Tenacious Taiwan capital had me at ‘ni hao’

Michael LaPointe

 TAIPEI-This fast-paced city is full of temples, amazing food, a 100-year span of diverse architecture styles in an environment of organized chaos with escapes to hot springs and nature adventures at its doorstep.

 The friendliness of the people was affirmed everywhere I went. This mixed in with a warm winter climate was a welcome change from its mainland neighbor. The possibility of watching “Free Solo” star Alex Honnold, scale one of the tallest buildings in the world, Taipei 101, without ropes was another draw for my visit.

Culture, World, Travel
3 Feb 2026
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Coercion won't lead to peace, Taiwanese president tells Pope Leo XIV

INSIDER NEWSDESK

 TAIPEI -- Coercion of Taiwan by Beijing "could never bring about peace," Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te has told Pope Leo XIV amid rising speculation the American pontiff intends to row back on what many observers saw as his predecessor's appeasement of the Chinese communist government. 

U.N., Embassy Row, World, Vatican
31 Jan 2026
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Travel: A tale of two Beijing stopovers

Michael LaPointe

 BEIJING-When I found a cheap flight online to Taiwan, I realized the airlines usually pass the savings on to you with a long 24-hour stopover In the Chinese mainland capital on each leg. I decided to make the best of it. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City were the two attractions at the top my list.

Culture, World, Travel
30 Jan 2026
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When art meets community: vulnerable families inspire major Venice art exhibition

Darcie Peters

VENICE-

ITALIAN, Culture, Italy
29 Jan 2026
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ICE agents at Milan–Cortina Olympics government confirms advisory role as Milan pushes back

Peter srinivasan

 Rome-- The Italian government has confirmed that agents from the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present in Italy during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, insisting their role will be strictly investigative and non operational. The clarification follows days of conflicting statements and a meeting between Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and US ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta.

Culture, Rome, Embassy Row, World, Italy, Sport, Travel
28 Jan 2026
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At World Bank, humourless president and IT 'Godmother' axe thousands of consultants

JAN FILIPOWICZ

 ROME – The humourless World Bank President, Ajay Banga, is axeing thousands of consultants who make up as much as 25 percent of the poverty busting agency's workforce, despite pleas to reconsider, telling staff in what many see as vacuous monthly missives merely to “buckle up – change is coming,” as he enjoys his sky-high salary and emoluments, World Bank sources say.

U.N., Embassy Row, World
27 Jan 2026
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Comment: America First is not America absent. Why Washington should rejoin the World Health Organisation

CHRISTINA LIU

 GENEVA -- One year after the United States announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, a former WHO Headquarters Staff Association President reflects on how presence, governance, and leadership shape influence in global health.

U.N., Comment, Embassy Row
27 Jan 2026

Students protest school work placements four years after death of Lorenzo Parelli

Peter srinivasan

Rome—Students across the Lazio region held flash mobs on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Lorenzo Parelli and to call for the abolition of Italy’s school–work placement schemes, known as Percorsi per le competenze trasversali e l’orientamento (PCTO).

Culture, Rome, Italy
23 Jan 2026
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Star McTominay hits out at Napoli's 'unacceptable' Champions League performance

KATARINA HARRISON-GAZE

 ROME — Napoli star Scots player Scott McTominay made a rare criticism of his team after the side’s 1-1 draw against Copenhagen on Tuesday evening, saying in a post-match interview that it was “unacceptable” that Napoli did not win. 

Former Manchester United player McTominay scored Napoli’s only goal of the match against Copenhagen, and despite the Danish side going down to 10 men in the 35th minute, Copenhagen managed to equalise in the 72nd minute.

Sport
22 Jan 2026
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