Sunday, October 30, 2016

Quake measuring 7.1 magnitude strikes central Italy, Europe News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Quake measuring 7.1 magnitude strikes central Italy, Europe News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Quake measuring 7.1 magnitude strikes central Italy

An earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude struck central Italy, north-east of Rome, on Oct 30, 2016.
An earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude struck central Italy, north-east of Rome, on Oct 30, 2016.PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM USGS

(REUTERS) - An earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude struck in central Italy on Sunday (Oct 30), the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.  

The USGS said the quake was centred 68km east south-east of Perugia. It was 108km deep.  

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck east of the city on Wednesday, the second of the evening whose tremors were felt as far away as the capital Rome.  



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Thursday, October 27, 2016

1 dead after accident at Pandan Crescent involving electric bicycles and container truck; 2 others injured, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

1 dead after accident at Pandan Crescent involving electric bicycles and container truck; 2 others injured, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

1 dead after accident at Pandan Crescent involving electric bicycles and container truck; 2 others injured

One man died and two others were injured in a road accident late on Thursday (Oct 27) night.
One man died and two others were injured in a road accident late on Thursday (Oct 27) night.PHOTO: ERIC ANG/ FACEBOOK

SINGAPORE - One man died and two others were injured in a road accident late on Thursday (Oct 27) night.

The incident happened close to midnight at the junction of Pandan Crescent along West Coast Highway and involved a container truck and three electric bicycles.

According to a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman, SCDF received a call regarding a road traffic incident at 23.59pm on Thursday.

Two ambulances were dispatched and there were a total of three casualties. A man was pronounced dead on the scene. The other two men suffered injuries and were conveyed to the National University Hospital (NUH). The hospital was put on standby as one of the men was critically injured. The other suffered a leg injury, SCDF said.

Pictures of the accident were posted on Facebook pages Exotic Valet and Singapore Taxi Driver.

Some users expressed their condolences while others questioned the use of e-bikes on the road.



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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Online survey promising $500 in supermarket vouchers a scam: NTUC FairPrice, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Online survey promising $500 in supermarket vouchers a scam: NTUC FairPrice, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Online survey promising $500 in supermarket vouchers a scam: NTUC FairPrice

NTUC FairPrice is warning the public of a phishing scam that offers $500 in shopping vouchers.
NTUC FairPrice is warning the public of a phishing scam that offers $500 in shopping vouchers.PHOTO: FACEBOOK/NTUC FAIRPRICE

SINGAPORE - NTUC FairPrice has warned of a phishing scam that promises to give away $500 in vouchers to consumers who fill in an online survey.

The online survey, which uses NTUC FairPrice's logo, tells participants that they will get $500 of FairPrice shopping vouchers if they answer questions about their shopping habits then forward the link to 10 other contacts.

They are then asked to fill in their personal details. It has been circulating online and on WhatsApp.

"Please note that this is not created or endorsed by FairPrice and we advise our customers to be wary of such campaigns," NTUC said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (July 12).

Similar scams have been seen in the past, with one promising $500 in Ikea vouchers last year.

For more information, customers can call FairPrice's customer relations hotline on 6552-2722.



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ST: 4 killed in accident on ride in Dreamworld theme park on Australia's Gold Coast

4 killed in accident on ride in Dreamworld theme park on Australia's Gold Coast
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/four-people-badly-injured-in-accident-at-dreamworld-theme-park-on-australias-gold?xtor=CS3-18

Friday, October 21, 2016

Pick up skills to get new types of jobs: Lim Swee Say, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Pick up skills to get new types of jobs: Lim Swee Say, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Pick up skills to get new types of jobs: Lim Swee Say

Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say speaks during KPMG's 75th anniversary at the St. Regis Hotel.
Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say speaks during KPMG's 75th anniversary at the St. Regis Hotel.PHOTO: ST FILE

Singapore workers, worried about layoffs, were assured yesterday that new jobs continue to be created.

Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said that despite the slowing economy, investments continue to flow into the country.

And they are creating new types of jobs in exciting sectors that are themselves undergoing transformation, he added, calling on workers to rise to the challenge by acquiring new skills to take on these jobs.

"All workers, whether affected by retrenchment, redundancy or not, will feel the pressure to change," he said.

"Companies are adopting new business models and adopting new technology. My message to (workers) is: Turn this pressure into motivation," Mr Lim told reporters after a career event for the infocomm technology (ICT) sector.

His comments came a day after Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung highlighted the thousands of jobs available in sectors such as healthcare and IT.

Meanwhile, the National Jobs Bank has about 70,000 vacancies.

By comparison, 9,510 workers were retrenched or had their contracts aborted in the first half of this year, an all-time high since the global financial crisis in 2009.

But retrenchments are part and parcel of the fast pace at which Singapore is transforming and restructuring, Mr Lim said, urging workers to adapt and adopt new types of skills.

However, landing a new job today is not a walk in the park because as companies restructure and transform, the jobs created require workers to have new types of skills.

They also need to know where the opportunities are to avoid a "missed match", said Mr Lim, adding that this can be resolved by working closely with professional organisations.

And even if job seekers know what jobs they want, they may not have the required skills and experience that employers want.

To overcome this "mismatch", the Government is speeding up efforts to put in place training and publicise the skillsets required for various careers, he said.

"We will do our very best to make sure the accessibility of these new jobs will keep getting better," he added, pointing out that more employers are open to the idea of taking in older workers or those with little or no industry experience.

His ministry is also asking employers taking part in its job fairs to specify which jobs are available for workers willing to undergo Professional Conversion Programmes, and which jobs are open to mid- career professionals through the Career Support Programme.

He expects the number of such job openings to grow.

Mr Lim vowed that the tripartite partners - the Government, unions and employers - will also help workers navigate this new job market.

One such effort was yesterday's career event for the ICT sector, at which Mr Lim announced two new programmes.

One will match workers to available jobs in the sector and the other is a mentoring initiative.

One worker who found a job in the sector was 42-year-old Mr Heng Chong Ming, who upgraded both his technical and soft skills, helping him to land a job as a solutions architect in IT firm Ecquaria Technologies. But it came after a three-month job hunt, following his resignation from an IT job in an insurance firm last year.

In that time, he learnt programming skills online, brushed up on interviewing and made a video resume during a course at the Employment and Employability Institute.

"I do have skills and I couldn't understand why people didn't want to hire me. Then I realised the problem was that I didn't know how to present myself and market my strengths well," he said.



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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Pri 5 boy falls to death after failing exams for the first time | The New Paper

Pri 5 boy falls to death after failing exams for the first time | The New Paper

Pri 5 boy falls to death after failing exams for the first time

In his first four years in primary school, he had never fared poorly in any examination subject, usually averaging about 70 marks.
But in this year's mid-year exams, the Primary 5 pupil found out that he had failed two papers – mathematics and Higher Chinese.
On May 18, the boy was found dead at the foot of his Sengkang block, just nine days after his 11th birthday.
He was due to collect his exam results that day for his parents to acknowledge.
A coroner's inquiry into the boy's death yesterday was told that his 45-year-old mother thought he had killed himself over his exam results by jumping from his bedroom window in the 17th-storey flat.
But his father, a 47-year-old customer service engineer, felt his son had accidentally fallen to his death.

SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
The identities of the boy, his family members and his school cannot be disclosed because of a gag order.
Yesterday, investigation officer Inspector Lynn Ong told State Coroner Marvin Bay that the boy's mother, a housewife, had expected him to score at least 70 marks per subject for his exams.
He had scored about 70 marks for every subject from Primary 1 to Primary 4.
If he did not meet her expectations, she would cane his palm lightly, Insp Ong said, adding: "She would hit him once for every mark short of 70 marks."
However, she would cane him only if his average score across all subjects was below 70 marks.
"Sometimes, she would look through his examination papers first, and if they were difficult, she would not hit him."
His mother also rewarded him when he did well, such as buying him a gift.
For the mid-year exam, he had asked for a kite, and she bought one for him on May 14, even before the results were out. He went out to fly the kite with his father the next day.
The school principal described the boy as an average performer who was generally able to cope with school.
The principal also said that pupils tend to see a dip in their exam results in Primary 5 because of changes in the exam format to prepare them for PSLE.
The boy found out his results before May 18, when the exam papers were returned to the pupils for checking.
Out of 100 marks, he scored 50 for English, 53.8 for Chinese and 57.5 for science. He fared poorly in two subjects, scoring 12 marks for Higher Chinese and 20.5 for mathematics.
UPSET
The boy's Chinese and Higher Chinese teacher noticed that he was visibly upset after receiving the results for both subjects.
However, his science teacher saw him on May 17, a day before he was supposed to take his results home to show his parents, and he was cheerful and bubbly as usual, the court heard.
On May 18, his father noticed that he was taking a longer time than usual to get ready for school.
His mother tried to open the bedroom door, but it was locked.
She used a spare key to unlock it, and when they entered the room, he was nowhere to be seen.
The couple, who also have a 16-year-old daughter, looked out of the window and saw their son lying on a grass patch at the foot of their block.
His mother called the police at around 6.50am.
She called his school about 15 minutes later and told the principal what happened and said she needed help as her husband was distraught.
Insp Ong said that when the principal arrived at the scene, the mother was "very emotionally unstable".
"She heard her lamenting in Mandarin, saying 'I only asked for 70 marks, I don't expect you to get 80 marks,'" Insp Ong added.
A paramedic pronounced the boy dead at the scene at around 7am.
The police do not suspect any foul play.
The cause of death was found to be multiple injuries, consistent with those sustained after a person had fallen from height.
Coroner Bay will deliver his findings today.
If you are in emotional distress, you can get help from:

Samaritans of Singapore (24-hour hotline)
1800-221-4444

Tinkle Friend
1800-274-4788

Singapore Association for Mental Health
1800-283-7019
Care Corner Counselling Centre (in Mandarin)
1800-353-5800

Mental Health Helpline
6389-2222
Aware Helpline
1800-774-5935

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Ex-SCDF director who was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail cleared of misappropriating 2 iPads, Courts & Crime News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Ex-SCDF director who was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail cleared of misappropriating 2 iPads, Courts & Crime News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Ex-SCDF director who was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail cleared of misappropriating 2 iPads

Mr Jeganathan Ramasamy (seen here in 2015) was acquitted of the charges of misappropriating two iPads.
Mr Jeganathan Ramasamy (seen here in 2015) was acquitted of the charges of misappropriating two iPads. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - A former senior civil servant, originally sentenced to 10 weeks' jail last year after he was found guilty of misappropriating two iPads, walked out of court a free man on Thursday (Oct 20) after he was acquitted of the charges.

Mr Jeganathan Ramasamy, 65, who was director of the technology department at the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), had maintained that the two Apple tablets handed to him by IT vendor NCS in 2011 were personal purchases, for which he had yet to make payment.

He gave one to his daughter and sold the other to SCDF's then senior director of emergency services for $200. Each iPad 2 was worth $939.

But the prosecution, which brought two charges against him for criminal breach of trust, contended that the two iPads were meant to be used to test mobile apps that NCS was developing for SCDF.

In acquitting Mr Jeganathan on Thursday, Judicial Commissioner See Kee Oon said there were "inconsistencies and gaps" in the evidence of both the prosecution and the defence. He said "ample doubt" had been raised in the case against Mr Jeganathan, making it unsafe for the conviction to stand.

The judicial commissioner noted that the two iPads did not come loaded with any apps, contrary to the prosecution's case that the devices were meant for testing purposes.

He also noted that it did not make sense for Mr Jeganathan to sell one iPad to a senior officer in the same organisation if he had obtained it through wrongful means.

The judicial commissioner pointed to text message exchanges with NCS' then group general manager, Mr Wong Soon Nam, in which Mr Jeganathan asked to pay for the devices on at least three occasions.

In a message after he received the devices, Mr Jeganathan said: "Tell me the amount I have to pay." Mr Wong replied that the iPad 2 "is meant for all the new mobile apps that we are rolling out for SCDF and for you to trial".

Shortly after this exchange, Mr Wong phoned Mr Jeganathan.

Mr Jeganathan testified that Mr Wong told him over the phone to try out the iPads first and they could talk about the price later. Mr Wong initially testified that he did not communicate further with Mr Jeganathan but when confronted with the call records, said he could not remember the contents of the call.

The judicial commissioner said text messages are a "fertile ground for miscommunication" and that the contents of the call can change the interpretation of the text message exchange.

Approached for comment after he was acquitted, Mr Jeganathan, who was defended by Mr Sanjiv Rajan, said he was "thankful" that "justice prevailed". He left SCDF in 2012.



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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Tampines: From swampland to modern regional centre -The ALPS Residences | The Straits Times BrandInsider

Tampines: From swampland to modern regional centre -The ALPS Residences | The Straits Times BrandInsider

Tampines: From swampland to modern regional centre

BI 150

Oct 17, 2016

Tampines is one of the first residential towns to be set up in Singapore, and today, it continues to be a key regional area of growth, with new property developments and expanding new towns.

But just half a century ago, Tampines was largely uninhabited except for a handful of squatter settlements occupied by farmers and villagers. The landscape comprised of forests, plantations, farms and sand quarries. Ironwood trees (tempinis in Malay) grew in abundance, which was how Tampines got its name.

The construction of Tampines town started in 1978. Tampines Town Centre was designated as the regional centre for the East Region under URA's 1991 Concept Plan. To that end, an array of facilities such as offices, shopping malls and other facilities were developed to cater to residents of Tampines and the East region. In October 1992, Tampines was awarded the World Habitat Award by the Building and Social Housing Foundation of the United Nations, an acknowledgement of the town's successful urbanisation.

The Tampines Round Market and Hawker Centre at Tampines Street 11 in 1983 and the centre, which was renovated in 2004, today. Photos: ST

Today, in the place of forests and sand quarries stands one of Singapore's biggest residential estates and most developed regional centres, boasting modern amenities. And Tampines is still evolving.

In recent years, Tampines North New Town was added to the existing Tampines Town. Envisioned as the "green shoot" and extension of Tampines Town, the new estate will consist of four housing districts — Park West District, Green Walk District, Park East District and Boulevard District.

In the western part of Tampines, new condominium projects such as The Alps Residences offer the conveniences of the regional centre combined with proximity to nature. The Alps Residences offers close proximity to new commercial hubs, industrial clusters, and schools for young families as well as Tampines' surrounding greenery.

Tampines maintain its charm as a town for work, study and play

Despite being one of the oldest regional centres in Singapore, Tampines is still an attractive location for property investors and there are strong reasons why.

Tampines functions as an important commercial hub and has been likened to the CBD of the east. At Tampines Central, the banking and finance sectors are well represented. Offices and branches of OCBC, DBS, UOB, Citibank, Standard Chartered and financial institutions like AIA and NTUC Income cluster near to shopping malls and the MRT station.

It is also closely connected to industries and manufacturing. Tampines Wafer Fab Park, Changi Business Park and Loyang Industrial Park are just nearby. Changi Airport and Changi Business Park are just a 10-minute drive away.

Retail and F&B choices add to the convenience of being situated at Tampines. Tampines Mall, Century Square and Tampines 1 carry well-established brands and product offerings. In Northeast Tampines, IKEA opened their second outlet at Tampines Retail Park in 2006, adjacent to consumer electronics and furniture retailer, Courts, and Giant hypermarket, giving residents and workers plenty of retail options.

The construction of Our Tampines Hub (OTH), which will be opened in three phases from November 2016, will add to the vibrancy of the regional centre. Situated at the former Tampines Stadium, OTH will house a five-storey regional library, 20-court badminton hall, six swimming pools, football stadium which can seat 5,000 people, a gym, a jogging track, bowling alleys, a community centre, hawker centres, retail shops and other amenities. When completed, it will serve as Singapore's first integrated lifestyle and community destination in the heartlands.

Property investors, take note. Owning a property that is close to good schools has been shown to affect the price of nearby property in the long run. This is where investors may do well to consider properties that can boast of this attribute. For families considering to make The Alps Residences their home, schools within the vicinity include Poi Ching School, St Hilda's Primary School and Temasek Polytechnic. Expatriate families will have a choice of reputable international schools such as United World College and Overseas Family School, which are close by as well.

Inter and intra-connectivity

With the Downtown Line being extended, and the Tampines bus interchange currently undergoing expansion, Tampines is set to be even more well-connected. Not only will Tampines MRT Station serve as an interchange between the East-West and Downtown Lines, two new Downtown Line stations – Tampines West and Tampines East – will be ready in 2017, connecting those areas to the rest of the island.

Motorists will be glad to have the Pan-Island Expressway, Tampines Expressway, and arterial roads that connect Tampines to the rest of Singapore. From the west of Tampines, the Tampines Ave 10 links to Pan Island Expressway (PIE), the Kallang Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), and the Marina Coast Expressway (MCE). Driving to the Marina Bay Financial Centre will only take approximately 14 minutes.

Going green

Tampines residents will have plenty of green spaces to relax. The nearby Sun Plaza Park and Tampines Eco-green provide pockets of greenery.

Tampines Eco-green, opened in 2011, showcases different types of natural habitats such as freshwater wetlands and a secondary rainforest.

Two new parks have been planned in Tampines North, namely Tampines Boulevard Park and Quarry Park. A tribute to its past, Quarry Park will be built with a sandy beach, reminiscent of Tampines' sand quarries of yesteryear. The parks in Tampines will be linked to a town-wide pedestrian and cycling network.

The Round Island Route (RIR), which is a continuous 150 km park connector that goes around Singapore, will pass through Tampines Town. It will be a boon to cycling enthusiasts who can easily connect to natural, cultural, historical and recreational sites along the route.

Tampines is also the first town to have dedicated cycling paths under the National Cycling Plan. The cycling paths connect cyclists to amenities such as Tampines MRT station, bus interchange, schools, and markets.

Home in on Tampines

With so much in store for Tampines, property investors can expect it to continue being a natural magnet for home buyers. Families looking for a place to set up home will appreciate the many facilities and services catering to young and old alike.

Job opportunities offered by offices and businesses at Tampines Central present residents the possibility of working near home and cutting down on commuting time. All in all, Tampines makes it conducive for achieving work-life balance and harmonious living with the environment.

(Header image: ST)



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From treating sex workers to maternity hospital: History of KKH, Health News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

From treating sex workers to maternity hospital: History of KKH, Health News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

From treating sex workers to maternity hospital: History of KKH

KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has more than 100 years of history, starting out as a general hospital in 1858 before becoming a maternity hospital in 1924.
KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has more than 100 years of history, starting out as a general hospital in 1858 before becoming a maternity hospital in 1924.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) set a Guinness world record on Sunday morning (Oct 17) for the largest reunion of people born in the same hospital.

A total of 2,241 people - all born at KKH - gathered at Bishan Stadium that morning.

KKH has more than 100 years of history. It was built as a general hospital in 1858 and became a maternity hospital in 1924.

It has had many names - such as General Hospital, Lock Hospital or Central Hospital. But the geographical nickname of Kandang Kerbau has been its most popular name through the years.

The hospital gained its present name in 1997, when it moved from its original site across the road to its current premises at 100, Bukit Timah Road.

The old hospital site, which now houses the Land Transport Authority headquarters, was designated a historic site in 2003.

The Straits Times looks at some other historical fun facts about the hospital.

SHED-DING LIGHT ON HISTORY

"KK" originated as an acronym for Kandang Kerbau, which means "buffalo shed" in Malay. The Kampong Java area gained this name in the 19th century because the British colonial authorities had a buffalo pen there.

"The site was low, badly drained, and was not improved" by having cattle sheds on one side and a "lunatic asylum" on the other, The Straits Times commented in 1933.

KKH was a general hospital in the mid-19th century, and facilities were racially segregated.

"The buildings consisted of one large, very stoutly built and airy ward of about 40 beds for European seamen," ST reported then, as well as "a second block, not quite so airy, sub-divided into four wards with accommodation for about 50 natives".

Patients were evacuated after a cholera epidemic in 1873 and KKH became a women's hospital.

LOCK HOSPITAL AND WOMEN PAUPERS

Laws were passed in 1870 to curtail the human trafficking of sex slaves in colonial Singapore.

In 1872, KKH became the main medical facility for sex workers and prostitutes. It was a "lock hospital", which meant that patients were confined there, sometimes against their will, by law.

It originally had room for 20 patients but this was quickly increased tenfold to 200 beds.

The Straits Times reported in 1874: "Let the Contagious Diseases Ordinances be executed to the letter, even should the Lock Hospital have to be still further enlarged...but let those who make pecuniary profit out of the vice which renders such institutions necessary, be made to support it."

From 1888 onwards, after the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, women could be voluntarily treated for sexually transmitted diseases at KKH.

As sexually transmitted diseases waned in Singapore, KKH was converted into a "pauper hospital for women" - that is, for women patients too poor to pay for medical treatment. The hospital saw about 50 patients a day.

MATERNITY HOSPITAL

KKH converted to a maternity hospital and opened in this capacity on Oct 1, 1924, when it delivered five babies.

At the time, the hospital - which saw 688 births in its first year - had 30 beds. It was also used as a training institution for students of midwifery and medicine.

At the outbreak of World War II, with the bombing of the island by Japanese forces and then troops engaging in ground warfare, KKH served as an emergency general hospital. Under the Japanese military occupation, the hospital was called "Chuo Byoin" or "Central Hospital".

It returned to being a maternity hospital in 1946.

A baby boom in the post-war years kept KKH staff busy, with 39,835 births in 1966 earning the hospital a Guinness record for the largest number of births in a single hospital.

The late Dr Benjamin Sheares - who would later be Singapore's second president from 1971 to 1981 - had headed the obstetrics and gynaecology department at KKH during World War II, and was also medical superintendent of the local patients' section.

At KKH, Dr Sheares put Singapore's medical research on the world map in the 1960s when he pioneered an operation to create vaginas for babies born without them.

Singapore's first test tube baby was also born at KKH, in 1983.



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Saturday, October 15, 2016

How to keep my phone from overheating?, Smartphones News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

How to keep my phone from overheating?, Smartphones News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

How to keep my phone from overheating?

Smoking batteries are the hot topic of the month following an unprecedented decision by Samsung, the world's largest handset maker, to pull the plug on its flagship Galaxy Note7 barely two months after its launch.

The move follows several reports that some phones emitted smoke or caught fire even after users had exchanged their original units for supposedly safe replacements during a global recall programme last month. Samsung initially put the blame on faulty batteries, but now, it seems there could be other complications.

Reader Farah Seth asked: "How do I prevent my phone battery from overheating? Is it dangerous to leave my phone to charge overnight?"

An exchanged Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note7 is seen at company's headquarters in Seoul. PHOTO: REUTERS

Tech Editor Irene Tham finds out why batteries now seem more prone to overheating:

Professor Rachid Yazami at the Energy Research Institute of Nanyang Technological University said the chances of mobile devices exploding or catching fire are five in a million, based on the about 20 billion lithium-based batteries in use today.

But the risk is increasing as device makers push boundaries to make batteries charge faster and last longer.

"Intense rivalry between firms might have encouraged engineers to push materials to their limits, thereby increasing risks," said Prof Yazami.

He is one of three researchers credited with laying the groundwork for today's lithium-ion battery, used in almost every consumer electronic device, including laptops, mobile phones and power banks.

He said lithium-based batteries can overheat under extreme conditions, including extreme temperatures (below 0 deg C or above 65 deg C) and mechanical stress, and when being designed to charge fast.

An important component in a battery - to prevent what is commonly known as a short circuit - is the separator between the positive (cathode) and negative (anode) electrodes. This separator is often made of a microporous polymer material.

As long as there is no rupture in the separator, there is no risk of a short circuit that could trigger overheating and a thermal runaway.

Here lies the problem: To make batteries charge faster and last longer, battery makers tend to reduce the thickness of the separator film.

During charging, the separator often comes under mechanical stress as the electrodes swell.

A thinner separator has a greater chance of rupturing, which then puts the electrodes in direct physical contact, creating a short circuit.

Intense heat will be generated, melting the separator, which could lead to further short circuiting. This is how smoking, fires and explosions come about.

Battery makers dislike thick separators as they create greater internal resistance, slowing down the charging. A thick separator also means less space for electrode materials, which store energy.

"The cost of fast charging is - unfortunately - safety," said Prof Yazami.

Since there is no way of telling if a battery is good or faulty, consumers should take the extra precaution of not leaving devices to charge overnight. Consumers should also remove any clutter when devices are plugged into power extension sockets for prolonged charging.

Samsung's move to halt production for an entire model because of overheating and fire hazard is unprecedented. But lithium-based batteries are notorious for overheating.

Although there have been no reported cases of the Note7 catching fire or exploding here, there was a report earlier this year of a deadly fire caused by drone batteries left to charge overnight.

The fire on June 9 last year engulfed a home in Parry Avenue and claimed two lives.

Overheating issues prompted electronics retailer Challenger to recall 12,000 units of its Valore portable power banks in April 2014. Nokia, Dell, Apple, Lenovo, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, Hitachi and Fujitsu have also recalled products because of overheating batteries.



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Saturday, October 8, 2016

My heart broke into a million pieces over performance glitch: Nathan Hartono, Entertainment News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

My heart broke into a million pieces over performance glitch: Nathan Hartono, Entertainment News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

My heart broke into a million pieces over performance glitch: Nathan Hartono

Nathan Hartono performing at the Sing! China event on Oct 7, 2016.
Nathan Hartono performing at the Sing! China event on Oct 7, 2016.PHOTO: WEIBO

BEIJING - Despite practising for hours, Singaporean singer Nathan Hartono did not get to perform the second part of his harmonica solo at the Sing! China finals on Friday (Oct 7).

"I was supposed to do beat box and another harmonica solo in the middle of the song," Hartono told The Straits Times about the slight hiccup that happened while he was performing the Nunchucks rap hit with his mentor Jay Chou.

"But the dancers took away my harmonica," he said over the phone after the contest.

"My heart broke into a million pieces as I watched the instrument move further and further away from me. I had practised for hours and hours in the hotel room," he added.

So he ended up just doing the beat box part only. Nonetheless, the performance was well-received and he garnered the second-highest votes after that round.

Hartono pointed out that each of the three songs that he sang had its own challenges. The first involved dance choreography and various different elements. The second - the Longest Movie ballad - had a key change that he found difficult.

He had a "lyrical problem" with the third number, which was a medley of Moonlight in the City and Woman Flower - songs by Singaporean singer Mavis Hee and Hong Kong legend Anita Mui.

"I had only two days to learn the lyrics of the song(s)," he said.

The 25-year-old, who goes by his Chinese name Xiang Yang in the show, lost to Xinjiang native Jiang Dunhao in the final round. He described Jiang as a "great singer" who really understands what the Chinese audience like to hear.

"Till today, the first song that he sang in the contest still remain stuck in my head," he said.

Although he said he was still "in a bit of a daze" as "everything just went off very quickly", he was not at all disappointed with coming in second.

He urged fans and supporters in Singapore to be happy that a fellow countryman has come so far. "Thank you Singapore, and all of you for the support. It really kept me going," he said.

Given the ups and downs he had gone through being in a foreign country and foreign environment, the strong support had helped made his journey a "less solitary experience".



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Friday, October 7, 2016

National swimmers Joseph Schooling and Theresa Goh to receive National Day Awards, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

National swimmers Joseph Schooling and Theresa Goh to receive National Day Awards, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

National swimmers Joseph Schooling and Theresa Goh to receive National Day Awards

Joseph Schooling (left) and Theresa Goh.
Joseph Schooling (left) and Theresa Goh. PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM, REUTERS

SINGAPORE - National swimmers Joseph Schooling and Theresa Goh will receive National Day Awards for their achievements at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Schooling, 21, will be conferred the Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Gemilang), the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced on Friday (Oct 7). In August, he beat swimming greats, including American Michael Phelps, to clinch Singapore's first Olympic gold and set a new Olympic record in the 100m men's butterfly final.

Schooling, a student at the University of Texas in Austin, said in a statement: "It is a great honour to receive this award. My Olympic gold medal is the culmination of not only my hard work all these years, but also the strong support from my family and friends, partners and the sports fraternity in Singapore."

"It is an achievement that everyone shares a part of. This award recognition motivates me to keep working hard and I will continue to do my best to fly our Singapore flag high on the world stage."

Goh, 29, a Paralympic bronze medallist who was previously awarded the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat), will receive the Public Service Star (Bintang Bakti Masyarakat).

According to Goh's award citation, she is being recognised not just for her Paralympic performance but also for "her tremendous spirit of resilience and her perseverance in the pursuit of sporting excellence".

Goh said: "It's a truly great honour to be conferred the Public Service Star as it serves as an encouragement and recognition of the hard work by the people who've helped me get to where I am today."

MCCY Minister Grace Fu congratulated Schooling and Goh, saying in a statement: "The National Day Award is a well-deserved recognition of their contributions to sporting excellence and for their impact on society, particularly with the youth."

Fellow national swimmer Yip Pin Xiu, 24, who took home two golds at the Rio Paralympics, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Gemilang) for her first gold in Beijing in 2008.

The honours will be presented by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the upcoming National Day Awards Investiture.



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Thursday, October 6, 2016

Secondary schools to offer 7 new hands-on subjects, Education News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Secondary schools to offer 7 new hands-on subjects, Education News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Secondary schools to offer 7 new hands-on subjects

From left: Hong Kah Secondary students Alwinderjit Singh Basant, Abdul Hafiz Abdul Hamid and Juan Sebastian at an electronics lab. Hong Kah has already refurbished a few classrooms to set up an electronics lab and several rooms for project work.
From left: Hong Kah Secondary students Alwinderjit Singh Basant, Abdul Hafiz Abdul Hamid and Juan Sebastian at an electronics lab. Hong Kah has already refurbished a few classrooms to set up an electronics lab and several rooms for project work. ST PHOTO: MARCUS TAN

Seven new subjects, ranging from robotics to sports science, are set to become part of the O- and N-level tracks to give students a chance for more hands-on learning.

These subjects, which will be rolled out over the next two years, will be available in more than 60 secondary schools.

O-level electronics and computing will start next year, along with three Normal (Technical) subjects - smart electrical technology, mobile robotics and retail operations.

In 2018, drama, as well as exercise and sports science, will be added to the O-level curriculum.

These subjects are different from traditional subjects such as mathematics, for instance. The key focus will be to expose students to applied learning, which integrates classroom learning with real-world situations, said an Education Ministry spokesman.

This will also allow students to make better choices on courses to pursue after secondary school.

  • The seven new subjects

  • O-LEVEL

    • Electronics: Includes both digital and analog electronics. Covers theoretical knowledge of electronics and their real-world applications.

    •Computing: Aims to help students develop solutions that are implemented with computers. This involves skills such as algorithmic thinking, or step-by-step solving of problems.

    •Drama: Aims to foster an understanding of drama through practical and theoretical means, by studying the process of performance and its different stages.

    • Exercise and sports science: To develop students' knowledge and skills in physical activities. They will also learn to plan, analyse and improve these activities. 

  • NORMAL (TECHNICAL) LEVEL

    • Smart electrical technology: Provides students with a grounding in foundational concepts in home automation systems.

    • Mobile robotics: The subject covers areas such as electricity, electronics and mechanical design. Students will learn to apply skills in designing and building robots to complete tasks.

    • Retail operations: Gives students a broad grasp of activities in a retail business environment, including customer service. They will get hands-on experience in a simulated retail workplace setting.

  • Amelia Teng

The spokesman said that the ministry worked with industry partners, as well as the polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education and universities to ensure that the new curriculum is "relevant and engaging".

Subjects which focus on applied learning have been available since 2008. But these six subjects, which include the fundamentals of electronics and design studies, are offered only to O-level students.

On average, a total of 310 students have taken these six subjects each year in the last five years.

Polytechnic lecturers also teach the students and help to develop the curriculum. Most of these subjects will be phased out by next year, except for biotechnology and design studies offered at the Singapore School of Science and Technology.

The seven new applied subjects will be taught by teachers at the secondary schools themselves, and this could allow more students to take them up. Teachers are currently being trained to teach the new subjects.

Under the current curriculum, 20 students in each cohort study the fundamentals of electronics each year at Hong Kah Secondary, which has offered the subject in partnership with Ngee Ann Polytechnic since 2008.

"It is a fixed number because of the polytechnic's capacity and how many other schools and students they can accommodate on campus," said physics teacher Wee Jin Yi, who will teach electronics.

Hong Kah has already refurbished a few classrooms to set up an electronics lab and several rooms for project work.

The new subjects will have a refreshed curriculum. Electronics, for example, will cover the digital circuits in devices such as computers and television sets.

Parents and teachers believe that the new subjects will give students a chance to go beyond traditional academic disciplines and discover where their interests lie. "We hope to catch students' attention in electronics at a younger age and, hopefully, they will be more receptive to a career in this field," said Mr Wee.



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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Beware of 'Pokemon Go' apps , Technology/Digital News - AsiaOne Digital

Beware of 'Pokemon Go' apps , Technology/Digital News - AsiaOne Digital

Beware of 'Pokemon Go' apps

More malicious smartphone apps designed to steal users' personal information are being disguised as popular games, such as Pokemon Go.

As of Aug 16, at least 1,575 apps have been found to be riding on the popularity of the augmented reality game.

They claim to provide "strategy tips" or "in-game currency", according to Tokyo-based software security company Trend Micro.

Among them, 238 apps were found to be malware designed to steal personal information or allow the device to be controlled remotely.

Installing malware apps could lead to the theft of data such as contacts and phone call records, say experts.

Photo Gallery

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

Photo sources:  The Straits Times, Facebook / RSAF, Facebook/SPF, AsiaOne, Capitaland, Lianhe Wanbao, The New Paper, Stomp

In some cases, the smartphone could be controlled remotely, phone calls could be recorded or the camera could be used to take photographs without the owner's knowledge.

Trend Micro has detected a total of more than 15 million malicious apps in about six years leading up to June. Most are targeted at Android devices.

MIT journalist Takeshi Miyata said Android users should install apps only from the Google Play Store and official downloading services provided by the mobile phone carriers.

Photo Gallery

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

Photo sources:  The New Paper

Jun Morimoto from Trend Micro said: "Always take note of the permissions an app requests, during installation."

Many malicious apps ask for permissions they should not normally require.

For instance, a fake Pokemon Go app asked the user for permission to access phone call records which the official app does not require.



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