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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

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)

(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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case charging a former
Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided
since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a
"flawed installation by the contractor" as well as "the rush to complete the
project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the
weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026."

The 67-year-old Hearn competed in three Summer Olympics in slalom canoe
events. He stopped by the reflecting pool in June and reached in to touch
peeling paint. He was charged with felony destruction of property.

Hearn's lawyers say the case against him should never have been brought and
he's owed an apology.

AP_JvW

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World
Cup profits to private equity ... after receiving pushback from all corners
of the soccer world.

Infantino's decision came after his senior adviser, who sat on a White House
panel, resigned and Asia's soccer body joined Europe and North America in
opposing it.

Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup
... with private investors including the Kushner family.

The backlash grew day by day.

UEFA's 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA
competitions over Infantino's plan, followed by CONCACAF and the Asian
Football Confederation.

AP_JvW