Taiwan–Philippines Travel: Taiwan extended visa-free entry for Philippine passport holders for another year, letting eligible travelers stay up to 14 days without a visa from Aug. 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, in reciprocity for Manila’s earlier move. Food Safety & Politics: The KMT plans a July 25 Taipei rally urging stronger action over the Central Union Oil tainted-oil scandal, as prosecutors seek tougher accountability and the case continues to roil public trust. Justice in New Taipei: A speech therapist in New Taipei was indicted over alleged sexual abuse of 29 children with speech or cognitive impairments, with prosecutors recommending a 20-year prison term. AI, Markets & TSMC Shock: Taiwan’s Taiex plunged 6.47% Friday in its biggest single-day drop on record, as AI-linked tech sold off globally and TSMC retreated after record Q2 results and guidance on margin pressure. TSMC’s US Expansion: TSMC pledged an additional US$100 billion for Arizona, lifting total planned US investment to US$265 billion and signaling a major shift in advanced chipmaking capacity. Diplomacy & Visas: Taiwan removed Cambodia from visa facilitation programs while extending eased entry for Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, and others. Health Research: Chang Gung built Taiwan’s first life-course gut microbiome database, mapping intestinal bacteria from newborns to age 93 to support more personalized medicine. Local Security Drills: Taiwan’s Army Lanyang Regional Command completed cross-region reinforcement drills, including CM33 armored vehicles moving through the Hsuehshan Tunnel. Sports Spotlight: Adam Hinton was selected first overall by the Kaohsiung Aquas in the TPBL draft, while PV Sindhu reached the Japan Open semifinals after a walkover.