Airbnb moves into restaurant bookings … L’Oreal heiress dies aged 94 … Google makes a billion-dollar smartphone move

Airbnb is expanding into new markets, announcing plans to roll out restaurant bookings through the accommodation booking platform in 16 US cities.

Quartz reports the changes come as the platform attempts to tap into the $US6.5 billion ($8.2 billion) global Airbnb users reportedly spend at restaurants each year while staying at properties booked through the platform.

In November last year the company made its first move into venue recommendations, with the ‘Trips’ function recommending local attractions to users.

It’s unclear when the restaurant booking option will make its way into the Australian market.

L’Oreal heir dies aged 94

The world’s richest woman and French heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics fortune Lilian Bettencourt has died, aged 94.

The daughter of L’Oreal founder Eugene Schueller, Bettencourt inherited the business in 1957, and the New York Times reports France has been fascinated by the L’Oreal business and its complex family ties for decades .

Bettencourt’s wealth was an estimated $50 billion, reports the ABC.

Google strikes billion-dollar deal with HTC

Google has struck a $US1.1 billion deal with Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC to expand its smartphone hardware capabilities, reports the BBC.

Under the deal, HTC staff will come to work at Google’s Silicon Valley headquarters on smartphone projects, according to reports. The partnership builds upon Google’s investment in the smartphone market, say experts, while possibly giving HTC a leg-up as it fights Apple and Samsung for dominance in the space.

The deal is expected to be closed by early next year.

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