Thai military’s plan for ‘Great Firewall’ risks Internet competition

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK (Reuters) – A proposal by Thailand's junta for a single Internet gateway to allow authorities to monitor content would destroy competition and was reminiscent of the most authoritarian measures to stifle free speech, a former information minister said on Thursday. The plan to create a single gateway for all Internet traffic was approved by the military government in August but details remain unclear. “Once it becomes a single gateway there will be a problem with traffic speeds,” said Anudith Nakornthap, a former information minister under the government of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

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Indonesians flock to mobile app for swift action on civic woes

By Arzia Tivany Wargadiredja JAKARTA (Reuters) – Frustrated Indonesians are using a new mobile app to give their sleepy bureaucrats a wake-up call, demanding immediate fixes for persistently shoddy public services in the capital of the world’s fourth-most populous country.

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Uber to enter 100 more Chinese cities in next 12 months: CEO

U.S. ride-hailing service Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] will enter 100 more Chinese cities over the next year, doubling a previous goal set just three months ago, Chief Executive Travis Kalanick said on Tuesday. Uber's China unit currently operates in almost 20 cities, Kalanick said at an event in Beijing held by Uber investor Baidu Inc .

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China state fund CIC invests in taxi app Didi Kuaidi: source

China's sovereign wealth fund has invested an unspecified amount in Didi Kuaidi, China's dominant ride-hailing app which is competing against U.S. firm Uber Technologies, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. The person said China Investment Corp (CIC) was one of several investors that injected more than $2 billion in recent months into the startup, which is now valued at $15 billion.

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Toronto cab drivers sue to halt Uber; seek C$400 million in damages

By Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto taxi drivers are launching a class-action lawsuit against ride-sharing company Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], seeking more than C$400 million ($307.27 million) in damages and an injunction to stop it operating in the Canadian province of Ontario. Law firm Sutts, Strosberg LLP, which is representing the taxi drivers, said in a statement on Thursday that the named plaintiff, cab driver Dominik Konjevic, alleges that “Uber X and Uber XL have created an enormous marketplace for illegal transportation in Toronto”

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California man sues Uber claiming it stole ride-sharing idea

A California man has sued Uber Technologies Inc and its Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick, claiming they stole his idea for a cellphone-based car hailing service. Kevin Halpern sued Uber, Kalanick and several early investors in the company in San Francisco Superior Court on Thursday, accusing them of misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract

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Security software maker AVG approached by possible buyers: WSJ

(Reuters) – AVG Technologies NV has been approached by potential buyers amid a wave of deals for security-software makers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. There is no formal sale process, but should there be a deal, it would likely come together in the coming months, according to the report.

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