Getty Images When it came to biomedical breakthroughs, this past decade represented a lot more hype than substance. We were promised a new era of “precision medicine,” where every patient would receive highly personalized treatments to target specifics fault in their genes. But in recent months, reports surfaced that these experimental therapies were failing most […]
Archives for December 2019
‘Freedom ETF’ looks to introduce investing in human rights and liberties to traders
It’s hard to quantify the fight for life, liberty and freedom with cold, hard figures. But in a year where anti-government protests in Hong Kong have dominated headlines, bringing into focus an area of the world with a somewhat spotty record on human and economic rights, one exchange-traded fund has come to the fore that […]
U.S. eyes customs deal with Mexico, plans attorney general visit in January
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The United States is looking at ways to cooperate with Mexico on customs along their border to curb flows of illicit arms, drugs and money, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico said on Friday. Speaking after what he called a fruitful meeting with Mexico’s finance ministry, Ambassador Christopher Landau said that U.S. […]
Spotify to suspend political advertising in 2020
Spotify said on Friday it would pause selling political advertisements on its music streaming platform in early 2020. The world’s most popular paid music streaming service, with nearly 141 million users tuning into its ad-supported platform in October, said the pause would extend to Spotify original and exclusive podcasts as well. The move, which was […]
Google faces backlash for removing cryptocurrency videos from YouTube
US-based technology behemoth Google has faced backlash from the cryptocurrency trading community for removing — and later reinstating — hundreds of cryptocurrency videos from its video-sharing platform YouTube in the last three days, and for suspending a cryptocurrency wallet application from its Android marketplace, Google Play, last week. Traders, startup founders and enthusiasts questioned Google’s […]
Mobile internet restored in Kargil after 145 days
The administration of the newly formed Union Territory of Ladakh on Friday resumed mobile Internet services in Kargil district 145 days after the passage of J&K Reorganisation Bill on August 5. The residents of Kargil welcomed the government’s decision but questioned the four month long Internet ban in this border town, where no untoward incident […]
New year parties may give latest Bollywood hits a miss
Partygoing types hoping to welcome 2020 to the accompaniment of Lamberghini, Saki Saki or even Aankh Maare could end up being disappointed. Many Indian clubs and hotels may not be playing the latest Bollywood chartbusters because party organisers grouse that up to four different agencies need to be paid for performance rights and that the […]
Exclusive: TOMS Shoes creditors to take over the company
(Reuters) – TOMS Shoes LLC’s creditors have agreed to take over the maker of casual footwear in exchange for restructuring its debt, according to a company letter sent to employees on Friday and people familiar with the matter. Credit ratings agencies had warned that TOMS, which is known for its charitable giving, would not have been […]
Temasek-backed fitness app ClassPass eyes $1 billion valuation in new funding round
Fitness subscription app ClassPass is seeking to raise $285 million in a new funding round, which could push the Temasek and Alphabet backed startup’s valuation to over $1 billion. The company will issue 22.7 million ‘Series E’ shares as part of the funding round, according to a securities filing obtained by Reuters from analytics firm […]
Aadhaar enrollment touches the 125 crore mark
Enrollment in the Aadhaar project has crossed the 125 crore mark, close to ten years after its launch. The unique identification authority of India (UIDAI) which administers the Aadhaar project has said in a statement “The achievement comes along with the rapidly increasing use of Aadhaar as the primary identity document by the Aadhaar holders.” […]