The Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has been training with J-10 fighters for the Singapore Airshow from late January to early February, marking the team's return to the biennial event after last performance there in 2020.
At a northern China airbase, pilots flew in tight formations in the clear sky, practicing signature maneuvers including six-plane flypast in the spear-shaped formation. All routines were completed successfully.
"This time in Singapore, the maneuvers will be somewhat different from before. We have added a six-aircraft formation roll, a five-aircraft flypast, and a solo axial roll by aircraft No. 6, all of which will be performed in Singapore for the first time. The participation this time is also different from the transfer method of last visit. Last time we basically landed step by step without aerial refueling. This time, we will rely on aerial refueling to get there," said Zhang Chunlei, a pilot.
For the Singapore airshow, the Bayi team conducted site surveys at Changi Airport in the country to familiarize themselves with local airspace, regulations and customs.
"Based on the performance area of the Singapore Airshow, we mapped it into our training field. This allowed us to study the flight rules and restrictions that will apply during the show. We've arranged our maneuvers according to those limitations and also developed contingency measures, so that we can complete the airshow mission safely, smoothly, and successfully," said Gong Xiaohua, a pilot.
The biennial airshow will run from Feb 3 to 8.
Bayi aerobatic team training for Singapore airshow
In South Sudan, education is being championed as a foundation for peace, but ongoing conflict and poverty continue to deprive millions of children of the opportunity to learn.
The South Sudanese government said education is crucial to building peace, promoting social cohesion, and equipping young people with skills to resolve conflict.
Some schools, including one in the capital Juba, have even established "peace centers" where students are trained in leadership and peacebuilding. Schools are also playing a role in tackling harmful practices like early and forced marriage.
"We normally inform them that in case they encounter such challenges, you come directly to school, we will be able to support you. Whatever support that is required, is always availed to them," said Chol Reuben Maken, school principal.
Despite these initiatives, the education sector is in crisis. According to UNICEF, South Sudan has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the world, with girls making up 75 percent. Over 2.2 million children, more than half of the country's youth population, are not attending school.
The key barriers are poverty and ongoing violence.
"General poverty is a real challenge to many families and therefore access to education becomes less of a priority if you need to feed yourself and cover other basic needs. There are also climate-related events that affect access to education. South Sudan is prone to flooding and it's also prone to heat waves," said Emilie Roy, education chief of UNICEF South Sudan.
The government said it is investing in education as a long-term tool for positive change, stressing that the impact of education goes far beyond academic achievement.
Educated children, officials said, become advocates and peacebuilders who push for equality and challenge harmful practices within their communities, planting the seeds for a more peaceful future.
Still, the challenges are enormous. Many children simply have no schools to attend due to a lack of infrastructure, and where schools do operate, chronic staff shortages and unpaid salaries have left the system struggling.
"My biggest thank you is to my colleagues, the teachers, the teachers of this country that have persevered through all the challenges to make sure that education is progressing and that our kids are taught," said Kuyok Abol Kuyok, minister of General Education.
While UNICEF maintains that education is a primary tool for promoting long-term stability, they also warn that without immediate peace in the country, the opportunity for an education will remain a far off dream for many.
Education seen as peace tool in South Sudan
