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1,372,860 | Getting tapirs ready for the wild | NESTLED within the lush expanse of the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Hulu Selangor, Selangor, a remarkable conservation effort is quietly unfolding.
Here, Bumi, a four-month-old Malayan tapir, cautiously approaches the curious humans gathered outside his enclosure, his snout gently nuzzling his mother Eli’s side.
Born on Feb 12, Bumi is the first tapir bred this year at the centre, marking a significant milestone for the facility operated by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).
Located in the 4,330ha Sungai Dusun wildlife reserve, the centre is the only semi-wild sanctuary for Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) in Malaysia.
The centre focuses on conservation and rehabilitation efforts, housing eight tapirs, many of which were rescued after reports of disturbances from the public.
According to Muhd Adli Ahmad, who heads its operations, the centre aims to care for and treat tapirs to encourage reproduction, with the goal of releasing some back into the wild.
The conservation centre is located in the 4,330ha Sungai Dusun wildlife reserve.
“Since 2004, 14 tapirs have been released, comprising both captive-bred and rescued animals,” he said.
The centre’s efforts are much needed as tapir numbers are falling in the country.
Endangered and threatened
In Malaysia, tapirs are considered an endangered species and protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2020 (Act 716).
The species is also listed in Appendix I under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Dr Donny says some of the tapirs undergo rewilding to prepare them to be released into forests.
They largely exist within the peninsula’s Central Forest Spine and may live in primary and secondary tropical rainforests. (see graphic)
Tapirs are also found in certain parts of Indonesia and Thailand but have gone extinct in Sabah and Sarawak.
These mammals are known to travel up to 4km a day and in the process, spread the seeds of the plants they consume, which helps sustain the ecosystem.
However, forest fragmentation due to development and human activities, such as farming, has significantly threatened their habitat and population.
Mohamad Ainul is one of the keepers who looks after tapirs at the centre.
Estimates by Perhilitan in 2020 suggest the tapir population has dwindled to between 700 and 800, down from 1,100 to 1,500 in 2013.
Recent years have also seen an increase in roadkill incidents, further endangering the species, along with a rise in human-tapir conflicts, from 29 cases in 2018 to 67 in 2021. (see graphic)
Apart from Malayan tapirs, other tapir species in the world are Baird’s tapir, lowland tapir and mountain tapir, which are found in Mexico, Central America and South America.
Breeding and rewilding
The centre’s veterinarian Dr Donny Yawah said not all rescued and rehabilitated tapirs are released into the wild.
“Some are kept for a certain period after they are treated for the breeding programme,” he said, adding that several criteria would be considered before a tapir is deemed “ready”.
The veterinarian said the optimal age for reproduction is between three and 10 years, when tapirs would reach sexual maturity.
Muhd Adli says the centre works with universities and zoos on various research programmes.
“Another consideration is the weight. Ideally, females should weigh between 280kg and 300kg, and males between 250kg and 280kg.”
A tapir’s gestation period is 13 months, and it produces a single offspring at a time, with females breeding every two years.
Dr Donny said the animals are also routinely assessed for their readiness to be released into the wild.
The assessment, he explained, looked at the tapir’s natural temperament and their ability to forage for food.
Dr Donny noted that tapirs showing wariness towards humans are good candidates for rewilding, as they are more likely to thrive in the wild.
During rewilding, Dr Donny said the tapirs are allowed to roam within a large enclosure designed to mimic natural environments.
“There are two such enclosures here, one measures 4ha and the other 40.5ha.
“Inside these areas, the tapirs are equipped with a tracker to monitor their behaviour,” he said.
One female tapir, a six-year-old named Deppa, is slated for release later this year.
Initially receptive to human interaction, Dr Donny said Deppa had grown more reclusive and less keen to interact after undergoing rewilding, indicating her readiness for release.
Keeping tapirs healthy
Proper care and nutrition are critical for the tapirs at the centre.
Keeper Mohamad Ainul Azlif Azman ensures the animals are fed leaves and fruits at regular intervals throughout the day and monitors the animals’ health through their droppings.
Tapirs are sensitive to frequent rain, which can make them susceptible to developing fungus, and they can also suffer from stress, said Mohamad Ainul.
“One sign is if they are reluctant to come when called.
“It is also common for newly rescued tapirs to be stressed.
“This is a good time to bathe them, which may help calm them down,” he said, adding some tapirs might require medication.
A former mountain guide, Mohamad Ainul said an incident early this year involving a pregnant tapir still weighs heavily on his conscience.
He and several colleagues were dispatched to rescue the animal that was stuck in a swamp near the centre.
“When we arrived, we saw that its rear legs and abdomen were severely injured and it could barely move.
“After eight hours, we finally managed to load it into a trap and transported it to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai, Perak.
“We later learned it died after nine days.
“It had endured for as long as it did because it was trying to save its calf,” he said, adding that the offspring also did not survive.
Perhilitan wildlife assistant Daniel Rosli said he often took part in operations to catch tapirs.
He explained that two methods often used are the hole traps and surface traps.
“A hole trap, made by digging the soil, usually measures about 2m deep.
“Once trapped, we will remove some soil, allowing the animal to climb onto a surface trap placed nearby.
“The trap will then be loaded manually by the catchers onto a vehicle for transportation,” he said.
Nocturnal and solitary animals, tapirs are rarely aggressive and tend to avoid contact with humans, added Daniel.
Collaboration and exchange
Muhd Adli said the Sungai Dusun centre regularly collaborates with universities and non-profits such as Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) on various research projects.
They also engage in exchange programmes with zoos, including Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark, to enhance their breeding programmes.
Workshops and collaborations have led to the development of the Malayan Tapir Conservation Action Plan 2021-2030, published by Perhilitan, which aims to guide conservation efforts and policymaking.
Dr Donny is researching diseases among tapirs as well as their reproduction, to understand the factors affecting their fertility and birth rates.
He is optimistic about the prospects of tapirs bred in captivity at the centre surviving in the wild.
“Tapirs are a prehistoric animal known for their high adaptability.
“There is a reason they have survived till now,” he said.
The dedicated efforts of the centre and Perhilitan personnel highlight the crucial need for continued support and global collaboration to preserve the Malayan tapir, ensuring its survival for future generations.
Though the centre is not open to walk-in visitors, those keen on visiting may submit a request to Perhilitan (wildlife.gov.my) for a special permit. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Malayan tapir,Tapirus indicus,Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre,wildlife,Perhilitan,endangered species,breeding programme,rewilding,habitat fragmentation | NESTLED within the lush expanse of the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Hulu Selangor, Selangor, a remarkable conservation effort is quietly unfolding. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/getting-tapirs-ready-for-the-wild | |
1,372,867 | 175 from 32 schools attend racewalking clinic | A WALK clinic held in Melaka attracted a good turnout from students in the state.
A total of 175 junior walkers, aged 15 and below, participated in the event, involving 32 primary and secondary schools.
The programme was organised by Race Walkers’ Association of Malaysia (RWAM) in collaboration with Student Talent Development Unit of Melaka Education Department.
Held at the running track of SMK Seri Kota, it was aimed at nurturing young talent and sparking an interest in the sport of racewalking.
The clinic was conducted by RWAM founder and deputy president Khoo Chong Beng, who has more than two decades of international racewalking experience.
According to Noraziah Kasim, head coach of Melaka Sports School, racewalking is gaining popularity in schools.
“There is a pressing need for a platform to assist teachers with talent scouting and understanding the basic techniques of racewalking, as well as fostering a love for the sport among students,” Noraziah said.
Assistant director of Student Talent Development Unit, Abdul Raoh, said they were excited by the good turnout at the event.
“We hope to see more young athletes from Melaka taking up racewalking.
“It’s a simple and cost-effective sport that requires only a pair of sports shoes, making it accessible to everyone,” he said.
The clinic was sponsored by Nestle Malaysia.
All participants were provided with T-shirts and Milo drinks to ensure that they stayed energised and motivated throughout the programme.
RWAM will also be organising the Melaka Junior Walking Championship, which will be held in three circuits.
For more information, visit www.racewalkermalaysia.com | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | school,race walking,melaka | A WALK clinic held in Melaka attracted a good turnout from students in the state. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/175-from-32-schools-attend-racewalking-clinic | |
1,372,875 | Traders want lower rental at rebuilt Pasar Payang 1 | A TOTAL of 400 Pasar Payang I traders are requesting the Terengganu government review rental rates for the new premises, which they claim are exhorbitant.
State Pasar Payang and Heritage Bazaar Traders Association chairman Ahmad Sukri Abdullah said the traders received a notice from Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT), indicating a rent increase of between 300% and 500%.
He said the excessively high increase would be a burden to the traders, especially those who rely fully on their sales at the market for their livelihood.
“The rental varies according to the type and size of the shop.
“For example, the rent for a kitchenware shop with an area of 3.05x3.05 sqm has increased from RM110 to RM400 a month, while the rent for a goldsmith shop with an area of 3.05x7 sqm has increased from RM380 to RM1,600.
“In the current uncertain economic conditions and with the rising cost of living, most traders are losing sleep over how to cope with the new rates,” he told Bernama at Pasar Payang 2.
Ahmad Sukri said that in addition to the new rental rates, the fee of RM1,600 imposed for shop signs was also too expensive.
He said he supported MBKT’s efforts to beautify Pasar Payang I with the installation of uniform signboards but hoped that its implementation would not burden traders.
“We at the association always supports the state government’s efforts to beautify the place and add value to attract more visitors to Pasar Payang I.
“But we are just small traders with modest incomes, and the RM1,600 fee imposed for installing the signboards is too high and needs to be reconsidered,” he said, adding that an appeal letter was sent to an MBKT representative on the matter.
Ahmad Shukri says rental has increased by between 300% and 500%.
Kitchenware trader Saripah Ahmad said she did not expect such a high rent increase as the premises is owned by the state government.
Saripah said the number of customers had also decreased, except during school holidays.
With a net profit of about RM2,000 a month, she has to support her five children, including three who are still in school.
“The shop’s rental went up from RM110 to RM400 a month, which is very high,” she said.
“If it goes up to about RM200 or RM250, it would be acceptable.
“I also need to pay a deposit and for the electricity, water and signage amounting to RM3,530 to get the keys to the new shoplot.
“That doesn’t include the cost of wiring, moving items and other expenses that will amount to thousands of ringgit.
“It’s really stressful trying to raise the money,” she said, and called on the state government to hear the traders’ grievances and reduce the rates.
Pasar Payang I was demolished in August 2019 to make way for a new building.
It was completed in July of last year and is expected to start operating on July 1.
The two-storey building will house 412 shoplots, including goldsmiths, clothing stores, batik shops, handicrafts, kitchenware and cafes. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | null | A TOTAL of 400 Pasar Payang I traders are requesting the Terengganu government review rental rates for the new premises, which they claim are exhorbitant. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/traders-want-lower-rental-at-rebuilt-pasar-payang-1 | |
1,372,861 | ‘Take advantage of loans and grants provided to entrepreneurs’ | TRADERS are urged to take advantage of funds provided by the government for entrepreneur development, says a state executive councillor.
Johor youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperative committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said last year, some RM395mil had been allocated for entrepreneur development.
He noted there are many different agencies which could provide assistance to entrepreneurs to further develop their business in the state.
“We want to create more entrepreneurs, especially from the younger generation,” he said in his keynote address at the 10th anniversary and fourth installation ceremony of the Malaysian Dato Entrepreneurs Association (MDEA).
Mohd Hairi said everyone, including non-governmental organisations, needed to work together to help nurture entrepreneurial skills among the people, especially the young.
“We can be from different political ideologies but we should always work together to develop Johor,” he said in commending MDEA for helping the community in the field of entrepreneurship for the past 10 years.He also congratulated the association’s new president Datuk Seri Jacky Ker Cherk Yee and his new board on their appointment.
Ker, in his speech, said that some 500 guests comprising members, NGOs and business associations attended the event.
“Such events are important for us to share resources, knowledge and information,” he said.
At the event, MDEA also present a mock cheque of RM10,000 to Yayasan Sultanah Rogayah president Datuk R. Sugumaran to help the needy in Johor.
Also present was Datuk Abdul Rashid Kasman, who represented Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Mohd Hairi Mad Shah,entrepreneur development,Malaysian Dato Entrepreneurs Association | TRADERS are urged to take advantage of funds provided by the government for entrepreneur development, says a state executive councillor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/take-advantage-of-loans-and-grants-provided-to-entrepreneurs | |
1,372,863 | Illegal dumpsite turned into parking lot in Kulai village | THE Kelapa Sawit new village in Kulai will undergo upgrades to improve parking and address cleanliness issues with an allocation from the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Kulai new village development officer Tan Chun Kiat said the RM182,960 project, once completed by July 15, would improve the village’s traffic flow and image as a tourist destination.
“The volume of visitors to the Hakka village, which is adorned with colourful murals and art installations, has increased significantly after the Covid-19 movement control order ended.
“This also meant that there are more tour buses and vehicles entering and parking in the village, causing traffic congestion and inconveniencing others,” he said in an interview.
Tan said the funds would be used to construct a dedicated bus parking lot on a plot of land that used to be an illegal dumpsite.
The project also includes putting up railings and installing underground pipes, he added.
Tan (centre) explaining the parking lot construction plans to Bukit Batu assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern (second from right), Wang (second from left) and other community leaders at the site.
Tan believes that the project could alleviate congestion and solve the illegal dumping problem in the village.
“I also believe that the project, once completed, would be able to bring more visitors to the Kelapa Sawit market located in front of the parking site.”
Kampung Baru Kelapa Sawit village chief Wang Choong Faa thanked the ministry for the allocation.
“ I am happy that the land behind the market would be turned into a dedicated parking space rather than left abandoned.
“For years, people have been dumping rubbish illegally at the spot,” he said, adding that there were also instances when they came in lorries to dump food waste, furniture and construction debris.
“I hope that the development will help put an end to these bad practice and improve the village’s cleanliness and image as a whole,” said Wong. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Kelapa Sawit New Village,Kulai,Upgrading Project,Parking,Rubbish,Traffic,Congestion | THE Kelapa Sawit new village in Kulai will undergo upgrades to improve parking and address cleanliness issues with an allocation from the Housing and Local Government Ministry. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/illegal-dumpsite-turned-into-parking-lot-in-kulai-village | |
1,372,864 | Apartment’s rat infestation blamed on clogged drains | RESIDENTS in the vicinity of Imbi Apartment in Kuala Lumpur are living in fear of disease and other health concerns due to rat-infested back lanes.
They blamed the infestation on drains clogged with food waste and stagnant water.
Apartment resident Lim Choon Yean said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) should check on the entire drainage system in the area as water does not seem to channel out.
“Water just pools in the drains which overflow whenever there is a downpour.
“I suspect part of the drain that channels the water out must be clogged or blocked.”
Lim said he had lodged complaints with DBKL several times but the situation had not improved.
“Sometimes there would be a foul stench from the drain.
“Despite Alam Flora Sdn Bhd’s effort to clear the food waste, the drains will get clogged after one or two days,” he said.
“It has attracted rats,” he added.
During a visit by StarMetro, rats were seen in the back lanes of Jalan Khoo Teik Ee behind the commercial shoplots.
Some parts of the drains were clogged with food waste and rubbish.
There were also several missing drain covers at different locations around the apartment.
Another resident who wanted to be known as Chan, said the missing drain covers pose a safety risk to pedestrians.
“Someone could fall into the drain.
“Some of the drain kerbs are also damaged,” he said.
DBKL had not responded at press time. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | rats,clogged drains,backlanes,kuala lumpur,imbi apartment. | RESIDENTS in the vicinity of Imbi Apartment in Kuala Lumpur are living in fear of disease and other health concerns due to rat-infested back lanes. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/apartments-rat-infestation-blamed-on-clogged-drains | |
1,372,865 | Mini garden emerges from former Ipoh dumpsite | MORE companies should come forward to help Ipoh City Council (MBI) beautify open areas and prevent them from becoming illegal dumpsites, says mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.
Rumaizi said a successful pilot project under MBI’s 3P initiative (Planet, People and Profit) was carried out with Perodua Kiam Fatt Motor Sdn Bhd.
The company, located at the Kintajaya Light Industrial Park at Hala Rapat Baru, had spent RM50,000 to beautify and turn an open space in front of their building into a mini garden.
“I believe this is the first such collaboration between a local authority and a private company to beautify such a space in Perak under the 3P concept,” Rumaizi said after launching the mini garden.
He said previously, illegal dumpsites had been cleared when the city council worked with several parties in widening or construction of roads.
Rumaizi lauded the company for taking such an initiative and hoped this would be an example to others.
“This site was originally a hotspot for illegal dumping which MBI cleared regularly.
“With the initiative, this location has changed from a dirty dumpsite to a beautiful and beneficial place.
“This initiative is expected to be a catalyst for the council’s joint venture with the company in realising the desire to make Ipoh a clean and prosperous city,” he added.
Rumaizi said at the end of 2020, there were as many as 1,672 illegal dumpsite hotspots under MBI’s jurisdiction.
“Beginning from 2021 these sites were closed in stages and now there are only 120 such sites still active.
“MBI had launched several programmes and measures related to illegal dumpsites.
“These include free collection of garden waste, providing more free waste bins, stricter enforcement, installation of CCTVs, and a compound of RM1,000 for those caught dumping rubbish with no discounts provided.
“MBI is targeting to close more such dumpsites by the end of the year or early next year by 95%.
“I hope more private companies will work with us,” he added.
Perodua Kiam Fatt Motor managing director Cheong Seng Foo said the site was previously secondary jungle and a mosquito breeding ground.
“This is just phase one of the project, as we have plans to beautify the adjacent space to prevent the area becoming a dumping ground as well,” he said. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Ipoh City Council,illegal dumpsites,landscape,private companies | MORE companies should come forward to help Ipoh City Council (MBI) beautify open areas and prevent them from becoming illegal dumpsites, says mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/mini-garden-emerges-from-former-ipoh-dumpsite | |
1,372,866 | ‘Review Strata Management Act’ | A REVIEW of the Strata Management Act 2013 is needed to ensure existing laws and regulations are relevant and effective, says Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah.
He said the law needs to address emerging challenges faced by joint management bodies (JMB) and management corporations (MC).
Borhan said the Housing and Local Government Ministry should consider providing more funds and grants to JMB and MC to assist them in implementing maintenance and repair projects.
“Provide more training and capacity building for JMB and MC members as well as building management agents,” he said during the Strata Residential Building Management Enhancement Seminar at a convention centre in Shah Alam.
Borhan said the ministry should introduce new technology for strata management.
“This includes the use of mobile apps and digital management systems to streamline the daily operations of JMB and MC in enhancing management efficiency,” he said.
He also suggested that personal accident insurance packages be included for JMB and MC committee members under the amended law to motivate them to carry out their duties.
He said for example, when the JMB or MC carried out maintenance checks and the elevator in an apartment was faulty, their safety could be at risk.
Such checks, Borhan said were made without any guarantee that they would be compensated in the event of an untoward incident.
“There is nothing to ensure their safety or welfare, and many felt burdened when carrying out their jobs.
“Besides the insurance, JMB should be allocated additional grants to enable them to carry out their responsibilities without having to worry about their safety.
Borhan advised those involved in managing apartments to attend seminars to empower and update themselves on governance system for JMB and MC. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Housing Exco,Review,Management Act,JMB,MC,management body,KPKT. | A REVIEW of the Strata Management Act 2013 is needed to ensure existing laws and regulations are relevant and effective, says Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/review-strata-management-act | |
1,372,859 | Bumi the Tapir chosen as Selangor’s green mascot | A MALAYAN tapir has been chosen as Selangor’s environmental mascot in recognition of its crucial role in sustaining the state’s tropical biodiversity.
Announcing the decision, state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the mascot, called Bumi after a newborn tapir at Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre in Hulu Selangor, would be used in awareness campaigns.
“Malayan tapirs were chosen as they are a unique species which symbolise Selangor’s rich biodiversity.
“They can play a role in raising awareness about conservation and preservation efforts of our wildlife and forests,” she said at an event to celebrate Bumi’s birth on Feb 12.
He is the first Malayan tapir born at the centre this year, which is operated by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and located inside the Sungai Dusun wildlife reserve.
It is a semi-wild facility that is involved in conservation and research efforts for Malayan tapirs.
Relating further, Jamaliah said the centre welcomed corporate social responsibility initiatives from the private sector and government agencies.
“The state government, via Menteri Besar Incorporated, has undertaken maintenance and upgrading works of the facilities here.
“In addition, Selangor Agriculture Development Corporation has also donated food for animals at the centre,” she said.
Guests at the event checking out information boards on tapirs kept at the Sungai Dusun centre.
The event was graced and officially launched by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who also visited booths featuring information on nature and wildlife by non-profits and university researchers.
Tengku Amir Shah also received a framed photo of Bumi from Jamaliah as a token of appreciation.
Alongside a group of officials, he later planted a rambutan pacat (Xerospermum noronhianum) seed at the centre.
A total of 100 seeds of various fruit trees, courtesy of Selangor Forestry Department, were planted.
Tengku Amir Shah also received a briefing from the centre’s head, Muhd Adli Ahmad about the eight tapirs currently being cared for there.
Also present were state deputy secretary Datuk Johary Anuar, state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, Peninsular Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Orang Besar Daerah Hulu Selangor Raja Datuk Muzaffar Raja Redzwa and Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Pang Sock Tao. – By FARID WAHAB | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Jamaliah Jamaluddin,Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre,Malayan tapir,Tapirus indicus,Wildlife and National Parks Department,Perhilitan,Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah | A MALAYAN tapir has been chosen as Selangor’s environmental mascot in recognition of its crucial role in sustaining the state’s tropical biodiversity. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/bumi-the-tapir-chosen-as-selangors-green-mascot | |
1,372,874 | MPAJ on clean environment drive | THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is initiating several programmes in an effort to create livable dwellings and a clean environment.
With that in mind, the local council, together with resident groups, carried out several activities and initiatives that also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Smart Ranger: Training of Trainers programme conducted by MPAJ’s Ampang Jaya Clean, Beautiful and Healthy (BIS) working committee, involved some 50 student volunteers.
Smart (Start Managing All Resources Today) Rangers is an environmental education programme for school communities, with a focus on natural and non-natural resource management in Malaysia.
Also present during the session were officers from Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS)) and Gombak Environment Department.
Participants were briefed on river conservation and preservation, followed by a plogging activity in Sungai Ampang, along Jalan Kosas 1/1, with Friends of Rivers Malaysia.
During the session, LUAS officers conducted water quality sampling to determine the health of the river.
Removing rubbish from Sungai Ampang. — Photos courtesy of MPAJ
Also, during a mini cleanliness carnival in Taman Keramat Permai, some 250 residents participated in various activities aimed at cleaning up the neighbourhood.
They also had a colouring contest, briefing and exhibitions on solid waste management, recycling and ewaste, as well as plogging.
During the plogging exercise, participants collected 67kg of waste, comprising 42kg of rubbish and 25kg of recyclables.
It was carried out at Jalan AU1A/A3A, Jalan 3B, Jalan 3C, Jalan 3D, Jalan 3F, and Jalan 3G in Taman Keramat Permai.
At the mini carnival, residents collected a total of 115.3kg of recyclables and 40kg each of preloved clothing and used cooking oil.
Throughout this year, MPAJ council is holding an ewaste and used cooking oil collection competition.
As of April, some 58.08 tonnes of used cooking oil and three tonnes of ewaste had been collected. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | mpaj,environment,plogging | THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is initiating several programmes in an effort to create livable dwellings and a clean environment. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/17/mpaj-on-clean-environment-drive | |
1,371,798 | State govt renames two roads | A STRETCH of 400m between Scotland Road and Jalan Air Itam near SMK Agama Al-Mashoor in Penang has been named Jalan S. A. Abdullah Bukhari.
Born on June 29, 1933, in Chulia Street, the late Datuk Syeikh Maulana Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Bukhari Al-Masyuri gave lectures in multiple languages, including Malay, Tamil and Arabic. | Metro | Metro News | Metered | Short | Liew Jia Xian | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | null | A STRETCH of 400m between Scotland Road and Jalan Air Itam near SMK Agama Al-Mashoor in Penang has been named Jalan S. A. Abdullah Bukhari. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/state-govt-renames-two-roads | |
1,371,805 | Ideas for different kinds of dads | Multi-tool for the handy
A multi-tool for handy dads. — Filepic
A multi-tool is ideal for the fixer-upper, jack-of-all-trades or preppers who spend hours tinkering with their cars, attending to what needs fixing around the house or preparing for the apocalypse. Fits right in Dad’s pocket, but the price of a good one could burn a hole in yours.
Get his sentimental side
Time to show your father all those piano or guitar lessons were worth it by surprising him with a lovely song. For the less musically inclined, AI can help you create the best Father’s Day song ever! Just input the lyrics and arrangement and it creates the melody. A Chinese tea set, perfect for both brewing tea and to adorn a man cave. — Freepik
Time for a cuppa
If your dad is a traditionalist who likes his “spot of tea”, afternoon tea or Chinese tea, consider getting him a stylish tea set as an alternative to Fathers Day high-tea buffets. This usually comes with a small teapot and several cups, which could spark his interest in the art of traditional tea drinking. The set could also be a perfect gift to adorn his man cave.
For the playful papa
RC cars come in numerous forms, models and colours – choose the ones that fit dad’s style! — Filepic
Besides allowing dads to relive their childhoods, racing with remote control (RC) vehicles could be a great bonding activity to do with him. Whether cars, trucks or military vehicles – there’s plenty to choose from and typically not too pricey either. Some can even be custom-made to suit dad’s preference.
Love the classics
A turntable to play the record would cost anything between RM700 to RM100,000.- Filepix /The Star
With renewed interest in analogue music and vinyl records, this Fathers Day could be the perfect time to get dad a new turntable. Be prepared, however, to see him gyrating to disco music in the hall as he reminisces about his younger days.
Make it personal
According to Dale Carnegie; “A person’s name is to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” With that in mind, getting your dad’s name embossed, carved or engraved on common items like mugs, key chains or even pens could be a basic but memorable, not to mention inexpensive, touch.
Potted plants are ideal for dads with green thumbs. — Freepik
Green is the colour
Potted plants are an obvious gift for fathers with green thumbs. Just look around your garden or balcony to find the plants, flowers or colours which interest him. Then head down to the nearest plant nursery and get what tickles his fancy.
Gift of the generations
Dad’s family tree with pictures of all his relatives present and past could be a great Fathers Day gift. The lineage chart can be an important family document to pass down to the next generation.
Time
Of all the gifts that we can give our dad no matter how simple or luxurious, nothing can ever beat the time we spend with him. The best aspect about this gift is that it does not require a big budget and can be as simple as accompanying him in doing what he likes best. However, this simple but precious gift should be shared daily and not just on Fathers Day. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Father's Day,gifts,father,family | Of all the gifts that we can give our dad no matter how simple or luxurious, nothing can ever beat the time we spend with him. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/ideas-for-different-kinds-of-dads | |
1,371,806 | Appreciating the man of the house | IT’S Fathers Day tomorrow and if you are among the many who have forgotten – we’ve got your back.
There is no need to scramble for ideas or resort to spending a great sum of money on items.
Here are two sets of affordable and practical gifts, including some DIY, for all types of dads. They are compiled by two Gen Z interns who racked their brains so you don’t have to.
1 Coupon booklets
DIY Fathers Day coupons. — Freepik
This can either be for mums to help younger kids personalise a gift for dad, or creative teens and young adults with limited budgets. Pull up a few sheets of paper (or cardboard if you’re feeling fancy) and decorate it just like an everyday coupon. It could be several vouchers of you allocating quality time together or if your father is a cinephile, stack up some of his favourites for a movie marathon for the two of you. And if you’re feeling mischievous, add in an expiration date to add value to what’s being offered. If pen and paper are too ancient for you, switch to digital coupons that you can create on sites such as Canva.
2 Art pieces
Painted handprints that you can do as a family. — Freepik
This is for all the mothers out there with toddlers who want to celebrate their husband’s first few years of becoming a father. There is nothing more heartwarming than returning home to find your toddler running into your arms waving about a drawing or painting they made for you. An evergreen drawing is a picture of a nuclear family holding hands against a house backdrop; but if that’s too dated for you, try dipping your hands and feet into paint for a refreshing outlook of your family on paper.
3 Write a poem
You’re an older child looking for something different? Try your hand at writing! A good letter never disappoints and if you want a challenge, go for a poem! From ballads to odes, there are a plethora of poems to write. If you’re looking for something short and fun, try a haiku – a type of Japanese poem. Not the type to follow a rhyme scheme? Go free verse!
4 Create a playlist
With applications such as Spotify and YouTube, making a playlist is just a tap away. Either find out your father’s favourite tracks and compile them or you can compile a list of songs that sums up your love and gratitude for him.
5 Helper for a day
Your child can help you out with household chores this Fathers Day.
Fathers Day happens only once a year. I think we can all agree that it’s fair we trade in 364 days for one day for us to be the parent. “Need the car washed? You got it, Dad.” “Pick up the siblings from school? Already on my way.” “Breakfast, lunch, dinner? I got it covered.” “Need me to pick up that dead cockroach? You’re still the guy, Dad. I’m sorry – here, I’ll give you the gloves.”
6 How-to-do list
With the rapid ever-changing culture of today’s generation, there may be some features that the older generation may be unfamiliar with. This Fathers Day is the perfect opportunity to write up a list to guide him on. You can touch on navigating the Internet or dealing with digital banking or mobile phone apps. A humorous egg caricature of a father.— Pixabay
7 Dad Jokes
When does a joke turn into a dad joke? When it becomes apparent. Shower your father with dad jokes every hour of the day. He’ll definitely remember that he’s a parent, though he’ll question why.
8 Dad Rocks
Get some permanent markers, washi tape and a rock which you think best represents your father. Start drawing hairlines, moustaches and even add in some features you think would look good on him. These work on eggs too! He can use these as paperweights as well (probably not the eggs, though).
9 Jar of Memories
Jars waiting to be filled with slivers of memories. — Pixabay
If you’re planning on stirring emotions tomorrow, a jar of memories is sure to elicit some bashful tears. Grab a mason jar, paper and pen. Write down your best or favourite memories of him. You could include your favourite moments the two of you created together.
10 Snack Stash
What better way to tell your father to sit back and relax other than gifting him a DIY snack tin filled with all his favourite foodstuff. Get either a bowl or an empty tin and stuff in his pick of chocolate, candy, cookies or other junk food. You can replenish it once in a while for him to enjoy on other days too. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | fathers day,june 16,free gifts | IT’S Fathers Day tomorrow and if you are among the many who have forgotten – we’ve got your back. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/appreciating-the-man-of-the-house | |
1,371,807 | Catalysing research to elevate national healthcare | JOHOR Research Day was hosted for the first time by Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) in collaboration with the Johor State Health Department and the Clinical Research Centre network of Johor.
Themed “Transforming Healthcare through Digitalisation”, the event aimed to promote knowledge and the culture of research, increase awareness of the importance of scientific research and evidence-based knowledge as well as improve the quality of research.
Present at the event were Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, Johor Health Department director Dr Mohtar Pungut @ Ahmad, Johor Health deputy director (medical division) Dr Khairul Rizal Othman and NUMed provost and chief executive officer Prof Vishna Devi V. Nadarajah.
“This programme serves as an excellent opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and valuable insights on the latest research,” said Ling in his speech.
“Advances in technology have allowed the use of digital records, which are important for efficient data access and sharing across facilities, as well as reducing patient wait times. Ling says technology advances have led to the use of digital records which are vital for efficient data access and sharing across facilities. — Filepic
“An integrated Malaysian healthcare system is hoped to soon be established to bring public and private healthcare systems together as part of efforts to build a sustainable and resilient health system,” he said.
“Another shift is the emergence of teleconsultation services that take advantage of the advances in remote medicine,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prof Vishna said her team is committed to advancing health and higher education in Johor.
“Despite Newcastle University being based in the UK, we have established a 15-year presence here.
“While we bring ideas and perspectives from the UK, our initiatives are locally focused,” she said.
“I am proud to be the first Malaysian CEO and provost, following a line of UK national predecessors.
“This marks our transition from the UK to Malaysia,” she added.
The event incorporated physical and virtual sessions that were attended by 160 participants comprising pharmacists, doctors, dentists, other allied health professionals, as well as medical students.
The day’s activity lineup included presentations, symposiums, Q&A sessions, oral and poster competitions.
Over 120 submissions of scientific abstracts were received, with 91 being accepted for exhibition.
Clinical Research Centre Johor head and organising chairperson Dr Marina Abd Rahman Sabri shared, “It is my hope that the insights and knowledge we gain today can be shared widely, enhancing our excellence and productivity in delivering better health services across all regions.”
Dr Mohtar said, “My hope is that many will gain benefit and inspiration that will aid them in their own pursuits of knowledge and research, and be able to catapult the fate of the nation’s healthcare into a promising future, especially in the field of digitalisation.”
The Johor Baru Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society is also part of the biennial Johor Research Day.
This year’s event was sponsored by Clinical Research Malaysia, Novartis Malaysia, the Centre of Excellence for Extended Reality Technology, and Malaysia Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Society. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia,NUMed | JOHOR Research Day was hosted for the first time by Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) in collaboration with the Johor State Health Department and the Clinical Research Centre network of Johor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/catalysing-research-to-elevate-national-healthcare | |
1,371,814 | Star Media Group staff enjoy a free lunch | STAR Media Group (SMG) employees were treated to lunch at Menara Star by Pizza Hut Malaysia.
In addition to enjoying four types of pizza, SMG staff tried their luck at the wheel of fortune to win various prizes after downloading the Pizza Hut application.
Pizza Hut Malaysia’s chief marketing officer Emily Chong said that more than 400 slices of pizza and several RM10 vouchers were distributed.
The event was organised by Pizza Hut Malaysia.
Also present were QSR Brands chief communications officer Anis Yusof, Star Media Group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and managing editor Brian Martin. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | pizza,Star Media Group,Pizza Hut Malaysia,QSR Brands,food | STAR Media Group (SMG) employees were treated to lunch at Menara Star by Pizza Hut Malaysia. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/star-media-group-staff-enjoy-a-free-lunch | |
1,371,803 | Promising badminton talent at junior championship | THE second qualifying round of Allianz Junior Badminton Championship 2024 at Jesselball Pearl City Sports Centre in Penang highlighted some promising talent and a great competitive spirit among the young shuttlers.
Lim Zheng Jie from SMK Simpang Empat celebrated a double victory, clinching the under-15 boys’ singles and U-15 boys’ doubles titles, the latter alongside partner Kuak Dolton from SMK Berapit.
In the U-15 girls’ doubles, twins Yeoh Jovy and Yeoh Covy from Han Chiang High School triumphed, defeating Eirdinna Eiylia of SMK Convent Green Lane and Ng Xiao Suan of SMK Bagan Jaya.
The win marked a welcome return for the Yeoh sisters, who missed last year’s tournament.
“We like the singles events too, but being sisters, we have this closeness, and I think that’s an advantage,” said Jovy.
“Although we have different views at times, she is my sister and my roommate, after all,” she added.
Jorus Lee Yi H’ng, brother of former Grand Finals champion Lee Joinne, kept the family’s winning tradition going with a strong showing this year.
The SJK (C) Kampung Valdor student and Penang’s top U-12 player defeated Ong Yung Sen from SJK (C) Beng Teik (Pusat) to secure the U-11 boys’ singles title.
Jorus said afterwards, “There are other good players here, and I want to take it one game at a time.”
The U-13 girls’ doubles saw Chuah Tian Ning from Sekolah Kebangsaan Methodist and Cynthia Ooi Jia Hui from SJK (C) Kwang Hwa emerge victorious over Syarifah Fashira Dayana Syed Jamalludin and Teoh Wen Yuan from SJK (C) Kay Sin and SJK (C) Jit Sin, respectively.
Cynthia, 12, an active member of three badminton clubs and a Penang state player, said she relished her rigorous training schedule.
“Training is part of me and part of my daily schedule. I don’t find it tiring. I look forward to it every day,” she said.
Although she only got started in badminton in April 2022, Cynthia’s ambition is to one day become a national shuttler.
Now in its third year, the championship this round introduced the U-11 category.
The next qualifying round is set for Alor Setar, Kedah, from June 28 to 30. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Allianz Junior Badminton Championship 2024 | THE second qualifying round of Allianz Junior Badminton Championship 2024 at Jesselball Pearl City Sports Centre in Penang highlighted some promising talent and a great competitive spirit among the young shuttlers. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/promising-badminton-talent-at-junior-championship | |
1,371,804 | Global sports spotlight on Putrajaya | DATARAN Putrajaya was again the setting of the world’s biggest duathlon as runners and cyclists from around the globe competed for the Powerman Malaysia title.
The 19th edition drew over 4,000 local and international duathletes to the annual event.
Participants took part in the run-bike-run format across various categories, including the classic distance (10km run, 60km bike, 10km run), short distance (5km, 30km, 5km), and three Powerkids categories for children aged six to 15.
Among the competitors were 20 children with physical disabilities and special needs who received enthusiastic support from the crowd.
Over 4,000 duathletes from more than 30 countries participated in the 19th edition of Powerman Malaysia.
Present at the flag-off were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Putrajaya Corporation president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud and Meeting & Support Incentives at Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) director Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim.
In the men’s Elite category, John Leerams Chicano from the Philippines won with a time of two hours, 41 minutes and 48 seconds, while Rendy Williams from the US finished first in the women’s category with a time of 03:09:34.
A number of Malaysian athletes also demonstrated impressive performances, led by Esther Joy Hong Li Chen who secured second place in the Elite women’s category with a time of 03:13:35.
In the Elite men’s category, Muhammad Rabani Hashim and Nazri Muhamad finished fifth and sixth, clocking 02:58:41 and 02:59:24 respectively.
“This year’s event saw over 30 nationalities represented,” said Powerman Malaysia race director and general manager Jeffrey Ross.
“Powerman Malaysia is one of the most popular and successful annual sporting fixtures in the country, and we were thrilled to showcase the beauty of Putrajaya to our participants.”
(From left) Lek, Esther Joy, Williams, fifth-place finisher Victoria Hill and Ross at the prize-giving ceremony. — Photos: Courtesy of Powerman Malaysia
In addition to the main race, the event featured a bustling three-day industry expo and attracted over 50 exhibitors.
Brands such as Kahf, 100Plus, Shimano, Purpose Performance Wear, Therabody and Garmin showcased their products, making the venue a focal point for the running and biking communities.
A significant addition to this year’s event was the involvement of car marque Jaecoo as the event’s presenting partner, with the Jaecoo J7 SUV used as the race starter vehicle.
“The Jaecoo brand embodies the traits of today’s fearless, trailblazing and ambitious individuals,” said Jaecoo Malaysia vice-president Emily Lek.
“Just as every athlete is fuelled by a desire to stand out in the most challenging conditions, Jaecoo similarly stands out with its distinct design and performance for fans with active lifestyles who love the outdoors,” she added. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | 2024 Powerman Malaysia | DATARAN Putrajaya was again the setting of the world’s biggest duathlon as runners and cyclists from around the globe competed for the Powerman Malaysia title. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/global-sports-spotlight-on-putrajaya | |
1,371,810 | Musical celebrates MCA’s 75th anniversary | TO commemorate MCA’s 75th anniversary, the party’s Terengganu chapter hosted a musical gala that highlighted significant milestones and achievements of the party since its inception.
The Legacy musical gala, which was held at SJK (C) Chung Hwa Wei Sin in Kuala Terengganu, depicted MCA’s establishment by its founder Tun Tan Cheng Lock.
Terengganu MCA chairman Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew, who led the team in executing the musical, said it took eight months of preparations and involved nearly 50 professional performers.
Showing their support were (third from left) Wong, Ong, Dr Wee and Dr Mah, alongside Chan (third from right).
“This musical drama traces the party’s origins, back to the first meeting of our state liaison committee that aimed to rally grassroots party members,” she said.
Ong said Legacy was more than just a musical but served as a clarion call for party members to unite and reflect on MCA’s history.
She also stressed the importance of party unity in facing adversity, saying that it was time for MCA to strengthen and work harder.
“Reforming the party is an arduous task, so we must unite as one and have faith to revitalise the party, which is the foundation of our survival,” she said.
A spirited performance of ‘Legacy’.
The musical gala was hosted by the Terengganu MCA state liaison committee with the state Wanita chapter.
It featured 100 banquet tables and was packed to capacity with about 1,100 in attendance, amid an energetic and spirited atmosphere.
Among those who attended the Legacy musical gala was MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, party veterans such as Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy and committee members.
Also present was Star Media Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | MCA,75th anniversary,Kuala Terengganu,Wee Ka Siong,Mah Hang Soon | TO commemorate MCA’s 75th anniversary, the party’s Terengganu chapter hosted a musical gala that highlighted significant milestones and achievements of the party since its inception. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/musical-celebrates-mcas-75th-anniversary | |
1,371,800 | ‘Focus on sustainable development of Kampung Sungai Melayu’ | THE redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Melayu in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, needs to consider the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says Jimmy Leong.
The Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman said the focus should be on preservation, conservation and education.
“Of the 17 SDGs, 11 are relevant to redeveloping the village, such as life on land, life below water, clean water and sanitation, as well as responsible consumption and production.
“Kampung Sungai Melayu is located within the Iskandar Puteri business district, so we need clear guidelines for core protected areas and buffer zones.
“Anything within these zones must be preserved and left undisturbed.
“If we achieve this, we can balance economic growth with environmental protection,” he said, adding that the state government should also implement policies to ensure nearby industries contribute to environmental preservation.
In last year’s budget announcement, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi allocated RM12.2mil for the redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Melayu.
During a working visit to the village, Onn Hafiz said he wanted it to be a model village for eco-tourism.
Johor National Park Corporation (PTNJ) director Taufik Bahar said Kampung Sungai Melayu needed good basic infrastructure to become an eco-tourism destination.
“Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) has been tasked with this responsibility, and as a start, they will provide ample parking space.
“There will also be a gallery showcasing the village’s history and lives of the villagers,” he said.
Taufik said it was important to train the local community in soft skills, especially interacting with foreign tourists.
“We need more storytellers to share information about the village.
“The main activity is the boat tour along Sungai Melayu, where visitors can see the mangrove forest and wildlife.
“Visitors will also learn how to catch mud crabs and harvest mussels,” he added. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Johor,Kampung Sungai Melayu,Eco-Tourism,SDG, | THE redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Melayu in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, needs to consider the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says Jimmy Leong. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/focus-on-sustainable-development-of-kampung-sungai-melayu | |
1,371,808 | Holidaymakers head to Johor Baru | WITH the school holidays in Singapore and visa exemption for China nationals, hotels in Johor Baru are seeing good occupancy rates, and this is set to continue with the long Hari Raya Haji weekend.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor Chapter chairman Ivan Teo said there were currently about 18,500 hotel rooms in Johor Baru alone.
“After Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru has the second most number of hotel rooms in Malaysia. Teo says hotels in Johor Baru have seen a rise in bookings from China nationals since the visa waiver.
“Currently, the occupancy rate at hotels, especially those located in the city, is peaking.
“About 80% of hotel rooms in Johor Baru alone have been taken up by foreign tourists,” he said when contacted.
Teo said the room reservations were largely due to the ongoing school holiday in Singapore as well as the high number of tourists from China.
He said the government’s decision to implement a 30-day visa-free policy for China nationals was the major factor.
He added that hotels were expecting bookings from locals over this stretch of extended weekend holiday.
Teo said the hospitality industry in the state was expected to grow further following the announcement of Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and Special Financial Zone (SFZ).
“Once JS-SEZ and SFZ is realised, we should see more people, not only foreign tourists but also foreign investors coming into Johor.
“We should see more demand for hotel rooms as well as venues for business seminars and meetings,” he added.
Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Hari Raya Haji on June 17. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Hari Raya Haji,occupancy rate,foreign tourists,hotels | WITH the school holidays in Singapore and visa exemption for China nationals, hotels in Johor Baru are seeing good occupancy rates, and this is set to continue with the long Hari Raya Haji weekend. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/holidaymakers-head-to-johor-baru | |
1,371,813 | Public enlisted to help nab culprits of illegal dumping | Federal Territories Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is calling on residents to help combat illegal dumping.
SWCorp said despite clear warnings, some continue to disregard regulations; as such, the authority is urging residents who witness such activity to photograph or record the offenders and submit the evidence.
This initiative is to enable the community to assist in holding perpetrators accountable. Ummi Kalthum said SWCorp is collaborating with DBKL and JPJ to identify people dumping rubbish in the city centre.
SWCorp Federal Territories director Ummi Kalthum Shuib said there was an increase in illegal dumping cases in Kuala Lumpur, especially in housing areas.
She said her enforcement team could not track all perpetrators due to the vast number of affected areas, adding that their priority was to identify and prosecute the offenders.
“Once we have identified a hotspot where illegal dumping has occurred, we will clean and cordon off the area with yellow tape.
“A banner with warning signs and the penalties imposed will be put up to deter anyone from dumping their rubbish there, she said, adding that they have identified 38 active hotspots this year.”From 2020 to March 2024, about 175 hotspots were discovered in the city.
Ummi Kalthum said the department managed to close 134 of these hotspots, while the remaining were pending clean-up.
“We have a dedicated team of 18 enforcement officers in Kuala Lumpur who are in charge to specifically identify illegal dumping areas, and trained to catch people committing the offence.
“We need to catch them in the act; it’s the only way to prosecute,” she said.
Ummi Kalthum said SWCorp staff would approach people living nearby or closest to the dumping ground to get feedback, eyewitness accounts, and vehicle numbers.
“People living near the hotspots are usually the innocent victims, as no one wants to live next to a rubbish dump,” she said, adding that the perpetrators tend to dump rubbish in the early hours of the morning when no one is around.
Ummi Kalthum said downtown Kuala Lumpur had many closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and SWCorp had been working with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to identify people dumping rubbish in the city centre via vehicle number plate identification.
An illegal rubbish dumping hotspot in Brickfields.
“There are not many CCTV cameras in neighbourhoods, so we hope the public can help us with doing the monitoring.
“In some areas where private land has become dumping grounds, we have asked the landowners to instal CCTV cameras, and they are willing to do so,” she added.
Ummi urged the public not to dispose of their bulk rubbish at random sites, as the waste contractor Alam Flora would pick up bulk waste door to door.
“For garden waste, tie it up in a bag properly and place it next to your green bin. The same goes for bulk and recyclable wastes.
“The schedule for bulk, garden, and recyclable waste collection is on the same day,” she said.
Despite the banners put up early this year warning people about illegal rubbish dumping, some residents said the culprits chose to ignore it.
“The rubbish consists of garden waste and recyclable items such as boxes, plastic and paper; we will also see sofa chair, an old cupboard and even a toilet bowl,” said Happy Garden resident KC Cheah.
Taman Bukit Indah resident Gowri Raja said she often spotted one car dropping off rubbish in the neighbourhood.
“Next time, I will take a photo and send it to the authorities,” she added.
Those with information on illegal dumping can lodge a complaint by calling the 1800-88-7472 hotline, SWCorp office 03-2245 9292, email [email protected] or visit swcorp.spab.gov.my | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | DBKL,SWCORP,WASTE,RUBBISH,ILLEGAL DUMPING,KL,BANNER,CCTV, | Federal Territories Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is calling on residents to help combat illegal dumping. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/public-enlisted-to-help-nab-culprits-of-illegal-dumping | |
1,371,817 | Clash over redevelopment consent | THE number of owners required to agree to redevelopment under the proposed Urban Redevelopment Act was a matter of heated contention during a forum.
According to the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), the percentage of consent for projects earmarked for redevelopment varies.
Its Planning, Legislation and Regulation director Zamirzan Puji said the percentage might be set at 80% for buildings less than 30 years old, 75% for older buildings and 51% for buidings deemed as unsafe or abandoned.
Zamirzan said the Act, which is set to be tabled in Parliament later this year, was aimed at regenerating old and abandoned buildings.
The forum was organised by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and held at the Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba Complex in Jalan Kuchai Lama.
Zamirzan explaining the intricacies of the proposed Act at the forum.
“Over time as tenants move out, these buildings will become eyesores. We can see this happening in Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
“If nothing is done, the buildings continue to dilapidate, bringing down the value of the surrounding infrastructure,” said Zamirzan.
He said that for this purpose, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had identified 139 sites as redevelopment areas in Kuala Lumpur.
He mentioned 1Razak Mansion as a case in point of a success story where the developer had managed to get a 100% consent from property owners.
Built in 1963, the 657-unit Razak Mansion – each measuring 504sq ft – was redeveloped in 2017 with the same number of units, but each expanded to 800sq ft plus 24 shophouses, 110 market lots and a surau.
National House Buyers Association (HBA) honorary secretary general Datuk Chang Kim Loong said the proposed consent threshold would be disadvantageous to those who did not want to move.
“HBA strongly opposes any setting of a consent threshold. Any redevelopment project must have 100% approval from the owners.
“Our stand is any rejuvenation or renewal plan must have the consent of all because every owner is important,” said Chang.
He said the property owners’ right to refuse should not be taken away by enacting a redevelopment law in favour of developers.
“We should never copy countries like Singapore or Hong Kong which have set a 90% consent threshold for redevelopment projects, as these countries have limited land resources.
“We can anticipate scenarios where 100% owners’ approval is no longer needed,” he added.
Chang also queried if Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) was willing to underwrite projects where original owners were promised units in exchange for their properties.
“What if the redevelopment project becomes a sick one? What guarantee does the original owner have?” he asked.
Another forum attendee, Siti Nurah Haron said that instead of coming up with a new Act, the ministry should focus on solutions for the abandoned housing projects which had left many buyers in the lurch.
Jeffrey Phang, 68, who is a member of a non-governmental (NGO) that empowers grassroot leaders, said that instead of introducing the concept of urban renewal, Housing ministry should come up with better coordination strategies and programmes to ensure that joint management bodies and management corporations of strata properties are able to function more effectively.
Zamirzan assured the forum attendees that conditions proposed under the Act had yet to be finalised.
“We will have to go through an intensive process before it is approved,” he said.
On the percentage of owners’ approval, especially where critical redevelopment projects would be involved, Zamirzan said the government would lawfully continue with the land acquisition process to ensure it could be executed even if there was no 100% approval from owners.
He said that for redevelopments involving abandoned or sick projects, buyers who only have sales and purchase agreements but have yet to receive their strata titles will be given consideration under this proposed Act.
“On redevelopment projects that end up as sick or abandoned, KPKT will ensure that only the most competent developers will be chosen for the task,” said Zamirzan. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Urban Renewal Act,protest. | THE number of owners required to agree to redevelopment under the proposed Urban Redevelopment Act was a matter of heated contention during a forum. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/clash-over-redevelopment-consent | |
1,371,802 | Taiping park to be Ipoh fashion runway | THE Raintree Walk at the Taiping Lake Gardens will be transformed into a runway for the sixth International Ipoh Fashion Week (IIFW).
IIFW founder Louis Sebastian said a street fashion show would be held at the park on July 20 at 5.30pm.
“The area will be transformed into a runway for over 10 fashion designers, both local and international, to showcase their amazing couture.
“The fashion designers hail from Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia and the Philippines,” he said during a press conference in Ipoh, Perak.
“It will be a stunning visual feast with models doing the catwalk amid the beauty of the historical lake garden,” he said, adding that over 80 models from various countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Morocco and Egypt would be involved.
“The fashion show will be open to the public.”
Sebastian said a “Royal Fashion with a Heart Royal Charity Gala Dinner” would be held on July 19 at Hotel Taiping Perdana to raise funds for the paediatric department at Hospital Seri Manjung and for animals of the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari.
“IIFW demonstrates its ability to bring together fashion enthusiasts, philanthropists and the community at large for a noble cause, leaving a lasting impact on both the fashion industry and the lives of those in need, under the motto of ‘Fashion tourism with a heart’,” he said.
Sebastian said the IIFW had become a central platform for positioning Malaysia as a thriving emerging fashion capital by showcasing its local talents.
“Beyond the glitz and glamour of the runway, IIFW has been instrumental in providing a stepping stone for emerging fashion designers and promoting the rich tapestry of Malaysian fashion.
“The event’s reputation has even extended beyond national borders, to include renowned fashion labels and powerhouses from Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, China and the Philippines,” he said.
“This international collaboration has not only elevated the event’s stature but has also enabled the fashion faculty of Kolej Komuniti Batu Gajah to gain exposure among a wider audience,” he added. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Ipoh,Fashion Week,IIFW,Taiping,Raintree Walk,Lake Gardens | THE Raintree Walk at the Taiping Lake Gardens will be transformed into a runway for the sixth International Ipoh Fashion Week (IIFW). | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/15/taiping-park-to-be-ipoh-fashion-runway | |
1,370,974 | Protect trees for our future | A RECENT tragic incident – a falling tree killing someone and injuring pedestrians during a storm – serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges surrounding Malaysia’s trees. This isn’t an isolated event.
Across the nation, a worrying trend is taking root, both literally and figuratively.
While deforestation threatens our rainforests, urban areas grapple with the safety of existing trees.
Trees play a critical role in our lives.
They provide homes for countless species, forming the foundation of our vibrant ecosystems.
They also play a crucial role in regulating our climate, absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating the effects of global warming.
However, our relationship with trees is a complex one.
News reports paint a grim picture – deforestation rates are soaring, with projections suggesting a significant loss of natural forest cover in the coming years.
The consequences of deforestation extend far beyond the loss of majestic trees.
The complex network of roots plays a vital role in soil health and stability.
Extensive root systems act like anchors, binding soil particles together and preventing erosion.
When these anchoring roots are lost due to deforestation, the soil becomes vulnerable.
Forests act like giant sponges, absorbing rainwater and allowing it to slowly infiltrate the ground.
Without the canopy cover, heavy rainfall hits the bare soil directly, increasing surface runoff.
This forceful flow of water carries away precious topsoil, leaving behind infertile land.
Trees act as windbreaks, shielding the soil from the erosive force of wind too.
Deforestation exposes the land to stronger winds, further accelerating soil erosion.
Forests are teeming with life, with a constant cycle of decomposition adding organic matter to the soil.
This organic matter acts like a natural glue, binding soil particles together and improving its water retention capacity.
The threat isn’t just out there in the jungles.
In our cities, the very trees that provide shade and a sense of serenity are becoming a growing concern.
Experts warn that limited space for root growth and the selection of unsuitable tree species are contributing factors to the rise in falling trees during storms.
Imagine a tree with a massive root system crammed into a small, paved-over area.
As the roots grow, they encounter concrete and asphalt, unable to spread outwards in search of water and nutrients.
This can cause roots to push upwards, damaging sidewalks and even building foundations.
Tree species with shallow root systems for confined urban spaces can make them more susceptible to toppling over during strong winds.
The solution lies in a collaborative effort between the government and the public.
Crucial steps include implementing stricter regulations on logging and investing in sustainable forestry practices.
Conservation efforts must be prioritised, and alternative economic drivers, such as eco-tourism, should be explored to lessen our dependence on resource extraction.
A comprehensive plan for urban trees is urgently needed.
This plan should encompass regular tree-health assessments, the selection and planting of suitable species with ample root space in designated areas, and public education campaigns on tree care.
We can also support organisations dedicated to rainforest protection and raise our voices against unsustainable development practices.
If you own a garden, choose native species and ensure proper planting techniques for healthy growth, promoting a deep and healthy root system.
Finally, report to the relevant authorities any concerns about the health or placement of trees in your neighbourhood.
This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about safeguarding our future.
Trees are the silent guardians of our environment, and our inaction has consequences.
Deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of our ecosystems, while poorly managed urban trees pose a threat to public safety.
The time for change is now.
Let us act as responsible citizens, demanding change from our leaders and taking personal action to protect the trees that enrich our lives.
By working together, we can ensure a future where majestic trees continue to stand tall, a testament to our commitment to a sustainable and thriving Malaysia.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Kuala Lumpur | Metro | Views | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Protecting Malaysia's Trees,Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye,rainforest | A RECENT tragic incident – a falling tree killing someone and injuring pedestrians during a storm – serves as a stark reminder of the growing challenges surrounding Malaysia’s trees. This isn’t an isolated event. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/views/2024/06/14/protect-trees-for-our-future | |
1,370,966 | QR codes make it easier for public to donate to Red Crescent | Malaysian Red Crescent (MRCS) Sibu branch in Sarawak has made it easier for the public to send cash donations.
It has launched DuitNow and SPay Global QR codes, so donors can scan the codes to send their contributions.
MRCS Sibu chairman Penghulu Chua Hiong Kee said the QR codes were a convenient way for the public to support fundraising projects.
“By scanning the QR codes with your smartphone, you can easily make donations quickly and securely anytime and from anywhere in the country.
“Your generous donations will make a profound difference in ensuring we can respond swiftly to those in need.
“We rely on the kindness and generosity of individuals like you to sustain our efforts and extend our reach.
“Every contribution, no matter the amount, plays a vital role in our ability to serve and support those who need it most,” he said.
At the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebration held at its premises, he said public support was vital for the organisation to continue its humanitarian services.
Chua said MRCS Sibu had also received a new ambulance as a gift in conjunction with the celebration and thanked the donors for their support.
“With this new ambulance, it will significantly improve our ability to serve the community and ensure we can reach those in distress swiftly and efficiently,” he said.
Among those present at the celebration were Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau and Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng. — By ANDY CHUA | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Sibu,Red crescent,donation codes,launched | Malaysian Red Crescent (MRCS) Sibu branch in Sarawak has made it easier for the public to send cash donations. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/qr-codes-make-it-easier-for-public-to-donate-to-red-crescent | |
1,370,969 | Flood mitigation project to be completed in 2027 | THE programme to address frequent flooding in Bayan Baru, Penang, which started last year will be completed in 2027.
Bayan Baru was selected for three sub-component projects within the Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme (PNBCAP).
The sub-component projects are the Blue-Green Corridor (Sungai Keluang Urban Biophilia), the Upstream Retention Pond, and the Swale and Infiltration Well (Lintang Nibong Upstream Retention Pond).
Think City, in collaboration with Penang Island City Council (MBPP), the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and UN-Habitat is leading this RM9.2mil initiative.
The project is fully funded by the World Bank’s Adaptation Fund (UN-Habitat) and is supported by the Penang state government and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
Buletin Mutiara reported that Bayan Baru was a rapidly growing area with promising economic potential and which faced persistent challenges including frequent flooding due to its lowland geomorphological conditions.
These issues prompted targeted intervention under the PNBCAP.
Between 2016 and 2023, the state DID reported 16 flood events in Bayan Baru, the highest frequency in the state.
Compounding the problem was the fact that many of the area’s piping systems were among the oldest in the state, limiting rainwater capacity and causing flash floods.
During a press conference at Amari SPICE Penang in Bayan Lepas, state infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari highlighted the strategic importance of Sungai Keluang for green development despite the area’s reduced green space due to industrial growth.
“This was why Bayan Baru was chosen for this project, to create a balance in green development, aligning with the state government’s Penang2030 vision.
“The impact of the temperature reduction in the surface will be felt in the Sungai Keluang Urban Biophilia, improving air circulation, reducing air pollution, as well as reducing the effects of urban heat island,” said Zairil.
Also present at the press conference was Penang DID director Mohd Nazri Yasmin. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | null | THE programme to address frequent flooding in Bayan Baru, Penang, which started last year will be completed in 2027. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/flood-mitigation-project-to-be-completed-in-2027 | |
1,370,972 | Festival to promote yoga for holistic health | A YOGA festival will be taking place this month.
Hosted by BKS Iyengar Yogashala Kuala Lumpur, the Iyengar Yoga Festival advocates for integrating yoga into daily routines to elevate holistic health and well-being.
Starting June 21, the festival presents a diverse selection of yoga classes suitable for all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, available both in-person and online.
These include yoga classes for children, seniors, expectant mothers and introductory sessions, all designed to meet individual needs.
Participants can also expect activities such as yogic food preparation, yoga prop demonstrations and a reading session of Light on Life written by Guruji BKS Iyengar.
Certified senior Iyengar Yoga teacher and studio founder Sri Nandakumar highlighted his team’s proficiency with online teaching that was developed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our extensive experience with online sessions since the pandemic has honed our camera setups and angle selections.
“The large screen in our studio ensures students’ movements are clearly visible during online classes, allowing for precise guidance similar to in-person sessions,” he said at a press conference at BKS Iyengar Yogashala Kuala Lumpur.
Nandakumar said his motivation for organising the festival stems from a deep passion for yoga and the hope of positively influencing more people through yoga practice.
Also present at the press conference was certified Iyengar yoga teacher Kathy Cook from Bali, Indonesia, who described yoga as a healing practice for the body and a rejuvenating exercise for the mind.
“Yoga assists those with injuries by alleviating pain and enhancing strength and flexibility, leading to a positive mindset.
“I strongly recommend yoga for older individuals as it promotes focus, tranquillity and proper breathing, which are essential for maintaining vitality and a fulfilling life,” said the 71-year-old who has over 30 years of yoga experience.
The “Gateway to Wellness” Yoga Festival will run until June 23, with daily sessions available from 6am to 9.30pm. The fee per session is RM5.
Participants stand a chance to win prizes in a lucky draw, including free classes and merchandise.
Registration is available on a first-come-first-served basis at www.bksiyengaryogashala.com
For more information, call 012-416 4115 or 012-320 4115 or email [email protected] | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | BKS Iyengar Yogashala,Iyengar Yoga Festival,Health,Sri Nandakumar,Kathy Cook | A YOGA festival will be taking place this month. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/festival-to-promote-yoga-for-holistic-health | |
1,370,968 | Govt urged to crack down on migrant-run businesses | StarMetro report on May 21.
Trader groups call for authorities to revoke licences of enterprises run by non-Malaysians
GROUPS are urging the Johor government to introduce stricter laws that will stop immigrants from exploiting loopholes that allow them to operate various businesses in the state.
Johor Indian and Petty Traders Association D. Ravindran said these foreigners had been using such loopholes to their advantage to run businesses such as barber shops, sundry shops, car wash and restaurants.
“We have always been getting numerous complaints coming from members and other traders that the presence of foreign-run businesses has affected their income,” he said, adding that the association had raised the issue with the authorities.
Ravindran said these immigrants were initially brought here to work in various sectors but stayed on and had since become their own bosses.
“These immigrants married locals and used their spouses’ names to apply for licences from local councils and other authorities.
“The spouses will only appear at the business premises when checks are carried out by enforcement agencies and local councils,” he said.
ALSO READ: Legal loophole allows foreigners to run business
He added that typically, it was the immigrants that were running the businesses while their spouses, despite being the registered business owners, were usually not around.
“This systemic loophole must be addressed by the Johor government,” said Ravindran.
He said such practices had been going on for a long time to sidestep the authorities, including local councils.
“Local councils should just revoke the licences if the one running the business is an immigrant instead of the Malaysian owner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johor Malay Non-governmental Organisations Coalition Council president Zaini Atan said it was the locals who were losing out with immigrants opening up businesses.
“We know of some locals who have even allowed these immigrants to use their names when applying for licences at local councils.
“Since locals have a licence in their names from local councils, they should just run the business instead of giving it to immigrants. We are the ones who are losing out,” he noted.
StarMetro reported on May 21 that the state government was looking to prevent immigrants from exploiting legal loopholes which allow them to operate businesses in Johor.
State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said they intended to address the issue.
“The local government division secretary is currently in the process of preparing a draft that will control businesses conducted by immigrants,” he said.
There were no restrictions by the Companies Commission Of Malaysia (SSM) in allowing foreign nationals to register their businesses, he added.
According to the existing regulations, foreign spouses are allowed to work or conduct business during the validity period of their social visit passes, provided that the work or their business comply with the laws and regulations in force, said Mohd Jafni. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | local councils,business,license,immigrants,loopholes,Indian,D. Ravindran | GROUPS are urging the Johor government to introduce stricter laws that will stop immigrants from exploiting loopholes that allow them to operate various businesses in the state. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/govt-urged-to-crack-down-on-migrant-run-businesses | |
1,370,976 | Tankers to supply water at Chow Kit market due to low pressure | UP to five water tankers with a 5,000L capacity each will be supplying water to Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot in Chow Kit as a temporary measure to address low pressure at the market.
A Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) representative said the low water pressure was due to broken pipes caused by vandalism.
“Shortly after the traders moved into the complex in March, we found that the main pipes were damaged when the contractor did a water pressure test.
“We believed that the pipes were vandalised by irresponsible parties who tried to tap into the main pipes for water.
“We will fix the pipes and conduct a water pressure test again.
“Should the test fail, pipe replacement will be done,” he said, adding that the process will likely take six months.
“During the six months, we will connect the main water supply to the complex,” said the DBKL representative during a site visit.
On June 5, StarMetro had reported on the issue, “Low water pressure, dry taps at Chow Kit market affecting traders.”
It was revealed that certain areas did not have water supply due to low pressure and some taps were also closed to limit water usage in the market.
Chow Kit Area Hawkers and Petty Traders Association secretary Chew Meng Leong said sending water tankers to the complex would help.
Association chairman Yuesnaedy Idrus said connecting the market to the main water supply was vital.
“Ultimately, we want the main water pipes to be fixed,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur Advisory Board member Carmen Leong lauded DBKL’s swift action in deploying the tankers.
Fellow board member Andre Lai said the association had also raised concerns of Jalan Raja Alang being a one-way road.
“The association wanted the road turned into two-way as illegal traders are using the road reserve to set up stalls.
“There is also the problem of having three different associations managing traders in the market.
“We will call for a meeting with DBKL to sort out these issues,” he said. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | pasar raja bot,complex,market,dbkl | UP to five water tankers with a 5,000L capacity each will be supplying water to Kompleks Pasar Raja Bot in Chow Kit as a temporary measure to address low pressure at the market. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/tankers-to-supply-water-at-chow-kit-market-due-to-low-pressure | |
1,370,970 | Vans ideal first- and last-mile boost to Klang Valley public transport | IT is time the government realises that vans are the most ideal first- and last-mile commuter transport solution, and stop groping in the dark with impractical and more expensive solutions.
From day one when electric commuter trains were introduced, the idea has been mooted for vans, not buses to fill the gap.
There is no need for expensive experiments by Selangor government such as the heavily subsidised Direct Response Transit (DRT) concept, when the humble van offers a practical solution.
The large expensive buses, whether they cater to KTM, light rail or mass rapid transit (LRT/MRT) commuters, are not ideal because of local urban traffic conditions and narrow congested roads that result in break-downs, delays and poor service and costly maintenance.
Vans are better as they can carry eight to 10 passengers and can navigate through narrow roads of housing and industrial estates, commercial areas, villages and low-cost flats where the bulk of commuters live or work.
Those from upscale residential areas own their own vehicles and have no need for public transport.
I have been observing public buses for a long time and find that sole dependency on inefficient buses is the primary problem in the lack of people using public transport.
It is the first- and last-mile seamless connectivity and convenience that should inspire confidence in commuters to opt for public transport.
Had vans been introduced from the start, the use of public transport could have increased in popularity and benefitted the people.
The problem will be solved in a jiffy if MRT, LRT and KTM services had about 300 to 500 vans to ferry commuters in the Klang Valley.
The buses should be phased out when their lifespan ends.
Vans can pick passengers up right from doorstep if it rains.
Large families going for shopping on weekends can utilise vans to get to LRT or MRT stations.
Vans will motivate people to opt for public transport.
Moreover, a few hundred van operators can earn a living from these services if used in the cities and towns in the Klang Valley.
Vans used for commuter services should be regulated in terms of permitted number of passengers, be in good condition, insured and supervised by the authorities.
The drivers must have a good safety record, and charges can be fixed depending on distance.
An appropriate MRT or LRT logo should be emblazoned on the van for easy identification.
There are so many advantages that van-hailing can offer for first- and last-mile connectivity.
There is no cheaper, quicker and better solution than using vans, and B40 and M40 commuters will welcome this solution to help them get to their destinations in time.
V. THOMAS
Sungai Buloh, Selangor | Metro | Views | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | DRT,vans,public transport | IT is time the government realises that vans are the most ideal first- and last-mile commuter transport solution, and stop groping in the dark with impractical and more expensive solutions. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/views/2024/06/14/vans-ideal-first--and-last-mile-boost-to-klang-valley-public-transport | |
1,370,967 | Assemblyman says RM300,000 allocation for 50-year-old Bekok clinic timely | UPGRADING the Bekok health clinic in Segamat, Johor, will provide a more comfortable environment for patients.
Bekok assemblyman Tan Chong said the health clinic was close to 50 years old and in need of repairs.
“I have frequently received complaints from my constituents about its facilities and many also requested for it to be upgraded.
“I am glad that their voices have been heard by the state government, as health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon recently announced that RM300,000 has been allocated to upgrade the Bekok health clinic,” said Tan.
He said the works that would be carried out were repairs to the roof, wiring system, infrastructure, road and paint jobs.
He added that he hoped that the project could begin soon to benefit the locals, as well as the healthcare personnel working at the clinic.
Tan says he frequently receives complaints about the clinic.
At a recent mobile clinic programme in Labis, Ling had said Johor had received a federal allocation of RM16.9mil to upgrade and improve the healthcare facilities and services at 56 health and rural clinics statewide.
He said the Bekok health clinic and Felda Kemelah rural clinic were among the facilities that would be upgraded soon with a funding of RM300,000 and RM200,000 respectively.
Some of the works would include toilet upgrades and roof replacements, Ling had said.
“Unlike previously where the works were carried out separately, we will be conducting the large-scale upgrades at once.
“Many clinics in the state are 40 to 50 years old, where some have fallen into disrepair.
“The government aims to focus on upgrading these facilities in the next two years,” he said.
Ling added that 43 government clinics had undergone upgrades last year.
There are more than 300 government clinics (both health clinics and rural clinics) in Johor. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Bekok,Health Clinic,Government Clinic,Healthcare,Upgrades,Tan Chong | UPGRADING the Bekok health clinic in Segamat, Johor, will provide a more comfortable environment for patients. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/assemblyman-says-rm300000-allocation-for-50-year-old-bekok-clinic-timely | |
1,370,973 | Using Wolbachia mozzies to battle dengue | COMBATING dengue involves various strategies, one of which is the release of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria to prevent the virus’ transmission.
In the Petaling district, Selangor government has implemented this strategy in 21 localities.
According to state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, as of the 19th epidemiological week (May 6 to 12) in 2024, eight out of the 10 localities involved achieved a reduction in dengue cases since 2019.
ALSO READ: ‘No plans for wider rollout of vaccine’
Dengue cases in these eight areas decreased by 6% to 90%. However, two localities experienced an increase in dengue cases: Vista Lavender in Bandar Kinrara saw a 90% increase, and Desa Mentari Apartment in Petaling Jaya experienced a staggering 134% rise.
Jamaliah, in a statement to StarMetro, noted that the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes had been effective in controlling dengue, but its success depended on the proportion of such mosquitoes in the locality, which should exceed 80%.
“To control dengue effectively, the frequency of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in a population needs to be high enough to significantly reduce the transmission of the virus.
“The threshold often mentioned is around 80% – meaning that at least 80% of the mosquito population should be infected with Wolbachia.”
She added that the Wolbachia mosquito initiative was still in the pilot phase in dengue hotspot areas in Selangor, so raising awareness on this measure was not yet a primary concern.
Dengue Prevention Advocacy Malaysia (DPAM) co-chairman Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi said the best strategy to release Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes was to clear an area of any mosquito breeding grounds before conducting fogging.
“This ensures long-lasting effectiveness, as eliminating dengue-bearing mosquito breeding sites reduces their population prior to the introduction of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes,” he said when contacted by StarMetro.
Wolbachia is one of several preventive strategies to combat dengue, but it is costly compared to other options available today.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had on June 8 said that a single Wolbachia-infected mosquito cost 50sen.
Prof Zamberi pointed out that Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes needed to be bred in a laboratory, and thousands would be needed to ensure their effectiveness.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Medical Microbiologist Department senior lecturer Dr Norashiqin Misni agreed that the cost to produce Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes was high, including research and pilot studies.
“However, once the wild mosquito population has been replaced with the Wolbachia strain, nature will take its course.
“They will breed on their own without needing to be released from the lab and without the need for fogging,” she said.
The use of Wolbachia-based control to reduce dengue cases has been researched in countries such as Australia, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil and Colombia.
This biological control method works by releasing mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, which inhibit the mosquito vector from transmitting the dengue virus.
Infected lab-grown mosquitoes that mate with wild mosquitoes do not produce viable offspring, thereby reducing the population of virus-transmitting mosquitoes over time.
In Malaysia, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes have been released in 35 localities including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang.
According to Dr Dzulkefly, 19 of the localities involved recorded decreases in dengue cases ranging from 43% to 100% since the introduction of this project in 2019.
The project is still ongoing. — By LEW GUAN XI and MEGAT SYAHAR | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Dengue,Mosquito,Wolbachia,Virus,Spread,Hot weather,hygiene,cleanliness. | COMBATING dengue involves various strategies, one of which is the release of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria to prevent the virus’ transmission. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/using-wolbachia-mozzies-to-battle-dengue | |
1,370,971 | ‘No plans for wider rollout of dengue vaccine in Selangor’ | S’gor exco member talks costs and community hygiene as 2024 dengue cases rise past 30,000
SELANGOR has no plans to change its strategy of emphasising prevention measures to combat dengue, even as cases rise and a new vaccine against the disease has become available, says a state exco member.
According to Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, the state’s strategy remains focused on educating the public to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites in their surroundings.
However, she said those in high-risk areas would be encouraged to consider taking the Qdenga vaccine, which was granted conditional approval by Malaysia’s Drug Control Authority in February, for extra protection.
ALSO READ: Using Wolbachia mozzies to battle dengue
Data from the Selangor Health Department revealed that almost all districts recorded a rise in dengue cases during the 22nd epidemiological week (May 27 to June 2) of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Specifically, Selangor reported 1,255 cases, with Hulu Langat and Gombak noting increases of 12.3% (338 cases) and 16.8% (230 cases) respectively. Only Petaling district saw a slight decrease of 0.2%.
Azhari removing water accumulated in the plate at the bottom of his flower pot to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. — Photos: SAMUEL ONG and LEW GUAN XI/The Star
The figure for the year so far is alarming, with a reported 33,754 dengue cases – a 406% increase compared to the same period in 2021 (see graphic).
The state recorded 58,116 cases for the whole of last year.
The data shows 46 hotspots in the state, with Petaling district having the highest number (27), followed by Hulu Langat (nine), Gombak (six), Klang and Hulu Selangor (two each).
In light of this, Jamaliah urged the public to adopt proactive measures such as using mosquito repellent, installing window screens and eliminating standing water.
Jamaliah says state government will consider offering Qdenga vaccine to high-risk groups.
“By working together, we can make a significant difference in reducing dengue in our community,” she said, adding that regular fogging in hotspots would continue.
On the Qdenga vaccine, which protects against all four dengue virus serotypes and was officially launched on June 11, Jamaliah said it had been available in private clinics and hospitals since mid-May.
“Its price will vary depending on the individual clinic and hospital,” she said.
According to news reports, the vaccine is administered in two doses over three months to individuals aged four and above.
According to manufacturer Takeda Malaysia, clinical trials had shown that the vaccine successfully prevented 80.2% of symptomatic dengue cases at 12 months after vaccination.
After a period of four-and-a-half years, the vaccine’s efficacy was at 84.1% against hospitalisation and 61.2% against symptomatic cases.
Asked if the state would consider a wider rollout of the vaccine, Jamaliah said further research and discussions with key leaders was needed.
“Besides understanding its potential impact and efficacy, we also need to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Hence, it is still not available in public hospitals.
“Though it is unlikely that the vaccine will be made free to everyone, we would consider providing it for free to high-risk groups,” she told StarMetro.
Proactive measures
However, some Selangor residents when interviewed say they plan to focus on self-prevention to keep dengue at bay.
Taman Melawati Residents Association chairman Azhari Abdul Taharim said events like gotong-royong would be unnecessary if everyone was disciplined enough to keep their place clear of mosquitoes.
“I suffered from a very high fever and bad headache when I came down with dengue fever six to seven years ago, and I don’t want a repeat of it.
“I will always remove water accumulated underneath my flower pots,” he said.
“I also make sure that there is no stagnant water inside my house, especially in the bathrooms. These actions are quite tedious, but they are necessary,” he added.
Azhari also supports the state’s directives and would consider the vaccine if procured by the government.
Thinatayallam: Close cooperation within the community is key to preventing dengue.
“If the government procures the vaccine, I will take it even if I need to pay. Prevention is always better than cure,” he said.
He also called on the state government to ramp up its dengue awareness campaign through various media channels.
Taman Melawati in Gombak was listed as one of the dengue hotspots in the 21st epidemiological week (May 20 to 26).
For Kajang resident Kam Kim Tong, 58, current state-level dengue prevention measures failed to address the root cause, namely poor cleanliness.
Having a 4.6m x 1.8m garden filled with pandan and potato leaves in his compound, Kam said he cleaned the plot at least once a week to keep mosquitoes away.
“The cleaning includes weeding and pruning of overgrown leaves, which could become a suitable breeding ground for the mosquitoes,” he said.
Kam weeding his garden to keep it clean. He says authorities have failed to address the root cause of rising dengue cases.
Kam, who had no plans to take the dengue vaccine, called for improved law enforcement to deter littering.
He also suggested state aid for residents associations (RAs) to support dengue prevention initiatives such as gotong-royong.
“The amount of allocation can vary depending on the population size in the RA jurisdiction.
“Competitions between different residential areas can also be held.
“The cleanest area should receive extra reward as motivation,” he added.
In response, Jamaliah said RAs could apply for assistance through their respective councillors.
Fogging being carried out by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council at Permai Puteri Apartment in Taman Dato Ahmad Razali in February. — Filepic
“The state government has provided funds to local councils for dengue control and prevention programmes,” she said.
It was previously reported that Selangor government had allocated RM4.4mil in its budget for 2024 for such programmes.
“We also have designated funding for dengue programmes through our health volunteer team, ‘Sukarelawan Kesihatan Komuniti Selangor’ (Suka), which has been established in each state constituency,” Jamaliah added.
Thinatayallam Ponnusamy, chairman of the joint management body of Puchong’s Vista Lavender Apartment – one of the dengue hotspots in the state – said close cooperation within the community was key to preventing the viral disease.
“My staff will report the number of recorded dengue cases every day through a community group chat to keep the residents informed.
“If everyone does their part to maintain the cleanliness of their own compounds, the dengue situation will surely improve,” he said. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | dengue,Jamaliah,health,Qdenga,Wolbachia,prevention,cleanliness | SELANGOR has no plans to change its strategy of emphasising prevention measures to combat dengue, even as cases rise and a new vaccine against the disease has become available, says a state exco member. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/no-plans-for-wider-rollout-of-vaccine | |
1,370,977 | Temporary licences to operate in residential areas in PJ Old Town, Kg Cempaka | Initiative part of MBPJ support for entrepreneurs in PJ Old Town and Kampung Cempaka
SEVERAL business owners in areas such as Kampung Cempaka and Petaling Jaya Old Town will be issued temporary five-year licences so they can continue to operate.
This is part of Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) effort to legalise and support entrepreneurs, said mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon.
“Both Kampung Cempaka and Petaling Jaya Old Town are gazetted as housing areas.
“These businesses are unlicensed and some have been around for generations.
“In Kampung Cempaka, over 40 businesses will be issued temporary five-year licences to operate.
“After which, if they are deemed qualified, we will issue them a permanent licence.
“At Petaling Jaya Old Town, some 12 shops will also be issued temporary licences,” he said at the MBPJ Entrepreneur and Cooperative Carnival at the Civic Hall.
In Kampung Cempaka, only hair salons, cafes, restaurants, furniture stores, tailoring and furniture factories are allowed.
Mohamad Zahri launching MBPJ’s guidelines for new business activities.
Prohibited businesses include vehicle repair and painting workshops, glass and aluminium shops, storage facilities, service centres and furniture repair.
Mohamad Zahri said that to help the B40 group, MBPJ was also allowing certain businesses in Taman Medan, which consists of PJS 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Only micro businesses selling food, drinks and snacks are allowed, but sellers plying coconut and sugarcane water as well as satay are prohibited.
Also not allowed are showrooms and pet shops.
The city council also released guidelines for new businesses in the city, such as go-kart, golf simulator, pet hotel and animal grooming.
About 60 pet grooming and hotels are currently registered with MBPJ.
Mohamad Zahri said the new guidelines were based on discussion with the Veterinary Services Department and other experts.
The carnival, organised to celebrate MBPJ’s 18th anniversary, saw some 22 entrepreneurs showcasing their products and services.
Rozilah Abdul Rahman, a food vendor, decided to set up a booth selling batik and crafts there to supplement her income.
Her main business is traditional delicacies, specifically Rendang Tok and Bahulu Berdal.
She credited MBPJ for significantly aiding her entrepreneurial journey.
“MBPJ has helped me a lot by providing practical training and support,” said Rozilah who was one of 10 winners of MBPJ’s Best Entrepreneur 2023 award. | Metro | Metro News | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Petaling Jaya City Council. MBPJ,PJ Mayor,entrepreneur,koperasi,business license,PJ Old Town,Taman Medan,Kampung Cempaka | SEVERAL business owners in areas such as Kampung Cempaka and Petaling Jaya Old Town will be issued temporary five-year licences so they can continue to operate. | https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/06/14/temporary-licences-to-operate-in-residential-areas | |
1,375,164 | Northvolt reviewing plans for new Swedish gigafactory | OSLO (Reuters) - Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt is reviewing plans to build a new plant in Borlange in central Sweden but has not reached any decisions, it said on Wednesday, after a newspaper reported it was cancelling the project.
The report by Swedish business daily Dagens Industri cited a municipal official.
Northvolt said in a statement it was conducting a strategic review of the site and talking to several parties, including the municipality.
"However, that discussion is still ongoing, so we will return with further comments when a decision has been made," a spokesperson said.
"We are currently carrying out large-scale expansions in both Sweden, Germany and Canada based on the demand of our customers and investors," he said.
Northvolt said in 2022 it had agreed to buy an old paper mill in Borlange and would turn it into a new gigafactory with a potential annual production capacity of over 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of cathode material and employ up to 1,000 people.
The company at the time said the plant would play a key role in fulfilling over $50 billion in orders from key customers, and start the first part of its operations in late 2024.
The company has one battery plant in operation in northern Sweden, another under construction in Germany, and is also planning a plant in Canada.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo and Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen; Editing by Louise Rasmussen and Mark Potter) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-20 00:00:00 | Technology | OSLO (Reuters) - Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt is reviewing plans to build a new plant in Borlange in central Sweden but has not reached any decisions, it said on Wednesday, after a newspaper reported it was cancelling the project. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/20/northvolt-reviewing-plans-for-new-swedish-gigafactory | |
1,375,157 | Dell assembling racks for xAI's supercomputer, Elon Musk says | (Reuters) - Dell Technologies is assembling half of the racks for the supercomputer that xAI is building, billionaire Elon Musk said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday.
The U.S. businessman has recently told investors that his artificial intelligence startup xAI is planning to build a supercomputer to power the next version of its AI chatbot Grok, according to a report by the Information in May.
Dell CEO Michael Dell also said in a separate post on X that the company was building an "AI factory" with artificial-intelligence heavyweight Nvidia that would power the next version of xAI's chatbot Grok.
Training of AI models such as xAI's Grok requires tens of thousands of power-hungry chips that are in short supply.
Earlier this year, Musk said training the Grok 2 model took about 20,000 Nvidia H100 graphic processing units (GPUs), adding that the Grok 3 model and beyond will require 100,000 Nvidia H100 chips.
Musk has said he wants to get the proposed supercomputer running by the fall of 2025, according to the Information.
Musk founded xAI last year as a challenger to Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet's Google. Musk also co-founded OpenAI.
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Dell Technologies is assembling half of the racks for the supercomputer that xAI is building, billionaire Elon Musk said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/dell-assembling-racks-for-xai039s-supercomputer-elon-musk-says | |
1,375,109 | Amazon invests $11 billion to expand cloud and logistics in Germany | BERLIN (Reuters) - Amazon will invest 10 billion euros ($10.75 billion) as demand for its cloud services and retail goods in Europe's biggest economy keeps growing, the US technology and retail company said on Wednesday.
The greater part of the sum, 8.8 billion euros, will be spent by 2026 to expand the cloud infrastructure of its computing unit Amazon Web Service (AWS), as it sees rising potential in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven technologies in Europe.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the investment that would create more than 4,000 jobs this year by saying it underlines the country's attractiveness for investors.
Berlin is dealing with an economic downturn triggered by high energy costs and interest rates, as well as under-investment due in part to red tape.
The announcement brings the total amount of Amazon's planned investments in Germany to 17.8 billion euros.
AWS was considering multi-billion investments in the expansion of its data centres in Italy, Reuters reported in May.
($1 = 0.9307 euros)
(Reporting by Andrey Sychev; Editing by Madeline Chambers) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | BERLIN (Reuters) - Amazon will invest 10 billion euros ($10.75 billion) as demand for its cloud services and retail goods in Europe's biggest economy keeps growing, the US technology and retail company said on Wednesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/amazon-invests-11-billion-to-expand-cloud-and-logistics-in-germany | |
1,375,031 | UK probes Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion deal for Juniper Networks | (Reuters) -Britain's competition regulator said on Wednesday it was investigating whether Hewlett Packard Enterprise's planned $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks would result in competition concerns in the country.
The Competition and Markets Authority has until Aug. 14 to decide whether it would refer the deal for a deeper probe.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise, or HPE, said in January it would buy networking gear maker Juniper to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings.
HPE expects to double its networking business through the deal, which came as the AI gold rush has led companies to pour billions of dollars into upgrading and developing their technology.
HPE continues to expect to close the deal by the end of 2024 or early next year as it works with the UK regulator to complete necessary reviews and secure clearance as soon as possible, the company said in an email to Reuters.
U.S.-based Juniper did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The U.S. market is closed for the Juneteenth holiday.
(Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Yamini Kalia, Editing by Savio D'Souza and Elaine Hardcastle) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Britain's competition regulator said on Wednesday it was investigating whether Hewlett Packard Enterprise's planned $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks would result in competition concerns in the country. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/uk-probes-hewlett-packard-enterprise039s-14-billion-deal-for-juniper-networks | |
1,374,808 | Huawei, Tencent near deal to exclude WeChat from revenue sharing | Huawei Technologies Co is nearing a deal to let Tencent Holdings Ltd’s WeChat super app operate fully on its Harmony mobile platform without sharing any revenue, a concession designed to defend its newfound lead over Apple Inc in China.
The deal, in which Huawei will agree not to charge Tencent any fee for in-app transactions within the WeChat universe, comes after months-long negotiations between the two Shenzhen-based tech behemoths, according to people with knowledge of the matter. They declined to be named discussing private corporate information.
The arrangement will likely make WeChat a rare exception in Huawei’s plan to start charging a fee for content and services on its app store. Huawei is considering taking a cut of in-app purchases on its Harmony platform, and it has been discussing a fee of about 20% with game developers, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week.
In return, Tencent will maintain and update the WeChat app that hundreds of millions of Chinese rely on daily for everything from payment to gaming, the people said.
The agreement, once sealed, would also be a boon for Tencent as it looks to drive more sales from WeChat’s mini programs, its platform for lite-versions of popular apps such as Didi. Tencent generated 1.5 trillion yuan (RM973.46bil or US$207bil) in gross merchandise value from its mini programs in the September quarter last year.
Currently users can download and use WeChat on Huawei handsets, but the two companies do not have a formal arrangement that obligates Tencent to provide regular updates to the app. The deal, which will not create a perceivable change for phone owners, also requires Huawei to continue to host and support WeChat.
The talks are ongoing and the two sides could still fail to agree on a deal, the people said. Huawei shifted to its in-house Harmony OS after US sanctions cut it off from working with Google, the proprietor of Android.
Striking a deal is particularly crucial for Huawei because the company is moving to a new version of Harmony that may lose access to WeChat if Tencent didn’t continue to support the app. The agreement helps ensure that WeChat will be ready when Huawei makes its transition.
Huawei has also reached out to ByteDance Ltd’s Douyin in an attempt to discuss revenue sharing, but the Beijing-based social media company has not expressed any interest in opening talks, said one of the people.
Huawei, Tencent and ByteDance did not respond to requests seeking comment.
Huawei’s negotiation with Tencent emerged from a broader effort to begin monetising its smartphone platform, which just overtook Apple’s iOS in terms of market share in China. Apple also doesn’t take a cut of WeChat transactions but it does levy a 30% commission on purchases of WeChat Beans, a virtual currency users can spend on various in-app features such as tipping a livestreamer, according to the people with knowledge of the matter. Apple did not respond to requests seeking comment. – Bloomberg | Tech | Smartphones | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Smartphones,Mobile apps,China | Huawei Technologies Co is nearing a deal to let Tencent Holdings Ltd’s WeChat super app operate fully on its Harmony mobile platform without sharing any revenue, a concession designed to defend its newfound lead over Apple Inc in China. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/huawei-tencent-near-deal-to-exclude-wechat-from-revenue-sharing | |
1,374,775 | 348 Hongkongers, including 50 students, fell victim to fake online job ads in May | Nearly 350 Hongkongers, including about 50 students, fell prey to fake online job offers in May, marking the city’s highest number of such cases in a single month.
Police said on Wednesday reports of online employment fraud soared to 348 last month, a 60% increase from the 217 logged in April. The force did not reveal financial losses involved.
Officers handled 553 online job scam reports in the first three months of this year, with financial losses amounting to HK$154mil (RM92.89mil or US$19.7mil).
“Among the victims in May, students were the most affected group, with about 50 students falling victim to bogus job offers,” police said in a post on their CyberDefender Facebook page.
Police have warned residents to be wary of job offers, especially those purporting to offer attractive salaries but not stating any requirements in terms of academic qualification or work experience.
“As the summer holiday approaches, students who are interested in finding summer jobs need to be cautious, to avoid falling into the trap of ‘click farming’,” the force said.
In “click farming” ruses, swindlers sent fake job offers through SMS, or left online adverts, promising job-hunters cash rewards for e-shopping.
Jobseekers were told their aim was to boost sales and the popularity of a retail outlet by using their own money to shop online, with swindlers promising to pay them back with a commission.
Victims realised they had been scammed after they did not receive the money they had spent, as well as the promised commission, and were unable to reach the fraudsters.
A force insider warned tricksters sometimes used small commission payments as “bait” to coax their targets into making more transactions and spending even more money.
In the Cyberdefender post, police said scammers would post advertisements or articles in job-seeking groups on social media platforms, offering various types of jobs as bait.
“They then invent different excuses to lure jobseekers to bogus websites to engage in ‘click farming’ activities with the promise of paying them commission,” the force said.
“Sometimes, they even pretend to be representatives of different companies and carry out fake recruitment activities using the company logos.”
Police reminded the public to use reliable job search channels to find employment and understand the background and nature of the companies they apply to.
“If the other party only provides WhatsApp as a means of contact, their phone number cannot be reached, and they offer jobs without requiring education or interviews, it’s highly likely that it’s a scam in nine out of 10 cases,” the force warned.
Click farming pushed the number of overall online employment fraud cases to 3,518 last year, with the recorded losses reaching HK$760mil (RM458.41mil).
In 2022, 2,884 cases with financial losses amounting to HK$459mil (RM276.86mil) were recorded. The figure is more than four times the HK$85mil (RM51.27mil) swindlers pocketed in 1,063 cases in 2021.
A total of 236 cases involving financial losses of HK$10.5mil (RM6.33mil) were registered in 2020.
Police advised residents to use the force’s Scameter search engine, accessible through the CyberDefender website or app, to check for suspicious or fraudulent schemes.
The search engine contains information that can help the public identify suspicious web addresses, emails, platform usernames, bank accounts and mobile phone numbers and IP addresses. – South China Morning Post
#JanganKenaScam | Tech | Internet | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | SCMP,China,Internet,Courts Crime,Scam | Police advise students who are interested in finding summer jobs to be wary of falling into ‘click farming’ trap. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/348-hongkongers-including-50-students-fell-victim-to-fake-online-job-ads-in-may | |
1,374,774 | China influencer who claims to be champion of working classes in videos exposed as ‘heartless boss’ in real life | A social media influencer in China with 16 million followers – famous for her portrayal of a nanny speaking up for the working classes – has been exposed as a hypocritical and heartless boss in real life.
Known online as Seven Gorillas, or Qi Ke Xingxing in Mandarin, the influencer, based in central China’s Hubei province, plays a rebellious nanny in the online short video series Reborn: I Became a Nanny in a Feel-Good Drama.
Her character, Wang Ma, exposes workplace injustices and promotes equality, while satirising situations in which workers are exploited and oppressed by their bosses.
Her portrayal is viewed by many workers as giving a voice to their struggles in real life.
Since its debut in March, the series has released 21 episodes, helping the influencer gain about one million followers within a month of its debut, while also significantly boosting the profits of her multichannel network company, Wild Culture.
According to data from Xingtu, a prominent China influencer marketing platform, the company’s 20-second advertising videos are priced at 450,000 yuan (RM291,978 or US$63,000) while those from 21-60 seconds and longer than one minute are priced at 500,000 yuan (RM324,420) and 600,000 yuan (RM389,304), respectively.
However, Wild Culture was recently exposed for exploiting its staff.
It was revealed that core positions recruited online, such as directors, are paid only 4,000 yuan (RM2,595 or US$560) a month and the company does not provide social insurance during the probationary period.
Additionally, employees had to bring their own computers to work, extras appearing in short videos were unpaid and the company followed a schedule of alternating six and five-day working weeks.
On May 26, Wild Culture responded and acknowledged the allegations, stating that it would rectify the situation.
The company said it would implement a double weekend shift system so employees who work on Saturday and Sunday have two rest days during the week.
It also said it would provide social insurance during the probationary period.
The company also announced an increase in the minimum salary for all positions.
“For both current and newly hired employees, the minimum salary will be no less than 6,000 yuan (RM3,893 or US$850). Additionally, from now on, the company will only recruit extras through formal channels and ensure they are paid on time.”
Social media observers have called out what they call hypocrisy.
“Using interviews to exploit applicants to write scripts for her without hiring them was the worst part. The other issues are just the final straw,” one person said.
“Offering two-day weekends and immediate insurance upon hiring are basic rights for workers, yet they’re being touted as highlights. Ridiculous!” said another.
“Exploiting her employees – what a disgraceful display,” a third person wrote. – South China Morning Post | Tech | Social media | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | SCMP,China,Social media,Internet | Online star plays workers’ champion in videos has 16 million followers, her company admits exploiting staff, insists on unpaid work, long shifts. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/china-influencer-who-claims-to-be-champion-of-working-classes-in-videos-exposed-as-heartless-boss-in-real-life | |
1,374,504 | Trump Media says SEC's decision may help it get $247 million | (Reuters) - Trump Media & Technology Group said on Tuesday the Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the company's filing for resale of certain shares and warrants, potentially giving it about $247 million in proceeds.
The company said that with its warrants now being exercisable, it expects to be "well-positioned" to pursue TV streaming, other enhancements to the platform and potential mergers and acquisitions.
Shares of the company that owns former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social, were down about 14% in extended trading over potential equity dilution.
Trump Media said that the proceeds from the potential sale of these warrants would supplement more than $200 million in unrestricted cash it currently retains.
The company added that an additional $40 million of restricted cash on its balance sheet will become unrestricted as a result of the registration statement on Form S-1 becoming effective.
The company's stock has fallen nearly 80% so far this year, as of last close, and it has a market capitalization of $6.14 billion, according to LSEG data.
(Reporting by Leroy Leo and Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Trump Media & Technology Group said on Tuesday the Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the company's filing for resale of certain shares and warrants, potentially giving it about $247 million in proceeds. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/trump-media-says-sec039s-decision-may-help-it-get-247-million | |
1,374,503 | Apple turns to third parties for 'buy now, pay later' after sunsetting product | (Reuters) - Although Apple is discontinuing its buy now, pay later service launched last year, the company is sticking with the product, with a successor to the offering launching later this year via third-parties like Affirm.
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) exploded in popularity as the COVID-19 pandemic forced more shoppers online, and the product has continued to resonate with consumers. BNPL loans drove $75 billion in online spending in 2023, up 14.3% from 2022, according to Adobe Analytics.
In a statement on Monday, Apple said its new solution "will enable us to bring flexible payments to more users, in more places across the globe in collaboration with Apple Pay-enabled banks and lenders." It did not comment further about why it was ending its independent BNPL offering.
Existing users of the BNPL service, Apple Pay Later will still be able to manage and pay open loans via the Wallet app, the company said.
Apple announced last week that Apple Pay users would be able to access new installment loan offerings this fall, including the ability to apply for BNPL loans directly through Affirm when they check out with Apple Pay. Customers will also be able to access installments from credit and debit cards, the tech giant said.
Analysts had viewed Apple's original BNPL product as a competitor to BNPL providers like Affirm. It offered customers the ability to buy products and pay in four interest-free installments for items up to $1,000. Affirm offers users the option to pay for products in two or four installments, as well as monthly installments for higher-cost items.
"To me, this sounds a lot like what we see happening with debit cards," said Sean Gelles, director of payments intelligence at J.D. Power. "Regardless of which debit card a consumer has funding their purchases, as long as they use Apple Pay, it’s Apple that owns the experience."
Gelles added that if Apple's new portfolio of BNPL products are delivered via Apple Pay there would be "minimal risk for Apple as they will thereby retain the relationship with the customer."
While Apple could choose to partner with additional BNPL providers in the future -- such as Affirm rival Klarna -- a source familiar with the matter highlighted Affirm's technology and underwriting expertise, as well as the company's choice to not charge users late fees.
Klarna declined to comment.
Shares in Affirm were last down 0.7% on the day, a move that one analyst chalked up to weaker-than-expected retail sales data in May.
(Reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; additional reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh; editing by Megan Davies and David Gregorio) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Although Apple is discontinuing its buy now, pay later service launched last year, the company is sticking with the product, with a successor to the offering launching later this year via third-parties like Affirm. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/apple-turns-to-third-parties-for-039buy-now-pay-later039-after-sunsetting-product | |
1,374,502 | AMD investigating claims that company's data was stolen in hack | (Reuters) -Advanced Micro Devices said on Tuesday it was looking into claims that the company's data was stolen in a hack by a cybercriminal organization.
"We are working closely with law enforcement officials and a third-party hosting partner to investigate the claim and the significance of the data," the chipmaker said in a statement.
According to media reports, an organization called "Intelbroker" conducted a breach of AMD's data.
The breach covers a vast variety of sensitive information, including data on future products, customer databases and financial records, among others, the reports said.
Shares of AMD were marginally down in extended trading.
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Advanced Micro Devices said on Tuesday it was looking into claims that the company's data was stolen in a hack by a cybercriminal organization. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/amd-investigating-claims-that-company-data-was-stolen-in-hack | |
1,374,500 | Qualcomm reaches $75 million settlement over sales and licensing practices | (Reuters) - Qualcomm agreed to pay $75 million to resolve a lawsuit in which shareholders accused the chipmaker of defrauding them by hiding its anticompetitive sales and licensing practices.
A preliminary all-cash settlement was filed on Tuesday with the federal court in San Diego.
It requires approval by U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta, who certified the lawsuit as a class action in March 2023.
Qualcomm and six individual defendants, including former chief executives Paul Jacobs and Steven Mollenkopf, denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
The San Diego-based company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shareholders accused Qualcomm of artificially inflating its share price between February 2012 and January 2017 by repeatedly describing its chip sales and technology licensing as separate businesses, when in fact Qualcomm bundled them to stifle competition.
In January 2017, the Federal Trade Commission and Apple sued Qualcomm separately in connection with its alleged efforts to monopolize the market for baseband processors, a type of chip used in cellphones.
Apple said Qualcomm used its monopoly position to overcharge for chips, and seek onerous and costly terms for technology licenses.
Qualcomm called the claims baseless, but its share price fell 13% on the first full trading day after Apple sued.
The case is In re Qualcomm Inc Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, No. 17-00121.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Qualcomm agreed to pay $75 million to resolve a lawsuit in which shareholders accused the chipmaker of defrauding them by hiding its anticompetitive sales and licensing practices. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/qualcomm-reaches-75-million-settlement-over-sales-and-licensing-practices | |
1,374,499 | Amazon fined $5.9 million over warehouse worker quotas in California | (Reuters) - Amazon.com has been fined $5.9 million by a California labor regulator who says the online retail giant failed to properly inform workers of productivity quotas at two warehouses, including one where some workers are trying to unionize.
The office of California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower announced the fines, which were issued in May, on Tuesday.
A 2022 California law requires employers to provide written descriptions of quotas to workers if they can be disciplined for failing to complete jobs at a specified speed. The commissioner said Amazon violated that law nearly 60,000 times in a five-month period ending in March at massive warehouses in Moreno Valley and Redlands, outside of Los Angeles.
Amazon spokesperson Maureen Lynch Vogel said the company is appealing the citations and denied that warehouse workers have fixed quotas.
"At Amazon, individual performance is evaluated over a long period of time, in relation to how the entire site’s team is performing. Employees can – and are encouraged to – review their performance whenever they wish," Lynch Vogel said in a statement.
Criticisms of Amazon's alleged quota system have been a focal point of a nationwide campaign to unionize its warehouses. Workers at a New York City warehouse voted to join a union in 2022, while others at two facilities in New York and Alabama have since spurned unions.
A union in 2022 filed a petition to hold an election at the Moreno Valley warehouse, known as ONT8, which was later withdrawn amid allegations of illegal union-busting activity by Amazon. An administrative judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on those claims, which Amazon has denied, in August.
Garcia-Brower in a statement said Amazon's quota system is exactly what the California law was designed to prevent.
"Undisclosed quotas expose workers to increased pressure to work faster and can lead to higher injury rates and other violations by forcing workers to skip breaks," she said.
Congress is considering a Democratic-backed bill that would largely mirror the California law by requiring written notice of quotas and prohibiting quotas that prevent workers from taking breaks or using bathrooms.
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, one of the bill's sponsors, said the fines against Amazon announced on Tuesday highlighted the need to crack down on "punishing" quota systems.
"We need more than a patchwork of state laws," Markey said in a statement.
(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Rod Nickel) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Amazon.com has been fined $5.9 million by a California labor regulator who says the online retail giant failed to properly inform workers of productivity quotas at two warehouses, including one where some workers are trying to unionize. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/amazon-fined-59-million-over-warehouse-worker-quotas-in-california | |
1,374,497 | Child privacy complaint against TikTok referred to US Justice Dept | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday it had referred a complaint against the social media platform TikTok and its parent company ByteDance over potential violations children's privacy to the Justice Department.
In March, a source told Reuters the FTC could resolve a probe into TikTok over allegedly faulty privacy and data security practices by either filing suit or reaching a settlement.
"The investigation uncovered reason to believe named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and that a proceeding is in the public interest, so the Commission has voted to refer a complaint to the Department of Justice," the FTC said in a statement.
Reuters in 2020 first reported the FTC and the U.S. Justice Department were looking into allegations the popular social media app failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy.
"Although the Commission does not typically make public the fact that it has referred a complaint, we have determined that doing so here is in the public interest," the statement continued, without giving details.
TikTok said Tuesday it has been working with the FTC for more than a year to address the agency's concerns.
"We're disappointed the agency is pursuing litigation instead of continuing to work with us on a reasonable solution," TikTok said. "We strongly disagree with the FTC's allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed."
The probe is separate from ongoing concerns in Congress about the potential that the data of TikTok's 170 million U.S. users could be improperly accessed by the Chinese government. TikTok denies the allegation.
TikTok is set on Thursday to file its legal brief in its lawsuit challenging a law passed in April that requires its Chinese-parent ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Tyler Clifford and David Ljunggren; editing by Rami Ayyub and Stephen Coates) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday it had referred a complaint against the social media platform TikTok and its parent company ByteDance over potential violations children's privacy to the Justice Department. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/us-ftc-refers-complaint-against-tiktok-to-justice-department | |
1,374,495 | Huge tech ETF set to buy $10 billion in Nvidia shares | (Reuters) - One of the world’s largest technology funds is set to ramp up its exposure to Nvidia, which has become the world's most valuable company following a blistering run in its shares.
The $72.34 billion Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, managed by State Street Global Advisors, will buy some $10 billion shares of Nvidia while slashing its exposure to Apple, Matthew Bartolini, head of SPDR Americas research at State Street confirmed.
The changes are being made so the fund can bring its holdings inline with pending changes to the S&P Dow Jones Technology Select Sector index, which it tracks. The reshuffle would leave Microsoft and Nvidia sharing the top spot in both the fund and the index, with Apple becoming the runner-up, according to Bartolini.
On Tuesday, chipmaker Nvidia became the world’s most valuable company as its market value hit $3.33 trillion, surpassing that of Microsoft.
Until now, the technology ETF had 22.5% of its assets invested in Microsoft, 21% in Apple, and only 6% in Nvidia, according to Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. That caused the fund to underperform its benchmark as Nvidia’s shares rose 173% this year.
By the end of trading this Friday, when the index rebalancing takes place based on last Friday's market cap values, Microsoft will retain its dominance within the SPDR ETF's portfolio, with a 21% weighting. Nvidia will have a 21% weighting as well, while Apple will plunge to 4.5%.
Nvidia's shares were recently up 3.7% at $135.85 while Apple's were off 1.5% at $213.33.
"The fact that Nvidia is up and Apple shares are down today may reflect that a rebalancing" in the ETF already is underway, Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers.
Index and portfolio construction rules mean that only two of the three technology giants can be held at a full weight -- 21% -- in the ETF. Any other large positions can't exceed 4.5%. The rule, set in place in 1998 when the index was launched, caps total exposure to all stocks with a weighting of more than 5% in the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index at 50% of the portfolio.
The fact that three technology giants are vying for the top two spots in the ETF's portfolio is "unprecedented," Bartolini noted.
(Reporting by Suzanne McGee, additional reporting by Lisa Pauline Mattackal; Editing by Sharon Singleton) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - One of the world’s largest technology funds is set to ramp up its exposure to Nvidia, which has become the world's most valuable company following a blistering run in its shares. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/huge-tech-etf-set-to-buy-10-billion-in-nvidia-shares | |
1,374,493 | AI fever drives Nvidia’s rise to world’s most valuable company | NEW YORK (Reuters) -Nvidia has become the world’s most valuable company following a staggering rally in its shares, underlining the outsized role investors expect artificial intelligence to play in the global economy over coming years.
Nvidia shares rose 3.5% on Tuesday, giving it a market value of about $3.34 trillion. That pushed the semiconductor bellwether past Microsoft and Apple, which had been jostling for the top spots in recent days.
The surge in Nvidia's market value has been driven by demand for its chips, which are the gold standard in the AI space. The company's shares are up more than 170% this year and have risen about 1,100% since their October 2022 low.
Blockbuster earnings and broadening investor enthusiasm over AI are supercharging Nvidia's rally. That fervor has been reflected in Nvidia’s market value, which took only 96 days to go from $2 trillion to $3 trillion.
Microsoft, one of the two other companies to reach those rarefied levels, took 945 days to go from $2 trillion to $3 trillion while Apple took 1,044 days to make the leap, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
Previously, just 11 U.S. companies since 1925 have reached the top spot in market value on a closing basis, according to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Fortunes have diverged for past holders of the top position in recent decades. Microsoft reached No. 1 in the late 1990s but then its shares struggled for years during the early 2000s following the dotcom bubble, only to come roaring back in the latter half of the last decade.
Exxon Mobil became the world’s most valuable company in the 2000s but its shares retreated following a downturn in oil prices.
To some, Cisco is the cautionary tale. The company’s shares peaked at over $80 in March 2000 in the midst of the dotcom boom, during which investors often assigned dizzying valuations to internet-related companies.
Bespoke’s analysts recently contrasted the trajectories of Nvidia and Cisco, whose products were seen as essential in supporting the internet's infrastructure.
"NVDA's run has been incredible, but it will need to keep growing from here and stave off competition if its stock is going to keep putting up stellar returns," Bespoke said in a recent note.
For now, Nvidia’s earnings are supporting its stock price. Revenue more than tripled to $26 billion in the latest quarter, while net income jumped seven-fold to $14.9 billion.
Revenue for the current fiscal year is expected to roughly double to $120 billion, and then rise another 33% in fiscal 2026, to $160 billion, according to LSEG data.
Nvidia's impressive financial performance and forecasts have led its stock valuation, by some measures, to moderate despite the surge in its share price. For example, Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings ratio last stood at 43, according to LSEG Datastream. That is higher than the 25 level it stood at to start the year but below levels it reached for much of last year. By contrast, the S&P 500 trades at 21 times earnings.
While Nvidia has been the standout performer, it is not the only stock to benefit from enthusiasm about the profit potential for AI. Shares of other technology companies, including Super Micro Computer and Arm Holdings, have also risen sharply this year.
(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf in New YorkAdditional reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York and Noel Randewich in Oakland, CaliforniaEditing by Ira Iosebashvili and Matthew Lewis) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | NEW YORK (Reuters) -Nvidia has become the world’s most valuable company following a staggering rally in its shares, underlining the outsized role investors expect artificial intelligence to play in the global economy over coming years. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/ai-fever-drives-nvidias-rise-to-worlds-most-valuable-company | |
1,374,489 | Microsoft to buy 8 million carbon credits from BTG Pactual in largest-ever sale | SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual's forestry arm said on Tuesday it agreed to sell 8 million carbon offset credits to Microsoft, the largest-ever sale of such credits.
BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG) did not disclose financial details of the transaction, which MSCI Carbon Markets said is the largest known carbon dioxide removal credit transaction to date.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Carbon offsets allow companies to offset some of their greenhouse gas emissions by paying for actions to cut emissions elsewhere. Each credit represents the reduction of one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions and can be used to meet corporate climate goals.
BTG Pactual TIG said the credits were generated by its forest restoration projects in Latin America.
(Reporting by Paula Arend Laier in Sao Paulo; writing by Andre Romani; Editing by David Gregorio) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual's forestry arm said on Tuesday it agreed to sell 8 million carbon offset credits to Microsoft, the largest-ever sale of such credits. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/microsoft-to-buy-8-million-carbon-credits-from-btg-pactual-in-largest-ever-sale | |
1,374,487 | Meta must face Australian billionaire Forrest's US lawsuit over scam Facebook crypto ads | (Reuters) - A U.S. judge rejected Meta Platforms' bid to dismiss a lawsuit by billionaire Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest over scam Facebook advertisements that show him promoting fake cryptocurrency and other fraudulent investments.
In a decision on Monday, U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts in San Jose, California said Australia's second-richest person can try to prove that Meta's negligence in allowing the ads breached its duty to operate in a commercially reasonable manner.
Forrest can also try to prove that his name and likeness was misappropriated by Meta, and not just by fraudsters behind the bogus ads.
"Dr. Forrest claims that Meta profited more from ads that included his likeness than it would have if the ads had not," Pitts wrote. "This is enough to adequately plead that the alleged misappropriation was to Meta's advantage."
Lawyers for Meta declined to comment on Tuesday.
The Palo Alto, California-based company had argued that Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act immunized it from liability as a publisher of third-party content.
But the judge said Forrest's claims "present a factual dispute regarding whether Meta's ad systems were neutral tools that anyone could use (or misuse) or whether the tools themselves contributed to the content of the ads."
Forrest said more than 1,000 of the ads appeared on Facebook in Australia between April and November 2023, leading to millions of dollars in losses for victims.
The 62-year-old is executive chairman of iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group, and with his family is worth US$16.5 billion (AUD$24.8 billion), according to Forbes magazine.
In a statement, Forrest said Pitts' decision was the first where a social media company was unable to invoke Section 230 immunity in a U.S. civil case over its advertising business.
"This is a crucial strategic victory in the battle to hold Facebook accountable," he said.
Forrest is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
In April, Australian prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges that he brought against Meta in that country over scam cryptocurrency ads.
Forrest had sued under Australian laws that let individuals criminally prosecute foreign companies upon receiving prosecutors' consent.
The case is Forrest v Facebook Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-03699.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - A U.S. judge rejected Meta Platforms' bid to dismiss a lawsuit by billionaire Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest over scam Facebook advertisements that show him promoting fake cryptocurrency and other fraudulent investments. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/meta-must-face-australian-billionaire-forrest039s-us-lawsuit-over-scam-facebook-crypto-ads | |
1,374,481 | Nvidia eclipses Microsoft as world's most valuable company | (Reuters) - Nvidia became the world's most valuable company on Tuesday, dethroning tech heavyweight Microsoft as its high-end processors play a central role in a scramble to dominate artificial intelligence technology.
Shares of the chipmaker climbed 3.5% to $135.58, lifting its market capitalization to $3.335 trillion, just days after overtaking iPhone maker Apple to become the second most valuable company.
Microsoft's stock market value was $3.317 trillion as its shares dipped 0.45%.
Apple's stock slipped over 1%, leaving its value at $3.286 trillion.
Nvidia's stunning surge in market value over the past year has become emblematic of a Wall Street frenzy driven by optimism about emerging AI technology.
While Nvidia's rally has lifted the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record highs, some investors worry that unbridled optimism about AI could evaporate if signs emerge of a slowdown in spending on the technology.
"It's Nvidia's market; we're all just trading in it," said Steve Sosnick, chief market strategist at Interactive Brokers.
Nvidia has also become by far the most traded company on Wall Street, with daily turnover recently averaging $50 billion, compared to around $10 billion each for Apple, Microsoft and Tesla, according to LSEG data. The chipmaker now accounts for about 16% of all trading in S&P 500 companies.
Nvidia's stock has nearly tripled so far this year, compared with a rise of about 19% in Microsoft shares, with demand for its top-of-the-line processors outpacing supply.
Tech giants Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Google-owner Alphabet are competing to build out their AI computing capabilities and add the technology to their products and services.
An insatiable appetite for Nvidia's AI processors, viewed as far superior to competitors' offerings, has left them in tight supply, and many investors view Nvidia as the greatest winner to date from surging AI development.
"Nvidia has been getting a lot of positive attention and has been doing a lot of things very correctly, but a small misstep is likely to cause a major correction in the stock, and investors should be careful," said Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in New York.
Tuesday's gain lifted Nvidia's stock to a record high and added over $110 billion to its market capitalization, equivalent to the entire value of Lockheed Martin .
The company's market value expanded from $1 trillion to $2 trillion in just nine months in February, while taking just over three months to hit $3 trillion in June.
Since its blowout forecast about a year ago, the company has consistently breezed past Wall Street's lofty expectations for revenue and profit, with demand for its graphics processors far outstripping supply as companies rush to embed AI applications.
Nvidia executives said in May that demand for its Blackwell AI chips could exceed supply "well into next year."
Sharp increases in analysts' expectations for Nvidia's future earnings have outpaced its stellar stock gains, resulting in a fall in the stock's earnings valuation.
Nvidia recently traded at 44 times expected earnings, down from over 84 about a year ago, LSEG data showed.
Increasing the appeal for its highly valued stock among individual investors, Nvidia last week split its stock 10-for-one.
(Reporting by Shristi Achar, Medha Singh and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru, and by Noel Randewich in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Suzanne McGee and Stephen Culp in New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Shounak Dasgupta and Lisa Shumaker) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Nvidia became the world's most valuable company on Tuesday, dethroning tech heavyweight Microsoft as its high-end processors play a central role in a scramble to dominate artificial intelligence technology. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/nvidia-becomes-world039s-most-valuable-company | |
1,374,338 | HPE CEO unveils 'simple' AI hardware aimed to help businesses | (Reuters) - Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Antonio Neri pitched a new line of hardware, software and services to businesses interested in deploying various forms of artificial intelligence at its Las Vegas conference on Tuesday.
Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, businesses of all sizes have been scrambling to develop and incorporate AI, to do things such as make further use of the vast amounts of data they store.
Yet the chips, hardware and software needed to build and run the necessary AI applications can often be complex and risky, according to Neri.
"These customers want simplicity," he said.
In HPE's view there are "tens" of companies building advanced AI models and over a hundred governments potentially interested in building supercomputers and cloud computing infrastructure. But there is a significant opportunity to sell advanced AI hardware to the large group of businesses that are not focused on pushing the frontiers of tech.
"Enterprises are in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions," Neri said in an interview with Reuters ahead of the conference.
At the moment, HPE's AI business for that segment is roughly 15% of its AI revenue, with the vast majority of the remaining amount going to large cloud computing companies such as Amazon.com and Microsoft.
HPE said it will offer servers powered by Nvidia's advanced graphics processing units used for AI computations and a host of other hardware and software the company has built. The new family of server and services products will be available in the fall, the company said.
On top of the hardware and software, HPE said it planned to offer consulting services that included help to manage and maintain the systems.
"This announcement is about the customer segment, to speed up the deployment of AI to accelerate this industrial revolution," Neri said.
(Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Antonio Neri pitched a new line of hardware, software and services to businesses interested in deploying various forms of artificial intelligence at its Las Vegas conference on Tuesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/19/hpe-ceo-unveils-039simple039-ai-hardware-aimed-to-help-businesses | |
1,374,281 | Verizon uses GenAI to improve customer loyalty | STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - U.S. telecom company Verizon is using generative AI to stop 100,000 customers from leaving its service this year by predicting why a customer is calling, connecting them with a suitable agent and reducing store visit time, CEO Hans Vestberg said on Tuesday.
The company receives around 170 million calls every year and with GenAI it can now determine 80% of the time why a customer is calling, he said. "I have 60,000 call agents and I know what they are really good at so I can match your call with the right agent," he added, saying this would mean 100,000 customers staying with Verizon.
Earlier this year, Verizon launched several GenAI-backed initiatives focused on customer service. Other companies such as Swedish fintech Klarna have been using GenAI to cut response time in handling customers and save costs.
"We already have four generative AI products in commercial use," Vestberg said at the Future Talent Summit in Stockholm.
"We have 1,500 data points on each telephone number," he said. "We don't expose the data for anybody else. We run all our data, large language models inside our network, not outside."
Verizon has about 70 million store visits every year, and the company can personalize any offer as soon as a customer visits, cutting roughly seven minutes per store visit, he said.
It had reported about 145 million wireless retail connections in 2023. Its churn rate, percentage of customers who stopped using the company's services, hovered around 1%.
"We believe this year we can have less churn ... it's an experience for you, for my employee, and ultimately I'll make some more money," Vestberg said. (This story has been refiled to add the missing word 'AI' in paragraph 1)
(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, European Technology & Telecoms Correspondent, based in Stockholm, Editing by Louise Heavens) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - U.S. telecom company Verizon is using generative AI to stop 100,000 customers from leaving its service this year by predicting why a customer is calling, connecting them with a suitable agent and reducing store visit time, CEO Hans Vestberg said on Tuesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/verizon-uses-genai-to-improve-customer-loyalty | |
1,374,242 | Snap launches AI tools for advanced augmented reality | (Reuters) - Snapchat owner Snap on Tuesday launched its latest iteration of generative AI technology that will allow users to see more realistic special effects when using phone cameras to film themselves, as it seeks to stay ahead of social media rivals.
Snap has been a pioneer in the field of augmented reality (AR), which overlays computerized effects onto photos or videos of the real world. While the company remains much smaller than rival platforms like Meta, it is betting that making more advanced and whimsical special effects, called lenses, will attract new users and advertisers to Snapchat.
AR developers are now able to create AI-powered lenses, and Snapchat users will be able to use them in their content, the company said.
Santa Monica, California-based Snap also announced an upgraded version of its developer program called Lens Studio, which artists and developers can use to create AR features for Snapchat or other websites and apps.
Bobby Murphy, Snap's chief technology officer, said the enhanced Lens Studio would reduce the time it takes to create AR effects from weeks to hours and produce more complex work.
"What's fun for us is that these tools both stretch the creative space in which people can work, but they're also easy to use, so newcomers can build something unique very quickly," Murphy said in an interview.
Lens Studio now includes a new suite of generative AI tools, such as an AI assistant that can answer questions if a developer needs help. Another tool will allow artists to type a prompt and automatically generate a three-dimensional image that they can use for their AR lens, removing the need to develop a 3D model from scratch.
Earlier versions of AR technology have been capable only of simple effects, like placing a hat on a person's head in a video. Snap's advancements will now allow AR developers to create more realistic lenses, such as having the hat move seamlessly along with a person's head and match the lighting in the video, Murphy said.
Snap also has plans to create full body, rather than just facial, AR experiences such as generating a new outfit, which is currently very difficult to create, Murphy added.
(Reporting by Sheila Dang in Austin; editing by Barbara Lewis and Will Dunham) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Snapchat owner Snap on Tuesday launched its latest iteration of generative AI technology that will allow users to see more realistic special effects when using phone cameras to film themselves, as it seeks to stay ahead of social media rivals. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/snap-launches-ai-tools-for-advanced-augmented-reality | |
1,374,240 | Decagon raises $35 million for AI-powered customer service | SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - - Decagon, a startup that sells artificial intelligence-powered customer support solutions, said on Tuesday it had raised $35 million in Series A and seed funding. Accel led the series A round with participation from Andreessen Horowitz.
Decagon uses generative AI to replace or augment a company's customer support workforce.
Generative AI, which came to prominence when Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched the viral ChatGPT chatbot in late 2022, is seen as a game-changer for the customer-service industry, as the technology excels at imitating human communication and providing personalized interactions.
The funding round puts Decagon in competition with other well-capitalized customer support AI startups like Forethought, which has raised over $90 million from New Enterprise Associates and other venture capital funds.
Accel partner Ivan Zhou told Reuters that Decagon's product is differentiated because in addition to powering a customer-support chatbot, it also functions as a company's internal customer support liaison and provides services like creating software bug reports, analyzing customer emails to suggest product improvements or writing internal documentation.
(Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - - Decagon, a startup that sells artificial intelligence-powered customer support solutions, said on Tuesday it had raised $35 million in Series A and seed funding. Accel led the series A round with participation from Andreessen Horowitz. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/decagon-raises-35-million-for-ai-powered-customer-service | |
1,374,165 | Los Angeles school board votes to ban smartphones | (Reuters) -The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday voted to ban smartphones for its 429,000 students in an attempt to insulate kids from distractions and social media that undermine learning and hurt mental health.
The board of the second-largest U.S. school district voted 5-2, approving a resolution to develop within 120 days a policy prohibiting student use of cellphones and social media platforms. The policy would be in place by January 2025.
"I think we're going to be on the vanguard here, and students and this entire city and country are going to benefit as a result," said board member Nick Melvoin, who proposed the resolution.
On Monday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media platforms, akin to those on cigarette packages, citing what he considers a mental health emergency.
L.A. schools officials will consider whether phones should be stored in pouches or lockers during school hours and what exceptions should be made for students of different ages and pupils with learning or physical disabilities.
School officials will also examine using technology to restrict social media platforms and how the policy will address different types of devices such as smart watches.
Board member George McKenna voted against the resolution based on his concerns the policy would be too restrictive. Board member Scott Schmerelson also cast a "no" vote, saying it was unclear whether the ban would be during non-instructional time and who would enforce the policy.
"I think it's going to be a full-time job being the police of the phone," Schmerelson said.
Los Angeles joins a number of smaller school districts to ban access to phones or social media. Florida, with some 2.8 million public school students, last year passed a law requiring school districts to prevent student access to social media. Several other states have introduced similar legislation.
While the research on mental health risks remains incomplete, Murthy, the surgeon general, said the emergency was so apparent as to demand action.
Murthy cited a study in the medical journal JAMA showing adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media may be at heightened risk of mental illness, while referring to a Gallup poll showing the average teen spends 4.8 hours per day on social media.
The L.A. school district cited other evidence that cellphone addiction was linked to soaring rates of anxiety and cyberbullying.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Brendan O'Brien; editing by Donna Bryson, Stephen Coates and David Gregorio) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday voted to ban smartphones for its 429,000 students in an attempt to insulate kids from distractions and social media that undermine learning and hurt mental health. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/los-angeles-schools-to-consider-ban-on-smartphones | |
1,374,088 | Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says a gardener taught him one of the most ‘profound learnings’ of his life – it’s why he can be on top of every detail at the chip giant | Jensen Huang is known in Silicon Valley for his meticulous attention to detail, despite tech giant Nvidia growing to a market cap of more than US$3 trillion (RM14.1 trillion). But it was a chance encounter with a Japanese gardener that helped the CEO realise he has the time to be a perfectionist, instead of racing to the next project.
Billionaire entrepreneur Huang recounted the story on Friday at Caltech’s 130th commencement ceremony in Pasadena. He told students he used to work in one of Nvidia’s overseas office for one month a year every summer, with his family joining him for the trip.
One of these visits was to Japan, Huang said, where the family spent a weekend in Kyoto and visited the Silver Temple and moss garden.
“The day we visited was a quintessential Kyoto summer day,” Huang recalled. “Suffocatingly hot and humid, sticky – heat is radiating from the ground. Along with the other tourists we wandered through the meticulously groomed moss garden.
“I noticed the lone gardener. Now remember... the moss garden is gigantic... and exquisitely maintained. I noticed the lone gardener squatting, carefully picking at the moss with a bamboo tweezer and putting it in the bamboo basket. The basket looked empty – for a moment there I thought he was picking imaginary moss into a pile of imaginary dead moss.”
Huang – who is worth US$116bil (RM546.71bil) per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index – continued: “I walked up to him and I said: ‘What are you doing?' He said: ‘I’m picking dead moss. I’m taking care of my garden.’ And I said: ‘But your garden is so big?’ He responded: ‘I have cared for my garden for 25 years, I have plenty of time’.”
Huang's company, which was founded in 1993, now has more than 26,000 employees, and 61-year-old Huang said the sentiment from this lone gardener is what helped him realise he has the capacity to support them.
The CEO – nicknamed the ‘Taylor Swift of tech’ by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg – explained: “It was one of the most profound learnings in my life. This gardener has dedicated himself to his craft and doing his life’s work – when you do that you have plenty of time.
“I begin each morning – and do every single morning – by doing my highest priority work first. Before I even get to work my day is already a success,” he added. “I’ve already completed my most important work and can dedicate my day to helping others. When people apologise for interrupting me I always say: ‘I have plenty of time’.”
‘I’m a very nice boss’
It was no coincidence that Huang, an Oregon State University and Stanford graduate, was giving a speech at Caltech – after all, Nvidia’s chief scientists David Kirk and Bill Dally are both alumni of the school.
And Huang – who started his working life as a busboy – is clearly hoping to find some talent of the same sort in graduates of more recent years, telling the students that he’s hiring.
Among the list of reasons to work for Nvidia – which has seen its share price rise 173% for this year to date alone – Huang said, was that it was a “great company” and that he is a “very nice boss” who is “universally loved”.
And while Huang’s staff are not short of respect for their fearless leader, Huang has previously said he knows he can be a tough boss to work for.
During an interview with 60 Minutes earlier this year, Huang – who owns around 3.5% of the chip-making giant – said descriptors that he was “demanding”, a “perfectionist”, and “not easy to work for” fit him “perfectly”.
The CEO even welcomed the reviews, saying: “It should be like that. If you want to do extraordinary things, it shouldn’t be easy.” – Fortune.com/The New York Times | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology,AI | Jensen Huang is known in Silicon Valley for his meticulous attention to detail, despite tech giant Nvidia growing to a market cap of more than US$3 trillion (RM14.1 trillion). But it was a chance encounter with a Japanese gardener that helped the CEO realise he has the time to be a perfectionist, instead of racing to the next project. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-a-gardener-taught-him-one-of-the-most-profound-learnings-of-his-life---its-why-he-can-be-on-top-of-every-detail-at-the-chip-giant | |
1,373,962 | Huawei considers app store fees as it surpasses iPhone in China | Huawei Technologies Co is considering taking a cut of in-app purchases on its Harmony mobile operating system, underscoring its growing confidence in competing with Apple Inc in the world’s largest smartphone arena.
The Shenzhen-based company is weighing a commission lower than the typical 30% cut that Apple and Alphabet Inc’s Google take for payments made via their mobile stores for things like apps, games, movies and music subscriptions, according to people familiar with the matter. Huawei has kept Harmony OS fee-free until now, as an enticement to bring developers and publishers on board.
For games in particular, which account for the majority of mobile app store revenue, Huawei has been discussing a fee of about 20% with developers, the people said. They asked not to be identified as the information is private. Rival Android store operators in China, such as Xiaomi Corp, charge as much as 50% on in-game purchases. Huawei has not yet made a final decision and its plans could still change, according to the people.
Huawei’s imminent move suggests the Chinese tech conglomerate feels it has grown its user and developer base to the point where it can begin collecting rent. The company shifted to its in-house Harmony OS after US sanctions cut it off from working with Google, the proprietor of Android.
A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The envisioned commissions would still place Huawei’s 4-year-old Harmony ecosystem below market competitors. The company has to convince both users and app makers to embrace its third option, after Apple’s iPhone software and Google’s Android, though it has made strong progress over the past year with its return to prominence in China’s premium market.
Huawei has seen increased demand for its 5G smartphones after it released the Mate 60 Pro with an advanced China-made chip last year. Its net profit rose 564% in the first quarter as it took market share from Apple and others. Its Harmony OS also overtook iOS in terms of market share in China in the January-March period, according to Counterpoint Research. – Bloomberg | Tech | Smartphones | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Smartphones,Mobile apps,China | Huawei Technologies Co is considering taking a cut of in-app purchases on its Harmony mobile operating system, underscoring its growing confidence in competing with Apple Inc in the world’s largest smartphone arena. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/huawei-considers-app-store-fees-as-it-surpasses-iphone-in-china | |
1,373,904 | Date my cat: China youth host matchmaking events for pets to relieve stress, pressure to get married, sparks online discussions | Young adults in China are hosting matchmaking events for their pets, a practice which has been described, tongue-in-cheek, as a bid to release the pressure they are under to get married.
The trend has even morphed into a new form of social interaction among the younger generation.
One such event that took place on May 25, was called “If You Are the Cute One,” and attracted significant online attention, Star Video reported.
The idea was inspired by the Chinese television dating show, If You Are The One, in which male contestants introduce themselves in video clips, and female guests show their interest by turning the lights on for “yes” and off for “no”.
During the pet matchmaking event, a male cat that was described as “having a car, a house and financial independence” stood out as a desirable candidate as he sought to find a partner.
The cat’s dating profile amusingly disclosed that he “has just turned two years old and is successful in his career”.
The profile went on to describe the feline as “introverted, appearing cold on the outside but warm on the inside, sexy and shy, quietly passionate, with a strong physique, and a lover of fitness”.
“Today, I am publicly seeking a suitable companion in the feline world, aiming to join paws with a gentle and lovely young cat to nurture a thriving family together,” it said.
Four female cats who were attracted to the profile described their family backgrounds, talents and other details.
The trend is not the only way the younger generation in China is creating entertainment for themselves while searching for a mate for their pets.
Many have also turned to second-hand websites, such as Xianyu, where they post ads for “pet dates.”
Owned by Alibaba, which also owns the South China Morning Post, Xianyu has about three million people using its platform every year to find partners for their pets and has even created a “Pet Matchmaking Corner” to facilitate connections.
Ads on the site are often creative and funny, with owners highlighting their pets’ attributes.
Some emphasise personalities, such as “adorably silly and honest” while others show photos of their pure breeds, boasting that they have “fur as soft as silk”.
The trend has sparked a lively discussion on mainland social media.
“Has the pet matchmaking market become so competitive that even male cats must be successful and financially stable?” one online observer joked.
“Whether it’s young people or their cats, one of them has to go on a date. It’s better if I’m single, rather than my pet,” said another.
“It seems that young people pressured to marry are passing their stress onto their pets,” wrote a third. – South China Morning Post | Tech | Social media | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | SCMP,China,Social media,Animals,Internet | Event called ‘If You Are the Cute One’, inspired by Chinese TV dating show, owners post ads for ‘pet dates’. One platform has 3 million users annually. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/date-my-cat-china-youth-host-matchmaking-events-for-pets-to-relieve-stress-pressure-to-get-married-sparks-online-discussions | |
1,373,903 | China’s next-gen sexbots powered by AI are about to hit the shelves | Chinese scientists and engineers are applying ChatGPT-like technology to sex robots, aiming to create interactive, AI-powered companions in the face of technical and ethical challenges.
In Shenzhen, Starpery Technology, a major producer of sex dolls, is now training its own large language model to enhance its product with artificial intelligence. These sex dolls with unprecedented capabilities – available in male or female forms – will soon be hitting the shelves.
“We are developing a next-generation sex doll that can interact vocally and physically with users, with prototypes expected by August this year,” CEO Evan Lee said early this month.
“Technological challenges remain, particularly in achieving realistic human interaction,” he said. “While simple dialogue is easy, creating interactive responses involves complex model development by specialised software companies.”
Traditional dolls, supported by a metal skeleton and a silicone exterior, are limited to simple responses and lack the expressive capabilities needed to engage with a human.
“The new generation of sex dolls, powered by AI models and equipped with sensors, can react with both movements and speech, significantly enhancing user experience by focusing on emotional connection rather than just basic conversational abilities,” Lee said.
The company, which has been focusing on the market outside China, is now also targeting the domestic sector.
Despite being a largely conservative society, with general reluctance to discuss such topics, Lee said China hosted the largest market for sex dolls, surpassing the combined sales of the US, Japan and Germany.
“People in the industry know China has a huge market, with purchasing power in major cities surpassing many European countries. The market is also open in mind – though aesthetically different from the European market,” he said.
Starpery’s road map includes developing robots capable of household chores, helping people with disabilities and providing aged care. By 2025, the company aims to launch its first “smart service robot”, capable of more complex services for people with disabilities. By 2030, these robots could be protecting people from hazardous jobs, according to the company’s plan.
To achieve this level of development, there are two main challenges: battery capacity and artificial muscles, Lee said.
Firstly, unlike electric vehicles, humanoid robots lack space for large batteries, so for them to operate independently the energy density of batteries must improve. Secondly, current engines lack the flexibility of human muscles, which can exert force over a wide range and can be both hard and soft, fitting closely to the skin, according to Lee.
Currently, to ensure realism the dolls can often weigh up to 40kg (88lbs), which is too heavy for the motor and poses a risk of falling or hurting the user.
“Therefore in the first stage, we focused on reducing the weight through improvements in materials and production processes,” Lee said. By July 2023, their 172cm-tall doll weighed just 29kg.
Lee said robots that could do household chores was a societal vision but it remained a long time away. Robotics companies could use servo motors to achieve certain functions, but considering stability and cost, commercialisation was still in the distance.
“The entire industry will need about 10 years to achieve the goal,” he said.
In addition to technical difficulties, Starpery also faces cost and ethics challenges.
Reducers – which transfer power between the motor and the robot joints – are key components in the mechanical system of humanoid robots. They generally account for 30 per cent of the robot’s cost and might need multiple gears at different joints.
“We strive to decrease the cost so that more people can afford realistic dolls, while adding motors will increase the cost (to) some extent,” Lee said.
Dolls from Starpery, which has a complete supply chain and lower manufacturing costs, are priced around US$1,500 (RM7,071). An advanced Harmony doll produced by Abyss Creations in the United States starts at US$6,000 (RM28,287).
Starpery is in Shenzhen, in southern Guangdong province, which is now the world’s largest production base for adult products, providing the company with price advantages.
“The supply chain in Guangdong is complete, and manufacturers respond quickly to market demands. New technologies can usually be seen in products, the following month it shows up somewhere else,” Lee said.
Besides Starpery, other Chinese manufacturers are also integrating AI into physical dolls. WMdoll, in Zhongshan, another Guangdong city, and EXdoll, in Dalian, in the northeastern province of Liaoning, also plan to launch interactive products.
In the past year, large language models have significantly advanced various sectors, notably transforming the humanoid robot industry.
“Innovations spurred by tailored models, trained on diverse data sets, have unleashed a wave of products that are transforming industry landscapes and user interactions,” said Tang Jie, a professor of computer science at Tsinghua University.
In the humanoid robot industry, for example, large language models play an important role in its development.
Ou Jinyan, spokesperson for LimX Dynamics, a robot development company, said: “It not only speeds up iterations in robotics, enhancing motion control, but also produces a suite of user-friendly tools that significantly (boost) developer productivity.”
In addition to technical issues, the industry faces very human considerations. AI-driven sex robots could blur ethical boundaries and reinforce harmful attitudes regarding consent and negative gender stereotypes.
Criticism includes the view that overreliance on AI companions for sexual or emotional fulfilment might lead to less genuine human connection, affecting a user’s ability to form healthy relationships with real people.
And the rapid development of AI-driven sex robots outpaces existing legal and regulatory frameworks, leading to a legal grey area concerning their use, ownership and the responsibilities of manufacturers and users.
In its 2023 paper, “Research Report on AI Ethics Governance”, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology stated: “AI that can make decisions under certain conditions could challenge human autonomy and self-perception. Large language models also pose risks of data leaks and privacy violations, as information from users could become material for training generative AI.” – South China Morning Post | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | SCMP,China,AI,Robotics | Future models ‘react with both movements and speech, significantly enhancing user experience by focusing on emotional connection’: producer. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/chinas-next-gen-sexbots-powered-by-ai-are-about-to-hit-the-shelves | |
1,373,924 | AI can help shipping industry cut down emissions, report says | (Reuters) - The global commercial shipping industry could cut down its carbon emissions by 47 million tonnes per year by deploying artificial intelligence for sea navigation, a study by autonomous shipping startup Orca AI showed on Tuesday.
The use of the technology could reduce the need for maneuvers and route deviation from close encounters with high-risk marine targets such as vessels, buoys and sea mammals by alerting the crew in real time, according to the report.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
Shipping, responsible for moving about 90% of global trade, contributes nearly 3% to the world's carbon dioxide emissions. This share is anticipated to rise in the coming years unless stricter pollution control measures are implemented.
The International Maritime Organization aims to cut emissions by 20% by 2030, a target under threat from the ongoing Red Sea crisis.
KEY QUOTE
"In the short term, it can lead to fewer crew members on the bridge, while those who are on the bridge will have a reduced workload and more attention to tackle complex navigational tasks, optimizing the voyage and reducing fuel and emissions," Orca AI CEO Yarden Gross told Reuters.
"In the long term, it will open the door to fully autonomous shipping."
CONTEXT
Global carbon dioxide shipping emissions reached an estimated 858 million tonnes in 2022, a marginal rise from the previous year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
An average of 2,976 marine incidents are reported per year, Orca AI's study showed.
BY THE NUMBERS
The reduction in route deviations could help ships shave off 38.2 million nautical miles per year from their travel, saving an average of $100,000 in fuel costs per vessel, according to Orca AI's report.
AI could also lower close encounters by 33% in open waters, it said.
(Reporting by Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - The global commercial shipping industry could cut down its carbon emissions by 47 million tonnes per year by deploying artificial intelligence for sea navigation, a study by autonomous shipping startup Orca AI showed on Tuesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/ai-can-help-shipping-industry-cut-down-emissions-report-says | |
1,373,898 | Norway's Schibsted to cut 250 jobs in cost drive | OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian online classified ads group Schibsted will cut around 250 jobs in the Nordic region as part of a restructuring plan to reduce costs and boost efficiency, the company said on Tuesday.
Schibsted, which recently divested its legacy news media business, operates online marketplaces for real estate, jobs, cars, travel and other services in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
"We are now in a position to start taking decisive measures to improve our profitability as a more focused company, and to adjust to the macroeconomic environment," Schibsted Marketplaces CEO Christian Printzell Halvorsen said.
"This is not a one-off, but rather the start of a journey of continuous improvement and cost focus," he added.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Eileen Soreng) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian online classified ads group Schibsted will cut around 250 jobs in the Nordic region as part of a restructuring plan to reduce costs and boost efficiency, the company said on Tuesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/norway039s-schibsted-to-cut-250-jobs-in-cost-drive | |
1,373,807 | NATO targets AI, robots and space tech in $1.1 billion fund | LONDON (Reuters) - A consortium of NATO allies has confirmed the first tranche of companies awarded funding as part of the group’s one billion euro ($1.1 billion) innovation fund.
The alliance unveiled the fund in the summer of 2022, months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, promising to invest in technologies that would enhance its defences. The fund is backed by 24 of NATO's 32 member states, including Finland and Sweden, which joined the alliance earlier this year.
On Tuesday, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) confirmed it had directly invested in four European tech companies, which it said would help address challenges in defence, security, and resilience.
The body has allocated funding to Fractile, a London-based computer chipmaker aiming to make large language models (LLMs) like those that power ChatGPT run faster, as well as Germany's ARX Robotics, which designs unmanned robots with functions ranging from heavy-lifting to surveillance.
The other two startups were British manufacturer iCOMAT, which makes lighter materials for vehicles, and Space Forge, a Welsh company that harnesses the conditions of space – such as microgravity and vacuum conditions – to build semiconductors in-orbit.
“Enabling access to strategic technologies is key to securing a safe and prosperous future for the alliance's one billion citizens,” said Andrea Traversone, the fund's managing partner.
The fund has also partnered with venture capital firms Alpine Space Ventures, OTB Ventures, Join Capital and Vsquared Ventures to support further investment in deep tech on the continent.
(This story has been refiled to say 'Fractile,' not 'Fractile AI,' in paragraph 4)
(Reporting by Martin Coulter; Editing by Bill Berkrot) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | LONDON (Reuters) - A consortium of NATO allies has confirmed the first tranche of companies awarded funding as part of the group’s one billion euro ($1.1 billion) innovation fund. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/nato-targets-ai-robots-and-space-tech-in-11-billion-fund | |
1,373,665 | Microsoft's Xbox marketing chief to depart for Roblox | (Reuters) - Microsoft's marketing chief of Xbox is leaving the company to join gaming platform Roblox as their chief marketing officer as part of a broader marketing shakeup in the console maker, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday.
Jerret West oversaw the creation and delivery of multiple marketing campaigns, including those of games and consoles, and helped in product expansion such as Xbox's subscription service Game Pass, the memo from Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer said.
West spent eight years at Xbox as a part of its marketing and product division before he left for Netflix to head various marketing teams. He returned to Microsoft in 2019 as Xbox's chief marketing officer.
Earlier this month, Microsoft held its annual Xbox Games Showcase, where it unveiled new all-digital consoles and trailers for games including the new "Call of Duty" title as it looks to spark consumer enthusiasm amid broader spending weakness in the industry.
West's departure comes amid a broader restructuring in Xbox's marketing department, where a central gaming marketing team will be formed and a number of other marketing teams will be moved around.
"Going forward, the Gaming Leadership Team and I have decided to place marketing closer to the businesses they support," Spencer said in the memo.
Microsoft also shut down multiple gaming studios in May, including Arkane Austin and consolidated teams, in a cost cutting move.
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Microsoft's marketing chief of Xbox is leaving the company to join gaming platform Roblox as their chief marketing officer as part of a broader marketing shakeup in the console maker, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/microsoft039s-xbox-marketing-chief-to-depart-for-roblox | |
1,373,662 | Apple to discontinue 'buy now, pay later' service in US as it plans new loan program | (Reuters) - Apple on Monday said it will discontinue its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) service in the United States as it launches a new loan program.
Users will be able to access installment loans offered through credit, debit cards and lenders when checking out with Apple Pay, starting later this year, the company said in a statement.
"This solution will enable us to bring flexible payments to more users, in more places across the globe in collaboration with Apple Pay-enabled banks and lenders," the company said.
The existing users of the BNPL service, Apple Pay Later, with open loans will still be able to manage and pay them via the Wallet app, the company said.
Apple Pay Later was unveiled to select users in March last year, allowing users to split purchases into four payments spread over six weeks with no interest or fees.
(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Vijay Kishore) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-18 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Apple on Monday said it will discontinue its "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) service in the United States as it launches a new loan program. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/18/apple-to-discontinue-039buy-now-pay-later039-service-in-us-as-it-plans-new-loan-program | |
1,373,488 | US sues Photoshop maker Adobe for hiding fees, making it difficult to cancel | (Reuters) -The U.S. government sued Adobe on Monday, accusing the Photoshop and Acrobat maker of harming consumers by concealing hefty termination fees in its most popular subscription plan, and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions.
In a complaint filed in the San Jose, California, federal court, the Federal Trade Commission said Adobe buries the fees, which sometimes reach hundreds of dollars, and other important terms in its "annual paid monthly" subscription plan in the fine print, or behind textboxes and hyperlinks.
According to the complaint, Adobe calculates early termination fees as 50% of the remaining payments when consumers cancel in their first year.
The FTC also said Adobe forces subscribers who want to cancel online to navigate unnecessarily through numerous pages, while those canceling by phone are often disconnected, are forced to repeat themselves to multiple representatives, and encounter "resistance and delay" from those representatives.
Two Adobe executives are also defendants: David Wadhwani, the president of digital media business, and Maninder Sawhney, a senior vice president in digital sales.
"Adobe trapped customers into year-long subscriptions through hidden early termination fees and numerous cancellation hurdles," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC consumer protection bureau. "Americans are tired of companies hiding the ball during subscription signup and then putting up roadblocks when they try to cancel."
Dana Rao, Adobe's general counsel and chief trust officer, said the San Jose-based company will refute the FTC's claims in court.
"Subscription services are convenient, flexible and cost effective to allow users to choose the plan that best fits their needs, timeline and budget," Rao said. "We are transparent with the terms and conditions of our subscription agreements and have a simple cancellation process."
Subscriptions accounted for $4.92 billion, or 95%, of Adobe's $5.18 billion of revenue in the quarter ending March 1.
The FTC accused Adobe of violating the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, a 2010 federal law barring merchants from imposing charges, including for automatic subscription renewals, unless they clearly disclose material terms and obtain customers' informed consent.
Monday's lawsuit seeks civil penalties, an injunction against further wrongdoing, and other remedies.
The case is U.S. v. Adobe Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 24-03630.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -The U.S. government sued Adobe on Monday, accusing the Photoshop and Acrobat maker of harming consumers by concealing hefty termination fees in its most popular subscription plan, and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/us-sues-adobe-over-subscription-plan-disclosures | |
1,373,476 | Tesla sues ex-supplier Matthews over EV battery trade secrets | (Reuters) -Tesla has sued its former supplier Matthews International in California federal court for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to Tesla's battery-manufacturing process and sharing them with the electric-vehicle giant's competitors.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, said Matthews owes damages that Tesla "conservatively estimates will exceed $1 billion" for misusing company trade secrets related to dry electrode battery manufacturing technology.
Matthews in a statement on Monday said Tesla's lawsuit is "simply a new tactic in their ongoing efforts to bully Matthews and improperly take Matthews' valuable intellectual property," and that it would "vigorously defend the matter."
Attorneys and spokespeople for Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
Pittsburgh-based Matthews began supplying Tesla with manufacturing machinery in 2019, according to the complaint. Tesla said it shared secrets with Matthews related to dry-electrode coating, which the carmaker has said can dramatically reduce the size, cost, energy consumption and production cycle time of battery manufacturing plants while boosting the energy density and power of battery cells.
The lawsuit said Matthews shared Tesla's innovations with unnamed competitors by selling "machines and other technologies embodying Tesla's trade secrets." It also said Matthews claimed Tesla's inventions as its own in patent filings that have revealed confidential Tesla information.
Tesla asked the court to block Matthews from misusing its trade secrets and hand over its patent applications in addition to requesting monetary damages.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in WashingtonEditing by David Bario and Nick Zieminski) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Tesla has sued its former supplier Matthews International in California federal court for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to Tesla's battery-manufacturing process and sharing them with the electric-vehicle giant's competitors. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/tesla-sues-ex-supplier-matthews-over-ev-battery-trade-secrets | |
1,373,474 | YouTube tests context 'notes' feature for videos | (Reuters) - Alphabet's YouTube will soon allow users to add 'notes' that will provide context on some of its videos as part of a new feature that will be initially rolled out in the United States, it said on Monday.
YouTube will invite certain users and creators, as part of the initial test phase, to write notes that are meant to provide "relevant, timely, and easy-to-understand context" on videos.
The notes, for instance could clarify when a song is meant to be a parody, point out when a new version of a product being reviewed is available, or let viewers know when older footage is mistakenly portrayed as a current event.
Social media platform X has a similar feature called Community Notes through which it allows select contributors to add context to posts including tags such as "misleading" and "out of context".
The notes feature on YouTube will be available initially on mobile to users in the U.S. and in English. In this phase, third-party evaluators will rate the helpfulness of notes, which will help train the systems, before a potential broader rollout, YouTube said.
Viewers in the U.S. will start to see notes on videos in the coming weeks and months.
(Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Alphabet's YouTube will soon allow users to add 'notes' that will provide context on some of its videos as part of a new feature that will be initially rolled out in the United States, it said on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/youtube-tests-context-039notes039-feature-for-videos | |
1,373,473 | Tesla kicks off legal fight to reinstate Musk's pay | WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - Tesla began its fight for legal recognition of a shareholder vote favoring Elon Musk's record compensation, telling a Delaware judge that it "significantly impacts" her ruling voiding the pay, according to a letter made public on Monday.
Tesla wrote to Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick that the parties in the pay package case should now lay out their legal interpretations of Thursday's ratification of Musk's pay, rather than moving ahead with the case on the prior schedule.
"The approval of ratification by Tesla’s stockholders significantly impacts the claims and issues in this action, including the court’s final judgment," Tesla attorneys told McCormick in the letter, which was filed with the Court of Chancery on Friday.
Greg Varallo, a shareholder attorney in the case against the pay package, said the ratification had "no legal effect" on the case and that he would explain his argument in a brief due Friday.
Tesla has said the ratification process was "novel" and it was unclear if McCormick and the Delaware Supreme Court would accept the result.
Tesla has argued that the ratification has now cured the problems raised in McCormick's ruling in January.
The judge found Musk controlled the 2018 process that led to the pay package and that Tesla concealed key information from shareholders about the ease of the targets the company had to meet for Musk to be paid.
A special committee of its board reviewed the pay package and determine it was in the best interest of shareholders, which Tesla said fixed the problem of Musk's dominance in the process.
The vote was corrected by providing shareholders hundreds of pages of added disclosures, including McCormick's 200-page opinion.
McCormick also has to determine a fee for the shareholder legal team before Tesla can appeal her ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court.
The shareholder's attorneys are seeking around $5 billion, in the form of Tesla stock as a legal fee and Tesla argued they should be paid around $13.6 million.
(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, Editing by Franklin Paul) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - Tesla began its fight for legal recognition of a shareholder vote favoring Elon Musk's record compensation, telling a Delaware judge that it "significantly impacts" her ruling voiding the pay, according to a letter made public on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/tesla-kicks-off-legal-fight-to-reinstate-musk039s-pay | |
1,373,450 | US Surgeon General calls for social media warning labels to protect adolescents | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday called for a warning label to be added to social media apps as a reminder that those platforms have caused harm to young people, especially adolescents.
In an op-ed in the New York Times, Murthy wrote that a warning label alone will not make social media safe for young people but that it can increase awareness and change behavior as shown in evidence from tobacco studies. The U.S. Congress would need to pass legislation requiring such a warning label.
Youth advocates and lawmakers have long accused social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat of what they say is a harmful effect on kids, including shortened attention spans, promoting negative body images, and making them vulnerable to online bullies and predators.
"It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents," Murthy wrote on Monday.
TikTok, Snap and Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment.
The CEOs of those three companies, along with social media platform X and messaging app Discord, were grilled by U.S. senators in January during a hearing about online child safety, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham accusing the leaders of having "blood on your hands," for failing to protect young users from sexual predators.
Some U.S. states have been working to pass legislation to safeguard children from the harmful effects of social media, such as anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses as a result.
New York state lawmakers this month passed legislation to bar social media platforms from exposing "addictive" algorithmic content to users under age 18 without parental consent.
In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans children under 14 from social media platforms and requires 14- and 15-year-olds to get parental consent.
(This story has been refiled to correct Senator Lindsey Graham's name in paragraph 6)
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Sheila Dang in Austin; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Stephen Coates) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday called for a warning label to be added to social media apps as a reminder that those platforms have caused harm to young people, especially adolescents. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/us-surgeon-general-calls-for-social-media-warning-labels-to-protect-adolescents | |
1,373,446 | Starboard Value discloses Autodesk stake, plans lawsuit to delay annual meeting | (Reuters) -Activist investor Starboard Value disclosed a more than $500 million stake in Autodesk on Monday and said it would sue the design software maker to delay its annual meeting after a recent accounting probe hit its shares.
Starboard said it had "significant concerns" over Autodesk's operations, governance and accountability to investors.
Its lawsuit, set to be filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery on Monday, will seek to delay the July 16 annual meeting and reopen the company's director nomination window.
Autodesk's shares rose 4% in early trading. They are down about 7% this year, as of Friday's close.
The company said in May its audit committee had wrapped up the months-long investigation into how it handled the accounting of free cash flow and adjusted margin and that there would no reinstatement of its financial statements. It also named board member Elizabeth Rafael as its interim finance chief, succeeding Debbie Clifford who took on the role of strategy head.
The board began the investigation in March, days before the board nomination deadline.
"Autodesk decided, while knowing this material information, not to make any disclosures to shareholders about these issues until April 1, 2024," Starboard Value said in a letter.
It added that findings of the company's investigation also raised "significant questions" about its accounting and disclosure practices, as well as board oversight.
In 2022, Autodesk said it would shift enterprise customers to contracts billed annually from the multi-year upfront billings. However, the company reverted to multi-year upfront contracts in an attempt to raise reported free cash flow.
The upfront billings of enterprise customers in fiscal 2023 substantially exceeded historical levels, helping Autodesk meet its lowered free-cash flow target.
Autodesk welcomes "constructive input" from its investors and is confident in its strategy, margin opportunity and corporate governance, a company spokesperson said by mail on Monday.
There are 11 nominees for elections at the annual meeting including GoDaddy's former CEO Blake Irving and Western Digital's former boss Stephen Milligan.
(Reporting by Priyanka.G in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Activist investor Starboard Value disclosed a more than $500 million stake in Autodesk on Monday and said it would sue the design software maker to delay its annual meeting after a recent accounting probe hit its shares. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/starboard-value-discloses-autodesk-stake-plans-lawsuit-to-delay-annual-meeting | |
1,373,445 | US Supreme Court to hear Nvidia bid to scuttle shareholder lawsuit | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a bid by Nvidia to scuttle a securities fraud lawsuit accusing the artificial intelligence chipmaker of misleading investors about how much of its sales went to the volatile cryptocurrency industry.
The justices took up Nvidia's appeal made after a lower court revived a proposed class action brought by shareholders in California against the company and its CEO Jensen Huang. The suit, led by the Stockholm, Sweden-based investment management firm E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB, seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia is a high-flying company that has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom, and its market value has surged.
In 2018, Nvidia's chips became popular for cryptomining, a process that involves performing complex math equations in order to secure cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
The plaintiffs in a 2018 lawsuit accused Nvidia and top company officials of violating a U.S. law called the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by making statements in 2017 and 2018 that falsely downplayed how much of Nvidia's revenue growth came from crypto-related purchases.
Those omissions misled investors and analysts who were interested in understanding the impact of cryptomining on Nvidia's business, the plaintiffs said.
U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. dismissed the lawsuit in 2021 but the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 ruling subsequently revived it. The 9th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had adequately alleged that Huang made "false or misleading statements and did so knowingly or recklessly," allowing their case to proceed.
Nvidia urged the justices to take up its appeal, arguing that the 9th Circuit's ruling would open the door to "abusive and speculative litigation."
Nvidia in 2022 agreed to pay $5.5 million to U.S. authorities to settle charges that it did not properly disclose the impact of cryptomining on its gaming business.
The justices agreed on June 10 to hear a similar bid by Meta's Facebook to dismiss a private securities fraud lawsuit accusing the social media platform of misleading investors in 2017 and 2018 about the misuse of its user data by the company and third parties. Facebook appealed after a lower court allowed a shareholder lawsuit led by Amalgamated Bank to proceed.
The Supreme Court will hear the Nvidia and Facebook cases in its next term, which begins in October.
(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a bid by Nvidia to scuttle a securities fraud lawsuit accusing the artificial intelligence chipmaker of misleading investors about how much of its sales went to the volatile cryptocurrency industry. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/us-supreme-court-to-hear-nvidia-bid-to-scuttle-shareholder-lawsuit | |
1,373,436 | You.com startup is raising $50 million as it targets AI-assistant market, says source | SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -The startup behind You.com is raising $50 million in fresh capital, a person familiar with the effort said, as it seeks a foothold in the growing market for assistants with artificial intelligence.
The near-finished Series B funding would value the four-year-old company behind You.com, SuSea Inc, at $700 million to $900 million, the person told Reuters. Users have queried You.com 1 billion times since its launch, the person said.
After ChatGPT ignited interest in You.com's AI-infused search engine in early 2023, some of its users began looking elsewhere. Microsoft refreshed its Bing search engine with an AI chatbot of its own, while Alphabet's Google added AI-generated answers for more nuanced queries.
You.com's 11 million visitors in May reflected a year-to-date rise in web traffic, but the number was still below its 20 million peak in February 2023, according to Similarweb data. Its app downloads have decreased an estimated 69% so far in 2024, versus the same period last year, said Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm. Other AI startups have faced similar headwinds.
Against this backdrop, the Palo Alto, California-based company has morphed You.com into an AI assistant, one that is focused on productivity as well as internet search, its website shows.
Richard Socher, its CEO and former Salesforce chief scientist, told Reuters earlier this year that You.com could craft prose or computer code, as well as navigate a sea of technologies to determine the right answer to a user's query.
Socher did not respond to a request for comment.
The market for powerful AI assistants is nascent and crowded. Google, Microsoft, ChatGPT's creator OpenAI, and now Apple are among the big names pushing new agent-like capabilities for their many millions of users.
You.com charges $15 per month for its premium consumer subscription when billed annually, giving access to top AI models from across industry plus other productivity tools. Alternative subscriptions from Google, Microsoft and OpenAI cost about $20 monthly.
The person familiar with You.com's fundraising said its sales are on the rise. Since January, the company's annual recurring revenue has grown five times, the person said, without specifying the figure in dollar terms. You.com has both consumer and business-to-business subscription revenue, the person said.
Venture capital firm Georgian is leading the fundraising, with capital also provided by previous backers of You.com, the person said.
Georgian representatives did not respond to a request for comment. | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -The startup behind You.com is raising $50 million in fresh capital, a person familiar with the effort said, as it seeks a foothold in the growing market for assistants with artificial intelligence. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/youcom-startup-is-raising-50-million-as-it-targets-ai-assistant-market-says-source | |
1,373,407 | Naver's Webtoon Entertainment aims up to $2.67 billion valuation in US IPO | (Reuters) -Online comics platform Webtoon Entertainment said on Monday it is targeting a valuation of up to $2.67 billion in its initial public offering in the United States.
The company, majority-owned by South Korean tech giant Naver, is aiming to raise as much as $315 million by offering 15 million shares at a price range of $18 to $21 each.
Los Angeles, California-based Webtoon joins a roster of companies looking to tap into improving investor appetite for stock market listings amid rising bets of a soft landing for the U.S. economy.
The company was founded nearly two decades ago as a side project of CEO Junkoo Kim, then a search engineer at Naver.
Webtoon, which primarily caters to Gen Z and millennial users, operates a library of web comics and novels offering thousands of titles across multiple genres, including fantasy, romance and science fiction.
Its platform connects 24 million creators with nearly 170 million monthly active users in over 150 countries, as of end-March.
Webtoon mainly competes with South Korean tech conglomerate Kakao Corp.
Certain fund and accounts managed by asset manager BlackRock have indicated interest in purchasing up to $50 million worth of shares sold in the IPO.
Separately, Naver's U.S. subsidiary Naver U.Hub has agreed to purchase $50 million worth of shares of Webtoon in a private placement transaction.
Webtoon's largest shareholders include Naver and Tokyo-based LY Corp, which is majority owned by a joint venture between SoftBank and Naver.
After the IPO and the private placement, Naver will hold a 63.4% stake in Webtoon.
Webtoon Entertainment will list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "WBTN".
Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Securities and Evercore Group are the lead underwriters for the offering.
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Online comics platform Webtoon Entertainment said on Monday it is targeting a valuation of up to $2.67 billion in its initial public offering in the United States. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/naver039s-webtoon-entertainment-targets-up-to-267-billion-valuation-in-us-ipo | |
1,373,355 | GameStop shares tumble after CEO says store network will shrink | (Reuters) - Shares of GameStop tumbled on Monday after CEO Ryan Cohen told investors that the videogame retailer plans to operate a smaller network of stores, but did not provide details on what it intends to do with its cash pile.
GameStop shares were down 11.6% at $25.38 on Monday afternoon after the annual general shareholder meeting, which lasted about 20 minutes.
Cohen said he anticipates the business will be operated with “a smaller network and more value-added" items as part of the company's attempt to boost sales and profitability.
He did not reveal how the company will use its roughly $4 billion in cash, which it built up following share sales in June and May, saying only that having a stronger balance sheet is "always an advantage."
Shares of the video game retailer have gyrated wildly over the last month since Keith Gill, the stock influencer known as Roaring Kitty who helped kick off meme-stock mania in 2021, reappeared and later disclosed a large position in GameStop.
Investors had been hoping that Cohen would reveal more details of a strategic plan to revitalize GameStop's business, analysts said.
Cohen's lack of detail on acquisition plans "is disappointing for at least some investors," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities with a price target of $13.50 on the company.
Pachter noted that GameStop’s recently released filings showed a profit margin of about 36%, suggesting the company is doing well in reselling used software and hardware. On the other hand, competition remains intense in the market for gaming consoles while the second-hand market for used software is slowly drying up as gamers shift to digital downloads, he said.
The company has been grappling with slowing sales as its core business of selling new and pre-owned videogame discs takes a hit from consumers' move to downloading games digitally or streaming. Net sales fell to $881.8 million compared with $1.24 billion a year ago, the company said on June 7, when it reported earnings earlier than expected.
GameStop raised $933 million by selling shares to cash in on a meme stock rally last month, when the stock doubled in value, and raised an additional $2.14 billion earlier this month. Still, shares are down sharply from their May peak and down more than 70% from 2021 intraday highs.
Gill triggered the most recent wave of exuberance among retail investors after he disclosed ownership of 5 million GameStop shares and 120,000 June $20 strike call options in a screen shot posted on Reddit on June 2.
Gill updated his position last week to show he owned about 9 million shares and no options on the company.
(Reporting by Suzanne McGee in Providence, Rhode Island, and Priyanka G in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed; editing by Ira Iosebashvili, Megan Davies, Dave Gregorio and Matthew Lewis) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Shares of GameStop tumbled on Monday after CEO Ryan Cohen told investors that the videogame retailer plans to operate a smaller network of stores, but did not provide details on what it intends to do with its cash pile. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/gamestop039s-fans-await-shareholder-meeting-after-high-demand-derailed-first-attempt | |
1,373,138 | EU cybersecurity label should not discriminate against Big Tech, European groups say | BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A proposed cybersecurity certification scheme (EUCS) for cloud services should not discriminate against Amazon, Alphabet's Google and Microsoft, 26 industry groups across Europe warned on Monday.
The European Commission, EU cybersecurity agency ENISA and EU countries will meet on Tuesday to discuss the scheme which has undergone several changes since ENISA unveiled a draft in 2020.
The EUCS aims to help governments and companies pick a secure and trusted vendor for their cloud computing business. The global cloud computing industry generate billions of euros in yearly revenue, with double-digit growth expected.
A March version scrapped so-called sovereignty requirements from a previous proposal, which required U.S. tech giants to set up a joint venture or cooperate with an EU-based company to store and process customer data in the bloc in order to qualify for the highest level of the EU cybersecurity label.
"We believe that an inclusive and non-discriminatory EUCS that supports the free movement of cloud services in Europe will help our members prosper at home and abroad, contribute to Europe's digital ambitions, and strengthen its resilience and security," the groups said in a joint letter to EU countries.
"The removal of both ownership controls and Protection against Unlawful Access (PUA) / Immunity to Non-EU Law (INL) requirements ensures that cloud security improvements align with industry best practices and non-discriminatory principles," they said.
The groups said it was crucial that their members have access to a diverse range of resilient cloud technologies tailored to their specific needs to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.
Signatories to the letter include the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Romania and Spain, and the European Payment Institutions Federation.
Others which signed the letter include the Czech Confederation of Industry, Denmark's Dansk Industry, Germany's Bundesverband deutscher Banken, the Digital Poland Association, Irish business lobby group IBEC, the Netherlands' NL Digital and the Spanish Start-up Association.
EU cloud vendors such as such as Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Airbus have pushed for sovereignty requirements in the EUCS on fears that non-EU governments may get unlawful access to Europeans' data on the basis of their laws.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Richard Chang) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A proposed cybersecurity certification scheme (EUCS) for cloud services should not discriminate against Amazon, Alphabet's Google and Microsoft, 26 industry groups across Europe warned on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/eu-cybersecurity-label-should-not-discriminate-against-big-tech-european-groups-say | |
1,371,724 | How Google is tackling ad-blockers on its YouTube platform | Google has declared war on anyone using an ad-blocker on YouTube, violating the platform’s terms of use. Technically, Google is looking for ways to curb the use of these tools when users try to watch any of the platform’s videos.
For several weeks, Google has been putting the squeeze on Internet users using ad-blocking software. These types of software generally take the form of a browser extension that enables users to bypass the (many) ads featured on YouTube. Google’s aim is to persuade users to accept a free model, but with advertising, or to switch to its paid YouTube Premium offer, for RM17.90 a month.
On the web page about its policy on ads shown on YouTube, Google clearly explains that users must agree to view them in order to take advantage of its free offer, and warns those using ad-blocking software: “If you use ad-blockers, we’ll ask you to allow ads on YouTube or sign up for YouTube Premium. If you continue to use ad blockers, we may block your video playback.”
On the same page, Google also explains how to authorise ad delivery, regardless of the blocker used – AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, uBlock Origin etc.
Depending on the browser and extension installed, many users with ad-blockers have recently found themselves unable to play YouTube videos properly, as they instantly jump from beginning to end. Another “trick” found by Google to interfere with the viewing of its videos without going through the advertising process is the insertion of advertising sequences directly via YouTube’s servers into the main video stream.
In any case, this is what more and more users are reporting on social networks, with the result that video timestamps are significantly altered. At the same time, other users are not reporting any noticeable interference. It seems that Google and the publishers of these ad-blocking tools are currently engaged in a merciless technological battle. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | Internet | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Internet,Advertising & Media | Google has declared war on anyone using an ad-blocker on YouTube, violating the platform’s terms of use. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/how-google-is-tackling-ad-blockers-on-its-youtube-platform | |
1,373,051 | Global audiences suspicious of AI-powered newsrooms, report finds | (Reuters) - Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found, posing fresh challenges to newsrooms already struggling to engage audiences.
The institute's annual Digital News Report published on Monday, which this year is based on surveys of nearly 100,000 people across 47 countries, offers a picture of the hurdles news media faces in lifting revenue and sustaining business.
Newsrooms globally are working to address a new challenge with generative artificial intelligence, as tech giants and startups like Google and OpenAI build tools that can offer summaries of information and siphon traffic from news websites.
But the report found that consumers are suspicious about the use of AI to create news content, particularly for sensitive subjects such as politics.
According to the survey, 52% of U.S. respondents and 63% of UK respondents said they would be uncomfortable with news produced mostly with AI. The report surveyed 2,000 people in each country, noting that respondents were more comfortable with behind-the-scenes uses of AI to make journalists' work more efficient.
"It was surprising to see the level of suspicion," said Nic Newman, senior research associate at the Reuters Institute and lead author of the Digital News Report. "People broadly had fears about what might happen to content reliability and trust."
Concerns about false news content online rose by three percentage points from last year, with 59% of survey respondents saying they were worried. This figure was higher in South Africa and the U.S. at 81% and 72%, respectively, as both countries hold elections this year, the report said.
Another challenge facing news organizations is the general unwillingness of audiences to pay for news subscriptions. Following some growth during the pandemic, 17% of respondents across 20 countries said they paid for online news, a figure that has been unchanged for the past three years, the report said.
A significant proportion of news subscribers in the U.S. were also likely to be paying discounted rates due to trials or promotions, with 46% paying less than the full price for their subscriptions.
TURNING TO ALTERNATIVES
News influencers are playing a bigger role than mainstream media organizations in delivering the news to users of popular online platforms like TikTok.
In a survey of more than 5,600 TikTok users who said they used the app for news, 57% said they mostly paid attention to individual personalities, versus 34% who said they mainly followed journalists or news brands.
The findings show that newsrooms need to build a direct relationship with their audiences while also "strategically using the platforms to connect with people who are trickier to reach, like younger audiences," Newman said. "We see that these influencers have a bigger role on the platforms."
Vitus "V" Spehar, a TikTok creator with 3.1 million followers, was one news personality cited by some of the survey respondents. Spehar has become known for their unique style of delivering the top headlines of the day while laying on the floor under their desk, which they previously told Reuters is intended to offer a more gentle perspective on current events and contrast with a traditional news anchor who sits at a desk.
The Digital News Report surveyed people in the U.S., UK, France, Argentina and Brazil, asking them to name up to three mainstream or alternative accounts they follow for the news.
The top 10 individuals cited by respondents in the U.S. are most known for offering political commentary rather than original newsgathering, the report noted. These personalities included Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, Joe Rogan, who hosts the top podcast on Spotify and David Pakman, a progressive talk radio host.
The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is funded by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Thomson Reuters.
(Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Sam Holmes) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Global concerns about the use of AI in news production and misinformation are growing, a report published by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found, posing fresh challenges to newsrooms already struggling to engage audiences. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/global-audiences-suspicious-of-ai-powered-newsrooms-report-finds | |
1,373,045 | In pursuit of productivity: Malaysians are bringing their own AI tools to work | As the AI race accelerates, Malaysians are determined not to be left behind and are taking steps to stay ahead, even as companies struggle to keep up.
The 2024 Work Trend Index revealed an emerging BYOAI (bring your own AI) culture, akin to the well-known BYOD (bring your own device) trend, with 83% of Malaysians now opting to use their own AI tools in the workplace.
The report underscores a key point: employees want AI at work and won’t wait for companies to catch up.
The joint study by software giant Microsoft and professional networking platform LinkedIn discovered that this trend extends beyond just Gen Z, with high adoption rates for AI tools seen across all age groups.
Figures from the study suggests that AI adoption has become a cross-generational trend. — Microsoft
Gen Z leads with an adoption rate of 85%, followed closely by Gen X at 76%, Millennials at 78%, and Baby Boomers at 73% in the country.
“Historically, if you look at all other trends like mobile phones, the adoption by Baby Boomers is slower because they are afraid to use some of these newer technologies. But today, seven out of 10 are already using generative AI,” said K Raman, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia.
The Work Trend Index survey was carried out by the independent research firm Edelman Data & Intelligence. It involved 31,000 full-time employed or self-employed knowledge workers across 31 markets from February 15, 2024, to March 28, 2024.
Apart from Malaysia, the surveyed markets include China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Another key driver of BYOAI is the increasingly rapid pace of work, making it difficult for employees to keep up.
In the study, 68% of respondents said they struggled with the pace and volume of work, and 46% felt burned out.
The ubiquitous email continues to be an obstacle – globally, the typical person has to read about four emails for every one they send, resulting in 85% of emails being read in under 15 seconds.
Also, meetings and after-hours work have remained unchanged since the pandemic, with the workday spent mostly on communication tools.
In the Microsoft 365 apps, 60% of time is allocated to emails, chats, and meetings, and only 40% in creation apps like Word and PowerPoint.
According to Raman, the AI adoption rate – which stands at 84% for Malaysia and surpasses the global rate of 75% – has outpaced other revolutionary technologies.
The 2024 Work Trend Index revealed an emerging BYOAI culture, akin to the well-known BYOD trend, with 83% of Malaysians now opting to use their own AI tools in the workplace. — Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
“If you look at technology trends, mobile phones took 16 years to hit 100 million people. Today, everyone can’t live without them. They changed the way we work, play and enjoy time with family.
“The second big boom was the Internet, but even the Internet boom took seven years to hit 100 million. For social media, Facebook took four-and-a-half years. ChatGPT achieved that in just three months.
“Because the technology is so easy to use, we are starting to see how consumers who are using ChatGPT are using this generative AI or asking for the use of generative AI in their workplace,” Raman said at a media briefing.
Risk vs reward
Raman emphasised that as the technological shift is driven by employees seeking to enhance productivity and make more efficient use of their time, they are not waiting for their organisations to roll out a coherent AI vision and roadmap.
This has become a cause of concern for 66% of respondents, who feel their organisations have yet to establish a clear direction for AI.
“With AI becoming a business imperative, leaders must demonstrate more appetite for rapid experimentation to drive business transformation,” said Raman.
However, the adoption of AI, especially without proper policies, poses a security risk.
“The concern we have today is this: because users like me, who first used AI in their personal lives, and companies are not really adopting AI at scale yet, people are now bringing their own AI tools to work.
“This whole concept of BYOAI is becoming a trend that organisations are very concerned about because the exposure of your company’s data is also a big concern today.
“We are finding from this survey that people are coming in with their AI, not letting their bosses know they are using AI for work, but at the same time exposing the company.
“That means the risk for organisations not deploying a company-wide AI strategy and a company-wide deployment of guidance for AI is exposing the company to data breaches,” Raman said.
The report states that 52% of Malaysian AI users are reluctant to admit to their bosses that they are using AI, while 53% are unwilling to share these tools out of concern that their jobs will be replaced despite the productivity gain.
Meanwhile, 85% of AI power users, described as those who use the technology several times a week and save 30 minutes of work time daily, are already starting their day by using AI, with 82% also using it to plan for the following day in advance.
Shift in job skills
The rise of AI has also seen a change in hiring priorities among organisations, with LinkedIn’s South-East Asia head of sales for emerging markets, Rohit Kalsy, describing it as an evolution in skills.
“From 2015, we saw on average a 25% change in the skills required to succeed in an application for the same job.
“After November 2022, when ChatGPT came into our lives, we saw a sudden acceleration. Looking at the emerging tech and how roles are evolving, it is anticipated that almost 68% of the skills required for that job will change by 2030,” he said.
In Malaysia, 62% of business leaders surveyed said they wouldn’t hire a candidate without AI skills, while 65% are more likely to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced one without them. — Microsoft
In Malaysia, 62% of business leaders surveyed said they wouldn’t hire a candidate without AI skills, while 65% are more likely to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced one without them.
This is not lost on job applicants – as of late last year, LinkedIn has seen a 142x increase in users adding AI skills like ChatGPT and Copilot to their profiles.
“This underscores that AI competency is no longer an ‘X’ factor but a necessity in today’s workplace.
“This past year has indicated that professionals are aware of the need to adequately upskill themselves for the age of AI.
“We have seen a record number of learners undertaking the top AI courses on LinkedIn since January 2023 across South-East Asia, Australia and India,” Rohit said.
In the last six months, LinkedIn saw a 160% increase in users from non-technical sectors, such as real estate and logistics, taking AI courses to better understand the technology.
Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s chief technology officer, Izzat Aziz, said that thinking should shift towards asking, “Can AI help me do this?” This shift would allow workers to engage in more productive, high-value work.
“In any technology, familiarisation is very important. I remember those days when people went to classes, even myself, to use Microsoft Word and Excel, but in today’s context, people would laugh at you,” he said.
Izzat explained that when Excel was new, people moved from using ledgers and journals to consolidating everything into a workbook. He believes that the same concept applies to AI.
“So, similar to training in Word and PowerPoint, we should now have the same mentality about how people can use the same framework to start adopting AI knowledge,” he said.
Johor Corporation’s chief digital officer, Ahmad Yusri Mohamed, believes that the next four to five years will be an arms race for companies building datasets to empower their AI deployment.
“Your AI will only be as good as the data you put in, so I think for all the business leaders, before you start thinking and planning about implementing your AI automation and analytics, you should be planning about how to gather, store, and release the data to users.
“I think four to five years from now, when people talk about AI, they will actually brag about the size of their data. That will determine how good your AI is,” he said.
However, Raman emphasises that integrating AI simply for the sake of it is a misguided approach. Rather, the key is to consider a company’s particular set of challenges and implement the technology as solutions to specific problems.
“For the business to move forward, they must have their leaders start using a top-down, bottom-up strategy. Leaders must provide guidance and training so that their employees are familiar with AI,” he said.
Though 88% of Malaysian leaders in the survey believe AI is a business imperative, they worry that their organisations lack a plan and vision to implement it.
Though 88% of Malaysian leaders in the survey believe AI is a business imperative, they worry that their organisations lack a plan and vision to implement it. — Microsoft
Raman recommends that companies observe the tools staff use to make work more efficient, then design a strategy around their needs, along with appropriate standards of practice for their use.
Izzat shares a similar opinion, stressing that companies need to understand the value of AI before rushing to implement it.
“The idea isn’t to just include AI, we need to anchor it to the problem at hand and see whether AI can tackle the issue.
“Typically, people don’t read the manual when buying consumer products. There are a lot of features and capabilities mentioned in the manual that are not properly used.
“Similar to any product, I think we need to understand the product, know its capabilities, and start asking the right questions to see how we can maximise the use of this technology,” he said.
Izzat also stresses the importance of having a purpose behind using AI, along with the right application or tools for specific tasks at hand. | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-17 00:00:00 | AI,Malaysia,Technology | As the AI race accelerates, Malaysians are determined not to be left behind and are taking steps to stay ahead, even as companies struggle to keep up. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/17/in-pursuit-of-productivity-malaysians-are-bringing-their-own-ai-tools-to-work | |
1,372,395 | Apple forced to explain why it won’t add AI features to older iPhones | SAN JOSE, California: Apple has defended its decision to leave most iPhone owners behind when it pushes ahead with newly announced AI-powered features, set to roll out later this year only on future iPhones and premium models from the most recent generation.
AI boss John Giannandrea said this move had purely technical reasons, explaining in a live interview on The Talk Show podcast on Tuesday, that the AI software required more powerful hardware.
The AI models could theoretically also run on older phones, he admitted, but argued they would be too slow to be useful.
Apple announced an AI offensive earlier in the week with a wide array of "Apple Intelligence" features for iPhone users, notably editing help in emails, individual emojis and an upgraded Siri that harnsesses the smarts of ChatGPT.
However Apple is only bringing the features to future iPhones and the more expensive models of the iPhone 15 from late last year.
There is more leeway with Mac computers, and any of the in-house M-series chips, which Apple has been using to replace Intel processors since 2020, will suffice.
The AI features will also run on iPads with M chip systems. In addition to the chip, the RAM memory capacity also plays a role, software boss Craig Federighi said.
Apple, marketing itself as a privacy-focussed company, says it has sought to do as much computational work as possible on the devices for data protection reasons. This also increases the demands on their performance, however.
At the same time, the company has developed a procedure with which the tasks are forwarded to Apple's servers in encrypted form. The data should then disappear completely from the cloud. "We don't utilize user data to train our models," Giannandrea said.
Arriving in updates like iOS 18 in the second half of 2024, the new features will also be able to generate images from text prompts. Unlike many other services, however, Apple AI does not generate artificial photos out of concerns users might create deepfakes. – dpa | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | AI,Smartphones,iOS | Apple has defended its decision to leave most iPhone owners behind when it pushes ahead with newly announced AI-powered features, set to roll out later this year only on future iPhones and premium models from the most recent generation. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/16/apple-forced-to-explain-why-it-wont-add-ai-features-to-older-iphones | |
1,372,391 | What if social networks really are the stuff of nightmares? | Not content with keeping you awake at night, social networks may even be finding their way into your dreams, researchers say. In fact, scientists report that the more time users spend on social media, the more likely they are to have nightmares, synonymous with stress and poorer quality sleep.
Social networking has the potential to impact physical and mental health. A number of scientific studies have already looked into the subject, suggesting that social media can be the cause of sleep disorders, weight problems and mental health issues such as stress and anxiety. But social networks can also have an indirect impact on the health of their users, particularly younger ones. New research, for example, reports that social networks may be a cause of nightmares.
"As social media becomes increasingly intertwined with our lives, its impact extends beyond waking hours, and may influence our dreams," says Reza Shabahang of Flinders University, Australia, quoted in a news release. The researcher, who developed the Social Media Nightmare-Related Scale to assess how social networking can contribute to nightmares, points out that this type of media can, if used excessively, influence the realm of dreams. This surprising finding was demonstrated in collaboration with a team of international researchers.
"Our study introduces the concept of social media-related nightmares, which are defined as nightmares that involve social media-related themes, such as cyberbullying, online hate or excessive social media use," says the lead author of this research, published in the journal, BMC Psychology.
Mental health impact
Using this measurement scale, the researchers conclude that social media-related nightmares remain rare – which is good news. But, Reza Shabahang continues, "those who use social media more during their daily lives are more likely to have social media-related nightmares that are associated with negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep quality." This link between social networks and bad dreams, albeit weak, once again demonstrates the potential impact of these platforms on the mental health of the most active users.
And this effect could become even more pronounced with future technologies. "With the rapid advances in technology and media, including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality, along with the increasing dependency on these technologies and deeper integration, it is anticipated that dreams featuring technological and media content will become more frequent," the scientist says.
To counteract such effects, the authors of this research simply recommend – as many experts and health professionals do – reining in your social media use, and adopting "responsible and mindful use" of these platforms. Future research in the field may focus on the impact of the perceived dangers of artificial intelligence on nightmares. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | Social media | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Social media | Not content with keeping you awake at night, social networks may even be finding their way into your dreams, researchers say. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/16/what-if-social-networks-really-are-the-stuff-of-nightmares | |
1,372,386 | How to identify and manage the most power-hungry apps on your smartphone | If your smartphone battery is showing signs of weakness and tends to run down faster than before, it's probably because you have one or more applications that are using a lot of power. Fortunately, it's easy enough to identify them and manage their activity.
To find out which applications are using the most power on your smartphone, go to the Battery section, which you can easily find in your phone's settings, whether your operating system is Android or iOS. You'll then see a list of all the latest applications you've used. They'll be ranked according to their respective battery use.
You'll even be able to find out how long some of them have been running in the background, if at all. Streaming and browsing applications are usually those that use the most power.
Contrary to popular belief and common practice, it's best to leave your most frequently used applications open, rather than systematically closing them. Restarting them over and over again will use more power, and will ultimately be detrimental to your battery. Closing a mobile application only to reopen it a few minutes later not only drains battery life, but also puts pressure on the device's RAM. The less powerful a smartphone is, the more necessary it is to keep these applications open. In any case, you have everything to gain in terms of performance and battery life.
On the other hand, whatever your smartphone, you can always choose whether or not to allow each application to consume data in the background. On Android, you can activate the Data Saver in the Network & Internet section of your Settings, while choosing which applications you authorize to run in the background. The same applies to iOS, in the Background App Refresh section.
Finally, don't hesitate to restart your smartphone. This will close all active applications, including those running in the background, and erase any accumulated temporary files, giving your device a fresh start. There are also a host of battery-saving tricks you can try, from reducing screen brightness to temporarily turning off location settings, for example. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | Mobile apps | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-16 00:00:00 | Mobile apps | If your smartphone battery is showing signs of weakness and tends to run down faster than before, it's probably because you have one or more applications that are using a lot of power. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/16/how-to-identify-and-manage-the-most-power-hungry-apps-on-your-smartphone | |
1,371,218 | Users will have control over generative AI in Windows | Central to the next major Windows update, generative artificial intelligence promises to make its way into most Microsoft programs, in the aim of boosting user productivity. Users should, however, be able to decide which applications can and can't make use of the technology.
Faced with concerns that generative AI could be too invasive, Microsoft is reportedly set to give users a say in how applications access these artificial intelligent tools. According to the XDA Developers website, the incoming major update to Windows 11 (24H2), expected by the end of the year, will offer the possibility of defining individual permissions for each application.
This will enable users to disable the use of generative AI for some or all applications. On a larger scale, companies will be able to disable access to this AI for all their employees if they deem it inappropriate or unnecessary.
The integration of generative artificial intelligence into Windows should simplify system management, as well as the day-to-day use of most of its accompanying programs. At the core of this update are the latest developments for Microsoft's Copilot, provided it finally complies with European legislation on digital markets (DMA).
Indeed, until further notice, Europeans will be left without Copilot, the AI-powered intelligent assistant with which it is possible to interact or customize a computer's operating system. The assistant can be useful for working on various documents (rewriting, summarising or simply explaining them) and can answer practical questions. It can be accessed directly from the taskbar, and soon via a dedicated button on future PCs.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has sought to reassure users after its new Recall feature sparked controversy. In fact, the firm has said that Recall will now be an opt-in feature rather than activated by default. Considered to be particularly intrusive, but promising to facilitate PC searches, Recall is designed to take a series of screenshots of the computer at regular intervals and then save them locally, raising questions about privacy. Initially, however, this feature will only be available on the new Copilot+ PCs, which are due to go on sale this summer. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | AI,Operating systems | Central to the next major Windows update, generative artificial intelligence promises to make its way into most Microsoft programs, in the aim of boosting user productivity. Users should, however, be able to decide which applications can and can't make use of the technology. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/users-will-have-control-over-generative-ai-in-windows | |
1,370,312 | Will your device support Apple Intelligence? | Not everyone will be able to benefit from Apple's new artificial intelligence features in upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS. To do so, you'll need very recent hardware.
Apple caused quite a stir at its last major annual developer conference (WWDC 2024) by unveiling the AI-related features that will drive the next versions of its various operating systems, iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to take advantage of them. In fact, you'll need a very recent iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Apple Intelligence will be available free of charge as a beta version in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia in English in the United States this fall, before being gradually rolled out worldwide. Some additional features and languages will not be available until 2025.
To take advantage of them, you'll need the latest generation of iPhone or an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. For iPads and Macs, you'll need a device equipped with an M1 chip or later.
Apple Intelligence will place powerful generative AI models at the heart of Apple devices, offering the ability to perform common tasks more quickly and easily, from writing texts and email messages to photo editing and written transcriptions of telephone conversations. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | iOS | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | iOS,Smartphones,Tablets,AI | Not everyone will be able to benefit from Apple's new artificial intelligence features in upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS. To do so, you'll need very recent hardware. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/will-your-device-support-apple-intelligence | |
1,369,452 | Gamers really are better drivers, a new survey reveals | Could playing video games make people better drivers? According to one study, playing car racing games could have this kind of positive effect. The research reports that video game players tend to be better drivers than non-gamers, having greater self-confidence, and being less likely to have penalty points on their license.
Can playing driving video games have any impact on real-life driving? That's the question asked by Auto Trader, a British specialist in online used car sales, which conducted a survey of 1,000 drivers aged 18 and over who spend more than four hours a week playing driving video games.
The results of the survey are surprising, since Auto Trader reports that racing video game players tend to be better drivers than non-gamers. In fact, 41% of gamers surveyed felt they had excellent driving skills, compared with just 13% of non-gamers. Gamers are also more self-confident on the road, with 56% claiming that their gaming experience has had a positive impact on their real-life driving, notably by improving their reaction time and spatial awareness.
And their beliefs appear to be borne out by the figures. Gamers tend to have fewer penalty points on their driving licenses than non-gamers. According to the study, only 15% of gamers have ever received penalties for their driving behaviour, compared with 28% of non-gamers.
Potentially more alert thanks to the reflexes developed by playing car racing games, gamers may develop their cognitive functions to a greater extent, as highlighted by the 2023 study "Video games and board games: Effects of playing practice on cognition".
"Video games seem to have a greater potential for overall cognitive enhancement because they involve processing various types of information and adapting strategies dynamically and in real time," the paper reads.
However, Auto Trader's study found that players of driving video games tend to adopt more dangerous behaviours on the road, such as using a cellphone while driving. A quarter of gamers surveyed have got penalty points on their license for this offence, compared to just 4% of non-gamers.
On the other hand, non-gamers tend to be penalised more often for speeding, at 85% versus 71% of gamers.
Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, commented: "Our survey shows some light correlation between regular car-based gaming and safer driving habits – adding real-life examples to the studies out there which show video games can boost the cognitive skills that improve your driving.
“All drivers should adhere to safety regulations while driving, whether they play video games often or not, and the new technology available when you lease new models can certainly help you avoid speeding penalization. Newer car models, which come equipped with advanced safety features, traffic updates, map routes and entertainment technologies, can also reduce the temptation to engage with mobile devices while driving." – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | Video games | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Video games | Could playing video games make people better drivers? According to one study, playing car racing games could have this kind of positive effect. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/gamers-really-are-better-drivers-a-new-survey-reveals | |
1,369,450 | From schoolwork to relationship advice: why might young people use an AI chatbot? | Young people are increasingly familiar with artificial intelligence. From ChatGPT to DALL-E and Gemini, users can rely on a wide range of tools to help them with their tasks. And it would seem that Millennials are most interested in using AI to help them with their finances, while Generation Z is more likely to turn to AI for schoolwork.
Even social networks have launched their own AI-based tools. With the mainstream success of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence has made its breakthrough online, gaining favor with young people. But while younger generations may be more accustomed to these tools, they don't necessarily envisage using them for the same reasons.
The latest report from YPulse, surveying 1,500 young people age 13 to 39, asked them what they would like to ask an AI-powered chatbot, or how they'd like it to help them. Responses varied by age, but reflected the concerns and needs of young people in their personal and professional lives.
From schoolwork to careers advice
According to the study, the main reason why young Gen Zers (13- to 17-year-olds) would like to use an AI-powered chatbot is to help them with their studies. This is also the reason most cited by young adults (18-24), who come in second place for this category.
Young Gen Zers say they would like to use AI to help them solve math problems, write essays or find information for homework. Some also mentioned that AI could help them learn new skills or improve their understanding of certain subjects.
This could be a worrying state of affairs, according to a recent study by Pew Research Center, which showed that 25% of American teachers felt that AI tools were doing more harm than good in primary and secondary education.
Young adults and Millennials (aged 25-39) want to use AI to help them in their professional lives. Their concerns are different from those of Gen Z. According to the survey, the main reason they would like to use an AI-powered chatbot is to get financial advice, such as investment advice or tips on saving money. This is followed by advice on schoolwork and finding a job.
As well as looking for help with their professional lives, some young people would turn to ChatGPT and other AI tools for help with their love lives. That said, 18-24 year-olds are the only ones to cite "relationship advice," in eighth place in their list of priorities. The 13-17 and 25-39 age groups prefer to ask for advice on mental health, in 7th and 10th place, respectively. This topic is not cited by 18-24 year-olds. In 2023, talking about mental health was one of the top trends on TikTok.
Some 68% of young people aged 13 to 39 have already either used an AI chatbot like ChatGPT or an AI-powered image generator like DALL-E, YPulse reports. Of these, 61% have used a chatbot such as ChatGPT, Jasper or YouChat. This trend is particularly strong among young adults aged 18-24, 75% of whom have already used an AI chatbot, and levels remain high among teenagers (52% of 13-17 year-olds) and Millennials (57% of 25-39 year-olds).
The study also revealed that AI use by young people has increased rapidly over the past year. Indeed, only 45% of 13-39 year-olds said they had used an AI chatbot a year ago. – AFP Relaxnews | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | AI | Young people are increasingly familiar with artificial intelligence. From ChatGPT to DALL-E and Gemini, users can rely on a wide range of tools to help them with their tasks. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/from-schoolwork-to-relationship-advice-why-might-young-people-use-an-ai-chatbot | |
1,372,026 | OpenAI CEO says company could become for-profit corporation, The Information reports | (Reuters) -OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told some shareholders that the company is considering changing its governance structure to a for-profit business that the firm's nonprofit board doesn't control, The Information reported on Friday.
One scenario Altman said the board is considering is a for-profit benefit corporation, which rivals such as Anthropic and xAI are using, the report said, citing a person who heard the comments.
The restructuring discussions are fluid and Altman and his fellow directors could ultimately decide to take a different approach, The Information added.
In response to Reuters' queries about the report, OpenAI said: "We remain focused on building AI that benefits everyone. The nonprofit is core to our mission and will continue to exist."
(Reporting by Shivani Tanna and Disha Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Sam Holmes) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told some shareholders that the company is considering changing its governance structure to a for-profit business that the firm's nonprofit board doesn't control, The Information reported on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/openai-ceo-says-company-could-become-benefit-corporation--the-information | |
1,372,014 | Google loses bid to end US antitrust case over digital advertising | (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google must face trial on U.S. antitrust enforcers' claim that the internet search juggernaut illegally dominates the online advertising technology market, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, denied Google's motion during a hearing, according to court records.
Google had argued for a win without a trial, saying that antitrust laws do not block companies from refusing to deal with rivals and that regulators had not accurately defined the ad tech market.
Court papers did not specify what reasons the judge provided at the hearing. Motions like the one Google filed are only granted where a judge determines there is no factual dispute to send to trial.
Brinkema is scheduled to preside over trial in the case on Sept. 9.
"We look forward to setting the record straight," a spokesperson for Google said.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
The Justice Department and a coalition of states sued the tech giant last year, claiming it was unlawfully monopolizing digital advertising and overcharging users. The lawsuit seeks primarily to break up Google's digital advertising business to allow for more competition.
The regulators convinced Brinkema on Friday to block a former FBI agent who acted as a cybersecurity consultant for Google from testifying as an expert at the trial.
Google notched a win in the case last week when Brinkema allowed the trial to go forward without a jury, after the company settled claims that its conduct harmed the U.S. government.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google must face trial on U.S. antitrust enforcers' claim that the internet search juggernaut illegally dominates the online advertising technology market, a federal judge ruled on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/google-loses-bid-to-end-us-antitrust-case-over-digital-advertising | |
1,372,013 | Apple, Meta set to face EU charges under landmark tech rules, sources say | BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Apple and Meta Platforms will likely face charges for failing to comply with landmark EU rules aimed at reining in their power before the summer, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday.
The European Commission, which launched investigations into the two companies and Alphabet's Google in March under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), sees Apple and Meta as priority cases, the people said.
The DMA requires Big Tech to open up space for smaller rivals to compete and make it easier for people to move between competing online services like social media platforms, internet browsers and app stores.
EU regulators will issue preliminary findings which are similar to antitrust charges before the summer break in August, with Apple the first to be charged, followed by Meta, the sources said.
The Commission and Meta declined to comment. Apple referred to its March statement where it said that it was confident that its plan complies with the DMA and that it continues to constructively engage with the Commission.
Companies can offer remedies to address concerns laid out in the findings before a final decision expected before EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager leaves office in November, which could include fines up to 10% of a company's global annual turnover for breaches.
The EU investigation targets Apple's steering rules, which regulators say impose limitations that hinder app developers from informing users about offers outside its App Store free of charge, and also its new fees levied on apps developers.
EU regulators are expected to charge Apple related to this issue, the people said, adding that a second investigation focusing on its choice screen for its Safari web browser will likely take more time.
The preliminary finding on Meta focuses on its recently introduced pay or consent model where users pay a subscription fee for an ad-free Facebook and Instagram, the people said.
The FT was the first to report that Apple would face EU charges.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Jan Harvey) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Technology | BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Apple and Meta Platforms will likely face charges for failing to comply with landmark EU rules aimed at reining in their power before the summer, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/apple-meta-set-to-face-eu-charges-under-landmark-tech-rules-sources-say | |
1,371,864 | New York recovers $50 million for defrauded Gemini Earn crypto investors | NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York Attorney General Letitia James has recovered $50 million from the cryptocurrency platform Gemini Trust to repay investors defrauded in its Gemini Earn program, she said on Friday.
Gemini, run by billionaire twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, will provide full recoveries to more than 230,000 Earn investors, including 29,000 in New York, and agreed to a ban on operating crypto lending programs in the state.
The payout is in addition to James' related $2 billion settlement with crypto lender Genesis Global Capital, which she announced on May 20.
"Gemini marketed its Earn program as a way for investors to grow their money, but actually lied and locked investors out of their accounts," James said. "Today's settlement will make defrauded investors whole."
The funds will be accessible within seven days, Gemini told investors on Friday. "With this final distribution, Earn users will have received 100% of the assets owed to them," it said.
Gemini Earn promised high interest rates to investors who lent crypto assets such as bitcoin to Genesis, a unit of Digital Currency Group, with Gemini taking fees that could exceed 4%.
More than $1 billion was frozen when Genesis halted redemptions in November 2022, shortly after the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX cryptocurrency exchange. Genesis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy two months later.
Gemini did not admit or deny wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. New York's top financial regulator fined Gemini $37 million in February for compliance failures.
Investors are expected to recover more than they invested because they are being paid in digital assets such as bitcoin, whose value has more than tripled since redemptions were suspended.
Gemini also agreed to cooperate in James' October fraud lawsuit against Digital Currency Group and its chief executive, Barry Silbert. They have called her claims baseless.
Spokespeople for Digital Currency Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Gemini's settlement.
The Winklevoss twins are each worth $2.7 billion, Forbes magazine said.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Technology | NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York Attorney General Letitia James has recovered $50 million from the cryptocurrency platform Gemini Trust to repay investors defrauded in its Gemini Earn program, she said on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/new-york-recovers-50-million-for-defrauded-gemini-earn-crypto-investors | |
1,371,839 | Tempus AI shares jump 8% in strong Nasdaq debut as US IPO market thaws | (Reuters) -Shares of SoftBank Group-backed Tempus AI rose 8.1% in their debut on the Nasdaq on Friday, giving the artificial intelligence-based genetic testing company a valuation of $6.6 billion.
The company is among the several AI-focused firms that have garnered investors' interest, thanks to the popularity of OpenAI's viral chatbot ChatGPT.
The stock opened at $40 apiece, compared with the initial public offering (IPO) price of $37.
The strong debut bodes well for other companies looking to go public, as the U.S. capital market rebounds in 2024 after a dry spell that lasted nearly two years.
Other high-profile listings this year include Chinese EV firm Zeekr and social media platform Reddit, which fared well in their debuts too.
Tempus AI was founded in 2015, about a year after CEO Eric Lefkofsky found out that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tempus sells genomics diagnostics tests across oncology, neuropsychiatry, radiology and cardiology to clinicians and hospital systems.
The company boasts of several big investors including Alphabet's Google, investment managers Franklin Templeton and T Rowe Price, according to PitchBook.
Tempus' customers include major drugmakers such as AstraZeneca and GSK. It competes with Swiss drugmaker Roche's genomic profiling unit Foundation Medicine and cancer test maker Guardant Health.
Separately, Guardant had sued Tempus AI on Wednesday for allegedly infringing five patents related to DNA-based cancer testing.
Chicago, Illinois-based Tempus has raised $410.7 million in its IPO, after it priced its shares at the higher end of its targeted range of $35 to $37.
The offering was underwritten by a cartel of top Wall Street names such as Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Bank of America Securities, among others.
(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-15 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Shares of SoftBank Group-backed Tempus AI rose 8.1% in their debut on the Nasdaq on Friday, giving the artificial intelligence-based genetic testing company a valuation of $6.6 billion. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/15/tempus-ai-shares-jump-8-in-nasdaq-debut | |
1,371,820 | Meta pauses AI models launch in Europe due to Irish request | BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Meta Platforms will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe for now after the Irish privacy regulator told it to delay its plan to harness data from Facebook and Instagram users, the U.S. social media company said on Friday.
The move by Meta came after complaints and a call by advocacy group NOYB to data protection authorities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Spain to act against the company.
At issue is Meta's plan to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without seeking consent, although the company has said it would use publicly available and licensed online information.
Meta on Friday said the Irish privacy watchdog had asked it to delay training its large language models (LLMs) using public content shared by Facebook and Instagram adult users.
"We're disappointed by the request from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), our lead regulator, on behalf of the European DPAs ... particularly since we incorporated regulatory feedback and the European DPAs have been informed since March," the company said in an updated blogpost.
It said the Irish request is a step backwards for European innovation and competition in AI development.
"Put simply, without including local information we'd only be able to offer people a second-rate experience. This means we aren't able to launch Meta AI in Europe at the moment," Meta said.
The DPC welcomed Meta's pause, saying its decision came after intensive engagement with the regulator.
Meta said the delayed launch of its AI models would also allow it to address requests from Britain's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The ICO welcomed Meta's decision, saying it would continue to monitor major developers of generative AI, including Meta, to review the safeguards they have put in place and ensure the information rights of UK users are protected.
NOYB's chair Max Schrems attributed Meta's temporary halt to the group's complaints filed last week.
"So far there is no official change of the Meta privacy policy, which would make this commitment legally binding. The cases we filed are ongoing and will need a determination," he said in a statement.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin and Muvija M in London; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Andrea Ricci and Jan Harvey) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Technology | BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Meta Platforms will not launch its Meta AI models in Europe for now after the Irish privacy regulator told it to delay its plan to harness data from Facebook and Instagram users, the U.S. social media company said on Friday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/meta-will-not-launch-meta-ai-in-europe-for-now | |
1,371,728 | Adobe surges as AI optimism fuels annual revenue forecast | (Reuters) -Adobe shares soared 16% on Friday, putting the Photoshop-maker on track for its best day in more than four years, after the company raised its annual revenue forecast as more customers turned to its AI-powered editing tools.
The forecast allayed investor fears that Adobe, a major player in the market for editing tools for photos and videos, could lose customers to AI startups such as Dall-E maker OpenAI that allow users to generate images with simple text prompts.
"Generative artificial intelligence adoption should help drive growth over the next several quarters," Morningstar analysts said in a note.
Results showed Adobe's AI efforts, including the Firefly image-generating software it rolled out last year, were paying off, with senior executive David Wadhwani saying existing users were moving to higher-priced plans to gain access to Firefly.
At $528.81, the company's shares hit their highest level since March 14, and if the gains hold, Adobe was set to add more than $30 billion to its market value.
Its shares have lost about 23% of their value this year, compared with a nearly 14% gain for the S&P 500 index.
The company raised the midpoint of its fiscal 2024 revenue forecast to $21.45 billion on Thursday, compared with its prior midpoint of $21.40 billion.
It reported $3.91 billion as revenue from its digital media business, which made up about 74% of its total second-quarter revenue of $5.31 billion. Analysts had expected total sales of $5.29 billion.
(Reporting by Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Technology | (Reuters) -Adobe shares soared 16% on Friday, putting the Photoshop-maker on track for its best day in more than four years, after the company raised its annual revenue forecast as more customers turned to its AI-powered editing tools. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/adobe-surges-as-ai-optimism-fuels-annual-revenue-forecast | |
1,371,704 | Microsoft to invest $7.16 billion in new data centres in northeastern Spain | MADRID (Reuters) - Microsoft plans to invest 6.69 billion euros ($7.16 billion) to develop new data centres in Spain's northeastern region of Aragon, which is becoming a major cloud computing hub within Europe.
Aragon's regional government said the U.S. tech giant had applied for a construction permit to build data centres at a site outside the city of Zaragoza, confirming a report by local newspaper El Heraldo.
The company's investment will be spread out over 10 years, the regional government said.
Microsoft, which recently announced a 2.1 billion euro investment in data centres in Madrid, declined to comment on the plans in Aragon.
Microsoft follows its main competitor Amazon's cloud computing unit AWS in setting eyes on Aragon. Amazon announced last month it would invest 15.7 billion euros over the next 10 years to build data centres in Aragon.
Amazon said it would power its data centres fully with renewable energy.
The Aragon region has a large wind power capacity.
Zaragoza, Spain's fifth-largest city, has become a logistics and transportation hub, It is located halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, Spain's biggest urban areas, and in the middle of the main trade corridor connecting the Iberian Peninsula to France and the rest of Europe.
($1 = 0.9340 euros)
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by David Latona and Jason Neely) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Technology | MADRID (Reuters) - Microsoft plans to invest 6.69 billion euros ($7.16 billion) to develop new data centres in Spain's northeastern region of Aragon, which is becoming a major cloud computing hub within Europe. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/microsoft-to-invest-716-billion-in-new-data-centres-in-northeastern-spain | |
1,371,532 | Bitcoin miners pivot to South-East Asia after China crackdown | The 17-acre cement slab in the middle of a Borneo industrial area once belonged to a logging company. Long ago that business abandoned the site to the elements, leaving just rudimentary structures and a four-story-tall concrete birdhouse made to lure swiftlets whose nests, built with saliva, fetch high prices in China.
But in 2023, another industry moved in: Bitcoin miners. Sheltered by a vast, sheet-metal roof, over 1,000 machines now roar away, while hundreds more sit nearby in cardboard boxes waiting to be unpacked.
The site in Tanjung Manis, Sarawak, is the largest of four operations in the area run by miner Bityou. Owner Peter Lim chose the location after he was forced to shutter a larger 10,000 rig, 20-megawatt operation in China, following a ban on Bitcoin miners in 2021. "Most of the companies already left this industrial park,” said Lim. "We decided, why don’t we make use of these abandoned resources?”
He’s one of many miners popping up in South-East Asia – not all of them entirely legal, although Lim says Bityou's operations are above board – after China’s crackdown. China was once the dominant country for Bitcoin mining, the process of using computing power to solve encryption puzzles in return for new tokens. In 2019 it accounted for about three-quarters of global activity, according to data collected by Cambridge University.
But when the Chinese authorities declared that any crypto-related transactions would be considered illicit financial activity, the industry was decimated.
“Back then, some of the state governments, they just seize your property,” said Alex Loh, Lim’s colleague at Bityou, in an interview.
Loh said some 3,000 of his machines were seized at a mine he used to run in Inner Mongolia. He was also a stakeholder in a 120-megawatt site in Sichuan province that suffered a similar fate. "We spent about three months to build that place,” Loh said. "But once we started our operation, less than a month, we have to stop.”
Despite China’s clampdown, Bitcoin has more than quadrupled since the start of last year to trade around US$67,000 (RM316,005) at lunchtime in Singapore on June 13, helped in part by the US launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January. Renewed institutional interest has been a boon for miners, who earned revenue of US$960mil (RM4.52bil) in May, according to data tracked by The Block Research. Bitcoin's strong performance partially offsets the impact of April's “halving”, a quadrennial event that slashes the rewards earned by miners for maintaining the network.
China crackdown
The US had become the global leader in terms of hashrate – a measure of the computational power used to process transactions on the Bitcoin network – by January 2022, according to Cambridge University data.
Now South-East Asian nations are also climbing the ranks. Malaysia contributed 2.5% of the global hashrate, the Cambridge data show, ranking it among the top 10 nations. Preliminary results from more recent mining research suggest activity in Indonesia "markedly rose” in 2022 to between "lower and mid-single digit percentages,” said Alexander Neumüller, a research lead at Cambridge.
The availability of competitively priced power, skilled labour and, crucially, existing infrastructure add to the region’s allure for miners, Lim said.
Rigs are popping up all over South-East Asia in abandoned shopping malls, former steel factories and on the side of hydro-electric power projects, as miners try to find sites where they can access the ample electricity they need. That's because the region doesn't have the option of exploiting “gluts of power” like miners in the US, who can dial up their activity in periods of lower power demand for preferential prices, according to Fred Thiel, CEO and chairman of Marathon Digital Holdings, one of the world’s largest Bitcoin miners.
Manufacturers of mining rigs have followed the miners to South-East Asia, shifting some operations to the region as they seek to meet burgeoning demand and, like many other industries, to avoid US tariffs on China. Until 2018, when former US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% duty on a range of electronic goods from China, Bitcoin rig production was “almost entirely” based in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, according to Ben Gagnon, chief mining officer at Bitfarms, which is currently the target of a US$950mil (RM4.48bil) takeover bid.
“The vast majority of miners now are produced in Malaysia. There are manufacturing locations also in Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, the US also to some extent,” said Gagnon, who has visited manufacturing facilities in Penang and Indonesia to run quality control checks for the Toronto-based miner. Some of sites belong to Bitmain, others to its closest rival MicroBT. Bitmain declined to comment while MicroBT said, in emailed comments, it had manufacturing in the region and facilities in both Thailand and the US.
Finding a home
Setting up shop is not always straightforward for miners. Like Lim, many are taking root in unexpected places, often leading a precarious existence thanks to frequent shifts in the stance of regulators as well as conditions that tend to favor smaller-scale outfits.
Mining in Laos, which has a burgeoning hydropower industry, was derailed by an extreme drought this year, which meant the state-run power company withdrew electrical supply from miners. Today, crypto mining accounts for more than a third of all power demand in the country, Somboun Sangxayarath, an advisor at Electricite Du Laos, recently told Reuters.
Police raids on Bitcoin miners illegally siphoning energy are a regular occurrence in Malaysia, Indonesia and Laos. Electricity theft by Bitcoin miners had cost Malaysia an estimated RM2.3bil (US$550mil) and rising as of early 2022, according to Takiyuddin Hassan, at that time Malaysia’s energy and natural resources minister.
Nearby Lim’s Sarawak operation, in Kuching, another miner is looking to set up in the shells of former steel plants and plastics factories, according to a pitch deck seen by Bloomberg. A partnership between Sovereign Sengalang and Sprint Capital Management kicked off operations in the region earlier this year and is now seeking investment to develop "new brownfield sites”. The investment comes as state authorities last year unveiled plans for Sarawak to transition from a resource-based economy to an "environmentally sustainable technology-based economy" by 2030.
Despite the challenges, significant growth is expected in both mining and manufacturing. “South-East Asia is poised to take off in the next few years,” said Taras Kulyk, founder and CEO of SunnySide Digital, a distributor of data centre hardware.
Surrounded by his boxed-up machines, Bityou’s Lim said South-East Asia’s miners “have to find some kind of unique setup, whether it be in terms of the price of power or lack of local competition, some sort of incentive, something to give them a bit of an edge”. – Bloomberg | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Cryptocurrency,Technology,Fintech | Rigs are popping up all over South-East Asia in abandoned shopping malls, former steel factories and on the side of hydro-electric power projects, as miners try to find sites where they can access the ample electricity they need. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/bitcoin-miners-pivot-to-south-east-asia-afterchina-crackdown | |
1,371,270 | China elder care sector plugs smart gadgets to fill workforce gaps | SHANGHAI: With Internet-connected sleep monitors, robotic arms and calorie-counting cafeteria plates, China’s elder care industry is hoping automation will provide the solution to an ageing population and a shrinking workforce.
Hundreds of retirees were among visitors to a crowded industry fair in Shanghai this week, thronging booths touting everything from luxury retirement homes to physiotherapy robots.
China’s population has declined since 2022 after more than 60 years of uninterrupted growth, prompting fears of a future labour crunch and growing pressure on its healthcare system as millions of citizens enter old age.
Rather than relying on people – traditionally one’s children – to provide care, many of the fair’s exhibitors showcased technological attempts to solve the demographic conundrum.
Yu, a 64-year-old visitor, was among a crowd watching a company demonstrate its automated stair-climbing machines alongside devices designed to lift people from their beds into wheelchairs.
He told AFP he was impressed.
“Nowadays there are fewer and fewer young people, and more and more old people, so these smart products can provide better services for older people,” he said.
Yu said he had already purchased smart wheelchairs and beds for older family members, including a 90-year-old relative he was caring for.
Elsewhere, an array of smartwatches, motion detectors and temperature monitors at Shenzhen-based tech firm Innopro's booth promised families constant surveillance of their elders.
Targeting busy workers or those living apart from their loved ones, the company also boasts nursing homes and local governments among its clients.
"For institutions, they hope to save on labour costs because they usually need to conduct checks every night," employee Jin Guohui told AFP.
"This device can reduce their work," Jin said, showing off a small, SIM card-equipped white box that monitored sleeping patterns and signs of life.
‘Figuring it out’
For customers of Eihoo Health Management, an operator of senior citizen cafeterias, it's their dinner plates that keep watch: the plates are embedded with chips that identify the food being served.
A cash register at check-out reads the chips and delivers an instant nutritional report complete with calorie count and breakdown of macronutrients – cutting workloads for service staff and health workers.
Regular diners can set up payment cards that track their weight, nutritional habits and health status.
At another booth, students from Shanghai's Jiao Tong University tinkered with the code for a robotic arm designed to help elders with limited mobility perform daily tasks such as eating and turning doorknobs.
The turn to high-tech solutions is a stark contrast to the traditional Chinese ideal of ageing at home under the care of family members.
Shi Wenjun, a 73-year-old visitor, said there were "definite differences" for elderly Chinese today compared to previous generations.
"We are all parents of only children... our children are nearly 50 and they have their own work and families, so when we're old, we will choose the elder care organisations provided by the government, group forms of elder care," she told AFP.
"If older people can use smart technologies, they won't bother others," Shi said.
Shi, a volunteer who organises activities for other seniors in her neighbourhood, said she had caught up with many new technologies, including smartphones.
"But for a lot of things, we are still in the process of learning and figuring it out," she said. – AFP | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | China,Technology,Robotics,Seniors | With Internet-connected sleep monitors, robotic arms and calorie-counting cafeteria plates, China’s elder care industry is hoping automation will provide the solution to an ageing population and a shrinking workforce. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/china-elder-care-sector-plugs-smart-gadgets-to-fill-workforce-gaps | |
1,371,511 | French tech firms warn immigration curbs could threaten AI ambitions | LONDON (Reuters) - Senior bosses at leading French technology firms have warned curbs to immigration proposed by the far-right National Rally party pose a threat to the country's ambition to become Europe's leading AI hub.
After heavy losses for his Renaissance party at the weekend's European Parliament election, President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections for the lower house of parliament, with a first round on June 30 and a run-off on July 7.
Macron has made supporting homegrown tech companies a priority, making it easier for startups to hire from abroad, lobbying against European Union regulation he saw as too strict, and attracting investment from Amazon and Microsoft.
But Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN), which is predicted to win the most seats in the election, has pledged to reduce the number of migrant workers allowed into France and impose greater scrutiny on foreign investment.
That could undermine the country's AI ambitions, tech executives say.
"I completely agree with concerns regarding the party's anti-migration stance," said Julien Launay, CEO of AI startup Adaptive ML.
"In the two previous startups I've worked at, skilled immigration to France was a big driver of talent. Especially students that came to study here, did internships with different companies, and ended up staying. That’s an amazing pipeline for young talent."
Camille Lemardeley, general director of Superprof, an education startup based in Paris, told Reuters policies the RN's plans could create a less welcoming environment for international professionals, which could affect the broader business climate.
"The RN's policy platform includes proposals that emphasize stricter immigration controls and a focus on national preference in employment," he said.
"This could have a ripple effect on innovation and competitiveness, not just for Superprof, but for the entire French tech ecosystem."
In recent weeks, France has sought to assert its position as an AI leader, with business and political leaders from around the world attending the annual VivaTech conference in Paris.
But the RN's proposed restrictions on hiring foreign workers could undermine that, according to Hugo Weber, head of public affairs at Paris-based e-commerce firm Mirakl, who described the party's policies as "fundamentally detrimental" to France's tech ecosystem.
Mirakl, which among other services offers AI-powered solutions for online retailers, relies on investment from global venture capital funds, and the ability to recruit talent from abroad, Weber said.
"I am concerned about the ability of French startups to continue attracting funding, and remaining a destination for tech talent, particularly in AI," he said.
The RN did not respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Martin Coulter; Editing by Mark Potter) | Tech | Technology | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Technology | LONDON (Reuters) - Senior bosses at leading French technology firms have warned curbs to immigration proposed by the far-right National Rally party pose a threat to the country's ambition to become Europe's leading AI hub. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/french-tech-firms-warn-immigration-curbs-could-threaten-ai-ambitions | |
1,371,502 | Chinese football fans are pouring money into a food stall run by Singapore’s goalkeeper. Here’s why | Chinese football fans have poured their love – and money – into a Singaporean goalkeeper’s food stall after his performance in a game this week indirectly helped China advance to the third qualifying round for the World Cup in 2026.
Hassan Sunny, a 40-year-old goalkeeper on the national team, became an overnight celebrity on Chinese social media after Singapore’s 3-1 loss to Thailand on June 11. China would have been eliminated if Thailand had won by three goals. Sunny made enough saves to prevent that from happening.
Chinese fans have been lining up and buying out all the food at the stand Sunny and his wife run in Singapore. Those in China have been sending money using the stall’s QR payment code, which has been widely shared online.
Football is one of the most popular spectator sports in China, though the men’s national team has struggled despite investments of millions into the sport. The team has only reached the World Cup once, more than 20 years ago in 2002.
Cao Zichen, who sent S$8.88 (about RM31) to the goalie, said he was touched by the image of Hassan as a down-to-earth worker running a small shop, in contrast to the well-paid players in other countries including China. Eight is a lucky number in China that conveys wishes for wealth and prosperity.
Some fans said on social media that Sunny is the best 12th player on the Chinese team, while a few wondered if he would have tax issues with all the money pouring in. Others called it rather sad and embarrassing that this is how China advanced to the next round, with one saying it shows the Chinese team would rather rely on others than its own players.
Dapur Hassan, the food stand, quickly jumped to No 1 in the Singaporean snack and food section on Dianping, a Chinese restaurant review app. It specialises in “nasi lemak”, a popular rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves, which it serves with fried chicken. On the first day, it was sold out by 1.30pm, said Hassan’s wife, Aidah Rahim.
The rush was stressful for the kitchen staff in the back, she said with a smile. “I mean, yeah, my mom, my aunt, who have to keep on frying the chicken over and over again and then the eggs, because the best seller is only nasi lemak.”
Fans have posted screenshots of their transactions, sending from S$1 to S$10 (RM3.46 to RM34.60) – or more – alongside comments of “Sincere appreciation from a football fan” or “Love from China”.
Sunny didn’t respond to an interview request via email and his Instagram accounts, but he made an announcement in Chinese on the platform on Thursday night urging people to stop sending money and warning that some QR codes masquerading as his shop’s had been posted.
“Thank you for the support in the last a few days which allows me to fully feel the enthusiasm of Chinese fans,” he wrote. “I call for rational support, stop transferring money to me through the Internet.” – AFP | Tech | Social media | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | Singapore,Social media,Internet,China | Hassan Sunny, a 40-year-old goalkeeper on the national team, became an overnight celebrity on Chinese social media after Singapore’s 3-1 loss to Thailand on Tuesday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/chinese-football-fans-are-pouring-money-into-a-food-stall-run-by-singapores-goalkeeper-here039s-why | |
1,371,443 | How Amazon blew Alexa’s shot to dominate AI, according to more than a dozen employees who worked on it | “Alexa, let’s chat.”
With that phrase, David Limp, at the time Amazon’s head of devices and services, showed off a new generative AI-powered version of the company’s signature Alexa voice assistant in September 2023.
At a packed event at the Seattle-based tech giant’s lavish second headquarters in the Washington DC suburbs, Limp demonstrated the new Alexa for a room full of reporters and cheering employees.
He showed how in response to the new trigger phrase, “Alexa, let’s chat,” the digital assistant responded in a far more natural and conversational voice than the friendly-but-robotic one that hundreds of millions have become accustomed to communicating with for weather updates, reminders, timers and music requests.
Limp asked Alexa how his favourite football team – Vanderbilt University – was doing. Alexa showed how it could respond in a joyful voice, and how it could write a message to his friends to remind them to watch the upcoming Vanderbilt football game and send it to his phone.
The new Alexa LLM, the company said, would soon be available as a free preview on Alexa-powered devices in the US. Rohit Prasad, Amazon’s SVP and Alexa leader said the news marked a “massive transformation of the assistant we love”, and called the new Alexa a “super agent”.
It was clear the company wanted to refute perceptions that the existing Alexa lacked smarts. (Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reportedly called it “dumb as a rock” in March 2023 as OpenAI’s ChatGPT rocketed to fame).
But after the event, there was radio silence – or digital assistant silence, as the case may be. The traditional Alexa voice never changed on the half-a-billion devices that have been sold globally, and little news emerged over the coming months about the new generative AI Alexa, other than recent reports about a potential launch later this year that could include a subscription charge.
The reason, according to interviews with more than a dozen former employees who worked on AI for Alexa, is an organisation beset by structural dysfunction and technological challenges that have repeatedly delayed shipment of the new generative AI-powered Alexa. Overall, the former employees paint a picture of a company desperately behind its Big Tech rivals Google, Microsoft, and Meta in the race to launch AI chatbots and agents, and floundering in its efforts to catch up.
The September 2023 demo, the former employees emphasise, was just that – a demo. The new Alexa was not ready for a prime time rollout, and still isn’t. The Alexa large language model (LLM), that sits at the heart of the new Alexa, and which Amazon positioned as taking on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is, according to former employees, far from state-of-the-art.
Research scientists who worked on the LLM said Amazon does not have enough data or access to the specialised computer chips needed to run LLMs to compete with rival efforts at companies like OpenAI.
Amazon has also, former employees say, repeatedly deprioritised the new Alexa in favour of building generative AI for Amazon’s cloud computing unit, AWS. And while Amazon has built a partnership and invested US$4bil (RM18.84bil) in AI startup Anthropic, whose LLM model Claude is considered competitive with OpenAI’s models, it has been unable to capitalise on that relationship to build a better Alexa.
Privacy concerns have kept Alexa’s teams from using Anthropic’s Claude model, former employees say – but so too have Amazon’s ego-driven internal politics.
An Amazon spokesperson said details provided by the former research scientists for this story were “dated” – even though many of these sources left the company in the past six months – and did not reflect the current state of the Alexa LLM. She added that the company has access to hundreds of thousands of GPUs and other AI-specific chips.
She also disputed the idea that Alexa has been deprioritised or that Anthropic’s Claude has been off-limits due to privacy concerns, but she declined to provide evidence of how Claude is being used in the new Alexa.
While aspects of Amazon’s struggle to update Alexa are unique, the company’s challenges give an indication of how difficult it is for companies to revamp digital assistants built on older technologies to incorporate generative AI. Apple, too, has faced similar struggles to integrate AI into its products, including its digital assistant Siri.
Siri and Alexa share a similar technological pedigree – in fact, Siri debuted three years prior to Alexa, in October 2011. And like Amazon, Apple underinvested in the kind of AI expertise needed to build the massive language models that underpin today’s generative AI, and in the vast clusters of graphics processing units (GPUs), the specialised computer chips such models require. Apple too, like Amazon, has launched a determined, but belated, effort to catch up.
Apple took some big steps towards regaining lost ground in the generative AI race with a set of highly-anticipated announcements at its WWDC conference earlier this week. The debut included a big upgrade for Siri, including a more natural-sounding voice and the potential for “on-screen awareness”, which will eventually allow Siri to take more agent-like actions across apps. Apple also announced a Siri integration with ChatGPT. Apple’s announcements only up the pressure on Amazon to deliver the new Alexa.
Unfortunately, there’s growing evidence that Amazon is ill-prepared for this renewed battle of the digital assistants – even though many assumed the company would have been perfectly positioned to take Alexa into the generative AI age.
Yesterday, Mihail Eric, a former senior machine learning scientist at Alexa AI, took to X (formerly Twitter) to say just that: In a post titled “How Alexa dropped the ball on being the top conversational system on the planet”, Eric, who left Amazon in July 2021, pointed out that Alexa had sold over 500 million devices, “which is a mind-boggling user data moat,” and that “we had all the resources, talent, and momentum to become the unequivocal market leader in conversational AI”.
But most of that tech never saw the light of day, he said, because Alexa AI “was riddled with technical and bureaucratic problems”. The dozen former employees Fortune spoke to over the past month echo Eric’s account and add further details to the story of how the Everything Company has failed to do this one thing. The former employees spoke anonymously to avoid violating non-disclosure agreements or non-disparagement clauses they had signed.
Amazon Alexa was caught flat-footed by ChatGPT
Well before ChatGPT wowed the world in November 2022, there was Amazon’s Alexa. The digital assistant was launched in 2014 alongside the Echo smart speaker that served as its hardware interface. The digital assistant, Amazon said, had been inspired by the all-knowing computer featured on Star Trek (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is a big Star Trek fan).
The product quickly became a hit with consumers, selling over 20 million devices by 2017. But Alexa was not built on the same AI models and methods that made ChatGPT groundbreaking. Instead, it was a collection of small machine learning models and thousands of hand-crafted and hard-coded rules that turned a user’s utterances into the actions Alexa performed.
Amazon had been experimenting with some early large language models – all of them much smaller than GPT-3 and GPT-4, the two models OpenAI would use to power ChatGPT – but these were nowhere near ready for deployment in a product. The company was caught flat-footed by the generative AI boom that followed ChatGPT’s late November 2022 launch, former employees say.
A frantic, frenetic few months followed as Amazon’s Alexa organisation struggled to coalesce around a vision to take the digital assistant from a stilted command-action bot to a truly conversational, helpful agent. Non-generative AI projects were deprioritised overnight, and throughout the 2022 Christmas period executives urged Amazon’s scientists, engineers and product managers to figure out how to ensure Amazon had generative AI products to offer customers.
One former Alexa AI project manager described the atmosphere at the company as “a bit panicked”. Amazon’s response almost immediately ran into trouble, as various teams within Alexa and AWS failed to coalesce around a unified plan.
Many employees were still working remotely following the Covid pandemic, leading to people being endlessly “huddled on conference calls debating the minutiae of strategic PRFAQs” (Amazon-speak for a written document used when proposing a product idea in its early stages), the Alexa AI project manager said. The company struggled, he said, to “shift from peacetime to wartime mode”.
One senior Alexa data scientist said this was especially frustrating because he had tried to sound the alarm on the coming wave of generative AI as far back as mid-2022, gathering data to show his director-level leadership, but he said he could not convince them that the company needed to change its AI strategy. Only after ChatGPT launched did the company swing into action, he explained.
The problem is, as hundreds of millions are aware from their stilted discourse with Alexa, the assistant was not built for, and has never been primarily used for, back-and-forth conversations. Instead, it always focused on what the Alexa organisation calls “utterances” – the questions and commands like “what’s the weather?” or “turn on the lights” that people bark at Alexa.
In the first months after ChatGPT launched, it was not clear LLMs would be able to trigger these real-world actions from a natural conversation, one Ph.D. research scientist who interned on the Alexa team during this period said.
“The idea that an LLM could ‘switch on the lights’ when you said ‘I can’t see, turn it all on’ was not proven yet,” he said. “So the leaders internally clearly had big plans, but they didn’t really know what they were getting into.” (It is now widely accepted that LLMs can, at least in theory, be coupled with other technology to control digital tools.)
Instead, teams were figuring out how to implement generative AI on the fly. That included creating synthetic datasets – in this case, collections of computer-generated dialogues with a chatbot – that they could use to train an LLM. Those building AI models often use synthetic data when there isn’t enough real-world data to improve AI accuracy, or when privacy protection is needed – and remember, most of what the Alexa team had were simple, declarative “utterances”.
“(Customers were) talking in Alexa language,” one former Amazon machine learning scientist said. “So now imagine you want to encourage people to talk in language that has never happened – so where are you going to get the data from to train the model? You have to create it, but that comes with a whole lot of hurdles because there’s a gazillion ways people can say the same thing.”
Also, while Alexa has been integrated with thousands of third-party devices and services, it turns out that LLMs are not terribly good at handling such integrations. According to a former Alexa machine learning manager, who worked on Alexa’s smart home capabilities, even OpenAI’s latest GPT 4o model, or the newest Google Gemini model – which both are able to use voice, rather than just text – struggle to go from spoken dialogue to performing a task using other software. That requires what is known as an API call and LLMs don’t do this well yet.
“It’s not consistent enough, it hallucinates, gets things wrong, it’s hard to build an experience when you’re connecting to many different devices,” the former machine learning scientist said.
As spring gave way to the summer of 2023, many in Alexa’s rank and file remained in the dark about how the digital assistant would meet the generative AI moment. The project lacked vision, former employees said.
“I remember my team and myself complaining a lot to our superiors that it wasn't transparent what the vision looks like – it wasn't transparent what exactly we're trying to launch,” one said.
Another former manager said the new Alexa LLM was talked about in the months prior to the September demo, but it wasn’t clear what it would mean. “We were just hearing things like, ‘Oh yeah, this is coming,’” he said. “But we had no idea what it was or what it would look like.”
Alexa LLM demo did not meet ‘go/no-go’ criteria
The September 2023 Alexa demo made it seem like a widespread rollout of the new Alexa LLM was imminent. But the new language model-based Alexa ultimately “didn't meet the go/no-go criteria,” one former employee said. LLMs are known for producing hallucinations and sometimes toxic content, and Amazon’s was no different, making broad release risky.
This, former employees say, is the reason Alexa’s “Let’s Chat” feature has never made it into wide release. “It's very hard to make AI safe enough and test all aspects of that black box in order to release it,” a former manager said.
The September 2023 demo, he pointed out, involved different functionality than what Alexa was best known for – that is, taking a command and executing it. Ensuring Alexa could still perform these old functions while also enabling the conversational dialogue the new Alexa promised would be no easy task.
The manager said it was increasingly clear to him that the organisation would, at least temporarily, need to maintain two completely different technology stacks – one supporting Alexa’s old features and another the new ones. But managers did not want to entertain that idea, he said.
Instead, the message at the company at the time he was laid off in November 2023 was still “we need to basically burn the bridge with the old Alexa AI model and pivot to only working on the new one”.
Even as the new Alexa LLM rollout floundered, Amazon executives set ever more lofty generative AI goals. Right before the demo, Prasad, the Amazon SVP who had served as Alexa’s head scientist, was promoted to a new role designed to bring the company’s disparate research teams under a single umbrella, with a goal to develop human-level artificial general intelligence, or AGI.
The move put Amazon in direct competition with companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, which have the creation of AGI as their founding mission. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also recently said that creating AGI is his company’s mission too.
By November 2023, there was word that Amazon was investing millions in training an AI model, codenamed Olympus, that would have 2 trillion parameters – or tunable variables. Parameters are a rough approximation of a model’s size and complexity. And Olympus’s reported parameter count would make it double the reported size of OpenAI’s most capable model, GPT-4.
The former research scientist working on the Alexa LLM said Project Olympus is “a joke”, adding that the largest model in progress is 470 billion parameters. He also emphasized that the current Alexa LLM version is unchanged from the 100 billion-parameter model that was used for the September 2023 demo, but has had more pretraining and fine tuning done on it to improve it. (To be sure, 100 billion parameters is still a relatively powerful model. Meta’s Llama 3, as a comparison, weighs in at 70 billion parameters).
A lack of data made it tough to ‘get some magic’ out of the LLM
In the months following the September 2023 demo, a former research scientist who worked on building the new Alexa LLM recalled how Alexa leadership, including Amazon’s generative AI leader Rohit Prasad, pushed the team to work harder and harder.
The message was to “get some magic” out of the LLM, the research scientist said. But the magic never happened. A lack of adequate data was one of the main reasons why, former employees said.
Meta’s Llama 3 was pre-trained on 15 trillion tokens, the smallest unit of data that an LLM processes. The Alexa LLM has only been trained on 3 trillion. (Unlike parameters, which are the number of tunable settings that a model has, a token is the small unit of data – such as a word – that the model processes during training).
Meanwhile, “fine-tuning” an AI model – which takes a pre-trained model and further hones it for specific tasks – also benefits from larger datasets than what Amazon has at the ready. Meta’s Llama 3 model was fine-tuned on 10 million data points. The LLM built by Amazon’s AGI organisation has so far accumulated only around 1 million, with only 500,000 high-quality data points, the former Alexa LLM research scientist said.
One of the many reasons for that, he explained, is that Amazon insists on using its own data annotators (people responsible for labelling data so that AI models can recognise patterns) and that organisation is very slow. “So we can never never get high quality data from them after several rounds, even after one year of developing the model,” he said.
Beyond a paucity of data, the Alexa team also lacks access to the vast quantities of the latest Nvidia GPUs, the specialised chips used to train and run AI models, that the teams at OpenAI, Meta, and Google have, two sources told Fortune. “Most of the GPUs are still A100, not H100,” the former Alexa LLM research scientist added, referring to the most powerful GPU Nvidia currently has available.
At times, building the new Alexa has taken a backseat to other generative AI priorities at Amazon, they said. Amazon’s main focus after ChatGPT launched was to roll out Bedrock, a new AWS cloud computing service that allowed customers to build generative AI chatbots and other applications in the cloud – which was announced in April 2023 and made generally available in September. AWS is a critical profit-driver for Amazon.
Alexa, on the other hand, is a cost center – the division reportedly loses billions each year – and is mostly viewed as a way to keep customers engaged with Amazon and as a way to gather data that can help Amazon and its partners better target advertising.
The LLM that Amazon scientists are building (a version of which will also power Alexa) is also first being rolled out to AWS’ business-focused generative AI assistant Amazon Q, said a former Alexa LLM scientist who left within the past few months, because the model is now considered good enough for specific enterprise use cases. Amazon Q also taps Anthropic’s Claude AI model. But Alexa’s LLM team has not been allowed to use Claude due to concerns about data privacy.
Amazon’s spokesperson said the assertion about Claude and privacy is false, and disputed other details about Amazon’s LLM effort that Fortune heard from multiple sources. “It’s simply inaccurate to state Amazon Q is a higher priority than Alexa. It’s also incorrect to state that we’re using the same LLM for Q and Alexa.”
Bureaucracy and infrastructure issues slowed down Alexa’s gen AI efforts
One former Alexa AI employee who has hired several employees who had been working on the new Alexa LLM said that most have mentioned “feeling exhausted” by the constant pressure to ready the model for a launch that is repeatedly postponed – and frustrated because other work is on hold until in the meantime. A few have also conveyed a growing scepticism as to whether the overall design of the LLM-based Alexa even makes sense, he added.
"One story I heard was that early in the project, there was a big push from senior executives who had become overconfident after experimenting with ChatGPT, and that this overconfidence has persisted among some senior leaders who continue to drive toward an unrealistic-feeling goal,” he said.
Another former Alexa LLM scientist said managers set unachievable deadlines. “Every time the managers assigned us a task related to (the) LLM, they requested us to complete it within a very short period of time (e.g., 2 days, one week), which is impossible,” he said. “It seems the leadership doesn’t know anything about LLMs – they don’t know how many people they need and what should be the expected time to complete each task for building a successful product like ChatGPT.”
Alexa never aligned with Jeff Bezos’ idea of “two-pizza teams” – that is, that teams should ideally be small enough that you could cater a full team meeting with just two pizzas. Bezos thought smaller teams drove effective decision-making and collaboration.
Instead, Alexa has historically been – and remains, for the most part – a giant division. Prior to the most recent layoffs, it had 10,000 employees. And while it has fewer now, it is still organised into large, siloed domains such as Alexa Home, Alexa Entertainment, Alexa Music and Alexa Shopping, each with hundreds of employees, along with directors and a VP at the top.
As pressure grew for each domain to work with the new Alexa LLM to craft generative AI features, each of which required accuracy benchmarks, the domains came into conflict, with sometimes counterproductive results, sources said.
For instance, a machine learning scientist working on Alexa Home recalled that while his domain was working on ways for Alexa to help users control their lights or the thermostat, the Music domain was busy working on how to get Alexa to understand very specific requests like “play Rihanna, then Tupac, and then pause 30 minutes and then play DMX”.
Each domain team had to build its own relationship with the central Alexa LLM team. “We spent months working with those LLM guys just to understand their structure and what data we could give them to fine-tune the model to make it work.” Each team wanted to fine-tune the AI model for its own domain goals.
But as it turned out, if the Home team tried to fine-tuned the Alexa LLM to make it more capable for Home questions, and then the Music team came along and fine-tuned it using their own data for Music, the model would wind up performing worse.
“Catastrophic forgetting”, where what a model learns later in training degrades its ability to perform well on tasks it encountered earlier in training is a problem with all deep learning models. “As it gets better in Music, (the model) can get less smart at Home,” the machine learning scientist said. “So finding the sweet spot where you’re trying to fine tune for 12 domains is almost a lottery.”
These days, he added, LLM scientists know that fine tuning may not be the best technique for creating a model with both rich capabilities and flexibility – there are others, like prompt engineering, that can do better. But by then, many months had gone by with little progress to show for it.
Each Alexa domain, with its own leadership, wanted to protect and expand its fiefdom, one former product manager said. “This organisation has just turned out into something like a mafia,” she said. “Let’s say, if I work for you, I’m just taking orders because it is in my best interest to agree with you. It is my best interest to not get chopped off in the next layoff – it’s quite ruthless. It’s in my best interest because you’re going to help me build my empire.”
Amazon says it stands by its commitment to Alexa
Amazon insists it is fully committed to delivering a generative AI Alexa, adding that its vision remains to build the “world’s best personal assistant.” An Amazon representative pointed out that over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices have been sold, and customers interact with Alexa tens of millions of times every hour.
She added that the implementation of generative AI comes with “huge responsibility – the details really matter” with a technical implementation of this scale, on a device that millions of customers have welcomed into their home. While the Alexa LLM “Let’s chat” feature has not been rolled out to the general public, it has been tested on small groups of customers “on an ongoing basis”.
But many of the employees Fortune spoke to said they left in part because they despaired that the new Alexa would ever be ready – or that by the time it is, it will have been overtaken by products launched by nimbler competitors, such as OpenAI. Those companies don’t have to navigate an existing tech stack and defend an existing feature set.
The former employee who has hired several who left the Alexa organisation over the past year said many were pessimistic about the Alexa LLM launch. “They just didn’t see that it was actually going to happen,” he said.
It’s possible, say some of the employees Fortune interviewed, that Amazon will finally launch an LLM-based Alexa – and that it will be an improvement to today’s Alexa. After all, there are hundreds of millions of Alexa users out there in the world who would certainly be happy if the device sitting on their desk or kitchen counter could do more than execute simple commands.
But given the challenges weighing down the Alexa LLM effort, and the gap separating it from the offerings of generative AI leaders like OpenAI and Google, none of the sources Fortune spoke with believe Alexa is close to accomplishing Amazon’s mission of being “the world’s best personal assistant”, let alone Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ vision of creating a real-life version of the helpful Star Trek computer.
Instead, Amazon’s Alexa runs the risk of becoming a digital relic with a cautionary tale – that of a potentially game-changing technology that got stuck playing the wrong game. – Fortune.com/The New York Times | Tech | AI | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-06-14 00:00:00 | AI,Gadgets,Smart home,Alexa | Research scientists who worked on the LLM said Amazon does not have enough data or access to the specialised computer chips needed to run LLMs to compete with rival efforts at companies like OpenAI. | https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/06/14/how-amazon-blew-alexas-shot-to-dominate-ai-according-to-more-than-a-dozen-employees-who-worked-on-it |