Logo
  • Home

頭條新聞 Headline News

Shen wears bulletproof vest and ramps security as elections approach

As the local elections draw near, candidates continue to canvass the streets and appeal to as many people as they can, all the while security measures ramp up. Supporters recently saw Puma Shen’s canvassing vehicle outfitted with bulletproof glass. The Taipei mayoral candidate also claimed he wears a bulletproof vest during outdoor activities. Lee Wen-chang, Deputy Director of the National Police Agency, also stated that they have received intelligence that put candidates at risk.

DPP’s mayoral candidate for Taipei, Puma Shen continues to canvass in the streets. He even showed up in Hsinchu to help, but fans couldn’t miss the bulletproof glass on the vehicle or the bulletproof vest that Shen wore. It seems that security measures have tightened.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
Usually, when people wear a bulletproof vest, it’s because they are on the move and there’s a lot of people they don’t know. In occasions with a lot of movement, planning for adequate safety measures is complicated, so in these scenarios you wear a vest.

The O’Shen wave was embraced from behind bulletproof glass. The KMT seemingly tried to turn the issue into a campaign against Shen, but the National Police Agency has confirmed that they received intelligence regarding Shen’s security.

Hung Meng-kai
Legislator (KMT)
So ultimately was there any intelligence that was harmful to the candidate?

Lee Wen-chang
Deputy Director of the National Police Agency
Currently, we cannot publicly reveal the specific candidates or the progress of the investigation. This part was controlled.

While campaigning outdoors, candidate safety and proper security details are very important. Selection procedures for bodyguards are rigorous; they must have clean records with no demerits within 5 years and no disciplinary actions within 3 years. Shen has 2 bodyguards and 4 police officers on rotation for every outdoor activity. There are nearly 20,000 candidates across Taiwan and around 169 reported bodyguards. For candidates running for commissioners, mayors or councilors, it is normal to have 1 to 2 bodyguards each. If they receive any threats, the number of guards is adjusted.

Chen Chong-guang
Taiwanese Bodyguard School Instructor
Most of the time if there’s an incident outdoors, or if they receive a threat, they will need to evacuate the area secretly. Bodyguards must be skilled in Taekwondo or MMA. The worst thing is to be nervous. There needs to be a good understanding with the candidates.

When candidates are canvassing on the streets, bodyguards remain alert and focused; the core principle is to not let candidates come in harm’s way.

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

#bodyguards #security #campaign #taiwan #election


Time：2026-10-28

最新消息 Latest News

Families fuming after postpartum center kicks out 8 mothers in typhoon

Eight mothers who had just given birth were kicked out of their postpartum care center in Kaohsiung last Friday, just as Typhoon Champi descended on Taiwan. That is because the center apparently shut down due to financial difficulties. Despite being aware of the money problems, the facility continued signing contracts with clients and collecting more than NT$7 million in fees from customers. Two individuals in charge, surnamed Hsu and Chang, were arrested on suspicion of fraud, and they’ve since been released on NT$100,000 bail. Let’s hear more.

Voice of Chen Chu-chun
Prosecutor
Despite facing financial difficulties, the company is thought to have continued signing contracts with multiple victims and collecting payments. After questioning, two individuals surnamed Hsu and Chang are suspected of violating the Criminal Code’s provisions on fraud.

Voice of Mr. Chuang
Victim
There’s 63 or 64 families affected, and collectively we gave them more than NT$7 million. Most people paid the full amount for the stay upfront when they signed the contracts. We created a Line group to discuss it. We’re worried, because we don’t know how or if we will get our money back. As long as investigators handle the case properly, I don’t think the suspects will flee.

Chiang Jui-hung
Kaohsiung City Councilor (DPP)
One of the men in charge, Mr. Chang, came to our office. He told us that he was being investigated, so he couldn’t come and make arrangements with everyone.

The operators said they were only temporarily unable to provide service at the postpartum center, denying that the business had actually shut down. They even agreed to meet with the affected families for mediation at a city councilor’s office. But prosecutors moved first, raiding the facility the day after the incident and found that the it had been operating without a license. Since 2022, it had been fined nine times for illegally performing nursing duties, with total penalties reaching NT$2.31 million.

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

#postpartum #healthcare #motherhood #parenthood #newborn

2026-10-28

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, or ITRI, 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 in the next four years.

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.

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

#automation #autonomy #seminar #tech #unmannedtech

2026-10-28

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

A 3-year-old male mountain bongo named Harris has made his way across the Pacific to his new home in Taiwan. Though Taipei Zoo already has five mountain bongos, they are all female, and therefore can’t breed. That’s why the 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 horns. They are native to Africa and are among the world’s largest forest antelopes. The species is classified as critically endangered. Harris’s long journey to this side of the globe comes with an important mission: to help breed the next generation and bring new hope to conservation efforts in Taiwan.

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

#bongo #harris #taiwan #houstonzoo #taipeizoo

2026-10-28

Hualien Sculpture Festival to feature light installations, music

This year’s edition of the Hualien International Stone Sculpture Festival will kick off in November. Based on the theme "under the skin of the earth," participating artists have been invited to explore the relationship between humans and the environment. Light installations and a concert featuring Golden Melody Award winners will be joining nine local and foreign artists who will showcase their original work.

Artists focus intently on their work, chipping away to bring the sculpture hidden inside the stone to life. The Hualien International Stone Sculpture Festival returns this year, featuring original work commissioned by the county government. This year’s theme, “under the skin of the earth,” likens the surface of the earth to an epidermis, interpreted differently by each sculptor.

Chen Hsuan-yu
Sculptor
The ocean here in Hualien is unique for Taiwan. It plunges straight down into a massive and extremely deep fault line. The fault line paired with the mountains creates a giant wall formed by the cliffs and the sea.

Lee Po-yuan
Sculptor
It’s about how the language of two people’s bodies interact. To me, boulders bring a sense of silent power.

Artists are incorporating Hualien’s dramatic ocean cliffside and the silent majesty of its rocky monoliths into their work. At the same time, the popular installation Breathing Stones, which drew 90,000 people to Sunrise Boulevard in Hualien the last time it was displayed, will come to Danongdafu Forest Park. The Hualien County Museum of Art will also feature many stone sculptures.

Chen Chien-tsun
Hualien Cultural Affairs Bureau director
We’ve invited sculptors who have come to Hualien before for the International Stone Sculpture Festival to come back and share their work again with all of us art lovers here in Hualien.

As a treat for the ears as well as the eyes, there will also be a concert held on the opening day of the festival. The exciting event is to feature Golden Melody-winning musicians Rich Huang and Baby Chung playing alongside renowned Swiss trumpeter Yannick Barman for a genre-spanning event to celebrate the start of this festival of the arts.

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

#Hualien #sculpture #art #artfestival #GoldenMelody #stonesculpture #artists

2026-10-28

Senior NHI premium exemption plan sparks equity concerns

Now that Taiwan is a super-aged society, demand for elderly care continues to grow and welfare resources are increasingly scrutinized. The Legislative Yuan recently passed a bill exempting people aged 65 and older from National Health Insurance premiums starting next year, and this has prompted concerns about additional government spending and the potential financial burden on the younger generation, as well as whether other social welfare programs would suffer as a result.

The National Health Insurance system provides comprehensive healthcare to everyone in Taiwan and has earned international recognition for its range of coverage and services. Recently, the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment exempting people aged 65 and over whose income falls below the 20% tax rate from paying premiums, sparking widespread debate.

Hung Tzu-jen
Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives director
People aged 65 and over account for about 43% of healthcare spending, with average annual medical expenses exceeding NT$90,000 per person. These costs will continue to rise with inflation, squeezing funding for other areas, such as the Long-Term Care 3.0 project, salary adjustments for healthcare workers, and the pace at which new drugs and technologies are covered by NHI.

Liu Huan-jui
Taiwan Young Patient Association secretary-general
The Executive Yuan estimates that expanding NHI premium subsidies to people aged 65 and older would require nearly NT$40 billion in additional funding each year. While supporting older people in financial need is important, Taiwan must establish a fair and sustainable system to ensure the NHI has sufficient resources to improve care, introduce new drugs, and safeguard the health of all generations.

Experts estimate that 83% of people 65 and over will qualify for the premium exemption. While this could ease the financial burden for older people, the additional costs could be shifted to younger generations and affect other social programs.

Wu Yu-chin
Active Aging Taiwan chair
Taiwan’s NHI system, a source of great pride, is something everyone cherishes and hopes will be sustainable. But this amendment makes young people wonder if they will have to shoulder the cost of NHI in the future, which would be unfair to them.

As the government adjusts its policies to support the nation’s aging population, it’s a challenge to ensure resources are allocated fairly and effectively.

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

#NHI #seniors #agingsociety #socialwelfare #amendment #premiums #exemptions #bill

2026-10-28

60kg sulcata tortoise floating belly-up downstream rescued

A sulcata tortoise floating belly-up down a fast-moving stream in a drainage canal led to a rapid rescue mission in Taichung. The tortoise was spotted helplessly moving its legs in the air as the current brought it downstream. Fortunately, a kind-hearted passerby who saw the animal jumped into the water and lifted it out out of the canal. It was not an easy feat, as the turtle weighed close to 60kg. Let’s hear more.

Rescuer (Anonymized)
Saved tortoise
We went down to the canal to rescue it and took it home. We put it under a heating lamp to warm up, and then we took it to the vet today. We have turtles at home, so when we saw it we immediately wanted to rescue it. It seems to be doing better now, and it’s been eating food.

Chou Shyun
NCHU Veterinary Medicine Dept.
I think that, since it is quite strong, it’s likely that it dug a hole or broke through a fence and escaped its enclosure. I don’t think it’s likely that it was abandoned.

Sulcata tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. Staying submerged in water for too long can be fatal for them. Fortunately, this time, the tortoise was rescued in time. After the rescue, the animal was brought to a vet for a check-up. The rescuers also posted online in hopes that its owner would come forward to reclaim their pet and bring it home.

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

#tortoise #sulcatatortoise #canal #taichung #missingpet

2026-10-28

Temple hosts five-day ritual for the first time in nearly 200 years

A temple in Tainan just marked a major historic milestone! The Fushou Lane Beiji Temple celebrated a major Jianjiao sacrificial ceremony on Tuesday evening. A large archway was built with endless rows of long tables holding more than 50,000 offerings as well as sacrificial pigs, creating a spectacle. The temple also heavily compensated Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group for their performance and prayers which local believers also joined in on this historical ceremony.

Across the massive plaza outside the temple, a historical Jianjiao sacrificial ceremony is being celebrated; the glimmers and glows create an impressive view from above. The rows and rows of tables are filled with some 50,000 red plates for offerings combined with the sacrificial pigs; it is truly a sight to see.

Lin Ching-chen
Chairman of Fushou Lane Beiji Temple
This is the first Jianjiao in 193 years. Yesterday evening was the fifth day and celebrations reached their peak. We’re holding the event at a ritual site that is more than 10,000 pings in area.

On top of the many offerings on the table, there were also thousands of cases of beer and sorghum. The grand ceremony reached its peak on Tuesday evening at the Fushou Lane Beiji Temple. As the first Jianjiao in 193 years, the ceremony was held to thank the gods. The Temple reportedly paid a pretty penny for a Taiwanese opera performance by Ming Hwa Yuan starring superstar Sun Tsui-feng. The event was packed with local believers coming to celebrate.

Member of public
Attended the ceremony
What a spectacle! Everyone hearts are very full.

After the ceremony, the temple also prepared fireworks show lighting up the dark sky with colors. As the five-day century-old prayer and ritual came to a close, the temple should prosper and thrive for the next 100 years.

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

#beijitemple #sacrificialceremony #offering #taoism #taiwan

2026-10-28

Huge Little Prince inflatable steals show at Bitan festival

2026 marks 80 years since The Little Prince was first published. To mark the occasion, the New Taipei City Government has introduced scenes from the timeless French classic to the beautiful landscapes of Bitan. Centered around a huge 19-meter-long inflatable of the beloved character, and featuring other installations of the Fox and the Rose, the Little Prince’s universe beckons visitors.

As the countdown reaches zero, fireworks illuminate a huge inflatable Little Prince and the surrounding waterfront to mark the official opening of the Bitan Landscape Art Festival.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the French story’s publication. The New Taipei City Government licensed the beloved IP for the festival, integrating scenes from the book into the Bitan waterfront. The highlight is this 19-meter-long inflatable of the Little Prince in a boat, along with other installations of the Fox and the Rose. Some fans brought their own collectibles.

Festival visitor
The Little Prince fan
My kids aren’t very familiar with it, but it’s nostalgic for me, so I brought them to come see it. I think they did very well with it. These flowers are beautiful.

Festival visitor
The Little Prince fan
I love The Little Prince. My kid’s textbook also covers the story, so I wanted to teach them more about the author.

Local business owners have also been invited to join in offering a market and music to visitors as they enjoy the peaceful waterfront and timeless charm of The Little Prince.

Hou You-yi
New Taipei City Mayor
Beyond combining Eastern and Western art and culture, it’s truly wonderful to see the Little Prince amid the landscapes of Bitan. This artistic atmosphere makes Bitan even more beautiful as night falls.

During the festival, paddleboats will also be available for rental at night, so visitors can soak in the romantic scene from the water as well as from the shore.

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

#Bitan #NewTaipei #artinstallation #TheLittlePrince #LePetitPrince #festival

2026-10-28

Public piano turns new Tainan Station into concert hall

Since the new Tainan Railway Station opened, it’s been filled with live music. People have been showing off their skills at a piano in the station, with other instrumentalists and singers joining in. Travelers often stop to record the impromptu performances, praising the musical talent the southern ancient city has to offer.

People stop to listen to the piano as it echoes through the train station.

Another musician pulls out their violin, joining the pianist to play the theme song from a Japanese anime. The duo attracted a large audience.

In another impromptu performance, an erhu and a pipa player formed a trio with the piano, bringing local music to the station.

Another pianist was later joined by a middle-aged man and young woman who started singing together, turning the station into a concert hall. This public piano in the lobby of Tainan’s new main train station has been busy, with many people eager to play it. Travelers stop to listen and record the performances, sharing Tainan’s musical talent online. Some even recognized one of the musicians.

This is Chen Chun-hao, a blind pianist who received the President Education Award in 2020. He’s currently studying music and returned to the station several days in a row to play.

Talented musicians have taken turns showing off their skills, filling the station with music and turning it into an impromptu performance space.

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

#Tainan #TainanStation #piano #music #livemusic #publicpiano #performance #musician #singer

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.

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

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#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:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#doctor #health #indoor #exercise #movement #seated #winter #walk

2026-10-27