Uber suspends self-driving car tests after first fatal pedestrian crash

A woman in Tempe, Ariz., has died after being hit by a self-driving car operated by Uber, in what appears to be the first known death of a pedestrian struck by an autonomous vehicle on a public road.
The Uber vehicle was in autonomous mode with a human safety driver at the wheel when it struck the woman, who was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, the Tempe police said in a statement. The episode happened on Sunday around 10 p.m. The woman was not publicly identified.
Uber said it had suspended testing of its self-driving cars in Tempe, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto.

“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of this incident,” an Uber spokeswoman, Sarah Abboud, said in a statement.
The fatal crash will most likely raise questions about regulations for self-driving cars. Testing of self-driving cars is already underway for vehicles that have a human driver ready to take over if something goes wrong, but states are starting to allow companies to test cars without a person in the driver’s seat. This month, California said that, in April, it would start allowing companies to test autonomous vehicles without anyone behind the wheel.

Google ties up with Sony, Lenovo for voice command-based smart speakers

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Monday its voice-controlled virtual assistant will show up this year in new tablet-like devices designed by LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp as the technology company seeks to challenge Amazon.com Inc's dominance in a fledgling market.

Dubbed smart displays by Google, the new devices introduce tablet-like screens to speakers that can obey oral commands to perform tasks like playing music, dimming lights, locking doors and setting alarms. JBL and Lenovo Group Ltd also are developing smart displays, Google said.

Amazon kick-started the market for smart speakers in 2014 with its Echo device, which included the Alexa virtual assistant. The company added a screen for the first time in June, calling the device the Echo Show.

Neither Apple Inc's assistant Siri nor Microsoft Corp's Cortana are currently available on a speaker with a tablet-like display.
The new Google Assistant gadgets unveiled Monday at the CES trade show in Las Vegas mark the first challenge to Amazon's Echo Show and the smaller Echo Spot, which also has a display.

The Show went on sale in June for $230 and the Spot in December for $130. Users of the smart displays being unveiled by Google cannot browse the Web or install apps as they would on a tablet, but the new gadgets are optimized for sound quality and listening to voice commands. Information related to the commands is brought up on the touchscreen.

Lenovo's version of the smart display will come with an 8-inch screen for $200 or a 10.1-inch screen for $250. The device will go on sale "early this summer" and includes a camera that shoots in 720p high definition, Lenovo said. JBL, part of Samsung Electronics' Harman Kardon subsidiary, LG and Sony did not announce pricing and release dates.

WhatsApp for business is here; eyes monetisation through standalone app

The much-talked-about WhatsApp for business application is being tested by a private group of testers and the company will introduce it as "WhatsApp Business" -- a standalone app.

Its description available on Play Store read: "As a test partner for 'WhatsApp Business', you have early access to a wide range of new features that we've built with you in mind. As you experiment with what this new app has to offer, please share your experiences with us so that we can improve the product."

Facebook intends to earn some of the money it spent while acquiring WhatsApp and the new standalone app would charge businesses in future, The Wall Street Journal said late on Friday.

"We do intend on charging businesses in the future. We don't have the details of monetisation figured out," WhatsApp's Chief Operating Officer Matt Idema was quoted as saying.

"WhatsApp Business" is different from the regular WhatsApp.

The logo of the app has been changed from the calling symbol to "B" inside the green conversation bubble.

However, after downloading, the app looks the same as WhatsApp, barring the title bar that says "WhatsApp Business".

The app has interesting features such as auto responses, creating a business profile, chat migration and analytics.

According to reports, businesses are widely using WhatsApp to communicate with their customers, particularly in Asia.

Vodafone India launches unlimited international plan for Rs 180 per day

Vodafone India on Wednesday launched unlimited international plan across the UK and Europe for Rs 180 per day, the company said here.

International travellers can now easily activate a pack and use their number overseas from the UK and other popular travel destinations of Europe like Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary.

The company statement said apart from Europe, travellers can also use unlimited calling and data in the US, the UAE, Singapore and Malaysia with the same pack, taking the total tally of "unlimited" countries to 18.

The pack is available at multiple affordable price points ranging from Rs 5,000 for 28 days to Rs 500 for every 24 hours usage.

Apart from offering unlimited usage in 18 countries, the same pack also allows consumers to use their phones freely across 42 other countries.

"We launched our flagship unlimited international roaming proposition for the US, Singapore and the UAE in April and are now very excited to extend it to these additional destinations. Europe, the US, the UAE, Singapore and Malaysia comprise more than 50 per cent of our total roamers and international traffic. With calls and data becoming completely free in these countries, we are eliminating the hassle of carrying local SIM cards or looking out for public WiFi during overseas travel," said Avneesh Khosla, Associate Director - Consumer Business, Vodafone India.
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Trump has a very honest view of things, I like such people: Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday praised the US President Donald Trump and said he was exactly the kind of person he liked most.

Putin said he had never met Trump but that he agreed relations between their countries had to improve and he was willing to talk with the US leader.

"I have to recognize that I love that kind of person. They are simple, direct, they have a very honest view of things and that can be very advantageous," Efe quoted him as saying.

He said he had a lot in common with the US leader as he considered that neither were professional politicians and highlighted that he himself had never been a member of a party.

Nonetheless, records show that Putin entered the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1970 while attending St. Petersburg State University, and remained a member until December 1991.

Putin insisted that whether he liked Trump or not was irrelevant, as the important thing was to establish a good personal and political relationship regardless.

"I don't know if this will be possible, but we are patient and we will wait to see what happens," he said.

In response to a question on what advice he would give to the White House's new occupant, Putin said a person like Trump did not need tips and especially not from a counterpart such as himself, as the advice was always misinterpreted and thus counter-productive.

The Russian leader said that what Moscow perceived to be growing global Russophobic sentiments were caused by the country's defense of its legitimate interests in the international arena.

Putin said some countries had started to try to hold Russia back using actions that went against international rights, including economic restrictions.

"The fight that Russia leads is for legitimate interests and I emphasize that," said the Russian president, insisting that several nations were trying to create reasons to aggravate the situation with Moscow and, in order to achieve that endeavor, were pulling excuses from thin air.

Putin also acknowledged that there may be Russian hackers "who consider themselves patriots" and decide to "make their contribution, as they see fit, to fight against those who speak ill of Russia."

"Theoretically, that's possible," said Putin, who also dismissed as "fictional" accusations that Russian computer attacks influenced the results of France's election of its new president, Emmanuel Macron.
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Manchester attack: 22 dead; kids missing from concert, here is what we know

Manchester attack - A massive attack shook Manchester on today that killed at least 22 people. Reportedly 50 others have been injured. The 'terrorist attack' took place at a concert of pop star Ariana Grande in the Manchester city in the UK.

As per AFP, Greater Manchester Police says that 22 people have died because of the attack already. The attacker died detonating the bomb, they said.
"This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise," the statement said.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud "bang" from inside the venue. Video footage from the scene showed bloodied victims being helped by emergency services.

Here is what we know so far:

—Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have also expressed their sympathies for the victims.

—Prime Minister Theresa May said the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack. She is set to chair an emergency Cobra meeting in response to the atrocity, reports Daily Star.

—Police have set up a helpline for people who are worried about loved ones on 0161 856 9400.

—Large areas around the arena have been sealed off and Victoria Station has been closed and is expected to be closed throughout Tuesday.

—UK police responded to reports of an explosion shortly after 10:33 pm (2133 GMT) at the arena, which has the capacity to hold 21,000 people, where the Ariane Grande had been performing to an audience that included many children, according to Reuters.

—The blasts reportedly went off at the end of the concert near the box office area of the venue. "It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us," an eyewitness said.

—22 people have been reported killed while 50 others are injured.

—The blast was reported to have hit the foyer of the building at 10:30pm.

—The attacker was killed trying to detonate the bomb

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Nokia 3310 makes a comeback with 22 hours of battery life, dual sim

Breaking News - Finnish mobile device player Nokia is in reboot mode as it gets ready to bring to India its 17-year-old iconic Nokia 3310 handset for about Rs 3,500, along with its Android smartphones, next quarter.

"All the products that we have announced Nokia 3310, Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 will be available in the second quarter of this year in India. Average global selling price for Nokia 3310 is 49 euros," HMD Global Oy Chief Marketing Officer Pekka Rantala said.

HMD Global has licence to design and sell Nokia branded phones globally as well as use technologies developed by Nokia Corporation.

"Now, we are celebrating the new era of Nokia brand that is the reason we are with HMD Global. Let me also be very clear that we would not license the Nokia brand to just anybody. It means too much to us. We chose carefully. We looked at the market. We looked at Google to be our brand licensing partner which could do this for a long time," Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri said.

HMD Global also unveiled Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 smartphones for 189 euros and 139 euros built on Google's Android platform. The company has already been selling Nokia 6 in China. One model of Nokia 6 with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage will be retailed at around 229 euros and the other one with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal memory with support for external memory card will be available for around 299 euros.(Read More)

Visiting India on an e-visa? The govt will give you a free SIM card

Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Wednesday launched pre-loaded SIM cards for tourists arriving in India on e-visa.

These SIMs, which will be provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, will have Rs 50 talk time and 50 Mb internet data at free of cost.

"It will facilitate the foreign tourists in communicating with their acquaintances immediately after they land in India," Sharma said.

"Also, they can get information in their own language using our 24x7 Tourist Helpline, which provides service in 12 foreign languages. A Russian speaking or Japanese speaking tourist can use the helpline easily," he added.

The minister further said that the facility would be initially available at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, which will later cover the remaining 15 international airports in the country.

Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said that the service was restricted to e-visa holders now since their complete information is accessed by the government before they arrive.(Read More)

Pakistan places JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, 37 others on Exit Control List

Pakistan Interior Ministry has included the names of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and 37 others, who are affiliated with JuD or Lashkar-e-Taiba, on the Exit Control List, two days after he was placed under house arrest.

The Ministry has sent letters to all the provincial governments and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The move, which bars the 38 individuals from leaving Pakistan, comes two days after authorities placed Saeed under house arrest along with four other individuals, namely Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz.

"Placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and have listed these organisations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)," Geo TV quoted a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.

"Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organisations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended). As such, they must be placed under preventive detention," said the ministry.(Read More)

Narendra Modi, Donald Trump to speak over phone tonight

Breaking news - US President Donald Trump will speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight over phone, the has White House said.

"The President speaks with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi," the White House said as it released Trump's schedule for today.

Trump is scheduled to speak with Modi over phone at 1 PM Washington DC time, which is 11:30 PM IST.

With this Narendra Modi, would be the fifth foreign leader Trump would have spoken with over phone after being sworn-in as the US President on January 20.

On January 21, Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Premier Pena Nieto.

On Sunday, Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and yesterday he had a telephonic conversation with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

After Trump surprised the world with his historic victory in the November 8 general elections, Modi was among the first five world leaders to have congratulated Trump.

During his gruelling election campaign, India is among the few countries in addition to Israel with whom Trump spoke of strengthening ties if elected to power.

At a charity event organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition for the Kashmiri Pandit terror victims and the Bangladeshi Hindu victims in Edison on October 15, Trump, as the then Republican presidential nominee, had praised India's fast growth rate and Modi's bureaucratic and economic reforms.

"Under a Trump Administration, we are going to become even better friends, in fact I would take the term better out and we would be best friend," Trump had told a cheering crowd of Indian-Americans in Edison, New Jersey.(Read More)