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The Star
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Singapore: New team of police officers first to be equipped with off-road vehicles, drones on patrol
Assistant Commissioner of Police Victor Ho (centre), the commander of Protective Security Command, with officers from the newly minted strategic location response teams. -- ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A specialist police unit has acquired a fleet of off-road vehicles to help officers navigate rough, unpaved terrain – and flood waters – to respond more quickly to public security incidents. The cars will be used by the Protective Security Command's (ProCom) newly established strategic location response (SLR) teams, which were officially implemented on June 22. The commander of ProCom, Assistant Commissioner of Police Victor Ho, said the aim is to strengthen the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) ability to respond more quickly and effectively to a wider range of public security incidents, such as terror attacks. 'Our officers will be patrolling key locations, including shopping centres and tourist spots, to deter and respond to any security threats,' he said. While such patrols are a mainstay of ProCom operations, SLR officers are the first to be equipped with drones and counter-drone technology such as handheld drone jammers. The new off-road vehicles – Land Rover Defender 110 – have been modified to accommodate this equipment and officers in tactical gear. They also have 360-degree camera systems, multiple airbags, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. SPF said it worked with HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) to equip SLR officers with the handheld drone jammers, which 'allow them to disrupt... unauthorised drone operations'. Strategic location response officers from the Protective Security Command demonstrating a handheld drone jammer. -- ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO These rifle-style jammers disrupt communications between a drone and its controller, preventing the drone from receiving commands. SLR officers are tactically trained and more heavily armed, as they patrol strategic locations such as critical infrastructure, tourist attractions, and other public areas with high foot traffic. In addition to bulletproof vests and helmets, they carry submachine guns. AC Ho told The Straits Times that ProCom had decided to implement SLR teams in response to evolving security threats. 'The launch of SLR (teams) will complement ground response officers in dealing with public security incidents by providing aerial surveillance and counter drone capabilities,' he said. 'This will enable the officers to better manage incidents at the onset, as these enhanced capabilities will boost the officers' ability to attend to incidents swiftly and effectively.' Assistant Superintendent of Police Jaslyn Lee, the officer in charge of a troop of SLR officers, said that compared with their predecessors, 'the new off-road vehicles offer a larger cabin space to accommodate our operational equipment and officers in tactical gear'. She added: 'Its high ground clearance allows us to move through obstacles and respond swiftly to security incidents.' A team of SLR officers showcased their abilities on June 22 at ProCom headquarters in Ulu Pandan, where they used a drone to track the movements of a 'gunman' on the third floor of a building during a simulated exercise. The drone, equipped with a camera, revealed the 'gunman's' hiding place, even showing him in thermal imaging. An officer later demonstrated using a drone jammer gun to incapacitate a drone. ProCom was formed in 2016 to protect strategic events and locations in peacetime and during national emergencies. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
15-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Serene village in China's Xi'an offers new approach to Alzheimer's care
Instead of confining sufferers behind locked doors or restricting them to rigid routines, the village offers an environment that meets them where they are. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO SINGAPORE/XI'AN – Nestled amid the verdant forest parks and mountain springs of the Zhouzhi Louguan eco-cultural tourism resort zone in Xi'an, China, is a one-of-its-kind village for seniors. Here, mornings are unhurried. In the centre of the village, a man-made lake mirrors the daylight, with the sound of water gently lapping against stone. A short stroll along the lakeside brings seniors to a bright, spacious dining hall, where breakfast is served. There is quiet chatter – even laughter – as friends greet one another, some for the third or fourth time that morning. Afterwards, a few residents go for a light workout in a tree-lined gazebo, while others head to a calligraphy or music class. If the place looks like a typical quaint Chinese village, that is because it was designed to mimic one as much as possible. Clues like a post office that does not send or receive actual mail, a convenience store that uses fake currency, and bus routes that loop endlessly around the tiny compound give away the nature of the village. Spanning over 43,000 sq m, or about the size of six football fields , the compound is an Alzheimer's disease village – a first for China. It is run by real-estate-turned-healthcare company Perennial Holdings. A mock post office and florist at the Perennial Alzheimer's Care Village Xi'an. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Earlier in June, the Singapore-based company took journalists to tour the compound along with its healthcare facilities in other Chinese cities. The innovative care model in the Perennial Alzheimer's Care Village Xi'an is designed for those living with a disease that progressively robs them of their memory, thinking and reasoning. The illness is the most common disease that causes dementia, an umbrella term for symptoms ranging from confusion to changes in behaviour, to problems with language. Instead of confining sufferers behind locked doors or restricting them to rigid routines, as in traditional eldercare facilities, the village offers an environment that meets them where they are – one built on safety, dignity and choice. Residents can move about freely and interact with one other. Staff such as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists also aim to be part of the residents' lives, engaging with them like friends or family members on top of being medical professionals. The care model was first popularised by the Hogeweyk dementia village in the Netherlands in 2009. More than a decade later, similar villages offering inclusive and small-scale communities for dementia patients have been set up in countries like France, Canada, Norway and Switzerland. When setting up the Xi'an project, the Perennial team visited some of these villages to learn from their experiences. Today, the Xi'an village comprises a dementia care home with about 450 beds, a nursing care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital and an international eldercare research institute. Since it opened progressively from March 2024, the village has hosted over 50 residents, with 26 still residing there currently. Staff aim to be part of the residents' lives, engaging with them like friends or family members on top of being medical professionals. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Dr Song Xiangying, dean of the village, said the majority of the patients, who have medium to severe symptoms, have become less agitated, happier and calmer since they were admitted to the facility. She cited the example of a man who, during his first few days after admission, would insist on going home after his meals. Instead of trying to convince him to stay, she waited with the man at one of the 'bus stops' in the compound. 'We chatted about how long it would take for him to go home and even walked to another bus stop when we had waited too long,' said Dr Song, adding that going along with the man's version of reality helped to calm him. After a few days, he stopped wanting to go home. One of the 'bus stops' in the compound. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Dr Song also said no resident has wandered out of the compound. Such behaviour, known as elopement, is common because patients may be disorientated or have a desire to fulfil former obligations or unmet needs. While the patient and understanding staff play a key role in its success, the facility is also equipped with high-tech security measures to prevent residents from wandering off. 'We use facial and video recognition to monitor the residents' whereabouts, so they do not need to put on wearable devices like bracelets,' said Dr Song. All staff, including security guards and cleaners, know residents by name and keep a watchful eye on them, she added. Residents can move about freely and interact with one another. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Among the residents is Madam Wang Lai Fei, 76. While she had displayed early signs of Alzheimer's disease since 2023, her condition deteriorated in January after her husband died. Her daughter-in-law Lu Jing said the elderly woman had wandered out on her own and got lost twice. Ms Lu then decided to admit Madam Wang to the facility as she was stressed from caregiving. 'Now, her condition is stable and she has even gained weight. She is very comfortable here, with a group of friends she can chit-chat with every day ,' said Ms Lu. (From left) Dr Song Xiangying, dean of the village, with Madam Wang Lai Fei and Madam Wang's daughter-in-law Lu Jing. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Assistant Professor Saima Hilal, from NUS' Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said that since dementia is a progressive condition with no known cure, the success of dementia villages should be measured not only by clinical outcomes like slowing of decline, but also, more importantly, by indicators of well-being and quality of life. Some useful benchmarks include engagement in daily activities; reduced reliance on antipsychotic medication, physical restraints or hospital admissions; and cost-effectiveness over time, especially when factoring in fewer emergency admissions or complications. Singapore tried to pilot its own dementia care village in 2020 in Buangkok Green, but the project attracted only one bid – a joint one by Perennial Holdings subsidiary Pre 11 and nursing and personal care operator Orpea. Ultimately, the project was shelved because the Government found the bid of $15 million to be too low. Perennial chief executive Pua Seck Guan said that if Singapore were to revive the project, the company would be 'happy to explore' opportunities, but he also cited high land costs as a challenge. The Perennial Alzheimer's Care Village Xi'an spans over 43,000 sq m, about the size of six football fields. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Prof Hilal noted that besides land costs, operational costs for such care models would also be higher due to the need for trained staff and low resident-to-staff ratios. Another challenge is the limited public-private investment, as the business model is not yet fully proven in South-east Asia. Therefore, instead of replicating large-scale dementia villages, hybrid models could be more feasible in Singapore, she said. These include embedding dementia-friendly design features in HDB estates and active ageing centres, setting up smaller cluster-living homes using under-utilised community spaces, and training neighbourhood volunteers and caregivers to support dementia-inclusive communities. 'These steps are more scalable and culturally appropriate for Singapore's high-density environment, and can deliver many of the same benefits as full-fledged dementia villages,' said Prof Hilal. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Google Cloud and Singapore launch $500,000 AI incentive for 300 Enterprises
Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling (3rd from right), with Google Cloud's executives, launching the inaugural AI Cloud Takeoff programme at Google Cloud office on June 13. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO SINGAPORE – Google's cloud unit has joined forces with the Government to outlay benefits worth $500,000 to each of 300 selected local companies in a bid to promote the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions. The AI Cloud Takeoff, as the initiative is called, provides technical guidance, Google training resources and cloud services credits to help firms build in-house AI expertise and broaden their AI pilots into core operations. Companies must be locally registered or incorporated in Singapore, commit at least three employees in AI roles for at least six months, have formal support from a business leader, and have at least one AI use case ready to be worked on. The use case will be evaluated by the Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), the government arm driving the programme, which is the first to take wing under the $150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative announced in the 2025 Budget. The initiative aims to encourage companies to partner cloud providers to accelerate enterprise AI and cloud adoption. A key feature is a two-week AI capacity building boot camp with Google Cloud's experts to help firms set up AI Centres of Excellence within six months. Singapore has at least 26 of these centres, which concentrate innovation, experimentation, training, coordination and evaluation. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said at the launch ceremony for the new programme that the Government hopes to have about 100 such centres, each serving as catalyst for broader industry transformation. Mr Mitesh Agarwal, Google Cloud's regional managing director for solutions and technology, told The Straits Times: 'When people develop Centres of Excellences, the rubber hits the road. 'That's when you start realising that hiring technical staff – AI engineers, machine learning engineers – and retaining them, keeping them motivated, is not easy.' Selected firms could consult seven advisory firms – Accenture, AsiaPac, CloudMile, Deloitte, Kyndryl, NTT Data, and Searce – to help them take their data exploration and experimentation stages to model training, deployment, performance monitoring and optimisation. Participants have six months to set a budget and turn out at least one viable AI use case. The grant will be disbursed in tranches as each milestone is hit. Mr Andy Welsh, chief technology officer of fintech Embed, which has been trialling the programme, urged firms to pick existing problems when formulating their viable use case. 'You have got people watching the problem and complaining about it. You get feedback quicker and you get results quicker. Don't invent a problem. Stick to something that's already nagging you.' The $500,000 grant comprises an estimated $105,000 to subsidise 70 per cent of consultancy service costs, $200,000 for training credits and certifications and $195,000 for cloud credits. Andy Welsh, Chief Technology Officer at fintech Embed, demonstrating his company's AI solution for arcade gaming at the launch of AI Cloud Take-Off (AI CTO) held at the Google office in Pasir Panjang on June 13. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Mr Agarwal said the last tranche, cloud credits, is designed to encourage firms to take the final step – deployment. He said: 'When you deploy in a real world environment, that's where the (cloud) consumption goes up based on usage of your own customers.' Google Cloud, the world's third-largest cloud services provider by market share, estimates that a $150,000 budget set aside by companies would be enough for them to produce at least one viable use case. It added that firms applying for the programme do not need to be current Google customers. It is also prepared to support more enterprises if more than 300 companies apply. The new scheme replaces Google's 2023 AI Trailblazers programme that graduated 213 firms at early stages of AI adoption. All are now Google's customers, said Mr Agarwal. Firms were too wary of security and quality issues to adopt AI then, but the market is now more mature where many companies have already tried and adopted at least one enterprise AI solution, he added. As well as Embed, supply chain solutions firm YCH Group, investment platform Endowus and software company Polybee are among the 30 firms that have been trialling the new programme since late 2024. YCH is taking its new AI-powered document and cargo scanning solution to use in the Vietnam SuperPort. It plans to introduce the tool progressively in supply chain cities in Singapore and Malaysia. Container leasing company Seaco put up 30 AI use cases for the pilot. About six weeks ago, it started using AI to identify damaged containers at the Tuas depot. Mr Damian Leach, its chief information officer, said the automation has reduced times from days and weeks to a matter of minutes. Savings are expected to be around $10 million annually at least. He said: 'We interface with over 500 ports and depots across the world. A lot of these ports and depots are in emerging markets, and as you would imagine, the technology in those emerging markets isn't that great. 'So for us, the depot process was a critical function that we wanted to automate.' Embed, which provides services to entertainment complexes such as Timezone games arcades, introduced its AI kiosk solution in the US to personalise game rec ommendations and themes based on customer preferences . It is also able to direct customers to less performing games in an arcade. It's CTO, Mr Welsh, said: 'The cool part about this is that this AI says these games are underperforming at the moment, we need to drive more traffic that way.' Companies can apply at They can also contact Google Cloud at to discuss their AI use case. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New campaign by Singapore charity TomoWork spotlights persons with invisible disabilities
Mr Thaddaeus John Tham Yong Yi (right), who has dyslexia, and Ms Lai Su Ying, who is hard of hearing, at the launch of the Infinity Within Campaign at Republic Polytechnic on June 12. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO New campaign by Singapore charity TomoWork spotlights persons with invisible disabilities SINGAPORE – In secondary school, Mr Thaddaeus John Tham Yong Yi struggled in spelling and grammar. While his classmates were were doing well , he was barely passing his English composition essays. Unknown to them, Mr Tham has dyslexia, an invisible disability that affects his reading and writing skills. Unaware of his condition, his peers were confused as to why he was poor in the English language. When he later entered Ngee Ann Polytechnic to study biomedical engineering, the feeling of isolation deepened. This changed when he found help from TomoWork, a Singapore charity which advocates for disability inclusion in companies. Mr Tham, 20, has now taken a further step by helping to raise awareness of people with invisible disabilities like himself. The recent polytechnic graduate is part of a group of youth who worked with TomoWork to help shape a new campaign called Infinity Within. The year-long campaign, announced at Republic Polytechnic at the Tomo Day 2025 event on June 12, calls for greater support for people with invisible disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, and partial hearing or vision loss in Singapore. The campaign will feature a mix of online and offline initiatives, such as videos and articles available at and talks at TomoWork's corporate partners such as insurer Singlife to raise public awareness. As part of the campaign, TomoWork has produced an 'imVISIBLE pin'. In the shape of an infinity symbol, the pin is half-purple and half-transparent. The purple on the imVISIBLE pin represents allyship with persons with disabilities, while the transparent portion represents the unseen challenges of invisible disabilities. The infinity symbol is used as it has been a long-standing symbol associated with neurodiversity. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO The pin is meant for individuals to identify themselves with an invisible disability, for allies to show support for inclusion and to foster conversations about such disabilities. Speaking at the event, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua said: 'The pin represents not just disability, but also our collective commitment to build a more empathetic, caring and inclusive Singapore where everyone can truly contribute and thrive.' Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development & Ministry of Law, speaks at the launch of the Infinity Within Campaign. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Mr Tham, who helped design the pin, hopes that it will remind persons with disabilities that they are not alone. He said: 'I hope that the pin becomes a powerful, lasting symbol that shows people with invisible disabilities do exist, and that they deserve to be seen, heard and respected.' Mr Tham found a stronger sense of belonging after meeting peers with similar experiences, after joining TomoWork's Talent Accelerator Programme in 2025. The stint is a 12-week programme that aims to bridge the gap between education and employment for graduating polytechnic and ITE students with disabilities, by preparing them for work and helping them learn soft skills. During the programme, groups of students are attached to an organsation to come up with a solution to a problem. The programme's participants helped to produce all online content for the Infinity Within campaign. The pin will be given to all 33 participants of the 2025 programme, which ends on June 13, as well as donors who donate S$60 and above to TomoWork. Now in its fifth edition, 118 students with special educational needs have benefitted from the Talent Accelerator Programme since 2021. And nearly 80 per cent of them have found jobs within six months of completing the programme. Ms Lai Su Ying, 21, a participant of the programme in 2024, helped create videos for the campaign, sharing her experiences and challenges with her disability. Ms Lai, who is hard of hearing, hopes that the campaign will bring more attention to persons with disabilities and that general public will be more inclusive towards them. She said: 'We're not just disabled people. We are persons with disabilities. We are not disability focused first, we are still people first. We are all still people, and we are all still human.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Instead of Sunday brunch, some Singaporeans now opt for a game of pickleball
Video game producer Janine Campbell plays pickleball twice a week - once during a group lesson with Performance Pickleball, and the other with her family and friends. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Instead of Sunday brunch, some Singaporeans now opt for a game of pickleball SINGAPORE – Once a week, video game producer Janine Campbell picks up a paddle, grabs her visor and wristband and heads for a pickleball lesson after work. After her husband introduced her to the sport, she enrolled herself in group lessons at Performance Pickleball , an indoor facility in Punggol, in January. 'It's fun and I really like the sport,' said Campbell, 45. 'I'm at my desk constantly and pickleball lets me get some fresh air, laughter and exercise in a really fun way.' She is among many Singaporeans who are picking up this racket sport. The sport – a cross between tennis and table tennis, played on a badminton-sized court – was invented in the United States in the 1960s, and is known to be popular among seniors, due to its low-impact nature. Now, pickleball courts are frequented by the young and old for corporate bonding sessions and as a Sunday family activity. Professionals, hobbyists and businesses have observed an uptake in interest and participation in recent years. 'In the past, youth described pickleball as a sport for seniors, but it is now described as the 'in' sport,' said president of Singapore Pickleball Association Lim Ee Kiong , adding that this can be attributed to the sport's social nature. Pickleball is also easier to pick up than other racket sports, said founders of Performance Pickleball and former national tennis players Jeremy Soh and Jeovanne Poernomo . Performance Pickleball founders Jeovanne Poernomo and Jeremy Soh have grown the community to one that has more than 5,000 members. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO 'The court is smaller, the ball is slower, and the paddle is lighter – it's a lot easier because you don't have to wield a long racket,' said Soh. 'Compared to padel and tennis, the risk of injury is a lot lower, the explosiveness required and the strain on your joints is a lot less.' Soh and Poernomo opened the sports club and facility in July 2024, and it now has over 5,000 members. New joiners can opt for a one-day course – which is possible since the sport is easy to pick up – said Poernomo, and the club also offers group and private lessons as well as court bookings. 'There's a real community spirit and vibe. Through classes and games, finding people to play a game with is much easier, especially since the sport is quite popular now,' said Campbell. Its popularity has spread islandwide – there are currently over 5,000 active players, and more than a fifth of them compete in tournaments. Bookings at the 30 public pickleball courts have more than tripled since 2023, said a spokesperson for national sports agency Sport Singapore. Public interest groups at ActiveSG sport halls in neighbourhoods such as Jurong West, Clementi and Bedok have more than 2,000 members, added the spokesperson. One of these members is Chua Cheng Yao, 25, who joins a group in north-eastern Singapore for weekly sessions at community centres or outdoor courts. She also plays with a regular group of friends about thrice a week, usually at the tennis court of a condominium. She picked up pickleball, which she said seemed 'less intimidating' and social, in 2024 as she wanted to continue playing sport after graduating from university. 'Pickleball is easy to start but hard to master, and that's what makes it so fun and addictive,' she said. Businesses ride the trend Tennis players have been flocking to courts on the rooftop of Suntec City since sports club MBP Sports opened a facility there in 2005. In 2022, paddles joined tennis rackets as the club started offering pickleball memberships after noticing interest from both locals and expatriates. 'It's going crazy, especially with the corporates, and families are picking it up too,' said founder Chris Mullins . Pickleball court bookings are almost full during after-work hours on weekdays and throughout the day on weekends, and MBP hosts about two corporate sessions a week, he added. Businesses are capitalising on the boom – retailers are stocking their shelves with equipment and coaches are offering more lessons. At sports retailer Sportsshop SG , shelves were reorganised to make room for pickleball equipment in 2023, following requests from customers. The retailer, which has two stores in Singapore, has since more than tripled its product offerings for the sport. Sportsshop SG has more than tripled its product offerings for pickleball since 2023. PHOTO: SPORTSSHOP SG It decided to bring in products catering to all levels, from beginners to competitive players, after they noticed that Singaporeans were looking for variety and quality, said a spokesman. Even eateries want a piece of the pie: Bubble tea chain PlayMade expanded their brand offerings beyond drinks, and started selling pickleball equipment online in 2024. Playmade's team designed and produced three types of paddles meant for different skill levels, and even submitted the model for professionals to USA Pickleball for certification. The chain has also organised pickleball tournaments and open play sessions, handing out drinks or drink vouchers to participants. The bubble tea chain PlayMade has organised coaching clinics, leagues and open play sessions since it piloted its pickleball project in early 2024. PHOTO: PLAYMADE SINGAPORE Growing the sport here Soh is convinced that pickleball's loyal following is here to stay, but acknowledges that support is needed to grow the sport through programmes, facilities and tournaments. He said: 'A lot of what we do, we don't do it for profit and we're really trying to create a better community. It's about the laughter and fun, it's about having to chill, hang out and de-stress after work.' The Singapore Pickleball Association organises and funds multiple tournaments, such as the Pesta Sukan and Singapore Pickleball Open, despite having to fork out money as it is 'impossible to break even', said its president Lim. He added: 'As the national sports association, we recognise that tournaments are instrumental... We hope more sponsors would be able to support the sport financially. Our current objective is to establish a lively culture based on sporting values.' The association has been working with schools to incorporate the sport in the physical education curriculum, and it has organised competitions such as the inter-school pickleball tournament on May 10, which featured 13 teams from nine schools. Students from River Valley High School look on as their schoolmate plays in a match at the Inter-School Pickleball Tournament on May 10. PHOTO: SINGAPORE PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION/FACEBOOK But the sport has yet to be recognised as a co-curricular activity and make its appearance at the National School Games, which is what the association hopes to push for, said Lim. He hopes it will also eventually be among the sports included in the direct school admission programme. For pickleball athletes such as Soh, having the sport featured on a bigger stage would be a sure-fire way to make its mark. 'I hope to see the sport in the SEA Games soon,' said Soh, who has competed in pickleball tournaments abroad. 'Asians are generally pretty good at sports played in smaller spaces.' 'I think Asian pickleball will eventually match up to that of the United States and Europe, and even surpass them.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
