ICRT

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:13

The Ministry of the Interior is planning to petition the Constitutional Court
next month to dissolve the Chinese Unification Promotion Party.

Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan is defending the move, saying says the
government has been forced to seek the dissolution of political parties whose
objectives or actions endanger the nation's existence or democratic
constitutional order under the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.

While Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang says the political party has long been
linked to organized crime and some core members have repeatedly been
implicated in alleged violations of the National Security Act, the
Anti-Infiltration Act and the Organized Crime Prevention Act.

Ma also says the party has carried out united front work, infiltrated
grassroots groups, recruited military personnel for espionage and engaged in
cross-border repression ..

He added the decision to seek its dissolution is a strategic response to
Beijing's escalating pressure on Taiwan that could help deter similar
activities.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:13

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has approved the official recognition of the Siraya as
one of Taiwan's Indigenous tribes.

This makes the Siraya the country's 17th officially recognized tribe and the
first Plains Indigenous group to receive the designation.

The approval of recognition comes ahead of tomorrow's Indigenous Peoples' Day

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee says the recognition affirms the Siraya's
collective rights and represents a concrete step toward historical justice,
cultural diversity and the protection of constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The Premier is said to have instructed the Council of Indigenous Peoples to
announce registration procedures and related supporting measures, while
coordinating with the Ministry of the Interior and local governments to
complete the necessary administrative work.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

A bipartisan U-S congressional delegation led by Republican Congresswoman
Young Kim has arrived for a three-day visit.

The delegation will meet with President Lai Ching-te for talks on ways to
strengthen bilateral ties.

It will also been meeting with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung as well as
other senior government officials to discuss US-Taiwan trade and investment
relations and regional security,

The foreign ministry calls Kim a staunch supporter of Taiwan in the U-S
Congress who has introduced several Taiwan-related bills in recent years,
including the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act and the Deter PRC Aggression
Against Taiwan Act.

The American Institute in Taiwans says the delegation is visiting Taiwan as
part of a broader trip to the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit is intended to "underscore the U-S commitment to its partnership
with Taiwan and reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and
Open Indo-Pacific.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stopped accepting visa applications from
Moroccan nationals with immediate effect.

The move is in retaliation for a similar move by Rabat last week... and comes
after the Moroccan Embassy in Japan is said to have suspended its Visa
Confirmation Letter review process for Taiwanese Travelers.

In the past, Taiwan passport holders needed to obtain a Visa Confirmation
Letter through the Moroccan Embassy in Japan because they were ineligible for
a Moroccan e-visa.

Only Moroccan nationals involved in special projects approved by the
government can now get visas.

The government is urging Morocco to address the issue and maintain convenient
travel arrangements for business travelers and tourists on both sides, with
the aim of restoring normal bilateral people-to-people exchanges as soon as
possible.

The Moroccan government has not released any official statements regarding
the suspension of its Visa Confirmation Letter review process for Taiwan
travelers.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

Data from the Ministry of Finance indicates the wage gap between men and
women is said to be the smallest since 2016.

The annual income of men here in Taiwan stood at 754,172 N-T in 2024, while
the average annual income of women that same year was 489,894 N-T.

But there is still a large gap in professional practice.. where men earn
nearly twice more than women do.

In terms of pay, men earned an average of 839,609 N-T a year, compared with
604,101 N-T for women.

The only income category in which women out-earned men was separation pay -
where women received an average of 682,035 N-T annually, compared with
581,245 N-T for men.

The Ministry of Finance says the male-to-female income ratio was first
recorded at 1.57 in 2016.

It gradually declined to 1.55 in 2020 before rising to a peak of 1.60 in 2022
and then dipped to1.54 in 2024.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

hours

The New Taipei Metro Corporation says the newly opened Sanying Line will
remain free throughout August and extend its operating hours as part of its
trial operations.

The metro operator says the line has recorded more than 900,000 passenger
trips since opening on June 30

The line will run from 8AM to 10PM from tomorrow and the frequency of trains
will also be increased during weekday peak hours, with trains arriving every
six minutes from 8 to 8:30AM and from 5:30PM to 7:30PM.

The New Taipei Metro Corporation says the extended operating hours will allow
it to evaluate the line's performance at different times of day and assess
the stability of the overall system.

Trains will continue to operate at eight-minute intervals at all other times
on weekdays and throughout weekends, but the metro operator says additional
trains may be deployed if stations become overcrowded.

The company has yet to announce a date for full-day commercial operations.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

Books.com.tw says Japanese mystery novelist Keigo Higashino dominated
Taiwan's bestseller lists after news of his death was announced on Monday.

Higashino's books exceeded their total sales for the entire month of July.

His books now claim five of the top 10 spots at Books.com.tw.

The acclaimed mystery writer had died of colon cancer at the age of 68 on
July 23.

Higashino published more than 100 books, which were translated and published
in more than 40 countries and territories.

The bestselling Chinese-language editions of his novels this week have been
"Journey Under the Midnight Sun," "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store,"
"The Devotion of Suspect X," and "Malice."

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

The Kumamoto prefectural government says the powerful earthquake that hit
southwestern Japan earlier this week has now killed at least 25 people.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Tuesday set off an explosion at a mall,
toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes in the Kumamoto area on Japan’s
southern main island of Kyushu.

Time is running out to find survivors as rescuers continued to work.

The total number of those missing was unclear.

The quake left at least 86 people injured, five of them seriously, the
prefectural government said.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

NATO scrambled its warplanes after a Russian missile entered Polish airspace,
landing in a rural area without causing injuries.

Poland's prime minister called it “a very serious incident.”

It could deepen tensions between the military alliance and Moscow, as wary
European countries fear the expansion of Russia's 4-year-old full-scale war.

The attacks targeted multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, where tens of
thousands of people sheltered in subway stations. .. where the attacks killed
at least 10 and injured over 50 others.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more air defense
systems from its Western allies.

Posted on 2026-07-31 06:48:14

U-S Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without
steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals.

Amazon's fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin
charging customers for rides in the specially designed cars that feature four
inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval.

Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco
since last fall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rule last month
to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is
still pending.

Zoox and Tesla are working to catch up to the industry-leading Waymo that
already operates in multiple cities.

Posted on 2026-07-30 18:37:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a dedicated bank account to
collect public donations for earthquake relief efforts in Kumamoto, Japan.

The Mega Bank account will accept contributions from August 1st through
August 31st to support disaster recovery following Tuesday’s 7.1 magnitude
quake.

President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, and Premier Cho
Jung-tai have each pledged 200-thousand NT, while D-P-P Secretary-General Hsu
Kuo-yung is donating one month’s salary to the fund.

The relief effort comes as Japanese authorities grapple with severe damage.

The quake set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and
flattened homes in the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of
Kyushu.

(CNA - NS)

Posted on 2026-07-30 18:37:13

Taiwan is expected to introduce publicly funded prostate cancer screening
next year as cases continue to rise alongside the country's aging population.

Health Minister Shih Chong-liang (石崇良) says the government has commissioned a
comprehensive assessment and hopes to launch the program once funding and
implementation plans are finalized.

Prostate cancer was the third most common cancer among Taiwanese men in 2023
and is now the fifth-leading cause of cancer death.

The Taiwan Urological Association says new cases have nearly quadrupled over
the past two decades, reaching almost 10 thousand in 2023.

More than 28 percent of those patients were diagnosed only after the cancer
had already spread to other parts of the body, highlighting concerns that
many cases are being detected too late.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-30 18:37:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail says it hopes to have its new N-700-S-T trains
carrying passengers as early as July 1st next year.

T-H-S-R Chair Shih Che (史哲) announced the target as the first of 12 new
trainsets officially rolled out of the factory in Japan.

The first train is expected to arrive at Kaohsiung Port on August 15th before
undergoing a series of static and operational tests in Taiwan.

Shih says once all 12 trains enter service, the company plans to increase
weekly services from the current 1 thousand 134 to more than 1 thousand 400
... boosting peak-hour capacity by 25 percent.

The N-700-S-T trains are based on Japan's N-700-S Shinkansen and feature
quieter cabins, full-color passenger information displays, improved
accessibility and upgraded onboard amenities.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-30 17:33:13

The DPP Legislative Caucus is criticizing a rumored opposition plan to
combine forces on a potential by-election party ticket.

China Times is reporting that the KMT and TPP have agreed to a trade that
would see the TPP support a KMT move to dissolve the cabinet...

in exchange for the KMT pledging 5 party list seats to the TPP.

The rumored plan would see the two opposition parties jointly nominate party
list lawmakers, with the first 5 seats ceded to the TPP.

DPP Caucus Secretary General Zhuang Rui Xiong says, for such a deal to be
hammered out before the cabinet has even been dissolved would remove entirely
the significance of a no-confidence vote.

Zhuang says, a vote of no confidence would serve as a sort of midterm
examination for the Executive Yuan, adding that it would also be a response
to actions the legislature has taken over the past couple years.

He emphasized that both the executive and legislative yuans must be subject
to public scrutiny, saying that exchanging seats between two parties is not
the point.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-30 17:33:13

Taiwan's domestically developed prototype submarine, the Hai Kun, has
conducted back-to-back sea trials off the southern coast as testing enters
its final stages.

Military analyst Chi Tung-yun says the recent testing schedule has
intensified after earlier trials were delayed by typhoons, with crews
repeatedly testing systems to verify their reliability.

Chi also believes the submarine may have entered Tsoying Naval Base during
Wednesday's trial after an additional harbor pilot was seen aboard.

He says the maneuver may have been intended to familiarize the crew with the
route into what will become the submarine's future homeport.

The Hai Kun is expected to undergo endurance and deep-diving tests next ...

... although the Ministry of National Defense Ministry says safety and
quality will take priority and no official deadline has been set for delivery
to the Navy.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-30 17:33:13

The Siraya people have gained official recognition as one of Taiwan's now 17
officially recognized Indigenous tribes.

The move means that Siraya individuals may formally register as such starting
next month.

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai says, the change goes further than just granting Siraya
people recognition...

it also is a form of historical justice and a concrete constitutional
guarantee.

Zhuo says, 8 other tribes are also pending recognition by the Council of
Indigenous Peoples.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-30 17:33:13

Now turning to international news...

Russia has launched another wave of attacks across Ukraine, killing at least
7 people and wounding dozens more.

The strikes hit overnight into this morning, from the east to the far west of
the country.

In one region, Russia killed 6 people, including 3 kids.

In the western city of Lviv, usually far from the front, a missile attack
injured about thirty people, and damaged homes, a school, and two
kindergartens.

The capital Kyiv was also hit, with ballistic missiles killing a man and
damaging homes and a market.

Officials say these large-scale strikes have become almost weekly through the
summer, as Russia steps up its bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

A research firm says the shutdown of TSMC's J-A-S-M plant following a
magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan should have only a limited impact
on third-quarter revenue.

DIGITIMES estimates a one-week shutdown, with no lost production recovered,
would put about 14-million U.S. dollars in revenue at risk.

That's roughly 0.03-percent of TSMC's third-quarter revenue target midpoint.

TSMC says workers and plant structures are safe, while water, electricity and
safety systems are operating normally.

The company says equipment needs time for inspection and recalibration
because semiconductor machinery is highly sensitive to vibration.

Production is gradually resuming, but the timetable for a full recovery
remains uncertain as aftershocks continue.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

Keelung prosecutors have indicted three Vietnamese nationals over the alleged
smuggling of nearly 400 kilograms of marijuana into Taiwan.

Prosecutors say the drugs were shipped from Thailand in April and hidden
inside 20 pallets filled with shredded paper.

Keelung customs officers discovered 795 packages containing nearly 393
kilograms of marijuana, with an estimated street value of more than
500-million N.T.

Investigators later arrested one suspect while he was opening delivered
pallets in New Taipei's Xizhi District.

Two others were arrested in Yilan after allegedly agreeing to receive and
transport part of the shipment.

Prosecutors say the case disrupted a cross-border drug trafficking operation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

Police are investigating after a body was found lodged among wave breakers in
New Taipei City's Wanli District this morning.

Officers were called to Neptune Wharf in Yehliu shortly before 10 a.m. and
found the body face down between the concrete blocks.

Police say prolonged exposure to seawater has made identification difficult.

They have ruled out a recently missing man known as the "godfather of arms,"
saying identifying features do not match.

Police are still working to determine the deceased person's sex and identity.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Myanmar has agreed to take
5-thousand Rohingya asylum seekers currently living in Malaysia.

Anwar says the agreement followed negotiations made possible by good
relations between the two countries, but gave no further details.

Myanmar has not yet confirmed the arrangement.

Around 126-thousand Rohingya were registered with the U.N. refugee agency in
Malaysia as of the end of February.

The announcement comes amid growing tensions involving Rohingya communities
in Malaysia.

More than 100 Rohingya were detained this week after gathering outside the
U.N. refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur seeking help after they said
they were evicted from their homes.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the U.N. Refugee Convention and treats asylum
seekers as illegal migrants.

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

China is warning of retaliation if the United States moves ahead with
restrictions on imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters.

The Commerce Ministry says Beijing will "resolutely retaliate" if Washington
continues what it calls unilateral and discriminatory measures against
Chinese companies.

The warning follows new steps announced by the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission aimed at protecting the country's AI infrastructure from national
security risks and supporting domestic manufacturing.

China says the FCC ignored repeated objections from Beijing and is using
national security concerns to justify broader trade restrictions.

The ministry called the measures market-distorting and said they could harm
both Chinese and U.S. industries.

Posted on 2026-07-30 15:20:14

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson as firefighters continue
battling wildfires near Bordeaux in southwestern France.

Local authorities say the fires have not spread further compared with
previous days, with about 42-thousand hectares burned.

Thousands of people have been evacuated because of flames and heavy smoke.

The Bordeaux region is a major wine-producing area and an important transport
hub for tourists heading to resorts along France's Atlantic coast.

The fires come during an intense European heatwave, which has also fueled
wildfires in Spain and Greece.

Posted on 2026-07-30 14:12:13

Minister without Portfolio Chen Shi Zhong is calling for local officials to
manage their own affairs...

as the Taipei mayor continues to push for the dissolution of the cabinet.

Chen emphasized that local and central government officials have different
responsibilities...

and that the cabinet will not get caught up in what he called "political
mudslinging."

Meanwhile Premier Zhuo Rong Tai echoed Chen's sentiment, saying that
dissolving or not dissolving the cabinet is not the mayor's responsibility.

Zhuo took the opportunity to promote the DPP's pick to succeed Mayor Chiang
Wan An, saying that Puma Shen might be a mayor who would spend more time
thinking about city matters.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-30 14:12:13

A homeless man who allegedly killed another homeless man has seen his
sentence reduced in a second ruling.

The attacker, surnamed Tsai, was originally sentenced to life in prison for
an alleged attack outside the Keelung train station.

The Taiwan High Court says that Tsai expressed willingness to compensate the
victim's family and has been diagnosed with alcohol addiction...

leading the court to lessen the ruling, giving Tsai a 15 year sentence
instead.

Tsai is accused of beating the other homeless man, surnamed Hsieh, to death
after an argument.

The sentence can still be appealed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-30 14:12:13

Taiwan Travelogue Author Yang Shuang Zi took to the US' National Public Radio
following her recent International Booker Prize win.

Discussing her book, which explores Taiwanese identity during the Japanese
colonial period, Yang said that anyone who identifies with Taiwan is
Taiwanese...

not only those who have ancestry or lineage in Taiwan.

The interviewer asked Yang about why Taiwan, having been colonized by Japan,
feels so positively towards the country...

while Korea and China do not feel similarly.

Yang said, that contradiction was what spurred her to write Taiwan
Travelogue, as she considered the transition from the Japanese Colonial
Period to the ROC government.

Asked about the future of Taiwan, Yang explained that her concerns for the
future were less about war, and more about fears that the Taiwanese public
would give up the democratic and peaceful way of life that Taiwan has enjoyed
for the last 30 years.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-30 14:12:13

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 105 points to
close the sesion at 39933.

The turnover was 1.103 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-07-30 14:12:13

The Vietnamese capital is seeing one of its biggest transformations in
decades...

with billions of dollars in projects reshaping the city with new roads, urban
districts, and flood-control systems.

The changes promise faster growth and a cityscape to match Vietnam's
ambitions...

but they are disrupting residents' lives.

Thousands of families face relocation, while street vendors and small
businesses worry about losing livelihoods tied to Hanoi's old neighborhoods.

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:13

Taiwan is suspending visa applications from Moroccan nationals starting
today, after Morocco stopped processing visa applications from Taiwanese
travelers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the move is based on the principle of
reciprocity.

Morocco recently instructed its embassies and consulates worldwide to stop
accepting Visa Confirmation Letter applications from Taiwanese nationals.

Taiwanese travelers currently cannot apply for Moroccan e-visas, making the
letters their main option for short business or tourist trips.

Taiwan says Moroccan nationals will also be unable to apply for visas to
Taiwan, except in specially approved cases.

The foreign ministry says it will continue monitoring the situation and
adjust the policy if Morocco changes its visa rules.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:17

President Lai Ching-te says Taiwan needs to build its own drone offense and
defense system as pressure from China increases.

Lai says the government is pursuing a special budget to procure unmanned
systems, alongside broader defense spending and reforms aimed at
strengthening asymmetric capabilities.

He says Taiwan's defense spending has exceeded 3-percent of GDP this year
under NATO calculations, with a target of 5-percent by 2030.

Lai made the comments while meeting a delegation led by Indo-Pacific security
expert Randall Schriver.

The president says Taiwan also wants to deepen defense cooperation with the
United States, moving beyond military purchases toward joint research,
development and production.

Schriver says Taiwan faces growing Chinese military coercion, threats and
lawfare.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:18

Five major European orchestras are set to perform in Taiwan as part of The
Management of New Arts' new season beginning in September.

The lineup includes the Vienna Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Berlin, Utopia
Orchestra, Luxembourg Philharmonic and Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

Pianist Yuja Wang will take on both conducting and solo duties for the first
time, leading the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in Brahms' two piano concertos.

The Vienna Philharmonic will return with conductor Tugan Sokhiev and pianist
Lang Lang, while Christian Thielemann /TEAL-mahn/ will lead the Staatskapelle
Berlin on its first Taiwan visit.

Other performers include Yo-Yo Ma, Seong-Jin Cho, Gautier Capuçon and tenor
Juan Diego Flórez.

The season will feature 26 performances in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung
over four months.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:18

The United States has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran fired
missiles at U.S. forces in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command says the strikes were retaliation for attempted Iranian
attacks on American troops.

Iran says it targeted U.S. military installations in Jordan, where Jordanian
forces reported shooting down five Iranian missiles.

The conflict is also spreading elsewhere in the region.

U.S. and Saudi forces carried out joint strikes on Iran-aligned groups in
Iraq, marking the first time Riyadh has publicly joined U.S. attacks there.

Meanwhile, a maritime security firm says a drone struck a U.S.-owned gas
storage tanker at Egypt's Damietta port.

Egyptian authorities confirmed a fire but have not confirmed a drone attack.

The renewed fighting has pushed Brent crude back above 90 U.S. dollars a
barrel.

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:18

At least 23 people are confirmed dead after Tuesday's magnitude 7.1
earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, as damaged communities struggle
with water and power outages.

Many households in Yatsushiro remain without running water or electricity,
while temperatures are around 35 degrees and could approach 40 this weekend.

Japan's Self-Defense Force is delivering water and installing about 300
air-conditioning units at evacuation centers as authorities warn of
heatstroke risks.

Six other people are in cardiopulmonary arrest, while officials say 28 deaths
are being investigated for possible links to the quake.

The earthquake has also disrupted manufacturing across Kyushu, forcing
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Sony and other companies to halt some production.

TSMC briefly suspended operations at its Kumamoto facility to assess damage.

Posted on 2026-07-30 12:56:18

Australia's online safety regulator has launched legal action against
Telegram, accusing the messaging platform of failing to remove pro-terror
content.

The eSafety Commissioner says the material included videos linked to
terrorist executions and mass shootings.

Telegram rejects the allegations and says it will contest the case in court,
arguing it has blocked thousands of extremist communities this year.

The company could face civil penalties of up to 37.9 million US dollars if
found to have breached Australian online safety rules.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

disciplinary court

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Control Yuan has impeached the Lai administration's former top trade
negotiator, Yang Jen-ni, and referred her case to the Disciplinary Court.

The move comes a month after the Office of the President removed Yang from
her post following an independent investigation found she had persistently
bullied her late deputy Yen Huai-hsing.

Yen resigned in February and died on March 12 at the age of 53.

According to the government watchdog, it voted to impeach Yang and refer her
case to the Disciplinary Court based on evidence both bullied and belittled
Yen publicly and created a difficult working environment for her deputy.

The Control Yuan says Yang’s behavior was a serious violation of the Public
Functionary Service Act and that the case warrants review by the Disciplinary
Court.

Yang has denied any wrongdoing and questioned the legitimacy of the initial
Cabinet report - claiming that investigation lacked procedural fairness and
relied on limited testimony.

Yang has threatened to take legal action over what she's been describing as
damage to her reputation.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it plans to lodge a formal protest with
the South African government to correct the designation of Taiwan as "Taiwan,
China" in South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorization system.

Taiwan travelers are not yet eligible to use the system.

However, reports say the drop-down menu for the "Passport country of issue"
field on the system's website includes Taiwan but incorrectly lists it as
"Taiwan, China."

South Africa introduced the ETA system in October 2025.

According to the foreign ministry, it has instructed Taiwan's representative
office in Pretoria to submit a formal protest to the South African government
and request that the designation be corrected.

Taiwan had a similar dispute with South Korea last year when Seoul's online
electronic arrival card system in early 2025 initially listed Taiwan as
"China (Taiwan)" in drop-down menus for the "place of departure" and "next
destination" fields.

South Korea later removed the "last point of departure" and "next
destination" fields from the system to resolve the naming dispute.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

The Mainland Affairs Council says a total of 402 Taiwan citizens have been
reported missing, questioned or detained in China since the beginning of
2024.

According to council head Chiu Chui-cheng, data from January 1, 2024 to July
22 of this year show that 154 Taiwanese had been reported missing in China,
32 had been held for questioning and 216 had been detained.

Of those detained, 134, or 62-per cent were linked to fraud cases, 58 to
other criminal cases, 23 to religious activities and one to a national
security case.

Speaking during a legislative hearing, Chiu says the statistics were not
intended to convey an "anti-China" political message, but were aimed at
making the public aware of the risks involved in traveling there.

The K-M-T is slamming Chiu for persistently claiming that travel to China as
"dangerous" -- accusing the Mainland Affairs Council of promoting the Lai
administration's ideology rather than fulfilling its official duties.

The K-M-T is also questioning the council's decision to count the number of
Taiwanese detained for fraud or other criminal offenses as having encountered
"travel risks" - saying such cases clearly involve violations of local laws
rather than political activity.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

Local drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger has teamed up with U-S defense company
Shield A-I to demonstrate mission autonomy software in a coordinated
operation involving unmanned surface vessels.

During a demonstration at Pingtung's Dapeng Bay, Thunder Tiger's SeaShark 800
and SeaShark 600 U-SV-s were tasked with a reconnaissance mission within a
designated section of the bay.

The two U-S-Vs ultimately succeeded in "expelling" the intruder.

Personnel from state-arms developer, the National Chung-Shan Institute for
Science and Technology, and the Coast Guard Administration attended the
demonstration.

According to Maximilian Chen, Shield AI's director of government relations
for Asia, a fleet of five U-S-Vs could cover up to 8.3 times their combined
search area if Hivemind were used to determine their routes.

Thunder Tiger Chairman William Chen also underscored the growing importance
of unmanned aerial vehicles and U-S-Vs - saying lawmakers
should urgently pass the Cabinet's drone procurement bill to fund Taiwan's
purchase of domestically built drones.

Lawmakers on Monday referred 14 different versions of the bill to
cross-caucus negotiations after they failed to agree on its key components,
including title, competent authority and spending cap during committee
review.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

The Hsinchu City Government as expanded testing of locally produced rice
noodle products after several made by a local manufacturers were found to
contain formaldehyde.

Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao says city collected 28 samples from 16 rice noodle and
rice vermicelli manufacturers from July 16 through 27 and sent them to the
Food Industry Research and Development Institute for formaldehyde testing on
Tuesday.

The results of those tests are expected tomorrow and will be published on the
city's food safety website.

According to Kao, her administration was first notified by the Tainan City
government on May 27 that steamed rice noodles produced by Hsinchu-based Ming
Hao Enterprise tested positive for formaldehyde.

Kao says authorities, working with the Food and Drug Administration,
inspected the company's factory on June 3, collecting four finished-product
samples and two raw material samples.

All affected downstream products were ordered removed from store shelves and
recalled.

Preliminary tests confirmed the presence of formaldehyde on on June 8 and
authorities halted sales of the affected products, imposed administrative
penalties and referred the case to prosecutors for further investigation.

Posted on 2026-07-30 08:15:13

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to
strengthen into a severe typhoon as it tracks northwest toward waters south
of Japan.

The storm is currently located some 5,000-kilometers east of Eluanbi at
Taiwan's southern most tip and is moving west northwesterly direction at
21-kilometers-an-hour.

According to the weather administration, the storm is currently forecast to
maintain a course toward waters south of Japan through early next week.

However, its longer-term path remains highly uncertain, as the weather
administration says forecast models diverge significantly, with possible
tracks toward Japan, Korea, China or waters north of Taiwan.

The administration's forecast center says the storm's eventual path is
unlikely to become clearer until next week.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

Several scholars says a social media post by the American Institute in Taiwan
showing U-S and Taiwan coast guard vessels sailing in formation indicates
that Washington views Taipei as an important partner.

The post shows the Coast Guard Administration's Chiayi-class offshore patrol
vessel, the "Taipei," and the U-S Coast Guard cutter, "Midgett" sailing in
formation.

It acknowledges cooperation on what it called "joint maritime objectives,
identified as search and rescue, tropical storm preparedness, disaster
relief, maritime resource conservation, illegal fishing crackdowns, and
interdicting sea drug smuggling. "

AIT further acknowleged "Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and
safety, and continues to support Taiwan's meaningful contributions on global
issues, including maritime law enforcement exchange and international
cooperation.

Foreign policy expert Bonnie Glaser said post acknowledges role as an
important partner, its positive contributions to regional security, and the
U-S committment "to working alongside Taiwan to promote shared objectives."

She also said the social media post was meant to reassure Taiwan and its
people that they are not alone and that their contributions to regional peace
and maritime safety are valued."

For his part, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling says the U-S move
demonstrates a determination to maintain peace and security in the Western
Pacific and a recognition that the U-S views Taiwan Coast Guard as "the sole
law enforcement agency in Taiwan's waters."

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

Taiwan's representative to the U-S, Alexander Yui attended the funeral of
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham which took place yesterday.

Yui said he was attending on behalf of President Lai Ching-te, Vice President
Hsiao Bi-khim and the people of Taiwan.

Yui described Graham as a steadfast supporter of Taiwan since he was first
elected to the U-S House of Representatives in 1994-- and that Graham
consistently supported Taiwan's democracy, freedom and security through
legislation and public advocacy since.

He also noted that Graham led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Taiwan
in 2022, demonstrating his support for the country through concrete action.

Graham died last week at the age of 71.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

The island's first domestically built submarine prototype, the Narwhal, has
resumed sea trials as it moves on track for delivery to the Navy in the
second half of this year.

The submarine resumed sea trials on Wednesday.

It marks the vessel's 19th sea trial and 13th underwater test.

C-S-B-C has not released any further details of the latest round of sea
trials.

However, the shipbuilder recently said the submarine would soon begin
multiple endurance tests.

Defense analysts have said the submarine prototype has now entered the latter
stages of its sea trial program and carrying out deeper dives.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo has not given an exact date for the Narwhal's
delivery to the Navy - saying only it could between late August or early
September.

C-S-B-C in late June warned the typhoon season could cause minor delays of a
few days, but stressed that it doesn't expect that to significantly derail
the overall delivery schedule.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a former Army sergeant
for bullying and physically punishing a female subordinate.

The abuses include allegations the sergeant forced the subordinate to spend
hours looking for a spider before later beating her when she failed to find
it.

The 25-year-old former sergeant served as a deputy squad leader with the
Army's 269th Combined Arms Brigade in 2023 before she was discharged from the
military in 2024 after getting disciplinary demerits.

Prosecutors say the former sergeant repeatedly subjected a female technical
specialist to unreasonable punishments while they served in the same unit and
shared a dormitory.

The alleged abuse stemmed from differences in their hygiene routines.

The victim reported the alleged abuse to her superiors, who launched the
investigation and referred the case to civilian prosecutors.

Prosecutors say the former Army sergeant abused her authority by forcing her
subordinate to carry out pointless tasks, depriving her of sleep and
restricting her freedom of movement, and causing severe physical and
psychological distress.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

The Tourism Administration says 4.29 million international visitors traveled
to Taiwan in the first half of this year.

That figure is a 2.3-per cent increase from the same period of last year.

Tourism Administration data shows that from January to June, nearly 4.3
million international visitors arrived in Taiwan.

Japan was the largest source market, followed by Hong Kong and South Korea.

As of July 15, total visitor arrivals had reached about 4.55-million, up
1.6-per cent from the same period last year.

Visitor numbers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, the U-S and India
all posted growth of more than 9-per cent during the period.

However, arrivals from Hong Kong and Macau, Malaysia, the U-K, Japan and
China all registered declines from the first half of last year.

The tourism agency says it will continue to monitor global travel conditions
and adjust its marketing strategies to strengthen arrivals from key overseas
markets.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

The Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall of a growth disorder
medication after the necks of the drug's containers were found to broken.

The "Omnitrope" injection is manufactured by Sandoz Pharmaceutical Taiwan.

An investigation has since found the damage likely occurred during the
production process because a manufacturing tool had not been properly
adjusted, causing it to strike the neck of the vials.

The F-D-A says other batches of the medication are not affected and will
continue to be imported, with no shortage expected.

The company is required to complete the recall by August 8.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

And,

Taiwan's major convenience store chains and PXPay Plus have launched
fundraising drives to help people affected by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake
that struck Japan's southwestern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday.

The convenience store chains and the e-payment platform operated by
supermarket chain PX Mart are partnering with Taiwan-based Mustard Seed
Mission, to launch a joint fundraising campaign for emergency relief and
post-earthquake reconstruction.

The Mustard Seed Mission says it has already provided 10,000 U-S dollars in
emergency assistance and activated the first phase of its disaster response
plan through its longtime Japanese partner, A-A-R Japan.

According to the organization, initial relief efforts will focus on emergency
supplies, mobile food distribution, psychosocial support, assistance for
evacuation shelters and care for vulnerable groups, including children, older
adults and people with disabilities.

Convenience store operators 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Hi-Life say donations
will be accepted through August 31 via the participating retailers' apps and
in-store kiosks.

While PXPay Plus has launched dedicated donation sections on its app and the
PX Pay app.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

The Reuters News Agency says its has authenticated footage from a small
California-based drone maker showing a Chinese warship operating inside the
Philippines' exclusive ‌economic zone.

The Lightfish drone approached a People's Liberation Army Navy ship off
Luzon Island in waters where Beijing's military presence has become a
persistent source of regional tension.

The vessel was identified as a Chinese Type 052D destroyer

The authenticated video is believes is the first footage of its kind recorded
by a private U.S. firm.

The Philippine Coast Guard has reported an increased presence of Chinese
maritime forces, including warships, in the area last year compared to 2024.

Posted on 2026-07-30 06:53:14

Ukraine says its forces have hit two of Russia’s major oil refineries in
their latest long-range strikes.

Officials say the attacks are part of Kyiv's ongoing pressure on Moscow.

The strikes have targeted Russian oil facilities for months, causing a fuel
crisis that embarrasses the Kremlin.

The refineries are crucial for Russia's military and government revenue.

The attacks came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington for
talks with President Donald Trump, seeking more U.S. support for Ukraine.

Posted on 2026-07-29 19:08:13

The Taipei District Court has sentenced JKO Pay founder Hu Yi-chia (胡亦嘉) to
seven years in prison ...

... and fined him 100 million NT for failing to allocate investment fund
shares fairly among investors.

Prosecutors said the case stems from investment fund allocations made in
2020, alleging Hu and others generated about 60 million NT in ill-gotten
gains.

Hu was convicted of violating the Securities Investment Trust and Consulting
Act and was separately sentenced to six months in prison for document
forgery.

A former chairman of JKO Asset Management was also sentenced to
four-and-a-half years in prison, while several other defendants received
lighter sentences or were acquitted.

The ruling can be appealed ..

... and the court has yet to explain the factual basis or sentencing reasons
behind its decision.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-29 19:08:13

National Health Insurance will begin covering 0.05-percent atropine eye drops
for children and teenagers under 18 starting Aug. 1.

The N-H-I-A estimates about 365-thousand young people could benefit.

Atropine is used to slow the progression of myopia, or nearsightedness ....

... but higher concentrations can cause side effects such as light
sensitivity and difficulty focusing at close range.

The health insurance program already covers 0.01-percent and 0.1-percent
concentrations.

Officials say adding 0.05-percent gives doctors another option for children
who do not respond well enough to the lowest dose but struggle with side
effects at higher concentrations.

The N-H-I-A says the expanded coverage is not expected to increase overall
insurance spending.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 19:08:13

Taiwan is protesting the way it's been labeled in South Africa's new travel
system.

South Africa's electronic travel authorization system lists Taiwan as
"Taiwan, China" in a drop-down menu.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, the designation is incorrect.

They say, it implies Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China.

MOFA says, it told its office in Pretoria to lodge a formal protest.

Taiwan has fought this kind of labeling before.

South Korea used a similar tag last year, and eventually removed the fields
altogether to settle the dispute.

But this one may be harder.

Relations between Taipei and Pretoria have been strained since South Africa
tried to downgrade Taiwan's representative office there.

It is a dispute that still hasn't been resolved.

(JC-CNA)

Posted on 2026-07-29 19:08:13

In international news,

Ukraine says it has struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries as it steps
up pressure on Moscow.

Today's attack on the Ryazan refinery, which produces gasoline and other
fuels, reportedly sparked a fire and left six people hospitalized.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says such attacks are aimed at
weakening Russia's ability to continue the war.

Ukraine's recent military successes have also helped renew support in
Washington.

Zelenskyy met U-S President Donald Trump and U-S senators yesterday to
discuss further military assistance and additional sanctions against Russia.

Posted on 2026-07-29 19:08:13

Fire crews in southwest France are battling a massive wildfire as extreme
heat and strong winds threaten to fuel the flames.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celcius on Wednesday,
complicating efforts to bring the fire under control.

Authorities say 220 thousand people have been forced from their homes, with
another 4 thousand evacuated from tourist areas along the Atlantic coast on
Tuesday.

Officials in the Gironde region say conditions remained relatively calm
overnight, but warn the heat and winds could trigger new flare-ups.

Across France and Spain, wildfires have displaced around 330 thousand people.

Posted on 2026-07-29 17:19:14

The Control Yuan says, it found evidence of workplace bullying by Taiwan's
former top trade negotiator.

They say, Yang Zhenni intentionally kept former deputy trade rep Yan Hui Xin
from participating in tariff talks between Taiwan and the US.

The judgement comes after Yan's death, when reveleations emerged indicating
that Yang had engaged in workplace bullying.

The Control Yuan adds that Yang targeted some of those working under her with
intimidation, employing offensive language and negating Yan's ideas.

Overall, the report accuses Yang of engaging in longterm targeting of Yan,
even intentionally preventing her from being able to carry out her duties.

As a result, the watchdog has opted to approve Yang's removal.

The disciplinary court will now decide how to handle Yang.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-29 17:19:14

The Taipei City government says, residents whose vehicles were damaged in
flooding in Neihu last month can get up to 25000 NT in subsidies.

They're asking that city residents include photos and receipts from repair
work when applying...

or evidence that the vehicle was retired.

Applications are open now through the end of September.

The announcement follows floods caused by heavy rain in Neihu on June 25th

The city government says, it's aiming to lessen the financial burden on
residents who were affected by the floods.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-29 17:19:14

Now turning to international news...

Far-right Israeli extremists are ramping up their fringe campaign to
establish Jewish settlements in Syria.

The Israeli army has been occupying an area of southern Syria for a year and
a half.

But civilian settlers more recently started staging incursions into the
country in hopes of establishing illegal settlements there.

The group aims to settle an area including three provinces, which Israel
declared a "buffer zone" in 2024, soon after the ouster of former Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad in an insurgent offensive.

Settlers attempt to establish settlements that theyhope Israel's government
will eventually legalize.

That's how many illegal Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
got their start.

The Syrian government has condemned Israel’s occupation of southern Syria and
frequently calls for Israeli forces to withdraw and for the international
community to intervene.

Posted on 2026-07-29 17:19:14

Officials in the Solomon Islands have recovered a man's body from a landslide
at a gold mine.

The landslide occurred at an open pit mine owned by a Chinese firm.

Authorities are continuing the searches to see if others are buried.

The cause of the landslide is unknown.

Prime Minister Matthew Wale says, safety practices at the site will be
investigated.

Wanguo Gold Group said in a statement that none of their employees were hurt
or missing and that no equipment was damaged.

The site, near the capital Honiara, is the country's only large-scale gold
mine.

Operated by Gold Ridge Mining Limited, the mine has since 2019 been
majority-owned by the Hong Kong-listed, Chinese-headquartered firm Wanguo
Gold Group.

The Solomon Islands are highly dependant on foreign investment, and has been
a part of China's Belt and Road Initiaitve since 2013.

Posted on 2026-07-29 15:01:13

Police have seized more than 70,000 suspected counterfeit products bearing
Pokémon, Sanrio and NEW ERA trademarks.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says the goods were found during searches
of warehouses and sales locations in New Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung.

Twelve suspects have been referred to prosecutors for alleged trademark
violations.

Police say the products were mainly imported in bulk from suppliers in China
and sold for about 80-percent of the price of genuine merchandise.

Sellers allegedly advertised them as readily available and guaranteed to be
original quality, while using thousands of online reviews to build trust.

The seized goods are estimated to represent nearly 35-million N.T. in
trademark value.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 15:01:13

Two red pandas from Shanghai Zoo have made their public debut at Taipei Zoo.

The pair, named Lele (樂樂) and Tiantian (甜甜), arrived in Taiwan on June 6 and
spent a month in quarantine before moving to the zoo's temperate zone.

Their transfer was arranged under a species exchange agreement signed during
the 2024 Taipei-Shanghai City Forum.

A planned Shanghai delegation was absent at the debut after Taiwan's central
government raised concerns over possible united-front activity.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an called the delegation's absence regrettable,
saying the exchange reflects cooperation on endangered species conservation,
biodiversity and sustainable development.

Zoo staff say Lele has been more outgoing since arriving, while Tiantian has
been more cautious as she adjusts to her new surroundings.

The exchange agreement was revised earlier to have Taipei send white-handed
gibbons to Shanghai instead of black-footed penguins.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 15:01:13

An agricultural research station in Taitung is helping an Indigenous
community preserve plants traditionally used to make fermentation starters.

The Ministry of Agriculture says the Dianguang community in Guanshan has
established a conservation plot and propagation system for several
traditional plants used in Amis food and drink culture.

The project is designed to pass traditional crops and knowledge on to younger
generations while supporting local food and agricultural education.

Dianguang has fewer than 300 permanent residents and is home to both Amis and
Hakka communities.

The station is also helping develop local food experiences and agricultural
tours using crops grown in the area, including plums, coffee and ingredients
connected to traditional fermentation.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 15:01:13

The U.S. military says it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by
Iran toward American forces in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command described the launches as an attempted surprise attack,
but did not initially identify the target.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards later said the missiles were aimed at a U.S. air
base and a U.S. Central Command facility in Jordan, describing the attack as
retaliation for U.S. actions against Iranian interests.

CENTCOM says all of the missiles were intercepted.

The U.S. also says American and Saudi forces later carried out strikes on
Iran-backed militant sites in eastern Iraq after drone attacks targeted Saudi
oil facilities.

President Donald Trump has warned U.S. strikes on Iran could resume if
negotiations fail, while Tehran denies seeking renewed talks.

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

President Lai Ching-te is calling for the legislature to prioritize national
security and support the Executive Yuan's version of a special budget for
drone funding.

The president says, the special budget would allow the Ministry of National
Defense to coordinate military needs and arms procurement.

Lai made the comments at a military promotion ceremony today.

He stated that the military will soon hold readiness exercises, and thanked
soldiers for their effort in defending the nation.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

Taiwan Railways is making its college student fare discounts a regular
program starting Aug. 20th, following strong demand.

The program was originally planned as a one-year trial beginning Aug. 17th.

Under the revised system, designated reserved-seat trains will offer fixed
discounts of either 50-percent or 30-percent, instead of varying fares based
on how early students book.

Passengers taking the same train on the same date will receive the same
discount.

The offer applies to eligible college and university students traveling at
least 50 kilometers on reserved-seat services.

Rules on student ID checks, refunds and additional fares for violations
remain unchanged.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

The Military News Agency is marking its 80th anniversary with a free
photography exhibition in Taipei's Dadaocheng district.

Running from July 31 through Aug. 16 at Olympus Plaza Taipei, the exhibition
will feature decades of military and disaster-response photography.

Highlights include images from the 1960 U.S.-Taiwan Blue Star exercise, the
first Han Kuang exercise in 1984, the arrival of Hai Lung-class submarines
and military disaster relief following the 1999 earthquake and Typhoon
Morakot.

The exhibition also showcases combat training and the work of military
reporters in the field.

The agency says the collection documents both the development of Taiwan's
armed forces and major moments in the country's modern history.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

U.S. President Donald Trump says separate meetings with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went well.

Both leaders were in Washington to attend a memorial service for Republican
Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump offered few details, saying only that important issues were discussed.

Zelenskiy says talks included plans for Ukraine to produce Patriot missile
interceptors and efforts to revive peace negotiations with Russia.

Netanyahu also described his meeting as excellent.

The talks came as the U.S. and Israel remain engaged in the conflict with
Iran, while the Gaza ceasefire continues to face repeated violations.

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

Oman has presented Iran with a Gulf-backed proposal for managing the Strait
of Hormuz, including voluntary fees for ships using the key waterway.

Reports say the plan would prevent Iran from exercising sole control, with
contributions modeled on voluntary systems used in the Strait of Malacca to
support navigation, environmental protection and rescue operations.

The United States has rejected any mandatory tolls, saying Hormuz is an
international waterway that should remain open without Iranian restrictions.

The proposal is part of efforts to end disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli
war with Iran.

President Donald Trump says talks are progressing, but warned U.S. strikes
could resume if negotiations fail.

Iran says it has not sought renewed talks with Washington.

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:54:13

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southern Japan has risen to at
least 13, as rescuers continue searching for survivors.

The magnitude 7.1 quake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, collapsing
buildings, damaging roads and leaving tens of thousands of homes without
power.

Rescue teams are focusing on a partially collapsed Aeon shopping mall near
Kumamoto, where several people were pulled from the rubble and four workers
remain unaccounted for.

Seven people are also missing at a Nippon Paper factory after a chimney
collapsed.

More than 4,500 troops have been deployed to support rescue and recovery
efforts.

Several manufacturers have suspended operations, while TSMC says it evacuated
workers from its Kumamoto plant as a precaution and began resuming operations
Tuesday night.

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is doubling down on his calls for the cabinet to
be dissolved...

and says that Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi Mai should replace the premier.

Chiang says, Premier Zhuo Rong Tai should step down and the cabinet should be
dissolved over the Central Union Oils contamination scandal.

He slammed the central government for not apologizing over the issue.

Chiang claimed that many KMT lawmakers had discussed dissolving the cabinet
with him...

adding that he believed that the KMT needed to arrive at a consensus together
with the TPP before taking any action.

A vote of no confidence against the premier, if successful, could trigger the
dissolution of the legislature.

Meanwhile Chen himself says that he's currently focused on finishing out his
term as mayor.

Chen said, he agreed with remarks made yesterday by New Taipei Hou You-yi,
who said that it would be best for everyone to just do their jobs.

Chen added that the most pressing issue for mayors at this time is to ensure
food safety, which, he said, applies to the mayor of Taipei as well.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

The Core Pacific Chair's request to have his ankle monitor temporarily
removed for a medical reason has been rejected.

Shen Qing Jing was ordered to wear an electric ankle monitor but appealed to
the Taiwan High Court for the anklet to be temporarily removed for an MRI.

The court checked with Shen's doctor to confirm that the scan was not urgent
before rejecting the appeal.

Shen was sentenced to 10 years' jailtime in March related to the Core Pacific
City case on charges including profiteering.

He's been under electrionic monitoring and movement restrictions for about 2
months.

The High Court says today that there was nothing that indicated that the MRI
was extremely pressing or that Shen's health would seriously deteriorate if
he did not have the scan in August...

therefore rejecting the appeal.

The High Court's decision can still be appealed.

（AH）

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

The Chair of Forbes Media is urging U.S. President Donald Trump to approve a
proposed 14-billion U.S. dollar arms sale to Taiwan.

In an article published yesterday, Forbes argues the sale is important to
both Taiwan's security and broader U.S. strategic interests.

Congress gave preliminary approval to the package in January, but Secretary
of State Marco Rubio says it remains under internal review.

Forbes says further delays could weaken U.S. credibility and create gaps in
Taiwan's defense readiness as China increases military pressure.

The package reportedly includes anti-ship missiles and ammunition considered
central to Taiwan's so-called Porcupine Strategy.

Forbes also argues Taiwan arms sales should remain separate from broader
negotiations with Beijing, saying approval would reinforce deterrence and
reassure Taiwan and other regional partners that U.S. support remains steady.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

The Tai ex dropped below the 40,000 mark this morning, but recovered some
ground.

Overall, the benchmark lost 1564 points to close the session at 40039.

The tumble came as large tech stocks have come under pressure due to concerns
over large AI investments.

The turnover was 1.083 trillion NT

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

And in international news...

Emergency workers in Japan are continuing to search for survivors following a
powerful earthquake yesterday.

The 7.1 magnitude quake in Kumamoto killed at least 13 people.

Rescuers are searching through a damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses
looking for trapped survivors.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that some people are still awaiting
recuse, but it's not clear how many people are currently missing.

A government spokesperson said that nearly 37,000 homes were without
electricity, and thousands of people spent the night in evacuation centers.

Bullet train services and some airport operations remain suspended, as damage
is still being assessed.

Posted on 2026-07-29 14:51:13

The Indian capital has adopted a new policy to make most new vehicles
electric in an effort to improve air quality.

The plan includes subsidies, tax waivers, and incentives for getting rid of
old vehicles.

At an estimated cost of 1.5 billion US dollars, the plan will offer cash of
more than 500 dollars to residents who buy EVs and over 1000 dollars for
those who get ride of their old gas-powered vehicles.

Experts say, it's one of India's most ambitious EV policies to help one of
the world's most polluted cities.

But, New Delhi still needs more charging stations, especially for
long-distance drivers.

Currently, only about 5% of Delhi's vehicles are electric.

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

The American Institute in Taiwan has made a rare public display of
U.S.-Taiwan coast guard cooperation, releasing images of vessels from both
sides sailing together at sea.

AIT says the U.S. Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration are
coordinating on search and rescue, disaster response, illegal fishing and
drug interdiction, among other areas.

Bonnie Glaser of the German Marshall Fund says the move sends a message that
Taiwan is an important regional security partner.

She says it also signals to Beijing that attempts to isolate and bully Taiwan
will not succeed.

Taiwan's Coast Guard says the two sides are continuing to expand cooperation
in the Taiwan Strait and western Pacific, including maritime law enforcement
and emergency response.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

The number of overseas visitors arriving in Taiwan rose 2.3-percent in the
first half of this year to about 4.29 million.

The Tourism Administration says Japan remained the largest source market,
followed by Hong Kong and South Korea.

By July 15, total arrivals had reached about 4.55 million, roughly
1.6-percent higher than the same period last year.

The Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam were among markets showing strong
growth.

But arrivals from Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, Malaysia, China and the U.K.
declined.

Officials say international travel remains under pressure from the conflict
in the Middle East, including higher fuel costs and security concerns.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

sales

Executives at two major Taiwanese private investigation firms are under
investigation over alleged illegal surveillance and suspected sales of
personal data to China.

New Taipei prosecutors searched 17 locations and detained 10 people,
including the president of Guohua and the general manager of Yitong.

The two executives were later released on bail of 3-million and 1.5-million
N.T.

The case began after a GPS tracker was allegedly installed on a man's scooter
during an infidelity investigation.

Prosecutors later found evidence suggesting a company manager may have sold
illegally obtained personal data through WeChat in exchange for Chinese yuan.

Authorities are now investigating whether senior executives were involved and
whether the case raises national security concerns.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

Keiko Fujimori has been sworn in as Peru's president, extending a broader
rightward political shift across Latin America.

The 51-year-old is Peru's first elected female president and the country's
10th leader since 2016, following a decade of political instability.

Fujimori narrowly defeated leftist congressman Roberto Sanchez in a June
runoff.

In her inaugural address, she pledged to tackle crime, improve the business
climate, cut unnecessary spending and raise the minimum wage.

Her conservative Popular Force party will hold the largest minority bloc in a
fragmented Congress, potentially complicating efforts to pass legislation.

Fujimori has also expressed interest in closer cooperation with U.S.
President Donald Trump's administration, including on regional security and
efforts to counter transnational crime.

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

Firefighters in France and Spain are making progress against major wildfires
that have forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

A blaze in France's Bordeaux region was contained overnight, while Spanish
authorities allowed residents in several areas to return home and scaled back
emergency measures.

But fires are still burning near Madrid, and another heatwave is expected to
intensify from Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called the current wildfire crisis
possibly the country's worst since World War Two.

In Spain, the death toll from a July 9 wildfire near Almeria has risen to 14
after another burn victim died.

Scientists say extreme heat and drought are making wildfires more
destructive, while some large fires can even generate their own storm
systems, producing strong winds and lightning.

Posted on 2026-07-29 12:52:14

Elon Musk's X is pushing back against plans to strengthen enforcement of
Australia's social media ban for children under 16.

The law took effect last December, but Australian regulators say many
underage teenagers still have social media accounts.

X told a Senate committee that proposed new powers for the eSafety
Commissioner could undermine procedural fairness, privacy and international
legal principles.

The changes would expand the regulator's ability to demand documents,
including from companies and affiliates outside Australia, and would double
the maximum fine to 99-million Australian dollars.

Australia's eSafety regulator says its current powers are too limited and
have slowed potential enforcement action against several platforms.

YouTube and TikTok have also argued there is no failsafe method for
identifying and blocking underage users.

The Senate committee is due to report its findings on August 25.

Posted on 2026-07-29 11:06:13

A DPP Caucus visit to the US has concluded, with Taipei mayoral candidate
Puma Shen saying that the team succeeded in establishing channels of
communication with city officials in the US...

which will be an important foundation for city governance in Taipei.

Shen was accompanied on his trip by Caucus Whip Cai Qi Chang as well as
colleagues Wu Si Yao, Chen Pei Yu, and Wang Ding Yu.

Cai said upon his return to Taoyuan international airport this morning that
the trip's itinerary was primarily concentrated in Washington DC.

Cai said the delegation was able to meet with everyone that they planned to,
including House Speaker Mike Johnson and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Shen added that the group was able to learn from exchange with US
counterparts regarding affordable housing, urban cooling and foliage, talent
development, and school commute safety.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-29 11:06:13

Typhoon Dolphin could become the strongest storm of 2026 as early as
Thursday, but it is not expected to threaten Taiwan over the next 10 days.

Meteorologist Wu Der-rong says Dolphin has rapidly intensified and is nearing
strong typhoon strength.

Maximum sustained winds are forecast to reach 63 meters per second Thursday,
topping Typhoon Bavi's previous high of 60 meters per second this year.

Dolphin is expected to move west-northwest toward waters southeast of Japan
over the next five days.

Meanwhile...the Central Weather Administration has issued yellow heat alerts
for nine cities and counties today, including Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and
several areas in central and southern Taiwan.

Temperatures could reach 36 degrees or higher, with chances of isolated
afternoon thunderstorms offering some relief.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-29 11:06:13

Now turning to international news and in the US,

The Senate has taken the first steps towards passing a sweeping Russian
sanctions bill.

The bill would aim to penalize countries that continue to buy Russian oil,
gas, and other exports.

This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington DC for
talks with US leaders.

Zelenskyy reportedly told senators that the sanctions legislation is
"important as a moral signal to a country that is weary and tired, though
holding its own and then some against Russia."

A group of senators had been working for more than a year to negotiate
legislation that could get approval from both the White House and a majority
of senators.

The bill allows the president to impose tariffs on the world’s top five
purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas.

China and India top that list.

The legislations also includes sanctions on Putin and other top Russian
leaders.

Posted on 2026-07-28 20:10:13

TSMC's semiconductor subsidiary in Japan has evacuated employees after a
powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture mid-afternoon.

The company says the evacuation was carried out in line with emergency
procedures and that employee safety was its top priority.

All staff were safely evacuated and were being accounted for.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs said other Taiwanese companies
operating in Kumamoto, including Advantech and Delta Electronics, reported
their employees were safe and that their operations had not been affected.

Japanese authorities say the magnitude 7.1 earthquake prompted a tsunami
advisory for nearby coastal areas, but the advisory was lifted within two
hours.

Officials have reported injuries and damage to infrastructure while warning
residents to prepare for possible strong aftershocks.

Authorities say no abnormalities have been reported at nearby nuclear power
plants.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has conveyed its condolences to
the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and offered assistance if needed.

It also says Taiwan's representative office in Fukuoka has so far received no
reports of Taiwanese nationals being affected.

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

Taipei has used the national Employment Stabilization Fund for nearly eight
straight years to expand its long-term care workforce ...

... as the capital copes with Taiwan's highest proportion of senior citizens.

According to Ministry of the Interior statistics, people aged 65 and older
accounted for more than 24 percent of Taipei's population in 2025 - the
highest share of any city or county in Taiwan.

To meet growing demand, the city has worked with the Ministry of Labor since
2018 to train caregivers based on its projected long-term care staffing
needs.

Officials say at least 77 percent of trainees have found jobs within three
months of completing the program each year...

...with the employment rate reaching 90 percent last year - up 8 percent from
three years earlier.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

The Taipei City government says it is studying a proposal to create a public
online platform for city councilors' information requests.

The platform would publicly display councilors' requests for information,
along with the city government's responses.

City officials say the proposal involves legal and technical issues and will
be evaluated over the next three months.

The proposal was put forward by DPP Councilor Wang Min-sheng (王閔生), who says
it would reduce duplicate information requests, ease the workload for civil
servants, and create a searchable knowledge base for the public.

TPP Councilor Lin Zhen-yu (林珍羽) says councilors often have to repeatedly
verify information because the city government sometimes provides incomplete
or inaccurate data.

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

Taiwan and the Philippines are expanding educational cooperation, with the
number of Filipino students studying in Taiwan increasing by nearly 80
percent over the past three years.

The Ministry of Education says more than 5,500 Filipino students were
studying in Taiwan in 2025 - up from just over 3,000 in 2022.

Following a meeting between education officials this week, the two sides
agreed to establish a database of Filipino students.

They also plan to set up a regional Mandarin training center in the
Philippines and expand dual-degree programs.

Taiwan has also established talent circulation centers in the Philippines to
provide Mandarin training and encourage students to pursue higher education
in Taiwan.

The ministry says future cooperation will focus on areas including
semiconductors, smart agriculture and fisheries.

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck Kumamoto on Japan's Kyushu island,
causing injuries, infrastructure damage and power outages.

Japan's Meteorological Agency briefly issued a tsunami advisory for the
Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, but lifted it within two hours.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged residents to stay away from the
coastline and says the government has set up a task force to assess the
damage and coordinate rescue efforts.

Authorities are warning of the risk of strong aftershocks.

Officials say no abnormalities have been detected at nearby nuclear power
plants, while train services have been suspended for safety inspections.

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has surpassed 3,200 confirmed cases, with
aid organizations warning the virus is spreading faster than efforts to
contain it.

The Health Ministry also says over 1,400 deaths had been recorded as of
Monday.

Aid groups say that in just 10 weeks, the outbreak has nearly matched the
scale of Congo's 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak, the country's largest on
record.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has
no approved vaccines or treatments.

Local health officials say insecurity, ongoing conflict and a strike by
healthcare workers demanding unpaid wages are making the outbreak even more
difficult to contain.

Posted on 2026-07-28 19:59:13

Romania says it has begun shooting down drones that enter its airspace
following repeated incursions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Romanian pilots flying F-16 fighter jets shot down three drones over three
days beginning Friday, marking a shift in the country's response.

President Nicusor Dan has described the incidents as unacceptable and blamed
Russia.

Romania's Foreign Ministry has summoned Russia's ambassador and expelled a
Russian diplomat in response.

The Defense Ministry says it has developed new tactics to intercept and
destroy drones that violate Romanian airspace.

Posted on 2026-07-28 18:16:13

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company says it has activated evacuation
procedures at its semiconductor plant in Kumamoto, Japan, after a powerful
earthquake struck the region.

TSMC says the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing facility met its
evacuation threshold ... and employees have been moved to designated safe
areas and accounted for under emergency response procedures.

The company says personnel safety is its top priority.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto at 3:27 PM Taiwan time ... at a
depth of 10 kilometers and reached the maximum seismic intensity of 7 on
Japan's scale.

About 48 thousand households reportedly lost power after the quake ...

And Japan's Meteorological Agency is warning that strong aftershocks remain
possible over the coming week, especially during the next two to three days.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 18:16:13

The Centers for Disease Control warns that COVID-19 cases are expected to
peak in early August before beginning to decline in September ...

... and is urging high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Officials estimate weekly outpatient and emergency visits for COVID-19 could
reach about 51 thosuand at the height of the current wave.

Last week, from the 19th to the 25th, there were more than 10 thousand 600
such visits — more than double the previous week's total.

Authorities also reported 42 severe cases and two deaths during the same
period.

The CDC says the recent surge has led to a sharp increase in vaccinations,
with more than 7 thousand 600 doses administered last week — about three
times the recent weekly average.

Health officials say more than 90 percent of severe cases this season
involved people who had not received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, with older
adults and people with chronic illnesses at greatest risk.

The CDC says vaccine supplies remain sufficient.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 18:16:13

The Ministry of National Defense says a Chinese carrier rocket is scheduled
to launch this Thursday, with its flight path expected to pass through
Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

The ministry says the rocket will be launched from the Taiyuan Satellite
Launch Center and is expected to head toward the western Pacific.

Separately, the defense ministry reported detecting one Chinese military
aircraft entering Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone and
seven Chinese naval vessels operating around Taiwan during the 24-hour period
beginning at 6 AM yesyerday.

The MND said it had "closely monitored" the Chinese operations and deployed
aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems in response.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 18:16:13

Taoyuan Airport MRT is offering free rides to passengers wearing indigenous
clothing or accessories from August 1st through the 7th to celebrate
Indigenous Peoples' Day.

The promotion is open to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, as long as they
are dressed in traditional indigenous attire or wearing accessories featuring
indigenous motifs or traditional patterns.

Passengers can enjoy unlimited free rides during the promotion by showing
their outfit to station staff at customer service counters.

The offer coincides with the Taoyuan Indigenous Ho Hai Yan Culture Festival
on August 1st and 2nd, featuring traditional ceremonies, performances, food,
and cultural markets at Tao-yuan Sunlight Arena.

Weekend indigenous markets will also be held throughout August, encouraging
visitors to explore cultural attractions along the Airport MRT line.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 17:08:13

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto
this afternoon, registering the maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity
scale.

It was a shallow quake, at only 10 kilometers.

The powerful quake struck at 3:27 p.m.Taipei time, followed four minutes
later by a magnitude 4.5 temblor, according to the Japan Meteorological
Agency.

A lower 5 intensity quake was recorded in Kikuyo Town, home to Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's Kuma-moto semiconductor plant.

TSMC is reportedly assessing the situation and there's currently no word on
the factory's damage or if there have been any casualties.

TSMC has one operating factory in Kumamoto, which has already started mass
production with some 2,400 workers, while a second factory is actively under
construction.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-07-28 17:08:17

The Taichung City Government has awarded the first construction contract for
the Taichung MRT Blue Line.

Officials say the first section, covering the line's first three stations, is
valued at nearly 12 billion NT and construction will begin soon.

A second construction package is currently under review, with a decision
expected by August sixth if the bidding process proceeds as planned.

The 25-kilometer line will run from Taichung Port to the New Jianguo Market
area ...

... and intersect with the existing Green Line at Taichung City Hall Station
to create the city's first cross-shaped MRT network.

It serves major residential, commercial and transportation hubs.

Taichung is also hosting a six-kilometer community walk on August 9th ...
passing through the areas around the first three planned stations ... in a
show of support for the project.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-28 17:08:24

Indonesia's central bank governor has resigned unexpectedly.

Perry Warjiyo stepped down, raising fresh concerns about how independent the
central bank really is under President Prabowo Subianto.

It's the second high-profile resignation in a week.

Days earlier, the head of the agency running Prabowo's flagship free-meals
program quit after just six weeks.

This comes amid a corruption investigation that triggered a standoff between
police and the military.

The turmoil comes as investors grow uneasy about the country's direction.

The president's costly populist promises have raised fears about government
debt, and Indonesia's main stock index has fallen nearly thirty percent this
year.

The national currency, the rupiah, has hit record lows several times in
recent months.

Posted on 2026-07-28 17:08:22

The KMT is downplaying accusations that it's forcing caucus members to take
part in a demonstration this Saturday.

Several civil groups, including the Chinese Association of Human Rights, are
set to hold a demonstration on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei this weekend in
protest of drug-impaired driving...

in an effort to encourage legal reforms.

The KMT caucus says today that its members will particpate in the
demonstration, as they also support such reforms.

But the caucus emphasizes that the participation is not due to orders from
KMT higher-ups.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:13

There are now tougher penalties for driving under the influence of drugs.

Lawmakers have passed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty
Act to say that anyone caught driving under the influence of drugs, or
refusing a drug test, will have their driver's license revoked.

The vehicle involved will be confiscated, regardless of who owns it.

Drivers who refuse a drug test will face a fine of $270-thousand NT for a
first offense and $450-thousand for a second offense.

Those who cause serious injury or death due to D-U-I-D will be permanently
barred from obtaining a driver's license again.

The Cabinet approved the draft last month, citing a growing number of
drug-driving cases causing deaths and injuries.

The government says drug-impaired driving poses an even greater danger than
drunk driving because drug use is also a criminal offense.

To encourage passengers to help prevent drug-impaired driving, the new law
also imposes a fine up to $15,000 on passengers aged 18 or older who
knowingly ride with a drug-impaired driver.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says Taiwan is still awaiting official
response from the World Health Organization regarding its hepatitis C
elimination status.

Officials say Taiwan hit its elimination goals at the end of last year, five
years ahead of the W-H-O’s 2030 global deadline, with diagnosis and treatment
rates both topping 90 percent.

The ministry confirms today that Taiwan submitted its final report to the
W-H-O office early this year, but has received no updates over the past six
months.

Health officials say they will continue to follow up with the WHO, as Taiwan
seeks to become the first country in Asia to receive official W-H-O hepatitis
C elimination status.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:14

Taiwan shares are sharply down today, following huge losses in South Korea on
AI shares.

The benchmark tai ex lost 2030 points to close the session at 41603.

The turnover was 809 billion NT

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:14

Now turning to international news...

The presidents of the US and Ukraine are set to meet today.

The meeting at a senator's funeral will be the second meeting this month
between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his US counterpart.

Zelenskyy will also meet with senators to talk sanctions legislation.

The meeting comes as a far-right influencer had a widely-publicized change of
heart regarding Ukraine after a visit to the country.

Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia has been aiding Iran as the invasion
goes on, by capturing satellite imagery of US bases in the Gulf.

He said there was an obvious connection between Russia'a images and
subsequent Iranian strikes.

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:14

France is fighting what its president calls the country's worst fire crisis
since World War 2.

A monster wildfire in the southwest has burned an area 4 times the size of
Paris, and forced a quarter of a million people from their homes.

President Emmanuel Macron has visited firefighters, warning the battle isn't
won.

He warned that "the weeks ahead will be hard,"

There was some progress however.

The crews halted the fire's spread after it edged within 15 kilometers of
Bordeaux.

But another heat wave is forecast from today, threatening to undo those gains.

Spain is in the same fight.

A fire west of Madrid is now the largest in Spanish history.

Between the 2 countries, more than 330,000 people have fled.

Posted on 2026-07-28 14:08:14

The UN is marking 75 years since the 1952 Refugee Convention.

The treaty came to be after World War II, and was meant to help people
fleeing war, violence, and persecution.

Supporters say, the treaty has saved millions of lives.

But, respect for the agreement has declined recently, as some countries- like
the US- move to deny entry to refugees.

More than 41 million refugees remain forcibly displaced around the world;
nearly 70% are hosted by low- and middle-income countries.

The Refugee Convention's main principle aim to prevent the return of refugees
to a place where they may face persecution.

Posted on 2026-07-28 13:07:13

Officials say, the Wanli River barrier lake is overflowing at a steady pace,
with the water currently sitting at an elevation of over 1090 meters.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

The Hualien Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says, the
volume of the lake is currently sitting at over 6.15 million square meters.

Drone footage shows that the overflow rate is steady, with minor erosion
causing some rocks to fall loose into the riverbed.

Officials say the dam structure is intact with no immediate signs of damage.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-28 13:07:13

Brothers and sisters will no longer be guaranteed a reserved share of an
inheritance under amendments to the Civil Code.

The Legislative Yuan today passed the amendments removing siblings'
entitlement to a legally reserved share equal to one-third of their statutory
inheritance share.

The change means that people can now choose to leave nothing to their
siblings in a will, without being legally required to reserve a share of
their estate for them.

But legal experts stress that it only affects siblings' legally reserved
share.

If someone dies without a will, brothers and sisters remain legal heirs and
can still inherit a portion of the deceased's properties under Taiwan's rules
of succession.

The current Civil Code says descendants, parents, and spouses can each
receive a legally reserved share equal to one-half of their statutory
inheritance, while siblings and grandparents can get one-third of their
statutory inheritance.

The revised law will take effect six months after its promulgation.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-07-28 13:07:13

Experts say, when it comes to urban cooling, trees should be prioritized over
artificial sun shades.

That's as cities around Taiwan move to install sun shades at intersections
and other heavily trafficked pedestrian areas.

But scholars say, more foliage would actually provide better benefits to
residents.

That's because, as nighttime temperatures rise, it's more difficult for the
body to fully recover while sleeping.

While artificial sun shades provide shade during the day, they also retain
heat at night.

Trees and other greenery, on the other hand, help to reduce ground
temperatures, not just provide shade.

Remarking on France's recent heat wave, experts emphasize that urban cooling
must see trees doing the lion's share of the work.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-28 13:07:13

The death toll from monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan has now exceeded
100.

Forecasters warn that more heavy rain is expected across the country later
this week.

Many of the deaths were caused by collapsing houses and roofs, with nearly
half reported in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This comes as disaster management authorities yesterday reviewed flood
preparedness measures across the country.

Officials discussed plans to issue timely warnings to communities living
along rivers so residents can move to safer areas voluntarily or be evacuated
before floodwaters inundate their communities.

Last week, heavy rain lashed parts of the country, including Lahore, where
several neighborhoods were flooded, forcing commuters to take lengthy
detours.

It drew criticism from residents, who questioned the government’s
preparedness and response to extreme weather.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

The Tai-Ex tumbled this morning.

The main board shed over 1,600 points in early trading as it fell back to
42,030.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price fall to as low as
2,270 N-T after it lost 3.4-per cent from Monday's close to drop back to
below its quarterly moving average.

While memory chip giants Winbond Electronics and Nanya Technology briefly
touched their daily losing limit down before flattening out.

The declines came as South Korea's Kospi plummeted over 7-per cent this
morning and Japan's Nikkei index lost over 4-per cent.

While the tech heavy Nasdaq fell 0.2-per cent overnight for its fourth
straight loss after Nvidia fell 5-per cent and Micron Technology slumped
2.3-per cent on Wall Street.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

And,

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat warnings for parts of the
island today.

"Yellow" heat alerts are in effect for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung,
Changhua, Nantou, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung -- where the daily maximum
temperature today could reach 36-degrees.

The heat alerts are currently slated to remain in effect through later this
afternoon.

Meanwhile,

Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu says a Pacific high-pressure system is
strengthening from today, leading to hot weather across the island - which
will result in stable conditions for the remainder of this week and into
early next week.

Wu also says that tropical storm Dolphin, which has formed in waters some
6,000 kilometers east of Taiwan is expected to rapidly intensify and become a
severe typhoon, but will pose no threat to Taiwan in the next 10 days.

Dolphin is the 13th tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season and
is moving in a west-southwesterly direction at 15-kilometers-an-hour.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

U-S President Donald Trump is acknowledging the war in Iran is drawing down
American stockpiles of advanced weapons.

He told telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he would like more of
what he called "the more sophisticated stuff" - while also saying overall
supplies are in "very good shape."

The comments came days after Vice President J-D Vance and the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff raised concerns in a White House meeting about
depleting the country's missile reserves, with the Pentagon briefly pausing
its bombing campaign on Iran on Friday.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

That was Nick Harper reporting.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

Firefighters in France are working to take advantage of more favourable
weather conditions to curb massive wildfires threatening the city of
Bordeaux.

They're racing against the clock as another heatwave is expected to hit ‌the
country later this week in what has been a very hot and dry summer across
Western Europe.

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including holidaymakers and
local residents, in France.

French President Emmanuel Macron has visited Bordeaux where he thanked
firefighters for their hard work and warning the coming weeks will remain
difficult.

The blazes broke out last week near and are now only 15-kilometres away from
entry points to Bordeaux's main metropolitan area.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

Haiti's electoral council has scheduled the country's first presidential
elections in a decade for December 12 with a runoff on February 21.

The move comes after plans to hold the vote in August with a December runoff
were postponed ‌over security concerns.

Haiti has not held elections since 2016.

The country's last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021, after
delaying a vote.

Successive governments have been tasked with holding an election, but cited
insecurity amid a conflict with armed gangs as making that impossible.

The council earlier this month begun registering voters and training
electoral security agents.

It also published a definitive list of over 300 political parties approved
to compete in the coming election.

Posted on 2026-07-28 11:06:13

And finally,

A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that singer D4vid must stand trial in the
death of a teenage girl - with prosecutors saying the charges could result in
the death penalty.

The judge decided the evidence presented during a preliminary hearing
provided probable cause for charges of murder, continuous sexual abuse of a
child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors says Burke met Rivas Hernandez when she was 11, began abusing her
at 13 and killed her when she was 14 after she threatened to report him.

Burke's music career was rising before these allegations emerged.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Food and Drug Administration has released the findings of an independent
investigation into the cause of carcinogen contamination in seven batches of
cooking oil produced by Central Union Oil Corporation.

More than 13,000 businesses were affected after soybean-based cooking oil
produced by the company was found to contain excessive levels of the Group 1
carcinogen.

Minister Without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung says the contamination began with
a shipment of Brazilian soybeans .....

....... and was also due to a combination of management failures, including
inadequate controls for high-risk raw materials, weaknesses in production
process management and insufficient inspection and testing.

The investigation was conducted by an expert panel convened by the Food
Industry Research and Development Institute.

According to Chen, it identified three main problems - those being that
high-risk raw materials were not properly managed, production irregularities
were not adequately addressed and the company's food safety risk management
was insufficient.

The F-D-A says expert panel is recommending food manufacturers strengthen
risk management for raw materials, improve monitoring of production processes
and expand testing to enhance food safety and risk control.

The Cabinet last week approved draft amendments to the Act Governing Food
Safety and Sanitation and sent them to the Legislature for review.

The proposed revisions seek to strengthen food safety oversight by enhancing
source management, production process controls, abnormality reporting,
quality management, reporting of test results and digital governance.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

The K-M-T is voicing support for a rally being organized by civic groups that
will call for judicial justice, stronger public safety and tougher penalties
for drug- and drunk-driving offenses.

The rally will be taking place in Taipei this coming Saturday.

It's been jointly organized by several civic organizations to raise awareness
of crime victims' rights and promote social fairness and justice.

According to the groups, their basic appeal to garner wide support for the
rally is "reject drug- and drunk-driving, people want safety, public order
needs police, justice must be served."

K-M-T legislative caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang is describing the
rally as a collective call for safety, justice and fairness ...

.... while K-M-T caucus deputy secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen says her party
has proposed amendments in the Legislature's Judiciary and Organic Laws and
Statutes Committee that would make drug-driving causing death punishable by
death.

K-M-T lawmaker Hung Mong-kai says the rally is nonpartisan and open to anyone
who supports judicial justice, backs the police and opposes drug- and
drunk-driving.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

The High Court has ruled that former Taipei mayor and Taiwan People's Party
founder, Ko Wen-je will switch from an electronic ankle monitor to an
electronic bracelet beginning August 5.

The court says although it found little evidence Ko poses a flight risk,
continued electronic monitoring remains necessary.

The ruling can be appealed.

It comes after Ko recently asked the court to remove or modify the monitoring
requirement.

He argued that he has political responsibilities and will not abandon his
seriously ill mother, political partners or supporters by fleeing Taiwan, and
has already posted 70-million N-T in bail and remains subject to travel and
departure restrictions.

The High Court found that Ko's monitoring device generated 3,803 level-three
alerts between September of last year and June.

Of that total 53 occurred near coastal areas and most of the remaining alerts
resulted from the device being offline for more than 30-minutes or from
equipment malfunctions.

The court concluded that the monitoring records did not indicate any attempt
by Ko to flee.

Ko was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted on corruption
charges in March and has appealed that verdict.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

The Supreme Court has upheld a 12-year prison sentence for a former Army
sergeant convicted of leaking classified military information in exchange for
financial rewards.

The ruling comes after Sun Chu-Chuan appealed a lower court ruling.

The Supreme Court said it found no error in the lower court's ruling or
application of the law and its sentence is final.

Sun served as a sergeant in the Army's Matsu Defense Command from June 2021
to December 2022 and was indicted on corruption charges and related offenses
in December of last year.

According to the High Prosecutors Office, Sun took photographs of classified
documents with his mobile phone and transmitted them to others in exchange
for cash or cryptocurrency payments.

Prosecutors say Sun was persuaded to leak the classified information by three
people he met on Telegram and transmitted classified materials to them on
eight occasions and received 67,770 N-T in payments.

The prosecutors office has not released any information concerning details of
the classified documents.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

The Hualien County Tourism Department says routine direct flights between
Hualien and Incheon International Airport in South Korea will be suspended at
the end of July.

According to the department, the suspension of the flights comes as the
route's operator, South Korean low-cost carrier Aero K Airline is relocating
its operating base to its headquarters due to rising international fuel
costs.

Officials says the airline is required to reapply for traffic rights, a
process expected to take about one flight season, due to the operational
shift.

The route is expected to resume at the end of October, with Cheongju
replacing Incheon as its destination.

The county government says the carrier had no choice but to adjust its
operating strategy in response to higher fuel costs and rapidly changing
international conditions.

The Hualien-Incheon route was launched in November 2025.

It was Hualien's second scheduled international route after COVID-19 travel
restrictions were lifted.

Posted on 2026-07-28 08:14:13

And finally,

The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee has announced that
director Yu Kan-ping will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 63rd
Golden Horse Awards.

Yu entered the film industry in 1974, working in roles including assistant
director before making his directorial debut in 1979 with the martial arts,
film "Love and Sword."

He soon developed his own storytelling style with the award-winning "Papa,
Can You Hear Me Sing?" -- which won four awards from 11 nominations at the
20th Golden Horse Awards in 1983.

Yu became known for weaving contemporary social issues into fiction.

His 1986 film "The Outsiders," which is adapted from author Pai Hsien-yung's
novel the "Crystal Boys," has been long haileded as being a milestone in his
career, as its subject matter led to government censorship.

The complete list of Golden Horse Awards nominees will be announced on
October 1.

The Golden Horse awards ceremony will be held on Novmber 22 at the Taipei
Music Center.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The Lai administration is said to have conveyed its concerns to Beijing over
recent Chinese operations east of Taiwan.

This, according to Mainland Affairs Council deputy head Shen Yu-chung who
said the communication was made through "third countries and existing private
mechanisms."

However, Shen is not identifying the third countries involved, when the
contacts took place, or indicatiung if Taiwan has received any response.

The council deputy head said the Lai administration is currently handling
Chinese official vessels based on the principle of "avoiding escalation"
beyond 24 nautical miles from its coast, while "not backing down on
sovereignty" within that range.

Shen also says the government plans to strengthen its surveillance and
expulsion capabilities, including by making greater use of drones to
compensate for China's advantage in ship numbers and tonnage.

China's coast guard and government and research vessels have been conducting
what they have labelled special operations since June.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The Food and Drug Administration says four additional batches of camellia oil
produced by Aconpure Green Technology have been found to contain excessive
levels of the carcinogen, benzo[a]pyrene.

Health authorities have since ordered the company to suspend all production
and sales of its camellia oil products.

The announcement comes days after Aconpure voluntarily reported that some of
its camellia oil products exceeded the legal limit for the carcinogen that
can form during high-temperature food processing.

Seven batches initially reported by the company, two had already been
confirmed by Aconpure to contain excessive levels of the carcinogen.

The remaining five batches were sampled by the New Taipei City Department of
Health and tested by the F-D-A, with four found to exceed the legal limit.

F-D-A Director-General Chiang Chih-kang says New Taipei health department
ordered Aconpure to remove the seven affected batches from store shelves on
July 23.

The F-D-A has repeatedly stressed that the camellia oil case is unrelated to
the earlier case involving Central Union Oil Corporation, noting that the two
incidents involved different raw materials.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance has
signed a memorandum of understanding with a British trade Organisation
representing the aerospace, defense, security and space industries.

The agreement with the A-D-S Group was reached during the Farnborough
International Airshow in England and signed by Aerospace Industrial
Development Corporation President Chuang Hsiu-mei and A-D-S Group C-E-O Kevin
Craven.

This marks first formal exchange between Taiwanese and British drone
industries.

Under the agreement, the two sides will establish an industry exchange
platform for drone research, development and marketing, participate in each
other's international business expansion programs, and explore further
cooperation opportunities.

It also aims to promote substantive collaboration and bilateral investment
while enhancing the two sides' competitiveness in drone technology and the
global market.

Chuang says she believes Taiwan can become a safe, reliable and highly
capable manufacturing partner in the Asia-Pacific region for the United
Kingdom's aerospace and defense industries.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

President Lai Ching-te has honored veteran pro-Taiwan Japanese lawmaker,
Keiji Furuya in recognition of his decades-long efforts to promote closer
Taiwan-Japan relations.

Furuya, a senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the
head of the Japan-Taiwan Diet Members' Consultative Council, was presented
with the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon.

Lai praised Furuya as a driving force behind the friendly relations between
Taiwan and Japan.

Furuya is said to have helped facilitate exhibitions by Taiwan's National
Palace Museum in Japan and advocated for Japan to allow Taiwan nationals
married to Japan citizens to list their place of origin as "Taiwan" instead
of "China" in Japan's official family registry.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Furuya of colluding with
"separatist forces" in Taiwan, saying his visits to the country were made "in
defiance of China's strong opposition."

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The College Entrance Examination Center says it's introducing a
zero-tolerance policy against the wearing of smart glasses beginning next
year.

The body says it will amend its regulations for the next academic year and
list smart glasses as a major violation.

The move means that anyone found to be wearing or carrying smart glasses,
regardless of whether or not they are used, will be considered cheating and
receive a score of zero for that subject from August 1 of 2027.

The move comes after a student was caught wearing a pair of smart glasses
during this year's Advanced Subjects Test.

The smart glasses were detected by a metal scan.

The candidate was disqualified in accordance with test regulations.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The 13th tropical storm of this year's Pacific typhoon season as formed in
waters some 6,000 kilometers from Taiwan.

But the Central Weather Administration says tropical storm Dolphin is
unlikely to have any direct impact on the island.

The storm is moving in a west-southwesterly direction at
24-kilometers-an-hour.

The weather administration's latest tracking chart shows the storm beginning
to veer in a northwesterly direction from this evening and moving towards
southern central Japan.

Meanwhile, a Pacific high-pressure system is forecast to strengthen from
today - bring stable weather conditions to most of Taiwan for the remainder
of this week and into early next week.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denounced China in a veiled
rebuke in his state of the nation speech.

He vowed his government will defend a 2016 arbitration ruling that
invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea, and
said that Filipinos “do not yield” to conquerors.

On domestic issues, Marcos disclosed that a special anti-graft prosecutor
would soon file charges against former House of Representatives Speaker
Martin Romualdez.

He did not identify Romualdez, his cousin, by name.

Romualdez was implicated in a corruption scandal that the president exposed
in his state of the nation speech last year.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission to
stay in the U.K as a visitor.

His lawyer said it is a step that would allow Wu to have a longer reunion
with his family after being locked up in Hong Kong's prison for more than
five years.

Wu is the former chairman of Hong Kong’s once-biggest pro-democracy party.

Wu's lawyer tells The Associated Press that Wu was being granted permission
to remain as a visitor for six months.

The British authorities’ decision came after Wu’s entry on a seven-day
immigration bail last week.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

U.S. diplomats walked out as their French counterparts spoke at the United
Nations after the European ally criticized the Trump administration’s human
rights record.

U.S. diplomats on Monday accused their French counterparts of “disingenuous
grandstanding.”

The surprise move Monday followed U.S. opposition to giving the U.N. human
rights chief another four-year term.

Volker Turk's reappointment received overwhelming support, including from
France.

France's U.N. Mission in Geneva tweeted after the vote that “the world no
longer listens to” the U.S. about human rights.

Posted on 2026-07-28 06:55:13

The United Nations' human rights chief says Israel must end its military
presence in southern Lebanon and stop demolishing homes.

Volker Türk made these comments Monday as he wrapped up a visit to Lebanon,
where he met with officials and displaced citizens.

His visit comes a week before Lebanese and Israeli officials are set to hold
talks in Rome. Lebanon and Israel had reached a framework agreement in June
for Lebanese military deployment and Israeli withdrawal in southern Lebanon.

However, Hezbollah has rejected the talks and disarmament.

The conflict began in March when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, prompting
an Israeli aerial campaign and ground invasion.

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