Olivia Bennett
Middle East & Africa Desk
Olivia Bennett is the Middle East & Africa Desk editor at The Taiwan Times, covering regional conflict, humanitarian crises and energy markets, with long-established reporting and verification channels on the ground.
Faced with war coverage where positions are polarised and facts are contested, she insists on multiple sources and careful wording, working to keep balanced, neutral narratives on the topics most easily swayed by emotion and propaganda.
She tracks how oil and gas move global inflation and Taiwan’s energy security, while never losing sight of the individual lives behind each conflict.
Areas of expertise
- Middle East
- Africa
- Energy markets
Latest by Olivia Bennett
Taiwan Coast Guard escorts Chinese vessels away from Pratas Islands waters
On the morning of 12 April, the Republic of China Coast Guard Administration (CGA) escorted and forced 16 Chinese vessels—including coast‑guard, research,
Wembanyama faces political fire over student protests and riot costs
French sports and political circles have become embroiled in a heated debate following a wave of civil unrest that began as student protests. At the center
Taiwan Dollar Plunges Past 32.4 in Biggest Single-Day Drop Amid Fed Hikes
Taiwan’s foreign exchange market reported today that the New Taiwan dollar closed at 32.445 per U.S. dollar, down 0.0107 from the previous trading session,
Kenyan Hospital Cleaner Contracts Ebola, Posing Fresh Challenge to Epidemic Controls
The Kenyan Ministry of Health announced today that another Ebola case has been confirmed in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to ei
Wei Chuan Dragons win Taiwan Series game two as Mersedes reflects on friend's injury
The Chinese Professional Baseball League championship series, known to fans as the Taiwan Series, is currently underway in full swing. Amidst the intense b
TaiRx Epidermolysis Bullosa Drug Trial Shows Efficacy Improvement Lacking Statistical Significance
AnchorBiologics held a press conference this evening to officially announce the primary efficacy endpoint results from the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of
Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen takes campaign post to unite party caucus
Lucy Liu (Lu Hsiu-yan), who has served as the mayor of Taichung for two years, will take a day of leave tomorrow to travel to Taipei and attend a campaign
Half a Million French Workers Protest Government Policies, Sparking Clashes in Major Cities
More than 500,000 people took to the streets across France on Tuesday in a coordinated wave of demonstrations called by the nation’s leading trade union co
Three Mexican Men Sentenced to Over 158 Years for Foreign Surfers' Murders
A court in Ensenada, Baja California, has handed down prison sentences exceeding 158 years to three Mexican men convicted of the 2024 murders of two Austra
Chiayi Subleased Apartment Murder: Habit Friction Triggers Killing, Suspect Arrested
A shocking homicide recently occurred in Chiayi City, drawing intense local attention. According to police investigations, Mr. Li and Mr. Chen, who lived t
Sports Minister Li Yang visits Nagoya to inspect Paralympic athlete logistics hub
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games officially opened tonight. To provide the most robust logistical support to the national team, Sports Minister Lee Yang t
Formosa Petrochemical Freezes Fuel Prices for Fifth Week to Stabilize Market, Benefit Consumers
Formosa Petrochemical Corporation announced on its official website today that gasoline and diesel prices will remain unchanged on the 19th of this month.
India Supreme Court: Teen Internet Access Cannot Be Banned, Demands Strict Protection
As countries around the globe debate and adopt policies to restrict teenagers' use of social media, the Supreme Court of India on the 18th delivered a ruli
Wei Chuan Dragons pitcher Ryan Bollinger stars with scoreless debut, jokes about closer's role
The drums of war for the Chinese Professional Baseball League Taiwan Series officially sounded amid the roaring cheers of fans across the stadium. The defe
Tech stocks slide over 2% as AI boom fades and valuations are reassessed
Wall Street stocks closed lower today, mainly due to a lack of sufficient recovery momentum in the technology sector and a reassessment of market enthusias
Mass arrests in France as violent pension protests force government reform suspension
In several major French cities, demonstrations originally intended to express public discontent escalated into violent clashes on the 17th of this month. P
Chang San-cheng unites pan-Blue forces to rebuild Taoyuan into a safe city
Seeking reelection, Taoyuan Mayor Chiang Shan-cheng held a joint rally in Taoyuan on the evening of October 17. The event drew mayoral candidates from the
Australia to equip Fiji with renewable‑energy maritime drones for 2027 deployment.
Australia has agreed to supply the Pacific island nation of Fiji with a fleet of solar‑, wind‑ and wave‑powered Bluebottle maritime drones, along with trai
Taichung to Host 2026 Global Extreme Fitness Iron Competition for Three Thousand Elites
Taiwan is about to welcome a highly anticipated, top-tier physical fitness competition. The 2026 Global Extreme Physical Fitness Iron Championship is confi
Argentina Seeks $10 Billion World Bank Loan for Energy, Mining, and SMEs
Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo revealed to the media on the 14th that the nation is in negotiations with the World Bank to secure approximately $10
Indonesian Forest Fires Spread Across Southeast Asia, Haze Worsens Regional Air Quality
Forest fires in the outskirts of Indonesia have continued to burn this week, generating toxic haze that has not only blanketed the Indonesian archipelago b
Taiwan Legislature to Review NCC Nominees Amid Bipartisan Push for Media Independence
The National Communications Commission, commonly known as the NCC, serves as Taiwan’s regulatory authority for telecommunications and broadcasting. Personn
Taiwanese Restorers Use Science and Craftsmanship to Revive Precious Cultural Heritage
The Chinese Culture Association (CCA) has consistently released the "Soul of the Craftsman" video series in recent years, focusing on traditional crafts an
Nvidia earnings and Wall Street optimism boost European tech stocks
In this week's European stock markets, investor sentiment was positively driven by two major events: the release of strong financial results by artificial