Technology

The United Kingdom has decided to grant Huawei a limited role in its 5G network, excluding the company from core infrastructure and government systems following recommendations by British officials and ongoing US security concerns.

Toyota has invested $394 million in Joby Aviation, a Californian aerospace company developing an all-electric, six-rotor flying taxi. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft aims to revolutionize urban transportation, following similar efforts by Hyundai and Uber. Toyota's CEO Akio Toyoda sees this as a step towards providing mobility freedom across land and sky.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is working to resolve internal party disagreements over Huawei's potential role in the country's 5G network. Some lawmakers advocate for excluding the Chinese technology company, while others oppose a complete ban, creating tension within the government's coalition.

Pinterest experienced significant growth in 2019, reaching 82.4 million users in the United States and overtaking Snapchat. The platform's universal appeal and image-centric approach have helped it attract users across different age groups, marking a milestone in its digital platform strategy.

The US and China signed a "phase one" trade deal, with China committing to buy $200 billion in American goods and improve intellectual property protections. US President Trump hailed the agreement as "fair and reciprocal," marking a potential breakthrough after two years of negotiations.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has launched an investigation into Amazon and Flipkart, alleging illegal discount practices and preferential treatment of certain sellers. A New Delhi trade group claims the companies give advantages to their in-house brands and have strategic arrangements with smartphone manufacturers and e-commerce platforms.

Facebook has defended its policy on political advertisements, despite widespread criticism that the platform enables politicians to spread misinformation. The company's official Rob Leathern urged legislators to develop comprehensive digital advertising regulations, arguing that private companies should not solely determine political ad guidelines.

Facebook's Global Policy Management President Monika Bickert announced the platform will remove modified media intended to mislead users, targeting two categories of deceptive content: deepfakes that alter speech and AI-generated videos that appear authentic.

At CES 2020, top TV makers like LG, Samsung, Sony, and TCL unveiled cutting-edge televisions featuring high-definition displays, AI technology, integrated voice assistants, and smart device control, targeting internet-savvy consumers with enhanced multimedia experiences.

Hyundai Motor Company is collaborating with Uber Elevate to produce electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL). These four-passenger flying taxis aim to transform urban mobility, offering a 15-minute journey for a 50-mile trip, significantly reducing travel time compared to traditional ground transportation.