SINGAPORE: Local telco M1 continues to ratchet up its efforts to attract data-hungry customers, with the expansion of its SIM-only plans to include handset subsidies.
In a press release on Thursday (Oct 12), the telco said it will launch a range of new mySIMe plans with handset subsidies, with the entry-level tier starting with 5GB data, 100 minutes of voice calls and 100 SMS/MMS for S$40 a month and going up to unlimited data, talk time and SMS/MMS at S$118 per month.
(Table: M1)
The new two-year plans will be available for sign-up or re-contract from Friday at any M1 Shop, distributor, or online at www.m1.com.sg.
A spokesperson said the handset subsidy offered depends on the type of plan and phone. He added that the telco will not throttle users’ mobile Internet access even if they exceed their monthly data cap.
These latest plans appear to target similar postpaid plans offered by rivals StarHub and Singtel.
StarHub’s two-year M plan comes with unlimited outgoing calls and local data cap of 5GB, plus unlimited weekend data at S$88 per month, while Singtel’s Combo 3 offers unlimited outgoing calls and SMS/MMS and 3GB local data at S$68.90.
M1’s latest offering comes just months after it re-introduced unlimited data packages in August, while StarHub unveiled its plans offering unlimited local data on weekends. A month later, Singtel announced that customers who sign up for certain plans can opt for an unlimited data add-on at an extra charge.
SINGAPORE: Smart wheelchairs, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for the delivery of food and cargo documents, as well as a hands-free fare gate were some of the innovative ideas on display at a technology showcase held in conjunction with the 23rd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting on Thursday (Oct 12).
Called the Future of Transport showcase, the technology initiatives provide a glimpse into Singapore’s vision for the future of air, land and sea transport.
At ground-handling firm SATS, a food delivery AGV “Dolly” helps catering staff to move multiple food trolleys from the kitchens to the airport lounges in a single trip.
Each vehicle, which moves an average of 500m for one trip at a speed of up to 6kmh, can transport up to 500kg. Previously, six catering staff were required to move these food trolleys over the same distance three times a day.
“Dolly” has already been in operation at Changi Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 since June. It has been a boost to productivity, a manager at SATS Catering Mr Haja Alaudeenvajid told Channel NewsAsia.
In particular, the vehicle, which uses sensor technology, has helped to lighten the work load of older workers who may find it more difficult than their younger co-workers to move multiple food trolleys.
A smart wheelchair system that allows staff to move multiple wheelchairs autonomously at the touch of a button is also being tested, along with a cargo document delivery AGV.
The latter transports documents to a centralised location for distribution to aircraft, and is able to navigate obstacles and recognise traffic light signals.
An autonomous guided vehicle to deliver cargo documents. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
“Technology will help as it takes away some of the dangerous aspects of jobs, like lifting heavy loads,” said Mr Donald Lum, assistant vice president of technology at SATS. “In the process, our older workers get to up-skill by interacting with technology … This also helps us to attract younger talent to the sector.”
A hands-free fare gate was also on display, as part of a proof-of-concept trial that the Land Transport Authority is embarking on to gain a better understanding of the technology, equipment and services needed to upgrade the current automatic fare collection system.
With this hands-free system, commuters will just have to wear an RFID or bluetooth-enabled fare card around their neck and they will be able to move through fare gates without having to tap in or out.
A mock RFID card for the hands-free fare gate. (Photo: Tang See Kit)
This seamless ticketing experience will benefit commuters with disabilities and could be tested out at “one or two” MRT stations next year, a Ministry of Transport representative told Channel NewsAsia.
Hosted by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan, ministers from the other ASEAN member states also visited booths with presentations on Singapore’s vision for autonomous vehicles, as well as how the Next Generation Port at Tuas will leverage autonomous technology, data analytics and digital technology to increase efficiency, safety and security.
SINGAPORE: Ride-hailing company Grab is teaming up with Sanrio – the company behind characters such as Hello Kitty, Keroppi and Little Twin Stars – to launch a set of limited edition Hello Kitty plush toys.
From next Monday (Oct 16) to Nov 12, users who enter certain codes on GrabHitch, GrabShare and JustGrab rides will stand a chance to win one of the limited edition plushies each week, Grab said in a press release on Thursday (Oct 12).
After entering the code, users will have to pay for the ride with GrabPay in order to be eligible to win the prize. There will be 1000 Hello Kitty plush toys available each week.
The first plushie, called GrabHitch Hello Kitty, is available from Oct 16 to Oct 22. (Photo: Grab)
The first plushie, called GrabHitch Hello Kitty, will be available from Oct 16 to Oct 22. Grab will reveal the other three plush toy on its Facebook and Instagram pages over the next few weeks
HANOI – Floods in Vietnam killed 37 people and another 40 were missing as a tropical depression caused heavy rain in northern and central provinces, the Southeast Asian nation’s disaster prevention agency said on Thursday.
Another 21 people were injured after rains caused landslides and flooding, prompting authorities to discharge water from dams, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said on its website.
More than 17,000 households have been evacuated and more than 200 homes have collapsed, while nearly 18,000 other houses were submerged or damaged.
The committee said more than 8,000 hectares of land used for growing rice crops were damaged and around 40,000 animals were killed or washed away.
Vietnam often suffers from destructive storms and floods due to its long coastline. More than 200 people were killed in storms last year.
SINGAPORE: The Samurai Burger is making a comeback for a limited time, McDonald’s Singapore announced on Thursday (Oct 12).
The burger, which has a quarter pound beef or chicken patty dipped in teriyaki sauce and lettuce sandwiched between sesame buns, will be available after breakfast hours in all McDonald’s outlets from Friday, the fast-food chain said in a media release.
It will also be on the McDelivery menu.
At the same time, McDonald’s said it is bringing back its seaweed shaker fries, available when diners upsize their meal.
As for those who love dessert, the Matcha McFlurry with red bean will also be available from Friday, while stocks last.
Matcha McFlurry with red bean. (Photo: McDonald’s Singapore)
The fast-food chain also teased the launch of a Ninja Burger, which it said will hit stores some time after the Samurai Burger’s return. It did not provide further details.
The Samurai Burger is among the cult favourites of McDonald’s fans in Singapore. Others include the Prosperity Burger – usually launched in time for Chinese New Year – as well as the Kampung Burger, featuring breakfast muffins, a crispy chicken fillet, a pineapple slice and a tangy salsa sauce.
Public interest in former President Park Geun-hye’s life in prison reached another peak following a recent leak of Seoul Detention Center prisoners’ weekly food menu, a local media outlet reported Wednesday.
Food at the Seoul Detention Center is better than average school meals provided to students, according to Dispatch. The leaked menu included Western food, such as morning bread, soup and salad, and Korean staples such as rice cake soup, chapjae noodles and pork kimchi stew.
The menu also took into consideration the health of the inmates at Seoul Detention Center with the inclusion of chicken stew and beef seaweed soup.
Photo: The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
“In the past, inmates were on a restricted diet of only ‘bean rice,’ but that all changed looking at the menu at present detention centres,” according to the KBS news video released in 2015.
One meal at the Seoul Detention Center is priced approximately 1,500 won ($1.30).
Most of the online community expressed their displeasure at the current food menu catered to inmates, saying those who have committed crimes are living in a better environment than normal law abiding citizens.
One online community member expressed anger and disbelief at the idea of detainees being fed decent meals.
“Many college students cannot even afford hot meals, have to starve or buy kimbap from the convenience store. How does former President Park who has committed a federal crime and deceived our whole nation get to receive such good treatment?”
The police failed to track down a sex buyer who transmitted HIV to a teenage student, local media reported Wednesday.
The 15-year-old victim, who met the man through a broker surnamed Joo, became infected with HIV after having sex with him in August 2016.
The victim and her family submitted a complaint against the broker in June.
While the family said the victim was forced into prostitution, Joo claimed the victim had agreed to work in the sex trade. Police sent the case to the prosecutor’s office in September, accusing him of introducing 10 to 15 men to the victim.
Joo is suspected of receiving 150,000 won (S$180) to 200,000 won per man and sharing the money with her.
The police, however, reportedly terminated the investigation to track down the HIV positive sex buyer as a year has passed since the affair took place.
A source from police told Yonhap News Agency that the footage of security cameras and the chat history between the victim and the man have already expired, and the victim struggled to remember the exact place and time she engaged in prostitution with the man.
Korean fans have pinpointed the source of K-pop celebrities’ charm: the contrast between stars’ onstage and offstage personas.
Online K-pop fan communities have been recently flooded with compilations of clips featuring stars, from EXO’s Baekyun to BTS’ V, and their different attitudes on and off stage.
Wanna One’s Kang Daniel, who is enjoying massive popularity after nabbing first place in the second season of the K-pop idol audition programme “Produce 101,” is said to embody the epitome of such contrasting charm.
Fans say that offstage, Kang is like a “puppy” with a cheerful demeanour, while onstage, the 1.8-meter-tall singer-dancer exudes charisma.
Such paradox is key to creating an appealing character in comic books as well, according to the cartoonist Lee Jong-bum (“Dr. Frost,” 2014), who majored in psychology.
“We are attracted to the unexpected sides of people. These are stories that have been told for years and years. When a next-door friend of 10 years suddenly does something dashing, or when someone who looks perfect turns out to be clumsier than you expected, we become curious about that person,” Lee said.
“That’s where a character’s and a person’s charm is created.”
Bali tourism authorities are now working to convince visitors to stay on the resort island amid increasing seismic activity at Mount Agung, which has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.
Bali Tourism Hospitality spokesman Dewa Gede Ngurah Byomantara said that only 2 per cent of the entire island would be affected in the case of a volcanic eruption.
“The volcanic activity at Mount Agung should not affect other tourist spots,” Byomantara said in Denpasar on Tuesday, adding that those who enjoyed hiking could still go to Mount Batur, Mount Batukaru or Mount Abang.
Three major tourist spots have felt the impact of the rumbling volcano, namely Besakih Temple, Tulamben beach and Tirta Gangga.
Byomantara assured that other major areas in the island, including coastal areas like Sanur, Kuta, Nusa Dua and also Ubud, were not affected.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association’s (PHRI) Bali chapter, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, said he had been tracking the movement of tourists to safer areas on the island, noting an increase in occupancy rate at boutique hotels near Dasa Temple in Karangasem.
“In October, the occupancy rate of non-star hotels [near Dasa Temple in] is usually about 50 per cent, but it is currently at 60 per cent,” said Tjokorda as reported by tempo.co, adding that October was customarily a slow season for tourism
He believed the visitors of Tulamben Beach would also move to other coastal areas like Kuta and Nusa Dua.
Matcha McFlurry with red bean. (Photo: McDonald’s Singapore)
