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'America First' comes to Washington in Trump's first major address to Congress http://ift.tt/2mDdtyq
President Donald Trump took his "America First" vision to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, delivering his nationalist message in a way more palatable to the Washington, DC, crowd, successfully endearing many of the lawmakers and elites he vehemently fought against while seeking the White House. Trump spent more than an hour speaking about job creation, immigration, national security, and international trade as he implored Americans to embrace a "renewal of the American spirit" and work together to tackle a wide array of challenges facing the country at home and abroad. Upon its conclusion, NBC News anchor Brian Williams dubbed the address "the most speech-like speech" Trump has ever given. CNN's Dana Bash said it was the president's most "presidential" speech. Staying almost exclusively on his prepared text, Trump said he was delivering a "message of unity and strength." Coming off a shocking electoral win in November, the nation has been bitterly divided in the early days of his presidency. "A new chapter of American greatness is now beginning," Trump said. "A new national pride is sweeping across our nation." In a move that surprised some, Trump decided to open his speech by denouncing the threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and the vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, in addition to the shooting of two Indian men near Kansas City, saying that the country "stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms." The president moved on to touting his early moves as president, which included his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, his rescinding of regulations, the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, and immigration orders that sparked widespread controversy. When he spoke of his beginning to "drain the swamp," several Democratic members proceeded to laugh. Additionally, the president mentioned several major companies, such as Ford, General Motors, and Softbank, which have touted the creation of new jobs since he took office, and he made note of record gains in the stock market. He promoted his direction to the Department of Defense to create a plan that will ensure the destruction of ISIS, the terrorist organization he said was composed of "lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women, and children of all faiths and beliefs." Saying that he inherited many problems domestically and overseas, Trump began to outline what he believed needed to be addressed. First, were the 94 million people out of the labor force — a misleading statistic, considering it would encompass retirees, students, and stay-at-home parents. But he also mentioned the many millions of Americans in poverty and called for a restarting of "the engine of the American economy." To do so, he called for a slashing of corporate taxes and a reevaluation of America's policies related to international trade — two planks of his ascendancy to the White House.
Promising to return "millions of jobs," Trump discussed the taxes American companies face overseas without a similar counterpart for foreign companies looking to ship into America. Citing a recent meeting with executives from Harley-Davidson, he promised to change that. "They weren't even asking for change," Trump said, after mentioning the executives discussing overseas taxes. "But I am." The president tied changes in trade policy to an overhauling of the immigration system. Earlier in the day, multiple outlets reported he was now open to comprehensive immigration reform, something he chastised along the campaign trail in favor of a more hardline stance. "I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation’s security, and to restore respect for our laws," Trump said. "If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades." In his next salvo, Trump called for $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, citing President Dwight Eisenhower's creation of the interstate highway system as proof that such investment, traditionally a Democratic cause, was favored by Republicans. Trump took aim at the Affordable Care Act, as well, saying that his replacement for President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law will ensure Americans with pre-existing conditions will have access to coverage and expand health savings accounts and tax credits. Several Democrats showed their disdain for his targeting of the healthcare act. "Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed," he said. "Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope." Speaking about issues related to law enforcement and security, Trump touted his budget proposal to increase defense spending and insisted he is committed to NATO — adding the caveat that member nations must meet requirements for defense spending. He also painted a picture of a nation gripped by "lawless chaos," a charge not backed up by crime data. The president said America cannot become a "beachhead" or "sanctuary" for terrorists. He did not discuss Russia or the civil war in Syria. The most powerful moment of the night came as Trump introduced Carryn Owens, the widow of Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who was killed in the controversial raid in Yemen last month, Trump's first military action as president. "Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero — battling against terrorism and securing our Nation," Trump said. "I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, 'Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies.' "Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," he continued. "For as the Bible teaches us, there is no greater act of love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom — we will never forget him." In visible tears, Carryn stood and clapped as the room stood for its longest applause of the night.
Veering from the script, Trump said Ryan was happily looking down because he "just set a record," pointing to the lengthy ovation. Following the speech, Democratic CNN commentator Van Jones said Trump "became president of the United States in that moment, period." In closing his address, Trump spoke of the upcoming 250-year anniversary of the country. He declared Tuesday night was "when this new chapter of American greatness began." "The time for small thinking is over," Trump said. "The time for trivial fights is behind us. We just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts. The bravery to express the hopes that stir our souls. And the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams to action." "I am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American Spirit," he concluded. "I am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country. And I am asking everyone watching tonight to seize this moment and — Believe in yourselves. Believe in your future. And believe, once more, in America." Afterward, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN the president's address was "another speech where Trump talks like a populist; the way he's been governing is totally the opposite." Newly elected DNC Chair Tom Perez told MSNBC the speech was "Steve Bannon on steroids with a smile." "President Trump’s speech had an air of unreality because what he said tonight was so different than how he has governed in the first 40 days," Schumer said in an expanded statement. The New York senator added: "He’s proposed nothing on trade or infrastructure, which might help working families; and his budget seems to cut education and medical research, which he talked about improving. The President is simply using populists rhetoric to cloak his hard right, anti-middle class agenda. The American people don’t want words, they want actions that help them." But hearkening back to Jones' comments on CNN moments before, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave his analysis on Trump's big night. The Senate majority leader said of the president: "For people who are not Republicans and already committed to the president and his agenda, Donald Trump did indeed become presidential tonight." NOW WATCH: 'It's a lie': Jake Tapper calls out Trump during a fiery interview with Kellyanne Conway See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 03:39PM
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Marvel just dropped the latest trailer for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and it looks incredible2/28/2017 Marvel just dropped the latest trailer for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' and it looks incredible http://ift.tt/2mrA2t9 Marvel just showed off the newest trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" and it looks amazing. The movie will see the return of Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians, along with a few new faces. It's scheduled to hit U.S. theaters May 5th. Follow Tech Insider: On Facebook See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 03:27PM 'You picked a Cabinet of billionaires': Democrats respond to Trump's congressional address2/28/2017
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'You picked a Cabinet of billionaires': Democrats respond to Trump's congressional address http://ift.tt/2mr8Tq2
Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear delivered the Democratic Party's response to President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress on Tuesday night. Beshear criticized Trump's picks for his cabinet, which includes Secretary of State and former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson and US Commerce Secretary and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross. Additionally, Beshear echoed the sentiments of other concerned Democrats who anxiously wait for the what could be the demise of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the independent government watchdog agency created after the 2008 financial crisis which crippled the US economy.
The former governor is an avid supporter of the Affordable Care Act who rallied around its cause after condemning the Trump administration's efforts to repeal and replace the contested healthcare law. Trump said during his address Tuesday night: "Obamacare is collapsing — and we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice — it is a necessity." So far, the White House's plans to replace Obamacare has been met with staunch opposition from both sides of the political aisle, and the debate over how to effectively replace the legislation has deepened from within the Republican Party.
Beshear also went on the offensive on issues relating to national security. He ripped Trump's alleged relations with Russia — which took center stage earlier this month after reports that his team had frequent contacts with Russia prior to the election. And Beshear slammed Trump's effort to target undocumented immigrants and refugees through a January executive order that was suspended by an appelate court on February 9.
Beshear hasn't held public office since 2015, however, as a staunch supporter of Obamacare, he was viewed as an ideal choice to respond on behalf of Democrats. During his governorship, he managed to bring the health care plan into the deep-red state of Kentucky, which then accounted for the biggest drop of uninsured rates in the US, from 20% to 7.5%. Watch Beshear's entire response:NOW WATCH: ‘The money is pouring in’: Trump says NATO allies are starting to pay for defense costs See Also:
SEE ALSO: Democrats' pick to respond to Trump's speech was selected for one huge reason Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 03:21PM
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Trump's speech set a tone for selling his agenda more broadly http://ift.tt/2laepgx
The address President Donald Trump gave on Tuesday was approximately the speech one would write to sell Trumpism to a broader audience. This speech was still very Trump, focusing around the theme of putting American interests ahead of global ones. It had the same usual deviations from Republican orthodoxy — calling for paid family leave and a big infrastructure package while ignoring entitlement programs, criticizing free trade agreements and taking a harder line on immigration than most establishment Republicans want. But it placed those themes in terms that seemed somewhat less aimed at inflaming his base and somewhat more aimed at convincing people that his policies are good for a majority: that tighter immigration will raise wages for all sorts of workers, or that crime-fighting policies will make life better in cities like Baltimore, where he received few votes. This is a smart political shift, and I honestly thought Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer looked rattled discussing the speech on television, as though he had expected the speech to be less strategically competent. Still, there are at least three significant challenges facing Trump. One is whether he can implement the policies he's promising. Trump's failure to staff up his administration hinders both his ability to influence Congress and his ability to change policy through executive action. The ideas Trump floated on healthcare and taxes are vague. In theory, Congress is supposed to move major legislation on both issues this year. But as Matt Yglesias notes, Trump gave no guidance to resolve the big disagreements on these issues that exist among Republicans in Congress. As Schumer said, Trump talks about the need to spend big on infrastructure but has not advanced any formal proposal. Axios reported last week that he may not even introduce one until 2018. A second issue is whether his policies will provide the improvements he has promised, even assuming he gets them enacted. Trump promised to "expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better healthcare." A major reason Republicans can't come to terms on a healthcare reform package is the impossibility of doing all these things at once while lowering government expenditure. Trump has promised good jobs and higher wages, but the immigration crackdown Trump expects to drive wages up could also cause the economy to shrink and raise consumer prices, as could new trade restrictions. The determinants of crime rates are elusive — nobody knows exactly why crime fell so much starting in the early 1990s, or why it rebounded recently in some major cities but not others. Plus, the federal role in crime fighting is limited. Whether these trends improve or worsen is largely out of Trump's hands — and if his policies worsen the relationship between police and minority communities, a decline in cooperation could make crime worse. The third issue is whether Trump can even maintain the level of discipline he showed in Tuesday's speech. Teleprompter Trump has always been more normal than Twitter Trump. And Teleprompter Trump seemed more refined than ever on Tuesday, mostly able to read prepared remarks without looking bored, except in the last 10 minutes. But Trump will have to go off script over and over again, sometimes in the face of adverse events that will make him unhappy. During the campaign, best-behavior Trump was typically only able to stick around for a couple of weeks at most. That clock has started again today. NOW WATCH: Merriam-Webster can’t stop trolling the Trump administration on Twitter See Also:
SEE ALSO: Trump is taking his time to fill more than 500 key jobs, and that could stymie his agenda Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 03:09PM
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‘It’s called VOICE’: Trump announces Immigration crime program http://ift.tt/2lahBsz In his first speech to Congress, President Trump announced the formation of a program called VOICE, which stands for "victims of immigration crime engagement." The announcement drew audible groans from some people in attendance. Follow BI Video: On Twitter See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 03:09PM
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‘The money is pouring in’: Trump says NATO allies are starting to pay for defense costs http://ift.tt/2m65kVn In his first speech to Congress, President Trump emphasized US support with NATO, and said allies have now begin sharing in the defense costs. Follow BI Video: On Twitter See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 02:45PM
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'Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity': Trump lauds Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid http://ift.tt/2lnlsO6
During President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Trump honored the US Navy SEAL killed in combat during a raid in Yemen. William "Ryan" Owens was among more than two dozen people killed during the January raid — the first armed services mission ordered by Trump as commander-in-chief. "Ryan died as he lived — a warrior, a hero, battling against terrorism, and securing our nation," Trump said. The chamber erupted in applause. "Ryan's legacy is enbtched into eternity. Thank you," Trump said, turning toward Owens' widow, Carryn, who was seated next to Ivanka Trump. Owens stood, visibly emotional, and joined in a standing ovation that stretched on for nearly two minutes. "Ryan is looking down right now, you know that, and I think he's very happy because I think he just broke a record," Trump quipped referring to the extended round of applause. "Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom. And we will never forget Ryan." Watch the moment:Some US military officials have criticized the Yemen raid, which they said was executed without sufficient intelligence, Reuters reported in early February. Former President Barack Obama's administration had deliberated over a proposed mission before he left office on January 20, but Obama held off approving a raid ahead of his departure, according to Reuters. NBC News cited US officials on Monday who said the mission produced "no significant intelligence." Bill Owens, the slain Navy SEAL's father, suggested in an interview with the Miami Herald that he has some questions for Trump about the raid. Trump earlier on Tuesday suggested Obama was to blame for the mission's outcome. See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 02:39PM
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Van Jones on standing ovation for fallen SEAL's widow: Trump 'became president of the United States in that moment' http://ift.tt/2lUtS1j
CNN political commentator Van Jones on Tuesday was left in awe by one moment during President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress: when he honored the widow of William "Ryan" Owens, the Navy SEAL who was killed during a raid in Yemen. "He became president of the United States in that moment, period," Jones said on CNN. "That was one of the most extraordinary moments you have ever seen in American politics. Period." During his address, Trump acknowledged Carryn Owens, who was sitting next to his daughter, Ivanka. Trump said he had spoken with Defense Secretary James Mattis, who he said told him that Owens was "part of a highly successful raid" that had yielded significant intelligence, contrary to reports that emerged over the previous 24 hours. "Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," Trump said, triggering a second, lengthy standing ovation for Carryn Owens, who became overcome with emotion. "He did something extraordinary," Jones said. "For people who have been hoping that he would become unifying, hoping that he might find some way to become presidential, they should be happy with that moment. For people who have been hoping that maybe he would remain a divisive cartoon, which he often finds a way to do, they should begin to become a little bit worried tonight. "Because that thing you just saw him do, if he finds a way to do that over and over again, he's going to be there for eight years," Jones continued. The aftermath of the Yemen raid, one of the first missions signed off on as commander in chief, has proved controversial. Owens' father, Bill, criticized Trump in an interview last weekend, saying he should not "hide" behind Ryan's death and provide answers about what went wrong in the raid, which also left an 8-year-old girl and almost 30 civilians dead. Watch the moment below:
NOW WATCH: A historian of Islam explains the greatest misconception people have about Muslims See Also:
SEE ALSO: FOCUS GROUP: Trump exceeds expectations during joint address before Congress Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 28, 2017 at 02:33PM
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Xiaomi introduces the Surge S1, its first in-house chipset http://ift.tt/2m1vc4P Days after it was reported Xiaomi would launch its own chipset, the China-based technology company introduced the Surge S1 chip that will go towards powering its Mi 5c smartphone. In doing so, it becomes one of the few manufacturers in the world to have its own smartphone chip, joining Apple, Samsung, and Huawei. “The ability to create its own chipsets is the pinnacle achievement for any smartphone company,” remarked Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun in a statement. “For Xiaomi, the move is an essential next step in our development. In order to deliver on our promise to make innovation available to everyone, we need to master the core technologies of our industry and tightly integrate the development of our hardware with our software, helping us to make even better smartphones that will consistently surprise the industry and delight consumers.” The Surge S1 is the first in-house chipset for Xiaomi, using a octa-core ARM Cortex A53 processor, incorporates four 2.2GHz cores and four 1.4GHz cores, which the company said achieves “a balance between performance and power efficiency.” Also included is an integrated Mali T-860 MP4 GPU, which will provide “superb” graphics performance in gaming and support for 4K videos, and a 32-bit DSP supporting VoLTE and 16kHz sampling to deliver high-quality audio and voice calls. The launch of its own chipset moves Xiaomi away from offerings by Qualcomm and MediaTek, two providers that many manufacturers use for high-end and low-end phones, respectively. Whether the Surge chipset can help Xiaomi stand out further remains to be seen, but could we be also seeing its potential inclusion in other devices produced or marketed by the company, such as televisions, routers, or any of the dozens of items it sells through its Mi Home retail stores and online shops? Developing a chipset was part of Xiaomi’s 10-year roadmap which the company established in 2014. It seemed that in order to achieve its vision of making innovation available to everyone, Xiaomi needed to find ways to combine development of both hardware and software, including at the chipset level. Surge S1 is the result and came out of the company’s Pinecone research and development subsidiary after 28 months. Above: Xiaomi Mi 5c smartphone which is powered by the company’s first Surge S1 chipset.
Image Credit: Xiaomi
In conjunction with today’s announcement, the company also introduced the Mi 5c, which is the first phone to use this inaugural chipset. At 0.27 inches (7.09mm) thick and 4.76 ounces (135 grams), this smartphone is light. It comes equipped with a 1.25μm ultra light-sensitive 12 megapixel camera. But those in the U.S. won’t be able to buy the device since it’s only going to be available in China starting March 3 for $218 (RMB 1,499). Business via VentureBeat http://venturebeat.com February 27, 2017 at 06:16PM
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David Cameron wants to use blockchain technology to fight government corruption http://ift.tt/2mFzQlO
LONDON — Former Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday that the technology that underpins digital currency bitcoin could be used to revolutionise governance and reduce global corruption. Cameron, who was Prime Minister of Britain from 2010 until July last year spoke at the launch of fintech startup Blockchain's new east London offices. He said that what "most excites me is the potential that your technology has to fight corruption and to deal with failures of governance and governments and the rule of law all over the world." Blockchain — the technology, not the company — is a former of decentralized database that allows people to edit a shared ledger and will only be edited with the agreement of the majority of parties who use it. The system allows people to agree on an outcome without having to work through a middle man. Banks and financial institutions have invested millions in developing commercial applications for the technology. Santander has estimated could save banks up to $20 billion (£16 billion) a year in administrative costs for things like settlement of trades. Cameron, who admitted he was "only someone in the very foothill of understanding" the technology, said: "Obviously you've got amazing opportunity using blockchain technology in areas like banking and finance and insurance, but I think some of the public policy applications are potentially transformational." He continued: "The more I was Prime Minister, the longer I did the job, the more I could see that corruption and the failure of governments, the failure of rule of law, the presence of conflict in so many countries, was actually what was keeping them and their people trapped in poverty. "I think there are so many opportunities that your technology has because it is digital, because it is decentralized, because it is transparent, because it is held away from governments. You have this opportunity to give the poorest and the most marginalised, the most dispossessed people in the world, to be able to have property rights, to be able to carry out transactions, to be able to save, to be able to invest. Your opportunities for instance in the remittances markets — a huge market — to help people have lower transaction costs and better property rights, are massive. "But I think you also have the opportunity, if we can get it right, to help these governments and these countries to be less corrupt, to have the rule of law, and to have something else that we have in this country which sits alongside the rule of law, which is not just a set of rules but a sense of trust in the institutions that we use. "I think you're on the brink of a very exciting revolution in all of those areas, which as someone involved in public life is very interesting. It's great to be at the start of a revolution here in London, I hope you keep this revolution going, I hope the government hears loud and clear the things that you need, and I hope you go on succeeding and growing." What Cameron, who is reportedly being lined up to lead NATO, is proposing is essentially decentralised, transparent government processes, where budgets can be audited by anyone and services monitored by users. Taxpayers wouldn't have to worry about a corrupt councillor fudging the numbers on a project to siphon cash into a crony's account, for example — any payments made would be recorded on the blockchain and available to view. And people couldn't have their property rights taken away by a despot who changes the record because ownership wouldn't be controlled by a central government register. (Of course, there are more sinister ways to take away property than through paperwork trickery.) Last year, while Cameron was still in office, Britain's government trialled the payment of benefits using blockchain. Here's Cameron at the event:
Cameron's vision aligns him with George Galloway, an unlikely political alliance. Former Labour Party MP turned independent Galloway promised to run London's £17 billion mayoral budget on blockchain when he unsuccessfully ran for Mayor in 2015. Fighting global corruption was one of Cameron's priorities in his second term as Prime Minister. Cameron held a global summit to tackle corruption shortly before leaving office last year and said at the time that corruption is "the root of so many of the world's problems." At the conference, Cameron was memorably caught on a live mic describing Nigeria and Afghanistan as "fantastically corrupt" and "possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world." At Monday's event, Cameron said he is also excited by the potential to put things like medical records on blockchain and to record intellectual property rights using the technology. Estonia has already partnered with a company to offer blockchain-based medical records across the country. 'I want us to be a success specifically in fintech'Former Tory Party leader Cameron said on Monday that he is "passionate about making sure London continues to be a successful tech hub." He said: "I'm very proud of what we did in office to support Tech City. It was happening anyway but we got behind it, we worked with you, we tried to go through all the things that tech city needed to really take off, whether that was broadband speeds or available property or some of the big tech companies coming and locating here. I really want that to continue to be a success."
As Prime Minister, Cameron appointed an official government fintech envoy and led trade missions overseas to promote UK startups. Cameron first met Blockchain (the company) on one of these missions. Cameron's successors in government have been equally hot on fintech. City Minister Simon Kirby told BI recently that the government is "absolutely committed to fintech" and is organising a week-long series of events to promote British fintech in April. Chancellor Philip Hammond, who has already publically praised British fintech, and Bank of England governor Mark Carney, another advocate, will both speak at the event. Cameron said on Monday: "It seems to me there is this massive potential of disruptive technology and insurgents and startups that can take on the jobs, investment, and prosperity of the future. It's so important we have some of those insurgent businesses right here in London and not just in the United States." The former PM praised Blockchain, the company, as a potential future "unicorn" — a company valued at over $1 billion. Blockchain provides digital wallets that let people securely store the cryptocurrency bitcoin and also provide data analytics and a platform for developers. Former Merrill Lynch chairman Bob Wigely chairs the company and former Barclays CEO Antony Jenkins sits on their board. Blockchain employs 60 people across New York and London and had Europe's largest ever "Series A" funding round, $30 million (£24.1 million), in 2014. Cofounder and CEO Peter Smith said at Monday's event that it recently transacted $1 billion across its network in a 30-day period. NOW WATCH: The best and worst months to rent an apartment in major US cities See Also:
Business via Business Insider http://ift.tt/eKERsB February 27, 2017 at 05:54PM |
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