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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
How Singapore built one of the world's most connected cities
Powered by Singtel, the country's telecommunications backbone gives the resource-scarce island state a critical advantage in today's digital age Connectivity has transformed over the decades, enabling Singaporeans to enjoy everything from online grocery runs to movie streaming and digital services. PHOTOS: SPH MEDIA, SINGTEL Even as the digital world today moves at lightning speed, Singapore is setting the pace for tomorrow. From the first telephone exchange in 1879 to today's 5G+ network powering smart city innovations like real-time health monitoring and autonomous vehicles, Singapore has long pushed the boundaries of telecommunications. Watch this video to find out how connectivity shaped the Singapore we live in today Decades of investment, innovation and nation-building have resulted in a powerful network of connectivity – one that spans undersea cables, satellite links and mobile networks – linking Singapore to the region and the world. At the heart of it all is Singtel, keeping the nation connected every step of the way. Explore this journey through the archives of The Straits Times. In 1879, Singapore introduced a 50-line telephone system, becoming the first city in the East to do so. This early network linked businesses across the port city. Over time, connectivity became a key enabler, helping the resource-scarce island seize global opportunities through strong telecommunications infrastructure. Since its early days, Singtel has built and strengthened Singapore's telecoms backbone – from the opening of Comcentre, the first skyscraper here with rooftop microwave dishes, to achieving nationwide 5G coverage. Today, its vast network of cables, satellites and 5G+ network links Singapore to the region and beyond. In 2022, Singtel became the first in the world to roll out 5G standalone nationwide and offer network slicing, paving the way for a future of autonomous vehicles, real-time health monitoring and smart manufacturing facilities. Today, Singapore's Smart Nation vision is no longer just a blueprint, but our lived reality. Backed by robust cyber defences, the nation is not just keeping pace – it is unlocking new possibilities, from 3G to 6G and beyond.


USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fights Jake Paul days before ICE arrest
Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fights Jake Paul days before ICE arrest 16 PHOTOS


Observer
28-06-2025
- General
- Observer
Mango Festival in Al Awabi highlights heritage
AL AWABI: The first edition of the Al Awabi Mangos Festival concluded in Al Alia village in the Wilayat of Al Awabi, Al Batinah South Governorate, on Saturday. The festival was organised by the Office of the Governor of Al Batinah South Governorate, in collaboration with several local institutions and farmers. The festival aimed to highlight the Omani mango tree and promote it as an agricultural heritage that represents an integral part of the village and region's identity. It also highlighted the agricultural importance and status of the mango tree in the community. Al Alia village is well-known for its abundant produce of high-quality mango varieties. Mango is a prolific fruit-bearing tree distinguished by its sweet, juicy flesh and rich flavour which placed it among the most-consumed highly-demanded fruits. The festival included a variety of cultural, agricultural and entertainment activities which appealed to various segments of society. Most notable among these were the market corner, which showcased local agricultural products and traditional handicrafts; the rural entrepreneurship corner, which showcased youth initiatives and projects; the small farmer corner, which taught children the principles and importance of agriculture and the interactive theatre corner, which hosted cultural, artistic and entertainment segments. The festival also included an awareness lecture on mango cultivation and care methods, an experience of picking the fruit directly from the trees, tours to explore the landmarks of Al Alia village and entertainment competitions. Mango Festival in Al Awabi highlights heritage Oman's commitment to mango cultivation is further reflected in a comprehensive scientific encyclopedia on the mango tree, considered the first of its kind globally. Commissioned in 2005 under the royal directives of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the encyclopedia took nearly a decade to complete and was launched in 2016 in Arabic, English, French and Spanish, with an electronic version also available for global access. This encyclopedia documents mango cultivation in 65 countries and serves as a vital scientific reference for protecting Omani mango varieties, combating agricultural pests and mitigating the effects of salinity on production. Historically, mango cultivation dates back around 6,000 years in South Asia and was introduced to Oman through ancient trade routes during the 10th century AD. Today, mango ranks as the fourth most important fruit crop in the Sultanate of Oman, after date palms, citrus fruits and bananas, with popular local varieties including Al Halkoom and Banana Stick. By celebrating this beloved fruit, the festival strengthens community ties to agricultural heritage and highlights the importance of conserving rare local varieties for future generations. TEXT & PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI


Otago Daily Times
15-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Avalanche shelter wins award
The avalanche shelter at the Homer Tunnel has been recognised at the Concrete Construction Awards. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A new avalanche shelter at the eastern portal of the Homer Tunnel on State Highway 94 earned a highly commended honour for its outstanding engineering, resilience, and environmental sensitivity at the 2025 Concrete Construction Awards in Auckland last week. Commissioned by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, the project replaced an ageing structure in one of the most avalanche-prone stretches of New Zealand's state highway network. Constructed in a remote, high-risk alpine setting within Fiordland National Park — a Unesco World Heritage site — the shelter was designed to endure some of the harshest natural forces in the country. The shelter provides protection from avalanches, seismic activity and rockfalls. The judges praised the structure as an exemplary response to the complex demands of resilience and sustainability in a sensitive environmental context. The entrance/exit to the tunnel. The shelter, which was built using precast concrete, reduced time on site, lowering carbon emissions and minimising environmental disruption while "blending into the Fiordland National Park landscape". "Innovative detailing, digital modelling and cultural design integration showcased concrete's versatility in delivering infrastructure that is not only safer and stronger, but also sensitive to its surroundings." In their notes the awards panel said concrete played a pivotal role in this project — "not only for its structural and seismic resilience, but also for its low-maintenance, long-life performance". — APL


Black America Web
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
HBO Releases Trailer for 'Surviving Ohio State' Documentary
Source: Getty Images A new HBO documentary is set to pull the curtain back on one of the darkest chapters in Ohio State University's history. Surviving Ohio State , produced by George Clooney and directed by Oscar and Emmy winner Eva Orner, premieres June 17th on HBO and will stream on Max. The project has been in development for years and features interviews with several former Buckeye athletes who say they were abused by Dr. Richard Strauss during his time as a university physician from 1978 to 1998. RELATED: Buckeyes Visit the White House, JD Vance Fumbles Trophy [PHOTOS] The trailer, which dropped June 5th, gives a preview of what's to come: firsthand accounts from survivors, including former All-American wrestler and UFC champ Mark Coleman. The film also features stories from Adam and Michael DiSabato, Will Knight, Al Novakowski, Rockey Ratliff, Dan Ritchie, and Mike Schyck; athletes whose names many in the OSU community will recognize. Strauss died by suicide in 2005. By then, he had already faced years of internal complaints that largely went ignored. Though the State Medical Board of Ohio opened an investigation in 1996, it stalled and was quietly closed in 2002 without any disciplinary action. A deeper, public acknowledgement of the abuse didn't begin until 2018, when new complaints surfaced and the university launched an independent investigation. That uncovered abuse allegations from more than 170 students. RELATED: LeBron James to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Ohio State While Ohio State was not involved in the production, the university remains at the center of the story. The documentary is based in part on a 2020 Sports Illustrated article by Jon Wertheim, who also serves as an executive producer. The film will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Monday. Watch the trailer here: SEE ALSO HBO Releases Trailer for 'Surviving Ohio State' Documentary was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE