Uber board got assurances on diligence ahead of self-driving deal: investor

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A key Uber investor testified on Thursday that the company’s board received assurances that due diligence had turned up no problems with a self-driving car startup which Uber acquired, differing from testimony by Uber’s former chief executive. Benchmark venture ...

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French labor court backs Uber in driver contract dispute

PARIS (Reuters) - Uber [UBER.UL] won a rare French victory on Thursday against attempts to force the ride-hailing operator to recognize its drivers as employees, a prospect that would undermine its entire business model. In a decision likely to bring sighs of relief among gig-economy firms and inves...

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Twitter delivers first profit, shares surge 22 percent

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) shares surged 22 percent at the market open on Thursday after it reported its first quarterly profit and better-than-expected revenue, helped by ads that better targeted users and sales growth outside the United States. Investors shrugged off zero growth in Twitter&r...

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YouTube found no evidence of Russian interference in Brexit referendum

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - YouTube found no evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum, a senior executive told a British parliamentary committee inquiry into fake news. Britain’s Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Committee is taking evidence on Thursday at George Washington Un...

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Twitter delivers first profit, shares surge 25 percent

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) shares surged 25 percent before the bell on Thursday after the social network reported its first quarterly profit and better-than-expected revenue, helped by ads that better targeted users and sales growth outside the United States. Investors shrugged off zero growth...

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Twitter shares surge 15 percent on first quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) reported its first quarterly net profit and topped Wall Street targets on Thursday as video ad sales rose, while a clampdown on fake accounts brought the number of people using the social network in below expectations. Shares of the microblogging service rose about 1...

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Twitter reports first net profit but user growth misses estimates

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) on Thursday reported its first quarterly net profit and topped Wall Street targets as video ad sales rose, but the number of people using the social network fell short of expectations as Twitter shut down fake accounts. Twitter’s previous inability to turn a pr...

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Virtual currencies may stay even if bubble is already deflating: ECB

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The market bubble of virtual currencies is already deflating but central banks should still pay attention as the innovation may be here to stay even if early market leaders die out, European Central Bank board member Yves Mersch said on Thursday. “Virtual currencies are n...

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U.S., Israeli drone makers keep wary eye on rising Chinese

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Cheaper Chinese military drones are chipping away at U.S. and Israeli domination of the industry, fuelling a new race as companies predict a rise in demand especially in regions such as Asia. Chinese cut-rate versions of American armed drones like the MQ-9 Reaper have begun sho...

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Russian watchdog says to examine Facebook in second half

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said on Thursday it would carry out an audit into Facebook’s compliance with Russian legislation in the second half of the year. Alexander Zharov, head of Roskomnadzor, met Facebook executives in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the ...

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Alibaba to take $486 mln stake in China retail data firm

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will invest $486 million for a stake in a domestic big- data firm focused on hotels and retail, as part of a push to deepen its offline presence. The firm will buy a 38 percent stake in Shiji Retail Information T...

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Samsung chairman named as suspect in $7.5 million tax evasion case

SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics’ (005930.KS) ailing chairman, Lee Kun-hee, was named by South Korean police on Thursday as a suspect in an 8.2 billion won ($7.5 million) tax evasion case that involved the use of bank accounts held by employees. A series of scandals have dogged the family...

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Walmart makes push to sell online goods at $10 and up to capture elusive e-commerce profit

(Reuters) - Walmart Inc is asking vendors to supply it with more merchandise priced at $10 and up, as part of a major push to finally turn a profit at its online business, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. The new focus at the world’s largest retailer is on dry grocery pro...

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Amazon to deliver Whole Foods groceries to Prime members

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said on Thursday it would start delivering Whole Foods groceries via its fast-shipping Prime Now service in select U.S. cities, and plans to expand it across the country this year. The online retailing behemoth will add Whole Foods to its one-hour and two-hour delivery ser...

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Anime, technology on offer as Japan promote 2020 Games

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Traditional paper cranes and some of the latest technology are on offer as Japan seeks to promote itself as the host of the next Olympic Games in 2020, with organizers hoping to inherit the enthusiasm and fervor of Pyeongchang 2018 hosts. Tokyo will host the summer...

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South Korea police say Samsung Chairman Lee suspected of tax evasion: Yonhap

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police said Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Chairman Lee Kun-hee was suspected of evading tax for 8.2 billion won ($7.5 million), and of using bank accounts held by employees that held 400 billion won, Yonhap News Agency said on Thursday. Police have been investigating...

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South Korea police names Samsung Chairman Lee as suspect for tax evasion: Yonhap

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police named Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee as a suspect over allegations that he used bank accounts held in someone else’s name that held some 400 billion won ($368 million), Yonhap News Agency said on Thursday. Lee was suspected of tax evasion, Yonhap...

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Before lawsuit, Uber fell out with 'big brother' Google, Kalanick testifies

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Just a few years ago, Uber Technologies Inc saw itself as the little brother to Alphabet Inc, but that cozy bond quickly dissolved into a turf war and ultimately a high-stakes legal battle, a jury heard on Wednesday. Former Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick described how...

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Tesla sticks by Model 3 target, warns spending could rise in 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) said on Wednesday it was sticking with Chief Executive Elon Musk’s revised production targets for its Model 3 electric sedan, but posted its worst-ever quarterly loss, and warned that spending would increase slightly this year. Shares of the Palo Al...

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Zynga beats bookings estimate as 'Words With Friends 2', 'CSR Racing 2' deliver

(Reuters) - Zynga Inc, creator of the once popular online game “FarmVille”, reported fourth-quarter bookings above analysts’ estimate, driven by the success of its mobile games such as “Words With Friends 2” and “CSR Racing 2”. The company reported bookings ...

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Tesla sticks with Model 3 production target, posts worst ever quarterly loss

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) said on Wednesday it was sticking with Chief Executive Elon Musk’s revised production targets for its Model 3, the electric sedan on which the company’s future rests, despite posting its worst-ever quarterly loss. Net loss widened to $675.4 million, or $4.0...

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Amazon's market value on verge of beating out Microsoft

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) on Wednesday was on the verge of ending the day with a stock market value higher than Microsoft Corp’s (MSFT.O) for the first time, as the online shopping behemoth weathered the recent turmoil on Wall Street. Amazon’s stock was down 1.14 ...

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U.S. shuts down cyber crime ring launched by Ukrainian

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department announced one of its largest-ever takedowns of a global cyber crime ring on Wednesday, saying it had indicted 36 people accused of trafficking in stolen identities and causing more than $530 million in losses to consumers. The cyber crime network, o...

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As cryptominers eye Quebec, forest companies see opportunity

MONTREAL (Reuters) - At least two Canadian forestry companies are reviewing offers by cryptocurrency miners who want to lease excess mill space in Quebec, a province where electricity prices are among the lowest in North America. Resolute Forest Products (RFP.N) and Fortress Global Enterprises (FGE....

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U.S. announces arrests in $530 million cyber identity fraud scheme

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced indictments of 36 people in a global internet identity theft scheme that caused more than $530 million in losses to consumers, businesses and financial institutions. International law enforcement authorities arrested 13 defend...

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Big Tech should pay more taxes: German coalition

BERLIN (Reuters) - The two political parties seeking to form Germany’s next government want big companies to pay more tax, according to a coalition agreement whose text singled out U.S. tech giants by name. “We support fair taxation of large companies, in particular Internet concerns lik...

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Google eyes gaming with 'Yeti' streaming service: report

(Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google is developing a subscription-based game streaming service that could work either on its Chromecast or a Google-made console, which is still being developed, the Information website reported on Wednesday. The service, codenamed Yeti, would put Google at the for...

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An investor's best friend? Israel Diamond Exchange launches digital coins

RAMAT GAN, Israel (Reuters) - Israel’s diamond exchange is turning to digital currencies to inject new life into a marketplace long ruled by cash and backroom handshakes, but it must first persuade traditionally conservative players that the technology can work. One of the world’s larges...

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Enter the robots: automation fills gaps in east Europe's factories

PAPA, Hungary (Reuters) - Plant manager Gabor Kiraly remembers the meeting a couple of years ago when he and his Austrian bosses learnt how severe the worker shortage in Hungary was about to become - it was, he said, a “shocking realization”. The unemployment rate in the western Hungaria...

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Bangladesh to sue Manila bank over $81 million heist

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh’s central bank will file a lawsuit against a Philippines bank for its role in one of the world’s biggest cyber-heists two years ago, a deputy governor said on Wednesday. Unidentified hackers stole $81 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account at the New Yo...

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