Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are under strain. The People’s Republic of China’s diplomatic offensive against the Republic of China, Taiwan, has more recently been coupled with routinised large-scale and increasingly complex military exercises, incursions across the median line and an uptick in hybrid warfare tactics. China’s assertiveness has been met, and sometimes anticipated, by United States-led military and diplomatic countermeasures aimed at fostering Taiwan’s resilience within the broader context of a forceful China pushback. This paper takes stock of cross-Strait dynamics, including the action-reaction spiral which feeds Chinese insecurity and assertiveness, to present options for the European Union (EU) to bolster relations with Taiwan. Based on best practices from Group of Seven allies, the United States of America in particular, the paper argues that the EU should adopt a twin track of diplomacy and realistic deterrence, coupled with reassurances that all interested parties – including its Member States and like-minded parties – will abide by a ‘One China’ policy. The paper also argues that the EU’s support of Taiwan’s democracy needs to take into consideration its fraught and polarised domestic politics. Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The former prime minister wants to temporarily run the besieged territory before handing it over to the Palestinian Authority, who previously controlled it until 2006.

The Government will make changes to the income ceiling for couples and the eligibility age for singles applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats when sufficient conditions are met, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling.Speaking during the debate on the President's Address in Parliament on Sept 26, Sun said that policy space and a higher supply of BTO flats is needed before any changes to current policies can be made.Addressing the demand for public housing, she said that the Government is taking «active steps to ensure there is housing to meet the different needs of our people».Sun said that there is «strong broad-based housing demand» in «land scarce Singapore», highlighting young families who want their own homes and singles who want to live independently.BTO income ceilingIn particular, she recognised concerns over the current BTO income ceiling of $14,000, which was last revised in 2019, despite incomes having gone up over the years.

A Singaporean man whose drug trafficking charges were temporarily dropped has been issued a detention order, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday (Sept 26).Benny Kee Soon Chuan, 32, is suspected of supplying and distributing drugs in Singapore. In September 2024, he was repatriated from Thailand and charged with engaging in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.However, on Sept 8, 2025, the prosecution applied for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, which was granted, reported CNA.Kee's lawyer Ramesh Tiwary told CNA that his client «is innocent» and «very grateful to be reunited with his family» once released from remand.On Friday, MHA said Kee was arrested under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA) the same day he got a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.He was subsequently issued a detention order on Sept 22.It explained that drug offences are typically prosecuted under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and the CLTPA is invoked «only as a last resort» when prosecution is not possible.

Nine drivers were caught for providing illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore and for trips to and from Malaysia. In a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 26), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the drivers were caught during recent patrols in Arab Street, Marina Bay Cruise Centre, Marsiling Road and Changi Airport. The nine foreign-registered vehicles have since been impounded.The authority added that on top of ongoing regulatory efforts, it had acted on tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Taxi Association.Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said in a Facebook post on Friday that the drivers will be charged for providing illegal ride-hailing services.«As their vehicles are unlicensed, they also do not have adequate insurance coverage for passengers who engage their services,» she said. 

Penny Lancaster has ripped into her former boss at Ultimo, describing the end to their relationship as 'cynical and ugly'.

Keir Starmer faced a furious backlash on Thursday over 'dystopian' plans to force millions of adults to sign up for a digital ID card.

Attitudes shifted after the presidential election in May won by nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki, the French paper has reported Read Full Article at RT.com

Brussels’ overreach on trade and Russia exposes Europe’s failure to shed its old colonial mindset Read Full Article at RT.com

The German defense minister has alleged suspicious maneuvers, echoing the French military Read Full Article at RT.com

Neither Ruth Posner, 96, nor husband Michael, 97, had terminal illnesses but the pair, from Belsize Park, north London, decided they did not want to be apart after almost 75 years married.

Pete Hegseth has ordered hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to gather in Quantico, Virginia, next week Read Full Article at RT.com

New Delhi and Moscow have discussed the setting up of a BRICS grain exchange to boost agricultural trade Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian emergency officials report a major fire in Smolensk Region following a train collision with a truck Read Full Article at RT.com

Excessive checks against foreigners working illegally as delivery riders are unsustainable and risk inconveniencing customers, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon said in Parliament on Friday (Sept 26).He added that a «balance and calibrated approach» would be for delivery platforms to conduct their own checks, such as random facial recognition for riders on their mobile applications throughout the day.Koh was responding to parliamentary questions from MPs, including Leader of Opposition Pritam Singh, on foreigners working illegally on delivery platforms.The senior minister of state said that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) receives an average of 50 complaints of illegal platform work each year since 2023, with the number of enforcement checks ramped up over the past few months.Out of the 644 delivery workers checked in more than 30 hot spots islandwide since July, four foreigners were caught without a valid work pass.But Koh cautioned that «excessive» enforcement checks at hot spots, where “huge crowds” of such workers congregate during peak hours, can lead to unintended “side effects”.

The Government will make changes to the income ceiling for couples and the eligibility age for singles applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats when sufficient conditions are met, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling.Speaking during the debate on the President's Address in Parliament on Sept 26, Sun said that policy space and a higher supply of BTO flats is needed before any changes to current policies can be made.Addressing the demand for public housing, she said that the Government is taking «active steps to ensure there is housing to meet the different needs of our people».Sun said that there is «strong broad-based housing demand» in «land scarce Singapore», highlighting young families who want their own homes and singles who want to live independently.BTO income ceilingIn particular, she recognised concerns over the current BTO income ceiling of $14,000, which was last revised in 2019, despite incomes having gone up over the years.

After 62 years of service, the Indian Air Force bid farewell to the MiG-21, a Soviet-origin supersonic jet that played a crucial role in several conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the Kargil war, and the Balakot strikes. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the last sortie of the MiG-21 Bison aircraft. The final operations were carried out by the number 23 Squadron, nicknamed «Panthers.»

Dave's always lived high on the hog, whether as a member of the Bullingdon during high-spirited days at Oxford, or subsequently at White's - starchiest of London's gentlemen's clubs...

The Left-wing organ is also an unhappy place torn by divisions and arguments. During the past few years there have been internal storms over slavery, trans issues and the sale of the Observer.

Officers raided the 49-year-old BBC actor's family home in Kensington, West London, just before 9am, with a specialist dog unit used in the search.

A source close to both the King and the Prince of Wales told me starkly this week: 'It's evident there's an attempt to manufacture division between them, when in reality, no such rift exists.'

[allAfrica]

The Defense Ministry reported that on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 55 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over Russian regions overnight

According to the Russian president, political stability, which is partly ensured by voters, is the basis for Russia's success in all areas, including the military and security spheres

An Ivorian national accused of conspiring to smuggle firearms into West Africa has been extradited from Kenya to the United States.

New York (HOL) — Ethiopia pledged continued support for Somalia’s peace and security process on Thursday, even as the African Union’s new stabilization mission warned it faces a crippling $180 million funding gap for 2025.

New York (HOL) — The African Union’s top official warned Thursday that Somalia’s fragile gains risk unraveling unless international partners urgently plug a nearly $200 million funding gap for the continent’s newest peace mission.

[New Times] Moscow -- Rwanda is turning to nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMRs) as it seeks to accelerate industrialisation and secure a stable power supply for its growing economy.

[New Times] The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has called for a fairer and more inclusive global governance system, emphasizing that multilateralism must be anchored in a rules-based international order where all nations stand on equal footing.

Sameer Wankhede, the former NCB zonal director, has filed a lawsuit against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix, alleging defamation in Aryan Khan's 'Ba***ds of Bollywood.' Wankhede claims the series contains an obscene gesture towards “Satyamev Jayate” and negatively portrays anti-drug enforcement agencies.

Narendra Modi honored Manmohan Singh on his 93rd birth anniversary. Modi acknowledged Singh's service to the nation. Singh served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. He is known for economic reforms as finance minister. Singh represented Assam in Rajya Sabha for three decades. Leaders remembered his role in shaping India's economy. He passed away on December 26, 2024.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov underscored the importance of the UN Secretariat’s «unbiased and equidistant approach» to the subject, in accordance with Article 100 of the UN Charter

The Polish Embassy in Minsk explained recommendations by the tense situation on the border and what it described as arbitrary arrests of Polish citizens

The Belarusian leader’s spokesperson Natalia Eismont said that the agenda includes «the entire array of regional and bilateral relations»