Taipei, Sept 12 (AFP/APP):Taiwan’s defence ministry plans to seek up to a record $33 billion in special funding to upgrade the island’s defences against a potential Chinese attack, a senior lawmaker told AFP.

As Chinese military pressure on the democratic island intensified in recent years, Taiwan has been ramping up defence spending.

But Washington, Taipei’s biggest arms supplier, has been pushing it to do more.

The ministry is working on a special budget of between NT$800 billion and NT$1 trillion ($26 billion and $33 billion) over seven years, said Wang Ting-yu, who belongs to President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party.

The final amount has not been finalised as Taiwan negotiates with the United States over potential arms sales that would be included in the special budget, Wang told AFP in an interview this week.

  “We want to build a complete defence ecology to defend our country,” said Wang, describing the plans as a “huge” upgrade to the island’s self-defence capabilities.

Wang said the plans included integrating Taiwan’s air defence systems; acquiring from overseas partners more advanced technology to detect small drones, rockets and missiles and ensure a rapid response to an attack; and increasing the island’s capacity to produce and store ammunition for wartime.

    Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which claims the self-ruled island is part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.

     “China is developing their fifth-generation fighters and they’re using stealth technology in all kinds of drones or missiles,” said Wang, who sits on the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee.

“So we need more advanced sensor systems, more advanced radar systems — if you cannot detect it, all kinds of fire units are useless.”

   Wang’s remarks came as Taiwan seeks to strike a deal with the United States to reduce US President Donald Trump’s 20 percent tariff on the island’s shipments.

Taipei has been eager to show Trump it is serious about shoring up the island’s defences, which would be no match for China’s firepower in a conflict.

Lai’s government announced last month plans to boost its 2026 defence budget to NT$949.5 billion, or more than three percent of gross domestic product.

                  It aims to increase spending to five percent of GDP by 2030.

                  Asked if he hoped the special defence budget plans would help Taiwan in the trade negotiations, Wang replied: “Yes”.

                  Taiwan’s defence ministry declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

                  If the cabinet approves the spending plan, it will have to be passed by the opposition-controlled parliament before it can take effect.

KAMPALA, SEPT 12 /DNA/ –  Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, was today conferred with the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master), Uganda’s highest civilian honour, by His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The decoration recognises His Highness’s distinguished services to the nation and his leadership in advancing social and economic development.

Princess Zahra was also honoured with the Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Commander) in recognition of her long-standing contributions to health, education and women’s empowerment.

The ceremony took place during a landmark event at the Aga Khan University (AKU) campus in Nakawa, Kampala, where major new investments in higher education and healthcare were inaugurated. Her Excellency the First Lady, the Honourable Janet Museveni, was also present at the ceremony along with Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan.

The Ismaili Imamat and AKDN’s enduring partnership with Uganda was previously recognised in 2017, when His Late Highness Aga Khan IV received the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa from President Museveni.

Inauguration of New AKU Campus Facilities

The award ceremony coincided with the official opening of the first phase of AKU’s 60-acre Kampala campus in Nakawa.

The campus, built on land generously provided by the Government of Uganda, has been made possible through the support of AKU’s Chancellor, generous donors, and funding from the German Government’s BMZ and KfW.

Following the inaugurations, His Highness and President Museveni also marked the commencement of construction of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala. The 101-bed teaching hospital will expand access to world-class care across nearly two dozen specialties and train the healthcare specialists the country urgently needs. Once complete, the hospital will form part of an integrated AKDN health and education system in East Africa.

The ceremony featured remarks by His Excellency President Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, the Honourable Janet Museveni, His Highness the Aga Khan, AKU President and Vice Chancellor, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, and the Deputy German Ambassador to Uganda, Peter Primus.

Kayla Nicole says she has learned to take “control of the narrative” after facing a wave of online hate this past year.

The podcaster and reporter, who once dated Taylor Swift’s now-fiancé and NFL star Tavis Kelce, made the admission Thursday during the New York Fashion Week.Nicole also shared that the biggest lesson she’s learned about herself this past year is that “the opinions of others are only as big as you make them.”

“So if I don’t allow it to affect me, it simply won’t,” she told People Magazine. “You know what I mean? Sometimes on social media, we think that it’s the whole world, and it’s really not.”

“It’s an app with a couple of 100,000 million people, but you’re in control of the narrative, honestly, and if something is holding you, bogging you down, turn it off,” Nicole continued. “Delete the app, log off. That’s my biggest advice”

Nicole’s comments come weeks after Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in August. In response, Nicole subtly shared a video of actress Tracee Ellis Ross talking about choosing joy over fleeting happiness. “Happiness is something you can get at 7-Eleven, and joy is something that you earn and work for and takes practice.”

Reflecting on that repost, Nicole said, “Gosh, I was reading a book years ago, but basically the idea is that happiness is fleeting. Joy is something that’s deep and eternal, and it’s a choice every day. It resonates with me because it’s something that I try to do in my life on a regular basis.”

Since her split from Kelce in 2022, Nicole has been intentional about moving forward. That included unfollowing Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram—a decision she’s previously explained. “The reality is I know these people in real life,” she said earlier this year.

“And so, in real life, I’ve communicated to these people why I’ve had to publicly make the decisions that I made.”

In April, she also revealed she hasn’t yet experienced a romance like the fairytales portrayed in Disney movies.

There is one big promise King Charles has reportedly taken from his youngest son, before he even got the chance to have an hour-long meeting.

The existence of such a promise has been revealed by a well placed inside source.According to the source, this meeting, which has taken place for the first time in 19 months, potentially spells a brand new chapter for the father and son.

The first being for the Children in Need initiative, which the Prince pledged £1.1million. a second donation was also made afterwards, for £369,000 donation, through the Sussex charitable organization, Archewell to warzones.

So much so that they were quoted telling the Daily Mail, “This is an important first step towards rebuilding their father-and-son relationship.”

For those unversed, the meeting which lasted for one hour was held in Clarence House, and came after a spokesperson for Prince Harry himself shut down chatter and rumors by citing the King’s diary.

In terms of the promise itself, it said that the Duke has “told his father he won’t be giving any interviews about it and his team have been instructed not to brief journalists about what was said.”

While the insider admits, “there’s a long way to go before Harry can earn his family’s trust” still “he’s given some assurances,” to his father.

Even after the meeting when people asked the Duke of Sussex about the King, and their meeting he simply responded with a one-word answer, “great.”