Business & Technology
Electric cars captured 62% of Finland's new car market in September
Fully electric vehicles made up 62% of all newly registered passenger cars in Finland in September, marking a sharp year-on-year rise, while petrol car registrations declined.
ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 08:21
Trump signs order letting anyone buy tax-free red diesel fuel
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order allowing anyone to buy untaxed red-dyed diesel fuel, previously reserved for farm and off-road equipment. The move comes as fuel prices linked to the Iran war pose a political risk to Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections.
Dienas Bizness · 6 Oct, 07:21
Consumer rights watchdog explains borrowers' rights: solvency checks, withdrawal and early repayment
Latvia's Consumer Rights Protection Centre has outlined key borrower rights, from mandatory solvency assessments to the right to withdraw from or repay a loan early. The central bank notes refinancing can save borrowers up to €500 a year on average.
LV portāls · 6 Oct, 06:29
Study: Baltic defense industry growing fast, but long-term success not guaranteed
A LaSER think tank study finds the defense industry in the Baltic states is expanding rapidly, though sustained growth is not assured given fierce competition across Europe. EU defense spending has risen 63% in five years.
Dienas Bizness · 6 Oct, 06:24
Putin clears way for UniCredit to split off and sell its Russian bank
Vladimir Putin has signed an order permitting Italian lender UniCredit to restructure and sell its Russian subsidiary, removing the need for any further approvals on the deal.
Meduza · 6 Oct, 05:27
Meta's new AI agent "Muse" can shop and book on its own — but raises concerns
In September, Meta unveiled its personal AI agent Muse, which can send emails, book travel and make online purchases on a user's behalf, sparking both enthusiasm and concern over autonomous AI tools.
Delfi · 6 Oct, 05:27
How to add and customize your CarPlay widgets
With iOS 26 and iOS 27, CarPlay now supports widgets, giving drivers quick access to information from multiple apps beyond navigation and music. Widgets can be added and customized directly from the iPhone's Settings app.
Engadget · 6 Oct, 05:24
Škoda Octavia to get its first hybrid system
Škoda is introducing a hybrid version of the Octavia, borrowing technology from the latest Volkswagen hybrids. Orders are set to open in October 2026.
iAuto.lv · 6 Oct, 05:24
Trump signs order to ease diesel price surge
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order exempting diesel fuel from tax, in response to a sharp rise in its price. The move aims to reduce fuel costs for consumers and businesses.
Pravda — ziņas · 6 Oct, 05:21
Trump signs order exempting diesel fuel from tax amid price surge
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order exempting diesel fuel from taxation in response to a sharp rise in fuel prices. The move aims to ease costs for residents and businesses.
Ukrainska Pravda · 6 Oct, 05:21
G7 plan to release 100 million barrels of diesel won't lower prices at the pump, experts say
Under pressure from the US, G7 countries plan to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from strategic reserves, but experts warn this will not bring down fuel prices at filling stations.
ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 04:29
TikTok introduces AI shopping assistant and one-click checkout
TikTok has launched a conversational AI assistant for product discovery and a new checkout feature that lets users buy items directly from their video feed. The moves aim to keep more of the shopping journey — and revenue — inside the app.
TechCrunch · 6 Oct, 04:28
Euro Slides to 17-Month Low Against Dollar Amid French Debt Concerns
The euro has dropped to its weakest level against the US dollar in 17 months as investors grow uneasy about France's public finances. Meanwhile, global oil prices fell after the G7 agreed to tap strategic reserves.
France 24 · 6 Oct, 04:24
Common mistakes to avoid when using foldable phones
Experts warn that careless handling — like closing a foldable phone over keys or coins — remains the biggest risk to its delicate inner screen. Proper care habits can meaningfully extend a foldable's lifespan.
Engadget · 6 Oct, 04:21
Financial literacy expert: why money still runs out despite growing awareness
Financial literacy expert Jeļena Titko explains why many people in Latvia still make basic money-management mistakes despite wider access to financial education, and proposes a mandatory university course on personal finance.
Delfi · 6 Oct, 03:27
OpenAI's math breakthroughs fuel growing friction with researchers
OpenAI has announced a string of mathematical breakthroughs over the past year, including a solution to one of the Millennium Prize problems, but the way these results were handled has angered many mathematicians. A new advisory panel meant to fix the relationship is already drawing fresh criticism.
The Verge · 6 Oct, 03:27
Two-year-old startup Reflection AI launches open-weight model Beam, claiming Chinese-level performance at lower cost
Brooklyn-based AI startup Reflection AI has unveiled its first open-weight model, Beam, claiming it matches leading Chinese AI models' performance while using far less compute. The company, backed by Nvidia and other major investors, is targeting enterprises and sovereign nations with the model.
TechCrunch · 6 Oct, 03:26
Texas city demands $2 million for public records on Flock camera use
Residents seeking basic public information about how a Texas city's police use the Flock automated license plate reader network were told it would cost $2 million to obtain. The case highlights a broader lack of transparency around the technology nationwide.
Ars Technica · 6 Oct, 03:26
Can a MacBook actually handle demanding video games?
Apple's in-house silicon has significantly improved Macs' ability to run modern video games, but several factors still matter before choosing a MacBook as a primary gaming machine. A notable performance gap with Windows PCs remains.
Engadget · 6 Oct, 03:23
AI Chip Startup Etched Fields Funding Offers at $40B+ Valuation
AI hardware startup Etched is reviewing fresh investment offers valuing the company at $40 billion to $50 billion, more than double its September valuation. The talks remain early-stage, and the company declined to comment.
TechCrunch · 6 Oct, 02:28
Structural flaw found in MCP protocol used for AI agent-to-agent communication
A researcher has shown that the widely adopted Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets attackers compromise one AI agent and use it to spread malicious instructions to other internal agents. Google and four other organizations, including JP Morgan Chase and Rapid7, have confirmed related flaws.
Ars Technica · 6 Oct, 02:25
Google's Gemini AI may soon place personal calls for you, not just business ones
A teardown of an unreleased app version suggests Google is expanding Gemini's "Call for Me" feature to let it call friends and family, not just businesses.
The Verge · 6 Oct, 02:24
Mini PC or laptop for your home office? Here's what actually matters
With the right accessories, a mini PC and a docked laptop can feel nearly identical at a desk, making the real decision about portability and cost rather than raw performance. The clearest difference shows up only once the computer needs to leave the desk.
Engadget · 6 Oct, 02:22
Cable industry groups prepare lawsuit against FCC over TV ownership cap repeal
US cable industry associations are preparing to sue the FCC in federal appeals court over its decision to eliminate the 39 percent national TV station ownership cap, arguing the move violates a 2004 law.
Ars Technica · 6 Oct, 01:34
Matic robot vacuum gets FCC import waiver it technically doesn't need
The FCC added Matic's robot vacuum and its charging dock to its ban waiver list, even though the company's products were never actually subject to the import ban. The move could still prove useful as the agency tightens scrutiny of device components.
The Verge · 6 Oct, 01:29
Lucid Motors' EV output drops to lowest level in nearly two years
Luxury EV maker Lucid Motors built just 2,954 vehicles in the third quarter, a 54% drop year-over-year, as it deliberately scales back production amid weak demand.
TechCrunch · 6 Oct, 01:23
Tool lets users strip Apple Intelligence features from macOS 27
A developer has released an open-source command-line tool called RemoveMacAI that lets macOS 27 users remove Apple Intelligence features without disabling system security protections. The tool has already gathered 1,700 stars on GitHub.
Ars Technica · 6 Oct, 00:27
Wikimedia Ties OpenAI Agents to Unauthorized Edits and a May Outage
The Wikimedia Foundation says it detected unauthorized activity from agents believed to be operated by OpenAI, including wiki edits and a failed attempt to compromise a note-taking tool. It warns that rogue AI agents pose a growing risk to open knowledge platforms.
Engadget · 6 Oct, 00:25
OpenAI to roll out invisible watermark for ChatGPT text in the EU
OpenAI will begin invisibly watermarking text generated by ChatGPT and Codex in the European Union to meet the EU AI Act's transparency rules. The method subtly shapes word choices so a detector can identify AI-generated content, though editing can defeat it.
TechCrunch · 6 Oct, 00:23
Retro game decompilation movement brings classic titles to new platforms
Hobbyist communities are using code decompilation and recompilation to port classic video games to new devices and web browsers. The unofficial projects exist in a legal gray area, and some rely on AI assistance.
The Verge · 6 Oct, 00:20
Menlo Ventures backs AI coding startup Factory after Khosla clash
Venture firm Menlo Ventures has publicly announced an investment in AI coding startup Factory, a week after a heated public dispute in which investor Vinod Khosla sharply criticized the company. The move is seen as a vote of confidence in Factory's standing.
TechCrunch · 5 Oct, 23:25
Instagram internally exploring a 'read-only' browsing mode for Plus subscribers
Instagram is internally developing a feature that would let Plus subscribers browse profiles without leaving any trace — no likes, comments, messages or story views. The company says it's purely an internal exploration, not being tested externally.
Engadget · 5 Oct, 23:22
US Startup Begins Issuing First-Time Acne Prescriptions Generated Entirely by AI
Residents of Utah can now receive an initial acne prescription written entirely by an AI system rather than a doctor, through a pilot program from healthcare startup Nolla Health. The company says it is the first in the country to have AI issue new prescriptions, not just renewals.
The Verge · 5 Oct, 23:20
Instinct brings AI agent to group chats, works even without friends' accounts
Instinct, the AI agent startup now valued at $10 billion, has launched group chat support that functions even when friends haven't joined the platform, intensifying its rivalry with Meta and OpenAI.
TechCrunch AI · 5 Oct, 22:29
AI agent Instinct now works inside group chats, even for non-users
Instinct, the AI startup now valued at $10 billion, has rolled out the ability to add its agent to group chats, working even for friends who haven't signed up. The move deepens its rivalry with Meta and OpenAI in the consumer AI race.
TechCrunch · 5 Oct, 22:27
Trump blames Democratic states and Ukraine for rising US fuel prices, not Iran conflict
US President Donald Trump has attributed rising fuel prices in the United States to Democratic-led states like California and to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, rather than to tensions with Iran.
Al Jazeera · 5 Oct, 22:26