The KMT is trying to distance itself from former chair Hong Xiu Zhu 洪秀柱's
attendance at tomorrow's CCP military parade in Beijing.

Hong arrived in Beijing yesterday saying that history must not be distorted,
adding that the KMT was the party that established the Republic of China and
led the 8-year war against Japanese invasion that ended in 1945.

China has named the September 3 parade a “Victory Day” spectacle to claim
part of the credit for Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II 80 years
ago.

The KMT, on the other hand, says that Hong doesn't represent the party, and
that she can travel there as a private citizen freely, a right protected by
the Constitution.

Meanwhile the DPP has condemned Hong's attending China's show of military
force, saying that her attendance puts her in aligment with the PRC.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that her appearance there does
not reflect mainstream Taiwanese people's feelings...

and may send the wrong message to the international community regarding
Taiwan's sovereignty.

(AH)

The Tourism Administration is pushing low-carbon travel with over 170 new
promotions.

The agency is working with Taiwan Railways Corporation, Taiwan High Speed
Rail, and hotel operators to combine eco-friendly transport with certified
“sustainable” accommodations.

Visitors staying at hotels with sustainability labels can exchange vouchers
for Taiwan Railways bento meals or VIP lounge passes.

TRC is also bundling discount packages with sightseeing trains.

Meanwhile, THSR is offering discounted hotel-plus-ticket deals, with up to 22
percent off fares.

The operator says its services have carried a carbon reduction label for ten
years, cutting emissions by at least 3 percent annually.

Officials say the goal is to make public transport and sustainable stays more
attractive ... while lowering the sector’s carbon footprint.

(IG)

Taipei health officials say more than a quarter of ice products tested in May
and June failed inspection.

The city’s Department of Health checked 108 items, including frozen
desserts, edible ice, and cold beverages.

Twenty-nine failed the first round of testing — that’s nearly 27 percent.

Even after follow-up inspections, about 10 percent still did not meet food
safety standards.

Officials say the main issues involved excessive levels of bacteria,
indicating possible hygiene problems during production or handling.

Businesses that failed twice now face fines up to 3-million NT under the Act
Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

(IG)

Thousands of voters in Guyana have participated in what many say is the
country's most consequential election in decades.

The winner of the election will oversee 10 billion dollars in annual revenue
from offshore oil and gas production.

Guyana has recently transformed from a country traditionally dependent on
gold, sugar, rice, and wood, to one producing nearly 900,000 barrels of oil
each day.

That makes it the fastest growing economy in the world, according to the
World Bank.

The six parties taking part in the election are fighting for the presidency
and seats in the 65 member parliament.

The Executive Yuan will launch a series of events for the National Disaster
Prevention Day aiming to raise people's awareness for natural disasters.

The National Fire Agency announces that this year's theme is "Surviving a
Major Earthquake, Strengthening Preparedness."

Starting September 17, large-scale earthquake and tsunami rescue drills will
be conducted in Yi-lan County and New Taipei City, simulating a magnitude 8.5
earthquake in east of Taiwan that triggers a tsunami.

On September 19, a nationwide earthquake alert will be sent out starting at
9:21 a.m., followed by a tsunami alert in coastal areas at 9:30 a.m.

At 10:59 a.m., 13 Public Television Service channels will switch over to
broadcast a major news drill and a pre-recorded presidential address.

Interior Minister Liu Shi-fang says as of this week, the N-F-A has offered
disaster prevention training to 60-thousand people, and over 100 Community
Emergency Response Teams have also been established.

She is encouraging the public to develop their ability to save and help
themselves, and rescue others as well.

Germany’s Bavarian State Government has teamed up with Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Company to establish a new AI chip research and development
center at the Technical University of Munich.

The Munich Advanced Technology Center for High-tech AI Chips, will focus on
high-performance, customized AI chips and train students in semiconductor
processes, with technical backing from TSMC.

The center will receive about 4.5 million euros in joint funding from
Bavaria’s science and economic affairs ministries.

Officials say the project will boost Europe’s chip design capabilities while
addressing Germany’s shortage of AI semiconductor talent.

Bavarian ministers have praised TSMC’s role in cultivating local expertise
in advanced chip technologies.

(CNA_IG)

President Lai Ching Te is inviting DPP lawmakers to dinner at his
presidential residence, as an effort to improve communication channels
between the executive and legislative branches.

Presidential Office Spokesman Karen Kuo added that the move was in an attempt
to understand caucus leaders' thoughts.

Kuo said that Lai will dine with lawmakers from different groups in four
different batches in order to ensure the smooth passage of bills, especially
the 2026 general budget plan.

Lai hopes to strengthen exchanges and, through constructive discussions,
ensure the smooth implementation of other government programs and key
livelihood policies.

The spokesperson also said that this year's dinners mark the fourth time that
the president has held similar meetings with lawmakers.

(AH)

Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer Lin Yu Ting says, she will not attend this year's
World Boxing Championships, due to a lack of response regarding her "sex
tests" from the organizer, World Boxing.

Officials said that they had submitted all relevant tests to the World Boxing
federation, but that they had not received a response as of the departure
date yesterday.

Therefore, Lin will skip the games, with officials saying that they want to
prevent athletes traveling to the UK, where the games are being held, if they
will not be able to participate.

This comes after some raised concerns last year that Lin was not allowed to
participate in women's boxing, despite the International Olympic Committee's
continued confirmation of her eligibility.

She has since been forced to miss multiple international competitions.

(AH-CNA)

The 2025 Taipei Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow, with performances happening
across the city.

The month-long festival is themed "Jazz Everywhere," and organizers say it
aims to bring jazz music to the streets, cultural centers, and outdoor venues
of Taipei's 12 districts.




Scheduled performances will take place in jazz clubs and music venues, but
also make their way into museums, outdoor markets, and even the zoo.

The final event will take place from September 26th to the 28th at the Taipei
Music Center's outdoor stage, featuring local and international artists,
including Chris Babida, and the Blue Note Tokyo All-Star Jazz Orchestra.

(NS)

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 24016,
after losing 54 points.

The turnover was 409.6 billion NT.

Now turning to international news...

At least 1000 people are dead in Sudan's Darfur region, following a
devastating landslide.

A rebel group controlling the area just reported the disaster, but it took
place Sunday in the Marrah Mountains, following days of heavy rainfall.

They add that the village was "completely leveled," with only one survivor
out of all village residents.

The group is appealing for the UN and international aid groups to help
recover victims' bodies.

Israel killed at least 31 people across the Gaza Strip, as they launch
strikes, pressing ahead with a major offensive in Gaza City.

That's as Israel has killed over 63,000 people in its siege on the Gaza
Strip.

Meanwhile, leading scholars accuse Israel of genocide.

86% of the 500 members worldwide of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars say, Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition
of genocide.

That's after two prominent Israeli rights groups said that their country is
committing genocide in Gaza.

Meanwhile, airstrikes and artillery shelling have sounded throughout Gaza
City since Israel declared the Gaza Strip's largest city a combat zone last
week.

Residents have witnesses explosive-laden robots demolishing buildings in the
city.

In Vietnam, it's National Day, and the country is celebrating with its
largest military parade in decades.

Thousands packed Hanoi's Ba Dinh Square, where Ho Chi Minh declared
independence in 1945, to watch the parade of troops and weaponry.

Nearly 16,000 soldiers joined, along with personnel from China, Russia, Laos,
and Cambodia.

After Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945, fighting quickly resumed as
Vietnamese forces fought the French in the first Indochina war, when Vietnam
was divided into the communist North and US-backed South.

The Vietnam War followed, during which the Communist North ultiamtely
defeated the South and its allies, capturing Saigon on April 30th, 1975.

The Presidential Office says, rally leaders must pay attention to the safety
of police officers at their events.

That's after participants at a TPP rally allegedly assaulted police officers
on Saturday, in videos posted on social media.

Officials say that 8 police officers sustained injuries at the rally.

The Ministry of the Interior said that offenders were being charged with
obstruction of official duties, coersion and violations of the Assembly and
Parade Act.

Meanwhile, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says that police must enforce the law,
but added that he understood why TPP supporters were protesting.

He also called on the public to demonstrate to support the rights of former
party chair Ke Wen Zhe.

He added that the root cause of the incident is Ke's ongoing detention, which
has now resulted in the injury of 8 police.

(AH)

Two review meetings over minimum wage and electricity rates are schedueld
this month, and Taipei-based Chinese National Federation of Industries
expresses strong opposition to an increase in electricity bills.

C-N-F-I chair Pan Jun-rong (潘俊榮) says raising the minimum wage is
reasonble given the fluctuations in prices and the challenging economic
environment , adding that businesses should be able to afford it.

He also says that he's confident that there's consensus on this issue.

Regarding electricity rates, Pan stresses that he's already advised Economics
Minister Gong Ming-xin that they must not be raised.

Noting that any increase will affect everyone’s livelihood, Pan says the
government should find ways to allocate additional subsidies to Taiwan Power
so the state-run company wouldn't bear excessive financial burdens.

He has also suggested that Taiwan should diversify its energy sources, and
that state-owned enterprises should take the lead in investment.

(JL)

The CCP is showing off its military might at a major parade in Beijing.

The event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, at which
time the People's Republic of China did not exist.

Troops will march with President Xi Jinping, after which he will deliver a
speech to an audience with members including leaders from North Korea and
Russia.

Many weapons will be on display for the first time, including strategic
weapons and drones.

The front-runner in Bolivia's presidential election says, he will maintain
some of the left-wing ruling parties' social benefits...

while also cutting the country's deficits.

Centrist Rodrigo Paz says, he wants to attract a diverse group of voters to
fix Bolivia's economic crisis.

He says, he will maintain some social benefits of the outgoing Movimiento al
Socialismo, but he has avoided pressure to clarify his policies with just
weeks before the runoff election.

In October, Paz will face former right-wing president Jorge Quiroga.

This comes after Paz came from left field in the August 17th general
election, with his party, the Christian Democratic Party, meeting unexpected
demand.

Although Paz received the greatest share of votes in that election, Bolivian
law states that candidates must get at least 50% of the vote, or beat the
runner-up by 10 percentage points to avoid a runoff.

The Legislative Yuan began a new session yesterday, with the ruling DPP, the
main opposition KMT and the TPP each outlining their legislative priorities.

The 11th Legislative Yuan's third session, the longest on record, ended Aug.
29, and the fourth session began Sept. 1.

The Cabinet listed nine draft bills as top priorities for the new session,
including measures related to the economy, childcare services, artificial
intelligence, and protections for persons with disabilities.

It says other priority bills will be reviewed by newly appointed Executive
Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Yuan Ruan Zhao-syong, who will also coordinate
with Legislative Yuan caucuses.

The KMT says it intends to pursue reforms to the Local Government Act,
military and civil servant pensions, referendum and election law, and
subsidies.

While TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang said his party will promote amendments to
the Referendum Act to combine referendums with elections.

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court has ordered three people to
be detained and held incommunicado for allegedly stealing sensitive TSMC
trade secrets.

The ruling was handed down after the one former employee and two current
employees were referred to the IPCC on Monday morning.

A three-judge panel at the IPCC ruled that the three deleted their
communications records after their conduct involving the alleged theft of
TSMC's advanced 2nm process was
discovered, so there are reasonable fears they could continue to destroy
evidence and collude with one another in making false statements.

The judges said that as the three suspects' conduct potentially harmed
national security and affected market competition, they should be detained to
make sure the future court hearings proceed smoothly.

Last week, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted the suspects for their
roles in the alleged theft of trade secrets and violation of the National
Security Act by obtaining national core technology secrets for use abroad.

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of up to 14 years.

Health minister Shih Chung-liang says plans to abolish special rules on food
imports from Japan's five Fukushima prefectures were scientifically assessed
before being published for public consultation.

The minister says among 53 countries and regions that have introduced various
restrictions on food imports from Japan due to safety concerns over
tsunami-struck Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, 49 have removed those
restrictions.

Shih made the remarks on his first day in office, following the Ministry of
Health and Welfare's announcement last Friday of a proposal to end all
special rules on Japanese food imports and subject the draft to a 60-day
public consultation.

Under the draft, safety checks on Japanese food imports will return to
source- and border-level management, with the Japanese government controlling
restricted items and Taiwanese authorities conducting risk-based sampling for
radiation at the border to ensure food safety.

The Tourism Administration has expanded Taiwan PASS to include "Taichung Go",
making travel around the city easier for tourists.

Starting September 1st, foreign travelers can use a single QR code ticket to
enjoy unlimited rides for 48 hours on the Taichung Metro, city buses, and
four Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes.

The pass also links to popular destinations including Gaomei Wetlands, the
Taichung Aquarium, Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, and the
city’s cultural hubs such as Calligraphy Greenway.

Officials say the upgrade covers three existing Taiwan PASS products — the
classic versions of Taiwan High-Speed Rail and Taiwan Railways ... as well as
the Easy Go edition.

They add that the goal is to improve transport for tourists, while gradually
expanding digital ticketing nationwide.

(IG)

In international news,

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen was hit
by radar jamming over Bulgaria in a suspected Russian operation.

A spokesperson confirmed the incident on Monday.

The plane landed safely at Plovdiv airport.

A spokesperson said Von der Leyen will continue her planned tour of the
European Union’s nations bordering Russia and Belarus.

New Zealand is to ease a ban on foreigners buying homes to allow wealthy
investors access to its housing market and boost the economy.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Monday that some wealthy overseas
business investors can now purchase a single high-value home.

The move partially reverses a ban imposed by the previous government in 2018
to cool the housing market. The adjustment applies only to a small number of
wealthy foreigners who hold a residency visa reintroduced in April for those
investing millions of dollars in local businesses.

Critics argue the policy prioritizes wealthy foreigners over local needs.

minister

New Economics Minister Gong Ming-xin has vowed to take action on response
measures to tariffs.

On his first day of officially taking the office today, Gong said the
20-percent U-S tariff is a complicated matter, adding that it also meant very
good opportunities in other countries.

Gong expressed thanks to the Legislature for passing a special act to
strengthen economic, social and defense resilience amid global challenges,
noting that the measure provides $93 billion NT in industrial support.

He said he would meet with industry and commerce representatives later today,
then visit central and southern Taiwan over the next couple of days to "learn
about the situation of individual enterprises and propose countermeasures."

Gong, a veteran government official, served as National Development Council
chair and Deputy Economics Minister at one point.

(CNA-JL)

Taoyuan has rolled out 136 new electric buses, boosting its share of e-buses
from under 1 percent to 18 percent.

Mayor Chang San-cheng says the long-term goal is to replace all diesel buses
with electric ones by 2030.

He notes that with another 137 vehicles on order this year, Taoyuan's e-bus
fleet could exceed 35 percent by next year.

Officials say the new buses will serve five major routes, bringing not just
environmental benefits but also more comfort, lower operating costs, and a
modern image for public transport.

The city is also providing subsidies and helping bus companies set up
charging facilities to encourage a faster transition.

(IG)

The Ministry of the Interior says people who clashed with police at a TPP
rally in Taipei on Saturday will be referred to prosecutors for
investigation.

The ministry says Taipei police had collected evidence of obstruction of
public officials and coercion by "disorderly" rallygoers, as well as
violations of the Assembly and Parade Act, which will be sent for
investigation by prosecutors.

Officials say eight police officers suffered injuries amidst "pushing and
jostling" by some rallygoers, including one officer who was sent to a
hospital afterlosing consciousness.

The TPP held the demonstration near the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial
Hall to mark the one-year anniversary of a raid by Taipei prosecutors
targeting former TPP chair and Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je.

Ko has denied charges, calling them politically motivated, and remains in
detention as his trial proceeds.

(CNA - NS)

The Food and Drug Administration has announced further easing the
restrictions on food imports from Fukushima and four other Japanese
prefectures.

It will lift the dual-certification requirement and 100% batch-by-batch
inspections.

The FDA says imported Japanese food items will be treated like those from
other countries with source management and border control, which could take
effect at the end of this year.

Following the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in 2011, Taiwan banned food
imports from Fukushima and four other prefectures for nearly 11 years.

The government relaxed the ban in 2022 and 2024 but imposed
dual-certification requirement and 100% inspections.

Health Minister Shi Chong-liang noted that out of the 53 countries and
regions that had imposed restrictions on Japanese food after the nuclear
disaster accident, 49 have now fully lifted them.

FDA's data shows that over the past 14 years, more than 263,000 food
shipments from Japan have been inspected at the border, with all test results
meeting both Taiwan’s and Japan’s standards.

(JL)

In world news...

Chinese President Xi Jinping says China will accelerate the creation of an
S-C-O development bank as he seeks to expand the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization’s influence and scope.

Xi, speaking at the S-C-O summit today, pledged $1.4 billion US dollars in
loans in the next three years for member states, not specifically designated
for this new bank.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were
among the leaders of a couple of dozen nations, mostly in central Asia and
the Middle East, meeting as part of the SCO.

The SCO, originally seen as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia, has
grown in size and influence but remains largely a security forum.

The summit comes 3 days ahead of a military parade in Beijing to which China
has invited its allies and neighbors.

The Presidential Office is announcing personnel changes for the National
Security Council...

beginning with Taipei City Councilor Zhao Yi Xiang 趙怡翔 and Presidential
Office Spokesman Li Wen 李問, who will jointly take on the role of Deputy
Secretaries-General.

Additionally, the president is appointing former NSC Deputy
Secretaries-General Xu Si Jian 徐斯儉 and Liu De Jin 劉得金 as advisory
members.

According to Presidential Office Spokesman Karen Kuo, these changes are meant
to strengthen responses to hostile forces.

Kuo added that Xu has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and inthe
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and is a fellow at Academia Sinica.

Meanwhile, Liu, taking on the role of advisory member, previous served in the
Ministry of National Defense and as a military member.

The Presidential Office also announced today the appointment of Zheng Jun
Sheng 鄭俊昇 as the office's new Deputy Secretary-General.

According to Karen Kuo, Zheng previously served in the DPP's central polling
center and as a secretary in Former President Tsai's office.

These changes are effective immediately.

(AH)

The Taiwanese show Zero Day is drawing international attention, with critics
in the US saying that other countries facing authoritarian pressure should
learn from Taiwan's example.

The show depicts what could happen in a potential Chinese invasion, showing
what have now become commonplace "gray zone" tactics turning into a blockade.

Elisabeth Braw of Foreign Affairs writes that the show makes people consider
so that they may prepare.

Braw writes that the purpose of the show is to alert Taiwanese audiences to a
pattern of Chinese military behavior and to warn that it could turn into
something more serious than just drills.

She emphasizes that, with threats growing from China and Russia, Zero
Day-type media is needed not just in Taiwan, but in other countries too.

Braw points out that Zero Day isn't the first such series; about 10 years
ago, the Norwegian show Occupied depicted a fictional future where Norway is
occupied by Russia.

Perhaps, she says, national security is the best entertainment theme.

(AH)

The Central Weather Administration is warning that all of Taiwan can expect
short, localized thunderstorms this afternoon, as moisture levels rise.

The CWA says, the heaviest rain is likely to be in the south and mountainous
central areas.

Some rain may persist across the west into the evening.

Meanwhile, highs today are expected to range between 32 and 34 degrees
Celsius, with high UV index readings likely around noon.

Experts say that the weather through wednesday is likely to be cloudier and
cooler with some afternoon showers.

Then, from Thursday through Saturday, the weather will again turn sunny and
hot, with temperatures in the north getting up to 38 degrees.

(AH-CNA)

Iran-backed Houthis have raided United Nations offices in Yemen's capital,
detaining at least 11 U.N. employees.

The rebels are tightening security in Sanaa following the Israeli killing of
their prime minister and several Cabinet members.

The raids on Sunday targeted the offices of the World Food Program, the World
Health Organization and UNICEF.

They are part of a long-running crackdown against international organizations
in rebel-held areas.

The U.N. previously suspended operations in northern Yemen after the rebels
detained eight staffers in January.

Three people were killed in Indonesia yesterday as protests expanded,
representing a rebuke of President Prabowo Subianto.

Three government workers died while trying to flee a building that protestors
had set on fire, according to the New York Times, which added that dozens of
cars and motorcycles were damaged in the protests.

The protests started on Monday in Jakarta.

On Thursday night, a police vehicle struck and killed a motorcycle taxi
driver while it was trying to disperse protestors.

Prabowo visited the deceased's family yesterday.

Protesters have called for an end to housing allowances for lawmakers, which
they see as lavish given the general population's economic challenges.
Indonesia's unemployment rate so far this year is the highest in Southeast
Asia, approaching 5%.

undocumented immigrants

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from
carrying out speedy deportations of undocumented migrants detained in the
interior of the United States.

It's a setback for the Republican administration's efforts to remove migrants
from the country without appearing before a judge first.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., suggested the Trump
administration's expanded use of the expedited removal of migrants is
trampling on individuals' due process rights.

She called the process pursued by the Trump administration "skimpy" and based
on a "startling argument ... that those who entered the country illegally are
entitled to no process under the Fifth Amendment."

Bolivia's highest court has thrown out criminal charges against former
interim President Jeanine Anez over her role in the 2019 killings of
protesters.

The contentious decision just before midnight Friday in Bolivia marked a
legal victory for the opposition leader after almost four-and-a-half years in
prison. Hours earlier, another opposition leader, Luis Fernando Camacho, left
jail and jetted home to a hero's welcome in his city of Santa Cruz.

The court ordered Anez's case to restart in a special process for alleged
crimes committed by former heads of state.

The freeing of opposition leaders come weeks after elections boosted the
opposition for the first time in decades. And the moves are raising concerns
among critics who see the justice system as subject to political
manipulation.

Anez was arrested in 2020 and was sentenced in 2022 to 10 years in prison on
charges of terrorism and sedition in connection with her 2019 takeover
following pressure from the military on the sitting president, Evo Morales.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian officials want to meet
with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders next week to discuss
recent developments in efforts to end the three-year war with Russia.

The proposed meetings appear designed to add momentum to the push for peace.

Zelenskyy expressed frustration Friday with what he called Russia's lack of
constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch
devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas.

Trump has bristled at Russian leader Vladimir Putin's stalling on an American
proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy.

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Zelenskyy's top adviser
yesterday in New York.

The leaders of India and Japan have agreed to bolster economic ties while
also boosting cooperation in areas including clean energy and defense.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru
Ishiba agreed in Tokyo on a goal of boosting Japanese private investment in
India to about $6.8 billion a year over the coming decade, up from about $2.7
billion a year in the 2010s.

They also agreed to increase exchanges of workers and students to half a
million people in the coming five years. Japan hopes India's young workforce
can help address labor shortages it faces with its super-aging population.

In a joint statement, Ishiba and Modi reaffirmed their commitment to
cooperate as part of the Quad framework of regional leaders, which also
includes the U.S. and Australia and is intended to counter China's growing
influence.