ICRT

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

Kaohsiung police have arrested two men accused of smuggling more than one
kilogram of ketamine from Germany inside a 3D-printed toy bear and other
objects.

Police say the drugs were concealed in a parcel containing the bear and
number-shaped ornaments.

Officers seized 1-thousand-54 grams of ketamine, three mobile phones and a
National Health Insurance card.

The alleged ringleader, a terminal cancer patient surnamed Chen, is accused
of offering an accomplice 150-thousand N-T to provide a delivery address.

Police say the accomplice used another person's health insurance card to
collect the package in an attempt to evade detection.

Both suspects have been referred to prosecutors, and a court has ordered the
alleged ringleader detained.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

President Lai Ching-te has taken part in an anti-decapitation drill as part
of the annual Han Kuang military exercises.

Footage released by the Presidential Office showed Lai boarding a Clouded
Leopard armored vehicle before being escorted to the National Political and
Military Operations Command Center in Taipei designed to allow the government
to continue operating during a national emergency.

The video also showed Lai receiving military briefings and issuing
instructions during the exercise.

According to the Presidential Office, the drill simulated the command of
defensive operations and tested the government's ability to maintain command,
coordinate across agencies and ensure continuity of government during a
crisis.

The exercise came after reports last month that China's People's Liberation
Army had been practicing simulated strikes on key sites in Taiwan, including
the Presidential Office.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

In international news,

South Korea says North Korea has launched a short-range ballistic missile
toward the sea.

The South Korean military says it detected the launch from the eastern
coastal city of Wonsan this afternoon.

The launch comes as North Korea continues to expand its nuclear and missile
programs following the collapse of leader Kim Jong Un's diplomacy with U-S
President Donald Trump in 2019.

Analysts say Pyongyang is seeking greater international recognition as a
nuclear power in hopes of winning relief from economic sanctions.

North Korea has also strengthened military ties with Russia in recent years
by supplying weapons and troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have struck
more oil facilities deep inside Russia as Kyiv steps up efforts to weaken
Moscow's wartime economy.

The targets included oil refineries in Russia's Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl
regions, as well as Russian military patrol boats in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Russian drone and glide bomb attacks across Ukraine killed at
least three civilians and wounded 22 others.

Zelenskyy is again urging allies to provide more interceptor missiles to
strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.

Analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putin appears determined to wear down
Ukraine through sustained military pressure.

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

A new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel says the health system in
the occupied West Bank is close to collapse.

The rights group says many health workers are not being paid, while about 75
percent of government hospitals, clinics and pharmacies have scaled back
services to just once or twice a week.

The report blames Israeli policies, including the withholding of tax and
customs revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority since the
war with Hamas began nearly three years ago.

It says the loss of that funding has severely affected the Palestinian
Authority's ability to provide public services, including healthcare.

Israel has not immediately responded to the report's findings.

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

A major international conference on Tibetan studies has been canceled in
Nepal at the request of government officials.

Organizers say the seminar was scheduled to be held from August 23rd through
the 26th at Kathmandu University.

A university official confirmed the cancellation but said no reason was
provided.

Nepal has close ties with China and has frequently restricted activities
related to Tibet.

The country is home to thousands of Tibetan refugees, but authorities
prohibit protests against nations considered friendly to Nepal, including
China.

Posted on 2026-08-06 19:14:13

Hiroshima is marking the 81st anniversary of the U-S atomic bombing that
devastated the city during World War Two.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the annual memorial ceremony for the
first time since taking office.

In his peace declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized world
powers for ongoing wars and the continued use of nuclear threats.

He urged leaders to reject the idea that nuclear weapons are justified as a
form of deterrence, warning that doing so could lead to another Hiroshima or
Nagasaki.

The U-S atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 killed about
210,000 people, and Japan surrendered days later, bringing World War Two to
an end.

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

detection

Taichung police say a sharp increase in drug-driving arrests is the result of
improved enforcement, not a worsening drug-driving problem.

The Taichung City Police Department says the widespread use of rapid saliva
drug screening kits has improved detection and evidence collection, allowing
officers to identify and arrest suspected drug-impaired drivers on the spot.

Police recorded 1,095 drug-driving cases last year - up nearly 400 percent
from the year before.

From January through July this year, authorities say they've already arrested
over 1 thousand 400 suspected drug-impaired drivers - more than triple the
figure for the same period last year.

The department says it conducts regular citywide crackdowns targeting the
growing use of emerging drugs such as etomidate, commonly known as "zombie
vapes".

Police say they will continue focusing on cutting off drug sources,
strengthening enforcement, and imposing strict penalties to improve road
safety.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

The Cabinet has approved draft amendments to the Disaster Prevention and
Protection Act that would officially classify tsunamis and barrier lake
breaches as natural disasters under the law.

The proposal also designates the Ministry of the Interior as the lead agency
for response to tsunamis and the Ministry of Agriculture for barrier lake
disasters.

The changes follow last year's deadly Matai'an River barrier lake disaster in
Hualien County, which claimed 19 lives and raised questions over the division
of responsibilities between central and local governments.

The Cabinet says the amendments are intended to clarify command structures
and speed up decision-making during major emergencies.

The draft legislation would also require government agencies to appoint
dedicated disaster prevention officials and strengthen coordination for
evacuations, emergency shelters and relief operations.

Posted on 2026-08-06 18:52:13

The Danjiang Bridge is closing this evening from eight o'clock through to 6
AM tomorrow ... as the annual Han Kuang military drills enter their second
day.

The bridge is being incorporated into the live-fire exercise for the first
time since opening in May, with the military conducting a defensive obstacle
operation as part of the drills.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the overnight
closure will affect the Shalun Road and Guanhai Road ramps on the Tamsui side
...

... as well as all southbound lanes on the Bali side, including vehicle, bus,
motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle lanes.

Motorists are advised to follow traffic control measures and use the Guandu
Bridge (關渡) as an alternative route during the closure.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

The Executive Yuan has proposed amendments to the Disaster Prevention and
Protection Act in an attempt to clarify government responsibilities in
natural disasters...

following last year's Matai'an barrier lake overflow that killed at least 19
people.

The amendments move to classify tsunamis and barrier lake overflows as
natural disasters...

and place relevant response units under the Ministries of Agriculture and of
the Interior.

The amendments also allocate more responsibilities in responsing to such
crises to the central government, aiming to shorten response times and
clarify responsibility.

The changes will seek to put the the two ministries in charge of response at
the time of the disaster...

but will allocate prevention and rebuilding to the local governments.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

The Taichung city government says, it's looking into why the Chinese national
seal appeared on ads posted in a social housing unit explaining a consumers'
rights law.

That's after DPP city councilors raised concerns about potential lax
oversight on such materials.

DPP council caucus whip Zhou Yong Hong says, the issue came to his attention
when a resident noticed that an ad in the elevator of a social housing unit
included the seal of the PRC governmen他above a caption reading "central/local
governments."

The ad stated that it came from the Housing Development Department, and that
the image was generated by an AI chatbot.

Zhou called on the city government to remove all such materials and
thoroughly investigate other such ads...

in addition to clarifying which government agency was responsible for the ad.

The Housing Development Department apologized for the mistake and said it
would conduct an internal review.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

Police say, a suspect has been arrested after allegedly threatening a New
Taipei city councilor.

The man, surnamed Liu, allegedly showed up at the offices of DPP councilor
Yamada Mai and flashed a knife.

His girlfriend then pulled him away from the scene.

Authorities say that, following his arrest, Liu said he was drunk at the time
and felt offended by the secretary's glance at him.

After arresting Liu about 5 hours after the fact, police found that he was
already wanted on drug and fraud charges.

Liu's case is now being handled by prosecutors.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

Now turning to international news...

The leader of Myanmar's military government is in Thailand on an official
visit.

It's seen as part of an effort to gain political legitimacy after a military
coup five years ago.

Min Aung Hlaing met with the Thai Prime Minister, and is expected to attend a
business forum during the 2 day visit.

Activists have criticized the visit, saying it lends false legitimacy to the
military government.

The Burmese president has faced diplomatic isolation since overthrowing the
democratically-elected governmnet of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

Thailand, however, has maintained close ties with Myanmar's military and
advocated for renewed engagement.

While the president attempts to refurbish his image, Myanmar's military
continues to wage a brutal war across much of the country against
pro-democracy resistance fighters and armed ethnic minority groups seeking
greater autonomy.

Posted on 2026-08-06 17:10:14

South Korean police say, they've raided the office of Starbucks' local
operation as part of an investigation into a failed marketing campaign.

Starbucks put out a campaign that many saw as defaming the Gwangju uprising,
which took place on May 18, 1980.

The massacre saw military-backed rulers kill between 200 and 2000 protesters
who were demonstrating for democracy.

The Starbucks ad in question attempted to promote a series of tumblers it
calls the "SS Tank" by calling May 18th "Tank Day."

The police launched an investigation following complaints from relatives of
victims of the massacre.

The campaign also used the slogan “Thwack it on the table!” which many read
as a reference to a notorious 1987 police statement that attempted to cover
up the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol.

Authorities had incorrectly claimed that Park died after investigators “hit
the desk with a thwack.”

Starbucks ultimately cancelled the campaign within hours and fired the chief
executive of the Korean branch.

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

groups re: climate crisis

Green Peace is urging local governments to allot more funds to protecting the
vulnerable...

as climate crises become more and more common.

The non-profit says, Tainan is the most affected of Taiwan's six special
municipalities, suffering the most frequent flooding, agricultural lossess,
and the highest number of days of high temperatures in future warming
scenarios.

Greenpeace is recommending that local governments establish a community
climate adaptation fund and allocate more funds to local adaptation budgets.

They say, that should prioritize the protection of more climate-vulnerable
populations like outdoor workers, elderly people that live alone,
agricultural workers, and others.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

The Vienna Philharmonic will return to Taipei's National Concert Hall in
October under conductor Tugan Sokhiev.

Sokhiev has also been chosen to lead the orchestra's 2027 New Year's Concert.

The first Taipei performance on October 16 will feature pianist Lang Lang in
Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto.

The orchestra will also perform Brahms' Second Symphony, which it premiered
in Vienna in 1877.

The October 17 program includes Mozart's Symphony Number 40 and Tchaikovsky's
Fourth Symphony.

The Vienna Philharmonic was founded in 1842 and is made up of musicians from
the Vienna State Opera.

It has operated without a permanent conductor since 1933, with its members
selecting the conductors and soloists they work with.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

U.S. President Donald Trump says talks with Iran appear to be progressing
well, although he offered no details.

Trump told a Las Vegas television station that Tehran wanted to negotiate and
that discussions seemed to be "working out quite well."

The Iran war is now in its sixth month, and the two sides have yet to reach a
permanent agreement.

Trump has repeatedly said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is close.

The waterway has remained blocked since the conflict began in February,
disrupting a key global energy route.

Iran has warned it would strike critical infrastructure across the region if
the United States attacks again.

Human rights and legal experts have also criticized Trump's threats against
civilian infrastructure, saying such attacks could violate international
humanitarian law.

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb fell sharply
on Wednesday after Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers.

Kpler data shows just two vessels passed through Hormuz, down from eight a
day earlier.

Before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began in February, around 130 to 140
ships typically used the waterway each day.

Only one vessel crossed Bab el-Mandeb on Wednesday, compared with 20 the
previous day.

The Houthis say they launched missile attacks on one tanker near Saudi
Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu and another in the Gulf of Aden.

Saudi Arabia has not confirmed either incident.

The Houthis say they imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia last month.

Riyadh rejects the group's claims.

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

Russian strikes have killed six people and wounded dozens across several
regions of Ukraine.

Authorities say three people were killed overnight in the eastern city of
Balakliia, where rescuers worked to extinguish fires and clear debris from
damaged homes.

Three more people were killed and at least 19 wounded in attacks across the
northern Sumy region.

Ukrainian police say 12 people were wounded in Sumy city after guided aerial
bombs struck the area.

In the southern Kherson region, officials say a drone attack on a van wounded
six people.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians in the war,
which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Posted on 2026-08-06 15:10:13

OpenAI has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss Apple's lawsuit accusing the company
of misusing trade secrets to support its expansion into consumer hardware.

Apple sued OpenAI in July, alleging it systematically obtained confidential
information through former Apple employees, recruitment practices and
supplier relationships.

OpenAI denies the claims.

In its motion, the company says it has no need or desire for Apple's trade
secrets and is developing products that are different from Apple's.

OpenAI also says it has a legitimate interest in hiring top engineers and
developers, including people who choose to leave Apple.

The court has not yet ruled on the dismissal request.

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

Premier Cho Jung-tai is calling on the Ministry of Culture to continue
seeking legislative support for its budget amid concern over proposed cuts
and freezes.

Cho says long-term cultural investment is needed to strengthen Taiwan's
creative industries and international competitiveness.

The ministry says it has supported 607 film and television productions over
the past five years, along with 123 international co-productions.

Government investment programs for Taiwan-based cultural content have
exceeded 4-billion NT, while a National Development Fund program has
attracted more than 18-billion in private investment.

Cho also described public media as essential cultural infrastructure.

He says Public Television provides multilingual and children's programming
that may not be supported by the commercial market.

Cho asked the ministry to keep explaining its spending plans to lawmakers and
protect the development of Taiwan's arts and cultural sector.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

Registration opens at noon tomorrow for the Interior Ministry's final round
of singles events this year.

Five sessions will be held in September and October, with a total of 400
places available.

Activities include cycling in Fulong, riding the Alishan Forest Railway,
releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi, and ecological tours in Kenting and Taroko.

The ministry is covering 20 percent of the fees.

One-day trips cost 1-thousand-440 NT, while two-day trips cost 4-thousand-160.

The ministry says 74 couples have been successfully matched since the program
began in late June.

Participants who attend the same session and marry within two years may also
qualify for a special prize.

The first couple to notify the ministry will receive a pair of one-carat
diamond rings.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

A proposed agreement between Iran and Oman could give Tehran control over
ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports cite a senior Iranian source and two regional officials as saying the
proposal would be a major concession to Iran.

The United States has previously said it would not accept Iranian control of
the waterway.

Iran says talks with Oman have made significant progress and that ships
traveling in both directions could pass through Iranian waters.

However, regional sources say key issues remain unresolved, including how
control would be defined and whether ships would pay transit fees.

Iran is reportedly seeking fees worth 5 to 7-percent of cargo values, while
Washington wants no fees.

Tehran has also warned Gulf states it could target regional energy
infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran again.

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, will visit Australia and New Zealand next week
to strengthen cooperation with both countries.

The trip will run from August 9 to 14.

Vietnam and Australia are expected to sign between 12 and 16 agreements
covering education, digital transformation, agriculture and healthcare.

The two countries upgraded relations to their highest diplomatic level in
2024 and have also expanded cooperation in energy, defense, security and
critical minerals.

In New Zealand, officials expect five or six agreements to be signed.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the visit will focus on
food and agriculture, education, tourism, technology, aviation and
investment.

Lam has pursued an active diplomatic agenda since becoming Vietnam's
Communist Party general secretary in 2024.

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:57:13

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered an all-out government
response as a deadly heatwave pushes temperatures toward record levels.

Seoul is forecast to reach 39 degrees Celsius, close to its record high of
39.6 degrees set in 2018.

The heat has been blamed for at least 21 deaths.

Lee ordered ministries and local governments to mobilize personnel and
resources, protect vulnerable residents and enforce rest breaks for outdoor
workers during the hottest hours.

Some parts of Seoul stayed near 30 degrees overnight.

The Korea Baseball Organization also canceled 10 games after spectators
reportedly fainted in the heat.

Forecasters say Typhoon Dolphin may be worsening conditions by strengthening
hot, dry winds over western South Korea.

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:13

Taoyuan MRT says, its trains will be running normally next Thursday during
Han Kuang military exercises in the north...

but they're warning passengers that they will not be allowed to exit stations
during the air raid Urban Resilience drills from 2:30 to 3pm.

They add that passengers in the stations during the half hour drill period
will be directed to air raid shelters.

They advise passengers to move up their schedules to avoid any inconvenience.

The National Communications Council has stated that there will be simulated
network connectivity issues in the north on Thursday during the same time
period...

and Taoyuan Metro is reminding passengers that metro-related apps or QR code
payment services may be affected by the network interruptions.

Passengers are thus advised to use an Easy Card, contactless credit cards, or
purchase single journey tickets with cash.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:13

Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is urging the public to volunteer to be a
poll watcher during this November's elections.

At a press conference this morning, Shen remarked on Taiwan's authoritarian
past, saying the free and fair elections of the 21st century were borne out
of Taiwan's resilience and solid poll watching system.

Shen noted that, according to regulations, each political party can nominate
its own poll watchers...

and since this year's local elections involve votes for so many candidates,
more manpower is needed at the polls.

Shen says, he hopes that volunteers will sign up to help ensure the fairness
of the polls and protect Taiwan's democracy.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:13

A Taiwan-led research team has begun its first independently planned Arctic
expedition.

The multidisciplinary group will spend 12 days near Norway's Svalbard
archipelago, studying extreme weather, ocean circulation and the carbon
cycle.

The mission is coordinated by National Central University's Taiwan Polar
Institute and brings together experts in earth science, life science and
evolutionary biology.

Researchers will deploy drifting buoys and collect water, sediment and
environmental DNA samples.

The work will track how freshwater from glaciers mixes with seawater and how
Arctic ecosystems respond to climate change.

The team will also study newly exposed land left by retreating glaciers,
search for fossils and install 11 automated weather stations.

The university says changes in the Arctic could have long-term consequences
for ocean-dependent Taiwan.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:18

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 44396
after losing 214 points.

The turnover was 940 billion NT

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:18

Now turning to international news...

The World Health Organization says, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo is spreading faster than efforts to track it.

They say, health workers need to scale up efforts across all ppillars of the
response.

There have been over 3800 confirmed cases and more than 1700 deaths as of
Monday.

That's as health workers are striking over unpaid wages, exacerbating the
situation.

Although some workers say they have started receiving payment over the last
week for work done since the outbreak began, health workers want better
wages.

The US has announced it will provide an additionally 242 million US dollars
in funding for immediate Ebola response.

The outbreak has eclipsed all previous Ebola outbreaks in its speed of
transmission and is the second-largest outbreak on record.

Posted on 2026-08-06 14:08:19

In the US,

Progressives have notched a victory in Michigan's US Senate primaries, with
Democratic Abdul El-Sayed taking home a win over his centrist opponent.

El-Sayed ran on a progressive agenda, overcoming more than 60 million US
dollars in outside spending, including more than $30 million from the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliates.

The seat El-Sayed is running for is key to Democrats' chances of flipping the
Senate in November.

He now faces the challenge of uniting a divided Democratic base after a
bruising primary.

The margin of his win was quite close, leading his opponent by just under 1
percentage point.

El-Sayed's primary win is another victory for progressives in the Democratic
party, led by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Progressives say, El-Sayed's win should be a wake up call for establishment
Democrats...

But it remains to be seen if he will be able to win over centrists in
November.

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

Troops in Penghu today requisitioned civilian vehicles, as the 42nd Han Kuang
exercises enter their second day.

The exercise saw troops making use of civilian cars outside an old Taipower
plant in Penghu for resupply and positioning supplies around units to support
the needs of military members.

Part of the drill also involves transporting supplies like rations from
supply depots to soldiers' locations.

Penghu military officials say, the live-fire exercise of the supply delivery
involves cooperation between military and civilians...

and is aimed at strengthening coordination and communcation.

They say, the drills ensure that such supplies can be effectively transported
to troops in a wartime scenario.

Today marks the second day of the annual exercises, which are set to continue
through the end of next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, the city is preparing for heavy rain as
Typhoon Dolphin continues on its westward path.

Northern Taiwan is currently expected to see the worst of heavy rains on
Saturday and Sunday.

The Central Weather Administration says, it expects to issue a sea warning
tomorrow afternoon or evening...

but it remains to be seen if a land warning will be necessary or not.

Chiang says, the city is keeping a close eye on the developments, and is
taking strict precautions, convening all departments to prepare in advance.

The mayor added that the Public Works Department is on standby, and will
notify maintenance contractors to complete preparations in advance.

Chiang emphasizes that officials are inspecting flood control equipment ahead
of the storm's arrival.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

Authorities in Guatemala say, activity at the Fuego volcano is gradually
decreasing after it began two days ago.

Officials are urging caution, though, warnig that rainfall from an eastern
tropical wave could trigger deadly volcanic mudflows.

Some evacuees have returned home, but authorities are recommending following
evacuations instructions.

About 1700 people have been evacuated from at least 18 communities since the
eruption began earlier this week.

No deaths or damage have been reported.

Fuego is one of Guatemala's most active volcanos.

It is located near the capital and has a history of deadly eruptions.

Live broadcasts of the volcano’s activity show periods of complete clarity
interspersed with ash emissions.

Early Tuesday morning, the volcano spewed lava that reached a height of about
300 meters.

Posted on 2026-08-06 13:10:13

In the US,

firefighters are taking advantage of cooler weather to try to get a handle on
the fires that have displaced tens of thousands of people in Washington.

Officials say, firefighters have established containment lines around the
perimeters of all three fires around Spokane...

and they add that they're currently focused on reinforcing those lines.

Authorities say, one of the fire was set deliberately by a man who has now
been charged with arson.

The three fires together have destroyed at least 850 buildings and forced the
evacuation of about 67,000 people since they erupted last weekened.

Although it's been slightly cooler the past few days, temperatures are
expected to climb over the coming days, with less humidity. \

Posted on 2026-08-06 09:52:13

The Tai-Ex opened down 123-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
44,487 on turnover of 14.2-billion N-T.

The market moved back to the 44,000-point mark on Wednesday, as it recovered
both its monthly and quarterly moving averages amid solid gains in the tech
sector.

Posted on 2026-08-06 09:52:13

Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, is visiting Thailand as Bangkok
pushes for renewed engagement between Myanmar and ASEAN.

Min Aung Hlaing is due to meet Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before
attending a bilateral business forum.

Thailand says its policy of "calibrated re-engagement" is aimed at keeping
communication open and encouraging Myanmar to follow ASEAN's stalled peace
plan.

Myanmar's leaders have been barred from ASEAN summits since the military
seized power in 2021, triggering a civil war.

Min Aung Hlaing became president in April after an election won by an
army-backed party without viable opposition.

Posted on 2026-08-06 09:52:13

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has named conservative
lawmaker Alfredo Gaspar as his running mate in October's election.

The choice surprised observers after Bolsonaro had considered selecting a
woman to broaden his support.

Gaspar represents the northeastern state of Alagoas and previously served as
its public security secretary.

He also led a congressional investigation into Brazil's social security
agency, which has drawn scrutiny involving one of President Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva's sons.

Lula's son denies wrongdoing.

Posted on 2026-08-06 09:52:13

An El Niño-driven drought is sharply increasing salt production in Indonesia,
even as farmers prepare for worsening heat and crop losses.

In West Java, salt output reached nearly 600 metric tons in July.

That compares with just 25 to 30 tons in the same month last year.

Most Indonesian salt is produced by evaporating seawater in shallow coastal
ponds, making long periods of sunshine especially valuable.

The national weather agency says the dry season is expected to peak this
month and could continue into early 2027.

More than 5-thousand hotspots were detected across Indonesia last month,
raising concerns about wildfires.

While salt producers expect a bumper harvest, crop farmers are being urged to
adjust planting schedules and prepare for prolonged dry conditions.

Posted on 2026-08-06 08:14:14

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense officials say they expect to launch critical systems by the end of
2027 to integrate counter-drone capabilities across the armed forces and
complete an interface to coordinate military and non-military counter-drone
operations.

The statement comes after D-P-P lawmaker Wang Ting-yu warned of a lack of
integration among counter-drone systems.

According to Wang, the lack of integration is across military branches and
between the non-kinetic, or "soft-kill" systems used by the armed forces, the
coast guard and government-funded companies that operate critical
infrastructure.

According to Army Chief of Staff Chen Chien-yi, hard-kill and soft-kill
capabilities are assigned to different units, although their operational
plans are developed by the same combat training unit.

The head of the Ministry of National Defense's Department of Strategic
Planning, says existing counter-drone systems have yet to be integrated with
a counter-drone command-and-control system that is currently under
development.

However, that official is stressing that several systems capable of
integrating the military's counter-drone capabilities are expected to become
operational next year, "if the projects proceed as planned."

The Han Kuang military exercises, which began yesterday, are including drone
warfare and counter-drone drills this year.

Posted on 2026-08-06 08:14:14

The Mainland Affairs Council says China's newly announced entry-exit
regulations potentially increase the risks faced by Taiwan traveling visiting
the country.

According to the council, the regulations contain vaguely defined national
security provisions and give authorities broad discretion to restrict
people's movement.

Speaking at a legislative hearing, council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said the
new regulations have largely placed existing practices, which impose "very
strict" controls on both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals in China,
under a formal legal framework.

Chiu told lawmakers that the conditions governing such restrictions remain
"vague and broad" and could be applied arbitrarily by the authorities and
lack of clearly defined legal requirements is the fundamental reason the
regulations have caused concern in Taiwan.

The regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 15.

Article 4 of the regulations allows the authorities to bar Chinese citizens
who have engaged in illegal or criminal activities overseas deemed harmful to
China's "national security and interests" from leaving China for six months
to three years following their return.

However, the regulations do not explicitly state how the new exit-ban
provisions will apply to Taiwanese visiting China, nor do they classify
Taiwanese as Chinese citizens or foreigners.

Posted on 2026-08-06 08:14:14

EVA Airways has announced that it will launch nonstop flights between Taipei
and Delhi on December 1.

Bookings are now available through the carrier's website and travel agencies.

The airline will operate five round-trip flights per week using Airbus
A330-300 aircraft, making it the only Taiwan-based airline to offer nonstop
passenger service to India.

EVA Air President Clay Sun says the new route is being launched as
Taiwan-India ties continue to deepen in manufacturing, semiconductors,
artificial intelligence and other technology sectors, increasing demand for
more efficient travel between the two countries.

The carrier says the route is also expected to benefit Indian business
travelers, students and researchers by offering easier connections through
Taipei to North America.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:13

Reservists from the Taipei City Reserve Brigade carried out rifle and mortar
drills at the Taipei Municipal Zhong Zheng Senior High School to take part
in a full-brigade mobilization exercise.

The drill was part of a full-brigade mobilization exercise that saw the armed
forces deploying at numerous locations across Taiwan.

The first day of the Han Kuang exercises focused on mobilization preparations
and refresher courses, with subsequent phases to include wartime deployment,
force protection and force preservation tasks.

The Taipei City Reserve Brigade worked alongside the Army's 137th Infantry
Brigade to validate the full-brigade mobilization exercises.

The two brigades account for about 5,000 of the 20,000 reservists called up
for the Han Kuang exercises.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:13

campaigns

The D-P-P and the K-M-T both held their weekly Central Standing Committee
meetings outside of Taipei on Wednesday as the move to rally support for
November's local elections.

The D-P-P took its meeting to Taichung, where its mayoral candidate, lawmaker
Ho Hsin-chun presented her campaign platform at the meeting.

Her focus: an integrated public transit network, subsidies for childcare and
seniors, and the development of the unmanned vehicle industry.

While President Lai Ching-te, who doubles a D-P-P chairman, used the meeting
to criticize outgoing K-M-T Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen over delays to the
city's M-R-T Blue Line project and last year's African swine fever outbreak.

Meanwhile, the K-M-T took its weekly Central Standing Committee on the road
to Hsinchu County.

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun led the party's senior leadership at the
meeting, which was followed by a campaign rally attended by local party
figures and around 400 supporters.

The absence of incumbent Hsinchu County Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien
sparked rumors over lingering tensions from the K-M-T's March primary, in
which lawmaker Hsu Hsin-ying beat Chen to secure the nomination for county
magistrate.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:14

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says Taiwan Sugar Corporation should not be
dragged into the scandal involving Central Union Oil Corporation and its
contaminated cooking oil.

He maintains Taiwan
Sugar did not violate food safety laws by not reporting
that batch of raw oil it rejected from Central Union contained excessive
levels of a carcinogen.

Shih said Taiwan Sugar only used oil samples from a batch of raw oil for
testing and refused to purchase the cooking oil from Central Union after it
failed the test.

The health minister also stressed that reporting obligations under the Act
Governing Food Safety and Sanitation for benzopyrene only apply to items with
established food safety and hygiene standards, such as edible oils, but not
for raw materials.

The opposition K-M-T believes Taiwan
Sugar failure to report the
contaminated cooking oil to local and central authorities was in violation of
its obligations to food safety.

K-M-T lawmakers are also accusing Taiwan Sugar of covering up the excessive
levels of a carcinogen.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:14

The Mainland Affairs Council says its working to remove or block a Chinese
platform targeting young people here in Taiwan.

Council minister Chiu Chui-chen says the "Taiwan Youth e-Home" platform's
offering assistance to young people to find educational, internship and
employment opportunities in China violates the Cross-Strait Act.

Article 23 requires individuals and organizations to obtain prior government
approval before recruiting students in Taiwan on behalf of Chinese
educational institutions.

While Article 34 permits advertisements or promotional activities in Taiwan
for Chinese goods, services or other matters only if authorized under the
act.

The Mainland Affairs Council Minister says users of the platform' could face
significant risks by submitting personal information.

Chiu is also accusing Beijing of using the platform to "govern Taiwan before
unification" and conduct public opinion and psychological warfare against
Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:14

Pingtung prosecutors are holding a former employee of metal resources company
for the murder of the company's chairman.

The 56-year-old Jing Yuan Tungsten chairman was found found tied up with with
duct tape and beaten to death on July 24 in his home in Pingtung's Fangliao
Township.

Police in Taichung arrested the 34-year-old former Jing Yuan Tungsten Cobalt
Resources employee at his mother's home on Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the suspect broke into the house seeking to rob it and killed
the victim after he woke up.

Police says they searched properties in Taichung and Pingtung, collected
evidence and seized items related to the case.

Prosecutors say they requested the suspect be detained as he poses flight
risk and could destroy evidence and collude with witnesses.

Reports say the suspect worked at Jing Yuan Tungsten Cobalt Resources as a
junior ironworker until he left the company a year ago shortly after
borrowing over 100,000 N-T from the company.

Posted on 2026-08-06 06:55:14

And,

The Central Weather Administration says a sea warning for Typhoon Dolphin
could be issued as early as tomorrow afternoon as the storm moves closer to
Taiwan

The storm is currently located some 1,300-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a westerly direction at 22-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin has a radius of 320-kilomters, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 154-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 190-kilomters-an-hour.

The forecast center, the storm is expected to move closer to Japan's Ryukyu
Islands tomorrow and Saturday before gradually weakening and turning
northwards towards China.

It's expected to be closest to Taiwan between Saturday and Monday, when its
outer rainbands could affect the island.

The weather administration says a land warning could be issued if the storm's
circulation moves close enough to affect the outlying island of Matsu Islands
or Taiwan's northern coast area.

Rain from the typhoon is forecast to begin affecting northern Taiwan and
Yilan later today, but the heaviest rainfall is expected on Saturday and
Sunday.

Posted on 2026-08-05 19:06:14

A court has approved the incommunicado detention of a former employee accused
of killing the chairman of a tungsten and cobalt supply company in Pingtung.

Prosecutors say the suspect, surnamed Lin, was arrested last night on
suspicion of robbery and murder.

The victim, Huang, was found bound, gagged and beaten to death at his home in
Fangliao Township on July 24th.

Investigators say Lin was arrested at his mother's home, where he reportedly
confessed to the crime.

Authorities say Lin had previously worked for Huang's company before later
being hired as a housekeeper, giving him access to and familiarity with the
victim's home.

Prosecutors believe Lin broke into the house intending to steal valuables,
but killed Huang after waking him during the burglary to avoid being
identified.

Posted on 2026-08-05 19:06:17

EVA Air will launch nonstop flights between Taipei and Delhi on December 1st,
becoming the only Taiwan-based airline to offer direct passenger service to
India.

The airline will operate five round-trip flights a week using Airbus A330-300
aircraft.

EVA Air says the new route reflects growing business ties between Taiwan and
India, particularly in manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence
and other technology industries.

The airline says the service will also allow passengers to connect beyond
Delhi to other destinations across India through its Star Alliance partner,
Air India.

EVA Air says it also expects the route to attract more travelers connecting
between India, Taiwan and North America.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 19:06:17

China has announced a new round of economic measures against the United
States, including export controls on drones and a ban on trade with six
American entities.

Beijing says the measures are a response to recent U-S restrictions,
including a ban on imports of Chinese drones and sanctions on Chinese
companies under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

China's Commerce Ministry is urging Washington to reverse those measures and
has warned it will take further action if additional restrictions are
imposed.

The latest moves come as tensions between the world's two largest economies
continue ahead of a possible visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the
United States in September.

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:28:13

Hon Hai Precision Industry has just posted its highest ever monthly revenue
...

... driven by continued strength in artificial intelligence server demand.

The company says consolidated revenue for July reached more than $946.5
billion NT - up over 15 percent from June and over 54 percent from a year
earlier.

It's also the first time in company history that monthly sales have exceeded
900 billion NT.

Hon Hai says the strong performance was led by higher demand and shipments of
server products.

The company expects business to continue improving in the third quarter,
citing continued growth in AI server racks and the seasonal peak for
information and communications technology products, while noting that global
political and economic uncertainties remain a risk.

For the first seven months of the year, cumulative revenue totaled NT$5.59
trillion - up nearly 38 percent from the same period last year and also a
record high.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:28:14

In international business news,

Honda says its first-quarter profit more than doubled from a year earlier as
the Japanese automaker continues its recovery from its first-ever annual
loss.

The company reported net profit of almost 457 billion yen, or about 3 billion
U-S dollars, for the April-to-June quarter.

That's up from over 196 billion yen during the same period last year.

Quarterly sales rose 13.5 percent to over 6 trillion yen, or about 38 billion
U-S dollars, driven by strong vehicle sales in the U-S and India.

Honda posted its first full-year loss in the fiscal year that ended in March,
citing heavy investment in its electric vehicle plans.

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:13

The Central Weather Administration says Tropical Storm Chan-hom has formed
over the western Pacific but is not expected to affect Taiwan.

The storm developed from a tropical depression near Wake Island at 2 PM and
has been named Chan-hom, the 15th named storm of the Pacific typhoon season.

Forecasters say Chan-hom is moving north-northwest at about 42 kilometers per
hour and is expected to continue on that track over open waters.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:13

Navy mobile missile units rolled out in Kaohsiung today as Taiwan began its
annual Han Kuang military exercises ... which will run for 10 days and nine
nights.

Four missile launch vehicles, a fire-control and command vehicle, and several
support vehicles left the Navy's Zuoying base shortly after noon.

The units practiced moving into deployment positions after receiving orders.

They will first remain on standby at designated force-preservation locations
before carrying out further orders.

The military says the exercise is intended to test the units' operational
readiness and ability to respond quickly.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 18:10:14

About one in six older adults in Taiwan experiences depression - but doctors
say a simple habit like watching sports could help lower the risk.

They point to a study by researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan ...

... which that people aged 65 and older who watched sporting events at least
once a week on television or online had an almost 30 percent lower risk of
depressive symptoms than those who never watched.

Those who attended live sporting events one to three times a month saw an
even greater benefit, with their risk falling by 34 percent.

Researchers found the benefits even among seniors who did not regularly
exercise.

Doctors say watching sports stimulates brain activity and dopamine release ...

... while also providing a sense of anticipation and social connection, all
of which may help support mental health in older adults.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

The Minister of Health and Welfare says, he is responsible for the 20% recall
of Central Union Oils standard issued early last month and later revised.

That's as the meeting at which the call was made on July 4th has come under
scrutiny recently, with opposition lawmakers calling into question who made
the call.

Shi Chong Liang says, he takes responsibility for the initial decision to
remove only items containing more than 20% of affected oil from Central Union
from the shelves.

The health minister made the comments ahead of a meeting of the legislative
committee on health and welfare today.

During questioning by TPP lawmaker Qiu Hui Ru 邱慧洳, Shi said he had the final
say on the matter and would take responsibility, "no problem."

DPP Lawmaker Lin Yue Qin, who chairs the committee, accused the opposition of
having inconsistent standards towards the central and local governments
involved in the Central Union case.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

President Lai Ching-te says, any change to the status quo in the Taiwan
Strait will be at China's hand, not Taiwan's.

He says, Taiwan is committed to upholding the stats quo, and strengthening
its econonmic resilience.

The president noted that Taiwanese investments in China have decreased from
over 83% in 2010 to under 4% last year...

while Taiwan's economy grew at a rate of nearly 14% in the first half of this
year, marking the best showing in 50 years.

Lai says, it's clear that Taiwan's economy has prospered after reducing
reliance on China.

The president made the comments as he met with former foreign leaders in town
for yesterday's Ketagalan Forum, including former Finnish Prime Minister
Sanna Marin.

He said, international visitors' actions in supporting Taiwan allow Taiwanese
people to feel international support, giving them greater confidence to
uphold their ideals.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is urging the public against leaving
politically motivated google reviews.

That's after Shen paid a visit to Raohe Night Market yesterday and signed the
wall of one shop.

In footage making the rounds on social media platform Threads, Shen is seen
signing a blank section of a wall before the owner pulls back a sign taped
onto the wall to reveal that Chiang Wan An's signature has been covered up.

After the video went viral, some Threads users displeased with Chiang's name
being covered took to Google Maps to leave 1 star reviews of the
establishment.

Shen today condemned the actions, and called on his opponent to urge his
supporters against leaving fake reviews for political reasons.

In a press release from Shen's campaing office, he said that many shop owners
and patrons asked for a photo or signature as he was making the rounds last
night...

as well as offered suggestions on drainage improvements nearby.

Shen said, he encourages online discussion and debate, but draws the line at
maliciously affecting the business of supporters with irrelevant reviews.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

Now turning to international news...

Russia has killed 15 people in Kyiv and wounded 42 others in missile and
drone strikes.

That attack is part of a series of large-scale Russian ballistic missile
strikes that have become more frequent this summer.

Ukraine is limited in intercepting those strikes, due to limits on its
stockpile interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot systems.

That's the only air defense system in Ukraine's arsenal that can shoot down
ballistic missiles...

making large attacks like these difficult to stop, even as Ukraine steps up
strikes deep inside Russian territory on oil referineries and energy
infrastructure.

Officials say, the war of attrition has entered a new phase, with Russia
attacking anything and everything indiscriminately.

Posted on 2026-08-05 17:21:15

The UN says, child malnutrition has reached critical levels across one third
of provinces in Afghanistan.

The situation is expected to worsen, as funding shortfalls force cuts in food
distribution and other support.

The World Food Program says, 142 health centers closed last year due to aid
reductions.

More than 13000 kids lost access to nutrition treatment.

Nearly 3.7 million Afghan kids are projected to suffer from acute
malnutrition this year.

The WFP cited conflict, unemployment and rising food prices as other
contributing factors.

Afghanistan continues to recover from decades of conflict and upheaval,
including the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021 as the Taliban took
power.

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is trying to containt the fallout over the
Central Union Oils case...

as public scrutiny mounts over a meeting held last month in which the FDA and
experts decided to recall only products containing more than 20% of affected
oil before the MOHW later widened the recall.

Minister Shi Chong Liang says, meeting minutes have been submitted to
investigative authorities and will be released to the public later today.

That's as KMT lawmaker Wang Yu Min and others in the blue camp have accused
the Executive Yuan of trying to cover for TaiSugar after it did not report
contamination of some raw materials from Central Union.

Wang called for the legislative committee on health and welfare to resolve to
demand an apology from the MOHW and to hold those responsible accountable.

The motion passed with majority support from opposition lawmakers in the
committee.

But Shi says, the companies at fault are Central Union, Fu Show, Fu Mao, and
Taishan.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

And in related news...

Taichung proescutors have conducted more searches in the Central Union Oil
case...

and continued questioning those with connections to the case.

Four defendants were each released on bail of 3 million NT.

Prosecutors say they carried out searches of Central Union, as well as of Fu
Show, Fu mao, and Taishan companies.

They questioned the Chairman Tsai of Central Union, Hong of Fu Show, Wu of Fu
Mao, and Liu of Taishan...

in addition to several other witnesses.

The four chairmen are suspected of violating the Act Governing Food Safety
and Sanitation.

The four have now paid a toal of between 9 and 23 million NT bail.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

Asian shares have surged, with benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul jumping more
than 3%, as shares in chipmakers and other AI-related companies advanced.

At home, the benchmark tai ex gained 1250 points to close the session at
44611.

The turnover was 1.144 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

Guatemalan authorities are on alert and have evacuated eight villages
following an eruption of the Fuego volcano.

That's one of Central America's most active volanoes.

The country's disaster management agency says, nearly 700 people have been
evacuated are being housed in shelters.

The eruption began Monday, with videos showing clouds of gas and ash above
the volcano.

About 10 more communities are expected to be evacuated today.

During a previous eruption of the volcano in June 2018, hundreds of people
were killed and a whole village was destroyed.

As many as 1.7 million people were impacted by the event.

Posted on 2026-08-05 14:09:14

And,

Capybaras have been making surprise visits to a state legislature in Brazil.

They strolled into the legislative building in Cuiaba last week, catching
lawmakers off guard.

The building is next to a park filled with wildlife.

One staffer tried to guide the capybaras back to the park.

She says, the capybaras show up quite frequently, so people are quite used to
them.

As semi-aquatic animals, capybaras thrive near rivers, lakes and wetlands,
often living in groups and growing to weigh up to 80 kilograms.

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:13

A former Slovak prime minister is urging increased defense spending, drawing
similarities between the threats Taiwan faces from China...

and those that eastern European nations face from Russia.

Ivan Korčok says, increasing defnese spending is a "responsible approach" to
protect national sovereignty...

arguing that it should take precedence over concerns about other budget
priorities.

Korčok is the vice chair of Slovakia's opposition Progressive Slovakia party.

He says, his party hopes to deepen ties with Taiwan and cooperate on postwar
reconstruction in Ukraine, if it returns to power.

Korčok rejected the notion that governments must choose between defense
spending and domestic priorities, saying increasing defense protects "the
very essence of your state."

The former PM made the comments on a visit to Taiwan after attending the
Ketagalan Forum yesterday.

(AH-CNA)

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:13

Taipei's Xinyi Police Precinct chief says her daughter has learned her lesson
after being convicted over a bank account used by a fraud ring.

Media reports say the daughter of Hsiao Hui-chu (蕭惠珠) and Taichung City
Police Commissioner Wu Ching-tien (吳敬田) provided a cash card and password to
scammers in 2014.

She was later sentenced to three months in prison for assisting money
laundering.

Hsiao says her daughter was young and lacked social experience when she was
misled by an advertisement and mailed out the card.

She says the family respects the court's ruling, although she described her
daughter as also being a victim of the scam.

Hsiao says the case led her to take part in fraud prevention campaigns and
warned the public not to trust advertisements posted on social media.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:14

Passengers on E-M-U-3000 Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains can now report
spills by scanning a QR code.

The service began on August 1.

Passengers fill out a short form, which is sent directly to onboard cleaning
staff.

QR codes are posted near carriage entrances, restrooms and nursing rooms.

Taiwan Railways says the system will help staff respond faster and keep
trains cleaner.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:14

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is calling for free and fair elections in
Venezuela, seven months after the Trump administration removed Nicolas Maduro
from power.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen introduced
a resolution urging the release of political prisoners and safe participation
for all political figures.

That includes opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been living
outside Venezuela after spending much of last year in hiding.

The resolution comes as critics accuse Washington of failing to push acting
President Delcy Rodriguez toward meaningful political change.

Talks between Venezuela's interim government and part of the opposition are
expected to begin soon, but Machado is not included.

The measure has five additional co-sponsors from both parties.

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:14

Brazil has downgraded diplomatic ties with Argentina after President Javier
Milei again insulted Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

A Brazilian government source says relations will now be handled at the
chargé d'affaires level.

Brazil's ambassador to Argentina will not return to Buenos Aires after Milei
called Lula an "ex-convict," a "thief" and "corrupt" in a television
interview.

The move formalizes a sharp decline in relations between two of Latin
America's largest economies.

The two presidents have not held an official bilateral meeting since Milei
took office.

Argentina's ambassador in Brasilia has been informed of the decision.

Argentina's foreign ministry has not yet commented.

Posted on 2026-08-05 13:07:14

Wildfires have eased across Greece, allowing residents northwest of Athens to
return to badly damaged homes and farmland.

Hundreds of firefighters remain on alert for flare-ups on three fronts west
of the capital.

Crews from Greece, Romania and France are being supported by water-bombing
aircraft, although strong dry winds and rugged terrain have complicated
operations.

Residents returning to the area found homes, trees and farmland reduced to
ash.

Some criticized what they described as a slow firefighting response.

The Greek government says people whose homes were damaged or destroyed will
receive compensation.

Posted on 2026-08-05 09:51:13

The Tai-Ex opened up 449-points this morning from yesterday's close, at
43-thousand-809 on turnover of 25.5-billion N-T.

The market closed little changed on Tuesday, after swinging by more than
1,000 points as selling eroded the main board's initial gains with investors
opting to shrug off a rally on Wall Street overnight.

Posted on 2026-08-05 09:51:14

Qatar says mediators are making progress toward ending the U.S.-Iran war,
although conflicting statements have cast doubt on a quick diplomatic
breakthrough.

Qatar says it is coordinating with Pakistan and Oman to exchange draft
proposals between Washington and Tehran.

US President Donald Trump says direct talks have begun, but Iranian officials
deny that negotiations with the United States are underway.

Iran says separate discussions with Oman over safe shipping lanes through the
Strait of Hormuz remain positive.

Brent crude prices fell more than 5 percent on hopes that traffic through the
strait could soon resume.

However, the key shipping route remains virtually closed. Another cargo
vessel was struck near the strait, forcing its crew to abandon ship. One
seafarer remains missing.

Posted on 2026-08-05 09:51:14

North Korea says it may adopt additional military measures in response to
Japan's recent test-firing of a Tomahawk cruise missile.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized the
launch in a statement carried by state media.

Japan fired the long-range missile from the Aegis destroyer Chokai in the
Pacific Ocean.

Kim also cited Japan's testing of other missiles and its participation in a
U.S.-led military exercise in the Philippines in May.

She accused Tokyo of seeking to become a major military power and claimed the
United States was supporting those efforts.

Kim said Pyongyang would prepare additional military options to counter what
it considers a potential threat, but gave no details.

Posted on 2026-08-05 09:51:14

A discarded piece of a SpaceX rocket is expected to crash into the moon at
around 2:35 this afternoon Taiwan time.

The four-metric-ton object is the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket launched
in January 2025.

It is expected to hit Einstein Crater at about 8-thousand-690 kilometers per
hour.

SpaceX says the impact is unintentional.

The stage ran out of fuel and could no longer be controlled after completing
its mission.

The collision is expected to throw up a plume of lunar dust, although it will
be difficult to see from Earth without special equipment.

Experts say the impact poses no danger, but highlights concerns over how
space debris is managed as more missions head to the moon.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

Congress

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Visiting U-S Republican congressman Michael McCaul says President Donald
Trump is expected to submit a 14-billion dollar arms package for Taiwan to
Congress soon.

McCaul made the statement after President Lai Ching-te awarded him the Order
of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon during a ceremony at the Presidential
Office in Taipei.

According to the congressman, Congress signed off on the largest foreign
military sales package in history at 11-billion U-S dollars last December,
and Washington is not stopping there, as U-S arms sales to Taiwan will not be
affected by Washington's ties with Beijing.

McCaul said he's confident Trump will soon forward another arms package to
Congress for critical military defense articles.

He cited former U-S President Ronald Reagan, who said after the passage of
the Taiwan Relations Act that the United States does not consult with the
China on arms sales to Taiwan.

And McCaul went on to urge Taiwan to cooperate with democratic countries that
have developed innovations in modern warfare and to continue strengthening
its defense capabilities, resilience and cybersecurity.

McCaul last visited Taiwan in May 2024, shortly after Lai took office.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The annual Han Kuang exercise begin this morning.

This year's series of drills will run through August 14.

Defense officials say the 10 day and nine night exercise will test the armed
forces' ability to sustain 24-hour defense operations.

The exercises will focus on testing dispersed command-and-control operations,
as well as updated Rules of Engagement designed to counter China's
intensifying gray-zone tactics.

This year's drill will for the first time see two brigade-level units - one
in the north and the othe in the south - being mobilized to test the
military's ability to complete reserve call-ups and conduct pre-combat
preparations.

As many as 5,000 reservists are expected to participate and the military says
the reservists all reported to their designated locations yesterday ahead of
the exercise.

The Army's newly deployed M-1-A-2-T Abrams main battle tanks and the newly
inaugurated Littoral Combat Command will also participate in the Han Kuang
exercises for the first time this year.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Taiwan High Court has announced that it will he holding its first appeal
hearing in former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je's corruption case on September 8.

According to the court, a three-judge panel a set the first preparatory
hearing for 3PM on that day.

The Taipei District Court sentenced Ko to 17-years in prison earlier in March
in a series of corruption cases related to the Core Pacific City
redevelopment project and alleged illegal political donations.

The court has ordered Ko and six other defendants, including K-M-T Taipei
City Councilor Angela Ying and Core Pacific Group Chair Shen Ching-jing to
appear in person.

Ying was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison by the district
court, while Shen was handed a 10 year sentence.

Six other defendants received prison terms ranging from one year to six years
in prison.

Ko has reportedly expanded his legal team for the appeal case.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Centers for Disease Control says there's been a 74.8-per cent increase in
COVID-19 cases - with hospitals reporting a total of 18,990 visits last week.

According to the C-D-C, severe COVID-19 infections have now reached their
highest weekly total of this COVID-19 season, which started on October 1 last
year -- with 62 such cases being reported.

Health officials say most of the severe cases affected patients aged 65 or
older, those living with long term chronic health conditions.

Nearly 90-per cent of them had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

The C-D-C says vaccine demand has risen sharply over the past week and there
are about 165,000 doses remaining in stock and they're expected to be
distributed to local governments over the coming week.

Data shows that 1.77-million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered
this season.

COVID-19 infections are expected to peak later this month.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Ministry of Transport is set to raise airport service fees on September 1.

According to the ministry, the increase will be introduced in two phases.

The fee will be raised from the current 500 to 750 N-T on September 1 of this
year, and will be raised again to 1,000 N-T on September 1 2028.

The service fee for transit passengers will also be raised according to the
same timeline.

The fee charged to passenger is for accessing airport facilities.

The transport ministry says airport service fee revenue reached 12.8-billion
N-T last year and the first phase of the fee increase is expected to generate
an additional 6.4-billion N-T annually.

Some 60-per cent of the revenue is used to fund airport construction
projects, while the remainder is allocated to tourism development.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Taiwan Millennium Health Foundation and 7‑Eleven have launched a rewards
program to encourage healthy habits such as walking, balanced diets and
health monitoring.

The program allows participants to redeem points for food and drinks.

According to the foundation, its building on last year's collaboration with
7-Eleven and expand the initiative into a larger rewards program this year to
help people at high risk of metabolic syndrome improve their lifestyle
habits.

The program will run from today through December 31.

Participants can earn points in the "Health ACE" section of the
7-Eleven-affiliated uni-open app by recording healthy activities, such as
walking, checking their blood pressure, and uploading photos of their meals.

These points can then be redeemed for food and drinks at 7-Eleven or used to
enter prize draws.

Taiwan Association of Lifestyle Medicine Chairperson Lin Hung-jung says
adults who increase their daily steps from 3,000 to 5,000 can lower their
risk of death by 37-per cent, while increasing the daily step count to 7,000
lowers the risk by 51-per cent.

Posted on 2026-08-05 08:15:13

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Dolphin is expected to have
its greatest impact on Taiwan this weekend.

The storm is currently located some 2,000-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 19-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin still has a radius of 320-kilomters, and has strengthened
slightly over the past 24-hours and is now packing sustained wind speeds of
162-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilomters-an-hour.

According to the administration's forecast center, its latest tracking chart
show the storm is expected to begin veering in a more northerly direction
this weekend, but its exact track remains uncertain.

A sea warning could still be issued as early as Friday afternoon.

Rain from the storm's outer rim is expected to begin effecting the north from
tomorrow and the heaviest rainfall is expected on Saturday and Sunday as the
storm skirts the north coast.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

law

President Lai Ching-te used his opening address at the 10th Ketagalan Forum
in Taipei to call on the international community to take a unified stance
against China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law.

Its ostensibly aimed at "forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese
nation by prioritizing a collective national identity over distinct ethnic
sub-identities."

But its most controvesial passage asserts that overseas organizations and
individuals outside mainland China who are seen to undermine ethnic unity or
promote division can face legal accountability under Chinese law.

The law has been heavily criticised by human rights groups and foreign
governments who consider it as a tool for forced assimilation.

Lai also stressed that Taiwan will not accept Beijing's "red terror" tactics,
whether they are targeting Taiwan or other countries, and will work to uphold
the rules based international order.

That was President Lai Ching-te speaking at the opening of this year's
Ketagalan Forum in Taipei.

The Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan
Institute of Economic Research and focuses on security issues in the
Indo-Pacific region.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Meanwhile,

President Lai Ching-te has held talks with Eswatini's visiting Prime Minister
Russell Dlamini.

Lai said his administration will continue to deepen exchanges with Eswatini
in industry, public health, and digital transformation.

Those exchanges are aimed at assisting Eswatini to achieve its development
goals and include expanding cooperation in areas such as energy, which
includes strategic oil storage facilities.

The president also thanked Dlamini for Eswatini's support in pushing for
Taiwan's participation international organizations during the United Nations
General Assembly.

Dlamini arrived in Taiwan on Monday as head of a delegation that includes
Eswatini's ministers for natural resources and energy, economic planning and
development as well as labor and social security

Aside from holding talks with senior government officials the delegation is
also slated to visit several environmental projects and meet with Acer
founder Stan Shih.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Lawmakers have passed an amendment to the Presidential and Vice Presidential
Election and Recall Act.

The revision adds convictions under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act to
the list of offenses that disqualify individuals from running for president
or vice president.

The amendment was introduced by K-M-T lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling and revised
Article 26 of the Act.

The Ministry of the Interior had argued that the amendment might not have a
significant impact on potential candidates because fraud violations
disqualifying candidates were already part of the election law.

It also said previous amendments to the Presidential and Vice Presidential
Election and Recall Act and the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act
already bar individuals convicted of aggravated fraud under the Criminal Code
from running for public office.

However, the interior ministry also said it would respect the Legislature's
decision if it were to reach a consensus on the amendment.

The Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act took effect in July 2024 and increased
penalties for offenses.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

The Food and Drug Administration says a small shipment of pumpkin seed oil
imported from Austria has seized by customs officials after testing found
excessive levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

The shipment was imported by Taichung-based HealthTake because it exceeded
the maximum limit of benzo[a]pyrene for edible oils and fats.

It comes as authorities are continuing investigating domestically produced
soybean-based oil and camellia oil over suspected benzo[a]pyrene
contamination.

The F-D-A says imported edible oils are routinely tested for the carcinogen
at the border.

It marks the first time in nearly two years that an imported oil product has
failed a border inspection for the carcinogen.

The previous violation was detected in October 2024, when gac fruit oil
imported from Vietnam exceeded the limit.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Palau has appointed Taiwan scholar Chen Kai-siang as a special adviser to its
health and human services minister.

Chen was formally appointed to the post by Palau's Vice President and Health
and Human Services Minister Raynold B. Oilouch and is the youngest person to
serve as a special adviser in the country.

The embassy says the appointment reflects the Palauan government's
recognition of his expertise and long-standing work in support of bilateral
health cooperation.

Chen will help the ministry coordinate medical resources from Taiwan and
advance public health policy, the training of health care personnel and
international medical cooperation.

Chen has led numerous Taiwan medical teams on trips to Palau in recent year
to provide free clinics and public health services.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

The Ministry of Transport is reportedly considering several options for the
future of Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 1.

It comes as the terminal is nearing its 50-year service life.

An evaluation process plotting out a possible future for the terminal is now
underway, but detailed plans will not be released construction work on
Terminal 3 is completed at the end of next year.

The transport ministry has previously floated the ideas of demolishing and
rebuilding or upgrading the terminal.

The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation is slated to to submit its own
plan for the terminal's future by the end of this year,

The building underwent an upgrade from 2010 to 2013, increasing its annual
passenger capacity from 12 million to 15 million.

However, officials have been warning that the terminal's maintenance is now
problematic due to incomplete records of its original design and
construction.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

And,

Taiwan's eight-member team at the 23rd International Linguistics Olympiad in
Bucharest is coming home with two silver medals, four bronze medals and four
honorable mentions.

Every member of the team receiving at least one award.

Taiwan's delegation was led by two professors from the Graduate Institute of
Linguistics at National Taiwan University.

The team's silver medals were won by a student from the Taipei Municipal
Chien Kuo Senior High School and another from the Tung Der High School in
Nantou.

While the bronze medals went to students from the Taipei Private Dongshan
High School, the Hong Wen International School in Taichung, and the Ci-Xin
Waldorf High School in Yilan County.

The competition brought together high school students from 46 countries and
regions to compete in linguistic analysis and problem-solving.

It tests participants' linguistic analysis, logical reasoning and
problem-solving skills by challenging them to identify patterns and decipher
unfamiliar languages.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

war

The Reuters News Agency is citing anonymous sources who say United States is
said to have used up much of its global stockpile of highly accurate
long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran...

The shortage is raising concerns about the military's readiness for future
conflicts.

The missiles are principally the Army's surface-to-surface weapons, known as
Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM).

The long-range munitions – which cost more than $1 million each – are an
important part of the military's arsenal, allowing accurate strikes from a
safe distance.

The sources expressed worry that the falling missile supplies could limit the
U.S. ability ⁠to deter adversaries, including Russia and China.

The dramatic rundown in precision, long-range missiles means U.S. leader
Donald Trump may have to rely more on riskier, piloted bombing missions if
he relaunches large-scale attacks on Iran.

Posted on 2026-08-05 07:02:13

Spain's government is defending its actions after a rush of migrants
attempted to cross into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa.

The sudden arrival of 72,000 migrants sparked a humanitarian crisis and
reignited the immigration debate within the EU.

At least 80 migrants died.

The incident has exposed divisions within the EU on migration policies.

It also exposed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's migration policies to
criticism from other EU leaders.

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

COVID-19 cases in Taiwan surged nearly 75 percent last week, while severe
infections reached their highest weekly total of the year.

The Centers for Disease Control says there were nearly 19 thousand outpatient
and emergency visits between July 26 and August 1 ... with more than 200
people hospitalized.

Health officials also reported 62 new severe domestic cases and three deaths
during the past week ... with most severe patients either aged 65 or older or
living with chronic illnesses.

Nearly 90 percent had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials point out that current vaccines are still expected to
protect against severe illness.

The CDC also reports that vaccine demand has risen sharply, with almost 30
thousand doses administered last week.

About 165 thousand doses remain in stock and are expected to be distributed
to local governments over the coming week.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

A survey by the Childcare Policy Alliance has found that nearly 60 percent of
parents support expanding public childcare through a "public childcare at
every school" policy.

By contrast, only about 30 percent supported subsidies for private childcare
providers.

The alliance says 55 percent of respondents identified expanding public
childcare capacity as the policy most likely to influence their support for
political candidates, compared with just 18 percent who preferred private
sector subsidies.

More than 70 percent also said Taiwan's split childcare system for children
aged zero to two and three to six is difficult for families to navigate.

The alliance is urging the government to expand public childcare services and
integrate the two systems into a single framework for children from birth to
age six.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has agreed to serve as the campaign chair for
DPP candidate Chen Ying (陳瑩)'s Taitung magistrate bid.

Tsai, together with former Taitung lawmaker Liu Zhao-hao visited Chen's
campaign office earlier today and accepted Chen's invitation to chair her
campaign team.

Tsai said it's a role she is less familiar with, but she hopes to boost the
election momentum in Taitung and encourage broader participation to build a
better future for the county together.

Liu will be Chen's campaign manager.

Meanwhile Chen's KMT rival Xu Xiu-hua (吳秀華) said she believes the Blue camp
will be even more united than the Green camp, and that she would go all out
to win the magistrate's election.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

The Millennium Health Foundation has partnered with 7-ELEVEN to reward points
to people who walk five thousand steps a day and complete other
health-related activities.

These points can be redeemed for items such as tea eggs, soy milk and
sugar-free tea.

The campaign comes as health experts warn that more than 8.5 million people
in Taiwan are living with chronic illnesses.

They pointed to an international study -- from the Exercise and Sport
Sciences Reviews journal -- suggesting that increasing daily walking from
three thousand to about five thousand steps can reduce the risk of death from
all causes by 37 percent.

Health officials also say that about one in five people with metabolic
syndrome may be able to reverse the condition through early lifestyle
changes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 18:28:13

Average mortgage amounts reached record highs in five non-special
municipality counties and cities during the first quarter of 2026 ...

... suggesting home-buying costs remain high despite a cooling property
market.

According to Taiwan Realty, Hsinchu County recorded the highest average new
mortgage at nearly 13.5 million NT, followed by Hsinchu City at more than 13
million NT.

Miaoli and Changhua counties ... as well as Chiayi County and Chiayi City
also posted record-high average mortgage amounts.

Analysts say Hsinchu has benefited from the Hsinchu Science and Technology
Park, attracting technology workers and new residents.

They say rising home prices have also pushed buyers into nearby Miaoli ...

... while Chiayi has seen stronger demand linked to its science park, TSMC
investment and the High Speed Rail corridor.

They say tighter lending rules have shifted the market toward homebuyers
rather than investors ...

... and expect the new Youth Housing Loan 3.0 program to keep demand centered on
lower-priced and resale homes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

The Central Election Commission says, it's not so sure about an
opposition-led proposal that would move to put all referendum votes on the
same piece of paper.

That's after the KMT and TPP fast-tracked the proposal, undeterred by DPP
opposition.

C-E-C chair Yo Ying Long visited TPP lawmakers today to voice his concerns
about the proposal, saying that, with the election only 3 months away,
perhaps the proposal could be more of a long-term plan.

He added that he believed lawmakers were well-intentioned, hoping to avoid a
2018-esque situation in which 10 referendums appeared on a very long pieve of
paper...

but he warned that even a small move could have unimagined, irreparable
consequences.

You added that the CEC would conduct rigorous study to look into options to
resolve the issue.

But TPP caucus whip Chen Qing Long brushed off Yo, saying that problems need
to be solved.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

Police say, they've apprehended a man suspected of killing the chair of the
Jingyuan Tungsten Colbalt Resources at his home in Pingtung.

The company chairman, surnamed Huang, was bound, gagged, and killed in his
Fang-liao Township home.

Unable to reach him, his son visited the house on July 24th and discovered
the body.

Many suspect the case to be connected to China, as Tungsten is a strategic
resource...

on top of the fact that Huang's security cameras happened to suffer a
malfunction at the same time as the attack took place.

But it is now understood that investigators have ruled out foreign
intervention.

The case is still under investigation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

The Food and Drug Administration has intercepted an imported shipment of
Austrian pumpkin seed oil containing excessive levels of the carcinogen BaP.

The 4.5-kilogram shipment tested at 2.5 parts per billion, exceeding Taiwan's
legal limit of 2.0 parts per billion for edible oils.

Officials say the shipment was ordered returned or destroyed before it could
enter the domestic market.

The importer has now been placed under 100 percent inspection.

The FDA says this is the first imported edible oil to exceed the legal limit
in nearly two years, and the first pumpkin seed oil shipment to fail border
inspection in the past three years.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

Now turning to international news...

Sri Lanka is closing school in some mountainous regions, as heavy rains
trigger floods and mudslides.

5 people have been killed and 3 wounded.

Heavy downpours over the last 2 days have wreaked havoc in many parts of the
country...

flooding homes, fields, and roads.

Officials say that mountainous areasin the country's center are the worst
affected by the severe weather.

They add that the rains and floods have damaged 129 houses and nearly 2000
people have been forced to evacuate.

The latest disaster comes as the country is still trying to recover from the
devastation in November caused by Cyclone Ditwa that killed nearly 640
people, affected two million people and caused an estimated $4.1 billion in
damage.

Posted on 2026-08-04 17:07:13

In the US,

authorities say they've arrested a man suspected of intentionally starting a
wildfire in Washington.

The fire in Spokane, Washington, is one of three burning in the area.

The fires have destroyed at least 700 structures and forced more than 60,000
people to evacuate.

The suspect is accused of sparking the fire on Saturday.

He faces arson charges and will make his first court appearance tomorrow.

Posted on 2026-08-04 16:23:13

The Taiwan High Court has announced that it'll open the trial for former
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-zhe in connection with the Core Pacific City case on
September 8th.

Ko appealed his case to the High Court after being sentenced to a prison term
of 17 years on charges of corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust by the
Taipei District Court.

The High Court will summon Ke and another 6 defendants, including Taipei city
councilor Ying Xiao-wei and Core Pacific Group chairman Shen Qing-jing, to
the hearing that day.

Meanwhile Ke is expected to have his ankle monitor changed to a wrist monitor
at a police station tomorrow.

That's after a court ruled in favor of the equipment change.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 16:23:13

The DPP's pick to lead Taichung is promoting an expanded free school lunch
program.

Ho Hsin Chun's plan would raise the government expenditure for each meal to
80 NT and would provide milk and fresh fruit to students twice and thrice
weekly, respectively.

Under the current plan, the city's Education Department provides subsidies of
60 NT for each meal, while the central government chips in another 10 NT,
putting the total cost at 70 NT.

But Ho says today that she wants the meals to be 80 NT instead, and she
doesn't want them to pause for summer and winter vacations.

She also says, she wants to expand the program from including just students
and teachers to also including the staff who serve the meals.

The lawmaker says, the proposal would cost the city government an additional
3 billion NT annually.

She added that she will prioritize food safety by implementing safety checks
at several stages.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 16:23:13

Turning to world news...

Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.3% as the U.S. dollar rose against the yen today.

Analysts said regional investors are still considering the impact of last
week's U.S.-Japan currency intervention.

Some experts said the effectiveness of such an intervention remains uncertain
as it doesn't address the fundamental economic reasons behind the currency
fluctuations, including inflation, interest rates and the relative strengths
of the economies.

Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at a global financial services firm,
noted the latest effort could have some impact because it appears to signal a
real change in monetary policy rather than just a one-time defensive move.

The Japanese yen recovered to closer to 156–157 against U.S. dollar following
a joint market intervention by U.S. and Japanese authorities after dropping
to a 40-year low past 163 per U.S. dollar recently.

Posted on 2026-08-04 15:15:14

President Lai Ching-te today dismissed China's Ethnic Unity and Progress
Promotion Law, which took effect this month, as a tool to conduct
cross-border repression.

Speaking at the Katagalan Forum, Lai also called on the international
community to unite to oppose the law.

In addition, the President stressed that Chinese infiltration into Taiwan or
any other free countries is unacceptable.

Lai vowed at the end of the speech to protect peace and prosperity in Taiwan
and the Indo-Pacific region.

(HN-JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 15:15:14

Taiwanese companies and financial institutions have pledged more than 84
million NT to support relief and reconstruction efforts in Kumamoto, Japan...

... following last week's magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

TSMC announced the largest corporate donation, contributing over 51 million
NT.

Its charity foundation has also launched an employee fundraising campaign.

Major financial institutions, including CTBC Financial, E.SUN Financial,
Taishin Financial and Union Bank, have also pledged donations to support
emergency relief and rebuilding efforts.

Meanwhile, paper manufacturer Cheng Loong (正隆) has pledged over 6 million NT.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-04 15:15:14

Now turning to international news...

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is facing blowback overhis migration
policies.

That's after tens of thousands of migrants suddenly rushed into the exclave
of Ceuta last week, reginiting the immigration debate within the European
Union.

At least 80 people died in the incident, including some who drowned or were
trampled to death.

Sanchez is seen as relatively progressive, challenging consensus within the
bloc on migration as well as on NATO spending, Gaza, and Israel.

Sanchez's government has fended off the attacks as politically motivated,
pointing out that most of the migrants were pushed back from Ceuta within
hours in "close coordination with the Moroccan authorities and with very
little support from other European states.”

Promising migration crackdown has proven to be an election winner across the
EU, but experts say what is really needed is regular pathwats for people to
move in safety and dignity.

Posted on 2026-08-04 15:15:14

In India, experts say the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
education minister last month underscores the rising influence of India's
young people.

Modi has been one of India's most dominant prime ministers in decades, and
his government has rarely been seen to yield to public pressure.

But after protesters forced the education minister's resignation, experts say
people will be less fearful of protesting against a government that critics
have long accused of supressing dissent.

The cockroach janta party that succeeded in securing the resignation says, it
reaffirmed the power of public pressure in a democracy.

It's not yet clear if the energy brought by the protests can be converted
into electoral losses for Modi's Bharatiya Janata party.

But at the very least, the movement appears to have prompted adjustments from
the BJP.

Since the protests, Modi ha increasingly appeared in short videos made for
Instagram and other social media platforms.

His party has expanded its outreach to Gen Z through online campaigns, with
some party lawmakers adopting youth slang in public appearances.

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is raising concerns over China's new "ethnic
unity" law at the Ketagalan Forum today.

Minister Lin Chia Lung says that democratic nations must work together to
build a stronger line of defense against coercion.

Lin says, this year marks both the 10 year anniversary of the forum as well
as the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first democratic elections...

adding that Taiwan has slowly matured into a democratic society and will
continue to become more resilient.

Lin emphasized that China's coercion involves not only gray-zone warfare, but
also attempts to control national identity and ideological goverance.

Also at the forum is the chair of Japan's Interparliamentary Alliance on
China, Gen Nakatani.

Nakatani stated that Taiwan must maintain steadfast determination even as the
threat it faces grows more and more serious.

He added that Japan will continue to stand with Taiwan.

The forum is taking place today, bringing together government representatives
and scholars to discuss democratic resilience and reshaping a non-red supply
chain.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Radio and Television Act to
moderately relax restrictions on investment in the mass media businesses.

Indirect investments by the government, government-funded foundations, and
their trustees can now own up to 1-percent of a private TV or radio station's
stakes instead of the original zero share.

The revised law also tightens rules on the station's board members,
supervisors and managers.

It specifies that the government, government-funded foundations, and their
trustees may not control the personnel, finances, or operations of private
radio and television enterprises.

Additionally, penalties now target investors directly.

Any prohibited entities or party staff that illegally invest in private
broadcasters face fines ranging from$200-thousand NT to $2 million and must
fix the violation by a set deadline.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

Taiwan shares are slightly down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at
43360 after losing 25 points.

The turnover was 1.036 trillion NT.

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

Now turning to international news,,,

The Japanese government is urging adaptation to new methods of warfare.

The defense paper adopted by the Cabinet today says, the country needs to
understand how tech like drones and artificial intelligence are used in
Ukraine and the Middle East...

to strengthen its defense industry.

Japan has bolstered its military capability and standing in recent years...

and has started deploying long-range cruise missiles as a deterrence to
China's military activity.

Some hope that donres could make up for decreasing number of military members
in the country with a fast-shrinking population.

The paper also identifies China as Japan's biggest strategic challenge.

Experts say developing fully homemade drones while Japan's commercial drone
market is dominated by Chinese imports would be a challenge.

Posted on 2026-08-04 14:07:13

A judge in Honduras has ruled that a former president will not remain behind
bars while awaiting trial.

That's after Juan Orlando Hernandez' recent return to Honduras after a US
pardon for drug trafficking charges.

He was extradited to the US shortly after leaving office and was sentenced to
45 years in prison.

Hernandez is facing prosecution for fraud and money laundering charges.

He's accused of misuse of public funds totaling millions.

Hernandez denies the charges and claims the case lacks legal basis.

He will return to court for his next hearing on Aug. 12.

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

The 42nd Han Kuang exercises will begin tomorrow, for the first time
including brigades in both the north and south to mobilize over 5000
reservists.

Officials say that yesterday afternoon they conducted drone maneuvering
training to increase familiarity with drone controls.

That's after the unit carried out live-fire training in the morning, when the
reservists practiced firing with pistols, rifles, and squad automatic machine
guns.

The training aimed to systematically enhance reservists' combat skills and
boosting overall readiness.

The exercises will be conducted for 10 days this year, with reservists taking
part in 14 days of training this year.

The military says that reservists all reported to their designated locations
yesterday.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency is reminding the public that
unprocessed wood products, such as artificial trees and seeds, are regulated
quarantine items, and cross-border online purchases must be declared.

Cases of illegally imported wood products have surged over the past three
years, resulting in total fines of nearly $10 million NT.

The Agency said when people shop online, they often fail to notice whether
the imported goods are regulated quarantine items.

There were 192 cases in 2024 and 272 such cases last year, and in the first
half of this year alone, the number of penalized illegal wood product imports
reached 174.

The items that violated quarantine rules include wood products made from
natural logs or driftwood that have not been painted, treated with
preservatives, or subjected to other effective processing.

Products made with "seed paper" and crafted into handmade postcards,
eco-friendly business cards, creative sticky notes, coasters, and gift
packaging also fall under plant quarantine items.

Officials said under the Plant Quarantine Act, all imported plant items must
undergo quarantine to prevent invasive pests from entering Taiwan.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

Now turning to international news...

Resident's of Japan's Kumamoto prefecture are working to clear their homes
amidst an intense heat wave.

That's as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi briefly visited the southern
prefecture for the first time since last week's 7.1 magnitude quake.

The heat and lack of water have added to the challenges in the severely
damaged areas.

38 people have died in the aftermath, including one who died of apparent heat
stroke while taking shelter in a car in hot weather.

Residents are removing heaps of debris, broken furniture, and damaged
appliances for collection...

while construction of temporary housing has begun in certain towns.

More than 46,000 households remained without water and many also faced fuel
shortages as the region suffers sweltering heat.

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is doubling down on claims of fraud in
elections in June...

in which his party lost to conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.

Petro claimed that results from thousands of tally sheets were manipulated by
programmers after vote counts were transmitted to the national registrar.

The accusations have been dismissed by international observers as well as
domestic authorities.

De la Espriella lost to Petro ally Ivan Cepeda by 250,000 votes.

De la Espriella will begin a four year term this week after being sworn into
office.

Although there is legally little that Petro can do to block the move,
analysts say his claims may undermine the new president's legitimacy and
further polarize the nation's politics.

Posted on 2026-08-04 13:08:23

Singapore has banned two members of the British band Massive Attack from
reentering the country.

That's after they displayed a Palestinian flag and voiced support for a
political cause during a concert last week.

Police say the men were investigated for their actions during the July 29th
concert, including shouting "Free Palestine" on stage.

They received stern warnings and were blacklisted.

Police emphasized whet they called the importance of maintaining racial and
religious harmony.

Massive Attack said they were surprised and disappointed, but said they were
proud of their actions and urged freedom of expression.

The group said they didn't expect that merely holding up the flag would
violate any law, but that they were proud to have made the “impromptu
expression” with their fans in Singapore to show solidarity for the
Palestinian cause.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is urging lawmakers to support the Cabinet's
version of a special act on unmanned systems procurement.

The bill will authorize up to 210-billion N-T in funding over six years.

The Cabinet bill seeks to fund the procurement of domestically developed
reconnaissance and attack drones, unmanned surface vessels and other unmanned
systems.

The bill is currently under review in th Legislative Yuan alongside other
competing proposals.

They include one by the K-M-T that proposes allocating 240-billion N-T over
six years for unmanned systems through the government's annual budget, with
40-billion N-T to be provided annually.

According to the defense minister the Cabinet version covers the full range
of unmanned systems as well as testing facilities and programs supporting the
development of the unmanned systems industry.

Koo says if all of these items are included under the K-M-T's 40-billion N-T
annual cap, funding will likely be insufficient and such a limitation could
affect programs such as MQ-9B drone procurement.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

peaks

The National Park Service has drafted amendments to the National Park Act
that would mean visitors to many of Taiwan's peaks could have to pay by as
early as next year.

According to the park service, the fees would go into a dedicated
conservation fund which would be used to establish ecological protection
zones.

There will also be sharp increases in penalties for environmental violations
to up to 2-million N-T

However, indigenous hunting and gathering activities as well as scientific
research will be exempt from paying the fees.

Officials say the proposal could affect hikers to as many as 76 of Taiwan's
100 highest peaks located inside national parks.

The amendments are still under review.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

Labor funds administered by the Ministry of Labor's Bureau of Labor Funds
reported a return of 28.46-per cent in the first half of this year.

That was up from 27.7-per cent during the January to May period.

According to the bureau, the accumulated gains in the value of assets in the
funds' portfolios and income on investment totaled about 2.2-trillion N-T
from January to June, after these funds posted 77.1-billion N-T in gains in
June.

The combined funds managed by the bureau include the Labor Pension Fund, the
Labor Retirement Fund, the Labor Insurance Fund, and the Employment Insurance
Fund.

The combined value of those funds as of the end of June stood at
8.896-trillion N-T.

The bureau says 54.37-per cent of its investments were made overseas from
January to June, while the remaining 45.63-per cent were invested in the
domestic market.

The value of assets in the Labor Pension Fund, launched in 2015, totaled
5.796-trillion N-T as of the end of June, while Labor Retirement Fund, which
has been in place since 1984, had about 1.16-trillion N-T in assets as of the
end of June.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

The Civil Aviation Administration has announced that fuel surcharges on both
short-haul and long-haul international flights operated by Taiwan airlines
will increase from August 9.

The move comes amid sharp rise in international aviation fuel prices ...

... and after C-P-C's reference price for international aviation fuel rose to
147.57 U-S dollars per barrel this month from 133.29 U-S dollars per barrel
last month.

Fuel surcharges for short-haul routes will rise from 27.5 to 30 U-S dollars,
while surcharges for long-haul routes will rise from the current 71.5 to 78
U-S dollars.

The administration defines short-haul routes as destinations in Asia,
excluding India and the Middle East. Long-haul routes include India, the
Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica.

Posted on 2026-08-04 08:12:13

A survey by Mastercard Taiwan shows that nearly 70-per cent of people here in
Taiwan use artificial intelligence agents at least once a week.

According to the "2026 Survey on Consumer AI Usage Habits in Taiwan," ChatGPT
and Gemini are the A-I tools most commonly used by respondents.

The survey found that 38-per cent of respondents consulted A-I when making
shopping decisions, while 61-per cent said they would be willing to use A-I
to help plan travel itineraries.

It also found that 57-per cent would allow A-I agents to automatically search
for products based on their preferences and budgets, then complete purchases
after receiving user confirmation, in the hope of improving shopping
efficiency.

Younger adults aged between 18 and 30 were the most frequent A-I users, with
more than 40-per cent reporting daily use and 27-per cent paying for A-I
subscriptions.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu says China is using
its coast guard and other official vessels in a fresh challenge, not just to
Taiwan but the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Wu told Nikkei Asia in an exclusive interview that the entire First Island
Chain, which primarily covers Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines faces
increasing maritime aggression.

He added Taiwan's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems have
noted a significant increase in Chinese official vessel activity in the East
China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the western Pacific and the South China Sea.

To address the challenges posed by Chinese official vessels operating in
surrounding waters, Wu said Taiwan has established a cross-agency mechanism
to counter what he described as China's expansionism.

One of the group's objectives is to allow Taiwan to share its experiences
with other countries to help build a united front.

Nikkei quoted an anonymous senior European diplomat as saying Wu's strategic
communications and liaising with other governments as "tremendously helpful,"

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The K-M-T says those responsible for any delayed reporting, withholding
information or supervisory failures in the recent soybean oil case should be
held accountable.

The party's legislative caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang says the
Cabinet needs to disclose information concerning how much of the soybean oil
that failed safety inspections was stored at Central Union Oil Corporation ..

.. as well as its full distribution trail, including whether it was sealed,
recalled or destroyed.

Lin is also demanding to know when the Cabinet and the Ministry of Economic
Affairs first became aware of the issue and why it was not fully disclosed at
a food safety briefing.

This comes after Taiwan Sugar Corporation was accused of knowing as early as
May that oil from Central Union was problematic but responded by returning it
to the supplier without notifying the authorities.

Taiwan Sugar has denied any wrongdoing - saying it never took delivery of or
used the crude soybean oil in question because samples it tested before
purchase failed safety inspections... and as a result it had no obligation to
report the matter.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Taipei City's Department of Education says it plans to expand its weekly
free milk program to include junior high school students beginning with the
new school year on August 31.

The change adds 66,000 students to the program.

City officials say that will bring the total number of beneficiaries to
around 289,000 preschool, elementary and junior high school students across
the city.

Under the program, all preschool through junior high school students with
household registration in Taipei are eligible to receive one free milk or soy
milk product each week using a digital student or toddler card.

Students can redeem the products at participating retailers.

The program was launched in April of last year for preschool and elementary
school students attending schools in Taipei.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Tourism Administration says travelers aged 12 and older took more than
247 and a half-million domestic trips in 2025, that's an increase of
11.52-percent from the previous year.

A recent survey shows that each person on average took 11.65-domestic trips
during 2025, the average trip lasted 1.32 days, and travelers spent and
average of 2,279 N-T per trip.

Just over 79-per cent of domestic trips were day trips, while 92-per cent
were done by solo travelers.

The administration says the survey found that total spending on domestic
travel in 2025 reached a record 564.3-billion N-T - or increase of just over
9.4-per cent from the previous year.

Respondents to the survey cited transportation convenience and accessibility
as the most important factors when choosing destinations.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

An Academia Sinica research team has identified how a strain of symbiotic
bacteria helps corals survive rising ocean temperatures.

The study was led by Academia Sinica Distinguished Research Fellow Tang
Sen-lin and was published in The I-S-M-E Journal in July.

The research team explored ways of helping corals survive warmer waters, and
studied a strain of bacteria which naturally lives inside healthy coral
tissue.

Tang says scientists have previously suspected the bacterium helped corals
regulate nutrients and withstand environmental stress, but his study provides
direct evidence that the bacterium protects corals from extreme heat.

Heat can be deadly for corals because they turn white or bleach when
temperatures rise.

Although bleached corals do not die immediately, losing their main source of
nutrients leaves them much weaker and more vulnerable to disease and death.

It's hoped the finding could help scientists protect and restore coral reefs
threatened by climate change-induced bleaching.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

Humanitarian aid from Taiwan's Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
have arrived in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture to assist people displaced by
last week's magnitude 7.1 earthquake.

The aid shipment arrived Fukuoka Airport on board a China Airlines and
included 148 multifunctional folding beds and 40 partition tents designed for
use in disaster relief operations from Tzu Chi's Jing Si product line.

According to Tzu Chi, the folding beds were developed at the request of its
founder, Master Cheng Yen, after she witnessed the suffering of survivors of
the 2010 Pakistan floods.

The partition tents were created after Taiwan's 2018 Hualien earthquake, when
Tzu Chi volunteers witnessed survivors and emergency responders staying in
temporary shelters without privacy, the foundation said.

The Tzu Chi Foundation also says a group of volunteers from Taiwan and Japan
also brought two portable water purification units to address potential
drinking water shortages in affected areas.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

The Central Weather Administration says it could issue a sea warning for
Typhoon Dolphin as early as Friday afternoon if the storm continues on to its
current westward track.

The storm is currently located some 2,000-kilometers east of Taipei and
moving in a westerly direction at 19-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin still has a radius of 320-kilomters, but has weakened
slightly over the past 24-hours and is now packing sustained wind speeds of
144-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 180-kilomters-an-hour.

The weather administration says the storm is expected to reach waters south
of Japan's Ryukyu Islands around Saturday.

The storm's outer rim is forecast to begin affecting parts of Taiwan on
Thursday and Friday, as northeasterly winds are expected to bring isolated
showers to the north and mountainous areas around Greater Taipei.

Rainfall is expected to become more widespread in the northern and
mountainous areas in the south over the weekend.

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

Myanmar’s military government says detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has met with the International Committee of the Red Cross’ representative.

Authorities say they met in the capital on Monday in a rare moment of contact
with the outside world.

The military government did not disclose the location or provide details
about what was discussed.

Suu Kyi was detained Feb. 1, 2021, when the army seized power from her
elected government...

Posted on 2026-08-04 06:54:14

Europe is grappling with a record-breaking hot and dry summer.

On Monday, water-dropping planes tackled a major wildfire in Greece, while
firefighters in France worked to stabilize a blaze in Provence.

The U.K. recorded its driest July in nearly two centuries.

Strong winds returned in Greece, pushing flames into mountain home clusters,
destroying farms and property, and closing a highway. In France, firefighters
guarded against flare-ups near Bordeaux.

The U.K. weather service reported a prolonged heat wave and lack of rainfall.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with rising temperatures and
droughts making wildfires more intense.

Posted on 2026-08-03 19:00:13

The DPP is criticizing the Taipei City government over its handling of a
child abuse case involving Charisse International Preschool.

It's accusing Mayor Chiang Wan-an of leaving parents with nowhere to turn for
help and failing to introduce meaningful reforms.

The party is calling on Chiang to publicly apologize and suspend admissions
at all schools operated by the Charisse group.

Taipei City Councilor Jian Shu-pei says the preschool had already been the
subject of 13 complaints filed through the 1-9-9-9 hotline ...

... but the Education Department either found no violations or asked parents
to provide their own evidence, while allowing another branch under the same
management to continue operating.

The Education Department says all the complaints were handled according to
procedure.

Officials say the preschool's operating license was revoked last week, while
more than 2.35 million NT in fines have been imposed on the group and its
affiliated institutions.

Posted on 2026-08-03 19:00:13

U-S President Donald Trump says new talks aimed at winding down the conflict
with Iran will begin later today.

Trump says he is holding off on large-scale military strikes at the urging of
Gulf allies.

Iranian state media, however, says Tehran is not currently negotiating with
the United States.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its military operations in Gaza over the weekend
despite a ceasefire agreement reached last October.

Aid agencies say soaring temperatures are worsening conditions for displaced
Palestinians, with many families enduring extreme heat in makeshift tents.

Posted on 2026-08-03 19:00:13

Singapore has banned the two core members of British band Massive Attack from
reentering the country following their concert in the city-state last week.

Police say the musicians were investigated after displaying a Palestinian
flag and shouting "Free Palestine" during the July 29 performance.

Authorities say the pair received stern warnings and have been barred from
returning, citing the need to preserve racial and religious harmony.

Massive Attack says it is surprised and disappointed by the decision.

The band says it stands by its actions and is calling for freedom of
expression without fear of persecution.

Posted on 2026-08-03 19:00:13

Ariana Grande has withdrawn from an upcoming stage musical in London, with
producers saying she plans to take a break from the public eye after her
current tour.

Grande had been set to star alongside Jonathan Bailey in "Sunday in the Park
with George" at London's Barbican Theatre in 2027.

Empire Street Productions announced Sunday that she will no longer be part of
the production.

A representative told People magazine the singer plans to step back after
completing her "Eternal Sunshine" tour because of what was described as
"endless, ongoing public scrutiny."

The tour is scheduled to conclude in London on September 1.

Posted on 2026-08-03 18:07:48

More than 364 metric tons of recalled oil linked to the Central Union Oil
contamination scandal are being shipped out of Taichung to be converted into
biodiesel and other fuels.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the destruction process is being carried out
under public supervision.

She adds that city officials and central government representatives
monitoring operations to ensure none of the recalled oil re-enters the food
supply.

The recalled oil is currently being stored at Fu Shou (福壽) and Fu Mao (福懋)
facilities after being collected during the contamination case.

Officials say about 246 metric tons from Fu Mao and 118 metric tons from Fu
Shou will be processed into biodiesel feedstock.

Disposal is expected to be completed by August 8th / this Saturday.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-03 18:07:48

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih rode a test train
on the Wanda-Zhonghe MRT Line today ... as the project enters a new phase of
dynamic testing.

The 9.5-kilometer line's first phase includes nine underground stations and
is now more than 85 percent complete, with officials saying it remains on
track to be finished next year.

Once the line opens, travel time between Zhonghe High School Station and
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station will be cut from 38 minutes to just 14
minutes.

The new line is also expected to ease congestion on the Bannan Line by
shifting an estimated 60 thousand to 100 thousand passenger trips.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-03 17:32:14

National Security Council Chair Joseph Wu is warning of the threat that
Chinese hybrid warfare poses to not just Taiwan...

but to all of the First Island Chain.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Wu pointed out that there's been an
increase in Chinese navy and coast guard deployment in the East China Sea,
over the Taiwan Strait, in the Western Pacific, and in the South China Sea.

That's as Beijing has this year launched what they call "law enforcement"
missions east of Taiwan.

Wu also stated that, out of all democracies in the world, Taiwan suffers most
from hybrid warfare, with disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, cognitive
warfare, and more.

A senior European diplomat that Nikkei also spoke to said that Wu's
cooperation with other government was "tremendously helpful," praising his
NSC for cultivating younger talent.

(Nikkei-AH)

Posted on 2026-08-03 17:32:14

The Changhua magisterial race continues to heat up, as KMT Chair Cheng Li Wen
has likened the race to the story of the Tortoise and the Hare.

Cheng says, getting off to a slower start is no problem for the right
candidate.

That's as KMT offices in Changhua are holding a series of promotional events
for their candidates across the county...

with Cheng heading south today to take part.

Cheng noted that some have said that the KMT candidate, Wei Ping Zheng 魏平政,
is disadvantaged in the race due to the party nominating him relatively late
in the game.

But she says that the hare relies on laziness while the tortoise relies on
consistency to win the race.

Wei will face the DPP's Chen Su-yue 陳素月 in November, as well as Qiu Jian Fu,
who's running as an independent after leaving the DPP.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-03 17:32:14

5 people are dead following a ferry fire in Indonesia.

Authorities say, another 41 people are unaccounted for.

Officials say the ferry was en route from Surabaya to Makassar when the fire
broke out.

Rescuers rushed to assist as passengers jumped into the sea to escape flames
and thick smoke.

227 passengers and crew have been rescued.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but one passenger said
that the fire appeared to have started from a truck on the lower vehicle
deck.

Posted on 2026-08-03 17:32:14

The government of Liechtenstein says, a cyberattack on the country has
affected some 31,000 people.

A government statement says, the "register of economic beneficiaries" was
accessed from Wednesday ot Thursday of last week...

but only noticed Thursday.

At that time, measures were taken to secure data and the system was taken
offline.

The government said there were no indications that any data was altered or
deleted.

The list of people behind companies, foundations and trusteeships is part of
efforts to combat money laundering and terror financing.

The government set up a crisis unit over the weekend to investigate the
attack.

Posted on 2026-08-03 16:21:49

The Ministry of National Defense says, it's hoping that the legislature will
swiftly pass a special budget of 210 billionNT for drone funding.

The ruling and opposition parties have so far failed to reach a consensus
during party negotiations on three competing versions of drone funding.

Separately, Defense Minister Wellingon Koo also says that funding for
unmanned ground vehicles has been included into the 2027 general government
budget.

Koo says, the special budget currently making its way through the legislature
is only one part of planned drone funding, including aerial and suicide
drones.

The minister adds that his Ministry is also considering medium- and
large-sized drones as well as underwater drones.

Koo notes that the M-N-D is assessing how best to equip soldiers with drones
as well.

There are currently three differing versions of drone funding proposals in
the legislature, including the Executive Yuan version, while the KMT version
put the budget at 240 billion in the 2027 general budget.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-03 16:21:49

(lifestyle?)

An additional 66 thousand junior high school students in Taipei will become
eligible for the weekly milk program when the new school year begins on
August 31st.

The city's Department of Education says the expansion marks the program's
third phase and will bring the total number of beneficiaries to nearly 290
thosuand students.

Officials say the rollout was moved forward from September 1st so students
can receive milk from the first day of the new school year.

Junior high students enrolled in Taipei schools will be able to redeem their
weekly milk using their existing digital student ID cards without needing to
apply for a new card.

Taipei residents attending junior high schools outside the city can apply
separately if they are not already covered by a similar program elsewhere.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-08-03 16:21:49

In...

Iran says a deal with Oman on a new shipping route through the Strait of
Hormuz is in its "final stages," as US President Donald Trump announces fresh
talks with Tehran are set to begin today.

Trump called off what he described as the largest planned military operation
since the Second World War, saying he did so partly at the urging of Gulf
allies including Saudi Arabia.

Iranian state media, however, has denied that Tehran requested the strikes be
halted, and has mocked the US president's announcement.

Cosro Isfahani is Director of the National Union for Democracy in Iran, and
is sceptical that any agreement with the Islamic Republic will hold.

That's Cosro Isfahani is Director of the National Union for Democracy in Iran.

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:13

The number of people with brokerage accounts in Taiwan rose by nearly
120-thousand in July, to a record 14.6 million, despite sharp swings in the
local stock market.

Investors aged 19 and under accounted for the biggest increase, followed by
those aged 20 to 30.

Together, the two groups made up 64-percent of the monthly increase.

However, people aged 61 and older remained the largest group of investors
overall - accounting for about 30 percent.

The rise in participation came despite a turbulent month for Taiwan shares ...

... with the benchmark Tai-ex posting several swings of more than
one-thousand points before ending July down more than three-thousand points.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:16

The Labor Fund earned $77 billion NT in June alone, bringing its total
investment income for the first half of the year to $2.2 trillion, with a
return rate of 28-percent.

The Bureau of Labor Funds reports that the combined assets of the Labor Fund
stood at $8.9 trillion at the end of June.

The Bureau says market sentiment improved last month after tensions in the
Middle East eased, sending oil prices lower.

It says robust exports and solid fundamentals in the technology sector also
helped support the broader market.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:16

Doctors are trying to save a man who was found without vital signs in
Pingtung this morning after a drowning accident.

Authorities say the 20-year-old man was swimming at the Niu-jiao-wan-xi
(牛角灣溪) Waterfall when he apparently drowned.

Rescuers arrived about 30 minutes after receiving the report, but were unable
to save him.

The young man is reportedly a student from Kaohsiung who was swimming with
two friends at the waterfall in Majia township.

The incident is currently under investigation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:17

Turning to world news...

In Greece, water-dropping planes and helicopters have taken off at first
light to help hundreds of firefighters battling a major wildfire west of
Athens.

This comes a day after a midair collision between two firefighting
helicopters killed two crew members.

The collision laid bare the danger at the most volatile front of Europe’s
wildfire emergency.

Flames have forced fresh evacuations overnight.

The Athens region remains at high risk due to increasing temperatures.

AP's correspondent Karen Chammas reports more.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:17

In related news,

In the U.S. authorities say wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the
evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area.

At least 600 homes, businesses, and other structures were destroyed.

The fires, in challenging terrain with high winds, have burned more than
about 21 square kilometers around Spokane, the second largest city in
Washington.

No deaths have yet been reported from the fires in the Spokane area.

Officials said Sunday that 1,000 square kilometers have burned across the
state.

The wildfires have been among dozens across the Western U.S.

In western Idaho and eastern Oregon, crews were in their 10th day of fighting
a fire that has burned about 1,360 square kilometers.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 15:08:17

In eastern Congo, some pregnant women are avoiding hospitals over fears of a
rapidly growing Ebola outbreak, and more of them are dying around childbirth.

Congo's already high maternal mortality rates are rising.

One expectant mother says she stopped prenatal checkups because she
mistakenly feared being put in isolation for having a fever, a common
misperception.

Some also fear being caught up in violence.

Ebola treatment centers have been attacked by residents fueled by
misinformation or anger over strict outbreak measures.

The United Nations says women's deaths around childbirth doubled to an
average of about six weekly in the weeks after the outbreak was declared.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 13:09:13

Responding to reports that Yuan-chun Oil failed to explain where its raw
materials were from, the company said today it has submitted all purchase
records to authorities.

Local news reported yesterday that 8 batches of Yuan-chun's cold-pressed
Camellia Seed oil was found to contain an excessive level of carcinogen BaP.

It's sold in four brands, including Yung-Fong-Yu Biotech.

Authorities have ordered the factory to suspend operations after it failed to
provide documentation on the source of its raw materials.

The Health Ministry also said its preliminary investigation suggests the
company may have used camellia seeds imported from China.

Yuan-chun said today that the camellia seeds used to produce oil for a
subsidiary of Dr. Jiang(江)'s company were purchased directly from local
farmers, and the raw materials used to produce Y-F-Y Biotech's camellia oil
was from Wei-jia (威加) International.

Yuan-chun said its role was limited to processing the oil and delivering it
in bulk, while bottling, labeling and packaging were all handled by Wei-jia.

It has also halted production, processing and sales of the oils immediately,
and has begun a comprehensive review of its manufacturing process.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-08-03 13:09:13

The Taipei City Government is urging eligible landowners to submit bids to
sell their private land back to the city before the upcoming autumn deadline.

The city’s public works department says applications for this year’s public
land purchase program will close on September 18th at 4:00 pm.

Eligible properties include land designated for roads, parks, green spaces,
playgrounds, and drainage systems.

To qualify, the land must be located in Taipei, have no buildings or
structures on it, and be free of any third-party rights or mortgages.

Landowners can find detailed bidding information on the Taipei City New
Construction Office webiste, or by calling the city's hotlines.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-08-03 13:09:13

Disarmament Deal

In international news,

Israel has shared what it calls serious security concerns with the U.S. about
a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas.

An Israeli official said on Sunday that Israel believes Hamas is focused on
rebuilding its military rather than demilitarizing.

He claimed the Israeli military will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas
disarms.

This comes days after Hamas announced plans to disarm as part of a
U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to strike Gaza, claiming to be
targeting Hamas...

although Israeli strikes yesterday killed at least 17 people, including
children.

Israel appears unlikely to pull back significant forces or make other
concessions ahead of its October elections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tough reelection battle, with his
far-right coalition partners urging him to keep up the pressure on Hamas and
leave forces in Gaza.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 13:09:13

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has confirmed his candidacy for
what is likely his last reelection bid.

The 80-year-old leader says he wants to boost Brazil's defense industry and
protect its rare minerals.

His campaign is also calling for tax reforms and debt forgiveness.

Lula's rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, has open support from members of U.S.
President Donald Trump's administration, Argentina's President Javier Milei
and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was an ally of Trump but is now
serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 13:09:13

Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast, is struggling after
thousands of migrants entered the territory last week.

Over the weekend, most of the 60,000 migrants who entered the Spanish exclave
returned to Morocco.

Spanish authorities said at least 72 migrants died, including some who
drowned and others who were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater
barrier.

The surge has reignited Europe's immigration debate.

Far-right politicians and well-known right-wing influencers have called for
remaining migrants to be expelled, sparking protests and counterprotests.

Ceuta, known for its cultural diversity, is feeling the strain.

Some locals worry about loyalty and blame authorities for the situation.

Pope Leo XIV expressed concern, emphasizing the need for peace, stability,
and justice.

(KK)

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The U-S government says China move to send coast guard vessels to waters east
of Taiwan "deeply destabilizing" and is calling on Beijing to end its
pressure campaign against Taiwan.

This, after a China Coast Guard formation was spotted off eastern Taiwan last
Friday.

A spokesperson for the China Coast Guard says the same task force has
strengthened control over the relevant waters to "safeguard the legitimate
rights and interests, as well as the lives and property, of fishermen on both
sides of the Taiwan Strait."

A U-S State Department spokesperson however says China is exacerbating
tensions and undermining the peaceful resolution of issues it claims to seek,
by asserting authority over maritime areas that Taiwan has peacefully
administered for over 70 years.

The spokesperson also says Washington is urging Beijing to cease its pressure
against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's
democratically elected authorities.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterating sovereignty claim over
islands in the South China Sea.

MOFA also stressing that any disputes in the area "should be resolved
peacefully in accordance with international law and the law of the sea."

And the ministry is also insisting that "Taiwan should be included in
multilateral dispute settlement mechanisms."

The Foreign Ministry's comments come after the Philippines deposited its
official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal with the United Nations last
week to reinforce its claim over the atoll, which lies roughly 220-kilometers
from the west coast of central Luzon Island.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement saying
"the deposit was made pursuant to Article 16 of the 1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea."

The Philippine claim also is also backed by a 2016 ruling by the
International Court of Justice which favors the Philippines.

The court also further determined that major elements of China’s
claim—including its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities, and
other activities in Philippine waters—were unlawful.

Scarborough Shoal is claimed by Taiwan, China and the Philippines.

China's Foreign Ministry said last week it will not accept the Philippines'
establishment of baselines around Scarborough Shoal, calling the move
"illegal and invalid."

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The annual Han Kuang exercises begin on Wednesday and will run through August
14.

Defense officials say the 10 day and nine night drill will test the armed
forces' ability to sustain 24-hour defense operations.

The exercises will also focus on testing dispersed command-and-control
operations, as well as updated Rules of Engagement designed to counter
China's intensifying gray-zone tactics.

This year's Han Kuang live-fire exercises include several key US-style
rehearsal methods aimed at improving coordination and combat readiness,
including confirmation briefs.

Two brigade-level units - one in the north and another in the south - will be
mobilized to test the military's ability to complete reserve call-ups and
conduct pre-combat preparations.

As many as 5,000 reservists are expected to participate.

Blockage drills will be staged at the newly opened Danjiang Bridge in New
Taipei at the mouth of the Tamsui River.

Newly deployed M1A2T Abrams main battle tanks and the newly inaugurated
Littoral Combat Command will also participate in the Han Kuang exercises for
the first time this year.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly set
to begin mass production of its Ching Tien cruise missile next year.

Reports have said production is slated to be included in the Ministry of
National Defense’s regular budget for fiscal year 2027.

The solid-fuel rocket missile can reportedly travel three to five times the
speed of sound and a has a range of about 1,200-kilometers.

When operational, it will be deployed on ground-based launch vehicles.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The Ministry of Education says Taiwan is now an increasingly popular
destination for Vietnamese students seeking higher education, with enrollment
surpassing 50,000 for the first time last year.

Data shows nearly 53 thousand Vietnamese students were enrolled in Taiwan
colleges and universities in 2025... that number up by more than 13,000.

The education ministry says Vietnam has remained Taiwan's largest source of
overseas students for several years now, accounting for about 30-per cent of
the total.

The secretary-general of Vietnam's Taiwan Affairs Committee is attributing
the increase to Taiwan's high-quality education, advanced technology sector
and relatively affordable tuition and living costs.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam awarded Ministry of
Education scholarships to 48 Vietnamese students on July 31 to encourage them
to pursue higher education in Taiwan.

Vietnam's Taiwan Affairs Committee was established in 1997 and coordinates
Taiwan-related affairs across government agencies and promotes economic and
trade cooperation with Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

Several dozen people staged protests outside the Bank of China's Taipei
branch at the weekend.

The rally marked one month since Tibetan activist set himself on fire outside
United Nations headquarters in New York to protest Chinese rule.

The protest in Taipai was a part of a Global Day of Action called for by
Lobga Rangzen's family.

Participants, included Tibetans living in Taiwan and Taiwan supporters - who
staged a "die-in" outside the branch, lying on the ground draped in Tibetan
flags before rising one by one.

The protest was organized by Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan.

The network says it chose the site for the protest because China has no
embassy in Taiwan and the bank is directly controlled by the Chinese
government, making it the closest available symbol of the Chinese state.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Dolphin could bring heavy
rain to northern parts of the island later in the week, if it tracks closer
to the island after passing the Japan's Ryukyu Islands.

According to the administration's forecast center, the storm is expected to
move toward the Ryukyu Islands through from Thursday, but its path could
diverge after that.

The storm could either pass north of Taiwan, or veer toward the Korean
Peninsula if the Pacific high pressure system currently located over the East
China Sea and Taiwan weakens.

The weather administration continues to say its too early to determine
whether Taiwan will issue a sea warning for the storm.

Typhoon Dolphin is currently located some 6,000-kilometers east of Taiwan and
is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 21-kilomters-an-hour.

The storm has a radius of 320-kilomters and is packing sustained wind speeds
of 162-kilomters-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilomters-an-hour.

Typhoon Dolphin's outer rim could begin affecting Taiwan on Friday and
localized heavy rain is forecast for the north on Saturday and Sunday.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

And,

Marathon swimmer Hsu Wen-erh has became the first Taiwanese to complete a
solo swim across the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

She's also become only the 83rd woman to complete a solo swim.

The 32-year-old set off from Northern Ireland and completed the
34.5-kilometer crossing in 12 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.

Hsu first attempted the North Channel crossing in September 2025 but was
forced to postpone the effort after unfavorable sea conditions persisted for
two weeks.

She has pursued the Oceans Seven challenge since completing her first major
channel swim across the Strait of Gibraltar in October 2023.

After crossing the English Channel and Catalina Channel, and completing the
Swim Around Manhattan in 2024, she became Taiwan's first swimmer to earn the
Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

She said she plans to attempt the Cook Strait in December and also hopes to
lead a team of Taiwan swimmers in an English Channel relay next year.

Posted on 2026-08-03 06:56:13

An Indonesian ferry carrying 271 people has caught fire in waters off Madura
island, killing at least five people and leaving 41 others unaccounted for.

The Mutiara Sentosa 2 was en route from Surabaya to Makassar when the blaze
broke out early in the morning.

Rescue teams, naval vessels and nearby ships rushed to assist as passengers
gathered on deck or jumped into the sea to escape flames and thick smoke.
By Sunday afternoon, 225 passengers and crew had been rescued and five bodies
recovered.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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