Taiwan's main political parties are having difficulty achieving their ideal
of coming together -- even it if it's just for National Day.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu focused his National Day address on a message
urging President Lai Ching-te to resolve cross-party conflict.

KMT and TPP party members rallied around the message, saying that the
president has a responsibility to resolve the deadlock between the DPP and
the opposition parties.

But DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) says Han's speech exacerbated the
conflict by pointing fingers.

Chuang notes that Han had called on all parties to avoid adding fuel to the
fire and immediately used terms like "fake democracy, real dictatorship"
(假民主、真獨裁).

To put Han's words into context, he said "Taiwan cannot be seen as a fake
democracy, a real dictatorship."

TPP caucus whip Hung Yu-hsiang (洪毓祥) said he appreciated the sentiment,
noting that a truly confident democracy doesn't fear parliamentary oversight.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has announced that as of
11am today, 11 accidents had occurred on National Highways since midnight.

The ministry's Freeway Bureau says traffic was generally moving smoothly
around noon ... though not necessarily quickly ... with northbound traffic
traveling around 40kph northbound on National Highway 1 from Xiluo to Puyan
System Interchange.

The bureau is highlighting 12 sections of national highways that it expects
to be congested this afternoon. For example, the northbound section of
National Highway 5 is likely to be congested from now to midnight between
Yilan and Pinglin.

The Freeway Bureau says traffic volume on the nation's highways is within
expectations for a holiday, with 107 million vehicle-kilometers anticipated
for the full day.

CNA_zh_JvW

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government has announced new
measures to lower fuel prices.

This comes ahead of the presidential election's second round.

Fuel costs are a sensitive issue for voters, who'll decide on October 25
between Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula.

A new decree eliminates federal taxes on gasoline imports and sales for 30
days.

Ethanol tax exemptions and subsidies are also extended and the government
will provide additional subsidies to diesel importers.

AP_JvW

National Day celebrations held in front of the Presidential Office have
wrapped up.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and President Lai Ching-te both emphasized the
need for peace across the Taiwan Strait in speeches to mark the 115th
anniversary of the Republic of China.

Han praised Taiwanese citizens for their hard work and ingenuity in making
Taiwan a semiconductor powerhouse, but he also highlighted the need for
politicians to overcome deep divisions and to work together more closely to
ensure the country continues to thrive.

In a wide-ranging speech themed "A City on the Hill," Lai addressed said that
while he values peace, it is equally important to continue to strengthen
national defense.

JvW

The PLA was relatively active in the Taiwan Strait in the 24 hours before 6
am this national day.

The Ministry of National Defense says that it detected 21 sorties of Chinese
military aircraft, 13 of which crossed the strait's median line.

It also detected seven Chinese warships and two government vessels.

CNA_zh_JvW

video

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) has apologized for including footage of a
baseball player in a music video that unveiled his campaign theme song
yesterday.

DPP lawmaker Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) questioned whether the footage of Chang
Yu-cheng playing in an international game had been authorized.

Chiang today said the footage has been adjusted to remove the baseball
player, adding that Chang's presence in the video didn't necessarily reflect
his or any player's political stance.

CNA_zh_JvW

China and the European Union have reached a broad initial agreement to ease
trade tensions.

The EU trade commissioner has announced that the deal includes lower tariffs
for some European goods and measures to stabilize rare-earth supply chains.

The agreement could cut up to 50% of Chinese electric and plug-in hybrid
vehicle imports to the EU.

The talks were aimed at addressing growing trade imbalances, and the deal
would require approval from leaders across the 27-nation EU.

Both sides plan to meet again in January by video and in person in March.

The EU has been limiting imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles and other
products, while China has launched investigations into imports from the EU.

AP_JvW

At least 36 people have sustained minor injuries after parts of a plaster
ceiling collapsed at a shopping mall in South Korea's Daegu city.

The Daegu Fire Department says about 70 others were evacuated from the
facility.

Officials say at least nine people were receiving treatment at hospitals, but
they didn't immediately report any serious injuries.

AP_JvW

Angel Reese scored 22 points and Rhyne Howard added 21 as the Atlanta Dream
beat the New York Liberty 85-83 to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first
time since 2013.

The fourth-seeded Dream completed a three-game sweep of the Liberty.

Meanwhile, Kayla Thornton scored 18 points and the second-year Golden State
Valkyries became the expansion team to reach the WNBA Finals the quickest,
sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime.

A'ja Wilson scored 21 points in a disappointing night for the WNBA MVP.

The two teams will face each other next Friday at Chase Center in San
Francisco.

AP_JvW

President Lai Ching-te has used his National Day address to call for peace
across the Taiwan Strait, while defending increased military spending and
outlining measures to improve living standards.

The speech comes as Taiwan celebrates the Republic of China's 115th National
Day, with foreign dignitaries, cultural performances, and military displays.

The following is the full English translation of his speech provided by the
Presidential Office, titled "Taiwan's Future: A City upon a Hill, the Salt
and Light of the World."

National Day Celebration Chairperson Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Vice President Bi-khim
Hsiao, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom
of Eswatini, Inkhosikati Make Zuma, Japan-Taiwan Diet Members' Consultative
Council Chairman Furuya Keiji, heads of delegations from diplomatic allies
and friendly nations, members of the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in
Taiwan, distinguished guests from home and abroad, and my fellow citizens
here in person and watching on TV or online: Good morning.

Today, we are gathered here in front of the Presidential Office Building to
celebrate the National Day of the Republic of China, to praise Taiwan, and to
wish our nation a happy birthday and continued prosperity. At this moment,
here in Taiwan and in different corners of the world, no matter the
generation to which you belong, and no matter your profession or political
stance, we are all rooted in the same Taiwan. And we share a responsibility,
which is to make our country safer, our society more stable, our lives
better, and to give the next generation hope for the future. This year marks
the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election.

Thirty years ago, our citizens went to the polls, showing their courage in
the face of missile threats, to fulfill their century-long dream of becoming
the masters of their own destinies. With the ballots they cast, they told the
world: This nation belongs to its people, and the future of Taiwan will be
decided by the people of Taiwan. Over those 30 years, we transformed into a
democracy, we saw the peaceful transition of power between political parties,
and we endured many challenges. Today, we know with even more certainty that
freedom and democracy do not run counter to economic development. As Taiwan
more tightly embraces democracy and engages more closely with the world, it
is more able to create prosperity and more capable of contributing to the
world.

The last year has not been a quiet one for the world. War and authoritarian
expansion continue to spread. The global economy underwent a host of
challenges, such as tariffs, energy issues, and red supply chains. But Taiwan
did not back down; despite the changing circumstances, it stood firm, with a
resilience we can be proud of. Just look at the recent accomplishments of our
athletes at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. In soft tennis mixed doubles, Yu
Kai-wen (余凱文) and Huang Shih-yuan (黃詩媛) fought for every point to clinch
Taiwan's first gold of the games. Swimmer Wang Kuan-hung (王冠閎) powered
through the water to realize our 28-year-long hope for gold.

Fu Chao-hsuan (傅兆玄) leapt through the pouring rain to win the gold in high
jump, Taiwan's first Asian Games men's track and field gold in 60 years.
Neither did Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) disappoint, taking home gold for the second
consecutive Asian Games. Taiwan dominated the top two spots in women's tennis
doubles, with Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and Liang En-shuo (梁恩碩) taking gold and Chan
Hao-ching (詹皓晴) and Wu Fang-hsien (吳芳嫺) taking silver. I want to thank all
our athletes for showing the world Taiwan's resilience and pride.

I would also like to thank the people of Taiwan, in all sectors and
professions, for our impressive economic performance. Our most up-to-date
economic growth rate for just the first half of the year is 14.15 percent,
and we could see a rate exceeding 11 percent for the year as a whole, which
would be a 39-year high. Our per capita GDP is projected to reach US$45,332
this year, almost double that of 2016.

The TAIEX rose over the historic 49,000-point mark, making Taiwan's stock
market the world's fourth biggest in terms of market capitalization. Taiwan
is also going farther, step by step, with our diplomacy. I made a state visit
to the Kingdom of Eswatini earlier this year. I would like to thank His
Majesty King Mswati III for the thoughtful reception, and Her Majesty the
Queen Mother and all the people of Eswatini for the warm welcome. Together,
we witnessed our countries' bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy,
agriculture, healthcare, women's empowerment, and education and culture.

Also this year, Vice President Hsiao visited the Republic of Palau to deepen
our bilateral cooperation in such areas as healthcare, agriculture and
fisheries, infrastructure, and sustainable tourism. And just last month, she
was invited to speak at the European Conference of Ventotene for Freedom and
Democracy in Italy, allowing Taiwan's voice to be heard by the world from a
place that is an important symbol of freedom and democracy in Europe.

In this year's World Competitiveness Ranking compiled by the Swiss-based
Institute for Management Development, Taiwan placed highly in its four major
factors of economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency,
and infrastructure, and it climbed up to fourth globally, our best
performance to date. These achievements, without a doubt, are owed to the 23
million people of Taiwan. They are the result of every ounce of strength
given by the government and countless citizens, across all fields, working
hand in hand. Let us have another warm round of applause in celebration of
your accomplishments.

In this era marked by war, authoritarian expansion, and a rapidly shifting
global order, what kind of nation should Taiwan strive to be? My answer is
this: We must become a "city upon a hill," built with courage and confidence.
This is not to sing our own praises, but rather to declare our aspirations
for the nation's future. It is also a responsibility Taiwan stands ready to
shoulder. My fellow citizens, this city upon a hill is built atop a chain of
guardian mountains. It is the splendid outcome of democratic governance which
grants us a solid basis for peace of mind.

A city upon a hill, therefore, should have more than just a dazzling skyline;
it must stand on a firm foundation. The well-being of our people is the very
foundation of Taiwan. National progress lies not merely in output value and
exports, but in increasing benefits and pay for our workers, alleviating the
burden on families, providing care for the older generation, and giving our
youth the confidence that their hard work will pave the way to a brighter
future. We are therefore taking a pragmatic approach to governance, promoting
higher salaries, lower taxes, increased benefits, and reduced burdens so that
each and every individual in this nation can stand steady and live well.

To address the declining birthrate, we are building upon our national
childcare policy for ages 0-6, and have proposed a new population strategy
for Taiwan in the area of family support. This includes increased subsidies,
lighter loads, greater flexibility, and expanded care from the stages of
childbirth and childrearing to education, making support for families even
more comprehensive. Starting next year, we are on track to launch NT$5,000
monthly allowances for every child, from birth until age 18.

By combining this with maternity benefits and subsidies for assisted
reproduction, affordable childcare, family-friendly workplaces, and social
housing for newlyweds and families of young children, we will ensure that our
young people will no longer be forced to choose between work and family.
Families should not have to raise children all on their own. To support a
family is to safeguard Taiwan's future. As we are now a super-aged society,
we are advancing the Healthy Taiwan initiative, which ranges from cancer
screenings, smart healthcare, and in-home care to improving working
conditions for healthcare professionals and increasing the nursing workforce.
This way, our people will live not only longer, but healthier.

Our Long-term Care 3.0 plan, which launched this year, further integrates
healthcare with social welfare, the community, and technology. This allows
older adults to receive care in a familiar setting, and gives the "sandwich
generation," who must look after both older and younger family members,
greater support and less hardship.

To ease housing pressure, we will continue implementing our program to
support 1 million renter households, and will expand supply through a variety
of methods, including government construction of social housing, subleasing
and management programs, rental subsidy programs, as well as housing units
allocated to the government through urban renewal and floor area ratio
incentives.

We are also increasing the proportion of social housing for newlyweds and
families with young children, implementing our Preferential Housing Loans for
the Youth 3.0 program, and raising the maximum loan amounts for these
families. Stable homes are not only necessary for us to thrive in our
careers; they are also what young people need to take the leap in starting
families and pursuing their dreams.

To address labor and talent shortages, we have also rolled out the
Cross-border Workforce Enhancement Program. We firmly maintain that local
workers are our primary workforce, while the cross-border workforce serves in
a supplementary capacity. We will increase local employee wages in tandem
with migrant worker quotas, allow for greater retention of experienced
migrant workers seeking re-designation as skilled foreign workers, and
promote direct government-to-government recruitment.

We have also amended the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign
Professionals, expanding opportunities for international talent and foreign
students to come to and stay in Taiwan. This will address corporate staffing
shortages while enhancing employee benefits and pay, ensuring that talent is
not just willing to come, but willing to stay. Social safety is likewise part
of the unshakeable foundation of this city upon a hill.

To combat fraud, we have made the Executive Yuan's anti-fraud command center
a permanent task force. By integrating efforts from the areas of domestic
affairs, justice, digital affairs, and financial supervision, and by
connecting prosecutors, financial institutions, and digital platform
operators, we are severing the chain of crime at all segments, from
advertising and communication to accounts and cash flows. To fight drugs and
counter drug-impaired driving, the government continues to advance the New
Generation Anti-drug Strategy Guidelines and strengthen drug enforcement,
screening, rehabilitation, and education.

We are tracing drugs upstream to their sources and using rapid saliva drug
tests to step up roadside checks and stop dangerous drivers on the spot. The
government will do everything in its power to protect our people's
hard-earned property and every precious life in every family. The government
is also actively pushing for legal amendments. First-time drug-impaired
driving offenders will face fines of up to NT$150,000, and those who refuse
roadside testing will be fined NT$270,000. There will be no cap on fines for
repeat offenders; their driver's licenses will be revoked and their vehicles
forfeited. Passengers riding with drug-impaired drivers will also be liable
to fines.

The government will strictly enforce the law and show zero tolerance. In
addressing energy and climate challenges, our goals are a stable power
supply, energy security, and the transition to net zero. We are advancing
diverse green energy sources, energy storage, energy conservation, and grid
resilience. We will also pragmatically evaluate all energy options by drawing
on scientific evidence, following due process of law, and applying safety
standards. Energy policy cannot be built on slogans; it must be built on
considerations of safety, expertise, and responsibility. We will not rule out
options solely for ideological reasons, nor will we compromise the
sustainability of future generations for short-term gains.

To just what height this city upon a hill reaches, is not something that a
government itself can proclaim. It is decided by the lives of the people; it
is built up, inch by inch. We will show the world that democracy concerns not
just freedom of choice; it generates the capacity to solve problems and care
for people. My fellow citizens, this city upon a hill must be ironclad. And
our people must be united as one, to be a key force in safeguarding peace and
stability in the Indo-Pacific. Salt, as humble as it is, is able to bring out
flavors in all foods and preserve them against decay.

Like salt, Taiwan may be small, but we stand guard over freedom, democracy,
human rights, and the rule of law, preserving these cherished universal
values against authoritarian erosion. We do not seek hegemony, nor do we seek
to dominate others.

We know all too well the cost of conflict, and so we have chosen as our
mission the steadfast pursuit of peace, and to be a stabilizing force the
international community can trust. However, peace cannot rely solely on
wishes, and tolerance cannot become a pretext for aggressors to encroach ever
further. China continues to apply pressure through military and gray-zone
activities in an attempt to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's resolve is not only a matter of our own survival in the face of such
authoritarian expansion; it is about whether the international community
still believes that force cannot override rules, and that the powerful cannot
strip a people of their right to determine their own future.

That is why we are continuing to reform our national defense, strengthen our
asymmetric capabilities, and develop our indigenous defense industries,
transforming our strengths in semiconductors, information and communications
technology, and precision manufacturing into the power to protect our nation.
Through whole-of-society defense resilience preparations, we are also pooling
the capacities of the central government, local governments, and civil
society to strengthen the continuity of our energy, communications,
transportation, finance, food, and healthcare systems. That way, in a crisis,
society can keep functioning stably and our people will know how to protect
themselves and help one another.

I would like to thank all our military officers and enlisted personnel,
reservists, police officers, firefighters, medical personnel, civil defense
forces, and every citizen who has been involved in exercises. With each
effort you take in earnest to prepare, you add a further line of defense for
Taiwan's peace. Our aim by increasing investment in national defense is not
to provoke; rather, it is to deter war. And we are strengthening our
self-defense not to abandon dialogue, but to ensure that dialogue can take
place on the basis of parity and dignity.

We welcome the United States and China managing their competition through
dialogue and reducing the risk of conflict and war. But we must also point
out that maintaining regional security, peace, and stability requires a
correct understanding of how history has unfolded. There must be no tolerance
for distorting the history of World War II. There must be respect for the
right of the people of Taiwan to exist. And above all, democracies in the
Indo-Pacific must join forces to ensure the status quo of peace and stability
in the region is not changed.

Taiwan cherishes peace, but we will not give up our freedom. We are open to
exchanges, but will not accept subordination. Taiwan is showing its
determination to prevent authoritarianism from eroding democracy and fear
from supplanting freedom. Through resolute and responsible actions, we are
safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and
the Indo-Pacific.

My fellow citizens, the gates of this city upon a hill must be wide open to
the world, so that the world's light may shine in. The light from within this
city - innovation, equality, and compassion - will bring hope to the world.
Light not only illuminates ourselves, but helps others see the way forward.
Taiwan's light comes from the wisdom and diligence of our people; from the
innovations of our industries; from our choice to share our successes with
the world.

From traditional industries to advanced chips, Taiwan's might has proven that
an island limited in resources can become an indispensable force for global
prosperity. However, our achievements will not stop here. As we speak, the
Executive Yuan is accelerating the development of 13 core strategic
industries, which include the Five Trusted Industry Sectors of
semiconductors, AI, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation
communications; as well as the three core technological areas of our 10 new
AI infrastructure initiatives, namely silicon photonics, quantum computing,
and robotics. Last but not least are the key areas of critical minerals,
biotechnology and healthcare, building Taiwan into an Asian asset management
hub, public infrastructure and urban renewal, the cultural and creative
industries, and growing tourism into a trillion-NT-dollar industry.

This will ensure that Taiwan maintains its competitive edge through the next
generation. And through the Micro-, Small-, and Medium-sized Enterprise
Diversified Revitalization and Development Plan, with its
hundred-billion-NT-dollar scale, we will provide support for financing,
talent training, digital transformation, net-zero upgrading, and access to
international distribution channels. While the tech industry continues to
advance, it must lead traditional industries with it. And as leading
enterprises expand their global presence, they must also help supply chains
take root in Taiwan.

We cannot rely on just one guardian mountain; we must ensure that all sectors
join together to form a chain of guardian mountains. The economy must also
shine a light on people's lives. We are raising the minimum wage for 11
consecutive years, increasing the salaries of military personnel, civil
servants, and educators five times in 10 years, and have taken steps this
year to expand professional and supervisory allowances.

Through wage incentives and social support, we are translating economic
growth into better compensation and lighter burdens. On the foundation of
fiscal stability, we are planning a universal cash payment of NT$10,000 per
person, a welfare allowance for elderly farmers of NT$10,000 per person per
month, and National Pension annuities of NT$5,000 per person per month. We
are also comprehensively increasing the six major social welfare allowances
for disadvantaged families so that all citizens can share in the fruits of
our economic growth.

Taiwan's light stems not just from our tech industry, but even more from how
we treat one another. Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize
same-sex marriage. We will continue to push for greater gender equality,
ensuring that no one is marginalized based on gender, ethnicity, background,
or identity, and that everyone can live with dignity, free to pursue their
own joy. Internationally, we address the needs of our partners through
cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, energy, technology, education, and
sustainable development.

Taiwan's expertise and goodwill lead to concrete actions that improve lives.
"Taiwan Can Help" is not just a slogan. It is a commitment - our willingness
to share our capabilities and shoulder responsibility. Taiwan's light will
shine across borders, giving warmth and hope to even more of those in need.
My dear fellow citizens, before long, we will be holding the nine-in-one
local elections. Electing capable and virtuous leaders while resisting
threats and enticements is our shared responsibility. Political parties may
compete, and opinions can differ, but the Taiwan we are so firmly rooted in
should not be divided as a result.

This city upon a hill shines not because our people never disagree, but
because even when we do, we still respect one another, believe in our
democratic system, and stand ready to safeguard our nation together. A
president's power comes from the people's trust; a president's responsibility
is to unite our strengths and lead the country forward. I will govern
pragmatically to help build this city upon a hill.

With our resolute democracy and defense capabilities, we will aspire to be
the salt of the earth that preserves peace. Our innovation, equality, and
compassion will warm the world with their light. My fellow citizens, let us
unite in solidarity, and for the Taiwan of the next 30 years: Let us build an
even firmer foundation, and even stronger competitive advantages, so that the
next generation can stride steadier and journey farther.

Let's keep going, Republic of China! Let's keep going, Taiwan! Thank you.

Hurricane Isaias has made landfall on the western Florida panhandle,
threatening dangerous storm surges and damaging winds.

The National Hurricane Center says it came ashore as a Category 2 storm.

Isaias is expected to bring potentially dangerous conditions to the Florida
Panhandle and southern Alabama.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised residents to take the storm seriously.
DeSantis said flash flooding would be a hazard "throughout the region."

AP_JvW

communicating"

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is acknowlegding outlying islands' opposition to
his suggestion to move the Songshan Airport...

adding that he will continue "communicating."

Chiang has proposed relocating the airport to create an "AI park" at the
site.

But both the KMT and DPP candidates for Penghu Magistrate have come out
against the idea.

Chiang announced his plan yesterday, and this morning said that the traffic
normally handled by Songshan Airport could be taken over by the under
construction third terminal of Taoyuan airport in the meantime.

He emphasized the importance of AI to Taipei's and Taiwan's economies, but
said that he was aware of outlying islands' needs and udnerstood them.

A fire on Green Island broke out this morning, with residents worried the
fire could last at least 2 more days.

A landfill near the island's hot springs district started smoking this
morning, with half of the island able to see the smoke.

Local representatives say, firefighters were able to arrive at the scene
decently quickly, but were only able to spray water from a ways away.

County Councilor Wang Yu Li says, the cause of the fire is not yet clear, and
there are fears that the fire may continue through the rest of the weekend.

She says, they're trying to get a helicopter on site to help with
firefighting efforts.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is pledging to bring Myanmar back into
the fold following a meeting with the military leader of the country.

Min Aung Hlaing came to power due to a military coup on the
democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

He has agreed to facilitate and accelerate the repatriation of thousands of
Buremese people currently held in Malaysian immigration detention cetners.

The meeting with Anwar is part of the Myanmar leader's effort to make inroads
with other ASEAN countries and gain legitimacy for his government.

Malaysia is the fifth ASEAN member country that Min Aung Hlaing has visited
recently, in addition to China, India, Russia, and Belarus.

His two-day visit to Malaysia came a week after the country began deporting
more than 1,400 people under a program to repatriate 5,000 Myanmar nationals
in stages, amid Malaysians' growing frustration with their presence.

This is despite the U.N. Refugee Agency and human rights groups' warnings
that returnees are facing persecution and forced military conscription in
Myanmar.

Japan is warning of increased cyberattacks, encouraging government ministries
to ensure updates security protection, use storng passwords, and tighten
cybersecurity.

The government says, AI is making vulnerabilities of such systems more
complex.

The statement comes after the Lawson convenience store chain, Daiwa, and
secondhand retailer BookOff have all reported customer data leaks.

Last month, a cyberattack on a car-sharing service leaking information from
some 6.6 million member accounts.

Such attacks have topped 500 this year, marking what is likely to be a new
record for the year.

Those leaks have involved passport and driver's license data, as well as
contact and credit card information.

Foreign media is reporting on tensions within Taiwan's largest opposition
party ahead of local elections fast approaching.

The report on divisions within the KMT centers around two increasingly
evident camps, one coalescing around chair Cheng Li Wen...

and the other around outgoing Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan and the KMT
legislative caucus.

Nikkei Asia reports that infighting is undermining the KMT's electoral
prospects, as the party fails to coordinate heavyweights.

Sources say that the Cheng-centered coalition has aimed to block or downsize
defense spending proposals put forward by the Lai administration, drawing
criticism from the US and other more Taiwan-friendly governments.

Insiders say that, despite outwardly claiming to be making those cuts for the
sake of accountability, some KMT figures have privately aimed to deflect
crticism of these policies towards Zheng...

attempting to shift responsibility to the chair rather than the party as a
whole.

Foreign officials say, the strategy appears to be largely successful, as the
US seems convinced that, when someone else takes over for Zheng at some
point, the party will deliver on defense reforms.

A man has been sentenced to death for allegedly murdering and sexually
assaulting a teacher last year,

The man, surnamed Liu, allegedly broke into the victims dormitory in Hualien
and assaulted her before killing her, after the earlier rejected his romantic
advances,

Police say that Liu also stole several of the victim's personal items,
including her credit cards.

The Hualien District Court also handed Liu a separate 7 month prison sentence
for burglary.

The ruling can be appealed.

The KMT says, it will hold its flag raising ceremony in Kaohsiung tomorrow...

rather than in Taipei as in years past.

The KMT's communications offices say, Chair Zheng Li Wen will personally
attend the ceremony in Kaohsiung...

accompanied by party heavyweight Wang Jin Ping and mayoral candidate Ke Zhi
En.

Communications director Chen Yi Xin says, holding the ceremony in Kaohsiung
aims to pay tribute to the integration of diverse ethnic groups.

Analysts are raising concerns that Afghanistan risks backsliding into civil
war as two main factos have created the conditions for anti-Taliban groups to
flourish.

Nikkei Asia reports that prolonged conflict with neighboring Pakistan and the
failure of Chinese-led meditation between the two countries has fed
opposition groups like the Afghanistan Freedom Front.

The AFF was formed in 2022 to counter the Taliban after US forces abruptly
left.

Beijing has urged both sides to avoid furhter escalation, but militant
attacks have continued, with Islamabad blaming Kabul for providing support to
militant groups within Pakistan.

In just the last two weeks, Pakistan has carried out three waves of strikes
in Afghanistan targeting allegeding Pakistani Taliban hideouts.

Pakistani officials say that anti-Taliban groups are gaining the strength and
motivation to attack.

KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen's decision to skip tomorrow's National Day festivities
in Taipei have stirred enough controversy for some to turn to TPP Chair Huang
Kuo-chang for answers.

When asked this morning as to Cheng's motivation behind the decision, Huang
said he guessed that she was attempting to create more of a balance between
north and south...

pulling some media south to Kaohsiung on National Day rather than having all
the attention on the capital.

But Huang says, regardless of the location, putting the country first is the
most important thing.

Huang made the comments as he headed to New Taipei's Xizhi this morning to
promote a TPP candidate for city councilor.

losses over summer

Pingtung saw a surge of traffic this morning, prompting police to activate
lane allocation on Provincial Highway 1...

as Donggang Wharf was packed with tourists heading to Xiaoliuqiu.

That's as tourism operators hope to alleviate losses over the summer.

Local data shows that Xiaoliuqiu's hotel occupancy rate is nearly full for
today and tomorrow...

but officials say the holiday crowds were actually even greater during the
Mid Autumn/Teacher's Day long weekend.

They note that weather is a crucial factor affecting tourism to Xiaoliuqiu,
so this summer's heavy rain negatively impacted tourism to the island.

A security guard has caused a fire at the Nangang Taiwan Railways Station
after smoking in the station's smoke exhaust room.

It is believed that the guard, surnamed Zhan, failed to put out the cigarette
butt fully before throwing it away.

The fire was able to be extinguished quickly and did not cause any injuries
or damage.

Railway police arrested Zhan after receiving the report.

Now turning to internaitonal news...

A US organization in Gaza says it will use AI to flag speech it decides is
"hateful" in class conversations.

The plans have elicited strong criticism from advocacy groups and charity
partners, especially considering that the Israeli military uses AI to shift
through intercepted communications to find what it considers to be suspicious
speech...

even using such materials to identify targets for strikes.

The charity put forward the plan over concerns that teachers at its schools
may stray from the curriculum that the charity claims promotes "peace and
tolerance."

But Palestinian rights groups have been critical of the organizations
education agenda more broadly, as it does not answer to UN or local agencies
that have long been in charge of Gaza's schools.

It's not clear what kind of language would be flagged by the surveillance
tech, or whether or not school members have been informed of the plan.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) has proposed "relocating" Taipei Songshan
Airport (TSA) and building an "AI park" on the site.

Chiang said he would build an AI park, transforming the 300-hectare site into
an industrial cluster and residential area, with an estimated 65,000 jobs and
35,000 residents.

However, the mayor did not say where he planned to relocate the airport,
instead pointing to the third terminal and runway under construction at
Taoyuan International Airport, which he said would be able to replace TSA's
current capacity once the runway is completed in 2033.

Chiang's proposal drew a response from rival, DPP candidate Puma Shen, who
said the airport sat in Chiang's electoral district when he served as a
legislator from 2016 to 2022.

Shen added that when former DPP legislative candidate Enoch Wu (吳怡農) made the
same proposal in a 2023 legislative by-election, Chiang criticized it as a
"hasty election promise."

Now turning to international news...

Heavy rains have triggered mudslides in the Chilean capital, sweeping cars
through streets and flooding homes and hospitals.

At least 6 people were injured, including a one year old child.

Authorities declared a state of emergency in a suburb, ordered evacuations,
and closed schools after the Mapocho River overflowed.

Firefighters say theyve rescued or assisted more than 1000 people so far.

Presidnet Jose Antonio Kast declared a state of emergency for the suburb of
Santiago, giving the government more power to repond to emergencies.

Local officials say that 14.4 centimeters of rain have fallen in recent days,
representing around 9 times the average rainfall for the entire month of
October.

No deaths have been reported as of yet.

Rain storms earlier this week already damaged a few dozen homes across
central Chile and left nearly 12,000 customers in Santiago without power.

The downpours are expected to ease today.

South Korea says it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, stepping up its
protest of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent revelation of a
supposedly secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South
Korea.

The South Korean announcement on Thursday came days after its President Lee
Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to
apologize over the revelation.

Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer of the soldiers during his U.N. speech
last month.

South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on
their transfer, but Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal.

The Nobel Peace Prize is set to be awarded today.

The committee in charge of awarding the honor received 287 candidates, with
just over one fourth of those being organizations, rather than individuals.

Experts say, the committee typically focuseson the durability of peace, the
promotion of international relationships, and the often unrecognized work of
institutions that strenthen those goals.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado received last year's prize
for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in the country.

Forecasters say possible contenders this year include the Internatioanl Space
Station, emergency teams in Sudan, children's advocates in Ukraine, and two
top internaitonal courts.

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada has also attracted attention from
laypeople.

The US is urging China to stop putting pressure on Taiwan, following reports
of a Chinese maritime militia boat in the area in August.

A spokesperson for the US department of state said that the US remains
"concerned by China's activity east of Taiwan."

They added that the actions exacerbate tensions in the area.

The comments follow a report from Reuters, which stated that a Chinese
maritime militia boat had been spotted more than 30 nautical miles off the
coast of Hualien mid August.

The boat is thought to be a fishing vessel that doubles as a militia vessel,
and was accompanied by a Chinese coast guard cutter and a research vessel at
the time.

The Ministry of National Defense says that China is using law enforcement and
scientific research as pretext to expand its activities without triggering a
direct conflict.

The MND says, they do so in order to create the impression that it had
jurisdiction over the waters, and challenge Taiwan's maritime law enforcement
authority, undermining the international order.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Administration said that it deploys joint
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to monitor Chinese
vessels operating in waters around Taiwan, around the clock.

The CGA said all the Chinese vessels in question were operating outside
Taiwan's restricted waters and that it had monitored their movements
throughout and responded appropriately.

Taipei mayoral hopeful Puma Shen says, a suggestion to relocate the Songshan
Airport seems a bit out of the blue.

Shen says, if there were to be a robust plan in place for what the land would
be used for and a reason important enough to relocate, it could certainly be
considered.

However, he says, with the mayoral elections coming up soon, the suggestion
seems a bit sudden.

Media noted that the suggestion to move the airport has historically been
part of the platform of DPP candidates, and Shen said that issues like
national security, military use, and needs of the residents of outlying
islands remain, so any suggestion to move the airport must support these
issues.

Therefore, he said, Mayor Chiang Wan An's recent suggestion to relocate
without relevant planning seems a bit premature.

Mexican officials say, a deadly riot broke out at a prison in Sinaloa state.

The incident occurred at the El Castillo Penitentiary in Mazatlan during
family visiting hours.

Sinaloa officials say that nine inmates and one family member were killed in
the incident...

while 16 prisoners were injured and taken for medical treatment.

Local media reports indicate that inmates used guns during the fight.

Following the clash, members of the army, National Guard, navy and state
security forces entered the prison to restore order.

Mexico's federal security cabinet said the prison, which houses 1,800
inmates, is now “under control.”

The riot comes as Mexico's government faces pressure from the US Trump
administration to crack down on cartels.

Taiwan High Speed Rail has added eight all-unreserved trains tonight to help
ease congestion ahead of the National Day holiday.

That doesn't include business class seating.

The trains will run between Nangang or Taipei and Taichung, with two
additional southbound services every hour from 5 PM to 9 PM.

T-H-S-R is also offering a new late-night service that crosses midnight.

The train will leave Nangang at 10:20 tonight and arrive at Zuoying at 12:15
AM tomorrow.

Transportation officials say the new services are designed to encourage
passengers to travel during less busy hours.

THSR carried a record 348-thousand passengers on the day before the
Mid-Autumn Festival, including more than 206-thousand southbound passengers.

Officials expect demand to be slightly lower during the National Day holiday,
at around 320-thousand passengers a day.

(IG)

The Supreme Court has upheld a 17-year prison sentence for a gangster
involved in the detention and assault of a convenience store clerk who later
died by suicide.

The court rejected an appeal by Liu Chia-yu (劉佳宥), making the sentence final.

According to the ruling, Liu and several others detained and repeatedly
assaulted the clerk in a Tainan convenience store in 2023 over allegations
that he had stolen money.

The group allegedly forced him to sign a one-million-NT cashier's check and
took his gold necklace.

They later demanded 200-thousand NT dollars from his family and continued to
detain him.

The court found that one of Liu's accomplices also shot the clerk in the
waist before the man jumped from a 13th-floor balcony and died.

Two other defendants received prison terms of 12 and 14 years.

(CNA_IG)

More than 500 workers at a glass factory in Yunlin County have ended their
four-day strike after reaching an agreement with management on wage
increases.

The union at AGC Display Glass Taiwan says all employees at the Douliu plant
will receive a monthly base salary increase of 1-thousand-200 NT in both 2027
and 2028.

Management also agreed to negotiate further raises for 2029 and 2030, while
retaining existing cost-of-living allowances.

The union had demanded annual across-the-board raises of five to six percent,
saying the company had not had a regular wage adjustment system for 25 years.

The Yunlin County government helped mediate the dispute, while the company
agreed not to take disciplinary action against workers who took part.

South Korea says it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, escalating a
dispute over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during a U-N speech last
month, despite South Korea's request that it remain confidential.

South Korea says Ukraine violated a nondisclosure agreement and is demanding
an apology.

Ukraine denies agreeing to such a deal.

The move comes days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned of
unspecified punitive measures if Ukraine did not apologize.

British authorities have released a 22-year-old man on bail after his arrest
on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at a U-S-run military air base in
England.

The man, who has not been named, is the seventh person released on bail in
the investigation into the incident at R-A-F Fairford.

British authorities have linked the investigation to Iran.

The incident on September 27 prompted evacuations near the base, with armed
police and bomb disposal teams responding.

Police later found gasoline in three vans linked to the first five suspects,
but no explosives were discovered.

The government's proposed ten-thousand N.T. cash payments could begin January
twenty-sixth, if next year's budget clears the required approval process.

Deputy Finance Minister Juan Ching-hwa (阮清華) says the estimate assumes
legislative passage on January fifth and presidential promulgation on January
twentieth.

Registration would open January twenty-fifth.

ATM withdrawals would follow on February fifteenth, with post office
collection starting February twenty-second.

Juan stresses these dates are preliminary.

Delays in budget approval would push payments back.

The government plans five collection methods, including automatic bank
deposits and deposits after registration.

Meanwhile, Juan rejects opposition calls to double the payment.

He says a twenty-thousand N.T. payment would cost more than
four-hundred-seventy billion N.T., requiring borrowing and squeezing other
government spending.

The DPP has secured eight committee convener positions in the Legislative
Yuan, with the KMT taking seven and the TPP one.

The KMT yielded a judiciary committee position to TPP lawmaker Chen Chao-tzu
(陳昭姿).

She will serve alongside the DPP's Chang Ya-lin (張雅琳).

Lawmakers selected all sixteen conveners today through nominations rather
than contested votes.

Each of the legislature's eight standing committees has two conveners.

The posts carry influence because conveners set committee agendas, shaping
which bills and budgets come up for review.

The DPP holds one convener position on every committee.

The KMT holds the other position on seven committees, with the TPP taking the
remaining judiciary post.

(PB)

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen is calling for televised debates to
begin soon, ideally one each week before election day.

He says candidates should question each other directly, rather than only
answer questions prepared in advance.

Shen says repeated debates would help residents understand their plans for
the city.

TVBS says both Shen and incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an have accepted its
invitation to debate.

The date and format still need to be agreed.

Shen's campaign says he has accepted invitations from four broadcasters and
wants negotiations to start immediately.

Taiwan's local elections are scheduled for November twenty-eighth, just over
seven weeks away.

(PB)

The Trump administration has opened direct talks with Myanmar's
military-installed government.

The outreach marks a shift from efforts to isolate the generals after their
twenty-twenty-one coup.

Sources say discussions focus on shutting scam centers targeting Americans.
Access to rare-earth minerals has also been discussed.

U.S. officials met leader Min Aung Hlaing last month while seeking an
American businessman's release.

He remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses.

The State Department says it engages all sides on American interests and
urges an end to violence and the release of political prisoners.

Yemen's Houthis say they have attacked the Saudi capital's main airport with
a ballistic missile.

The Iran-aligned group announced the claimed strike on King Khalid
International Airport today.

There was no immediate Saudi confirmation.

The claim follows an earlier attack at the same airport that Saudi aviation
authorities say killed one person and wounded eight.

Authorities also reported two deaths and twenty-eight injuries in an attack
on Abha airport in southern Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for those earlier strikes.

Hurricane Isaias is forcing offshore energy shutdowns and evacuations as it
heads toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season has sustained winds of
about one-hundred-twenty kilometers an hour.

The US's National Hurricane Center expects further strengthening as it
approaches the northern Gulf Coast Friday night, local time.

Shell and Chevron have reduced offshore operations.

Federal officials say about a quarter of U.S. Gulf oil production and sixteen
percent of natural gas production were shut down Wednesday.

Workers have also been evacuated from platforms and drilling rigs.

The storm threatens an important energy-producing region, potentially adding
pressure to fuel supplies and prices.

The Ministry of Finance is outline its timeline for distributing universal
cash payments under the 2027 central budget.

The government allocated $235.7 billion NT in the 2027 central budget to
share national economic performance gains with residents.

The ministry says if lawmakers approve the budget by early January 2027,
initial bank deposits will begin Jan. 26 ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The payout covers Taiwan citizens, permanent residents, foreign spouses, and
infants born before the end of 2027.

Officials say distribution will occur via direct deposit, online sign-ups,
ATMs, and post offices, with the main deadline set for Aug. 31, 2027.

(NS)

Immigration officers stopped a Chinese man at Taoyuan International Airport
after discovering his South Korean passport had been altered.

The National Immigration Agency says he was attempting to transfer to a
flight to Vancouver on Tuesday evening.

He had arrived from Kuala Lumpur.

Officers checking passengers at a Terminal 2 boarding gate noticed suspicious
details in his itinerary and documents.

They examined the passport's security features and confirmed it had been
altered.

The agency says the man, surnamed Yu, then admitted his Chinese nationality.

He told officers he wanted to find work in Canada because jobs in Fujian were
difficult to find and his income was unstable.

The agency says it will strengthen document checks and cooperation with
airlines and overseas authorities to combat migrant smuggling.

(PB)

Taitung's Zhonghua Bridge will close Saturday evening for the National Day
fireworks display.

The Highway Bureau says the Highway 11 bridge will shut from 6:30 p.m. to 9
p.m.

Drivers will be diverted to Taitung Bridge on Highway 11B.

Traffic measures are also planned near popular attractions, including Jinlun
(金崙), Duoliang (多良) and Sanxiantai (三仙台).

These include alternative routes, adjustments to traffic lights and stronger
enforcement against illegal parking.

The bureau expects outbound travel to peak tomorrow, with return traffic
busiest Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Southern Cross-Island Highway's Meishankou (梅山口) to Xiangyang
(向陽) section will open on all three holiday dates.

Authorities encourage public transportation and checking road conditions
before departure.

(PB)

Maritime security sources say tanker attacks around the Strait of Hormuz
reached their highest weekly level since the Iran war began.

Three sources say they recorded at least 12 attacks on oil and gas tankers
between September 28 and October 5.

The U.N.'s shipping agency recorded nine incidents over that period.

Security sources say its verification process can delay official reporting.

The increase comes as Gulf producers step up oil exports.

India's Foreign Ministry says 12 crew members were injured when an
unidentified projectile struck the tanker On Peace in the strait.

In a further attack reported Wednesday, British maritime authorities said a
tanker north of Qatar was hit by multiple projectiles, causing casualties.

France has suspended the use of stun grenades during high-school protests
after a fifteen-year-old boy lost a hand.

The interior minister says the suspension will remain while authorities
investigate Monday's incident in northern France.

More than five hundred schools were closed Wednesday, with further marches
planned for today.

Students are demanding more teachers, repairs to ageing buildings and changes
to school schedules.

Rights groups and unions accuse police of excessive force.

The government says parts of the movement have turned violent.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has promised proposals by the end of October.

He says they must be practical, quick and fully funded.

The Nobel Prize in Literature winner will be announced tonight, with Japanese
novelist Haruki Murakami again attracting speculation.

The Swedish Academy's announcement is scheduled for seven p.m. Taiwan time at
the earliest.

Murakami is among the writers featured in bookmakers' predictions.

But those predictions offer no official indication of the result.

Nobel nominations remain confidential for fifty years.

A Murakami win would make him Japan's third literature laureate, following
Yasunari Kawabata and Kenzaburo Oe.

Murakami published his latest novel, "The Tale of Kaho," in July.

Other widely discussed writers include China's Can Xue, Mexico's Cristina
Rivera Garza and Australia's Gerald Murnane.

Prosecutors are seeking one and a half years behind bars for a private
investigator accused of tailing DPP lawmaker Puma Shen in 2024 at the behest
of two Hong Kongers.

PI Zheng Yong Jin was charged, along with a fellow investigator surnamed
Hsieh and two others, over the 24 hour surveillance of Shen.

Zheng, Hsieh, and the two others were indicted on charges of illegally
collecting personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act.

Prosecutors say that two Hong Kong residents paid Zheng 360,000 NT to surveil
Shen.

Zheng then allegedly subcontracted the case to Hsieh for 180,000 NT, and
Hsieh assigned two others to do the actual surveiling.

The three initially struggled to surveil Shen because of his bodyguards, so
they opted to park a scooter with a camera outside Shen's home.

In this way, they recorded Shen's, his wife's, and their daughter's movements
24/7 from October 1st 2024 to November 8th of the same year.

The footage was then passed along to the Hong Kongers, both of whom are
currently wanted by authorities.

Prosecutors have indicted a college student for allegedly accessing Taiwan
High Speed Rail's comms system and sending a false alarm that prompted
emergency stops.

Taoyuan prosecutors are seeking a 2 year prison sentence for the student,
surnamed Lin.

A second man, surnamed Chen, was indicted for helping Lin to access the
system.

Prosecutors say that Lin used a radio programmed with the system's parameters
to access the network at Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station on the evening of
April 5th.

He then transmitted a "General Alarm" signal.

The operations control system then automatically relayed the warning to
nearby trains, prompting the drivers of four trains to apply their emergency
brakes.

The incident ultaimtely led to 48 minutes of delays.

Now turning to international news...

A new report offers fresh insight into how gangs in Haiti backed by political
and economic actors operate in the country...

as Haiti prepares for its first general elections in more than 10 years.

The report was complied over the better part of a year by the UN Secretary
General.

They traveled to Haiti to meet with confidential sources whose information
they say was corroborated by independent sources.

They noted that, despite, "violent fractures" in one gang alliance, they
remain strong thanks to "politial, ecomomic, and security actors" who back
them when it serves them.

The fragmentation of that alliance, though, exposes "civilians to renewed
violence, displacement, and sexual violence" in areas that were previously
stable.

The report also points the finger at certain politicians, who the UN says arm
and support gangs as a political tool.

Sri Lanka is suffering from severe drought, leaving reservoirs dry and
farmers struggling.

Experts say the lack of rain is partly due to a strong El Nino, on top of
already exacerbated conditions from climate change.

The southwest monsoon, which is key to determining rainfall in the region,
has been particularly weak this year.

Sri Lanka receives rain from two main monsoon systems, including the
southwest monsoon, which normally supplies up to 30% of the country's yearly
rainfall.

Recent showers have brought some relief, but not enough to restore water
levels.

Farmers are facing huge losses and debts, while wildlife in reserves also
suffer from dehydration and heat stress.

A university student has been indicted for allegedly accessing Taiwan High
Speed Rail's communications system and sending a false alarm that caused four
trains to make emergency stops.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office says the student, surnamed Lin (林),
transmitted a "General Alarm" signal in April while he was on a bus near
Taichung HSR Station.

The warning was automatically sent to nearby trains, prompting three
passenger trains and one out-of-service train to apply their emergency
brakes.

The incident caused a total of 48 minutes of delays.

Prosecutors say Lin used a radio programmed with the system's settings to
access its communications network.

A second man, surnamed Chen (陳), has also been indicted for allegedly
providing the radio and system information.

Prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison sentence for Lin.

(CNA_IG)

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Taipei is calling for
improvements to Taiwan's business environment.

Its 2026 white paper, released today, identifies major challenges facing
Japanese companies such as untransparent administrative procedures ...
regulations that differ from international standards .... and shortages of
talent and electricity.

The chamber also says difficulties securing industrial land are major
obstacles to developing new facilities.

National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) says the
government has made progress over the past year ... including simplifying
electricity licensing procedures and strengthening the power grid.

He says Taiwan has also expanded tax incentives for investment in AI and
cybersecurity ... while taking steps to attract more international talent.

Yeh hopes the chamber will encourage the Japanese government to support a
bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan ... creating more investment
opportunities for Japanese companies.

(IG)

The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation is opening registration for the 2026
Station Master Mikan Run.

The event will take place on Dec. 26-th, with a brand-new scenic harbor route
starting from KW2 Plaza.

Participants will receive exclusive merchandise featuring station master cat
Mikan, and all finishers will be awarded distinctive commemorative medals.

And KRTC says a portion of the registration fees will be donated to the
Genesis Social Welfare Foundation to support local charity.

Those who finish the race can also enter a draw for prizes including high-end
smartphones and round-trip airfare.

(NS)

Polish police say a 19-year-old man has been arrested after a knife attack
injured at least seven people at a vocational school.

Emergency services rushed to Vocational School Complex Number 4 in Ostroleka,
a city north of Warsaw.

The provincial police headquarters said on X that the suspect was detained
following the attack.

Most of those injured were students, while one teacher was also among the
victims.

Two people were seriously hurt.

Henri B. Kagan of France and Kenso Soai of Japan have won the Nobel Prize in
chemistry for solving a mystery involving mirror-image molecules.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award in Stockholm on
Wednesday.

Nobel Committee for Chemistry chair Heiner Linke praised their work as
spectacular.

Kagan is 95, while Soai is known for his research into how molecules can
develop mirror-image forms.

Last year's chemistry Nobel went to scientists who developed molecular
structures capable of trapping gases.

The Nobel Prize announcements began with medicine on Monday and physics on
Tuesday.

The literature prize is due tomorrow ... followed by the peace and economics
prizes.

Mental health experts are raising concerns over a doubling in youth suicides
in Taiwan over the past decade ... specifically among those aged 15 to 24.

They also pointed to government figures which show schools reported over
20-thousand suicide and self-harm incidents involving students in 2024 ....
more than 17 times the figure recorded eight years prior.

Psychiatrists say mental health treatment should not focus only on children
... as their emotional difficulties can sometimes reflect problems affecting
the wider family.

They are calling for a two-way screening approach that includes parents and
other primary caregivers.

Psychiatrists say when parents seek treatment for depression, anxiety or
other mental health problems ... doctors should also ask about their
children's emotional well-being.

And when children seek help for depression, self-harm or suicidal thoughts
... their parents' or caregivers' mental health should also be assessed.

(IG)

Taipower has begun dismantling two coal-fired generating units at its
Taichung Power Plant after 36 years of operation.

The state-run utility says Units 1 and 2 were shut down on September 30th and
officially retired the following day ... when demolition work began.

The two units produced nearly 280 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity
during their operating life ... helping supply power to households and
industries in central Taiwan.

Taipower says the units are being retired as new natural gas-fired generators
come online ... as part of efforts to reduce coal use and support Taiwan's
energy transition.

The demolition project will take about 28 months and involves major equipment
including boilers, turbines and a 252-meter-high chimney.

Taipower expects the work to be completed in early 2029 ... with the site
eventually supporting the second phase of the plant's new natural gas-fired
power project.

(IG)

Taiwan Railway is adding three more fast local services between Taipei and
Taichung for the National Day holiday rush.

The additional trains will run tomorrow and Sunday, with the journey taking
about two hours and 10 minutes.

They are in addition to three services announced on October 3.

The company says the latest additions follow a further review of demand for
travel between the two cities.

The extra services are part of efforts to coordinate Taiwan Railway and
high-speed rail capacity during the holiday.

Train numbers and departure times are available on Taiwan Railway's website
and booking app.

The three-day National Day holiday begins Friday.

(PB)

Snoopy is coming to Taoyuan this Halloween!

Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) says this year's Halloween City event
will take place at Taoyuan Arts Plaza and two nearby parks, featuring stage
performances and a Snoopy-themed show every evening.

The festival, which runs from October 24th to November 1st, features special
art installations, children's Halloween parties and theater performances.

And on five of those days ... there will also be Snoopy meet-and-greet events.

Last year's Halloween City event attracted more than one million visits.

(IG)

Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) denies wasting public funds or improperly benefiting her
family during her time as Overseas Community Affairs Council minister.

Premier Cho Jung-tai accepted her resignation earlier today.

Hsu acknowledges asking family and friends to help when the council was
short-staffed.

But she says she never used her authority to create jobs for relatives or
spent public money on their behalf.

The TPP alleges her husband used an official vehicle overseas and her son was
passed off as an event photographer.

The Foreign Ministry is still checking those allegations.

Hsu has requested administrative and judicial investigations.

She says resigning was her own decision and that she began handing over
National Day arrangements yesterday.

(PB)

Taipei prosecutors have indicted four people over alleged round-the-clock
surveillance of DPP Legislator and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen and his
family.

Prosecutors say private investigator Cheng Yung-chin (鄭永津) received
360-thousand N.T. from two Hong Kong clients to arrange the surveillance.

He allegedly subcontracted the work to another investigation company.

Prosecutors say a miniature camera hidden beneath a scooter seat recorded the
entrance to Shen's home.

It allegedly monitored Shen, his wife and daughter from October 1st to
November 8th, 2024.

The footage was sent through Telegram and forwarded to one of the clients.

The four face charges of illegally collecting and using personal data.

Prosecutors are seeking an 18-month prison sentence for Cheng.

Both Hong Kong clients have fled abroad and are wanted.

(PB)

Taiwanese Mastercard holders spent more on dining, entertainment and local
activities in Japan and South Korea last year.

The company's analysis shows spending on these experiences rose 39 percent in
Japan and 44 percent in South Korea compared with 2024.

Both increases outpaced growth in shopping.

The study also points to spending spreading beyond the main destinations.

Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo recorded faster overall spending growth than
Tokyo.

In South Korea, Seoul remained the biggest destination for spending, but its
share edged down.

Experience-related spending more than doubled in Jeju and rose 73 percent in
Busan.

Mastercard says the findings suggest travelers increasingly plan trips around
experiences.

The analysis covers in-person Mastercard transactions in 2024 and 2025.

(PB)

Yemen's Transport Ministry says a Houthi missile and drone attack on Aden
International Airport forced an incoming passenger flight to divert today.

The ministry says a missile landed near the runway minutes before the flight
from Cairo was due to arrive.

The aircraft was redirected to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while two planes on the
ground were moved away.

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a Houthi ballistic
missile north of Riyadh.

The Houthis also claim they targeted Riyadh's international airport with
drones, but Saudi authorities have not confirmed that attack.

The strikes come as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launch a
counteroffensive against Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast.

In Japan, the governor of Okinawa has demanded that the central government do
more to ensure discipline among U.S. troops on the southern island following
the arrest of a U.S. Marine accused of robbing and murdering a local woman.

The Marine arrested has denied the allegations, according to Japanese media.

The governor met with the defense minister today to express outrage over the
killing and ask for further efforts to reduce the burden of hosting U.S.
military bases on Okinawa.

The U.S. military in Okinawa announced a 48-hour pause of all military
operations for training through noon on Friday, with restrictions on the
ability of troops to leave their base and a ban on alcohol consumption.

U.S. troops on the island will be under a curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. for
30 days following the two-day training period.

(KK)

Premier Cho Jung-tai has accepted the resignation of Overseas Community
Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青).

Her resignation today follows TPP allegations that her family improperly used
government resources during her overseas trips.

The party's legislative caucus says her husband used an official vehicle
overseas.

It also alleges that her underage son accompanied her on official trips and
was passed off as an event photographer.

Hsu denies wrongdoing and says the accusations distort the facts.

She has requested administrative and judicial investigations, pledging to
cooperate fully and accept their findings.

The Cabinet says the Foreign Ministry is still checking the allegations.

It says Cho accepted her resignation out of respect for her wish to protect
her reputation.

(PB)

North Korea is criticizing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, accusing Washington of
raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

A commentary carried by North Korean state media today questioned whether the
United States was prepared to confront China over Taiwan.

It criticized the arrival of American-made fighter jets.

Taiwan received its first two new F-16V fighters last Friday, part of a
66-aircraft purchase approved in 2019.

(PB)

Student advocacy groups are calling on the government to expand school
menstrual leave beyond the current one-day monthly limit.

Student groups held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan today, arguing
that the current single-day cap fail to support students with longer or more
severe symptoms.

Administrative Deputy Minister Chu Chun-chang pledged to consult medical
experts, gender equality scholars, and school administrators to revise the
regulations.

Chu also says the education ministry plans to review attendance rules and
grading evaluations to ensure students are not unfairly penalized when taking
leave.

(NS)

The president of Myanmar’s military-backed government is traveling to
Malaysia for talks with its leaders as the two Southeast Asian nations work
to repatriate thousands of Myanmar nationals.

Min Aung Hlaing’s (min-ONG-hline's) visit to Malaysia highlights the growing
engagement between Myanmar and some governments in the Association of
Southeast Asia Nations.

His visit comes four days after nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals were sent back
from Malaysia despite safety warnings by the U.N. and rights groups.

He has increased diplomatic engagements since becoming president in April,
following an election criticized for solidifying military power.

(KK)

In Nigeria, officials say there were no survivors among 25 people on board a
Nigerian Air Force plane that crashed in southern Nigeria’s Ondo state.

The Nigerian Air Force said Tuesday that the ATR-42 aircraft crashed Monday.

The aircraft was carrying 20 passengers and five crew members on a routine
mission to Lagos, the nation’s economic hub.

Officials say the plane disappeared from radar and was later found to have
crashed close to a naval base in Ondo state.

Nigeria’s aviation minister previously said the aircraft was carrying 32
people.

Officials did not immediately clarify the difference in the two accounts.

(KK)

New Taipei prosecutors have charged 10 people for allegedly reselling
restricted military-grade chips from two US companies to Hong Kong for China.

The defendants include one man who runs several technology companies in
Taiwan, as well as his brother, and several others.

Prosecutors charged them with fraud, forgery, and money laundering.

They're seeking 10 years behind bars for the suspected ringleader, Chen Jian
Xiong (陳建雄), and one to eight years for the other defendants.

The indictment says that Chen colluded with others to falsely name the
National Zhongshan INstitute of Science and Technology as an end user of high
speed chips that could be used for military purposes.

Then, when the chips were imported into Taiwan, the defendants allegedly
resold them to buyers in Hong Kong, including China-controlled companies,
profiting from the price difference...

to the tune of 300 million NT.

They also fasely labeled the products as having been made in Taiwan when they
were actually manufactured in the Philippines, South Korea, and Singapore.

and speaking of chips,

The CEO of Advanced Micro Devices says, the company plans to increase its
investment in Taiwan's supply chain...

as demand for computing chips continues to exceed supply.

Lisa Su says, the 10 billion dollar investment announced in May was
progressing as planned.

But growing demand for central processing units and other AI computing
products was prompting AMD to invest more.

Su arrived in Taiwan yesterday for her third visit this year.

She says, she met with partners including Acer, Asus, Foxconn, and Quanta...

and will meet with TSMC and other suppliers on her trip.

Now turning to internaitonal news...

A Kenyan national who was living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but
returned to Kenya over the weekend is the country's first confirmed case of
Ebola and the country's first death from the disease in this outbreak.

The case sparked urgent contact-tracing efforts to try to contain the spread
of the virus.

The man had been living in Congo for the past 7 years and got sick about one
month ago.

He was treated at various hospitals before traveling by road to the Ugandan
capital, where he got on a plane to Nairobi.

Authorities say that the man was isolated and treated at a hospital in the
Kenyan capital, where he tested positive for Ebola and died earlier this
week.

Health officials have placed the country's border points on high alert and
are monitoring for possible additional cases.

Kenya has never had an outbreak of Ebola, but is now the fourth country to
record an Ebola case in the current outbreak, with Uganda and France also
recording some.

Zambia will plan to sign a revised health agreement with the US that excludes
controversial pieces about sharing patient data and specimens.

The deal spans 5 years and is worth over 3 and a half billion US dollars.

The US contributes 1.5 billion dollars to the deal.

The US has signed similar agreements with other African countries, but some
have resisted data-sharing requirements.

These agreements aim to help track infectious diseases but don't guarantee
benefits for the nations involved.

Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Ghana have rejected similar terms from the US.

The Trump administration is pursuing bilateral agreements with African
nations under U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach after
dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The new agreements aim to commit African nations to gradually increase
spending on health services while the U.S. gradually phases out its
assistance.

The Malian government says, its armed forces have retaken the city of Kidal...

five months after an offensive by separatist armed groups.

Separatist Azawad Liberation Front confirms that its fighters withdrew from
Kidal.

Mali has been plagued for over a decade by militants affiliated with al Qaeda
and the Islamic State group...

as wel as a Tuareg separatist rebellion in the north.

The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in recent years
have turned from Western allies to Russia for help in combating the fighters.