The Legislative Yuan today passed amendments to the Sand and Gravel
Excavation Act, significantly increasing penalties for illegal extraction in
a bid to crack down on large-scale illegal mining.

Under the newly passed bill, if the illegal activity results in a fatality,
offenders could face life imprisonment or a prison term of at least seven
years, along with fines of up to 100 million NT.

It also stipulates that anyone who extracts sand or gravel without a permit
faces fines of up to 25 million NT, and those who do so for profit could face
up to five years in prison and fines of up to 50 million NT.

The Cabinet brought forward the draft bill in early May after news of of
large-scale illegal mining of sand showed that the practice caused serious
damage to the environment and endangered public safety.

For Indigenous peoples and the land owned by them, the amended law also
offers some exemptions.

(JL)

The Workforce Development Agency will host three large job fairs in Changhua
and Nantou during the summer, offering more than 3,200 job openings from over
80 employers.

More than 90 percent of the positions are with companies in central Taiwan,
covering industries including manufacturing, technology, healthcare,
hospitality, and long-term care.

Officals say the events aim to help new graduates find local jobs while
giving business access to local talent, with carreer counseling and resume
consultation also avaliable.

The three fairs are slated for this Saturday, July 25th in Changhua, August
22nd in Nan-tou and August 29th in Yuan-lin 員林。

(AL)

Taiwan shares shot up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 1783 points to
close the session at 44232.

The turnover was 835 billion NT.

interruptions

The National Communications Commission is confirming that the south and east
will not be affected by a simulated telecommunications interruption next
month.

The interruption is part of the 2026 Urban Resilience Drills, aiming to
strengthen troops' ability to respond to threats in less-than-ideal
scenarios.

Officials say that the interruption will affect the center and north on the
afternoons of August 10th and 13th, respectively.

The NCC chair says that the south is not included because the Han-guang Air
Raid exercises, which happen at the same time with the resilience drills, are
scheduled to take place in the morning, overlapping with trading hours for
the Taiwan Stock Exchange's.

Meanwhile, the presidential office emphasizes that the north and center
together make up nearly 3/4ths of the population of the whole country, making
these regions a priority for such drills.

It says in the future, the drills will be expanded to all across the country.

People in the center will experience interruptions to cellular data on August
10th from 2:30-3pm, while those in the north will see the same disruptions on
August 13th, also from 2:30-3pm.

(AH)

The Legislative Yuan has approved amendments to the Telecommunications
Management Act, which could pave the way for Elon Musk's Starlink to enter
the Taiwan market.

Lawmakers passed the draft bill today aiming to promote the development of
satellite communications services and the related industry.

The amendments allow approved satellite telecommunications operators to be
exempt from both the requirement that their chairperson be a Taiwanese
citizen and the existing limits on foreign ownership.

The current law caps direct foreign ownership at 49 percent and combined
direct and indirect foreign ownership at 60 percent.

It also requires the chairperson of any operator establishing a public
telecom network using satellites to be a Taiwanese citizen.

The amendments, sponsored by both the DPP and the KMT, would see low Earth
orbit satellite communications systems complement existing infrastructure and
help ensure secure and reliable communications during emergencies.

(JL)

The Food and Drug Administration says the remaining batches of cooking oil
made by Central Union Oil between April and June that had yet to undergo
safety tests have now all met safety standards.

According to the F-D-A, it has now completed the testing of all 30 batches
the produced by the company during the period.

Seven batches had previously been confirmed to contain excessive levels of a
carcinogen - which sparked widespread product recalls and safety concerns.

The administration tested 53 raw oil samples and 171 finished products.

Of those four raw oil samples and five finished products failed the tests,
but were all linked to two raw oil batches produced on April 8 and April 13
previously identified as having excessive levels of the carcinogen.

The Food Safety Risk Assessment Advisory Committee is slated to meet later
today to discuss whether products removed from shelves as a precaution can be
returned to stores.

An independent investigation team commissioned by the F-D-A will also inspect
Central Union's factory today to conduct a comprehensive review of its
manufacturing and quality management processes to try to determine the cause
of the contamination.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is defending the resilience of Taiwan's
semiconductor supply chain and dismissing concerns that a disruption to
Taiwan's energy supply could devastate the global economy.

According to the ministry, the government works closely with global
semiconductor partners and that Taiwanese manufacturers have repeatedly
ramped up production during previous supply shortages to minimize disruptions
to global supply chains.

The statement comes after Intel C-E-O Pat Gelsinger said in a recent
interview that a disruption to Taiwan's power supply, if China cuts energy
supplies due to its blockade, would have an economic impact even greater than
the Great Depression.

The economic ministry says Taiwan plays a pivotal role in the global
semiconductor and artificial intelligence supply chain, supported by its
well-established industrial infrastructure , enabling it to respond
effectively to supply disruptions.

The ministry is stressing that even after major earthquakes, nearly all of
Taiwan's semiconductor companies remained in operation, although some
production lines were temporarily affected.

The ministry is also responding to Gelsinger by saying Tai-Power will
accelerate efforts to strengthen the resilience of the national power grid
network, improving its ability to cope with unexpected incidents, extreme
weather and other regional risks.

District

The Taiwan People's Party is is accusing the Ministry of Transport of failing
to fully clampdown on illegal short-distance scooter rides in Taipei's Beitou
District.

According to the party's legislative caucus, Uber is allegedly still offering
the illegal scooter rides.

The accusations against the transport ministry come after Uber launched a
one-month so-called "cultural experience" in Beitou on July 1.

The service offered free short-distance scooter rides for a limited period
and within a limited area.

The Taipei Department of Transportation last week announced the it had fined
Rides Formosa Company 500,000 N-T and Uber 100,000 N-T for violating the
Highway Act by using scooters for commercial passenger transport.

The drivers were also fined 100,000 N-T, and their vehicle registrations and
driver's licenses were suspended.

The T-P-P says Uber's electric scooter services are still appearing on its
app and people can book rides from the Xinbeitou M-R-T Station.

Labor unions representing food delivery workers are urging the Fair Trade
Commission to reject Grab Holdings' proposed acquisition of foodpanda's
Taiwan operations.

The unions are arguing the deal will create a de facto monopoly on the food
delivery sector.

The call is being made by the National Delivery Industrial Union, the Taiwan
Delivery E-Commerce and Articulated Transportation Alliance and the Taichung
Delivery Industrial Union.

It comes after the Fair Trade Commission formally accepted Grab Holdings'
merger application last month following several months of supplementary
filings.

The F-T-C has said a decision on the merger is expected by the end of this
month if the review period is not extended.

The unions argue the acquisition would put a single operator in control of
the local delivery market because Uber Technologies is Grab's largest
shareholder ...

.. and they say it would leave Taiwan with "two companies in name, but one in
reality."

Citing an online survey by the National Delivery Industrial Union, the unions
says nearly 90-per cent of delivery workers oppose the acquisition,
reflecting fears that reduced competition would further erode couriers'
bargaining power and livelihoods.

And finally,

Taiwan's Zhan Hao-ching and Japan's Miyu Kato have won the women's doubles
title at the Women's Tennis Association Athens Open.

They beat Britain's Maia Lumsden and China's Tang Qian-hui.

Zhan and Kato advanced to the final without dropping a set.

The victory was Zhan's first W-T-A doubles title since the Stuttgart Open in
April 2024.

It was also the 22nd W-T-A doubles title of her career.

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has says the Cabinet plans to review draft amendments to
food safety laws this week and will fully explain the proposed changes on
Thursday.

The government is looking to take action after Central Union Oil Corporation
was found to be selling soybean cooking oil products containing amounts of a
carcinogen that exceeded the legal limit.

Zhu says the proposed amendments focus on ensuring better production process
oversight, strengthening abnormal incident reporting systems, improving
source management, as well as imposing digital governance of food safety.

The premier says the government is also planning to ensure preventive product
recalls and tougher penalties against companies, or individuals found to be
in violation of food safety laws as part of its efforts to strengthen the
island's food safety framework.

The premier says the Cabinet will be considering proposals from the KMT and
DPP when it meets later this week and will incorporate any suitable
recommendations into its draft amendments.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says mobile Internet disruptions can be
expected next month when the government stages its annual Urban Resilience
Exercises.

Koo says mobile Internet connections will be temporarily suspended to
simulate network disruptions in order to better test the military's command,
control, and backup capabilities.

The Urban Resilience Exercises are being held in tandem with this year's
annual Han Kuang military exercise.

The National Communications Commission has said that cell phone service will
be artificially interrupted in a simulation of an attack on communications
infrastructure... only SMS texting and calling will still be available for
the duration of the exercise.

Fixed-line communications will not be affected.

The first Urban Resilience Exercise will be taking place from 2:30 to 3PM on
August 10 and will affect mobile Internet connections in Miaoli, Taichung,
Changhua, Nantou Chiayi and Yunlin.

The second of the Urban Resilience Exercises will be taking place from 2:30
to 3PM on August 13 and will affect Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan,
Hsinchu and Yilan.

The Intellectual Property Prosecutors' Office has indicted a former Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing executive for allegedly attempting to leak the
chipmaker's core technologies to China.

Prosecutors say the former deputy manager has been charged with violating the
National Security Act and the Trade Secrets Act.

Prosecutors have requested a seven-year prison sentence - arguing that the
former T-S-M-C employees actions threatened Taiwan's technological advantage.

The indictment stems from a separate investigation into an alleged Chinese
espionage network developed by a Hong Kong national.

Prosecutors say Ding Xiaohu repeatedly entered Taiwan with the aim of
recruiting agents and gathering intelligence on critical technologies and
trade secrets.

Ding allegedly recruited the then deputy T-S-M-C manager, who made
unauthorized copies of 21 classified and general trade-secret documents
belonging to T-S-M-C and then took them home with the intention of using them
in China.

Prosecutors say T-S-M-C detected the irregularities through an internal
investigation and recovered all of the copied documents before any technology
was transferred.

The first dedicated law governing delivery platforms has taken effect today -
the legislation introduces measures that strengthen protections for delivery
workers such as minimum pay guarantees and greater transparency requirements.

The Delivery Workers' Rights Protection and Delivery Platform Management Act
was passed by lawmakers on January 6.

The Ministry of Labor says the law is intended to help create "a safer, more
transparent and fairer delivery industry."

It mandates that delivery workers receive at least 45 N-T per order and no
less than 1.25 times the statutory hourly minimum wage, calculated according
to the time spent completing an order.

That guaranteed amount is to be adjusted annually in line with minimum wage
increases.

The law also requires platforms to disclose information about order
assignments and pay calculations, establish reasonable grounds for suspending
workers or terminating their contracts, and strengthen insurance protections
for workers.

Labor Minister Hung Sun-han says data shows there were more than 100,000
delivery workers in Taiwan as of last November,

The Central Emergency Operations Center has lowered its alert for a barrier
lake on Hualien County's Wanli River.

However, bridges in the surrounding area remain closed at night as a
precaution.

The move to lower the warning from red to yellow comes after aerial images
taken by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency showed no overflow at
the barrier lake.

Still, the agency says water is continuing to seep into the gap between the
barrier lake and the surrounding terrain and, altough the water volume was
still increasing, there were no signs of an immediate breach.

The Central Emergency Operations Center has said if a red alert is
reinstated, the local government must evacuate affected communities within
two hours.

The center also says it has ordered the Forestry and Nature Conservation
Agency's Hualien branch to strengthen monitoring of the barrier lake,
requiring it to report on the status of the barrier lake three to four times
a day.

Information on the lake must be shared with the central government, township
offices, and the county government.

Members of the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War
Casualties have begun to excavate land near the decommissioned No. 3 Nuclear
Power Plant in Pingtung to look for the remains of Japanese soldiers who died
during World War II.

The the 12-day excavation is taking place outside the plant's water discharge
outlet.

Local residents and Japanese cultural historian Kazuko Tachi, who lives in
Taiwan, are assisting in the effort.

The search is being supported by the Kenting National Park Headquarters,
Tai-Power and the Pingtung County Government.

Groups are searching for the remains of Japanese soldiers who died after
their transport ship was sunk by U-S forces and are believed to have washed
ashore near the site.

The Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties says
based on oral accounts from local elders, the remains may be located among
coastal rocks near the discharge outlet of Pingtung's nuclear power plant.

An elevated pedestrian walkway connected to the Minquan Bridge in Taipei has
opened.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an is describing it as an ideal spot for watching aircraft
take off and land at nearby Songshan Airport.

Chiang said the project is part of a broader renovation project designed to
bolster the bridge's resistance to earthquakes and floods while also
improving the area's recreational facilities and pedestrian-friendly urban
environment.

The walkway provides easier access between riverside parks in Taipei's
Songshan and Neihu districts.

Construction of the walkway began in August of last year and was completed on
May 28.

The Taipei Public Works Department's New Construction Office says the walkway
features a lightweight steel structure and circular viewing platforms
overlooking the Keelung River.

It also incorporates nighttime lighting designed to complement the
illumination along both sides of the river.

Taiwanese authorities say China is increasing gray-zone maritime operations
around Taiwan ...

... in an effort to create the impression that Beijing has jurisdiction over
waters off the island's eastern coast.

The Coast Guard Administration says the number of detected Chinese government
vessel movements east of the Taiwan Strait median line rose 83 percent in
June compared with May ...

... with coast guard and research ships accounting for most of the increase.

Authorities say some Chinese vessels have radioed commercial ships near
Taiwan to ask about their routes, while research ships have collected
maritime data under the guise of scientific work.

The CGA also noted that Chinese government vessels often switch off their
automatic identification systems when approaching Taiwan ...

But Taiwan uses joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
capabilities to track their movements.

(IG)

New data show that confidence in Taiwan's economy weakened in July amid
lingering concerns over tensions in the Middle East.

It's from a survey by Cathay Financial Holding which found that consumers
have become less optimistic about both current economic conditions and the
outlook for the next six months.

It also showed that people are becoming more cautious about spending, with
willingness to purchase big-ticket and durable goods both declining from
June.

Despite the weaker sentiment, respondents still expect Taiwan's economy to
grow by an average of 9 percent this year.

Consumers also expect inflation to remain elevated, forecasting average
consumer price growth of 2.3 percent, with more than two-thirds expecting
inflation to exceed the central bank's 2 percent warning level.

(CNA_IG)

safety

President of Academia Sinica and former Vice President Chen Jian Ren is
calling for greater cooperation between central and local governments...

amidst the ongoing Central Union Oils contamination scandal.

Responding to KMT lawmaker Ke Zhi-en's 柯志恩 questions, Chen said that the
issue was considered a systemic one.

Ke said that, during Chen's time as premier, the government would immediately
remove from the shelves any food items that weren't up to snuff.

She questioned if the government response this time around was a bit too
slow.

Chen says, improvements are needed to the communication channels between
central and local governments.

(AH)

The National Delivery Industry Union and several other labor groups are
calling on the Fair Trade Commission to reject Grab's proposed acquisition of
Foodpanda Taiwan.

The groups argue the deal would effectively create a monopoly in Taiwan's
food delivery market, noting that Uber, which is already the biggest rival of
Foodpanda, is Grab's largest shareholder

They also say the two companies have cooperated in overseas markets.

According to the groups, nearly 90 percent of delivery workers surveyed
oppose the acquisition, warning it could further weaken their bargaining
power and working conditions.

Similar concerns were raised by Taiwan People's Party lawmakers ... who urged
the F-T-C to closely scrutinize the merger.

They pointed to Singapore's experience after Grab acquired Uber, where
consumer prices rose 10 to 15 percent, discounts were reduced and driver
incentives were cut.

The TPP is also asking that the Labor Ministry clearly defines the delivery
platforms' operational costs so that they don't pass the costs onto consumers
after the newly passed Delivery Workers' Rights Protection and Delivery
Platform Management Act goes into effect tomorrow.

(IG)

Taiwan’s health authorities say domestic food supplies are safe following a
major parasite outbreak linked to imported lettuce in the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration confirms that no lettuce or salad products
processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico have been imported into Taiwan.

Food distributors in the U.S. have begun recalling iceberg lettuce processed
by the company, after American health officials linked the produce to an
outbreak of Cyclospora infections... mainly in Michigan, Ohio, and New York.

The FDA says its records show zero imports of the affected Mexican lettuce
products over the past three years.

Officials say Cyclospora is not classified as a reportable infectious disease
in Taiwan and no travel advisories have been issued.

However, they are advising travelers visiting affected regions in North
America to ensure all fresh produce is thoroughly washed and water is safe to
drink.

(NS)

Two tourists visiting Xiao-liu-qiu have been referred to prosecutors on
suspicion of touching sea turtles.

Coast guard personnel received a report this morning that visitors were
disturbing a sea turtle near the Vase Rock coastal area.

Officers tracked down and detained two Taiwanese men at the scene.

Video footage captured during the incident clearly shows one man using both
hands to touch the turtle's shell, and after the turtle swam away, a second
man reaching out to touch it for several seconds.

The two men were taken in for questioning and the case has been forwarded to
the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office.

The coast guard is reminding the public that when encountering wild animals,
"no contact, no interference, and no feeding", with violations carrying a
maximum penalty of one year in prison or a fine of up to $300-thousand NT.

(NS)

The Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that the upcoming Urban
Resilience military exercises will focus on Internet disruptions.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says, the drills will aim to test the
military's command, control, and backup capabilities, in a less-than-ideal
scenario.

He adds that the results of the drills will be used to inform future
preparations and may be expanded.

The National Communications Commission has said that, during this year's
Urban Resilience exercises, cell phone service will be artificially
interrupted in a simulation of an attack on communications infrastructure.

The interruptions will take place on the afternoon of Monday, August 10th for
7 central and center-south cities and counties, followed by similar drills in
the north, including Taipei, from 2:30 PM to 3 on Thursday, August 13th.

The drills will simulate mobile network congestion or insufficient bandwidth,
meaning that only SMS texting and calling will still be available.

(AH)

Parents of children enrolled at a private preschool in Taipei have taken
legal action following allegations of widespread child abuse.

Several parent representatives filed criminal complaints at the Taipei
District Prosecutors Office today, alleging physical assault, coercion, and
interference with child development.

Parents say that after reviewing about 80 percent of the school's security
footage, they identified at least 13 victimized children and 76 separate
incidents of improper discipline.

City officials say they have already issued $506-thousand NT in
administrative fines, and expects to complete its administrative review by
the end of July.

The Department of Education has also handed over all surveillance footage,
records, and victim profiles to prosecutors to assist with the criminal
investigation.

(NS)

Taiwan shares closed down today, with the benchmark tai ex losing 221 points
to close the session at 42449.

The turnover was 938 billion NT

The Central Emergency Operation Center has downgraded the alert level for
Wan-li River's barrier lake in Hua-lian from red to yellow.

The C-E-O-C says the water level of the lake is still rising slowly but
steadily and may still overflow.

But even if water flows over the natural dam, experts believe that it'll stay
within the river channel without triggering a large release of rocks and
sediment.

C-E-O-C commander Ji Lian-cheng (季連成) stresses that the red alert remains in
place for the riverbed area, saying people and machines are strictly banned
from entering.

The lake's water level is now about 123 centimeters above the dam crest
elevation, with 5.63 million tons of water.

On transportation, the Taiwan Railway Corporation says trains on the eastern
line will maintain normal schedules all day today unless there's change in
weather.

Meanwhile Highway Bureau officials say drivers along the number 9 provincial
road should abide by possible traffic restrictions.

The Wan-li River Bridge was partially closed last night as a precaution and
is likely to open during daytime today.

Currently, 213 residents from Feng-lin 鳳林 and Wan-rong 萬榮 townships remain in
emergency shelters and some of them are allowed to go home to feed their
livestock.

(JL)

The KMT will hold its national conference this weekend, under the banner of
"care for people's welfare, love the people, fight for peace, Taiwan wins!"

The party said food safety, inflation, and the cost of living are all issues
that fall under the umbrella of "welfare."

Communications chair Chen Yi Xin 陳以信also stated that, in the face of what he
called the DPP's arrogance, the KMT must double down on caring for the
people.

Chen added that the "fight for peace" portion of the theme of Saturday's
meeting touches on Chair Zheng Li Wen's principle of promoting peaceful
exchange.

Chen noted that, after the conference concludes, the party will call on local
KMT officials and elected officials to take part in a march on Ketagalan
Boulevard against drugs.

(AH)

Reports say the Air Force is considering purchasing the latest version of the
domestically developed Teng Yun 2 uncrewed combat aerial vehicle.

Sources are being cited as saying, the move comes after the significant
upgrades improved its performance.

The Teng Yun 2 has been developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of
Science & Technology.

It completed the military's required combat readiness evaluation in May of
2024 before entering mass production.

However, the Air Force did not immediately place an order because its
performance at the time did not fully meet service expectations.

According to the institute, the Teng Yun 2 is capable of autonomous takeoffs
and landings, uses satellite navigation, and can remain airborne for nearly
24-hours.

C-P-C has opted to leave gasoline and diesel prices unchanged at the pump
this week.

The move is part of continuing government efforts to ease local inflationary
pressure, and comes despite a spike in international crude oil prices last
week.

It marks the second consecutive week that C-P-C has maintained its fuel
prices at the same levels.

The move means that the price of 92 octane unleaded remains at 29.8 N-T per
liter, while the price of premium diesel stays at 28.8 N-T a liter.

Since Donald Trump's war against Iran broke out at the end of February, C-P-C
estimates it has absorbed 15.56-billion N-T in losses.

And finally,

The Taiwan All Stars beat Team Taiwan 1-0 on Sunday in the final Chinese
Professional Baseball League All Star weekend game.

Team Taiwan beat the Taiwan All Stars 7-4 in Saturday's game.

The Team All Star squad was a fan-voted team, while Team Taiwan was made up
of players eligible for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship.

Premier Cho Rung-tai and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu attended Saturday's
game, while President Lai Ching-te and Sports Minister Lee Yang attended
Sunday's game.

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to release test results on the
cooking oil and downstream samples linked to the Central Union Oil
contamination scandal.

The F-D-A says it collected 224 samples, including raw oil and finished
products, from 52 raw oil samples and 321 product samples... but not all of
the batches could be tested because some companies had not retained reserve
samples.

If tests clear products, they can technically be removed from the list of
non-compliant items and allowed back on the market.

As of Sunday, authorities have recalled 2,769-metric tons of products from
the seven contaminated batches and removed another 5,200-tons from other
batches as a precaution, bringing the total withdrawn amount to 7,970 tons.

Central Union had produced 30 batches of oil products between April and June,
three of which were never shipped and passed government testing.

However, seven batches were found to contain excessive levels of a carcinogen
and recalled.

As of Sunday, authorities have recalled more than 27 hundred-metric tons of
products from the seven contaminated batches and removed another 5,200-tons
from other batches as a precaution, bringing the total withdrawn amount to
7,970 tons.

Premier Zhu Rong-tai has said the Cabinet will also unveil proposed
amendments to the Food Safety and Sanitation Act later today.

President Lai Ching-te is honoring Air Force pilot Hisin Po yi with a
posthumous presidential citation.

Hsin served with the Air Force's Hualien-based 5th Tactical Composite Wing.

Aside from being awarded the Order of Loyalty and Valor, he was also
posthumously promoted from captain to major.

Hsin's father, Hsin Chin-yu, accepted the citation from Lai at a ceremony.

Lai praised Hsin at the ceremony as an exemplary fighter pilot who had
devoted himself to defending Taiwan's airspace and maintaining peace across
the Taiwan Strait.

He also extended his condolences to Hsin's family and instructed the Ministry
of National Defense to provide them with "the fullest support."

Hsin's F-16V fighter jet disappeared from radar on the evening of January 6
on a routine raining mission shortly after he reported becoming separated
from the lead aircraft while flying through clouds.

The aircraft's flight data recorde was recovered in March and sent to the
manufacturer in the United States for analysis.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo said last week that the analysis is still
ongoing and results are expected soon.

U-S Senator Tammy Duckworth says China may be more likely to impose an
economic blockade on Taiwan than launch a full-scale military invasion in
2028 -- arguing such a move could be carried out under the guise of maritime
safety.

She believes Beijing will be more likely to pursue an economic blockade, and
seek to block access to the Taiwan Strait by requiring commercial vessels to
report to the Chinese Coast Guard for escort under the pretext of ensuring
maritime safety.

The statement came as Duckworth was speaking at a Center for Strategic and
International Studies event in Washington, D.C.

She was responding to comments by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd, who recently suggested Chin's Xi Jinping could seek to exploit
simultaneous U-S and Taiwanese presidential elections in 2028 to attack
Taiwan.

Duckworth serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services
committees and most recently visited Taiwan two weeks ago.

The Ministry of Education says the island's student population fell by about
6.7-per cent, over the past five school years.

Ministry data shows enrollment figures plummeted from about 4.212 million in
2020 to 3.929 million in 2025... with the sharpest declines were seen in
senior high schools and colleges, reflecting the continuing impact of the low
birth rate.

Figures show the number of senior high school students fell by about 12.7-per
cent and college enrollment declined by about 12.2-per cent in 2025.

The education ministry says enrollment declined across all senior high school
programs over the five-year period, but the share of students attending
general high schools increased to 51.7-per cent in 2025.

Data also shows that preschool enrollment fell by about 9-per cent, and
elementary school enrollment declined by about 0.7-per cent in 2025 when
compared with 2020's numbers.

The Taipei Veterans General Hospital and the Vietnam Medical Association held
their annual event in Hanoi this past weekend to expand bilateral cooperation
in cancer care, smart healthcare and medical technology.

The conference is part of the government's health diplomacy efforts in
Southeast Asia.

The Taipei Veterans General Hospital says the event drew more than 400
medical professionals, government officials, hospital administrators and
industry representatives.

That made it the largest Taiwan-Vietnam medical exchange since the conference
was launched in 2024.

The Taiwan delegation also included representatives from the Kaohsiung
Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Show Chwan Healthcare System,
En Chu Kong Hospital and Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital.

Taiwan's representative to Vietnam, Liu Shih-chung says the participation of
five major hospital systems marked a new milestone in bilateral medical
cooperation built on years of mutual trust.

Taiwan students have ranked first and third, respectively, in gold medal
tallies, at the International Biology Olympiad and the International
Chemistry Olympiad.

The students won four gold medals at the Biology Olympiad and three golds and
one silver at the Chemistry Olympiad.

Both events took place in Vilnius, Lithuania,

The Ministry of Education says Taiwan sent students from the Taipei Municipal
Chien Kuo High School, the Taipei First Girls High School the Taichung
Municipal Taichung First Senior High School to the event.

Taiwan's four-gold haul topped the medal table among 78 participating
countries and 302 contestants.

Taiwan's representative to Lithuania, Constance Wang attended the awards
ceremony and conveyed congratulations from President Lai Ching-te and Vice
President Hsiao Bi-khim to the students.

Taiwan students who win gold, silver, or bronze medals at international
academic Olympiads receive cash awards of 200,000, 100,000 and 50,000 N-T
respectively, from the education ministry.

The Central Weather Administration says rainfall is expected to peak today.

Heavy rain and localized torrential downpours are possible in the north,
northeast and mountainous areas of the center due to the influence of
southwestern winds.

Parts of the south could also see localized showers and thunderstorms today.

But other areas are expected to see mostly cloudy to sunny skies.

The administration's forecast center says southwesterly winds will gradually
weaken from tomorrow through Friday, and most of the island will see partly
cloudy to sunny skies.

However, afternoon thunderstorms can still be expected in western and
mountainous areas.

The weather administration says its also monitoring a tropical disturbance
that developed in waters east of the Philippines toward Guam... there is a
likelihood it could gradually strengthen into a tropical depression in the
latter half of this week.

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has built Taiwan's first gut microbiome database
... mapping how intestinal bacteria change throughout life.

The Chang Gung Microbiota Therapy Center says the gut microbiome, often
described as the body's "second genome," is a complex ecosystem of
microorganisms that influences digestion, metabolism, immune function and
even cardiovascular health.

The center analyzed samples from more than 1,000 Taiwanese participants ...
from newborns to a 93-year-old ... to create a life-course map of the local
gut microbiome, providing a reference for understanding health patterns in
Taiwan's population.

A hospital official said most gut microbiome research has relied on data from
Europe and the United States, but differences in diet and lifestyle mean
those findings may not fully apply to Taiwan.

He said a locally developed microbiome database will improve the accuracy of
future assessments of health risks while supporting the development of more
personalized healthcare.

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Premier Cho Jung-tai has requested the Ministry of Health and Welfare to
amend the Food Safety Act to strengthen source and process management at food
producers.

This comes amid a food safety scandal surrounding Central Union Oil Corp. ...
resulting in tainted edible oils entering the food supply.

The amended act will require businesses to report any abnormal test results
within a statutory deadline, with penalties for late submissions and heavier
punishments for malicious concealment or deception.

Yesterday, Cho lambasted Central Union for hiding the truth and delaying
reporting that hindered government agencies' ability to prevent the spread of
contaminated products.

The KMT has laid the blame squarely on the government for failing to manage
the crisis effectively and strengthen food-safety protections. It's planning
a rally for next Saturday.

The premier said the Executive Yuan will meet this coming Thursday to pass
proposed amendments to the Food Safety Act.

children

A speech therapist in New Taipei has been indicted for allegedly sexually
abusing 29 minors with speech and cognitive impairments.

Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison sentence. The speech therapist
surnamed Chen (陳) allegedly molested the children, all under the age of 12,
on 107 occasions between February and March at his clinic in Banqiao.

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The Financial Supervisory Commission says a pilot program aimed at reducing
fraud at ATMs looks promising.

The commission says that 15 banks and 1,600 ATMs have been part of the pilot
project that so far essentially looks for obscured faces of people seeking to
withdraw money.

If the user's face is covered by a mask and/or helmet, he or she is asked to
remove the coverings. Data show that 95% of people comply, while the other 5%
are allowed to complete their transactions after a 2-minute wait.

Even with this limited intervention, the commission says the number of
fraudulent withdrawals has decreased by 60% at high-risk hotspots, which
account for about 1 in 50 of the country's ATMs.

More enhancements are on the way ... with plans to detect frequent card
switching at ATMs as well as people spying on customers as they key in their
PINs.

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Taiwan and Eswatini supporters are launching a project to expand charitable
cooperation and create new opportunities.

The Taiwan International Family Alliance says the campaign encourages people
to help others through practical action.

Organizers say the project combines education, charity and trade to
strengthen ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.

The alliance says donations include children's health books, water treatment
equipment, 45 boxes of toys, and 3,000 pairs of new shoes.

According to organizers, the goal is to support children in Eswatini, a
diplomatic ally in southeastern Africa, while promoting Taiwan's cultural,
educational and economic engagement in the continent.

Taiwan is removing Cambodia from two visa-facilitation programs on Aug. 1.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it's extending eased-entry
arrangements for Thailand, India and several other Southeast and South Asian
countries.

The ministry said Cambodia had failed to reciprocate Taiwan's goodwill and
had instead echoed China in statements undermining Taiwan's sovereignty.

MOFA also accused Cambodia of appearing to support Beijing's possible use of
force in seeking unification with Taiwan.

It added that Cambodia's links to recent cross-border fraud cases have also
raised public concern.

MOFA said any resumption of visa facilitation would depend on future changes
in Cambodia's policy toward Taiwan.

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The 2026 East Longitudinal Valley Festival will be held from August 20 to 23
at the Hualien Luoshan Visitor Center in Fuli Township.

"Indigenous Brewing" is this year's theme. The festival will bring together
more than 20 Indigenous communities from the East Longitudinal Valley for a
celebration of food, crafts and culture.

Visitors can enjoy traditional cuisine, a curated market, hands-on workshops
and themed areas showcasing the cultures of the Amis, Bunun, Seediq, Truku,
and Puyuma peoples.

Ticketed corporate banquet events will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on August
20 and 21 ... and the festival will open to the public free of charge from 3
to 8:30 p.m. on August 22 and 23.

The Taichung District Court has ordered Central Union Oil Corp. General
Manager Yu Ling-chung (余凌冲) detained and held incommunicado after a higher
court overturned an earlier ruling granting him bail in a tainted oil case.

Yu is under investigation over edible-oil products found to contain excessive
levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

The district court last week ruled that detention was unnecessary and granted
Yu bail of NT$20 million (US$621,960).
It also imposed residential restrictions, an eight-month overseas travel ban
and regular police check-ins.

Prosecutors appealed, and the Taichung branch of the Taiwan High Court
revoked the bail ruling on Thursday.

The higher court said the district court had failed to adequately explain why
detention was unnecessary despite Yu's alleged flight risk and the
possibility that he could collude with others or tamper with evidence.

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