Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Four key indicators of climate change reached “alarming” record highs in 2021, the United Nations said on Wednesday, as it warned worsening climate change is poised to exact heavy financial losses, impose huge burdens of death and disease and threaten food and water security. Key Facts Greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification—all key climate change indicators—hit record highs in 2021, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in its annual “State of the Global Climate” report. The report said the last seven years have been the seven warmest on record. WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said it was “just a matter of time before we see another warmest year on record” and warned that sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification will “continue for hundreds of years” unless humanity develops ways to remove carbon from the … [Read more...] about ‘Alarming’ Climate Records In 2021 Prompt UN Call To Triple Renewable Energy Investment To $4 Trillion
Ensuring sustainability of a project
Felcra aims to add 50,000 hectares of oil palm plantation over the next 5 years
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Felcra Bhd aims to add 50,000 hectares of oil palm plantation land over the next five years to ensure the sustainability and viability of the company as well as to grab the opportunity from the high demand for palm oil exports. Chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said Felcra currently has 31,000 hectares of plantation land of which the yield is only from 26,000 hectares. “Given that commodity (palm oil) prices are currently rising due to the world’s major producing country, namely Indonesia, having reduced its exports to keep domestic prices low, it provides space for palm oil producers in other countries such as Malaysia to gain market share at the international level,” he said. He told this to reporters at the Aidilfitri celebration and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Residensi Koperasi Felcra Project at the Setiawangsa Community Centre here on Wednesday. Ahmad Jazlan said Felcra has several commodity crops 20% of … [Read more...] about Felcra aims to add 50,000 hectares of oil palm plantation over the next 5 years
Sarawak to formulate climate change policy
Reuters filepix for illustration purpose only - A + A KUCHING (May 18): The Sarawak state government will formulate a Climate Change Policy in line with Malaysia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the policy, which would focus on green energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy and hydrogen, would be drafted after a climate change study under 12MP is completed. “From the study we hope to get the guidelines on GHG emissions according to sectors, namely, energy, transportation, industrial and agricultural, as well as through change in land use and waste management. "As globally, the focus in currently on sustainable development, the implementation of Sarawak's upcoming development projects will come with its own costs, especially the impact on the environment and biodiversity conservation," he said in a … [Read more...] about Sarawak to formulate climate change policy
JCY International narrows 2Q net loss on improved operational yields despite revenue fall
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Technology-related company JCY International Bhd saw its net loss for the second quarter ended March 31, 2022 (2QFY22) narrow to RM14.23 million from RM22.55 million a year ago driven by improved operational yields amid business recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the company’s quarterly revenue fell 9.06% to RM224.71 million from RM247.08 million mainly due to a general drop in shipments as a result of weaker market demand. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the company sank into the red compared to a net profit of RM6.37 million in 1QFY22 on lower revenue and increase in raw material prices. Revenue fell 24.37% from RM297.11 million in the immediate preceding quarter. For the six months ended March 31 (6MFY22), JCY International’s net loss improved to RM7.89 million from RM40.28 million a year earlier. Six-month revenue declined slightly to RM521.82 million from RM523.94 million. The addressable market for hard disk drive … [Read more...] about JCY International narrows 2Q net loss on improved operational yields despite revenue fall
As Talk of a Recession Looms, Here’s What to Consider Before Laying Off People to Cut Costs
During the past couple of weeks, several companies have announced significant layoffs, Cameo and Robinhood , among others. Similarly, Meta announced a hiring freeze, and Uber's CEO mentioned that from now on, hiring is going to be a "privilege." The main driver here is the sense of a recession in the air. From the significant drop in the valuation of recently IPO'd tech firms to the urgency in the Fed's actions, the general sense is that the euphoria of private firms' valuations and $100 million seed rounds are a thing of the past. Over the past few years, most startups have invested heavily in growth, but they are still far from being profitable, so most will soon see a need to raise additional funds. Since the previous funding rounds were probably raised on inflated valuations, raising additional funds will likely require taking a "down round," impacting current investors and further diluting the founders. So the question every founder and operator … [Read more...] about As Talk of a Recession Looms, Here’s What to Consider Before Laying Off People to Cut Costs
Scientists find massive Mayan society under Guatemala jungle
This digital 3D image provided by Guatemala’s Mayan Heritage and Nature Foundation, PACUNAM, shows a depiction of the Mayan archaeological site at Tikal in Guatemala created using LiDAR aerial mapping technology. Researchers announced Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, that using a high-tech aerial mapping technique they have found tens of thousands of previously undetected Mayan houses, buildings, defense works and roads in the dense jungle of Guatemala’s Peten region, suggesting that millions more people lived there than previously thought. (Photo by CANUTO and AULD-THOMAS / PACUNAM via AP) GUATEMALA CITY — Researchers using a high-tech aerial mapping technique have found tens of thousands of previously undetected Mayan houses, buildings, defense works and pyramids in the dense jungle of Guatemala’s Peten region, suggesting that millions more people lived there than previously thought. The discoveries, which included industrial-sized agricultural fields and irrigation canals, were … [Read more...] about Scientists find massive Mayan society under Guatemala jungle
Amazon (AMZN) Rolls Out Web Services (AWS) Innovations
Amazon.com, Inc . ( AMZN ) has rolled out several enhancements to its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing offering that are designed to enhance its utility to a wide range of customers. In particular, AWS is focused in 2022 on enabling many organizations—including startups, large enterprises, and government agencies—to become more agile and innovate more rapidly at lower cost. During the AWS Summit in San Francisco on April 21, 2022, Swami Sivasubramanian, vice president of data, analytics, and machine learning services at AWS, offered details on several new product offerings. The innovations that he described range across several service categories, including databases, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) , and application development. Key Takeaways Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced six major enhancements on April 21, 2022. Two increase flexibility and lower costs for AWS users. One makes creating digital twins easier. One facilitates … [Read more...] about Amazon (AMZN) Rolls Out Web Services (AWS) Innovations
Cahya Mata Sarawak 1Q net profit down 7.42% on higher tax expenses
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMS) posted a 7.42% drop in net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (1QFY22) to RM72.02 million, from RM77.8 million a year ago, despite an improvement to its quarterly revenue. The group’s filing on Wednesday (May 18) showed that its quarterly revenue had climbed 5.93% to RM214.04 million in the quarter under review versus RM202.06 million in the previous corresponding quarter. The group attributed the lower net profit to higher tax expenses recognised in relation to higher taxable income from its divisions. It noted that its 1QFY21 earnings also included one-off gains from the disposal of Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (KIBB) shares — amounting to RM28.52 million — and disposal of land and investment properties — amounting to RM16.99 million. Meanwhile, CMS attributed the improved revenue to higher revenue contributions from its cement and road maintenance divisions of 7% and 36% respectively. … [Read more...] about Cahya Mata Sarawak 1Q net profit down 7.42% on higher tax expenses
PLKI-ECRL offers 5,000 job opportunities to locals
- A + A KOTA BHARU (May 18): Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) are offering 5,000 job opportunities, particularly to locals in the East Coast of the peninsula through the Industry Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL). MRL’s Strategies Division head, Zaidi Sharif said that so far, 500 individuals out of the targeted 1,800 had participated in the first phase of the programme which started in 2018 and involved the construction phase. He said the programme offered various forms of training such as skills training including in operating heavy machines, in the electrical and surveying sections and so on, besides in the construction field. “In their first month of training, the trainees will be sent to the skills honing centres in the East Coast and in the second month, they will undergo practical training at the actual ECRL construction sites. “We hope the local youths, particularly those in the East Coast will quickly … [Read more...] about PLKI-ECRL offers 5,000 job opportunities to locals