Kodak in bankruptcy fears

Investors dumped Eastman Kodak's stock on Friday, amid fears the photography pioneer is headed towards bankruptcy, reveals the Associated Press.

After its stock lost more than half its value in a volatile day of trading, Kodak tried to paint a rosier picture. “Kodak is committed to meeting all of its obligations and has no intention of filing for bankruptcy,” the company said in a statement.

The reassurance lifted Kodak shares in extended trading, but the rebound wasn't enough to undo the damage sustained in a brutal week for a hallowed name in US business.

For the first time since 1996, IBM's market value has exceeded Microsoft's, says the BBC.

IBM's closing price on 29 September was $214 billion, while Microsoft's was a shade behind at $213.2 billion.

The values cap a sustained period in which IBM's share price has moved steadily upward as Microsoft's has generally been in decline. The growth means IBM is now the second largest technology company by market value. Apple still holds the top slot with a value of $362 billion.

Thailand's first woman prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Twitter account has been hacked, a government spokesperson said, notes The Hindu.

According to government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng, Shinawatra's account was hacked into yesterday morning, and the Information and Communication Technology Ministry is investigating the matter.

Yingluck's Twitter account has been used to post questions about her competence, particularly in regard to her handling of the recent floods that killed 40 people and rendered nearly 1.5 million people homeless.

Cities could soon be looking after their citizens all by themselves thanks to an operating system designed for the metropolis, reports the BBC.

The Urban OS works like a PC operating system but keeps buildings, traffic and services running smoothly. The software takes in data from sensors dotted around the city to keep an eye on what is happening.

In the event of a fire, the Urban OS might manage traffic lights so fire trucks can reach the blaze swiftly.