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From automation to autonomy: Industry trends in unmanned tech

As labor shortages intensify, unmanned technologies are emerging as a key solution to keeping society running. From hospital service robots to drones delivering emergency supplies, these technologies are moving beyond simple automation toward greater autonomy. The Industrial Technology Research Institute is bringing industry leaders together to explore the latest developments and business opportunities in a series of seminars, as the sector looks toward a major growth period through 2030.

ITRI on Wednesday held the inauguration ceremony of a series of seminars on industry development trends, with a focus on the outlook for 2027. Among the attendees were industry representatives from Qisda and the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association. One key topic was emerging trends in unmanned technologies and industrial applications.

Chi Chao-yin
ITRI ISTI
According to the National Development Council, labor productivity will have to increase by 40% by 2050 in order for society to function. That’s why unmanned technologies will take over to keep operations running. Humans may have to step back from doing frontline tasks and command the processes instead.

In the future, human workers may have to shift from frontline duties to behind-the-scenes roles such as managing and supervising. In hospitals, that means service robots can lead patients around the building and provide basic health information. In remote rural areas or disaster sites, drones can take over emergency supply deliveries, easily clearing geographic obstacles. Machines may even cooperate by themselves in the future, as unmanned technologies shift from automation to autonomy. The range of applications continues to expand.

Cally Ko
Qisda General Manager
There are two teams in our company. One, specializing in drones and the other, in physical AI, including four-legged and two-legged robots for commercial use. Orders have been placed already, and production has begun. The period from next year to early 2030 will be a huge boom in growth for the unmanned tech sector.

Industry players see strong growth potential for unmanned technologies, as applications extend to smart manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and energy infrastructure inspections. Over the next 8 days, more than 70 keynote speakers brought together by ITRI will share their insights at 16 seminar sessions, so that businesses are up-to-date on the latest industry trends.

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#automation #autonomy #seminar #tech #unmannedtech

Time：2026-10-28

最新消息 Latest News

3-year-old mountain bongo called Harris arrives in Taiwan

A 3-year-old male mountain bongo called Harris has made its way across the Pacific to its new home in Taiwan. Though Taipei Zoo already has five mountain bongos, they are all female, and therefore can’t breed. That’s why Houston Zoo in Texas decided to donate a male animal to Taipei. After an 18-hour flight, Harris was greeted at Taoyuan International Airport by none other than the director of the American Institute in Taiwan. Let’s hear more.

Raymond Greene
AIT Director
The AIT was very proud to work with Houston City, Taipei City and their respective zoos and the Taiwan authorities to realize the survival for Harris. The US and Taiwan work very closely on bio safety as well as animal health, and so I think this is a success story for our cooperation.

Kevin Hodge
Houston Zoo Vice President
EVA Air treated us like first-class guests. Harris was calm throughout the whole flight, so we were able to give him food and water every two hours and it was perfect.

Ju Shiau-fen
Taipei Zoo Director
Our bongo antelope population currently consists of just five females. We hope this male, robust and young, can serve as a breeding male and help us increase the population. We expect to officially introduce him to the public after he finishes one-month in quarantine.

As soon as the plane touched down, airport staff held up a banner welcoming Harris to his new home. Mountain bongos are a kind of antelope with reddish-brown fur, distinctive white stripes and a pair of long, spiraling horns. They are native to Africa and are among the world’s largest forest antelopes. The species is classified as critically endangered in the wild. Harris’s long journey to the other side of the world comes with an important mission: to help breed the next generation and bring new hope to conservation efforts in Taiwan.

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#bongo #harris #taiwan #houstonzoo #taipeizoo

2026-10-28

Secret husband suspected of arranging Japan murder for payout

A Taiwanese woman who went on a trip to Japan never returned to Taiwan, after being stabbed to death, allegedly by a fellow traveler in the same tour group. The murder happened at a hot springs hotel in the popular Lake Kawaguchiko on Monday. Local police arrested a suspect, a woman called Yang Min-han. Now, reports have surfaced that the murder may have been orchestrated by the victim’s husband, who is suspected of marriage fraud for a potential insurance payout. Let’s hear more.

Wang Sheng-hao
Prosecutor in case
The preliminary findings suggest that Mr. Lee entered a sham marriage with the victim, Ms. Ching. He encouraged her to go on a solo trip to Japan and took out a high-value insurance policy on her.

Kao Ta-cheng
Forensic scientist
The victim was taken to a developed country, a country with good public safety, to be murdered there. That’s really rare, it’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it. I think the victim must have known that she was going to be murdered. But to be tricked so far… he must be incredible at deception.

Voice of victim’s friend (Anonymized)
Was suspicious of marriage
For as long as I knew her, she had always been single. So I was shocked when she told me out of the blue that she had a husband. I heard her arguing on the phone, but she said it was nothing, that it was just something to do with her husband. I asked what happened. She shrugged it off and said she might be getting divorced.

The victim, Ching Yun-jung, met her husband, Mr. Lee, in May this year, after she applied to work as his assistant. Shortly after, he proposed getting married, saying he would give her NT$4 -5 million if she bore him a baby. They eloped in July. According to a report, she had previously contacted a reporter asking for help, saying she had been involved in a scam and that she feared for her life. The reporter tried to persuade her to get divorced as quickly as possible, and to change the beneficiary on the insurance policy. On Sept. 21, Mr. Lee arranged for the victim to travel to Japan alone as part of a tour group. The trip was postponed, after an incident in which Ms. Ching fell onto the tracks on the High Speed Rail in Taiwan. Mr. Lee signed her up to another tour group four days later and purchased a high-value insurance policy. The victim had previously said she feared she might not live to see the end of the year, and tragically, her fears became a chilling reality.

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#murder #kawaguchiko #japan #japantravel #insurancescam


2026-10-27

Shen and Chiang have citizens draw ballot numbers 3 and 5

Taipei’s mayoral candidates got their ballot numbers at an event on Tuesday morning. The DPP’s Puma Shen had a randomly selected registered voter, a citizen named Lydia to draw his ballot number, which turned out as 3. On the other hand, Mayor Chiang had asked one of his supporters to draw a number on his behalf, a first-time voter who drew number 5.

Puma Shen’s honorary campaign chair and Taipei citizen, Lydia, drew a 3 for the ballot number with excitement written all over her face.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
A huge thanks to Lydia for answering my call. The ballot number lottery is done and this time we got number 3.

Lydia
Citizen Ballot Number Picker
I was a little nervous, but I was more excited. I hope things go smoothly for Taipei.

Shen’s team picked from more than 5,000 registered voters, to draw one “campaign chair,” for the special task of drawing the ballot number. On the other side, Mayor Chiang’s team opted for a young voter to pick his ballot number.

Yakira
First-time voter
I am Yakira, the youth representative for Mayor Chiang. I am 20 years old. I am a university student living in Shilin and am a first-time voter. I was delighted to represent Mayor Chiang and draw his ballot number.

Furthermore, Shen’s ballot number drew an unexpected coincidence as former President, Chen Shui-bian posted on social media that when he ran for Taipei Mayor in 1994, his ballot number was also 3. Many netizens also noticed that both were 44-years-old during their election run.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#ballot #election #number #numerology #vote

2026-10-27

Awkwardness as lesser-known Taipei mayoral candidates face press

The local elections are just around the corner, but do you know all the candidates up for election? In Taipei, the KMT’s Chiang Wan-an and the DPP’s Puma Shen get all the press. But there are another four candidates running for mayor. They each paid the deposit of NT$1.2 million to participate, but they only will be getting it back of they manage to get at least 10% of the vote. As reference, 2.02 million people voted in the previous election, which means the threshold then was 202,000 votes.

The four candidates attended the ballot number lottery on Tuesday. One of them is Tang Hsin-min, who showed up with a big self-made laminated poster covered in word art. His constantly chanted he was doing it “At the orders of Chiang Ching-kuo,” the former leader of Taiwan. The situation devolved into chaos after he took too long at the stand and even told staff to “shut up” when they tried to coax him away. Witnessing the awkward scene was fellow candidate Kuo Hsi, a retired Navy Captain. He took his moment to slam TVBS and SETN, the TV outlets that will be hosting mayoral debate. He said that it was “preferential treatment” and “discriminatory” that only two of the candidates were to take part. The other two candidates are former body builder Lin Chih-cheng and Hsiao Wen-chien, who worked as an interpreter for former President Chen Shui-bian.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#taipei #awkward #cringe #election #politics

2026-10-27

Former Intel CEO brings six AI startups to Taiwan

Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is bringing Silicon Valley’s AI ambitions to Taiwan. Leading a delegation of six AI startups, Gelsinger says Taiwan is playing a central role in what could be a two-decade-long technology supercycle. With AI demand surging worldwide, companies are looking to Taiwan to strengthen partnerships and tackle critical challenges, from computing efficiency to power supply.

Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger is in Taiwan. As a general partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Playground Global, he’s come with representatives from six AI startups hoping to connect with the local tech ecosystem.

Pat Gelsinger
Playground Global General Partner
We thought it was extraordinarily fast last year, but we’ve seen it accelerate. 90% of the world’s AI comes through Taiwan. We think we’re in maybe a two-decade-long super cycle. We’re… clearly we’ll have some ups and downs. We’re in maybe the greatest technological, economic build-out in human history, and Taiwan plays a central role.

Ayar Labs, a silicon photonics startup backed by NVIDIA and AMD, has announced plans to establish a presence in Taiwan. The company has opened a new office in Hsinchu to strengthen collaboration with MediaTek, TSMC and Wiwynn.

Mark Wade
Ayar Labs CEO
We’ve deeply with our manufacturing partners, our ecosystem partners, here throughout Taiwan.

Though AI demand continues to surge, Gelsinger noted that resources remain limited. He said improving efficiency will require a complete overhaul of the system, supported by industry players working on power, memory, co-packaging and silicon photonics.

Pat Gelsinger
Playground Global General Partner
Now we see more aggressive build out of the world’s energy supply. In the digital AI world energy capacity equals economic capacity. But every industry that wants to participate in digital AI needs more energy. Across the world we need more energy capacity.

Gelsinger is set to co-host a dinner with Hon Hai Chair Young Liu to strengthen exchanges between Silicon Valley companies and Taiwan’s tech industry and snap up opportunities in the booming AI market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#ai #intel #gelsinger #playground #tech

2026-10-27

Kaohsiung launches intercollegiate venture to cultivate top tech talent

Amid surging demand for semiconductor and AI talent, the Kaohsiung City Government has partnered with two top universities to launch an intercollegiate research and education park dedicated to key national strategic fields. It will be near Lotus Pond in Zuoying, and with a budget of over NT$10 billion, aims to cultivate over 2,100 high-level professionals with master’s or doctoral degree by 2030. It’s a new bid to inject fresh talent into Southern Taiwan’s technology sector. Let’s find out more.

With the press of a button, construction officially begins on Taiwan’s first inter-collegiate research and education park dedicated to key national strategic fields. The initiative aims to foster deep, cross-institutional academic collaboration, with a goal of cultivating over 2,000 master’s and doctoral degree holders and attracting 4,000 professionals to the site.

John Kao
National Tsing Hua University President
In addition to what universities put into talent development, we are working together to foster the high-level professionals that Southern Taiwan needs.

Chen Yung-fu
NYCU Senior Vice President
Industry leaders tell me that we need to cultivate more talent, while students tell me they want to enter these key technological fields. The demand for talent today is likely more than a hundred times greater than it was forty years ago. Therefore, I believe that if we don’t act quickly, Taiwan’s competitive edge will gradually be overtaken.

To attract top-tier universities, the Ministry of Education will provide a budget of NT$10 billion, while the Kaohsiung City Government will facilitate inter-university collaboration; together, they aim to partner with enterprises to build a comprehensive semiconductor and AI industrial ecosystem.

Liu Kuo-wei
Deputy Minister of Education
Funding will continue to be poured in until construction is complete. The Ministry of Education truly views this as a top priority to benefit high-level talent development in the south, with the hope that it will one day surpass Hsinchu to become another major hub for talent development.

Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung Mayor
Our vision is talent development in Kaohsiung, technical validation in Kaohsiung, and industries putting roots in Kaohsiung, thereby creating a self-sustaining cycle of innovation.

Leveraging its prime location right next to the high-speed rail station—combined with cross-sector collaboration among industry, government, and academia—this research and education park will accelerate the industrial transformation of Southern Taiwan, as everyone bears witness to this historical moment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taiwansemiconductors #Taiwantalent #Taiwanmanpower #Zuoying #NTHU #NYCU #Kaohsiungcitygovernment

2026-10-27

Tang Chia-hung returns to hero’s welcome after world gold medal

Taiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung has made history as the first Taiwanese gymnast to win a world championship world medal. The athlete clinched gold in the horizontal bar final at the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in the Netherlands. He returned to Taiwan on Tuesday to a hero’s welcome, with his sights now set on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Let’s hear from him.

Tang Chia-hung
World Champion
After my disappointment at the Asian Games, I approached this competition as a fresh start. I’m thrilled to have won this gold medal for Taiwan. It means a lot to me. My first goal next year will be to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics, either as a part of the team or as an individual.

Tang’s historic victory marks Taiwan’s fourth medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Previously, Chang Feng-chih won silver in 1993 and Lee Chih-kai scored a silver and two bronze medals in 2018 and 2019. But Tang’s is Taiwan’s first-ever gold at the championships, making the achievement all the more significant. Looking ahead, Tang says his priority is to secure Olympic qualification through next year’s qualifying events, either as an individual or as part of the national team.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#gymnastics #sports #athletes #唐嘉鴻 #medal

2026-10-27

Doctor warns of RSV risk to seniors, heart patients

With flu season in full swing, another easily overlooked virus merits equal caution: respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Its symptoms closely resemble the flu, but it has no targeted antivirals, and rapid tests often show false negatives in adults. A doctor warned that elderly people and those with chronic diseases are at especially high risk.

Coughing, runny nose, and fever are familiar flu symptoms. They’re also common symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, making it easy to miss during flu season. But its threat shouldn’t be understated, as it can trigger pneumonia or exacerbate heart failure.

Not long ago, I saw a patient in their 60s or 70s who previously had a stent implanted for a heart attack. After contracting RSV, their body’s delicate balance was disrupted, and their condition deteriorated rapidly. By the time they went to the ER, their blood oxygen levels had dropped and they were in respiratory failure, requiring immediate intubation in the ICU.

Dr. Lee said RSV can trigger pneumonia and respiratory distress in elderly and chronically ill patients, while severe infection can elevate the risk of cardiac events such as atherosclerosis or heart attack, with impacts extending far beyond the respiratory system.

Lee Chun-wei
Tamsui MacKay Memorial cardiologist
People with pre-existing conditions are more susceptible to RSV infection, and catching RSV can trigger other underlying conditions, creating a vicious cycle. Since there are no specific antivirals to treat RSV, it wasn’t routinely tested for.

RSV screening often turns back false negatives in adults, leading many to overlook its risks. Susceptible groups such as the elderly, those with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, and people with diabetes should exercise extra caution. Doctors advise that the simplest methods remain the most effective: Wash your hands, wear a face mask, avoid contact with sick people, and get vaccinated. Extra care should be taken when spending extended periods indoors or in crowded places. Since there’s no cure for RSV, prevention remains far better than treatment.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#RSV #PSA #health #fluseason #publichealth #elderly #heartattack

2026-10-27

Rubik’s Cubes and nail clippers: candidates get creative with campaign merch

With campaigning for the upcoming local elections becoming more and more heated, candidates are racking their brains to come up with creative and innovative merchandise that leaves a lasting impression on voters. From Rubik’s Cubes featuring a portrait of a candidate to nail clippers that also moonlight as bottle openers, we take you to the streets of Yunlin, where its candidates are wildly unleashing their creativity.

With the election countdown underway, in addition to presenting their political platforms, candidates frequently launch campaign souvenirs, such as face masks, toilet paper and dishwashing sponges. However, some candidates have also had bursts of creativity, coming up with refreshing and innovative offerings.

These quick-cooking noodles come in blue and red packaging; they’re not only practical but also delicious—you can eat them!

Member of the public
Likes the campaign noodles
It’s very creative. It seems like no one else in the nation has done this yet. I feel like it’s a great deal. Everyone needs food to live and everyone can eat them.

Member of the public
Likes the campaign noodles
This is special, and you can even eat it.

Hsiao Te-shu, a candidate for mayor of Xiluo Township in Yunlin County, has been distributing quick-cooking noodles and multi-functional nail clippers combined with bottle openers –truly versatile items. Now, he’s about to unveil a new innovation: Rubik’s Cubes transformed into campaign merchandise.

Hsiao Te-shu
Xiluo Township mayoral candidate
My granddaughter in primary school said: “Grandpa, I have a suggestion for you: you could make small Rubik’s Cubes. They can be used as key chains, and they’re also a good way to exercise your brain."

Liao Chiu- ping, another candidate for mayor of Xiluo Township, is promoting a specially made handkerchief so that voters can use it every day.

Liao Chin-ming
Office of Liao Chiu- ping, Xiluo Township mayoral candidate
This handkerchief is something we all use in our daily lives.

This round piece of paper hanging from the electric fan looks like a decoration, but it’s actually a fragrance diffuser.

There’s also a bottle opener that can not only open bottles, but also act as a magnet to attach things to a fridge, so you’ll never lose anything.

Lin I-hao
Candidate for Douliu City representative, Yunlin
People won’t deliberately keep flyers, but I think everyone will keep something useful like this and won’t throw it away."

From food and daily necessities to toys, candidates are racking their brains to come up with campaign merchandise that’s both practical and creative. By grabbing voters’ attention and making them want to take the items home, they ensure the merchandise is actually used while leaving a lasting impression.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#Taiwanelections #campaignmerchandise #Yunlinelections #Taiwancampaigning

2026-10-27

Taoyuan collabs with PEANUTS for 9-day long Halloween celebration

It’s spooky season and Taoyuan has once again pulled out all the stops for the celebration. For the first time ever, the Halloween City is collaborating with PEANUTS and spans across Taoyuan Arts Plaza, Green 1 Park, and Green 2 Park. The grand opening concert on Monday evening featured a star-studded cast including Wayne Huang and Patrick Brasca, all gathering to celebrate the holiday!

Globally-loved Snoopy and Charlie are going on spooky adventures on Taoyuan’s Lala Mountain, what will they get up to? Well, this year’s Halloween City, although delayed a little due to Typhoon Champi, kicked off on Monday evening at Taoyuan Arts Plaza, Green 1 Park, and Green 2 Park. Huge crowds of locals and visitors gathered to have some spooky ooky fun with Snoopy.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan Mayor
This year’s theme is everyone’s favorite Snoopy! This cartoon is over 70-years-old and is much-loved across the world.

This year’s Halloween City marks the first collaboration with Snoopy and PEANUTS. The 9 art installations combine the imagery of the urban wonders of the city including, Daxi Old Street, Taoyuan Airport, Yong’an Fishing Port, Taoyuan Public Library, Lala Mountain, and the Xiaowulai Skywalk. Everyone is invited to join Snoopy in a wondrous adventure across Taoyuan. The Halloween City even features a special meet-and-greet with Snoopy, and various programs including family-friendly theater performances and youth showcases, ensuring there is something to enjoy for every age.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan Mayor
Every day there will be a show for children, there’s a costume contest and even a meet-and-greet with Snoopy. I think everyone who likes Snoopy will love the event, so we want to invite everyone to our attractions every day before Nov. 1 to interact with Snoopy.

In true Halloween fashion, Mayor Chang and his team donned capes, transforming into vampires, joining Snoopy in a costume change and sincerely invite everyone to enjoy spooky season in Taoyuan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#halloweencity #taoyuan #snoopy #peanuts #halloween #taiwan

2026-10-27

Doctor introduces simple movements to stay active while indoors

As the weather turns cooler and winter looms, many people feel less motivated to go out and exercise. One doctor who believes people should “keep moving to keep living” shared simple exercises you can do at home to loosen your muscles and joints, as well as seated exercises that can support cognitive function.

Orthopedic surgeon Tai Nian-kuo has worked in medicine for 33 years. Fit at 58 years old, his secret to staying strong is simple: Keep moving. He shared a few easy, practical exercises you can do at home to stay healthy.

Tai Nian-kuo
Orthopedic surgeon
You don’t need to lift your legs very high. Just let your feet hover off the ground slightly and then move your toes. This helps prevent muscles in the lower body from atrophying and promotes knee and cardiovascular health.

For officer workers, people with chronic illness, or those who lack exercise, this is an easy exercise to do with just a chair. The next ones are a little more challenging.

Tai Nian-kuo
Orthopedic surgeon
Standing on your tip toes exercises the calf and thigh muscles, and the brain is constantly helping you maintain balance and activate your muscles, which can help prevent dementia.

Tsai Wan-chen
FTV reporter
There are also seated exercises that can prevent dementia. Dr. Tai will lead us through eight simple movements that activate the brain.

The routine consists of eight movements that work both the arms and legs. They may look simple, but the coordination is hard to master. Once you’ve mastered these, Dr. Tai has one more exercise to test knee strength.

- Sit up straight, then stand up without using your arms. Stand on one leg for 10 seconds, then switch to the other.

If you struggle with this, that’s ok. For people who can’t run, walking is also a great option. The most important thing is to make exercise a habit.

Tai Nian-kuo
Orthopedic surgeon
I always walk, because we need to get to and from work. Young people can walk 10,000 steps, and middle-aged and older people can walk 6,000. People can reduce the number of steps as they age, but it shouldn’t be less than 3,000.

Dr. Tai has devoted two-thirds of his life to treating bone and joint conditions. His journey in this field began when his father needed joint replacement surgery after a fall. Since then, he’s stuck to the motto “keep moving to keep living,” helping people stay active to stay healthy.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#doctor #health #indoor #exercise #movement #seated #winter #walk

2026-10-27

Kevin Tsai maintains political impartiality at Mayor Chiang rally

TV host, Kevin Tsai, recently attended Puma Shen’s campaign event, which sparked outrage in the Chinese mediasphere. This weekend, he attended Mayor Chiang’s campaign headquarters inauguration ceremony as agreed. He also made a viral post on Weibo on Sunday, reassuring his Chinese fans where his values lie. It also contained farewells, apologies, and thank yous.

Wearing a sharp black suit and a casual black cap, television host, Kevin Tsai is engulfed by cameras and people.

On Sunday, Tsai posted on Weibo and RedNote that he has always wanted friendly cross-strait relations and that he has never supported Taiwan independence, he also wrote, “Interviewing someone does not mean I agree with them. The criticism I received from gathering information for interviews is understandable, but I am sorry for the trouble caused to my partners and those who once liked me. I am grateful for all the connections we made, but I probably won’t have the chance to thank them again in person.” Given the virality of the post, Tsai was bombarded with questions during a public appearance.

Kevin Tsai
Television host
I received a lot of support in China so I thought if going forward if I won’t get much opportunity to see them, I should let them know: all the farewells, thanks, and apologies. All of a sudden, I wasn’t able to complete the work that was agreed upon, which causes a lot of trouble, so for this I definitely apologize.

Speaking of Chinese fans, Tsai wanted to clarify his post intended to reassure his supporters. He stuck to his word and adorned a formal black suit for Mayor Chiang’s rally, and even taking off the blazer to appear in white for Taipei Encore. Since Tsai didn’t miss either event, people are curious to hear his thoughts.

Kevin Tsai
Television host
When I was at Puma Shen’s rally, I just had the chance to sit for 10 minutes, so I only got to hear a guest’s speech. Then today at Mayor Chiang’s spoke with a lot of emotion, the whole crowd was moved and full of passion and hope.

Tsai once again tactfully avoided taking sides. Even with his incognito style, he stood out in the crowd.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#pumashen #taipeimayor #kmt #kevintsai #蔡康永 #crossstraitrelations

2026-10-26

KMT candidate makes sexist comments about childless opponent

As elections are approaching, it seems some politicians will stoop to making sexist remarks to garner support. During a campaign speech at Fangliao Temple on Sunday, KMT’s candidate for Pingtung County Commissioner, Su Ching-chuan made a dig towards his opponent Chou Chun-mi. He said that she didn’t have kids of her own, so what would she know about raising them. The comment sparked widespread criticism and even triggered Chou’s campaign manager to urge them to make a public apology.

Su Ching-chuan who is running for Pingtung County Commissioner, crossed a major boundary when he was speaking from the stage.

Su Ching-chuan
Pingtung County Commissioner Candidate (KMT)
Our County Commissioner, our leader hasn’t raised any children. She’s so pitiful. She doesn’t know the struggles of raising and educating children.

He delivered a low blow to opponent, Chou Chun-mi, by saying that she didn’t have children of her own. Su’s pity and remarks left Chou supporters furious.

Member of public
Believes it was misogynistic
You don’t really need to do this, Commissioner Chun-mi is doing well, you are merely a candidate, and you shouldn’t be bashing women.

Member of public
Finds comments inappropriate
I think it is highly inappropriate, because sometimes it depends whether or not someone can have a child. It’s not something everyone can decide, and it’s really a personal attack.

Locals were incredibly furious with the comments. Although the Commissioner has never had children of her own, she cares for the residents of Pingtung as her own children. Her policies on childcare have also won the hearts of many families.

Chou Chun-mi
Pingtung County Commissioner
During my first year in office, I increased childbirth allowance to NT$20,000 for the first child.

Hsu Fu-kui
Chou Chun-mi Campaign Manager
For these sexist remarks, I think I speak on behalf of Commissioner Chou, when I say we strongly condemn such comments, I’d request the KMT and Su Ching-chuan to issue a public apology.

Seeing the major backlash for his comments, Su made a rather backhanded apology online. He was apologetic if his remarks offended his opponent, but continued to criticize her by saying his goal was to raise awareness for the long-term lack of social welfare in Pingtung. With the election approaching, candidates have ramped up their efforts to gain votes. Some even resorted to dirty tactics by making personal attacks on their opponents.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#pingtung #countycommissioner #childcare #taiwanelections #socialwelfare #縣長

2026-10-26

12th smoking booth fire raises concerns about proper planning

Thick smoke filled a negative-pressure smoking booth near a department in Xinyi District on Sunday night, prompting an emergency response from firefighters. But it’s far from an isolated incident; it was the 12th in a string of smoke and smoldering reports at smoking rooms in the past five months. The sheer amount of fire scares has prompted accusations that the city government rushed the facilities into operation for political points. Let’s hear more.

Chien Shu-pei
Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
Including yesterday’s incident, there’s been 12 fire-related reports. It’s really put our firefighters through the wringer. Did Taipei consider a design that prevents butts from continuing to burn? It shows that Mayor Chiang Wan-an rushed the negative-pressure smoking rooms to score political points without any proper planning.

Member of public
Hopes smokers will be responsible
In crowded areas like this, they should deploy police officers or firefighters, so that any fires can be put out fast. I also hope smokers will be more considerate.

Member of public
Commenting on incident
It depends. If the regulations are OK, it should all be fine. But if the fires are constant, we need to check what’s causing them.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
We are aware of the situation. The Xinyi District Office responded to the incident immediately. The Department of Health has convened a meeting to make improvements to the use and design of the disposal bins.

The latest incident was reportedly caused by an accumulation of cigarette butts in an ashtray, some of which had not been fully extinguished, causing them to smolder and produce thick smoke. Mayor Chiang Wan-an has long touted his push for a smoke-free city and the installation of these negative-pressure smoking booths as key achievements. But with repeated incidents raising concerns, questions are mounting over whether the facilities were adequately planned, and whether public safety was compromised.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#smoking #nonsmoker #smoker #booth #taipei

2026-10-26

Passengers become concertgoers thanks to Tainan train station piano

A public piano at Tainan’s new railway station is hitting all the right notes, turning the station concourse into a free concert hall. From young children to seasoned players, music lovers are lining up to take the limelight, drawing crowds so big that barriers have been set up to keep things under control. Some are even making special trips just to tickle the ivories.

A public piano has turned the concourse at Tainan’s new railway station into a music hotspot, attracting talented pianists to show off their skills.

From young kids to kids at heart, everyone is welcome to tickle the ivories. Crowds of music lovers have got so big, that fences have been set up to keep things under control. There are plenty of families enjoying the music here. Many join the queue to play. Some even made a special trip by train just to play on the final day of the October 25 holiday weekend.

Mother
Son plays piano
His father had the day off today, so we took the train here. It’s been great!

Mr. Hung
Plays piano
I learned to play when I was a kid, and I can still find my way around the keyboard. I’m always looking for public pianos to play on.

Even workers from the Railway Bureau stopped by during their break to keep their fingers nimble, making up for the lack of a piano at home. Many other learners simply can’t resist the pull of the black and white keys. Whenever they pass by, they can’t help but give it a go, to boost their musical skills and confidence.

High schooler
Plays piano
I get really nervous when I perform. I was out with my friends, so I thought I’d stop by and play a little.

Mother
Daughters play piano
Both my daughters play piano, too. Kids who play piano don’t go astray.

A group of recent junior high school graduates even arranged to meet at the station for a joint performance, prompting netizens to jokingly dub the venue the “Tainan National Concert Hall.”

Over the long weekend the public piano transformed the new railway station into the city’s hottest concert hall. The melodies filling the concourse break up the tedium of passengers waiting for their trains, bringing the holiday to a lovely close.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#piano #public #music #musiclover #classicalmusic

2026-10-26

Crowd flocks onto train tracks to recreate iconic literature moment

Tons of people hopped onto the railway tracks at Tainan Station on Monday. That is, the tracks at the old overground station, which closed on the 17th of this month after railway services moved to underground tunnels. But the old station remains a popular sight, and visitors were allowed to go down to the tracks at a designated section to take photos. Many of them recreated a scene from a famous essay titled “Back View” by Chinese author Zhu Ziqing, in which the author’s father climbs onto the platform with a bag of tangerines. For those that didn’t bring the fruity prop, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che was there on sight handing out Tainan ponkan tangerines. Let’s hear more.

Member of public
Visiting railway station
The railway services have all gone underground. Today is the last day you can take pictures on the tracks, so I brought my kid along to take photos together.

Member of public
Visiting railway station
It’s the end of an era, and the start of a new one. I hope Tainan will get better and more beautiful.

Huang Wei-che
Tainan Mayor
I wanted to make the most of the opportunity, because right now is the season for the green-skinned ponkan’s from Tainan’s Dongshan District. We saw so many people recreating the scene with Zhu Ziqing’s father, so we’re giving out our own green-skinned ponkans.

Member of public
Happy with his ponkan
I’m quite happy to have gotten a tangerine from the mayor. I brought my whole family along to take a look, and feel for ourselves what it’s like to be down on the tracks.

The old railway that served Tainan residents for more than half a century has finally retired from service. Many are sad to see it go. Crowds flocked to the old station to snap up beautiful memories, while getting an instant social media hit photo with the tangerines on the train tracks.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#tainan #train #tangerine #ponkan #zhuziqing

2026-10-26

CAL flight travels through Russian airspace to reach Rome

Four years ago, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, most airlines around the world, including Taiwanese ones, rerouted their flights to avoid flying over Russia. That meant flights between Asia and Europe had to take the long way round via South Asia, Central Asia or the Middle East. But on Sunday evening, a flight operated by Taiwan’s China Airlines was spotted flying over Russia, heading to Rome. The incident has sparked much debate about the route’s safety, and whether the northern flight routes are back on the table. Let’s hear more.

Shih Ching-sheng
Pilot
The main reason is that the international political situation is changing. If US planes were to start flying over Russia, it wouldn’t be a problem for us to do the same. Some of the countries on the southern routes are hostile to us, so traffic control handovers have to be done very carefully. That puts a heavy workload on air traffic controllers too. Flying north is much easier. From what I know, a notice was only posted a few days ago allowing the Airlines to follow a route that curves around northeast China, without entering China’s airspace, before turning left towards Russia and continuing on through Russian airspace.

Lu Yen-liang
Chaoyang University of Technology
When it comes to flight routes, you can’t just copy and paste the same path for every flight. You have to consider all sorts of conditions, such as the weather and wind. Taking the northern route does come with a significant cost advantage.

The northern route shaves off 30 minutes to 1 hour to the total flight duration, which helps airlines save on fuel and labor costs. But it also comes with hefty air traffic control fees that must be paid to Russia. Airlines are weighing which option is the most cost-effective, while for passengers, safety is the top priority.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#russia #taiwan #flight #airradar #rome

2026-10-26

Woman sues over faulty gate compensation demand, privacy breach

A mother was leaving home with her daughter one day, when no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the main gate of their apartment complex to close. Afterward, she was asked to pay for repair costs. But what made her even angrier was that even before management approached her, a notice showing her full address was posted to the public bulletin board. She decided to sue for breach of privacy, while other residents questioned whether the gate was already on the verge of breaking. Both sides are now at a stalemate over who should be held responsible.

Surveillance footage shows a young girl trying to close the gate to a residential community in Keelung. After a few unsuccessful tries, her mother comes over to help, but her efforts were equally futile.

Ms. Lin (voice altered)
Mother
We went out to buy groceries first and planned to inform management after we got back. Since my daughter wasn’t feeling well, I just wanted to get the shopping done quickly. I forgot to report it after we got back.

Concerned for her sick daughter, Ms. Lin did her shopping first and forgot to report the broken door after returning home. A bit after 5:00 that evening, she got a phone call demanding compensation. As Ms. Lin figured it was impossible for a seven-year-old child to break the door, she wanted to wait to discuss the matter with the building manager. Other residents agreed that the old gate was poorly maintained.

Ms. Lin (voice altered)
Mother
If the gate were working as it should, how could a small child break it just by opening it?

Community resident
Suspicious of fault
The gate was broken to begin with. How could a kid have enough strength to break it?

Community resident
Suspicious of fault
Everyone uses the gate. I really don’t know whether it was damaged by them or someone else.

But before receiving the awaited call from the manager, a compensation notice appeared on the bulletin board a bit after 9:00 that evening that included Ms. Lin’s full address.

Ms. Lin (voice altered)
Mother
I submitted an appeal asking them to fix the inaccuracies in their claim and remove my address, but he refused. He said it was just some text and if I was upset, I should sue.

Building manager
In compensation dispute
On the phone, they said they’d come take a look, and if they caused the damage, they’d be willing to pay. But after looking at it, they refused. We didn’t say in the notice that the child damaged it. We just stated the floor and unit number.

Ms. Lin decided to sue over breach of privacy. She also claimed the gate was nearly broken to begin with and questioned whether her family should be forced to pay for repairs. With both sides unable to reach a consensus, it’s unclear how the gate will ultimately be fixed.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#dispute #propertydamage #privacybreach #apartment #buildingmanager #Keelung

2026-10-26

Jenn Lann Temple starts new children’s home in Yilan

The Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, which organizes a famed annual pilgrimage devoted to the sea goddess Mazu, is making more moves to put into practice her spirit of compassion. Recently, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for construction of a Yilan branch of the Jenn Lann children’s home, which is based in Taichung. Children and youth who lack parental care will have a new place in Yilan to grow up securely. It’s all because a local kindly donated some of his family’s land. Let’s find out more.

A lion dance troupe performs energetically, and the sound of gongs and drums resounds through the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Acting Yilan County Commissioner Lin Mao-sheng, deputy chair of the Jenn Lann Temple Cheng Ming-kun and philanthropists from all walks of life gather together to pray for smooth progress in construction.

The crowd devoutly burns incense and offers fruit, bowing three times to the gods. As a ritual decree is burned, the initiative to care for children and youth is officially launched.

Cheng Ming-kun
Jenn Lann Temple
Because education is extremely important in this society, construction of the Jenn Lann children’s home has begun. Taking care of children is not a simple matter. This embodies the spirit of Mazu, demonstrating Mazu’s benevolence.

Lin Mao-sheng
Acting Yilan County Commissioner
Our home will accommodate about thirty children, ranging from newborns to eighteen-year-old teenagers. They will be children who do not receive family care and support.

From daily care to companionship and education, caring for children who lack parental care requires long-term commitment. This dedication to protecting these children originates from a kind-hearted individual who achieved success far from home but always cherishes his hometown.

Lin Fu-yuan
Land donor
I am grateful to my family. This land is half mine and half my nephew’s. I asked him if we could donate it, and he said: “Uncle, it’s up to you.” I was so touched.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Jenn Lann children’s home has been dedicated to the care of children and teenagers that lack parental care. Now, with the groundbreaking of construction of the Yilan branch, the spirit of Mazu’s compassion and salvation will eventually protect even more children in need, allowing them to grow up in love and care.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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# Jennlanntemple #goddessmazu #childrenshomes #Yilan

2026-10-26