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Apple launches new iPhone Duo using TSMC’s 2-nm chips

Apple fans have been waiting for this moment, and the wait is finally over! Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, has unveiled the company’s biggest breakthrough in nearly 20 years: its first-ever foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. Apple says the new device ushers in a new era of AI, featuring a roughly 7.6-inch dual-folding display and a powerful new chip built using TSMC’s cutting-edge 2-nm process. Let’s hear more.

John Ternus
Apple CEO
iPhone Duo brings an entirely new design while preserving everything you love and expect from iPhone. It gives you the largest display ever on an iPhone while still fitting easily in your pocket.

Tony Lin
Chief Consumer Business Officer
Based on global supply chain expectations and the rising cost of memory, we’re looking at a price range of US$2,000 to US$2,500. Consumers who buy these foldable phones, regardless of the platform, are already accustomed to the premium price tag. Some users with business or content-creation needs, will be quite eager to buy a product at this price point.

The iPhone Duo is Apple’s biggest and thinnest iPhone ever, with GPU performance up 40%. But that power comes at a steep price. The top-end model is expected to cost nearly NT$120,000, making it even more expensive than a MacBook Pro. Even the 256GB base model still comes in at close to NT$75,000. And Apple is also giving the iPhone 18 Pro lineup a major camera upgrade, with a hardware-based variable aperture for the first time, letting in 50% more light and even enabling astrophotography. With Apple going after the premium market, Taiwan’s telecom carriers are already gearing up with a range of plans and launch deals to lure customers.

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#iphone #astrophotography #iphoneduo #johnternus #apple


Time：2026-09-10

最新消息 Latest News

MOU between UK and Taiwan will train literary translators

The UK is around 10,000 kilometers from Taiwan, but a variety of Taiwanese books can be found at the Book Hive, an independent bookshop in Norwich. And now the Culture Ministry is seeking to increase the international presence of literature from Taiwan by establishing an MOU between the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the UK’s National Centre for Writing, who’ll train a young generation of translators.

- This is Terao Tetsuya, who’s part of the youngest generation of Taiwanese writers.

Culture Minister Li Yuan is in the Book Hive, one of the most famous independent bookstores in Norwich, England. There’s more than a few books by Taiwanese writers on display, such as the Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi and Wu Ming-yi’s The Stolen Bicycle. Showing off his wry sense of humor, Minister Li pointed out that the store was missing one Taiwanese writer.

- I’m just wondering why is it that my book can’t be in this shop?
- Oh, no, you’ll have to ask the translators about that. We just sell what we get.
- In all honesty, it’s hard to get your work into a bookstore in the UK.

This bit of chit-chat between Li Yuan and the bookseller reveals the importance of translation, especially in places like the UK, where competition is fierce; Taiwanese works are greatly outnumbered by books written by Japanese and Korean authors.

Henry Layte
Bookstore owner
Taiwanese culture is lesser known than, you know, Japan, so it’s unparticular with books like this suddenly becoming successful. It means there’s lots of interest from us.

The Taiwan Travelogue has helped the world’s readers become more interested in Taiwan’s literature. The Ministry of Culture is trying to capitalize on this attention by getting the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the UK’s National Centre for Writing to sign an MOU that will train up-and-coming literary translators.

Alan Waters
Chair of National Centre for Writing
The National Centre for Writing wants to celebrate Taiwanese literature for this year’s International Booker Prize success. We are thrilled as an organization to continue the partnership with Taiwan for the 2026-2027 mentorship for emerging translators.

Li Yuan
Minister of Culture
I hope that there can be more collaboration that’ll allow for our works written in Chinese to be able to come to the UK, where they’ll introduce the stories of Taiwan.

Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
For decades, the UK’s National Centre for Writing has invested in training writers and translators. The goal of this bilateral agreement between Taiwan and the UK is to help more people get to know literature from Taiwan.

The National Centre for Writing, for the first time, has created a section called Literature from Taiwan, which will provide mentorship and allow learners to interact with professionals. Literature from Taiwan will cultivate translators from any part of the world who want to get involved in translating Taiwan literature, which, if they’re fast enough, they might just see their work at next spring’s Taiwan Literature Festival.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#BookerPrize #literature #Norwich #independentbookseller #LiteraturefromTaiwan #NationalCentreforWriting

2026-09-10

Document leak details China’s bribery tactics to oppress Taiwan

It’s a well-known fact that China tries to rebuff Taiwan’s international participation by any means. And now, one such means has come to light. A batch of documents from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been leaked on the dark web, detailing how Beijing uses bribes to push its political agenda and shut Taiwan out on the international stage.

The documents expose a case following Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly this past May. After the proposal to include Taiwan was rejected, China gifted 1 million renminbi in free funding to Micronesia, ostensibly to purchase a vehicle for official uses. Another case relates to President Lai Ching-te’s planned state visit to Eswatini, which was abruptly canceled after several African nations revoked their flight permits for Lai’s aircraft. It turns out that that same day, the African Union received 200 million renminbi from Beijing. The timing and sheer frequency of instances offer a striking glance into how Beijing is using financial diplomacy to oppress Taiwan internationally.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#taiwan #china #news #bribery #exposed

2026-09-09

Taiwan’s Gen Z takes on AI Boom as startup leaders gather in Taipei

The AI boom is exploding, and Taiwan wants its next generation of young innovators to ride the wave. The Boba Tech Summit kicked off in Taipei on Wednesday, drawing more than 300 startup founders, investors and tech entrepreneurs from over 15 countries. But while the opportunities are huge, so are the challenges, with AI demand fueling a global scramble for chips, memory and GPUs. Now, Taiwan’s Gen Z entrepreneurs are looking to turn that chaos into their next big opportunity.

The Boba Tech Summit kicked off in Taipei on Wednesday, bringing together more than 300 startup leaders, investors and tech entrepreneurs from more than 15 countries.

Caleb Chu
Boba Tech creator
Our goal is to bring resources from Silicon Valley and from other countries to Taiwan, so that young Taiwanese talents can connect with the world right here. That way, they can picture their goals and visions and the things they want to do in the era of AI.

Hank Huang
NYCU Vice President
Entrepreneurship is AI. Having domain knowledge is very important. That is, your own experience is very important. Without it, AI might give you a solution, but you don’t know if it’s right or wrong. Or you don’t have the ability to judge whether it is. When you do, it’s because you have the experience to do so.

Semiconductor giants are expanding their production capacity, as AI drives demand for chips. But amid memory and component shortages, some systems vendors have had to downgrade their specifications.

Pua Khein-seng
Phison Electronics Co-Founder
It’s unavoidable. Everyone agrees it’s inevitable, which is why we’re desperately buying machines. There’s a shortage of everything: CPUs DRAM, SSDs, GPUs… Systems vendors are putting half as much DRAM in their systems, because it’s too expensive now, and you can’t get it easily. By using half as much DRAM, they can make and sell more systems. What about the performance loss? They compensated for it with flash memory.

From AI startups to the global memory chip shortage, this summit puts Taiwan at the starting point, showcasing the entrepreneurial strength of the country’s Gen Z innovators.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#tech #ai #genz #boba #bobatech

2026-09-09

Outrage after parents force crying toddler down water slide

A pool-goer in Kaohsiung took a shocking video in a recent swim: a father whooshing down a 3-story-tall water slide with a crying toddler in his arms. The video has sparked a backlash online, with critics calling the toddler’s parents “bad parents.” Let’s hear more.

- The point is parents are responsible for their kids.
- So if the parents think it’s OK, they can go?
- Yes.
If the parents aren’t doing anything, we can’t do anything.
- Do you always have two lifeguards at the bottom?
- Yes, there’s always lifeguards.

Swimmer
Commenting on incident
I feel it was wrong. Kids that are 1 or 2 years old can’t say what they want to do or not. It must have been the parents who wanted to do that.

Ho Yu-ling
Doctor
At that age, the brain isn’t fully developed, and the neck isn’t strong enough, so any shaking or swaying could cause bleeding. A hemorrhage could cause permanent damage.

The father slid down the water slide with his kid, who cried in terror all the way down to the pool. The poster says he felt bad for the toddler, and claims the parents took the kid down the slide more than three times. The video has angered many people online, who say the incident is an outrageous example of bad parenting. The Kaohsiung Social Affairs Bureau says it will investigate the matter to determine whether there were any violations of child welfare laws.

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#waterpark #waterslide #parenting #kaohsiung #badparents

2026-09-09

Drone training site in Yunlin to close after noise complaints

As Taiwan pushes to develop its drone industry, one drone testing site in a remote part of Yunlin will be closing on Sept. 16, following noise complaints from nearby residents. People who practice flying drones at the site say places like this, where people can practice for a license test, are few and far between.

A drone makes a smooth landing on the runway, well controlled by its pilot. This drone flying site in Yunlin, where many people take their pilot test, is being forced to close.

Mr. Hsu
Drone pilot
It’s a real shame, because it’s just little ways down from Taichung. I drove three hours to get here. I think it’s one of the best spots for northern Taiwan, plus the airspace is very clear.

Hsu, who lives in Taipei, warned that without a testing site in central Taiwan, people would have to travel all the way to the south to take the test, which would discourage them from seeking certification.

Mr. Huang
Aeronautical engineering student
I’m preparing to take the pilot test. Our department is pushing for drones, especially with the country placing such importance on them. But with this site closing, I’ll no longer have a safe, legal, and well-equipped space to practice.

Even though this drone site is in a remote part of Yunlin by the Huwei River, people living close by complained about the noise. After local politicians raised the issue, the site is being forced to close.

Chou Ching-shih
Local village chief
Some people fly jet-powered drones, and on weekends it stops residents from getting extra rest. It disrupts their lives.

Mr. Wang
Drone enthusiast
If this testing site isn’t maintained, there will be a significant gap in pilots’ training. It wasn’t easy to establish this site, so we really hope it can stay open.

Taiwan is pushing for the development of its drone industry, but the government, industry, and academia need to address how to balance people’s quality of life with industry development.

#drone #test #pilot #license #airport #Yunlin #noise #noisecomplaint #closing #industry

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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2026-09-09

Concert for wheelchair users to feature visually impaired pianist, Cyr wheel artist

For 12 years in a row, cellist Chang Cheng-chieh has held concerts in Kaohsiung especially tailored for wheelchair users. This year’s concert is to be held on Sept. 26 in the lobby of the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. For the first time, the show is to feature artists from across disciplines, with a visually impaired musician and a Cyr wheel performer to give this special audience a fully accessible show, just for them.

Melodic notes hang in the air, flowing through the main lobby of the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts like a spring breeze. A Cyr wheel performer glides along to the music, giving viewers a feast for both the eyes and ears.

Started by cellist Chang Cheng-chieh and supported by China Steel Corp, this Wheelchair Concert series has been held annually for 12 years in Taipei and Kaohsiung. Previously hosted at Formosa Boulevard Station in Kaohsiung for six years, it’s moved to the museum for the last three, giving wheelchair users a chance to enjoy top-tier classical music in a fully accessible environment.

Chang Cheng-chieh
Cellist
Most concert halls only offer six wheelchair seats, which I feel is far too few. Wheelchair users deserve an indoor space where they can enjoy themselves. That’s why we’ve held the event here for three years now.

Huang I-chung
CSC Group Education Foundation director
We hope to offer our friends in the Kaohsiung wheelchair-user community the best musical experience possible.

Tailored specifically for wheelchair users, last year’s concert invited 12 cellists from the Berlin Philharmonic to perform. This year is the first time the show is inviting artists from different disciplines to perform together, with visually impaired musician Huang Chung-en and Cyr wheel artist Yang Shih-hao to create a diverse visual and auditory artistic showcase.

Chang Cheng-chieh
Cellist
It’s extremely challenging, but I find it immensely meaningful, because outside of Taiwan, no such concert just for wheelchair users exists anywhere else in the world.

This exclusive concert is to be held on Sept. 26 over the Mid-Autumn Festival. On that day, the beautiful sounds of strings are to once again ring through the halls of this museum, conveying a heartwarming message of inclusion.

#wheelchairusers #concert #cello #accessibility #wheelchairconcert #Kaoshiung

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2026-09-09

China cries foul as Taiwan reviews ‘Starbucks killer’ Taipei expansion

China’s self-dubbed "Starbucks slayer" is at the center of a fresh cross-strait dispute. We’re talking about the affordable coffee shop chain Luckin Coffee, which has been hyped up as a replacement of its famous American rival. Luckin Coffee had intended to open up a shop in Taipei, in the commercial district around Nanjing Fuxing MRT station. But after nine months of setting up the space, preparing supplies, and hiring staff, the shop has yet to open its doors. That’s because the business permit application filed by its agent, Shunyu Corporation, is still under review. China has blasted the delay as political interference. Let’s hear more.

Chen Binhua
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
The DPP authorities’ continued obstruction and restrictions on mainland investment are unpopular political manipulation.

Chiu Chui-cheng
Mainland Affairs Council
The fact that the Taiwan Affairs Office is speaking up on behalf of this company makes it transparent that it’s mainland-funded. The cross-strait act is clear on this: an application must be filed and approved, and no proxies can be used to circumvent the review process.

Lee Kun-cheng
Lawmaker (DPP)
I’d like to ask the Taiwan Affairs Office to respect the laws of the ROC. Don’t just stand there rambling and ranting and blaming anything and everything on the DPP and Lai Ching-te.

Shu Chin-huang
Current affairs commentator
Most of the ingredients have to be brought over from China, they’re not from Taiwan. So of course the government will have to do more checks to ensure food safety regulations are being followed.

Mr. Chiu
Coffee sommelier
In the market, there is a group of customers who specially seek out Taiwanese coffee to for its distinct flavor profile.

A coffee expert says certain consumers will always opt for local products. But with one cup of Luckin coffee going for as low as NT$45, the biggest impact would be on convenience stores and affordable coffee chains. Foreign investments in Taiwan usually have to be reviewed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. But for investments from China, the checks are more strict. Reports say Luckin Coffee plans to circumvent the restrictions by investing in Taiwan by way of Singapore instead.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#luckincoffee #cafe #coffeeshop #barista #investment

2026-09-09

NSYSU partners with University of Arizona on silicon photonics center

As the AI computing race enters a new stage, data transmission speeds and energy consumption have become critical bottlenecks. To tackle the issue, National Sun Yat-sen University has partnered with the University of Arizona to establish the Silicon Photonics Arizona-Kaohsiung Center, or SPARK. It will join forces with over 20 tech enterprises across Taiwan and the US to develop key AI technologies and international talent.

As the race to build out AI computing power heats up, data transmission speeds and energy consumption have become major bottlenecks. National Sun Yat-sen University and the University of Arizona in the US have joined forces to establish a center for silicon photonics, called SPARK, to advance these key technologies.

Li Chih-peng
NSYSU president
For this collaboration, we’re not just focusing on technology research. We also hope to cultivate more talent. The University of Arizona is considered to have one of the best optics centers in the US, while our university has extensive experience in silicon photonics development and packaging.

The center brings together more than 20 tech companies from Taiwan and the US to expand cooperation in talent cultivation and tech research across industry and academia.

Lo Ta-sheng
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor
The city government will actively participate in SPARK. We’ll establish a fund for the University of Arizona, Sun Yat-sen University, the Kaohsiung City Government, and the Arizona State Government to all take part. With this fund, we hope to stimulate collaboration between industry and academia.

Li Chih-peng
NSYSU president
Looking ahead, beyond developing key technologies, especially in silicon photonics, the center could help usher in the next generation of semiconductors. Computing speed and energy efficiency represent the most needed technologies in the field.

In addition to cultivating talent, the center aims to have a hand in the next generation of chip technologies. SPARK will connect companies across Kaohsiung and Arizona, deepening exchange between Taiwan and the US in R&D, talent, and industry cooperation.

#semiconductors #siliconphotonics #NSYSU #UniversityofArizona #chips #Kaohsiung #SPARK

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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2026-09-09

Taiwan is becoming aware of ADHD, which affects 8% of kids

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a disorder that’s not often understood in Taiwan, and many people don’t even know that they have it. Children who have ADHD are often mischievous in class, easily distracted, or unable to complete their homework in time. According to statistics, 8% of Taiwanese children have ADHD, and more than half of them continue to have symptoms well into adulthood.

Lin Tzu-hsun
Living with ADHD
It’s hard to control hyperactive children and stop them from doing things, so we simply turned the wall into a canvas and let him express himself to his heart’s content.

Lin Tzu-hsun faced his 8-year-old son’s ADHD diagnosis with equanimity. He is currently an engineer and was himself diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 33.

Lin Tzu-hsun
Living with ADHD
I would bite myself, biting myself hard until I drew blood, just to wake myself up. I changed jobs ten times in eight years. The longest I stayed at any one job was a year and a half.

After being diagnosed, Lin rethought his life and pulled himself together to find a new job that suits him.

Another patient who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life is Hsu Wei-chun, who works at a kindergarten. She dreamed of becoming a teacher when she was a student, but she was very frustrated because she could never understand what was being taught.

Hsu Wei-chun
Living with ADHD
I desperately want to cram all the knowledge into my head because I really wanted to be a teacher. I feel like I’ve missed out on so many years of schooling and related opportunities. If I had discovered my ADHD earlier, would I have needed to suffer like this?

With timely medical attention and regular medication, Hsu later successfully embarked on a career in education. In Taiwan, 8% of school-aged children have ADHD, and more than half of them continue to experience symptoms into adulthood even after treatment.

Gau Shur-fen
NTU Hospital
Now that people are more familiar with ADHD, they are better able to detect the symptoms. The games and apps they play on their phones perfectly cater to these inattentive individuals; because new information appears with just a single tap, their difficulty in learning to wait becomes even more pronounced.

ADHD has become a widespread hidden condition nationwide. Although it cannot be cured, studies show that the improvement rate is as high as 80% with treatment. Lin and Hsu, who are successful adults, have worked hard to live with their symptoms.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#adhd #neurodivergent #neurospicy #children #mentalhealth

2026-09-09

Taiwanese pineapples debut at Galeries Lafayette in Paris

Earlier this year, Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes made their debut in France’s iconic Galeries Lafayette department store. Now it’s honey pineapples that are being sold at this presitigous Parisian store in a trial run. Already they are receiving high praise in France, and there is hope that they can be sold in other markets in Europe. Let’s find out more.

Crates of pineapples are prepared for shipment. This batch of top quality pineapples will be sold in Paris’s most prestigious department store, Galeries Lafayette. Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang acted as a local tour guide, leading a French team deep into Minxiong Township’s production area, where they picked and ate pineapples right there in the fields.

With a big bite, the fresh and sweet pineapple spurts out juice, a perfect testament to the juiciness of Taiwanese pineapples. The secret weapon that has won over the hallowed grounds of the French market is the "honey pineapple," which is scarce this season and has an even higher sweetness level.

Chen Ying-ting
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
The pineapple that’s making its way into France is the honey pineapple. Its main characteristic is its extremely high sweetness, and it also has the aroma of sugarcane. It’s different from the Golden Diamond Pineapple; its sweetness level is even higher.

Farmers reveal that all of the honey pineapple is edible, even the core, and it received extremely high praise during its trial run in France, successfully increasing the value of Taiwanese agricultural products.

Chen Ying-ting
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
Our first step is to enter the French market, and in the future, we will also expand to the European market. In France, they are sold at Galeries Lafayette—a high-end department store in Paris—and selling at that location greatly raises the value of our Taiwanese pineapples.

Wang Pei-ju
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
In France, many people use pineapples to make desserts. I’ve seen a huge amount used for candy, like fruit gummies. It seems that the French really value and enjoy pineapples.

Seizing the business opportunity presented by the French people’s love of using pineapples in desserts, Taiwanese honey pineapples broke through the old framework of exporting to Japan and South Korea and successfully crossed over into the new market of Europe. This demonstrates the top quality of Taiwanese agriculture on the world stage.

#Taiwanexports #honeypineapples #Taiwanpineapples #GaleriesLafayette #Frenchconsumers

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2026-09-09

Sumo wrestlers delighted by spacious trains on Taipei MRT

The Taipei MRT has gotten some heavyweight fans after a recent visit by a couple of sumo wrestlers from Japan. From the seat design, to the AC and platform queueing system, every detail won their praise. While squeezing into the seats together, they said that in Japan, they could never sit side-by-side on a train like this.

Two sumo wrestlers from Japan rode the Taipei MRT recently and were surprised by what they found.

- First of all, the seats are completely different. In Japan, they’re usually arranged in a straight line, but Taiwan’s design seems really nice. Standing is easy and there’s a lot of space.

They tried sitting down themselves, and while it was a bit cramped, they seemed satisfied.

- Two people can fit no problem! In Tokyo, sumo wrestlers can’t sit together like this. It’s really amazing. You can even enjoy the scenery go by.

They didn’t just love the seats, either. The AC inside the carriage was also a big hit, and they even started studying the queuing system on the platform.

- It goes to the side.
- If there are a lot of people, wouldn’t it go way back?
- Ah! Then people couldn’t pass. That’s brilliant!
- It’d be great if Japan did this, too.

These wrestlers thoroughly enjoyed their ride. But how do the locals feel about their daily commute?

MRT rider
Finds Taiwan cleaner
Taiwan’s metro is cleaner. The cars are larger, and it feels brighter and more spacious.

MRT rider
Finds Japan cleaner
Taiwan’s metro is quite clean. But compared to Japan’s, I feel like when you’re outside, Japan is cleaner.

MRT rider
Finds Japan and Taiwan the same
Taiwan and Japan are similar.

People often feel the grass is greener on the other side. But the Tokyo area boasts a high density of railways, providing an indispensable service for most commuters.

Uncle Jesse
Travel expert
Driving is inconvenient in Japan, so most people use the railways to get around. Be particularly careful not to ride a commuter rail during the morning rush hour, especially if you have luggage.

A metro system that most Taiwanese take for granted caught the attention of these visitors, which in their eyes offers the full five-star experience.

#sumo #wrestlers #taipeimrt #mrt #publictransport #trains #ilovetrains #japan #taiwan #taipei

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2026-09-09

Vote buying scandal shakes Hualien’s Xiulin Township

Former Financial Times correspondent Kathrin Hille recently made explosive allegations on FTV, claiming all the votes in Hualien were bought. Just over a week later, a vote-buying scandal has erupted in the county, involving Xiulin Township chief Sitang Yuci and her husband Hu Chih-min , who is running to succeed her. She allegedly diverted community compensation money from a cement company to the New Hope Foundation, which later organized a banquet for local voters hosted by Hu. Investigators also say there’s evidence that voters may have been offered thousands of NT dollars in exchange for their votes.

The couple, the township office secretary and a New Hope Foundation worker surnamed Hsu, have been taken in for questioning. The couple will be investigated to determine the extent of their involvement, and then it will be decided whether they should be detained. Netizens have pointed out that the case is exposing the hypocrisy of the Xiulin Township Office chief; a slogan posted outside the building ironically reads “It’s only really an election, if nobody buys votes.”

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#election #hualien #votebuying #xiulin #hualien #dirtymoney

2026-09-08

KMT Taipei councilor accused of verbally abusing ER staff

Taiwan has been cracking down on violence towards hospital staff, and so with the local elections a little more than two months out, now would not seem like a good time to start a shocking scene at an emergency room in your electoral district. But, lo and behold, the KMT’s very own Alan Lee, a Taipei City councilor, has been embroiled in controversy ever since he went on a tirade inside an ER room he’d taken his young child to.

KMT Taipei councilor Alan Lee is making a public apology after it was revealed that he caused a scene at an emergency room, where he’d taken his young daughter, who was running a fever.

Alan Lee
Taipei councilor (KMT)
It was because, even right now, my daughter’s health is not exactly in a stable condition. Even though I took her to a different hospital the next day, I’d still like to thank all the nurses and all the doctors for their hard work that night. I’m being sincere in that I’d like to once again apologize, to say that I’m sorry.

In addition to saying sorry, he also apologized by bowing seven times. A close look at Lee’s face shows tears trickling and snot dripping; the emotion is tied to an online post shared by a night shift nurse, who wrote that Lee complained about 30 minutes being too long of a wait, so he took out his cell phone, demanding the doctor’s name. In addition to threatening to sue, he also insisted on videotaping his surroundings. The scene was startling enough to get a visit from hospital administration and the head of the local police station.

Alan Lee
Taipei councilor (KMT)
What I wanted to say was that I wanted to file a complaint, so that’s why I took a photo of him. What he took out was his doctor ID, which I took a photo of. It’s because I wanted to know his name, since I truly was really angry at that time. But, regardless of what’s true, it’s all the same: I would like to offer my most sincere apology to this doctor.

Lee insists that he didn’t start filming, that he didn’t end up suing, and that the incident was not an abuse of power.

Alan Lee
Taipei councilor (KMT)
I didn’t take off my mask, and I also didn’t say anything about who I was. I, as my child’s father, was simply communicating with the doctor. As for my voice being too loud, I think that truly is something that I need to take a deep look at, especially since it being a public place, so I really shouldn’t let my voice be that loud.

Hsu Chin-huang
Financial analyst
If it was not a city councilor saying who he was, just a regular dad, would the head of the emergency room come? Would the administration of the hospital be told to show up at the scene? You’re running for election this year, so I suggest that you need to show a bit more humility when you’re in front of voters. You’re a city councilor in the districts of Da’an and Wenshan, and this hospital is in Da’an District. Alan Lee, it seems like this morning there was an inflamed situation, which is why everybody’s now seeing you bow and apologize.

According to NTU Hospital Doctor Lee Ping-ing’s analysis of the situation, Lee’s actions meet the criteria for emergency room violence. The Taiwan Medical Association will launch an investigation into this incident.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#violenceintheER #KMT #Taipei #hospital #ER #mindyourmanners

2026-09-08

Culture minister talks about Taiwan literature at King’s College London

Minister of Culture Li Yuan is on his first official tour of the UK, which included a stop at King’s College London. Li was invited to speak at a forum titled Taiwanese Literature Through a Global Glaze and spoke with the judges of the prestigious International Booker Prize. Starting off from Taiwan Travelogue, which won the award this year, Li presented how different authors from Taiwan portray their homeland. Let’s hear more.

Li Yuan
Minister of Culture
As the Minister of Culture, my goal here today is to promote our culture. As a writer born after World War II, I have long asked myself one question: “What is Taiwan?” It’s tragic. But now we’ve seen how Yang Shuang-zi found a different approach to find her own identity, for which she received international acclaim. Books from Taiwan is an initiative we’ve promoted for a long time. It aims to translate Taiwanese literature and make it available to the whole world. As of today, works have been translated into 36 languages.

Natasha Brown
International Booker Prize 2026 Judges Chair
I remember when we discussed Taiwan Travelogue, I actually remember that’s when we read it, and I thought, “I think this is the winner.”

Anna Goode
British Centre for Literary Translation
To translate more literature into English is not just about finding translators, it’s creating a community for translators.

More than 100 scholars, translators and exchange students joined the forum, and heard from Li about Taiwanese writers such as Kevin Chen and Syaman Rapongan. From writing, to translation and promotion around the world, the Ministry of Culture is hoping to use its resources to help Taiwanese literature be seen on the global stage.

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#literature #taiwantravelogue #kingscollegelondon #author #writers


2026-09-08

Health ministry and Eslite launch dementia related book exhibition

September is World Alzheimer’s Month – and the Taiwanese government has not forgotten. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is collaborating with Eslite Bookstore to launch a book exhibition about dementia to raise awareness of this illness that affects elderly people. A dementia patient even gave a speech at a press event announcing the initiative. Let’s find out more.

Using a pen and paper to record his life, Mr. Lin candidly discusses his interests, food and travels. His speech is so natural, it’s hard to imagine that he is actually a dementia patient. His wife shares her emotional journey since his diagnosis.

Family member of dementia patient
Describing her experiences
The more you understand, the more scared you become. It was a big challenge for me to care for him because there were so many things I didn’t know. I had to write them down one by one, and then, when the outpatient appointment was coming up, a professional was holding a class and I rushed to ask questions.

According to current statistics, the prevalence of dementia among people aged 65 and above is about 7.99%. In response to World Alzheimer’s Month, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has partnered with Eslite Bookstore to launch a dementia-themed book exhibition, which will run until Sept. 30. Selected books on dementia will be available at 11 Eslite Bookstore stores across Taiwan and online.

Chu Chien-fang
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Department of Long-Term Care
There are 133 shared care centers nationwide, commissioned by local governments and set up by our hospitals, where case managers assist with related health education, family support activities, and dementia cognitive training. In addition, there are 580 community service sites nationwide.

Liu Cheng-liang
Taipei City Hospital
Actually, I think using books as a lens to talk about life is quite wonderful. A diagnosis is a bit like placing a bookmark in that book. From the point where that bookmark is placed, we can begin to re-examine the book—and re-examine this life.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will also host four special lectures on dementia across Taiwan, aiming to help the public gain earlier awareness and more choices. By combining literature with healthcare perspectives, the initiative helps people understand dementia as part of everyday life.

#Agingtaiwan #Dementia #Alzheimers #Worldalzheimersmonth

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2026-09-08

Monkey vs. Iguana showdown brings tourists to Shoushan

The monkeys in Kaohsiung’s Shoushan get up to plenty of mischief on the regular. But sometimes, even locals who’ve seen everything are surprised by their stunts. In a video that has recently gone viral online, a passerby in the area witnessed a showdown between a macaque and an iguana. Let’s hear more.

- Monkeys love playing around.
- Someone said, that the government is giving rewards for catching iguanas. Shouldn’t the monkey get rewarded too?
- I wouldn’t be opposed to them getting a reward.

Member of public
Commenting on video
It’s strange. Nature can be strange sometimes. They must’ve been dueling.

In the evening, monkeys love to gather in Shoushan. But they’re not alone, as now several huge green iguanas keep them company. The showdown between the macaque and the iguana reminded online users of the Monkey King, the fightmaster from the novel Journey to the West. Some found the duel so impressive that they came to check out the site, ready to feast on some popcorn and watch the drama unfold.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#monkey #iguana #nature #kaohsiung #shoushan #stopmonkeyingaround

2026-09-08

President Lai gives NT$300K in bonuses to Asian Games athletes

With the 2026 Asian Games set to kick off on Sept. 19, President Lai Ching-te and Sports Minister Lee Yang travelled down to Kaohsiung, where they met with Taiwan’s 481 athletes before the delegation flies to Nagoya, Japan. In addition to waving both Taiwan’s national flag and the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag, President Lai also presented NT$300,000 in bonuses.

President Lai Ching-te headed down to the Taiwan Sports Training Center in Kaohsiung, where he waved the country’s national flag and Olympic flag for athletes, coaches, and support personnel who’ll soon be leaving for the 2026 Asian Games.

Lai presented an oversized check of NT$300,000 in delegation bonuses to B-girl Yang Jia-li and a pillow-sized good luck charm to badminton player Wang Chi-lin.

During the sports tradition where giant straws were drawn from a tall box, Yang pulled out “believe in yourself” and Wang got “relax and give it all you got,” two phrases meant to wish the athletes the best of luck in their events.

Lai Ching-te
President
Relax, give it all you got, and believe in yourself. If you give it your all, you can surpass your own past records.

The 2026 Asian Games begin on the 19th of this month. Taiwan has 481 athletes competing in 38 events, such as badminton, equestrian sports, and weightlifting. The total delegation has 744 members, including the athletes, coaches, medical staff, and other support personnel.

Wang Chi-lin
Badminton athlete
I’ll be taking the president’s words of encouragement with me, and I hope that I can medal on the court of the Asian Games.

Yang Yung-wei
Judoka
I’ve already got every part of my body into the best shape possible. Now I just hope that when I’m training over in Japan that I can make the best final preparations.

Kuo Hsing-chun
Weightlifter
The competition just so happens to be at the same time as the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I’m just really happy; I’m even thinking if I want to take some mooncakes with me. I hope that for this Asian Games that I can lift somewhere around my record in the recent past.

In addition to Lai, the group of well wishers also included the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee’s President Tsai Chia-fu and Vice President Wang Ching-cheng as well as the Republic of China Sports Federation President Yeh Cheng-yen. With the Asian Games on the horizon, all of Taiwan is hoping these athletes will perform their very best.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#AsianGames #TeamTaiwan #LaiChing-te #Japan #Nagoya #481athletes #TeamTaiwan

2026-09-08

ITRI honors three new laureates for contributions to tech and medicine

The Industrial Technology Research Institute has once again recognized Taiwan’s tech and medical heavyweights for decades of innovation and leadership. President Lai Ching-te personally presented honors to three new ITRI laureates at the 15th ITRI Laureate Ceremony. The three honorees span the fields of semiconductors, ICT and smart healthcare, and included a veteran TSMC executive who was among the chipmaker’s earliest employees.

President Lai Ching-te himself confers a certificate upon TSMC Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer Y.P. Chyn, at the 15th ITRI Laureate Ceremony. Even TSMC CEO C.C. Wei personally attended the event to see the three new laureates receive their honors.

Y.P. Chyn
TSMC Executive Vice President
I left ITRI’s Electronics Research Laboratory in 1987, to join TSMC as one of its early employees. For nearly 40 years it has been my conviction that, when it comes to excellence in manufacturing and technological R&D, there are no shortcuts.

Chen Wei-ming
Taipei Veteran’s General Hospital Superintendent
We’re implementing ways to harness AI and reduce the workload on our medical staff. From shift handover systems to more dangerous procedures such as chemotherapy, where there is the risk of radiation. These treatments for patients can be harmful on practitioners, so administering the drugs with robotic arms can greatly help our staff.

This year’s three laureates are Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming, TSMC co-COO Y.P. Chyn and Realtek Chair Chiu Sun-chien. They were recognized for their outstanding long-term contributions in the fields of semiconductors, ICT and smart healthcare.

Wu Tsung-tsong
ITRI Chair
They aren’t just the creators of technology in Taiwan, they’re also industry leaders. There’s also something special about them, as they all grew up in the Taiwanese university system, obtaining bachelor’s or master’s degrees. They then stayed in Taiwan for three or four decades, which is really remarkable.

Besides the ceremony, a special exhibition at the venue showcased cross-domain innovation, resilience and prosperity. Among the highlights on show are Taiwan-made quadruped robots and superconducting quantum chips, demonstrating ITRI’s latest technologies and Taiwan’s formidable tech prowess.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#innovation #technology #chip #tsmc #taiwan

2026-09-08

Character tie-ins, concerts electrify Kaohsiung tourism

For the past three years, Kaohsiung has worked with popular IPs to draw interest to its Lantern Festival, in addition to hosting concerts by major global pop stars. This has translated into significant revenue, with the city earning NT$18.9 billion from concerts alone since 2023. The hospitality and restaurant sectors have also grown to push Kaohsiung into first place among Taiwan’s six special municipalities, instilling pride among the city’s residents.

The Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland earlier this year attracted New Year travelers to the event with an exciting Ultraman collaboration. On the closing day, thousands flocked to the Love River to bid farewell to the beloved Japanese character.

Member of public
It’s a major IP. It has a dedicated fanbase. That then triggers a ripple effect.

The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival has worked with different properties for the past three years, including Ultraman, Chiikawa, and the giant rubber duck that returned to the city after 10 years away.

Liu Yin-chun
FTV reporter
Supported by major international IPs, Kaohsiung’s visibility continues to climb. The concert industry in particular has been lucrative, earning the city NT$18.9 billion since 2023.

When South Korean mega group BTS announced Kaohsiung as a stop on their world tour, tickets for the November concerts sold out immediately, demonstrating the immense potential of the market.

The American rock band Maroon 5 will also hit the Kaohsiung National Stadium stage for the third time next January. It used to be unimaginable that such huge international stars would perform in Kaohsiung. But according to the city’s Tourism Bureau, concerts alone have attracted 5.77 million tourists since 2023.

Member of public
It makes it so much easier to see our idols in person! I hope Mayor Chen Chi-mai never steps down.

Kao Min-lin
Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau director-general
Kaohsiung has ranked first in tourism satisfaction for the past three years running. Between our major events, significant international media coverage, and online travel agencies, Kaohsiung has become widely regarded as one of Asia’s premier travel destinations.

Popular characters and back-to-back concerts by global stars are allowing Kaohsiung to showcase its charms. Its track record proves that city marketing can be engaging as well as extremely lucrative.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Kaohsiung #tourism #concerts #Maroon5 #BTS #tourismeconomy #IPs #Ultraman #Chiikawa #concerteconomy

2026-09-08