HDB has the option of selectively acquiring privately owned HDB shops if there is a need to meet demand in existing estates, Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling said in Parliament on Wednesday (Sept 24).She was responding to questions from MPs on efforts to keep rents of HDB shops affordable.Sun said that 90 per cent of units directly leased by HDB have remained largely unchanged over the last five years.But the median rental for heartland shops held by private landlords has doubled in the past year, according to Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Realis data released on Sept 1.From $3.51 per sq ft (psf) in the second quarter of 2024, it has gone up to $7.34 psf in the second quarter of 2025 — the highest rental for privately held HDB shops since 1999.There are about 740 privately-owned HDB shops sold on 30-year leases, of which more than 80 per cent have less than 10 years of lease remaining, and these shops will progressively be returned to HDB and tenanted out, Sun said.About 7,700 privately held HDB shops sold on 99-year leases still have more than 30 years of lease remaining.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned the public that it is illegal to purchase and use vitamin diffusers.They are classified as «imitation tobacco products» and banned in Singapore as a result, said the authority on Wednesday (Sept 24).It was responding to recent concerns over such diffusers being marketed online as «healthier alternatives» to e-vaporisers.Often promoted via influencers and online advertisements, these products claim to contain substances like caffeine, vitamin B12 and melatonin.A check by AsiaOne showed that some sites which sell such devices offer shipping to Singapore, stating that it is the consumers' responsibility to ensure they follow the laws of their country of residence.Despite looking harmless, such devices could contain substances that are not intended for consumption — which could lead to long-term health risks, said HSA, adding that such products may also serve as a gateway for users to experimenting with cigarettes or even hard drugs.Youths are particularly vulnerable to such risks, it said.

Local telecommunications operator Singtel has apologised for a service outage involving its Australian subsidiary Optus that resulted in the deaths of three people.In an SGX filing on Wednesday (Sept 24), Singtel group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said that the company is «deeply sorry» for the outage on Sept 18 and that it is working with Optus to «ensure a thorough investigation of this incident to prevent any future recurrence».«Optus has been co-operating fully and transparently with all relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies while the matter is being investigated and will share the findings in due course,» said Yuen.The outage was caused by a departure from regular processes during a network upgrade, which sparked a technical failure and subsequently disrupted emergency call services for 13 hours.Some 600 customers across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory were affected by the glitch, and three deaths have been linked to it. The death of an 8-week-old boy was initially linked to the disruption, but the claim was later dismissed by police, ABC News reported. 

From Chandigarh’s leadership in transport electrification to Haryana’s dominance in charging infrastructure, states across India are shaping the future of electric mobility in diverse ways. Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu also stand out by driving research, innovation, and large-scale EV adoption.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged citizens to participate in the 7th edition of the PM's Mementoes E-Auction, featuring gifts received during official events. The auction, running from September 17 to October 2, 2025, offers over 1,300 items, including art, sculptures, and sports memorabilia. Proceeds will support the Namami Gange Project, dedicated to cleaning and conserving the Ganga River.

Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM has offered an alliance to Tejashwi Yadav's RJD ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, formally requesting inclusion in the Mahagathbandhan. Owaisi, during his 'Seemanchal Nyay Yatra,' emphasized AIMIM's demand for six seats, warning of potential consequences if their proposal is rejected.

En marge de la 80ᵉ session de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies, qui se tient du 21 au 26 septembre à New York, Son Excellence Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Président de la République, Chef de l'État et Chef du Gouvernement, a accordé une audience à M. Massad Boulos, Conseiller principal de S.E. Donald Trump pour l'Afrique, les Affaires arabes et le Moyen-Orient. Cette rencontre, qui s'inscrit dans la continuité du récent séjour du Président de la République aux États-Unis en (...) - COOPERATION / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Party strategists were watching the state Senate vote in a ruby red district for some clues about voter attitudes ahead of the midterms.

Adelita Grijalva is the projected winner of the race to fill her father’s congressional seat, trimming a Republican House majority that was already historically small.

Andrew Cabot, who has been married to ousted Astronomer executive Kristin Cabot, 52, for two years, earlier broke his silence to confirm he had separated from his wife at the time of the scandal.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, US President Donald Trump claimed the UN was 'funding an assault on Western countries and their borders'.

Who doesn't dream of a better life in the Spanish sunshine? But all is not as it may seem...

Dans « Regards Croisés » mardi 23 septembre, il était question du délai de carence. Christophe Plée de la confédération des petites et des moyennes entreprises (CPME) et Vatea Heller, le secrétaire général adjoint de O oe to oe rima ont défendu leurs positions.

Est-il devenu trop risqué de travailler dans le social ? Les agents l’affirment : sous-effectifs criants, missions dévalorisées et nouvelles menaces liées à la consommation d’ICE dans certaines familles. Parents, parfois même enfants, n’hésitent plus à s’en prendre directement aux assistants sociaux, fragilisant encore davantage leur quotidien professionnel.

University of Malawi political scientist Boniface Dulani has described the September 16 election as a referendum against President Lazarus Chakwera’s failed leadership, arguing that former president Peter Mutharika is only riding on a wave of protest votes. Dulani told Nation that Malawians judged Chakwera harshly for presiding over an economy crippled by soaring food and […] The post Boniface Dulani: “Malawians Voted Against Chakwera, Not For Mutharika.” appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Dear President Arthur Peter Mutharika and the Democratic Progressive Party, The September 16 elections have delivered you a mandate, but not the kind you might think. The voting patterns reveal that Malawians did not vote for the old DPP—they voted for change itself. Even opposition candidates with minimal campaigns received significant support, demonstrating how desperately […] The post An Open Letter to the Incoming DPP Govt: “Deliver a Different DPP.” appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Finland's President Alexander Stubb has distinguished India from Russia and China, recognizing India as an emerging superpower and advocating for stronger Western engagement. He emphasized India's geopolitical stake in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its potential role in peace negotiations. Stubb also supports strengthening India-Finland ties through cooperation in technology and trade.

In English, her best-loved roles include the reformed prostitute Jill in the 1968 spaghetti western Once Upon a Time in the West and a drunken princess in the 1963 comedy The Pink Panther.

Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, Donald Trump and RFK Jr promoted the long-standing myth that an isolated American community is exempt from autism diagnoses.

Love him, or loathe him, President Trump is always guaranteed to deliver a powerful message that shakes up world bodies and international elites.

Trump accused ABC of deceit before promising to 'test' them out on the move ahead of Kimmel's first show back on Tuesday night.

Jimmy Kimmel fought back tears as he tried to explain his statement on Charlie Kirk in his first show back on ABC since he was suspended over his comments about the late TPUSA founder.

Les murs de la prison de Tatutu n'empêchent pas le cannabis de circuler. Trois détenus comparaissaient mardi 23 septembre devant le tribunal correctionnel de Papeete pour détention et usage de stupéfiants, après des découvertes faites en novembre dernier.

President Zelenskyy expressed optimism that stronger Western-Indian relations could sway New Delhi away from Russian oil. He urged the West to deepen strategic ties with India, believing diplomatic efforts could alter India's energy sourcing approach. While noting past energy import concerns, Zelenskyy voiced confidence in managing these issues and highlighted India's potential as a strategic partner.

A young boy was taken to the hospital after severing his fingertip while on a swing in Bishan on Monday (Sept 22).The incident reportedly occurred at around 5pm on a newly reconstructed pavilion swing near Bishan Park.The 10-year-old's finger was trapped between the wooden slats of the swing, according to citizen journalism site, Stomp.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they received a call for assistance from Block 219 Bishan Street 23 at around 5.05pm on Monday.SCDF also said that the boy was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for treatment.The boy and his older brother had sought help from two construction workers working nearby after the accident, an eyewitness told Stomp.He added that the swing is popular with residents and park users but appeared to have defects.While the man called for an ambulance, the construction workers stayed with the boy and reassured him while waiting for help to arrive.«Thanks to these two foreign workers from Tong Shing Contractors! Our salute and appreciation to them,» said the eyewitness.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that his US counterpart could only win the Nobel Peace Prize if he brings an end to the war in Gaza Read Full Article at RT.com

Hungary will continue importing Russian oil and gas, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, rejecting pressure from Washington and Brussels Read Full Article at RT.com

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at a potential reconsideration of tariffs imposed on India for Russian oil purchases, following discussions with S Jaishankar. Rubio emphasized the need for stronger European sanctions against Russia.