ICRT

Posted on 2025-07-12 16:33:13

Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture said today that damage from Typhoon Danas
has exceeded NT$2.5 billion.

Tainan's losses stand at NT$929 million, accounting for 37% of the total.
Chiayi County suffered NT$657 million in damage, followed by Yunlin County,
at NT$421 million. These three central areas alone accounted for 80 percent
of the country's agricultural damage assessed so far.

Banana crops were the biggest losers, accounting for NT$229 million in
losses, according to the ministry, followed by pomelo crops -- at NT$213
million.

Posted on 2025-07-12 15:15:14

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense says it identified more that a dozen
PLA aircraft, nine military ships and another official vessel in the 12 hours
leading up to 6 o'clock this morning.

In response, Taiwan forces deployed aircraft and vessels and mobilized
missile systems situated along the coast to monitor Chinese activity.

Since the beginning of July, Taiwan has detected more than 200 Chinese
military aircraft and 90 ships.

Posted on 2025-07-12 14:16:13

The removal of NT$100 billion (US$3.42 billion) in aid to financially
troubled state-owned Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) from a special bill passed
by the Legislative Yuan on Friday could lead to a hike in electricity rates
-- and hence inflation -- according to the Executive Yuan.

On Friday, lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) were able to
successfully push for the removal of Taipower aid from the special NT$545
billion package.

After passage of the bill, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee said in a
statement that an electricity tariff review meeting of the Ministry of
Economic Affairs (MOEA) may decide to approve a hike in power rates as
Taipower failed to secure the aid.

Lee said higher inflation due to the higher rates will affect consumers and
the industrial sector.

Posted on 2025-07-12 14:16:13

France is eager to collaborate with Taiwan as countries navigate the global
competition for artificial intelligence (AI) leadership.

That, according to French representative to Taiwan Franck Paris during
celebrations marking France's national day, Bastille Day.

Describing such an endeavor as an "immense challenge," Paris said France
would continue to collaborate with Taiwan toward this goal.

Paris noted that France also has extensive experience in the defense, space,
and nuclear energy sectors and on green transitions, areas that could play a
key role in strengthening democratic resilience.

Paris heads the French Office in Taipei, which represents France's interests
in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

Folder: 20250711\CEP

Posted on 2025-07-12 13:23:13

Prosecutors on Friday indicted seven individuals in Keelung for allegedly
forging over 1,000 signatures in an attempt to recall two Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors.

According to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office, former Kuomintang (KMT)
city branch head Wu Kuo-sheng and former Keelung Civil Affairs Director Chang
Yuan-hsiang were key figures in the scheme.

Prosecutors said the scheme involved copying the personal information from
local party membership rolls -- such as names, birth dates, ID numbers, and
addresses -- without the consent of 1,036 people listed on the petitions,
prosecutors said.

Chang was also accused of abusing his official access to the household
registration system to verify petition data and ensure the petitions with
forged signatures would meet the legal threshold for a recall vote.

The indictments follow a months-long investigation into failed recall
attempts against DPP councilors Cheng Wen-ting and Jiho Tiun.

Posted on 2025-07-12 13:23:13

Taiwanese tennis veteran Hsieh Su-wei and her doubles partner, Jelena
Ostapenko of Latvia, advanced to the Wimbledon women's doubles final on
Friday.

The fourth-seeded duo defeated top seeds Katerina Siniakova of the Czech
Republic and Taylor Townsend of the United States in two straight sets in the
semifinals.

The Taiwanese-Latvian pair will next face eighth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova
of Russia and Elise Mertens of Belgium in the final.

The 39-year-old Taiwanese will be vying for her fifth Wimbledon women's
doubles title and 10th Grand Slam trophy.

Posted on 2025-07-12 12:41:14

The Taipei District Court has set bail conditions for Core Pacific Group
Chairman Sheen Ching-jing, who is currently on trial in a corruption case
that also involves former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.

Under the ruling, Sheen, who is 77, must post NT$100 million (US$3.8 million)
in cash and secure an additional NT$200 million bond through a financially
qualified guarantor.

He would also be required to reside at his registered address in Taipei's
Da'an District, in addition to being placed under electronic surveillance.

Sheen is currently in hospital under police escort.

Sheen is standing trial alongside Ko, KMT Taipei City Councilor Ying
Hsiao-wei, and former Taipei mayor's office director Lee Wen-tsung. The four
were indicted in December 2024 under the Anti-Corruption Act on charges
including bribery, embezzlement, and breach of trust.

Prosecutors allege the defendants manipulated urban planning decisions to
benefit the redevelopment of the Core Pacific City complex in Taipei's
Songshan District. Sheen is accused of offering bribes and using disguised
political donations to influence outcomes.

Prosecutors are seeking a total sentence of 17 years for Sheen.

Posted on 2025-07-11 19:16:13

Lawmakers have passed a special bill that gives $10-thousand NT to every
Taiwan national.

The $545 billion NT budget was pushed through by the KMT.

The law is meant to strengthen the economy and national security in response
to U.S. tariffs.

It does not include funding for Taipower, even though that was part of the
original plan.

The bill stipulates that the cash payout must be completed by October 31st.

The government says more details about how to get the money will come soon.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 18:20:13

Largan Precision shares bounced back Friday despite a sharp fall in
second-quarter profit.

The Apple supplier lost over $4 billion NT due to currency exchange, as the
Taiwan dollar surged nearly 11 percent.

Net profit dropped 84 percent from the previous quarter to $1.03 billion NT,
the lowest in 13 years.

But investors were optimistic, betting on stronger sales as Apple and others
prepare new product launches.

Largan expects sales to rise in July and grow more in August.

The stock climbed nearly 5 percent by midday after an early dip.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 18:20:13

Taiwan’s four major international airlines hit record sales in the first
half of this year.

China Airlines posted $104 billion NT, boosted by strong summer travel and
cargo demand.

EVA Air reached $110 billion NT, thanks to nearly full long-haul flights and
rising cargo sales for AI servers and chips.

Newcomer Starlux Airlines saw a 34 percent jump in sales, with e-commerce and
fresh produce pushing cargo revenue to a new high.

Budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan also grew steadily, with sales up nearly 3
percent and more passengers taking to the skies.

The summer vacation rush, along with increased exports, is driving the
aviation rebound as Taiwan's travel and trade markets bounce back after the
pandemic.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 17:06:13

JKOPay has confirmed that all user funds are fully protected and not affected
by a legal dispute involving its parent company, JKO Fintech.

Chairman Jacob Mei says JKOPay operates independently and is supervised by
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission.

All user money is stored in trust accounts at partner banks and cannot be
used for other purposes.

The case involves a civil lawsuit with Taishan company over a $3.6 billion NT
investment.

While the court allowed a temporary asset seizure, JKOPay denies any
financial trouble, saying its monthly revenue just hit a new high and its
operations are stable.

Mei added that they remain in close contact with regulators and want to ease
public concern.

Major retailers like E-Life Mall, momo, PChome, and Shopee Auctions today
announced they've stopped using JKOPay as a payment method in the wake of the
lawsuit.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 17:06:14

Youth organizations are calling for voters to head to Hualien on July 26th to
vote in lawmaker Fu Kun Chi's recall.

The group HuiLai QiCheng 洄萊啟程 is even planning to help voters pay for the
cost of a train ticket home.

The group held a press conference today at the Legislative Yuan, emphasizing
that they would subsidize the cost of the transit regardless of how people
plan to vote on the recall...

in order to support the people's right to vote and make their voices heard.

The group aims to help 200 people return to Hualien on trains departing from
Taoyuan, Taipei, and Kaohsiung to Hualien on the 25th.

Organizers hope to reduce the financial burden of participating in democracy
and deciding Hualien's future.

For more details, please visit the Hui Lai Qi Cheng facebook page and social
media.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-11 16:07:13

Wages in Taiwan are rising as inflation slows down.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics reports that
from January to May, average real monthly regular wages went up nearly 1
percent to $43-thousand-572 NT, the biggest jump in five years.

Wages before inflation also saw the highest growth in 25 years.

Bonuses from the Dragon Boat Festival also helped push average monthly
earnings to over $61-thousand NT.

Inflation grew at 2.04 percent during the period, slightly down from earlier
this year.

Experts say wage growth and steady job numbers show Taiwan’s job market is
recovering from inflation’s impact.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 16:07:13

Taipei health officials are investigating a suspected food poisoning incident
after members of a school softball team experienced symptoms.

The Department of Health says students on the Taipei Beitou Junior High
School girl's softball team experienced discomfort yesterday during a
training session, including itchy and numb lips, and other allergic
reactions.

Seventeen of the students were sent for medical attention, and one is
currently still under observation at hospital.

The girls had consumed snacks provided by a Taipei vendor, as well as lunch
and dinner cooked by the school itself.

Health officials are conducting an investigation, and the vendor has been
ordered to suspend operations.

If food poisoning is confirmed, the responsible supplier faces fines of up to
$200-million NT.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-11 16:07:13

The Health Promotion Administration is urging the public to get screened
regularly for colorectal cancer.

The HPA points out that the government has expanded its free screening
program to more age groups and those with a family history of the disease.

It says regular testing can reduce the incidence of advanced colorectal
cancer by 29-percent, and mortality by 35-percent.

According to government data, colorectal cancer was the third most common
form of cancer in Taiwan last year, and claimed 7-thousand lives.

Officials emphasize that fecal occult blood testing is not invasive and
requires no dietary restrictions beforehand, making it easier to prioritize
intestinal health.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-11 14:26:13

Typhoon Danas and heavy rain have caused over $2.3 billion NT in farm losses
across central and southern Taiwan.

The Ministry of Agriculture has issued disaster area declarations, covering
affected crops and regions in seven counties and cities south of Taichung.

Crops like melons, corn, tomatoes, and dragon fruit were hit hard.

Oyster farms and fishing boats in Tainan also suffered damage.

To help farmers and fishers quickly recover, the ministry launched a disaster
cash relief and low-interest loan program, with public notices listing the
impacted areas and crops.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 14:26:14

As Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang 41 military exercise enters its third day of
live-fire drills, the Ministry of National Defense reports continued Chinese
military activity around the Taiwan Strait.

Between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. today, the MND detected one Chinese
military aircraft and nine naval vessels operating in the surrounding waters.

The unmanned aerial vehicle flew into Taiwan’s northern air defense zone for
nearly six hours.

The Defense Ministry closely monitored and responded to the situation by
deploying aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems to carry
out close surveillance.

(PB)

Posted on 2025-07-11 14:26:14

It seems that billionaire Robert Tsao has parted ways with the Presidential
Office.

The KMT said recently that Tsao, also known as Cao Xing-cheng (曹興誠), had
disappeared from the list of the members of the Whole-of-Society Defense
Resilience Committee, established by President Lai last year.

They questioned if he was dismissed due to differences in opionions about
various political issues.

Presidential office spokesperson says today that Tsao, who founded UMC
Electronics, resigned from the Committee's consultant post by telling the
President his decision on June 26th at the Committee's meeting.

Tsao also told Lai that he would continue to commit to defending Taiwan's
sovereignty and security as a private citizen.

The presidential office says the term for the committee members expired on
May 19th this year, and Tsao declined reappointment for personal reasons,
adding that there was no dismissal.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-11 14:26:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark Tai ex closing at 22,751 after
gaining 57 points.

The turnover was 327.1 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-07-11 13:11:13

The Pingtung County government is ready to fine Sun Rise E&T Corporation, a
company that was trying to harvest solar energy, for failing to clean up its
debris after Typhoon Danas.

Pingtung officials told the company early this week that its facilities'
broken floating platforms, structural frames, and plastic components should
be removed within 48 hours as they pose a threat to navigation and fishing
operations.

But the company said after the deadline passed that it's a lot of work and
cost at least half a million NT, adding that they've already started the
clean-up.

Sun Rise E&T attracted much attention after its experimental floating solar
panels along Jia-dong (佳冬) Township were completely destroyed by
Typhoon-triggered strong waves.

The incident caused some experts and the opposition TPP to criticize the
government's energy policy of trying to generate green electricity by using
floating solar, saying it's not feasible given Taiwan's typhoon season.

The central government offered Sun Rise 130 million NT in subsidies in 2023
to develop the project.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-11 13:11:13

Why learn English?

Well, you may have the opportunity to give a gift to the Dalai Lama.

Last week, the Dalai Lama donned a hat reading "Team Taiwan," and it turns
out that the hat was gifted to him by a 9 year old boy who practiced his
English just to be able to give him the hat.

The boy, called Ye Xin You 葉信佑, said, he was pleased that he was able to
give the gift and use his practiced English.

When Xin You handed the gift to the spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama touched
his cheek to express his blessing.

Organizers say that the hat is customized, with special embroidery of the
Dalai Lama's name and the number 113, symbolizing that he will live to 113.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-11 08:08:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning ....

K-M-T Chairman Eric Chu says the party will not support a Cabinet-proposed
special 410-billion N-T bill that includes 100-billion N-T in aid for
Tai-Power.

According to Chu, the party has no plans to pass the bill in exchange for
D-P-P supporting a KMT-proposed plan to distribute 10,000 N-T in cash
handouts to Taiwan nationals and residents.

Speaking to reporters, Chu stressed the K-M-T "will absolutely not back down
even one step on this issue."

Chu proposed a compromise at a meeting of the party's Central Standing
Committee earlier this week in which the K-M-T would insist on the inclusion
of the cash handouts in the Cabinet-proposed special bill.

That led to a report by the United Daily News citing anonymous sources, which
claimed the K-M-T could consider approving the funding for Tai-Power in
exchange for support for the one-time cash handout.

... and the report sparked a backlash among party officials.

Posted on 2025-07-11 08:08:13

The Army has conducted simulated a response to potential Chinese operations
aimed at seizing control of Taoyuan International Airport on Day 2 of the
ongoing Han Kuang exercises.

The Army's 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade was mobilized to protect the
airport - in an drill the Ministry of National Defense says was aimed at
simulating a response against a Chinese airborne or helicopter assault.

Three CM-11 tanks and three CM-22 mortar carriers were deployed near a temple
in Taoyuan's Dayuan District for the drill.

Defense officials say command and logistical vehicles directly supported the
CM-11 and CM-22 vehicles on the battle line and the size of forces deployed
along the battle line was roughly equivalent to two platoons.

Military personnel with knowledge of the drill say it placed emphasis on
familiarizing troops with the local environment and improving coordination
and engagement protocols between platoons once in tactical positions.

Posted on 2025-07-11 08:08:13

The Cabinet has approved a six-year, 27-billion N-T project aimed at
launching commercial 6-G wireless services by 2030.

According to the Cabinet, the project will strengthen Taiwan's role in the
next-generation communications supply chain.

The project will be led by the National Science and Technology Council and
includes plans to develop 6-G technologies, attract satellite communication
service providers, and create an environment conducive to innovation in the
field.

Premier Cho Jung-tai says the government believes that by capitalizing on
emerging 6G and satellite broadband technologies, Taiwan can secure a
position in the global next-generation communications industry.

Cabinet officials say initiative aims to enhance Taiwan's influence in global
decision-making through a public-private partnership model and to reinforce
the country's position in the international supply chain.

The government also intends to promote the integration of 6-G and satellite
communications into various industries, including telemedicine and smart
transportation.

Posted on 2025-07-11 08:08:13

votes

The Central Election Commission says the costs of the 26 recall elections
targeting K-M-T lawmakers and the national referendum on restarting the
Maanshan nuclear power plant could cost 1.62 billion N-T.

According to the commission, the cost of each recall vote ranges from between
16 million and 20-million, while the cost of the referendum is likely to hit
1.1-billion N-T.

Recall motions against 24 K-M-T lawmakers and currently-suspended Taiwan
People's Party Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an will be taking place on July
26.

A recall vote against a D-P-P Nantou County Councilor will take place on July
13.

While recall votes against two Nantou County K-M-T lawmakers are set for
August 23.

The referendum on restarting the nuclear power plant will be held in tandem
with the August 23 recall votes.

The Central Election Commission says the costs of recall elections against
city and county mayors and councilors are covered by local governments.

Posted on 2025-07-11 08:08:13

And finally,

A former Navy captain sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in
the Lafayette frigate and minesweeper procurement scandals has died.

Kuo Li-heng's death of cancer was confirmed late last night.

He was 73.

Kuo was imprisoned in 1994 and released in June 2015.

He was arrested on suspicion of having had a role in the murder of his former
boss, Captain Yin Qing-feng, in 1993 when he was an officer in the Navy's
Weapons Procurement Office.

Kuo was also accused of accepting bribes from arms broker Andrew Wang - the
Taiwan representative of the French arms dealer Thomson-CSF - and acting as
an insider to facilitate the deal.

Captain Yin Qing-feng's death remains unsolved.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

The military has conducted a live-fire drill involving a platoon of newly
delivered M-1A-2T main battle tanks.

The drill was held at the Keng-Xi-Kou Range in Hsinchu County.

President Lai Ching-te visited the range to oversee the exercise, which was
held separately from ongoing Han Kuang military exercises.

A total of four tanks deployed in the exercise.

Thirty-eight of the main battle tanks were delivered to Taiwan from the U-S
in December of last year and training has been underway since February.

The remaining 70 tanks are scheduled for delivery later this year and early
next year.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

Meanwhile,

Emergency air-raid drills have been held at three PX Mart supermarkets in
Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan.

The drill were part of the government's Urban Resilience Exercises, which are
happening alongside the military's Han Kuang exercises.

The emergency air-raid drills were organized by the National Police Agency
and included P-X Mart employees and members of the public.

The drills began with an alarm, after which shoppers were guided by
supermarket staff to a designated shelter areas within the stores and
instructed to kneel with their hands covering their heads.

The Taipei drill was attended by several officials, including Deputy Interior
Minister Ma Shih-yuan and Lin Fei-fan - the deputy secretary-general of the
National Security Council.

The National Police Agency said the drills also simulated scenarios such as
calming panicked shoppers and administering basic first aid.

P-X Mart executive Liu Hong-cheng says while the company is willing to
cooperate with the government on the drills, they are being scheduled during
off-peak hours to minimize the impact on shoppers.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it welcomes comments by NATO Secretary
General Mark Rutte concerning China's military buildup and its ambitions
toward Taiwan.

Officials say the Lai administration will continue working with partners such
as the G-7 and NATO to contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific
and Taiwan Strait.

The statement came after Rutte warned of China's threat to Taiwan earlier
this week - he called the growing alignment between Beijing, Moscow and other
authoritarian regimes a serious threat to global stability.

Rutte had been at a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in
Berlin - when he said China is increasingly preparing to pursue its ambitions
to take over Taiwan and will likely do so in coordination with Russia.

Rutte, made a similar warning in a recent interview with the New York Times,
saying Beijing could attempt to seize Taiwan while urging Moscow to launch a
parallel attack on NATO territory.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

A bipartisan bill aimed at protecting Taiwan's undersea communication cables
from Chinese "gray zone tactics" has been introduced in the U-S Senate.

The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act is sponsored by
Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, both are
members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The act calls on the U-S government to establish an initiative to deploy
real-time monitoring systems, develop rapid-response protocols, improve
maritime surveillance and strengthen international cooperation against
sabotage.

Both senators said disrupting undersea cables is a key part of China's
military strategy "to cripple Taiwan's communications in a conflict."

Curtis has also issued a press release saying America "can't stand idle as
China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan"

.... and "the bipartisan legislation sends a clear message that the U-S
stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure,
sovereignty, and freedom."

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

The Ministry of the Interior says the island's population declined for the
18th consecutive month as of the end of June.

While data shows that nearly 9 thousand babies were born in June - marking an
increase of 535 from May, and ending a three-month decline....

The total for the first six months of the year still went down -- 55,375
babies were born this year, 63,874 were born in the same period last year.

Meanwhile... the death rate for June was at 8.63 for every one thousand
people... and the population decrease -- which is the difference between
births and deaths, was just over 7 thousand five hundred.

The population was also hit by a migration loss-- with more people leaving
Taiwan than settling here.

Taiwan's population is now at just over 23.3 million -- over 19 and a half
percent of which are aged 65 and older.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

The Tainan City Government says city's urban resilience drills scheduled for
July 16 will be canceled, as it prioritizes disaster relief and
reconstruction after Typhoon Danas battered the south.

According to Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, efforts are still underway to
restore power and water to areas affected by the storm - which caused power
outages for 282,000 households and downed over 600 utility poles.

Some 84-per cent of power has now been restored.

Huang says over 1,300 military personnel are supporting disaster relief.

The Chiayi City and County governments have also announced the cancellation
of their urban resilience drills - which had been scheduled for July 15.

Posted on 2025-07-11 07:01:13

Three prominent artists have been presented with National Cultural Awards.

Awards were presented by Premier Zhu Rong-tai by author Wu Cheng, Hakka
traditional builder Fu Ming-guang and Taiwanese opera performer Yang Li-hua.

Wu Cheng is a literary figures known for using poetry and prose to document
the lives of farmers and the land.

Fu Ming-guang is a master bricklayer of traditional Hakka architecture and
has worked in construction and restoration for over 60 years.

While Yang Li-hua is known for her numerous Taiwanese operatic works, from
the stage to radio, film and television.

The National Cultural Award is sponsored by the Cabinet and presented in
recognition of outstanding achievements in literature, cultural heritage and
traditional arts.

Each recipient of this year's Cultural Award received a medallion and a
certificate, along with prize money of 1-million N-T.

Posted on 2025-07-10 20:11:13

Gear to University

A tech company executive in Taiwan has been convicted for selling
Chinese-made surveillance equipment falsely labeled as "Made in Taiwan" to
National Sun Yat-sen University.

The defendant, identified as Hsieh (謝), won a contract in 2021 to install a
security system at the university's Renwu campus.

To bypass a ban on Chinese products, he bought equipment from China and
relabeled it to appear locally made.

The Changhua District Court sentenced him to one year and four months in
prison, convertible to a fine, and fined him $240 thousand NT for procurement
violations.

In a separate civil case, Hsieh was ordered to pay over $240 thousand NT in
damages after failing to appear in court.

Prosecutors say other schools were also tricked by similar schemes.

Both rulings can be appealed.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-10 20:11:13

Emergency air-raid drills were conducted Thursday morning at PX Mart
supermarkets in Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan.

The exercises, part of the national Urban Resilience campaign, began at 10 AM
and involved PX Mart staff and members of the public.

Shoppers were guided to designated shelter areas and instructed to kneel with
their hands over their heads.

The drills also simulated panic management and basic first aid.

Officials praised the collaboration between government and private
businesses, thanking PX Mart for its support and emphasizing public safety as
a shared societal responsibility.

PX Mart executive Liu Hung-cheng said future drills will be held during
off-peak hours and customer feedback will shape improvements.

This marks the supermarket chain's first participation in such an exercise.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2025-07-10 20:11:13

Meanwhile,

The Taoyuan Airport MRT says it will operate normally during the national air
defense drill on July 17th, from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM.

However, passengers will not be allowed to exit stations during the drill,
which is part of the 41st annual Han Kuang military exercises.

Taoyuan Metro operator says announcements will begin 30 minutes prior, urging
travelers to remain inside stations until the drill alert is lifted.

Parking lots along the MRT line will also restrict exits, allowing vehicles
to enter but not leave.

Passengers are advised to arrive at stations early before the drill begins to
avoid getting delayed.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-10 20:11:13

The mayor of Tainan is asking the central government for disaster assistance
as Tainan struggles to deal with the effects of the extreme rainfall the city
has gotten in the past few days.

Mayor Huang Wei Zhe says, the city has sustained an estimated 400 million NT
in agricultural losses, and there's about 44,000 households in the city still
without power.

About 1300 military personnel are assisting in the recovery efforts.

Huang said that recovery efforts are prioritizing the restoration of
electricity and running water.

The mayor also pointed out that the flooded areas of the city are less than
in last year's Gaemi typhoon and in Typhoon Morakot, demonstrating the
efficacy of new flood prevention infrastructure.

Huang also said that his government would apply for vehicles and equipment
from the central government.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 17:08:14

continues in the center-south

The Minstry of Agriculture says, the number of areas in the center and south
that are at a high risk of mudslide has now risen to 119.

The ministry originally had only 67 red-level warnings in place this morning,
but the number rose after Taitung, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Chiayi
continued to receive extremely heavy rainfall today.

The landslide-prone areas are now spread across 13 townships in four counties.

Authorities have also listed Kaohsiung's Liu-gui (六龜), Pingtung's Lai-yi
(來義) and Wu-tai (霧台), as well as Taitung's Da-wu (大武) townships as the
locations where large-scale landslides are likely to happen.

The central government is calling on local governments to either pursuade
residents in those places to evacuate or start mandatory evacuations.

As of 4:30 pm, some mountainous areas of Taitung, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung
have received over 300 milimeters of rain today, and some areas even reached
490mm.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 17:08:14

Chunghwa Telecom is rejecting claims from opposition lawmakers that its
website security certificates pose a national security threat.

The controversy arose after Google and Mozilla announced they would stop
trusting Chunghwa Telecom's TLS certificates—digital credentials that
authenticate websites and secure user data.

Company chair Jian Zhi-cheng (簡志誠) clarified that the certificates remain
valid beyond July 31st, and said nearly all government websites have already
updated their certificates or implemented dual-certificate systems.

Jian emphasized that Mozilla’s decision stems from a routine global policy
update, not a cybersecurity issue, and assured the public that Chunghwa is
fully compliant with industry standards.

He stressed the matter is technical in nature and unrelated to national
security.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-10 17:08:14

3 middle schoolers are hospitalized following a car accident involving a
baseball team from a Chiayi's Zhong-he (中和) middle school.

While traveling to Taitung on Freeway No. 3 for a tournament, the van
carrying seven students rolled over after the coach, who was driving, hit a
fallen branch in the rain.

Aside from the 3 hospitalized students, 4 others sustained light injuries.

One of the three is being transferred to another hospital for treatment due
to a suspected cerebral hemorrhage.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 14:07:13

A bridge in the mountainous region of Pingtung has been washed away by
unceasing heavy rain.

The Wu Da霧大 number two bridge connecting Da Wu 大武　Village in Wu Tai
霧台　township was the only bridge connecting the village to the outside
world.

A neaby road is also at risk of landslides, posing a high travel risk.

Local officials say that Typhoon Danas-triggered heavy rain has rendered the
bridge unpassable and some 100 villagers are now isolated, with food reserves
to last about one week.

Two villagers need medical attention who are trying to find a way to head
down the mountain for treatment.

Heavy rain is still pounding the area today, with Wu-tai Township having
received over 300 mm of rainfall so far.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 14:07:14

The underground parking garage of Taichung's Dali Sports Park is flooded
following days of heavy rain the city.

The city government says, it's working on pumping the water out of the
garage.

The garage flooded yesterday to about half the height of a tire, and it
hasn't yet been completely drained.

Members of the public complained to representatives this morning.

As officials work on removing the water, they are also working to identify
the cause of the flood.

Individuals with damage to their car may report the damage to the parking lot
management company or the Taichung City Parking Management office.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 14:07:14

The Ministry of Labor is reminding the public today that the application
deadline for migrant live-in caregivers' wage subsidies is August 11.

The helpers' monthly wage increased to $20-thousand NT in 2022...

and to help the employers, the M-O-L introduced a subsidy program that offers
3,000 NT a month to those who qualify as economically disadvantaged.

Under the program, those employers are also exempt from paying the employment
stability fee.

To qualify as an economically disadvantaged employer, one must be classified
as being from a low-income household under the Public Assistance Act or is a
recipient of social welfare allowance.

The M-O-L says employers who hire foreign household caregivers between August
10th, 2022, and August 9th of this year, and are still employing them can now
apply for the subsidy.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-10 14:07:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 22,693,
after gaining 166 points.

The turnover was 317.9 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-07-10 13:07:13

Taiwan Power says its workers are working around the clock to repair the
toppled transmission towers in the coastal areas of Chia-yi County, where
over 23,000 households remain without electricity.

TaiPower says Typhoon Danas made landfall in Chia-yi Sunday night, causing
multiple transmission towers at Xinwen (新塭) Substation to fall, resulting
in power outages for over 250,000 households.

The state-run company says emergency power restoration efforts involved a
joint operation by the New Taipei, Tao-yuan, Tai-chung, Gao-ping (高屏), and
Chia-nan (嘉南) power supply offices and that the Xinwen Substation resumed
power supply at 8 PM last night.

The teams divided up to install temporary steel poles and concrete poles,
using emergency cable rigging to restore the main power transmission route.

Meanwhile TaiPower has firmly denied reports that a lack of materials has
delayed repair work.

It says the Chia-yi District Office has activated a high-intensity logistics
support system with all units coordinating dispatches to establish direct
supply lines to the most needed areas.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-10 13:07:13

The Taiwan Sugar Corporation is offering rent reductions to help farmers
affected by Typhoon Danas.

Taisugar says it will grant rent reductions of one to three months, based on
the severity of the damage and proof of loss.

The company says farmers leasing land in areas designated by the Ministry of
Agriculture for natural disaster cash relief and low-interest loans can
provide proof of losses to Taisugar, and in special circumnstances, an
extension of the reduction period may also be discussed.

The company says the move is part of rent relief measures to assist farmers
in overcoming challenges caused by the recent typhoon, and it is committed to
working with farmers through this difficult time.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-10 13:07:13

A sinkhole caused by heavy rain opened up in Chang-hua's Pu-xin (埔心),
causing a truck driver to fall off the road.

The sinkhole, measuring two meters in diameter, appeared on a drainage road
in Puxin township.

Luckily, the driver of the vehicle was not injured, but officials say they've
closed off the road and reported the incident to the county government for
repairs.

The pothole appeared at the bend of the Donggou 東溝 drainage road, where
heavy rains caused the bottom of the drainage ditch to be hollowed out.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

A national security source has told local media that trade talks between
Taiwan and the United States have not stalled and are not facing any bumps
and both sides are continuing talking to resolve outstanding differences.

The statement by the unnamed source comes amid uncertainty over the status of
the talks aimed at ensuring Taiwan can avoid hefty tariffs that could be
imposed the Trump administration.

U-S President Donald Trump has listed countries that have been threatened
with tariffs of between 25 and 40-per cent starting August 1 if they do not
reach a deal, but Taiwan is not on that list.

Former Vice Premier Shi Jun-ji has questioned whether the negotiations have
been going smoothly following claims that there were issues because the Lai
administration as unwilling to remove non-trade barriers on imports of U-S
pork and beef.

Shi says it's also believed the government is reluctant to sharply lower
tariffs on US-made automobiles, but has instead offered to cut the auto
commodity tax.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says President Lai Ching-te held a 50-minute
video conference with Taiwan's negotiating team earlier this week ..

.. during which he urged them to seek reasonable tariffs while protecting the
public's health and food security, and also reach a deal that balances
bilateral trade with strengthening cooperation in technology and national
security.

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

High Prosecutors' Office Chief Prosecutor Tsai Chiu-ming has been quizzed by
lawmakers during a confirmation hearing in the Legislative Yuan.

Tsai is President Lai Ching-te's nomination for the head of the Judicial
Yuan.

Speaking at the hearing, Tsai said his top priority if confirmed will be to
address the shortage of judges and widespread overwork, as he believes that
is one of the most pressing challenges facing the judicial system.

Tsai also said he will work to reduce judges' paperwork burdens and retain
more support staff who assist judges with case reviews by raising their
salaries.

And he went onto to tell lawmakers that he also plans to decriminalize
certain minor offenses, broaden the range of complaint-based prosecutions and
promote out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce the number of
cases entering the judicial system.

Tsai has served as a prosecutor for 29 years.

His nomination has drawn opposition .. with opponents arguing that he has
only worked on cases at lower courts and his appointment would undermine the
separation of judicial and prosecutorial powers.

If Tsai's nomination is confirmed by the Legislature on July 25, he will
become the first prosecutor to head the Judicial Yuan.

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shi-yuan says buildings designated as air-raid
shelters must be open for members of the public to take refuge when an air
raid alert sounds during next week's urban resilience drills.

According to Ma, designated shelters include office and residential
buildings, schools and underground parking lots in parks that clearly display
air-raid shelter stickers.

Ma says the National Land Management Agency and National Police Agency have
been marking them with the stickers for the past two years,

The urban resilience drills will be taking place from July 15 to 18.

They will be conducted regionally and feature air raid sirens, public
evacuation procedures, traffic controls, and mobile alert notifications.

The exercises will take place in Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin
and Chiayi on July 15.

On July 16, the drills will be held in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung.

The dills will the be taking in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu
and Yilan on July 17 and in Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu on
July 18.

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

The Ministry of Education says initial estimates show that damage to
educational facilities due to Typhoon Danas currently stands at around
260-million N-T.

According to Education Minister Zheng Ying-yao, the K-12 Education
Administration has launched emergency mechanisms and allocated funds to areas
hit hardest by the typhoon.

Tainan and Chiayi County have both received 4.5-million N-T, Chiayi City has
received 1.8-million N-T, and Changhua County has received 3-million N-T in
emergency funding.

The education minister says requests for funding from other municipalities
will be reviewed by the Cabinet.

Chiayi City Mayor Huang Ming-hui has said 31 schools were damaged there as
the typhoon battered the south earlier this week.

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

A second firefighter has died after a rescue boat capsized on the Xindian
River in New Taipei on Tuesday.

It raises the death toll from the incident to three.

According to the Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, 36-year-old firefighter Zhang
Jing-qian died after nearly a day on life support.

Doctors say Chang had suffered severe brain damage and multiple organ failure
due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

He was one of five rescuers aboard an inflatable dinghy that capsized during
an operation to save a paddleboarder who had entered a restricted section of
the river.

Another firefighter, Wu En-shuo, was pronounced dead shortly after being
pulled from the water.

The paddleboarder's body was found several hours later.

While a volunteer firefighter remains in critical condition, but doctors say
he is now breathing independently.

The section of the silt dam where the incident occurred is not open to the
public and considered dangerous.

Posted on 2025-07-10 08:15:13

And finally in sports news,

Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and her women's doubles partner Jelena Ostapenko of
Latvia have advanced to semi-finals at Wimbledon.

Hsieh and Ostapenko beat Sorana Kersta of Romania and Russia's Anna
Kalinskaya 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that lasted 2-hours and 41-minutes.

They next face Katerina Sinia-kova of the Czech Republic and the U-S' Taylor
Townsend.

Hsieh is currently ranked 15th in the doubles ranking.

She has won seven major titles in women's doubles - including the 2013, 2019,
2021 and 2023 Wimbledon Championships.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

The 10-day, nine-night live-fire phase of the Han Kuang exercises is now
underway and continues through July 18.

The Ministry of National Defense has said the first three days of the drills
will focus on how the military collectively counters China's gray zone
tactics.

Exercises simulated Chinese militia boats and Coast Guard vessels carrying
out exercises near Taiwan on the first day.

The Navy dispatched vessels to designated locations off the coast in
preparation to confront enemy forces... while ground forces were deployed to
areas ready to respond swiftly should China turn gray zone activities into an
actual invasion.

Reservists also reported to designated locations.

Up to 2,000 reservists are meant to participate in the drills this year test
their ability to provide brigade-sized rather than battalion-sized support.

The extended exercises will move on to the "full-scale combat" phase from
July 13 to 18.

That includes joint anti-landing operations on July 13, coastal and beachhead
combat on July 14, in-depth defense July 15 and 16, and protracted warfare on
July 17 and 18.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

China's Ministry of Commerce has announced export restrictions against eight
Taiwanese companies.

They have been placed on China's export control list under the Export Control
Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's
Republic of China on the Export Control of Dual-use Items.

The restrictions are effective immediately and prohibit Chinese exports of
dual-use items, with both civilian and military applications.

The affected companies are all closely related to Taiwan's military.

They include the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, Geosat
Aerospace & Technology, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and
Technology, C-S-B-C and Lungteh Shipbuilding.

Wu Si-zhi of the Taiwan Thinktank called the move "more superficial than
substantive" as the firms have weak or no links with China.

Su says the sanctions could be aimed at responding to President Lai
Ching-te's recent comment concerning China and the government's moves to
prioritize defense resilience and defense autonomy.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is leading a business delegation to Paraguay
this week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the trip marks the 68th anniversary of
the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides and is meant to
deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The delegation will consist of business representatives from a variety of
sectors, including semiconductor, information and communications technology,
smart transportation, smart agriculture and construction.

Lin and his delegation are scheduled to meet with Paraguay's President
Santiago Pena and Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez.

The foreign ministry says Lin will also be touring several Taiwan-sponsored
projects, including the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park and the Health
Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project.

The ministry has not say when Lin and the delegation will return to Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says agricultural losses from Typhoon Danas and
subsequent heavy rains are close to 1.6-billion N-T.

Total losses are currently estimated at 1.59-billion N-T and include crops,
livestock, fisheries and private agricultural facilities.

Chiayi County and Tainan were the hardest hit areas - with combined damage
exceeding 1-billion N-T.

Chiayi County has reported losses of 603-million N-T, while authorities in
Tainan have reported loses of 471-million N-T.

That's followed by Yunlin, Changhua County, Pingtung and Kaohsiung.

The agriculture ministry says islandwide crop losses stand at just over
1-billion N-T - with around 13,822 hectares of land affected.

The most heavily damaged crop was pomelo, with 926-hectares impacted and a
77-per cent damage rate, resulting in 210-million N-T in losses.

Other affected crops included bananas, bamboo shoots, oranges and tangerines.

Livestock losses are estimated at 30-million N-T, while fishery losses have
now reached 183-million N-T

The agriculture ministry has announced cash relief and low-interest loans
for affected farmers.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

Local governments in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung have announced school and
office closures in several rain-affected districts and townships for today.

The closures follow forecasts that up to 40-centimeters of rainfall could
recorded in the south over the next 24 hours.

Schools and government offices will be closed today in 12 districts of
Tainan, five mountainous districts of Kaohsiung, and nine townships in
Pingtung.

The Central Weather Administration has warned of warns of heavy downpours
caused by two low pressure systems - including one downgraded from Danas.

Torrential rain warnings are in effect for mountainous areas of Kaohsiung and
Pingtung as well as for much of Taitung.

Extremely heavy rain warnings have been issued for Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin,
Chiayi, Tainan and low lying areas of Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

While heavy rain advisories are in effect for Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung and
Kinmen

All of the weather administration rain warnings will remain in effect through
late this afternoon.

Posted on 2025-07-10 07:02:13

And,

The Hualien County Fire Department has announced the death of search and
rescue dig Wilson.

The three-year-old Jack Russell Terrier died in an accident during a training
session in early June after falling from a three-story building due to an
improperly secured fence.

Fire department director-general Wu Zhao-yuan says Wilson's handler, who had
been with him for three years, blamed himself for failing to ensure the
safety of the training ground ...

.. and he has been transferred him from the unit and assigned a counselor to
support his emotional recovery.

The Jack-Russell terrier became famous during search and rescue operations
following the April 2024 magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Hualien ..

... as he was the smallest of the fire department's team of the three dogs
and was praised for locating the bodies of several victims who died due to a
rockfall on the in the Taroko National Park.

The fire department says Wilson's remains will be made into a memorial to
commemorate his contribution to their work.

Posted on 2025-07-09 19:55:13

Taiwan has downplayed the impact of new Chinese export restrictions targeting
eight of its aerospace and defense companies, saying the move will have
minimal effect on operations.

Industry experts and the affected firms emphasized that Taiwan's defense
sector relies little on Chinese suppliers, sourcing key components instead
from the U.S., Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced an immediate ban on exports of
"dual-use items"—a term referring to goods that can be used for both
civilian and military purposes.

Affected companies include defense contractor Aerospace Industrial
Development Corporation, drone producer Jingwei (經緯) Aerospace Technology,
and CSBC Corporation, which is Taiwan's largest shipbuilding enterprise.

Analysts believe the sanctions are politically driven, possibly in
retaliation for Taiwan's military exercises, recent tech restrictions on
Chinese firms, and pro-sovereignty remarks by President Lai Ching-te.

Companies like AIDC and CSBC stated the restrictions would have little or no
effect on their defense operations or supply chains.

Posted on 2025-07-09 19:54:13

Over in Changhua County,

Train services have been suspended on the Jiji Line between Ershui and
Zhuoshui stations, after heavy rain flooded the tracks and eroded the rail
bed.

The Taiwan Railways Administration says crews are on site making emergency
repairs, but service is unlikely to resume before tonight.

The disruption—caused by a low-pressure system and strong southwesterly
winds—has also led to widespread flooding across the county.

In response, Changhua authorities have announced flood relief subsidies of up
to 10 thousand NT per household depending on the extent of flooding.

Applicants must submit photos, disaster assessment forms, and ID documents.

Tax relief is also available for vehicles owners, flood-damaged land and
affected businesses.

Applications can be filed online through the Ministry of Finance's Tax Portal.

The county says it will process claims flexibly and urges residents to apply
within 30 days.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-09 19:54:13

A second firefighter has died after a rescue boat capsized during a search
and rescue operation in New Taipei's Xindian District.

The 36-year-old firefighter was part of a crew of five that were searching
for a man who entered a restricted area and drowned.

The rescue boat overturned, and a 32-year-old firefighter was found with no
vital signs after being pulled from the water, then later pronounced dead.

Now, New Taipei officials confirmed this afternoon that the 36-year-old
firefighter surnamed Chang also passed away despite extensive efforts to save
him in hospital.

A volunteer firefighter, surnamed Tsao, was breathing independently but
remains in critical condition, still fighting for his life.

The New Taipei City Fire Department confirmed that all firefighters involved
in the rescue operation possessed swift water rescue certification, and were
wearing standard protective equipment.

The department says it is establishing a committee to investigate the
incident and conduct a rigorous review to ensure future rescue safety.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-09 19:54:13

Danas

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai has ordered an acceleration of relief efforts,
as agricultural losses for the city now exceed $44 million NT from Typhoon
Danas.

Damage assessments are still underway, with fruit and vegetable crops among
the most severely affected.

Mayor Chen thanked the central government for its swift response, noting
Kaohsiung’s key role as a major supplier of fruits and vegetables.

He also says the city government has secured the first wave of funding from
the Ministry of Agriculture.

Compensation will be offered at $62 thousand NT per hectare for watermelon
crops, $80 thousand NT for cantaloupes, and $29-thousand-600 NT for leafy
vegetables.

Farmers can apply for assistance at their local district offices starting
today through July 22nd.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-09 19:54:13

Taiwanese composer Chiang Yi-chen has become the first Asian and the first
woman to win an award at Italy's Apulia Soundtrack Awards.

At the ceremony earlier this week, Chiang received the Emerging Composer
Award and said that she was thrilled her music could transcend language and
cultural boundaries.

She added that she hopes her work will help amplify Taiwan's voice on the
global stage.

Head judge and acclaimed film composer Cyril Morin praised Chiang's work for
blending Asian and Hollywood musical style.

Founded in 2021 to recognize excellence in film music, the Apulia Soundtrack
Awards were presented this year by Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley and
Italian composer Carlo Crivelli.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2025-07-09 17:53:13

Over 650 people were urgently evacuated from a mountainous area of Kaoshiung
following several landslides this afternoon.

As of 2:30pm, the evacuation was complete, thanks to Kaohsiung city workers.

The Central Weather Administration issued an extremely heavy rain advisory
for Kaohsiung today, with some areas having already gotten over 200
milimeters of rain today.

They also warned that there was a risk of landslides today, due to the heavy
rain.

Other areas getting heavy rain should also remain cautious for risk of
landslides.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-09 17:53:13

The KMT is calling for the central government to expand disaster subsidies
following Typhoon Danas...

and to include Yunlin county in the regions eligible for direct cash aid
without on-site inspection.

This comes as estimates say that Taiwan sustained over one billion NT in
agricultural losses due to the typhoon.

The Ministry of Agriculture is already offering direct cash assistance to
Chiayi City and County as well as Tainan City...

but KMT Yunlin lawmaker Ding Xue Zhong says, Yunlin sustained similar amounts
of damage, and is being left out of the cash aid program.

He further accuses the central government of giving preferential treatment to
Chiayi and Tainan on a politial basis.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-09 17:53:13

China has imposed export controls on eight companies tied to Taiwan’s
military as Taiwan's armed forces started annual military exercises.

China’s Commerce Ministry says it added those Taiwan-based firms including
aerospace and shipbuilding companies, to an export control list, citing
national and regional security concerns today.

The banned companies include defense supplier Aerospace Industrial
Development Corporation, drone maker Jingwei (經緯) Aerospace Technology, and
CSBC Corporation, Taiwan’s largest shipbuilding company.

The new rules, effective immediately, prohibit the export to the listed
enterprises of “dual-use items,” a term referring to goods that can be used
for both civilian and military purposes.

The ban comes just as Taiwan begins its annual Han Kuang military drills,
which will simulate defenses against a possible invasion by China.

This year’s drills are set to be the largest and longest ever, lasting about
10 days, twice as long as last year’s exercises.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-09 16:14:13

A national security source says Taiwan's trade talks with the Trump
administration remain on track.

Taiwan was notably absent from a list of 14 countries facing steep import
tariffs of up to 40 percent starting August 1st due to stalled negotiations.

The source said talks with Washington are continuing "without any bumps",
suggesting Taiwan's exclusion from the list allows space to resolve
differences.

However, former Vice Premier Shih Jun-ji (施俊吉) questioned the claim,
pointing to Taiwan's reluctance to lower trade barriers on U-S pork, beef,
and autos.

President Lai Ching-te has been briefed on the progress and recently held a
50-minute video call with Taiwan's negotiating team.

He urged them to strike a deal that balanced bilateral trade with
strengthening cooperation in technology and national security.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2025-07-09 16:14:13

Resilience

The Ministry of Education is investing $440 million NT over five years in a
new initiative aimed at strengthening students’ emotional resilience and
interpersonal skills in the digital age.

The program will focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and includes
developing localized curricula, training educators, and enhancing school
environments to support emotional regulation, media literacy, and meaningful
peer-to-peer interaction.

Officials say today’s youth face an emotionally isolating digital landscape,
with digital overload and harsh online interactions contributing to growing
mental health concerns.

The initiative will begin with $40 million NT allocated this year, followed
by $100 million NT annually from 2026 to 2029.

(IG)

Posted on 2025-07-09 16:14:13

The Chiayi City government has estimated that repair fees for schools damaged
by Typhoon Danas will be around 35 million NT.

Mayor Huang Min Hui 黃敏惠 said 31 schools in the city suffered various
damage to their campuses, including fallen trees, broken windows and doors,
and collapsed walls.

The Mayor has promised that she'll try to get financial subsidies from the
central government to help schools repair and restore their facilities as
soon as possible.

Many schools have moblized staff workers, teachers and volunteers to to
carry out repair and cleanup efforts simultaneously.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-09 14:20:13

Water Resources Agency officials are warning people downstream the Qing-shui
(清水) River in Yun-lin, Chia-yi, and Nan-tou to avoid entering the riverbed
as a barrier lake has formed in the Cao-ling (草嶺) area.

W-R-A officials made an on-site inspection this morning to confirm the size
and location of the lake after receiving reports last night that the water
level of the Qing-shui River dropped by one meter in 20 minutes.

They say the new lake is not as big as the previous Cao-ling Lake that formed
after the 921 Earthquake in 1999, adding that it doesn't pose an imminent
danger to the people downstream.

The lake is likely formed due to a landslide caused by heavy rainfall, which
blocked the water flow.

However, the volume of the pond is not very big and a natural channel has
formed allowing water to flow out.

Experts will assess the situation and figure out a way to expand the channel
to help drain the water.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-09 14:20:13

Tsengwen Reservoir is releasing water after hitting full capacity due to
recent heavy rainfall.

The Water Resource Agency says the Tsengwen Reservoir catchment area received
over 230 milimeters of cumulative rainfall over the past five days, and is
now at 100-percent of capacity.

Nearby Wushantou Reservoir is at 94-percent full, while Nanhua Reservoir is
also at full capacity.

The WRA says some rain is still falling in the area today, and the agency is
now conducting controlled water releases.

Residents or visitors along the river are advised to remain vigilant and stay
at a safe distance.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-09 14:20:13

The Ministry of Education is preparing emergency funding for schools affected
by Typhoon Danas.

Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao says total damage to educational
institutions across Taiwan was approximately $260-million NT, and the
ministry has activated an emergency mechanism to allocate financial
assistance for reconstruction.

Cheng says funds have already been disbursed to hard-hit areas including
$4.5-million each to Tainan City and Chiayi County.

The minister says if other cities or counties require assistance, the
ministry would help facilitate central and local government cooperation to
restore teaching and learning at schools as quickly as possible.

(NS)

Posted on 2025-07-09 14:20:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 22,527 after
gaining 164 points.

The turnover was 310.4 billion NT.

Posted on 2025-07-09 13:10:13

As heavy rain continues to pound the western half of Taiwan, the Central
Weather Administration's rain alerts remain in effect for most of central and
southern Taiwan.

The CWA has already recorded 240 millimeters of accumulated rainfall in
Miao-li's Hou-long (後龍) and 170 millimeters in Kaohsiung Liu-gui (六龜) so
far today .

Forecasters say people should watch out for mud slides, fallen rocks, flash
floods and sudden downpours.

Meanwhile Chang-hua, where residents received over 400 millimeters of
rainfall yesterday, was hit by thunderstorms again this morning, causing
feeder lines to trip in Fang-yuan (芳苑) Township and several other towns.

Taiwan Power says currently, nearly 30 thousand households remain without
power, and TaiPower personnel are continuing repair efforts.

(JL)

Posted on 2025-07-09 13:10:13

China Airlines says, some of their flights will offer free wifi starting
August 1st.

That includes flights on their Boeing 777s, as well as AirBus A350s and
A321neos.

That makes China Airlines the first Taiwanese airline to offer free wifi for
all cabins on any of their flights, but EVA air and Starlux both offer some
type of wifi options on some of their flights.

Passengers in China Airlines' Premium Business and Premium Economy classes
can take advantage of unlimited web browsing...

while other passengers can enjoy free texting on apps like LINE and facebook
messenger starting August 1st.

(AH)

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The government reportedly plans to ask Taiwan's diplomatic and unofficial
allies to raise the issue of China's decision to unilaterally launch a new
flight route in the Taiwan Strait at the International Civil Aviation
Organization's triennial assembly.

It comes comes after China on Sunday announced that it will open the
northwest-to-southeast W-121 route connecting Dongshan in Zhejiang province
to the north-south M-503 flight route in the Taiwan Strait.

The Mainland Affairs Council has been urging China to begin talks through
existing channels on the matter.

While the Civil Aviation Administration has described China's decision as
being "regrettable" and said it will be closely monitoring potentially
affected flights for safety reasons.

The International Civil Aviation Organization's triennial assembly will be
taking place in Montreal in September

Taiwan last attended the event as a guest in 2013.

Meanwhile,

The U-S State Department is urging Taiwan and China to begin talks aimed at
resolving flight route disputes across the Taiwan Strait.

According to the U-S State Department, issues related to civil aviation and
safety in the Taiwan Strait should be decided through dialogue between both
sides ..

... and Washington expects cross strait differences to be resolved "by
peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on
both sides of the Strait."

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

The Ministry of Agriculture says estimates of agricultural losses due to
Typhoon Danas have risen to at least 1-billion N-T.

According to the ministry, crop damage covered 9,067 hectares of farmland, or
about 1.5-per cent of Taiwan's total arable land.

The ministry says that's an average loss rate of 30-per cent, equivalent to
2,750 hectares of total crop failure.

The most affected crop was bananas, with 1,098 hectares damaged at a 35-per
cent loss rate, resulting in 130-million N-T in losses.

Other severely impacted crops included pomelos, bamboo shoots, oranges, and
tangerines.

The agriculture ministry says it has activated emergency cash relief and
low-interest loan programs for the hardest hit areas of Tainan, Chiayi County
and Chiayi City to help farmers recover from the storm damage.

The ministry says crops severely affected are exempt from on-site inspections
to expedite assistance and farmers without planting records can use a
disaster photo app to submit visual proof of damage.

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

The Civil Aviation Administration is warning that flights at seven airports
could be affected by the live-fire phase of the Han Kuang exercises - which
begin today.

According to the administration, the extent of disruptions will depend on
daily drill operations and airspace conditions.

Flights at Taichung International Airport may be affected from today and
again from July 13 to 15, while Taoyuan International Airport could see
disruptions from July 13 to 17.

Kaohsiung International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport may be affected on
July 13 and 16, Tainan Airport could be affected on July 13, 14 and 16.

Hualien Airport may face flight disruptions on July 15 and 16, while Chiayi
Airport could be affected on July 16.

The Civil Aviation Administration says air traffic authorities may implement
control measures as needed, which could result in flights being rescheduled
to earlier or later times and disruption after the exercises conclude.

Passengers are being adavised to check with their airlines for the latest
flight information before departure.

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

The Taichung District Court has sentenced an elementary school baseball coach
to prison terms ranging from 3 years to 8 years for multiple offenses.

The man was indicted by the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office in March on
charges of forcible molestation, forcible sexual intercourse and child sexual
exploitation.

Prosecutors said he committed 90 offenses.

The district court sentenced the coach to 7 years and 10 months in prison for
each of seven counts of sexual assault against minors under the age of 14.

He was also found guilty of 46 offenses of forcible molestation against boys
under the age of 14, three separate crimes of opportunistic indecent assault
by an adult against a child ..

.. and 34 instances of causing minors to be depicted in electronically
generated sex-related content.

There are additional related cases against the man and the final cumulative
sentence has not yet been determined.

The court rulings can be appealed.

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

Environmental groups have proposed a draft bill to regulate how sites are to
be selected for storing high-level radioactive waste.

According to the Green Citizens' Action Alliance, the proposal has bee put
forward as storage facilities holding nuclear waste at nuclear power plants
are full and there is currently no long-term solution for high-level
radioactive waste.

The alliance says that has created an urgent threat that requires prompt
legislation.

Previous attempts to designate a permanent disposal site for high-level
nuclear waste have met with strong public backlash.

The Environmental Jurists Association says the proposed bill aims to provide
more comprehensive procedures that encourage public participation and will
make it easier to select sites.

The proposal outlines four components of the disposal site selection process,
from policymaking and potential candidate sites to suggested candidate sites
and final disposal sites.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs established a project management office in
April for radioactive waste management tasked with proposing a draft act on
selecting final sites for high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities as
well as public communication.

That draft bill is scheduled to be reviewed by the Cabinet by the end of this
year.

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

The Ministry of Labor has announced an expanded definition of work stoppages
- mandating broader shutdowns when accidents occur.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the revision
focus on the suspension and resumption of work as mandated by labor
inspection agencies.

The revisions require that all work involving similar hazards at a worksite
or workplace should be suspended when a major occupational accident occurs
due to safety violations.

The administration says that means if a scaffolding collapse occurs on one
part of a building, other scaffolding on the same building must also be
inspected and when necessary improvements made.

The new policy also targets business entities with repeated accident records
where internal management systems have clearly failed.

While all work at any site where a fire or explosion occurs will also be
suspended, regardless of whether or not there are any injuries.

Violators of stop-work orders may be referred to the judicial authorities and
face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 150,000 N-T.

Posted on 2025-07-09 08:14:13

And finally,

The Centers for Disease Control has rolled out free, rapid syphilis tests to
people under the age of 24.

The program began on July 1 and is available through 13 participating
hospitals nationwide.

The C-D-C's Division of Chronic Infectious Disease says the tests have been
introduced to a rise in the number of cases of syphilis among people aged 13
to 24.

According to the C-D-C, the number of cases involving people in that age
bracket has increased for four consecutive years.

Data shows 4,912 syphilis cases were reported islandwide in the first half of
this year - up 6-per cent from the first half of 2024.

Of those cases, the number recorded from January to June among people aged
between 13 to 24 stood at 956 - a 13-per cent year-on-year increase.

The C-D-C says the free syphilis testing program has no set deadline or quota.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

The Lai administration is still hoping to reach a deal with the U-S in
ongoing tariff talks... that's after Taiwan was not among the first group of
14 countries singled out by the Trump administration.

A source familiar with the situation says the 14 countries on the list were
there because the U-S felt trade negotiations with them had not made
progress, were not successful, or were not worth continuing.

They have been threatened with tariffs of between 25 and 40-per cent starting
August 1 if they do not reach agreements before then.

However, the source says Taiwan is still engaged in talks with the Trump
administration, and the U-S side has repeatedly said the negotiations are
making progress.

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee has said Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun was in
Washington for the latest round of in-person tariff talks - but she has
refused to release any further details regarding the negotiations.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

President Lai Ching-te has pledged his administration's continuing support
for Haiti - particularly in the areas of food aid and healthcare.

Lai made the pledge during a meeting with Haiti's visiting Foreign Minister
Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste.

Lai said Taiwan would step up bilateral cooperation to help improve Haiti's
social infrastructure, even as it supports Haiti through initiatives aimed at
improving healthcare, food security and overall development.

This, as Haiti's foreign minister reaffirmed the longstanding ties between
Taiwan and Haiti - saying those ties had contributed to Haiti's development
in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Jean-Baptiste arrived in Taiwan earlier this week for what is his first-ever
visit since taking office in January.

He's leading a five-member delegation that includes his wife and his chief of
staff... he's also slated to hold talks with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung
to discuss shared concerns and bilateral cooperation project.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

Heavy rain in Changhua County resulted in flooding that submerged much of the
historic Lukang Mazu Temple and forced the suspension of rail services
between Changhua and Yunlin.

The Central Weather Administration says over 25-centimeter of rainfall was
recorded in just three hours, while 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded
above Changhua over a two hour period.

The weather administration says the storm was triggered by a combination of
warm southwesterly winds and airflows associated with Tropical Storm Danas -
which fueled rapid storm development across central Taiwan.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

The Civil Aviation Administration says recent flights by Chinese civilian
aircraft over Kinmen were triggered by poor weather brought by an
approaching typhoon and do not constitute a new form of "gray zone" activity.

The statement comes after the flights were reported on social media.

The post was widely shared... which led to claims that the flights were a new
form of gray zone tactic.

However, the Civil Aviation Administration says it was notified by the
Shanghai Area Control Center that, due to poor weather in the Taiwan Strait
caused by a passing typhoon, some Chinese civilian aircraft might be rerouted
and could potentially pass over Kinmen.

The administration added that Chinese aircraft were told not enter the Kinmen
Terminal Control Area and the information was relayed to military air traffic
control units, which closely monitored the flight activity.

The administration stressed that all of the Chinese aircraft flew at
altitudes above 16,000 feet outside of the Terminal Control Area and did not
enter Taiwan's airspace.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

Lawmakers have passed amendments to the Sports Industry Development Act...
which gives businesses a bigger tax break for donations to sports events or
amateur sports.

The amendments were approved by the Cabinet in May.

Under the revised Act, companies will be able to claim up to 175-per cent of
donations to the professional or amateur sports sectors or "major sports
competitions" as a deduction on taxable income.

That figure is an increase from the currently maximum deduction rate of
150-per cent of donations made.

Tax deductions for donations to amateur sports and major sports competitions
can be claimed for 10 years, nearly double from the previous five years under
the revised Act.

The amendments also include the category of "general sports events" as
eligible sponsorship recipients - including sports competitions held by
clubs, government agencies, businesses or communities, in order to promote
exercise in society.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

Two people are dead, including a firefighter, after they fell into the
Xindian River in New Taipei when a rescue dinghy capsized during a search and
rescue operation.

The deceased were a 50-year-old man, who had reportedly fallen into the
river, and a 32-year-old firefighter, who was among five personnel onboard a
dinghy searching for the man when it capsized.

The firefighter was found with no vital signs after being pulled from the
water and was rushed to Cardinal Tien Hospital in Xindian District, but was
pronounced dead.

The body of the man who initially fell into the river was found later.

The other four rescue personnel in the dinghy were also hospitalized after
being pulled from the water.

The section of the silt dam where the incident occurred is not open to the
public and considered dangerous.

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting 245 medical visits caused by
scarlet fever last week.

Most of the cases involve children between the ages of 3 to 12 years old.

Health officials say scarlet fever-related medical visits began to gradually
increase around late November of last year, reaching a relatively high point
around mid-May of this year ..

The outbreak has remained at a plateau since then.

C-D-C spokesman Philip Luo says the 245 medical visits related to the disease
last week not only marked the highest weekly figure this year but also the
highest for the same period in the past five years.

Luo also says doctors say patients have generally responded well to
antibiotics - and there are "no signs of the disease becoming particularly
severe."

Posted on 2025-07-09 06:58:14

And,

McDonald's Taiwan has stopped using plastic lamination and paper boxes for
certain items as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce waste and promote
environmental sustainability.

The fast-food chain began serving items such as the Big Mac, Chicken
McNuggets, and Apple Pie in paper wraps and bags instead of boxes at the
beginning of this month.

McDonald's Taiwan the move could save around 10,000 trees annually.

The company also says it has replaced the plastic lamination inside its
packaging with materials made from starch or silicon, which is expected to
reduce plastic use by 86-metric tons per year.

The new packaging was introduced in October of latest year at two of its
eco-friendly concept stores and later rolled out to four more locations in
March.

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