Call for tighter controls to curb property speculation
In urban areas, the typical 'modern' three-bedroom apartment ranges from 800 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft. This limited space is not conducive to multi-generational or extended family living.
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The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Fujifilm raises camera and lens prices in the US amid tariffs
Camera bodies, which are popular with creators and professionals on account of their film simulations and unique color rendering, are now US$200 (RM847) more expensive than they were on last Thursday evening. — Pixabay Fujifilm Holdings Corp raised US prices for the majority of its digital cameras and lenses last Friday, in some cases by hundreds of dollars, as President Donald Trump's tariffs continue to reverberate across the consumer tech industry. Many of the company's camera bodies, which are popular with creators and professionals on account of their film simulations and unique color rendering, are now US$200 (RM847) more expensive than they were on last Thursday evening. For instance, Fujifilm's premier consumer camera, the X-T5, sold for US$1,699 (RM 7,196) earlier but now costs US$1,899 (RM 8,043) , a 12% bump. Fujifilm did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The company is headquartered in Japan, which is subject to a baseline 15% tariff under a deal that the Trump administration struck with the country last month. Fujifilm subsequently relocated manufacturing for a few camera models from China to Japan; during that time, the prices remained stable. Other consumer hardware makers have also raised prices in recent months, including Kyoto-based Nintendo Co, which earlier announced a US price increase for the original Switch handheld games console, citing "market conditions.' Fujifilm is the fourth-largest camera maker behind Canon Inc, Sony Group Corp and Nikon Corp, according to market research firm Techno Systems Research. But the brand's products often stir an outsized buzz on social media among tech enthusiasts. Its X100 series went viral on TikTok during the Covid pandemic and has consistently been on backorder at most retailers since then. The latest model in that lineup, the X100VI, has risen to US$1,799 (RM7,620) with the latest price changes – up from US$1,599 (RM6,772). As for the other major camera manufacturers, Canon, Sony and Nikon already raised prices for a number of products earlier this year. Smaller players like Sigma have also given in after months of global tariff anxiety; that brand increased the cost of its lenses by around 10% in June, the photography outlet PetaPixel reported at the time, but the company told retail partners it's not planning another hike despite the new 15% rate levied on Japan. Fujifilm's most recently announced mirrorless camera, the X-E5 unveiled in June, has not undergone any price adjustments. That product is scheduled to ship later in August. The X Half, a compact, lightweight model the company introduced this year to attract more Gen Z customers, has also maintained its US$850 (RM3,600) price for the time being. – Bloomberg
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
This robot uses Japanese tradition and AI for sashimi that lasts longer and is more humane
A Los Angeles-area startup is using artificial intelligence and robotics in an unlikely way: making sashimi and other fish dishes taste better, last longer and more humane. El Segundo, California-based Shinkei Systems wants to bring a traditional Japanese method of handling fish to fine dining in America, using technology to replace the labour-intensive process historically handled by practitioners on board ships. Investors have just bet millions that it will succeed. The company's AI-driven robot – called Poseidon – has been designed to do a traditional form of fish handling called ikejime in Japanese. It is a method of killing fish that enthusiasts say enhances flavour, texture and shelf life. Although fish processed in this way is found in some of the best restaurants in Japan, it hasn't been promoted in the US because it is generally too expensive. Automating the process will make it more readily available to Americans, said Saif Khawaja, the company's chief executive. "My end goal is that you're walking into your local grocery store and can buy fish that lasts three times as long, tastes better and is handled humanely," he said. The company raised US$22mil (RM 94.10mil) in a funding round last month, co-led by Founders Fund and Interlagos, bringing total funding to US$30mil (RM 128.32mil) since its inception. It has four Poseidons working on ships in the Pacific and Atlantic and hopes to have 10 more working in the coming year. The ikejime process involves taking live fish that has just been caught and quickly putting them out of their misery by killing them with a spike through the brain and cutting their gills. This stops the stress hormone and lactic acid buildup that can hurt flavor and texture when fish are left to asphyxiate. Although traditional practitioners sometimes add a step in which the spinal cord is destroyed, Poseidon just does the first steps of the ikejime technique. The method has remained largely artisanal even in Japan, where only some fishermen will make the effort to process batches of fish in this way to sell to specific sushi chefs who are obsessed with having the highest-quality ingredients. Even in Japan, the method "is still too labour-intensive to replicate at a high speed without damaging the fish," Khawaja said, adding that, "It's impractical and unsustainable for fishermen to adopt methods that require significant hands-on work," in the US. Shinkei says it also has a higher calling than just better-tasting fish. Khawaja said one of the motivations for developing the technology was to try to find a kinder, gentler way to kill fish than letting them die gasping for air. During childhood fishing trips with his father in the Red Sea, he remembers it being "very hard to watch" fish suffocating after they were caught. Poseidon is roughly refrigerator-sized and sits on fishing boat decks. — Courtesy Shinkei Systems/TNS While he was in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, Khawaja was moved by an essay that argued that fish suffer inhumane deaths because they cannot vocalise pain. He even once considered developing sensors to make fish's pain audible. Shinkei provides Poseidon machines to fishermen, who then sell fish processed through the machines back to Shinkei at a premium. Shinkei in turn sells the fish to restaurants and other retailers under its fish company Seremoni. Poseidon is roughly refrigerator-sized and sits on fishing boat decks. It processes fish within seconds of being caught. The fish is fed through an opening in the machine and into a small vinyl cavity. The machine then uses AI to identify what kind of fish it is and where exactly its brain and gills are. Fish emerge with a hole in the head and incisions near the gills before being placed in an ice slurry for blood drainage. Quickly killing the fish, bleeding it and chilling it without freezing leads to fish that is noticeably better, Khawaja said. "There's going to be a flavour profile difference and there's going to be texture profile difference," he said. The company chose Los Angeles for its headquarters and production because it has the right mix of potential employees as well as customers. It has the mechanical engineering talent as well as a major fishing fleet and lots of high-end restaurants. "The best mechanical engineering talent in the world, in my opinion, is in Southern California," said Seremoni co-founder Reed Ginsberg. The city is also a major health and consumer products hub as well as a trend setter for cutting-edge food fads. Chef Michael Cimarusti, co-owner of the Michelin starred Providence restaurant in Los Angeles, says he tries to buy local ikejime fish when he can because it preserves the quality and color. The fish preserved using ikejime look as if they "were just pulled from the water minutes ago," he said in an interview posted on YouTube by the American Fishing Tackle Co. Shinkei currently processes thousands of pounds weekly across operations in Washington, Central California and Massachusetts, with expansion to Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico planned this year. After feedback from fishermen that the bots took up too much deck space, the company developed "Block 2" robots that have roughly half the footprint while processing fish twice as fast. Currently, black cod and black sea bass processed through Poseidon are sold under Shinkei's brand Seremoni at retailers such as Happier Grocery and served at upscale restaurants including Atomix and Sushi Zo. This summer, the company plans to add salmon and red snapper to its offerings. – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
MEF welcomes Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has welcomed the immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, calling it as timely amid rising global uncertainties. MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said Malaysian employers, particularly those with regional operations, supply chains and investments in both countries, were grateful for the ceasefire, brokered through the "tireless efforts and leadership" of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "At a time when employers are grappling with an increasingly complex global business environment, marked by slowing global trade, ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent disruptions linked to the United States tariff rates, this ceasefire is a welcome and much-needed development," he said in a statement today. He added Malaysia maintained substantial trade and investment ties with both Thailand and Cambodia. "Thailand is one of Malaysia's top trading partners in Asean, with bilateral trade exceeding RM100 billion annually. Many Malaysian companies operate factories, logistics hubs and retail outlets in the country. "Cambodia, while smaller in volume, is a growing trade partner. Malaysia's total investments in Cambodia surpassed RM 12.6 billion in recent years, particularly in the construction, banking, agriculture and telecommunications sectors. "As such, any instability in Thailand and Cambodia poses real risks to business continuity, supply chains and regional confidence." Syed Hussain said the swift de-escalation would ease concerns raised among members of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Employers with direct operations or investment interests in both nations. "This proactive resolution helps prevent further commercial losses, supply chain disruptions and reputational risks that can emerge from prolonged conflicts. "Employers across the region, particularly those in labour-intensive manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and cross border retail now have the opportunity to continue operations without disruption, while maintaining the safety of their workforce and facilities." He added that MEF reiterated its support for all regional efforts that protect business continuity, promote peaceful engagement and encourage robust intra-Asean economic cooperation. "MEF looks forward to continued stability in the region and encourages all parties to sustain this momentum towards lasting peace and mutual prosperity. Yesterday, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire amid an ongoing border conflict. The announcement followed a special meeting involving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, hosted by Anwar in his capacity as Asean chair. The ceasefire took effect starting midnight on July 28.
