Overseas:
1. Google just spent $1 billion to buy property near its Silicon Valley headquarters
2. Fearful of bias, Google blocks gender-based pronouns from new AI tool
3. Japan’s Line ties up with Tencent, Mizuho; shares jump
4. WPP combines famous JWT ad agency with digital arm Wunderman
5. Apple launches app development program for female entrepreneurs
6. GM plans to cut more than 14,000 jobs, close factories as downturn looms
7. Amazon closes its restaurant delivery service in London
8. Amazon launches a cloud-based robotics testing platform
10. Online shoppers are expected to spend $7.8 billion Cyber Monday
11. Enterprise messaging startup Eko Communications raises $20M for its European expansion
13. AR company Banuba raises $7M to supercharge any app or device with the ability to really see you
China:
1. WeChat e-wallet teams up with Line to target Japan’s 7M Chinese tourists
Cross-border:
Lime launches electric-assist bikes in its first UK city
Blockchain:
Coinbase and others invest $12.75M in project to create ‘digital security offerings’
Emerging Market:
1. Cocoon Capital launches new US$20M fund for Southeast Asian startups
2. SME-focussed cloud provider Deskera secures US$60M from multiple investors
3. Singapore’s Ark raises US$40M to expand its non-invasive cancer detection technologies in Asia
4. Indonesia’s SMDV leads US$20M funding round for Thai SaaS platform Eko
Cover picture credits from Financial Times.