Sophie Turner
Europe Desk
Sophie Turner is the Europe Desk editor at The Taiwan Times, covering EU politics, economic integration and energy policy. She reads French and German, drawing directly on original European sources and official documents.
She follows the European Parliament, member-state elections and cross-border policy negotiations, and excels at decoding the power structures behind institutional issues — a seemingly dry piece of legislation can reshape the lives of hundreds of millions.
She believes Europe’s democratic experience and its integration dilemmas hold real lessons for Taiwan, and works to bring the debates of Brussels within reach of Taiwanese readers.
Areas of expertise
- European Union
- Economic integration
- Energy policy
Latest by Sophie Turner
New Zealand approves MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy for treatment‑resistant PTSD
Wellington’s health regulator Medsafe on Tuesday approved the first two psychiatrists in New Zealand to prescribe pharmaceutical‑grade 3,4‑methylenedioxyme
BepiColombo Begins Final Cruise Maneuvers Ahead of Mercury Orbit Insertion
The European Space Agency’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Japan’s Mio Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter have entered the final phase of their eight‑year journ
IOM launches first Khartoum flight to voluntarily repatriate nearly 100 East African migrants
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched its first voluntary repatriation flight in September 2026 from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan,
Zhubei Blue-White Split Raises Domino Fears, Huang Backs Wu in Yilan
The mayoral race in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, has recently hit a political deadlock with the collapse of the blue‑white coalition, drawing heightened at
Daraxonrasib Shows 38% Response in KRAS G12C Lung Cancer Trial
A study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that daraxonrasib, a RAS‑protein inhibitor already cleared by the U.S. Food an
Peru Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran Over Alleged Arms Supply
Lima’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Peru has formally severed diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, accusing Tehran of “esc
Sudan airstrike destroys two UN food trucks, urges humanitarian corridor protection
Over the weekend, the town of Dilling in Sudan’s South Kordofan state was struck by an air raid that destroyed two trucks carrying emergency food supplies
Czech Military Deploys Integrated Drone and Real-Time Alert Security System
The Czech military is currently developing a brand‑new national security information system aimed at fundamentally transforming how government departments
Defense Budget Increase Adds Drones and Mid-Range Anti‑Tactical Ballistic Missiles
The Executive Yuan formally approved the supplemental budget for the current fiscal year today, with the allocation for the defense sector drawing particul
Turkish cargo ship sinks after collision, ten crew members missing
A Turkish cargo vessel, the Tuğberk İmamoğlu, sank in the Marmara Sea on Thursday after colliding with an oil tanker near the Bosporus’s southern entrance.
Ghana mandates domestic refining of artisanal gold before export from Oct 1
Accra – Ghana’s Minerals Commission announced on Monday that, from 1 October, all artisanal doré bars bought by privately financed gold buyers must be proc
DOJ sues Kansas City, Kansas school district over transgender pronoun policy
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that it has filed a civil suit against the Unified School District (USD) of Kansas City, Kansas, allegi
Miaoli man fakes knife injury at high-speed rail station, caught amid work stress
A violent‑attack report was made early one morning in the vicinity of the Houlong High‑Speed Rail Station designated area in Miaoli County. A man told poli
Lions' veteran pitcher Lin Yuan‑yi struggles to earn first start; coach praises off‑season.
Young pitcher Lin Yuan-yu of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions has spent a significant amount of time with the t
Japanese Brass Ensemble to Debut in Thailand, Supported by Taiwanese Musicians and Businessmen
Japan's renowned Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra is about to welcome a historic moment since its founding, with its first-ever concert scheduled at Thailand's M
Jin Cai 539 payout results announced; jackpot winner earns 8 million, regrets.
Taiwanese people have never lost their enthusiasm for various types of lotteries, especially "Grand 539," which features daily draws and an accessible entr
New Taipei election heats up: blue, green, and white parties launch surprise tactics.
The "nine-in-one" local elections have entered the peak registration phase, and election fever across Taiwan is rapidly rising alongside the registration p
Turkmenistan launches nationwide methane leak detection and sealing program
Turkmenistan has begun a systematic effort to locate and seal methane leaks across its oil and gas infrastructure, according to the latest figures released
St. Kitts Prime Minister Terrance Drew Hospitalized; Deputy Takes Acting Role
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew was admitted to a medical facility in Basseterre on Tuesday, officials confirmed, after experiencing a s
Iran alleges US tanker hit mine and caught fire, US denies involvement
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement this week asserting that a supertanker carrying oil detonated two naval mines while
Messi Shocks World by Retiring from Argentina's Legendary National Team
International football today broke a shocking global sports news: Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi posted an emotional farewell letter on Instagra
NVIDIA invests over NT$100bn in MediaTek to deepen AI and automotive partnership
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has once again entered a partnership of global strategic importance. MediaTek and artificial‑intelligence chip leader NVIDI
Switzerland rave shooting kills one, injures five; mastermind arrested, suspect at large.
A large annual rave party held in Aarau, the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau, was marred by gunfire late last night into the early hours of
2026 Miaoli Election Heats Up as 100+ Popular Candidates Vie for First Registration Slot
The 2026 nine-in-one local government elections officially kicked off today, with election commissions across the country simultaneously launching a multi-