The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the country's first two locally
transmitted cases of Clade one-b mpox.

Both patients are men in their 30s from central Taiwan who had not received
an mpox vaccine.

They developed symptoms including fever, rashes, pustules and muscle aches
before testing positive.

CDC spokesperson Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) says both men had engaged in
unprotected sex with unspecified partners, although the source of their
infections remains unknown.

Taiwan has now recorded nine Clade one-b cases this year, including seven
imported infections.

Health officials say existing mpox vaccines remain effective against the
strain and are urging eligible people to complete the two-dose vaccination
series.

(PB)

Fraud cases in Taipei fell more than 17 percent in the first half of this
year compared with the same period last year.

The Taipei City Department of Budget, Accounting and Statistics says
8-thousand-97 cases were reported from January through June, while the number
of victims fell 17.1 percent to 8-thousand-277.

Fake online auctions were the most common type of scam, accounting for 26
percent of victims, followed by investment fraud at 19.5 percent.

The sharpest declines were among younger people, with the number of victims
aged 17 or under falling more than 40 percent.

(PB)

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is urging lawmakers to back the government's
210-billion N.T. special budget for military drones, saying delays could
weaken Taiwan's deterrence and international confidence.

In an interview with CNA, Hsiao said drone capabilities are urgently needed
to prevent Beijing from misjudging Taiwan's determination to defend itself.

The proposal would fund coastal surveillance and attack drones, as well as
unmanned attack boats, with the Defense Ministry overseeing procurement based
on military needs.

Hsiao said the plan is separate from a six-year, 44.2-billion N.T. program
aimed at developing Taiwan's wider drone industry.

She said large government orders, international cooperation, and AI
technology could help Taiwan expand domestic production and build a globally
competitive, non-China supply chain.

Lawmakers have yet to reach agreement on competing versions of the special
legislation.

(PB)

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will lead an official delegation to Palau
tomorrow to attend events surrounding the 55th Pacific Islands Forum summit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today that the weeklong visit
running through September 3rd will focus on strengthening bilateral ties with
Taiwan's Pacific allies.

Officials say Lin will host the 30th Taiwan-PIF dialogue meeting and meet
with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. to review ongoing health and
infrastructure projects.

The ministry notes that the delegation includes leaders from Taiwan business
groups and representatives from the clean energy, tech, and agricultural
industries.

MOFA emphasized that Taiwan remains committed to supporting the Pacific
Islands Forum's 2050 development strategy, expanding technical cooperation,
scholarships, and resilience funding across the region.

(NS)

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Lawmakers have approved a sweeping reorganization of the Ministry of Health.

The move create two new agencies and two government-funded administrative
institutions.

It's the first major structural overhaul to the ministry since 2013 and the
governnent says it will give more attention to children's health and
healthcare issues, long-term care, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Lawmakers approved amendments abolishing the existing Social and Family
Affairs Administration and split its functions into a new Administration of
Children, Youth and Family Support and a new Administration of Social
Development and Long-term Care.

The new children, youth and family support administration will oversee
policies and programs related to childcare, early intervention services,
child and youth welfare and rights, family support services, and pediatric
health care.

While the social development and long-term care administration will be
responsible for policies covering senior citizens, people with disabilities,
long-term care services, and the National Pension program.

The Cabinet first approved the amendments to the Organic Act of the Ministry
of Health and related organic acts in December of last year.

The Cabinet cited the need to respond to Taiwan's declining birthrate and
rapidly aging population as the reasons for the amendments.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration will fully support the
rebuilding of the Chih-Nan Temple's Lingxiao Chapel after it suffered
extensive damage in a fire Monday night.

Speaking during an inspection of the site with temple officials, Chiang said
the city will establish a cross-agency task force to coordinate restoration
efforts and provide administrative assistance to help the temple rebuild the
chapel as soon as possible.

According to Chiang, experts will determine which parts of the damaged hall
should be preserved and which can be removed.

The fire broke out at about 8:50 Monday evening and the 60-year-old Taoist
structure burned for more than three hours.

The blaze destroyed the first floor and damaging about one-third of the
second floor and fire officials say the hall's wooden structure and
combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread of flames.

The temple's mountainous location, narrow roads and limited water supply also
hampered efforts to get fire teams to the site.

No one was injured in the fire and the cause of the blaze remains under
investigation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is talks with St. Vincent and the
Grenadines on funding a national development bank and several social
empowerment projects in the Caribbean country.

According to ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuangwei, the projects remain under
active discussion and nothing has been finalized, but Taiwan will continue to
work closely with the Caribbean ally to help it implement policy priorities
within Taiwan's capabilities.

The statement follows comments by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime
Minister Godwin Friday, who last week announced that the Lai administration
had pledged at least 2-million U-S dollars in grant funding to help establish
a national development bank.

That pledge was made during Friday's recent visit to Taiwan earlier this
month.

Friday also said that Lai administration also promised to provide 1-million
U-S dollars annually in grant funding for social and community empowerment
programs.

The Centers for Disease Control says this year's government-funded seasonal
flu and COVID-19 vaccinations will begin as usual on October 1.

According to the C-D-C, it has purchased a record 7.05-million publicly
funded flu vaccine doses for the upcoming flu season.

That total includes about 208,000 doses of enhanced vaccines designed to
provide stronger protection.

The enhanced vaccines will initially be prioritized for people aged 65 and
older in long-term care and nursing facilities.

The C-D-C also says the government has also purchased 2.4-million COVID-19
vaccine doses, including 1.9 million doses of newer-generation vaccines for
people aged 12 years or older.

The publicly funded flu and COVID-19 vaccination program will open on October
1 for adults aged 65 and older, preschool-aged children, healthcare and
disease prevention personnel, and people with chronic illnesses.

Adults aged between 50 and 64 without high-risk chronic conditions will be
eligible for the free flu and COVID-19 jabs from November 2.

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Saudel is continuing to
weaken and veering in a more northerly direction.

According to the administration, it could issues a sea warning this evening
and it may issue a land warning for the outlying island of Matsu tomorrow
morning.

Typhoon Saudel is currently located some 800-kilometers northeast of Taipei
and is moving in a northwesterly direction at 17-kilomters-an-hour.

The storm now has a radius of 200-kilometers and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 136-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 172-kilometers-an-hour.

The administration's forecast center says the storm is expected to be closest
to Taiwan from tomorrow night through Friday.

It is expected to bring localized rain to north and south and mountainous
areas in the center.

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has released K-M-T lawmaker Chen
Hsueh-sheng on bail of 2-million N-T after he was questioned as part an
investigation into corruption allegations.

Chen is said to have used his official position to fraudulently obtain
property, as well as for accepting bribes and other improper benefits.

The lawmaker has been banned from leaving Taiwan.

Prosecutors searched 35 locations, including Chen's residence, his
legislative office, and the homes of related individuals earlier this week.

The search targets also included the offices of several shipping companies.

A total of 27 people, including Chen, were brought in for questioning.

Chen's younger brother, Chen Hsueh-huai, who serves as his office director,
was released on 100,000 bail, while several other relatives and staff members
were granted bail ranging from 80,000 to 500,000 N-T.

The Legislative Yuan has passed a series of amendments to the Medical Care
Act penalising medical personnel who capture images of a patient's intimate
body parts without permission.

The amendments also bar medical institutions and their staff from using
equipment to view patients' intimate body parts, or view or listen to
patients' medical records, "without a valid reason."

Those found guilty of making recordings could face up to three years in
prison or fines of up to 300 thousand NT.

While those who make money off the images and recordings face up to five
years in prison and fines of up to 500,000 N-T.

The amendments were originally proposed after beauty clinics were said to
have filmed patients' intimate body parts without their consent.

Reports from South Korean media say the Gwangju Biennale Foundation has
agreed to allow Taiwan’s exhibitors to use the name "Taiwan Pavilion" in the
exhibition venue and in official documents and promotional materials.

The foundation reportedly revised its previous decision to rename Taiwan's
participation the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Pavilion after Taiwan
artists threatened to pull out of the event.

The Ministry of Culture had urged the foundation to respond to its request to
restore the name of Taiwan’s participating exhibition from to "Taiwan
Pavilion."

The ministry said it also "sternly protested" the foundation's and the Asia
Culture Center's refusal to restore the exhibition name.

The Culture Ministry said early this month that the agreed name of "Taiwan
Pavilion" was changed to without discussion or prior notice.

It also said there were efforts to prevent Taiwan Pavilion personnel from
entering the venue to set up the exhibition.

A statement signed by 10 Taiwanese artists and curators invited to
participate in the biennale in South Korea, had accused the foundation of
politically censoring an art exhibition.

However, the foundation denied that - calling it an administrative matter
involving participant classification and naming conventions.

The Central Weather Administration says it issued a national-level earthquake
alert because an offshore quake was initially overestimated at magnitude 6.6.

The quake was later determined to have a magnitude of 5.8.

It registered an intensity of 4 on the administration's intensity scale in
Tainan, Chiayi, Yunlin, Taitung and Hualien.

Most other areas experienced little or no shaking.

The national-level earthquake alerts were issued across Taiwan except for
Taoyuan and Keelung.

The quake's depth was initially estimated at more than 30-kilometers, about
17-kilometers deeper than its actual depth.

That error caused the system to overestimate the quake's magnitude at
magnitude 6.6, triggering the nationwide alerts.

The Centers for Disease Control is warning that flu activity could rise again
after schools re-open... and that the public can expect cases to keep rising
until around October.

C-D-C Director-General Philip Lo is the number of flu cases have remained
unusually high this summer, with weekly outpatient and emergency visits for
flu-like illness in August reaching their highest levels for the same period
in a decade.

Data shows more than 94 thousand people sought outpatient or emergency care
for flu symptoms between August 16 to 22.

The H1N1 strain currently accounts for most of the flu cases detected in the
community.

Schools are being urged to strengthen infection-control measures, while
members of the public are being advised to wear masks in crowded or poorly
ventilated places.

The High Speed Rail Corporation says it is adding 176 train services during a
six-day travel period from September 24 to 29 covering the four-day
Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day holiday weekend.

Tickets for long weekend holiday travel well go on sale starting August 27.

Tickets for the additional services will be available through the T-EX mobile
app as well as participating convenience stores, and station ticket counters
and machines.

Passengers who need reserved seats are advised to book in advance and collect
their tickets before arriving at the station to avoid lines.

Each train during the holiday travel period will have between two and nine
unreserved-seat carriages.

The Taipei is welcoming a new Malayan tapir calf.... born on August 17.

The zoo says both mother and baby are healthy and have been doing well in the
week since the calf was born.

The female calf is the second offspring for Putri and 12-year-old male
Malayan tapir Mosu...

Malaysian tapirs have a gestation period of about 13 months... Putri's
pregnancy was detected in November of last year.

The Ministry of Agriculture is set to launch a lottery in September to boost
pet registration.

Up for grabs: 30,000 "pet gift cards" worth 300 N-T each and 100 pet
health-check packages valued at 3,000 N-T each to owners of registered dogs
and cats.

The gift cards can be used to purchase pet food or agricultural products at
436 participating stores, while the health check packages can be redeemed at
licensed veterinary institutions.

To qualify, pet owners can log into the "Pet Owners' Section" of the
ministry's Pet Registration Information System from September 1 through 30...
then pick "Pet Gift Card Program" to verify their pets' registration
information and enter the draw.

Each dog or cat is eligible for one entry.

Owners who have not yet registered their pets can also enter the lottery as
long as they complete the registration process by September 30.

The draw will be held Oct. 2 and livestreamed on the Animal Welfare
Information Website YouTube channel.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off the coast of southeastern Taiwan at
3:00 p.m. today.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The Central Weather Administration said the epicenter of the temblor was
located at sea, about 48 kilometers east-southeast of Taitung County Hall, at
a depth of 13.1 km.

The earthquake's intensity was highest in Taitung County, where it measured 4
on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale.

The quake also measured an intensity of 3 in Hua-lien, Chia-yi, Yun-lin and
Tai-nan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Railway says trains have been ordered to reduce speed on
several sections of track following the earthquake.

They were all passing through the eastern railroad in Hua-lien and Tai-tung.

(CNA JL)

DPP lawmakers say, the Cabinet's special drone funding bill would offer more
stability than the opposition version.

That's as lawmakers prepare to take another go at drone funding negotiations
tomorrow, and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has said that he hopes a third
reading can be completed within the week.

Lawmaker Zhong Jia Bin says, the multi-year cabinet version would provide
more stable funding year-over-year...

while opposition versions are written into the 2027 central government
budgets.

Industry experts emphasize the importance of long-term contracts for
developing the domestic supply chain.

(AH)

Pingtung

Rescuers in Pingtung are searching for an elderly man suspected of having
been swept away by floodwarers yesterday.

The 70 year old man and his wife were motorcycling around the Wandan area
yesterday.

It is understood that they were not paying attention to the floodwaters and
were swept into a river.

Fortunately, the wife was able to hold onto a tree and got rescued later, but
her husband is still missing.

Authorities have deployed search teams and drones in an effort to find the
man...

but conditions are still poor due to ongoing rain and high water levels.

(AH)

Local Hualien officials say that two access roads in the county have been
severed after days of heavy rain in the south and east.

In Fuli and Yuli townships, the Yuchang and Luntian access roads were broken
by floodwaters.

Officials say they've reported the issue to the county government and are
discussing repair options.

Authorities emphasize that the roads have cracked and become impassable.

Drivers are advised to take alternative routes.

The Mingli Bridge, however, has reopened given the relatively lighter level
of rain.

Meanwhile, emergency workers are continuing to search for a man surnamed
Huang, who's suspected to have been swept away in floods.

And in Kaohsiung...

a landslide has blocked off part of the Provincial Highway 20 Baiyun Temple
Road.

Officials say they're working to clear the blockage now, and traffic is
expected to resume later this evening.

(AH)

The Ministry of Agriculture is launching a campaign to encourage owners to
register their pets, offering vouchers worth 300 NT.

The ministry says 30-thousand pet shopping vouchers are available, with the
aim of raising registration coverage across the island's 3.2 million domestic
pets.

The government is also offering a grand prize draw for 100 pet health checkup
packages valued at 3,000 NT.

Under the Animal Protection Act, owners must microchip and register dogs and
cats once they reach four months of age, or face fines up to $15-thousand NT.

Officials say the ministry will conduct a live public drawing on October 2nd,
sending winning vouchers directly to participating pet owners.

(NS)

In a related news...

Heavy rain has continued to pound southern Taiwan today with the accumulated
rainfall having reached 260 millimeters in Kaohsiung Zuo-ying (左營) and 230 in
Ping-tung Shi-zi (獅子) Township so far.

The Central Emergency Operation Center said 35 locations remain inundated in
the south as of noontime, while more than 6,100 residents have been evacuated
from high-risk areas since Saturday.

The Center noted that Water Resources Agency officials have deployed 80 large
water pumps to help drain flood water.

Red alerts also remain in effect for 57 potential mudslide areas and three
areas at risk of large-scale landslides.



Although the rain is expected to ease starting today, people in mountainous
areas are still being warned to watch out for landslides, falling rocks and
debris flows.

(JL)

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 407 points to
close the session at 45169.

The turnover was 696 billionNT

by 3

The Taiwan Railways Corporation says, a landslide has taken place on the
southern link line, obstructing traffic in both directions...

but it's expected to be cleared before 3pm today.

TRC says that the landslide took place between Fangshan枋山 and Fangye枋野
stations.

This comes as Pingtung's Fangshan township has gotten over 200 milimeters of
rain today as of 12:45.

Meanwhile, TRC says some trains running between Fangliao, Qidu, Fangye, Dawu,
and Taitung stations will be rerouted.

Passengers are advised to check their reservations or the TRC website before
heading to the station.

(AH)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An says, the city government will do its utmost in
restoring Wenshan District's Zhinan temple...

following a fire last night that devastated the main building of the complex.

Chiang noted that that none were harmed in the fire, and said that the cause
of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters say that the entire first floor of the building was destroyed in
addition to part of the second floor.

They add that the fire was exacerbated by the wood construction and paper
money and incense in the temple.

Plus, Zhinan gong's relatively difficult-to-reach location also made it
harder for firefighters to fight the fire, with efforts continuing past
midnight this morning.

Mayor Chiang says, the city has established a one-stop service window for
reconstruction efforts, and added that he hopes the temple can be restored as
quickly as possible.

(AH)

In news from and abour Taiwan this morning ...

Officials from the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office have searched the
legislative office of K-M-T lawmaker Chen Hsueh-sheng.

Chen's Matsu office was also searched.

Prosecutors says the raids were carried out as part of an investigsation into
allegations that Chen lobbied on behalf of a shipping company owned by the
family of the chairman of the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing
Corporation.

According to the prosecutors' office, that company secured more than
800-million N-T worth of contracts from C-P-C between 2004 and 2020.

Prosecutors also say Chen is being investigated for allegedly using relatives
and associates to fraudulently claim government-funded aide expenses.

Some 20 people, including Chen's brother have been questioned in connection
with the investigation.

Prosecutors says Chen is facing possible charges of violating the
Anti-Corruption Act and other offenses.

The Central Weather Administration says there is a low probability of Typhoon
Saudel making landfall in Taiwan, but uncertainty remains over its track in
the later stages, including how close it will come to Taiwan.

Typhoon Saudel is currently located some 1,000-kilometers east of Taipei and
is moving in a west-northwesterly direction at 21-kilomters-an-hour.

The storm has a radius of 220-kilometers and is packing sustained wind speeds
of 172-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 208-kilometers-an-hour.

The weather administration's forecast center says Typhoon Saudel is expected
to gradually weaken after its reaches Japan's Ryukyu Islands.

If the storm continues on it current projected path, Saudel is forecast to
move over waters north of Taiwan on Thursday and Friday - when it will have
its most significant impact on the island ...

... as it's storm circulation will affect northern parts of Taiwan proper and
the outlying island of Matsu.

The Taiwan-based Chinese National Federation of Industries says labor
shortages are a major issue facing the country's industrial development.

The warning is included in the federation's 2026 white paper.

According to federation vice chairman Zhan Cheng-tien, a declining birth rate
and aging population are worsening the labor shortage and the lack of workers
is a pressing challenge in terms of enhancing industrial innovation and
economic resilience.

The white paper suggests the government review its policy on migrant workers
by shifting from a focus on the 3-K industries -- those considered to
dangerous, dirty and intense -- to one guided by actual labor shortages.

The federation is urging the government to extend the length of time
industrial migrant workers can stay in Taiwan from 12 to 14 years, and
calling on it to seek alternative sources of migrant workers beyond Vietnam,
Thailand and Indonesia.

The federation says a recent survey shows that 76.6-per cent of its members
say the labor shortage is their top concern.

Reports are saying the Air Force's AT-3 trainer aircraft has completed its
final flight-training missions and been fully replaced by the Brave Eagle
advanced jet trainer.

The AT-3 had been one of the Air Force's trainer aircraft since it entered
service in 1984.

It was jointly developed by the Aero Industry Development Center, the
predecessor of Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation and U-S company
Northrop.

The Taichung-based Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation later
developed the Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer to gradually replace the aging
fleet of AT-3s under the government's indigenous defense program.

Reports say the AT-3s final flight-training missions were completed in late
July.

An official decommissioning ceremony has yet to be held and the Air Force has
released not details concerning when the could be.

The Air Force held a handover ceremony at its Gangshan base in Kaohsiung in
August last year for the Thunder Tigers aerobatic team, which previously flew
the AT-3s.

The Ministry of the Interior says Taiwan's average life expectancy stood at
81.27 in 2025, up from 80.77 a year earlier.

Taipei recorded the longest average life expectancy rate of 83.98 last year.

According to the ministry, the national average life expectancy had not
returned to the pre-COVID 19 peak of 81.32 in 2020 despite the year-on-year
rise.

However, the ministry says Taiwan's average was higher than the global
average of 73.5 in 2025.

Average life expectancy for both women and men in Taiwan was higher than the
global average of 76.2 years and 70.9 years.

Data shows that number of deaths moved lower for the third consecutive year
in 2025 as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic eased, down by 1,674 from a
year earlier to stand at 199,639.

The number of deaths at ages of 65 or older in 2025 accounted for 76.1
percent of the national total.

And finally,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says donations raised through a dedicated
bank account set up by the government to help people affected by the
magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture late last
month has surpassed 300-million N-T.

The designated Mega International Commercial Bank account was set up on
August 1 and will continue to accept public donations until August 31.

According to the foreign ministry, the government and its Japanese
counterparts are still discussing how the funds will be used to assist
post-disaster relief efforts in Kumamoto after the one-month donation period
ends.

The ministry says more details will be announced later.

Along with the fund raising campaign, the government has already donated
5-million N-T to support Japan's reconstruction efforts following the
earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Central Union

A poll has shown that a slight majority of the public is dissatisfied with
the speed that the government recalled and removed oil contaminated in the
Central Union scandal...

while over 2/3rds of respondents said that they were worried about eating
contaminated oil.

The poll, from the Grassroots Influence Foundation also found that a majority
of respondents said they did not agree with an initial decision to only
recall items with over 20% of the contaminated oil.

Of all statistics presented by the foundation, the highest consensus, at over
80%, was appproval of penalties leveled at Central Union over the
contamination...

but only 1/3rd of people were satisfied with the government's handling of the
issue.

And, nearly half of respondents believe the cabinet should be reshuffled over
the mishandling.

(AH)

The Central Weather Administration says, a sea warning could be issued for
Typhoon Saudel as early as Wednesday.

The storm is expected to pass closest to Taiwan Thursday and Friday, but it's
too early to say if the storm will make landfall in Taiwan.

Forecasters say, the north can expect gradually heavier rain starting
Thursday. Until then those in the north should still some sunshine Tuesday
and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, heavy rain continues particularly across the south and east due to
a low pressure system and strong southwesterly winds.

The Water Resources Agency says, most areas have seen water levels retreat,
and water pumps are currently being utilized in Tainan, Kaohsuing, and
Pingtung.

As of 3:30, parts of Hualien have been hardest-hit by the rain, with the
county's Fuli township getting over 360 milimeters of rain total.

And...

Taiwan Railways says, it will continue suspending reserved-seat service on
its eastern main line after 6pm today due to ongoing heavy rain...

while local trains will operate depending on weather conditions.

And on the northern semi-circle, all reserved-seat trains except for 176 from
Chaozhou to Ruifang will only go as far as Qidu station.

As for tomorrow, TRC says, it'll release information at 10pm this evening.

(AH)

The DPP legislative caucus is calling for fewer thresholds for the special
budget plan to procure domestically produced drones.

DPP lawmakers warn that too many restrictions could hinder the development of
Taiwan's defense capabilities and the unmanned vehicle industry.

There are currently 14 different versions of the proposed Unmanned Vehicle
Act, brought forward by the Cabinet, and the opposition KMT and the TPP.

The Cabinet in June proposed a special budget bill for defense drones
totaling $210 billion NT over six years.

Recent cross-party negotiations to integrate those proposals have failed to
reach a consensus, and they are now pending a plenary session's vote on the
28th.

DPP caucus secretary-general Zhuang Rui-xiong (莊瑞雄) said today that drone
technology is advancing rapidly worldwide, and Taiwan needs to catch up with
bigger investment as quickly as possible.

He added that he's optimistic the long-stalled draft bill will pass on Friday.

(JL)

Deputy Legislative Speaker Jiang Qi Chen is heading to Japan to participate
in the Asian Pacific Parliamentarians' Union.

Representing Speaker Han Kuo-yu, Jiang is leading a tripartisan group of
lawmakers to the Japanese capital, including the KMT's Hong Meng Kai and Wang
Yu Min...

the DPP's Chen Guan Ting and Luo Meiling, and the TPP's Xu Zhong Xin, among
others.

A statement from the Legislature said that the delegation would make full use
of the opportunity to conduct international outreach and maintain good
relations.

Among the topics expected to be discussed with Japanese lawmakers in
particular are trade, culture, and bilateral relations.

The Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union was established in 1965 and is a
long-established transnational parliamentary organization in Asia.

(AH)

Continual rain in Kaohsiung has created hazardous road conditions and
flooding.

Authorities are warning of poor road conditions, particularly in the city's
Qianzhen and Renwu districts, where flooding has created potholes as wide as
3 meters across.

Other areas of Kaohsiung, particularly in the mountains, are experiencing
flooding and are at risk of landslides.

The city government has already evacuated more than 2500 people.

This comes as Kaohsiung has gotten as much as 693 milimeters of rain from
yesterday through 1:30 today.

Meanwhile, disaster relief workers have dispatched man and mechanic power to
relieve areas in the south of flooding.

Over 1000 people were called up with equipment including generators and water
pumps to offer assistance to areas across the south affected by flooding.

(AH)

A wall that's part of old Tai-nan's East Gate, built under the Qing dynasty,
has collapsed due to days of heavy rain in the city.

Established some 300 years ago, the wall had been undergoing renovations
since November of last year, with scaffolding still up last week.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the issue was caused by an excess
of rain water seeping into the foundational structure.

The wall apparently collapsed between 5 and 6 am today, with nearby residents
reporting the issue and police controlling traffic in the area.

Locals say the wall also previously collapsed about 70 years ago before
undergoing repairs in the 1970s.

Officials say the collapse may have been due to incomplete repairs
exacerbated by the excessive rain...

with parts of Tainan getting over 630 milimeters of rain since early
yesterday.

(AH)

Asian shares are mostly lower, with Tokyo's Nikkei falling .5% and South
Korea's Kospi losing 3.5%.

Taiwan shares are also down today with the benchmark tai ex losing 462 points
to close the session at 44,762.

The turnover was 629.4 billion NT.

Landslide alerts have been issued for nearly 350 areas across the south and
east today due to ongoing heavy rain and flooding.

As of 12:30, Hualien County's Fuli township had gotten the most rain of all
of Taiwan today, with nearly 360 milimeters since midnight.

The Ministry of Agriculture is warning of landslides across Chiayi County,
Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and Hualien, concentrated in 32
townships.

The areas with the highest level of risk are in Kaohsiung Maolin district's
Wanshan and Maolin villages, as well as in the Liugui Xinglong and Xinfa
neighborhoods...

as well as in Pingtung's Laiyi village and Taitung's Yanping Hongye village.

Residents of areas under red alerts are advised to evacuate immediately.

Meanwhile, evacuations have already begun in parts of Pingtung, where several
roads have flooded.

Authorities in the mountainous regions of the county already evacuated 700
residents due to risk of landslides and flooding.

Officials also warn of flooding across several roads in the county, including
Wandan township's Xingnong road, Section 2 Zhongzheng road in Donggang
Township, Provincial Highway 17 at Donggang and Mingde Road...

and across other areas as well.

(AH)

Officials are maintaining a red alert for Hualien's Wan-li river barrier
lake, warning that it could overflow despite the water level actually going
down since early this morning.

Hualien authorities note that the amount of water in the lake has decreased
by about one million tonnes, but emphasize that the risk of danger remains
present.

The Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency says, the
water level began decreasing this morning around 1am and continued for about
4 hours...

with the water level dropping by about 2.4 meters in total.

Officials say that the risk of flood is for now mostly confined to the river
channel...

so the area is currently off-limits to the public, as residents are urged the
remain vigilant.

(AH)

Local governments in Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung and Hualien
says offices and schools will be closed today as torrential or heavy rain is
effecting the areas.

The local governments announced the closures after the Central Weather
Administration forecast that rainfall would reach the thresholds for work and
school suspensions.

Authorities in all of the areas are also warning of further flooding and
landslides.

The local government's have also evacuated residents from high-risk areas..

The heavy rain has already caused widespread flooding and other damage across
the region.

In Kaohsiung, a vehicle was nearly submerged in floodwater in Niaosong
District, with all three people inside rescued safely. A fallen tree also
struck a Kaohsiung Light Rail train, temporarily disrupting service.

Floodwaters reached waist high around the Heart of Love River park in Sanmin
District, while several other Kaohsiung districts reported flooded roads and
traffic restrictions.

The weather administration says the heavy rain is due to a low-pressure
system and strong southwesterly winds and the heavy rain is likely to
continue until Wednesday.

However, the weather conditions will depend the path of Typhoon Saudel later
in this week.

President Lai Ching-te says he believes that successful defense of Kinmen in
1958 is a prime example of "peace through strength.

Lai made the comments as he took part in the annual memorial of the
anniversary of a Chinese artillery bombardment of Kinmen which marked the
beginning of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.

Lai said the heroes in Kinmen - regardless of the their backgrounds - united
as one to repel the aggression of communist totalitarianism and urged
cross-party unity to supporting his 2027 defense budget.

The president said victory in the 1958 battle stands as the ultimate proof
that "peace is secured through strength" and the only guarantee of peace lies
in safeguarding every single inch of the nation's territory while
continuously strengthening and investing in national defense.

Kinmen was peppered with 475,000 artillery shells over a 44 day period.

During the ceremony, Lai burned incense, laid a wreath, and bowed his head to
pay his respects amid pouring rain to the soldiers who successfully repelled
the attempted Chinese invasion of Kinmen.

Meanwhile,

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun used her speech marking the anniversary of the
Chinese artillery bombardment of Kinmen in August of 1958 by calling in the
government to recognize the 1992 consensus in order to ease cross-strait
tensions.

Cheng paid a visit to the 823 Artillery Bombardment Museum, where she said
the soldiers killed during the battle defended the Republic of China, its
Constitution, democracy and freedom.

Cheng claims the K-M-T is seeking to transform Kinmen from a military
stronghold into a hub for peace - and believes if the government recognize
the 1992 consensus, then cross-strait dialogue and exchanges could resume.

Indonesian migrant fishers have launched the Freedom for Fishers Campaign.

The Freedom for Fishers Campaign was initiated by the Pingtung County Migrant
Fishers Union.

The campaign was announced at the Donggang Fishing Harbor in Pingtung County
and demands that Indonesian migrant fishers recieve fair wages and employment
contracts and have guaranteed access to Wi-Fi on all vessels.

The union is also calling for the right to organize and join a union free
from intimidation and retaliation, a transparent and fair grievance
mechanism, and healthy and safe working conditions.

The group says although the government has repeatedly insisted that many of
the issues have been addressed and improved, abuses continue and it still get
reports of incidents on Taiwan's distant-water fishing vessels.

The union says it hopes the campaign will help it to reach a binding and
implementable agreement with companies in the international seafood supply
chain to better protect the rights of migrant fishers.

Government data shows that smaller households are becoming the norm thanks to
changing marriage and childbearing patterns and as the population ages.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, households of
two people or fewer accounting for more than half of all households for the
first time in 2025.

The government agency's latest household income and expenditure survey shows
that one- and two-person households accounted for 51.6-per cent of all
households last year.

Two-person households were the most common type, accounting for 34.27-per
cent, while one-person households made up 17.33-per cent.
Both figures were record highs.

The share of one-person households surpassed that of four-person households
for the first time and data shows that four-person households accounted for
16.63-per cent of all households, compared with 23.21-per cent for
three-person households.

Four-person households were the dominant household type in the 1990s,
accounting for between 25 and 27-per cent of all households.

And,

Taiwan-born NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren is set to throw out the ceremonial
first pitch at the Washington Nationals second Taiwan Heritage Day at
Nationals Park on August 29.

The Nationals will be playing the Miami Marlins.

The Millennial Global Youth Foundation, which organizes of the annual Taiwan
Heritage Day says Lindgren was chosen for the honor because of his status as
an accomplished astronaut who connects Taiwan and the U-S through his
multicultural heritage.

Lindgren, whose Chinese name is Lin Chi-erh, was born in Taipei in 1973 while
his father was serving in the U-S Air Force in Taiwan and lived in Taichung
for more than two years.

His mother is Taiwanese.

It will be the third time this year that Lindgren will have thrown out the
first pitch for a Taiwan-related professional baseball event.

He threw the the first pitch before a game here in Taiwan between the Rakuten
Monkeys and the Wei Chuan Dragons in April.

He then joined Chinese Professional Baseball League commissioner Tsai
Chi-chang to throw out the first pitch for the New York Mets' annual Taiwan
Heritage Day in July.