Current News, Source of the news

Romain Dillet / TechCrunch : Germany-based challenger bank Vivid Money, which lets customers create sub-accounts called pockets with their own IBAN numbers, raises $17.6M Series A   —  German fintech startup Vivid Money has raised a $17.6 million Series A funding round (€15 million).  Ribbit Capital is leading the investment. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/35ameIi

Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge : Waymo releases public road testing data on its self-driving operations in Arizona between Jan. 2019 and Sept. 2020, says its cars drove 6.1M+ miles in 2019   —  In its first report on its autonomous vehicle operations in Phoenix, Arizona, Waymo said that it was involved in 18 crashes … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3mEQQYt

Christopher Yasiejko / Bloomberg : TikTok and parent ByteDance have filed a suit against Triller in response to Triller's suit filed in July that alleges ByteDance infringed on one of its patents   —  - Lawsuit seeks ruling TikTok doesn't infringe Triller patent  — Spat escalates as both companies are in take-over negotiations from Techmeme https://ift.tt/2HM4D01

Christopher Bing / Reuters : Cybersecurity experts say FBI is investigating Ryuk ransomware attacks on more than two dozen US hospitals, and officials warned hospitals to back up systems   —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating the recent targeting with ransomware of more than two dozen hospitals across … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3jCtTmV

David Z. Morris / Fortune : Zoom adds support for end-to-end encryption, but when it's enabled several features like cloud recording, telephone dial-in, and 1:1 private chat will not work   —  Our mission to help you navigate the new normal is fueled by subscribers.  To enjoy unlimited access to our journalism, subscribe today. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/34ugyZl

Filipe Espósito / 9to5Mac : Apple says App Store prices for apps and IAPs in Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa will increase in the next few days   —  Apple announced today that the App Store prices in Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa will be increased in the next days. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/2HCQMJV

John D. Stoll / Wall Street Journal : Fitbit CEO James Park says its app reached 500,000 paid subscribers this year and talks about expectations for life under Google, competing with Apple, more   —  Fitbit CEO James Park discusses the company's new products and competition as it prepares to close its acquisition by Google from Techmeme https://ift.tt/2Ho2OHa

Nick Statt / The Verge : Microsoft's beta cloud gaming service xCloud can't compete with Stadia, but it stands out with its Game Pass business model, mobile experience, and big catalog   —  The first time you boot up an Xbox One game on an Android phone can be surreal.  Earlier this month, I opened the Game Pass app … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/36W1Yvm

Jay Peters / The Verge : Amazon has canceled Crucible, its free-to-play multiplayer shooter game, after putting it back in closed beta in July amid negative reviews   —  The game was put back into closed beta in July  —  Amazon has officially canceled Crucible, its free-to-play multiplayer shooter. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3din4FE

Chong Koh Ping / Wall Street Journal : Alibaba's stock jumped 42% this year, giving it a market value above $800B, as the pandemic accelerates China's rapid embrace of online commerce   —  Recent rally cements company's position as one of the world's most valuable technology companies  —  Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. 's stock … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3jM78xv

FinSMEs : Acin, a data analytics company that helps financial institutions manage their non-financial risk and controls, raises $12M Series A led by Notion Capital   —  Acin, a London, UK-based risk and control data standards, benchmarking and controls data analytics company, secured $12m in Series A funding. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3juBdlk

New York Times : Federal judge grants a preliminary injunction against a Trump administration order that would have banned TikTok from US app stores   —  The government said a ban would address its national security concerns.  But lawyers for its owner said a ban would be “no different from the government locking the doors to a public forum.” from Techmeme https://ift.tt/2G83FuP

Forbes : Interview with Visa's Terry Angelos and Cuy Sheffield on the future of blockchain networks, partnering with crypto payment firms, and the Libra Association   —  Bitcoin was invented to disrupt existing monetary systems that many felt were too expensive and exclusionary. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3cDFPmn

Lizette Chapman / Bloomberg : SEC filing: Peter Thiel and Richard Li have created a SPAC called Bridgetown Holdings Ltd., targeting SE Asia investment, and are seeking to raise $575M via IPO   —  - Bridgetown also backed by Richard Li's Pacific Century  — SPAC aims to raise $575 million, according to filing from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3mH2EKJ

Natalie Gagliordi / ZDNet : CrowdStrike has agreed to acquire Preempt Security, a provider of zero trust and conditional access tech for enterprise threat management, for about $96M   —  The company said it plans to use the deal to bolster its Falcon platform with conditional access technology. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3crZbLg

Asa Fitch / Wall Street Journal : How Nvidia's bets on gaming and AI transformed it from a niche player in the high-end graphics market in the mid-90s into the most valuable US chip company   —  For Jensen Huang, the landmark bid for Arm cements his ambition to supplant Intel  —  In the midst of the pandemic … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3cjB8hi

Julia Alexander / The Verge : TikTok is trying to remove a graphic suicide video from its app and is banning accounts that re-upload the clip, says video was originally streamed on Facebook   —  Clips started circulating on Sunday night  —  TikTok is trying to remove graphic videos circulating the app that show … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3ha8fVV

New York Times : Facebook warns it will block Australian users and news organizations from sharing news stories on Facebook and Instagram if the ACCC's proposal passes   —  The move, a response to pressure to pay publishers when their stories are posted on the social network, could add to internet silos springing up around the world. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/3lCzPOQ

Christine Hall / Crunchbase News : ReliaQuest, a managed cybersecurity and intelligence services provider, raises $300M led by KKR, says its revenue grew more than 450% in the past three years   —  ReliaQuest, a company developing a cybersecurity managed service and intelligence platform for global enterprises … from Techmeme https://ift.tt/32HkYtM

Stephanie Condon / ZDNet : Palo Alto Networks says it plans to acquire The Crypsis Group, an incident response, risk management, and digital forensics consulting firm, for $265M in cash   —  Meanwhile, the cybersecurity firm posted better-than-expected Q4 results, thanks in part to work-from-home tailwinds. from Techmeme https://ift.tt/2CVQhbD