The K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party have voted down all 27 of President
Lai Ching-te's nominees for the Control Yuan.

Lai named 29 nominees on June 11 for the seventh term of the Control Yuan.

Those nominees included Chen Yung-hsing, a former president of the Taiwan
Association for Human Rights, as Control Yuan president.

Two of Lai's other nominees - former K-M-T lawmaker Liao Wan-ru and former
New Taipei Deputy Mayor Hsieh Cheng-da - declined their nominations, saying
they supported abolishing the Control Yuan.

The six-year terms of the previous Control Yuan members expired on July 31.

Their successors were originally scheduled to take office on August 1.

However, lawmakers failed to hold a confirmation vote for the nominees during
the prolonged legislative session that ended on August 31... that
confirmation vote was instead scheduled for the opening day of a new session.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the United States is "showing goodwill"
over the late delivery of F-16V Block 70 fighter jets and two sides are still
in talks over the matter.

The statement comes after the first two of the 66 F-16Vs Taiwan purchased
departed from the U-S on August 17 and reportedly remain in Hawaii.

Reports had been saying they were being held there due to last week's meeting
between U-S President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jin-ping in Washington.

There has since been no news concerning the status of those two fighter jets.

Koo said the contract for the fighter jets did not include financial
penalties for late delivery - meaning Taiwan will not receive financial
compensation.

Reports have claimed U-S government could help Taiwan seek compensation from
the Lockheed Martin and in lieu of financial compensation, the aircraft
manufacturer could offer more technical support, spare parts and an extended
warranties for the F-16Vs.

The Air Force spent 247.2-billion N-T between 2020 and 2026 to procure 66 new
F-16V Block 70 jets from the U-S.

The jets were originally scheduled to all be delivered to Taiwan by the end
of this year, but the program was delayed factors as the relocation and
restart of the production line and supply chain disruptions.

The Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation has confirmed that it was
part of the Agency of Corrections' first-ever counterdrone drill.

The firm made use of its counterdrone system, which is said to be capable of
"smart" detection, combining active radar, a radio frequency detector and
jammers, and has a detection range of 5-kilometers.

The Agency of Corrections says the drill, which took place in Changhua Prison
earlier this month, was a response to emerging challenges facing the
security of correctional facilities, given modern technological advancements.

It was part of a wider exercise to test the preparedness of the Ministry of
Justice's anti-riot Ching An Squad.

Under the agency's scenario, one drone carrying contraband for airdropping
had breached the prison compound.

The system broadcast warnings and collected evidence.

After the drone's operator was autonomously located, a squad member then
neutralized the drone using a jammer.

The High Court has sentenced media personality Clara Chou to 9 months in
prison after she was found guilty of violating the Personal Data Protection
Act.

The court found that Chou falsely identifying former Miss Republic of China,
Zhang Shu-juan as the woman involved in an alleged affair with Chiang
Hsiao-yen.

Chiang is a former KMT lawmaker and the father of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an.

Chou made the false claim on her television talk show in 2022.

The High Court has also sentenced commentator Tsai Yu-zhen to six months in
prison for appearing on the show with Chou and supporting her false claims.

The rulings come after Zhang filed an aggravated defamation lawsuit against
Chou and Tsai shortly after the television program was aired.

Both Chou and Tsai were sentenced to 1 1/2 years by a district court in their
first trial.


The High Court rulings can still be appealed.

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted two men for allegedly
throwing a mixture of paint and human feces at stand-up comedian Huang Yi-hao
during a show in Taipei.

Prosecutors say a 33-year-old man recruited a 35-year-old man to carry out
the attack at the Comedy Club in exchange for 50,000 N-T.

Huang's May 29 show was said to have been targeted after clips of the
stand-up mocking China's Xi Jinping during a December 2025 routine at the
same venue went viral on social media.

Prosecutors say the 35-year-old man threw four bags containing paint and
human feces at the comedy club, damaging glass, floors and walls.

The 33 year old suspect has been indicted on charges including incitement to
intimidation and property damage, while the other suspect has been charged
with intimidation and property damage.

The Mainland Affairs Council claims the incident was part of China's
cross-border repression.

The Ministry of Labor will be extending paid marriage leave from eight to 14
days beginning tomorrow.

The Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment says the change was
proposed through amendments to the Regulations of Leave-Taking of Workers and
is has undergone a seven-day public notice period.

Employers are required to pay wages covering the ninth to the 14th day... and
after making those payments, the employers can apply to the government for
subsidies.

Ministry officials say the expanded leave will apply equally to Taiwanese and
foreign nationals as long as they are covered by the Labor Standards Act.

However, migrant domestic helpers and live-in caregivers are not be eligible
because they are not covered by the Labor Standards Act.

The move is part of the Lai administration's broader family-support policy
announced in May.

That policy also includes plans to extend maternity and paternity leave.

And,

The Discover America Committee in Taiwan says the number of Taiwanese
visiting the U-S rose over 8-per cent in the first eight months of the year
compared with the same period of last year.

Although that number didn't exceed pre-COVID 19 levels, the committee says it
still makes Taiwan the 19th-largest long-haul source market.

California, New York and Las Vegas were among the most popular destinations.

The committee says more flight options and new routes are encouraging more
Taiwanese travelers to explore destinations such as Houston beyond
traditional gateway cities.

It also says the average stay has increased from seven days before the COVID
19 pandemic to 11 days, boosting spending by Taiwanese visitors to the U-S.

Taipei prosecutors have indicted two men over an attack on a comedy show
involving paint mixed with human feces.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office says a 33-year-old man hired a
35-year-old man to throw the mixture at the venue in May, paying him
50-thousand NT.

Prosecutors say the attack came after clips of comedian Huang Yi-hao (黃逸豪)
mocking Chinese leader Xi Jinping went viral online.

They have recommended prison terms of 22 and 20 months for the two men.

Prosecutors say the attack was intended to intimidate Huang and restrict
freedom of speech in Taiwan.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has dismissed allegations of cross-border
repression as "groundless" ...

... while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council says it will prosecute anyone
found collaborating with China to threaten or sabotage Taiwan.

(CNA_IG)

A coalition of smaller political parties is calling for candidates' criminal
records to be included in official election bulletins.

The Taiwan Go Go Front is urging lawmakers to amend the Election and Recall
Act during the current legislative session.

The coalition says 129 of more than 1,500 city and county councilor
candidates have either been indicted or received a guilty verdict.

It has also identified candidates for mayor, county chief, and village and
borough chief with criminal records.

New Power Party Chair Claire Wang says voters should have direct access to
the information when deciding how to vote.

The coalition says it is not seeking to prevent anyone from running for
office, but wants voters to decide whether a candidate's criminal record
affects their choice.

(AH)

Taiwan's flu outbreak remains at epidemic levels ... with more than 138,000
outpatient and emergency visits recorded last week.

The Centers for Disease Control says flu-related visits fell 3.2 percent from
the previous week ... but the decline was partly due to clinics being closed
during the long weekend.

The CDC expects flu activity to fluctuate in the coming weeks ... with weekly
visits potentially reaching 150,000 to 160,000 before the outbreak starts to
ease around mid-October.

Last week, there were 87 new severe flu cases and 30 deaths ...

... bringing the season totals to around 1 thousand 670 severe cases and more
than 330 deaths.

(IG)

Traffic deaths are down in Taiwan this year so far ... but deaths among older
people are up slightly and could rise further.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, almost 1
thousand 600 traffic deaths were recorded in the first seven months ... down
over 1 percent from the same period a year ago.

However, deaths among older people rose five percent to almost 700.

The increase was concentrated in Taoyuan, Taichung and Hualien ... where
motorcycle accidents accounted for half of elderly traffic deaths, while
pedestrian accidents accounted for another 20 percent.

The ministry says the fourth quarter is typically the peak season for traffic
deaths among older people ...

... and advises wearing bright or reflective clothing when going out during
early hours or at night.

(IG)

With the opposition KMT and TPP holding a majority, the Legislative Yuan has
rejected all 27 of President Lai Ching-te's nominees for the Control Yuan.

The vote was clearly divided along the party lines, with most of the nominees
receiving 50 votes in favor from the ruling DPP and 60 against.

The Presidential Office announced a list of 29 nominees for the Control Yuan
in June, with pro-Taiwan independence physician Chen Yung-hsing (陳永興)
nominated as president and outgoing Control Yuan member Wang Rong-zhang (王榮璋)
as vice president.

Meanwhile Chen criticized the blue camp's move as "irrational," saying the
general public should push for an overhaul of the Legislative Yuan.

The list this year also included former New Taipei deputy mayor Xie Zheng-da
(謝政達) and former KMT lawmaker Liao Wan-ru (廖婉汝), both of whom declined their
nominations.

(JL)

Civic groups are raising concerns over some lawmakers' proposal to increase
maternal leave, saying that it may increase discrimination against women in
the workplace.

They say, if the government aims to lengthen maternal leave, it should also
increase parental leave to the same amount so as to prevent against workplace
discrimination.

President Lai Ching-te previously announced a slate of measures aimed at
improving the low birth rate, including lengthening marital and parental
leave.

The proposed measures would see birthing leave extended by one month to be 3
months in total...

while parental leave would be doubled to 2 weeks.

The relevant proposals are currently being examined in the legislature, but
several legiators have proposed adding another 2 weeks to maternal leave...

for a total of 14 weeks.

Civic groups emphasize that extended maternal leave is certainly progress in
the right direction, but they've cautioned against failing to give equal
parental leave for the non-birthing parent.

They cited studies showing that the promotion rate of all women workers and
their average salary will decline if parental leave does not mirror maternal
leave.

(AH)

TPP Founder Ko Wen-je is pushing back on accusations from Hsinchu Magistrate
Yang Wen-ke...

who condemned those that he said claim to be a part of the blue camp while
also criticizing the KMT.

That's as the KMT and TPP have suspended cooperation in Hsinchu County over a
failure to agree on which candidate to push to run for mayor of Zhubei City.

Ke says today that the race is "every man for himself," and said that the
situation could have been saved with a sit-down to discuss cooperation in the
county...

but the process, Ke said, was not as smooth as he had hoped.

(AH)

The opposition TPP has reiterated that it will reject all all nominees for
Control Yuan members.

As today marks the first day of the latest legislative session, lawmakers
started casting their votes at 10 AM this morning for the 27 nominees and
it's ongoing at the moment.

President Lai Ching-te announced the nominees in June before the previous
Control Yuan members' terms expired at the end of July.

The nominations came amid TPP's consistent calls to abolish Control Yuan
through constitutional amendments.

TPP caucus whip Hong Yu-xiang (洪毓祥) said this morning that Control Yuan has
been dysfunctional for years, adding that the agency received 82-thousand
public petitions last year but handled only 1.6 percent of them, while its
budget soared.

Meanwhile the KMT caucus has pledged that it would subject the nominees to
rigorous scrutiny and would not allow anyone it considers unqualified to
serve as a Control Yuan member.

(JL)

The Health Ministry has launched a new program together with the Taiwan
Association of Caregivers to help those taking care of their family members
prepare for a smoother handover.

According to the Ministry, nearly one in four high-burden family caregivers
in Taiwan has no one to take over when they need a break.

The new "Peace-of-Mind Care Handover Plan" will be available at 191 family
support centers around Taiwan.

Those centers have professionals on hand to help caregivers organize medical
records, care instructions and emergency contacts so that someone else can
step in when needed.

The ministry says long-term care can last for nearly 10 years, and is urging
caregivers not to shoulder the responsibility alone.

The Ministry notes that Taiwan currently has 104-thousand long-term care
workers and the number is still increasing.

(IG)

Forestry authorities reported the first confirmed sighting of a Formosan
black bear near a tourist zone at the Da-syue-shan (大雪山) National Forest
Recreation Area.

An AI monitoring camera recorded the bear near the 49K Hsiao-Hsueh-shan
Information Station entrance.

Officials say they have installed warning signs around high-risk trail areas
and distributed safety guides to arriving park visitors.

And they say park staff will conduct emergency drills based on national
wildlife response guidelines to prepare frontline personnel for potential
encounters.

(NS)

The Taiwan High Court has sentenced media personality Clara Chou to 9 months
of prison time for violating the Personal Data Protection Act.

The ruling said Chou, also known as Zhou Yu-ko (周玉蔻), falsely identified
former Miss China Zhang Shu-juan (張淑娟) as the woman involved in an alleged
affair with Chiang Hsiao-yen (蔣孝嚴), on her TV talk show in 2022.

Chiang, a former KMT lawmaker, is Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's father.

The High Court today sentenced another commentator Tsai Yu-zhen (蔡玉真) to six
months as well for joining Zhou on her show discussing the affair.

Zhang filed an aggravated defamation lawsuit against the two soon after the
TV program was aired.

Today's sentences are more lenient compared with the lower court's verdict of
one year and 6 months for both Zhou and Tsai.


The ruling can still be appealed.

(JL)

in river

Pingtung police say, they're working to clarify the identity of and cause of
death for a body found under a bridge yesterday.

Authorities say that the corpse, found under Donggang's Jinde 進德 bridge
appears to have belonged to a middle aged woman, but her identity is not yet
known.

They note that the body was dressed in a dark purple blouse and black pants
when it was found.

A cause of death also remains under investigation,

(AH)

The 2026 Taipei Jazz Festival is marking its 20th anniversary and
commemorating the centennial births of jazz greats.

The five-week festival is set to culminate in a major three-day concert
series at the Taipei Music Center outdoor plaza from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11.

The event honors jazz icons Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and features
international headliners including New York guitarist Hristo Vitchev, scat
vocalist Ponpon Chen, drummer Ari Hoenig, and French trio WAKAN.

Master workshops also take place mid-October, transforming Taipei into an
accessible hub for jazz culture and music education.

(NS)

Taiwan shares are down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 392 points to
close the session at 47631.

The turnover was 785 billion NT

The Executive Yuan remains unconvinced by opposition attempts to double the
amount of money that would be included in another round of government
handouts...

KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun Chi said earlier that legislators will prioritize
issues relevant to people's livelihoods during the new legislative session,
including increasing the handouts to 20,000 NT.

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai says, though, that the Cabinet refuses to pass on the
burden of the national debt to the next generation.

Executive Yuan Spokesperson Michelle Lee says that such handouts must be
based on three principles, including not substantially increasing debt, not
negatively impacting other policy programs, and being legal and
constitutional.

President Lai Ching-te previously announced that Taiwanese people could
expect another round of handouts of 10,000 NT next year.

(AH)

Facing fierce criticism over serious transportation issues during the long
weekend, Transport Minister Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) today promised to review the
problems and seek improvements ahead of the upcoming holidays.

His comments come after a outpouring of complaints about the overly crowded
Taiwan High-speed Rail carriages on the first and the last day of the 4-day
Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Those who bought non-reserved seats said they had to wait for more than one
to two hours to get on the train.

National freeways' southbound lanes were also heavily congested from early
morning on September 25th, as were northbound lanes on the 28th.

In self-defense, Chen said transportation operations are now coordinated
through an online network linking the control centers of different modes of
transport.



The Minister stressed that he was in Taiwan throughout the holiday period
instead of visiting in Germany as reported by the local media.

The ministry will hold a review meeting tomorrow to look at ways to improve
transportation services during the next long weekend and provide travelers
with a better experience.

(JL)

Authorities say, a barrier lake in Hualien's Wanli is experiencing stable
overflow following an earthquake early this morning.

The Forest and Nature Conservtion Agency says, the integrity of the dam
remains intact, and the water outflow poses a risk only to the riverbed
directly.

The numbers show that, as of 8:30 thismorning, the water level of the Wanli
barrier lake was sitting at just over 1085 meters' altitude, with a total
volume of 5.180,000 square meters.

(AH)

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson says Washington needs Taiwan to remain stable
and independent, as the island is crucial for America's national security and
economy.

Speaking on Fox Business, Johnson said Taiwan is a very important partner,
friend, and ally of the U-S and he believes the White House will complete
40-billion U-S dollars in arms sales to Taiwan during Donald Trump's two
presidential terms.

Johnson also insisted that the U-S will Continue to Support Taiwan

However, he didn't make any specific comment when asked about the 14-billion
U-S dollar arms sales to Taiwan that remains frozen.

And finally,

Taiwan's Lin Chung-wei has won bronze in the men's 400-meter hurdles at the
Asian Games in Japan on Monday.

His finish gave Taiwan a track and field medal for the second straight day,
after Fu Chao-hsuan's gold in the men's high jump on Sunday.

Lin entered the final with a time of 49.1 seconds, the second-fastest time in
the heats.

He stayed among the leaders and was level for second after clearing the last
hurdle, before finishing third in a personal-best 48.74 seconds.

Meanwhile,

Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Gonzales Zhan had to settle for bronze in the
badminton mixed doubles, after losing their semifinal match to China's Jiang
Zhen-bang and Wei Ya-xin.

However, it was Taiwan's first Asian Games mixed doubles badminton medal
since 2010.

In table tennis, Lin Yun-ru took bronze in the men's singles after losing his
semifinal match that went the maximum seven games to China's Lin Shi-dong.

While shooters Cheng Yen-ching, Tien Chia-chen and Chen Yu-ru combined for
1,734 points to place third in the women's 25-meter pistol team event.

Taiwan is now in 13th place in the overall medals table, between India and
Qatar, having won three gold, seven silver and 23 bronze.

President Lai Ching-te marked Teachers' Day by touting his administration's
plans to invest 11-billion N-T by 2029 to strengthen educators' digital and
artificial intelligence skills.

Lai said via social media, that the Ministry of Education had launched the
"AI Talent Ark Program" to build teaching capabilities and AI-enabled
learning environments in elementary and secondary schools.

Lai also said his administration will continue listening to educators,
improve teaching conditions, and ensure teachers receive the respect and
support they deserve so they can focus on teaching.

The Ministry of Education's "AI Talent Ark Program" is aimed at enhancing
digital teaching materials and developing next-generation A-I learning
systems.

The ministry has also said the program will provide hands-on A-I training and
support for teachers, and improve education data analytics to help educators
deliver more personalized instruction.

For her part, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim marked Teachers' Day by extending
her holiday greetings to teachers and sharing a video featuring educators
reflecting on their most rewarding moments in the profession, alongside
messages of appreciation from students.

A new drone campus run by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and
Technology has opened in Chiayi County’s Minsyong Township.

The 1.1 billion NT facility is said to include research and development and
manufacturing facilities.

Construction of the facilty began three years ago.

The institute says its hopes the campus will boost its capacity to develop,
test and manufacture cutting edge drones.

Morocco has resumed accepting tourism visa applications from Taiwan passport
holders last week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a staffer at its office in Tokyo called
the Moroccan Embassy in Japan last Friday, and was informed it had officially
resumed accepting applications for Taiwan travelers' Visa Confirmation
Letters from September 21.

However, the ministry says that because the Moroccan embassy has still not
resumed V-C-L applications for non-tourism purposes, it will not be accepting
visa applications from Moroccan nationals until such restrictions are lifted.

The Moroccan Embassy in Japan abruptly suspended issuing visas on July 23
without giving a reason for the move.

The foreign ministry statement comes after a local travel agency said this
past weekend that the Moroccan Embassy in Japan had informed it that it was
resuming visa applications from Taiwan nationals.

Taiwan passport holders can only obtain Visa Confirmation Letters only
through the Moroccan Embassy in Japan and do not qualify for a Moroccan
e-visa.

not indicted

The Ministry of Justice says just over 40-per cent of individuals
investigated for human trafficking-related crimes between 2021 and 2025 were
indicted.

Of the 3,401 people investigated, 1,914 were alleged to have been involved in
labor exploitation, 1,281 in sexual exploitation and 147 in organ harvesting.

The report also noted that the number of people investigated for sex
trafficking rose from 168 in 2021 to 309 in 2025, while the number of people
indicted in organ-harvesting cases remained below 70 each year.

Of those investigated, 41-per cent were indicted, 41.4-per cent were not
indicted and 0.8-per cent received deferred prosecution.

The ministry says insufficient evidence was cited in 95.9-per cent of the
non-prosecutions.

Of those indicted, 35.5-per cent were charged with offenses against personal
freedom, 25.7-per cent with violations of the Child and Youth Sexual
Exploitation Prevention Act, and 14.2-per cent with violations of the Human
Trafficking Prevention Act.

The High Speed Rail Corporation added four extra northbound services on
Monday to deal with heavier than anticipated passenger volumes as people
headed home on the last day of the four-day long weekend holiday.

The operator says the additional trains were all-stop northbound services and
all cars except the business class car were designated as non-reserved
seating.

Two of the extra services departed from Chiayi Station, and that's the first
time High Speed Rail Corporation has run such trains from that station.

The company set up a forward command post at Taichung Station to coordinate
operations to deal with the travel surge, while Transport Minister Chen
Shih-kai visited the station to check on holiday transportation efforts.

The new Shengji Tunnel has opened.

The new route removes a traffic bottleneck between Zhongxiao East Road
Section 7 and Lane 130, Section 1 of Academia Road... it also connects the
biotechnology park with Taiwan Railway's and Taipei Metro's Nangang stations
and surrounding residential areas.

Deputy Interior Minister Wu Tang-an said the new route is expected to ease
traffic congestion during peak hours, and cut travel time between Nangang and
New Taipei's Xizhi District.

The tunnel cost 1.8-billion N-T.

The National Biotechnology Research Park covers 14-hectares and houses
several institutions, including Academia Sinica's Biomedical Translation
Research Center and the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration.

... its development triggered business and employment growth in Nangang,
generating greater demand for transportation infrastructure in the area.

The Kaohsiung City Police Department says three people have been arrested in
connection with a dispute over drug debt that left one man dead and two other
people seriously injured.

One other suspect remains at large.

The incident occurred at an out-of-business health spa in the city's Fengshan
District when fighting broke out between two groups.

Police says they used surveillance video footage to track down four suspects
in the attack, who were seen leaving the scene together in a car.

Three of the suspects were later arrested.

The incident remains under investigation.

Local media is reporting that one of the groups was upset about being pushed
to repay around 10,000 N-T in a drug debt they owed to a member of the other
group.

And,

Acer marked the 50th anniversary of its founding with a musical at the Taipei
Nangang Exhibition Center.

Titles "Smile for Half a Century," the musical was a collaboration between
the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, the OneSong Orchestra, and Story Works.

Acer founder Stan Shih served as co-producer.

The show told the story of Acer by incorporating modern dance, music, theater
and high-tech multimedia visuals effects.

Shih says "Smiling for Half a Century" didn't looks back at the past, but
looks to the future.

The event brought Acer executives and employees as well as Taiwan's tech
industry leaders... including T-S-M-C Chairman C.C. Wei, Wistron Chairman
Simon Lin, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih and Pegatron Chairman T.H. Tung.

A man was found dead on a bus in New Taipei on Sunday, several days after he
boarded the vehicle.

Police say the man got on the bus in Xindian at around 8:40 PM last Thursday.

The bus later returned to its terminal, where it remained parked until Sunday
morning because of the long Moon Festival weekend.

A passenger noticed the man appeared to be unconscious after the bus resumed
service Sunday and alerted the driver, who called emergency services.

Police found no signs of trauma or foul play, but an autopsy has been ordered
to determine the cause of death.

The bus operator has been fined 30-thousand NT for failing to properly check
the vehicle before parking it.

The driver has also been suspended, while the company says it will strengthen
safety procedures.

A new tunnel linking Taipei's Zhongxiao East Road with the National
Biotechnology Research Park in Nangang District opened today.

The 824-meter Shengji Tunnel is expected to ease traffic on Zhongxiao East
Road and Academia Road, while cutting travel time between the park and
Nangang Station to less than 10 minutes during peak hours.

The central government spent nearly $1.9 billion NT on the project.

The tunnel also provides an alternative route during emergencies, such as
flooding, and includes a separate path for pedestrians and cyclists.

More than 26-hundred researchers and other professionals now work at the
biotechnology park, which opened in 2018.

(CNA_IG)

High-temperature alerts have been expanded to 10 cities and counties across
Taiwan ... with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius or higher.

The Central Weather Administration's yellow alerts now cover Keelung, Taipei,
New Taipei and Taoyuan ... as well as Miaoli, Changhua, Nantou, Tainan and
Pingtung.

Yunlin remains under an orange alert ... with 36-degree temperatures possible
for several days in a row.

As of 3 PM ... the day's highest temperature was 36.7 degrees in Taipei's
Zhongzheng District ... followed by 36.6 degrees in New Taipei's Xizhi
District.

In fact, all of today's 10 highest temperature readings were recorded in
Taipei or New Taipei.

President Lai Ching-te has marked Teachers' Day today ... by highlighting a
government program aimed at strengthening teachers' digital and artificial
intelligence skills.

The Ministry of Education's AI Talent Ark Program will invest nearly $11.8
billion NT through 2029 to improve digital teaching materials, develop AI
learning systems and provide hands-on training for teachers.

Lai said technology can make teaching more efficient, but teachers'
understanding of and guidance for students remain irreplaceable.

He also acknowledged challenges facing educators, including teacher
shortages, parent-teacher communication and administrative workloads.

Lai said the government would continue working to improve teaching conditions
and give teachers more support.

Morocco has resumed accepting tourism visa applications from Taiwanese
passport holders, two months after suspending the process without giving a
reason.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it was informed by the Moroccan
Embassy in Japan that applications for tourism Visa Confirmation Letters
resumed on September 21st.

However, Morocco has not resumed processing applications for other types of
travel.

Taiwan therefore continues to suspend visa applications from Moroccan
nationals, citing the principle of reciprocity.

Morocco suspended its visa review process for Taiwanese travelers on July
23rd, prompting Taiwan to impose its own restrictions on Moroccan applicants
a week later.

MOFA says it will continue monitoring the situation and hopes normal two-way
exchanges can resume.

And starting off with a quick look at traffic conditions...

The slowest traffic is currently on National Freeway 5...

...with northbound traffic from Yilan to Toucheng moving at just 17
kilometers per hour.

On National Freeway 1, northbound traffic from Dounan to Huwei is also slow,
at around 24 kilometers per hour.

Traffic in both directions around the Dingjin and Zuoying system interchanges
in Kaohsiung is moving at between 27 and 30 kilometers per hour.

And on National Freeway 5, northbound traffic from Toucheng to the Pinglin
Traffic Control Center is moving at around 35 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, northbound traffic on National Freeway 3 between Zhunan and the
Xibin interchange is moving at around 40 kilometers per hour.

Elsewhere, major sections of Freeways 1, 3 and 5 are mostly moving smoothly.

A tourist from Myanmar has died after losing consciousness in the shallow end
of a wave pool at a water park in Taichung City's Houli District.

Emergency crews were called shortly after 2 PM Sunday ... and found the man
with no vital signs and no obvious external injuries.

He was given emergency treatment and taken to hospital ... but later died
despite efforts to revive him.

The water park says lifeguards immediately began emergency rescue efforts and
called 119 for help.

The incident happened during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday ... when many
people were visiting the park.

Police say the case will be referred to prosecutors for a post-mortem
examination to determine the cause of death.

The park says it will cooperate with the investigation.

(IG)

Taiwanese citrus is getting a push in Singapore ... with Tainan's famous
Madou pomelos now being sold through both supermarkets and high-end
department stores.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che recently led a city government delegation to
Singapore to check on sales ... and personally promoted the fruit to shoppers
at a department store.

Huang says Singapore's high incomes and strong consumer market offer
opportunities for Tainan's agricultural products.

The city hopes selling through different retail channels will help its
produce gain a stronger foothold in Singapore.

Officials say the Madou pomelos are known for their sweet and slightly tart
flavor ... as well as their juicy flesh and fragrant aroma.

The city is also using the promotion to introduce more Singaporean consumers
to Tainan ... and raise the international profile of its agricultural
products.(IG)

(IG)

Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai says Taiwan's transport networks have
successfully handled the Mid-Autumn and Teachers' Day holiday crowds ...
despite record passenger numbers.

Taiwan High Speed Rail carried 348-thousand passengers last Thursday,
September 24th ... which is an all-time high ... while also reaching its
maximum daily service level of 200 trains.

Chen says airports, train stations and intercity bus services were able to
clear the crowds ... with no passengers left stranded.

For today's holiday return rush ... Chen says that extra Taiwan Railway train
services ... and highway buses ... are ready to handle possible crowding
around Taichung High Speed Rail Station.

THSR may also add trains with all-unreserved seating if necessary ...
depending on passenger numbers this afternoon.

Chen is urging travelers to spread out among different transport options ...
including THSR, Taiwan Railway and intercity buses.

(IG)

Taiwanese high jumper Fu Chao-hsuan has won gold at the Asian Games in
Nagoya, becoming the first Taiwanese man in 60 years to win an athletics gold
medal at the meet

The 23-year-old cleared 2.25 meters on his first attempt, matching his season
best.

India's Sarvesh Anil Kushare also cleared 2.25 meters, but needed two
attempts.

Neither athlete could clear 2.28 meters, giving Fu the gold.

Fu had struggled with injuries and inconsistent results since moving into
senior competition, and said he initially only hoped to win bronze.

He said clearing 2.25 meters gave him confidence that gold was within reach.

Fu now hopes to compete at the world championships and eventually fulfill his
childhood dream of reaching the Olympics.

Taoyuan City Police are searching for a wanted man who allegedly rammed a
patrol car and fled during an attempted traffic stop early this morning.

Police say officers spotted a black sedan driving erratically on Lixing Road
(力行路) in Taoyuan District ... and signaled the driver to pull over.

Instead, the driver allegedly rammed the patrol car and sped away.

Officers followed from a safe distance and alerted other police to intercept
the car ... but stopped the close pursuit when the driver reached dangerous
speeds.

The car was later found abandoned on Longxiang Street (龍祥街) ... but the
driver had already fled.

Police have identified the suspected driver as a wanted man surnamed Huang
... and are continuing to search for him.

(IG)

The Central Weather Administration has issued heat advisories for eight
municipalities and counties across Taiwan today ...

.... with temperatures expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius or higher in some
areas this afternoon.

The advisories cover Taipei, New Taipei and Tainan, as well as Changhua,
Nantou, Yunlin, Pingtung and Hualien counties.

The CWA is advising people to limit outdoor activities and strenuous
exercise, stay hydrated, use sunscreen, and watch for signs of heat-related
illness.

Most of Taiwan will see partly cloudy to sunny skies today, with afternoon
showers possible in mountainous areas.

Temperatures will reach highs of around 35 degrees in northern and southern
Taiwan, 36 degrees in central Taiwan, and 32 degrees in the east.

------

Looking ahead ....

The weather is expected to remain similar through Wednesday.

Then on Thursday ... forecasters say that seasonal northeasterly winds will
strengthen and start affecting Taiwan on Friday ...

... bringing more showers to areas north of Taoyuan, eastern Taiwan, the
Hengchun Peninsula and mountainous areas around the island.

Elsewhere, skies should remain mostly cloudy to sunny through Sunday.