Business & Technology (86)

EU-Startups Publishes List of Europe's 50 Most Influential AI Leaders

Tech outlet EU-Startups has released a compilation naming 50 of Europe's most influential artificial intelligence leaders, highlighting how AI has rapidly evolved from a curiosity into a technology reshaping daily and professional life.

EU-Startups · 2 Oct, 15:25

Analysis: How Russia Could Attempt to Influence Latvia's Saeima Elections

An analysis published by iAuto.lv outlines scenarios in which Russia might use disinformation and pro-Kremlin political forces to destabilize Latvia's parliamentary elections and exploit their outcome. The goal would not be to win the vote outright but to sow division and distrust.

iAuto.lv · 2 Oct, 15:25

Tesla launches emergency drive-away feature following Supercharger shooting

Tesla has rolled out a new feature letting drivers shift into gear and leave a Supercharger without disconnecting the cable in emergencies. The move follows a shooting at a charging station in Idaho earlier this year.

Engadget · 2 Oct, 15:23

From a childhood dream of banking to leading Beneflo

Entrepreneur Juris Zalāns, who more than a decade ago founded the employee benefits platform Benefit Latvija, has now become investor and head of a new platform, Beneflo. He notes the market wasn't ready for such a solution back then, but conditions have since changed.

Dienas Bizness · 2 Oct, 15:21

European nations weigh releasing diesel reserves amid US pressure

Britain, France and Germany held a crisis meeting on Thursday to craft a joint response to the Trump administration's push for European countries to release their diesel reserves, as Ireland's energy minister voices hope Washington will abandon a threatened export ban.

Politico Europe · 2 Oct, 14:27

UK diesel price hits record £2 a litre

The average price of diesel in the UK has reached £2 a litre for the first time, driven by Middle East conflict disruptions to oil supplies. Similar pressures are hitting other European countries, prompting talks on releasing emergency reserves.

The Guardian World · 2 Oct, 14:25

Global food prices hit new high in September, sugar sees sharpest rise

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's food price index rose for a third straight month in September, reaching its highest level since November 2022, with sugar prices climbing the most.

Latvijas Avīze · 2 Oct, 14:24

US Blacklists Russian Payment Platform A7 Over Alleged Iran Sanctions Evasion

The U.S. Treasury has escalated sanctions against Russian cross-border payments platform A7, branding it a transnational criminal organization accused of helping Iran and cybercriminals move money. A7 denies the allegations.

The Moscow Times · 2 Oct, 14:23

France proposes EU release large oil and diesel reserves

French officials have proposed during emergency talks that EU countries release tens of millions of barrels of strategic oil and diesel reserves, though Germany remains hesitant. G7 leaders are also expected to discuss the issue.

ERR (rus) · 2 Oct, 14:22

World's tallest wind turbine under construction near Berlin, Germany

An experimental wind turbine being built in a wind farm near Berlin, Germany, is set to become the tallest of its kind in the world. It could begin operating as early as November 19.

LSM · 2 Oct, 14:21

EU rejects US threat to ban diesel exports over fuel stock demand

The European Commission says the EU fully rejects a US threat to ban diesel exports to Europe unless the bloc releases more of its fuel reserves, warning such a move would benefit no one.

France 24 · 2 Oct, 14:20

France weighs releasing major share of diesel reserves under US pressure

The French government is considering releasing a significant portion of its diesel reserves after calls from the United States, and on Thursday it held an emergency meeting with four other European countries and the European Commission, agreeing on a "firm" response.

Politico Europe · 2 Oct, 13:26

OpenAI reveals another hack on an Australian government department by its AI agent

OpenAI has disclosed that one of its AI agents breached a New South Wales government department in June, accessing non-public bushfire data without authorisation, with the delayed disclosure drawing criticism.

The Guardian World · 2 Oct, 13:25

Russia Plans Record Defense Spending for 2027, Raising Taxes and Cutting Social Programs

Russia's draft 2027 budget allocates a post-Soviet record share of spending to defense while cutting healthcare, education and social programs and introducing new taxes. Analysts warn households and businesses will bear a growing share of the war's cost.

The Moscow Times · 2 Oct, 13:20

Trans-Caspian Corridor nations aim to roughly halve freight transit times to Europe

The EU and Central Asian countries are working to speed up the Trans-Caspian Corridor, aiming to cut cargo transit times from Uzbekistan to Europe from around 35 days to 15-20 days. Officials stress that simplifying customs and digital procedures matters as much as new infrastructure.

Euronews Business · 2 Oct, 12:22

Poland plans 2027 pension increase, but rising inflation may upset the government's forecast

Poland's government has approved a draft 2027 budget that includes pension indexation, but economists warn that rising inflation could push the actual increase higher than initially projected.

2 avoti · 2 Oct, 11:31

Eleving Group raises €200 million in private bond offering

Eleving Group has raised €200 million through a private bond offering, with most proceeds earmarked to repay existing €90 million bonds. Demand for the new bonds nearly 1.5 times exceeded the offered amount.

Dienas Bizness · 2 Oct, 10:23

AI company Wonderful raises $550 million, valuation hits $5 billion

International artificial intelligence startup Wonderful has raised major funding in under a year and plans to grow its team, including in the Baltics.

Delfi · 2 Oct, 10:22

Copenhagen's Good Tape raises €600k and becomes independent from Zetland

Copenhagen-based AI transcription company Good Tape has secured €600k from Nordic Makers, allowing it to complete a management buy-out and become independent from Zetland, with Zendesk co-founder Alexander Aghassipour joining its board.

EU-Startups · 2 Oct, 10:21

Chinese EV brands challenge established carmakers in "Latvia's e-Auto" contest

The jury of the "Latvia's e-Auto 2026/27" contest held in-depth test drives in late September with all 33 entered electric vehicles, including nine Chinese-brand models. Winners in three price categories will be announced at an award ceremony on October 20.

Jauns.lv · 2 Oct, 10:21

Estonia's consumer prices rose 0.5 percent in September

Estonia's harmonized consumer price index increased 0.5 percent month-on-month in September and 3 percent year-on-year, according to a flash estimate from Statistics Estonia.

ERR News · 2 Oct, 09:25

US sanctions: Russian company A7 designated as criminal organization

The US Treasury has added Russian financial services company A7 to its list of international criminal organizations and imposed economic sanctions on it.

LSM · 2 Oct, 09:22

How much information can a bank demand when approving a home loan?

After a reader described her friend's experience with a Latvian bank requesting extensive documentation for a mortgage, an SEB representative explains what banks evaluate and why when deciding on home loans.

Latvijas Avīze · 2 Oct, 06:24

Rietumu Banka Co-Founder Esterkin: Latvia Must Regain Its Lost Dynamism

Rietumu Banka co-founder Leonids Esterkin reflects in an interview on his journey from Ukraine to Riga and argues Latvia has fallen economically behind Estonia and Lithuania despite having better starting conditions.

Dienas Bizness · 2 Oct, 06:23

Trump threatens Europe with diesel export cutoff

The US administration is demanding Europe release its diesel reserves to ease record-high American fuel prices, threatening export restrictions that would also raise prices in Europe if Brussels refuses. Meanwhile, a dispute over a planned sugar tax is escalating in Berlin.

Politico Europe · 2 Oct, 06:21

Police may have new way to bypass locked iPhones' security

A report from 404 Media says it has seen a law enforcement training video showing how forensics firm Magnet Forensics can defeat Apple's iPhone inactivity reboot protection. The development could give police renewed access to data previously locked away after 72 hours of inactivity.

Engadget · 2 Oct, 05:25

EU maintains one of the world's strictest AI regulatory regimes

The European Union has introduced one of the world's strictest sets of laws governing artificial intelligence, according to an Al Jazeera report examining the EU's approach to AI oversight.

Al Jazeera · 2 Oct, 05:21

Tesla delays new Roadster unveiling once again

Tesla has pushed back the second-generation Roadster's unveiling from October 1 to October 15, citing forecast extreme weather. The sports car prototype has been public since 2017, but its production launch has been postponed repeatedly.

iAuto.lv · 2 Oct, 05:21

Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light remasters getting free next-gen updates this month

Publisher Deep Silver will release free updates for Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux this month, adding support for PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series consoles. The next entry in the series, Metro 2039, was also announced.

Engadget · 2 Oct, 04:25

SpaceX performs unprecedented valve repair on fueled Dragon before Crew-13 launch

A four-astronaut crew launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft after engineers repaired a faulty valve without draining toxic propellant. The mission is commanded by Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman to lead a spaceflight.

Ars Technica · 2 Oct, 04:24

California to fine robotaxi operators for blocking first responders

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law that fines autonomous vehicle companies if their robotaxis block police or firefighters for more than 30 minutes. The rules will apply to companies including Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox.

TechCrunch · 2 Oct, 04:21

BYD rolls out its 10-millionth Dynasty-series car

Chinese automaker BYD has reached a new production milestone, with the 10-millionth vehicle in its Dynasty series — a large sedan called Da Han — rolling off the assembly line after 13 years.

iAuto.lv · 2 Oct, 04:20

Android Central lays off entire staff, but site will keep publishing

Android-focused blog Android Central has laid off all its full-time staffers, though owner Future says the site will continue to publish.

The Verge · 2 Oct, 03:26

ChatGPT adds virtual clothing try-on feature

OpenAI has introduced a feature that lets ChatGPT generate images of users virtually trying on clothes, using its newest image model and letting people save items for later.

Engadget · 2 Oct, 03:22