Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Feb. 9, 2020.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Earthquake experts lay out latest outlook for the ‘Really Big One’ that’ll hit Seattle
Earthquake experts say current building codes don’t reflect the riskiest features of the Seattle area’s geology — but the outlook for survivability looks a lot better if the Really Big One can just hold off for a few more years. … Read More
Bill Gates warns that coronavirus impact could be ‘very, very dramatic,’ outlines long-term solutions
Bill Gates spoke with broad optimism about the potential for technology to address some of the globe’s biggest challenges, but struck an ominous tone Friday in discussing the threat posed by the coronavirus as the outbreak outpaces the best efforts of doctors and health workers. … Read More
Judge blocks Microsoft from working on Pentagon’s $10B JEDI contract pending Amazon’s lawsuit
A federal judge has paused work on a hotly contested cloud contract that the Defense Department awarded to Microsoft in November. … Read More
Report: Jeff Bezos buys L.A. mansion for $165M and land from Paul Allen estate for $90M
Jeff Bezos is the reported buyer of more prime real estate. … Read More
‘Jeff Bezos is so rich … ‘: Amazon CEO called out in multiple jokes during opening of Oscars
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was back in attendance at the Academy Awards on Sunday night and even though there was no official host, comedians Steve Martin and Chris Rock took notice in a monologue that opened the show. … Read More
Layoffs looming at Expedia? Diller looks to simplify ‘bloated’ company, aiming to save up to $500M
Cutbacks are coming at Expedia Group, according to the Seattle-based travel giant’s annual regulatory filing and comments made by chairman Barry Diller on its Thursday earnings call. … Read More
Robots aren’t taking over, and other lessons learned from 2 decades in the logistics tech industry
Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by David Glick, CTO at Flexe, a Seattle logistics startup. … Read More
Seattle’s socialist City Councilmember introduces new ‘Amazon tax’ to raise $300M/year for affordable public housing
Amazon’s tax bill has become a lightning rod in a nationwide debate over economic inequity and Seattle is on the front lines. … Read More
New airline alliance between Alaska and American will connect Seattle and Bangalore tech hubs
Tech executives will soon have a new direct flight option from Seattle to Bangalore, India, thanks to a West Coast alliance between Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. … Read More
Stripe closes Seattle office for two days as precaution after learning employee had contact with coronavirus patient
Payments technology company Stripe closed its Seattle engineering office for two days this week as a precaution after learning Wednesday that an employee visiting from Singapore had contact, before arriving in the United States, with someone who was subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus, the disease known as COVID-19. … Read More