OAKLAND, California: Microsoft’s potential acquisition of short-video app TikTok carries myriad risks, thrusting it into the politically fraught social media business and China-US conflict amid increased scrutiny of Big Tech companies. But the deal could help Microsoft build on its US$27 billion purchase of LinkedIn to become a bigger player […]
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LONDON: Millions of COVID-19 tests able to detect the virus within 90 minutes will be rolled out to British hospitals, care homes and laboratories to boost capacity in the coming months, the country’s health minister said on Monday (Aug 3). They will comprise 5.8 million tests using DNA and 450,000 […]
SHANGHAI: Chinese artificial intelligence company Shanghai Zhizhen Intelligent Network Technology, also known as Xiao-I, has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging it has infringed on its patents. The company is calling for 10 billion yuan (US$1.43 billion) in damages and demands that Apple cease “manufacturing, using, promising to sell, selling […]
BEIJING: The founder of ByteDance, which owns social media giant TikTok, said on Monday (Aug 3) his teams were working round-the-clock “for the best outcome”, as talks on the sale of its US operation to Microsoft continue, Chinese media reported. TikTok – popular in the United States and widely used […]
LONDON: People across Britain enjoyed half-price meals on Monday (Aug 3) as the government launched its Eat Out to Help Out scheme aimed at driving up business in the shattered hospitality industry after months of coronavirus lockdown. Diners are entitled to a 50 per cent discount on food and non-alcoholic […]
BURBANK, California: For Walt Disney, the ability to sell Frozen-themed water bottles at the Magic Kingdom theme park while selling ads during the NBA playoffs has historically been its greatest strength. But since the coronavirus pandemic forced theme parks and cinemas to shutter and live sporting events to be cancelled, […]
THOUSAND OAKS, California: Rival drugmakers AbbVie, Amgen and Takeda Pharmaceuticals on Monday (Aug 3) said they have begun treating patients in a trial to quickly show whether a drug from each company can be repurposed and used against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic is an […]
NEW YORK: Late in March, Laura Gross, 72, was recovering from gall bladder surgery in her Fort Lee, New Jersey, home when she became sick again. Her throat, head and eyes hurt, her muscles and joints ached and she felt like she was in a fog. Her diagnosis was COVID-19. […]
SINGAPORE: Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has laid off 20 per cent of its workforce in Singapore – making up about 400 of the more than 2,000 employees it has locally – the firm announced on Monday (Aug 3). Pratt & Whitney said its four companies unionised under the […]
President Donald Trump only agreed to allow Microsoft Corp to negotiate the acquisition of popular short-video app TikTok if it could secure a deal in 45 days, three people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. BEIJING/HONG KONG: A potential shotgun wedding to Microsoft Corp for TikTok’s U.S. operations provoked […]