President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) welcomed the new chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Shuzo Sumi, at the Presidential Office on Tuesday, marking his first visit since taking office in June.

For more than a quarter of a century, the case of Pinar Selek has haunted Turkey’s courts and human rights defenders around the world. A feminist, sociologist, and outspoken anti-militarist, Selek has faced repeated prosecutions and life-threatening charges despite the absence of evidence, ultimately forcing her into exile. Her story is not an anomaly. Around the world, countless scholars have endured political persecution simply because of their research, or because the independence of their work was perceived as a threat. Many have been driven from their homelands, cut off from their communities, and forced to rebuild their lives in foreign countries. In this episode, Professor Pascale Laborier sheds light on the difficulties and hardships exiled scholars encounter, and explains why—even in exile—their home governments continue to haunt them through surveillance, intimidation, and legal harassment.

A very musical duo joins Michelle in the studio to share their history with, production of, and love for music!  Follow Moe on IG @moodidude and NIO @niofletcher!

If you’re a student — welcome back to school! The semester has just started in Taiwan in September. In today’s episode, we’ll get to know some fun and useful Taiwanese phrases related to campus life and learning. Whether you’re meeting new friends or talking about homework, these expressions will help you get ready for the new semester.    ●Words to Know: 1. 開學 khai-ha̍k (n.) the start of school 2. 讀冊 tha̍k-tsheh (v.) to study 3. 老師 lāu-su (n.) teacher 4. 同學 tông-o̍h (n.) classmate 5. 智識 tì-sik (n.) knowledge   ●Idiom of the week: 讀冊，讀佇尻脊骿。Tha̍k-tsheh, tha̍k tī kha-tsiah-phiann. (Studying mechanically without real understanding.)

Join us for the final episode of David and Thao. In previous episodes, we discussed their life in Taiwan, their university experiences, and compared Vietnam and Taiwan. In this episode, we will also review some letters and emails, and they will share what their remaining time in Taiwan looks like. If you would like to contact us and have your message read on air, please send a letter to P.O. BOX 123, 199 Taipei, Taiwan, or email us at English@rti.org.tw. You can also reach us on social media: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram at @Rtienglish.

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This Thai horror anthology is very hit and miss, but some parts still had Hanna at the edge of her seat, watching through her fingers. More than anything though, it was a trip back through memory lane, filled with cultural hallmarks of the recession era.

The wild boar snare is a hunting device that indiscriminately traps, mangles, and often kills unsuspecting victims. Such victims include stray cats and dogs, but also protected species such as Formosan black bears, Taiwanese leopard cats, and more. Even humans have been injured by such traps. Taiwan's Animal Protection Act bans the use of snares, but manufacturing and selling them is a gray area, and they remain being sold across the internet and local stores. Dr. Chengheng Hu joined the Taiwan One Ecology Colation (TOEC), a team of 12 different organizations, to fight against the snares, and protect animals in Taiwan. For this episode of Formosa Fauna we sit down with Dr. Hu and get an inside look at the basics of the traps, their potential cultural significance, and why a petition with over 10,000 signatures wasn't enough to comprehensively ban them in  Taiwan. Have thoughts on today's episode? Send an email to tristan@rti.org.tw. See you every week for Formosa Fauna Fridays!

Hello and welcome to a slightly different episode! As for the last part of my holiday, I decided to give everyone a little quiz! Just to recap a bit and see how much you pay attention, we will play a short bit of a song from artists who appeared on this show before, and your job will be to guess the song's name! Or at least an artist. In case you can't, worry not! At least enjoy good music and perhaps discover something new to listen to.  P.S. Hope you do like my new logo, a big thanks and shout out to David and Thao!