ICRT

Posted on 2026-07-27 08:16:13

And finally,

C-P-C has raised gasoline and diesel prices from today following a spike in
international crude oil prices due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The state refiner has increased gasoline prices by 0.7 N-T per liter, and has
raised diesel prices by 0.5 N-T per liter next week.

The move means that the price of 92 octane unleaded now stands at 30.5 N-T
per liter, while the price of premium diesel is now 29.3 N-T a liter.

Under C-P-C's floating price mechanism, the average international oil price
rose to 90.08 U-S dollars per barrel last week.

That was up from 78.82 U-S dollars a barrel the previous week.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

The Central Weather Administration is warning that aftershocks from Sunday
evening's magnitude 5.6 earthquake could occur over the coming week.

These could be of around magnitude 5, although authorities says some of them
will likely be barely felt due to the depth of the tectonic plates.

Last night's quake was centered in the rural Shuangxi District in the eastern
New Taipei, some 35-kilometers east-southeast of New Taipei City Hall, at a
depth of 95-kilometers.

It was felt stongest in Yilan, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County,
Hualien, Taichung and Miaoli, where it measured 3 on the weather
administration's 7-tier intensity scale.

The quake measured a 2 on the on the intensity scale in Keelung, Hsinchu
City, Nantou, Changhua and Yunlin.

The main cause of the quake was the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate.

The center says other quakes that belong to the same seismic zone include
last December's magnitude 7 earthquake that was centered near Turtle Island
off the coast of Yilan, and the May 1 magnitude 6 earthquake near Yilan.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

Meanwhile,

The Taipei Metro Corporation says no abnormalities were found after track
inspections.

M-R-T trains ran at reduced speeds after the quake and the corporation says
along with carrying out track inspsections it also ran equipment checks
according to standard operating procedures ...

.. and stations also increased announcements and public awareness campaigns.

The Taoyuan Metro Corporation says services on the Airport M-R-T line were
affected for 34 minutes following the earthquake.

It says it activated standard operating procedures were immediately and after
the shaking stopped, all trains on the line underwent slow-speed inspections.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

The Centers for Disease Control says 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be
delivered to the Taipei City Department of Health this week and distributed
to contracted medical institutions and outpatient hospital clinics.

The statement comes amid claims that Taipei clinics had reportedly run out of
COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Concern over a lack of vaccine doses comes after the C-D-C last week
announced the extension of its publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination program
through September 28 due to a rise in the number of cases.

The C-D-C says Taiwan entered a new COVID-19 phase two weeks ago, as
outpatient and emergency room visits rose by 66.5-per cent in the week of
July 12 to 18 from the previous week.

The publicly funded vaccination had been scheduled to end July 31.

It allows anyone age 6 months and older who has not yet received this
season's COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated free of charge.

The C-D-C says more than 90-per cent of people who developed severe COVID-19
this season had not received this season's COVID-19 vaccine.

Most of the cases occurred in adults age 65 or older and people with chronic
illnesses.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

The government is defending its plans to spend 352-billion N-T to extend the
High Speed Rail from Taipei to Yilan.

Critics argue the line will cost 600-billion N-T and will severely impact the
Taiwan Railway's Administration's ticket revenue.

But authorities counter that the new line will reduce traffic on National
Freeway 5 by up to 6-per cent, and free-up Taiwan Railway's capacity for both
its intercity and commuter trains.

The Railway Bureau says the High Speed Rail line will handle more medium- and
long-distance Taipei–Yilan travel.

The Cabinet has approved plans to extend the High Speed Rail from Taipei to
Yilan last Thursday.

The 60.6-kilometer line will connect Nangang Station in Taipei with the
planned Yilan High Speed Rail Station and the journey will take around 28
minutes.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

The Baishatun Gongtian Temple in Miaoli County has become the first in Taiwan
to offer visitors the option of offsetting their carbon emissions through the
retirement of Gold Standard carbon credits.

Under the new scheme, government agencies, businesses, schools, organizations
and religious groups visiting the temple for worship, company outings, or
cultural tours can apply to retire carbon credits based on the number of
participants.

To offset unavoidable emissions, participants purchase carbon credits
equivalent to their remaining carbon footprint and retire them.

The Tourism Innovation Association of Taiwan says the average visitor to the
temple generated an estimated 0.04 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

The Association is also partnering with the Miaoli County government's
Culture and Tourism Bureau to develop three travel itineraries centered on
Gongtian Temple that have likewise obtained carbon credit retirement
certification.

The association says travel products that complete carbon footprint
assessments, third-party verification and carbon credit retirement can
provide businesses with traceable carbon emissions data from corporate travel
...

... helping strengthen their green procurement practices and environmental,
social and governance performance.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

Actor Wang Kai has died.

He was 43.

Authorities say that they received a report of a death at a residence in
Taipei's Da'an District on Sunday afternoon, where they found Wang, lying
unresponsive on the floor of a rooftop addition, with no vital signs.

He was best known for his role in the Sanlih E-Television's drama series
"Bittersweet Destiny."

Authorities say an initial investigation has found no signs of external
injuries or forced entry, and the cause of death has yet to be determined.

Sanlih says Wang finished filming at around 5PM Saturday before leaving the
set of "Bittersweet Destiny" and it received news of his death from his
agent, ahead of Sunday's scheduled filming.

The production team has expressed its condolences, thanking Wang for his
contributions to the series and saying it would assist his family with
funeral arrangements.

Wang made his television debut in the 2001 SET drama "Lavender."

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

And,

Taiwan has made its debut at the World Children's Festival in Washington, D.C.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U-S said they
showcased more than 100 artworks by Taiwanese children and held intercultural
activites.

The event is held every four years by the Washington, D.C.-based
International Child Art Foundation, and it brings together children from
around the world through art and cultural exchange.

The representative office hosted the Taiwan pavilion at this year's event.

Deputy representative Yang Yi-shan says pavilion featured award-winning works
from a nationwide children's painting competition organized by the Taichung
City government, as well as pieces from the 2018 Imagined Taiwan exhibition.

The Taiwan pavilion also features booths by EVA Airway and China Airlines
promoting tourism to Taiwan.

The festival took place on the National Mall.

Posted on 2026-07-27 06:52:13

A former Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker has been reunited with his family
in London after more than five years in a Hong Kong prison.

Wu Chi-wai was charged in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed security law and
sentenced in 2024.

After his release last month, British authorities have since granted him a
seven-day immigration bail, but he could be removed on Wednesday.

Wu hopes to extend his stay and reunite with his family.

The Home Office didn't comment specifically about his case.... but claims it
steadfastly supports Hong Kongers in the UK...

Wu says he won't engage in politics anymore.

Posted on 2026-07-25 16:07:14

President Donald Trump assured a crowd of journalists at the White House
Correspondents' Dinner that he'd scrapped the most biting parts of remarks he
had prepared for the dinner that was interrupted in April.

Nevertheless, he delivered a rambling speech that praised some journalists,
took potshots at others, made jokes about public figures' weight and
intellect.

At one point, he said, "Just like my presidency, the second time is always
better ... and the third time will be better yet."

He added: "I'm only kidding." Then, at the end, he donned a red cap that
read "Trump 2028."

Trump's appearance came three months after a gunman upended the original
dinner and forced its postponement.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-25 16:07:14

Indonesian rescuers are searching for a speedboat carrying 11 European
tourists and two local crew members that went missing off Sulawesi island.

Officials say the vessel departed Tanjung Unauna regency yesterday morning
but failed to arrive at Marisa Port on schedule.

A local tour guide reported the missing boat yesterday afternoon, prompting
an immediate search operation.
Authorities said the passengers on the boat were a Czech man, a Belgian man,
five Dutch nationals, three Germans and a French woman.

Indonesia's weather agency forecast generally clear skies in the area, but
rescuers have faced challenging sea conditions.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-25 15:07:13

The US has surpassed 2025's record for measles cases ... with five months
left in the year.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had logged more
than 2,300 cases of measles as of Thursday.

Major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona have contributed to the
rise. Experts say the actual spread might be greater due to underreporting
and declining vaccination rates.

Experts relying on mathematical modeling and genetic analyses believe a large
outbreak on the Utah-Arizona border could be around three to four times
bigger than the official count.

International health officials will meet in November to determine whether the
US and Mexico have lost their measles-free status. The US had controlled
measles in 2000, but vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% coverage
needed to prevent outbreaks.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-25 15:07:13

Massive forest fires are raging out of control in southwestern France and
central Spain, forcing authorities to evacuate around 200,000 people.

Dozens of firefighters have been injured, but no deaths have been reported.

In France, 141,000 people have fled from the Gironde and Landes departments.

In Spain, 60,000 have been evacuated.

The fires have consumed large areas since Wednesday, with strong winds
complicating efforts to control them.

Both countries have requested help from the European Union.

The fires are being fueled by a heatwave, with temperatures soaring and
conditions worsening.

Posted on 2026-07-25 14:11:13

China has imposed penalties totaling nearly $765 million on Trip.com Group,
which operates the country's largest online travel platform.

China's regulator said that Trip.com restricted market competition by
entering into exclusive partnerships with some hotels and offering
prioritized traffic allocation to them.

The group also prohibited some hotels from collaborating with competing
platforms.

The regulator confiscated illegal gains and imposed the fines.

Trip.com said it accepts the decision and will comply with the penalties. The
group also said it plans to implement rectification measures to align with
regulatory requirements.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-25 11:08:20

President Trump addressed a roomful of journalists at a correspondents'
dinner that was rescheduled from April -- after a shooting upended the first
edition.

Trump said, "the show must go on."

The rescheduled dinner took place in the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria
hotel, a smaller venue than the original. The 700 guests entered via a single
entrance and through beefed-up security. There was no red carpet and no
separate cocktail receptions preceding the dinner.

There were two additional awards at the re-do.

One was presented to the staff of the Washington Hilton hotel, the site of
the first dinner.

The second was presented to the Secret Service agent who was struck by a
bullet in his protective vest at that event.

AP_JvW

Posted on 2026-07-24 20:16:13

Tropical Storm Noul is currently making its closest approach to Taiwan and is
expected to gradually strengthen as it moves west-northwest toward the South
China Sea.

The storm is currently located some 300 kilometers south-southeast of Eluanbi
and is moving at around 23 kilometers an hour.

It has a radius of 120 kilometers and is packing sustained winds of 90
kilometers an hour, with gusts reaching almost 120 kilometers an hour.

The Central Weather Administration's sea warning for the storm remains in
effect for the Bashi Channel and the north and south of the Taiwan Strait.

Rain associated with the storm's outer circulation has begun affecting
southeastern Taiwan. After nightfall, Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula and
southern Hualien are expected to see heavier rainfall.

Heavy rain is possible in those areas tomorrow, while southern Taiwan could
also see periods of heavy rain as the storm moves away from Taiwan.

Forecasters had said the storm could strengthen into a typhoon by tomorrow at
noon.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 20:16:13

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) says the 10 percent tariff rate set by the
United States on certain Taiwanese products is not final.

According to Cheng, the final tariff rate will depend on the outcome of
ongoing U-S trade investigations into manufacturing capacity and trade
practices.

She also said Washington has recognized Taiwan's commitment to banning
imports of goods produced using forced labor under the Taiwan-U-S Agreement
on Reciprocal Trade.

Taiwan and the European Union received the most favorable treatment among the
economies under review, with the 10 percent tariff rate not being added to
existing U-S tariff levels.

Posted on 2026-07-24 20:16:13

An orange tabby cat that allegedly stole fish treats from Hualien Bus Station
has become the station's newest employee.

Known as Egg Tart, the former stray kitten was discovered hiding behind
lockers after staff found several packets of fish treats had been torn open
at the station counter.

Instead of chasing him away, employees voted to adopt him and later named him
the station's honorary station cat.

Egg Tart has since become an internet sensation after a video of him meowing
behind the counter attracted more than 220-thousand views online.

He now works four half-day shifts each week greeting passengers and helping
promote animal welfare.

Station officials say they hope Egg Tart's story will encourage greater
compassion for stray animals.

Posted on 2026-07-24 18:42:13

The Legislative Yuan has passed a bill creating government-funded accounts to
provide financial support for children from birth until the age of 18.

Under the Taiwan Future Account program, the government will deposit 60
thousand NT a year into a child's growth allowance account from birth to age
seven.

From age seven to 18, children will receive 30 thousand NT a year in a growth
allowance account and another 30 thousand NT in a future savings account.

Money in the future account generally cannot be withdrawn until adulthood
except under special circumstances ...

... with the government guaranteeing returns at least equal to those of a
two-year fixed bank deposit.

Lawmakers estimate the program will cost the government about 216 billion NT
in its first year of implementation.

The program will apply to Taiwanese citizens under 18 who reside in Taiwan
for at least 183 days a year.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 18:42:13

The National Audit Office has released its annual audit report on the central
government's finances, showing Taiwan's outstanding public debt remains well
below the legal ceiling.

The report says outstanding long-term public debt totaled about 6.07 trillion
NT at the end of the fiscal year.

That's equal to just over a quarter of the average nominal GDP over the
previous three years, well below the legal debt limit of 40.6 percent.

The audit also found the central government recorded a budget surplus of over
246 billion NT ... with a net surplus of nearly 105 billion NT after debt
repayments.

Meanwhile, auditors identified 43 cases of financial irregularities involving
government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and public funds, with four
cases referred to oversight or judicial authorities.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 18:42:13

President Lai Ching-te has urged lawmakers across party lines to support his
administration's drone procurement proposal ...

... while commissioning a new domestically built Navy warship in Kaohsiung.

Lai presided over the commissioning of the ROCS Tan Chiang, the seventh Tuo
Chiang-class stealth missile corvette to enter service.

He said the vessel represents Taiwan's commitment to strengthening its
self-defense capabilities and embodies the principle of achieving peace
through strength.

Lai also called on lawmakers to support the government's proposal to procure
domestically developed drones, saying the Ministry of National Defense should
remain responsible for the program.

The drone procurement bill is currently under review in the Legislature,
where opposition parties have proposed alternative funding and oversight
mechanisms.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 18:42:13

Ministry of Finance is reminding everyone to check their receipts ...

... as six 10-million NT and four 2-million NT prizes from the March-April
uniform invoice lottery remain unclaimed.

Winners have until September 7th to collect their prizes.

The smallest purchase linked to an unclaimed 10-million NT prize was a 21-NT
drink bought at a FamilyMart convenience store in Taichung.

Meanwhile, one of the unclaimed 2-million NT prizes came from a 23-NT food
purchase at another FamilyMart store in Taichung.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

The KMT says, several municipal leaders will join a rally tomorrow on
Ketagalan Boulevard.

The head of the party's communications department says today that 12 local
leaders will be at the event, including Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An.

That's in addition to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu, Chair Cheng Li-wun, and
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang.

Communications head Chen Yi Xin says that the event is in support of food
safety.

Chen called on all those who care about food safety to take to Ketagalan
Boulevard tomorrow, wearing white.

Meanwhile Taipei police have said they're dispatching greater manpower for
the event.

Authorities say they will begin traffic controls on Ketagalan Boulevard
tonight, with 270 officers on shift.

Traffic controls on Ketagalan Boulevard will be in place starting tonight at
8 and ending in the early hours Sunday.

There will also be other traffic controls in place near the Presidential
Office depending on the situation on the ground.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail says train services will operate normally during next
month's Urban Resilience Exercises.

However, passengers in central and northern Taiwan may experience slower
mobile internet speeds during the drills, which could affect mobile ticketing
and other online services.

The company is advising travelers to book, pay for, and collect their tickets
in advance to avoid delays.

High Speed Rail says station ticketing services and access gates will remain
fully operational throughout the exercises.

Passengers are also encouraged to arrive at stations early, as some shuttle
buses, taxis, and other connecting transportation services may be temporarily
suspended during traffic control measures.

*The exercises are scheduled for southern Taiwan on August 7th, central
Taiwan on August 10th, and northern Taiwan on August 13th ... with the mobile
network slowdown taking place only during the central and northern drills.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

A rare pitching feat in Taiwanese baseball took place last night.

Fubon Guardians left-hander Chen Shih-peng陳仕朋 threw what's known as a "Maddux.

That's a complete-game shutout using fewer than a hundred pitches.

He needed just 94, giving up 6 hits and no walks, as the Guardians beat the
Uni-President Lions six-nil in Tainan.

It's named after the American Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, and it's only the
second in the CPBL this season.

For Chen, it's a turnaround.

The four time all star was sent down to the farm team back in May.

(JC-CNA)

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

Now turning to international news...

1000 people are now dead in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo.

The milestone comes nearly three times faster than the 2014-2016 epidemic,
which is considered the worst on record.

The outbreak has recorded 2536 cases in the Congo after being declared mid
May.

During the 2014-2016 outbreak, it took 8 months to reach 1000 deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, Ebola is caused by a group of
viruses.

This year's outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

That's a rare variant with no approved vaccines or treatments.

The current outbreak is mainly confined to the Congo, with some cases in
Uganda.

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

Chinese coast guard ships have fired powerful water cannons at two Philippine
fishery vessels in the South China Sea.

That's the third confrontation in the disputed waters this week.

It comes as the Philippines hosts representatives from ASEAN and Western
governments, who renewed their alarm over Beijing's agressions.

Today's confrontation took place near the Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines strongly condemned what they called the "dangerous and
unprofessional actions of" China's coast guard.

ASEAN foreign minister issued a joint communique in which they said that
"concerns were expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations,
activities, serious incidents in the area, including actions that put the
safety of all persons at risk, and damage to the marine environment.”

Posted on 2026-07-24 17:08:13

Nicaragua is abolishing elections, in a move widely condemned by the
international community.

Lawmakers say they'll carry out President Daniel Ortega's plan, announced
over the weekend, and that there will be no more votes.

The next election had been scheduled for 2027.

Ortega has ruled for nearly 27 years, alongside his wife, who serves as
co-president.

Since crushing protests in 2018, his government has jailed opposition
politicians and religious leaders, and shut down thousands of civil society
groups.

The UN's human rights chief condemned the move, saying people of all
political views must be allowed to vote and run for office.

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:45:14

The Foreign Ministry says it has contacted Moroccan authorities for
clarification after reports that visa applications from Taiwan passport
holders have been suspended.

The ministry says it has not yet received a response and is advising people
planning trips to Morocco to carefully reassess their travel plans.

Travel agencies say the Moroccan Embassy in Japan has temporarily stopped
accepting applications for visa authorization letters required by Taiwan
travelers.

Lion Travel has suspended sales of Morocco tours and visa services. It says
customers who already paid deposits will receive full refunds or may switch
to other tours with a discount.

Other agencies say they are monitoring the situation through local partners
in Morocco.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:45:14

The Defense Ministry will hold the northern preliminary round of a national
airsoft shooting competition in Taipei on Saturday.

The event will bring together 111 competitors from 21 teams, most of them
military reservists.

Participants will face timed individual and team challenges, including
close-quarters combat, simulated building-entry operations, hostage rescue
and combat casualty care.

The ministry says the competition is designed to test shooting skills,
tactical judgment, teamwork and decision-making under pressure.

Fu Hsing Kang College will also open to the public, with displays of Apache
and Black Hawk helicopters, military equipment and drones.

Police and fire agencies will also provide earthquake simulations and public
safety information.

Further preliminary rounds are planned in central and southern Taiwan,
followed by national finals in 2027.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:45:14

The Trump administration is imposing new tariffs on goods from 60 trading
partners, including Taiwan, as a temporary 10-percent global tariff expires
Friday.

The new duties are set at 10 or 12-point-5 percent and cover more than 99
percent of U.S. imports.

For Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and the European Union, the new
levies will bring combined tariff rates to either 10 or 12-point-5 percent.

Washington says the tariffs are aimed at countries it accuses of weak
enforcement against forced labor in supply chains.

Oil and gas, fertilizer, some food products, and goods already covered by
national security tariffs will be exempt.

The measures replace the temporary tariff introduced after the U.S. Supreme
Court struck down Trump's earlier reciprocal duties in February.

Several countries have rejected the new tariffs as unjustified.

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:45:14

Vietnam is proposing new restrictions that would prevent children under 16
from posting, commenting or reacting on social media.

Under a draft decree, accounts for younger users would have to be registered
using a parent or guardian's information.

Platforms would also be required to verify ages, limit harmful content and
provide stronger privacy protections for child accounts.

Officials say the aim is not to block children from social media entirely,
but to create a safer and more age-appropriate online environment.

The proposal also includes tighter rules for online gaming. Children under 16
could be limited to one hour of play per day for games offered by the same
company.

The draft has not yet been finalized and could still be revised before
adoption.

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:44:13

Tropical Storm Noul could be upgraded to a typhoon by around noon tomorrow as
it moves west-northwest through the Bashi Channel.

The Central Weather Administration says the storm may continue to strengthen
and expand because of favorable sea and atmospheric conditions.

At 11 a.m., Noul was about 400 kilometers south-southeast of Eluanbi.

Hualien, Taitung and the Hengchun Peninsula could see localized heavy or
torrential rain from tonight through early tomorrow.

Heavy rain is also possible in southern Taiwan.

Strong gusts are expected in coastal areas and on several offshore islands,
while waves above three meters could affect northern and southern Taiwan and
Penghu.

The sea warning could be lifted tomorrow afternoon, depending on the storm's
strength and track.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:44:13

The United States has kept Taiwan on its currency manipulation monitoring
list, but has not labeled it a currency manipulator.

The U.S. Treasury says Taiwan met two of its three criteria during the four
quarters ending in December 2025.

Taiwan's trade surplus with the United States remained above the threshold,
while its current account surplus rose to nearly 20 percent of GDP.

Its goods and services surplus with the U.S. nearly doubled last year to
145-billion U.S. dollars.

However, Taiwan stayed below the threshold for sustained foreign exchange
intervention.

The central bank made net foreign currency purchases worth 7.7-billion U.S.
dollars, equal to about 0.8 percent of GDP.

The U.S. says no major trading partner met all three criteria.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:44:13

U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening major military retaliation against
Iran and Yemen's Houthis after the group said it attacked two Saudi oil
tankers in the Red Sea.

Trump says Washington will hold Tehran responsible for any further Houthi
strikes, calling the group an Iranian proxy.

The attacks have raised fears that fighting could disrupt a second major
shipping route, after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz already fell
sharply.

Brent crude rose more than 6 percent and moved above 100 U.S. dollars a
barrel.

The U.S. military also carried out a 13th consecutive night of strikes on
Iran.

Iran says it retaliated against U.S. military sites in Jordan and Kuwait,
although U.S. and Kuwaiti officials have not reported casualties.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House has again backed legislation calling for an end to
American military action against Iran.

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:44:13

The Philippines says Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannon at its
vessels near Scarborough Shoal for a second straight day.

The Philippine Coast Guard says one Chinese vessel came within about seven
meters of a fisheries boat, creating a serious risk of collision.

China says it took what it called control measures against Philippine vessels
operating illegally in the area.

The incidents follow another confrontation this week at Second Thomas Shoal,
where Manila says a Filipino sailor was injured.

The renewed tensions came as regional foreign ministers met in Manila.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called China's actions disturbing and
reaffirmed support for the Philippines.

A 2016 international arbitration ruling rejected China's sweeping claims in
the South China Sea, but Beijing does not recognize the decision.

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:09:13

The DPP Caucus Whip is continuing his visit to the US in Washington DC today,
meeting with officials and conducting exchanges.

Cai Qi Chang says, the topics at the top of his agenda are security and
trade.

Cai adds, representatives have demonstrated great interest in protecting
stability in the Taiwan Strait, and have voiced their support for the double
taxation avoidance bill.

Cai's delegation met with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, of the
Republican Party, as well as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of the Democratic
Party.

The caucus whip is joined on his trip by colleagues Wu Si Yao, Chen Pei Yu,
Wang Ding Yu, and Puma Shen.

They also visited the AIT offices in the capital city, and attended a forum
hosted by the Taiwanese Association of Washington DC, where the lawmakers
also voiced their support for Shen's mayoral run in Taipei.

The delegation is slated to make their final stop in New York, before heading
back to Taiwan early next week.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:09:13

The Ministry of the Environment is teaming up with Taipei's Jianguo Holiday
Flower Market to encourage people to recycle old plastic flower pots instead
of throwing them away.

The two-day event this Saturday and Sunday invites visitors to bring in
unused pots from home and give them a second life.

Participants who bring three clean plastic pots can receive a small gift and
join a lucky draw.

Visitors will also learn about the recycling process, from sorting and
shredding the plastic to melting it into recycled pellets that can be turned
into new products, including creative merchandise.

Officals say the initiative highlights how proper sorting and recycling can
keep valuable materials in circulation, helping reduce plastic waste and
promote a more sustainable, circular economy.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:09:13

Tropical storm Noul has begun disrupting transportation across Taiwan, with
15 ferry services on seven routes canceled today.

That's according to the Maritime and Port Bureau.

Routes connecting Chinese cities with Matsu and Kinmen have been suspended...

in addition to routes between Orchid and Green Islands with a Japanese and a
Pingtung port.

Meanwhile, air travel has seen only limited impact so far.

As of 10 a.m., one domestic flight had been canceled and two delayed, while
all international flights remained on schedule.

Authorities are urging travelers to avoid unnecessary trips to offshore
islands and advise those already there to take available return ferries
before additional cancellations leave passengers stranded.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:09:13

Taiwan shares were sharply down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 1195
points to close the session at 43654

The turnover was 792 billion NT

Posted on 2026-07-24 14:09:13

Now turning to international news...

A hunger strike that helped drive India's biggest protest movement in years
has ended but the protests haven't.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk stopped his fast today after 26 days, following talks
with government ministers.

His strike had become a rallying point for the movement known as the
Cockroaches.

The protest movement began over leaked entrance exams.

The exams in question decide access to medical school and government jobs and
are very competitive.

The movement has since grown into a much larger one, with protests
emphasizing anger about unemployment and about whether the government answers
to anyone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now announced fast track courts for exam
leak cases.

But protesters say that doesn't go far enough.

They want the education minister to resign and they're planning
demonstrations across the country today.

Posted on 2026-07-24 13:18:13

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, it's looking into reports that Morocco
has stopped accepting VISA applications at the Tokyo embassy.

The ministry says it has communicated with relevant agencies in an attempt to
clarify the matter...

but that it has not yet received a response from the Moroccan end.

MOFA is advising those planning to travel to Morocco to reassess.

Typically, Taiwanese citizens must apply for VISAs to travel to Morocco, and
have been able to do so at the Moroccan representative office in Tokyo...

which would file the application with officials based in Morocco, and the
applicant would then receive an entry VISA letter that they could exchange
for a VISA upon arrival.

But travel industry representatives recently said that the office was no
longer accepting such applications.

MOFA says, those planning a trip to Morocco should carefully consider, and
stay up to date on the ministry's announcements.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-07-24 13:18:17

Tropical Storm Noul is continuing to strengthen and is expected to make its
closest approach to Taiwan from tonight through tomorrow morning.

The Central Weather Administration is warning that eastern Taiwan and the
Hengchun Peninsula could see heavy to torrential rain...

while southern Taiwan may also experience periods of heavy rainfall.

Forecasters say that northern and central Taiwan, while not expected to be
directly impacted, should still be on guard for unstable weather.

Noul is currently located 470 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southernmost
point...

and is moving west-northwest, with the potential to intensify into a moderate
intensity typhoon as it approaches southern China and leaves Taiwan.

Although the storm is expected to move away from Taiwan after tomorrow,
strong winds, rough seas, and waves over three meters are forecast through
today.

Unstable weather and afternoon thunderstorms are expected to continue into
the weekend.

(AL)

Posted on 2026-07-24 13:18:17

Now turning to international news...

Food conditions in Gaza have improved but they still remain at crisis levels.

That is the assessment from the Integrated Food Security Phrase
Classifcation, a panel of experts the UN relies on to measure hunger.

They declared a famine in parts of Gaza last year.

The latest report says a reduction in fighting, and Israel allowing more aid
in, has made a significant difference.

But it says most families still aren't getting nearly enough to eat and warns
that even small disruptions to aid could quickly reverse those gains

Among children, cases of stunting are rising.

That's when malnutrition impedes growth and causes lifelong problems.

Israel's military body overseeing aid rejects the findings.

Posted on 2026-07-24 13:18:17

The International Criminal Court could lose its chief prosecutor today.

Diplomats from the court's member states are meeting at the UN in New York to
vote on permanently removing Karim Khan.

Khan was the British barrister who has led the court's prosecutions since
2021.

He has been accused of sexual misconduct involving a female aide.

An oversight body found he committed serious misconduct and tried to stop the
woman pursuing her allegations.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, experts say the issue has caused
internal discord in the ICC.

Posted on 2026-07-24 08:13:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Cabinet has proposed legal revisions to the Act Governing Food Safety and
Sanitation.

The move will require large food manufacturers to notify authorities of
anomalies detected in product inspections within 24-hours of discovering, or
being informed of them.

Companies that fail to notify authorities within that timeframe will face a
fine of up to 30-million N-T.

Other proposed revisions include stipulations that food companies above a
certain size and in designated categories be required to regularly submit
ingredients, semi-finished products and finished products to certified
inspection facilities.

Food manufacturers that fail to submit required samples to certified
inspection facilities will face a fine of up to 3-million N-T.

The revisions also authorize local governments to conduct unannounced
inspections and collect samples at food companies' manufacturing, processing,
transportation, storage, packaging and vending facilities.

The move is part of the government's efforts to crackdown on food safety
violations following the discover of a excessive levels of a carcinogen in
cooking oil produced by Central Union Oil Corporation.

More than 1,300 businesses have been affected by the tainted oil, and more
than 500 products have been pulled from store shelves.

The proposals will now be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review.

Posted on 2026-07-24 08:13:13

The K-M-T has won a lawsuit against the government's Ill-gotten Party Assets
Settlement Committee.

The committee had been seen seeking to collect 3.2-billion N-T for land it
claimed was acquired illegally by the K-M-T during the authoritarian era.

The Supreme Administrative Court's ruling upholds a lower court ruling made
in May of last year, that revoked its decision to collect the funds from the
opposition party.

The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

The plot of land at the center of the claim is located in Taipei's Wenshan
District.

The Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee - which was established by
the government of former president Tsai Ing-wen - had claimed the land to
constitute part of the KMT's ill-gotten assets following investigations into
complaints filed by citizens.

The committee ordered the K-M-T to forfeit an equivalent value of
approximately 3.2-billion N-T for selling off parts of the land, citing the
Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties
and Their Affiliate Organizations.

Posted on 2026-07-24 08:13:18

The Supreme Court has rejected the final appeal by sisters Liu Tsai-hsuan and
Liu Juo-lin over the fatal abuse of a 1-year-old infant they were caring for
while he awaited adoption in 2023.

The court upheld earlier verdicts from the Taipei District Court and Taiwan
High Court - sentencing Liu Tsai-hsuan to life in prison and Liu Juo-lin to
18 years in prison.

The sisters, who have been in detention since their first trial, have been
formally transferred to prison to serve their sentences.

According to court documents, the sisters were found to have beaten and
starved Kai Kai, tied him up with ropes and cloth, bent his body forcefully,
and covered his eyes with a face mask.

Kai Kai was found unconscious on December 24, 2023, and later died from his
injuries after the sisters took him to a local hospital.

An autopsy found at least 42 injuries linked to the abuse.

They were indicted by prosecutors in April 2024 and sentenced to life in
prison and 18 years, respectively, for child abuse leading to death, by
Taipei District Court in May 2025.

That verdict was upheld by the Taiwan High Court in January after prosecutors
appealed, arguing that Liu Juo-lin's sentence was too lenient.

The sisters had also appealed the original verdict.

Posted on 2026-07-24 08:13:18

The Control Yuan has proposed corrective measures against the Air Force --
citing serious shortcomings in risk management and maintenance procedures
related to a January training accident that resulted in the death of an F-16V
pilot

The jet fighter crashed during a routine nighttime training mission off the
coast of Hualien in January.

The pilot's body has never been recovered.

According to the government watchdog, although analysis of the aircraft's
flight data recorder is not yet complete, available evidence shows repeated
navigation-system malfunctions in the week leading up to the accident.

The Control Yuan says although the aircraft passed safety checks,
investigators concluded that the Air Force failed to adequately assess and
control the risks associated with conducting a nighttime flight under those
circumstances.

The investigation also found multiple violations of maintenance regulations,
including failing to complete maintenance records and improperly preserving
evidence related to the crash ...

.. which the Control Yuan says warrants the corrective measures.

The pilot, Hsin Po-yi was posthumously honored with a presidential citation
presented by President Lai Ching-te, who attended his funeral this past
Sunday.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:14

China is holding two days of live-fire drills in areas of the Taiwan Strait
‌near its southeastern province of Fujian around Dongshan Island,

These come a day after U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi met for talks on a range of issues, including
Taiwan.

The foreign ministry here in Taiwan is slamming the live fire drills and
urging Beijing to exercise "rational self-restraint" and "immediately cease
its military provocations and gray-zone intrusions."

MOFA says China has ‌disregarded the international community's shared
aspirations for regional security, further unilaterally using military force
to threaten the waters surrounding the Taiwan Strait ...

.... creating regional tensions, and once again confirming its nature as a
troublemaker.

China held extensive war games encircling Taiwan and launching rockets into
waters north and south of the island in December of last year, after the U-S
unveiled an 11.1-billion dollar arms package for the island

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:18

The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office is appealing the Taichung District
Court's decision to uphold a ruling calls for the release of a Central Union
Oil Corporation factory manager on bail.

The suspect was originally released on bail two weeks ago.

Prosecutors argue the man is a key figure in its ongoing investigation into
the cooking oil contamination case.

The Taichung District Court on Thursday ordered the factory manager to post
an additional 1-million N-T bail.

The court had ruled that the suspect did not need to be detained, and along
with ordering him to post the additional bail, the court also placed him
under residential restrictions and barred him from leaving Taiwan.

The man is said to have cooperated with investigators after originally being
released on bail following his initial questioning and there is no evidence
he could tamper with evidence or collude with other suspects.

The man was among 11 suspects questioned by prosecutors during initial
searches of Central Union and three other companies on July 9.

Ten of those suspects were released on bail, while prosecutors sought the
detention of Central Union General Manager Yu Ling-chung.

Yu was ordered detained last Friday, after the district court initially ruled
that detention was unnecessary and granted Yu bail of 20-million N-T.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:19

The Cabinet has approved plans to extend the High Speed Rail from Taipei to
Yilan.

The project is expected to help ease congestion on National Freeway No. 5 and
improve transportation between Taipei and Yilan.... its also aimed at
increasing rail capacity in eastern Taiwan and shortening travel time
between the two areas.

The Railway Bureau says the 60.6-kilometer line will connect Nangang Station
in Taipei with the planned Yilan High Speed Rail Station.... in a journey
expected to take less than half an hour.

The proposal cleared an environmental impact assessment in August of last
year and comprehensive strategy was completed in January this year.

The government has said the project is expected to cost 352-billion N-T, with
the cost of building stations, purchasing trains and acquiring land.

It's currently scheduled to be completed by 2037.

The Railway Bureau estimates that the extension will serve around 27,000
passengers on weekdays and 60,000 on weekends by 2051.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:20

Meanwhile,

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says a suspected benzoapyrene contamination
case involving camellia oil produced by a New Taipei-based company is
unrelated to the recent Central Union Oil Corporation scandal.

Shih says the two cases involved completely different raw materials and the
company which produced the camellia oil had already notified downstream
businesses to remove and recall the affected products.

Shih also says an investigation into the camellia oil contamination is
ongoing.

The statements come after the New Taipei Department of Health said it was
informed by Aconpure Green Technology that a batch of its camellia oil had
been found to contain levels of the carcinogen the exceed the legal limit.

City health officials say 5,024 bottles of the affected camellia oil were
produced, of which two batches totaling 939 bottles had been sold, while the
remaining products did not enter the market and were sealed for storage.

The Food and Drug Administration conducted an on-site inspection of
Aconpure's facilities and collected five camellia oil samples for testing.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:20

conviction

The Supreme Court has upheld a two-year, eight-month prison sentence for
former independent legislative candidate Ma Chih-wei for accepting funding
from China during her 2024 election campaign.

The ruling is final and prosecutors have been notified to take measures to
prevent Ma from leaving the country.

Prosecutors said Ma received about 1-million N-T in cash and cryptocurrency
from two China-based contacts and the money was used to fund her campaign for
a legislative seat in Taoyuan in the January 2024 elections.

Ma then provided the pair with business cards belonging to national security
personnel and a directory of liaison officers between the central government
and the Legislative Yuan in return for the cash and cryptocurrency.

Ma was eventually indicted on charges of violating of the Anti-Infiltration
Act, the Personal Data Protection Act and the National Security Act.

The Taoyuan District Court initially found her guilty only of illegally
collecting and using personal data, sentencing her to eight months in prison.

The High Court overturned part of the lower court ruling on appeal, finding
Ma guilty of accepting election funding from an organization effectively
controlled by China and of illegally collecting and using personal data.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:20

Taipei and New Taipei have launched a multilingual A-I chatbot that provides
passengers with information about bus services across the two cities.

Passengers can scan QR codes posted at bus stops to access the service, which
answers questions in Mandarin, English and Taiwanese.

The chatbot provides information on bus routes, estimated arrival times, stop
locations, waiting areas, fares and payment methods.

Transportation officials say the service is intended to reduce the number of
passengers asking drivers for directions or route information, easing their
workload.

The system was jointly developed by the Taipei and New Taipei transportation
departments and bus operators' associations in the two cities.

Taipei City Bus Management Committee Chair Li Bo-wen says the chatbot is the
first service of its kind in Taiwan and can recognize different accents.

The 24-hour service covers more than 12,000 bus stops accross the two cities.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:20

The Central Weather Administration has issued a sea warning for tropical
storm Noul that formed in waters east of the Philippine island of Luzon late
last night.

The storm is currently located some 530-kilometers southeast of Eluanbi at
Taiwan's southernmost tip, and moving in a west-northwesterly direction at
speeds of between 25 and 28-kilometers-an-hour.

It has a radius of 60-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind speeds of
65-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 90-kilometers-an-hour.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, the storm will
have its greatest impact on Taiwan tomorrow daytime, when it passes closest
to the island as moves through the Bashi Channel and into the South China
Sea.

Eastern and southern parts of the island are expected to see heavy to
torrential rain tomorrow, but the unstable weather conditions are forecast to
persist from Sunday through next Wednesday as southerly winds continue to
bring rain to much of Taiwan.

Posted on 2026-07-24 06:57:20

Ukraine’s fired defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has rejected President
Zelenskyy's offer to rejoin the government in a different role.

Fedorov was dismissed last week and is known for modernizing Ukraine's armed
forces and fighting corruption.

His departure led to protests across Ukraine and reactions in Moscow.

Fedorov insists on returning only as defense minister, citing the position's
critical role in shaping the war.

Zelenskyy had offered him the role of deputy prime minister for military
innovation.

Fedorov aims to complete his reforms and believes his work has created a
unique opportunity to pressure Russia into peace.

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