Taiwan's retail sales fell on year for a fourth consecutive month in July.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs said consumers are scaling back their
purchases amid uncertainties created by U.S. tariff policies.

The ministry's data show that retail sales fell 3.6 percent from a year
earlier in July to NT$388.4 billion. It was the steepest decline in four
months.

Sales posted by car and motorcycle vendors in July fell by nearly 20% on year
as potential buyers wait for the finalization of auto tariffs on cars made in
the United States.

The economics ministry said AI and other emerging technologies are expected
to drive sales growth of the local wholesale industry in the second half of
this year, but old-economy industries such as building materials and chemical
items will likely experience fragile demand.

demolishment

Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai visited Chiayi County today to inspect areas
damaged during Typhoon Danas.

Cho said that if residents decided to move rather than repair seriously
damaged homes, the government would foot the bill for demolishing the
structures ... in the interest of rapidly restoring the cityscape.

He stressed that aid was progressing and pledged to disburse disaster
recovery payments rapidly so that homes can be quickly repaired.

The Mainland Affairs Council said Friday that 23 Taiwanese entertainers have
been verbally warned for actions deemed by the Taiwanese government to
constitute "cooperation" with the Chinese authorities.

Back in early March, some Taiwanese entertainers reposted an image from CCTV
with superimposed text that read, "Let's repost this together! This is the
only designation for Taiwan! #ChinaTaiwanProvince#"

A MAC spokesperson used the image from China's state broadcaster as an
example of a message that prompted a government investigation.

He said it wasn't the content that was investigated, but acts of cooperation.
In other words, the act of posting messages that were clearly from the
Chinese Communist Party.

The spokesperson said that many of the entertainers claimed their posts were
handled by management companies, while others said they were unaware such
actions violated Taiwan statutes.

Some of the entertainers said after they were warned that they would not be
reposting such Chinese messages again.

A teenaged motorcyclist who collided with other riders last year, killing one
and injuring two, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The motorcyclist didn't hold a driver's license and was driving while under
the influence of alcohol.

CNA reports that he collided with a man and his daughter in New Taipei City
in mid-November, causing injuries to both; he then collided with a solo
motorcyclist, who subsequently died from wounds sustained in his fall.

As the rider's blood alcohol level was above 0.25 mg/liter, the maximum
penalty was death, but the judge took into consideration the fact that the
rider had just turned 18, his remorse and his poor background while
sentencing him.

Two visiting U.S. senators yesterday pledged to strengthen deterrence against
what they described as the "axis of aggression" led by China.

In a rare news conference held at Taiwan's Presidential Office, Republican
Senator Roger Wicker stressed the need for the United States and its allies
to build up deterrence against China, which he described as "the pacing
threat" to US interests.

Wicker and fellow Republican Senator Deb Fischer spoke with President Lai
Ching-te ahead of the press conference. Both are on the Senate Committee on
Armed Services, which Wicker chairs.

Fischer said that both Washington and Taipei must "invest wisely to
strengthen deterrence and to ensure that our defenses are prepared for the
threats of tomorrow."

Neither Wicker nor Fischer specified what sort of efforts are needed to more
effectively deter China other than citing enhanced cooperation between the
Taiwan's and the U.S.'s militaries and defense industries.

parks

KMT lawmaker Weng Hsiao-ling said today that large solar and wind power
generation equipment in national parks should be dismantled. She has proposed
an amendment that would in her words "prevent national parks from becoming
victims of solar power."

New Taipei City councilor Dai Wei of the DPP had countered that if solar
panels aren't installed as planned in mountain huts in the country's national
parks, would Weng advocate using diesel power generators instead?

Weng responded today that solar panels on private cabins and at weather
stations aren't covered by her proposal. She stressed that her goal is to
avoid large areas of nature from being despoiled by expanses of solar panels.

A TPP protest in support of detained leader Ke Wen-zhe was facing off against
police this morning.

Marchers led by current chair, Huang Kuo-chang, gathered in front of the CKS
Memorial around 7 a.m. and marched toward the Presidential Office only to
find their progress halted by barriers and police blocking access.

Huang and other protestors marched to demand stricter secrecy around
investigations and holding those responsible for leaks accountable. They're
also demanding the elimination of what they're calling abusive detention to
extract confessions as well as greater prosecutorial independence and
increased judicial transparency.

Ke Wen-zhe was detained about a year ago after a corruption investigation.

Authorities told this morning's marchers that they were in violation of the
Assembly and Parade Act, as they hadn't applied for a permit for their
protest.

Protestors in turn started chanting that the act should be abolished, mixed
in with calls to free Ke Wen-zhe.

Taiwan's legislature passed amendments to the Cyber Security Management Act
yesterday, imposing restrictions on the use of products deemed a threat to
national security and raising the maximum fine for failing to report certain
cyber security breaches.

Under the changes, government agencies are prohibited from downloading,
installing, or using products that could endanger national security -- unless
specifically approved by the relevant authorities.

The products targeted by the act are defined as those supplied by "enemy
forces" or groups they control.

The maximum fine for designated NGOs that fail to report cybersecurity
incidents has been increased to NT$10 million from the previous NT$5 million.

The organizations covered include state-owned enterprises, telecom providers
and other infrastructure operators as well as legal entities established or
funded by the government

Taiwan's legislature passed amendments yesterday to a law that will expand
eligibility for work visas while extending certain visa categories in a bid
to enhance the country's global competitiveness.

After the changes go into effect, foreign graduates from the world's top
1,500 universities will be able to work in Taiwan without the previously
required two years of work experience. The threshold is currently limited to
graduates from the top 500 universities.

The law also allows foreign nationals who obtained a bachelor's degree or
higher within the last five years from one of the world's top 200
universities to directly apply to the Ministry of Labor for a professional
work permit valid for up to two years.

Lawmakers also extended Taiwan's "digital nomad" visa, enabling remote
workers to stay in the country for up to two years, compared with the current
maximum of six months.

The amendments ease residency requirements by allowing foreign professionals
with degrees earned in Taiwan to count their study years toward residency
qualifications -- three years for a doctorate, two years for a master's
degree, and one year for a bachelor's or associate degree.

The Central Weather Administration says Taiwan may see one or two typhoons
this fall, along with above-average temperatures and rainfall.

The CWA says the forecast number of autumn typhoons is about average, but
they're more likely to form closer to Taiwan and could bring heavier rainfall
in combination with the seasonal northeasterly winds.

The prediction is based on historical data linked to La Nina weather
patterns, which the bureau expects to develop by fall due to cooler Eastern
Pacific sea temperatures.

At the same time, the CWA says central and southern Taiwan are likely to see
a dry spell this fall, and the public should conserve water and monitor the
CWA's weekly and monthly forecasts.

The weather agency said that in July, five typhoons, low-pressure systems and
southwest currents combined to bring "prolonged heavy rainfall," averaging
767 millimeters nationwide -- the highest for that month since 1951.

Taiwan's legislature has passed the key provisions of a special act that pave
the way for NT$10,000 cash handouts to citizens.

Disbursements are expected to begin in October and be completed within seven
months.

Departing DPP caucus whip Wu Szu-yao said that after the act's approval, the
cabinet will submit a special budget to the legislature in September.

The special act aims to strengthen economic and social resilience, support
households, and aid industries affected by external pressures, including
rising U.S. tariffs and supply chain challenges.

southern cities

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said today that recent local government subsidy
allocations announced by the Executive Yuan are unfair and create a
north-south imbalance.

The cabinet increased subsidy allocations for next year thanks to increased
central government revenue in the past year. Mayor Chen said Kaohsiung and
Tainan's allocations were at the bottom of the heap.

He said that the adjustments were made without any input from local
governments and noted that Kaohsiung is in need of increased funding to cover
damage from disasters like Typhoon Danas and July 28th floods.

Ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony has arrived in Taiwan, about a week
before his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Anthony is scheduled to attend the GQ Style Fest at Warehouse No. 4 in
Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei tomorrow.

The 41-year-old Anthony was the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft and
is widely regarded as one of the league's best scorers. He finished his
19-season career with 28,289 points, puttiing him 10th on the NBA's all-time
scoring list.

Anthony announced his retirement in 2023 and was elected to the Hall of Fame
in April. The induction ceremony will be held next Saturday.

Taipei Deputy Council Speaker Yeh Lin-chuang has been indicted on gambling
and corruption charges.

The Kuomintang (KMT) politician was indicted today by the Taipei District
Prosecutors Office on gambling and corruption charges. Prosecutors allege
that he illicitly gained at least NT$3.14 million from an arcade in
Zhongshan.

Yeh has represented Taipei's Datong and Zhongshan districts since 2010 and
served as deputy speaker since 2018.

Six other individuals were also prosecuted in connection with the gambling
case.

Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Dien-lin has announced he plans to run
for the KMT chairmanship, adding to a meager pool of candidates.

Hsieh said a coalition of "blue" and "white" camps, with a single
presidential candidate, stands the best chance for an opposition win against
the DPP's choice in the next presidential election.

Current KMT Chair Eric Chu has been calling on Taichung Mayor Lu Shiowyen to
run to replace him, but Lu, who has been seen as the frontrunner for the
position for months, has adamantly refused. KMT lawmaker Luo Zhi Qiang has
also announced his candidacy, even as Chu continues to press Lu to run.

Hsieh Dien-lin said given these circumstances, the best solution is for
someone with a lower profile to take the job, and he's willing to be that
lower-profile chair.

The election is set for October 18th. Registration of candidates had been set
for next week, but it has been postponed by a couple weeks, to Sept. 15-19.

The National Science and Technology Council is touting achievements in
nurturing startups.

The council held an event today announcing the results of its "Taiwan Tech
Arena," or "TTA", the island's flagship startup ecosystem building program.

Officials say that since launching in 2018, the program has helped over a
thousand startup teams, 13 of which have gone public.

The startups cover a wide range of industries, including AI, semiconductors,
green energy and medical technology.

They say TTA also brought in 11 international business accelerators and
helped connect startups with corporations, successfully matching 10 projects
this year -- focusing on drones and smart systems.