3 mn readThe Republican Party’s 2024 platform has omitted any mention of Taiwan, marking a significant departure from the party’s previous stance on the self-governing island. The omission has raised eyebrows among observers, who see it as a potential indication of the party’s shifting priorities under the leadership of former President Donald Trump.
2 mn readUber Technologies, Inc. has announced its agreement to acquire Delivery Hero SE’s Foodpanda delivery business in Taiwan for $950 million in an all-cash deal. This strategic move is expected to strengthen Uber’s presence in the food delivery market in Taiwan and Asia as a whole. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is targeted to close in the first half of 2025.
3 mn readDr. Nemat Talaat Shafik, the President of Columbia University, is facing criticism for her handling of students’ solidarity with the Palestinian human rights movement. At the same time, the academic world has been shaken by a controversy surrounding Tsai Ing-wen, the current President of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and her PhD thesis. At the heart of this controversy lies Dr. Shafik, who took up the mantle at LSE in 2017 and the President of Columbia University in July 2023.
3 mn readThe U.S. State Department recently released its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, assessing the global human rights situation. While acknowledging Taiwan’s commendable performance in upholding core human rights values such as democracy and judicial independence, the report also highlighted several areas in need of improvement, urging the Taiwanese government and society to sustain efforts.
3 mn readIn the wake of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter at the end of 2022, the social media universe saw an influx of platforms vying to be the next go-to destination for microblogging enthusiasts. Among these, Post.News, T2 (also known as Pebble), and Spoutible ventured into the digital fray, each with their unique proposition. Recent developments, however, indicate a significant shift in the landscape for these emerging platforms.
3 mn readIn a world where data privacy and security are of paramount importance, the meta-data of a letter sent by Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s public policy director, to the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has raised eyebrows. The letter, which was intended to address concerns about TikTok’s data practices, was listed under the author Zheng Han (郑涵), a name that has no direct connection to Beckerman.
3 mn readOn April 2, 2024, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Taiwan’s eastern coast, causing widespread destruction, injuries, and triggering tsunami warnings across the region. This event marks the strongest earthquake to hit the island in 25 years, with reports indicating significant damage to buildings, infrastructure, and the displacement of thousands of residents.
< 1 mn readIn a recent campaign rally in South Carolina, former U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks regarding NATO allies and Russia. He stated that he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member that fails to meet their financial obligations as part of the Western military alliance.
4 mn readMonday night saw eight Iranian-backed Houthi locations bombed in Yemen after being targets of the US and British militaries. This is the second time the two allies have had coordinated retaliatory strikes on the persistent rebels via missile launching capabilities.
2 mn readThe no-confidence motion submitted by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) was not passed due to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s majority in the Diet. In the bustling political landscape of Japan, the opposition party has recently submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet. This bold move comes in the wake of a political funding scandal that has engulfed several factions of the ruling party.
