Apple moves ahead with self-driving car project, targets production by 2024

According to sources familiar with the matter at hand, Apple Inc is moving ahead with plans on self-driving car technology and is targeting to produce a passenger vehicle by 2024. The self driving passenger vehicle could feature its breakthrough battery technology, said sources familiar with the matter at hand. Apple’s automotive efforts, known as Project…

Indian short video sharing app Josh raises more than 100 million in funding round

An Indian short-video sharing app, Josh, has raised more than $100 million from investors including Microsoft, and Google, in a growing space that further eats into TikTok’s market share. Josh is one of several short video platforms have cropped up after India blocked the Chinese consumer data harvesting app in June. Josh has drawn global…

U.S. lawmakers back $1.9 billion program to rip and replace Huawei & ZTE telecom gear

According to two sources briefed on the matter at hand, U.S. lawmakers will back $1.9 billion program to fund a removal of Chinese communication gear that it deems as a threat to national security risks. Lawmakers will also back a $3.2 billion program for an emergency broadband which will benefit low-income Americans, confirmed senior congressional…

Hackers gained access to U.S. nuclear network

In a significant development, Politico has reported citing officials directly familiar with the matter at hand as saying hackers had gained access to computers in the U.S. Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration. The National Nuclear Security Administration manages the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile. In a statement it said it had evidence that hackers…

DoD bolsters domestic chip production through incentives

Going by the posting on a government contracting site, the U.S. Defense Department will soon commence soliciting proposals for a program to provide incentives to boost the production of chip in the country. Currently large American chip companies, including Nvidia Corp, Apple Inc, and Qualcomm Inc outsource the fabrication of semiconductors to companies such as…

Beijing should impose digital tax on big data companies: government-backed Beijing News

In the latest sign of heightened government scrutiny over big technology companies, Beijing in a report News stated, China should consider imposing a digital tax on technology companies that hold vast amounts of user data. “Some third-party platform-like enterprises hold a large amount of users data, just like holding precious mineral mines,” said the state-backed…

Hydrogen plane startup ZeroAvia receives backing from Amazon.com Inc and Royal Dutch Shell

On Wednesday, hydrogen plane startup ZeroAvia stated it had secured $21.4 million in a funding round led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures to develop zero-emission commercial aircraft. The startup’s prototype hydrogen powered propeller plane has already completed 10 test flights. Its backers includes Amazon and energy giant Royal Dutch Shell. Hydrogen, which produces water…

Automakers urge incoming Biden Administration for tax credit, incentives to boost R&D into self driving cars, EVs

On Tuesday, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a major automotive trade association urged U.S. policymakers to back support for electric vehicles (EV), including new incentives to boost up consumer purchases, as well as research and development. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has made boosting electric vehicles a top priority and has pledged to build 550,000 new EV…