KOKO Networks Launches Digital Kiosks, Alibaba to List on HK Exchange, UK Launches First 5G Network

Africa

KOKO Networks launches network of digital kiosks in Kenya

KOKO Networks has launched its first network of digital kiosks in neighbourhood shops in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The network of KOKOPoints consists of 700 kiosks offering fuel ATM services, e-commerce, and in-store digital experiences, according to reports. KOKO is a tech venture that provides consumer access points inside local shops to provide digital services. Fuel dispensed at KOKOpoints are clean bioethanol cooking fuels for domestic cooking. Connected to e-wallets like M-PESA, customers are able to purchase the service in advance before collecting the products inside stores where the kiosks are located.

“Demo” written on Google map of South Sudan

The word “demo” has been spotted on a Google map of South Sudan, according to the BBC. The glitch was discovered by a researcher who was looking for the Yida Refugee Camp. The word, which has since been deleted by Google, was sprawled at the south-eastern corner of South Sudan.

Asia

Alibaba targets $20 billion in HK listing

Alibaba is planning to raise $20 billion by listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, according to reports. This follows Alibaba’s previous listing on the New York Stock Exchange where it raised $25 billion in 2014. Some have touted the move as a Chinese strategy to avoid getting trapped by the US-China trade war. Hao Hong of broker firm, BOCOM International, said, “For Chinese companies listed in the United States, one has to prepare a contingency plan.” Alibaba would likely increase its investments in the tech industry according to experts who are aware of the deal.

Japan to reduce foreign ownership in IT, Telecoms sectors

Japan is looking to restrict foreign ownership of Japanese firms in its high-tech industries. The move, which will take effect in August of 2019 comes at the heels of the US government’s tough stance of China’s Huawei, Reuters has intimated. While no company was mentioned, the announcement was made on the same day US President, Donald Trump, was meeting with Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. The new rule which is being introduced by the defence ministry, communications ministry, as well as the trade ministry, requires foreign businesses buying at least 10% of Japanese firms to seek regulatory approval. The intention is to limit the possibility of national security matters leaking to third-parties.

South Korea issues arrest warrant for Samsung executives

A South Korean court has approved an arrest warrant for Samsung executives over their roles in alleged accounting fraud. The fraud is suspected to have taken place in Samsung Group’s biotech arm, according to Reuters. The two executives are suspected to have destroyed evidence. Samsung Group has been under investigation since November 2018 for allegedly breaking accounting regulations during its 2016 listing.

The Americas

Facebook and Microsoft to strengthen security ahead of Canada elections

Microsoft and Facebook have pledged to boost security for Canada’s election by deleting fake accounts and bots, it has been revealed. This comes after the government proposed regulating the social media giant because it wasn’t doing enough to combat foreign meddling ahead of Canada’s October elections. Canada’s Democratic Institutions Minister, Karina Gould announced the pair’s commitment, saying, “The Wild West online era cannot continue – inaction is not an option. Disinformation must not stand.”

Amazon votes to keep selling facial recognition to government

Only 2.4% of Amazon‘s shareholders voted in favour of a ban on selling facial recognition software, Rekognition, to government agencies according to reports. The vote was necessary following growing concern about its potential false matches when deployed by law enforcement in Oregon and Florida. Meanwhile, Amazon’s shareholders voted 27.5% in favour of an audit into reports that Rekognition caused harm and infringed on privacy rights.

Europe

UK launches first 5G network

EE has launched the first 5G mobile network in UK during a concert on the River Thames, according to the BBC. The service will be available on a limited bases in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Belfast. Users who wish to take advantage of the faster downloads offered by 5G will need handsets that support the service. BBC Breakfast was the first to do a live broadcast over a 5G network. 5G offers lower latency than previous generation networks, making broadcasts faster and smoother.

GCHQ criticised over eavesdropping request

UK’s security agency, GCHQ, has been criticised for suggesting that encrypted messages be copied and sent to security services, according to a recent BBC report. 47 tech firms and rights groups, including Apple and Google criticised the watchdog, labeling the request a “serious threat” to security. There had been a series of conversations regarding the inability of security agencies to break certain encrypted messages. Rather than force service providers to create weaker protocols, GCHQ wanted to silently copy the content and break the encryption using the service provider’s own keys. Rights groups rejected the request, saying it was a violation of human rights principles.