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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.