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
Global stocks rebound 0.4% as Iran tensions ease, yen strengthens
Global equity markets posted a modest rise on Monday, halting a three‑day slide that had been driven by heightened geopolitical risk after the outbreak of
Serbian watchdog uncovers Pegasus and NoviSpy spying on 14 activists in 2026
Serbian digital‑rights watchdog SHARE Foundation announced on Monday that it has identified at least 14 students and opposition activists who were targeted
Former Labour leader Keir Starmer resigns, prompting Holborn by‑election.
Former Labour leader and former prime minister Keir Starmer formally vacated his seat in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 2 September 2026, by applying for
Gwangju Biennale Taiwan Pavilion Naming Sparks Political Row, Chinese Delegation Withdraws
South Korea’s largest contemporary art event, the Gwangju Biennale, has recently become embroiled in a political‑art controversy. The Gwangju municipal gov
Zhang Jiajun files candidacy with WOW slogan; Liu Jianguo emphasizes community, schools, new style.
As autumn settles in, the political atmosphere in Yunlin County officially heats up as Kuomintang (KMT) Yunlin County magistrate candidate Chang Chia-chun
Estonia's Parliament Unanimously Elects Ülle Madise as Next President
The Riigikogu on 2 September 2026 voted unanimously to elect Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as the next President of the Republic of Estonia, making her
South Korea Dispatches 44‑Member Relief Team to Flood‑Stricken Nepal
Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a 44‑person emergency relief team will be dispatched to Nepal within the week to assist with search‑and‑rescu
Haakon VIII crowned in Norway; Ingrid becomes first Crown Princess
The Norwegian Parliament (Storting) held a formal coronation ceremony on 29 August 2026, during which Haakon VIII swore his oath in the parliamentary chamb
KMT rallies for nine‑in‑one elections, Zheng urges unity for strong results
As Taiwan’s local public‑office elections move into the candidate registration phase, the contest has heated up and entered a highly competitive, intense s
Lions' Zhong Yunhua excels as closer; coach praises his mental strength.
The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) have recently demonstrated excellent bullpen planning and effectiveness
Century-old Beiguan troupe crosses the sea to showcase Taiwan's cultural heritage in Poland
The Taiwan Foundation for Culture (TFC) recently announced that it will host a large-scale "Taiwan Day" cultural exchange event in Poland on the 11th and 1
US Stocks Slide on First September Day as Yields, Oil Rise
The U.S. stock market opened the first trading day of September on a sluggish note, with major indices closing broadly lower and extending the recent marke
US Airstrikes on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Trigger Strong Retaliation, Escalating Middle East Crisis
At around noon, U.S. Eastern Time, on the 1st, the U.S. Central Command officially launched military strike operations against targets linked to the Islami
Israeli air and artillery strikes kill at least five in Gaza.
Israeli forces launched a series of air and artillery strikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least five people, health officials in the enclav
Syrian security forces kill senior commander after he fired on officers near Damascus
Syrian security forces announced on Monday that they had killed Firas Abdul Karim Hammoud, a senior army commander who had served under the regime of Presi
Israel and Greece Seal €3 B Deal, Achilles Shield Ready by 2025
Israel and Greece signed a €3 billion (approximately $3.48 billion) military procurement agreement in Athens on 15 April. The deal calls for Israel’s Minis
Xie Longjie registers for Tainan mayor, urges blue‑white coalition, promises no re‑run
As the election campaign draws nearer, the Tainan mayoral race has entered a decisive phase, with candidates from both the blue and green camps displaying
Taipei National Orchestra Conductor Cheng Li-Bin Retires After European Triumphs
The Taipei City National Traditional Orchestra has entered a significant transition as conductor Zheng Libin officially stepped down today. After concludin
UN urges world leaders to visit Palau, witness sea‑level rise, act on carbon.
The annual summit of the Pacific Islands Forum recently opened with great solemnity in the beautiful island nation of Palau. This high-level regional meeti
Former foreign journalist accuses Hualien election of vote‑buying; Fu Kun‑chi demands proof.
Recent political debate in Taiwan over local election culture has been reignited by a former foreign‑media journalist who publicly alleged that the Hualien
China's Xi and wife Peng Liyuan arrive in Kyrgyzstan ahead of SCO summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, renowned folk singer Peng Liyuan, touched down in Bishkek on Thursday, marking the start of a two‑day state visi
Rescue pulls survivor from river after new Tarlac bridge collapses, four missing
A rescue team pulled a survivor from the waters of the Camiling River on Thursday evening after a sport‑utility vehicle (SUV) carrying five occupants plung
SCO 26th summit in Bishkek coincides with independence day celebrations
On August 31, 2026, the 26th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, coinciding with the nati
Lin Zhi-jen cleared after four‑year probe of Hsinchu baseball field project.
Regarding the Hsinchu City Baseball Stadium construction project, former Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien has faced a new judicial development. He confirmed th