C-P-C has cut gasoline and diesel prices ending an 11-week run of leaving its
retail fuel prices unchanged due military conflicts in the Middle East.

The price cuts see gasoline declining by 1 N-T per liter and diesel falling
by 0.7 N-T per liter - with C-P-C saying the move reflects reduced upward
pressure on international energy prices.

The move means that 92 octane unleaded costs 31.4 N-T per liter, while the
price of premium diesel has dropped to at 30.3 N-T a liter at the pump for
this week.

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat warnings for much of
Taiwan today - as it's forecasting highs of up to 36-degrees ahead of Typhoon
Mekkhala's closest approach to the island on Thursday.

"Orange" heat alerts are in effect for New Taipei, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin,
Tainan, Pingtung and Hualien - where the mercury could reach 36-degrees for
three consecutive days.

While "yellow" heat alerts have been issued for Keelung, Taoyuan, Taichung,
Chiayi and Kaohsiung - where the daily maximum temperature could reach
36-degrees today.

All of the heat alerts are currently slated to remain in effect through this
afternoon.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is leading a cross-party delegation of
lawmakers to the U-S this week for a six-day trip.
Han said the trip was made possible through an invitation from a
Taiwan-friendly caucus in the U-S Congress.

Han says the main focus of the trip is to promote closer Taiwan-US exchanges
through "parliamentary diplomacy."

The delegation consists of Han and seven other lawmakers, including three
from the K-M-T, one from the Taiwan People's Party, and three from the D-P-P.

Reports say the group's itinerary will begin with a visit to TSMC's Arizona
and a banquet with overseas Taiwanese while in Phoenix.

The group will then head to Washington, D.C., to meet with U-S senators,
members of the House of Representatives and senior U-S government
officials...

They are also scheduled to attend a banquet hosted by Taiwan's representative
to the United States, Alexander Yui.

The delegation is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Friday aboard EVA Airways'
inaugural direct flight from Washington, D.C. to Taoyuan International
Airport - which Han said reflects deepening bilateral ties.

The Ministry of National Defense is set to hold a five-day combat readiness
drill this week.

Defense officials say the drill are part of its modernization plans to shift
its training focus to more realistic exercises simulating war, away from
set-piece events.

The military has reportedly begun basing some of its drills on a scenario in
which China suddenly turns one of its ​regular exercises around the island
into an actual attack.

The "Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise" begins today and runs until Friday.

The defense ministry is describing the drill as part of annual training plans
as part of joint operations for the armed forces.

They say the main objective is to train units at all levels to become
familiar ​with combat practices and the battlefield environment during the
readiness deployment phase.

Defense officials have also said the exercise will ​also help to strengthen
rapid peacetime-to-wartime transitions and priority deployments... with
"actual troops, on actual terrain, in ‌real time, using actual equipment, and
through actual implementation".

This year's Han Kuang live first exercises ​are expected to take place in
August.

The Ministry of National Defense is amending the law on mandatory military
service by calling for non-commutable prison sentences instead of fines for
convicted draft dodgers.

Proposed changes are part of the government's efforts to reduce the incidence
of draft evasion.

The act currently stipulates that citizens who evade military conscription
can get a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

But most draft dodgers receive court sentences of less than six months, which
can be commutable to a fine.

As a result, most draft dodgers actually pay a fine instead of serving time
any jail time.

Defense officials believe prison sentences would be a stronger deterrent ---
and they now want prison terms of between one and five years for citizens who
evade military conscription.

The proposed amendments also seeks to revise the penalties for those who
evade reservist training and wartime mobilization, by calling for prison
terms of between one to five years.

The proposal follows a crackdown by authorities last year on entertainers who
allegedly were evading mandatory military service by obtaining falsified
hypertension diagnoses.

Researchers at National Cheng Kung University say although climate change
could reduce overall PM2.5 pollution here in Taiwan, the benefits are likely
to be unevenly distributed.

The research team analyzed more than two decades of weather, air-quality and
geographic data.

Researchers found that average PM2.5 levels are likely to decline by between
1.25 and 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter nationally in the coming decades.

The study found that warmer temperatures and increased rainfall generally
help reduce PM2.5 levels, contributing to an overall decline in pollution
nationwide.

But researchers also say climate change could also alter local weather
patterns by impacting how pollutants accumulate and disperse, leading to
growing regional differences in air quality.

In that scenario, areas in northeastern Taiwan, the Taichung-Changhua border
region and parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung could emerge as pollution
"hotspots" between 2081 and 2100.

And,

The Central Weather Administration has upgraded Mekkhala to a typhoon and
says it could come close enough to Taiwan later in the week to prompt a sea
warning.

The storm is currently located some 1,000-kilometers southeast of Eluanbi at
Taiwan's southern tip and is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at
26-kilometers-an-hour.

Typhoon Mekkhala has a radius of 150-kilometers and is packing sustained wind
speed of 118-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 154-kilometers-an-hour.

Mekkhala is currently expected to continue moving in a west-northwesterly
direction, before gradually turning north toward waters east of Taiwan proper
or south of the Ryukyu Islands.

The center says timing and angle of the turn remain uncertain, but current
forecasts show the storm will be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hezbollah chief Naim ​Qassem says that Israel will not ​stay in ​Lebanon,
adding that the group would ​respond to any ​violation from the Israeli side.

His statements ​came as ​Israeli officials say that ‌troops are free to act
without restriction to eliminate ​threats ​in Lebanon despite an agreed
​ceasefire that ​took effect on Friday.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed dozens of people despite a ceasefire
being in place...

Tehran says the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah
must end before any broader agreement can be reached.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry sait at the weekend that Israeli attacks since
March 2 have killed at least 4 thousand people and wounded more than 12
thousand.

At the same time, Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes in Gaza
have killed at least six people, including two children and an Al Jazeera
cameraman.

Despite an October ceasefire with Hamas, Gaza officials say it has faced
near-daily Israeli attacks that have killed over 1,000 Palestinians,

A Spanish investigative judge has ruled that the wife of Spanish Prime
Minister Pedro Sánchez will face trial on charges of influence peddling and
corruption.

The judge also ordered Begoña Gómez to surrender her passport in his ruling
at the weekend.

The judge argued that Gómez represents a flight risk.

The case has intensified scrutiny of Sánchez’s Socialist-led minority
government before an election due by next year.

Government officials and the Socialist Party condemned the ruling as
politically motivated. Gómez denies any wrongdoing.

24 Filipinos who were detained without charges in Siberia have returned to
their country.

They arrived in Manila in two batches over the weekend after they were
released in eastern Siberia, where they had been detained for more than nine
months.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised concerns for them during a
meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, who accompanied Marcos in talks
with Putin, was set to welcome the first batch.

The release followed a bilateral meeting between Marcos and Putin on
Wednesday.

Most members of the group had worked as cleaners and some came from other
countries before ending up in Russia.

Reports suggest the Filipinos may have been victims of illegal job
recruitment.

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration says a tropical depression near Guam
in the western Pacific strengthened into a tropical storm early today.

The CWA said that as of 8 am, Tropical Storm Mekkhala was located just under
2,000 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan, moving at 27 kilometers per hour
toward Okinawa.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 90 kph near its
center, with gusts of 119 kph.

The CWA is advising fishing vessels in the area to stay alert.

It also issued heat alerts for parts of Taiwan today, warning of maximum
temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius or higher.

CNA_JvW

A large fire has almost completely destroyed a luxury resort in the Dominican
Republic, forcing the evacuation of almost 1,700 tourists.

Local media reported an Italian tourist died in the fire ... and several
other tourists required medical assistance.

The Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort is located in Bayahibe, a popular
destination for US and international tourists on the southeastern coast of
the Dominican Republic.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation ... and the country's
Emergency Operations Center said it appeared it had spread rapidly due to
wind and because part of the resort's roof was made of thatch.

AP_JvW

In World Cup action,

Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds into the game and Paraguay held on for a 1-0
win over Turkey after playing a man down for more than half the match.

That was the fastest goal at this year's World Cup, eclipsing Morocco's goal
after just 72 seconds earlier in the day. That was enough to beat Scotland.

Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almiron was issued a red card late in
the first half for violating a new rule that allows referees to ban players
from covering their mouths during a confrontation.

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead.

The win assured the United States would win Group D and eliminated Turkey
from any chance of advancing to the knockout round ... with its second
straight loss.

Meanwhile, Brazil dispatched Haiti 3-0, with the Haitians becoming the
*first* team to be mathematically ineligible for advancement.

AP_JvW

James Burrows, the director behind iconic TV comedies like "Cheers," "Taxi,"
"Friends" and "Will and Grace," has died.

His family confirmed his death in a statement to People magazine, saying he
passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Burrows directed over a thousand TV episodes.

He started his TV career at 35, working on shows that included "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" and "Laverne & Shirley."

His father was writer, director and producer Abe Burrows, whose Broadway hits
included "Guys and Dolls" and "Can-Can."

The elder Burrows also mentored Larry Gelbart, future creator and producer of
the TV show "MASH."

AP_JvW

As people gathered to celebrate Juneteenth at events across the US, former
President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the
first visitors to his presidential center.

In a surprise move, the Obamas personally greeted the first 100 people to
walk through the doors of the new presidential center

A million visitors a year are expected to come together at the sprawling
campus honoring the nation's first Black president.

The center's grand opening arrives as a symbolic convergence of legacy and
liberation in this fifth year since June 19 became a federal holiday in the
United States.

AP_JvW

Five-time champion Brazil has eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0
victory.

Haiti had qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 ... only
to become the first team guaranteed NOT to reach the knockout round.

In other World Cup action, the US beat Australia 2-0 to unlock a berth in the
knockout round, while Morocco shut out Scotland and scored the only goal of
the match after just 72 seconds of play.

Paraguay is leading Turkey 1-0 in the second half. Paraguay midfielder Miguel
Almiron became the first player issued a red card at the World Cup ... for
covering his mouth.

The new rule is intended to stop players from concealing verbal insults.

AP_JvW

Ismael Saibari scored only 72 seconds into the game, and Morocco beat
Scotland 1-0 at the World Cup to keep alive its chances of advancing to its
second straight knockout round.

Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup, drew 1-1 with
Brazil in its Group C opener.

Scotland, which hasn't gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous
World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.

Earlier, the US team beat Australia 2-nil to secure a spot in the round of 32
knockout round, despite the absence of injured star forward Christian
Pulisic. 21-year-old Alex Freeman scored the second goal for the Americans in
the 43rd minute.

Brazil won its match against Haiti 3-nil. Haiti becomes the first team to be
eliminated in this year's World Cup.

AP_JvW

The Coast Guard has warned off a Chinese research vessel from restricted
waters after initially warning it in its exclusive economic zone.

The boat entered Taiwan's restricted waters off the coast of Su'Ao in Yilan.

Restricted waters extend 12 to 24 nautical miles off Taiwan's coast.

The Coast Guard dispatched the Lanyu patrol vessel along with a patrol boat
to shadow the Chinese ship and issue radio warnings.

Video footage shows the crew of the Lanyu telling the Chinese ship that China
has no sovereignty over waters off Taiwan's east coast, demanding the vessel
leave immediately.

The two Taiwanese vessels then flanked the Chinese research ship and carried
out maneuvers designed to generate waves and disrupt its operations.

The ship then left Taiwan's restricted waters and continued north to near
Pengjia islet.

The Lanyu had previously spotted the boat near Hualien and issued similar
warnings to leave the exclusive eeconomic zone.

Next month… four Taiwanese performing arts groups will be heading to France
to join the 2026 Festival Off Avignon.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the delegation includes various dance
troupes, focusing on Taiwan’s Hakka and indigenous traditions, as well as
reflections on technology and modern society.

Head of the Academic Cooperation and Culture Department of the French Office
in Taipei… Josue (Joshua) Serres says the Taiwanese artists will be
performing at Festival Off Avignon… one of world’s most important
contemporary performing arts events…


He adds that Avignon will be a offer the Taiwanese artists a global stage
like no other.


That was Josue (Joshua) Serres… of the French Office in Taipei.

Festival Off Avignon runs July 4th through the 25th.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is calling on opposition lawmakers to support
the Executive Yuan's special budget proposal for drone production.

Hsiao says today that national security is not a political problem...

adding that the proposal would not only increase the miltiary's combat
capacity, but would also strengthen the "non-red supply chain."

According to the Executive Yuan, the special budget includes a budget ceiling
of 210 billion NT for spending through 2031...

with the funds for both surveillance & reconnaisance drones, as well as for
attack drones.

The proposal followed an earlier special defense proposal by the Cabinet,
from which lawmakers cut out funding for the domestic drone industry.

Meanwhile, Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan says, she would be in favor of the KMT
putting forward its own version of a bill for drone spending.

Taiwan and the US are considering expanding cooperations between the two
countries in Paraguay.

That's as Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming Chi met with US officials in the
South American country earlier this week.

They reportedly discussed views on several issues, like ongoing
Taiwan/Paraguay cooperation on an AI computing center.

They also discussed higher education talent cultivation, Mandarin language
education, and efforts to encourage Taiwanese tech firms to invest in
Paraguay.

Chen says, Taiwan the US both hope to support Paraguay's long-term
development and can achieve greater results through joint cooperation.

US officials said that they will continue to help Paraguay enhance its
cybersecurity capabilities, but that Taiwan and the U.S. should also work
together to facilitate cooperation between Paraguay and trusted partners to
address increasingly serious cyber threats.

Now turning to international news in the UK,

Andy Burnham of the ruling Labor Party has won a special election for a seat
in Parliament...

setting him up to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for control over the
party and country.

The mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham defeated opposition Reform UK's
candidate to strengthen his status as a leading contender to replace Starmer.

Burnham took almost 55% of the vote.

The PM's popularity has declined since a landslide victory in 2024, with the
UK still struggle with economic growth and public services.

Burnham's win increases pressure on Starmer to resign.

Burnham plans to head to London to be sworn in, and may seek a meeting with
Starmer to discuss leadeship.

The military will soon deploy a drone battalion in Penghu to bolster early
warning capabilities.

That's according to a military source, who added that the move will expand
the area covered by Taiwan's early warning mechanisms and enable the military
to conduct anti-blockade operations closer to the enemy...

as well as to swiftly deploy kill chains using drone and anti-ship missiles.

The Liberty Times reported that the drone battalion will be an upgrade from
an existing squadron there.

It'll likely be launched in July.

Army Chief of Staff Chen Chun-yi (陳俊義) previously told lawmakers that the
Army will establish a drone battalion in each of Taiwan's five theaters of
operations to defend northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan, as well
as offshore Penghu County.

Meanwhile research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) described the deployment of drones
on the country's offshore islands as strategically significant...

emphasizing drone strengths, like long-range reconnaissance.

her own fame"

Taitung farmers say, it doesn't matter whether or not magistrate Rao Qing
Ling's video appearance at China's Straits Forum was legal...

as all the debate does is serve to elevate Rao's personal profile and has no
impact on the sugar apple market.

That's after Rao's video appearance promoting Taitung's sugar apples in the
Strait Forum incited controversy, prompting the Mainland Affairs Council to
turn the case over to the Ministry of the Interior for investigation.

But farmers say, Rao's appearance and any of the surrounding controversy hold
little significance when China continues to levy 29% tariffs on Taiwanese
agricultural products.

They add that the "noise" generated by Rao's participation has no effect on
the Taiwanese sugar apple market.

Meanwhile DPP candidate to succeed Rao, Chen Ying stated that she believed
farmers "should not be the victims of political maneuvering."

(AH)

Traffic is looking mostly clear across the south and center at the moment...

but a few parts of the north appear to be a little backed up.

Traffic on National Freeways 1 and 3 southbound near Hsinchu's Zhubei and
Xiangshan is quite heavy,

while drivers on National Freeway 5 southbound from Nangang to Toucheng can
also expect some backups.

Officials advise those planning to be heading south on National Freeway 5 to
depart after 5pm.

Now turning to international news...

Israel has killed 16 more people in Lebanon as Israel struck targets
throughout southern Lebanon overnight.

This comes as planned talks in Switzerland between Iran and the US over a
permanent end to the US/Israeli war on Iran were delayed.

Iran's occupation of southern Lebanon and its continued attacks on the
Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group have been a key sticking point in the
talks.

Israel claims it needs to continue ocupying the territory and be free to
attack Hezbollah.

The postponement of the talks comes after a Hezbollah-aligned Arab satellite
channel reported that Iran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland
over Israel's ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.

Officials say, roughly 300 students and teachers were evacuated or rescued
from a fire at an elementary school in downtown Tokyo.

Officials say the fire broke out at the Takinogawa Number 3 Elementary School
near a music room on the top floor.

One teacher and several kids were rescued by firefighters with
non-life-threatening injuries.

TV footage showed black smoke billowing out of windows on the fourth floor as
firefighters combat the fire.

All others inside the bulding at the time of the fire were evacuated to a
nearby park.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen says, she would be in favor of retaliating against a
Chinese invasion...

so long as Taiwan does not declare independence.

Zheng emphasizes that the KMT supports pursuing peace, but would not give up
on self defense.

She added, the KMT opposes Taiwan declaring independence, but if Taiwan did
not declare independence, and China still invaded Taiwan, Zheng said "we
would certainly retaliate."

The comments come after an interview Zheng gave with the Economist, in which
she said that Taiwan should not become a pawn, adding that she hopes to
undertake more exchange with the US and other international partners.

She added that she considered her recent US trip to be a success, saying that
she hopes to convince leaders in Washington DC that peace is pursued through
dialogue.

The Ministry of Culture says the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe is getting a
taste of Taiwan again this summer.

Now in its twelfth year, the Taiwan Season will bring four Taiwanese troupes
to Scotland, including dance and magicians.

One of the performers… Lin Lu-jie… says this is his second time at the
Edinburgh Fringe… and he is surprised and proud, that his magic show… and
Taiwan culture… resonate with audiences around the world.


The Edinburgh Fringe runs August 7th - 31st, and is the world’s largest
performing arts show, attracting an audience of over 2.6 million people last
year.

South Korea is extending a 5% preferential tariff rate on imported fruits
such as Taiwanese bananas, pineapples, and mangoes.

This was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture which said the measure will
reduce the cost of exporting Taiwanese fruit to South Korea and provide a
significant boost to Taiwanese farmers and exporters seeking to expand into
high-end overseas markets.



South Korea has been facing rising consumer prices and a weak currency,
which have significantly increased the cost of imported fruit.

To help stabilize domestic prices, South Korea introduced a tariff-rate quota
program in February, reducing import duties on fruits such as mangoes from
the original 30% tariff to 5%.

The preferential tariff program had originally been scheduled to expire on
June 30.

But the South Korean government announced yesterday that it would extend the
5% tariff rate on fruits including bananas, pineapples, and mangoes until
August 15.

Now turning to international news...

The Cambodia Supreme Court has upheld the incitement conviction of prominent
opposition politician Rong Chhun...

but suspended the remainder of his prison sentence.

That allows him to remain free, but he is barred from politics for five
years.

The ruling sparked anger amongst supporters gathered outside the court in the
Cambodian capital.

Rong Chhun is a senior advisor to the Nation Power Party.

He was convicted last year of inciting social unrest after meeting villagers
displaced by government construction projects.

Critics view the case as part of broader efforts by Prime Minister Hun
Manet's govenrment to silence dissent.

The verdict also restricts Rong Chhun's travel, though he is considering the
possibility of seeking a royal pardon.

The U.S. military says it killed three men when it struck a vessel in the
eastern pacific.

The Southern Command claimed the vessel targeted was operated by "Designated
Terrorist Organizations" and was "transiting along known narco-trafficking
routes."

It did ​not identify ​the organizations or the individuals and did not
provide details on its claims.

It's the latest such attack that human rights groups call extrajudicial
killings and Washington casts as targeting of "narco-terrorists."

The ​U.S. military's strikes on such vessels have killed more than ‌200
people since September.

The Cabinet has proposed a legal revision that would provide a legal basis
for administering saliva tests on certain individuals as a means to identify
users of the illicit narcotic etomidate.

The proposal is part of the government's ongoing drive to combat "zombie
vapes," electronic cigarettes containing etomidate, which has sparked
widespread public safety concerns.

Premier Zhu Rong Tai said he had approved a proposal to amend the Narcotics
Hazard Prevention Act which authorizes authorities to conduct saliva tests in
addition to urine tests to detect drug offenses in a more timely manner/

The move is meant to strengthen drug prevention efforts... and comes after
the Cabinet proposed a separate set of amendments aimed at increasing
penalties for drug-impaired driving.

Under the proposals, anyone caught driving a motor vehicle under the
influence of illegal narcotics would have their driver's license revoked, be
barred from retaking the driver's license test for three years and have their
vehicle confiscated.

The Central Weather Administration is issuing an extreme heat alert for
today..

as temperatures are expected to rise steadily during the Dragon Boat long
weekend under the influence of a strengthening Pacific high-pressure system.

The CWA warns that parts of Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin,
Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and Hualien can expect
temperatures as high as 36 degrees celsius today.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, can expect temperatures between 33 and 35
degrees celsius.

The CWA is also forecasting partly cloudy to sunny skies over the coming
days, with some afternoon thunderstorms expected in mountainous areas, as
well as in Greater Taipei and Yilan.

As of 10:30 this morning, the highest recorded temperature across Taiwan was
in Yunlin's Dounan, coming in at 35.8 degrees celsius.

Forecasters also warn of strong winds in parts of Green and Orchid Islands,
as well as in Mazu.

They're urging caution for those engaging in coastal and marine activities.

Forecasters say, we can expect temperatures to increase day by day through
Wednesday.

About 100 Colombian dissidents have surrendered their weapons as part of a
peace process with the government of President Gustavo Petro.

Members of the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army placed
their weapons on a table during a ceremony in Putumayo.

They will now enter a temporary resettlement zone to begin reintegration into
civilian life, with the government explaining that they "will have their
freedom restricted and will be under the control and supervision of
authorities."

A dissident leader is emphasizing the power of dialogue over violence.

President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" policy aims to negotiate with
multiple armed groups, though it has largely failed.

Petro himself is a former rebel leader, and Colombia's first progressive
president.

The surrender comes ahead of a runoff presidential vote between IvAn Cepeda,
of Petro's "pro -dialogue" camp...

and Abelardo de la Espriella, who favors a more strongarm approach to dealing
with militant violence.