A Torrid Week For Huawei in US and UK, And The Last Pager Beeps in Japan

Africa

Elephants in Kenya tracked with seismological software

Scientists, Dr Beth Mortimer and Prof Tarje Nissen-Meyer, have discovered that they could employ the same tools used in measuring earth tremors to track elephants. The researchers said that elephants generated vibrations with their normal daily movements as well as through vocalisations called “rumbles.” Using seismological modelling software, the researchers were able to tease out ‘rumbling’ effects of moving elephants in Kenya.

Ghana to distribute health care products using drone technology

The government of Ghana has signed a Letter of Intent with Zipline to distribute healthcare products via drone technology. US-based Zipline International Inc. will provide secure, reliable, and timely deliveries of products to reduce waste and save lives. Zipline is already involved in similar deals in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Malawi, making Ghana the first country in West Africa to use drone tech to help save lives, a report said.

The Americas

Pokemon Go trespass suit settled

Homeowners have reached a settlement agreement with creator of Pokemon Go over charges of “continuous invasion.” Pokemon Go involves locating and capturing virtual Pokemon characters in the real world. Because the virtual characters were placed in private property without authorsiation, homeowners were inundated with requests by Pokemon Go players to seek and capture the characters on their private property. The continuous requests denied the home owners the chance to use and enjoy their property, a report said.

Huawei CFO arrested in Canada

Meng Wanzhou, the Chief Finance Officer of Huawei, has been arrested in Vancouver, Canada, and is facing extradition to the United States. Media have reported that Huawei is under investigations for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran. The arrest comes at a time of tense relations between Washington and Beijing. The US and other countries are trying to restrict the use of Huawei tech over its ties to the Chinese state. America and China are also in the middle of a trade war. China has demanded Meng’s release.

Europe

Facebook bans sale of groups

Facebook has banned the sale of administrative rights to community groups on its social site. This comes in the wake of a BBC documentary that showed thousands of members in a west London community group leaving after realising their group had been sold. Businesses normally reach out to group owners or administrators to sell their communities to promote their business. Facebook considers the action spam.

BT bars Huawei’s 5G kit

British firm, BT, has said it will not use Huawei’s kit in the heart of its 5G mobile network across the UK. The company has already made plans to strip its existing 3G and 4G network of all Huawei technology. However, the company will still use the Chinese firm’s equipment in other non-critical parts of its network. Huawei faces security concerns on the international market due to its close ties to Beijing. The company denies any such ties.

Asia

Japan to finally end its pager service

Japan’s pager provider says it will end its service by the end of 2019. Though no new pagers had been developed for 20 years, around 1,500 users were still subscribed to the service. Health professionals use pagers because though they offer wireless messages, they do not emit electromagnetic waves that might interfere with hospital equipment, a BBC report said.

Alibaba to support Airbnb competitor

A Taiwanese travel Startup, AsiaYo, has received $7m funding from Alibaba during a series B funding. The funding round was led by Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund and China Development Financial and a couple of other partners. With presence already in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand, the startup will use the funds in its international expansion drive in a bid to be Asia’s answer to Airbnb, a report said.

Singapore solar startup to extend to Myanmar

SolarHome, a provider of pay-as-you-go solar to homes and offices, has received $10m through debt financing from a consortium of international investors. The startup has already installed 28,000 solar home systems across Myanmar since 2017. With funding from Sweden’s Trine and Japan’s Crowdcredit, SolarHome aims to reach a total of 100,000 homes by close of December 2019.