Women's groups are calling on the legislative yuan to accelerate reviews of
the Assisted Reproduction draft bill.

The NGOs emphasized the need to act quickly to protect women's rights and
allow single women and same-sex female couples to undergo assisted
reproduction.

The proposed amendments to the draft bill would also seek to separate
assisted reproduction from surrogacy.

The Legislature is set to continue the examination process of the draft on
Thursday...

after the Executive Yuan proposed it last year.

The draft legislation would legalize assisted reproduction for single and
married gay women, without addressing surrogacy, which has proven to be a
much thornier issue in terms of public opinion.


(AH)

Taiwan could enter a new COVID-19 epidemic phase as early as this week after
2-thousand 800 people sought treatment for the disease last week, up 34-
percent from the previous week.

The Centers for Disease Control said COVID-19 activity has been rising in
Taiwan for five consecutive weeks.

Neighboring countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, South Korea
and Singapore, have also reported increasing case numbers.

Based on its analysis, the CDC expects the number of COVID-19-related medical
visits to continue rising.

Once weekly visits exceed 5,000, Taiwan will officially enter a new epidemic
phase, with infections expected to peak in one month to 45 days after that.

Officials said the upcoming peak is unlikely to surpass last year's as
schools are closed for the summer vacation, reducing opportunities for
transmission.

About 456,000 vaccine doses remain available, and eligibility for publicly
funded COVID-19 vaccination has been expanded to everyone aged 6 months and
older through July 31st.

(CNA)

Turning to world news...

The U.S. launched strikes on Iran, hours after President Donald Trump vowed
to reinstate an American blockade of Iranian ports and charge ships for safe
passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded with attacks on Middle East allies of the U.S.

The actions today leave in tatters an interim deal meant to pause the
fighting, reopen a waterway that is a crucial passage for the world’s energy
supplies, and give negotiators time to hammer out a permanent end to the war.

Instead, fighting has once again engulfed the region and threatened the
global economy.

Unless a diplomatic solution is found quickly, it could intensify into
all-out war.

Two opposition-led referendum proposals have passed a first reading in the
legislature.

The TPP caucus today proposed a referendum on euthanasia, which they say aims
to ensure autonomy for those suffering from chronic diseases.

Party chair Huang Kuo-chang today criticized the legislature for moving- in
his words- at a "snail's pace..."

saying it made more sense to turn the matter over to the people to decide
instead.

If the referendum makes it onto the ballot this November, voters would be
asked whether they support assisted suicide for those suffering from
unbearable pain or difficult-to-treat diseases.

Huang also said the Central Election Commission is responsible for ensuring
that elections and referendums run smoothly.

Meanwhile the KMT-proposed referendum vote would aim to abolish the
"nuclear-free homeland" policy.

It would ask voters if they agree with abolishing the policy to ensure stable
and sufficient power supply as well as reasonable electricity rates.

Both the proposals have now passed the first reading, and have been handed
over to party caucuses for further negotiation ahead of a second reading.

(AH)

A shipment of frozen mixed vegetables imported by Costco from the United
States was recently intercepted at the border after testing positive for
excessive pesticide residues.

The Food and Drug Administration said today that more than 10-thousand
kilograms of "Kirkland Signature" brand vegetables were ordered returned or
destroyed and none had entered the market.

The products affected include peas and broccoli.

As this was the importer's first failed inspection case in the past six
months, the FDA has increased border inspection sampling rates for items
imported by Costco Taiwan to 20-50 percent, up from routine random checks of
2-10 percent.

Nine other products that recently failed safety inspections include fresh
oranges from Japan and two shipments of cheese imported from France.

The shipments will also be returned or destroyed.

(CNA JL)

Pingtung County is promoting night tourism with a year-round "Stargazing in
pingtung" compaign.

The next event, " Venus and Leo: A Night Under the Stars, " will take place
this Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Haikou (海口) Beach in Checheng (車城)
Township.

Visitors can enjoy guided stargazing, astronomy activities, and night-sky
photography while viewing Venus in the evening sky.

The county hopes to attract more visitors by combing astronomy with local
attractions and to promote dark-sky conversation through unique nighttime
travel experiences.

(AL)

The Michelin Guide has added 13 new Bib Gourmand eateries across Taiwan,
taking the total number of recommendations to 146.

The new additions include four restaurants in Taipei, three each in Tainan
and New Taipei City, two in Hsinchu County, and one in Taichung.

Michelin said more than 80 percent of the new entries serve Taiwanese local
cuisine or traditional Hakka specialist, highlighting the country's rich food
culture.

The Michelin Bib Gourmand is an award that recognizes restaurants offering
exceptional food at moderate prices.

Michelin's international director, Gwendal Poullennec, said Taiwan has become
one of Asia's most exciting culinary destinations thanks to its quality
cooking and openness to cultural exchange.

The full Michelin Guide Taiwan 2026 will be announced on July 21st.

(AL)

Under mounting pressure, Premier Chuo Rung-tai today expressed "deep regrets"
about the contaminated oil issues, saying he'll conduct "a thorough
self-review and reflection."

But he's stopped short of making apologies and denied that the Cabinet
covered up the Central Union Oil soybean oil contamination case.

The opposition parties have been demanding Chuo's resignation, saying that he
failed to respond properly and promptly to the recent food scare, leading to
anxiety among businesses and consumers.

Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, the Premier reviewed the timeline of the
case, saying the Health Ministry has taken concrete steps following Central
Union Oil's first report about the carcinogen BaP in its products on June
30th.

He also reiterated the follow-up measures going forward, including requiring
removed products to meet new safeguards before being allowed back on shelves.

Investigators will continue to look into the case as well hold the companies
involved accountable.

(JL)

A new report by Taiwan's think tank D-E-S-T says Taiwan has become Ukraine's
third-largest battery supplier in 2025, behind only China and Vietnam.

The Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology report
indicates that Taiwanese companies are now shipping 5 to 7 million drone
battery cells every month to Ukraine, mainly high-energy lithium batteries
designed to perform in cold weather.

The report also notes that Taiwan has reduced its reliance on Chinese battery
cells, but warms that key upstream battery materials are still heavily
dependent on china.

It recommends further diversifying supply chains to strengthen Taiwan's drone
battery industry and reduce geopolitical risks.

(AL)

Now turning to international news...

The CCP has expelled a senior official.

That's according to state media, which added that the purge was part of Xi
Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

Ma Xingrui was a Politburo member, and one of three members of the current
Politburo to be purged campaign, joining two military generals.

Analysts see the campaign as a tool to enforce loyalty to Xi and root our
corruption.

CCP officials believe that Ma committed violations including accepting gifts
and using his position to help others.

Ma was previously party chief in Xinjiang and governor of Guangdong province.

War and economic crisis are making it harder to protect Iran's endangered
wildlife.

At least 86 animal species are at risk of extinction, including the Asiatic
cheetah and the Persian leopard.

US and Israeli strikes this year hit desert and mountain sites, which are the
same terrain those animals depend on.

One wildlife expert says the bombing contaminated soil and water, and that
predators simply abandon an area once it's been hit.

There's an economic conflict too.

Iran's currency has lost more than half its value in a year.

This has driven a black market in endangered falcons, sold to buyers abroad
who pay in foreign currency.

The U.S. has launched more strikes on Iran after President Donald Trump said
Washington is “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced a twenty per cent toll on all cargo passing through the
Strait of Hormuz and ordered the reimposition of a naval blockade of Iranian
ports, with US Central Command confirming the blockade will take effect
today.

The move upends hundreds of years of US policy supporting freedom of
navigation across the globe.

Kate Fisher reports from Washington.


This comes as the United Arab Emirates says Iran attacked two tankers in the
Strait of Hormuz, killing one mariner and wounding eight others.

Bahrain also came under renewed attack as Iran retaliated over the latest
round of U.S. airstrikes.

Din Tai Fung has recalled several frozen gift sets after discovering that its
central kitchen had used soybean oil from one of the contaminated batches
linked to the Central Union Oil case.

The renowned company says its chain restaurants did not use the affected oil,
and current inventory has already been switched to a different supplier whose
products have passed safety inspections.

The recall afffects seven frozen gift set products, including buns,
dumplings, wontons, braised pork knuckle, and beef noodle soup, and their
expiration dates range from July this year to May next year.

Customers who purchased the affected products can apply for a full refund
through August 7th with proof of purchase.

(AL)

Typhoon Bavi-triggered torrential rain has cut off the only road leading to
three villages in Miao-li's Tai-an (泰安) Township.

The Miao-li County government says County Road 62 in Tai-an is now closed as
an estimated 1-thousand tons of rocks fell down last night.

Tai-an Fire department says it received reports at 10:50 PM saying huge
boulders had crashed onto the road near the 2.3-kilometer mark in Fu-xing
(復興) Village.

One truck was hit, luckily the driver the driver suffered only minor scrapes
and bruises.

He later called for help from a convenience store nearby.

Local officials say County Road 62 is a vital route connecting the township's
three villages and also the main access to Tai-an's popular hot spring area.

They are calling for repair work to be completed as soon as possible.

(JL)

The 2026 East Longitudinal Valley Festival will be held from August 20 to 23
at the Hualien Luoshan Visitor Center in Fuli Township.

With this year’s theme, “Indigenous Brewing,” the festival will bring
together more than 20 Indigenous communities from the East Longitudinal
Valley for a celebration of food, craft, and culture.

Visitors can enjoy traditional cuisine, a curated market, hands-on workshops,
and themed areas showcasing the cultures of the Amis, Bunun, Seediq, Truku,
and Puyuma peoples.

Ticketed corporate banquet events will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on August
20 and 21.

And the festival will open to the public free of charge from 3 to 8:30 p.m.
on August 22 and 23.

China's top mine-safety official in a major coal region is under
investigation for corruption.

The government announced today that Hu Haijun, director of the Shanxi Bureau
of the National Mine Safety Administration, faces allegations of serious
violations of law.

The investigation follows a gas explosion in May that killed 82 workers.

This was China's deadliest mining accident in years.

Authorities have since launched a blanket inspection of Shanxi's coal mining
sector.

Despite improvements, mine safety remains a concern.

Shanxi province produced almost a third of China’s coal last year.

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration has announced new rules for products
removed during the Central Union Oil contamination case to return to store
shelves.

The FDA said products must meet three conditions: the source of the oil must
be verified, each batch must be confirmed individually, and upstream and
downstream records must match.

Officials emphasized that both the raw oil and the finished product must pass
safety inspections.

If any finished product fails testing, all related products made from the
same upstream oil batch will remain barred from sale.

The FDA also confirmed that five out of 29 batches produced by Central Union
Oil between April and June were found to exceed limits for the carcinogen
BaP, and the related products have all been removed from stores.

Officials say testing of 52 raw oil samples and 321 finished products
provided by the oil company is expected to be completed within a week.

(AL)

An environmental group is warning that plastic baby food pouches may be
exposing infants to microplastics.

Greenpeace released a survey today, finding that out of over 700 fruit purees
and yogurts it checked, nearly 80-percent used pouches with plastic spouts.

The group also points out that such pouches are made of multiple layers of
plastic and foil, and recent studies show that these materials can leak
microplastics directly into the food they contain.

Greenpeace is calling on the government to immediately investigate baby food
packaging and create risk assessment standards.

(NS)

A summer festival in eastern Taiwan is ready to launch after typhoon delays.

The "2026 Hualien Fun Summer" festival officially opens at Liyu Lake
tomorrow, featuring the popular Japanese anime series "One Piece."

The highlight is a 15-meter-wide installation of the "Thousand Sunny" pirate
ship on the lake.

Recreations of popular characters like Luffy and Chopper will also appear at
the Hualien train station and the Dongdamen Night market.

An opening ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 7:30 pm, with fire
dancing performances, water fountain light shows, and an eight-minute night
sky laser show over the water.

(NS)

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 642 points to
close the session at 44737.

The turnover was 1.178 trillion NT

MNow turning to internatuional news

Workers at an Ebola treatment center in Congo have walked off the job because
they haven't been paid.

Dozens of staff at a hospital in the outbreak's epicenter went on strike
yesterday, shutting the facility and blocking the road outside.

Epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers, gravediggers say they've gone
two months without pay.

The government says they’re working on it, and they blame irregularities in
the payroll list.

The timing could not be worse, as this is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak
ever recorded in Africa.

There are nearly 2000 confirmed cases, and more than 700 deaths.

Even worse, there's no approved treatment or vaccine for this strain of the
virus, and it's now spread to two more provinces.

Wildfires are burning across western Europe as the region endures its third
major heat wave of the summer.

In France, a fire is spreading through the Fontainebleau forest, 70
kilometers from Paris.

Neighborhoods have been evacuated, trains have been disrupted, and a highway
shut.

President Macron called the fire “of exceptional scale”.

Officials say arson hasn't been ruled out.

Meanwhile in Spain, 10 people are still missing after a wildfire in the south
killed 13.

It was one of the country's deadliest ever.

And in the UK, homes were evacuated in north Wales.

That's all as an exceptional heat wave grips the region, with Temperatures in
France topping 40 degrees.

Britain has now had six days above 35 degrees this year, marking a new
record.

In France, this year's Bastille Day celebrations will focus on European unity
and support for Ukraine.

Troops and warplanes from across Europe are joining today's parade in Paris.

President Emmanuel Macron is hosting around 30 leaders, aiming to show unity
and strength to Russia and the U.S.

Meanwhile, forest fires and a heat wave are affecting the holiday, leading to
the cancellation of traditional fireworks and events.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend, with Ukrainian troops
and pilots participating.

The parade will feature 6,800 troops, setting a record.

Bastille Day commemorates the beginning of the French revolution, when
Parisians stormed the Bastille fortress.

The Presidential Office says, it is investigating cross-border repression,
following an attack on a Japanese-Taiwanese political commentator.

Akio Yaita, who heads the Indo-Pacific Strategic Thinktank, was attacked by a
Hong Kong national, surnamed Liao, after an event last week.

Media reports claiming that Liao may have been working with a Hong Kong gang
emerged today...

saying that he also brought five other accomplices along to Taiwan to assist
in planning the attack, with the whole process chronicled meticulously on
WhatsApp.

Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo says today that the government is
working with international partners to target cross-border crimes.

Kuo added that the government will not tolerate authoritarian interference.

(AH)

A delegation from Taiwan People’s Party has departed for Shanghai for a
four-day visit, marking the party’s first official exchange trip to China
since its founding.

The group, led by TPP Central Review Committee Chair Lee Wei-hua 李偉華,
includes party staff and youth members.

Lee cited party founder Ke Wen-zhe, saying that the 4 day visit aims to
promote dialogue amid growing cross-strait tensions, emphasizing the party's
position of “Taiwan autonomy and cross-strait peace.”

The delegation will visit economic and technology sites, tour historical
landmarks, and hold discussions with students at Shanghai Jiao Tong 交通
University。。。

with youth exchange serving as a key focus of the trip.

(AL)

The Ministry of Agriculture is urging farmers in Taitung to begin recovery
efforts after Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and hot, dry foehn winds that
damaged crops.

Officials recommend clearing fallen branches and fruits, pruning damaged
trees, and strengthening disease prevention to reduce further losses.

Farmers are also advised to increase irrigation to help crops recover from
heat and salt brought on by the storm.

The ministry says sugar apple growers should increase hand pollination to
improve fruit production...

while rice, vegetable, and betel leaf farmers are encourged to repair
irrigation systems and reinforce damaged crop supports as soon as possible.

(AL)

Now turning to international news...

Thai officials say, the death toll in a pub fire has now risen to 30.

Authorities say, most of the victims dead in the Bangkok fire were found in
windowless bathrooms, where they'd tried to take shelter from the flames.

That's the city's deadliest blaze in seventeen years.

Police say, victims may have been blocked from reaching a nearby exit and
there are signs that some exit doors may have been locked.

Investigators are examining decorative materials on the ceiling above the
stage, and the building's electrical wiring.

A musician who was performing told officials he saw smoke coming from a
circuit breaker before the power cut out.

70 people remain hospitalized, with 24 remaining in critical condition.

Investigations into the bar's compliance with safety regulations are ongoing.

China says, its exports were up last month, jumping over a quarter from a
year earlier.

They say, that's due to strong demand due to the AI boom.

The increase in exports was much better than what economists had expected.

China's exports of vehicles, especially EVs, and other tech-related products
have boomed as rapid adoption of AI increases the need for semiconductors and
other electronic equipment.

The strength in export manufacturing has helped to offset weakness in
domestic spending and investment.

Experts say growth is likely to continue, but may be more and more fragile.

President Nayib Bukele’s candidacy for El Salvador’s February presidential
elections has been ratified by its ruling party...

paving the way for a third consecutive term amid criticism from human rights
advocates.

Bukele took office in 2019, but a 2024 reelection was criticized for
violating a ban on consecutive terms...

however a 2025 court ruling permitted indefinite reelection.

He's been accused of illegally replacing the constitutional court judges to
concentrate his power.

The president continues to hold high approval ratings and has been credited
with drastically reducing homicide rates within the country.

But human rights groups say more than 500 people have died in prison during
the state of emergency that made those numbers possible.

Major retailers and restaurant chains in Taiwan say they have completed the
precautionary removal of products linked to the expanding Central Union Oil
contamination case.

Costco Taiwan, Louisa Coffee and the TTFB Restaurant Group all say they
removed affected products after receiving government notifications and
supplier alerts.

Louisa says it removed and sealed all cooking oils and related products from
the three affected suppliers before the government deadline, regardless of
whether individual batches had tested above the legal limit.

The companies say none of the affected oil products remain in use, and that
stores and restaurants are now using products which meet food safety
standards.

The case involves cooking oils from Central Union ... found to contain
excessive levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene -- or BaP -- prompting
nationwide recalls and precautionary product withdrawals.

BaP is commonly found in vehicle exhaust fumes and tobacco smoke.

(IG)

Academia Sinica has sharply raised its forecast for Taiwan's economic growth
this year to 10.16 percent, citing easing uncertainty over U.S. tariff policy
and continued investment in artificial intelligence.

The new forecast is a significant increase from the institute's previous
projection of 3.71 percent released late last year.

Researchers say the upgrade reflects Taiwan's stronger-than-expected economic
performance in the first quarter, with continued investment in AI
infrastructure helping to boost exports and overall growth.

Academia Sinica expects global investment in artificial intelligence to
remain strong in the second half of the year, supporting Taiwan's export
momentum.

Even so, the institute says economic growth is likely to moderate later this
year as the pace of expansion returns to more normal levels.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is expected to focus on capital
spending and the development of its most advanced chipmaking technology when
it holds its quarterly investor conference this Thursday.

Taiwan Institute of Economic Research economist Liu Pei-chen (劉佩真) says the
chipmaker's capital expenditure could reach a record high over the next three
years ...

... when TSMC's accumulated capital spending could top 150 billion U-S
dollars.

She says TSMC is expected to continue investing heavily in its 2-nanometer
and next-generation manufacturing technologies while accelerating its
overseas expansion.

Liu also expects the company to increase spending on advanced chip packaging
as demand for artificial intelligence applications continues to drive growth.

In international news ... and in the latest form the Middle East ...

Bahrain has sounded its missile alert sirens for a second time as Iran
continues retaliatory attacks following the latest U-S strikes.

The United States announced a new round of attacks on Iran hours after U-S
President Donald Trump said Washington was reinstating a blockade in the
Strait of Hormuz.

Trump separately suggested the United States will charge other ships for safe
passage, upending hundreds of years of American policy supporting freedom of
navigation across the globe.

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence says Iran also fired two cruise
missiles at two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one mariner and
wounding eight others.

The Emirates threatened to retaliate against Iran, potentially drawing the
nation home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai back into fighting with Tehran.

Premier Cho Jung-tai has ordered health authorities to complete all testing
linked to contaminated cooking oil produced by Central Union Oil within a
week...

...and prepare draft amendments to Taiwan's food safety laws over the same
period.

The premier says all confirmed contaminated oil has been removed from sale,
while edible oils and related products made using oil from Central Union
produced between April and June have been recalled as a precaution.

He has also instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish rules
allowing recalled products to return to store shelves only after passing
inspections by the Food and Drug Administration or accredited third-party
laboratories.

The proposed legal changes are expected to tighten oversight of food
manufacturers and strengthen food safety inspections ...

... as authorities continue investigating how cooking oil from the company
became contaminated with benzo[a]pyrene ... or BaP ...

... a cancer-causing chemical commonly found in vehicle exhaust fumes and
tobacco smoke.

In related news,

Taichung health authorities have identified two more edible oil products
contaminated with excessive levels of BaP, widening the food safety scandal
surrounding Central Union Oil.

Officials say the affected products are Fwusow Peanut Flavored Blended Oil
and Fwusow Unsaturated Soybean Salad Oil, both made using oil supplied by
Central Union.

Five batches of oil from Central Union have now been found to exceed Taiwan's
legal safety limit for BaP.

Authorities say the contaminated oil was distributed to hundreds of food
businesses, and manufacturers have been ordered to continue tracing affected
products and supply chains.

Taichung has also fined Fwusow Industry six million NT for failing to
promptly report contamination involving the two products.

Prosecutors are continuing their criminal investigation into Central Union
Oil.

The Food and Drug Administration has denied online claims that it relaxed
limits on pesticide residues in apples.

It’s calling the allegations false and warning that anyone spreading the
misinformation could face criminal penalties.

The claims circulated on Facebook, alleging that the allowable residue limit
for the pesticide fipronil in apples had been increased sixfold.

The agency says the recent regulatory change involved a different pesticide,
known as fenpropathrin, and not fipronil, stressing that the two are
completely different substances.

The FDA says the false claims have unnecessarily raised concerns about apple
safety and has referred the case to local authorities for investigation.

Under the Food Safety and Sanitation Act, anyone who intentionally spreads
false or misleading information about food safety can face up to three years
in prison, criminal detention or a fine of up to $1 million NT.

Repairs Continue

Taiwan has fully restored water service in the wake of Typhoon Bavi.

However, more than 100 households in Hsinchu County remained without
electricity as of this morning, as blocked roads continued to hamper repair
work.

The National Communications Commission says it activated emergency disaster
roaming services Sunday night for typhoon-hit areas, with support focused on
Wufeng Township in Hsinchu County.

The service allows residents whose own provider's network is unavailable to
connect through another participating mobile network.

Officials say the typhoon damaged 170 mobile base stations nationwide, with
46 still awaiting repairs.

Recovery work is continuing, with local governments clearing roads, repairing
public facilities and assessing agricultural damage.

(IG)

Speaking of which ...

Agricultural losses from Typhoon Bavi have now risen to an estimated 37.7
million NT ...

... with crop damage accounting for more than 90 percent of the total.

The Ministry of Agriculture says persimmons were by far the hardest-hit crop,
making up around 40 percent of all crop losses.

Bananas, jujubes, peaches and first-season rice were also significantly
affected.

Private agricultural facilities accounted for another 3.3 million NT in
losses — the vast majority of it from farmland that was washed away or buried
by mud, mainly in New Taipei and Hsinchu County.

(IG)

The Kinmen Aviation Station says most travelers stranded by Typhoon Bavi have
now returned to Taiwan, after more than 300 people secured standby seats on
flights yesterday evening.

Regular flights to Taiwan and ferry services to Xiamen resumed Sunday after
two days of weather-related disruptions, but demand exceeded capacity,
leaving hundreds waiting for seats.

Officials say 333 travelers had boarded standby flights back to Taiwan by 8
PM Monday, with only several dozen passengers still waiting at Kinmen
Airport.

In addition, a planned military relief flight was canceled Monday, as poor
weather in Pingtung prevented the aircraft from taking off.

(IG)

Taiwanese organizations have joined dozens of overseas groups in calling on
governments around the world to reject the extraterritorial reach of China's
new Ethnic Unity Law.

The letter, coordinated by the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, was
signed by 54 overseas community and civil society organizations, including
groups representing Hong Kong, Uyghur, Tibetan and Taiwanese communities.

The groups say the law claims legal jurisdiction beyond China's borders and
could be used to pursue, intimidate and silence overseas communities.

They are urging governments to declare that the law has no legal effect over
foreign citizens or residents, and to strengthen protections against what
they describe as Beijing's transnational repression.

(IG)

In similar news,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on reiterated Taiwan's stance on the South on
the South China Sea — on the 10th anniversary of an international arbitration
ruling that rejected many of China's claims in the disputed waterway.

MOFA says Taiwan should not be excluded from efforts to resolve issues
affecting its rights and interests, and that disputes should be settled
peacefully in accordance with international law through multilateral
dialogue.

It also reiterated Taiwan's opposition to unilateral expansion, gray-zone
coercion and militarization in the South China Sea, calling on all parties to
resolve their differences peacefully.

The ministry's statement came as several countries, including the United
States, Japan and Australia, also marked the anniversary by reaffirming their
support for international law and a rules-based order in the South China Sea.

Taiwan's military has launched a five-day joint defense exercise featuring
Marine Corps mobilization operations to reinforce the Taipei metropolitan
area.

The drill focuses on integrating the Army, Navy and Air Force while testing
decentralized command-and-control systems.

As part of the exercise, dozens of Marine Corps vehicles deployed from
southern Taiwan to Taipei's Nangang District and New Taipei's Xizhi District
to establish temporary command posts and conduct reconnaissance.

The Ministry of National Defense says the exercise is designed to strengthen
coordination among the military's three branches and improve their ability to
conduct joint operations under a decentralized command-and-control system.

A Taichung junior high school student has lost a lawsuit after claiming to
have developed depression as a result of disciplinary measures imposed by a
homeroom teacher.

The Taichung District Court ruled the case did not meet the legal
requirements for government compensation.

The student and a parent argued the teacher required students to arrive at
school too early, set excessively high academic standards and punished them
by making them write lines.

The court found students were only required to arrive early once a week for
the school's flag-raising ceremony and said the teacher was acting within
their authority in setting academic standards and assigning the punishment.

It also ruled the family failed to prove a link between the student's mental
health and the teacher's disciplinary measures.

The Marine National Park Headquarters has signed a cooperation agreement with
TIPC Marine Corporation to strengthen maritime patrols in the waters of South
Penghu Marine National Park.

Returning port service vessels will carry park personnel on patrol missions
during their return voyages, increasing surveillance of protected waters.

The partnership will also establish a system for sharing vessel tracking
data, images and patrol records to help detect suspected illegal fishing,
coral reef damage and other violations.

Officials say the partnership will expand patrol coverage and create a
stronger marine patrol network, helping better protect the national park's
marine ecosystem.

The two sides also plan to work together on marine conservation education and
public awareness programs.

(IG)

The U.K. government says it is banning several groups with links to Iran...
one of them, a proxy group which it said is responsible for recent arson and
vandalism attacks on Jewish sites in Britain.

The government announced a ban on the Islamic Movement of the Companions of
the Right... they also banned Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary
Guard.

Security Minister Angela Eagle stated that the IMCR has claimed seven attacks
in the U.K.

She added that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force
almost certainly directed such attacks across Europe.

At the same time, authorities Britain would designate the GRU Volunteer
Corps, a group controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency, as a
national security threat.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched missiles and drones at
Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport.

They say it's a response to airstrikes they blame on Saudi Arabia that hit
Sanaa International Airport earlier on Monday.

No casualties have been reported, but this marks a potentially significant
escalation.

The Houthi military spokesman warned airlines against flying in Saudi
airspace.

The strikes are the first major escalation between the Houthis and Saudi
Arabia after a period of relative calm.

Hungary's Parliament has passed a constitutional amendment aimed at removing
the president, seen as a loyalist of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

It comes as Prime Minister Péter Magyar's government works to dismantle
Orbán's political system.

Magyar's Tisza party holds a two-thirds majority, allowing them to roll back
many of Orbán's policies.

Since taking office, Magyar has removed political appointees and suspended
Hungary’s public news service.
Orbán's Fidesz party boycotted the vote, calling the amendment an assault on
democracy.

The amendment also includes judicial reforms and a new authority to
investigate financial abuses.

The Trump administration is launching an effort to dismantle what it calls
the threat ‌to U.S. sovereignty by the International Criminal Court.

The Reuters News Agency cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying the
ICC was initially intended to prosecute only the ​gravest offenses, but had
turned out to be "something far more radical and extreme."

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters
earlier that a wide range of options is under consideration to target the
ICC.

These include including ​travel bans, visa revocations, increased sanctions
against the ICC and affiliated organizations, and diplomatic pressure on
other nations to withdraw from the ICC.

The ICC was established in 2002 by the international community to prosecute
war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

It asserts jurisdiction only if a member state is unable or unwilling to
prosecute atrocities itself.

Investors are suing BlackRock by investors who said it ​stuck them with
higher management fees and tax bills ‌by using improper accounting that
inflated the values of more than 70 equity mutual funds.

In a complaint filed in a New York state court in ​Manhattan, investors say
BlackRock misclassified dividend income and realized capital gains as ​fund
assets, despite having to distribute these sums to investors within the tax
year.

Investors said the inflated data caused them ​to buy fewer shares than they
were entitled to, and pay management ​fees and higher taxes on what were
essentially fund liabilities.

BlackRock did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The New York-based company ended March with $13.89 trillion of ​assets under
management, including $7.66 trillion in equities.

---

The European Union will not yet introduce a ban on products from territories
illegally occupied by Israel after less than half of the bloc’s foreign
ministers voted for action on the issue.

A group of EU countries has been urging the executive to ban trade with
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

However, it fell short of the simple majority needed to compel the European
Commission to present specific sanctions for member countries to vote on.

The Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, has resisted efforts to impose
new trade barriers on Israel and did not present EU countries with formal
measures for them to vote on at Monday’s meeting.

---

Paramount Skydance is hitting out at a coalition of 12 Democratic state
attorneys general that sued to block the David Ellison-led company’s takeover
of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Paramount claims the lawsuit "distorts settled antitrust law and is based on
a misrepresentation of competition in the entertainment industry today."

Jennifer King has more.


---

Hundreds of economists are sounding the alarm on the need for guardrails for
AI... beacause of its potential to transform the way economies work.

Lisa Dwyer explains...

The Taichung City government today identified two additional batches of
edible oil products contaminated with excessive levels of a carcinogen, along
with hundreds of downstream businesses that received products made from the
tainted oil.

According to the city's Office of Food and Drug Safety, those two
contaminated oil also originated from Taichung-based Central Union Oil and
was processed into two Fwusow 福壽 products: Fwusow Peanut Flavored Blended
Oil, and Fwusow Unsaturated Soybean Salad Oil.

The two batches had already been included on the Ministry of Health and
Welfare's recall list.

Taichung officials said they were sold to three major food manufacturers,
福壽Industry, Formosa Oilseed Processing, and Taisun Enterprise, which then
supplied hundreds of food businesses, including major bakery, coffee, and
restaurant chains.



Officials have ordered the three companies to continue identifying affected
products, customers, and distribution channels, saying any newly confirmed
products will be announced and immediately removed from sale.

(CNA JL)

Typhoon Bavi has caused more than $22 million in agricultural damage across
Taiwan.

The Ministry of Agriculture says Miaoli County suffered the heaviest losses,
totaling nearly $16 million NT.

That accounts for almost 70 percent of the national total.

New Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Taoyuan also reported severe crop and
infrastructure damage.

Officials say persimmons were the hardest-hit crop... with losses reaching
12.5 million NT.

Dates, rice, bitter melons, and tomatoes also suffered significant damage.

(NS)

The National Stabilization Fund committee has released the results of its
stock market stabilization earlier this year, saying it invested a total of
$12.25 billion NT and generated a net profit of $9.9 billion.

That represents a return of 81 percent.

The Fund said after supporting the market for 279 days, the fund ended the
intervention on January 12 this year and began selling its holdings.

It had successfully sold all of its shares and completed its exit by May 6.

The fund stressed that Taiwan shares continued to rise steadily during the
period in which it sold its holdings, and that the sales did not have a
negative impact on the market.

The Stabilization Fund entered the market on April 9 last year to support
Taiwan shares in response to the United States tariffs.

(JL)

Kaohsiung City's annual milk tea festival returns in September, for a weekend
celebration of the city's tea drink industry.

The 2026 Kaohsiung Milk Tea Festival will be held on September 19th and 20th
at the plaza outside Yan-cheng-pu MRT Station Exit 1, bringing together more
than 70 bubble tea and food brands.

Organizers say Kaohsiung leads all of Taiwan's cities in hand-shaken drink
shops, with over 3-thousand outlets as of the end of last year, that's nearly
one fifth of the national total.

And the city says the Yanchengpu location was chosen to link the festival
with the surrounding historic commercial district, which is home to several
Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurants.

It also boasts a concentration of classic Kaohsiung street food.

(NS)

Taiwan Railways says its popular railway bento boxes are not affected by the
contaminated soybean oil scandal.

Although Taiwan Railways bento products appeared on the Food and Drug
Administration’s list of affected items, the company says a review confirmed
it did not use any of the contaminated oil batches identified by authorities.

It also received inspection certificates from its supplier verifying that the
oil met safety standards.

As a precaution, Taiwan Railways has still removed soybean oil purchased
between April and June from use and switched to another approved cooking oil
supplier.

Officials say daily lunch box production and sales will continue as normal
while the company cooperates with the ongoing food safety investigation.

The Food and Drug Administration has denied online claims that it has relaxed
the maximum allowable residue limit for the pesticide fipronil in apples.

It stressed today that no such standard exists and warned that anyone
spreading the false claim could face criminal penalties.

The clarification came after Facebook posts claimed that the F-D-A had
increased the allowable residue limit for the pesticide in apples sixfold.

The agency said the pesticide involved in the recent revision to apple
residue regulations was fen-pro-pa-thrin, not fipronil, stressing that the
two are completely different substances.

It stressed that Fipronil is an environmental insecticide used to control
pests such as termites and ants and is not approved for agricultural use,
while fen-pro-pa-thrin is legally permitted for use on fruit and vegetables.

Turning to typhoon news..

Typhoon Bavi weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday, hours after making
landfall in eastern China 's Zhe-jiang province, but was still bringing days
of strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the country.

The storm's intensity continued to weaken as it moved northwestward across
eastern China into the province of An-hui on Sunday afternoon, according to
China’s national weather center.

Strong winds and heavy rain are expected to impact many eastern and
northeastern Chinese cities today.

China's state media said in Zhejiang province, more than 2.2 million people
were evacuated due to Bavi.

Shanghai evacuated over 290-thousand people from at-risk areas, while Fujian
province evacuated more than 180-thousand people.

Xin-hua News Agency said Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao
International Airport were expected to cancel around 653 inbound and outbound
flights due to Bavi.

An Academia Sinica's survey shows that a majority of the general public
believed that daily necessicities will continue to become more expensive next
year.

The Taiwan Consumer Expectations and Policy Response Survey, done in March
this year, indicates that 63-percent of the respondents expected their cost
of living to rise in 2027, with an average increase of nearly 9-percent.

The items expected to cost more include transportation, energy and food, as
well as new houses.

As many as 93-percent of the people also believed that Consumer Price Index
will rise with an average inflation rate of 2.2-percent.

On fertility intentions, only 12% of respondents said that a monthly
allowance of $5,000 NT per child until age 18 would increase their
willingness to have children.

(JL)

Civil youth groups are urging the legislature to pass amendments that would
lower the voting age to 18 for elections.

The amendment passed a first reading in May, but has been pending a second
reading since then.

However, the proposals still require interpretation of citizens' rights by
the Constitutional Court.

In the meantime, the legislative Internal Affairs Committee recommended that
the Legislative Yuan's Constitutional Amendment Committee begin the work of
getting the changes in place.

NGOs are calling for the legislature to pass the proposed changes to the
Elections and Recall Act as soon as possible...

and announce a date that those changes would go into effect.

The changes would lower the voting age to general elections from 20 to 18
years old.

Currently, teenagers can only vote in referendums.

(AH)

The DPP is slamming the KMT and TPP over having made this year's central
government general budget, in their words, the longest-procrastinated bill in
the legislature's history.

The 2026 general budget has been pending legislative examination for 319
days.

DPP Spokesperson Li Kun Cheng李坤城 noted that next year's general budget
proposal will be submitted to the legislature next month...

which means that there may be two central government budgets pending in the
Legislative Yuan at once.

The 2026 budget was submitted to the legislature in August of 2025, but Lee
says, only one of eight legislative committees have completed their reviews.

(AH)

Typhoon Bavi caused widespread damage in Miaoli County, where landslides and
mudslides have forced the closure of multiple sections of County Roads 21,
22, and 62,

Emergency crews are working to clear debris, with traffic expected to resume
tomorrow.

The sections are mainly in the mountainous areas of Tou-wu (頭屋), Shi-tan
(獅潭), Nan-zhuang (南庄) and Tai’an (泰安) townships.

In Nanzhuang 南庄 Township, road damage temporarily cut off Donghe 東河 Village,
leaving 12 residents in the Luhu 鹿湖 tribal area isolated.

Local officials say everyone is safe, but daily supplies are needed to be
airlifted in until access is fully restored.

The Central Weather Administration's data shows that mountains in Miaoli
received some 600 millimeters of rain from Bavi over the weekend.

(AL)

Air and sea transportation to and from Taiwan's outlying Matsu islands has
resumed normal schedules after Typhoon Bavi moved away.

Nan-gang and Bei-gan Airport officials say about 390 travelers were stranded
during the storm, but most have departed as of 4 PM today.

Ferry services have largely resumed, with only the Nangan南竿–Daqiu大坵 ferry
route still suspended.

Authorities say extra ferry services and available airline seats are helping
clear the backlog, and no military aircraft were needed.

(AL)

Now turning to international news...

The US has become the top source of helium for Japan, South Korea, and
Taiwan...

as the US/Israeli war in Iran and Chinese export restrictions squeeze global
supplies of the gas, which is key for chipmaking.

That, according to a Nikkei Asia analysis of customs data.

Asia's key tech economies have traditionally sourced much of their helium and
other noble gases -- also known as rare gases -- from Qatar and China.

A TSMC executive told reporters that Qatar is home to some of the world's
most cost-effective helium production。。。

but conflict in Iran disrupted Qatar's LNG production and exports, reducing
helium output as well.

The US has emerged as the clear beneficiary...

as Taiwan's imports of helium and other noble gases from the U.S. rose from
less than 4% of total imports in 2025 to nearly 60% in the first six months
of this year.

In Malaysia,

the opposition Barisan Nasional coalition beat out the ruling party in a
closely watched local election that may serve as a bellweather ahead of the
next general election.

Nikkei Asia reports that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan won
only 8 out of 56 seats, while the opposition BN took 48 seats in Johor's
state assembly.

The BN and PH are partners in Anwar's federal government, but in this
election they competed directly in all 56 constituencies.

BN's strong showing in the southern economic hub could give it momentum at
the national level, potentially changing the power balance within the
government

Voter turnout was relatively high in this round of polling, reaching 67% by 5
pm, compared with about 53% 4 years earlier.

This weekend's vote was the first in a series of state elections in Malaysia
with the next one set for August 1.

Residents south of Paris are being forced to evacuate, as a fire rages in the
historic Fontainebleau forest。

The fire is unusual for its proximity to the French capital.

Two water-dumping planes and hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze.

Trains to and from Gare de Lyon were disrupted but are returning to normal.

France is experiencing its third heat wave this year, with temperatures
surpassing 40 degrees Celsius.

Spain is also facing violent fires, highlighting Europe's rapid warming.

The DPP says, it is in favor of amending the food safety laws following the
oil carcinogen case.

The party's legislative caucus says, it would consider strengthening
oversight mechanisms and 3rd party testing, as well as lengthening the
statute of limitations.

That's after party chair Lai Ching-te previously said the party would
consider amending the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

DPP legislative caucus secretary general Zhuang Rui Xiong says today that the
caucus may propose changes aimed at ensuring public health.

Zhuang added that the issue was at its core a systemic one, and that changes
were needed to accelerate decision-making processes in order to minimize
financial losses.

Zhuang added that self reporting and closing blindspots between central and
local governments is key.

(AH)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an 蔣萬安 is calling on President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 to
convene a national security meeting over the recent contaminated soybean oil
scandal.

Chiang said the government should first determine how the oil became
contaminated, trace its distribution, and ensure all risks have been
eliminated before allowing any products back on store shelves.

He said the case has seriously undermined public confidence in food safety,
and urged cross-ministerial cooperation to restore consumer trust.

(AL)

The 2-day Advanced Subjects Test, which kicked off today, has introduced
metal detectors for the first time this year to help prevent electronic
cheating.

The College Entrance Examination Center said the detectors are not used on
every student.

They are only deployed if a candidate is suspected of carrying or using
prohibited devices, such as mobile phones or smart wearables, and refuses to
cooperate with an inspection.

If a student voluntarily hands over the device, no metal detector will be
used.

However, those who refuse may be checked after the exam in the testing
office.

Officials said confirmed violations will be reviewed by the examination
committee, with penalties determined based on the severity of the offense.

(AL)

Lawmakers, local officials, and candidates for office in Pingtung attended
yesterday's opening of a new main office for the 75-year-old Pingtung County
Chamber of Commerce.

ICRT's Southern Taiwan correspondent Michael Smith reports.

Now turning to international news...

13 people have been killed in a road accident in Indonesia.

A pickup truck carrying wedding guests was crushed between two larger trucks
on a highway in West Java yesterday.

Police say the pickup had slowed to make a U-turn when a truck hit it from
behind, pushing it into oncoming traffic where it was struck again.

The passengers were riding in the open back of the vehicle.

Five people are in the hospital, as police are still investigating.

Ukraine has lost one of its most important allies in Washington DC.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly yesterday, had been in
Kyiv just two days earlier.

He told reporters that tough new economic sanctions on Russia were finally
within reach.

Graham had visited Ukraine ten times since the full-scale Russian invasion.

More importantly, he was Kyiv's most trusted line to the US president.

Graham was a rare Republican who kept pushing for Ukraine even as much of his
party turned away.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two were in constant dialogue, and
that he'd miss it greatly.

One Ukrainian lawmaker called him indispensable and that he doesn't know who
could replace him in Trump's circle.

Without Graham, Ukraine could lose an influential advocate with direct access
to Trump.

The sanctions bill that Graham championed is still pending.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says about 144 metric tons of soybean oil
products had been removed from shelves and recalled as of yesterday.

That's a small faction of the 3-thousand 900 metric tons of affected or
precautionarily recalled oil products that have entered the market.

The Food and Drug Administration has been testing the affected products since
July 9, and Deputy Health Minister Lin Jing- yi said her ministry will
announce the test criteria today, allowing products that pass safety tests to
return to store shelves as soon as possible.

Lin stressed that the government is trying to balance food safety with
minimizing disruption to businesses and consumers.

She also acknowledged criticism over delays in the recall process and said
reporting procedures for food companies will be reviewed and improved.

Meanwhile, officials questioned discrepancies between test reports submitted
by Central Union Oils and those from downstream companies.

Prosecutors have already launched an investigation into the case.

(AL)

The first day of this year's astronomical high tide brought minor flooding to
parts of Pingtung County...

with seawater reaching ankle level in Donggang 東港 Township early yesterday
morning before receding a couple of hours later.

According to the Central Weather Administration, tide levels are expected to
be even higher tomorrow and wednesday...

increasing the risk of seawater flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Pingtung County says it has completed flood prevention preparations,
including inspecting pumping stations, deploying mobile pumps, clearing
drainage systems, and monitoring tide conditions.

Officials are urging residents, especially those in coastal communities and
the aquaculture industry, to stay alert and take necessary precautions as the
high tides continue through the rest of the week.

(AL)

Taiwan shares are slightly up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 25
points to close the session at 45380.

The turnover was 1.025 trillion NT

Now turning to international news...

14 countries have reasserted that China's sweeping claims in the South China
Sea have no legal basis.

Nikkei Asia reports that the joint statement, led by the US and Britain, and
including Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, marks ten years since an
international tribunal ruled against Beijing in 2016.

At that time, China rejected the ruling and has continued to uphold its
claims to almost all of the sea passage.

The signatories say the ruling is final and legally binding.

They also condemned the use of coast guard and militia vessels to intimidate
other countries at sea, referencing the repeated confrontations involving
water cannons and dangerous maneuvers with China.

Beijing says the ruling is null and void and that it neither accepts nor
recognizes it.

Taiwan is among the claimants in the disputed waters, along with Vietnam,
Malaysia and Brunei.

works.

Tokyo's July and August conditions now rival those of Bangkok and Singapore.

Nikkei Asia reports that, last year, extreme heat cost Japan more than
two-point-eight billion working hours.

That's double the average from the 2010s.

Employers are adapting...

with one construction company now giving workers nine days off in a row each
month through the summer.

They then make up the hours in October, when it cools down.

That's because heatstroke cases at the company doubled in a single year.

But outside of Japan, extreme heat cost the global economy an estimated one
trillion dollars in 2024.

Governments around the world are adapting, with Qatar banning outdoor work
during the hottest hours while South Korea now requires rest breaks tied to
temperature.

Taichung City has fined Fwusow 福壽 Industry an additional $6 million NT for
failing to promptly report two products that tested above the legal limit for
carcinogen BaP.

According to officials, Fwusow received laboratory results on July 6 showing
excessive BaP levels in two cooking oil products.

However, the company did not notify authorities until July 12, violating
Taiwan's Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

Fwusow has now been hit with a total of 9 million NT in fines stemming from
the contaminated oil case.

The latest findings expand the case from three to five affected batches of
soybean oil supplied by Chung Lien 中聯 Oils.

Authorities have ordered Fwusow 福壽, Formosa Oilseed Processing, and Tai Shan
泰山 to provide detailed distribution records as officials continue tracing
affected products and ensuring they are removed from the market.

(AL)

The National Communications Commission says, amending the Telecommunications
Management Act would indeed offer greater flexibility.

That's as media reports have said that the changes could open the market to
Starlink.

Under current regulations, the chair of any public communications network
must hold Taiwanese citizenship, and foreign disrect shareholding cannot
reach half of all shareholders.

Local media speculations would indicate that some proposed amendments would
relax regulations for satellite communication operators...

leading some to question whether or not SpaceX's Starlink can operate in
Taiwan.

The proposed amendments were brought by several KMT lawmakers and DPP
lawmaker Lin Jun Xian.

Starlink is a telecom subsidiary of Elon Musk's Space X, which provides both
civilian service as well as government/military communication in the Russian
invasion of Ukraine.

Some have raised concerns about potential national security issues related to
allowing Starlink to operate in Taiwan...

but the Ministry of Digital Affairs says, the legislature will cross that
bridge when the amendment examination process arrives there.

(AH)

Now turning to international news...

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko (svih-ryh-DEN-koh) has stepped down
as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to Ukraine’s
government.

Svyrydenko was named prime minister in July 2025.

She said in a statement on social media yesterday that she was “proud to have
had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult
periods in Ukraine’s modern history.”

Svyrydenko, who previously served as Ukraine’s economic minister, also said
she had discussed “next steps” with Zelenskyy, but did not provide further
details.

Zelenskyy, who has remained in office under martial law because wartime
elections are prohibited, has periodically reshuffled his government in an
effort to bring fresh momentum to his administration.

He said he had offered Svyrydenko the opportunity to lead “a new, important
area” in Ukraine’s relations with a key international partner.

Zelenskyy said the changes would also affect the top ranks of Ukraine's law
enforcement agencies.

(KK)

Vietnamese police have detained the captain of a speedboat that capsized off
southern Vietnam, killing 15 Indian tourists.

The boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members
when it overturned less than half a kilometer from the shore over the
weekend.

The captain is under investigation for alleged violations of waterway safety
regulations.

Sixteen survivors have been discharged from the hospital and are returning to
India, while one remains in critical condition.

The victims were on a company trip.

Rough seas with waves up to 3 meters high hampered rescue efforts, with
nearby boats rushing to help but arriving too late.

(KK)

In Germany, Volkswagen’s CEO has indicated that he’s trying to avoid closing
plants as he seeks to turn around the automaker’s performance.

The company faces pressure to cut costs at home and increasingly intense
competition in the lucrative Chinese market.

Last week, Volkswagen said its “fundamental realignment” over the past three
years had reached its next phase, announcing plans to streamline the model
lineup by up to half.

There has been renewed speculation about the future of several plants in
Germany.

CEO Oliver Blume said in remarks published yesterday that "there are more
intelligent solutions than closing plants."

(KK)

Typhoon Bavi left at least 135 people injured as it swept across Taiwan over
the weekend.

The Central Emergency Operations Center says more than 3,100 incidents were
reported, with fallen trees and damage to public facilities accounting for
most of them.

More than 15,000 people were evacuated across 14 cities and counties during
the storm.

Officials have also lowered the alert level for a barrier lake on Hualien
County's Wanli River after inflows subsided, reducing the immediate risk of
an overflow.

However, authorities say the area will continue to be closely monitored.

TaiPower says electricity has been restored to nearly all of the roughly 250
thousand households affected by the typhoon.

As of this morning, almost 1,400 households in Hsinchu County and 19 in
Miaoli County were still without power.

Meanwhile, transportation services across Taiwan have been gradually
returning to normal in the wake of the storm.

Taiwan Railway says services on its western and eastern trunk lines, the
South Link Line and the Neiwan Branch Line have all resumed.

Taiwan High Speed Rail is also back to its normal schedule after reducing
services on Saturday as a precaution.

At Taoyuan International Airport, most flights and ground transportation
services resumed on Sunday, although more than 120 flights were canceled
after aircraft were unable to return from overseas because of the storm.

Ferry services were the hardest hit, with more than 100 sailings on 14 routes
canceled due to the storm.

Meanwhile, the Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei has reopened following safety
inspections and the clearing of debris.

And in central Taiwan, the Alishan Forest Railway remains closed today while
crews clear landslides and inspect the tracks.

Health authorities say they are withholding test results for cooking oil
produced by Central Union Oil after conflicting results raised questions
about the reliability of the samples.

The move comes as officials continue investigating how some batches became
contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical benzo[a]pyrene.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says samples kept by Central Union did not
match test results from products made using the company's oil.

Because of those discrepancies, the Food and Drug Administration has decided
not to release the latest test results and instead ordered every production
batch to be re-tested by accredited third-party laboratories.

The FDA says it expects to announce today when products made with the
affected batches between April and June can return to store shelves.

Benzo[a]pyrene is commonly found in tobacco smoke, and vehicle exhaust fumes.

In related news,

The general manager of Central Union Oil has been released on 20 million NT
bail as prosecutors continue investigating why the company's cooking oil
contained excessive amounts of the contaminant.

Prosecutors immediately appealed the bail decision for General Manager Yu
Ling-chung, arguing he should remain in custody because of concerns he could
destroy evidence or collude with witnesses.

The Taichung District Court also ordered company chairman Tsai Ching-sung
released on 20 million NT bail, while the plant manager and 10 other suspects
were also granted bail pending further investigation.

Prosecutors allege Central Union manufactured about 1,300 metric tons of
contaminated soy-based cooking oil that exceeded the legal limit for
benzo[a]pyrene by four times and supplied it to major food processors between
April and June.

Those companies then distributed products containing the oil to smaller food
manufacturers and restaurants.

Academics are rejecting U-S President Donald Trump's claim that Taiwan took
America's chip industry.

American scholar Michael Cunningham, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center,
says Taiwan and the United States are partners rather than competitors in
chip production.

He says U-S companies continue to lead in semiconductor design ... while
manufacturing is largely handled by Taiwanese firms, calling it a partnership
that has benefited both sides.

Trump ... in a CNBC interview early this month … said that Taiwan had
"literally took 100 percent" of the semiconductor business ... and predicted
the U-S would have up to 60 percent of chip manufacturing by the time he
leaves office.

However, Cunningham says that's unrealistic, arguing Taiwan's
long-established semiconductor ecosystem cannot be replicated quickly, even
as investment in U.S. chip manufacturing grows.

President Lai Ching-te has expressed his condolences over the death of U-S
Senator Lindsey Graham, calling the South Carolina lawmaker "a true friend of
Taiwan".

Graham, a longtime senator and close ally of U-S President Donald Trump,
passed away Saturday night U-S time at the age of 71, after what his office
said was "a brief and sudden illness.

Lai on social media said Senator Graham will always be remembered as an
unwavering advocate (for Taiwan) and defender of freedom.

In a separate statement, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧)
said Graham championed legislation friendly towards Taiwan, supported the
country’s participation in the international community ...

... as well as stronger self-defense capabilities and closer Taiwan-U.S.
economic and trade ties.

Eighty-six Indonesian students have been awarded Taiwanese government
scholarships to study in Taiwan this year.

Before leaving, they attended a pre-departure orientation in Jakarta held by
Taiwan's representative office there, covering student visas, residency
procedures and campus life.

Taiwan's representative to Indonesia, Bruce Hung, said more than 19 thousand
Indonesian students are currently studying in Taiwan, making Indonesia the
second-largest source of international students after Vietnam.

Hung said Taiwan offers a strong Mandarin-learning environment and diverse
higher education opportunities, and encouraged the students to learn more
about the island's AI and semiconductor industries during their studies.

Israeli fire in Gaza has killed at least six Palestinians, including a
9-year-old girl.

A drone strike on a blacksmith shop in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood on
Sunday killed at least four.

The Israeli military acknowledged striking the area, saying it targeted
“terrorist infrastructure.”

Israeli strikes have lessened since a ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10 but
continue almost daily.

Sen. Mitch McConnell is revealing for the first time that a fall led to his
hospitalization, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of
mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health.

McConnell, 84, said in a statement Sunday that he has undergone a battery of
tests as doctors try to determine what led to his fall. He explained the long
silence about his condition by saying that “folks of my generation often
hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

McConnell said he is now in a rehabilitation center and will not be returning
to the Senate “quite yet.”

McConnell had provided little information since his hospitalization on June
14, his office insisting only that he was “receiving excellent care” and
recovering.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) will build three additional
advanced packaging facilities in Phase II of the Chiayi Science Park (CSP).

National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) head Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said
the roughly 90-hectare site will be developed into an advanced packaging
industry cluster.

Two advanced packaging facilities at Phase I began mass production in June...
while the Phase II expansion is aimed at meeting growing global demand for
high-performance computing (HPC) chips and advanced packaging technologies.

Once both phases are fully operational, Wu said companies with facilities at
the Chiayi Science Park are expected to generate more than NT$300 billion
(US$9.35 billion) in annual output.

--------

In international business news ...

Apple is suing OpenAI and two former employees, alleging misappropriation of
its trade secrets... the lawsuit was filed late last week.

Ben Thomas reports.


--

A proposed legal settlement with the U.S. government would require the
Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay a civil penalty of nearly $27
million over a major oil spill in Kansas in December 2022.

Canada-based South Bow also would spend about $40 million to prevent future
accidents under terms of the agreement filed Friday in U.S. District Court in
Kansas.

The agreement would resolve allegations that South Bow violated U.S. and
Kansas clean water laws in operating the pipeline.

The 2002 rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek
in Washington County, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City. The company
disputes the allegations.

---

U.S. drivers have seen gasoline prices climb again after weeks ​of steady
declines, as renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran lifted crudeoilprices
to their biggest weekly rise in eight weeks.

Disruptions in the global refining ‌system and robust U.S. fuel exports
further tightened supplies, and average pump prices rose 6 cents this week to
$3.88 a gallon on Friday in the biggest weekly increase since mid-May.

This comes as the International Energy Agency says global oil demand is set
to decline this year for the first time since the height of the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020...

Here's Ben Thomas again.

And Taiwan's gold medal haul at the meet continued in the women's javelin...

... with Chu Pin-hsun (朱品薰) achieving a personal-best throw of 57-point-31
meters ...

... finishing ahead of China's Zhang Xidan and Japan's Aoi Murakami.

The 21-year-old's winning mark was just 35 centimeters short of Taiwan's
national record.

Chu had already qualified for September's Asian Games in Nagoya after
surpassing the entry standard earlier this year.

Her coach, Hsueh Sheng-jung, credited her success to months of work improving
her physical conditioning, saying the focus now will be on building explosive
power ahead of the Asian Games.

---

In international sports news we begin with tennis and...

Italian top seed Jannik Sinner resisted an all-out onslaught by an inspired
Alexander Zverev to retain his Wimbledon crown in a thunderous final and
claim a fifth Grand Slam title on Sunday.

Zverev was playing in his first Wimbledon final hot on the heels of winning
​the French Open... he threatened an upset after taking an intense opening
set, but eventually ran out of firepower as Sinner found another gear to win
6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 ‌6-4.

Sinner, who is 24 years old, became the first Italian to win a Wimbledon
singles title last year by beating Carlos Alcaraz, and now joins an elite
list of 10 men to successfully defend it in the professional era.

It was a 10th successive victory ​for Sinner over Zverev... but this time he
was pushed to the limit by the 29-year-old who had been bidding to become the
first German man to win the Wimbledon title ​since Michael Stich in 1991.

---

To major league baseball news and ...

Ben Rice hit a two-run triple in the top of the eighth inning to give the New
York Yankees their third straight come-from-behind victory over the
Washington Nationals, 5-3.

New York, which has won four in a row overall, completed a three-game sweep
in which it overcame one deficit in the ninth inning and two in the eighth.

--

Alex Bregman had a season-high four RBIs, including a three-run homer in a
four-run seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4.

Chicago took two of three from the Reds and entered the All-Star break at
54-42, in position for an NL wild card and five games back of NL
Central-leading Milwaukee.

Cincinnati (43-52) lost its fourth straight series and is last in the
division.

--

In basketball news and

Victor Wembanyama has officially signed a five-year, $252 million maximum
rookie-scale contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs.

The new deal will pay him an average of $50.4 million annually and includes a
player option for the final year.

Ben Thomas reports.


--

And...

Sailing might look like an environmentally friendly sport... but is it?

The world body governing the sport now wants to find out... Julie Walker
reports.

Typhoon Bavi is around 200 kilometers north of Taipei and continuing to move
in a northwesterly direction at around 25 km/h.

The storm is weakening as it heads toward Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in
China, with a maximum sustained wind speed near the center of 137 km/h and a
radius of 350 kilometers.

Taoyuan International Airport says 760 flights into and out of the airport
were canceled today.

Two flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are scheduled to arrive just
after 9pm. The airport is urging China Airlines to confirm these flights'
status with its partner Vietnam Airlines.

In principle, the typhoon should be far enough away from Taiwan to ensure
safe landings.