2 mn readA devastating weather system, including severe storms, hail, and lightning, wrought havoc on the eastern part of the United States on Monday, claiming at least two lives, disrupting thousands of flights, and leaving over 1.1 million properties without power.
2 mn readThe UK Upper Tribunal has overturned a decision by the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) to strike out an appeal relating to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. The case involved an FOI request by Professor Hwan Lin to the London School of Economics (LSE) seeking information about a public statement made by the LSE regarding a degree awarded to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The LSE declined to issue a refusal notice, stating the request was vexatious under section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
2 mn readSocial media platforms like Twitter and Meta have introduced paid subscription services that provide users with verified checkmarks and other benefits. Twitter’s service is called Twitter Blue (recently changed to X Blue), while Meta’s is named Meta Verified. We will start by discussing the features and benefits of each service, then we will compare the pricing and availability. Finally, we will give our recommendations for which service is the better value.
2 mn readFormer Twitter Blue product manager, Esther Crawford, who joined Twitter in 2020 following the sale of her startup, has shared an expansive commentary on her experience within the social media company before and after its recent shift in management and direction.
< 1 mn readThough the President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, had previously received three doses of the Medigen COVID-19 vaccine, she began to feel slightly unwell after concluding her morning duties. ROC Presidential Office Spokesperson Lin Yu-chan announced today (25th) that President Tsai tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing rapid testing. Currently, the president’s symptoms are mild and she is being properly cared for by the medical team. Following expert medical advice, the president has canceled her public engagements for the afternoon.
2 mn readIn an era of disruption, Twitter is undergoing a transformation under the reign of Elon Musk. The billionaire business magnate has revealed plans to bid farewell to the platform’s iconic bird logo, a move he believes was overdue. Musk disclosed his intentions in a late-night tweet, suggesting a global unveiling of a new logo if a compelling ‘X’ design emerged.
2 mn readOn the 8th, KMT Taipei City Councilor Zhong Peijun alleged on Facebook that Lucifer Chu, translator of the Mandarin edition of “The Lord of the Rings” and political commentator, had made unwelcome advances towards her, including forcibly kissing her twice in August of last year. “I am not the only person he has hugged and kissed forcefully,” she declared. Following these events, Chu promised to abstain from alcohol and refrain from any inappropriate behavior towards women, pledging this in a written statement. Chu also conceded on Facebook that he had made a mistake and promised to face the consequences, apologizing to everyone he had offended.
2 mn readThe American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan) launched a sharp critique of Taiwan’s energy policies in their 2023 Taiwan White Paper, describing the pace of the island’s energy transition as ‘significantly lagging’. The slower than expected progress is not only affecting industrial development, but also poses a threat to national security. AmCham Taiwan urged the government to present a policy blueprint that guarantees a reliable power supply.
2 mn readChris Licht, CNN’s beleaguered CEO and Chairman, is leaving the company. His year-long tenure has been riddled with serious missteps that have marred his reputation. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, confirmed Licht’s departure during the network’s daily editorial call on Wednesday.
2 mn readOn June 2nd, Mr. Lee, a former assistant to Taipei City Councilor Lin Liang-chun (Sabrina Lim), publicly accused Wang Dan, a Chinese democracy activist and former student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, of forcibly kissing and sexually harassing him back in 2014. Supported by Councilor Lin, Lee held a press conference at the Taipei City Council on June 4th, detailing the incident and issuing an ultimatum for Wang to apologize by June 6th, or face legal action.
