Latest news with #USP
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
The most notorious building in Glasgow: a way forward
The actual owner, Derek Souter, got in touch with me the other day to put his side of the story. For 27 years, he says, his companies, USP and USI, have liaised with countless council officers and heritage officials to try to find a future for the building. He also says he remains committed to engaging constructively with the council to ensure the Halls are preserved and returned to long-term commercial sustainability – at minimal cost to the public purse, he insists, while ensuring a fair return for him and his companies. As for the council, it says the owners don't appear to be developing any viable scheme. Amidst all the details Mr Souter sent to me, it's hard to tell what the current position actually is, but I did ask him at one point if he'd show me round the place and he did and it was fascinating. You'll know already that the building is covered with scaffolding, obscuring all the Greek Thomson details it's famous for, which means you have to enter through the back of the vape shop on the ground floor. Once we were inside, we headed up the stairs where there were signs, dusty and faded, of all the previous lives the building has had: restaurant, bar, first-aid centre, inland revenue training school, even a cinema. It's hard to watch: buildings fading like this. Its exact condition is also hard to tell. Mr Souter showed me all over the place – we even went out on to roof where there are brilliant views of Buchanan Street and Central Station – and to my layman's eye, it looked dry and watertight and in pretty good nick. But it's been on the Buildings at Risk register since 1990 and the council says its condition has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Without some kind of intervention, they say, there's a serious risk of a significant failure in the fabric. On a busy street like Union Street, that is not good news; in fact, it's potentially dangerous news. Read more 'Key milestone' in efforts to return Egyptian Halls to full life | The Herald Glasgow's rubbish-bin millions: where has the money gone? 'Get it up ye Sturgeon!' The new front in the trans war So some kind of forcing of the process is welcome, and Mr Souter will be entitled to put forward his development plans along with everyone else. The idea he's talked about in the past is what he calls the Mackintosh-Thomson Mews, which would open up a thoroughfare from Central Station to Buchanan Street via the Egyptian Halls, the Lighthouse and Mitchell Lane. Mr Souter told me that some 13 years ago there was also a real opportunity to turn the Halls into a hotel but the funding fell through, funding being the key word here. The bottom line in this is money and who's going to come up with it. What seems clear – and everyone would appear to agree on this point – is that both private and public money will need to be involved. It's hard to see what kind of purpose or use would justify funding it entirely with public money (if you can think of one, let me know). As for private money, the sums simply would not add up for any kind of developer faced with a heritage building like the Egyptian Halls, the state it's in, and the kind of restrictions that would be put on developing it, for perfectly good reasons. So public and private money it is. Assuming this as the baseline, the list of potential futures for the Egyptian Halls isn't a long one. Retail is certainly out, apart from the bottom floor, the problem being that it would be hard to attract retailers to Union Street given the state it's in, and given the state the high street is in generally. This is the first place that a lot of visitors to Glasgow see when they emerge from Central Station and yet it's one of the worst streets in the city, thanks in part of course to the state of the Egyptian Halls. Anyway, it means that no retailer with money to invest (and they're rare now) would be interested in opening up on Union Street and spending the money it would need to get the Halls into decent shape. Inside the Halls (Image: Newsquest) The office option is also a non-starter. There was a time when the council thought big office complexes was the way forward for the city, and it earned them decent money for a bit. But then the pandemic hit and people started working from home and other people started 'working from home' and the city was basically filleted of its office population; they're all at home now in their slippers scrolling. Which means that even some limited office accommodation in a refurbished Egyptian Halls would probably be too much. Which leaves only one realistic option, the only way forward: residential, but even that is going to require some significant policy changes. The truth is there's a lot of new accommodation going up in the centre of Glasgow but it's all student flats because that's the only model that works at the moment. I spoke to Stuart Patrick, the chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, about this and his take was that you won't see better quality mixed residential development until the Scottish Government changes its policy on rent controls, which Mr Patrick believes could release hundreds of millions of pounds. The sums have to add up for developers basically, and that would include any potential developer of the Egyptian Halls. The council would also have to do their bit (i.e. put up some money) to support any residential development, on the basis that the Egyptian Halls is in a prestigious location (or what should be a prestigious location) and needs to look good so let's see which potential developers come forward and what ideas they have. In the meantime, all we can do is skulk under the scaffolding, look up in disappointment, or frustration, and try to imagine what this fine old building might look like one day. The brochure describes it as masterpiece of Victorian architecture. And it is. But look at it. Just look at it.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
'Taxing cloud providers not good idea'
KUALA LUMPUR: Any plan to impose a levy on cloud service providers (CSPs) will be counterproductive, says a top industry executive. Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) national president Datuk William Ng said SMEs face the brunt of increased costs that slow their cloud adoption, while providers may curb investment - a dynamic that threatens Malaysia's ambition to be a digital investment hub. In most other markets, NG said, universal service levies remain focused on telecom operators rather than application-layer services, as expanding them into cloud services will likely have adverse impact on growth, competition and gross domestic product. "We're already seeing escalating costs from cloud service providers. Some global providers have increased their fees by 15 per cent to as much as 250 per cent over the past three years. "Since migration between platforms is rarely straightforward, SMEs affected by these price hikes often have little choice but to absorb the extra cost," he told Business Times today. Ng was commenting on Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan's statements suggesting that a six per cent levy on CSPs under the universal service provision (USP) fund is in the offing. In the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy and Shahril said the prospect may increase operational costs for SMEs and weaken Malaysia's attractiveness as a key destination for digital investment. Ng said a more balanced approach would be to register and regulate the CSPs and to apply the same anti-profiteering rules that our SMEs are already subject to. "However, that would require a fundamental rethink of the USP framework itself. Penalising providers while also taxing their growth is unrealistic," he added. Meanwhile, Khairy and Shahril raised concerns that the levy, if implemented, would have knock-on effects across the digital economy ecosystem. Khairy warned that the levy could drive up costs for consumers and businesses, potentially hindering digital adoption. "Six per cent of the revenue is not small. It's a substantial amount. So naturally, CSPs will pass on that cost to their customers. "Among them are e-commerce platforms serving SMEs and businesses that rely on the cloud to boost productivity. Those custimers will, in turn, pass the cost down to consumers," he said. Shahril pointed out that over 90 per cent of businesses in Malaysia are SMEs, many of which are still struggling to embrace digital technologies. The additional cost, he added, would further hinder cloud adoption which is a key component in SME digitalisation. "One of the key challenges for SMEs is achieving digitalisation, given the barriers they already face. "Adding further costs due to the USP, which are likely to be passed on, will only deepen resistance to adopting cloud solutions, a critical component of their digital transformation journey. "So this really raises concerns about how such a move negatively impacts one of the very economic development models that have been actively promoting," he added. Khairy noted that no other Southeast Asian country imposes such a levy on CSPs. He warned that global tech giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google may view Malaysia as less competitive compared to Singapore, which does not impose any CSP-specific taxation. "I'm sure these companies have already raised the matter with US trade representatives," said Khairy, proposing that the government delay the implementation of the levy by a year to allow time for further discussions with foreign investors. Khairy said the USP fund was originally imposed on telecommunications companies (telcos) like Maxis Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd to fund basic infrastructure development, such as communication towers in rural areas. However, he argued that the same logic does not apply to CSPs which operate under a different business model. "I'm just trying to understand this. Telcos are required to provide widespread services to everyone because we aim for universal coverage. But not everyone needs a cloud service provider. So it doesn't quite make sense to equate CSPs with the USP obligation," he said. Khairy expressed concern that the levy may be based on the assumption that CSPs must "give back" due to their high consumption of electricity and water – even if those resources come from renewable sources. But if that's the case, he argued, the mechanism should be a separate environmental or resource levy instead of the USP fund. Khairy and Shahril said the government must clarify the true rationale behind the levy. They suggested postponing its implementation to allow stakeholder engagement and dialogue with industry players and foreign investors. "We're not rejecting it outright. But there should be clear justification, and no rush.
Business Wire
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
A.forall Announces the Direct Commercialization of Sodium Acetate Injection 2mEq/mL
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Through its U.S. subsidiary, Milla Pharmaceuticals Inc., announced the direct commercialization and launch of Sodium Acetate Injection 2mEq/mL in 20mL, 50mL, and 100mL vials. Milla Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the direct commercialization and launch of Sodium Acetate Injection 2mEq/mL in 20mL, 50mL, and 100mL vials. Share Sodium Acetate Injection, USP is indicated as a source of sodium for addition to large volume intravenous fluids to prevent or correct hyponatremia in patients with restricted or no oral intake. It is also useful as an additive for preparing specific intravenous fluid formulas when the needs of the patient cannot be met by standard electrolyte or nutrient solutions. 'We continue supplying Sodium Acetate in the U.S. throughout this time of shortage as we have been doing over the last four years, but we are now proudly addressing the shortage directly. Thanks to our own commercial organization, we are now able to provide U.S. patients with the medicines they need most in an even more efficient way. 'This important milestone represents the company's continued investment in and increasing internal dedication to serving the U.S. marketplace, especially for products which have been or continue to be reported in shortage,' commented Erik Lazarich, President of U.S. Operations. Please see link for Full Prescribing Information. About & Milla Pharmaceuticals At our mission is all about Making Affordable Medicines Available To All: we develop value-added generic pharmaceuticals, solve product shortages and fill unmet medical needs so that patients can continue their treatment. At the same time, we are reducing costs to the healthcare system and increasing customer convenience for a more sustainable world. Milla Pharmaceuticals Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of is engaged in the development, licensing, acquisition, and commercialization of generic prescription drugs for the U.S. market, focusing on niche injectable and solution products for hospitals and clinics.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Melaka to install 5 new telco towers for better tourist connectivity
MELAKA: The state government will install five new telecommunication towers in high-traffic tourist areas to improve connectivity and visitor experience. The initiative, announced by State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communication Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan, is part of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Universal Service Provision (USP) programme. The towers will be built in Kampung Kuala Linggi, Kampung Paya Lebar, Jonker Street, Taman Botanikal Ayer Keroh, and Pulau Besar. Melaka ICT Holdings Sdn Bhd has been appointed to handle the construction. Fairul Nizam revealed the plan during the Melaka State Legislative Assembly session at Seri Negeri, responding to a query from Kerk Chee Yee (PH–Ayer Keroh) regarding internet quality improvements in tourist-heavy zones. Since 2022, MCMC has audited 717 locations statewide, including 25 tourist spots, in preparation for Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM2024). The audits led to 48 Compliance Notices and 34 Commission Directives issued to service providers failing to meet required standards. 'Five directives were not complied with, resulting in civil penalties against the telcos involved,' Fairul Nizam said. Service providers were also mandated to submit short- and long-term solutions to address connectivity issues. This effort has reduced public complaints received by MCMC, dropping from 1,422 in 2022 to 1,243 in 2023, and further to 355 as of 2024. - Bernama
Barnama
22-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Melaka To Boost Tourist Connectivity With Five New Telco Towers
MELAKA, July 22 (Bernama) -- Melaka will install five new telecommunication towers in key tourist areas to enhance connectivity and improve visitor experience, according to State Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communication Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan. The towers will be built in Kampung Kuala Linggi, Kampung Paya Lebar, Jonker Street, Taman Botanikal Ayer Keroh and Pulau Besar under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Universal Service Provision (USP) programme. Melaka ICT Holdings Sdn Bhd will carry out the construction. Fairul Nizam announced the initiative during the Melaka State Legislative Assembly session at Seri Negeri today, in response to a question from Kerk Chee Yee (PH–Ayer Keroh) on efforts to improve internet quality in high-traffic tourist zones.
