Technology

Suganuma (left) and Cheng showing the media the capabilities of nanoe technology - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): The exclusive nano-sized atomised water particles generating technology — nanoe technology — by Panasonic has proven its inhibitory effects against four novel coronavirus variants (SARS-CoV-1), namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. It also improves indoor air quality. In a media briefing on Thursday (Jan 20), Managing Director of Panasonic Corp’s QAFL Business Promotion Office, Ichiro Suganuma said that although the virus inhibitory test on the latest Omicron variant has not been carried out yet, based on the previous record, the nanoe technology should be able to inhibit that variant too. “Panasonic has been conducting research on this [nanoe] technology since 1997 and has realised its effectiveness in a variety of areas, including inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and allergens, breaking down PM 2.5 components that … [Read more...] about Panasonic’s nanoe technology inhibits Covid-19 variants; improves indoor air quality

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) said it will continue to monitor PLUS Malaysia Bhd and Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd in relation to the implementation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology along PLUS highways to ensure they do not breach competition laws. “Taking into account the special responsibilities arising from the dominant positions of both enterprises in the relevant markets, MyCC will continue to monitor the situation from time to time and when any competition concern is identified, the Competition Act 2010 will be enforced," the competition regulator's chief executive officer Iskandar Ismail said in a statement. "Secondly, it is pertinent to remember that innovation-related markets can create uncertainty. Thus, MyCC will work closely with the government to ensure these changes will always serve the consumers’ best interest,” he added. The RFID system implemented by PLUS, the country's largest highway … [Read more...] about I am watching you, MyCC tells PLUS, Touch ‘n Go on implementation of RFID

- A + A (Jan 20): German Economy Minister Robert Habeck kicked off a charm offensive targeting major industrial companies and regional leaders this week as the government tries to accelerate its plan to cut emissions and meet elusive climate change goals. Habeck will visit a BMW AG factory in Munich on Thursday (Jan 20) after touring an Airbus SE facility near Hamburg earlier this week. The stops underscore that slashing emissions from transport will be one of the biggest challenges facing Germany’s new coalition government. The tour comes a week after Habeck said the country needs to triple the speed of its emissions reductions to transform Europe’s biggest economy into a climate neutral state by 2045. Meanwhile, companies like Airbus and BMW are looking to Habeck to help spur more government spending to pick up the pace in the transformation. “It’s a task with gigantic dimensions," Habeck said on Tuesday. “Not a day should be wasted.” The European Union … [Read more...] about Germany courts BMW, Airbus in bid to speed up green transition

- A + A SINGAPORE (Jan 20): A small blank-cheque firm backed by state investor Temasek made its Singapore debut on Thursday, marking the first such local listing as Singapore steps up a drive to emerge as a key venue for listings of this type. This came four months after Singapore Exchange (SGX) allowed special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) or shell firms to list, easing proposed rules in response to market feedback. The listing of Vertex Venture's SPAC also marks the first major debut of such vehicles in Asia since the frenzy seen in the United States in early 2021 prior to regulatory changes there. "As the first SPAC in Singapore, we had to tread through difficult and unchartered waters," Chua Kee Lock, chief executive officer of Vertex Venture, a Temasek subsidiary, told company executives, bankers, and lawyers at a listing ceremony. With an eye on sectors such as cybersecurity and fintech, Vertex Technology Acquisition Corp raised S$200 million … [Read more...] about Singapore lists first SPAC as Asia investors warm up to blank-cheque firms

This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on January 10, 2022 - January 16, 2022. The government has discussed flood mitigation plans and will have to come up with a long-term solution (Photo by Mohamad Shahril/The Edge) - A + A Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz looks none the worse for wear after two years in the political hot seat of overseeing the country’s finances. The former investment banker knows tough measures need to be made fast but admits that changes to the status quo will not be easy to push through. Below are excerpts from his interview with The Edge’s Cindy Yeap and Esther Lee. The Edge: It’s been only two months since the tabling of Budget 2022 but so many things have happened that it looks like you need to redo the budget or table a supplementary budget. Zafrul : Every year, there is a supplementary budget but, yes, only just now I told the cabinet that we have to relook and reprioritise to make … [Read more...] about Cover Story: Ensuring fiscal sustainability

Sill: As the payment landscape continues to evolve we are leveraging on real innovation that comes from a blend of human collaboration and new technologies to transform. - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd has launched Malaysia’s first multi-currency digital wallet that enables small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to make and receive international payments simply and securely from a single global account. In a statement on Thursday (Jan 20), HSBC Malaysia said the multi-currency digital wallet Global Wallet is fully integrated within its existing business banking platform (HSBCnet), which in tandem with the bank’s global payment networks allows SMEs to “pay and receive like a local” – complete transactions within the same or next day. The bank noted that Global Wallet cuts down on the time required for money to be delivered to an overseas beneficiary and removes the need for businesses to use third-party providers for international transactions. … [Read more...] about HSBC launches Malaysia’s first multi-currency digital wallet for SMEs

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index ended slightly lower by 0.17% on Thursday (Jan 20) on continuous selling in heavyweights led by Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), Public Bank Bhd and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd. At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) shed 2.58 points to 1,527.75 from 1,530.33 at Wednesday’s close after opening 0.89 of-a-point easier at 1,529.44. The key index fluctuated between 1,525.45 and 1,532.82 throughout the trading session. The overall market breadth, however, was positive with advancers outpacing decliners 518 to 402, while 416 counters were unchanged, 913 untraded, and 27 others suspended. Total turnover eased to 3.39 billion units worth RM2.25 billion from Wednesday’s 3.57 billion units worth RM2.61 billion. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI hovered around its 1,530 support level on Thursday and the online stockbroking firm reckoned … [Read more...] about FBM KLCI ends marginally lower

New York (CNN Business) The attempt to roll out amped up mobile service across the United States has been a bit of a mess. The aviation industry and transportation regulators are worried about new 5G antennas interfering with a key type of aircraft altimeter that's essential for landing planes in bad weather. But wireless carriers and telecom regulators have said there's nothing to fear. The authorities have been in a weeks-long stalemate. And the whole thing culminated this week with some major international airlines canceling some US flights, as regulators, telecom giants, and airlines blew past a deadline to come to an agreement. AT&T and Verizon are now, yet again, delaying their plans to switch on their new 5G antennas near certain airports. Regulators are still hashing out solutions. And a lot remains unclear. The President of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark, told CNN on Wednesday that the airline was not aware of some of the potential 5G rollout issues until yesterday … [Read more...] about The 5G-airline snafu: Everything we know

(CNN Business) The next-generation of wireless technology is now even faster for 5G users in some parts of the country. Telecom companies have rolled out 5G networks to various locations across the United States over the last few years, delivering an experience that's arguably only a notch above what 4G offers. But on Wednesday, Verizon ( VZ ) and AT&T ( T ) turned on their C-band 5G networks -- an important set of radio frequencies that will supercharge the internet as we know it. "The impact will be that users will likely consume more data, the connection will be more robust and most likely we may see new types of applications emerging," said Dimitris Mavrakis, senior director at market research firm ABI Research. "5G is also positioned toward enterprise services, so this upgrade may push both carriers' plans to address this domain even further." International airlines suspend some US flights over 5G uncertainty If … [Read more...] about What is C-band 5G? Verizon and AT&T are flipping on the switch in the US

NFTs entered the mainstream through the art world, as collectors paid headline-grabbing sums for digital works. And now there’s a growing number of Web3-first startups, including Catalog, Royal, and Sound.xyz, betting on the music industry carrying the next big NFT wave. advertisement advertisement Case in point: DoomsdayX , a new Web3 studio focused on developing tools and experiences to connect music fans and artists. DoomsdayX, a sister company to video production outfit Doomsday Entertainment , announced today a $1.5-million pre-seed round led by The Chernin Group , as well as The Producer NFT Collection, a project that allows fans to have a say in the creative and marketing decisions of an artist’s music video. Rapper Haleek Maul—no stranger to the crypto space, having sold several of his records on NFT auction house and music library Catalog —is DoomsdayX’s premier artist for The Producer NFT Collection. advertisement … [Read more...] about This Web3 music startup mints ‘producer NFTs’ as the future of fandom