That is 23.1% more than in the same period of 2025.
Apollo.lv · 12 Oct, 20:57
Engadget Reviews the Rivian R2: A Mid-Size Electric SUV Priced Under $60,000
Engadget has rated the Rivian R2, a mid-size electric SUV from the US maker, 9 out of 10. Power, range and a roomy cabin are praised, while the voice assistant is still unavailable.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 20:57
What Drains an EV Battery Fastest: Speed, Weight, Weather and Air Conditioning
An electric vehicle's range depends on driving speed, weather, cargo weight and climate control use. A few simple habits can reduce energy consumption.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 19:57
Elon Musk Has Given at Least $276 Million to Republican Groups Since July
Billionaire Elon Musk has donated at least $276 million to Republican groups since July ahead of the US midterm elections, The New York Times reports. That makes him the party's largest known donor.
The Verge · 12 Oct, 19:56
Microsoft President Says UK Is Best Placed to Lead AI Regulation
Microsoft President Brad Smith has told the BBC that global AI safety rules are urgently needed and that the UK is best positioned to lead them. He argues voluntary self-regulation is not enough.
TechCrunch AI · 12 Oct, 18:59
Yandex Outage Likely Did Not Cut Russian Disinformation Bots, Researchers Say
After Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian data centers, charts claiming a drop in Russian bot activity have spread online. Researchers say the data reflects Yandex web crawlers, not disinformation networks.
The Verge · 12 Oct, 18:58
How Much RAM a Raspberry Pi Really Needs
An Engadget guide argues that most Raspberry Pi projects need only 1GB or 2GB of memory. The pricey 8GB and 16GB models are hard to justify at current prices.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 18:57
Startup Honeyjar Uses AI to Improve Communications Work at Companies
US startup Honeyjar is building AI tools for public relations and communications work. It will take part in the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at TechCrunch Disrupt this week.
TechCrunch · 12 Oct, 18:57
Bank of Latvia Has Issued More Than 20 Fintech Licences in 2026
Since the start of 2026 the Bank of Latvia has granted over 20 licences to financial technology firms. A workshop in Riga trained the investment agency's foreign representatives to attract more such companies to Latvia.
NRA · 12 Oct, 18:57
Starlink still waiting for India launch as Musk criticizes delay
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has sharply criticized the delay in launching Starlink satellite internet in India, accusing backers of Reliance owner Mukesh Ambani of protecting a monopoly. India's government says security assessments for all three licensed satellite operators are still under way.
Deutsche Welle · 12 Oct, 17:59
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airBaltic Group Posts €128.2 Million Loss in First Half of 2026
The group of airBaltic, Latvia's national airline, recorded a loss of €128.2 million in the first half of 2026. A year earlier the loss was €1.7 million.
Apollo.lv · 12 Oct, 17:58
airBaltic's first-half losses reach €128.2 million
Latvia's national airline airBaltic posted a net loss of €128.2 million for the first half of 2026, against €1.7 million a year earlier. Costlier fuel, currency swings and higher expenses outweighed revenue growth.
Jauns.lv · 12 Oct, 17:58
Old jeans could shield your home from the next heatwave
A French company says insulation made from denim fibres helps keep buildings protected from both cold and heat. The panels have already been used in some well-known buildings in France.
France 24 · 12 Oct, 16:57
Adaptive Cruise Control: How It Works and Where Its Limits Lie
Adaptive cruise control relies on a radar and a camera, but works only in favorable conditions and is not a collision-avoidance system. Studies suggest such systems can make drivers behave more recklessly.
Engadget · 12 Oct, 16:57