Bukiya to Launch Cloud Kitchen in Accra, New UK Regulator for Big Tech, and LG Leaves Smartphone Business

Africa

GhIPSS targets transport sector with new QR payment

The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System is targeting the transport sector to rollout its GhQR payment platform. The new QR code payment platform is universal and accessible by any user or merchant across the country.

Bukiya to launch cloud kitchen in Ghana

Bukiya is launching a cloud kitchen to link food brands to restaurants and homes in Ghana. The new service will enable service providers to focus on preparing dishes while the company links them to waiting customers.

Sparkle launches business version for Nigerian SMEs

Digital financial and lifestyle ecosystem developer, Sparkle, is launching a portal to provide similar support for Nigerian SMEs. The new Sparkle for Business will provide businesses with mobile inventory management, tax advisory, as well as payroll management services.

Europe

Ireland probes Facebook data dump involving 530 million users

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is investigating a Facebook data leak database that exposed information of some 530 million users. Facebook claims the database was from an old breach, but Irish investigators want to be sure that is the case.

The NHS to share QR codes for venue check-ins

UK’s NHS is including a new QR code option allowing users who have tested positive to show which venues they visited over last few days. This will make it easy for the NHS to inform visitors to those venues if they need to be tested.

New UK regulator for big tech

A new UK regulator is being established to oversee the activities of Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple. The Digital Markets Unit will help create new rules of conduct to monitor the activities of global tech giants in the UK.

The Americas

US blacklists seven Chinese supercomputer developers

The Biden administration has blacklisted seven supercomputer groups, accusing them of building computers for the Chinese military. The blacklist means American firms can’t sell technology to those institutions without US government approval.

Google wins copyright case against Oracle

A US federal court has declared that Google’s copying of Oracle’s code for its Android system constituted fair use and didn’t breach copyright law. The case had been in court for a decade, and the declaration overturns a lower court’s decision in favour of Oracle.

FBI investigating match-fixing in Counter-Strike eSports

The FBI is investigating alleged match-fixing in the Counter-Strike eSports competitions across the US and Australia. The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive comes with millions of pounds in prize money. The FBI believes betting syndicates are bribing players to fix games.

Asia

LG leaves smartphone business

South Korea’s LG Electronics has announced plans to exit the smartphone business. This comes after some $4.5 billion in losses over the past six years alone. The company will focus on its other businesses including electric vehicle parts.

Xiaomi to invest $10bn in electric vehicle manufacture

China’s Xiaomi is investing some $10 billion in electric vehicle development over the next 10 years. The world’s third largest phone manufacturer is looking to make smart electric vehicles, joining both Apple and Huawei in the race.

Australia’s Channel Nine suffered cyberattack

Australia’s Channel Nine TV network suffered a cyberattack that affected live broadcast across the nation. The company is investigating whether a foreign nation is behind the attack, while the Australian parliament is also probing a possible hack in Canberra.