While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 26, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
President Donald Trump (centre) meeting Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (left) and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani aboard Air Force One on Oct 25.
PHOTO: HAIYUN JIANG/NYTIMES
Follow topic:
Trump meets Qatar leaders on way to Asia
US President Donald Trump met on Oct 25 with the emir and prime minister of Qatar – a key ally in preserving the fragile Gaza peace deal – during a refuelling stop on his way to Asia.
The Qatari leaders boarded Air Force One when it landed at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the regional headquarters for the US military and thousands of American troops.
Mr Trump said the duo had played a crucial role in the Middle East peace process, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had been his “friend to the world.”
Mr Trump is travelling to Asia for the first time since retaking office in January, with two regional summits and face-to-face meetings with China’s Xi Jinping and other leaders on the agenda.
Israeli military says it conducted ‘targeted’ Gaza strike
PHOTO: AFP
Israeli forces carried out a “targeted strike” on an individual in central Gaza who was planning to attack Israeli troops, Israel’s military said on Oct 25.
A US-backed ceasefire is in force between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas more than two years after the war in the Gaza Strip began, but each side has accused the other of violations.
Israel said it had targeted a member of Islamic Jihad.
Trump increases tariffs on Canada by 10%
PHOTO: AFP
US President Donald Trump said on Oct 25 he was hiking tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10 per cent, as fallout continued over a Canadian anti-tariff ad that featured late US leader Ronald Reagan.
“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform, posting the message as he flew to Asia for meetings with key regional leaders.
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he said.
US not abandoning Taiwan for China deal: Rubio
PHOTO: REUTERS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected on Oct 25 the idea of abandoning Taiwan as part of a trade deal with China sought by President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump is expected to meet in the coming week with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in South Korea, with Mr Trump eyeing a deal on trade relations between the world’s two largest economies.
“Taiwan has a lot of things that they’re worried about, and rightfully so because of the situation they find themselves in,” Mr Rubio told reporters on his plane between Israel and Qatar.
Liverpool slump continues with loss at Brentford
PHOTO: REUTERS
Champions Liverpool suffered a fourth successive Premier League defeat as they lost 3-2 at Brentford on Oct 25 to continue their miserable run of form in the capital.
It is the first time since 2021 that Liverpool have lost four successive league games, with three of those games in London after defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
They are now sixth in the table on 15 points, four behind leaders Arsenal who could extend that margin on Oct 26 when they host Crystal Palace.
