Public Backlash Against China’s 3rd Largest E-Retailer Pinduoduo Over Exploitative Work Culture

There is intense backlash by the public in China against one of the prominent e-commerce companies of the country over charges that the firm exploits its employees by overworking them. This reflects the broadening of the scrutiny of the top tech companies of the country and could even become even more intense. Two employees of…

EU companies should prepare for the worst over U.S.-China digital decoupling

In a statement European business groups have said, EU business must “prepare for the worst” over digital decoupling between the U.S. and the Chinese economy, which could significantly impact EU businesses in China. In a statement the European Chamber of Commerce in China and MERICS, a Berlin-based think tank said, U.S.-China political, trade and financial…

NASA scientist pleads guilty to participation in China’s Thousand Talent program

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, a senior NASA scientist has pleaded guilty to lying about his ties to a program that encourages researchers to develop relationships with China in exchange for grants. Meyya Meyyappan, 66, of Pacifica, California, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan. According…

China’s Search Engine Giant Baidu And Car Maker Geely To Make Smart Cars Jointly

Chinese search engine giant Baidu will be joining hands with auto firm Geely to develop and manufacture smart electric vehicles (EVs), the tech giant has announced. While the role of Geely will be to provide its expertise on designing of cars and other vehicles and in manufacturing them, Baidu will add value to the partnership…

WhatsApp Change In Privacy Policy Sees Surge In Download Of Signal And Telegram

Social media users looking for an alternative for Facebook-owned WhatsApp and were concerned about the changes brought in to the privacy policy of the service apparently took to the privacy-focused messaging apps Signal and Telegram resulting in a significant increase in the downloads of these two messaging apps. According to Sensor Tower, between January 6…

Amazon India launches online learning academy tapping virtual coaching boom

On Wednesday, the world’s biggest online retailer, Amazon.com Inc, launched an online academy to train students for one of India’s most competitive college entrance tests. The development marks Amazon tapping the virtual learning boom created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Amazon Academy” is accessible either as an Android app as well as on a website.…

GM presents fully autonomous VTOL self-driving personal transportation vehicle

In a significant development General Motors Co presented a futuristic self-driving vehicle flying Cadillac which can take off and land vertically carrying passenger above streets through the air. A senior GM executive described the concept as “reimagining the future of personal transportation”. The single-passenger Cadillac, which essentially is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone,…

PayPal Holdings blocks Christian crowdfunding site linked to alleged Trump supporter

In a statement PayPal Holdings Inc said it has blocked GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding site which helped raise funds for people who attended last week’s event in Washington after supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, visited en mass at the Capitol. PayPal confirmed that it has closed an account held by Ali Alexander, one of…