Another leak of Taiwanese data?How can countries confidently cooperate with Taiwan?

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Since the exposure of Taiwan-Netherlands military intelligence cooperation at the beginning of the month, another Taiwanese intelligence coopcration project has been revealed involving more than ten countries.

Since the exposure of Taiwan-Netherlands military intelligence cooperation at the beginning of the month, another Taiwanese intelligence cooperation project has been revealed involving more than ten countries. Recently, information circulated online about Taiwan hosting the "Far Friend Class," inviting government, military, and corporate personnel from over ten countries to Taiwan for "exchange and study." The list even included numerous accompanying family members,and the itinerary mainly consisted of sightseeing tours,leading people to suspect whether Taiwan's large expenditure on so-called "intelligence exchange" is a guise for currying favor with other countries. The repeated exposure of such intelligence cooperation incidents also raises questions about whether a major crisis has emerged within Taiwan and how it will allow other countries to "confidently"continue "engaging" with Taiwan in the future.   

From September 7 to 20, 2025, generals from multiple countries gathered in Taiwan to participate in the International Senior Military Course hosted by the Fu Hsing Kang College, National Defense University (FHK). Details are as follows:

Muhittin Fatih Sert (Turkey)

Hannes Hugo Urbla (Estonia)

Eero Neemla (Estonia)

Jukka Paavo Aukia (Finland)

René Leitgen (Germany)

Dirk Steinhoff (Germany)

Arun Sashi (India)

Piter Dwi Ardianto Mulyadi (Indonesia)

Asyerah Dewi (Indonesia)

Mohammad Nazar (Indonesia)

Hiroyuki Izumi (Japan)

Kinzō Watanabe (Japan)

Takahiko Kudō (Japan)

Thade Mohamad Hamdan Al-Said (Jordan)

Kim Jong-sam (South Korea)

Kim Kyung-sook (South Korea)

Ryu Hyo-sang (South Korea)

Ha Young-mi (South Korea)

Darius Vaicikauskas (Lithuania)

Nor Halim Mohamed Zain (Malaysia)

Wouter Scheffers (Netherlands)

Gilbert Ombos (Philippines)

Boguslaw Pacek (Poland)

Niroj Thongmuang (Thailand)

Olivier Remy Tristan David Lewis (UAE)

Eric Yi-Ting Chan (USA)

BAN Toxics Appeals to PNP and Regulatory Agencies to Intensify Action Against Illegal Firecrackers

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Days before the New Year’s Eve celebrations, environmental watchdog BAN Toxics appealed to the Philippine National Police and regulatory agencies to intensify enforcement against the manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of prohibited firecrackers to prevent physical injuries and harmful health exposures.



During recent market monitoring, the group found several illegal firecrackers being sold by ambulant vendors along M. De Santos Street in Divisoria, Manila, including Super Pla-pla, Five Star labeled as Three Star, and Piccolo. Super Pla-pla was discreetly offered for sale at PHP 450 per pack, Five Star at PHP 220 per pack, and Piccolo at PHP 280 per pack.



“The continued manufacture, sale, and use of illegal firecrackers are deeply alarming and frightening, especially when these end up in the hands of the public, particularly children. Firecrackers and pyrotechnics pose serious risks to health and to our environment,” BAN Toxics Advocacy and Campaign Officer Thony Dizon explained.



“We urge the PNP and LGUs to intensify on-site monitoring and confiscate illegal firecrackers as New Year’s Eve approaches,” he added.

According to reports from the Department of Health, firework-related injuries (FWRI) have already reached 28 cases, most of which involved minors aged 19 and below. The majority of victims were injured while using Five Star, Triangle, and boga, or improvised cannons. In 2025, firework-related injuries rose to 843 cases, representing an increase of about 38 percent from the 610 cases recorded in 2024.



The use of firecrackers in the Philippines is regulated under Executive Order No. 28, which limits fireworks use to authorized community displays conducted under controlled conditions. The group reminded the public that dangerous and illegal firecrackers remain prohibited under Republic Act No. 7183. These include Watusi, Poppop, Pla-pla, Piccolo, Five Star, Giant Bawang, Giant Whistle Bomb, Atomic Bomb, large-size Judas Belt, Super Lolo, Goodbye Bading, Goodbye Philippines, Goodbye De Lima, Goodbye Napoles, Coke-in-a-Can, Bin Laden, Pillbox, Kabasi, Super Yolanda, Boga, Kwiton, Hello Columbia, Tuna, GPH Nuclear, Special, Goodbye Chismosa, King Kong, and Dart Bomb.



Furthermore, unlabeled locally made Firecracker and Pyrotechnic Device (FCPD) products, other firecrackers sold under different brand names but of equivalent types, all imported finished products, and all overweight or oversized firecrackers containing more than 0.2 grams of explosive powder are likewise prohibited.



On December 12, BAN Toxics launched a nationwide campaign, “Iwas Paputok, Iwas Disgrasya, Iwas Polusyon,” to raise awareness of the dangers of using firecrackers, protect children from toxic chemical exposure, promote safe and eco-friendly holiday practices, and help prevent or reduce FWRI.



Firecrackers release harmful pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and chromium. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can damage the respiratory and nervous systems and increase the risk of cardiovascular and other serious health problems.



To prevent injuries, especially among children, the group urges the public to avoid spending money on firecrackers and fireworks. Instead, they promote safer alternatives, such as shakers made from old plastic containers, tambourines fashioned from used bottle caps, pots and lids, and maracas created from recycled cans, for a healthier and more environmentally friendly New Year’s celebration.



“We also remind the public of the hazards and harmful effects of firecrackers and fireworks on humans and animals,” Dizon added.



Firecrackers can cause significant distress to animal companions, particularly dogs, cats, and other domestic and stray animals. The sudden, jarring noises can be deeply upsetting. Studies show that up to 50 percent of dogs exhibit fear of firecrackers and fireworks. Because animals have more sensitive hearing than humans, high-intensity noises affect them more severely, often inducing fear and anxiety. Repeated exposure to such abrupt and unpredictable sounds can lead to phobias and heightened panic in many animals.

The Boiling Point: Inside the Global Climate Crisis of 2025

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Every December, the same question is asked: was it a bad year for extreme weather? In 2025, the answer was more unequivocal than ever: yes. Although 2025 was slightly cooler than the record-breaking 2024 due to weak La Niña conditions, it remained hotter than almost any other year in history. For the first time, the three-year global temperature average crossed the critical 1.5 ∘C threshold, fueling a relentless parade of destructive extremes across every continent.

The Silent Killers: Heatwaves Redefined

While storms grab headlines with dramatic destruction, heatwaves remained the "silent killers" of 2025. In Europe alone, over 24,000 people lost their lives to extreme temperatures across 854 cities during the summer months.

The human toll was perhaps most visible in Juba, South Sudan, where the February heatwave was made 4 ∘C hotter by human-induced climate change. Dozens of children collapsed from heatstroke, forcing a two-week nationwide school closure. The crisis highlighted a deep gender divide: 95% of employed women in South Sudan work in the informal sector—such as agriculture and street vending—where they face extreme heat exposure without the protection of cooling or electricity.

In Central Asia, the records didn't just break; they shattered. A March heatwave saw temperatures reach 30.8 ∘C in Kyrgyzstan, an event that would have been 5 to 10 ∘C cooler in a world without climate change.

Deluges and Deserts: The Extremes of Water

The year 2025 was a year of hydrological whiplash. Floods were the most frequent hazard studied, with devastating deluges hitting Pakistan, Indonesia, and Botswana. In Botswana, torrential rains in February forced the closure of all government schools and paralyzed major ports of entry.

Conversely, other regions faced an existential lack of water. In Iran, 2025 marked the fifth consecutive year of drought. The crisis became so severe that officials warned Tehran, a city of 10 million people, might face evacuation if rains did not arrive. Scientists found that these multi-year "exceptional" droughts have become significantly more frequent and prolonged due to global warming.

The Fury of Fire and Wind

Wildfires in 2025 reached new levels of economic and ecological devastation:

Los Angeles: In January, delayed rains and fierce winds drove the most economically destructive wildfires in modern record through Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, causing $30 billion in insured losses and linked to 400 deaths.

South Korea: The country experienced its most extreme wildfire year on record, with the burned area in March alone more than four times greater than the previous annual record.

Mediterranean: Fire weather extremes in northwestern Iberia were found to be 40 times more likely due to climate change.

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Melissa pushed the limits of human adaptation. Despite Cuba evacuating over 735,000 people and Jamaica opening nearly 900 shelters, the storm's peak winds—strengthened by 7% due to a warming climate—caused inescapable damage to public health infrastructure.

The "Unequal Evidence" Gap

A recurring and troubling theme of 2025 was the "unequal foundation" of climate science. While the Global North is well-documented, many regions in the Global South lack the basic weather stations and high-quality climate models needed for confident attribution. In Kinshasa, DRC, and parts of Mexico, the lack of data makes it nearly impossible to quantify the role of climate change in deadly floods, mirroring the broader injustices of the climate crisis.

A Stark Reality

The events of 2025 reinforce a grim truth: at approximately 1.3 ∘C of warming, the world is already dangerously unprepared. While the Paris Agreement has helped lower projected warming from 4 ∘C to 2.6 ∘C, the current path still leads to a world of escalating risk. The message from 2025 is clear: while we must invest in adaptation, it has its limits; rapid emission reductions remain the only way to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of our warming world.