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The Star
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
No plans to get Big Tech to pay digital law compliance costs, EU tech chief says
FILE PHOTO: Executive Vice-president of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen holds a press conference after the European Commission College meeting in Brussels, Belgium January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Johanna Geron//File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission will not ask Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta Platforms and Microsoft to pay the cost of monitoring their compliance with a new digital law, the EU tech chief said on Wednesday. Germany and European Parliament lawmakers have lobbied for a supervisory fee to be levied on Big Tech to help EU antitrust regulators better enforce the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who is responsible for the technology sector, said rules were always under review and she would monitor developments, but had no plans to make the companies pay despite the enormous volume of monitoring work. "So it's always, of course, there is this possibility, but now we are not having any new proposal on that," Virkkunen told Reuters in an interview. The landmark legislation, which has been enforced since 2023, sets out a list of dos and don'ts aimed at curbing the six companies' power and giving consumers more choice. The group of Big Tech companies, which includes were picked because they provide a core platform service for business users. Proponents of a DMA supervisory fee said it should be similar to the levy imposed on big online platforms subject to another piece of legislation called the Digital Services Tax that requires companies to do more to police content on their sites. The digital services supervisory fee amounts to 0.05% of a company's annual worldwide net income. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Sweden will contribute to new Ukraine arms shipment plans, defence minister says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Sweden's Minister of Defence Pal Jonson attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on the eve of a NATO defence ministers' meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 12, 2025. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo STOCKHOLM - Sweden will contribute to efforts to boost arms supplies to Ukraine following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to supply billions of dollars of weapons, including Patriot missile systems, via NATO. "We welcome the American decision to make possible increased sanctions against Russia and to pave the way for the delivery of Patriots and other weapon systems to Ukraine," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in an emailed comment to Reuters. "Sweden will contribute." Jonson did not provide further about the support, REUTERS
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
EU migration commissioner was denied entry to eastern Libya over 'protocol issue', EU spokesperson says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Magnus Brunner, the nominee to become the European Union's commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, faces a confirmation hearing before a European Parliament committee, in Brussels, Belgium November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo BRUSSELS - The European Union's migration commissioner was barred from entering eastern Libya because of a "protocol issue", an EU spokesperson said on Wednesday. In addition to EU Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, ministers from Italy, Malta, and Greece were also denied entry. "What happened in Benghazi was there was a protocol issue. This is why it was not possible to carry out the planned meetings," EU spokesperson Markus Lammert told the EU's daily press briefing. "The EU will maintain open channels of communication and we will continue working in a Team Europe approach with all actors involved." The delegation had arrived at Benghazi airport to attend a meeting with the parallel government of Osama Hamad, allied to military commander Khalifa Haftar who controls the east and large areas of southern Libya, shortly after meeting the internationally recognised government that controls the west of Libya. The EU mission in the country centred around "the recent increase of irregular arrivals from Libya," Lammert said. On Monday, the Hamad government warned that all foreign visitors and diplomats must get prior approval before entering or travelling within Libya. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Asia Malaysia confirms existence of document central to ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid, say reports Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore Goodbye fraudsters? Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel rolls out identity verification Asia Amid handshakes and familiar friends, Asean navigates tariffs and tension in KL Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Libya has been on a route for migrants heading to Europe. Factional conflict has divided the country since 2014. REUTERS
The Star
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Libya's eastern-based government bars entry of EU migration commissioner, three ministers
FILE PHOTO: Magnus Brunner, the nominee to become the European Union's commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, faces a confirmation hearing before a European Parliament committee, in Brussels, Belgium November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo TRIPOLI (Reuters) -The European Union migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Malta and Greece were denied entry to the eastern part of divided Libya on Tuesday as they had disregarded "Libyan national sovereignty", the Benghazi-based government said. The delegation had arrived to attend a meeting with the parallel government of Osama Hamad, allied to military commander Khalifa Haftar who controls the east and large areas of southern Libya, shortly after a meeting with the rival, internationally recognised government that controls the west of Libya. The delegation included EU Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, Greek Migration and Asylum minister Thanos Plevris, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri. The Benghazi-based government said the visit was cancelled upon the delegation's arrival at Benghazi airport whereupon the ministers were declared persona non grata and told to leave Libyan territory immediately. Members of the European delegation did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The Hamad government had said on Monday all foreign visitors and diplomatic missions should not come to Libya and move inside the country without its prior permission. Earlier in the day the EU delegation had met in Tripoli with the U.N.-recognised government of Abdulhamid Dbiebah to discuss the migration crisis before flying to Benghazi. Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe across the Mediterranean since the fall in 2011 of dictator Muammar Gaddafi to a NATO-backed uprising. Factional conflict has split the country since 2014. Dbeibah said during the meeting he had tasked his interior ministry with developing a national plan to tackle migration "based on practical cooperation with partners and reflecting a clear political will to build sustainable solutions". (Reporting and writing by Ahmed Elumami with additional reporting by Ayman Werfali in Benghazi; editing by Alexander Dziadosz and Mark Heinrich)
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Libya's eastern-based government bars entry of EU migration commissioner, three ministers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Magnus Brunner, the nominee to become the European Union's commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, faces a confirmation hearing before a European Parliament committee, in Brussels, Belgium November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo TRIPOLI - The European Union migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Malta and Greece were denied entry to the eastern part of divided Libya on Tuesday as they had disregarded "Libyan national sovereignty", the Benghazi-based government said. The delegation had arrived to attend a meeting with the parallel government of Osama Hamad, allied to military commander Khalifa Haftar who controls the east and large areas of southern Libya, shortly after a meeting with the rival, internationally recognised government that controls the west of Libya. The delegation included EU Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, Greek Migration and Asylum minister Thanos Plevris, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri. The Benghazi-based government said the visit was cancelled upon the delegation's arrival at Benghazi airport whereupon the ministers were declared persona non grata and told to leave Libyan territory immediately. Members of the European delegation did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The Hamad government had said on Monday all foreign visitors and diplomatic missions should not come to Libya and move inside the country without its prior permission. Earlier in the day the EU delegation had met in Tripoli with the U.N.-recognised government of Abdulhamid Dbiebah to discuss the migration crisis before flying to Benghazi. Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe across the Mediterranean since the fall in 2011 of dictator Muammar Gaddafi to a NATO-backed uprising. Factional conflict has split the country since 2014. Dbeibah said during the meeting he had tasked his interior ministry with developing a national plan to tackle migration "based on practical cooperation with partners and reflecting a clear political will to build sustainable solutions". REUTERS
