The tech giant also brought its entire Surface line-up to the market.
The outlet at Harvey Norman’s Millenia Walk store is the first Surface store in Southeast Asia. (Photo: Microsoft)
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SINGAPORE: Tech giant Microsoft on Tuesday (Mar 6) announced it is opening a Surface store in Singapore – its first in Southeast Asia.
In a press release, the company best known for its Windows operating system said the store will be located at Harvey Norman’s flagship store at Millenia Walk, and will officially be opened this Saturday.
There will also be a concierge service for customers to receive support for their Surface devices, regardless of where or when it was purchased, it added.
With the store’s launch, Microsoft said it is bringing its full line-up of Surface products to Singapore, including Surface Book 2 and Surface Laptop, to join the Surface Pro already available here. These are available for pre-order on the company’s online store and authorised retailers including Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, LOL by EpiCentre, Harvey Norman and Newstead, it added.
“The new Surface store in Singapore is a commitment to deliver a one-stop experience for customers to experience the ultimate Windows devices that brings the best of Microsoft in one location,” said Ms Veronica Chiu, Windows and Devices Business Group lead at Microsoft Singapore.
The move to bring its first Surface store to Singapore follows in the footsteps of another US tech giant Apple, when it launched its Orchard Road outlet last May amid much fanfare.
Wondering whether that rock melon in your fridge is safe to eat?
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Monday (March 5) that two consignments of rock melons linked with the recent listeria outbreak in Australia have been pulled off the shelves in Singapore.
Imported from a New South Wales grower, the fruits were sold in Sheng Siong supermarket outlets and wet markets from Feb 12 to March 2.
The authority said that all rock melons currently available for sale are not implicated by the recall. To ensure food safety, however, AVA is conducting tests on rock melons from other sources.
If you suspect that you’ve purchased affected rock melons, do not consume them, AVA advises. Those who feel unwell after eating the fruits should seek medical attention.
3 Australians die, more sick in listeria outbreak tied to melons
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The recall follows news of a listeria outbreak in Australia last week, where three people died and 12 others fell ill after consuming contaminated rock melons. All 15 victims are elderly, said NSW Health.
According to AVA, it may take from three to 70 days for symptoms of the bacterial infection to show.
A person with mild listeriosis usually suffers from diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal symptoms before developing fever and muscle aches.
But the bacteria may cause the pregnant, elderly, and those with a weakened immune system, to suffer from serious diseases such as brain and heart infections or pregnancy complications.
When diagnosed early, listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics.
Raw and ready-to-eat foods such as unpasteurised milk, raw meat, seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables could be contaminated by listeria. The best way to reduce the risk of listeriosis is the safe handling, cooking, and consumption of food.
So, don’t forget to give your rock melon a thorough wash before taking a bite.
SINGAPORE: The use of one reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastics bags or 52 single-use paper bags, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) shows.
An LCA study evaluates the environmental impact associated with the stages of a disposable and reusable item’s life cycle.
“Due to their single-use design and function, plastic bags were found to have the biggest environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” NEA said in a release.
“The greenhouse gases associated with the processing of crude oil used as source material to manufacture the bags, and the greenhouse gases from the bags’ incineration, contribute to climate change.”
Last year, a third of the roughly 1.67 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed in Singapore comprised packaging waste, which includes single-use disposables such as plastic bags and food packaging.
The amount of packaging waste discarded annually in Singapore is enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
“While single-use plastic bags are needed by households to bag waste, the excessive consumption of disposables is a waste of resources and it contributes to our carbon footprint and climate change,” NEA said.
The study covered the common types of single-use plastic and degradable bags, as well as paper and reusable bags, used in Singapore.
For comparison, researchers assumed that a family buys 50 items per week. The 50 items were placed in the different types of bags to determine how many of each type were needed to carry the 50 items.
Based on this, the study found that the use of 10 reusable bags, or non-woven polypropylene or nylon bags, over a year is equivalent to the use of 1,248 plastic or degradable bags, or 520 paper bags.
“Single-use paper bags and degradable bags are often seen as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags,” NEA said. “However, paper bags need large amounts of water to make and cannot be used to bag wet items.”
Scoring for environmental and cost impact for carrier bags. (Source: NEA)
As for degradable bags, the fact that some types of them – like oxo-degradable bags – are made of plastic with additives to accelerate degradation means they leave a similar environmental impact to plastic bags when incinerated.
“In Singapore, waste is incinerated and not left in landfills to degrade,” NEA said. “In addition, oxo-degradable bags could interfere with the recycling process when mixed with conventional plastics.”
Other types of degradable bags, like plant-based polylactic acid bags and corn-starch bags, require large tracts of forest land to be converted into farmland and huge amounts of water to grow their raw materials, NEA added.
“Taking into consideration both the monetised cost and environmental impact, reusable bags emerged as the most environmentally-friendly option for carrying groceries and similar items,” NEA stated.
“Other than using reusable bags, consumers can also reduce their impact on the environment by reusing single-use bags.”
FOOD PACKAGING
The same study also found that the use of one reusable plate or container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 pieces of single-use plates or containers.
For dine-in plates, the study found that single-use plastic plates resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use during their life cycle as they are made from crude oil, NEA said.
“It also found that the manufacturing process for plant-based corn starch plates is energy intensive,” it added.
Similarly for take-away containers, the study found that single-use plastic containers resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
“Single-use paper boxes with an inner plastic sheet, used for dishes such as fried rice, were equally energy intensive to make,” NEA said.
“Furthermore, the nature of the raw materials entails high consumption of water and the conversion of large tracts of forest land.”
This part of the study covered common types of dine-in plates and take-away containers used in Singapore. For comparison, researchers assumed that two meals were served daily.
Scoring for environmental and cost impact for dine-in plates. (Source: NEA)
Melamine and porcelain dine-in plates were found to have lower impact on the environment as compared to disposables, the study found, as they can be reused multiple times, taking up fewer resources and emitting less greenhouse gases during their life-cycle.
Meanwhile, the study also found that reusable take-away containers, which consume more water for washing purposes, left the same environmental impact as their disposable counterparts.
However, the study added that reusables were still more environmentally friendly in other aspects like greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. In addition, the study did not account for potential littering issues and increased landfill arising from the use of disposables.
SOLUTIONS
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said a more sustainable way of reducing the environmental impact of carrier bags and food packaging is to “tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables”.
Based on the study’s findings, “imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes”, she added in her ministry’s Budget debate speech on Tuesday (Feb 6).
“The study concluded that consumers can generally reduce their environmental impact by using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables.”
To that end, Dr Khor said agencies will step up engagement with stakeholders to “cut down the excessive use” of plastic bags and disposables like single-use containers.
For example, she pointed out that online food delivery service, Foodpanda, is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutleries when ordering food, while consumers who brought reusable bags to supermarkets earned incentives under Zero Waste Singapore’s Bring Your Own campaign last year.
Businesses would also need to report the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction by 2021, Dr Khor stated, adding that industry consultations will start this year.
“It could also be as simple as cashiers proactively asking customers at payment counters if they want a plastic bag, instead of automatically giving them one,” Dr Khor suggested.
“We will continue to support such efforts while holistically tackling the broader issue upstream by reducing all types of packaging waste at source.”
Our readers shared photos showing the bicycles parked illegally or dumped around the island.
A heap of shared bicycles dumped on a grass area in Kampong Bahru. (Photo: Raj Mohamed)
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SINGAPORE: Shared bicycles have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years, but there have been problems – one of the most notable being the two-wheelers being parked or dumped … just about everywhere.
Authorities are seeking to address the issue of indiscriminate parking with changes made to the Parking Places (Amendment) Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday (Mar 5).
The new rules include a licensing regime for bike-sharing operators, and a geo-fencing solution requiring users to scan a QR code at designated parking spaces as proof of proper parking.
We asked Channel NewsAsia readers for photos of badly parked shared bikes they have seen around the island, and they delivered. Here is a selection:
A shared bicycle parked squarely in a car park lot. (Photo: Mel Phua)
Numerous shared bicycles left in the centre divider between Kallang Road and Sir Arthur’s Bridge. (Photo: Andy Yeo)
A bike abandoned in Pelton Canal, near Aljunied Road. (Photo: Guy Hoh)
An overturned bike at a construction site near Allenby Road. (Photo: Rui Ni)
A stack of shared bicycles in a garbage dump area at Ubi Avenue 4. (Photo: Kyaw Mar Lar)
Shared bicycles parked on the grass outside the dormitories of St Andrew’s Junior College. (Photo: Steven Tor P H)
Two bikes from different companies dumped horizontally along a pathway near Margaret Drive. (Photo: Tay Chang Mong)
Badly parked shared bicycles line the pedestrian pathway along Kranji Road. (Photo: Steven Tor P H)
An ofo bike seen locked to a grille. (Photo: Michelle Liew)
A shared bicycle stopped between two bollards – its front wheel appears to have been smashed in. (Photo: Tay Chang Mong)
An ofo bike parked along a Robinson Road pedestrian walkway – right under a sign that says that no parking for bicycles is allowed. (Photo: Leon Chen)
Russ Solomon, the founder of Tower Records who brought a cool factor to music retail until it was devastated by the internet revolution, has died, his son said. He was 92.
Solomon’s son Michael told the Sacramento Bee newspaper that his father died of an apparent heart attack while watching the Oscars on Sunday night at his home in the California capital.
“He was giving his opinion of what someone was wearing that he thought was ugly, then asked (his wife) Patti to refill his whisky,” Solomon said, adding that his father had died by the time she returned.
James Donio, president of the Music Business Association trade group, voiced sadness over his death and hailed his influence.
“Russ was quite outspoken and having a conversation with him about the music business was always a priceless education,” Donio said in a statement.
Solomon founded Tower Records at a time that records in the United States were mostly sold in the corners of stores much like clothing or snacks.
Creating a welcoming space for music lovers under the store’s yellow-and-red signs, Tower Records helped build a subculture of record stores, especially after opening branches in the heart of the music industry on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard and on New York’s East Village.
In a 2015 documentary on Tower Records, “All Things Must Pass,” Elton John recalled heading every Tuesday morning to the Hollywood store, chatting to employees about music as he left with piles of vinyl.
Solomon’s father had run a drugstore named Tower in Sacramento that sold everything from candy to perfume to soft drinks.
The younger Solomon in the documentary recalled how he would buy used records for three cents each and found ready buyers when he resold them for 10 cents.
He soon decided to buy records wholesale in nearby San Francisco and in 1960 opened the first Tower Records in Sacramento.
But after decades of solid profits, Tower Records entered a crisis by the mid-1990s. It tried to expand but big retailers such as Walmart could sell CDs for lower prices, while iTunes and online retailers sapped the market for record stores even further.
Tower Records filed twice for bankruptcy protection and closed in 2006.
Its stores in Japan, one of the most resilient music markets, were unaffected and vast Tower shops remain open in prominent locations such as Tokyo’s Shibuya entertainment district.
Tower’s bankruptcy in the United States came before the recent rebirth of record stores fueled by new interest in vinyl, with several hundred shops opening in the past five years.
SINGAPORE: Where the library used to be the place for book-lovers to go and explore new imaginary worlds, it is now being re-positioned to a destination for people to pick up digital skills – particularly the elderly.
A range of digital readiness and inclusion initiatives, with a specific focus on the seniors, were unveiled by the Ministry of Communications and Information during its Committee of Supply debate on Tuesday (Mar 6). This segment of the citizenry was highlighted as despite a significant increase in Internet usage by seniors aged 50 and above from 2012 to 2016, about 60 per cent of those aged 60 and above are not tapping on the World Wide Web yet, it said.
To address this, the Seniors Tech and Read service, piloted at Bedok Public Library last October, was one such scheme highlighted.
And this year, the National Library Board (NLB) will be offering TechShare, a tech showcase platform for senior citizens to try current and upcoming technology in a conducive environment. Essentially, it is a “tech playground” for them to try out gadgets such as robots, wearable smart home technologies and cashless machines and software.
These showcases will start with a regional library, tentatively in the third quarter of 2018, MCI added.
The NLB will also continue to partner the Infocommunications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) to deliver the Silver Infocomm Junction (SIJ) programmes at the libraries. These are senior-friendly infocomm learning hubs operated by voluntary welfare organisations, Community Clubs and non-profit organisations, the press release said.
Under IMDA’s Silver Infocomm Initiative, two avenues – digital clinics and experiential learning journeys – will be made available to the elderly to try their hand at technology.
GOING HANDS ON
MCI said the digital clinics are open to those aged 40 years and above, with volunteers providing one-on-one assistance with their mobile devices such as smartphones. To date, 10 sessions have been organised and these reached out to about 600 seniors, and the aim is to reach out to 2,000.
These clinics will complement other programmes like the Basic Digital Skills introductory course, which was also revealed at COS.
The Basic Digital Skills’ curriculum include surfing the Internet and using chat apps and email, transacting digitally such as online shopping and electronic payments (e-payments), accessing e-Government services and staying safe online with basic literacy and cybersecurity knowledge. It will be offered at selected SIJs from the middle of this year.
As for experiential learning journeys, MCI said these will target seniors aged 50 and above who have not tried e-payments to go on a tour so they can get comfortable transacting using their mobile phones.
Scanning a hawker stall’s QR code through the Liquid Pay mobile application. (Photo: Lianne Chia)
They will be accompanied by youth volunteers from the Youth Corps Singapore, who will guide them and introduce various aspects such as downloading banking apps, how to top-up their MRT cards electronically and paying using QR code, it added.
There will be 48 such journey at six yet-to-be-determined locations that will be organised by IMDA, which is expected to benefit about 2,000 seniors. This offering will be available from mid-2018 onwards, the ministry said.
COMPETITIONS, WORKSHOPS FOR THE YOUNG
It’s not just the silver generation that the NLB is hoping to attract for its digital readiness programmes though.
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, said in his speech on Tuesday that NLB is partnering Microsoft to organise competitions and workshops for the young, and events lined up include the National Digital Storytelling competition for secondary students in July where they can use interactive and multimedia elements offered at Bukit Panjang Public Library’s “Stories Come Alive” room to create their stories.
There will also be a NLB-Microsoft Artificial Intelligence hackathon for students from primary to tertiary levels to come together to help solve problem statements given by NLB, the press release said.
Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim (centre) at the Pixel Labs@NLB in Jurong Regional Library. (Photo: Calvin Hui)
Additionally, it is also adding to the number of libraries that will offer Pixel Labs@NLB that allows users to learn, create, invent and share skills using the tools, equipment and hardware kits there. Only Jurong and Tampines libraries have such a space currently, but one more will be opened up at the Woodlands branch this year, said Dr Yaacob.
The abovementioned initiatives are part of the suite of digital readiness services the NLB will develop so as to reach more than 300,000 Singaporeans over the next five years, of which 85 per cent will be adults and seniors. More than 6,000 programmes will be delivered at the libraries, MCI said.
Dr Yaacob said while physical libraries’ visitorship has “held steady”, their digital reach has increased significantly. As of 2017, e-book loans have increased by 69 per cent and the NLB Mobile App has been accessed 3 million times since its launch in October 2016.
An unemployed man died from a burst vessel inside the toilet of his home, leaving behind four children and a wife.
Mr Wang Qing Chi, 60, and his family had just become eligible for many family schemes announced under the Singapore Budget in February 2018, but his sudden death came less than three weeks later.
The family lives in Block 245, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.
Mr Wang’s widow, Ms Weng Meirong, works as a stall assistant at a hawker stall and fetches about $500 monthly.
After news of Mr Wang’s demise was carried on Lianhe Wanbao, many readers left Facebook messages, saying that they empathised with the family’s tragic circumstances.
At least six readers have contacted the paper, hoping to donate money to Mr Wang’s family.
One of them, who contacted Lianhe Wanbao via email, said that he was willing to contribute $500 monthly to the family.
Another reader, Ms Zhuang Suqiang, 44, told reporters that she and her husband decided to donate after seeing the report.
She said:
“We are all people with family. Seeing the family like that was just heartbreaking. I hope to do my part to help.”
Mr Chen, 57, also shared that he and some friends wish to donate some rice, dry grains, and canned food to the family.
In addition, according to philanthropic undertaker Mr Roland Tay, a rich businessman has reached out to him with intentions to donate to the family.
In response to the outpouring of aid, Ms Weng said she was very touched and will do her best to look after her four children in the absence of her husband.
She added:
“I am very touched with the concern from these kind people. No matter how difficult life will be, I will bring up my children.”
LOS ANGELES – Frances McDormand left the Oscar stage after winning the Best Actress prize on Sunday (March 4) with a call for an “inclusion rider” – an obscure method to increase film production diversity that she hopes will go mainstream.
The term is not well known in Hollywood, but by early morning on Monday after the awards ceremony, Twitter boasted an #inclusionrider hashtag and a Google search of the term produced more than 10 million hits.
While negotiating a contract, actors and film makers can use their star power to get a studio to hire more women and people of colour on the production, McDormand explained backstage after her televised comment, which came in a ceremony notable for its activism.
“I just found out about this last week,” McDormand, who won the Oscar for her portrayal of a mother searching for her daughter’s killer in ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, told media backstage.
“You can ask for and/or demand at least 50 per cent diversity in not only the casting but also the crew,” she added as an example.
University of Southern California professor Stacy Smith mentioned the “inclusion rider” idea in a 2016 talk on the lack of diversity in the film industry. She said that Hollywood ‘A-listers’ could stipulate in their contracts that minor roles be cast to reflect demographics of the real world. Studios could voluntarily do the same thing, she added.
Stars put sparkle back on Oscars red carpet after Golden Globes blackout
These services are part of phase one to digitalise the neighbourhood with a rich cultural heritage, which are expected to be launched in the second quarter of this year.
Kampong Glam. (File Photo: Calvin Oh)
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SINGAPORE: An integrated point-of-sale (POS) system enabling cashless payments, augmented reality (AR) and services to deliver purchases to customers’ preferred locations are part of the first phase to give Kampong Glam a digital makeover.
This was revealed during the Ministry of Communications and Information’s (MCI) session of the Committee of Supply debates on Tuesday (Mar 6).
Announced last November by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, the digitalisation of the neighbourhood with rich culture and heritage is to complement the retail Industry Digital Plan (IDP).
On Tuesday (Mar 6), Dr Yaacob said in his speech that some of the key initiatives during the first phase include deploying an integrated POS solution that would allow interested merchants to accept cashless payments, track inventory and for financial accounting. It is working with StarHub on these merchant solutions, he added.
The data collected can also be used to build a database of customer profiles so retailers can launch “effective, targeted promotions”, his ministry added in a separate press release.
Another aspect is to have comprehensive listings of the businesses in Kampong Glam on various digital maps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps, which would include indoor, 360-degree views of these retail outlets. “This initiative will help to increase the visibility of merchants and attract visitors to their stores,” MCI said.
This was suggested by chairman of One Kampong Gelam Association Saeid Labbafi back in November last year, when he said many visitors there do not know the exact boundaries of Kampong Glam. He said by having a digital map and putting all the business on this map would help visitors know the activities and types of businesses there.
Dr Yaacob said it is partnering ride-hailing service provider Grab to offer an additional cashless option and increase accessibility to the area. The company said in a separate press release on Tuesday it will work with One Kampong Gelam to roll out its GrabPay payment offering to more than 600 merchants there in phases.
Additionally, AR will be introduced to create “an immersive experience for visitors”, as mobile apps supporting this feature can show location-based store discounts “overlaid” virtually on storefronts in real time. Gamification features can also be integrated into heritage walking trails to guide visitors along, it said.
Shoppers can also have the option of having their purchases delivered “conveniently and affordably” to their destination of choice, MCI said. Retailers can use a common mobile app to manage pick-ups, schedule deliveries, track the deliverymen and ensure secure delivery of packages.
These initiatives are targeted to be launched in the second quarter of the year, the ministry said.
“Learning from the Kampong Glam project, we will explore how we could develop other projects to digitalise the retail sector,” Dr Yaacob said.
