Current News, Source of the news

New research has found that San Francisco and London have become two of the world’s leading hubs for VC investment into tech solutions which address one or more of the 17 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), more commonly referred to as ‘Impact Tech’. They are followed by Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Shanghai and Beijing. Tech solutions for such pressing issues as the climate crisis and social inequality has seen a 280% increase in global VC investment from 2015 to 2020, while investment in this space more than doubled in both cities over the past five years. The report was put together by London & Partners and Dealroom as part of this week’s  Silicon Valley Comes to the UK  virtual event. Over 5,000 startups were surveyed to create the data. According to the research, VC investment into London-based impact tech start-ups has grown by almost 800% (7.8 times) since 2015, compared to 3.1 times in Europe as a whole. 2020 is set t...

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

via BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/3kYuTmF

via BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/3jVaJZB

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

via BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HIGJDb

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

via BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2H25GJ0

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

via BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/34aqIx7

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