The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a timely demonstration of the extent to which digital technology could become fully entrenched in a city, as a means to support public health precautions and maintain effective infection control. Sensor connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been used to facilitate the screening for and tracking of infections while also enabling the delivery of contactless services in the new normal of people’s daily lives. Thailand has successfully implemented a smart tracking system called “Thai Chana”, which allows residents to check in and out when visiting public spaces. By tracking people’s visits to public places, the system is able to recommend a test and/or quarantine via a notification to users who visited that specific place, at the same time as a person who was later found to be infected. As the latest ICT technologies and next-generation data platforms become realities, Thailand and its fellow ASEAN members remain committed to enhancing ... » Learn More about SMART CITY: THE WORLD OF OUR MAKING
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Honda launches advanced self-driving cars in Japan
A Honda logo is pictured as cars are displayed outside a Honda showroom of company’s headquarters in Tokyo on November 6, 2020. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) TOKYO, Japan – Honda launched the world’s most advanced self-driving car licensed for the road on Friday, releasing an initial batch of 100 models in Japan. The Legend is capable of adaptive driving in lanes, as well as passing and switching lanes under certain circumstances. The car also features an emergency stop function in case a driver is unresponsive to handover warnings, and Honda touts extensive safety testing. “Approximately 10 million patterns of possible real-world situations were simulated during system development, and real-world demonstration tests were conducted on expressways for a total of approximately 1.3 million kilometres (800,000 miles),” it said in a statement. Experts said the limited rollout would help determine whether there is sufficient demand for more autonomous vehicles. Vehicle autonomy ... » Learn More about Honda launches advanced self-driving cars in Japan
Joshua believes Frazier-like Tyson would beat Ali
Contender Anthony Joshua looks on at a press conference for Ruiz vs. Joshua 2 at Capitale on September 5, 2019 in New York. – Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr promised on Wednesday that history would repeat itself when he takes on Anthony Joshua in December’s controversial rematch in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) MANILA, Philippines—Like pitting some of the greatest teams in NBA history against one another in hypothetical showdowns, boxing, too has a ton of dream fights that remain as such. And with sports on shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the World Boxing Super Series recently held a fantasy tournament where Mike Tyson emerged victorious in a heavyweight clash with the late great Muhammad Ali–a result that didn’t sit well with many. Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, h0wever, doesn’t have any qualms about “Iron Mike” taking down “The Greatest” via decision. “The reason being, when you watch the fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, ... » Learn More about Joshua believes Frazier-like Tyson would beat Ali
This week’s top reads from The Straits Times
Good evening! Catch up on some of the week's top reads. Budget debate: Raising of retirement, re-employment ages will go ahead as planned in 2022 The public service will also fulfil its earlier commitment to raise the ages a year ahead of legislation. READ MORE HERE askST: Is the slight burning smell in parts of S'pore over the past few days due to haze? The smell is often associated with worsening air quality and haze, but this may not always be the case. READ MORE HERE S'pore set to raise penalties for 3 sex crimes; offender's qualifications shouldn't matter: Shanmugam "You shouldn't be able to come to court and say you have a bright future,” said the minister. READ MORE HERE Over 82,000 people have taken 'cruises to nowhere' from S'pore There have been no Covid-19 cases on board since the pilot programme started in November. READ MORE HERE New reusable mask offers N95-grade protection against Covid-19 and haze The ... » Learn More about This week’s top reads from The Straits Times
Commentary: What Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam should do next
LONDON: I do not know Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s embattled chief executive, very well. She worked for my administration when I was governor there. Diligent and well regarded – and Catholic, like many others in the then-colony’s civil service – she had been educated at Hong Kong University and at Cambridge. When I left in 1997, after sovereignty over the city was returned to China, she was rising through the ranks of the Treasury. In most administrations, the cleverest usually seem to gravitate to the economic departments, looking after the cash. I do not recall ever hearing a bad word about her. READ: Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s steely leader meets her match, a commentary Yet today, Lam finds herself lonely and beleaguered, although it is unclear whether she should take all the blame for what has happened to her. In any case, she must now display real leadership to ease the heightening tensions in the city. Lam must have known what she was in for when she became chief ... » Learn More about Commentary: What Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam should do next
Prepare for Job Searching during Uncertain Economic Times
Companies are moving to remote work to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the number of workers who are being laid off has started to creep up due to the economic upheaval caused by this outbreak. At the same time, someone might be wondering if they should continue to send out resumes or just assume that no one is hiring for the foreseeable future. Although economists are predicting an economic downturn, career experts say it’s best to keep networking and applying for new jobs. It is said that there is always a calm after the storm, so the reversible situation happening now won’t last forever. However, if we carefully handle the current uncertainty, the current situation could mean opportunity as well. So, here are three tips to turn the table for your job search in your favour. 1. Keep Searching, and Keep Searching some more Not every industry slows down in this economic downturn. Yes, certain sectors such as aviation or the hotel and ... » Learn More about Prepare for Job Searching during Uncertain Economic Times
Lifelong learning for lifelong teaching
Motivated by her conviction towards early childhood education, Ms Lynn Koh, a preschool centre principal, took a big step to pursue the Master of Education (Early Childhood) programme at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore), despite the need to juggle her studies with work and family commitments. “I desire to use my knowledge effectively to contribute more towards the early childhood industry, and a holistic programme such as a master’s degree would certainly help me to achieve this.” Ms Koh also highlighted the programme structure at NIE NTU, Singapore, as a key factor in choosing an institute to further her studies, as she recalled, “Despite the distance from my home, I chose NIE due to its programme structure. I liked how the learning was paced out throughout the year. After the first semester of intensive learning, there was a break of 3 months before a new semester of intensive learning began. Though the ... » Learn More about Lifelong learning for lifelong teaching
Service Learning at Dulwich College Yangon
How do we best prepare students for a rapidly changing future? This question has vexed educators the world over since time immemorial and it is a question that has been thrown into even sharper relief in recent years due to recent challenges, such as globalisation, mass migration, the Information Revolution, and of course the global pandemic which we are currently living through. Fundamental societal changes and challenges, such as these, raise existential questions for politicians, policy makers and educators alike. How we meet these moments, and the challenges they beget, dictates our present and determines our futures. Due to the interconnectedness of these issues, citizens and leadersneed: knowledge of their local context; a global mindset and aproblem-solving skillset that has international relevance. We, at Dulwich College Yangon, always endeavour to nurture the leaders of tomorrow. And it is to this end - creating globally-minded citizens and leaders - that ... » Learn More about Service Learning at Dulwich College Yangon
Thai and Chinese officials come together for Chinese New Year
Thai and Chinese officials are coming together to celebrate the Chinese New Year by marking 46 years of diplomatic relations with each other. The ceremony in Bangkok was led by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports and China’s Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Thailand. The ceremony also included other high-ranking government officials who took part in celebrating the “Year of the Ox” while wishing happiness, health and prosperity for both countries. Thailand has been organising such Chinese New Year festivities, however, this year their anniversary of diplomatic relations fell on the new year holiday. However, this year, Covid-19 has shown its face once again as the impact of the virus has been apparent in normally vibrant tourist areas like Phuket. Now, Phuket is noticeably quieter with much less decorations adorning the streets and visitors to the Chinese temples. Many Thai-Chinese residents blamed the financial burden that ... » Learn More about Thai and Chinese officials come together for Chinese New Year
Houthi offensive on Yemen’s Marib threatens mass displacement, UN warns
DUBAI (REUTERS) - An offensive by Yemen's Houthi group to take Marib city, the last stronghold of the internationally recognised government, threatens to displace hundreds of thousands and complicate a renewed diplomatic push to end the war, UN officials say. The gas-rich region of Marib has been a refuge for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence during Yemen's six-year-old war, expanding its main city rapidly. A frontline is now roughly 30km away to the city's west, a government official told Reuters, and humanitarian concerns are growing. "An assault on the city would put two million civilians at risk, with hundreds of thousands potentially forced to flee - with unimaginable humanitarian consequences," UN aid chief Mark Lowcock said on Tuesday (Feb 16), urging de-escalation. The recent push towards Marib by Houthi forces, who control Yemen's most populous areas, comes alongside intensified drone attacks into Saudi Arabia by the Iran-aligned group. Riyadh leads a ... » Learn More about Houthi offensive on Yemen’s Marib threatens mass displacement, UN warns