
AI-generated summary
Karoline Leavitt departed from the role of White House press secretary in August, creating a vacancy that Trump has now filled with Katie Zacharia, who previously served as a communications adviser for his Truth Social platform.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he has appointed Katie Zacharia, a communications adviser for his Truth Social platform, to serve as White House press secretary following Karoline Leavitt’s departure in August.
He said Zacharia has an “unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter”.
“I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The New York Times first reported the news of her appointment.

Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yan will host the last National Day flag-raising ceremony in Taichung City during her term of office on National Day. The ceremony will present a ground-air relay scene of a drone formation hoisting the national flag and a giant national flag on the ground. She will also invite the Heping District Dophlan Elementary School Little League team to lead the singing of the national anthem. Mayoral candidates Chiang Chi-chen and He Xinchun will also be present. The three of them together will become the focus, adding to the topic of the Taichung mayoral election.

President Lai Ching-te will deliver a speech on National Day, elaborating on the transformation of Taiwan's economic achievements into welfare policies, emphasizing the country's responsible role in peace across the Taiwan Strait and self-defense, not provocation. It also reports on the Taipei mayoral election, diplomat corruption cases and other social news.

The Ku Kuan Min Foundation held a forum to commemorate the centenary of Ming's birthday. Former Legislative Yuan You Xikun pointed out that local history has been deliberately covered up, emphasizing that historical figures such as Sun Yat-sen supported Taiwan's independence. Dong Liwen warned that the Chinese Communist Party's united front infiltration has changed from playing white face to playing black face, that is, cross-border suppression, and criticized Taiwan's laws for being too light in punishment for such acts. Examples include the case where Denise was splashed with paint and the case where feces was thrown at a comedy club. The sentences were too light.

President Lai will deliver a speech at the National Day Convention, explaining that Taiwan's record-breaking economic performance will be transformed into welfare policies for all people. He will also reiterate the national position of maintaining the status quo and safeguarding democracy and regional peace and stability regarding regional security across the Taiwan Strait, China's coercive actions, and Taiwan's role as a responsible international actor.

Chen Yinglian, the current minister of the China Foreign Affairs University, was prosecuted by the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office under the Corruption Crimes Act for allegedly fraudulently obtaining rent subsidies while stationed in Los Angeles and embezzling public property while stationed in Guam. He did not return to Japan after being granted leave last month and transferred to the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs determined that he was absent from duty for 68 hours and will be dismissed from duty in accordance with the leave rules for public servants.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan said that the close support for Democratic Progressive Party candidate Shen Boyang is the inevitable result of the intensified election campaign. He is worried that the atmosphere of social division during last year's general recall may become the norm in Taiwan's elections. He emphasizes that we must be humble before public opinion and never question the judgment of voters.