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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Tastemakers: Wake up to better tasting capsule coffee with Singapore's Morning
Mr Leon Foo, co-founder of Morning, at its retail store at New Bahru. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – In Britain , in Germany, in Russia, in South Korea, in Thailand and, indeed, in Singapore, there are people who wake up, slot a coffee capsule from an artisanal roaster into their coffee machine, push a button and wait for their cuppa joe to flow, not gush, out of it. That sleek machine – The Morning Machine or MM730 – was developed in Singapore by Morning, a home-grown start-up. Its co-founders are coffee industry veteran Leon Foo, 42, and Taiwanese entrepreneur Bowen Chiou, 33, who was running his family's manufacturing business in Taiwan when they met. Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Interest rate on CPF Special, MediSave and Retirement accounts remains at 4% for Q3 2025
CPF members below 55 years old will continue to earn an extra 1 per cent interest on the first $60,000 of their combined account balances. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Interest rate on CPF Special, MediSave and Retirement accounts remains at 4% for Q3 2025 SINGAPORE – The interest rate on the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Special, MediSave and Retirement accounts (SMRA) will remain unchanged at 4 per cent from July to September 2025 . Savings in these accounts will earn the floor rate of 4 per cent a year in the third quarter , as the SMRA pegged rate remains below the floor rate, according to a joint statement by the CPF Board and Housing Board on May 22 . The interest rate is pegged to the 12-month average yield of the 10-year Singapore Government Securities, plus 1 per cent. The interest rates for the Ordinary Account, and for HDB housing loans, remain unchanged at 2.5 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. CPF members below 55 years old will continue to earn an extra 1 per cent interest on the first $60,000 of their combined account balances, capped at $20,000 for the Ordinary Account. Those aged 55 and above will continue to earn an extra 2 per cent interest on the first $30,000 of their combined balances, capped at $20,000 for the Ordinary Account, and an extra 1 per cent on the next $30,000. The extra interest earned on the Ordinary Account will go into a member's Special Account or Retirement Account, said the statement. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
CPF Board begins use of sole phone number for all outbound calls to combat scams
All calls made by the CPF Board have been from the number 6227-1188 since the end of April. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN CPF Board begins use of sole phone number for all outbound calls to combat scams SINGAPORE – In an effort to combat government official impersonation scams, the CPF Board has started using a single phone number for all outbound calls. All calls made by the agency have been from the number 6227-1188 since the end of April, said a statement from the board on May 20 . 'This consolidation to a single number aims to help members easily verify the authenticity of calls from the CPF Board,' said the statement. The number is listed on the agency's website and whitelisted in the ScamShield application. 'This move builds upon CPF Board's earlier efforts in December 2024, where outbound calls were streamlined to two dedicated numbers (6227-1188 and 6202-3388) to enhance security,' the board said. Those who miss a call from CPF Board will receive a SMS or an e-mail from an address that ends with @ or @ with callback details. The agency also said that from May 2025 , Central Provident Fund members making an online nomination must perform enhanced authentication with biometrics, as an additional safeguard. 'The CPF Board will continue to collaborate with banks and other government agencies to monitor the evolving scams landscape, and review our safeguards to strike a good balance between convenience and security,' said the statement. It added that it would never ask members of the public to transfer money, disclose bank login details or install mobile apps from unofficial app stores over a phone call. CPF members who suspect they have been scammed should freeze their bank accounts, reset their Singpass password, activate the CPF Withdrawal Lock to disable online withdrawals immediately, and inform the police and CPF Board. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Straits Times
Upgrading of ITE campuses: Reimagining classrooms as an open gym and aircraft engine workshop
The Fitlab is among the latest spaces that have been upgraded at ITE's main campus in Ang Mo Kio. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Upgrading of ITE campuses: Reimagining classrooms as an open gym and aircraft engine workshop SINGAPORE – Stepping into the newly set up Fitlab at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio feels like entering a professional gym. Once a traditional classroom space, the new open-concept facility spanning 450 sq m now allows the 560 students in the Higher Nitec in Sport Management course to learn in a gym setting that is up to date with fitness industry trends and technology. Refurbishment of the space began in July 2024 and wrapped up in March 2025 . Mr Alif Hafiz Masnor, 37, sports studies lecturer at the campus, said: 'With this new upgrade, we are able to meet the current dynamic trends with this high-end equipment.' The aim is for students to be immersed in practical learning, from leading circuit training exercises to analysing posture and movement through an AI-driven motion capture system – commonly used in professional sports and rehabilitation to track and assess body movement. Another feature in the gym is InBody scanners, which professional trainers use to conduct health assessments for their clients. 'All these are also available in gyms outside. So we want our students to be able to interpret this real health data and then apply it during their internships,' said Mr Alif. The Fitlab is one of the latest spaces that have been upgraded at the Institute of Technical Education's (ITE) main campus in Ang Mo Kio. Two others are a laboratory for students studying electronics and information and communications technology (ICT) and a facility for learning about aircraft engineering and maintenance. In the last of a three-part series, The Straits Times takes a closer look at how ITE campuses have refreshed their facilities to keep up with industry needs and deepen student learning. Since becoming fully operational in April, the Fitlab has been used to conduct both theory and practical lessons. ITE students in a Zumba session at the newly refurbished Fitlab at ITE College Central. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN ITE student Malcolm Voong said those in the Higher Nitec in Sport Management course typically already like doing sports. But learning how to use these high-tech machines gives them a more in-depth understanding of the human body. 'Getting better in sports is not just about training, but also what your body needs. Every body is different, so this is a very fun part of learning,' said the 19-year-old, who will be completing the three-year course at the end of 2025. The space is also stocked with standard gym equipment such as kettlebells and dumbbells, as well as all-in-one trainers with multiple uses – leg press, cable pulley, pull-up bar and more. Real-world training in aircraft engine maintenance ITE work-study diploma students Anderson Lim and Siti Sauhana using the polishing robot arm at the new Onboarding@Skill facility at ITE College Central. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN What better way to prepare students for a career in aircraft engine maintenance than to provide them with a workshop on campus that mirrors one in the real world? With the launch of Onboarding@Skill on May 15, students learn about key engine maintenance processes as well as smart technologies currently used in the industry. Spanning 200 sq m, the space at ITE College Central was refurbished in collaboration with ST Engineering from January to March, and caters for over 380 students and trainees annually. They comprise those enrolled in the Higher Nitec in Aerospace Engineering course, and trainees in two ITE work-study diploma courses related to aircraft engine maintenance. Lecturer Mr Wong Kok Weng (second from left) with his students at the Onboarding@Skill facility. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN Mr Wong Kok Weng, 49, an ITE aerospace technology lecturer, said that previously, the space consisted of standard lab facilities, and the assembly and maintenance of engine components were taught in silos. 'We were learning piece parts, in a way. But this new facility is a ramp-up as it allows students to have an overview of the engine overhaul process,' he said. Comprising three gates, the space allows students to see how aircraft engine maintenance is done from start to finish. At the first gate, aircraft engines arrive for maintenance. Components in need of maintenance and repair are removed from the engine after inspection and transported by an automated mobile robot to the second gate. After repairs and checks are completed, the engine is reassembled at the third gate and undergoes final testing before being cleared for service. New in the space is a polishing robot arm, which plays many vital roles. It is able to achieve high-quality surface finishes on engine components, saves up to 102 man-hours per engine, and improves workplace safety by minimising exposure to harmful metallic dust. 'This space is very aligned to industrial practices and the latest trends in this field. So we are very close to what the industry needs,' said Mr Wong. As a trainee in ITE's work-study diploma course in aircraft engine maintenance since 2023, Ms Siti Sauhana, 23, spends 70 per cent of her time learning and working in the assembly line area at ST Engineering. The remainder of the course is spent at ITE. She said of Onboarding@Skill: 'They have captured the whole set-up for the industry, because the three gates are also what we learn about at work. So this shows students what we can expect when we go to the working site.' Cutting-edge software and robots for learning Since April 2024, students enrolled in three Higher Nitec courses at the School of Electronics and Info-Comm Technology have been able to tinker with humanoid robots and use state-of-the art software. This is thanks to the Universal Omniverse Experience Centre, a facility that was built over a period of 15 months and became fully operational in July 2024. More than 1,000 students learning about topics like artificial intelligence applications and IT systems and networks use this space for lectures, practical sessions and project work. Students in the Higher Nitec in Immersive Applications and Game course with their lecturer, Ms Cheryl Lye (centre), at the Universal Omniverse Experience Centre at ITE College Central. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN Before it was upgraded, the space was used for teaching, storage and as a showcase for visitors, said Ms Cheryl Lye, 35, an ICT lecturer at the campus. It now houses state-of-the-art servers, called the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). 'If the computer specifications on my students' laptops are not the most updated, they can access the VDI by launching a browser within their devices,' said Ms Lye. This allows students to access more demanding software that requires higher performance to run immersive applications and game programmes. The space also has humanoid robots that are used in care homes and schools in Japan for various healthcare purposes. Ms Lye said students are eager to tinker with these robots and see how skills they learn can be applied in real life to help people. 'When we teach, we don't want to just talk at them. So we use real examples to excite them,' she said. Higher Nitec student Brenda Angela with servers at the Universal Omniverse Experience Centre. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN Brenda Angela, 17, a second-year student in ITE's Higher Nitec in Immersive Applications and Game course, said she can now see how game-based elements can be used in non-gaming contexts, such as education. 'I did not know you could use virtual reality to create a package to teach how to do spray-painting on a ship,' she said, referring to a project done by ITE students and staff two years ago that is now displayed at the showcase area in the upgraded space. 'I had a very narrow mindset. But this new environment helps me explore other viewpoints. I can be more creative when I see the possibilities of what can be done.' Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in Singapore's education landscape. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Paper
Experimental camera-based ERP system being trialled till October 2025
An experimental project using street-mounted cameras and vehicle licence plate recognition technology to compute Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges is being put to the test. The trial of the technology started in November 2024 and will run until October. There are no plans to roll out the technology, which is still in the exploratory stage. Called ERP X, the experiment by Open Government Products (OGP), an independent division of the Government Technology Agency that builds technology for the public good, was one of 35 projects from OGP's Hack for Public Good 2024, a yearly hackathon. Under the ERP X trial, nine cameras have been installed at different locations in the Bras Basah area. These cameras automatically recognise vehicle licence plate numbers, and toll payments are handled automatically through a smartphone app. In contrast, ERP charges are processed through hardware installed in vehicles under the current system. The Straits Times observed that in the Bras Basah area, the cameras are mounted on lamp posts and positioned to detect a vehicle's rear licence plate. An OGP spokeswoman told ST that the trial is intended to gather feedback that will help the team understand the technology better, and it is working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on the trial. The spokeswoman said: "We are still in the early stages of figuring out how this technology can be used effectively to improve road and vehicle usage operations, including enforcement." She added: "There is a lot more development, testing and validation needed before we consider any large-scale application." While OGP sees potential in this technology, the spokeswoman said the team is looking for ways to test different ideas and situations in which it can be used across the Government. "We will have many such explorations." A spokesperson for LTA said the study was at an "exploratory stage" and it had no further information to provide. Other than charging a user when a vehicle passes through a location, as with the current ERP system, ERP X could also open the way for distance-based charges. "With enough cameras in place, we can track a vehicle's route and charge based on the distance travelled," the ERP X website said. Under the ERP X trial, cameras mounted overhead automatically recognise vehicle licence plate numbers, and toll payments are handled automatically through a smartphone app. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN ERP X was started amid "practical challenges" with the next-generation satellite-based ERP 2.0 system, which will replace the existing gantry-based system, the team said on its website. Some drivers felt ERP 2.0 was "somewhat obtrusive and inconvenient to use", the team added. There had been concerns about the bulkiness of the new system's three-piece on-board unit, comprising a processing unit, an antenna and a touchscreen display. In the latest quarterly update on the ERP X trial, for the first quarter of 2025, OGP said an "offences dashboard" has been set up for operations officers to review potential violations detected by the system. These include off-peak vehicles spotted during restricted hours and lorries being driven with inadequate safety measures. Twenty-six more cameras have also been installed, but the update did not state the locations, and they are not yet in operation. As at the end of March, there were 162 participants in the trial, and the accuracy of the cameras in identifying vehicle licence plates was 95.4 per cent. The trial incurred $362,773 in costs in the first three months of 2025. ST signed up for the trial in March using the publicly available web link. To be considered for the test, participants have to submit information such as the type of vehicle used, which may be a car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle, and whether the user has an iOS or Android mobile device. Other than charging a user when a vehicle passes through a location, as with the current ERP system, ERP X could also open the way for distance-based charges. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Successful applicants will receive a WhatsApp text message with instructions on how to download the ERP X test app, which is accessible by invitation only. Multiple vehicle registration numbers can be added to the app, which has an interface showing a summary of transactions. The app also shows the route and distance covered by the vehicles. Meanwhile, the islandwide transition to ERP 2.0 is under way. For now, around 430,000 vehicles out of Singapore's total vehicle population of just over one million have been fitted with the new on-board unit, said LTA. The installation of the hardware in Singapore-registered vehicles is targeted to be completed by 2026.
