21+ hour, 56+ min ago (317+ words) People walk past a store of Ukraine's telecommunications company Kyivstar, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Smutko KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar has become the first in Europe to launch Starlink's direct-to-cell satellite technology in a bid to keep millions connected amid wartime blackouts and disrupted infrastructure, the company said on Monday. Kyivstar is initially offering SMS capabilities via the technology and plans to extend to voice and data next year, under a deal between Elon Musk's Starlink and telecoms group Veon, the owner of Kyivstar. "In Ukraine, staying connected means staying safe," Kyivstar's CEO Oleksandr Komarov said in a statement, adding that the service would enhance network resilience. Kyivstar serves about 22.5 million mobile customers in Ukraine. The service would enable customers to remain connected on regular 4G smartphones during prolonged blackouts, in recently…...

16+ hour, 30+ min ago (273+ words) KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is considering requiring social media firms to use MyDigital ID to block users under 16 from opening accounts, says Teo Nie Ching. The Deputy Communications Minister said the government and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission are discussing age verification with major platforms. "The current proposal is to use MyDigital ID as one of the tools to verify users" ages," she said. "We will discuss this further with platform providers to ensure users under 16 do not have social media accounts," she said in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 24). She was replying to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on enforcing online age restrictions. Teo said similar requirements are being rolled out overseas, including in Australia from December, using different age assessment methods. Earlier, Teo said the commission received 2,937 network quality complaints nationwide from Jan 1 to Nov 20 via the…...

10+ hour, 43+ min ago (249+ words) PETALING JAYA: 56-year-old Paul Wong, founder of Mega Star Arena at Sungei Wang Plaza, was killed in a car accident in Thailand on Saturday (Nov 22), MySinChew reports. The English language portal of Sin Chew Daily reported that Wong's family had posted an obituary on his official Facebook account, saying that the entertainment and live events industry in Malaysia had lost one of its most influential figures. "With profound sadness, we announce that Paul Wong Chee Meng, founder of Mega Star Arena at Sungei Wang Plaza and a highly respected pioneer of the entertainment industry in Malaysia, passed away on Nov 22, 2025, in Thailand due to an accident," MySinChew quoted the statement as saying Wong leaves behind his beloved wife, Fanny Chia and their four children Billy, Jacky, Monique, and Eason. More than an event organiser, MySinChew reported that Wong was a…...

19+ hour, 55+ min ago (306+ words) KUALA LUMPUR: There is no plan to hold parents responsible over underage social media use once new regulations prohibiting under-16s are implemented in 2026, says Teo Nie Ching. The Deputy Communications Minister said that this was because there were challenges to holding parents accountable if children under 16 opened social media accounts. "Are we really ready to punish parents too? We need political will, and the government must have the support of everyone in this House," she said in Parliament on Monday (Nov 24). Some MPs had questioned whether stricter rules could see Malaysia go further than Australia and penalise parents who allow minors access to social media. She explained that the government's proposal to restrict social media access for those under 16 differs from Australia's model because it requires age verification rather than mere age assurance. Australia, she said, relies on algorithms to…...

11+ hour, 35+ min ago (216+ words) PEOPLElogy Bhd founder and managing director Allen Lee. " AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: PEOPLElogy Bhd remains committed to empowering Malaysians with digital and AI-driven skills as it advances its regional expansion plans, according to founder and managing director Allen Lee. "As we plan to expand regionally and strengthen our digital and AI-driven learning infrastructure, PEOPLElogy remains committed to empowering Malaysians with skills that create upward mobility, long-term employability, and measurable economic value," Lee said in a statement. As this is PEOPLElogy's first financial year as a listed company, no year-on-year comparison is available. Profit after tax swung to RM886,000 in the third quarter ended Sept 30 from a RM2.17mil loss in 2Q25, driven mainly by the absence of IPO-related expenses. For the nine months to Sept 30, PEOPLElogy reported RM18.5mil in revenue and a RM1.24mil loss after tax due to one-off listing expenses. Lee said 3Q25 marks…...

7+ hour, 9+ min ago (955+ words) Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025 A SENSE of common purpose and community is transforming two villages thanks to a local initiative in Shah Alam, Selangor. The Sedulur Sekampung programme is a multi-pronged effort by Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) councillor Muhammad Nabil Norhalim in Zone 11, which comprises Kampung Jalan Kebun and Kampung Lombong. Muhammad Nabil, who realised the area needed vast improvements when appointed in February 2023, explained that sedulur was a Javanese term meaning "brotherhood, and conveyed the spirit of community. He added that nearly 80% of the over 45,000 residents in the two villages were of Javanese descent. The programme was designed to clean up the area, legalise local businesses and promote local tourism, aiming to fix the contrast between the villages" status as a food haven and their previously littered streets. Mohd Amarizal (second from left) and wife Siti Sharaeliana Nasir (left) obtained…...

15+ hour, 9+ min ago (428+ words) Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025 SELANGOR aims to generate RM20bil in output from its creative industry by 2035 under a new state action plan. The Selangor Creative Economy Action Plan 2025-2035 (SCEAP) will focus on three core areas " digital and multimedia, arts and culture as well as cultural heritage. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the plan includes initiatives to nurture creative talent, conduct market research and review laws and policies to support the sector's growth. "The action plan is also in line with the 13th Malaysian Plan that has outlined initiatives to grow the nation's creative economy sector," he said. Speaking at the SCEAP launch held on the sidelines of the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan SUK Selangor in Shah Alam yesterday, Amirudin said a Creative Economy Council would be formed next year to support implementation. He said the council would allow industry players…...

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (152+ words) (Reuters) -South Africa led the way in the 2025 World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year announced on Tuesday, with six Springboks selected, headlined by Player of the Year Malcolm Marx. Joining hooker Marx were props Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit, twice Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and winger Cheslin Kolbe, a year after seven Springboks were named in the 2024 list. South Africa capped off a highly successful year by securing back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time. New Zealand, Australia and England each contributed two players to the Dream Team. WORLD RUGBY MEN'S 15s DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR 2025 Ox Nche (South Africa) Malcolm Marx (South Africa) Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) Cam Roigard (New Zealand) Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) Will Jordan (New Zealand) (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by…...

15+ hour, 17+ min ago (309+ words) KUALA LUMPUR: The Community Communications Department (JKOM) must undergo a major overhaul to ensure government policies are effectively communicated to the grassroots, an MP told the Dewan Rakyat. Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) said JKOM's current outreach strategy, particularly through social media, was failing to reach Malaysians despite its mandate to counter misinformation and promote government initiatives. He said he had been informed that JKOM planned to "optimise" its social-media presence through its director-general's official Instagram, TikTok and podcast channels. However, Khoo said his own checks raised concerns. "I was excited, so I looked for JKOM's podcast because we want to use the DG's podcast to spread positive narratives about the government's policies and initiatives. "But what I found was that each episode had fewer than 50 viewers," he said in the Lower House on Monday (Nov 24). Khoo said such low…...

19+ hour, 54+ min ago (101+ words) Monday, 24 Nov 2025 The CNN logo is seen during the Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 10, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Segar (Reuters) -CNN has removed its stories from Apple News, ending its content-sharing agreement with the platform, Semafor reported on Sunday. The two companies are discussing a new deal that would restore CNN's stories to Apple News, the report said. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Apple and CNN did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. (Reporting by Dheeraj Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)...