Homemade Plane Flies in SA, Facebook to Launch Cryptocurrency, and Huawei to Lose $30 Billion

Africa

Ghanaian tech company builds RoadTop app to curb road accidents

Million Solutions Ghana has developed a mobile app to empower Ghanaian road users reduce road accidents, Citinewsroom has reported. The RoadTop app is linked to security databases, giving the police and road safety regulators access to all registered vehicles in the country. In the event of an accident, a user lodges a report which is then accessible to the security centre within a 10-metre radius of the accident site. Million Solutions Ghana is still in negotiations with the country’s security agencies to deploy RoadTop on their security databases. Million Solutions Ghana is a Ghanaian tech company aimed at finding solutions to societal problems through tech applications.

Homemade plane makes first historic flight in South Africa

A South African plane designed by 20 teenage inventors has made its first flight according to reports. The plane made a successful flight from Cape Town, South Africa to Luderitz, Namibia in a 1128km journey. The plane has a six-and-a-half hour flying range, though the young inventors wish to make a 12,000km flight to Cairo in 6 weeks. The plane will make stops at Windhoek, Victoria Falls, Likoma, Zanzibar, Arusha, Nairobi, Lalibela, Asmara, Aswan, before its final journey to Cairo “It flies so smoothly and the views were breathtaking,” said 17 year old pilot, Megan Werner.

Asia

Huawei slashes $30 billion from projected revenue

Huawei has cut revenue expectations by up to $30 billion following a US ban, Reuters has reported. This comes as a surprise to many as the Chinese company had hitherto remained upbeat about its future. The ban put Huawei on a blacklist over security threats, forcing US firms to cut its ties with the Chinese company. Google and chipmaker, ARM, are among the high profile companies complying with the US restrictions. Speaking to reporters, founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei said, “We did not expect they would attack us on so many aspects.” However, he envisages a bounce back by 2021.

Philippines latest to launch 5G service

Globe Telecom Inc. of Philippines are the latest to launch a 5G broadband service, a report has revealed. The service will be backed by Huawei equipment, the report on Reuters has said. The 5G deployment is part of Globe Telecom’s proposed $1.2 billion capital expenditure in 2019. Philippines, which has the world’s top social media users, will now have high speed internet access instead of the existing 19 Mbs average speed.

Europe

Russia accuse US over electric grid hack

Russia believes the United States cyber-attacked its electric power girds, according to a report by the BBC. Kremlin sources claim the US could have put viruses on the country’s electrical grid. This follows an initial story carried by the New York Times which said American “code” had been used on many Russian power grids. “If one assumes that some government agencies do this without informing the head of state, then of course this may indicate that cyber-war against Russia might be a hypothetical possibility.” a Kremlin spokesperson said regarding the story.

Gambling ads banned from Looney Tunes app

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned gambling ads on apps appealing to persons under 18, the BBC has reported. The ruling came when ads from William Hill Vegas, LottoGo EuroMillions, and at least two others, appeared on the Looney Tunes World of Mayhem app early in the year. ASA said Tapjoy, the third-party company that placed the ads, has admitted to wrong categorisation of the app. Looney Tunes World of Mayhem app has a rating of PEGI 7 in the UK, making it suitable for persons seven years and above. However, Scopely, the game’s publisher, has said it only targeted the game to persons above 16 years in the EU.

Hungarian users mysteriously locked out of Facebook

A large number of users in Hungary have accused Facebook of blocking their accounts according to a BBC report. Dozens of users have reported to BBC and Hungarian media outlets about being locked out of their accounts. “I don’t know what the problem is. I’ve never done something that is forbidden by the rules,” David Butykai told BBC News. There is an official complaint channel for persons to challenge their blocked status. Some who spoke to BBC say they have not received the desired result despite following the required steps.

The Americas

Shareholders want Alphabet to break up

Some shareholder activists have called for Alphabet to break up before regulators step in, Reuters has reported. The shareholder group aim to make that statement at the corporation’s next shareholder meeting. The group, SumOfUs, are concerned about the growing power that corporations wield. “We believe that shareholders could receive greater value from a voluntary strategic reduction in the size of the company than from asset sales compelled by regulators,” the group said in a proposal. As big tech like Alphabet and Amazon face public backlash over privacy issues, political actors and regulators are looking at the possibility of stepping in to better regulate their actions.

Facebook to launch cryptocurrency called Libra

Facebook is planning to launch its own cryptocurrency called Libra, according to multiple reports. The new digital currency will allow you to purchase items on the social media site and make transfers at nearly zero fees. To make it work, Facebook will build and introduce its own wallet called Calibra, which will be built into Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Users can then purchase coins online or at select locations anonymously. Facebook is building Libra through partnerships with Visa, Uber, and Andreessen Horowitz who together with Facebook form the Libra Association. Libra is still a work in progress, and Facebook has set its launch date in the first half of 2020. However, Chairwoman of the US Congress’ House Financial Services Committee has urged Facebook to delay its launch of Libra until lawmakers examine the project.