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Taiwanese stocks setting records and investors are betting big

Contrary to expectations, the Taiex has broken “the curse of Dragon Boat Festival.” Investors are reaping big gains this Monday as the Taiex closed up 1,276 for 47,741 points, making it the eighth largest rise in Taiex history. And TSMC also enjoyed record-setting numbers, as it reached a new high of NT$2,510 a share.

Chen Li-wei
President Capital Management Analyst
There’s a common belief that the winds of the stock market change during Dragon Boat Festival, and to us it looks like the market is doing even better than before. It’s possible that this week another new high of 48,000 will be reached, perhaps even 49,000. This year the Taiex may, sooner or later, surpass 50,000. As for this week, the two most important things to consider are Micron’s financial report and Nvidia’s shareholder meeting, especially since Jensen Huang has continued to be optimistic about AI. So, we also can continue paying attention to these trending topics.

Mr. Chiang
Long-term shareholder
17 years ago my wife bought 32,000 shares of TSMC at NT$66.6 a share. She put her entire retirement pension into TSMC, and she’s ended up earning over NT$60 million as a result.

Member of public
Stock market enthusiast
Everybody’s saying “go all in” with TSMC. Everyone’s goal is to not need to go to work anymore.

With dreams of an early retirement, all of Taiwan seems to be entranced by the local stock market, as people are checking the index on their phones in restaurants and even when they’re strolling down the street. In May of this year, 132,000 new Taiex accounts were opened, which makes up just a small chunk of Taiwan’s 14.33 million retail investors. With the AI industry forming a strong backbone for the market, capital is pouring in, meaning the Taiex climbing to 50,000 seems to be just a matter of time.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#TSMC #investing #DragonBoatFestival #allin #Taiex

Time：2026-06-22

最新消息 Latest News

Barrier lake in Hualien just 7km from site of Matai’an flood

Ever since last year’s Matai’an Creek flood in Hualien, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has regularly monitored the surrounding area to prevent a similar disaster from happening again, and now the agency has discovered a new 3-hectare barrier lake located just 7km to the north of the site of last year’s disaster.

Deep in the mountains in Hualien, an aerial photograph reveals that a 3-hectare barrier lake has formed next to a large landslide. The barrier lake is only 7km to the north of where the Matai’an barrier lake breach disaster occurred last year.

Huang Chium-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
There’s an elevation difference between the riverbed and the settlement downstream, so currently there’s no need to be overly concerned. Our evaluation is that the barrier lake’s location is very deep in the mountains and it’s not accessible by road, which is why we haven’t recently had anybody get close to that body of water.

Ever since the Matai’an Creek disaster, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has routinely monitored the nearby area. The agency found a new barrier lake where the upper reaches of Wanli Creek passes through Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park. The body of water is deeper in the mountains than last year’s barrier lake at Matai’an Creek. The closest settlement is Wanrung Village at 22km away; and there’s also Xibao Bridge and Wanli Creek Bridge, which are 24km and 27km away, respectively. Many landslides have occurred near Wanrung Village, so the closest cars can get is 3.5km, and there’s no hiking path that leads to the body of water. As a result, a helicopter was sent to inspect the area on Monday morning.

Huang Chium-tse
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
Based on preliminary data, we’ve already notified the Ninth River Management Branch, and they’ll help us monitor water levels. Hualien County Government, Fenglin Township Office, and Wanrung Township Office were also immediately notified about the situation.

Hsieh Yu-chen
Borough Warden in Fenglin Township
The words “barrier lake” strike fear in the hearts of everyone, so I personally went door-to-door, notifying every resident that a barrier lake has formed, and the riverbed isn’t all that far from us.

With Typhoon Mekkhala—the year’s seventh typhoon—looming, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency won’t be taking any chances, which is why an emergency response team has been formed in order to closely observe the barrier lake’s water levels as well as the possibility of a breach.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#hualien #barrierlake #typhoon #disastermitigaiton #flood

2026-06-22

Driver speeds off while 3-yo niece was still getting in car

A woman in Yilan put her 3-year-old niece in immense danger, driving off while the toddler was still getting in the car. She had gone into a convenience store with her daughter and the niece. The two kids were successively getting into the back seats. After her daughter got in the car, she drove off with the rear door still open. The little girl still tried to get in when her aunt went off without her, but it was not possible for her little legs to catch up with the car, so she soon rolled out onto the road. Fortunately, an eyewitness helped her up immediately after she fell, lifting her out of danger.

A sedan parked on the roadside had one rear door open. Two little kids were getting into the car, but only the first got in safely. The latter, a younger girl, hadn’t even put a foot in when the driver speeded off with the door still open.

The toddler tried to catch up, her legs frantically moving. Soon, she rolled off and fell onto the road. An eyewitness standing under the arcade helped her up immediately.

More shockingly, the driver didn’t even notice that the kid hadn’t gotten in yet.

Member of public
Shocked
It’s ridiculous. The parent didn’t do their job. It’s common sense that one should wait for kids to get in and close the door properly before driving off.

Member of public
Shocked
It’s so scary! The kid could’ve got run over.

The frightening scene was captured at Yilan’s Luodong Township. The driver had her daughter and 3-year-old niece with her, and was about to leave after picking up a package from a convenience store. She thought both kids were safely seated when only her daughter was, and drove off without the 3-year-old.

Chen Yu-chu
Women and Children Police
Causing injury to a child without intent is fineable between NT$60,000 to NT$600,000 according to law.

The police later found that the driver had violated several other traffic rules, including parking on a red line and making a U-turn around double yellow lines, and she could be fined up to NT$23,400 in total. Fortunately, the toddler wasn’t hurt. Otherwise, no amount of money could alleviate her of the guilt.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#traffic #neglect #dangerous #roadsafety #parenting

2026-06-22

Cancer once again tops the list of 10 most common causes of death

The most recent data on Taiwan’s top 10 causes of death have been released, and for the 44th year in a row cancer has come in at number 1, taking 54,838 lives in 2025. As for the deadliest forms of cancer, the top 10 has not changed, with lung, liver, and intestinal cancers coming in at first, second, and third for the 22nd year in a row.

Following malignant tumors at number one, heart disease came in at second place and pneumonia was third. The top ten causes of death are essentially the same as last year’s report, with the only change being kidney disease going from 9 in 2025 to 8 this year. Last year 5,980 people died from kidney disease, resulting in a 5.3% increase. No other cause of death had this large of an increase.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#causesofdeath #cancer #kidney #disease #tumor

2026-06-22

Changhua eco-park home to thousands of rhinoceros beetles

Thousands of rhinoceros beetles make their home in the trees of an ecological park in Changhua’s Dacun Township. This busy beetle community makes for quite the spectacle, open to visitors who want to learn more about these friendly insects.

Rhinoceros beetles may not look agile or walk very fast, but they can soar through the air.

This park in Changhua’s Dacun Township is home to thousands of rhinoceros beetles. Some are fighting for territory, while others are busy reproducing. The trees provide them with ample food, giving them lots of energy.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
It’s biting the tree right now. It will slowly bite through the bark, and gradually work its way upward, scraping as it goes. Because of gravity, the tree sap then slowly flows down.

Trees are the secret to coinciding with the beetles. The director of this ecological park said he has spent more than a decade carefully maintaining the grounds with more than 400 trees on site. They attract the beetles, providing them with a safe habitat.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
Nearly 200 ash trees were planted here from saplings. We haven’t used any pesticides for the past 17 years, and the fallen leaves make an excellent habitat for rhinoceros beetles.

Every year at the start of the summer, a massive colony of beetles gathers here, bringing their entire families for the annual rendezvous.

Kuo Chun-yin
Eco-park director
In previous years, there have been nearly 1,000 of them. This is their peak activity period, and we expect this year’s numbers will likely be even greater.

Mr. Kuo welcomes everyone to come and observe these friendly beetles up close. The park provides a guided tour to introduce them and advises people to wear long sleeves to prevent mosquito bites.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#rhinocerosbeetle #beetle #bug #insect #park #ecopark #Changhua #beetleseason

2026-06-22

Kaohsiung MRT’s famous cat now has his own comic series

Kaohsiung’s most famous cat now has his own comic series. It was launched last Wednesday, along with a new special livery offline. Over the years, Mikan has featured in several promotional campaigns. Last year, Mikan’s IP generated around NT$24 million in revenue, according to the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, making him the city’s very own lucky cat.

Mikan the Stationmaster has an exciting new collab. This time, he’s become the main character in an online comic series.

The story follows Mikan as he’s turned into a human boy and given assignments to complete—the sweet life of unlimited comfort and universal adoration as a cat is over. Offline, the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation is also celebrating the launch with a special livery.

Member of public
Fan of Mikan
I’m looking forward to it. Before I’d have to go to Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station to see Mikan the cat himself in person, or hunt down his merch.

Every year, Kaohsiung Metro celebrates Mikan’s birthday on April 4 with a series of events and special in-station features. This year, the fare gate even opens with his meow. Occasionally, Mikan will appear at the service desk at Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station to meet fans. Mikan and his cartoon likeness have also featured in a wide range of collabs and tie-ins. For example, in January he collaborated with Beigang Chaotian Temple, dressing up as the Tiger Deity and in the temple’s procession robe, to worshippers’ delight.

Caroline Chang
Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation
Last year, Mikan generated around NT$24 million in revenue. This year, we’ll have a series of collabs with internationally renowned IP characters.

Originally a stray cat, Mikan was adopted by the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station staff. He’s named after the satsuma mandarin for the way he curls up into a ball, resembling a citrus fruit. With more and more collabs and even his own comic series, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Mikan has become Kaohsiung Metro’s very own lucky cat.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#cats #animals #cute #publictransport #蜜柑站長

2026-06-22

German tourist praises Taipei Metro’s cleanliness and accessibility

People living in Taiwan may take its public transportation for granted, but international visitors often find it outstanding. One German tourist highlighted the punctuality and accessibility of Taiwan’s trains and subway, comparing it to Germany, where trains are often late and public toilets charge a fee. He said he was pleasantly surprised to see station staff in Taiwan personally escort visually impaired passengers.

Taiwan’s railway, high-speed rail, and subway connect at Taipei Main Station, the nation’s biggest public transit hub. A German tourist recently praised the punctuality and accessibility of Taiwan’s trains and subway.

Chris
German tourist
Some of our restrooms in public they are really, really disgusting. Even on the highway, you have to pay for them. Your public transportation, at almost every train or metro station, it’s very, very safe. The airport metro and high-speed railway are always punctual.

Chris said that while security and cleanliness in Germany’s railway stations need improvement, Taiwan’s stations are clean, with free restrooms and orderly waiting lines on the platforms. But what surprised him most was their accessibility.

Chris
German tourist
I can’t imagine! My grandfather in Germany is almost blind, and if I see this, a security guard is helping him walking up the stairs, putting his hands behind his back so he doesn’t fall, it’s absolutely mind-blowing.

Taipei Metro provides comprehensive accessibility services for visually impaired passengers, including staff escorts, tactile paving, accessible elevators, and audio guidance. FTV recently filmed Ingo Brandenburg, president of Taiwan operations for the German multinational company Bayer, riding the metro. He spoke highly of it, also citing its accessibility services.

Ingo Brandenburg
Bayer Taiwan president
Coming from Europe, we cannot believe it is clean, it is punctual, it is on time, and it gets you everywhere. You have elevators on every train station and metro station, high-speed rail station, so visually impaired or any other impaired, you have thought this really well through. The service is fantastic.

Taiwan passenger
Staff are notified if someone has mobility issues and will come help. In other countries like Korea, there are stairs almost everywhere. Not long ago I saw someone faint on the metro, and someone came to help right away.

Even taking the chance to try a Taiwan Railways bento box, Chris emphasized that Taiwanese people might appreciate their country even more after traveling abroad.

Chris
German tourist
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Taiwan’s accessible, reliable public transportation stands out internationally, leaving a strong impression on foreign tourists.

#publictransportation #metro #MRT #Taiwan #TaipeiMetro #accessible #tourist #station #Germany #TaipeiMainStation

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2026-06-22

Late-night hair salon houses six friendly cats

Around the corner from Taichung’s Zhonghua Road Night Market is a hair salon that’s great for night owls and animal lovers alike. The salon is home to six cats, all adopted by its animal-loving owner. It’s also open until late at night, making it great for people who work late. It’s only been open for about half a year, but its friendly cats and late hours have made it very popular.

A pedestrian stops in front of a store, observing the cats inside. Some sit on a cat tree, others lay on the floor, and a curious gray cat comes to the window to say hello to the visitor.

Member of public
Surprised by hair salon
It took me a little while to realize that this is a hair salon. At first, I thought it was a pet café or something like that.

It may seem like a pet store, but this is actually a hair salon. It’s home to six friendly cats, some of whom even jump up on customers’ laps while they are getting their hair cut.

Customer
Loves hair salon
It’s very therapeutic. They’ll all jump up. The orange one even took a nap on my lap.

Customer
Loves hair salon
One jumped on my lap when I came last time. It’s very cute. I took a photo with it.

This salon, close to Taichung’s Zhonghua Road Night Market, is open from the afternoon until late night. The owner keeps her cats at the store so they aren’t home alone, but she didn’t expect they would help her business prosper.

Customer
Loves hair salon
They’re open until really late. One time I was still getting my hair done at three or four in the morning.

Customer
Loves hair salon
It’s a great place to come when I get off work late.

Women with long hair love coming here to get their hair washed and styled, all while enjoying some quality cat therapy.

Zoey
Hairdresser
We weren’t originally planning to open a pet hair salon, but I started adopting more cats, and my friend even gave me one when we opened the salon, so I suddenly had six cats to care for.

Chiang-chiang
Hairdresser
People can come here to pet cats and relax. People who don’t own any cats can come here to pet them. There’s no need to buy anything, it’s okay to just pet the cats. This is a great place to relax.

Many people enter the store to say hello to the cats and end up becoming customers. These cute cats have brought a lot of business to the hair salon, a perfect place for night owls and cat lovers alike.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#hairsalon #hairdresser #cats #cat #catsalon #catcafé #Taichung #therapy #cattherapy #relax #haircut

2026-06-22

Nostalgic, cheap popsicles fly off shelves as summer arrives

At the weather keeps getting hotter, there’s nothing better than enjoying an icy treat. If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the shop near Kuei-Shan Power Station in Xindian District. At only NT$8 for the cheapest popsicle, many people make special trips up the mountain just to get one. Supermarkets have also announced their best-selling iced treats, all of which come in at under NT$20. Let’s take a look at this summer’s most popular budget-friendly eats.

- With prices rising, what can you even get for NT$10 anymore? I came to Taipower’s Kuei-Shan Power Station, because the cheapest popsicle here is only NT$8!

It’s so satisfying to bite into an icy, flavorful popsicle. As the temperature continues to climb, the best summer companion is one of these classic treats.

- I got the peanut. It’s so sweet and tasty.
- It’s super hot and muggy! So I wanted to eat some ice cream to cool down.

Lines of people wait to place an order as the staff busily restock and pack boxes, unable to catch a moment of rest. Riding on its reputation as the cheapest place around, this stand offers a plain popsicle for only NT$8, and flavors such as pineapple and passion fruit for just NT$12. Many people make the trip up the mountain just to get one, some of them digging in right away, while others get a few boxes to take home.

Customer
Cones every summer
I come here every summer. It’s cheap for one, and also delicious and packed with real ingredients. Look at everything in here! I get five or six of every flavor to keep in my freezer. It lasts for about a month.

This shop by the power station isn’t the only one drawing in business. Supermarkets are also seeing a surge in popsicle shoppers.

- There are tons of frozen treats to choose from in this supermarket aisle, but which is the most popular? Let’s find out.

Number one are these ice bars many people remember eating as kids. With a wide array of flavors, supermarkets can easily move over 10,000 of them in a single month. Coming in second are these traditional popsicles, selling at only NT$12 each. Third are these classic red bean milk popsicles, followed by ice cream sundaes in fourth and fifth.

Member of public
Likes the ice lollies
I like the soda one. It’s cheap and tasty.

Member of public
Likes the ice lollies
I like the milk flavors. The kids like anything mango or red bean. We usually go for the family value packs since they’re much more economical than buying individual ones.

Liu Ju-hui
Supermarket PR assistant manager
Compared with the same period last year, we can already see that overall revenue for frozen desserts has grown by nearly 20%. In terms of leaders, sales are mostly dominated by classic popsicles and Taiwanese flavors. Their low price makes them an easy impulse purchase for shoppers.

Nostalgic flavors are the favorite for Taiwanese shoppers. With simple ingredients and friendly pricing, sales of these icy treats are sure to keep rising along with the heat.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#popsicle #icecream #frozentreat #cheap #affordable #KueiShanPowerStation #Xindian #summer #supermarket

2026-06-22

Typhoon Mekkhala heading north and passing parallel to east coast

Typhoon Mekkhala is set to turn northwards on Tuesday and then move parallel alongside Taiwan’s east coast. Typhoon Mekkhala, which could potentially turn into a severe typhoon, will be nearest to Taiwan on Thursday and will bring thunderstorms to both western Taiwan and Yilan.

Yeh Chih-chun
Weather forecaster
So we can see that on Thursday, overall, the weather will be rather unpredictable. In western Taiwan and Yilan there’ll likely be intermittent showers or thunderstorms. As for Hualien and Taitung, primarily there’ll be thunderstorms in the afternoon. Even though the typhoon will be heading farther away on Friday and Saturday, the weather front will still be hanging over the ocean to the north of Taiwan, so the weather will be all-over-the-place during this time.

Following in Typhoon Mekkhala’s wake is a tropical disturbance to the east; the Central Weather Administration will continue observing what could be this year’s eighth typhoon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#weather #typhoon #rain #summer #Mekkhala #米克拉

2026-06-22

Row of vehicles plunges as heavy rain causes ground to cave in

Four scooters and a car plunged down a slope when the ground underneath collapsed, a result of torrential rain in Greater Taipei on Thursday afternoon. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, it’s not the first time a cave-in occurred at this location. Residents of the apartment complex on the block are afraid that it will happen again as typhoon season looms.

Trees along the slope suddenly fall. After about 40 seconds, four scooters plunge as the ground underneath collapses.

Residents on the block hear the loud thud and come out to check on the situation. It was then when another grey sedan slides down as another chunk of ground disappears. They were standing very close to it.

Another white car also teetered, but fortunately was towed away just in time.

Mr. Chen
Car tumbled downhill
I wasn’t allowed to get close after it started raining. I called towing services, but they couldn’t help me either, because traffic had already been restricted. After about an hour, my car tumbled. I could only watch it happen. So I went back upstairs. Can’t change the fact that it had happened. It’s alright as long as I’m safe.

From an aerial view, the hill is left bare in the aftermath. The cave-in measures roughly 15 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 30 meters deep. It seems like the incident didn’t come as a complete surprise.

Resident
Hillside apartment complex
When I returned from taking my dog out for a walk at 4, I noticed that a gap had formed between the road and the unpaved ground. I thought it was weird, but I had not imagined that it would collapse.

The location is Xinpo First Street in New Taipei’s Xindian District, at the doorsteps of a hillside apartment complex. Residents fear that more ground will collapse should it continue to rain.

Chang Po-wei
Soil and water conservation engineers association
If no emergency measures are taken, the collapse will extend upwards. The city government and the local district office are already carrying out emergency mitigation, which involves installing a row of steel rail piles to prevent the collapse from creeping upwards.

Local residents and experts fear that the collapse will reoccur should it continue to rain. The city government is reinforcing the slope.

Jhu Ti-jhih
New Taipei Deputy Mayor
We’ll install steel rail piles along the road and downward slope for support, and cover it with canvas for protection, and at the same time, implement disaster mitigation measures.

Regarding the cause of the accident, civil engineers initially determined that the developer used relatively loose backfill soil on the slope when building the apartment complex. Recent heavy rainfall increased the soil moisture content on the slope. Rainwater washed away the soil, causing part of the roadside ditch to be hollowed out, which in turn led to the collapse.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#naturaldisaster #rain #geology #weather #typhoon

2026-06-19

Military boot camp captain indicted for racism against dual-nationality recruit

A captain surnamed Wen, who served as a company commander at a military recruit boot camp in Yilan, was indicted by the Yilan District Prosecutors Office on Friday for public insult, after he repeatedly using discriminatory language. He’d publicly harassed a recruit holding dual Taiwanese and Japanese nationality on the camp grounds, using a slur that can be translated to “Jap” and shouting “You’ve come to serve in the Taiwanese military to atone for your sins.” The abuse caused the recruit to suffer psychological trauma.

After the incident came to light, the Sixth Army Corps removed Captain Wen from his supervisory position, disciplined him, and proactively referred the case to prosecutors for investigation. Because Wen utilized his official power and position to commit the crime, the Yilan District Prosecutors Office indicted him for public insult under the Criminal Code, and requested that the court impose a heavier sentence based on regulations governing aggravated offenses by public officials.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taiwanmilitary #consciption #militaryservice #discrimination #WWII

2026-06-19

Taiwan’s emerging drone industry is taking off

The outbreak of the Russo-Ukraine war in 2022 drew attention to the importance of drones in modern warfare: countries around the world are now increasing investments in this industry. For Taiwan, which is pitted against a much larger enemy, drones are crucial: they can be made cheaply and can do a lot of damage to large expensive platforms like battleships. The government is strengthening supply chains free of Chinese components, and private companies have greatly increased their capabilities, with Taiwanese drone exports to Europe increasing by 40% last year. Let’s find out more.

The drone, equipped with gunpowder, hovers at high speed in the air, locates the target, and quickly swoops down to complete its mission with precision.

This is the Army’s drone unit, conducting flight training with attack drones.

Major Tsai
21st Artillery Command Drone Battalion
In our training, we’ll have it carrying munitions underneath, conducting a live-fire exercise. This is a bomb-dropping type; it’s not a suicide drone, but it’s still an attack drone.

However, did you know that the drones used in these combat exercises were entirely made by Taiwanese manufacturers? The military emphasized a 100% non-red supply chain, boosting Taiwanese companies to showcase their immense capabilities and rapidly capture global markets in just a few short years.

Yu Fu-yang
Taiwan Unmanned Vehicle Alliance
Ukraine actually sourced a large portion of its components from Taiwan for the Russo-Ukraine war. We don’t supply the complete units, but the components are ours. The demand has really boosted our industry.

Fan Wei-i
AbonMax
In the emerging drone market, the non-red supply chains we provide could actually become Taiwan’s next economic shield.

Since 2017, the US has banned the military from using Chinese-made drones on security grounds and has begun to promote "non-red supply chains," which has caused Taiwanese manufacturers to sniff out business opportunities.

Chen Shih-che
Brinno
The US is taking a phased approach; basically, Chinese components cannot be used in major parts right now. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s drone industry—especially in the defense sector—has a 100% total ban on Chinese components. Looking at this market opportunity from the perspective of a private enterprise, I am fully willing to invest our resources here.

Whether it’s creating non-red supply chains in industries or asymmetric warfare capabilities on the front line of national defense, drones may become Taiwan’s next economic shield.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taiwan #crossstrait #drones #defense #UVAI

2026-06-19

Railway Police invoke a demon-killing deity for anti-fraud campaign

Fraud is rampant in Taiwan, and the police are going to great lengths to combat it, even soliciting help from celebrities. In their latest effort, the Railway Police have approached renowned ink painter Chen Shi-hou to paint Zhong Kui, a Taoist deity that can defeat evil demons. The resulting artwork will appear on fans and Dragon Boat Festival traditional sachets, alongside anti-fraud slogans. Chen readily accepted the invitation, because, he said, his younger brother was also a victim of fraud.

Chen Shi-hou
Painter
I used to be a portrait painter and Zhong Kui was my most cherished subject. Many friends in my social circle have been victims of fraud. Even my younger brother had his house in Tamsui sold because of a scam.

Huang Chung-min
Railway Police Bureau
By introducing the concept of Zhong Kui subduing demons and monsters, we aim to convey to the public the importance of fraud awareness. People who receive Zhong Kui’s fans and sachets will be able to calmly reflect on any suspicious investment invitations or friend requests.

In addition to this painting by this renowned artist, this anti-fraud campaign also includes small items such as fans and Dragon Boat Festival traditional sachets decorated with his artwork, all with their own QR codes. If people are unsure whether something is a scam, they can simply scan the code to connect to the 165 hotline and get the latest fraud information, keeping them safe from falling victim to scam rings.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Fraud #Fightingfraud #Taoism #Taiwanesecampaigns #Taiwanpolice #Taoistdeities

2026-06-19

Ministry of Labor announces six common wage-related violations by employers

The Ministry of Labor on Tuesday announced the six most common wage-related offenses by employers. Common methods of wage theft they found included illegal salary deductions for late arrivals and overtime violations. The worst offenders are bus companies, which dismissed overtime under 30 minutes. The labor ministry reminded employers that each violation is fineable up to NT$1 million, and encouraged workers to defend their rights.

Are you getting every cent of your hard-earned cash? According to statistics, 55.6% of salaried workers do not get overtime pay. Last year, local governments across the country issued 2,159 penalties for overtime violations. The Ministry of Labor also found that some employers calculate overtime pay on base salary instead of the total package. It also found that in passenger transportation, where long hours are the norm, employers would illegally dismiss overtime under 30 minutes. Moreover, bus drivers also had their salaries illegally deducted for arriving late or incurring fines on duty.

Yang Tsung-pin
Job bank spokesperson
Employers often exercise implicit coercion, such as claiming that the work is arranged based on designated responsibility, and so workers are only allowed to clock out upon completion of the day’s work. On the other hand, supervisors could still keep tabs on workers’ progress after hours, for example, by sending text messages or emails. Actually, you can save screenshots of these chats or emails, as a basis to claim overtime pay.

Starting on Jan. 1 this year, the minimum monthly wage has been raised to NT$29,500 and minimum hourly wage, NT$196. However, some pay-by-day jobs still only pay NT$1,000 per day. At eight hours, the average hourly wage works out to only NT$125, which is illegal. Moreover, should the regular pay day fall on the weekend or on a holiday, employers are also forbidden of making a late payment without prior agreement. They’re also required to send workers details of wage computation upon each payment.

Huang Chi-ya
Ministry of Labor
Some business entities that get publicized or heavier penalties for repeat offenses usually hope that we’ll remove them from our notice, because it affects their recruitment.

Businesses that violate wage-related labor laws could be fined up to NT$1 million for each count of violation. The Ministry of Labor also encourages workers to stand up for their rights, to avoid becoming victims of wage theft.

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#labor #workersrights #laborlaw #wagetheft #jobs

2026-06-19

Pingtung town carries out Dragon Boat Festival tradition with watermelons

Balancing an egg on its end at midday during the Dragon Boat Festival is a beloved Taiwanese tradition meant to bring a full year of good luck. But the residents of Jiadong Township in Pingtung County have come up with a tasty innovation: they have substituted eggs for watermelons. They closed off the town’s streets today to stand a record some 1,000 watermelons in rows. It was a spectacular carnival-like scene as residents dressed up the watermelons in various costumes, including those of police officers and brides. Let’s find out more.

Rows of plump and round watermelons line an entire road, creating a scene that was quite a sight to behold.

Many watermelons were dressed with the utmost care: some were wearing wigs, some were transformed into police officers. Some people were creative enough to decorate the watermelons as flower girls, seeming like cute fairies in a watermelon world.

Member of the public
My daughter is getting married, and I thought, since my younger daughter is going to be the flower girl, I’d take out her flower girl dress and put it on the watermelon to wear.

Jiadong Township in Pingtung County is not a major watermelon producing area, but rather is known as the "hometown of watermelon seedlings." Up to 80% of Taiwan’s watermelon seedlings are produced here, earning it the reputation of being the birthplace of watermelons. Starting years ago, to promote the industry, the local area holds a spectacular watermelon-standing event during Dragon Boat Festival.

Lin Shu-ling
Jiadong Farmers’ Association director
This year we have 1,000 watermelons standing here. A thousand watermelons symbolizing blessings for Dragon Boat Festival. This is the most we’ve ever had.

Adding to the fun was a watermelon eating contest, where participants forgo zongzi to eat out of large watermelons instead.

- Does the watermelon still taste good when you’re in such a rush.
- Yes, still good. I hope we’ll get chilled watermelon next time, haha.

- It’s delicious. I could have more. I’ll finish the other half when I get home later.

Some people dressed up their adorable babies as watermelons, stealing the spotlight. The residents of Jiadong Township used their one-of-a-kind watermelon-standing concept in an innovation of the Dragon Boat Festival tradition, allowing participating adults and children to bring home a big watermelon and a lot of good luck in the hot summer.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#dragonboatfestival #tradition #holidays #summer #端午節

2026-06-19

‘Eagle Eye’ AI-powered baseball tracking tech at U-15 competition

The U-15 baseball graduation cup kicked off on Dragon Festival at the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium. This year, refereeing is aided by a brand new technology from the Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI. It’s an AI-powered ball-tracking system called “The Eagle Eye of Taiwan.” Equipped with a high-definition camera and a margin of error less than 1cm, it’s almost as powerful as the Major League Baseball’s version. Let’s find out more.

Lee Shih-chi
ITRI Central Region Campus director
This system is mainly an AI-assisted image recognition system, and uses a technique in biotechnology called label-free detection, which can analyze every good and bad strike as well as the speed of batting.

Richard Hsieh
Just Best Taiwan CEO
In our discussions with ITRI, we expressed our wish to adopt these systems fully on baseball fields. We also hope that the system can become very easy to use, so that the set of technologies can be used in riverside baseball fields.

Chen Qi-heng
Baseball coach
Most importantly, it has a clear mechanism that allows our players, and even referees and coaches to review performance of every game and training session. There will be precise numbers and clear graphics that allow players to make progress more quickly.

More than an aid for refereeing, the Eagle Eye precisely captures the baseball’s trajectory, average speed, rotational speed and exit velocity. An AI system also automatically creates a playback video for referees and coaches to refer to, for review and training purposes. The system also gives suggestions for players to improve their batting, making for greater improvements in training sessions.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#sports #baseball #training #technology #AI

2026-06-19

Polish student aces college entrance exam after learning Chinese from scratch

Chinese is widely considered to be one of the most difficult languages to learn. Over in Hsinchu, a Polish teenager managed to prove it’s possible. Ma An-ya’s parents relocated to Taiwan three years ago to serve as missionaries. Starting from complete zero, she was able to learn enough Chinese to take the GSAT alongside her fellow high schoolers, securing admission to several universities.

This cheerleading squad counts Polish student Ma An-ya as one of its core members. She’s not an exchange student, but a regular enrollee. Her parents are both missionaries who moved to Taiwan three years ago, enrolling An-ya and her siblings directly into the local school system.

Ma An-ya
High-school graduate
We came to Taiwan, into a totally new environment. My greatest challenge was not understanding anything. When I first arrived, there wasn’t any school that could take me, since I had just graduated from middle school.

It’s hard to imagine that An-ya didn’t know a word of Chinese three years ago. Today, she can not only converse fluently, but can even write calligraphy. When even saying “hello” proved difficult, you can imagine how overwhelming it was. Luckily, with help from her Chinese literature teacher, she learned to read Bopomofo and kept going from there.

Ma An-ya
High-school graduate
Not understanding Chinese was like being locked inside a dark room. Even though there were lots of people around me, it was very lonely. But this motivated me to learn Chinese as fast as I could.

Lin Kuo-sung
Principal
It’s already difficult for our local students to study subjects like physics and chemistry in Chinese. Just imagine, it wasn’t her native language, but she still had to learn it.

After three years of devoted study, An-ya was able to take the college entrance exam alongside her fellow classmates. She not only finished the test, but was even accepted to Chung YuanChristian University, Fu JenCatholic University, and other schools.

Ma An-ya
High-school graduate
I want to major in electronic engineering, specifically at Chung Yuan Christian University. My two grandparents are both engineers, so I feel like pursuing engineering would suit me best. And also, I figured that electronics is Taiwan’s best field.

Lin Kuo-sung
Principal
Beside from her Chinese literature marks, which were a little low, her performance in the other subjects all far exceeded our expectations.

Looking back at her hardships over the past three years, An-ya is thankful for the companionship of her principal, teachers, and classmates. In a moving expression of gratitude, she even penned a thank-you note for her principal by hand. By scaling a massive linguistic wall in just three years to conquer Taiwan’s college entrance exams, this determined graduate has proven that no barrier is too high when faced with sheer perseverance.

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#GSAT #student #collegeentranceexam #foreignstudent #perseverance #Mandarinlearning #Chineselanguage #electricalengineering #Poland

2026-06-19

Student hammer thrower breaks record at high school sports tournament

Chen Sheng-hsien, a student at Su’ao Junior High School in Yilan is in the spotlight after he broke a record for hammer throw at Taiwan’s National High School Sports Tournament. Despite winning gold in the junior high school men’s hammer throw event, he’s had to overcome a lot of challenges in his life. He used to carry gas cylinders for a gas shop to help with the family finances and he injured his lower back just before the contest. Let’s find out more.

Chen Sheng-hsien, a hammer thrower from Su’ao Junior High School in Yilan, grips at the hammer with both hands, spins his body to move the metal ball, and then throws it out, where it lands far away.

Screams erupted everywhere from the stands as Chen broke the tournament record again. This was the junior high school boys’ hammer throw event at this year’s National High School Sports Tournament. Chen may have broken a record, but his gold medal was hard won.

Chen Sheng-hsien
Su’ao Junior High School hammer thrower
To be honest, I told my coach back then that I just wanted to give up and skip the competition. But then I figured, ’Well, I’m already here anyway.’ The results completely blew me away.

Chang Ya-ting
Su’ao Junior High hammer throw coach
Actually, he was injured for a while, including the week before this tournament. Because that’s how the National High School Sports Tournament works: you either win glory or get injured.

Before the tournament, Chen injured his lower back and had even considered giving up the competition. But since he was already there, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain to compete. The back story to this gold medalist does not involve a proper training facility, but only day after day of hard training.

Chang Ya-ting
Su’ao Junior High hammer throw coach
Because our school didn’t have a basic throwing area, we drew a throwing circle on the cement ground with chalk and then started practicing like that.

Chen’s parents divorced when he was young and he lived with his grandmother. To help with the family finances, he would carry gas cylinders at a gas shop during his spare time after school. Despite the limited resources, Chen achieved the best possible results. He hopes that his success will make Su’ao synonymous with hammer throw in Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#Taiwansports #hammerthrow #studentsports #studentathletics #Suao

2026-06-19

Afternoon thunderstorms in Greater Taipei turn a road into a river

Heavy thunderstorms battered Taipei and New Taipei once again this afternoon, with the Central Weather Administration issuing national-level emergency alerts.

Near National Taiwan University, 86mm of rain fell in just one hour, turning Tingzhou Road in Gongguan into a small river and even flooding covered walkways and shops. Manholes in Xinyi District shot waterspray into the air, reaching heights of nearly three stories. The Taipei Zoo also took a heavy hit. The relentless downpour turned stairs into waterfalls and flooded the main entrance. The ceiling of the Amphibian and Reptile House also collapsed due to days of heavy rain, forcing it to close temporarily. However, starting with the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on Friday, the moisture will gradually clear up, giving way to hot and sunny weather. People are advised to protect themselves from the sun.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#climateanomalies #heavyrain #thunderstorm #Taiwanweather #Taipeiweather

2026-06-18