Reuters Technology Report: June 15, 2017

Click to View in Browser Thursday, June 15, 2017 Uber's trucking ambitions in lower gear after Otto deal SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc's drive to become a major player in the trucking business is off to a bumpy start, with analysts and industry executives questioning what exactly the company can bring to the sprawling $700-billion industry. Messaging startup Slack said to draw interest from Amazon: Bloomberg (Reuters) - Slack Technologies Inc, a corporate messaging and collaboration software startup, has received inquiries about a potential takeover from technology companies including Amazon.com Inc , Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Uber's open COO job in the spotlight amid leadership void SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - With Chief Executive Travis Kalanick taking a leave of absence from Uber Technologies Inc, the vacant job of chief operating officer takes on a lot more importance as the company frames the position as key to solving its woes. Western Digital seeks court injunction to block sale of Toshiba chip unit TOKYO (Reuters) - Western Digital Corp has sought a court injunction to prevent Toshiba Corp from selling its chip business without the U.S. firm's consent - a move that threatens to throw the fiercely contested auction into disarray. Robotics startup ZMP partners with Tokyo taxi firm for 2020 self-driving car plans TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese robotics maker ZMP Inc has partnered with a taxi operator in Tokyo, as part of its plans to launch a self-driving taxi in the city in time for the 2020 Olympics, CEO Hisashi Taniguchi said on Thursday. Google bets on European biotech drugs, backs new fund LONDON (Reuters) - Google is betting on the potential of European biotech companies to deliver life-changing drugs by investing alongside Swiss company Novartis in a new $300 million fund run by leading life sciences investment firm Medicxi. Goldman-backed startup Circle launches no-fee foreign payments service PARIS/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blockchain-based payments startup Circle Internet Financial on Thursday launched an international online money transfer service that allows people in the United States and Europe to send money to each other instantly and at no cost as it seeks to tear down borders in the payments world. France's startup scene gains traction led by state bank, Macron factor PARIS (Reuters) - France's corporate startup scene is gaining traction against the backdrop of booming investments by venture capital funds and high expectations for a business-friendly government under new President Emmanuel Macron. AIG teams with IBM to use blockchain for 'smart' insurance policy (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc has partnered with International Business Machines Corp to develop a "smart" insurance policy that uses blockchain to manage complex international coverage, the companies said on Wednesday. Nokia targets gains from web giants with fastest routers SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Nokia launched the world's fastest network chips on Wednesday, breaking into the Juniper and Cisco dominated core router market and giving its existing network business a boost. Related Video Cyber crime: a ticking time bomb for municipalities Verizon closes deal with Yahoo, Mayer steps down Mediafile How about Hightail-ing it? On Twitter, dubious health claims from e-cigarette bots A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today A quick-fix on the day's news delivered when you want it. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2017 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook