The relationship between poverty and climate vulnerability is undeniable. With worsening climate disruptions across Asia, the impacts are becoming more severe. The goals of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, No Poverty, and SDG 13, Climate Action, are closely linked. India and Taiwan, two differe
An 80-year-old mother ended the life of her severely disabled son, who had been bedridden for five decades, out of fear that he would be left with no one to care for him if she were to pass away. The Taipei District Court sentenced her to two-and-a-half years in prison, but the judge also recommende
In mid-February last year, Russian authorities placed then-Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas — now EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy — and several others on a wanted list. The list included government officials, members of parliament and local councilors from three Bal
EDITORIAL CARTOON
An existential question hangs over this year’s COP30 summit in Brazil: What are the annual UN climate negotiations really for?More than 30 years of talks on global action to tackle climate change have led to progress, including surging renewable energy expansion and scaled-up climate funds — but not
A Bangladeshi court’s decision to sentence exiled former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death has done little to heal a nation scarred by her long rule and last year’s bloody crackdown against student-led, anti-government protests.Families of the victims want her immediate execution. Th
Chile’s presidential runoff next month is already being cast as a clash of extremes: on one side, Jeannette Jara, the leftist who joined the Communist Party at 14; on the other, Jose Antonio Kast, the ultraconservative, pro-life Catholic who promises a hard line against immigrants.Fierce, right? Fro
On Nov. 8, newly elected Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and Vice Chairman Chi Lin-len (季麟連) attended a memorial for White Terror era victims, during which convicted Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spies such as Wu Shi (吳石) were also honored. Cheng’s participation in the
Recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — asserting that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” — have intensified tensions in East Asia. China’s strong diplomatic protest, combined with uncertainty surrounding Washington’s long-term Taiwan policy, has reshaped the strategic
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) was recently invited to deliver an address at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s (IPAC) annual summit, in the European Parliament building in Brussels. On the world stage, the moment was hailed as a breakthrough. The Guardian and Reuters framed it as a rar
An anonymous Facebook post earlier this month, made by someone claiming to be a student at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) Department of Atmospheric Sciences, predicted that Taipei would announce school and work closures for Typhoon Fung-wong for at least two days from Wednesday to Friday last we
EDITORIAL CARTOON
As many of the world’s leaders convene in South Africa for the G20, we face a sobering truth: Progress for women, children and adolescents — the foundation of human development — is faltering. Decades of hard-won gains in survival, education and equality are at risk. In too many countries, maternal
The resolution passed by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday, aimed at turning the precarious Gaza ceasefire into a real peace plan, is one of the oddest in UN history.It puts US President Donald Trump in supreme control of Gaza, perhaps with former British prime minister Tony Blair as his imm
In March, following angst-ridden months as Europe came to terms with US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, financial markets in Paris, Milan and Berlin were gripped by a surge of optimism. The cause was a historic deal brokered by then-German chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz, which l
A report released on Monday by the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned that Taiwan must urgently reduce its dependence on imported energy, which China could exploit through “gray zone” tactics to force political concessions.The report said that if Beijing succeeded in const
Some universities in Taiwan are to begin their break late next month, resulting in the longest winter vacation in history. Meanwhile, China has been expanding recruitment for its “united front” activities disguised as tourism, organizing exchange groups targeting Taiwanese university students.China
In a talk at the Toronto International Festival of Authors, Taiwanese-American writer and translator Lin King (金翎) reminded her audience that Taiwan is the only remaining Chinese-speaking country in the world free from literary censorship. It is only when authors are free from fear of repression, th
Following China’s “wolf warrior” attack on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) threatening on social media to chop her head off, Beijing has doubled down through intimidation and coercion. In addition to sending drones into Japan’s southwestern
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