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SIT's Punggol Campus to become full-scale living lab with new digital network by end 2025
SIT's Punggol Campus to become full-scale living lab with new digital network by end 2025

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

SIT's Punggol Campus to become full-scale living lab with new digital network by end 2025

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will soon transform its Punggol campus into a full-scale living lab by the end of 2025 through a campus-wide digital infrastructure called the Living Lab Network. This system will provide students and companies with real-time access to operational campus data for learning and innovation. Announcing this on July 2, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment, said the network will offer a 'dynamic, data-rich smart infrastructure' where learners and industry can work together. He was speaking at the opening of SIT's three-day Applied Learning Conference at its new Punggol campus. The conference was attended by more than 1,000 educators, industry partners and participants. Developed in partnership with NEC Asia Pacific, an information and communications technology provider, under SIT's Campus as a Living Lab initiative, the new network connects live campus systems with real-time data. SIT's Punggol campus currently hosts three physical living labs, soon to be connected to the new network through more than 20,000 smart sensors. These include an Integrated Building Management System that tracks energy and facilities use; a Multi-Energy Micro-Grid developed with SP Group for learning about renewable energy and grid management; and a District Cooling System by energy solutions company ENGIE that supports sustainable air conditioning across campus. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord The network will give students access to live data from these systems for their assignments and projects. Dr Janil said students can model and visualise data, create digital twins, and work on projects in areas like solar power optimisation, cybersecurity, and smart grid technology. Industry partners, meanwhile, will be able to prototype and test solutions in a controlled but realistic environment. Dr Janil added that such initiatives of applied learning can better connect learners with industry. An SIT spokeswoman said the first users will be undergraduates from the Electrical Power Engineering programme and Industrial Doctorate candidates, with access expanding to more academic programmes over time. SIT's director of the Centre for Digital Enablement, Professor Steven Wong, said the network was a deliberate decision made during the early planning stages for the Punggol Campus. He said: 'It's a rare opportunity to be given a very large plot of space in Singapore to build a campus... So rather than build a campus that houses learning and research, can we flip it around, and use it for applied learning and applied research? 'There's a lot of things that they might not see in textbooks... lab experiments in the lab environment are very controlled. So there's a lot of uncertainty and a lot of problems that they may not see when they actually try to deploy this in real life.' For example, learning about cyber security testing in classrooms or labs is different from solving cyber security problems in real life, he added. Calling the new network a cornerstone of the university's applied learning and research approach , SIT president Professor Chua Kee Chaing said it will prepare students to be ready for the workforce. 'Solving real-world problems will empower our students to think more critically and be better prepared to contribute meaningfully to industry from day one.'

North Korea opens massive beach resort, rolls out red carpet for Russians
North Korea opens massive beach resort, rolls out red carpet for Russians

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Straits Times

North Korea opens massive beach resort, rolls out red carpet for Russians

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SEOUL – North Korea opened a massive resort area on its east coast, state media said on July 2, with the tourism pet project of leader Kim Jong Un reportedly set to welcome Russian guests later in July. Dubbed 'North Korea's Waikiki' by South Korean media, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, according to Pyongyang, which previously described it as 'a world-class cultural resort'. Mr Kim showed a keen interest in developing North Korea's tourism industry during his early years in power, analysts have said, and the coastal resort area was a particular focus. The tourist zone opened to domestic visitors on July 1, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, publishing images of tourists in colourful swimsuits enjoying the beach. North Koreans of all ages from across the country flocked to the site this week 'filled with joy at experiencing a new level of civilisation', KCNA reported. The visitors were 'astonished by the grandeur and splendor of the tourist city, where more than 400… artistically designed buildings lined the white sandy beach in ideal harmony', it added. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, a group of Russian tourists is set to visit the zone in North Korea for the first time on July 7. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord South Korea's Unification Ministry, which manages relations with the North, said the site's operations are 'expected to gradually expand', including to Russian tourists. Mr Kim said last week the construction of the site would go down as 'one of the greatest successes this year', and that the North would build more large-scale tourist zones 'in the shortest time possible'. Previously released images showed him sitting in a chair, alongside his teenage daughter Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol Ju, watching a man flying off a water slide in the resort. Limited tourism But given the limited capacity of available flights, international tourism to the new beach resort is 'likely to remain small in scale', according to the Unification Ministry. 'It is estimated that tourists will travel via Pyongyang, and that the number of visitors may be limited to around 170 people per day,' the ministry said. North Korea sees tourism as a key source of foreign currency, it said, and Pyongyang may have received aid to complete the site from Russia in exchange for joining its war in Ukraine . The nuclear-armed North reopened its borders in August 2023 after almost four years, having closed them because of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which even its own nationals were prevented from entering. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae stand on a beach of what Seoul has dubbed 'North Korea's Waikiki'. PHOTO: EPA But foreign tourism was limited even before the pandemic, with tour companies saying around 5,000 Western tourists visited each year. Significantly more Chinese tourists were allowed at the time. The impoverished country's political, military and cultural ties with Russia have deepened since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 . In 2024, the North permitted Russian tourists to return for the first time since the pandemic, and Western tour operators briefly returned in February. No Chinese tourists are known to have returned to the country. A tourist train between Rason – home to North Korea's first legal marketplace – and Russia's Vladivostok resumed in May, according to an official from the Unification Ministry. Americans made up about 20 per cent of the market before Washington banned travel following the imprisonment and subsequent death of American student Otto Warmbier. Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans also used to visit Mount Kumgang near the inter-Korean border every year, travelling to a Seoul-funded tourist resort that was the first major cooperation project between the neighbours. The trips came to an abrupt end in 2008 when a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist who strayed off the approved path, and Seoul suspended travel. AFP

Three hair salons raided in clamp down on touting, vice and drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat
Three hair salons raided in clamp down on touting, vice and drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

Three hair salons raided in clamp down on touting, vice and drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The police had raided three salons in Geylang on June 27. SINGAPORE - Hair salons and public entertainment outlets in Geylang and Joo Chiat were targeted in recent enforcement operations that saw 20 people arrested and six others being investigated. The police had raided three salons in Geylang on June 27. At one outlet, plainclothes officers caught women offering unlicensed massage services. There were four men receiving such services in this salon during the raid - the first operation at such outlets that the media has been allowed to observe. The men sat on massage beds at the back of the shop while police questioned the women. Although they were allowed to leave, the men stayed behind, hoping to get a refund. Based on identity checks, several of the women appeared to be Singapore permanent residents. Shops like this often present a typical salon setup at the front, while the back contains massage stations with beds separated by thin dividers. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord The shop where the media observed the police raid had four massage beds, six hair washing beds, and two foot massage recliners. At least seven women were working there at the time. The Straits Times had visited this same shop in 2024, as part of reporting for an article on how hair salons in Geylang were suspected to be fronts for vice , exploiting a gap in existing regulations. Under the massage establishment licensing regime, at least 80 per cent of employees at massage parlours and spas must be certified in beauty therapy services. Under the massage establishment licensing regime, at least 80 per cent of employees at massage parlours and spas must be certified in beauty therapy services. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Some vice operators have tried to sidestep these rules by branding their outlets as beauty, and hair salons. Following ST's report in December 2024, the hair salon operator had posted on TikTok offering a $20,000 reward to anyone who could find illegal activity inside their shop. The salon, along with the two others found to be providing massage services beyond stipulated operating hours, are now being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act. The police also raided public entertainment outlets in Geylang and Joo Chiat on June 20 and 27 to clamp down on activities like touting, vice and drug-related activities. A total of 12 women, aged between 32 and 50, were arrested for working without valid work passes. On June 27, the media was also brought to a KTV lounge in Geylang where 10 women were arrested. All were Chinese nationals. Customers continued partying even as the police raid unfolded. The police said one of the outlets in Geylang had fire safety violations such as obstructions to emergency escape routes. As part of the wider enforcement operations, the Traffic Police conducted anti-drink driving checks in the area. Seven motorists, aged between 24 and 55, were arrested for drink driving, including a 26-year-old man who did not have a valid driving licence. More people were caught drink driving with 1,778 such arrests in 2024, up 6.9 per cent from 2023. Drink driving-related accidents dropped from 180 to 166 cases in the same time period, but the number of fatal accidents linked to drink driving increased from 11 cases in 2023 to 12 in 2024. During the enforcement operation, a 48-year-old male motorcyclist was arrested for suspected drug-related offences. He had duty-unpaid cigarettes and e-vaporisers in his possession. Those convicted of running a business providing unlicensed massages can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000. Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $20,000. Those convicted of working without a valid work pass can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $20,000.

Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty
Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - A day before billionaire Ong Beng Seng was scheduled to plead guilty on July 3, the court hearing date was rescheduled to a pre-trial conference on July 8. Court records on July 2 show the court granted an application to reschedule the hearing date. The Straits Times has contacted the court for the reason behind the postponement. The property tycoon was charged on Oct 4, 2024, with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and with abetting the obstruction of justice. Under Section 165, it is an offence for a public servant to accept anything of value from any person with whom he is involved in an official capacity without payment or with inadequate payment. Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) where Ong was managing director, said in an announcement on the Singapore Exchange in February that he intends to plead guilty to the obstruction charge and consents to having the other charge taken into consideration for sentencing. According to court documents, the businessman had in December 2022 allegedly arranged for former transport minister S. Iswaran to fly on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha. The flight was valued at US$7,700 (S$10,400). Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Singapore Man charged over allegedly receiving scam proceeds of more than $1.5m in his firm's bank accounts Ong allegedly arranged for Mr Iswaran a one-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Doha, valued at $4,737.63, and a business-class flight from Doha to Singapore, valued at $5,700. Court documents showed it was allegedly Ong who alerted Mr Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the December 2022 trip. It prompted Mr Iswaran to ask the tycoon to bill him for the flight to avoid investigations. For this alleged offence, Ong was charged with the abetment of obstruction of justice.

Two dead in Spain fire as heatwave scorches Europe
Two dead in Spain fire as heatwave scorches Europe

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Two dead in Spain fire as heatwave scorches Europe

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Many places in Spain are experiencing temperatures exceeding 40 deg C. BARCELONA - Firefighters in Spain have said they found two bodies after a blaze in the north-east of the country, which is in the midst of a brutal heatwave. The heatwave across Europe this week broke high temperature records, caused the closure of schools and increased the risk of fire. Authorities in Spain's Catalonia region confined about 14,000 people to their homes on July 1 due to two wildfires that broke out almost simultaneously in the province of Lerida. In one of the blazes, near the city of Cosco, 'two people were found lifeless by firefighters', the fire and emergency service said in a statement. The exact cause of the fire was unclear, but the service said the recent heat, dry conditions and strong winds caused by storms had increased the intensity of the flames. Catalonia Regional President Salvador Illa said he was 'dismayed after learning of the death of two people as a result of the fire', in a post on X. Hours earlier, police in the region had reported the death of a two-year-old boy after he was left in a parked car in the sun for several hours. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Singapore Man charged over allegedly receiving scam proceeds of more than $1.5m in his firm's bank accounts Spain is in the midst of an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 deg C in many places and several heat records set for the month of June. One person died in the southern city of Cordoba and another in Barcelona, both while doing road work on June 28, and likely victims of heatstroke. According to scientists, extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and storms, are becoming more intense due to man-made climate change. Tens of thousands of people have died in Europe during past heatwaves, prompting authorities to issue warnings for the old and young, the sick, and others vulnerable to what experts call a 'silent killer'. AFP

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