Alphabet, Intel, FedEx, AT&T among drone pilot winners

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department said on Wednesday it had picked 10 drone test programs in California, Tennessee, North Dakota, Nevada and other states to study package delivery, agriculture, pipeline inspections, aircraft maintenance, healthcare and environmental monitoring...

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Amazon to let customers install tires at Sears stores

(Reuters) - Amazon.com struck a deal with Sears Holdings Corp to provide tire services, boosting traffic at the ailing department store and extending the online retailer's growing stable of alliances with brick-and-mortar companies.

Ohio allows testing self-driving vehicles on state roads

(Reuters) - Ohio on Wednesday became the latest U.S. state to open its roads for testing self-driving vehicles, in a boost to a nascent industry that is facing heightened scrutiny over safety concerns.

U.S. sends rules on drone regulation to White House for review

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department has sent two proposed rules to the White House to regulate the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the agency said on Tuesday as it prepared to unveil the winners of new drone pilot projects.

Uber announces contest to select third city to launch flying taxis

(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] announced on Tuesday an open call for the selection of a third launch city for its flying taxi project UberAIR, which it plans to build in 2020.

Walmart to pay $16 billion for control of India's Flipkart, shares slide

MUMBAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walmart Inc said on Wednesday it will pay $16 billion for a roughly 77 percent stake in Indian e-commerce firm Flipkart, and shares of the U.S. retailer tumbled 4 percent on news of its largest-ever deal, an effort to compete with rival Amazon.com Inc in an important grow...

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Walmart to buy controlling stake in India's Flipkart for $16 bln

MUMBAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walmart Inc will pay $16 billion for a roughly 77 percent stake in Indian e-commerce firm Flipkart, the U.S. retailer's largest-ever deal, in an attempt to compete with rival Amazon.com Inc in a key growth market.

China's ZTE Corp says main business operations cease due to U.S. ban

HONG KONG (Reuters) - ZTE Corp's main business operations have ceased due to a ban imposed by the U.S. government, but the Chinese firm is trying to have the ban modified or reversed, it said in exchange filings late on Wednesday.

Pokemon Go maker Niantic plans to build AR maps with users' help

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Niantic Inc, which developed hit mobile game Pokemon Go, plans to map the world in 3D with its players' help, its chief executive told Reuters, establishing the startup as a frontrunner in a new facet of digital mapping.

Google to ban all ads related to Irish abortion referendum

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Google is to suspend all advertisements related to Ireland's May 25 abortion referendum from Thursday amid worries about election integrity, the U.S. firm said in an emailed statement.

Think You’ve Got Your Credit Freezes Covered? Think Again.

I spent a few days last week speaking at and attending a conference on responding to identity theft. The forum was held in Florida, one of the major epicenters for identity fraud complaints in United States. One gripe I heard from several presenters was that identity thieves increasingly are finding...

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Amazon rolls out model 'smart' homes for U.S. shoppers to try out Alexa

VALLEJO, Ca (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday said it has set up model "smart" homes across the United States for shoppers to experience what it's like for voice aide Alexa to dim the lights, turn on the TV or order more laundry detergent.

After Facebook, Sweden set for more data center deals: Vattenfall

OSLO (Reuters) - Sweden's low electricity prices are likely to attract new data centers to the country this year, according to Swedish utility Vattenfall [VATN.UL], which said it is discussing deals with Silicon Valley companies and Chinese firms.

Vodafone challenges Deutsche Telekom with $21.8 billion Liberty deal

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone has agreed to pay $21.8 billion to buy Liberty Global's assets in Germany and eastern Europe to take the fight to rivals with a broader range of superfast cable TV, broadband and mobile services.

China's ZTE Corp says main business operations have ceased due to U.S. ban

HONG KONG (Reuters) - ZTE Corp's main business operations have ceased due to a ban imposed by the U.S. government, but the Chinese firm is trying to have the ban modified or reversed, it said in exchange filings late on Wednesday.

Walmart to buy controlling stake in India's Flipkart for $16 billion

MUMBAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walmart Inc has agreed to pay $16 billion for a roughly 77 percent stake in Indian online shopping site Flipkart, the U.S. retailer's biggest foreign investment as it battles rival Amazon.com Inc in one of the world's biggest emerging markets.

Cyber security firm Avast poised to list at 250 pence at bottom of price range

LONDON (Reuters) - Private equity-backed cyber security firm Avast [IPO-AVAS.L] is set to price its initial public offering at 250 pence a share, a bookrunner source on the deal said on Wednesday, at the bottom of a 250-270 pence price range set earlier.

Walmart acquiring India's Flipkart, says SoftBank's Son

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. retail giant Walmart Inc is acquiring Indian e-commerce player Flipkart, the chief executive of one of Flipkart's biggest shareholders, SoftBank Group , said on Wednesday.

Some 2 million diesel owners could join class action against VW in Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - Around two million diesel car owners in Germany could join legal moves in a class action to seek compensation from Volkswagen , German Justice Minister Katarina Barley said on Wednesday.

ElringKlinger to supply battery systems for Sono Motors' solar car

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - ElringKlinger has won a contract worth several hundred million euros to supply battery systems for an all-electric solar vehicle made by start-up Sono Motors, the German automotive supplier said on Wednesday.

SoftBank's Son confirms Walmart to acquire India's Flipkart

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. retail giant Walmart Inc is acquiring Indian e-commerce player Flipkart, SoftBank Group chief executive Masayoshi Son said on Wednesday.

Vodafone to pay $21.8 billion for Liberty assets to boost European presence

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone has agreed to pay $21.8 billion to buy Liberty Global's assets in Germany and eastern Europe to take on rivals with a broader range of superfast cable TV, broadband and mobile services.

Fuse takes Fidelity funding to expand its bite-sized learning system

LONDON (Reuters) - Fuse Universal, a learning management platform which companies use to train employees on phones and computers, has raised $20 million in expansion funding from Eight Roads Ventures, Fidelity International's venture arm, the company said on Wednesday.

Audi to present software upgrade for A6/A7 models shortly

INGOLSTADT, Germany (Reuters) - Volkswagen's premium carmaker Audi will shortly present to Germany's motor authority KBA a software upgrade for the additional 60,000 cars in which emissions-related problems have been discovered, Audi's chief executive said.

Cyber security firm Avast cuts IPO price guidance to 250-270 pence per share

LONDON (Reuters) - Private equity-backed cyber security firm Avast [IPO-AVAS.L] reduced the expected price range for its landmark initial public offering to 250-270 pence a share on Wednesday, from an earlier range of 250-320 pence.

China's Tencent signs broad cultural deal with Britain

LONDON (Reuters) - Chinese internet giant Tencent will announce a cultural trade deal with Britain, including film, video games and fashion, deepening cooperation between the two countries and setting the stage for its own international expansion moves.

Vodafone to pay $21.8 billion for Liberty assets to strengthen European presence

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone has agreed to pay $21.8 billion to buy Liberty Global's assets in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania to take on rivals with a broader offer of superfast cable TV, broadband and mobile.

Vodafone seals $23 billion deal to buy Liberty Global assets: WSJ

LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone Group has agreed to a nearly $23 billion deal to buy operations in four European countries from John Malone's Liberty Global, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday, citing Liberty CEO Mike Fries.

China's Leshi questioned by bourse over trade suspension risk

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Leshi Internet Information & Technology Corp Beijing has been formally asked whether its assets, which have fallen 98 percent over the past year, are at risk of turning negative and triggering a share trading halt and possible eventual delisting.

South Korean prosecutors raid LG's head office in tax probe

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean prosecutors have raided LG Group's head office as part of a probe into alleged tax evasion by family members controlling the conglomerate, the prosecutors' office said on Wednesday.