Yandex and Uber to spin-off autonomous cars into new company

Russian technology firm Yandex and ride hailing company Uber Technologies will spin off the self-driving car unit of their joint venture into a separate company, giving Yandex more control over the businesses and paving the way for new investors.

Russia’s largest internet company will invest $150 million (Dh550.5m) in the new division, Yandex Self-Driving Group, the companies said in a statement on Friday.

It will also purchase part of Uber’s stake, and as a result the Moscow-based company will have 73 per cent ownership of the division, and Uber will have 19 per cent, with the rest reserved for the unit’s management.

Yandex will also contribute its car-sharing business to the joint venture with Uber, which is known as MLU BV and includes ride hailing and food delivery, the companies said in a separate statement.

This will leave Uber with a 33.5 per cent stake in MLU, compared with about 37 per cent as of June 30. Drive, car-sharing service owned by Yandex, has about 16,000 cars across several Russian cities.

The changes will give Yandex more control over the businesses and give it more freedom to develop the technology. Earlier this year, Yandex had been considering buying out Uber’s stake in MLU.

“By spinning off self-driving business Yandex paves the way to attract external investors into it in the future,” Sergey Libin, analyst at Raiffeisenbank in Moscow, said. The restructuring and addition of car-sharing “makes it more attractive for a potential IPO.”

Uber spun-off its self-driving unit last year to attract investors led by SoftBank Group. Alphabet raised $2.25 billion for its Waymo self-driving unit earlier this year after having spun it off in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Yandex declined to comment on possible plans to attract external investors into the self-driving unit.

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No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital