James Rivera
Americas Desk
James Rivera runs Americas coverage at The Taiwan Times, following US politics, elections and developments across Latin America, with a particular focus on technology and trade policy.
He connects shifts in Washington to global supply chains and their real effects on Taiwan’s industries — a single tariff announcement or export control can rewrite a Taiwanese company’s plans for the year. He also tracks Latin America’s political cycles and resource economies.
He believes the United States remains the single variable that moves the world most, and that understanding it is the first step to understanding the environment Taiwan lives in.
Areas of expertise
- US politics
- Latin America
- Trade
Latest by James Rivera
5.9‑magnitude quake hits Ibaraki, 45 injured, tsunami alert lifted
A magnitude 5.9 tremor struck the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture on the Japanese mainland at 02:17 a.m. local time on Friday, prompting the Japan Mete
Armenian Prime Minister Announces Submission of EU Membership Application
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Tuesday in the capital Yerevan that Armenia will soon submit an application to join the European Union and expe
Jiang Qichen Leads Cross‑Party Delegation to Japan, Calls for Stronger Supply Chain Cooperation
Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen led a cross-party parliamentary delegation to Japan today to attend the opening ceremony of the 54th Genera
Jiang Qichen leads cross‑party lawmakers to Japan for AP Parliamentarians' Council meeting, deepening ties.
Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen officially led a cross-party delegation of lawmakers to Japan today (the 24th) to embark on a multi-day par
Hawk Fire Burns 20 Square Miles, Evacuates 150 Residents Near Reno
The Nevada Department of Forestry confirmed on Thursday that the Hawk Fire, which ignited on the southern slopes of Peavine Peak in the Humboldt‑Toiyabe Na
Johor Darul Ta'zim Sets World Record with 109‑Match Unbeaten Streak
Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) extended its unbeaten run in top‑flight league play to a world‑record 109 matches after a 3‑0 victory over Kuching City on Saturda
Taiwan Biotech Revenue Surpasses 800 Billion, Building New National Defense Mountain
Attending a public event this week, Premier Cho Jung-tai pointed out that Taiwan's biomedical industry has demonstrated strong growth momentum over the pas
Tokyo 5.9 quake injures 37; Taiwan confirms no casualties.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Japan's Kanto region in the early hours of today, with its epicenter located near Tokyo. The sudden and violen
CAR shuts Zamboye gold mine after fatal collapse, citing safety violations.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) announced the permanent closure of the Zamboye gold mine, a site that h
Explosion in Idlib village kills three, injures six residents
A blast at a residential house in the Ain al‑Qasab village of Idlib province on Sunday night killed three people and left six others wounded. The explosion
Taiwan's Armed Forces Showcase Extreme Flexibility in Joint Ground-Air Resupply Drill
To comprehensively strengthen Taiwan's overall resilience in facing wartime trials or the threat of major natural disasters, the military has recently cont
Russian drone strike kills 16, injures 130 at KryvyiRih mall
Russian unmanned aerial vehicles struck a crowded shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people and wounding
French carrier to deliver first wheat shipment to Sudan since 2008.
A French-flagged bulk carrier was observed loading wheat at the port of Rouen on Tuesday, marking the first shipment from France to Sudan since August 2008
Trump Announces Broad U.S. Sanctions, Declares Economic War on Iran
Washington, D.C., – On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the launch of an “economic war” against the Islamic Republic of Iran, unveiling a sweeping
Bangladesh Parliament Elects BNP Leader Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir President After 35 Years
Bangladesh’s unicameral legislature, the Jatiya Sangsang, elected Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country’s president on 12 May 2026, marking the first
Bangladesh measles deaths linked to inadequate early breastfeeding.
A recent analysis released by the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute in Dhaka has revealed that roughly 82 percent of children who succumbed to measles
California adopts first US energy‑efficiency tire standards to cut fuel costs by 2029
California’s Energy Commission announced on Tuesday that it has formally adopted the United States’ first set of energy‑efficiency standards for replacemen
Eight killed, 20 injured in minibus‑truck crash near Sagar, MP
A minibus collided with a loaded truck on a highway near the town of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, killing at least eight people and injuring more t
South Sudan President Meets Former Darfur Governor, Signals New Ceasefire Effort
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir met with Sudan’s former Darfur governor Minni Minnawi in Juba on Tuesday, a meeting that could signal a new attempt to b
Rwanda bus brake failure kills 4, injures 16, frightens over 30 passengers
On August 19, 2026, a passenger bus carrying roughly 30 people on a downhill stretch in the Kirehe District of Rwanda’s Eastern Province suffered a sudden
Helicopter to Retrieve Bodies Tomorrow After Kenting Bee Swarm Kills Two
A serious bee‑swarm attack occurred recently in the Kenting National Park Ecological Protection Area of Pingtung County, leaving three members of a mountai
Taiwan White Wins Two Straight in William Jones Cup Group Stage
The 45th William Jones Cup group stage saw the Taiwan White team, under the leadership of point guard Kao Kuo‑hao, edge Jordan 66–64 to notch a second cons
Berkshire Hathaway boosts Alphabet stake, becoming third‑largest shareholder.
The U.S. equity market remains a focal point for global investors, particularly for large funds and investment conglomerates that earn their livelihoods fr
China Sends More Military Aircraft and Ships Into Taiwan Strait
The Ministry of National Defense released today a summary of People’s Republic of China (PRC) naval and aerial activity, counting from 0600 hours yesterday