Tensions are high between Taiwan and China, as Taiwan’s new President takes office. Editor Warnings: Violence and Death.

Happening in the World: China conducted new military drills off the coast of Taiwan on Monday, as a means of punishment for a recent speech made by the nation’s President Lai Ching-te, in which he stated Taiwan will resist annexation at the hands of the Chinese. The President of China, Xi Jinping, now claims they will take the island by force if need be. The attack, led by the Chinese military, also known as the People’s Liberation Army, involved all the sectors of their army and was meant to simulate strikes upon the air, sea, and land. The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed their motive to replicate military assaults and port blockades as to show that Taiwanese independence doesn’t align with peace. (BBC)

Happening in the US: A New Jersey Transit commuter train struck a tree on the tracks early Monday morning, leaving the train operator dead and twenty three people injured. The incident occurred on the River Line, north of Roebling Station, causing the train to suspend service between the Roebling and Trenton stations, and triggering nearby road closures. (AP)

Happening in NYC: New York City’s new school chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said she aims to get to the root cause of why students are missing so much school as an absentee crisis spreads across the state. According to recent data, during the 2022-2023 school year there was about one in three students in New York who were chronically absent. With numbers being especially high amongst impoverished, disabled, and Black and Latino students. A class action lawsuit also claims these absences are occurring as a result of the city failing to provide sufficient educational access to student’s with mental health issues. Aviles-Ramos believes that though school’s are equipped well-enough to monitor attendance, they need to connect with families to help and ensure students have access to the right resources to make attending school easier. The new chancellor did not offer specifics on how she plans to make this come about. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: In partnership with Engineering Wellness, Columbia is hosting a Do’s and Donuts of Thriving Relationships event on Tuesday, from 11 am to 1 pm in Mudd Hall, in honor of Relationship Violence Awareness Month. The event will have donuts and goodies like journals, tote bags, and highlighters for attendees. For more information, look here. 

Taipei, Taiwan via Wikimedia Commons.