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.

Taoyuan International Airport says all scheduled flights operated by Taiwan's
airlines on Saturday have been canceled ... as Super Typhoon Bavi tracks
towards the island.

China Airlines and EVA Air will suspend flight operations from 6 PM Friday
through 4 AM Sunday, while Starlux Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan have canceled
all Saturday flights.

Airlines have also begun canceling or rescheduling many flights on Friday,
with international and domestic routes affected as carriers adjust operations
ahead of the storm.

Airport officials say they have completed typhoon preparations, including
reinforcing flood defenses, inspecting key facilities and securing
construction sites.

Pumps have also been deployed in flood-prone areas.

Travelers are advised to stay up to date with the latest official flight
information.

(IG)

In related news,

The Central Weather Administration is warning that northern mountain areas
could receive up to 900 millimeters of rain over the next four days as Super
Typhoon Bavi approaches.

Forecasters say the heaviest rainfall is expected in the mountains of New
Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli from this evening through Sunday.

New Taipei City's lowland areas could receive as much as 700 millimeters of
rain during the same period.

The weather agency says Bavi is expected to pass over waters north of Taiwan,
with the most severe conditions forecast from Friday night through Saturday.

Strong winds will also intensify on Friday, with Penghu expected to see Force
8 to 9 gusts during the first half of the day, while western Taiwan and
Yilan's coastal areas will see winds gradually strengthen later.

A land typhoon warning is expected to be issued during early hours Friday.

The CWA mid-afternoon issued a sea warning for the Bashi Channel and waters
off the northeast and southeast of Taiwan ... uring ships to exercise extreme
caution.

As for where the storm is ...

It's still far from Taiwan ... with the latest CWA data showing its location
was around 870 kilometers east-southeast of Cape Eluanbi ... moving
north-northwest and speeds between 17 and 25 kilometers per hour.

Bavi is was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 184 kilometers per hour
near its centre ... with gusts of up to 227 kilometers per hour.

(IG)

Health officials are urging the public to follow critical water safety
guidelines, as millions of students kick off their summer vacations.

The Health Promotion Administration issued guidelines today, highlighting
three steps to minimize risks during summer water activities, which involve
observing the environment for weather conditions or warnings, choosing legal,
monitored sites for swim or play, and learning about self-rescue and
emergency reporting.

Officials stress that if someone is spotted drowning, bystanders must never
jump into the water blindly to attempt a rescue, as this frequently leads to
secondary casualties.

Instead, observers should shout loudly for help and immediately call
emergency services.

(NS)

The 2026 Kaohsiung Coffee Festival will take place on August 22 and 23 at
Ao-zih-di Forest Park, with this year's event centered around the theme of
iced coffee.

The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau says applications are now open for coffee shops
and dessert vendors, with organizers planning to feature more than 60 brands
from across Taiwan.

The festival aims to showcase the city's diverse coffee culture.

Officials say will highlight specialty coffee from Kaohsiung's indigenous
mountain regions, along with popular city cafés.

Last year's event attracted more than 50,000 visitors over two days, making
it one of Kaohsiung's signature summer events.

(AL)

Taiwanese infielder Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) had another strong night in the
Major Leagues.

Cheng drove in two runs Wednesday as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Chicago
White Sox, five to nothing in Chicago.

Starting at shortstop, he went two-for-three with a pair of run-scoring
singles. This was his second straight multi-hit game which lifted his batting
average to .273.

His first single opened the scoring in the third, and his second stretched
Boston's lead to five-nothing in the fourth.The win takes the Red Sox to 42
and 48 for the season.

(JC)

The Central Weather Administration has updated it's latest information on
Severe Typhoon Bavi ...

The storm is still far off and moving towards Taiwan ...

CWA data show the storm is now approximately 870 kilometers east-southeast of
Cape Eluanbi ... moving north-northwest and speeds between 17 and 25
kilometers per hour.

Bavi is still packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 184 kilometers per
hour near its centre ... with gusts of up to 227 kilometers per hour.

Its radius is still massive, spanning 380 kilometers.

In other words, no major changes in the storm's strength and size since the
CWA issued a sea warning for it at 2:30 this afternoon ...

... which remains in effect for the Bashi Channel, as well as waters off
Taiwan's northeast and southeast.

Bavi is still forecast to be nearest to Taiwan tomorrow and on Saturday ...
with the biggest impact exected on Saturday.

A land warning is expected to be issued overnight during early hours -- at
around 2:30 AM to 3:30 AM.

In related news,

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says local governments across northern Taiwan will
announce by 8 PM whether work and classes will be suspended tomorrow as
Severe Typhoon Bavi approaches.

Hou made the announcement today while inspecting flood-control preparations
in the coastal districts of Wanli and Jinshan.

He said the visit was aimed at checking flood-control measures and river
dredging following severe flooding caused by Typhoon Krathon last year.

Hou said reducing the impact of Bavi is now the city's top priority and that
officials will continue monitoring the storm while making disaster
preparedness their immediate focus.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an later echoed Hou's remarks, confirming that the
announcement would also be made by 8 PM.

(IG)

Also in similar news,

President Lai Ching-te is ordering the military to help local governments
prepare for Typhoon Bavi.

Lai visited the Army's Lanyang Area Command in Yilan this morning to inspect
typhoon preparations.

Lai says the military's mission is to protect people's lives and property,
both during security threats and natural disasters.

He says troops and equipment should be pre-positioned in flood-prone areas
and places at higher disaster risk.

Lai says the Lanyang Area Command has already completed its response
organization and placed personnel and machinery in vulnerable areas of Yilan.

He says the military should also help with recovery work if reconstruction is
needed after the storm.

(PB)

Taiwan has ordered all edible oils and related food products manufactured by
Central Union Oil between April and June to be pulled from shelves by noon
tomorrow.

The order follows the discovery of additional batches containing excessive
levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

The contaminant was initially found in soybean salad oil produced in April
and May, prompting earlier recalls.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang added that the expanded
precautionary recall also covers first- and second-tier food products made
using oil from Central Union oil during the three-month period.

Officials say the products may only return to the market after testing
confirms they meet food safety standards.

Authorities are continuing to investigate why the contamination was not
reported to regulators for weeks after it was first detected.

The Cabinet, meanwhile has ordered an indefinite shutdown of Central Union
Oil ... and pledged government support for consumer lawsuits ... as
authorities continue to investigate how the contamination happened.

(IG)

The Central Weather Administration has issued a Sea Warning for Severe
Typhoon Bavi ... which is continuing to draw closer to Taiwan.

According to the weather agency, the storm is located about 920 kilometers
east-southeast of Cape Eluanbi and is moving north-northwest before gradually
turning northwest at 20 to 23 kilometers per hour.

Bavi is packing maximum sustained winds of around 184 kilometers per hour
near its center, with gusts of up to 227 kilometers per hour.

The CWA is urging vessels operating in the Bashi Channel and in waters
northeast and southeast of Taiwan to exercise extreme caution.

Forecasters say the storm's outer rainbands will begin bringing strengthening
winds and rough seas to areas around the island later today, with increasing
rainfall is expected across northern and northeastern Taiwan.

Tainan's "Taxi-Bus" program is launching two new routes and expanding into
new districts.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-cher announced the launch of the Green 33 and Green 34
lines, which bring the total number of Taxi-Bus routes across the city to 46.

The service was first introduced in 2019, to patch public transit gaps in
rural and suburban communities.

The buses operate on standard bus fares, and senior citizens can ride
completely free using their municipal welfare cards.

The mayor says the newly launched routes are tailored to meet daily medical,
commuting, and shopping needs for suburban residents.

(NS)

Premier Cho Jung-tai is urging local governments to finish final typhoon
preparations before strong Typhoon Bavi reaches Taiwan.

Cho says local authorities should speed up drainage ditch cleaning,
especially in areas hit by the June 25th heavy rain.

He says the government has prepared more than 6-thousand-600 rescue workers,
nearly 4-thousand-500 rescue vehicles, over 1-thousand-200 boats and 24
standby helicopters.

The military is also placing nearly 29-thousand troops on standby for
disaster response.

Cho says 173 areas at risk of becoming isolated have completed preparations
for supplies, communications and evacuation shelters.

The government has also prepared nearly 1-thousand-900 large mobile pumps,
with about half already placed in flood-prone areas.

(PB)

New Taipei police say Danjiang Bridge could be fully closed if Typhoon Bavi
brings strong winds to the Tamsui River estuary.

Police say when average wind speeds on the bridge reach level 8, motorcycle,
pedestrian and bicycle lanes will be closed.

The speed limit on the main lanes will also be cut from 80 to 40 kilometers
per hour.

If average wind speeds reach level 10, the entire bridge will close to all
vehicles.

Police say traffic between Tamsui and Bali will be diverted through Guandu
Bridge and nearby roads if the closure takes effect.

They say traffic controls and signal adjustments may be used as needed.

The public is being advised to avoid unnecessary travel during the typhoon
and check official road updates before heading out.

(PB)

Kaohsiung City is expanding its precautionary recall of products linked to
the contaminated cooking oil case.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai has ordered all 18 oil products listed by the central
government, as well as blended oils made with Central Union Oil Corporation
products, to be removed from shelves by tomorrow midnight, regardless of
batch number or expiration date.

Health officials say the latest test results suggest the contamination may
not be limited to a single batch, but could affect products made on the same
production line.

They also say the products can only return to shelves after passing safety
inspections or receiving approval from health authorities.

This comes after another Tai Shan soybean oil product was found to contain
excessive levels of carcinogenic chemical BaP.

(AL)

Tigerair Taiwan, STARLUX Airlines and China Southern Airlines all announced
schedule changes today as Typhoon Bavi moves closer to Taiwan.

STARLUX says some flights from today through July 12th have been rescheduled,
delayed or canceled.

Tigerair says some flights between Taiwan, Okinawa and Nagoya have also been
moved earlier or delayed for safety reasons.

China Southern Airlines is canceling several flights between Taipei and
Wuhan, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou tomorrow and Saturday.

The airlines are advising travelers to check official websites or apps before
heading to the airport.

**The Central Weather Administration says it could issue a sea warning for
Bavi at 2:30 this afternoon, followed by a land warning early tomorrow
morning.

(PB)

Three KMT Taipei city councilors have filed a criminal complaint against
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang and Food and Drug Administration head Chiang
Chih-kang over the contaminated cooking oil case.

They accuse the two officials of dereliction of duty over excessive levels of
the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene found in soybean oil made by Central Union Oil
Corporation.

The move comes after a legislative committee passed a motion calling for
Premier Cho Jung-tai, Shih and Chiang to resign and apologize.

Opposition lawmakers have criticized the government for changing its recall
policy several times, from targeting only products with high levels of
tainted oil to ordering all affected products removed from shelves.

Shih says he is willing to apologize for the confusion.

But Cho denies the government delayed disclosures, saying authorities
released confirmed findings and removed affected products immediately.

(PB)

The live-action Kiki's Delivery Service musical opens in Taipei tomorrow,
with flight scenes bringing Kiki's magic to the stage.

The production team held flight and costume rehearsals yesterday, with both
the older and younger versions of Kiki testing high-altitude flying.

The Japanese flight team says each flying scene requires two staff members
working closely together.

The show also uses a safety signal. If Kiki moves her broom forward while in
the air, backstage crews will dim the lights and lower her safely.

The musical will run at the National Theater in Taipei from July 10th to
19th, then at the National Taichung Theater from July 24th to August 2nd.

(PB)

The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the list of products under
precautionary recall due to the presence of a contaminated cooking oil.

The F-D-A has now raised the number of products to just over 400 items.

These include 14 convenience store meals made by Ping Rong Foods' Xinfeng
plant, eight Wei Wong instant noodle products, 33 products from Louisa
Coffee, and packaged chicken from C-P Enterprise.

The Keelung City Health Bureau says 80 convenience store food items produced
by Lian Hwa Foods' Keelung plant that appeared on the F-D-A's list are no
longer on store shelves because they had either been sold or had expired.

In Taichung, authorities have identified five third-tier food businesses that
had used or purchased products made with the tainted oil - and all of those
affected items have now been removed from sale.

While in Pingtung, officials said over 6,000-kilograms of sauces, broths and
other products had been precautionarily removed from the market.

President Lai Ching-te says his administration will encourage more Taiwan
companies to use Guatemala as a base for entering Latin American markets.

This, as Lai held talks with the visiting president of Guatemala's Congress,
Luis Alberto Contreras Colindres, where he expressed the confidence that
better ties between Taiwan and Guatemala will bring more business
opportunities for both sides.

Lai pointed out that two way trade has reached 130-million U-S dollars for
two consecutive years now and the Central American country is fast becoming
Taiwan's largest supplier of sugar and fourth-largest supplier of coffee.

Lai praised Guatemala for boosting economic and trade ties with Taiwan after
the signing of a memorandum of understanding on semiconductor cooperation.

That M-O-U was signed last June and supports Guatemala's Chip Road Project.

Lai also thanked Contreras for signing a resolution in May that supports
Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

Visiting U-S Senator Tammy Duckworth is calling on countries to exercise
their freedom of navigation rights by transiting waters claimed by China ...

.. saying such actions will deter Beijing from establishing jurisdiction over
those areas.

The visiting US senator says she believes it's is important for countries to
continue to transit those waters in accordance with international law and not
allow the China to establish any foothold in creating a different order.

Duckworth says the issue could also have implications for the Taiwan Strait
and is suggesting that Beijing could at some point require all ships
transiting the strait to first register with the Chinese coast guard.

And that, she said is something "we cannot allow to happen."

Duckworth made the appeal on opening day of the Taiwan International Ocean
Forum in Taipei-- a two-day event covering Indo-Pacific security, the role of
coast guards, sustainable development, emerging technologies for ocean
governance, and youth engagement.

The Mainland Affairs Council is accusing China of "glorifying violence" after
Beijing described the assault of a Taiwan-based Japanese political
commentator in Taichung as motivated by "righteous indignation."

The Council says Beijing's failure to condemn the assault and describe it as
an "ordinary" public security case is evidence on "an attempt to treat
Taiwanese people like fools."

Akio Yaita was punched in the face while making a phone call in a hotel lobby
by a man from Hong Kong.

Akio Yaita has just finished giving a speech at an an event when he was
punched in the face.

The council pointed out that when major social incidents in Taiwan have
attracted public attention in recent years, China's Taiwan Affairs Office has
has been quick to speak up for the parties or suspects involved ...

.... even as it accused Taiwan of "political persecution" or "political
suppression."

The suspect in the assault is being held after he was arrested at Taichung
International Airport... he was allegedly preparing to board a flight to
Busan, South Korea.

A road collapse and gas leak at the redevelopment site of Formosa Plastics
Group's former headquarters in Taipei's Songshan District prompted the
evacuation of nearby residents and traffic restrictions.

The Taipei Fire Department says a sinkhole measuring about 4-meters in
length, 2-meters and width and 1-meter in depth appeared on Dunhua North
Road.

The collapse of the road ruptured a gas pipeline, and gas services were
halted.

Firefighters cordoned off the area, evacuated nearby residents, and imposed
traffic restrictions.

The Taipei City Department of Urban Development says the incident was related
to construction work being carried out by B-E-S Engineering at the
redevelopment site.

The company could face a fine due to violations of the Building Act for
causing the pipeline rupture and road collapse.

The Central Weather Administration says it could issue a sea warning for
Typhoon Bavi as early as today, while a land warning could be issued this
evening or early tomorrow morning.

The administration says the storm is most likely to pass over waters off
northeastern Taiwan, but interactions with the island's terrain could still
bring it closer to land.

The storm is currently located some 1,200-kilometers east-southeast of
Eluanbi at Taiwan's southernmost tip, and moving in a northwesterly direction
at 13-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi still has a radius of 380-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 190-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 234-kilometers-an-hour.

While it is currently weakening, the typhoon's outer rim is expected to begin
affecting Taiwan from this evening, bringing increased rainfall to the north
and northeast.

It's expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from tomorrow evening
through Saturday.

Heavy rain is expected in the north, northeast and center as well as in
mountainous areas in the east and south.

Although the storm remains well offshore, it's already disrupting
transportation and prompting preparations across Taiwan.

Passenger ferry services in eastern Taiwan have been suspended, with more
cancellations on routes to Matsu, Penghu and Xiaoliuqiu through Saturday.

Authorities are urging travelers to return from offshore islands early to
avoid being stranded.

In Taitung, tourists have been ferried back from Green Island and Orchid
Island, while supplies have been shipped in ahead of the storm.

Fishers are also securing boats, and farmers are rushing to harvest crops
before conditions deteriorate.

Authorities have also ordered the preemptive closure of Guishan Island from
Thursday through Sunday, while highway officials are monitoring mountain
roads and say traffic restrictions could be imposed on the Danjiang Bridge if
winds become too strong.

Meanwhile, China Airlines is waiving ticket change fees for eligible flights
through Saturday.

Two people have been rescued after becoming trapped on a third-floor ledge
during a fire at an apartment building in New Taipei's Sanchong District.

Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 5 PM at the 12-story
building on Huanhe North Road, where thick smoke left a man and a woman
stranded outside.

Both were rescued by ladder and taken to hospital as a precaution.

Officials say they remained conscious throughout the incident.

Two other residents were safely evacuated before the fire was brought under
control about 20 minutes later.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

(IG)

Keelung health officials say 80 convenience store food products linked to the
case of contaminated cooking oil are no longer available for sale.

The products included ready-to-eat items such as tuna rice balls that were
produced using the affected soybean oil between April 13th and April 19th.

Officials stressed that all of the products were fresh foods with short shelf
lives and had either been sold and consumed before their expiration dates or
removed from shelves after expiring.

They said none of the affected items are currently available at convenience
stores.

The statement came after the Food and Drug Administration yesterday released
a list of 232 products connected to the contaminated oil case.

Keelung authorities have suggested the agency include expiration dates or
additional notes in future public lists to help prevent confusion among
consumers.

(IG)

Taipower says it is preparing for possible widespread power outages as Super
Typhoon Bavi approaches Taiwan.

The state-run utility has mobilized more than 7,300 personnel, along with
thousands of vehicles and pieces of equipment, and says it has completed line
inspections, tree pruning and pole reinforcement to help prevent storm
damage.

Repair crews and equipment have also been pre-positioned in vulnerable
mountain and outlying island areas, while cross-regional support teams will
be activated if major outages occur.

Meanwhile, Economics Minister Gong Ming-xin is urging local governments to
step up flood prevention efforts, including clearing drainage systems and
lowering water levels in flood retention ponds ahead of the storm.

He also called on local governments to ensure water pumps and other
flood-control equipment are fully operational.

（AH）

The Financial Supervisory Commission says extending stock market trading
hours is not a priority and there's no timetable for making the change.

FSC Chairman Peng Jin-lung (彭金龍) says trading will stay at its current hours
of 9 AM to 1:30 PM until there's broader public consensus.

His comments come after Taiwan Stock Exchange Chairman Sherman Lin said last
week the exchange is studying longer trading hours because Taiwan's market
closes earlier than many others around the region.

(CNA_IG)

With Severe Typhoon Bavi approaching, the Highway Bureau has placed several
mountain and coastal highways on alert, including the number 9 Beiyi (北宜)
Provincial Road and the Northern Cross-Island Highway.

Authorities warns that traffic restrictions or road closures may be imposed
if weather conditions worsen.

The newly opened Tamkang (淡江) Bridge is also under close watch.

If average wind speeds reach level 8 on Friday, speed limits will be reduced,
and if they reach level 10, the bridge will be closed to traffic.

Meawhile Yunlin County is stepping up its flood preparations.

The county has deployed 366 mobile pumps, stocked 6,000 sandbags, and
completed inspections of pumping stations.

Officials are also lowering water levels in detention ponds to create more
flood storage and clearing drainage channels to improve water flow.

Yunlin has also expanded its smart flood monitoring system, using
surveillance cameras, and AI technology to track flooding in real time and
improve emergency response.

(AL)

Four DPP nominees to run for municipal offices in the north have signed on to
an intiative proposed by a civil group aiming to pedestrian safety.

The Walk with the Next Generation says they expect political candidates to
make road safety a priority from the start of their terms and to lead
government workers in creating safer streets.

Cadidates for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Yilan's mayoral and magistrate
races have pledged to support the initiative.

Organizers urge candidates who have not yet responded to sign on as well.

Taipei's Puma Shen says, the most needed improvement in the capital city is
to make school commutes safer for children.

His counterpart over in New Taipei, Su Qiao Hui, echoed Shen, saying that
making transit near schools safer is a priority, particularly promoting
better sidewalks for kids walking to school.

(AH)

Construction company BES Engineering says a road collapse and gas leak
outside one of its Taipei construction sites have been brought under control.

The incident occurred in Songshan District near a redevelopment project close
to Dunhua North Road, where part of the roadway gave way, causing a minor gas
leak.

The company says construction work was immediately suspended while emergency
crews secured the area and implemented traffic controls.

Officials say inspections found no immediate safety concerns for nearby
buildings or public infrastructure.

BES Engineering says repairs will begin once damaged utility lines have been
restored, while the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

(IG)

Health Minister Shi Chong-liang announced today that a new batch of mixed
cooking oil produced by Tai-sun (泰山) Enterprise has been found to contain an
excessive level of a carcinogen.

The Minister said his agency is tracing the batch to see how it's related to
the original 1,300 metric tons of tainted oil produced by Central Union Oil
and sold to big-name companies such as Tai-sun and Fwu-sow (福壽) Industry.

Meanwhile the latest food safety scare continues to widen after authorities
expanded the list of products being pulled from shelves to more than 400 from
232.



Newly affected products include soups from Golden Three Wheat, chicken
breast products from CP Taiwan, instant noodles from Ve Wong (味王),
ready-to-eat meals at convenience stores and dozens of items sold by Louisa
Coffee.

The Food and Drug Administration said it has recalled or removed 43 tons of
the tainted products and will continue do so.

Health officials said prosecutors have joined the investigation to determine
whether there was any wrongdoing, from the initial reporting of the case to
the production process at the manufacturer.

(JL)

Police have arrested in man in Hualien after he allegedly threw an egg at the
DPP offices in the city.

That's the second such incident to have taken place in one year.

The man, surnamed Li, is believed to have thrown a single egg at the offices
last night around 6pm before quickly leaving on a motorbike.

Li says, he and his brother were having an argument about politics, which
apparently led him to feel take the action.

After questioning, Li was arrested on suspicion of intimidation charges.

(AH)

The Coast Guard Administration has accused the China Coast Guard of underming
regional stability after four Chinese vessels approached restricted waters
near Kinmen this morning.

The C-G says the Chinese coast guard ships came near Kinmen in two groups,
prompting Taiwan to dispatch four patrol boats to shadow them one-on-one
while repeatedly ordering them to leave by radio.

The vessels departed the area after about three hours.

Officials criticized Beijing for carrying out what they described as
"gray-zone" harassment ... especially as Taiwan is focused on preparing for
Severe Typhoon Bavi.

They called the actions unreasonable, unprofessional, and a threat to
maritime safety.

(IG)

EVA Air has been ranked No. 1 in the World's Best International Airlines
category in Travel Leisure's 2026 readers' survey.

It's the first time a Taiwanese carrier has received the top ranking by the
American travel magazine.

The World's Best Awards annual survey evaluated airlines based on cabin
comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and overall value, with more
than 200,000 readers participating this year.

EVA Air made the short list of 10 together with Qatar Airways, Emirates,
Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines, among others before emerging as the
top one.

In a statement, EVA Air attributed the result to the dedication of its
employees and said it will continue improving its service quality.

(AL)

Taiwan's inflation is expected to stay below 2 percent in 2026, even though
consumer prices rose 2.6 percent in June - the biggest increase in 17 months.

Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) says falling global crude oil
prices, now close to 70 U-S dollars a barrel, mean Taiwan is not at risk of
imported inflation.

Government data show inflation has now remained above the 2 percent mark for
a second straight month after rising 2.2 percent in May.

Consumer prices increased 2.17 percent in the second quarter.

Yang says June's figures were broadly in line with the central bank's
expectations, and it is still forecasting inflation of 1.91 percent for the
year.

Fuel prices in June jumped 19.45 percent from a year earlier, while airfares
rose 13.49 percent and vegetable prices climbed 10.05 percent because of
higher oil prices and recent heavy rain.

(CNA_IG)

Taipei Mayor is trading fire with the central government over the recent
contaminated cooking oil issue.

Mayor Chiang Wan An yesterday criticized Executive Yuan's handling of the
issue, saying the Food and Drug Administration received related reports in
late June but waited a whole week before publicizing it.

He said President Lai Ching-te and Premier Zhuo Rong-tai have let the people
down, adding that the central government has failed to adequately monitor the
quality of food oils.

But Premier Zhuo said today that the central government is handling the
situation with urgency...

and said that he hoped local governments would "focus on typhoon
preparation."

Zhuo stressed that the central government will announce any food safety
issues as soon as it receives notifcation, and take those products off the
shelves.

(AH)

A construction site at Formosa Plastics Group's former headquarters in
Taipei's Songshan District experienced a minor ground collapse and gas leak
earlier today.

The company confirms that the incident occurred at a redevelopment project
near Dunhua North Road, where the company's old office building is being
demolished and rebuilt.

A Formosa Plastics executive says a wall at the construction site suffered a
minor collapse, and because a gas pipeline runs alongside the site, some gas
escaped as a result.

The company says emergency response measures were activated immediately...

and it will provide a fuller explanation of the cause and details of the
incident together with the general contractor once the situation has been
assessed.

(NS)

China Airlines has announced a flexible ticket change policy as Typhoon Bavi
approaches Taiwan.

Passengers holding China Airlines or Mandarin Airlines tickets for travel
between July 9 and July 11 can change their bookings free of charge if they
rebook by July 31.

The airline said the waiver covers one ticket change, although passengers
must still pay any fare or tax differences.

Refund requests, however, remain subject to the original ticket's refund
rules.

China Airlines said it will continue updating flight schedules based on the
evaluation of the typhoon's path and advised travelers to check the latest
flight information through its website or app.

(AL)

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 255 points to
close the session at 45734.

The turnover was 958 billion NT

The Central Weather Administration says it'll issue a sea warning for Severe
Typhoon Bavi at noon tomorrow, followed by a land warning around midnight.

The typhoon is now some 1,600 kilometers southeast of Taiwan, maintaining a
steady west-northwestward path toward waters east of Taiwan.

It'll have the biggest impact on Taiwan Friday and Saturday.

The CWA says due to favorable sea conditions, the system remains very strong
with maximum sustained winds of 216 kilometers an hour and gusts up to 270
kilometers an hour.

Its gale-force winds extend 380 kilometers from the center, a little bigger
than previously predicted, and it should bring heavy to torrential rain to
the north and northeast.

Forecasters say the severe typhoon's center is expected to pass just
northeast of Taiwan before weakening and making landfall in southern
Zhe-jiang (浙江) Province in China.

For today and tomorrow, the weather should remain hot and sunny islandwide,
with high temperatures still reaching 36 degrees in greater Taipei and
Pingtung.

(JL)

The Advanced Subjects Test for college recruitment has been postponed because
of Severe Typhoon Bavi.

The exam will now take place on July 13th and 14th instead of its originally
scheduled dates of July 11th and 12th.

Time to check on the test sites will change, too.

They will be open for inspection on July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The College Entrance Examination Center said only the exam dates have
changed.

Test locations and admission numbers remain the same.

The exam results will now be released on August 3, with subsequent university
admissions deadlines pushed back as well.

Officials added that if typhoon-related disruptions create additional
transportation or accommodation costs for candidates, they may apply for
reimbursement after the exam.

The schedule could be adjusted again if the storm's impact worsens.

New Taipei Prosecutors have searched a fire department and brought back three
people for questioning.

The case is being investigated under the Anti-Corruption Act.

The New Taipei Fire Department says, it will fully cooperate with the
investigation.

Prosecutors have not disclosed further details.

(AH)

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

Central Union Oil has been fined 165.2-million N-T for its failure to
immediately reporting that its soybean oil was found to contain excessive
levels of a carcinogen.

According to the Ministry of Health, it's the largest fine ever imposed by a
central government agency in a food safety case.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says Central Union didn't only fail to
immediately notify authorities of the problem, but also provided inaccurate
information to authorities during an investigation.

The company was penalized under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

The fine, which was calculated based on the severity of the violation and the
impact of the tainted product's distribution, is maximum allowed under
current laws.

Some 1,300 metric tons of the contaminated soybean oil produced by Central
Union entered the supply chain through three downstream companies.

The Food and Drug Administration earlier this week said the number of
downstream businesses identified as being affected by the contaminated
cooking oil had risen to 360.

The Taoyuan International Airport reportedly handled some 25.78-million
passengers in the first half of this year.

That figure is a new record for the period.

Reports says the airport saw passenger volume rise by 9-per cent from the
same period of last year.

According to the airport operator, it firmly believes that passenger volume
for the whole of this year could reach 50-million.

That figure would surpass the pre-pandemic record of 48-million.

The Taoyuan International Airport Corporation says summer travel demand is
expected to peak this month and next month, when total takeoffs and landings
are forecast to reach 46,000.

The Central Weather Administration is warning that torrential rain brought by
Typhoon Bavi is forecast to be at its most severe on Friday and Saturday.

The storm is currently located some 1,800-kilometers east-southeast of
Eluanbi at Taiwan's southernmost tip, and moving in a westerly direction at
23-kilometers-an-hour.

Bavi still has a radius of 350-kilometers, and is packing sustained wind
speeds of 216-kilometers-an-hour, with gusts of up to 270-kilometers-an-hour.

However, the weather administration says the storm is showing signs of
weakening as it approaches Taiwan, although it's still expected to maintain
the intensity of a typhoon.

According to the administration's forecast center, it Bavi continues on its
current projected path, a sea warning could be issued tomorrow, followed by a
land warning between tomorrow evening and Friday morning.

The typhoon is expected to make its closest approach to Taiwan between Friday
and Saturday and the forecast center says the highest probability is that the
storm will passes through waters off Taiwan's northeast or north coasts.

Significant rainfall is expected on Friday and Saturday across the north,
northeast, and center as well as in mountainous areas Hualien.

Meanwhile,

The Maritime and Port Bureau says it will suspend all ferry services on
eastern routes from noon today through the end of Saturday because of
potentially rough sea conditions brought by Typhoon Bavi.

According to the bureau, in addition to the eastern routes, ferry services
between Keelung and Matsu, and between Yanpu and Xiaoliuqiu, will also be
suspended from tomorrow through Saturday.

Ferry services between Donggang and Xiaoliuqiu will be partially suspended
tomorro and fully suspended on Friday and Saturday.

The service between Kaohsiung and Penghu that was scheduled on Friday morning
will be brought forward to tomorrow morning at 1AM, as the ship schedules on
Friday are all suspended, and there is no scheduled vessel on Saturday.

Other ferry services will operate as usual.

And finally,

Taiwanese-American outfielder Stuart Fairchild has signed with the Seattle
Mariners and will begin with the club's Triple-A affiliate.

The announcement brings an end speculation that he could join a team in the
Chinese Professional Baseball League and had been linked to possible deals
with the Wei Chuan Dragons and Uni-President Lions.

The 30-year-old elected free agency after clearing waivers following his
designation for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians.

He chose free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.

The move marks a return to Seattle, where Fairchild was born and raised and
previously played for the Mariners in 2022.

Born to a Taiwanese mother and an American father, he represented Team Taiwan
at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March.

The terms of Fairchild's contract with the Seattle Mariners have not been
disclosed.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang has widened the recall order for products
linked to contaminated cooking oil produced by Central Union Oil.

This, after the Food and Drug Administration said the number of downstream
businesses linked to the contaminated cooking oil had risen to 360.

The new recall supercedes a previous order naming products containing more
than 20-per cent of the affected oil needed to be recalled and removed from
stores.

All processed foods made using the affected oil should now have been removed
from store shelves by midnight.

The health ministry also said these items can only return to store shelves
after manufacturers provide test results confirming they are safe for human
consumption.

The government says it is further reviewing edible oil safety regulations and
expanding inspections throughout the production process to help prevent
similar incidents for happening in the future.

Visiting U-S Senator Tammy Duckworth says her trip to Taiwan this week is
aimed at aimed at sending a clear message that US-Taiwan ties remain strong
and will not "be swayed by any one president."

Duckworth said she's proud to be the first U-S senator to visit Taiwan since
President Donald Trump's "disastrous" summit with Xi Jin-ping in Beijing.

The democratic senator from Illinois said she is in Taipei to deliver the
message that - "regardless of president or party, Congress' commitment to
Taiwan is steadfast."

Duckworth described the U.S-Taiwan relationship as being "strong and
enduring," and one that will "not to be swayed by any one president, either
Democratic or Republican."

She went on to stress that her "bipartisan colleagues in Congress, will
continue to push for continued support for Taiwan and to uphold decades of
U.S. policy in support of Taiwan's security, as Taiwan's security matters not
only to the U-S but also to the rest of the world.

Evergreen Marine Corporation board director Chang Kuo-hua is free on bail of
120-million N-T...

But he's been banned from leaving Taiwan and he is required to wear an
electronic monitoring device.

Chang is one of nine accused of insider trading involved in the purchase of
more than 90 million shares of Evergreen Marine in 2023.

The trade reportedly took place two months before Evergreen Marine announced
it would dispose of its stake in E-V-A Airways.

The group of nine includes members of Chang's immediate family, his brother
Chang Kuo-cheng (張國政), and Evergreen Group executives.

Two other Evergreen Marine executives were released on bail and also barred
from leaving the country.

Chang Kuo-hua denies the charges.

Lawmakers have passed an amendment to the Criminal Code further protects
victims of sexual assult.

The amendment extends the statute of limitations for the offense.

Under the previous law, the statute of limitations began on the date the
offense was committed.

Authorities argue the previous law could prevent victims from obtaining
justice if the limitation period expired before they were ready to come
forward.

The amendment now excludes the period between the time the offense was
committed and the victim's 20th birthday... giving victims more time to
pursue criminal charges.

Statutes of limitations vary depending on the severity of the crime for child
sexual assault cases, but they can range from five years for less serious
offenses, to 30 years for severe cases in which prosecutors seek a life
sentence or the death penalty for the offender.

The amendment to the Criminal Code was proposed by the Cabinet and the
Judicial Yuan in January.

They both argued that by child victims of sexual assault often delay
reporting abuse because of trauma, unequal power relationships with
offenders, or a lack of awareness of their legal rights.

The Centers for Disease Control is reporting four new mpox cases.

Two are listed as being domestic infections, while the other two cases are
imported.

All four individuals are men in their 20s to 40s and all developed symptoms
in May.

None of them had been vaccinated against the disease.

The C-D-C says it has confirmed 19 mpox cases, including 15 locally
transmitted and four imported since the beginning of this year.

Mpox was listed as a Category II notifiable infectious disease by the C-D-C
in June of 2022.

Health authorities have said that some 90-per cent of all mpox patients here
in Taiwan have not been vaccinated.

The Taoyuan Airport Metro has expanded the number of stations on the line
that play music when trains are about to arrive.

The number of stations has been increased from two to seven and they're using
newly arranged melodies inspired by Hakka, Indigenous and classic Taiwanese
music.

Taoyuan Deputy Mayor Su Chun-pin says the new program builds on a
collaboration launched three years ago between the Taoyuan City government
and the Long Tan Philharmonic Orchestra.

The orchestra's arrangement of the Taiwanese folk song "Longing for the
Spring Breeze" have long been heard by passengers at the Airport Terminal 1
and Airport Terminal 2 stations.

Su says the orchestra is now working with other local musicians, including
composer Chang Yen-che, who has adapted well-known works into seven distinct
30-second station arrival melodies, giving each station its own unique "audio
business card."