News highlights for 19 September
REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
Ride-hailing app Grab raises $750 million in funding led by SoftBank
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Southeast Asian ride-hailing firm Grab said it raised $750 million in a funding round led by investor SoftBank Group, helping it build a warchest to solidify its leading position in the region and head off competition from Uber. Southeast Asia is fast becoming a key battleground for ride-hailing firms thanks to a burgeoning middle class as well as a youthful, Internet-savvy demographic. Read more…
Twilio riding high, buys video messaging, ups call quality
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Twilio Inc. isn’t a name many consumers will recognize, even though it has recently led a modest revival in the U.S. market for technology initial public offerings by nearly quadrupling in value since its stock market debut in June. Read more…
US may seek power to pre-approve self-driving car technology
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration said Monday it was considering seeking the power to review and approve technology for self-driving cars before they hit the road and said U.S. states should not set separate rules. Read more…
Bitcoin is money, US judge says in case tied to JPMorgan hack
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bitcoin qualifies as money, a federal judge ruled on Monday, in a decision linked to a criminal case over hacking attacks against JPMorgan Chase & Co and other companies. U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan rejected a bid by Anthony Murgio to dismiss two charges related to his alleged operation of Coin.mx, which prosecutors have called an unlicensed bitcoin exchange. Read more…
(Reuters) – Twitter Inc said on Monday it would lay off some employees and halt engineering work at one of its development centers in Bengaluru. The company, which also has offices in Mumbai and Delhi, said it would continue to maintain a presence for other operations in the city, which is considered India’s technology hub. Read more…
Japanese firm unveils dual robot-armed drone
Japanese company Prodrone has released what it calls “the world’s first dual robot arm large-format drone”, with the ability to carry heavy objects and perform detailed tasks. The PD6B-AW-ARM drone weighs 20 kilograms and can carry objects with a maximum weight of 10 kilograms. It can fly for up to 30 minutes, with a maximum forward speed of 60 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour), and has a maximum operating altitude of 5,000 meters (16,404 feet). Read more…
Samsung says China phone fire caused by external heat
SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Monday a Galaxy Note 7 phone a Chinese user claimed caught on fire was damaged by external heating, seeking to assure customers in the world’s top smartphone market the devices being sold there are safe. Read more…
Recent Comments