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The Star
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Apple and Google face more UK antitrust scrutiny over mobile ecosystems
FILE PHOTO: The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's competition regulator said it plans to designate Apple and Google with so-called strategic market status for their role in mobile ecosystems, as it steps up scrutiny of what it has described as their duopoly. The plans announced on Wednesday follows findings by an inquiry group at Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that a number of markets relating to mobile internet browsers were not working well for consumers or businesses. Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome dominate the mobile browser market on iPhones and Android devices, respectively. A strategic market status (SMS) designation allows the CMA to impose interventions on a firm, such as requiring it to adhere to specific behaviour so as not to undermine fair competition. In Apple and Google's cases, they could be forced to offer more features and give users the option actively to choose their preferred mobile browser, if recommendations from the CMA's inquiry group are accepted. Both Apple and Google pushed back against the CMA's proposals, with Google calling the step "disappointing and unwarranted." "It is ... crucial that any new regulation is evidence-based, proportionate and does not become a roadblock to growth in the UK," Google's senior director for competition, Oliver Bethell, said. Apple said separately it was concerned that the new rules being considered would undermine the privacy and security protections expected by its users. (Reporting by Muvija M and Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
The Star
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Google to pay $2.4 billion in deal to license tech of Windsurf, WSJ reports
FILE PHOTO: The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso/File Photo (Reuters) -Google has agreed to pay about $2.4 billion in a deal to license the technology of artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool Windsurf, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Earlier on Friday, a Google spokesperson told Reuters that the company has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and select members of the coding tool's research and development team to join its DeepMind division, in a move to strengthen itself in the race for AI leadership. (Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UK police arrest over 20 supporters of now banned Palestine Action group
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Supporters of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action scuffle with police officers outside the High Court in London, Britain, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso LONDON - British police arrested over 20 people on suspicion of terrorism offences after they showed support for the newly banned Palestine Action group in London, officials said on Saturday, hours after the proscription came into effect. The government moved to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws last month after its activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged two planes in protest against what the group said was Britain's support for Israel. Late on Friday, the campaign lost an urgent appeal against the parliamentary decision to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation, with the ban coming into force from midnight. Under UK laws, offences include inviting support, expressing approval, or displaying symbols of a banned group and are punishable by up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine. Britain has proscribed 81 groups under anti-terrorism laws, including Hamas, al-Qaeda and ISIS. On Saturday, supporters gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster, some holding placards that said "I OPPOSE GENOCIDE. I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION." Sky News footage showed some being led away in handcuffs from a statue of Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in the square, as they shouted their support. United Nations experts have accused Israel of carrying out "genocidal acts" against Palestinians in the conflict in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel has repeatedly dismissed such accusations. Palestine Action has targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain in its protests, with interior minister Yvette Cooper saying that violence and criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest and that the group's activities justify proscription. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats Critics of the decision, including some United Nations experts and civil liberties groups, have argued that damaging property does not amount to terrorism. At another protest on Saturday, the police arrested five pro-Palestine protesters from the Youth Demand group who threw red paint over a truck involved in London's Pride parade and glued themselves to the vehicle. The parade has since resumed. REUTERS
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Wildfires burn in Turkey and France as early heatwave hits
People swim in the sea during warm weather, as temperatures continue to rise across the region, in Brighton, Britain, June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso People walk along The Serpentine in Hyde Park in the evening as an amber heat alert was issued in London, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs A woman uses a hand fan to cool off during the first summer heatwave in Seville, southern Spain June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo ISTANBUL/PARIS - Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region. In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods. Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees. Turkey's coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change. In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said. The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday. Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country's 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said. HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany's Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne. In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C. Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. "Really hard currently," Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said. Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said. Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday. "Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain," said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency. Italy's Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia. The Lombardy region, part of Italy's northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday. Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically. Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month. Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month. Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Pearson and Google team up to bring AI learning tools to classrooms
The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso LONDON (Reuters) -Pearson has entered a multi-year partnership with Alphabet's Google cloud service, providing students with AI learning tools that also make teachers' jobs easier, the British education company said on Thursday. The tie-up will focus on creating personalised learning tools powered by Google's advanced artificial intelligence models for students in primary and secondary school. The tools will adapt to each student's pace and needs, while also helping teachers track performance and tailor lessons, the companies said in a statement. Pearson Chief Executive Omar Abbosh said AI could help reshape school education by replacing uniform teaching methods with personalised learning paths tailored to individual students. Pearson has also signed multi-year AI-focused partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon's cloud computing services, as part of its efforts to personalise learning and offer more digital education tools. (Reporting by Paul Sandle, Writing by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
