New Bidadari Park inspired by Winnie the Pooh forest, features recreational lake, trails and treehouse playground

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who inaugurated the area on Tuesday, noted that the original Bidadari tomb had been exhumed in the first 2000s in order to build new cover.

The place became efficient over time and nature settled in while waiting for its potential usage. Special consideration was given to integrating green spaces into the Bidadari land when it was developing. And there was already a lot of existing foliage, and some of the trees around pre-date the house by many, many times”, Mr Lee said.

The chancellor added that vegetation was a key target of the property’s masterplan. &nbsp,

In 2013, Bidadari was officially designated as a fresh cover district. Comprising four districts, the precinct has 12 Build-to-Order ( BTO ) developments.

Now, a full of 6, 771 condos have been completed, making up more than 75 per share of the 8, 872 cottages in the house. By the end of the year, the remaining apartments are anticipated to get finished. &nbsp,

Housing and Development Board ( HDB), National Parks Board ( NPPs ), national water agency PUB, and National Heritage Board all collaborated to create BIdadari Park.

The biggest public garden that HDB had created in collaboration with other organizations was Bidadari Park, according to Mr. Wan Khin Wai, the chief engineer and director of pattern development at HDB. &nbsp,

We have engaged the Nature Society ( Singapore ) to help us understand the area’s rich biodiversity and the natural terrain in the planning and design of the park. With this information, we have actually used these qualities and features to design our park spaces to serve the needs of residents” .&nbsp,

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‘Hundred Acre Wood’-inspired Bidadari Park opens, includes recreational lake that mitigates flood risk

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee made reference to the first 2000s exhumation of the original Bidadari tomb for future cover when opening the area on Tuesday.

The area gradually became natural as it was waited for its potential use, and nature eventually settled in. Special consideration was given to integrating green spaces into the Bidadari property when it was developing this house. And there was already a lot of existing foliage, and some of the trees around pre-date the house by many, many times”, Mr Lee said.

The secretary added that vegetation was a key target of the property’s masterplan. &nbsp,

In 2013, Bidadari was officially designated as a fresh cover district. Comprising four districts, the precinct has 12 Build-To-Order ( BTO ) developments.

Now, a full of 6, 771 condos have been completed, making up more than 75 per share of the 8, 872 cottages in the house. By the end of the year, the remaining apartments are anticipated to get finished. &nbsp,

Housing and Development Board ( HDB), National Parks Board ( NPPs ), national water agency PUB, and National Heritage Board all collaborated to create BIdadari Park.

According to Mr. Wan Khin Wai, the director of architecture development for HDB, Bidadari Park was the largest open park that the company had created in collaboration with other organizations. &nbsp,

” We have actively engaged the Nature Society ( Singapore ) in the planning and design of the park to help us gain a deeper understanding of the natural terrain and the area’s rich biodiversity. With this information, we have actually used these qualities and features to design our park spaces to serve the needs of residents” .&nbsp,

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Popular Japanese sushi chain Chiyoda Sushi opening first Singapore outlet in September

In September, Chiyoda Sushi will open its second Singapore location at Plaza Singapura. The stockpiling was still visible inside the room kiosk unit at the time of writing.

According to Chiyoda Sushi’s website, it uses ingredients from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market ( formerly known as Tsukiji Market ), which will be air-flown here for the Singapore branch.

Other than sushi rice, the network also offers made-on-site “assorted rice models, annual fish sets, sets of your choice, rice rolls, fusion-style rice rolls and inari sushi”.

Chiyoda Sushi is opening circa September 2024 at# B1-56, 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839.

This article was first published in 8Days.

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Pope Francis embarks on ambitious Asia-Pacific tour

Pope Francis has embarked on the longest and farthest trip of his career, which will see him fly nearly 33, 000km ( 20, 500 yards ) to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.

For a male who turns 88 in December and has been dealing with a number of health issues, it’s a specially difficult journey.

Francis is expected to highlight environmental concerns and the importance of interfaith dialogue during his 11-day trip. Timor-Leste is the only one of the four countries that is predominantly Catholic.

He is expected to arrive in Jakarta at around 11: 30 local time ( 04: 30 GMT ) on Tuesday, where he will visit the Indonesian capital’s main mosque.

Pieces of Francis’s journey, which was actually scheduled in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, will repeat the steps of St John Paul II, who likewise visited the four countries during his 27-year pope.

Francis wrote on X on Monday,” Now I begin an Apostolic Journey to some countries in Asia and Oceania.” ” Choose pray that this journey will have fruit.”

Francis has urged the Catholic Church to “bring God’s satisfaction” toward the “periphery” since winning the election in 2013 by referring to areas that are marginalized or far away.

He is only the second pontiff to visit Indonesia, which has the largest inhabitants of Muslims worldwide.

According to the Vatican News, he will meet with the incoming president Joko Widodo and perform a large for about 70, 000 people that during his four days, according to the Vatican News.

The great imam of the Jakarta dome Francis will be visiting, Nasaruddin Umar, told the AP that he hopes the attend will provide opportunities to “discuss the common ground between spiritual communities and emphasize the similarities between faiths, ethnicities, and beliefs.”

Francis will go to the isolated, impoverished city of Vanimo to fulfill with missionaries from his birth country, Argentina, who have been arranging visits to tribal communities.

Miguel de la Calle, an Argentine preacher in Papua New Guinea’s north-westernmost area, said he hoped the priest’s visit do” significantly raise” ongoing evangelisation work in the country.

He told Vatican News that people have been visiting the bishop from all of PNG and even across the frontier from Indonesia.

” Some have been walking for time due to the scarcity of transportation”, Father Miguel said.

In Timor-Leste, Francis will attend mass in the investment Dili, on the same seafront boulevard where John Paul II spoke in 1989 to comfort native Catholics who suffered under Indonesia’s job of the territory. Timor-Leste gained freedom in 2002.

The sheen of Francis’s visit to the country has dimmed in recent days, however, following revelations that hundreds of homes in the area were bulldozed . Nearly 90 residents were told to find somewhere new to live before he arrives.

Francis will conclude his journey to Singapore, where three-quarters of the populace is Taiwanese and Mandarin is one of the country’s four formal languages. Generally accepted, this attend aims to strengthen ties with China.

No bishop has ever traveled to China, as strained relations between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party have been over who can appoint bishops there.

Both sides are believed to have reached a deal on this in 2018, which gives the Vatican a say on such appointments.

Francis will travel with a physician and two midwives in his absence. Fears have been raised about the effects of for an ambitious plan on his ailing health.

Francis, who has had part of one lung removed in his younger days, had been struggling with respiratory and mobility problems of late – some of which have led him to miss his weekly Sunday blessings.

Due to a heart disease, he had to cancel his trip to Dubai for the annual UN climate meeting in November last yr.

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Cathay Pacific grounds planes after engine problem

Hong Kong’s flagship airline Cathay Pacific has cancelled two dozen flights after a plane heading from the city to Zurich was forced to turn around due to an “engine component failure”.

The business claims to have been looking at all 48 of its Airbus A350 plane and has discovered that a worn-out part in some of the vehicles needs to be replaced.

Rolls-Royce has told the BBC the aircraft was powered by its Trent XWB-97 machines.

The UK-based executive bear’s shares fell by more than 6 % in Monday’s buying program in London.

The engine aspect that caused Cathay Pacific’s aircraft to fly back to Hong Kong was” the first of its kind to experience for failure on any A350 plane worldwide,” according to Cathay Pacific.

According to the flight,” We have identified a number of the same engine parts that need to be replaced, free pieces have been secured, and repair work is currently being done,” the flight said in a statement.

As a result, a number of aviation will be out of company for some days while the work is being completed, and Cathay Pacific’s working schedule will be impacted.

After on Tuesday, the flight anticipates finishing its A350 ship inspection.

Cathay Pacific received the first of its Airbus A350 plane in 2016, which are equipped with fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce vehicles.

Rolls-Royce told BBC News,” We are committed to working closely with the airline, plane manufacturer, and the relevant authorities to help their investigation into this incident.”

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Indian comedian Vir Das performing in Singapore in October

Vir Das, a well-known American actor, will make another appearance in Singapore in October. The 45-year-old is set to perform a one-night present at the Capitol Theatre on Oct 30&nbsp, – about a month after his last performance around.

Das ‘ show may have two pre-sale classes. The first event will be an artiste presale that will take place on Wednesday ( Sep. 4 ) from 12 noon to 11 p.m. To get in on this, followers will need to head to Das ‘ established site.

Members of Life Nation will have access to the following presale session on September 5 from 12 noon to 11 p.m.

Lastly, tickets to the people will be available on Sep 6, from 12pm, via Ticketmaster. At a later time, rates may become announced.

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Engine issues force Cathay Pacific to inspect A350 fleet, cancel flights

After finding some engine problems on the long-haul aircraft, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd claims that it is being forced to withdraw some flights as a result of a “precautionary” examination of its full Airbus SE A350 ship.

The Hong Kong-based airline, one of the largest owners of the marquee jet made by the European airline, announced it had discovered an engine component failure on an A350 aircraft that had to take it back to Zurich on Monday ( Sept 2 ) after checking in with the airline on Monday ( Sept 2 )

A later inspection of the ships revealed” a number of the same engine parts that need to be replaced,” according to Cathay.

The company did n’t specify the issue it had found on the engine, which is made by Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc.

The motor company stated in a statement that it is” committed to working closely with the airport, plane manufacturer, and the appropriate authorities to help their research into this incident,” while Airbus referred to the website manufacturer and the flight for comment.

Rolls-Royce fell as much as 8.2 % in London investing, the biggest fall in two years. Investors have become cautious in recent years because of website issues as a destructive force in the aviation industry, despite the unknown cause of the potential fault.

Some smaller Airbus A320neo planes powered by the Pratt &amp, Whitney motor have experienced issues that have temporarily grounded some of the mainstay ship at companies like Wizz Air Holdings Plc, IndiGo, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Emirates president Tim Clark has harshly criticized the Rolls-Royce engine, which is known as the XWB-97, because he claims it does n’t provide the required operating cycles between maintenance in hot and dusty environments like Dubai.

The website creator just committed to an intensive programme to improve its variety of vehicles, which power long-range plane like the A350, the older A330neo and the Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner.

The fleet-wide assessment of Cathay’s 48 A350 aircraft may indicate that some of its planes will be out of support” for some days”, shaping schedules, the organization said.

The airline announced that it had canceled 24 gain planes as of September 3 until the end of that day.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced in a statement that it has been informed about the Cathay A350 affair and has contacts with Airbus and Rolls-Royce. A formal inspection was being conducted, according to the controller.

An EASA spokesperson stated that” we will be monitoring any information coming out of the professional analysis and making decisions as needed”

The stock fall on Monday represents a reverse of fortune for Rolls-Royce, whose stock have increased over the past two decades as a result of optimism that the business is more disciplined on prices and is focused on more profitable programs.

Rolls-Royce is the sole engine provider for the Airbus A350, which comes in two sizes: the smaller -900 variant and the larger -1000 type.

The aircraft, which is made partially of lightweight composite components, competes with the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 models.

Cathay has a long history of a devoted Airbus customer, and the company just placed an order for up to 60 Airbus A330neo twin-aisle jets last month. In 2013, Boeing last received a purchase order from Cathay. – Bloomberg

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Indonesian, Malaysian troops celebrate unity at border in honour of Malaysia’s National Day

On Monday ( Sept 2 ), military personnel from both countries gathered at the Simanggaris Joint Security Post, which is close to Sabah in Malaysia and Nunukan in North Kalimantan, to celebrate a moment of calm at the Malaysia-Indonesia border.

On the occasion of Malaysia’s 67th National Day, the Border Security Task Force of Yon Armed 11 from Indonesia’s Kostrad ( Strategic Reserve Command ) congratulated their counterparts from the Malaysian Army.

The occasion was humble but profoundly significant, with surveillance officers from both places, stationed at the border region, interacting enthusiastically with one another, according to Yon Armed 11 Kostrad.

We wish all Malaysians the best of luck on the 67th Independence Day, particularly our companions from the Malaysian Army who are stationed at this frontier.

Second Lieutenant Toffano Adita Bangun, the captain of the Simanggaris Joint Security Post, vowed to keep the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation between our two nations alive.

The occasion continued with a cake-cutting service, a photo program, and the transfer of souvenirs as a symbol of camaraderie, with the environment shared on established social media.

The men at the frontier maintain a harmonious relationship despite being from different states, according to Yon Armed 11 Kostrad, who reported that the hot and parental atmosphere was present.

In a post titled” The Harmony of Indonesian and Malaysian Soldiers at the Border,” it stated,” It is hoped that the connection between Indonesia and Malaysia will become stronger, particularly among the security staff at the frontier.” – Bernama

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China’s mission to win African hearts with satellite TV

BBC Graphic showing Kenyans watching television along with an inset of the StarTimes satellite dish BBC

Chinese President Xi Jinping may have something to talk about as African rulers gather in Beijing this week for the quarterly China-Africa mountain.

President Xi promised to provide access to digital TV to over 10,000 remote villages in 23 African nations almost nine years ago to the heads of state present at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation ( FOCAC ) in Johannesburg.

With over 9, 600 settlements having received dish system, the initiative is now nearing conclusion.

The optimistic commitment, revealed during a period of hot China-Africa relations and funded by China’s support budget, was entrusted to StarTimes, a secret Chinese company currently operating in many African countries.

It appeared to be a show of kindness and a chance for China to exercise its soft power in a crucial place.

The BBC visited four settlements in Kenya to find out if this” sweet power” action had worked. China’s economy is struggling and Beijing is re-calibrating its Africa plan.

In the town of Olasiti, about three hours ‘ drive north of the money, Nairobi, Nicholas Nguku gathered his friends and family to enjoy Kenyan runners running at the Paris Olympics on tv.

” I’m very glad to see the Olympics, which for many times we had not been able to see before we got StarTimes”, he said, speaking of the company’s installation of dish meals about four years ago.

Nicholas Nguku gathered his friends and family to watch the Paris Olympic games at his home in a village west of Nairobi

He is not the only one who has benefited from StarTimes ‘ presence in Africa. StarTimes, one of the largest private digital TV services in sub-Saharan Africa, was first introduced to the globe in 2008, and has grown to more than 16 million users.

According to analysts, low initial costs first helped to secure its hold.

In Kenya, monthly digital TV packages range from 329 shillings ($ 2.50, £2 ) to 1, 799 shillings ($ 14, £10.50 ).

In contrast, a regular package for DStv, owned by MultiChoice, another key player in the American digital TV business, costs between 700 and 10, 500 pounds.

While StarTimes largely relies on membership for its main profit, the” 10, 000 Settlements Project” is funded by China’s state–run South-South Assistance Fund.

The satellite dishes all feature the StarTimes brand, Kenya’s Ministry of Information icon, and a purple” China Aid” brand. During the installation of these dishes, StarTimes staff said that this was a “gift” from China, many people recalled.

A StarTimes satellite dish atop a village house in Kenya

The task had the ability to convey a positive message about China to African viewers, according to Dr. Angela Lewis, an intellectual who has written extensively about StarTimes in Africa.

Villagers under the job basically received anything for free, including the system, such as a dish food, power, and installation, as well as a subscription to StarTimes ‘ content.

According to Dr. Lewis, this changed the game because previously remote African communities were primarily served by choppy and unreliable analogue TV.

For many, this was their first access to satellite dishes, altering the way villagers interacted with the outside world, she said.

Subscriptions are still free for Ainomoi village in western Kenya’s community centers like hospitals and schools.

A digital TV in the waiting area at the neighborhood clinic makes it easier for patients to pass the time. And at a primary school, pupils enjoy watching cartoons after school.

” After we finish schoolwork, we’ll all watch cartoons together and it’s a very enjoyable and bonding experience”, said Ruth Chelang’at, an eighth-grade student at the school.

However, the BBC spoke to a number of Kenyan households who claimed the free trial unexpectedly only lasted a short period of time.

Many people thought expanding subscriptions was a significant financial burden despite its relatively affordable cost.

With that, the initial excitement has waned among some of the project’s beneficiaries, putting a dent in China’s push to build up goodwill.

” We were all very happy when we first got the satellite dish, but it was only free for a few months, and after that we had to pay”, said Rose Chepkemoi, from Chemori village in Kericho county. We stopped using it because it was too much, so we did.

Without a subscription, only certain free-to-air channels, such as the Kenyan Broadcasting Cooperation, are available, according to those who no longer subscribe to StarTimes packages.

Many villagers in four different villages where StarTimes dishes were distributed by the BBC reported stopping using StarTimes after the free trial ended. The Ainamoi village chief claimed that many of the 25 initial households that had the satellite dishes in his village opted not to subscribe.

The BBC contacted StarTimes to ask for opinion on the free trials, but they did not receive a response.

China’s influence extends to the content broadcast on StarTimes channels, with mixed results. Channels like Sino Drama and Kung Fu, which primarily feature Chinese films and series, are included in even the cheapest packages.

In 2023, over 1, 000 Chinese movies and TV shows were dubbed into local languages, Ma Shaoyong, StarTimes ‘ head of public relations, told local media. In Kenya’s case, in 2014, the company launched a channel called ST Swahili, dedicated to Swahili content.

Many villagers who have seen Chinese television said they found the programming to be uninteresting because it depicts Chinese characters in a one-dimensional way, with shows frequently centered on stereotypical themes.

A quick glance through the guide will reveal a number of romance- or dating-focused programs, including a well-known reality series called Hello, Mr. Right, where contestants seek to find their perfect match. The format was based on a Chinese television program called If You Are the One.

For some at least, that content is a reason to continue the subscription. Ariana Nation Ngotiek, a 21-year-old from Olasiti village, is “obsessed” with certain shows, like the Chinese series Eternal Love, which is dubbed into English. ” I wo n’t go to sleep without watching it”, she said.

Football is the real crowd-puller

Football is still the main draw for African audiences, though. In 2023, for example, the Africa Cup of Nations ( Afcon ) had a record number of nearly two billion viewers globally, according to the Confederation of African Football.

Aware of this business opportunity, StarTimes has heavily invested in securing broadcasting rights for football matches, including Afcon, Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga.

According to Dr. Lewis,” StarTimes got its name from sports broadcasting.”

Competition is fierce, however, and SuperSport, a subsidiary of MultiChoice, reportedly pays over$ 200m ( £152m ) annually for rights to broadcast the coveted English Premier League.

StarTimes took the opportunity to build massive billboards in Nairobi that read” Feel the full thrill of La Liga,” followed by the StarTimes logo, after French football megastar Kylian Mbappé made the announcement that he was joining Spain’s Real Madrid.

However, this does not work for everyone.

One football fan claimed to “rather enjoy the thrill of Premier League” and told the BBC.

” The majority of Kenyans are not into La Liga, it’s the English Premier League that draws the audience”, explained Levi Obonyo, a professor at Nairobi’s Daystar University.

A StarTimes advertisement billboard by a highway in Nairobi featuring the tagline "Feel the full thrill of La Liga"

While China’s international-facing state broadcaster CGTN, is included in its cheapest package, unlike the BBC and CNN, it does not draw in the viewers.

” Yes, we also have Chinese news, but I do n’t watch it”, said Lily Ruto, a retired teacher in Kericho county. ” What’s it called again? N something C? T something N”” she laughed as she shrugged her shoulders.

Dr Dani Madrid-Morales, a lecturer at the University of Sheffield, echoes that StarTimes has not revolutionised the]African ] news environment.

Local media outlets are preferred by the majority of the population. That is something StarTimes is aware of. In fact, with over 95 % of its 5, 000-strong African staff being local, according to a company spokesperson, it aims to present itself as prioritising African voices.

StarTimes was trying to prevent a repeat of what has happened to the likes of TikTok and Huawei, whose overt Chinese-ness have drawn a lot of attention in the West, according to a consultant to Chinese media companies in Africa.

Dr Lewis ‘ study of news stories from 2015 to 2019 reinforces this, noting that most news stories mentioning StarTimes did not reference China or China-Africa relations. The business appears cautious to avoid making an overt mention of its Chinese roots.

From talk of the town to a footnote

The” 10,000 Villages Project” has helped the private company StarTimes reach new heights of fame and has had significant success over the years.

However, as Beijing hosts yet another FOCAC, the image-building effect of the project that China had hoped for has failed to materialise.

” There was an attempt for the government to rebalance the information flow that would put China under a positive light, but that has not materialised”, said Dr Madrid-Morales. The amount of money invested in this has not actually had a positive impact on the Chinese government.

The majority of the villagers we spoke to were concerned about content and costs. As rusty as several of the satellite dishes themselves, the project, once the talk of the town, has seemingly been relegated to a footnote in China’s soft-power outreach.

” Yes, we know it comes from China, but it makes no difference if no-one is using it”, said Ms Chepkemoi, who has cancelled her StarTimes subscription.

BBC coverage of this subject follows:

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