The premier is trying to ease some of the anxiety people may have about
picking up their Triple Stimulus Vouchers.

Su Tseng-chang says about 12-million people have now pre-ordered their
vouchers, and everyone will be able to pick up their orders.

The vast majority of people have opted for paper vouchers over digital
versions, and there are questions about there being a massive crush of people
trying to access their vouchers.

Voucher pick up opens this Wednesday.

Premier Su says that as long as people are in no rush to use their vouchers,
then they also do not need to be in a rush to pick them up.

He admits there is likely to be people lining up to get their vouchers, but
they are valid until the end of the year so there is no urgent need to get
them right away.

(PB)

The New Power Party has been given the cold shoulder by the nominees for
Control Yuan membership.

NPP Caucus Whip Chiu Hsien-chi says to better understand the nominees'
suitability for the office, the party sent out a questionnaire at the end of
June.

But as of last night, Chiu says not a single person had answered and returned
that document to the NPP.

The Legislative Yuan this week will be discussing the issue of the DPP
nomination list for Control Yuan membership, which has caused political
tensions to flare between the ruling and opposition parties.

(PB)

Government officials have started calling for tenders for at least 500 units
of social housing in New Taipei's San-chong and Ban-qiao districts.

The National Housing and Urban Regeneration Center says it will take bids
until August 24th and construction should be complete by the end of 2024.

The housing units include single-room and two- and three-bedroom types to
satisfy various needs, and the complexes also have childcare facilities and
outside space for residents to relax.

The Center says this is the first batch of social housing that it's
responsible for and the next phase will see the establishment of more units
in Taipei city.

Social housing is for rent only, with monthly rent lower than the market
prices.

(JL)

Students in Taiwan are having trouble finding summer jobs in an economy that
has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

That, according to the results of a new survey.

The "2020 post-pandemic students' summer work intention survey" conducted by
Taipei-based 1111 Job Bank found that 82 percent of respondents were planning
to work summer jobs to earn pocket money or help pay for school or living
expenses.

More than four in five respondents (or 83.7 percent) said they have struggled
to find jobs, and attributed their difficulties to fewer openings available,
increased competition for the jobs on offer, and fewer shifts being scheduled
by employers.

The survey found students were most inclined to work in restaurants, at cram
schools, or in shopping malls during their summer break.

According to the survey, on average, they work 90 hours per month and earn
NT$15,262 a month, which works out to an hourly rate of NT$170, higher than
the minimum hourly wage of NT$158.

A derailment of a Tze-chiang limited express train Friday evening left no one
injured but caused delays for 20,234 passengers.

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) added today that normal service
resumed this morning.

Northbound Train No. 140, which was supposed to travel from Changhua County
to Qidu District in Keelung City, was not carrying any passengers when it
derailed at 6:10 p.m. at Changhua Station as it was about to be dispatched.

The derailment damaged some of the tracks, and as a result all TRA trains in
both directions had to travel on one track, causing a delay for 59 trains.

The administration said it fixed the problem overnight, and all services were
back to normal at 4:30 a.m. today.

The reason for the derailment is under investigation.

The Central Weather Bureau said today that it has issued a heat alert for 12
cities and counties around Taiwan as a Pacific high pressure and a seasonal
southwesterly wind system continue to affect the island.

The CWB said an orange heat warning has been issued for Taipei, Changhua,
Nantou, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, as well as Hualien and Taitung.

Meanwhile, a yellow heat alert was issued in New Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu,
Taichung, and Yunlin.

The CWB said people engaged in outdoor activity should drink more water to
avoid heat stroke, and protect themselves from getting sunburn amid high UV
levels.

Prosecutors have filed aggravated larceny charges against three Colombian men
for allegedly robbing NT$6 million from a home in Taipei.

The charges carry prison sentences of between 6 months and five years and
fines of up NT$500,000.

According to the indictment, the men, surnamed Montenegro Molina, Quintero
Montenegro and Suarez Pineros, came to Taiwan individually in March on the
pretext of visiting family members or for tourism purposes.

They later received automatic visa extensions due to the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic.

At around 1 p.m. on June 5, the men allegedly broke into a Neihu District
residence and used cable cutters to open a safe and steal cash as well as
jewelry and other personal belongings worth a total of NT$6 million.

Using surveillance camera footage, Taipei City police tracked the men to
three separate hotels in Kaohsiung.

They then arrested the men on June 8 and discovered the stolen cash and goods
divided between them in their suitcases.

Prosecutors said the men admitted to the burglary. Authorities also indicated
they possessed additional evidence, including roadside surveillance camera
footage and fingerprint and DNA tests from the scene of the crime.

A popular children's book from Slovakia is hitting Tawain bookshelves...
translated by the wife of the Slovak representative to Taiwan.

Chen Liang Podstavek... says she's very happy to give young readers in Taiwan
a look at the culture and customs of Slovakia... a country and language she
has been studying since her college days in Beijing.

The book is titled "Emma and the Pink Whale", and follows the story of a
little girl who dreams of a friendship with the largest sea mammal.

Slovakia is a landlocked country, a fact Podstavek says makes the story even
more interesting.

Taiwan is the second foreign market for the children's book, following the
publication of a Czech translation.

The annual Taiwan International Balloon Festival is taking off.

After being delayed by the coronavirus outbreak, the festival is taking to
the skies once again in Taitung's Luye Highland.

The festival runs until late August, and visitors can take tethered or
untethered rides up into the sky.

For further information, please visit the Tourism Bureau website.

A leading local think tank is pessimisitic about Taiwan's GDP growth for the
year.

The Taiwan Research Institute has lowered its forecast for Taiwan's 2020
gross domestic product growth to 1.55 percent, citing the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest GDP growth forecast was cut by 1.08 percentage points from the
TRI's estimate late last year of 2.63 percent.

The TRI is being more cautious than the government, which in late May lowered
its 2020 economic growth projection by 0.7 percentage points to 1.67 percent.

Nonetheless, the TRI says Taiwan's economy will remain resilient, as business
activities in the domestic market are thriving because the country has been
doing well to contain its COVID-19 infections.

Meanwhile, the founder of TRI is urging investors, in particular retail
investors, to stay alert to a possible pullback on the Taiwan stock market,
which he says appears to be overheated.

Since its steep drop in March, the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange has bounced back more than 25 percent as of yesterday.

(PB)

seven people

Late Kaohsiung City Council speaker Xu Kun-yuan's wife has brought libel
charges against seven people.

Lin Si-yu says she found these people's comments about her late husband
unacceptable and says even now she's still seeing similar smear and attacks
against him.

Xu, who was a close friend of former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, took his own
life on the night of June 6th when a recall vote removed Han as mayor.

Lin says Taipei city councilor Liang Wen-jie, Taoyuan city councilor Wang
Hao-yu, TV show host Yao Li-ming and four others made untolerable defamatory
and false comments about her husband's tragedy online and on TV.

She says she's seeking justice to clear Xu's name and put a stop to the
attacks.

Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung Prosecutors Office has wrapped up investigations
into Xu's suicide, saying no residues of alcohol or drugs were found.

Prosecutors also concluded that his death had no connection with gambling.

(JL)

The top diplomat of the United States is speaking up for Taiwan.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the exclusion of Taiwan from the World
Health Organization is the evidence of the WHO's deficiencies.

Pompeo says the WHO has repeatedly failed to fulfill its fundamental
missions.

He says one of those deficiencies is Taiwan's exclusion as an observer in the
World Health Assembly.

Pompeo adds the WHO has failed in its basic mission to prevent pandemics, and
continues to do so with regard to COVID-19.

According to Pompeo, the WHO still has not been able to get China to help
identify patient zero in the COVID-19 pandemic or to explain why internal
travel in China was closed down, while the virus was allowed to spread around
the world.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration delivered a formal letter to the
United Nations, giving a year's notice of Washington's intention to leave the
WHO.

(PB)

People from Taiwan have a new options if chosing to travel abroad.

Wales and Northern Ireland have added Taiwan to a list of countries whose
citizens can enter their borders without having to undergo quarantine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this is another example of Taiwan being
recognized for its success in dealing with COVID-19, and that this open
policy will be beneficial the economies of all the states involved.

This follows Taiwan earlier being given quarantine-free entry for England and
Scotland.

However, any Taiwanese who have visited any countries not on the UK's list of
low-risk nations 14 days before entry must still quarantine for 14 days upon
arrival.

(PB)

The Tourism Bureau is offering incentives to get people to visit small
villages.

The Bureau has named 30 such towns in this year's Small Town Ramble program.

The program launches next Wednesday, the same day the government's Triple
Stimulus Voucher program goes live.

People who visit 5 of those towns before the end of October will be entered
into a drawing for accomodation vouchers, cash, and other prizes.

(EG)

The CECC has confirmed 2 new cases of imported coronavirus infections.

The two patients are a woman in her 20s who was studying in the US, and a man
in his 50s who returned from Oman.

Taiwan's caseload now stands at 451 infections.

The center also says they are closely watching an outbreak of an unidentified
respiratory disease in Kahzakstan.

Instances of the viral outbreak started rising on March 15th.

But the CECC says the death rate for this disease is 0.48-percent, far below
the global average for COVID-19.

(NS)

The KMT is proposing that the central government pay all school air
conditioning costs.

The party's legislative caucus has put forward amendments that would have the
central government covering costs for AC units and electric systems, as well
as AC electricity bills.

This would apply to all elementary, middle, and high schools air conditioning
costs.

The proposal comes after the Executive Yuan announced earlier this week that
AC would be installed in all classrooms nationwide over the next two years.

The central government is covering most of the costs, but local governments
will be responsible for a portion of the installation fees, and for future
electricity bills.

(EG)

The Bureau of Labor Insurance has reassured 10-million laborers that they are
able to receive the Old-age Pension Payment for life.

The bureau says it is not true that monthly pension payment will stop when a
pensioner turns 83.

The Bureau says people may have confused the old-age pension payment with the
Individual Labor Pension Account.

The individual account works very much like a bank account.

Employers contributes at least 6% of a worker's monthly wage.

But there are restrictions on withdrawals-- workers are not permitted to
withdraw from the account until they reach the age of 60.

When a retired worker starts to receive dividends and capital from the
account, the specific amount of the monthly installation is determined by
factors including average life expectancy and predetermined interest rates.

All payments owed from the Individual Labor Pension Account will be fully
paid by the age of 84.

Once past the age of 84, individuals will continue to receive payments from
their old-age pension until their death.

(JL)

The Presidential Office is welcoming an arms sale offer from the United
States.

The US government has offered to sell a package that would extend the
lifespan of Taiwan's PAC 3 missiles, including parts, maintainance, and
technical assistance.

The package would cost $620 million US dollars, and is the 7th arms offer to
Taiwan during US President Donald Trump's administration.

The Presidential Office praises the offer as upholding the Taiwan Relations
Act and the Six Assurances, and as helping Taiwan maintain its self-defense
capabilities.

It says the deal will also help ensure regional peace and stability.

The Office adds that the Taiwan government will continue to put more
resources into national defense, including the domestic defense industry and
research and development.

(EG)

Parts of an island off Tainan is being sealed off for the national day
fireworks.

The city is hosting the annual event this October, and the fireworks will be
set off from the Yu-guang Island, specifically its An-ping Harbor North
Embankment and the island's southern beach.

The city government is instituting entry restrictions in those areas for
safety reasons.

Viewing platforms for the show will be set up along the southwest beach, with
additional performances, market stalls, and other activities.

The city will be holding national day events from the start of October to
Double Ten Day.

(EG)

The country's national forest parks are offering one-time free entry.

The Forestry Bureau says all Taiwan citizens and foreign holders of residency
permits can get in any one of the 12 national forest parks free of charge.

They can only take advantage of this offer once though.

The Bureau says citizens can present their national IDs, health insurance
cards, or other legal identification to get the free entry, and foreigners
will have to show their Alien Resident Certificate.

Drivers will be still be charged for parking.

(EG)

The mercury in Taipei has soared to match a record high.

According to the Central Weather Bureau, temperatures hit 38.6 degrees in the
capital before 1 PM, equaling the record for July highs.

The CWB says temperatures could climb higher this afternoon, possibly setting
a new milestone.

Aside from Taipei, Hualien, Taitung, Yunlin, and Nantou have all registered
38 degree temperatures too.

The CWB is warning people to avoid out-door activities, especially members of
vulnerable groups like young children, the elderly, or those with chronic
health conditions.

(EG)

Taiwan shares lost ground today, as markets in Asia also all dropped.

The TaiEx was down 119 points to 12,074.

The total turnover was $258.2 billion NT.

The CECC has confirmed two more imported coronavirus cases.

The Central Epidemic Command Center says the two cases are imported, and will
provide more details in a press conference in the next hour.

This brings Taiwan's total COVID-19 confirmed caseload to 451.

(EG)

The National Women's League has won an important legal battle against the
Ministry of the Interior.

The Taipei High Administrative Court yesterday halted the execution of the
N-W-L's liquidation and abolishment ordered by the M-O-I.

In its ruling, the High Court said that the constitution protects people's
rights to form associations and assemblies, and promotes citizens'
participation in public affairs.

The High Court said the M-O-I's order will cause irreparable damage to the
organization and there will be no way to compensate its losses.

The Ministry two years ago ordered the N-W-L to transform itself to a
political party based on the Political Parties Act, an order that the
organization refused to obey saying that it shall remain as a charitable
group.

After the April 26th deadline, the N-W-L took to the street to protest
against the government's handling of the matter and filed a lawsuit against
the M-O-I.

(JL)

As coronavirus continues to weigh on the economy, students are worried about
being able to find summer jobs.

A study conducted by the 1111 online job bank finds that 84 percent of
student respondents say summer positions may be hard to come by.

Students feel the number of openings will be limited this summer, causing
increased competition.

The survey finds that 82 percent of students do plan to seek summer jobs, to
earn spending money or tuition funds, or to support themselves.

Citing government statistics the job bank says 830-thousand people have
student debt, with an average of 200 thousand NT each.

1111 also notes that the release of the Triple Stimulus Vouchers next week
could cause a spike in short-term hiring.

(EG)

The Ministry of Culture is adding its own ArtsFun Coupon to the government's
stimulus packages.

The M-O-C urges people to download the App for ArtsFun Coupon, worth 600 NT
each, between July 18th and 20th to be eligible for a lucky draw as there are
only 2 million electronic coupons.

Culture officials say the coupon will be valid from July 22nd through the end
of the year, and the lucky draw is slated for July 21st.

It can be used toward a wide variety of artistic, creative, publishing and
film businesses.

Users only need to check their App to see which museum, bookstore, CD store,
movie theater, gallery or cultural center nearby will accept the e-coupon.

The ticketing websites for artistic performances and exhibitions will also
accept the coupon.

(JL)

A man was discovered this morning drowned in a pond in Taichung's, Qingshui
District.

Emergency personnel reported to the scene a little after 6am and discovered a
70 year old man in a fishing pond about 1.6 meters deep.

Three fire trucks, one ambulance and 11 firefighters were sent to the rescue.

While the case is still being investigated, it is believed that the man was
fishing early this morning and somehow fell into the pond and drowned.

Officials say a motorbike was also found at the scene but are unable to say
at this time if the bike belongs to the victim.

The man was immediately sent to the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately
before arriving suffered from cardiac arrest.

(SF)

The two Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals, one in New Taipei's Lin-kou and the
other in Kaohsiung, were the most profitable hospitals nationwide in 2018.

According to National Health Insurance Administration's data, the Linkou
Chang Gung made 7.8 billion NT in profits, while the Kaohsiung branch earned
nearly 6 billion.

They are followed by the NTU Hospital's 2.4 billion and China Medical
University Hospital's 2.2 billion.

The the Chang Gung hospital chain also includes the biggest money-losing
hospital in Taiwan.

Its outlet in Chia-yi was 713 million NT in the red.

The N-H-I says several clinics did very well.

Far Eastern Polyclinic, based in Taipei city, posted a surplus of 79 million
NT in 2018 and Dou-liu Tzu Chi Hospital also made 60 million in profits.

(JL)

Shares of Largan Precision Company have took a beating this morning.

The supplier of smartphone camera lenses to Apple yesterday reported lower
than expected second-quarter results.

Largan also gave cautious guidance for the third quarter, sparking worry that
it may not benefit during that peak season and dealing another blow to the
stock's performance.

As of 10a.m., company shares had fallen 9.48 percent to $4,010 NT with 1.51
million shares changing hands on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

At the investor conference yesterday, Largan reported about $910 million NT
in forex losses for the second quarter of the year, which eroded its EPS by
$6.8 NT.

The company posted just under $5 billion NT in net profit for the second
quarter, a nearly 25.8 percent quarterly decline, and an earnings per share
of almost $37.2 NT, which fell short of the market estimate of between $38.5
and $42 NT.

(PB)

And finally looking at the Chinese Professional Baseball League, going into
the weekend -

while there were no games last night,

Tonight, the Fubon Guardians will play the Chinatrust Brothers in tonights
only CPBL game.

And that game will begin at 6:30.

The T-R-A announced that it will accept the paper Triple Voucher for its
tickets and commodities at stores.

The Taiwan Railways Administration says the tickets will be non-refundable
but exchanges are acceptable.

The vouchers will be good for TRA's own lunch box stores at various stations
as well.

But there are restrictions.

The vouchers can't be used for tickets bought at convenience stores and post
offices, added-value e-tickets or food and drinks sold on the train.

To boost business at major train stations, passengers can also show their
tickets and get discounts at stores inside Taipei Main Station, Global Mall
Ban-qiao and Nan-gang station, among others, between July 15 and August 15th.

(JL)

A man died from a stab wound at the entrance at a Kaohsiung Dance club early
this morning.

The Kaohsiung City police department responded to the scene in Kaohsiung
City's Xinxing District around 6am this morning.

There they discovered that the victim, surnamed Li, had been stabbed in the
neck as well as other areas.

When police arrived, the 41-year-old Li was lying on the ground outside of
the club but unfortunately died while emergency personnel were performing
first aid.

According to a preliminary investigation, Li and 8 other friends met three
people surnamed Lin, Qiu and Gao as well as others.

Investigations are still pending, but police say that a fight ensued between
the two groups and Lin was the one who is accused of stabbing Li in the neck.

After the stabbing, the three suspects drove off.

The police have since arrested Qiu and Gao, have located Lin's vehicle and
are still pursuing him.

The case is still being investigated.

(SF)

Premier Su Tseng-chang says the government's coronavirus relief funds will be
expanded, with the addition of an extra budget of 200-billion N-T.

According to Cabinet spokesman Ding Yi-ming, the expanded budget is based on
amendments made to the Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization
Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens in April.

Those amendments allow the government to earmark a special budget of up to
210-billion N-T to cover the related measures and come with the option of
doubling that figure if necessary.

Ding says the proposal for the additional funds will now be submitted to the
Legislative Yuan for approval.

The military is continuing to hold live-fire rehearsals in preparation for
next week's annual Han Kuang exercise.

Troops from three branches of the military have been participating in
anti-landing drills at Jia-Nan Beach at the mouth of the Dajia River in
Taichung, simulating a Chinese seaborne invasion.

The annual live-fire Han Kuang exercises are scheduled for July 13 through 17
and will include operations at the same beach.

The Military Police Command's elite forces will be joining special police and
coast guard units for the first time in next weeks exercise.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says career diplomat Tien Chung-guang has
been appointed deputy foreign minister.

He fills the post that was left vacant when one of the two incumbents was
appointed to the National Security Council.

Tien had been serving as Taiwan's representative to India since 2013.

And he will replace Hsu Si-jien, who has been appointed deputy
secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Tien's previous posts have included director-general of the Taipei Economic
and Cultural Office in Brisbane, Australia; ambassador to Tuvalu; and
director-general of the foreign ministry's Department of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs.