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.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics is forecasting
that Taiwan's per capita GDP will approach and possibly exceed US$50,000 next
year thanks to an explosion of economic activity amid the AI boom.

The DGBAS noted that forecast increases in the GDP of 11% this year and 6%
next year would take the per capita number to 49,874 dollars.

If the forecasts pan out, it will mean that the journey from 40,000 to 50,000
will have been completed in just one or two years. That's a much shorter
timeframe than the 5 years it will have taken per capita GDP to go from
30,000 to 40,000.

A DGBAS official noted today that the acceleration of economic growth isn't a
sudden or chance phenomenon ... he traces it back to the US-China trade war
that began in 2018 ... and Taiwan's decision to attract Taiwanese businesses
back here as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainty ... thus relocating
billions of dollars of production capacity to the island.

CNA_zh_JvW

The Tainan City Government Fire Bureau says a fire and subsequent explosion
in a residential area in Tainan early this morning injured 13 people,
damaging eight homes and 20 vehicles.

The fire has been extinguished and an investigation is underway to determine
its cause.

The fire bureau said it dispatched 53 firetrucks and 144 firefighters to a
vacant lot on Haidian Road in Annan District, where waste materials had
caught fire.

Among the damaged vehicles were six firetrucks, one ambulance and two
disaster-relief vehicles.

The bureau said 36 residents in the affected area were evacuated. Three
firefighters and 10 other people sustained minor injuries and were sent to
hospitals for treatment.

All 13 have been discharged.

A preliminary investigation found aluminum-magnesium alloy and waste oil at
the fire site .

CNA_JvW

The Central Weather Administration says a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck off
the coast of northeastern Taiwan at 11:40am today.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The epicenter was located about 42 kilometers southeast of Yilan County Hall,
at a depth of 28km.

The quake's intensity was felt as a 3 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale in
Yilan County and Hualien County.

It was felt as a 2 in places ranging from Taipei to Nantou.

CNA_JvW

The Legislative Yuan has amended the School Health Act to require education
authorities to help schools provide menstrual products free of charge.

The Ministry of Education introduced a program in the 2023-24 academic year
to provide students with access to a range of menstrual products.

But lawmakers said the program hasn't been implemented consistently:
Codifying the policy in law will help ensure students have access to
menstrual products and education.

The amendments also require elementary, junior high and senior high schools
to provide health-related courses, including nutrition and mental health
education.

The amended act also prohibits emerging tobacco products, such as
e-cigarettes, at all schools. Some emerging tobacco products weren't covered
by the existing law.

CNA_JvW

Indo-Pacific'

A US Navy aircraft made a transit of the Taiwan Strait yesterday to
demonstrate the US's commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The move, which is sure to anger Beijing, comes ahead of Chinese President Xi
Jinping's planned visit to Washington next month. Reuters reported the
transit of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft through international airspace over the
Taiwan Strait.

The China state-backed Global Times said the PLA monitored the aircraft's
progress and was told by its source that "the situation was under control."

Washington and Beijing are expecting Xi's visit next month to help stabilize
a relationship that has been tense over tariffs and trade controls ... as
well as over US support for Taiwan.

The 7th Fleet said in a statement that "the United States upholds the
navigational ‌rights and freedoms of all nations" by operating in the Taiwan
Strait, which Beijing claims jurisdiction over as part of its overarching
claim over all Taiwanese territory.

AP_JvW

Taiwan will extend entry restrictions on residents of the Democratic Republic
of the Congo for another 90 days to reduce the risk of Ebola being imported
into the country.

The current entry restrictions had been set to expire on Aug. 28.

Under the restrictions, most DRC residents aren't permitted to enter Taiwan
even with valid visas, while the issuance of new visas will also remain
suspended.

Taiwan's CDC said exceptions will continue to be in effect including for
students admitted to degree programs and diplomatic or official visitors.

According to WHO data, the DRC recorded 5,021 Ebola cases and 2,378 deaths as
of Aug. 16. That puts the case fatality rate at 47 percent.

The CDC added that if Uganda reports no new cases by Aug. 27, Taiwan will
lift its entry restrictions on Ugandan residents as of Aug. 28.

Uganda hasn't reported any new Ebola cases since June 21.

CNA_JvW

The Tourism Administration is inviting cyclists to explore the island on two
wheels as part of the 2026 Taiwan Cycling Festival.

Held under the theme "Taiwan, Beautiful to Ride," the festival brings
together cycling events organized by local governments and national scenic
areas across Taiwan.

A series of rides will take place through the second half of the year,
combining cycling, rail travel and local tourism.

Highlights include:

the Taiwan KOM Challenge from Hualien to Hehuanshan for experienced riders on
November 2,

the Extreme West Ride, which takes cyclists to Taiwan's westernmost point at
Guosheng Harbor Lighthouse on October 3,

the Siraya Wonderland 5COOL Reservoir Ride, featuring routes around five
reservoirs and family-friendly activities in September,

and the Chenggong Township Ride with Local Experts in Taitung on December 5,
featuring e-bikes, local food and low-carbon travel.

The Tourism Administration says the festival aims to promote low-carbon
travel while encouraging both local and international visitors to discover
Taiwan by bicycle.

Opposition lawmakers have voted to fast-track a motion condemning Premier Cho
Jung-tai (卓榮泰) following his refusal to countersign youth savings and other
legislation.

The TPP proposed the motion, accusing the DPP administration of "repeatedly
abusing authority under the Constitution" to invalidate legislation passed by
lawmakers.

With support from the KMT, the proposal skipped committee review and moved
directly to a second reading, setting up a potential vote as soon as next
month.

Cho said on Monday that he won't countersign the Special Act on Taiwan Future
Accounts and an amendment to the Cable Radio and Television Act.

Without the premier's signature, the president can't formally promulgate the
laws.

This tactic had never been used to kill legislation before Cho used it last
year. He's now used in on at least 7 bills passed by the opposition
legislature.

The motion to censure the premier is symbolic -- with no binding force or
statutory authority.

CNA_JvW

A lineup of Japanese musical acts will perform in Taipei this autumn,
including pop idol group SKE48 ...

... which will perform at CLAPPER STUDIO on September 25th.

While composer Akira Yamaoka, who's known for his work on the "Silent Hill"
video game series, will perform at SUB LIVE on October 23rd.

Tickets for these two concerts are already on-sale.

And that's not all ...

Veteran anime singer Yoko Takahashi, famous for singing the theme song "A
Cruel Angel's Thesis" from the classic hit anime series "Neon Genesis
Evangelion", will perform at Legacy TERA on October 24th.

Tickets for that show go on sale tomorrow at 11 AM.

(IG)

The Mainland Affairs Council is calling for the immediate release of the two
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists convicted under the city's national
security law.

Former Hong Kong Alliance chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and former vice chairwoman
Chow Hang-tung were convicted today of inciting subversion of state power.

The now-defunct Alliance had organized annual commemorations of the 1989
Tiananmen crackdown and advocated democracy and freedom in China.

Taiwan's government expressed deep regret over the convictions, accusing
Beijing and Hong Kong authorities of using national security laws to suppress
dissent.

The council also urged the authorities to release others detained in the case
and respect freedom of speech, human rights and the rule of law.

(CNA_IG)

Taipei Songshan Airport has temporarily suspended ground operations due to
thunderstorms in the area, with some flights expected to be delayed.

The Civil Aviation Administration says ground operations were suspended just
after 5:00 PM today.

The airport's departure boards shows a number of outbound and arriving
flights marked as delayed.

Passengers and people meeting arriving travelers are advised to keep up to
date with the latest flight information.

(IG)

The National Immigration Agency says seven Chinese travelers were denied
entry and sent back after arriving at Taipei Songshan Airport with purposes
that did not match their approved applications.

The cases were recorded in the first half of this year, with family
visitation among the reasons given for coming to Taiwan.

Officials say some travelers knew little about the relatives they claimed to
be visiting, while others were suspected of planning to work illegally.

The agency says having a valid entry permit does not guarantee admission, and
travelers must still undergo immigration checks and stick to the purpose of
their approved stay.

Officials say suspicious cases will continue to face closer scrutiny, with
entry denied when violations are confirmed.

(IG)

The Taiwan High Court has overturned the corruption convictions of incumbent
KMT legislator Chen Chao-ming and former New Power Party legislator Hsu
Yung-ming ...

.... acquitting both in a case involving the ownership of Pacific SOGO
department stores.

However, the court upheld the convictions of former DPP legislator Su
Chen-ching (蘇震清) and former KMT legislator Liao Kuo-tung (廖國棟) ...

... who were sentenced to 10 years and eight years and six months in prison,
respectively.

Prosecutors alleged that businessman Lee Heng-lung paid lawmakers to use
their influence to help him regain control of SOGO, including by pushing for
changes to company law.

The case dates back to alleged payments made from 2012 onward, with lawmakers
later accused of pressuring the Ministry of Economic Affairs to amend
relevant regulations.

The ruling can still be appealed.

(CNA_IG)

A man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for pushing a Taiwan Railways
employee onto the tracks.

The incident took place in October at Taichung's Wuquan station after the
man, surnamed Chen, had a verbal dispute with the employee, surnamed Chang.

Prosecutors say that Chen used the full force of his body to push Chang off
the platform and only the train tracks before fleeing immediately after.

Fortunately, the approaching train was able to stop in time to avoid hitting
Chang, but he did sustain two fractures.

Prosecutors indicted Chen on attempted murder and the Taichung District Court
today sentenced him to 5 years in prison.

The sentence can be appealed.

(AH)

New Taipei mayoral candidate Li Si Chuan paid a visit to the KMT and TPP
caucuses today to garner support for his candidacy.

He says, the TPP caucus and party chairman Huang Kuo-chang exchanged views on
issued faced by New Taipei.

He added that he aimed to gather feedback on his policy proposals through the
first 5 months of his campaign and to identify outdated laws.

Li said that they also discussed how to deepen cooperation between the two
opposition parties.

Huang reiterated that Li has the full support of the TPP in New Taipei.

(AH)

A second round of extra flights and larger aircraft to Penghu and Kinmen ...

... for the Mid-Autumn Festival and Teachers' Day holiday ...

... will open for booking next Wednesday at 9 AM.

The Civil Aviation Administration says the additional capacity will provide
more than 7,300 seats, including about 4,900 for Penghu and 2,500 for Kinmen.

The four-day holiday runs from September 25th to 28th, with peak travel
expected before the holiday for flights to the islands and immediately
afterward for return trips.

The CAA says tickets during peak periods will carry stricter conditions and
tiered cancellation fees.

It urges travelers to book ahead because island flights can be affected by
weather.

(IG)

Mainland Affairs Council Chair Chiu Chui Cheng says today that the council
"wronged" Taitung Magistrate Rao Qing Ling over her video appearance at
China's Straits Forum.

He emphasized that her remarks at the forum were just niceties and did not
touch on political topics.

Rao expressed her thanks and said that she was satisfied with the outcome.

The exchange comes after the MAC said it would fine Rao over her recorded
remarks at the event, in which she was promoting Taitung's shijia.

Shortly before the forum took place, the MAC called the Straits Forum a
platform for the CCP's united front work...

and said that local and central government officials were prohibited from
participating in the event.

But Rao still appeared in the pre-recorded video.

Chiu today noted that Rao applied to participate and was denied, but added
that her video appearance did not count as participation and that she had
respected the central government regulations.

(AH)

Forecasters are warning of possible heavy rain through Tuesday...

especially in southwestern Taiwan, as a broad low-pressure system combines
with moisture-laden southwesterly winds.

They say, strong thunderstorms could bring lightning, strong winds and
intense downpours, with several days of rain increasing the risk of flooding
and other damage.

Forecasts also note that Tropical Storm Saudel could strengthen into a
typhoon as it moves toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands.

Weather conditions after Wednesday will depend largely on Saudel's track and
its interaction with surrounding weather systems.

(IG)

The Food and Drug Administration says there is no record of recalled frozen
berries from the United States being imported into Taiwan.

U-S authorities recalled the product named "Organic IQF Frozen Blueberries
and Whole Mixed Berries, 10 oz and 48 oz" ... by the brand GreenWise ... over
possible E. coli contamination - a type of bacteria that can cause stomach
pain.

Taiwan's F-D-A says it found no import inspection records for the affected
products as of July 30th and has classified the recall notice as its
lowest-risk "green" alert.

The agency is advising importers not to bring in the affected products and to
immediately suspend sales and notify authorities if any recalled items are
found.

(IG)

The KMT says, it supports federal cash handouts of 20-30,000 NT.

That's after Premier Zhuo Rong Tai said 10,000 NT handouts were reasonable,
but that doubling that figure would seriously squeeze social welfare and
population growth subsidies.

The Lai administration previously announced that it would include those
handouts in next year's central government budget proposal...

but KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun Chi says, the opposition not only
supports the measure, but also hopes that the amount will be doubled or
tripled.

He says, that's due to the unprecedented economic growth that Taiwan has
enjoyed this year.

Fu added that the caucus will continue discussions on the issue.

The Cabinet yesterday passed the 2027 Central Goverment Budget proposal, with
235.7 billion NT carved out in the Ministry of Finance's budget for 10,000 NT
handouts.

(AH)

With less than 100 days to go before November's local elections, Taipei
mayoral candidate Puma Shen says, he hopes candidates can focus on this
year's elections, rather than any presidential ambitions.

Shen made the comments this morning as he headed to Neihu to campaign, when
reporters mentioned that excitement and speculation over the 2028 elections
seems to be building.

He said that he hoped other candidates would shift their focus to municipal
issues instead of thinking ahead to 2028.

Meanwhile, the DPP candidate also voiced his support for his opponent Chiang
Wan An pursuing legal action over the Charisse kindergarten's use of his
thank-you note.

(AH)

Several ferry operators between Pingtung and Xiaoliuqiu Island are ending
services early today because of heavy rain and rough seas.

Waves have reached up to 1.5 meters as a low-pressure system and strong
southwesterly winds affect the area.

LEUCO SAPPHIRE Shipping, Taifu Ferry and Dafu Liuqiu Shipping have all
adjusted their afternoon schedules, while Dong-Liu Ferry is operating
normally.

LEUCO SAPPHIRE and Taifu say services will return to normal tomorrow, while
Taifu's Sunday schedule will depend on sea conditions.

(IG)

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai and the Taipei mayor are again trading fire over cash
handouts, after the premier said yesterday that upping the amount to 20,000
NT would squeeze the budget for social welfare and population growth
subsidies.

That's after the Lai administration has said that 10,000 NT handouts will be
included in the 2027 general government budget.

Zhuo called the 10,000 NT amount reasonable, but said that doubling it would
negatively affect other expenditures.

However, the premier added that local governments can consider issuing extra
funds to their residents if they feel so inclined...

especially considering that next year's Cabinet-proposed version of the
central government budget includes over 1.3 trillion NT in subsidies for
local governments.

But Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An is emphasizing today that the city government
is not in a place financially speaking to be distributing cash handouts.

Chiang says that the city's debts exceed its revenue, and that it's therefore
not able to finance such a move.

(AH)

The Ministry of Education has announced a list of 10 kindergartens
shortlisted for this year's Teaching Excellence Awards.

Officials say, 29 kindergartens were considered for the award after being
recommended by local governments.

The schools are being recognized for their integration in local communities
and tribal ones in particular...

and for fostering special talents in their children.

One shortlisted school, in Yilan's Datong explores Atayal culture through
teaching the migration history of the Pyanan tribe to introduce students to
lands where their ancestors traversed.

Another school in Hsinchu City's East District helps kids cultivate empathy
for animals with interviews at the local zoo, emphasizing the relationship
between humans and the environment.

The MOE says, the award winner will be announced in November, with a top
prize of 600,000 NT.

(AH)

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected seven Chinese military
vessels and six government vessels operating around Taiwan between 6 AM
yesterday and 6 AM today.

No Chinese military aircraft were detected during the same 24-hour period.

The ministry says Taiwan's armed forces monitored the activity using
aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems.

(IG)

Asian shares are mixed following a retreat on Wall Street, as the U.S.
Treasury Department's plan to expand government debt buybacks appeared to
have only limited capacity to calm markets.

Taiwan shares are up today with the benchmark tai ex gaining 290 points to
close the session at 45224

The turnover was 719.2 billion NT.

The Taiwan High court has overturned two rulings related to two lawmakers'
corruption charges, finding both current lawmaker Chen Chao Ming陳超明 and
former lawmaker Xu Yong Ming徐永明 innocent.

However, in the same ruling, the court also rejected the appeals of two other
former lawmakers, sentencing them to 10 and 8 and a half years.

The case stems from accusations against a former chairman of Pacific Tong Liu
Investment, who allegedly used a middleman to bribe the four legislators in
an attempt to retain control of SOGO.

The Taipei District Court previously sentenced the KMT's Chen, who was
acquitted today, to 7 years and 8 months in prison, independent Su Zhen
Qing蘇震清 to 10 years, and Liao Guo Dong廖國棟, of the KMT, to 8 and a half years,
all on bribery charges under the Anti-Corruption Act.

Meanwhile, Xu of the New Power Party, who was also acquitted today, was
originally sentenced to 7 years and 4 months on bribery charges under a
pre-arranged agreement.

(AH)

The Taipei MRT today suffered its second issue in two days...

with the doors of a train on the red line stopped at Zhongshan station
failing to close for about 5 minutes earlier this morning.

Officials say, the cause of the issue was a passenger's umbrella being stuck
in the doors, causing them to be unable to close.

The issue caused passengers to be forced to switch trains and wait for the
next one about 5 minutes later.

Regular service was restored shortly afterwards.

(AH)

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Cabinet has approved the central government's 2027 general budget
proposal.

The proposed budget totals 3.9266-trillion N-T, an increase of 29.4-per cent
from this year's general budget.

The government is insisting that the proposed budget will be balanced between
revenue and expenditure, with 179-billion N-T in borrowing needed to finance
debt repayments.

The 2027 budget allocates 1.1225-trillion N-T for defense spending.

The Cabinet is expected to submit the budget to the Legislative Yuan for
review by the end of August.

The Central Election Commission has announced that 11,051 officials will be
elected in the upcoming nine-in-one local elections and around 19.65 million
people expected to be eligible to vote.

The statement comes as there's now 99 days to go before the November 28
ballots.

According to commission chairman Michael You, elections will involve 8,906
electoral districts and 18,244 polling stations, with nearly 250,000 election
workers to be mobilized, excluding personnel needed for any referendums.

Data shows that of the 19.65 million eligible voters, around 600,000 will be
casting their ballots for the first time.

You says the Central Election Commission will coordinate with local election
commissions to ensure the elections are conducted professionally and
smoothly.

The commission chairman says his office had originally planned to review
three referendum proposals passed by the Legislature last week, but it only
received the Legislative Yuan's official notice on Tuesday, leaving
insufficient time to prepare for the review.

That meeting has now been postponed until August 28.

Taiwan's shortage of readily available low-carbon electricity could deter
investment in artificial intelligence data centers despite the country's
technological strengths - that, according to a renewable energy executive.

According I-N-A Energy Corporation Chairman Norman Tsai, A-I data centers
require power that is available around the clock, scalable, affordable,
low-carbon and deliverable within their development timelines.

Tsai says large facilities can require between 50-megawatts and several
hundred megawatts of power, with some reaching gigawatt scale - and that
required power infrastructure must also be available quickly because data
centers can be completed within 12 to 24 months.

Tsai is warning that new transmission lines or substations currently often
take five to 10 years to complete.

The I-N-A Energy Corporation Chairman is also stressing that Taiwan lacks
green electricity and identifying an adequate low-carbon power source is a
major challenge facing an AI date center operator seeking to establish a
facility Taiwan.

Citing the International Energy Agency, Tsai's says global data center
electricity demand is projected to rise from 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 to
950 terawatt-hours in 2030.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che has announced plans to in invest 2.47-billion N-T
over four years to provide every student in the city with a tablet computer
and to expand smart learning in schools.

According to Huang the program will run from this year through 2029 and
schools will receive funding to upgrade computer classrooms to ensure that
the machines are capable of running A-I applications

Teachers will also receive training in using A-I learning platforms to
monitor student progress, provide tailored instruction and reduce learning
gaps.

Huang says schools will be required to develop specialized technology courses
in areas such as robotics or drones.

While other planned classes will cover evaluating online information, digital
communication.

The mayor says the programs have been planned with the aim of strengthen
students' technology and communication skills.

The Tainan City Government has also said that it will fully subsidize lunches
for elementary and junior high students, improvements air conditioning at
schools and ensure that all schools have covered sports areas.

And,

Government subsidies for extended care at public preschools will increase
from two hours to three hours beginning September 1.

Public preschools usually finish classes at around 4PM - which some have long
argued creates difficulties for households where both parents work.

The plan will mean that care services are extended until 6PM.

The Ministry of Education says schools can receive up to 850,000 N-T for each
additional caregiver they hire, and the government will also increase
subsidies for hourly wages and overtime pay.

However, teachers’ unions are warning that preschools may struggle to recruit
staff for late afternoons and evenings and such work could instread fall on
existing educators and create additional overtime.

The unions say schools should not be forced to offer extended care if they
lack sufficient staff or cannot ensure children’s safety.