News aggregator SmartNews lays off 40% of US and China staff, with further reductions planned in Japan SmartNews, a Tokyo-headquartered news aggregation website and app valued at $2 billion as of 2021, today announced a 40% reduction of its U.S. and China workforce, or around 120 people, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. The news was announced on Thursday in an all-hands meet