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BRUSSELS: Google was in the EU antitrust spotlight again on Tuesday as regulators opened an investigation into whether its digital advertising business gives the Alphabet unit an unfair advantage over rivals and advertisers. The European Union competition enforcer's move marks a new front against Google and follows more than 8 billion euros (US$9.5 billion) in fines over the past decade for blocking rivals in online shopping, Android smartphones and online advertising. The European Commission said it would investigate whether Google distorts competition by restricting third party access to user data for advertising purposes on websites and apps, while reserving such data for its own use. "We are concerned that Google has made it harder for rival online advertising services to compete in the so-called ad tech stack," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Google generated US$147 billion in revenue from online ads last year, more than any ... » Learn More about Google in EU crosshairs again with advertising antitrust inquiry

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will implement a two-phase increase in port dues rates from January 2022, to fund the increase in costs and maintenance of the Port of Singapore. Under the new rates of Phase 1, which will take effect from January 1, 2022, vessels calling at the Port of Singapore to embark or disembark passengers or to load and unload cargo and with port stays of between two and four days will see port dues increase by around six percent. Vessels that stay in port for a day or less will not be impacted by the increase in port dues in this phase, to encourage quicker turnarounds and thus serve more vessels. However, they will be affected by Phase 2 of the hike, which will take effect from January 1, 2023. The Port of Singapore is strategically located at the crossroads of East-West trade channels and is connected to 600 ports in over 120 countries. It also handles over 37.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers and ... » Learn More about Singapore to Increase Port Dues Rates from 2022

A CONDOMINIUM'S joint management body (JMB) in Selayang was given a stern warning and told to adhere to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). Cleaners for the condo did not scan their MySejahtera application when they entered the building to carry out cleaning. A MPS spokesperson said the officers checked if condo staff had International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) letters, physical distancing was practised inside lifts, all common facilities inside the condo were closed and no events or gatherings took place at the condo during the lockdown period. "We did not issue a fine this time and wanted the condominium to know that their cleaners must scan the MySejahtera application when they enter the building. "Offences for not scanning the application would amount in a RM1,500 fine for each person. "The inspection was carried out by the officers of Housing and Local Government and the MPS officers on Monday (June 21)," said ... » Learn More about Condo management in Selayang issued warning after cleaners failed to scan in

WELL-organised and friendly – that was the verdict by those who turned up for their vaccination at the KL Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. Lee Cal Vin, who took his grandparents to the centre, said he was relieved to find a team of volunteers waiting at the front entrance to offer assistance while he parked his car. The couple were among hundreds who had been inoculated at the hall belonging to the Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia. The foundation had offered its premises for free to the Health Ministry (MOH) to carry out and expedite the government’s vaccination programme. Revealing that his grandparents were late for their appointment as they had not checked their MySejahtera app earlier, Their next appointment is scheduled for July. “I also found the doctors on duty to be very knowledgeable. Overall, the volunteers were kind and helpful,” said Lee. Giving an in-depth view into the operating procedure, Ee ... » Learn More about Thumbs up for service at NGO’s vaccination venue

GEORGE TOWN: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has embarked on a three-pronged strategy to increase the number of vaccinations in the country, says Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin ( pic ). The Housing and Local Government Minister said the government has embarked on calls, mobilisation and outreach units to ensure a higher percentage of vaccinations. "A pilot project under the Voluntary Community Coordination project in Ampang recently was encouraging and we are planning to bring the programne nationwide in phases," said Zuraida after visiting the Balik Pulau Covid-19 Vaccination Centre, the second area identified for the programne here on Saturday (June 19). "Calls will be made by the call centre unit to all who do not turn-up for the vaccination appointments as Malaysians feel the government cares if a call is made," she said. Zuraida said the mobilisation unit will arrange for transport, especially in rural areas where people can be picked up and dropped off to ensure ... » Learn More about Housing and Local Govt Ministry embarks on three-pronged strategy to boost Covid-19 vaccination

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has allowed taxis, e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders to cross districts within the greater Kota Kinabalu city area from Wednesday (June 23). State Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said movement would be allowed between Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan districts. He said the decision to allow inter-district travel in the area was made by the Sabah Covid-19 disaster management committee on Tuesday (June 22). He said that they would be allowed to carry only one passenger and more than one allowed for medical reasons. He said all SOPs must be followed and were only allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm. Meanwhile, Masidi said that Sabah recorded 193 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. Masidi said that though no new clusters were recorded, five existing clusters showed an increase in cases. The clusters, Kampung Bolong Baru had 15 cases, Ocean Blue (nine); Taman Wawasan l (eight); Lot 9 (five); and Serudung Baru (five). ... » Learn More about Taxis, e-hailing vehicles allowed to travel between greater KK districts

PETALING JAYA: An audit has determined that the Yes Altitude Smartphones provided to students for home-based learning are safe to use, says YTL Communications. It said that China Mobile, its manufacturing partner, and battery manufacturer UTime Limited had completed an audit of the production and quality control data from the production run of the Yes Altitude smartphones. "They have confirmed that Yes Altitude smartphones are fully in compliance with all pertinent international health and safety certifications... and are safe for use," YTL said in a statement on Tuesday (June 22). This came after two alleged incidents of the smartphones catching fire went viral on social media. YTL said preliminary investigations of both incidents showed that the screens were undamaged, indicating that the phones did not explode. "In the first incident, the issue appears to be confined to the battery. "The phone's integrity is not compromised and the screen is undamaged. In fact, the ... » Learn More about YTL: Audit conducted shows smartphones given out for home-based learning are safe to use

PETALING JAYA: YTL Communications said it has contacted the individual behind a Facebook posting yesterday of a picture of a Yes Altitude 3 phone with a damaged battery. In a statement to LifestyleTech , YTL Communications chief executive officer Wing K. Lee said the company has launched an investigation into the matter. The person who shared her experience on Facebook is identified as Suryani Abd Ghani. “We had, immediately upon being alerted of the post, contacted Puan Suryani in order to carry out an investigation as to the incident. She advised that as the phone is not hers, we should contact her brother who is the recipient of the phone. “We have at the time of this statement, been unable to contact him nor received any further communication from Puan Suryani or her brother. We are continuing in our efforts to contact the customer,” Lee said. He explained that the phone was jointly developed by Yes and China Mobile for educational use, adding that the same model was ... » Learn More about Yes investigating damaged phone battery incident

PETALING JAYA: A vaccine dispensing centre will soon be set up in Yong Peng to serve the constituents at Ayer Hitam, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. The Ayer Hitam MP said that the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) has approved setting up a vaccination centre at Dewan Persatuan Memperbaiki Akhlak Che Ann Khor (PMACAK) in Yong Peng. "I was informed about this by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry secretary-general Datin Paduka Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir. "Before this, I had put forward the request to the JKJAV joint chairman Khairy Jamaluddin to set up a vaccination centre in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency. "The place that was suggested was the Dewan PMACAK in Yong Peng, which is strategically located as it is only one to three kilometres from the Yong Peng North and South toll plaza," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 22). He expressed his appreciation to Khairy for the decision which will be beneficial to ... » Learn More about Covid-19 vaccination centre to be set up in Yong Peng

Nokia Oyj plans to redesign its offices globally, adapting workplaces in 130 countries to a more flexible post-pandemic work environment. The Finnish company is seeking to capture the benefits of having had virtually all staff work remotely for the past 15 months. Starting next year, roughly 70% of office space will be dedicated to collaboration and team work and staff will have the flexibility to work as many as three days a week remotely, the Finnish supplier of 5G network equipment said on Tuesday. “The pandemic forced organisations to change. Technology gave people the tools to innovate. In many cases, the results have been too good to go back to the old way of doing things,” chief executive officer Pekka Lundmark said. “We are accelerating our transition to become a fully hybrid global workplace.” The new rules will apply to all staff – 92,000 globally last year – who will have a “smart-office app” for booking work spaces and office amenities. The policy follows a survey ... » Learn More about Nokia will redesign offices as it adapts to more flexible work