U.S. buyout firm KKR and China Tencent Music Entertainment Group eyeing to purchase 50% stake in UMG

Tech-savvy KKR has prior experience in the music industry given its earlier deal with Bertelsmann; however negotiations with Vincent Bollore are expected to be tough, especially if KKR and Tencent push for a controlling stake. According to sources familiar with the matter at hand, China’s Tencent Music Entertainment Group and U.S. buyout fund KKR are…

Britain’s Marks & Spencer gains online food delivery service market through JV with Ocado

Marks & Spencer has entered into a joint venture with online supermarket pioneer Ocado and has thus forayed into the online full delivery service market. On Wednesday, British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has agreed to form a joint venture with Ocado, an online supermarket pioneer. The development assumes significance since it would provide M&S…

LG unveils 5G smartphone that can recognize gestures and is ultra secure

Unlike smartphones which recognize faces, LG’s offering can scan the vein structure of a user’s hands in 3D. In a first, South Korea’s LG Electronics has unveiled a 5G smartphone featuring a dual screen, underscoring new design efforts by the company to revive flagging sales. Both screens work independent to each other on the LG…

Microsoft launches HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset

Augmented Reality technology has the potential to improve the efficiency of businesses ranging from users at a factory floor to doctors and those at a farm. In its second push at Augmented Reality, Microsoft unveiled the latest edition of its HoloLens augmented reality headset with promises that it provides a more immersive augmented reality experience…

Apple ties up with Ant Financial Services Group and several banks to ease purchase of interest free iPhones

While Apple’s market share in China have shrunk significantly, those of domestic smartphone makers including most notably Huawei, have expanded. Chinese consumers view those using iPhones as traitors. While Apple’s iPhones may be cost effective, unless it targets the core issue of nationalism, it would be surprising if it were to make any significant headway.…

SpaceX launches Israel’s first unmanned moon lander

Israel’s first unmanned moon lander’s Beresheet was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at about 8:45 p.m. EST (0145 GMT Friday). In a significant development for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the firm’s Falcon 9 rocket launched off successfully on Thursday night from Florida carrying Israel’s first lunar lander. The development is likely to make Israel…

Microsoft detects hacking activity from Strontum targeting democratic institutions

Microsoft will expand its cyber security service AccountGuard to 12 new markets in Europe including France, Germany, and Spain to safeguard from such hacking attacks. On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp disclosed it had chanced upon hacking activity that targets democratic institutions, non-profit organizations and think tanks in Europe and plans on offering a cyber security service…

Cyber security provider Palo Alta to acquire Demisto Inc for $560 million

Demisto develops and markets automation tools for information security management, including a chatbot that assists in handling tasks. Palo Alto Networks Inc, a cyber security company stated it would be acquiring Demisto Inc, a U.S.-Israeli information security firm for $560 million using cash and stock. Founded in 2015 by four McAfee executives, Demisto develops and…