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The Biden administration, which wants everyone in the U.S. to have affordable access to high-speed internet by 2029, announced May 13, 2022, a $45 billion 'Internet for All (IFA)' initiative to pay for it. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the initiative will provide "affordable, reliable, high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade." Administration and implementation of the program will be the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The announcement about the IFA initiative came on the heels of news May 9, 2022, that the Biden administration had partnered with 20 broadband providers, including AT&T and Verizon, to improve their subsidized high-speed internet plans made available to low-income Americans through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Key Takeaways 'Internet for All (IFA)' is a $45 billion initiative to provide affordable high-speed broadband … [Read more...] about Biden’s New Plan To Expand Broadband Access

- A + A NEW DELHI (May 17): India is allowing “some relaxation” of its order restricting wheat exports to allow traders to meet prior commitments, according to the trade ministry. Futures fell as much as 3.8% in Chicago before paring losses. Wheat consignments that have been handed over to customs for examination, and registered in their systems on or before May 13, will be cleared for export, the ministry said in a statement. The government has also given the green light for a 61,500-ton shipment to sail from Kandla port to Egypt following a request from that government, it said. India, in a government order dated May 13, restricted wheat exports to avoid a domestic supply squeeze. In the notification, it made exceptions only for prior commitments made by private traders through irrevocable letters of credit, and for exports to countries that require wheat for food security needs, based on the requests of their governments. Shipments were curbed after record heat … [Read more...] about India tweaks wheat ban to let trade meet some commitments

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB) has secured an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract) worth RM36 million fom Masama Sdn Bhd. In a bourse filing on Tuesday (May 17), SCIB said its wholly-owned subsidiary SCIB Properties Sdn Bhd accepted the letter of award for the EPCC contract from Masama on Tuesday. SCIB said the EPCC contract is for road infrastructure projects in Sarawak and is expected to span from May 2022 to April 2023. “The contract secured will not have any effect on the issued share capital and the shareholding of substantial shareholders of the company. The contract secured is not expected to have any material effect on the net assets of SCIB and its group of companies for the financial year ending June 30, 2022 (FY22). “Any profits attributable to the group would be realised in stages over the tenure of the contract, based on the progress of the project. The contract secured … [Read more...] about SCIB bags RM36m EPCC contract in Sarawak

The group has announced that its four top executives involved in the submission of false information have paid a total of RM16 million in compounds issued by the SC. (Photo by Mohamad Shahril Basri/The Edge) - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Financially troubled Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd gained investors' interest and emerged as the top actively traded counter on the local bourse on Tuesday (May 17). The stock opened one sen or 8.33% higher at 13 sen and surged further to hit an intraday high of 22 sen. It ended the trading day 4.5 sen or 37.5% higher at 16.5 sen, giving it a market capitalisation of RM614.99 million. A total of 1.05 billion shares changed hands, representing 28.15% of its share issuance capital. Notably, shares in the oil and gas service provider resumed trading on May 9 after a six-month long suspension since October last year. The stock sank to a new low of six sen on May 11, which was the third day of resumption of trading. … [Read more...] about Serba Dinamik emerges as top actively traded stock, rises up to 22 sen

Ahmad Zahid (centre) was charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya and Country Heights, Kajang between October 2014 and March 2018. (Photo by Zahid Izzani Mohd Said/The Edge) - A + A SHAH ALAM (May 17): The High Court was on Tuesday (May 17) told that the minutes of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the contract of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to be extended as the sole operator of the foreign visa system (VLN) to Malaysia in China was not an order. UKSB director Datuk Fadzil Ahmad said even though Najib was the prime minister and the head of the Cabinet then, the power to approve the VLN contract was under the Home Ministry (KDN). “For me, the source and jurisdiction of authority [to extend the contract] of all my applications began only with KDN. It did not start at the PM’s office, so to me, the PM (Najib) can merely assist to expedite, not to give an order,” the witness … [Read more...] about Najib’s minutes to Zahid on visa contract not an order, says UKSB director

(CNN) The Biden administration is seeking to make it easier for low-income families to buy whatever baby formula is available on store shelves amid a nationwide shortage . About half of the infant formula in the US is purchased by those using federal WIC benefits, which allow them to obtain the formula for free but restrict what type, size and brand they can select. Some 1.2 million infants are in the WIC program, formally known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Each state has a contract with a single manufacturer. Abbott Nutrition , which is contending with a massive recall of its formula , is the exclusive provider to about half of infants in WIC. The February recall has exacerbated shortages caused by ongoing supply chain issues, leaving all parents with fewer choices in many stores. President Joe Biden has come under fire for not addressing the problem sooner and for taking limited action . … [Read more...] about These families buy about half of infant formula nationwide. Here’s how the Biden administration is trying to help them

A man walks as a restaurant gets ready at the croisette at the Croisette in Cannes, southeastern France, on May 16, 2022, ahead of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. The festival will take place from May 17 to 28. Image: AFP/Patricia de Melo Moreira The red carpet is ready for the opening of the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as the first guest of honor and a French zombie comedy to kick off proceedings. The masks are off, health passes are no longer needed and the world’s leading cinema get-together is ready to party after two years in which the pandemic put a dampener on proceedings. Whitaker, the 60-year-old star of “The Last King of Scotland” and cult films such as “Ghost Dog” and recent TV hit “Godfather of Harlem,” will pick up an honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony on the Cote d’Azur. Image: Twitter/@forestwhitaker He won an acting award at the festival back in 1988 for his role as jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint … [Read more...] about Cannes film fest launches with veterans and zombies

There’s no more challenging job than being the person who has to fire people. Everyone else gets to talk about what a tight-knit, stick-together group the company is (just like a “family” of friends), but you’re the one who has to deliver the bad news over and over again. It’s not easy or always popular to be the boss, but then good leadership isn’t a popularity contest. If you were unpopular in high school, you’re already one step ahead of the game. But the fact is, your company is only as good as its weakest employee. Here are the folks you need to fire - sooner rather than later. No effort, no heart. Sometimes it’s a breeze. We try to immediately fire any employee who doesn’t try or doesn’t care. These are the cardinal sins in a start-up, so there isn’t much angst in letting these folks go. Then the job gets harder. All effort, no results. The next tier of troublesome employees are those who try hard but just cannot do the job. They are totally sincere, but … [Read more...] about 3 Employees You Need To Fire. Now

Nam Jeong-ho The author is a columnist of the JoongAng Ilbo. A 21st century event as powerful as the inventions of letters, the wheel or steam engine — or as devastating as a world war — could be the breaking out of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Its spread transformed the centuries-old practice of reporting to work into working from home. The international order is not free from the cataclysmic shift. As we move into the third year of the pandemic, let’s take a look at global challenges ahead. Most noticeable is the retreat of globalization and the shutting down of borders, which wreaked havoc on international exchanges and multinational enterprises. Globalization on the political, economic and cultural fronts suddenly came to a halt. The biggest victim of the pandemic was the tourism industry, which saw the number of global tourists drop to 381 million in 2020 from 1.46 billion in 2019. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates the resulting losses … [Read more...] about Global challenges for 2022

They are both beautiful countries and stand out amongst their south east asian counterparts for their food, culture and scenery. But which one is your choice for travelling or living in? Here are some introductory thoughts… Influences Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and the former king, King Bhumibol, was greatly loved and respected. His son, King Maha Vachiralongkorn, now maintains the customs and traditions of the Thai monarchy. His coronation was an elaborate ceremony in May 2019 celebrated by all Thais. The main religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism. Monks retain high status and are a big part of daily life, from festivals to daily blessings. Young Thai men become novice monks for a period – usually 1-3 weeks – to earn “merit” for their families. Thailand is a hodge podge of old culture and traditions fused with modern western influences – often at the same time. Thais celebrate everything and are reasonably tolerant to all cultures. Thai people always try … [Read more...] about Vietnam versus Thailand – which is the best for travel or living?