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

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

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

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



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

(CNA JL)

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

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

That accounts for almost 70 percent of the national total.

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

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

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

(NS)

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

That represents a return of 81 percent.

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

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

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

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

(JL)

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

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

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

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

It also boasts a concentration of classic Kaohsiung street food.

(NS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(JL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Currently, teenagers can only vote in referendums.

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AL)

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

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

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

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

(AL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

(AL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AL)

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

ICRT's Southern Taiwan correspondent Michael Smith reports.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prosecutors have already launched an investigation into the case.

(AL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AL)

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

The turnover was 1.025 trillion NT

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AL)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AH)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In related news,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More than 177,000 households experienced power outages around Taiwan
overnight and up to 2pm

Taipower says that it was able to restore power to nearly 9 in 10 of those
homes by that time, leaving less than 20,000 households without power.

It says it set more than 16,000 workers to the task of helping customers
recover power.

Taichung City is currently the most-affected area, with more than 3,000
customers currently without power, followed by Kaohsiung City, with more than
2,000 households still affected.

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

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

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

The general manager of Central Union Oil Corp. has been released on NT$20
million (US$622,791) bail, as prosecutors continue to look into why cooking
oil manufactured by the company contained excessive amounts of the carcinogen
benzo[a]pyrene.

The Taichung District Court also ordered the company's chairman released on
NT$20 million bail, its plant manager released on NT$1 million bail, and 10
other suspects released on bail ranging from NT$500,000 to NT$10 million
pending further investigation.

Prosecutors immediately appealed the bail ruling for the company's general
manager Yu Ling-chung (余凌沖) but not for any of the other bail orders.

Central Union is being investigated for allegedly manufacturing 1,300 metric
tons of soy-based cooking oil containing four times the legal limit of
benzo[a]pyrene and supplying it between April and June to major food
processors.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan Railways Administration says it will extend the suspension of all
reserved-seat trains on the western and eastern trunk lines until midnight.

The TRA earlier announced the suspension until 6pm.

Only local trains between Changhua and Chaozhou, between Hualien and Taitung,
and the Shalun branch line will operate normally.

The TRA advises passengers who reserved tickets on trains that have been
canceled that they can apply for full refunds for a year after the scheduled
date of departure.

A decision on train services between midnight and noon tomorrow will be
announced at 9pm.

CNA_zh_JvW

The Taipei City government is urging residents to stay at home unless it's
absolutely necessary to go out.

The government said it has so far received 217 reports of incidents, 130 of
which involved fallen trees.

It notes that the most intense wind and rain are yet to come.

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu-yan is also residents to stay home to avoid increasing
the city's injury count.

The Taichung government said that as of noon, the city had received 87
incident reports, including four people who were injured while engaging in
outdoor activities.

Lu expressed gratitude to police, firefighters and other government workers
for their efforts to respond to incidents.

Meanwhile, the Central Emergency Operations Center said there were 36
injuries across Taiwan as a result of people being out in the weather -- but
no fatalities.

More than 14,000 residents had been evacuated by 8am, with Hualien accounting
for the most: at more than 5,000 and Taichung accounting for more than 2,000.

CNA_zh_JvW

The Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Bavi is at its closest point
to Taiwan now ... and that land and sea warnings associated with the storm
will remain in effect until at least tomorrow morning ... even its intensity
weakens.

At 11:00am, the storm's center was located around 260 kilometers northeast of
Taipei, with a maximum sustained wind speed near the center of 137 km/h,

Its radius is 350 kilometers, and it's moving northwest at 25 kilometers per
hour.

The typhoon's storm circle extends to land areas north of Taichung.

Until this evening, the storm's effects on Taiwan are at their most impactful.

The Central Weather Administration says that Hsinchu County saw the biggest
accumulation of rainfall, at 334mm, by 11am. Yunlin County has seen more than
300mm of rainfall.

Areas north of Hsinchu as well as mountainous areas of Yilan, Nantou, Yunlin,
and Chiayi should all be on alert for torrential rain.

CNA_JvW

Nearly 154,000 households experienced power outages around Taiwan overnight
and up to 1pm

Taipower says that it was able to restore power to more than three quarters
of those homes by that time, leaving more than 36,000 households without
power.

It says it has set more than 16,000 workers to the task of helping customers
recover power.

Taoyuan City is the most-affected area, with more than 11,000 customers
currently without power, followed by Kaohsiung City, with nearly 6,000
households still affected.

Nearly 5,000 Taichung households were without power as of 1pm

The NT has depreciated by 30 cents vs. the US dollar so far this month,
weakening to 32.2 NT per US dollar on Thursday and holding firmly above 32
since then.

Analysts say this was inevitable given continuing tensions in the Middle
East, an ongoing correction in the local stock market and the arrival of peak
dividend season.

As of July 9th, the NT has depreciated by 3.2 percent against the greenback.

That was the day that TSMC issued its latest dividend, marked by
significantly increased capital outflows, as foreign investors repatriated
their distributions ... putting pressure on the foreign exchange market.

Cathay United Bank analyst Lin Qi-chao (林啟超) says TSMC's earnings
announcement will be in focus next week. Positive news could re-ignite
confidence in the broader stock market.

The storm is less than 300 kilometers east northeast of Taipei as it
continues to track northwesterly, with maximum sustained wind speed near the
center of 140 km/h and a radius of 350 kilometers.

Offices and schools are closed in most parts of Taiwan, and the typhoon is
affecting travel by land, sea and air.

Around 140,000 households experienced power outages around Taiwan overnight
and up to 11 o'clock this morning.

Taipower says that it was able to restore power to two-thirds of those homes
by that time, leaving nearly 45,000 households without power.

Taoyuan City is the most-affected area, with 12,000 customers currently
without power, followed by Kaohsiung City, with more than 6,200 households
affected.

More than 5,400 Taichung households were without power as 11am.

The New Taipei City government says it evacuated nearly 1,700 people since
the storm started until this morning.

Xindian was the most affected district, with more than 500 people evacuated.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi said 32 minor incidents had been resolved.
These included fallen trees, fences and power lines.

He noted that the Danhai Light Rail and Sanying Line have suspended
operations due to wind speeds exceeding the safety threshold.

Meanwhile, the Circular Line and Ankeng Light Rail will adjust train
frequency based on ridership and wind speed.

Hou reminded residents that the safest place is home, and swimming or just
watching the waves on the northern and northeastern coasts is strictly
prohibited.

The Highway Bureau says the newly opened Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei was
closed last night as Typhoon Bavi approached. It will likely reopen tomorrow.

The bureau said motorists traveling between Tamsui and Bali districts should
use the Guandu Bridge instead.

CNA_JvW

In the 24 hours starting this morning, mountainous areas are expected to
accumulate the most rainfall, with Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and
Taichung City expected to see 250-400mm.

On the plains, New Taipei City and Hsinchu County are looking at 150-250mm.

The heaviest rain is expected to fall during the daytime today.

New Taipei City is expected to record the most rainfall in the period between
July 9th and 12th.

Typhoon Bavi will push away from the island around midnight, with gusts
declining from around 10 on the Beaufort scale -- that's up to around 100
km/h -- to 7-8 in most areas. That's between 50 and 75km/h.

Most department stores in areas affected by Typhoon Bavi are closed today.

Taipei 101, Mitsukoshi, Far Eastern, Sogo, Breeze Center, Eslite and Q Square
have all announced that at least some of their stores are closed in Taipei
and as far south as Tainan.

Some are closed just for today, but others, like Q Square, announced the
closure will last through tomorrow.

The Taipei City Disaster Prevention and Relief Office says that around 50
incident reports had been filed by 7am today.

These include fallen trees, power outages and damage to public infrastructure
and buildings. The office says most of the issues will be dealt with after
the wind subsides.

The city refers to wind speeds on the Beaufort scale, with Level 10 meaning
winds between 89 and 103 km/h -- powerful enough to uproot trees. When wind
is at this level or higher, it isn't safe to repair damage.

Taipei MRT Corp. says most above-ground sections of the rapid transit system
are down ... as it's unsafe to operate trains with winds at level 10.

The entire brown line is down, as is the red line from Yuanshan to Tamshui.
Underground sections of the green and blue lines continue to run on a reduced
frequency.

Taipei mayor Jiang Wan-an says that levels as high as 11 were seen in urban
areas overnight. That's between 103 and 117 km/h.

The mayor said that he expects many more incidents to be reported through
this evening, when the storm is at its most intense.

He says he has instructed his team to make repairs as soon as it's safe to do
so.

The Water Resources Agency says it has opened the spillway leading out of the
Shimen Reservoir to control the water level.

This comes as more than 200mm or rain had accumulated in the reservoir's
catchment area.

This marks the first time the spillway has been activated in 618 days --
since Typhoon Kong-rey passed over the island on Oct. 31, 2024.

Around 105,000 households experienced power outages around Taiwan overnight
and up to around 10 o'clock this morning.

Taipower says that it was able to restore power to two-thirds of those homes
by that time, leaving more than 36,000 households without power.

Taoyuan County is the most-affected area, with nearly 7,000 customers
currently without power, followed closely by Chiayi County. More than 4,500
New Taipei City households were without power as of this morning.

The storm continued to weaken overnight and into this morning, but its radius
also reached the eastern edge of Taiwan, bringing copious amounts of rain to
northern parts of the island.

The Central Weather Administration says that the eye of the storm will be
closest to Taiwan this afternoon ... and it will be felt most intensely
between now and this evening.

At 8:00 AM, Bavi's center was located around 310 kilometers east of Taipei,
with maximum sustained wind speed near the center of 140 km/h and a radius of
350 kilometers.

That's down from sustained wind speed in excess of 180 km/h and a radius of
380 km earlier in the week.

Extremely heavy and heavy rainfall warnings are in effect for most areas
north of and including Hsinchu ... as well as in mountainous areas around
Taichung.

Offices and schools are closed in most parts of Taiwan. They're only open in
Taitung and Kinmen.

The Taiwan Railway Administration says all reserved train services will be
suspended at least until 6pm today ... and there are many suspensions for
unreserved trains as well.

The high speed rail is running on a limited schedule, with three trains
running per hour in both directions.

The MRT in Taipei is also operating on a limited schedule, with most
above-ground sections NOT operating. The entire brown line is down, as is the
red line from Yuanshan to Tamshui. Underground sections of the green and blue
lines continue to run on a reduced frequency.

Taoyuan International Airport estimates that 760 flights will be canceled
today, after 153 flights were canceled yesterday.

A handful of flights are currently listed on the website as delayed. The
airport advises passengers to check with their airlines on whether there will
be changes to scheduled flights.

Land and sea warnings are in effect for the northern half of Taiwan, with
weather officials saying it's highly unlikely that a land warning will be
issued for areas south of Yunlin.

The storm's radius and intensity are expected to decrease further tonight as
the storm heads northwest.

It's expected to make landfall in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces tomorrow
morning.

Approach

Further work and class suspensions have been announced, as rain and winds
pick up with Typhoon Bavi on approach.

Taichung City, Nantou County, and some townships in Chiayi County, have
announced that schools and offices will be closed starting 6pm tonight.

That's in addition to some townships in Kaohsiung, which made a similar
announcement earlier this afternoon.

Full work and school closures for Saturday have been confirmed in Hsinchu
County, Taichung, Nantou, Miaoli, Pingtung, and Tainan.

Other local decisions are pending.

Meanwhile...

The Central Emergency Operation Center says five people have been injured so
far, due to rough conditions brought on by the approaching Typhoon Bavi.

Officials say the cases involving scooter falls on slippery roads and a
person struck by a collapsed canopy structure.

All have been treated and discharged.

As of 2 p.m., 2,050 people have been evacuated across Taiwan.

In Hualien, nearly 200 residents from communities downstream of a
landslide-dammed lake on Wanli Creek have been relocated, and over 400 people
are in emergency shelters nationwide.

Waves of up to 8.6 meters have been detected in southeastern waters, and
residents are urged to stay away from beaches and shorelines.

Gusts of wind 118-kilometers per hour or higher are forecast tomorrow, for
Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Yilan, and outlying islands.

Officials are urging the public to complete typhoon preparations and remain
indoors.

(NS)

The Highway Bureau plans to close Danjiang Bridge tonight as Typhoon Bavi
approaches.

The pedestrian and bicycle path and motorcycle lanes are expected to close at
8 p.m.

The main roadway and bus lanes are expected to close at 11 p.m.

Drivers traveling between Tamsui and Bali are advised to use Guandu Bridge
instead.

Officials say the exact timing could change depending on weather conditions.

The bridge can withstand very strong winds, but its location at the mouth of
the Tamsui River leaves it exposed to sudden gusts.

Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai says the bridge is expected to reopen
on July 12, depending on wind conditions.



Crews will inspect the bridge for about two hours before traffic is allowed
to resume.

(PB)

Health authorities say 49 products made with oil from Central Union Oil Corp.
have now been removed from shelves as a precaution.

The affected volume has been revised down from an earlier estimate of
110-thousand metric tons to about 27-thousand-500 metric tons supplied to
Fwusow, Formosa Oilseed Processing and Taisun.

Two Central Union production lots tested above legal limits for the
carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

Meanwhile, McDonald's Taiwan issued a statement saying it does not use the
affected oil batches, and its frying oil is imported sunflower oil.

However, it has temporarily suspended its Thousand Island dressing and
changed the sauce used in breakfast egg burgers because the supplier made
those sauces during the period covered by the withdrawal order.

(PB)

Typhoon Bavi is expected to bring its strongest effects to Taiwan from
tonight through Saturday.

The Central Weather Administration says the storm is moving northwest and is
forecast to pass northeast of Taipei tomorrow afternoon.

Land warnings cover Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu City and
County, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung.

Northern, northeastern and eastern Taiwan face the greatest risk of strong
winds and heavy rain.

Torrential or extremely torrential rain is possible in northern areas, Yilan
and central mountain regions.

Authorities are urging people to stay away from beaches, rivers, mountain
roads and landslide-prone areas.

Evacuations are underway near the landslide-dammed lake on Wanli Creek in
Hualien.

Standards for work and school closures have been reached in Taichung and
Nantou, while Tainan has confirmed full work and school closures for
Saturday.

Decisions from other cities and counties were still pending at the latest
check.

Meanwhile...transport disruptions are increasing.

Some Taiwan Railways services are canceled, with Saturday morning schedules
due by 9 p.m. tonight.

Major airlines have canceled or reduced flights through the weekend.

Passengers should check directly with airlines before going to the airport.

Danjiang Bridge will close in stages tonight, beginning with pedestrian,
bicycle and motorcycle access at 8 p.m., followed by the main roadway and bus
lanes at 11.

Several mountain roads in Yilan, Hualien and eastern Taiwan are also closing.

Residents should secure loose objects, charge phones, prepare emergency
supplies and continue checking official updates.

(PB)

Major retailers today increased food and household supplies as Typhoon Bavi
approaches Taiwan.

PX Mart and RT-Mart have doubled stocks of fruit, vegetables, fish and meat.

Uni-President's hypermarket and supermarket chains have increased fresh
produce supplies to 2.4 times normal levels, reaching 180 metric tons.

A.mart says its stocks of daily necessities and fresh produce are about 30
percent above normal.

Costco stores across Taiwan are operating normally today.

Retailers say opening hours, deliveries and restocking may be adjusted
depending on local weather and closure announcements.

They are also urging customers to put safety first when deciding whether to
shop.

(PB)

The military has deployed two AAV7 amphibious assault vehicles and two
inflatable boats to Su'ao as Typhoon Bavi approaches.

More than 100 service members are also on standby in Yilan and Taoyuan to
assist with evacuations, sandbags and flood-control work.

Yilan County's emergency operations center has been raised to its highest
activation level.

Parts of Provincial Highways 9D and 7A will close tonight because of the risk
of landslides and other storm damage.

Officials say the roads are expected to reopen around noon tomorrow, although
the closures could be extended.

(PB)

Taiwan's total population fell again for June, marking 30 consecutive months
of negative population growth.

According to the latest demographic data released by the Ministry of the
Interior today, Taiwan's population decreased to 23-million-243-thousand-565
by the end of June.

Taiwan recorded only 7,324 newborns in June, bringing the total for the first
half of the year to 46,344.

Compared to the first half of last year, the number of newborns dropped by
more than 9-thousand.

Taiwan officially transitioned into a "super-aged society" last year, meaning
more than one in five citizens is aged 65 or older.

Looking at individual municipalities, Taipei City has the oldest demographic
profile in the nation, with seniors accounting for over 24-percent of its
residents.

Conversely, Hsinchu County remains the youngest, with seniors making up just
15-percent of its local population.

(NS)

Tainan will announce before the end of the workday whether offices and
schools will close tomorrow as Typhoon Bavi approaches.

Mayor Huang Wei-che says the city will base its decision on the latest
forecast from the Central Weather Administration.

Huang inspected flood-control projects and typhoon preparations along the
coast today.

He says Bavi has turned north, but its large wind field could still affect
southern Taiwan.

The city has checked pumping and drainage equipment and reviewed work in
several flood-prone areas.

Officials are urging residents to follow weather updates, complete storm
preparations and avoid coastal areas, rivers and mountains.

(PB)

Large waves from Typhoon Bavi have triggered coastal flooding at a popular
park in eastern Taiwan.

The Taitung County Government closed a major entrance to Taitung Forest Park
today after seawater surged into the grounds.



Officials say the flooding hit the Lüshui Bridge area, which sits at the
lowest elevation in the park.

The seawater submerged nearby walking paths, lawns, and public restrooms.

Emergency workers have set up caution tape to block off the flooded zones.



Authorities say they will monitor water levels at Pipa Lake before deciding
when to reopen the park.

Bavi is currently 620 kilomters east of the Eluanbi at the island's
southernmost tip, and is moving in a northwesterly direction at 27 kilometers
an hour.

The storm has a radius of 380-kilometers, and maintains wind speeds of
162-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilometers-an-hour.

(NS)

Two gold bars have been recovered from a Tainan garbage truck just before the
waste was sent to an incinerator.

A Guanmiao resident accidentally threw away a purse containing the gold and
quickly contacted sanitation workers.

Officials stopped the truck, unloaded the garbage and found the gold bars
within 10 minutes.

The Environmental Protection Bureau says valuables accidentally thrown away
should be reported immediately for a chance of recovery, before the garbage
reaches the storage pit.

(PB)

The land warning for Typhoon Bavi has expanded to 12 cities and counties,
including areas north of Taichung, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung.

The storm is expected to come closest to Taiwan from tomorrow afternoon
through the evening, although forecasters say landfall is unlikely.

The Central Weather Administration says the heaviest rain will fall from
tonight through Saturday daytime.

Northern Taiwan, Yilan and mountain areas of central Taiwan could see
torrential or extremely torrential rain.

Strong winds will also spread inland Saturday, with gusts of force 9 to 11
possible in the Taipei Basin. Winds along the north coast could be even
stronger.

Waves of more than seven meters are possible in northern and eastern waters.

Rain is expected to begin easing tomorrow night.

(PB)

As Typhoon Bavi closes in, weather officials are warning that northern and
northwestern Taiwan face torrential downpours

The Central Weather Administration says from this afternoon through Saturday,
the highest accumulations are expected across mountainous areas of New Taipei
City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County, with forecasts ranging
between 400 mm and 600 mm.

Out of the mountains, New Taipei City and Hsinchu County will see the
heaviest rainfall at up to 450 mm.

Forecasters also say wind speeds will intensify progressively as Bavi’s core
edges closer to the coast, with northern and southern coasts feeling the
effects pick up starting early Saturday morning.

An orange alert, meaning wind speeds of up to 62 kilometers per hour, is up
for Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Yilan, Miaoli, Pingtung,
Taitung, and the Matsu Islands.

And a yellow alert, meaning wind speeds up to 39 kilometers per hour is up
for Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Penghu,
and Kinmen.

Both land and sea warnings are in effect for Typhoon Bavi - as it continues
to move towards waters north of Taiwan.

The storm is currently located some 700-kilometers east of Eluanbi at the
island's southernmost tip, and moving in a northwesterly direction at speeds
of between 22 and 26-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi still has a radius of 380-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 162-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilometers-an-hour.

The Central Weather Administration says Bavi is currently forecast to pass
through waters north of Taiwan and will have a significant impact on Taiwan
-- with the most severe conditions expected from tonight through tomorrow.

According to the weather administration's latest forecast, cumulative
rainfall from now through Sunday could reach between 60 and 90-centimeters
mountainous areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County and Miaoli.

Low-lying areas of New Taipei could see between 50 and 70-centimeters of
rainfall - the highest total forecast for any plains area, while Hsinchu and
Miaoli counties can expect to receive between 40 and 60-centimeters of
rainfall.

Winds are also expected to strengthen as the typhoon approaches Taiwan from
tonight through Saturday.

Airlines have canceled dozens of domestic and international flights scheduled
for today and tomorrow.

Further disruptions are possible and travelers are being advised to check
with their carriers before heading to the airport.

The Taiwan Railways Administration and the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail are
currently operating regular schedules - but cancellations or suspensions of
service could begin this evening.

The Taoyuan Airport M-R-T is operating on a holiday timetable and the Taipei
M-R-T is also operating on a reduced schedule today.

Both land and sea warnings are now in effect as Typhoon Bavi continues to
approach northern Taiwan.

The land warning currently covers New Taipei, Yilan and Hualien.

Schools and offices are closed today in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu, Miaoli, Yilan, Hualien and Matsu due to Typhoon Bavi.

The storm is located some 710-kilometers east of Eluanbi at the island's
southernmost tip, and moving in a northwesterly direction at speeds of
between 22 and 26-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi still has a radius of 380-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 162-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilometers-an-hour.

The weather administration says Bavi is currently forecast to pass through
waters north of Taiwan, but any slight north-south shifts in its path as it
approaches the island mean that it could still make landfall.

And it's warning that Bavi's size means it will have a significant impact on
Taiwan regardless of whether or not it makes landfall, with the most severe
conditions expected from tonight through tomorrow.

According to the weather administration's latest forecast, cumulative
rainfall from now through Sunday could reach between 60 and 90-centimeters
mountainous areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County and Miaoli.

Winds are also expected to strengthen as the typhoon approaches Taiwan from
tonight through Saturday.

And the weather administration says sustained winds and gusts of between 75
and 117-kilometers-an-hour are forecast across Taiwan.

-

Airlines have canceled dozens of domestic and international flights scheduled
for today and tomorrow.

Further disruptions are possible and travelers are being advised to check
with their carriers before heading to the airport.

-

The Taiwan Railways Administration has announced that all trains on all lines
will be operating regular schedules until 6PM today.

Information about services after 6PM will be announced by the railways
administration before 2PM today and any cancellations or suspension of
services will depend on the latest typhoon developments.

Services on the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail will be operating normally today.

However, the network operator says it will issue an advance notice if any
adjustments are made to its schedule due to the typhoon.

The Taoyuan Airport M-R-T is operating on a holiday timetable today, and its
schedule will be adjusted based on the impact of the typhoon.

The Taipei M-R-T operating on a reduced schedule today - with trains on the
Wenhu Line, Tamsui-Xinyi Line, Songshan-Xindian Line, Bannan Line, and
Zhonghe-Xinlu Line running every 12 minutes.

And Danhai Light Rail and the Ankeng Light Rail will be operating with at
30-minute interval, while trains of the Sanying Line and Circular Line
will be operating at 15-minute intervals.

A delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China has toured waters
off Kinmen on board a Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel as part of a
fact-finding mission.

The group included the alliance's co-founder and executive director, Luke de
Pulford, as well as law lawmakers from the U-K, New Zealand, the Czech
Republic and Ukraine.

The delegation was accompanied by the alliance's Taiwan co-chairs, D-P-P
lawmaker Fan Yun and Taiwan People's Party lawmaker Chen Gau-tzu.

Coast Guard Administration officials briefed the delegation on maritime
security around Kinmen, including "gray-zone" activities by Chinese coast
guard vessels in nearby waters.

The visiting Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China delegation held a
closed-door meeting with officials from the Coast Guard Administration
Ninth Fleet Branch.

According to de Pulford, it's important for lawmakers from around the world
to see the situation firsthand and the visit marked the first time an
international parliamentary delegation had joined a Taiwan coast guard
patrol.

The High Court has upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of murdering
his wife, his mother-in-law and his 3-year-old stepson.

According to the High Court's Criminal Division, it rejected the defendant's
appeal after finding that the New Taipei District Court's sentencing complied
with the principle of proportionality and fit the severity of the crimes.

High Court hudges found that the man had carefully planned the murders and
the case constituted "the most serious of crimes" due to the premeditated
nature of the killings.

The murders occurred sometime between April 30 and May 2, 2024, in New
Taipei's Sanchong District.

The man suffocated his wife, his mother-in-law and his stepson while they
slept.

He then stole valuables and fled to Taichung, before being arrested there on
May 12.

The New Taipei District Court sentenced Chang to death in September of last
year.

The High Court ruling can be appealed.

And finally in last night's Chinese Professional Baseball League.

The T-S-G Hawks beat the Wei Chuan Dragons 5-0 at the Douliu Stadium in
Yunlin.

In this evening only scheduled game ...

The Uni-President Lions meet the Wei Chuan Dragons at the Asia-Pacific
International Baseball Training Centers in Tainan.

That game, weather permitting, begins at 6:30.

However, fans are still being advised to check with the C-P-B-L website
before heading to the stadium.

The evening's other scheduled games between the C-T-B-C Brothers and the
Fubon Guardians at the Xinzhuang Stadium in New Taipei and between the T-S-G
Hawks and the Rakuten Monkeys at the Rakuten Taoyuan Stadium have already
been cancelled due to the typhoon.

The Central Weather Administration has now issued both land and sea warnings
for Typhoon Bavi.

The land warning currently covers New Taipei, Yilan and Hualien.

Schools and offices are closed today in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu, Miaoli, Yilan, Hualien and Matsu.

While schools and offices will be closed from 6PM today and all day tomorrow
in Taichung.

The weather administration says Bavi is currently forecast to pass through
waters north of Taiwan, but any slight north-south shifts in its path as it
approaches the island mean that it could still make landfall.

It's warning that Bavi's size means it will have a significant impact on
Taiwan regardless of whether or not it makes landfall, with the most severe
conditions expected from tonight through tomorrow.

The storm is currently located some 750-kilometers east of Eluanbi at the
island's southernmost tip, and moving in a northwesterly direction at speeds
of between 22 and 26-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi still has a radius of 380-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 162-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 198-kilometers-an-hour.

The latest forecast shows cumulative rainfall from now through Sunday could
reach between 60 and 90-centimeters mountainous areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu County and Miaoli.

Low-lying areas of New Taipei could see between 50 and 70-centimeters of
rainfall - the highest total forecast for any plains area, while Hsinchu and
Miaoli counties can expect to receive between 40 and 60-centimeters of
rainfall.

Winds are also expected to strengthen as the typhoon approaches Taiwan from
tonight through Saturday.

The weather administration says sustained winds and gusts of between 75 and
117-kilometers-an-hour are forecast across Taiwan.

The weather administration has also issued its first ever "mega wave" warning
since introducing the new alert system this typhoon season.

That warning covers coastal areas of Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung.

-


Airlines have canceled dozens of domestic and international flights scheduled
for today and tomorrow.

Further disruptions are possible and travelers are being advised to check
with their carriers before heading to the airport.

-

The Taiwan Railways Administration has announced that all trains on all lines
will be operating regular schedules until 6PM today.

Information about services after 6PM will be announced by the railways
administration before 2PM today and any cancellations or suspension of
services will depend on the latest typhoon developments.

Services on the Taiwan High Speed ​​Rail will be operating normally today.

However, the network operator says it will issue an advance notice if any
adjustments are made to its schedule due to the typhoon.

The Taoyuan Airport M-R-T is operating on a holiday timetable today, and its
schedule will be adjusted based on the impact of the typhoon.

The Taipei M-R-T operating on a reduced schedule today - with trains on the
Wenhu Line, Tamsui-Xinyi Line, Songshan-Xindian Line, Bannan Line, and
Zhonghe-Xinlu Line running every 12 minutes.

And Danhai Light Rail and the Ankeng Light Rail will be operating with at
30-minute interval, while trains of the Sanying Line and Circular Line will
be operating at 15-minute intervals.

Meanwhile,

Authorities in Hualien have evacuated over 900 residents from 358 households
in Fonglin and Wanrung townships, as Typhoon Bavi approaches Taiwan.

A "yellow alert" for two landslide dams on Wanli Creek and Matai'an Creek has
also been issued.

The Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency issued that
alert citing the risk of landslides and debris flows near the two creeks -
after the Central Weather Bureau issued a sea warning for the typhoon.

Vulnerable residents and people with limited mobility have also been
evacuated from Guangfu Township.

Authorities say the typhoon is expected to bring torrential rain to the area,
which already face multiple hazards, including possible overflow from
Matai'an Creek, the Wanli Creek landslide dam, and the threat of debris
flows.

The U-S State Department says Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have all reaffirmed
the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Top diplomats from all three countries the restated that goal during a
meeting of their top diplomats on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey
earlier this week.

U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Japanese and South Korean
counterparts to discuss how deeper trilateral ties could benefit shared
economic interests and promote security and prosperity in a free and open
Indo-Pacific.

The State Department says the three official underscored the importance of
maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and expressed
concern over the "increasingly frequent destabilizing actions around Taiwan."

The State Department says they also encouraged the peaceful resolution of
cross-strait issues and expressed opposition to any attempts to unilaterally
change the status quo, particularly by force or coercion.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang has further expanded recall orders for
products containing edible oil manufactured by Central Union Oil.

The latest move means that edible oil products manufactured by Central Union
between April and June, along with first and second-tier food products made
using those oils, must be removed from shelves by noon today.

Shih says all affected products are banned from being returned to store
shelves until tests have confirmed they are safe.

The Ministry of Health initially ordered the recall of directly affected
products on July 1.

It expanded the order on July 4 to include edible oils and processed foods
containing more than 20-per cent of the affected oil, before extending it on
July 7 to processed foods containing smaller amounts.

The Food and Drug Administration earlier this week expanded the list of
products under precautionary recall due to the contaminated cooking oil -
raising it to 401 items.

Prosecutors are continuing to investigate Central Union's internal reporting
procedures and quality control practices, while regulators have imposed
administrative penalties on the company for violations of food safety
reporting requirements.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has held talks with a delegation of Panamanian
lawmakers - during which he called for Taiwan and Panama to deepen
cooperation in trade and technology.

Han also urged both side to establish closer parliamentary exchanges.

Han thanked the cross-party delegation for visiting Taiwan and stressed his
belief that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries remain
strong despite changes in official relations.

Han also said he hopes to see cooperation with Panama expand in the areas of
trade, technology, and industry.

The Panamanian delegation led by the chair of the National Assembly Committee
on Agricultural and Fisheries Affairs.

Panama officially severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of
Beijing in 2017.

However, Panamanian lawmakers have made regular parliamentary trips to Taiwan
in recent years.

And,

The Taoyuan City Government has broken ground on the construction on the
M-R-T Brown Line.

The 11-kilometer line will connect northern Taoyuan with New Taipei and
Taipei when completed and runs from Taoyuan Railway Station to the New Taipei
M-R-T's Huilong Station.

It includes 6-kilometers of underground track, 5-kilometers of elevated track
and will have eight stations.

The Cabinet first signed off on the Taoyuan Metro Brown Line project in May
of 2024 and a project budget of 45.6-billion N-T was approved in January of
this year.

Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony, Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang said the
new M-R-T line will cut travel time between downtown Taoyuan and Huilong in
New Taipei City to about 18 minutes.

Huilong Station is on the M-R-T Zhonghe–Xinlu, or Orange Line.