Taiwan's military has demonstrated a new domestically developed
105-millimeter mobile gun system in a live-fire exercise for the first time.

The armored vehicle hit moving and stationary targets during the
demonstration at an Army training area in Tainan.

The Ministry of National Defense says the system is designed to provide
continuous firepower against multiple targets and could be used against
amphibious vehicles.

One round initially failed to fire during the demonstration, but the crew
followed safety procedures and the system later fired normally.

Arsenal 202, which developed the vehicle's gun and ammunition, says 178
vehicles are planned, with mass production scheduled to begin in 2027.

The vehicle has been redesigned to make it shorter and more maneuverable,
which officials say makes it better suited to Taiwan's urban areas and
difficult terrain.

The military also plans to add anti-drone capabilities before mass production.

(CNA_IG)

HSBC says Taiwan's economy is expected to remain strong ... driven by global
demand for AI and data centers.

The bank says Taiwan's exports are likely to accelerate in the fourth quarter
... as AI data-center development continues to support corporate earnings and
investment.

HSBC says Taiwan's strong economic growth in recent quarters has also been
supported by a rebound in business investment and household consumption.

The bank expects the U-S Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by another
quarter-point in December ... citing persistent inflation and stronger
economic growth.

HSBC says the global economy and corporate earnings have remained stronger
than widely expected ... despite risks from geopolitical tensions, oil-price
volatility and uncertainty over inflation and interest rates.

(IG)

Taiwanese cement maker TCC Group Holdings plans to acquire a Ukrainian cement
company and three related businesses for up to 750 million euros.

TCC says its Dutch subsidiary will acquire a 100 percent stake in
Ivano-Frankivskcement {ee-VAH-noh franh-KEEFSM suh-MENT} ....

.... along with companies producing roofing materials, gypsum products and
dry-mix mortar.

The deal is still subject to regulatory approval in Taiwan, Ukraine and other
jurisdictions.

TCC says the acquisition will expand its European cement operations into
Eastern Europe and position the company to take part in Ukraine's
reconstruction after the war.

Ivano-Frankivskcement has about 36 percent of Ukraine's cement market and has
continued production since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

TCC says it also plans to introduce its low-carbon cement technology to the
Ukrainian businesses.

(CNA_IG)

Judges at the International Criminal Court have convicted former Seleka rebel
commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani of crimes against humanity.

The 56-year-old was found guilty of persecution and torture committed while
he ran a prison in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

Said remained expressionless for most of today's hourlong hearing.

Presiding Judge Miatta Maria Samba described the harsh conditions detainees
endured at the prison.

Said's sentencing will be decided at a later hearing.

Australian authorities have charged a 65-year-old man with allegedly pledging
allegiance to the Islamic State group and spreading extremist propaganda
online.

Police say he is the seventh person arrested in Victoria state since May over
the possession or distribution of I-S material.

The man faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organization and
transmitting violent extremist material.

Federal police allege he shared about 10,000 files containing extremist
content between 2015 and 2020.

An investigation began in 2020, when border officials examined his luggage.

The man is due to appear in a Melbourne court.

Police are investigating the cause of a truck crash on National Freeway 3 in
Tainan this afternoon ...

... which affected 13 vehicles ... and left four people hospitalized.

National Highway Police say the truck hit the inner guardrail around noon
near the Xinhua System Interchange while traveling northbound.

The truck was carrying bottled beer and rice wine ... which spilled across
both the northbound and southbound lanes.

The southbound lanes were temporarily closed ... causing traffic to back up
for about one kilometer.

Police say the driver was not under the influence of alcohol ... and may have
become distracted before hitting the guardrail.

One lane has since reopened in each direction ... while crews continue
clearing the spilled cargo.

(IG)

The Asian Development Bank has raised its forecast for Taiwan's economic
growth this year to 11 percent, citing a surge in exports linked to
artificial intelligence.

The new forecast is 1.5 percentage points higher than the bank's previous
estimate in July.

The ADB says Taiwan's economy grew 14 percent in the first half of the year,
the fastest first-half growth in 50 years.

Technology exports jumped 65 percent in U-S dollar terms during the first
half, as global demand for AI-related products continued to grow.

The bank expects technology exports and investment in AI infrastructure to
remain the main drivers of growth.

However, the ADB expects growth to slow to 5 percent next year as investment
growth moderates after companies expand their production capacity.

The bank says Taiwan's outlook remains closely tied to the strength of the
global AI investment cycle.

(CNA_IG)

A five-day tour from Taitung to Thailand's Chiang Mai will launch on December
29th ... featuring a direct charter flight that allows local residents to
travel there without making a connection.

The Taitung County Government says registration is now open ... with the
itinerary including Chiang Mai's historic sites, art villages, markets and
natural attractions.

The county is also inviting Thai tourism operators to Taitung for a
three-day, two-night visit ... aimed at introducing them to attractions they
could promote to Thai travelers.

Their itinerary includes the Amis Folk Culture Center and Donghe Old Street
... highlighting Taitung's Indigenous culture and local life.

Taitung officials say they paln to continue expanding international charter
flights and direct air links.

(IG)

Ethiopian Airlines has canceled all flights to the northern region of Tigray
amid fears of renewed fighting between federal and regional forces.

The cancellations came two days after seven opposition groups, including the
Tigray People's Liberation Front, formed an alliance aimed at removing Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.

Abiy's Prosperity Party retained power in a June general election that was
boycotted by the main opposition groups.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front fought Ethiopian federal forces during a
deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia that ended with a peace agreement in
November 2022.

A six-year-old Chinese girl has set a new women's world record by solving
Rubik's Cubes in an average of just over four seconds.

Lian Yunzhi first broke the record earlier this month with an average time of
4.52 seconds at a World Cube Association competition in Wuhan.

She then improved that to 4.27 seconds at another competition in Guangzhou,
according to state broadcaster C-C-T-V.

Lian is now the only female speedcuber to record an average time below 4.5
seconds.

C-C-T-V says she first tried solving a Rubik's Cube at age four, when it took
her about 90 seconds.

Taiwan's industrial electricity use hit a record high in August ... as strong
AI demand drove activity across the semiconductor industry and its supply
chain.

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says industrial power consumption
topped 16-billion kilowatt-hours for the first time ... up 0.82 percent from
a year earlier.

The institute says electricity demand in the semiconductor industry rebounded
strongly ... while power use by the machinery and steel industries also
continued to grow.

However, electricity use remained weaker in some traditional industries ...
falling almost 12 percent in textiles and around 5 percent in chemical
materials.

The institute expects continued growth in AI applications and related
investment to support Taiwan's industrial activity and overall economic
growth.

(IG)

Taiwan set up its first-ever national pavilion at a major global rail
transportation trade fair in Berlin ...

.... showcasing its railway technology and seeking international partners.

The Railway Bureau says the pavilion highlights Taiwan's expertise in smart
rail systems, including 5G, artificial intelligence and other digital
technologies.

Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai says Taiwan's century-long experience
in railways, high-speed rail and urban transit has created a strong
foundation for further developing the industry.

The Taiwan Pavilion at InnoTrans brings together 14 companies and
organizations, including Taiwan High Speed Rail, universities and research
institutes.

Another 26 Taiwanese companies are also taking part in the Berlin trade fair
independently.

(CNA_IG)

Iranian advisers reportedly helped Yemen's Houthi rebels in their rapid
advance along the country's Red Sea coast.

People familiar with the offensive who spoke to the Associated Press ...

.. say Iran increased its support for the Houthis before the latest fighting
...

... with advisers helping plan military maneuvers and providing intelligence.

The rapid advance has allowed the Houthis to threaten Saudi Arabia's oil
exports and given Iran greater leverage in its conflict with the United
States.

It has also exposed divisions among forces loyal to Yemen's internationally
recognized government, which are struggling to regroup.

Pakistani officials say Afghan Taliban forces shelled Pakistani border posts
after Pakistani troops stopped militants from crossing the border.

Four local officials say today's incident threatens efforts to find a
peaceful solution between the two neighbors.

But a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban government denied that Afghan
forces carried out the attack.

The latest escalation follows Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan
targeting suspected militant hideouts.

Earlier this month, Pakistani forces said they killed 15 militants trying to
cross from Afghanistan.

Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of supporting the militants, but Kabul
denies the claim.

Cambodia's prime minister says the country has eradicated the large-scale
scam compounds that have become known around the world.

Prime Minister Hun Manet made the claim Wednesday but provided little new
evidence.

Other governments and experts say Cambodia has not done enough to hold those
behind the scam industry accountable, and have called for criminal
prosecutions.

Hun Manet says Cambodian authorities will remain vigilant against new threats.

The comments came as Cambodia hosted a conference on fighting cyber scams
with the U-N Office on Drugs and Crime and Interpol.

Cambodia declared success in August after shutting down hundreds of scam
compounds.

Taipei police have arrested a man for allegedly fabricating a terror threat
against the Taipei Metro system.

Police say the suspect used a public telephone at Jiantan Metro Station to
report that a terror attack was being coordinated in an online chat group.

Over 20 armed officers secured the MRT station and surrounding transit areas
while investigators used surveillance footage to track the suspect to
Keelung.

Police confirmed that the suspect’s claims of an online attack plot were
entirely false after examining his mobile device.

The case has been referred to prosecutors under charges of intimidating the
public, as authorities warn that false threats to public safety will be
prosecuted strictly.

(NS)

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the proportion of the Tamsui River affected
by serious pollution has fallen sharply ... from six percent eight years ago
to just 0.3 percent today.

Hou says the city aims to reduce the length classified as seriously polluted
to zero by 2030.

He says New Taipei is also working toward its 2050 net-zero emissions goal
... including introducing zero-carbon designs in major development projects.

Hou says Bali District will be developed as a net-zero demonstration area.

(IG)

The first-ever Taiwan International Children and Youth Festival opened today
at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center for a five-day event.

Culture Minister Li Yuan says the festival combines a book fair, live
theater, and an international youth film festival, with France as this year's
featured nation.

French Office in Taipei Director Frédéric Laplanche said several French
creators traveled to Taiwan to participate in cultural discussions with young
readers.

Festival highlights include a youth film section featuring 106 international
films from 45 countries alongside interactive book exhibits and live
performances.

(NS)

Hurricane Polo has grown into one of the most powerful Pacific cyclones in
decades and is expected to skirt Mexico’s southwestern coast as a Category 5
storm.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center reports Polo is an “extremely
dangerous” storm with maximum sustained winds of 265 kilometers an hour.

It was centered about 340 kilometers south of (Si-wa-da-Nei-hu) Zihuatanejo,
Mexico, on Tuesday and nearly stationary over the Pacific Ocean.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says experts indicate the hurricane is
not likely to touch land.

Still, the NHC says powerful winds and heavy rain could wreak havoc and cause
flash flooding and mudslides in some areas.

Authorities in Melbourne have accused a man of pledging allegiance to the
Islamic State group and spreading extremist propaganda online.

The 65-year-old, whose name hasn't been released, is the seventh person
arrested in Victoria state since May for possessing or distributing IS
content.

He faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organization and
transmitting violent extremist material.

The federal police allege he shared 10-thousand files containing extremist
content between 2015 and 2020.

An investigation into the man began when border officials examined the man's
luggage as he departed Australia for a six-month trip to Egypt in 2020.

He wasn't known to have traveled abroad since 2020 and wasn't linked to any
attack or plot, Hudson said.

A DDP candidate for township councilor in Hualien County has died after
collapsing onstage at a Moon Festival event.

Chiu Feng-ing (邱鳳英) was singing at the event in Xincheng Township on Tuesday
night when she suddenly collapsed.

She was taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest but could not be
revived.

Chiu was a longtime DPP member and had previously worked as a councilor's
aide.

She moved to Xincheng Township eight years ago and decided to run for office
for the first time this year.

The Hualien County Election Commission says three candidates had registered
in her constituency and that it will consult the Central Election Commission
on how to proceed following her death.

The DPP's Hualien chapter says it will continue working for local residents
in honor of Chiu's commitment to the area.

(CNA_IG)

Taipei prosecutors indicted the head of the defunct "Grand Tour Travel
Company" over a high-profile tour dispute in Croatia.

The move follows an October 2024 incident where 27 Taiwanese tourists were
stranded in Croatia after local operators reported unpaid bills.

Tour members paid out-of-pocket to continue their trip before filing legal
complaints against the travel agency.

A Tourism Administration investigation found that the travel agency was under
financial strain and the head of the agency, surnamed Shih, forged two bank
transfer slips totaling $60-thousand euros.

Shih faces forgery charges for sending photos of the fake bank documents to
the group's tour leader during the incident, but prosecutors declined to
pursue fraud charges, citing that financial hardship rather than deliberate
deception led to the unpaid balances.

(NS)

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Taiwan's drone production is expanding
faster than previously forecast.

Economics minister Kung Ming-hsin says Taiwan's drone industry output will
surpass $50 billion by 2030, exceeding previous growth targets.

The ministry says Taiwan is currently self-sufficient in producing 70 percent
of small drones, 60 percent for medium drones, and 30 percent for large
models.

And the island aims to elevate domestic production capabilities for key
components across all drone classes to 90 percent by 2030.

Officials emphasized that establishing domestic mass production will
strengthen national security and position Taiwan as a regional drone
manufacturing center.

(NS)

A Sri Lankan court has convicted 15 men for their roles in the 2019 Easter
Sunday bombings that killed 267 people.

They each received sentences of 200 or more years in prison, ensuring life
imprisonment.

The verdict came Tuesday after a nearly five-year trial.

The attacks targeted three churches and three hotels during Easter services
and celebrations, killing 267 people, including 42 foreigners, and wounding
574.

The attacks were inspired by the Islamic State group.

Authorities filed thousands of charges in 2021 against 25 suspects.

Nine men were acquitted in the same trial and freed; one man charged died
before the trial concluded.

The bombings were among the deadliest in Sri Lanka’s history.

Allegations have emerged of links between the attackers and state
intelligence services, but the Defense Ministry denies involvement.

(KK)

Taiwan's unemployment rate rose slightly in August ... partly as new
graduates entered the job market.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says the
unemployment rate stood at 3.41 percent ... up 0.02 percentage points from
July.

That marked the third consecutive monthly increase.

However, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 3.32 percent.

The number of unemployed people rose by 2-thousand to 411-thousand ... mainly
as more new graduates began looking for their first jobs.

Compared with the same month last year, the number of unemployed people fell
by about 4-thousand.

(IG)

Now turning to international news...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, trade negotiations with India are
making "good progress," adding that the two countires are aiming to finish
talks by mid december.

Carney also says that he believe Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be
visitingn Canada around the same time...

although the exact date has yet to be finalized.

Carney is hoping to make India a part of Ottawa's effort to reduce the
country's dependence on the US, as relations deteriorate under US president
Donald Trump.

The rapid economic rapprochement follows a deep diplomatic rupture with India
over the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in
British Columbia.

home

The wife of a Chinese American man detained in China says, she hopes a
meeting between the leaders of the US and China can bring her husband home.

US President Donald Trump is expected to discuss the cases of Chen Youlin and
Zin Min with his Chinese counterpart this week.

Chen and Xin are the only two US citizens that the US government considers to
be wrongfully detained in China.

Chen, a seismologist, has been detained in China for nearly 2 years.

He faces espionage charges, but his wife says he's done nothing wrong, and
she's worried for his health.

Chen was born in China and moved to the US in 1998.

He was detained nearly 2 years ago by Chinese state security agents while on
a visit to see his parents in Beijing.

US scholars say, Chinese president Xi Jin Ping is expected to raise the
"Taiwan issue" during his upcoming meeting with his US counterpart.

Bonnie Glaser of the German Mashall Fund says that Xi is likely bring up the
issue with a focus on US arms sales to Taiwan.

She said that, from Xi's perspective, the two leaders have an understanding
that their countries' relationship should be based on constructive strategic
stability...

and that the US should avoid actions that undermine such an understanding.

She added that Xi would classify arms sales to Taiwan as undermining that
"understanding."

Meanwhile, Dennis Wilder, formerly of the US National Security Council, said
that Trump is unlikely to raise the issue himself.

But Glaser says that Trump should remind Xi that the US operates under its
own laws, meaning Washington is required by law to provide defensive arms to
Taiwna.

Wilder says that that Japan may be even more anxious about the meeting than
Taiwan, as the relationship between Beijing and Tokyo at the moment is quite
strained.

He says, Xi may allege that Japan is increasingly militaristic.

But Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to meet Trump in New
York next week.

The Minister of Labor says that Taiwan was not subjected to any "downgrading"
at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting in China.

That as Minister Hong Shen Han has just returned from the meeting in Nanjing.

Hong says, Taiwan was granted the same rights as other members.

His visit marks the first to China by a ministry head of the Lai
administration.

Hong said that the Chinese side granted his delegation rights equal to those
of other members in accordance wih APEC rules...

due to Taiwan's continues insistence and with the assistance of APEC
organizers.

According to Hong, the treatment was consistent with Taiwan's insistence on
"reciprocal dignity," a principle that the minister had laid out before
departing for China.

Hong also confirmed that he did not use a "Taiwan compatriot permit" for the
trip.

He said that his group followed the usual practice, entering China using an
invitation letter.

The Army has unveiled simulators for US-made Stinger missile systems,
highlighting their use in training personnel to engage airborne targets like
drones.

That took place at an open house for local and foreign media.

Reports indicate that Taiwan received "a few dozen" man-portable Stinger
missile systems from the US Biden administration.

The simulators for the systems were also included in the US military
assistance package back in 2023.

Army officials say physical strength and balance are key aspects of training,
as the system weighs nearly 16 kilograms.

The simulators connect to a screen displaying a simulation of Pingtung's
Jiupeng Bay, allowing trainees to track and lock on to airborne targets while
communicating through intercoms.

Officials say, trainees undergo one to one and a half months of training to
acquire necessary skills.

The U.S. approved the first batch of 250 man-portable Stinger missiles in
2015 and a second batch of the same size in 2019. '

Taiwan expects to receive them in phases beginning at the end of this year.

11 workers remain hospitalized after an accident at a Taipower plant in
Kaohsiung yesterday.

One of them has now regained consciousness after falling into a hydrochloric
acid tank.

Taipower says, the incident took place yesterday morning, when a contractor
and workers were doing maintenance on a hydrochloric acid tank used in the
plant's seawater electrolysis process.

One of the workers was reportedly transferring hydrochloric acid from the
tank when he climbed to the top using a safety harness and protective cage.

But Taipower says he fell into the tank after stepping through a metal
covering.

Local media said the tank's cover showed cracks before the worker fell
through it.

The company said that worker suffered burns and lost consciousness, while the
other 10 people who helped with rescue operations reportedly felt unwell
after possibly inhaling hydrochloric acid fumes.

Taipower says, they're investigating the cause of the accident.

The Ministry of Labor has confirmed that it will appeal a ruling that voided
its dismissal of a former branch chief whose bullying was linked to a
worker's suicide.

That's after the Taipei High Administrative Court ruled that the MOL's
disciplinary proceedings against former Workforce Development Agency branch
chair Xie Yi Rong had violated due process and made incorrect factual
findings.

The court said that Xie's challenge to her dismissal was well-founded.

Xie was accused of workplace bullying following the suicide of an employee in
his office in New Taipei nearly 2 years ago.

The MOL issued two demerits to Xie at a performance review, resulting in her
immediate dismissal.

Mirror Media published parts of a survey the MOL put out as part of an
investigation, indicating that many employees knew of Xie's behavior.

The MOL says that it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Administrative
Court.

The ministry also notes that Xie was found guilty of corruption, so she won't
be reinstated at this time regardless

A vessel donated by Taiwan has reportedly been handed over to the Philippine
Coast Guard.

CNA reports that the decommissioned 500-tonne Kinmen-class patrol vessel was
transferred to Manila at a ceremony.

The Coast Guard Administration confirmed the planned donation last week
following a report of a Philippine law enforcement vessel setting sail from
Kaohsiung port which the United Daily News identified as a disarmed and
repainted CGA 500-tonne-class patrol vessel.

That marked a rare transfer of a retired ship to a non-diplomatic ally.

President Lai Ching-te is calling for deeper cooperation between Taiwan and
Eswatini.

That's as he also thanked the country's deputy prime minister for helping to
ensure that his visit there in May proceeded smoothly.

Meeting with the deputy prime minister yesterday, Lai said he hoped the two
countries would deepen cooperation in disaster management, public health, and
other fields.

The deputy PM is in town after attending the weekend inauguration of the
World Alliance for Disaster Management, founded by Taiwan.

Lai says, the organization aims to share disaster prevention tech, disaster
response, and rescue experience with allies.

Lai added that the deputy prime minister personally accompanied his
delegation to and from Eswatini back in May in order to ensure the smooth
procession of the trip.

The Ministry of Finance says, 6 10 million NT prizes remain unclaimed in the
May and June receipt lottery.

One of those lucky people spent only 10 NT on an Uber Eats delivery order,
while two others bought a Google Play app and paid their monthly phone bill.

There are also 7 2 million NT grand prizes that still haven't been claimed.

The MOF reminds the public that those winners need to claim their prizes
before November 5th.

This reminder comes as the MOF prepares to announce the July/August winning
numbers, winners of which can claim their prizes as soon as the beginning of
next month.

Award-winning photos by migrant workers are now on display in an exhibition
at the National Theater and Concert Hall gallery in Taipei.

The exhibition is titled "Sundays Unseen" and brings together winning entries
from the Migrant International Photography Awards.

The awards have been organized since 2019 by One-Forty, an NGO dedicated to
empowering migrant workers.

One-Forty says, the photographs offer glimpses into migrant workers' everyday
lives, from factory floors, dormitories and caregiving to moments of rest,
faith and homesickness...

as well as their personal dreams and creative expression.

Organizers say, the exhibition aims to encourage greater understanding and
empathy among people from different cultural backgrounds.

The free exhibition runs through November 29.

This comes as NATO's deputy commander in Europe is warning that Russian
President Vladimir Putin is becoming increasingly reckless as the war in
Ukraine drags on and as he seeks to divide Western allies.

Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer made the comments amid warnings from some
European leaders that Moscow is planning to test NATO’s collective defense
pact with bolder attacks that have already included sabotage and espionage.

Leaders from Poland and France have suggested Moscow might test NATO with
deliberate drone or missile strikes, while officials in Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania remain cautious about a serious escalation.

Stringer emphasized the need for NATO to avoid overreacting, as Putin aims to
provoke the alliance.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for “a world built on
interdependence” as he makes his final address to the General Assembly
gathering of world leaders.

The U.N. leader has long implored leaders not to give up on cooperation and
shared decision-making in the face of accelerating global challenges and
increasing great--powers competition.

About an hour after Guterres spoke, U.S. President Donald Trump touted his
country's economic and military footprint, calling America “the most powerful
country in the world.”

Taiwan's export orders hit a record high in August... surging more than 70
percent from a year earlier on the back of a global artificial intelligence
(AI) boom.

Data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs showed export orders jumped 71.4
percent year-on-year to a record US$102.96 billion in August, surpassing the
previous record of US$97.94 billion set in July.

August marked the 19th consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

The August figure also exceeded the ministry's previous forecast of US$97.0
billion to US$99.0 billion.

Export orders for the first eight months of 2026 showed Taiwan's export
orders totaled US$704.99 billion, up 55.0 percent from a year earlier.

---

And... Taiwan's unemployment rate rose for the third consecutive month in
August as more first-time jobseekers entered the labor market after
graduation.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said the
jobless rate edged up 0.02 percentage points from July to 3.41 percent, its
highest level since August 2025, when it stood at 3.45 percent.

But government said the rate was still the lowest recorded for August in 26
years.

After seasonal adjustments, the unemployment rate fell 0.01 percentage points
from July to 3.32 percent.

The unemployment rate averaged 3.33 percent, down 0.02 percentage points from
a year earlier for the first eight months of 2026.

--------

In international business news ...

Saudi Arabia ‌has restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline and could
resume exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu

The resumption of supplies on Tuesday helped ​to drive selling on global oil
markets. Global oil benchmark Brent crude fell by more than $2 a ​barrel
towards $97, its lowest since September 8.

Drone attacks had forced the kingdom to shut the pipeline on September 11,
halting crude loadings at the kingdom's Yanbu port.

Since the U.S.-Israeli war ​on Iran disrupted oil flows from Saudi Arabia and
its Gulf neighbours through the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh has been ​using the
pipeline to reroute around 4 million barrels per day — around 4% of global
supply — to Yanbu.

---

Middle Eastern leaders have gathered this week for the United Nations General
Assembly in New York as three years of wars across the region show no signs
of letting up.

The regional Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to call Iran and its
allies to allow free transit through two crucial maritime checkpoints,

Charles de Ledesma reports.


That was Charles de Ledesma reporting.

---

The founder of the trust and safety team at Alphabet’s Google is calling for
a slowdown in AI ​development, warning that the tech industry was repeating
the same mistakes from the social media era, potentially causing even greater
harm to children.

Tom Siegel who is former vice president of trust and safety at Google, told
the Reuters News Agency that the idea that the industry ​will figure it out
by itself without outside help is unrealistic.

Siegel's concerns mirror a growing fear among some tech insiders and academic
researchers ⁠that AI poses a deeper threat to children than social media did.

Social media companies are now paying ‌huge sums and facing thousands of
lawsuits over claims they harmed young users, while governments around the
world are working to curb minors' access to their platforms.

---

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. leader Donald Trump have
agreed to further strengthen the bilateral alliance in talks.

Their meeting comes just two days before a U.S.-China summit, and held on
the sidelines of the U-N General Assembly.

Japanese officials told Nikkei Asia that the two leaders discussed economic
security and other issues, with the upcoming U.S.-China summit in mind.

They also discussed how to respond to China's pressure tactics, such as
export curbs on rare earths.

US President Donald Trump bought as much as $50,000 worth of shares and sold
as ​much as $15,000 in Elon Musk's SpaceX in July.

Public disclosure forms indicate Trump bought between $15,001 and $50,000
worth of shares in SpaceX

The latest trades add a new ​financial link between the president and Musk's
rocket company at a time ​when the administration is making decisions that
could affect the firm's fortunes.

-------

Barring any complications it could be a good day for Asian markets today...

The Nasdaq notched a record high close, lifted by Micron Technology and other
AI-related stocks, while ​the S&P 500 hovered just below a record high as oil
prices traded around $100 per barrel.

Seth Sutel reports.

A worker has regained consciousness after falling into a hydrochloric acid
tank at a power plant in Kaohsiung, while 10 others remain hospitalized.

TaiPower says the accident happened this morning at the Nanpu Power Plant
while contractor workers were carrying out maintenance on a hydrochloric acid
tank.

The worker fell through the tank's metal covering and suffered chemical burns.

Five TaiPower employees and five contractor workers who helped with the
rescue also became unwell after possibly inhaling hydrochloric acid fumes.

All 11 people were taken to hospital.

The injured worker was in stable condition after regaining consciousness,
while the other 10 remained hospitalized.

The Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau says the contractor violated occupational
safety rules and could face a fine of up to $3 million NT.

TaiPower says the accident did not affect power generation at the plant.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is outlining plans to revitalize parts of Wanhua
... with the aim of encouraging more young people to visit and experience
Bangka.

Chiang says the plans include revitalizing the Xinfu Cultural Market and Dong
San Shui Market ... along with the first phase of the Wanda MRT Line, which
is expected to open next year.

Meanwhile, Chiang has responded to criticism from DPP Taipei mayoral
candidate Puma Shen and others over the city government's handling of
kindergarten child-abuse cases.

Chiang says the city has increased the frequency of inspections ... set up a
special task force for serious child-abuse cases ... and strengthened
reporting and coordination between city departments.

He says the city government is willing to consider further suggestions and
will continue strengthening its child-protection system.

(AH)

Greenland, Denmark and the United States have reached a deal over Greenland's
future which has eased tensions among NATO allies.

The accord -- to be signed Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General
Assembly -- is set to give the U-. a bigger military presence on the
semiautonomous Danish territory ...

.... and could lead to the Stars and Stripes flying more often near
Greenland's own distinctive flag.

The European Union and the Philippines have announced a new free trade deal,
aimed at expanding trade between the two sides.

The agreement is part of the E-U's efforts to diversify its economy amid
tensions with China, Russia and the United States.

The E-U and the Philippines currently have nearly 30 billion euros, or about
35 billion U-S dollars, in annual trade.

Electronics make up a large part of that trade.

The E-U exports aircraft, pork and pharmaceuticals to the Philippines, while
importing semiconductors and machinery.

The Philippines is the third A-S-E-A-N country to sign a bilateral trade deal
with the E-U.

More than one in three people in Taiwan aged 15 to 64 are now using
generative AI tools such as ChatGPT ...

... moving Taiwan up to 19th place globally in their use ... in Microsoft's
latest Global AI Diffusion Report.

The report tracks generative AI use across 147 economies, taking into account
factors including internet access, device use and population structure.

Microsoft's AI Economy Institute says the rate among people in Taiwan aged 15
to 64 increased by two percentage points from the previous quarter.

Taiwan's adoption rate was also slightly higher than the United States, which
stood at 33 percent ...

... while the global average was around 19 percent.

The United Arab Emirates had the highest adoption rate at over 73 percent,
followed by Singapore at 64 percent.

Microsoft says AI use is growing faster in developed economies than in
emerging ones ... partly because of better access to electricity, internet
infrastructure and digital skills.

(IG)

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted a 36-year-old man
accused of growing cannabis inside a rented townhouse for three years.

Prosecutors say the man, who works in the frozen seafood wholesale business,
obtained cannabis seeds in 2023 ... and used information found online to grow
and harvest the plants.

Police and prosecutors searched the property mid-July and seized 82 cannabis
plants, 15 bags of cannabis leaves and equipment used to grow and process the
drug.

The seized cannabis was estimated to be worth more than 20-million NT.

Prosecutors say the plants and cannabis leaves were destroyed before the
indictment after samples were taken as evidence.

He faces charges of manufacturing a Category 2 drug under the Narcotics
Hazard Prevention Act.

(IG)

National Taiwan University Hospital has opened a new 14-story Health Building
... after more than 20 years of planning.

The hospital says the new facility will expand medical capacity, ease
pressure on emergency services ... and allow its historic west-site building
to get some much-needed rest.

The new building is designed to accommodate 330 general beds, 10 intensive
care beds and 16 operating rooms ... along with consultation rooms and
chemotherapy facilities.

Several departments, including ENT, urology, and others, are also moving into
the new building.

The hospital says the move will free up existing ward space ... allowing it
to add another ward for patients transferred from the emergency department
(and help reduce congestion).

(IG)

An attacker has opened fire near a high school in western Turkey, wounding at
least eight people.

The shooting happened Tuesday outside a vocational and technical high school
in Tur-gut-lu district, in Manisa province.

Officials say the suspected gunman was arrested.

Police and medical teams quickly arrived at the scene, and the injured were
taken to hospitals.

The motive is under investigation.

Turkey has been shocked by two school shootings this year.

In April, a 14-year-old student killed nine people in Kahra-man-maras
province.

A day earlier, a former student wounded 16 people in San-liur-fa province.

A U-N report says the Nicaraguan government is responsible for at least eight
deaths in custody since 2018.

The report, published Tuesday, accuses the government of co-Presidents Daniel
Ortega and Rosario Murillo of crushing dissent and canceling elections.

It highlights questions surrounding the death of Indigenous leader Brooklyn
Rivera, who died in May after spending 32 months in prison.

Authorities said Rivera died from complications related to COVID-19. But an
independent assessment found that explanation was "not medically coherent".

The report calls on Nicaragua to release Rivera's body for a traditional
burial and provide information about other detainees who remain missing.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Britain has agreed to provide
limited military support to Saudi Arabia as it faces attacks from Iran-backed
Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Burnham says the Royal Air Force will provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi
military aircraft.

The agreement will last for several weeks, but Burnham says it will be kept
under review.

The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen's Saudi-backed government has
intensified, with the rebels launching missile and drone attacks against
Saudi Arabia.

One attack targeted Riyadh on Saturday but was intercepted.

The government's Health Coin rewards program will officially launch on Oct.
1st, to reward citizens for participating in preventive healthcare
activities.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says National Health Insurance cardholders
aged 18 and older can earn digital points by receiving adult health checks,
cancer screenings, or eligible vaccinations.

Officials say points can be redeemed starting in December for healthy food,
gym discounts, and medical products.

And the ministry says those who complete registration before the end of
November, qualify for weekly digital gift card raffles and a grand prize draw
in December.

(NS)

A borough chief candidate in New Taipei's Ruifang has posted bail after being
questioned on vote buying charges.

The candidate, surnamed Huang, is accused of handing out fans worth nearly
800 NT and other items to voters at an event in June.

Prosecutors believe Huang, his friend, his mother, and his wife are guilty of
violating the Public Officials Election and Recall Act...

but their detention was deemed unnecessary.

Huang was released on bail of 150000 NT, while the others were released on
between 5 and 10,000 NT each.

(AH)

fine

The Transport Ministry is warning that unauthorized climbing, graffiti or
damage to the Danjiang (淡江) Bridge could result in fines of up to
300-thousand NT.

The restrictions apply throughout the bridge area ... including the main
bridge, approach roads, pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes.

The Ministry says authorities will work with police and use surveillance
cameras to step up enforcement.

The bridge connecting New Taipei's Tamsui and Bali districts has quickly
become a popular landmark and photo spot ... since officially opening in May.

The bureau is urging visitors to enjoy the landmark responsibly and avoid
damaging public property.

(IG)

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 81 points to
close the session at 47800.

The turnover was 1.021 trillion NT

Now turning to internatioal news...

Pakistan has struck sites in eastern Afghanistan, saying they were targeting
militant hideouts.

Pakistan says that 28 militants were killed, but Afghanistan reported at
least 3 civilians dead, with local UN officials confirming the civilian
deaths.

They've also called for respect for international humanitarian law.

Afghanistan has condemned the strikes and vowed to respond.

This comes as Pakistan has warned that it may target militants inside
Afghanistan following recent deadly attacks on its own security forces.

In a statement, the UN added that it had documented over 1100 civilian deaths
and injuries in Afghanistan from cross-border violence so far this year.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Kabul of sheltering
militant leaders and allowing them to launch cross-border attacks.

Police in Canada have released more information about a shootout that took
place outside an Ontario synagogue.

A shooter and a police officer were injured in the shootout, with up to 30
shots fired...

after a suspect opened fire on the police officer during the Jewish holiday
Yom Kippur.

The shooter was left with life-threatening injuries, while the officer was
seriously wounded.

Officials say the man drove a truck and began firing outside the synagoguge.

Police have not yet established a motive or confirmed whether or not the
synagogue was intentionally targeted.

About two dozen people were inside the synagogue when gunfire erupted.

The shooting remains under investigation.

10 people have been hospitalized following an accident at the Nanpu power
plant in Kaohsiung today.

They are believed to have suffered inhalation injuries in a workplace
accident.

Taipower says that one of those injured is in serious condition.

The company adds that the accident occurred around 9:30 AM while workers were
carrying out maintenance on a hydrochloric acid storage tank of the gas-fired
power plant.

An investigation into the accident is underway, and Taipower says the unit is
operating normally.

(AH_CNA)

Residents of Nantou's Ming-jian township today experienced an unexpected
power outage, with traffic lights out and hospitals and municipal offices
dark.

Taipower says, it's looking into the cause of the issue, but they note that
the outage affected over 35,000 households.

They say the issue began just past 9:15 and that power was fully restored
nearly half an hour later.

KMT County Councilor Lin Ru-yang 林儒暘said that construction work had severed a
power line, causing the outage.

(AH)

Taipei prosecutors have indicted a man accused of sending threatening emails
to KMT lawmaker Weng Xiao Ling 翁曉玲。

The case began in July, when Weng received an email threatening to hit her
with a car or stab her with a knife.

Prosecutors were able to trace the emails to a Taipei man surnamed Chen...

who they've now indicted on charges of intimidation.

Prosecutors believe that Chen was dissatisfied with Weng's performance as a
lawmaker, leading him to search for her email online .

(AH)

The Central Weather Administration says, most of Taiwan can expect partly
cloudy to sunny skies through the holiday weekend...

with clear skies expected for the Mid Autumn Festival on Friday.

However, they note that some areas can still expect localized showers.

Tomorrow and thursday, though, the northern coast and the Greater Taipei Area
can also expect some rain.

Meanwhile, the CWA notes that a newly-minted tropical depression has the
potential to become a tropical storm that could affect Taiwan's weather
starting Monday.

However, the storm's path is still largely uncertain.

(AH-CNA）

Now turning to international news...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says, he will stay in office despite his
party suffering two more electoral defeats.

But Merz faces a struggle to keep his reform agenda intact.

Merz' party, the Christian Democratic Union, was voted out of office
completely in a state legislature for the first time ever, after far-right
Alternative for Germany made big gains in a previous state election.

In the other weekend state election, the CDU dropped to second place in
Berlin behind the Left Party.

But Merz says he aims to push through economic reforms.

He added that no one raised any "personnel questions" in party leeadership
meetings following those elections.

However, he did add that the CDU needs to adapt to answer more nuanced
questions.

The Tai-Ex surged in early trading this morning to hit a new record high.

The main board added 880 points, to reach a fresh historic high of 48,601.

The rise came as major market heavyweights soared on the back of the
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gaining 4.29-per cent overnight - which saw
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's American depository receipts climbing by
2.41-per cent.

T-S-M-C's share price rose 30 N-T on the Tai-Ex this morning to reach 2,510
N-T and Delta Electronics added 55 to reach 1,930 N-T.

While MediaTek climbed to new record highs, as its share price added 7-per
cent.

Market watchers say investors were buoyed positive news regarding US-China
trade negotiations and a drop in international oil prices, which drove a
massive influx of capital back into tech sector.

The Ministry of National Defense is reporting four Chinese air sorties
operating near Taiwan between 6AM Monday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, all four aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan
Strait and entered Taiwan's central and southwestern air defense
identification zones.

Those aircraft included support planes and helicopters.

Six Chinese Navy vessel and three official maritime patrol ships were also
spotted operating in Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

And,

The Central Weather Administration says we can expect mostly stable weather
conditions - with partly cloudy to sunny skies - across much of the island
through the end of this week and into the weekend.

According to the administration's forecast center, there will be some
localized brief afternoon showers - primarily in the south as well as
mountainous areas in the center and north.

However, a low-pressure system currently near Guam is expected to develop
into a tropical depression in the coming couple of days.

The weather administration says it may strengthen into a tropical storm by
Friday and could threaten to the east coast of Taiwan by next Monday.

The administration is stressing that weather simulations are currently mixed
and to whether it directly impact Taiwan and it will continue to monitor the
weather pattern.

In international news,

World leaders are meeting under a global cloud of wars and bitter divisions
for the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

They're facing new fears that runaway artificial intelligence could threaten
humanity, and more earthly worries that climate shocks and escalating prices
are already making life much tougher for hundreds of millions of people.

The meeting starts on Tuesday and will also be consumed with the major wars
in Iran, Gaza, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar.

Among the headliners will be U-S President Donald Trump and French President
Emanuel Macron.

Both will speak on Tuesday after U-N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres'
opening "state of the world" address.

Ukraine's president and Iran's president will speak on Wednesday, while
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the assembly on
Thursday.

Pakistani fighter jets have struck sites in eastern Afghanistan, targeting
what officials are describing as militant hideouts.

Pakistan says 28 militants were killed, but Kabul has reported at least three
civilian deaths.

The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan has confirmed civilian casualties
and is calling for respect for international humanitarian law.

The strikes have escalated tensions between the two countries, raising
concerns about further hostilities.

Pakistan had warned it could target militants inside Afghanistan following
recent deadly attacks on its security forces.

Afghanistan has condemned the strikes and vowed to respond.

Rwandan genocide

British authorities have charged a doctor living in London with crimes
related to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Dr. Vincent Brown, formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, is the first person in
the U-K to face charges for participating in the genocide.

Prosecutors say Brown, who is now 65 and lives in London, has been charged
with conduct ancillary to genocide and murder as a crime against humanity.

The charges relate to allegations he directed and incited acts of murder and
genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda.

London's Metropolitan Police began investigating in Brown on 2019 at Rwanda's
request.

He is set to appear in court later today.

And finally,

Taylor Swift is set to break records at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on
Sunday.

She will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, making her the most
awarded artist in VMA history.

Currently, Swift is tied with Beyonce, each having 30 awards and the new
honor will bring her total to 31.

Madonna leads this year's MTV Video Music Awards with 11 nominations,
followed by Swift with nine.

Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award.

The event will feature performances by Madonna and others.

Fan voting ends on September 25.

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Ministry of Labor says minister Hung Sun-han's participation in an
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting in China went
"smoothly."

According to the ministry, China adhered to APEC practices and rules and made
all relevant arrangements for Hung and other members of Taiwan's delegation.

Hung attended the eighth APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting
in in Nanjing after arriving in the Chinese city on Sunday.

The trip made Hung the first ministry head to travel to China since President
Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024.

The key topics up for discussion at the meeting included the promotion of
high-quality and sufficient employment across the Asia-Pacific region;
examining how A-I is impacting labor markets; and strengthening regional
social security systems.

Hung said workers' rights and social protections should keep pace with
changes in labor markets, demographics and technology.

He also called for called for guidelines and risk-management rules to promote
"responsible A-I" and "human-centered" governance to prevent workers' rights
from being undermined.

Hung is expected to return to Taiwan no later than Thursday, when the Minimum
Wage Deliberation Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss next year's
minimum wage level.

The Ministry of Justice says law enforcement agencies are stepping up
campaigns to trace and remove all election-related deepfake content ahead of
November's local elections.

According to the Ministry, authorities are strengthening intelligence sharing
and coordinatioin with national security agencies, digital platforms and
messaging services to respond more quickly to fake AI-generated content.

Officials say those caught producing or knowingly spreading content intended
to damage a candidate's election campaign will investigated and held
accountable under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act.

Those found guilty of violating that can face up to seven years in prison.

Candidates who believe they have been targeted can request police forensic
verification.

The justice ministry says once a deepfake is verified, broadcasters and
online platforms can be formally asked to remove or restrict the content
within two days.

The Central Election Commission last month established a task force to work
with the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Ministry of Digital Affairs to
combat the spread of deepfake content ahead of the elections.

The New Zealand Defense Force says two of its naval ships transited the
Taiwan Strait late last week.

Defense officials in Wellington says the September 18 transits, by the naval
frigate "Te Mana" and the replenishment oiler "​Aotearoa," were part of a
three-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

According to a spokesperson, the "New Zealand Defense Force deployments to
the region demonstrate" a "continued interest and commitment to the region."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is calling it "a routine activity" and says
he's not expecting any backlash ​from China.

Luxon says it was conducted in a safe and professional way. It was conducted
under international law and it was in international waters.

Here in Taiwan the Ministry of National Defense hasn't directly commented on
the transit by the New Zealand vessels.

However, it has released a statement saying as the strait is an international
waterway, all countries enjoy ​freedom of navigation and it "will ​not
proactively disclose the activities of friendly allied nations' aircraft and
vessels."

month

Reports are saying shipbuilder C-S-B-C clould deliver its first domestically
built submarine to the Navy as early as next month.

The reports come as the Narwhal was seen leaving Kaohsiung Harbor yesterday
for its 21st round of sea trials.

The submarine is also believed to have undergone its 15th submerged test.

C-S-B-C has been accumulating daily fines since missing an initial November
2025 deadline for handing the submarine over to the Navy.

However, C-S-B-C Chairman Chen Jeng-horng in June told local media that the
submarine is on track for delivery in the second half of this year.

Speaking at the time, Chen said submarine has not encountered any major
technical obstacles during sea trials and is undergoing detailed fine-tuning
and functional verification

October 1

Tai-Power is reiterating that electricity rates will remain unchanged from
October 1, despite higher fuel costs putting more pressure on the state-owned
company's finances.

The statement comes amid claims being made online that electricity prices are
set to rise by 12-per cent.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced last Friday that the Electricity
Price Review Committee voted to freeze average electricity rates at 3.78 per
kilowatt-hour through December of this year.

That figue is unchanged from the level set at its previous review in March.

The committee also voted to prioritize efforts to secure 71.1-billion N-T in
government funding for Tai-Power.

The economics ministry says that funding has been requested by Tai-Power in
order to offset a possible 12.83-per cent rate adjustment, mainly because of
higher fuel prices.

The Electricity Price Review Committee is next slated to meet in December.

And finally,

Yu Kai-wen and Huang Shih-yuan have added to Taiwan's medals tally at the
2026 Asian Games in Japan - by winning gold in the soft tennis mixed doubles.

They beat a Japanese pair in a closely contested match to secure Taiwan's
first gold medal at this year's Games.

The victory gave Taiwan its first Asian Games gold in soft tennis mixed
doubles since 2018.

Taiwan's men's and women's soft tennis teams won silver medals Sunday after
losing to Japan in their respective finals.

Wushu athlete Johnny Sun won silver in the men's taijiquan-taijijian,
securing Taiwan's first wushu medal at this year's Games.

However, Taiwan wasn't so luck on the field on Monday, a the men's baseball
team lost 5-0 to South Korea in its opening game at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya
Asian Games.

The team managed just two hits against South Korea's pitchers.

Taiwan play Thailand today before completing its Group B schedule against
Hong Kong tomorrow.

The top two teams in the group will advance to the next round.

Taiwan is now seventh in the overall medals table with one gold, three silver
and two bronze and is sitting between Hong Kong in sixth place and Macau in
eighth place.

summit

The United States, ‌Japan and South Korea have expressed support for Taiwan
ahead of a summit later this week between U-S leader Donald Trump and China's
Xi Jinping.

This, after a meeting between U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South
Korea's Cho Hyun and Japan's ​Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in New York.

They issued a joint statement vowing to stand firm "against economic coercion
and non-market policies and practices" and "arbitrary export restrictions
that disrupt supply chains."

The top diplomats also reaffirmed their commitment to a robust security
cooperation and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the
Taiwan Strait.

They further "expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in
appropriate international organizations."

President Lai Ching-te says Kaohsiung's Baipu Industrial Park will help
strengthen Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem, balance north-south development,
and boost the country's global competitiveness.

During the park's groundbreaking ceremony, Lai predicted the creation of more
than 4,000 jobs and 300-billion N-T in annual production value, and a new
milestone for Taiwan's semiconductor industry.

Lai said the park expects to draw on cooperation among the Ministry of
Economic Affairs, the Kaohsiung City Government and major semiconductor
companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ..

.. and he hopes it will become Taiwan's first semiconductor base focused on
developing, testing and certifying critical semiconductor equipment and raw
materials.

The president added the development is expected to shorten the time needed to
introduce new technologies and help Taiwan companies establish a foothold in
the global supply chain.

T-S-M-C earlier this month announced plans to develop a 3-hectare site in the
industrial park.

The Philippine government has reaffirmed its one China policy, but says that
position does not prevent Manila from pursuing relations with Taipei.

Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs said its policy is consistent and
clear... and remained in accordance with the 1975 Joint Communiqué between
the Philippines and China.

At the same time, the deparment says its policy "does not preclude the
Philippines from pursuing economic, cultural and functional cooperation with
Taiwan."

It also cited a recent comment by Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr., the D-F-A says the Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors with a
long history of doing business together.

The statement was released after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson last
week urged Manila to adhere to its one-China stance.

The Food and Drug Administration says its re-evaluating the safety of
contraceptive medications that contain desogestrel and etonogestrel... these
are two synthetic hormones used primarily in female contraceptive
medications.

There are six approved contraceptive medications that contain desogestrel,
and two that contain etonogestrel on the market in Taiwan.

The statement comes after the European Medicines Agency warned of a small
increased risk of meningioma associated with their prolonged use.

Meningiomas are tumors that develop in the tissue surrounding the brain and
spinal cord.

However, the F-D-A says there have been no reports in Taiwan of meningioma
associated with the use of desogestrel or etonogestrel over the past decade.

Police in Taipei say an investigation in ongoing into a stabbing at a Fubon
Life office building.

Authorities say a male Fubon Life employee working in its communications
department was stabbed by a man who entered the building located in the
city's Zhongshan District.

The intruder then stabbed himself.

Both men were unconscious with knife wounds when police and emgergency
service personnal arrived at the scene.

They were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

Police say a preliminary investigation shows the suspect is believed to have
used another person's ID to enter the office and appeared to randomly attack
the Fubon Life employee.

Six Tang Prize laureates gathered at Taipei Bio-innovation Park over the
weekend to discuss major global challenges.

During the event, Rule of Law winner Bruce Ackerman spoke of the United
States, saying democracy there cannot simply return to the way it was before
Donald Trump.

The Yale professor has spent decades studying constitutional change and
proposing reforms to strengthen public participation in the democratic
process.

Asked what the United States should do after the Trump era, Ackerman said
reform proposals must be grounded in political reality.

Ackerman pointed to the Trump administration’s treatment of senior military
leaders as a reminder of the threat presidential actions can pose to the rule
of law and independent institutions.

He said the priority should be identifying reforms that are both important
and achievable.


Ackerman's argument carries a broader message for Taiwan and other
democracies: defending the rule of law requires recognizing institutional
threats and building realistic support for reform.

And,

The Tourism Administration says Matsu is this year's top spot for Mid-Autumn
Festival long weekend holiday getaways - with the outlying island's hotel
booking rate averaging 72-per cent.

That's followed by Tainan with an average hotel booking rate over the
four-day holiday weekend of 63-per cent and Penghu with a 62-per cent rate.

Tourism officials say travel preferences have changed since last year's
holiday - and have shifted away from the north this year.

Data shows that Taipei, New Taipei, and Miaoli recorded the highest booking
rates during last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

However, Taipei and New Taipei both still have average hotel booking rates
above the national average of 54-per cent this year.

Yunlin, Chiayi, Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, and Kinmen also have booking rates
above the national average.

The Tourism Administration says hotel operators are still taking bookings and
final occupancy numbers are expected to rise as we get closer to the long
weekend.

China has expelled two top military officials from the Communist Party over
alleged corruption and disloyalty.

State media reported Monday that Zhang Youxia and Zhengli were removed after
a months-long investigation.

The expulsions are part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the
military.

The officials were accused of abusing power for promotions and accepting
gifts and money and their cases have been referred to military prosecutors.

An explosion has injured three South Korean military officers inside the
heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry says the explosion occurred Monday during an
unspecified operation near the military demarcation line in the buffer zone
commonly referred to as the DMZ.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

South Korean officials say the officers are being treated at a military
hospital near the capital Seoul.

They did not say whether the explosion may have been caused by a landmine
planted by North Korea.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Britain has agreed to provide limited
military support to Saudi Arabia to repeal attacks by Iran-backed Houthi
rebels in Yemen.

Burnham told reporters as he flew to the United Nations General Assembly in
New York that he had agreed the Royal Air Force will provide air-to-air
refueling of Saudi planes.

The agreement is for a matter of weeks, but Burnham said it will be kept
under review.

The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has
reignited, with Houthis aiming missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia,
including one that targeted Riyadh.

The Netherlands is making preparations for the United States to sanction the
International Criminal Court...

Its the last escalation of the Trump Administration’s attacks on the global
tribunal.

Dutch officials have been briefed by the United States that sanctions on the
institution were forthcoming.

Washington has already sanctioned more than a dozen current and former staff
members, including half of the court’s sitting judges.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called the move a “sweeping campaign to
dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court.”

A technical issue has disrupted flights in and out of Scotland, Northern
Ireland and the north of England, the second in two weeks.

Although the issue has been fixed, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said
the repercussions will continue to be felt through the day at the very least.

NATS, formerly known as National Air Traffic Services, said Monday that the
problem arose at its Prestwick center in Scotland.

NATS said the disruption is unconnected with the software glitch that led to
the cancellation of over 2,000 flights two weeks ago.

A man stabbed an employee at a Fubon Life office in Taipei this morning
before apparently turning the knife on himself.

Police say both men were found unconscious and were taken to hospital for
emergency treatment.

The attack happened just after 11 AM at the company's offices on Jianguo
North Road in Zhongshan District.

Fubon Life says the injured employee works in its communications department
and was attacked by an intruder.

Police say the suspect may have used another person's ID to enter the
building before attacking the employee, apparently at random.

The suspect was initially misidentified because he was carrying the other
person's ID.

Police are investigating the suspect's identity and possible motive.

The conditions of both men were not immediately known.

(CNA_IG)

The magic of Harry Potter helped Taoyuan's dragon dance team win gold at the
Citizens Sports Games on Sunday.

The team scored 9.17 points with a freestyle routine inspired by the popular
franchise ... turning the dragon ball into a magical prop.

Performers used complex formations and movements to tell the story through
the dragon dance ... while incorporating Hogwarts elements into their
costumes and props.

The team says it repeatedly adjusted the dragon's movements, timing and
formations to better match the story and characters.

The victory gives Taoyuan its second consecutive title in the event ...
following its win at the 2024 Citizens Sports Games.

(IG)

In news from the world of sport...

Taiwanese karate athlete Shih Cheng-chung (石政中) has won bronze in the men's
under-67-kilogram kumite at the Asian Games in Nagoya.

The 26-year-old defeated Vietnam's Khuat Hai Nam 9-3 in the match to claim
his first Asian Games medal ....

.... and Taiwan's second karate medal at the meet.

Shih had missed out on a medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, losing in
the bronze-medal bout.

He said he briefly worried history might repeat itself when he found himself
fighting for bronze again in Nagoya.

But Shih said his coach's confidence helped him stay focused and compete
without hesitation.

Shih says he hopes to return at the next Asian Games and upgrade his bronze
to gold.

(CNA_IG)

A technical issue has disrupted flights in and out of Scotland, Northern
Ireland and northern England.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says the problem has been fixed,
but its effects are expected to continue throughout the day, with flights
canceled or delayed.

NATS - the leading provider of air traffic control in the UK - says the
problem occurred at its air traffic control center in Prestwick, Scotland.

Airports south of Manchester are broadly unaffected.

NATS says the disruption is unrelated to a software problem two weeks ago
that led to more than 2,000 flight cancellations.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim says Taiwan will not compromise its freedoms or
democracy in response to growing pressure from China.

In an interview with Britain's Sky News today, Hsiao said Taiwan would not
provoke China, but would also not give in to threats or military pressure.

Her comments came ahead of this week's meeting between U-S President Donald
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Sky News reported that Chinese Coast Guard activity near Taiwan reached
record levels this summer, with the average daily number of vessels up 37.5
percent from a year earlier.

A Taiwanese Coast Guard captain said Chinese vessels were appearing on almost
every mission and increasingly resembled warships.

China's Foreign Ministry says its patrols are legitimate exercises of
jurisdiction aimed at maintaining maritime order and regional stability.

(CNA_IG)

The Taoyuan Airport MRT will add extra services to handle an expected
increase in passengers during the Taiwan Design Expo ... which runs from
September 24th to October 11th.

The Taoyuan Metro Corporation says eight additional trains per hour in total
will operate in both directions between stations A12 Airport Terminal 1 and
A21 Huanbei during peak periods.

The extra services will run from 4 to 8 PM Monday through Thursday ... and
from 11 AM to 10 PM Friday through Sunday and on the upcoming public
holidays.

Passengers using the additional trains who are traveling towards Taipei ...
or to A22 Laojie River Station ... will need to transfer to a regular
service.

Visitors can take the Airport MRT directly to the expo's main exhibition area
in Qingpu ... while those heading to the Zhongli exhibition area can transfer
to a shuttle bus at Huanbei Station.

(IG)

Chunghwa Post says most post offices across Taiwan will be closed during the
upcoming four-day Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day holiday from
September 25th to 28th.

The only regular post office counter open to the public will be the National
Palace Museum Post Office in Taipei ... offering foreign currency exchange
and sales of stamps and other postal products.

Regular mail and parcels will not be collected or delivered during the
holiday.

However, express mail deliveries will continue as usual ... with designated
postal facilities accepting domestic and international express mail.

Some international express shipments requiring electronic customs information
will have to be mailed on regular business days.

Self-service facilities, including iPost boxes, ATMs and self-service post
offices, will remain available throughout the holiday.

(IG)

Local tribes in Hualien's Guangfu say, post-flooding reconstruction in the
area should be decided and guided by tribes there.

That's as Guangfu, in addition to neighboring Wanrong and Fenglin, marks the
one year anniversary of the Matai'an floods that killed at least 19 people,
while others remain missing.

Youth tribal representatives headed to the Executive Yuan to call for more
decision-making power to be handed over to tribal authorities directly in
accordance with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law.

They say that local tribes were not only primarily traumatized by the floods
themselves, but they are secondarily harmed by the fragmented information
environment which has excluded tribal residents from decisions about
reconstruction.

The group of tribes has urged the Executive Yuan to make the county
governemnt develop a comprehensive plann, and to consider relocation as a
last result.

(AH)

DPP candidate for Yilan magistrate Lin Guo Zhang is pushing back on KMT
lawmakers' comments attacking his record as a lawyer.

Wang Hong Wei and Lin Pei Xiang have both come after Lin Guo Zhang in recent
days over claims that he defended people accused of sexual assault or scams
as a lawyer.

Lin Pei Xiang questioned if Lin Guo Zhang would be able to bring the hammer
down on scammers as magistrate if he spent time in court defending them.

But the DPP candidate's campaign team and legal counsel today emphasized
defendants' right to counsel, saying that the KMT lawmakers appeared to be
blatantly ignorant of this fact.

His lawyers added that Lin has handled over 1000 cases in his practice of
law, many assigned by the Legal Aid Foundation...

adding that, without legal aid, court proceedings would stall and justice for
victims would become nothing more than a pipe dream.

They accused Wang and Lin Pei Xiang of smearing Taiwan's judicial system for
political gain.

(AH)

The Tourism Administration says the Matsu Islands lead the nation in domestic
hotel booking rates for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day
holiday.

Officials say Lienchiang County recorded an average booking rate of 72
percent for the first three days of the long weekend.

Tainan City and Penghu County took second and third place, as 11
administrative areas surpassed the national average of 54 percent.

Officials noted that travel preferences shifted away from last year's
northern focus toward offshore islands and southern destinations.

The agency added that hotel operators are still taking bookings, with final
occupancy numbers expected to rise closer to the weekend.

(NS)

Now turning to international news...

An explosion at the border between North and South Korea has injured 3
Southern military officers.

The cause of the explosion is not immediately clear.

Seoul did not provide details on the conditions of the officers, or say
whether the explosion may have been caused by a landmine planted by North
Korea.

The North has added mines, anti-tank barriers, and other front line
fortifications to the Demilitarized Zone in recent months, as relations
between the countries have deteriorated.

Two of the injured officers were airlifted from the site, while the third was
transported by land before being airlifted as well.

They're being treated at a military hospital near the capital.

North Korean mines in past years have occasionally washed down a swollen
river into South Korea, killing or injuring civilians.

In August 2015, land mine blasts maimed two South Korean soldiers and caused
tensions between the two Koreas to flare.

Pope Leo the fourteenth will pay a visit to France this coming weekend, where
he's expected to focus on Catholic understandings of the value of all human
life.

His visit comes after France previously enshrined abortion as a
constitutional right and recently approved a bill allowing assisted suicide.

Leo has emphasized the need to protect the dignity of all human life, from
immigrants to the sick, as well as unborn fetuses.

Leo's trip will begin Friday and run through Monday.

He's also expected to discuss AI at UNESCO.

France is a traditionally Catholic country, but adheres to a strict form of
secularism in public life based on a 1905 law separating church and state.

Like many once-religious western countries, France has seen the influence of
the Catholic Church wane.

Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, the Hai Kun, has returned to sea
for another round of submerged testing.

A military expert says the testing program appears to be entering its final
stages after the submarine spent more than a month in dry dock for
adjustments.

He says an October delivery to the Navy is possible if the remaining tests
proceed safely and smoothly.

However, he stressed that delivery would not mean the submarine is
immediately combat-ready.

The Hai Kun would still need further integrated testing and crew training
after delivery, a process 96 the expert says take several months or even more
than a year.

The Navy has not announced an official delivery date.

(PB)

A woman escaped serious injury after falling onto the tracks at Taiwan High
Speed Rail's Tainan Station just as a northbound train was approaching.

Railway police say the 38-year-old apparently became unwell and tripped while
waiting on the platform shortly after 8 a.m.

Station staff quickly activated the emergency stop system, and Train 612
stopped before reaching her.

The woman was able to return to the platform with only minor redness and
swelling to her knee.

Police say the case will be referred to prosecutors for investigation under a
law covering negligent acts that endanger rail traffic.

The incident delayed Train 612, and affected passengers delayed by at least
30 minutes will receive a 10-percent fare refund.

THSR says platform doors are being installed network-wide, with completion
expected in early 2028.

(PB)

Two Taiwanese chefs have brought the flavors of home to Buenos Aires as part
of an international Taiwanese cuisine tour.

Chefs Tsai Kun-cheng (蔡坤城) and Lin Yen-chao (林彥兆) demonstrated four dishes,
including peanut mochi and shrimp balls, for members of the local Taiwanese
community.

Tsai says the tour is not only about teaching people how to make Taiwanese
food, but also helping those who have lived abroad reconnect with flavors
they remember from childhood.

The Overseas Community Affairs Council is organizing the program, which
includes 115 events across 18 countries this year.

The Central and South America leg has also taken the chefs through Ecuador,
Paraguay and Brazil.

Organizers say the tour uses food to promote Taiwanese culture and strengthen
connections with overseas communities.

(PB)

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply as tensions
between the United States and Iran persist.

Shipping data show just 12 trackable commodity vessels passed through the
strait over the weekend, down from 35 the previous weekend.

Before the war began in February, around 125 large commercial vessels
typically used the waterway each day.

But the figures do not capture all oil shipments.

Middle Eastern producers are continuing to move crude through Hormuz on
tankers operating with their tracking transponders switched off.

Reuters says Saudi oil exports have recovered to more than 4-million barrels
a day this month, despite the decline in visible vessel traffic.

The strait was a route for roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied
natural gas before the war.

Pakistani jet fighters have carried out airstrikes on suspected militant
hideouts in eastern Afghanistan, and claimed 28 militants were killed.

Authorities in Kabul said the strikes killed at least three people.

The attacks marked a renewed escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan,
raising the prospect of further cross-border hostilities.

They followed Pakistan's warning that it could target militants inside
Afghanistan after recent deadly attacks on its security forces.

Militant attacks targeting Pakistan’s police and security forces have surged
in recent years.

Afghanistan’s government condemned the strikes, claiming they killed
civilians.

Pakistan blamed the Pakistani Taliban and allied groups for most of the
violence.

(KK)

Australia and New Zealand have signed a new agreement to deepen cooperation
between their navies.

The agreement, called Plan Tasman, covers personnel, training, capability
development, warfighting, engineering and international engagement.

Both governments say it is designed to improve information sharing and make
the two navies better able to operate together in the Indo-Pacific.

The plan was signed by the deputy chiefs of the Royal Australian Navy and
Royal New Zealand Navy.

New Zealand officials say it builds on a naval framework signed in 2024 and
is intended to move the relationship toward greater integration between the
two forces.

The Philippines is emphaizing that it has the right to cooperate with
Taiwan...

following protests from Beijing over a new Taiwanese diplomatic office in
Cebu.

That's as Manila reaffirmed its recognition of the "One-China Policy."

Officials say that the policy remains consistent but added that it does not
mean Manila and Taipei cannot work with one another.

This comes after Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung announced last week that
Taiwan was preparing to open a second representative office in the
Philippines.

The day after the announcement, Chinese officials said that the plan to open
a new office was "doomed to fail."

(AH-CNA)

The DPP's Puma Shen is encouraging residents to remain civil in expressing
political support.

That's after the son of the owner of restaurant chain Formosa Chang's
expressed his support for incumbent mayor Chiang Wan An.

Shen emphasized that store owners were free to support whoever they wanted...

Adding that it is everyone's right to express their political views, as long
as they do not go so far as to leave negative comments for a restaurant over
politics or to physically attack someone.

He said that he hoped to return to city affairs rather than discussing who a
particular businessperson supports or doesn't.

(AH)

Asian shares were mostly up today, as investors look to this week's expected
meeting between the leaders of the US and China.

Korea's Kospi gained 1.8% while Japanese markets are closed for a holiday.

Here in Taiwan, the benchmark tai ex also made gains, picking up 538 points
to close the session at 47718

The turnover was 820 billion NT

reshuffle

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating has stayed static
since a cabinet reshuffle last week.

Nikkei Asia reports that that figure was at 62%, with disapproval rising 1
point from the previous survey, to hit 33%.

Takaichi's approval rating has been over 50% since she took office nearly a
year ago.

The only Japanese prime minister to have support above 50% for a full year
was Shinzo Abe in his second term.

When asking supporters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party about their
support for Takaichi, it was static at 90%...

while opposition supporters had higher approval than before, at 42%.

When asked why they support Takaichi, the most common reason given by
respondents was trustworthiness, followed by leadership ability.

Takaichi last week reshuffled the cabinet, with only 8 out of 18 ministers
keeping their jobs.

In the US,

a federal immigrtion officer shot and wounded a man in Austin, Texas.

Officials say the man is in serious but stable condition.

Anti ICE protesters quickly gathered at the scene.

Austin Police say that city police were not involved in the traffic stop that
started the exchange or the shooting itself.

City officials say, they want the city's own police department to have a role
in the investigation to provide "third party eyes."

Market analysts are closely watching developments ahead of Thursday's meeting
between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the
White House.

Trade, artificial intelligence and rare-earth supplies are expected to be key
issues, including whether the two sides extend their current tariff truce.

U.S. and Chinese economic officials reportedly held preparatory talks in New
York over the weekend.

For Taiwan equities, futures analysts say attention will be on whether
trading turnover can remain above 1-trillion N.T. ahead of the Mid-Autumn
Festival holiday, and whether major electronics stocks can maintain their
recent momentum.

Elevated oil prices amid continuing Middle East tensions are another factor
being watched.

(PB)

Nearly eight in 10 respondents to a Cathay Financial survey expect Taiwan's
inflation rate to remain above 2 percent a year from now.

The September survey found 35 percent expect inflation to be above 3 percent,
while another 15 percent expect it to be between 1 and 2 percent.

Everyday expenses appear to be shaping those expectations.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said prices for dining out, groceries and
household necessities were the main factor influencing their outlook, while
29 percent pointed to imported raw materials such as oil and steel.

Respondents expect inflation to average 2.51 percent this year.

That's higher than the government's latest forecast of 2.07 percent.

The survey also showed broader economic confidence improving, while optimism
toward Taiwan stocks rebounded.

(PB)

Thirty works have been shortlisted for this year's Taiwan Literature Awards
Golden Book Award, highlighting a wide range of languages, genres and
subjects in contemporary Taiwan literature.

The National Museum of Taiwan Literature says 276 works entered the
competition, with the finalists including 16 works of fiction, six poetry
collections and four each in essays and nonfiction.

Judges noted a strong showing from works written in Taiwanese Taigi, Hakka
and Indigenous languages, as more writers turn to their mother tongues for
literary creation.

The 30 finalists will compete for the Annual Golden Grand Laurel Award, worth
1-million N.T., as well as seven Golden Book Awards and three New Bud Awards.

The winners are expected to be announced in early November, with the awards
ceremony set for November 15 in Taipei.

(PB)

Russia's ruling United Russia party is leading the country's parliamentary
election, which President Vladimir Putin has portrayed as a show of support
for the war in Ukraine.

Partial results from Russia's Central Election Commission show the party with
about 57.5 percent of the vote. By early Monday, roughly three-quarters of
polling-station protocols had been processed.

The vote took place in a tightly controlled political environment, with most
anti-war candidates barred from running.

The final day of voting also coincided with a major drone attack on Moscow
and surrounding areas.

Russian authorities blamed Ukraine and said three people were killed in the
Moscow region and part of an oil refinery was damaged.

Ukraine has not commented on the attack.

Typhoon Dujuan is approaching eastern Japan, bringing torrential rain and
raising the risk of flooding and landslides across the Kanto region.

Japan's weather agency says the large and strong typhoon is expected to pass
close to the Tokyo area later today, with conditions worsening as it
approaches.

Parts of the Izu Islands and Chiba Prefecture have already seen exceptionally
heavy rainfall, with nearly 400 millimeters recorded on Izu Oshima in 24
hours.

Authorities are also warning that linear rain bands could develop, sharply
increasing the risk of flooding and other disasters.

The storm has also disrupted the Asian Games, with organizers postponing
Monday's equestrian eventing competition until Tuesday.

Ten lions have been found dead in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area,
with wildlife officials saying they may have been poisoned.

The Conservation Area Authority says the animals were discovered Friday in
the Ndutu area of northern Tanzania.

Officials say preliminary findings suggest the lions may have ingested
poison, but an investigation is underway to determine the cause and identify
anyone responsible.

Poisoning is a recurring threat to large carnivores in East Africa, often
amid conflicts between predators and livestock owners.

The deaths come a month after Kenyan police arrested four people during an
investigation into the suspected poisoning deaths of 18 elephants near the
Tanzanian border.

Ngorongoro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Tanzania's major
wildlife areas.

The Tai-Ex made solid gains in early trading this morning.

The main board added 548-points to reach a high of 47,728.

The rise came as tech stocks moved higher from Friday.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its share price opened up 15 N-T to
hit at 2,475 N-T.

MediaTek rose over 3-per cent and A-S-E Technology surged more than 5-per
cent, while Delta Electronics, Hon Hai, and U-M-C were all trading in
positive territory.

Analysts say market momentum and investor confidence will continue to
recover, as companies in the A-I ​​supply chain continues to benefit from
growing demand for AI computing and inference capabilities.

The Ministry of National Defense is reporting four Chinese air sorties
operating near Taiwan between 6AM Sunday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern air defense identification
zones.

Those aircraft included support planes, helicopters and UAVs.

Seven Chinese Navy vessel and four official maritime patrol ships were also
spotted operating in Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

In international news,

French President Emmanuel Macron has backed a proposal for Canada to become
the European Union’s first associate member.

It came as Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are seeking to
deepen ties in space, defense, energy and business.

Meeting in a French territory just off Newfoundland, the leaders also agreed
to pursue shared space infrastructure and broader economic cooperation.

Macron’s endorsement comes days after European Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen proposed the new E-U relationship.

Carney embraced it as part of Canada's push to reduce dependence on the
United States.

Polls have closed in Russia's first wartime parliamentary election, with
little opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies.

The Kremlin is aiming to showcase support for its war against Ukraine and to
legitimize its actions there.

The vote began Friday, with authorities encouraging online balloting.

It included residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed
for the first time.

Authorities in Kyiv have denounced the voting as illegal.

While the European Union called it a "blatant violation of international law."

to the US

Eighteen suspects who were arrested in the July 2021 killing of Haiti's
President Jovenel Moise are being extradited to the U-S.

It marks the end of a drawn-out judicial process in Haiti for a killing that
shocked the troubled Caribbean country.

The U-S Attorney for the Southern District of Florida says the suspects will
face trial there.

The suspects have not been identified.

However, those who remain in Haiti awaiting trial include more than a dozen
Colombian soldiers and a former Haitian government official.

A total of 30 people have been indicted in Moise's killing.

The investigation has veen stalled by gang violence, death threats and a
failing judicial system.

The sister of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, has
been arrested.

Khan' P-T-I party says Aleema Khanum was detained in the eastern city of
Lahore.

P-T-I officials are calling it an "illegal detention" and her son is
demanding her release.

The order for Khanum's arrest was issued by Lahore's deputy commissioner.

It alleges she was mobilizing supporters of the imprisoned former prime
minister and planning a rally.

Khanum has been a vocal critic of her brother's detention, regularly speaking
to his supporters and the media.

And finally,

Ed Sheeran has opened a concert in Philadelphia with comments about Gaza,
saying what's happening is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."

He said at a performance at Lincoln Financial Field that he wants his music
and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics.

However, Sheeran added he has found himself in the middle of a debate about
free speech and a complex political issue.

He then addressed the controversy that unfolded since his supporting acts all
withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore.

Macklemore has been Sheeran's original U-S opener, but was dropped in
response to his making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. at a show earlier
this month in America.

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han arrived at Nanjing's Lukou International Airport
at around 8 o'clock last night to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation ministerial meeting.

Hung's trip to Nanjing means he has become the first Cabinet official in
President Lai Ching-te's administration to have visited China.

APEC staff were present on Hung's arrival and escorted the labor minister
through the airport via the courtesy channel.

He's slated to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial
Meeting later today.

The government will be holding earthquake and tsunami warning drills today.

The drill are part of National Disaster Prevention Day.

The Central Weather Administration will send a nationwide earthquake early
warning test to mobile phones at 9:21AM

While a tsunami warning test will be issued at 9:30AM for coastal townships
and cities, followed by an all-clear test 30-minutes later.

The government is stressing that all of today's test messages will clearly
identify themselves as part of the 2026 National Disaster Prevention Day
exercise.

CPC has left gasoline and diesel prices unchanged for this week despite
higher crude oil purchasing costs.

It means the price of 92 octane unleaded remains at 31.2 N-T per liter and
the price of premium diesel sits at 29.9 N-T per liter.

C-P-C says the decision not to raise prices at was made despite crude oil
prices jumping higher last week after Saudi pipelines were attacked, is an
effort to curb local inflationary pressures and keep domestic fuel prices
lower than in neighboring markets.

Under state-refiner's floating price mechanism, the average international
crude oil price rose from 115 U-S dollars per barrel to 125 U-S dollars per
barrel over the past week.

And,

Chien Hui-hsuan won Taiwan's first medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan
after taking bronze in the women's individual kata event in karate

It was Chien's first Asian Games medal and came after she beat her Iranian
opponent 4-1 in the bronze medal bout.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's men's and women's teams both lost to their Japanese
opponents in the team soft tennis finals to take silver.

The silver medal finish tied the women's soft tennis team's best-ever
performance at the Asian Games.

Taiwan is ninth in the overall medals table - between Kuwait and Hong Kong.