The Central Election Commission says, five more KMT lawmakers' recall votes
are now scheduled for August 23rd.

Those five cases include those against Luo Ming Cai, Jiang Qi Chen　江啟臣,
Yang Qiong Ying　楊瓊瓔, Yan Kuan Heng　顏寬恒, and Lin Si Ming.

The law dictates that the vote stage of the recall should be conducted 20 and
60 days from the announcement of the recall.

Further, the law says that the vote should coincide with other voting dates
if applicable.

Also on August 23rd are the votes against Nantou KMT lawmakers Ma Wen Jun and
You Hao, as well as the referendum on the third nuclear power plant.

(AH)

The Ministry of National Defense has wrapped up the 41st Han Kuang exercises,
saying the 22,000 reservists called up to join the drills have proven their
capabilities.

Officials say reservists were able to effectively recover skills that may
have become rusty after having not been drilled for long periods of time.

They emphasize that all reservists had the chance to exercise weapons and
combat training, and worked to achieve the overall defense combat goals.

During the first days of the 10 day training, those troops received lessons
about the law and combat case analysis, and then moved on to simulated enemy
landings that advance into urban areas and how to act in protracted warfare.

The MND touts that this year's exercises have effectively tested the current
mobilization mechanism and laid the foundation for a comprehensive
enhancement of combat readiness in the future.

(AH)

Forty-eight Paiwan cultural artifacts have returned to Taiwan from Sweden
..... and will be featured in a special exhibition at the Shizi Township
Heritage Museum in Pingtung.

According to the township, the pieces include carvings, head ornaments,
clothing and household items once used by the Indigenous Paiwan tribe and
collected in the early 20th century.

They’ve been housed at Sweden’s National Museums of World Culture.

The Shizi Township chief welcomed the pieces home with emotion, calling them
a gift from the ancestors and a source of pride for the community.

The return follows years of collaboration between Shizi Township, the
National Taiwan Museum, and the Swedish institution.

The exhibition will run from October through the end of 2025.

(CNA_IG)

And in international news...

Officials in Russia say that smartphone shutdowns across the country are
needed to foil Ukrainian drone attacks.

Areas affected range from those near the border with Ukraine to parts of
Siberia and even the Far East.

In some regions, Wifi outages also have been reported.

Russians who spoke to the Associated Press describe the inconveniences as
relatively small, pointing to issued with ride share apps and ATMs.

But experts point to the unprecedented nature of the measures and warn of
far-reaching consequences in a country where online freedom is already
limited.

They say, the trend began in May, when foreign officials flocked to the
Russian capital for a parade celebrating the anniversary of the defeat of
Nazi Germany.

At that time, Moscow had severe cell connectivity disruption for days.

A Kremlin spokesman said that the restrictions were deliberate restrictions
due to regular Ukrainian drone attacks.

And in the US,

the House approved President Trump's request to claw back about 9 billion
dollars for foreign aid and public broadcasting.

Democrats say that the Republican administration's hostility towards foreign
aid programs will hurt the US' standing in the world, creating a vacuum for
China to fill.

Meanwhile, the White House says, the cuts best served the taxpayer, and will
incentivize other nations to do more to address humanitarian crises.

The cancelledation of 1.1 billion dollars for the Corporation for Public
Broadcast is the full amount it was due to receive over the next two budget
years.

Some lawmakers voiced concerns about what the cuts could mean for local
public stations in their states.

The earliest existing film about Taiwan, titled "Formosa," has been uploaded
to YouTube by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute.

The 7-minute film was shot in 1917 and features Taiwanese customs and
culture, Indigenous people, architecture, agriculture, and Japanese colonial
history.

The title "Formosa" was once another name for Taiwan and comes from the
Portuguese term "Ilha Formosa," meaning beautiful island.

The film was donated by the Netherlands' Eye Filmmuseum in 1991.

T-F-A-I has been searching the world for Taiwanese pictures since 1990.

Executive Director Du Liqin says that the return and publication of these
images helps to give Taiwanese society the rights to speak about these works,
which is the Institute's responsibility.

(CT)

The K-pop group 1VERSE, which features 2 North Korean defectors, is breaking
new ground as it debuts its single album today.

The band members represent an unusual convergence of backgrounds: North
Korea-born artists, rapper Hyuk and singer Seok, join Nathan and Kenny from
the United States, and Aito from Japan.

Hyuk, who was born in North Korea and lived there until age 12, was
discovered while working at a factory.

Seok defected in 2019 and was connected to the agency through an acquaintance
from weekend soccer.

The group's members add a rare dimension to the genre’s growing global
diversity.

But they are not alone-- another K-pop act including North Korean defectors,
BE BOYS’ Hak Seong, debuted earlier this year.

Experts say K-pop and other South Korean pop culture products have emerged as
a challenge to North Korea’s leadership as they steadily gain popularity
among the public, expanding South Korean cultural influence.

1VERSE's debut single album is available on all major streaming platforms.

(CT)

The Legislative Yuan has passed a new law that allows the death penalty for
killing a child under age 7 in a torturous way.

The change follows public anger over the death of an infant boy known as "Kai
Kai," who was tortured by two sisters registered as nannies.

Lawmakers say stronger punishment is needed to stop child abuse.

Under the new rules, killing a child under 7 can bring death, life in prison,
or a prison term of at least 10 years.

Attempted murder is still punishable, and preparing to commit the crime can
carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.

If the abuse is for profit and resulting in death of a victim aged between 7
and 18, the sentence is life in prison or at least 12 years behind bars.

Seriously hurting children in this age group can also lead to long prison
terms.

Lawmakers from all parties supported the new penalties after weeks of debate.

(PB)

Chiayi County officials say, the cost of repairing several damaged historical
sites across the county is 12 million NT.

Typhoon Danas caused damage to 16 of those sites in the county, mostly to the
rooves, tiling, doors and windows, and water leakage.

The county government says that Typhoon Danas damaged about 30% of cultural
and historical sites within its purview...

Sites like the Minxiong Japanese-style Guesthouse and the Shuishang Shande
Hall sustained relatively severe damage,

Officials say, they're formulating a plan to repair the sites and hope to
submit their plan to the central government at the end of this month to apply
for disaster repair subsidies.

(AH)

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung yesterday hosted Guatemalan Congress President
Nery Ramos in Taipei.

Ramos also met with President Lai Ching-te, who thanked him for supporting
Taiwan on the global stage.

The visit follows Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s trip to Taiwan
last month.

The two countries signed agreements on semiconductors, political talks, and
supply chain investment.

Taiwan also plans to launch a master's program in semiconductor studies for
Guatemalan students.

Lin says Taiwan is inviting local businesses to explore trade in Guatemala,
including textiles, seafood, and coffee.

He calls it part of a broader plan to deepen cooperation and shared growth.

(PB)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pushed back against new
U.S. tariffs, calling them "unacceptable blackmail."

The U.S. plans to add a 50-percent tariff on Brazilian goods starting in
August.

U.S. President Donald Trump says it’s because of unfair trade and Brazil’s
treatment of former leader Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula said no foreigner will give him orders and promised to move forward with
taxes on U.S. tech firms.

He also defended Brazil’s right to protect itself from harmful digital
content.

Talks between both countries are ongoing.

Lula said Brazil sent a trade proposal in May but got threats in return.

Brazil is now preparing possible retaliatory steps if talks fail.

Lula’s approval ratings have risen since the dispute began.

(PB)

Asian countries are offering to buy more U.S. liquefied natural gas to ease
trade tensions with the U.S. Trump administration.

Countries like Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea are mulling long-term LNG
deals that might help reduce American trade deficits and forestall higher
tariffs.

However, experts warn these agreements could hinder Asia's shift to renewable
energy.

Long-term LNG contracts lock countries into fossil fuels infrastructure,
making it harder to adopt cleaner energy sources.

Analysts also question the feasibility of these deals, citing high costs,
global gas oversupply, and energy security risks.

Renewables, they argue, offer a more stable and sustainable energy future.

(AP)

subsidies for recall voters

KMT legislators are calling for prosecutors to investigate landlords who
allegedly provided travel subsidies to tenants who needed to return home to
vote.

KMT lawmaker Luo Ting Wei 羅廷瑋 of Taichung said today...that his office had
received reports that there were landlords who had gone out of their way to
provide 500 NT travel subsidies to tenants whose household registrations were
not in Taichung.

Luo claims that that violates the Election and Recall Law, and that it goes
against electoral neutrality.

Luo and fellow KMT lawmakers Niu Xu Ting (牛煦庭) and Wu Zong Xian (吳宗憲)
held a press conference today to discuss the matter...

saying that the move contitutes vote buying.

Luo says that the tenants were concerned that their rental rights would be
affected if they didn't take the 500 NT subsidy.

(AH)

Today marks the last day of the islandwide 2025 Urban Resilience Air-Defense
Exercise, and Penghu County took part in the drills with rescue training.

At 10 a.m., once the air raid siren sounded, all six areas across the county,
one city and five townships, carried out the exercise.

Police cleared streets and guided people to shelters.

Nearly 300 tourists took cover at the Pier 3 shopping center's basement.

Crews also used a robot to simulate a disaster at a local power station.

At Magong Elementary School and the First Public Health Center, teams
practiced emergency care for mass injuries.

County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) says the drill helps test disaster
response and reminds everyone to stay prepared for emergencies.

(PB)

The Health Promotion Administration today reports that overall e-cigarette
use is dropping, but teen use remains a problem.

High school e-cigarette use in Taiwan stands just over 6-percent, while
junior high use is more than 3-percent.

Most teens say their first vape came from friends or family for free.

Officials warn parents to look for signs, like fruity smells, strange
devices, or sudden mood changes.

Since March 2023, Taiwan has banned the sale, import, use, and advertising of
e-cigarettes and similar products.

The agency also reminds travelers not to bring e-cigarettes into the country,
even for personal use or gifts.

People are urged not to buy, sell, or promote vaping, as it may result in
legal consequences.

(PB)

Taiwan shares are higher, along with other Asian markets after Wall Street
rose to records following better-than-expected updates on the economy and a
mixed set of profit reports from big U.S. companies.

The TaiEx gained 269 points to end the session at 23-thousand-383...on
turnover of 368 billion NT.

Heavy rain in South Korea has killed at least four people and forced over
5,000 to evacuate.

Three people were found dead yesterday in a submerged car, a stream, and a
flooded basement.

The storms have hit the country for three straight days, damaging homes and
roads.

The Interior and Safety Ministry says a collapsed overpass retaining wall in
Osan killed one person on Wednesday.

Some southern areas have seen more than 400 millimeters of rain in just 24
hours.

The downpours have also led to the cancellation of 46 domestic flights.

Evacuations and damage assessments are still ongoing.

Landslide and flood warnings remain in place through Saturday.

President Lee Jae Myung says more must be done to prepare for disasters and
protect lives.

He has called for full use of all emergency resources.

(AP, PB)

The White House is assuring that U.S. President Donald Trump is in good
health after photos showed swelling in his legs and bruising on his right
hand.

The statement came after images showed Trump with swollen ankles and makeup
on his hand.

Officials say the swelling is from a common vein issue and the bruise is from
frequent handshakes and aspirin use.

Doctors ran tests and found no signs of heart, kidney, or serious circulation
problems.

Trump is not in pain and continues to carry out his duties.

Experts say the condition is not life-threatening but should be managed to
avoid future issues.

(PB)

Ferry operators have announced adjustments to their services between
Ping-tung Dong-gang (東港) and outlying Xiao-liu-qiu island due to upcoming
tropical storm Wipha.

The five operators said they're planning to suspend part of the services
starting at 9 AM tomorrow morning and all trips will be canceled on the 20th.

They said sailings on the 21st will depend on sea conditions.

Local hotels have contacted guests to reschedule or cancel bookings, and the
occupancy rate is now estimated to be only 10%.

At Donggang Pier there were still travelers lining up for boats this morning
as most of them had booked the two-day-one- night trips.

Local tourism officials say the average occupancy rate this summer has been
some 60-percent, and this is the second time that weekend bookings are
affected by a storm.

(JL)

A Tainan investigation Bureau agent is being detained without communications
on charges of corruption and leaking secrets.

The Investigation Bureau says it initiated probings into this agent, surnamed
Lin, adding that he has been suspended from work.

The Bureau stresses in its statement that they must be held to a high
standard, and illegal activity is absolutely not tolerated.

Lin is suspected of misuse of personal data, leaking confidential information
that's not related to national defense, and money laundering.

The Tainan District Court determined that Lin's testimony was inconsistent
and evasive, and that he had engaged in destruction of evidence by deleting
text conversations.

(AH)

In world news...

A Reuters report said Ukraine will let foreign arms companies test out their
latest weapons on the front line of its war against Russia's invasion....
that's according to Kyiv's state-backed arms investment and procurement group
Brave1.

Under the "Test in Ukraine" scheme, companies would send their products to
Ukraine, give some online training on how to use them, then wait for
Ukrainian forces to try them out and send back reports.

The report said there has been strong interest in the scheme, but it did not
name any companies that have signed on to use it.

The Central Weather Administration has just issued a sea alert for Tropical
Storm Wipha for the Ba-shi (巴士) Channel and waters around Dong-sha (東沙)
Island.

Wipha is currently located 560 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southern tip
E-luan-bi, packing winds of between 72 and 100 kilometers an hour and heading
northwestward at a relatively fast speed of 23 kilometers an hour.

CWA data shows that Wipha will brush over the Philippines' Luzon Island
today, and heading towards China's Guang-dong province.

The CWA has decided to issue the sea warning because the storm is expected to
be closer to us than originally thought.

Forecasters are warning of torrential or super torrential rain in the eastern
half of Taiwan and Heng-chun Pennisula starting tonight and through tomorrow.

The rest of the island may see heavy afternoon rain showers or thundershowers
over the weekend as well.

Ferry companies serving routes between Tai-tung and Green Island and Orchid
Island, as well as between Ping-tung and Xiao-liu-qiu (小琉球) have suspended
operations from this afternoon till at least tomorrow.

(JL)

Several newly-deployed micro surveillance and reconnaisance drones made their
debut in this year's Han Kuang military exercises.

Budget proposals from the Ministry of National Defense show that Taiwan's
armed forces have allocated nearly 1.3 billion NT for this year and last to
purchase nearly 1500 Taiwan-made micro drones.

Along with the micro drones, military quadcopters were deployed during the
exercises.

Those are typically used for reconnaissance and surveillance or assisting air
defense.

A report from the military also indicated that a marine corps brigade
typically based in Kaohsiung entered the Greater Taipei area for drills
yesterday.

Today is the final day of the Han Kuang military exercises...

and Hualien, Taitung, and the outlying islands can expect to experience an
air raid drill this afternoon from 1:30 to 2pm as part of the urban
resilience drills.

At that time, residents will receive a warning on their cell phones and are
expected to follow police instruction and make their way to shelter.

(AH-CNA)

The Ministry of Finance is noting continued trends from recent years of
income tax filings.

The ministry says since Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, it has
seen a significant increase in income tax filings by same-sex couples.

The ministry says the number of income tax filings by same-sex couples
reached over 6-thousand-600 in 2023, marking a 1.5-fold increase in just
three years.

Ministry statistics also show that the total number of income tax filings by
married couples in general grew from 2014 to 2019.

However, in 2020 and 2021, this number decreased, possibly due to fewer
marriages during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some households falling below the
tax threshold.

And while the number of married couple filings rebounded in 2023, their
proportion of total filings has steadily declined reflecting a growing trend
of delayed marriages or singlehood.



(NS)

The 21 year old man found in Taichung without any identification and
household registration has obtained an ID card.

According to the Taichung city government, the man, surnamed Huang, was
finally given an ID card after they were able to confirm that he was not
linked to any crime.

Officials say Huang's father and mother, a foreigner, didn't get married and
that she left home years ago.

Media picked up on Huang's case when a borough chief found him wandering
around a recycling plant, and further investigation revealed that Huang had
no ID card, had never been to school.

He said that he had always been told not to go out, and therefore had had
very little contact with the outside world.

Huang had been living with his father, until he kicked him out in February.

Taichung officials say that Huang is being taught life skills, and social
workers are helping him practice interpersonal and communication skills.

(AH)

Experts are warning that the population of the Taiwanese white dolphin
continues to drop, as Taiwan's only endemic cetacean faces multiple threats.

Cetacean biologist John Wang says the Taiwanese white dolphin population has
dropped to about 40-50, and around 60 percent of them are suffering from
injuries.

Wang and the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association say the rapid decline of
the critically endangered species is due to development projects along
Taiwan's west coast, including offshore wind farms, natural gas construction,
and fishery activities.

Wang also points out that research shows that 90 percent of Taiwanese white
dolphins are found near Taichung Port, but the current plans for expansion of
the port will further destroy their habitat.

And the association says true sustainable development must be based on "not
sacrificing other lives".

The Taiwanese white dolphin is a subspecies of the Indo-Pacific Humpback
Dolphin, which is listed as a critically endangered species by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Taipei police are announcing traffic controls for tomorrow, in connection
with a recall event tomorrow at Qing Dao East Road.

The Anti CCP/Protect Taiwan Volunteer Alliance is holding an event tomorrow
evening in the area...

and police say they will block off traffic starting at midnight tonight near
the Legislative Yuan.

The controls will be lifted at 4am Sunday.

Police say they will block off Qing Dao East Road, Ji Nan Road Section 1, and
Zhongshan South Road for the event.

They add that event attendees are expected to start filtering in at 5:30pm
tomorrow.

Police emphasize that commuters can have a look at the Taipei City Department
of Transportation website for more informaiton.

(AH)

Hong Kong has tightened prison rules, allowing authorities to restrict visits
on national security grounds.

The changes, effective today, enable magistrates to bar specific lawyers from
communicating with inmates if deemed a threat to national security or safety.

The new rules also limit other visits that don't align with purposes like
maintaining national security and preventing crime.

Critics worry the changes could undermine inmate rights in a city where many
democracy advocates were arrested for their political activism.

Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, the first skydiver to fall faster than the
speed of sound more than a decade ago, died in a crash Thursday along the
eastern coast of Italy.

He was 56.

Italian firefighters say his paraglider crashed in the city of Porto Sant
Elpidio, and local offiicals confirmed his death.

Baumgartner was born in Austria and became known as “Fearless Felix.”

He stunned the world in 2012 when he became the first human to break the
sound barrier with only his body after jumping from a capsule more than 39
kilometers over New Mexico.

The former military parachutist made thousands of jumps from planes, bridges,
skyscrapers and famed landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in
Brazil.

A Canadian man has been charged with hijacking a small plane after he caused
a security scare at Vancouver’s airport this week.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, 39, has
been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident
Tuesday that saw the North American Aerospace Defense Command scramble F-15
fighter jets before the plane safely landed.

RCMP say he seized control of a Cessna at Victoria International Airport on
Vancouver island by threatening a flight instructor, before flying about 64
kilometers to Vancouver.

They say “Investigators have determined the suspect acted with an
ideological motive to disrupt airspace”.

The Ministry of National Defense says a military-run hospital in Taipei on
Thursday held a round of evacuation drills to simulate emergency evacuation
during a Chinese invasion.

The MND says the drill was held at Taipei-based Tri-Service General Hospital
and presided over by Defense Minister Wellington Koo.

The minister says the drill was the first time such a mass evacuation drill
had been conducted during the annual Han Kuang series of exercises at the
Taipei hospital.

Meanwhile, in the offshore island of Matsu, a joint military-civilian drill
simulating the local main power source, Bei-gan Power Plant, was being
sabotaged by enemy forces.

Fire, police and health departments in Bei-gan all sent personnel to work
with the Army's Matsu Defense Command to jointly defend the key
infrastructure on the island.

Thursday marked the ninth day of Taiwan's longest-ever live-fire phase of the
annual Han Kuang military exercises, which officially began on July 9.

Since 1984, the annual Han Kuang exercises have served as Taiwan's major war
games, combining live-fire drills and computerized tabletop simulations to
test combat readiness against a possible Chinese invasion.

The Ministry of Education is revoking the coaching license of a former
National Taiwan Normal University women's soccer team coach, following public
outcry over a research project in which student athletes were allegedly
bullied into giving blood samples.

The announcement to revoke Chou Tai-ying's coaching license came after
legislators accompanied a group of affected students to the MOE to discuss
the situation.

After the meeting, Deputy Education Minister Chang Liao Wan-chien said that a
seven-point consensus had been reached.

Agreed-upon actions included the revocation of Chou's license, the creation
of a dedicated complaints mechanism, and the formation of an
inter-ministerial investigation task force.

Chang Liao said the MOE would review the penalties imposed on NTNU and the
researchers involved for violations of research ethics, and the ministry will
investigate NTNU's administrative failings, with the university president's
role to be evaluated by the MOE.

Taichung will hold legislative recall votes on July 26 in Legislative
Districts 4, 5, and 6, targeting lawmakers Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔), Huang
Chien-hao (黃健豪), and Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋).

According to the Taichung City Election Commission, ballot notification cards
and official recall announcements will be delivered to households starting
July 17 by local community leaders.

Voting will take place from 8 AM to 4 PM on election day.

Voters will receive one ballot listing the legislator’s name, along with the
options “Agree to Recall” or “Disagree with Recall”.

Only official marking tools may be used; any alterations or unapproved
markings will render the ballot invalid.

A total of 777 polling stations will be set up.

Voters must cast their ballot at the location specified on their notice.

Those who don’t receive a notification card are advised to contact their
district office.

(IG)

The Executive Yuan has approved new aid for homes damaged by Typhoon Danas.

Households in declared disaster areas can receive $50-thousand NT if roof or
wall damage is over 20 square meters, and $100-thousand NT for damage over
100 square meters.

Power, water, and phone services are nearly fully restored.

The Interior Ministry says each address can receive help once, and proof of
residence is required.

The government also offers support loans for small businesses and help for
local governments repairing public infrastructure.

Premier Chuo Rong-tai asked health and environment officials to quickly clean
up storm waste and monitor for dengue fever.

He said Danas caused rare and severe damage in the southwest and called for
better disaster planning.

(PB)

The Environment Minister says water quality testing has been conducted at
photovoltaic sites in Chia-yi and Tainan and the results meet public health
standards.

The Ministry has ordered operators to remove the damaged solar panels within
two weeks and will continue monitoring the water and soil quality.

An estimated 145-thousand solar panels from 33 sites were partially or
totally ruined by Typhoon Danas when it made landfall in Chia-yi 10 days ago.

The broken pieces were strewn by strong winds into ponds, along the seashore,
and over rice fields, raising concerns about potential environmental
pollution.

Minister Peng Qi-ming says today that solar panels are consisted of aluminum
frames, glass, EVA films, solar energy generation components and plastic back
sheets, and they are classified as industrial waste instead of hazardous
waste.

He says the Ministry will closely monitor the clean-up efforts by the solar
energy companies.

(JL)

Taichung officials say inspections of slime, a popular children's toy, have
found that five out of 11 products were substandard.

The city's Legal Affairs Bureau says it conducted checks on products made by
different manufacturers earlier this year, from both physical and online
stores.

All samples passed tests for heavy metal.

But five contained excessive levels of boron, a compound that gives the slime
its elastic texture, but in large amounts, can cause skin irritation and
other heatlh risks.

Consumer protection officials say in addition to recalling the products,
businesses must also provide refunds and other measures to protect consumer
rights.

(NS)

Hualien has introduced two new chili pepper varieties that are less spicy and
easier to eat in summer.

The medium-spicy "You-Xin" (友辛) and the mild "You-Xiang" (友香) were
developed by the Hualien Agricultural Research Station and the World
Vegetable Center.

The new varieties were developed as farmers had complained that summer-grown
chili peppers were too hot.

These new types grow well in hot weather, have thick flesh, and are good for
cooking and peeling.

They also resist disease and give higher yields.

"You-Xin" can produce over 42 tons per hectare, and "You-Xiang" nearly 36
tons.

At a press event, local chefs showed off creative dishes using the new
peppers.

(PB)

Israel's military struck the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus and
government forces in southern Syria for a third day on Wednesday, as deadly
sectarian fighting in the mostly Druze province continued.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "working to save our
Druze brothers".

Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of causing a
"large-scale escalation".

More than 350 people are reported to have been killed since Sunday, when
clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes erupted in Suweida.

The Syrian military reportedly began to withdraw its forces from the province
last night, as the US said it had agreed "steps" to end the violence.

The Green Ray Theatre Company is adding three more shows in Taipei for its
stage play August: Osage County, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Tracy Letts.

After 11 years, the drama returns with a strong cast and a deep story about
love, pain and secrets in a family.

Actor Wu Nien-jen (吳念真) plays the father in a short but powerful scene
that opens the play.

He says the story feels like both a joke and a nightmare, and many families
will see themselves in it.

The play asks whether home is a place of safety or something harder to
escape.

It runs Sept. 5th to 14th in Taipei, Nov. 7th to 9th in Kaohsiung, Nov. 15th
to 16th in Tainan, and Jan. 10th next year in Taichung.

(PB)

A huge fire has damaged the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in
Belgium.

The fire broke out on Wednesday in the town of Boom, north of Brussels.

No concerts were happening at the time.

Festival organizers said the stage was "severely damaged" but no one was
hurt.

Images from the scene showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the stage and
spreading to nearby woodland.

The festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across
Europe, was set to open Friday.

The cause of the fire was not given.

Disneyland is celebrating 70 years as "The Happiest Place on Earth" ... with
a new show featuring a lifelike animatronic of founder Walt Disney.

The show is called "Walt Disney – A Magical Life," and it opens Thursday,
the park's official anniversary.

Disneyland has been revolutionizing amusement parks with immersive
attractions and an emphasis on storytelling .. since it first opened on July
17th, 1955.

It is now one of the world's most visited parks, second only to Disney World
in Florida.

Disneyland has hosted U.S. presidents, kings and queens and countless
celebrities over the years.

More than 17 million people visited in 2023.

Just last year, Disney received approval to expand its Southern California
theme parks.

A new parking structure and transit hub are the first steps in its plans to
open more space for new attractions.

And at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles,

The ESPY Awards honoring excellence in sports have been presented .... naming
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles as Best Male and Female Athletes,
respectively.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA title last month
and was also named league MVP.

Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist, won for her standout performance at the
Paris Games, earning three golds and a silver.

She beat out Stephen Curry, Freddie Freeman and Rory Mcllroy.

Suni Lee received the Best Comeback award after battling kidney diseases.

Basketball legend Oscar Robertson was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for
Courage for his groundbreaking work in NBA labor rights.

Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the event, drawing mixed reactions for his
controversial monologue.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says it will complete a full review of
human blood collection rules done outside medical institutions for research
purposes within a month.

The move follows public outrage over allegations that a women's soccer coach
at National Taiwan Normal University coerced student-athletes into giving
blood for unauthorized research.

Lawmakers slammed the health ministry for failing to provide clear guidance
on non-hospital blood draws — pointing to outdated rules that treat them as
"non-medical" and blur the lines on who's qualified to perform them.

Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan admitted the current system is flawed.

He pledged to revise administrative documents, clarify personnel
qualifications, and better protect research participants going forward.

Meanwhile the Education Ministry and the National Science and Technology
Council, which sponsored the research project conducted by N-T-N-U, will form
an investigative team to look into the matter.

(IG)

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung met with Sao Paulo lawmaker Gil Diniz during a
stopover in Brazil this week.

Lin thanked Diniz for supporting Taiwan despite pressure from China.

Diniz has visited Taiwan twice and chairs the Taiwan Friendship Group of the
Brazilian Chamber of Deputies with one-third of the state's lawmakers.

He says Taiwan's democracy and progress are a model for Brazil.

Both sides hope to grow trade and cultural ties, starting with local-level
cooperation.

Diniz said he knows meeting Lin may anger China but wants more people to see
Taiwan's values.

The two held in-depth discussions on Taiwan-Brazil relations and broader
global affairs.

Lin called Brazil a key partner in South America and said Taiwan hopes for
deeper, practical relations.

(PB)

Changhua County is giving cash bonuses to young people who stay, return, or
move there for work.

Workers aged 18 to 45 can get $2-thousand NT a month for up to six months, a
total of $12-thousand NT.

To qualify, they must work full-time in Changhua, stay with the same employer
for at least 30 days, and have labor insurance.

If they change jobs, they can still apply once more if they find new work
within 60 days.

But the total bonus still can't go over $12-thousand NT.

The county government says those who have already received similar employment
incentives or subsidies from the county or other government agencies are not
eligible for this program.

(PB)

A large fire at a five-story hypermarket in eastern Iraq, has killed at least
60 people and left 11 missing.

Health officials say one body was too badly burned to identify, and more may
still be under the debris.

Videos online showed the building fully in flames as firefighters tried to
control the fire.

The cause is still unknown, but local officials say an investigation is
underway and results may come within 48 hours.

Lawsuits have been filed against the building and mall owners.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a new investigation into the
2022 Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon that killed 159 people.

The new team will include both police and prosecutors and will work with an
existing special commission.

Lee announced the move after meeting families of disaster victims, where he
bowed in apology for the government’s past failures.

He promised to improve public safety and prevent future tragedies.

Some families said key police and government records have been withheld from
the current investigation.

Today marks the ninth day of the Han Kuang military exercise, and army
helicopters landed at a riverside park in New Taipei for a fast refueling and
rearming drill.

Two AH-64E Apache and two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters finished the task in
just 20 minutes, 10 minutes faster than the standard.

The goal was to support defense efforts in the Taipei and Taoyuan areas.

A similar hot-pit refueling and rearming drill was conducted in central
Taichung, featuring the Army's AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.

Experts say quick drills like this help boost survival during enemy attacks,
even if air bases are hit.

Using river paths also keeps movements hidden and helps defend key sites.

The Han Kuang military exercise ends tomorrow.

(PB)

The Ministry of National Defense reports 58 Chinese Air Force sorties
operating in the Taiwan strait from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM today.

Of those sorties, 45 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait,
entering Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense
identification zones ...

Flight mapping data shows Chinese drones flew around Taiwan Proper in a
circle.

Nine Chinese Navy ships and one service vessel were also spotted operating
around Taiwan over the same 24-hour period.

(IG)

President Lai Ching-te today welcomed a delegation from Guatemala at the
Presidential Office.

He's met with Guatemala's Congress President Nery Ramos and thanked the
country for supporting Taiwan on the world stage.

He also expressed concert over last month's earthquake in Guatemala.

Lai says Taiwan and Guatemala are strong partners in democracy and will keep
working together to promote freedom and global growth.

Ramos gave Lai two new resolutions from Guatemala's Congress that back
Taiwan's role in international groups.

Ramos described Taiwan and Guatemala's relationship as a model of long-term
friendship and cooperation, adding that Guatemala treasures the unity and
mutual support built over the past 90 years.

During their visit, the delegation will continue to explore ways to deepen
cooperation in areas such as the economy, technology, agriculture, and
culture, with the goal of improving development and well-being in both
nations.

(PB)

South Korea's top court has upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics
Chairman Lee Jae-yong on financial criminal charges, ending years of legal
disputes over a 2015 merger that solidified his control over the company.

A district court had acquitted him in 2024 by ruling that prosecutors failed
to prove the merger was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee's
control over Samsung.

A high court upheld that ruling, and the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal
Thursday in the final ruling in the case.

Lee is a third-generation corporate heir, and the 2015 merger between Samsung
affiliates solidified the father-to-son leadership succession.

(AP)

Japan has reported a trade deficit of 2.2 trillion yen, or $15 billion US
dollars, for the first six month of this year as exports were hit by U.S.
President Donald Trump's higher tariffs.

Government data released today show exports slipped 0.5-percent from a year
earlier.

Trump has postponed implementing a 25-percent duty on most products until
Aug. 1st, to allow time for negotiations but so far no deal has been reached.

Japan's exports to the United States fell 11-percent year-on-year in June,
with auto exports plunging 25-percent.

Shipments to China decreased by nearly 5-percent.

Exports to Mexico, a major auto assembly hub for North America for Japanese
automakers, fell nearly 20-percent.

(AP)

US President Donald Trump has slammed Republicans who questioned his handling
of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Trump called the controversy a "hoax" pushed by Democrats and said some
Republicans were helping their opponents.

The Justice Department recently said there is no client list or blackmail
evidence linked to Epstein, who was reported to have died by suicide in jail
in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

Trump's reversal on releasing related documents angered some supporters.

A former Trump adviser, Mike Flynn, said the case is not a hoax and urged
Trump to move on.

Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi and said she could release any
credible documents.

But he made clear he wants the focus back on the economy and his record.

Premier Zhuo Rong-tai again expressed his opposition to the idea of offering
a 10-thousand NT cash handout to every Taiwan national today.

He says it means the government will be forced to borrow 101 billion NT if
the measure is to be implemented.

The Premier held a press conference to say that from 2021 to 2024, actual tax
revenues exceeded budgeted figures by a total of $1.87 trillion NT.

However, after deducting allocations to local governments, debt repayments,
and prior special budgets for fighter jets and the pandemic, the remaining
surplus stands at only $443 billion NT.

Zhuo's comments come after the Legislative Yuan recently passed a
545-billion-NT special bill, which includes the budget for the cash giveaway.

Zhuo questions whether such action is justifiable both morally and in terms
of national fiscal responsibility.

(JL)

Taipei police have destroyed 140 kilograms of illegal drugs, worth more than
$170 million NT.

Officers say they are targeting drugs like "zombie vapes," made from
etomidate, and drug-laced instant coffee packs this summer.

Between January and June, police found over 2-thousand-600 drug cases and
arrested nearly 2-thousand-800 people.

Police also found over 15-thousand coffee packs laced with drugs.

Authorities warn that these dangerous products often look fun and colorful,
but they contain unknown and deadly ingredients.

Some have already caused fatal overdoses.

Police warn parents to watch for e-cigarettes and strange coffee packs at
home.

They say they'll keep fighting to stop drugs from reaching schools and
communities.

(PB)

PX Mart has started a major rebranding, today putting up the first of its new
"DaQuanLian" (大全聯) sign in Tucheng, New Taipei.

This change marks the end of RT-Mart after 29 years in Taiwan.

PX Mart bought RT-Mart in 2022 and plans to rename all 20 stores by August
1st.

The new PX Hyper brand will keep RT-Mart's bulk shopping style but add a
stronger focus on home and daily life.

PX Mart says it's combining the best parts of supermarkets and hypermarkets
to give shoppers more choices and better service.

By the end of 2025, the company hopes to reach $220 billion NT in overall
sales and grow to more than 1-thousand-250 stores nationwide.

(PB)

Taiwan shares are higher, along with other Asian markets.

The TaiEx added 70 points to close the session at 23-thousand-113 on turnover
of 329 billion NT.

Israeli warplanes bombed targets in Damascus on Wednesday, hitting the
defense ministry and an area near the presidential palace.

Israel said the strikes were to stop Syrian government forces from attacking
the Druze minority in southern Syria.

Fighting in the Druze-majority city of Sweida has killed at least 169 people,
though some reports say the number may be higher.

Violence broke out between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, with government
forces joining the clashes.

Israel's military said it would not allow southern Syria to become a terror
stronghold.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israeli Druze not to cross the
border, as some tried to help family on the Syrian side.

The U.S. says a ceasefire could begin soon.

The U.N. Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the crisis.

The Army yesterday conducted field repair drills for a tank malfunction
during the ongoing Han Kuang military exercises.

Military officials say, the drills highlight the importance of battlefield
maintenance in sustained combat operations.

The group involved simulated the breakdown of a CM-11 tank during a maneuver.

A forward support team was dispatched to carry out emergency repairs using an
M88A1 armored recovery vehicle to lift the engine cover and replace a cooling
fan.

The operation restores the tank within 30 minutes.

The Ministry of National Defense says, this year's Han Kuang exercises have
placed greater emphasis on deep and protracted defense...

where past editions typically focused on coastal defense and defeating the
enemy at the shoreline.

Meanwhile, the urban resilience exercises continue today in the north.

From 1:30 to 2 today, those in Yilan, Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan,
and Hsinchu will need to shelter in place for the drills.

Tomorrow, the final day of the exercises, it'll be the east and outlying
islands' turn for the drills.

(AH-CNA)

Independent meterologist Wu De Rong says, a tropical depression east of the
Philippines' Luzon Island is likely to take shape today, becoming Tropical
Storm Wipha.

The storm is expected to enter the South China Sea today, and as a result,
all areas of Taiwan can expect hot weather.

In the afternoon, there may be some thunderstorms in mountainous areas.

The Central Weather Administration is issuing orange level heat alerts for
some areas today, including New Taipei, Taipei, and Changhua, which may reach
36 degrees for three consecutive days.

Tomorrow, Wipha is likely to bring rain to the east... and over the weekend
the east and Pingtung can expect heavy rain.

The latest models from the US and Europe indicate that Wipha is likely to
pass through the northern tip of Luzon, enter the South China Sea, and land
in China's Guangdong.

(AH)

Two dozen Taiwanese universities took part in an exhibition to attract
foreign students in Kumamoto, Japan yesterday.

Ministry of Education officials say, Japan is one of the top four countries
of origin for international students in Taiwan.

This year, nearly 9000 Japanese students are studying in Taiwan, with more
than a third of them enrolled in Mandarin programs.

MOE officials say, that highlights strong educational and cultural exchange.

Universities like National Taiwan Normal University, National Chengchi
University, Shih Chien University, and Southern Taiwan University of Science
and Technology presented information from their schools at the exhibition in
Kyushu.

(AH-CNA)

Now turning to international news...

Russia launched overnight attacks on four Ukrainian cities, injuring at least
15 people and targeting energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials reported the strikes involved drones and a ballistic
missile.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger air defenses to counter the
assaults...

while US president trump has pledged more weapons for Ukraine, including
Patriot air defense systmes.

That, as he continues to threaten additional sanctions on Russia.

Critics say, a US-imposed deadline for peace talks could allow Russia to
seize more land.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that the EU
set aside 100 billion euros in aid for Ukraine as part of the bloc's
long-term budget.

The UK is facing criticism over a secret program that resettled thousands of
Afghans in the UK after the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

A data leak in 2022 exposed personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghan
applicants, putting many at risk.

Officials obtained a rare super injuction to suppress information about the
leak, which remained in place for almost two years, thus hiding the
information from the media, public, and parliamentarians.

The key information was also kept from Afghan themselves, who had assisted UK
forces.

The secrecy ended this week after a review found limited risk from the leak
and a court lifted the super injuction.

Lawyers say hundreds of Afghans plan to sue the government, and some are
still left in Afghanistan, as the current British government says the
resttlement program will end.

Taiwan Plus, an annual festival promoting Taiwanese culture, will be held in
Osaka for the first time this August.

The festival, organized by the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC),
will be held in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture's World Expo 2025
Osaka program, titled "We Taiwan".

It will take place on August 8th, 9th, 16th and 17th.

GACC Secretary General Lee Hou-ching (???) said the festival will feature a
record-breaking lineup of over 100 Taiwanese brands .... showcasing crafts,
food and drinks, workshops, local design and sustainability -- in line with
the Osaka Expo's theme, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."

Culture Minister Lee Yuan (??) thanked sponsoring businesses and central
government agencies for helping raise Taiwan's international profile.

(CNA_IG)

Taipei Songshan Airport said shortly before 4 PM that it had resumed normal
operations after being suspended twice this afternoon due to bad weather
conditions.

Airport authorities said a total of 19 flights were affected, but they're now
getting back on track.

The Airport's website indicates that inbound flights from 5 PM onward and
outbound ones from 6 PM will be on time.

The greater Taipei area was under a thunderstorm warning early this afternoon
as heavy rain pounded the area with strong gusty winds and lightning strikes,
prompting the airport to shut down from 1:21 PM to 2:17 PM.

The same thing happened again from 2:53 and lasted about 25 minutes.

(JL)

The Ministry of Education has stopped National Taiwan Normal University's
research project using human blood.

The MOE has also imposed a fine of half a million NT each on Chen Qing-zhong,
the project's head researcher and the deputy head, and a fine 1.1 million NT
on the school.

This move stems from a case where an NTNU women's soccer coach Zhou TAi-ying
allegedly threatened to deduct academic credits from players if they didn't
cooperate with blood draws for a research study.

The students were asked to have their blood drawn three times a day for 14
consecutive days.

According to DPP lawmaker Chen Pei-yu, who revealed the incident in November
last year, the project is named "Constructing a Smart Sensing and Assessment
Platform for Psychophysiological, Injury, and Performance in Next-Generation
Precision Female Soccer" under the National Science and Technology Council.

The MOE says the NTNU professors and coach failed to follow relevant
regulations stipulated in the Human Subjects Research Act.

Meanwhile the Taipei Prosecutors Office has started investigations into the
incident.

(JL)

Vegetable prices in Taipei have risen by nearly 20-percent after Typhoon
Danas and subsequent rainfall wreaked havoc in southern Taiwan.

The Market Administration Office says the average wholesale vegetable price
stood at 46.6 NT today, that's 7 NT more compared with Sunday.

The Office has asked that the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Company
activate its vegetable purchase and storage plan to regulate supply and
stabilize prices.

It says from tomorrow until July 24th, the company should release 50 metric
tons of reasonably-prices vegetables through supermarket channels.

The items released will include loose-leaf vegetables, tomatoes, imported
broccoli and domestic potatoes, among others.

The company will also launch online sales of affordable organic vegetable
boxes that contain leafy greens, root vegetables and mushrooms each.

It'll be priced at 699 NT per box.

(JL)

In world news...

An American organization that runs an aid program in the Gaza Strip said 20
Palestinians were killed near a distribution site.

This comes as Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 22 others, including 11
children, according to hospital officials..

The Gaza Humanitarian Fund said 19 people were trampled in a stampede and one
person was fatally stabbed in the violence near a distribution hub in the
southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Since the G-H-F sites began operating, Palestinians say Israeli troops open
fire almost every day toward crowds on roads heading to the distribution
points.

Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians are living through a catastrophic
humanitarian crisis.

A tropical depression has formed southeast of Taiwan and is expected to
strengthen into a tropical storm as early as tomorrow.

The Central Weather Administration says it's currently pretty far away,
located 1,520 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's southern tip E-luan-bi.

But the system, called Wipha (薇帕) if it becomes a storm, is moving westward
quickly at a speed of 34 kilometers per hour toward northern Luzon Island.

The CWA says Wipha would skirt Luzon and continue to move into the South
China Sea toward Guang-dong Province.

Forecasters say it will bring heavy or torrential rain to eastern Taiwan
starting Friday and people there should watch out for sudden downpour, flash
floods and mudslides.

The western half of the island won't be affected much except for afternoon
showers or thundershowers in the north and more consistent rain in the south.

(JL)

A roast chicken giveaway has boosted blood supplies, during a blood donation
drive in Miaoli.

The Fubon Charity Foundation paired with local enterprises in Miaoli County
for the campaign, offering 300 roast chickens to donors, which were snapped
up in less than half an hour.

City officials say Typhoon Danas led to a drop in blood inventory across the
island, and organizers hoped the giveaway would encourage peopel to roll up
their sleeves.

Local blood centers say the area typically needs 1-thousand bags of blood
each day to meet hospital demand, and the current inventory is around the
safe level of seven days.

But blood levels remain low in central and southern Taiwan, and centers are
urging the public to continue donating generously.

(NS)

Taiwan shares rose today amid mixed performances of other Asian stock markets.

The Taiex rose 206 points to end the session at 23,042.

The turnover was 380.1 billion NT.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today his government's
screening of foreign investment was not country-specific.

His comments come after Chinese Premier Li Qiang raised "problems" faced by
Chinese companies seeking access to Australia.

Li had said he hoped Australia would "solve the problems encountered by
enterprises in terms of market access and investment review."

Australia has blocked some Chinese investments in critical minerals, and
company executives said security screening of renewable energy and key
infrastructure has also stepped up.

Albanese is on the fifth day of a China visit where the leader is balancing
trade and security.

Taiwan's Vice Trade Representative Yan Hui-xin (顏慧欣) says Taiwan and the
United States both recognize that progress has been made toward a trade deal
and have tentatively agreed on the next round of consultations.

Yan also says while Taiwan has yet to receive a letter regarding tariffs from
the White House, receiving it does not indicate final tariff rates.

She says many countries are awaiting talks with the U.S. with the aim of
reaching a consensus by August 1st, the deadline set by President Donald
Trump.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-qi also stresses that negotiations are
still ongoing and has declined to speculate on final rates.

He notes that the process involves “give and take”, and that Taiwan is
negotiating in good faith.

Yan and Chen made the comments when answering questions at the Legislative
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Asked about Taiwan's bottomline in the negotiations, Yan says it lies in
safeguarding national and industrial interests, food security, and public
health.

(JL)

A doctor who recently treated a boy infected with scarlet fever says it's a
common childhood illness caused by Group A Streptococcus, and that it mainly
affects children between 5 and 15 years old.

Symptoms of this contagious disease include a sore throat, fever, headache,
swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash.
The tongue may be red and bumpy, hence the nickname "strawberry tongue."

Doctors say there is no vaccine for scarlet fever, but the disease is
treatable with antibiotics, which reduce symptoms and spread, and prevent
most complications.

Outcomes with scarlet fever are typically good if treated, but because its
symptoms are quite similar to those of the common cold, doctors emphasize the
importance of early and accurate diagnosis.

(JL)

The United Kingdom, France and Germany have agreed to restore tough U.N.
sanctions on Iran by the end of August if there's no concrete progress on a
nuclear deal.

The three countries’ ambassadors to the United Nations met Tuesday at
Germany’s U.N. Mission to discuss a possible Iranian deal and reimposing the
sanctions.

U.S. officials say the matter also came up in a phone call Monday between
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of the three
countries.

Iran's foreign minister said recently that Tehran would accept a resumption
of nuclear talks with the U.S. if there were assurances of no more attacks.

Some dolphins in Australia use sponges on their noses to hunt fish, a skill
passed down through generations.

Research published Tuesday reveals that this technique involves using sponges
to protect their noses while stirring up fish from the seafloor.

But the sponges interfere with the dolphins' echolocation, making the skill
challenging to master.

Only about 5% of the studied population, or 30 dolphins, use this method.

Scientists say it’s an efficient but rare hunting strategy, learned over
years and passed only from mother to calf.

The findings highlight the complexity of dolphin behavior.

The Central Election Commission says, they will announce whether or not five
recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers will proceed to the voting stage or
not on Friday.

The campaigns in question are those against KMT lawmakers Luo Ming Cai, Jiang
Qi Chen 江啟臣, Yang Qiong Ying 楊瓊瓔, Yan Kuan Heng 顏寬恒, and Lin Si
Ming.

Those campaigns had been required to submit supplementary documents, which
were due at the end of June, and the local election commissions have now
finished examining them.

The CEC will convene on Friday to review the decisions of the local election
commissions and will announce the results after their meeting.

There are currently 26 recall votes against KMT lawmakers this month and
next, with most of those hitting the ballot on July 26th, and two others
scheduled for August 23rd.

(AH)

President Lai Ching Te yesterday inspected extended-range domestically made
Xiong Feng III anti-ship missiles.

He went on a closed-door military inspection tour in New Taipei as part of
the ongoing Han Kuang military exercises.

Although media were not allowed in the inspection, CNA reporters yesterday
saw President Lai's motorcade enter a privately-owned property in Bali.

At least four sets of the new ground-launched anti-ship missile systems were
visible from outside the property.

A press release from the Presidential Office stated that the trip was
intended to observe a Naval coastal mobile defense units' combat drill.

Taiwan's armed forces have never publicly confirmed the exact number of the
extended-range version of the missile systems or their range.

(AH-CNA)

Now turning to international news...

The UN's special rappoteur for Gaza and the West Bank is calling for global
action to stop what she calls "genocide" in Gaza.

Francesca Albanese urged nations to suspend ties with Israel, citing its war
on the Gaza Strip, which is approaching its two year anniversary.

Delegates from 30 countries attended the meeting in Colombia, including
delegates from Spain, Ireland, and China.

The gathering highlights growing international calls for accountability and
measures to address Israel's actions.

Analysts say, it's unclear if the conference's attendees will have enough
leverage over Israel to force it to change its policies in Gaza, where Israel
has killed more than 58,000 people since Hamas' deadly attack on Israel in
October 2023.

Some experts say, the conference is unlikely to carry any sway, as the US,
Israel's biggest backer, has failed to influence their behavior.

Also in the US, authorities in the state of New Jersey say two people were
killed when their car was caught in floodwaters during a storm.

Meanwhile, New York City's subway system is fully operational following
overnight heavy rains.

But some roads in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are still closed, with dozens
of flight delays and cancelations and airports nearby.

The heavy rains caused flash floods in New York and south-central
Pennsylvania on Monday night into early Tuesday.

It was the second-highest one-hour rainfall ever recorded in Central Park at
more than 5 centimeters, surpassed only by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in
2021.

The urban resilience drills kicked off yesterday in central Taiwan, featuring
air raid alerts, public evacuation protocols, and disaster relief drills.

The areas drilled yesterday include Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, and Changhua,
where air raid alerts sounded at 1:30pm, when traffic controls were
implemented, and operations at public and private venues were suspended for
half an hour.

Passengers on the Taichung metro were instructed to remain inside the station
for shelter, while additional officers were deployed at crowded locations to
assist with public evacuation.

Civilians say, the drills help to prevent the public from panicking in the
case of a real emergency...

while government officials in Nantou say the exercises were necessary for
minimizing losses in the case of war.

The drills continue this week, with Kaohsiung and Pingtung being drilled
today...

followed by drills in the north tomorrow,

and in the east and outlying islands Friday.

Yunlin was originally scheduled to be drilled yesterday, and Tainan and
Chiayi were scheduled for today, but those areas all cancelled the drills as
they continue to recover from Typhoon Danas.

(AH-CNA)

And officials are reminding the public to shelter in place during the urban
resilience drills over the next few days,

after a man in Taichung was hit with a 150,000 NT fine after he was caught
riding a scooter during the drills in Taichung yesterday.

The man ignored police direction to remain in place and rode out of the gas
station at 1:47, over halfway through the drill period.

He was later stopped by police for allegedly violating the Civil Defense Act,
under which violators can be fined up to 150,000 NT.

The drills were held in central Taiwan from 1:30 to 2pm yesterday, featuring
30 minute air raid alerts and evacuations.

The drills continue today in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, also from 1:30 to 2pm.

(AH-CNA)

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is putting in place new
restrictions for older drivers in an attempt to improve road safety.

Officials say the ministry's reforms are in four areas: physical and
cognitive testing; traffic and safety education prior to license renewal;
field training for violators; and travel card subsidies for those who
voluntarily surrender their licenses.

Officials emphasize that they don't want to prevent older people from
driving, but they do want to ensure that they can drive safely.

They add that the ministry has held nearly 2 dozens outreach sessions at
temples across the country to explain the planned changes.

This comes after Taiwan has seen a spate a deadly car accidents involving
older drivers, including the Sanxia accident that killed four people
including the 78 year old driver.

Statistics indicate that the number of licensed drivers that are 70 and up is
projected to increase from 1.8 to 2.7 million over the next decade.

Experts say that drivers over 75 are nearly two and a half more likely to
cause fatal pedestrian crashes than those aged 41 to 64.

(AH-CNA)

Four new Mpox cases are being reported in Taiwan, and the risk of the disease
spreading is expected to remain high until September.

That's according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Of the four cases, three were domestic and one was imported from China, with
all four individuals experiencing symptoms...

like rashes, blisters, and pustules, beginning early this month.

All four of the new cases involved men in their 30s that were not vaccinated
against the disease.

Officials say the July to September period is prone to surges in Mpox cases
due to increased international travel, large gatherings, and social
activities during the summer break.

The CDC urges those at risk to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and to
take preventative measures against Mpox.

Those eligible for vaccination include those who've engaged in unprotected
sex over the past year, those with STDs, and people who have had sex with
anyone in those two prior categories.

Statistics show that vaccination is effective in preventing serious symptoms
and death...

and nearly 100,000 people in Taiwan have been vaccinated against the disease
at least once.

(AH-CNA)

An electrocuted Taipower worker is now in critical condition...

and was placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for life support
yesterday.

He was critically injured by an electric shock as he was conducting power
restoration work in Chiayi County.

The Tainan hospital where the man was taken says, the man had no heartbeat or
respiration when he arrived, but he regained vital signs after emergency
resuscitation efforts.

They added that the man sustained burns over approximately 20 percent of his
body, and is currently being monitored in the intensive care unit.

Chiayi Fire officials say that they received a report at nearly 5pm yesterday
about a Taipower worker being electrocuted.

Personnel were dispatched and arrived to find a worker without vital signs.

(AH)

The CDC is urging continued vigilance against COVID 19, although cases in
Taiwan have continued to decline.

Officials say that the risk of severe illness and death remain high,
particularly among older adults and those with chronic health conditions.

The CDC says that outpatient and emergency visits for COVID fell 36% from the
previous week.

That marks that fifth weekly drop in a row, and indicates the end of the
recent plateau.

But still, in the last week the CDC recorded over 100 new severe cases and
over 30 related deaths.

Most of those affected were aged 65 or older.

Experts expect that the outbreak will continue through late this month or
early next, before tapering off.

The CDC emphasizes the importance of early medical attention, and they urge
older adults or those with chronic illnesses to pay close attention to
warning signs of severe illness.

Officials say, vaccination remains key to preventing severe illness and death.

(AH-CNA)

No injuries or damage are being reported following a magnitude 4.8 earthquake
that hit southeastern Taiwan at nearly 10pm last night.

The Central Weather Administration says, the epicenter of the quake was about
130 kilometers south of Taitung County Hall, at a depth of 29.4 km.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the earthquake.

The intensity was highest in Pingtung County, where residents felt the quake
at a 3.

(AH-CNA)

A tropical depression off the coast of the Philippines could strengthen into
a tropical storm and come close to Taiwan on Friday...

but the Central Weather Administration emphasizes that its path remains
uncertain.

The tropical depression is rapidly developing and is expected to move through
the Bashi Channel towards China's Guangdong and Hainan.

In that case, it could come close to Taiwan between Thursday and Friday.

Officials say, whether a typhoon warning will be issued or not depends on the
path the storm ultimately takes...

but it has the potential to bring heavy rain to some parts of Taiwan, mainly
in the east and south.

(AH-CNA)

Taipei has climbed to its highest ever ranking in the Quacquarelli Symonds
Best Student Cities 2026 list, at number 14th globally.

Taipei got an overall score of 89.1- that's up 12 spots from last year.

QS writers call Taipei a leading Asian education hub, with strong employer
activity and students enjoying their experience in the city, many of them
staying after graduation.

Other Taiwanese cities also appeared on the list, including Hsinchu at number
71, Tainan at 92, Taichung at 113, and Taoyuan at 130.

The highest-scoring cities in the world were Seoul, Tokyo, London, Munich,
Melbourne, and Sydney...

and other high-scoring Asian cities included Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and
Beijing.

Cities considered for the ranking must have a population over 250,000 and
have at least two universities listed in the most recent QS World University
Rakings.

(AH-CNA)

The Reuters News Agency says Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to keep
fighting in Ukraine until the West engages on his terms for peace.

Reuters cited three sources close to the Kremlin as saying Putin believes
Russia's economy and its military are strong enough to weather any additional
Western measures.

This comes after U-S President Donald Trump expressed frustration over
Putin's refusal to agree a ceasefire and announced a wave of weapons supplies
to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.

Trump also threatened further sanctions on Russia unless a peace deal was
reached within 50 days.

Israeli airstrikes have killed over 90 Palestinians in 24 hours, including
women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Strikes on homes and shelters have caused significant casualties. Efforts to
negotiate a ceasefire have stalled, with no breakthrough after recent
U.S.-Israel talks.

The U.N. reports that child malnutrition in Gaza has doubled since Israel
restricted food entry in March.

By June, over 10% of children under age five screened by UNRWA were acutely
malnourished, compared to 5.5% in March.

UNICEF also documented a sharp rise in cases. Israel eased the blockade
slightly in May, but aid remains insufficient.

Brazil’s chief prosecutor has called for a guilty verdict in the trial of
former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of leading a coup plot that sought
to overturn the 2022 election result.

The prosecutor submitted a court document accusing Bolsonaro of leading an
armed criminal organization, attempting to stage a coup and attempted violent
abolition of the democratic rule of law, among other charges.

Bolsonaro said on X that “all the accusations are false" and that the trial
was a “witch hunt,” echoing a term used by U.S. President Donald Trump when
he came to his South American ally’s defense last week.

The defense is expected to present its case in the coming weeks.

Exposure of Taiwan's banking, insurance and securities sectors to China
dipped to a new low as of the end of May due to concerns over a slowdown in
the Chinese economy.

Data from the Financial Supervisory Commission showed that the exposure of
the sectors to China as of the end of May fell by NT$201.3 billion, or almost
20 percent from a year earlier.

Of the three financial sectors, the banking sector had the highest exposure
to China at NT$768.45 billion as of the end of May, accounting for 92 percent
of the three sectors' total, but it was down 18.67 percent from a year
earlier.

The chief secretary of the FSC's Banking Bureau Chang Chia-kuei said banks'
exposure to China consisted of lending, interbank loans and investments, with
interbank loans falling 35 percent from a year earlier as of May.

Taiwanese banks are said to have become more cautious over China's economic
growth prospects and the risks faced in the Chinese property market, leading
them to scale back their lending and investments.

Meanwhile, the insurance industry's exposure to China accounted for only 0.15
percent of its disposable capital as of the end of May, while exposure of the
local securities and futures industry to China also fell 21 percent from a
year earlier to about NT$10.04 billion as of the end of May.

Taiwanese securities firms adjusted their investment portfolios in the
Chinese market based in part on the uncertainty over the United States'
arbitrary tariff policies.

--------

In international business news ...

U.S. consumer prices jumped by the most in five months in June amid higher
costs for some goods...

This suggests tariffs are starting to have an impact on inflation and it
potentially keeps the Federal Reserve on the sidelines until September.

Jennifer King has details.


We'll have a bit more on how the markets reacted to that news a bit later on
in the segment.

---

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration says its impose a 19% tariff on goods
from Indonesia under a new agreement with the Southeast Asian country...

It added more deals were in the works as he continued to press for what he
views as better terms with trading partners and a path to reducing a massive
U.S. trade deficit.

The pact with the relatively minor U.S. trading partner is among the handful
struck so far by the Trump administration ahead of an August 1 deadline for
tariffs on most U.S. imports to rise again,

This comes as the European Union readied retaliatory measures should talks
between Washington and its top trading partner fails.

---

Trump administration officials say Nvidia planned resumption of sales of its
H20 AI chips to China is part of U.S. negotiations on rare earths.

Nvidia said late on Monday that it is filing applications with the U.S.
government to resume sales to China of its H20 graphics processing unit, and
has been assured by the U.S. it will get the licences soon.

Charles de Ledesma reports.


---

And Apple has signed a $500-million deal with Pentagon-backed MP Materials
for a supply of rare earth magnets..

The consumer tech giant is one of the first becoming one of the first tech
companies to ink a U.S. supply agreement after China curbed exports earlier
this year.

Lisa Dwyer has details.

Gethin Coolbaugh joins us now with a wrap of the rest of US sports action.

On to tennis news and

British tennis player Tara Moore has been banned for four years after a court
agreed with the International Tennis Integrity Agency that she should be
suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Moore tested positive for anabolic steroids boldenone and nandrolone in April
2022 but was cleared in December 2023 after an independent tribunal
determined that the result was caused by eating contaminated meat while she
was competing in Colombia.

The ITIA appealed that ruling and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in
the ITIA’s favor, saying Tuesday the majority of its panel felt that Moore
couldn’t prove the sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated
meat.

---

In Golfing action...

From Wimbledon and the All England Club to golf's British Open ... attention
has now shifted to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Gethin Coolbaugh reports...

Taipei's Environmental Protection Department has fined the organizer of a
festival 45 thousand NT .... after receiving noise complaints from residents.

The 2025 S-2O Songkran Music Festival at Dajia Riverside Park wrapped up on
Sunday after a weekend of music from 1 to 10 PM daily ... however, the
department recieved 55 noise complaints over the two days.

Officials responded to the complaints and confirmed that noise levels
violated the Noise Control Act.

One resident in Neihu District, nearly 10 kilometers away, reported hearing
loud, rhythmic bass sounds.

Some elderly residents also experienced discomfort, including heart
palpitations.

City officials say they will review the incident, and Councilor Ho Meng-hua
urged Taipei to consult sound experts and introduce stricter regulations to
help future events better co-exist with nearby communities.

(CNA_IG)

EVA Air has responded to complaints from staff alleging that salary
adjustments are unfairly biased against employees taking unpaid parental
leave.

The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union held a press conference today to address
concerns from over 60 Eva Air flight attendants who say their leave
negatively impacted recent pay raises.

EVA Air stated that salary adjustments are determined by overall business
performance, individual performance, and seniority—not by an employee’s
parental leave status.

The airline said it's temporarily following regulatory guidelines for the
2025 pay review and has already informed employees from the past two years
who may have been affected.

A previous dispute over pay adjustments resulted in penalties from the
Ministry of Labor—penalties the airline is currently appealing.

EVA Air expressed deep regret that its appeal was rejected and does not rule
out filing an administrative lawsuit.

(IG)

Yunlin County officials are calling on poultry farmers to step up biosecurity
measures after a confirmed outbreak of bird flu at a goose farm in Dongshi
Township.

Authorities have disinfected the site and culled over 2-thousand-600 geese
and destroyed more than 15-hundred eggs to contain the virus.

Officials noted that recent heavy rains followed by high temperatures have
created ideal conditions for the disease to spread.

While summer outbreaks in geese are uncommon, the county is still monitoring
22 nearby poultry farms within a one-kilometer radius.

Farmers are being urged to remain vigilant and report any signs of abnormal
bird symptoms immediately, such as twisted necks.

(IG)

DPP Nantou County Councilor Chen Yu Ling is in Hualien to support recall
efforts against KMT lawmaker Fu Kun Chi...

just after a recall vote against Chen failed over the weekend.

In response, the KMT said that they hoped to avoid generating hatred, and
accused Chen and others of exploiting Taiwan for the recall movement.

Chen is accompanied by DPP members from Changhua, Yilan, Miaoli, and Penghu
canvassing outside Hualien station and other locations around Hualien city,
waving the ROC flag and singing national songs.

The vote against Chen took place this past Sunday, and although the votes in
favor of her recall exceeded those against it, the "ayes" did not exceed 25%
of the total constituency.

(AH)

Health experts in Taiwan emphasize that protecting eyesight and hearing are
vital to preventing or delaying dementia, as is reducing exposure to air
pollution.

The Taiwan Alzheimers' Disease Association also introduced public awareness
tools to identify early signs, such as memory loss, and changes in language
and social behavior.

Experts highlight a balanced diet, regular exercise, and social engagement as
crucial for prevention.

They say recent studies show that vision and hearing loss, and pollutants
like PM2.5, can speed up cognitive decline.

People are encouraged to get regular checkups, use hearing aids if needed,
and wear masks outdoors.

Experts say watching for symptoms and seeking timely medical help can protect
brain health, and support a dementia-friendly society.

(IG)

Now turning to international news...

An ultra-Orthodox party in Israel is announcing plans to leave Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.

The decision destabilizes Netanyahu's leadership amidst the ongoing Israeli
war on Gaza.

The party, United Torah Judaism, disagrees with certain parts of a bill
granting military draft emeptions for its voters.

The issue has long divided Israelis, most of whom are required to serve in
the military, and has intensified as military demands grow during Israel's
siege on Gaza.

Netanyahu will now be left with a slight majority, increasing his reliance on
far-right parties in his coalition.

The political development comes as Israel and Hamas continue to discuss terms
for a ceasefire.

Indonesian rescuers are searching for 11 people still missing after a
speedboat accident.

Officials say, three of the missing are children, and seven people were
rescued after floating for hours in the rough waters.

The accident happened when a speedboat capsized during a storm yesterday near
the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra.

The boat had been carrying 18 people when it flipped after leaving Sikakap.

Survivors tell authorities that the boat was faced with high waves in a
sudden storm, but authorities are still invesigating the cause of the
accident.

A music festival in Finland is bringing Sami culture to the spotlight under
the midnight sun.

Rapper Mikkhu Laiti performed recently at the Loktafeasta festival, rapping
in his native Sami.

Laiti is a member of Europe's only recognized Indigenous people.

The festival, founded by Laiti himself, features performances in Sami and
Finnish, and draws over 300 attendees.

Even at just past midnight, it's still plenty bright in Lapland in July,
lending a special air to the festival where attendees drank beer and ate
sausages.

Abuse of the elderly is on the rise in Taiwan.

The Health Ministry says in the past five years, reported cases of elder
abuse have risen from nearly 17,000 to around 24,000.

More than half of the cases involved violence by children or grandchildren.

Experts warn that injuries are often concentrated around the head, neck, and
upper limbs, urging early intervention.



Health official Zhang Xiu-yuan points out today that the increase in case
number highlights the urgent need to address domestic violence against the
elderly.



Zhang used 2024's data as an example, saying the most common form of abuse is
psychological, accounting for 53% of the cases.

It's followed by physical abuse, which took 37-percent, harassment and
financial abuse.

Most of these conflicts stem from poor parent-child relationships, unstable
mental or emotional states of the caregivers, and disputes over finances
within the household.

(JL)

China has reported that its economy slowed in the last quarter as U.S.
President Donald Trump's trade war escalated, but it still expanded at a
robust 5.2% pace.

That compared with 5.4% annual growth in January-March.

The government said today that in quarterly terms, the world's second largest
economy expanded by 1.1%.

Analysts said actual growth may have been significantly slower.

A day earlier, China reported that its exports accelerated in June due to a
rush of orders before possible high tariffs imposed by the U.S.

EU trade ministers have agreed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30%
tariffs announced on the European Union are “absolutely unacceptable.”

They are now studying a new set of countermeasures to respond to the move.

The ministers met Monday in Brussels following Trump’s surprise announcement
of such hefty tariffs, which could have repercussions for governments,
companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The EU is America’s biggest business partner and the world’s largest
trading bloc.

The tariffs are set to start on Aug. 1st and could make everything from
French cheese to German electronics more expensive in the U.S.

A key bridge in Greater Taipei was closed early this morning for a military
drill simulating efforts by Taiwan's armed forces to prevent enemy forces
from moving into the capital city of Taipei.

It's part of the military's annual Han Kuang exercises, simulated a scenario
in which Chinese troops were attempting to enter Taipei from neighboring New
Taipei using cars.

Conducted at the Wanban (萬板) Bridge connecting Banqiao with Wanhua
district, the drill saw military police building a blockade on the bridge,
used drones to detect the enemy's movements and then simulated opening fire
at them.

These simulations were meant to prevent the People's Liberation Army from
advancing into Taipei city.

Similar bridge-defense drills have been conducted in previous Han Kuang
exercises, but this year was the first time a bridge connecting the two
cities was fully closed to traffic for a whole night.

(JL)

The Presidential Office has declined to comment on reports of transit through
the US for President Lai Ching-te.

The office states today that any confirmed travel plans will be announced to
the public at the appropriate time.

This comes in response to media reports claiming that Lai will visit three of
Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize next month, with
transit stops in New York and Dallas.

The office said this morning that it has "no comment" on the reoprts, but as
in the past, confirmed arrangements will be made public at an appropriate
time.

(NS)

Disaster recovery is still ongoing in Tainan after Typhoon Danas caused an
estimated one billion NT in agricultural losses in the city.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei Zhe went to Yanshui district today to survey the
recovery efforts and to thank recovery workers.

Rescue workers have been focusing on areas where there's a high percentage of
elderly people living alone.

Huang also thanked officials in Kaohsiung and Pingtung for dispatching
equipment and manpower to help out with recovery efforts.

Workers from Taipower are continuing to work to restore power, as nearly one
thousand households are still without electricity.

(AH)

In world news...

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang says the technology giant has won approval from the
Trump administration to sell its advanced H20 computer chips used for
artificial intelligence to China.

The company shared the news in a blog post yesterday.

The White House announced in April that it would restrict sales of Nvidia’s
H20 chips and AMD’s MI308 chips to China.

Nvidia said the tighter export controls would cost it an extra $5.5 billion
U.S. dollars.

Huang and other technology leaders have been lobbying President Donald Trump
to reverse the restrictions, arguing they hinder U.S. competition in a
leading edge sector.

They've also warned that U.S. export controls could end up pushing other
countries toward China’s AI technology.

Kaohsiung Fire Department says the fire at Molicel, a battery factory in the
Xiao-gang (小港) District, was put out at around 7 AM this morning.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qi-mai says the air quality remains normal and that the
Environmental Protection Bureau will continue to monitor the situation.

The fire started with explosions shortly after 5 AM yesterday, and the huge
amount of thick smoke shocked the nearby residents.

The Fire Department says while they managed to get the fire under control
yesterday afternoon, the smoldering lithium batteries have a tendency to
flare up again.

They say the fire was extinguished at 7:46 a.m. today, but firefighters
remain on-site cooling down hot spots and handling residual smoldering.

Although toxic hydrofluoric acid was detected in the air after the explosion
inside the factory yesterday, it's not found outside.

But as the fire caused the density of PM 2.5 to rise for a period of time,
the company will still face fines.

(JL)

A suspect in the Taichung murder-suicide that led to the death of five people
has been ordered detained incommunicado.

Taichung prosecutors previously requested to detain the suspect, surnamed
Lee, who is being investigated for alleged fraud, extortion, and other
offenses.

The case involves five family members surnamed Wang who were found dead in
their home early this month after appearing to have fallen victim to a
fraudluent investment scheme.

Suicide notes at the scene described deep regret over trusting a former
classmate and investing in what turned out to be a fake gold purchasing scam.

The victims wrote that they were overwhelmed with debt and could not repay
what they owed.

Prosecutors suspect that Lee coerced the Wang family into borrowing heavily
against their assets to invest in the scheme.

She was previously questioned and released on bail, before being summoned
again yesterday after new evidence surfaced.

(AH-CNA)

Taiwan shares are sharply up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at
22,835 after gaining 220 points.

The turnover was 309.7 billion NT.

Australia and China are working to strengthen trade ties despite
disagreements over security and human rights.

Leaders of the two countries held talks today in Beijing, with Chinese leader
Xi Jinping emphasizing finding common ground...

which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed.

Australia relies heavily on exports to China, but shares concerns with the US
about China's human rights record in Xinjiang, and military activity in the
Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

Albanese emphasized earlier this week in Shanghai that one quarter of jobs in
Australia relies on trade, but the country is trying to diversify its trade
with ties in Southeast Asia.

Albanese has aimed to improve relations with China since he took office in
2022.

The Taipei District Court is scheduled to decide this afternoon whether to
continue detaining former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-che and two other accomplices
involved in the Core Pacific City project.

Ko has been in custody incommunicado since September 5th before he was
indicted on charges of corruption, influence peddling and embezzlement on
December 26th.

Another 10 people were also indicted, including Core Pacific Group chairman
Shen Qing-jing (沈慶京), former Taipei Councilor Ying Xiao-wei (應曉薇) and
Ko's former aide Li Wen-zong (李文宗).

The Taipei District Court ruled on January 2nd this year to put four of them
in detention incommunicado and has extended the measure twice until now.

Shen Qing-jing, on the other hand, was granted bail on the 10th but has yet
to complete the process due to strict bail conditions.

(JL)

A new Greenpeace report warns that rising temperatures are increasing the
risk of heat-related injuries and limiting children's outdoor activities.

The environmental group released its research report today, contending that
in 2023, eight cities and counties experienced around 780 "heat injury risk
hours".

That's when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, which measures heat stress
exceeds 29 degrees Celsius.

And the group estimates that if changes are not made, by the year
2-thousand-100m, more than half of the summer in Taiwan would expose children
to heat injury risks.

Greenpeace is calling on the government to accelerate carbon reduction and
energy transition, incorporating children's specific needs into carbon
reduction targets and pathways.

They also advocate for enhancing the climate comfort of children's outdoor
spaces through features like shade structures, misting systems, or water
features, and adding more heat injury early warning systems and emergency
medical equipment.

(NS)

Nvidia will sell advanced H20 computer chips for AI to China, according to
CEO Jensen Huang.

The White House announced in April that it would restrict sales of Nvidia's
H20 chips and AMD's MI308 chips to China.

Nvidia said the tighter export controls would cost the company an extra 5.5
billion dollars.

Huang and other technology leaders have been lobbying the US president to
reverse the restrictions.

They argue that such limits hinder US compeititon in a leading edge section
in a major technology market.

And also in the US, heavy rain is sweeping across parts of the northeast,
flooding some areas of New York and New Jersey.

The rain stranded vehicles and closed subway lines, and the governor of New
Jersey even declared a state of emergency.

In New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and other areas, there are flash flood
watches and warnings in place.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay inside and avoid going
out if not absolutely necessary.

Video posted on social media appears to show water flooding into a Manhattan
subway station, submerging the platform, while passengers inside the train
look on.

Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train's seats to avoid
the water beginning to soak the floor.