Ghana’s mPharma Raises $17m, Trump Threatens to Ban Social Media, and Huawei Executive Will Face Extradition Charges

Africa

MIT Solve invests in Kenya’s Access Afya

Kenyan e-healthcare start-up, Access Afya, has received a $90,000 investment from MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Disrupt Africa has reported. The investment will help the e-healthcare start-up expand its services to the urban poor who rely on its digital healthcare system. Access Afya manages a digitised healthcare platform that caters to the poor via a chain of healthcare centres in Kenya. Solve is a philanthropic venture aimed at investing in entrepreneurs driving social change. In addition, business incubator, Vilgro Kenya has awarded up to $150,000 in funding to start-ups helping to fight the global pandemic in East Africa, Tech Trends reported.

Ghana’s mPharma raises $17m

Ghana’s health start up, mPharma, has raised $17 million in its latest round of funding, it has been confirmed. The funding came from the UK’s development finance arm, CDC Group as well as from Silicon Valley investor Jim Breyer, ex-Chief Executive of Novartis Dr Daniel Vasella, among others. “Bringing a DFI with extensive government contacts across Africa would improve our appeal and help strengthen our corporate governance because of the ESG [environmental, social and governance] rules under which they operate,” mPharma CEO Greg Rockson said of the move. mPharma’s Vendor Management Inventory system is helping 250 pharmacies across the continent improve efficiency in the pharmacy supply chain. In addition, the healthcare innovator has appointed Helena Foulkes, former president of the largest pharmacy chain (CVS) in US to its board.

Europe

5G mast set on fire in Derby

A 5G network mast was deliberately set on fire days after it was set up in Derby, a BBC report has said. A lot of 5G masts have been attacked due to a conspiracy theory linking the coronavirus to radiation from the next generation technology. In addition to masts, engineers known to be working on establishing the technology have been attacked. Razor blades have also been hidden behind posters in order to wound anybody trying to peel them off. The police say they are investigating the arson attack in Derby.

Facial recognition added to NHS app

Facial recognition has been added as an option for logging into UK’s NHS app, it has been revealed. The NHS app is the go-to resource for booking appointments, ordering prescriptions and also accessing healthcare data. In addition to making it easier and faster to log into the app, the facial technology will also pave the way for a coronavirus immunity passport. This gives holders documented proof of being immune to an illness due to past infection is already being tested in Estonia. “NHS Digital has built a strong and trusted identity system in NHS login, which, in my opinion, should form the basis of the UK’s immunity passport,” said Andrew Bud. Despite its capabilities, the NHS has admitted it is only using the service for login on the app.

The Americas

Trump threatens to shut down social media firms

US president Donald Trump has threatened to shut down social media firms after Twitter added a fact-check link to his tweet, BBC reported. Twitter had tagged one of Trump’s tweets about ballot fraud with a link debunking the claim. Following that, the US President tweeted about the Republican Party worrying about the silencing of conservative voices on social media. He followed that up with “We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen.” This raises the pressure on social media platform while stoking the flames ahead of the US presidential election in November 2020.

Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou to face extradition hearing in Canada

Interdicted Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, will face an extradition trial in Canada after a judge found that her case met the double criminality threshold, reports say. Wanzhou had been looking to avoid extradition to the US after her arrest and subsequent arraignment in Canada for allegedly violating US sanctions on Iran. While her lawyers had tried and failed to prove that Canada was being forced to enforce American laws, the judge found that the crime she is being accused of would have been crimes in Canada as well as in the US. Analysts believe the ruling puts Huawei and China on the back foot in their dispute and battle over 5G supremacy.

Asia

Google faces anti-trust case in India over payments app

India’s anti-trust body is allegedly investigating Google’s abuse of market power to unfairly promote its payments app, a Reuters report has said. According to sources close to the situation, the case was lodged at the Competition Commission of India’s office by a complainant whose identity has been kept hidden. The complaint says Google showcases its own app more prominently at the expense of other apps, thereby hurting consumers. The case is currently at the consideration stage and once members of the CCI deem it necessary, Google will be invited to defend itself. This will be the third time the Alphabet company is facing the CCI, with previous cases involving the company being accused of search bias and also for making it difficult for smartphone manufacturers to use alternative versions of its Android OS.

Malaysia’s Axiata to choose Huawei alternatives in 5G network

Malaysia’s third-biggest telecom operator says it will select two equipment vendors to help it rollout its 5G services, Reuters has said. This will give other equipment manufacturers like Ericsson a chance to challenge Huawei with whom Axiata already has a pending preliminary agreement. The Malaysian company is looking to spend up to $1 billion for cutting edge 5G tech over the next five years. Despite the complex relationship between Huawei and America, Axiata is hopeful of their commitment to the agreement. “You can’t be very sure, but what assurance we have been getting from Huawei, we are confident,” Axiata CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim said. “We have (also) been assured many times that despite all the relationship with some countries they will survive and they will be able to supply us, there will be continuity.”