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Tainted cooking oil spread to 224 businesses, including top hotels

An investigation from the Taichung City Government’s food and drug safety office has found that soybean cooking oil contaminated with a carcinogen has spread through the nation’s supply chains, reaching a total of 224 businesses. They ranged from star-rated hotels to coffee chain brands to food manufacturers. Taiwan’s latest food safety crisis began when it was found earlier that Central Union Oil supplied 1,300 tons of soybean cooking oil contaminated with the carcinogen benzo(a) pyrene at four times the legal limit to three major Taiwanese wholesalers – Taisun, Fwusow Industry and Fopco. Let’s hear more.

Liu Ming-che
Spokesperson for food company
Adhering to the highest standards, our company is taking the precautionary measure of removing these products from store shelves. Furthermore, we have sealed all current factory inventory and will determine our next steps once the test results are available.

Tseng Tzu-Chan
Director, Taichung City Health Bureau
According to our current data, as of last night, Fopco had recalled a total of 54kg, and Fwusow had recalled a total of 5,693kg, for a total of 5,747kg. We have stipulated that all products must be completely removed from shelves by 12 p.m. today. If they are not removed, we can impose heavy fines under Article 7 of the Food Safety Act, up to a maximum of NT$3 million.

Responding to the case, DPP Legislator Lin Shu-fen posted on Facebook that Central Union Oil’s initial self-inspections of the batch in question had all passed. The discovery of excessive benzo(a) pyrene levels was actually made by a downstream manufacturer conducting its own testing. After detecting abnormal data, the downstream firm notified Central Union Oil, which then re-inspected the oil and confirmed the contamination. Lin argues that the Ministry of Health and Welfare must review whether the current food safety system’s heavy reliance on upstream suppliers’ self-inspections has failed.

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

#foodsafety #carcinogens #cookingoil #consumersrights #soybean

Time：2026-07-03

最新消息 Latest News

Four competing drone funding bills face committee review

In Taiwan, the drone debate has finally shifted. It’s no longer about whether they are needed for defense. Instead, the upcoming debate will be about how to fund them. On Friday, four competing bills were submitted to the legislature. The Executive Yuan wants funding of NT$210 billion in a special budget, but the KMT wants funding of NT$240 billion to come from the annual general budget over six years. The TPP also wants funding to come from the general budget, but so far has not proposed a spending cap. A DPP lawmaker has also proposed her own version. Let’s find out more.

After Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu returned to Taiwan from the United States, draft drone bills were finally accepted by the legislature. A total of five drafts were submitted to committees for review. Among them, the Executive Yuan’s version allocated NT$210 billion in a special budget. The KMT allocated NT$240 billion over six years as part of the general budget. The TPP also called for drone funding from the general budget, but a spending cap was not specified. There were also versions from DPP legislators Lin Chu-yin and Chung Chia-pin. However, Chung’s draft was rejected, and in the end only four versions were successfully submitted for joint review from the legislature’s economic, national defense and finance committees.

- You plagiarized mine and silenced mine.
- You won’t allow discussions.
- Eight cheaters.
- False moves.

Chung was furious and confronted legislators from the Taiwan People’s Party, accusing them of “plagiarism.” Comparing the two versions, both emphasized national defense autonomy and industrial transformation. Both called for the Executive Yuan to establish an inter-ministerial promotion committee and designate a drone test field, with appropriate deregulation. The budget ceiling for both was not clearly defined.

Jacky Chen 
TPP caucus convener
The special provisions in Legislator Chung Chia-pin’s version, which had no upper limit, were rejected.

Chung Chia-pin
Legislator (DPP)
This time, instead of submitting the Executive Yuan’s version of defense procurement to the national defense committee, they submitted it to the economic committee, showing clearly that they want the same old scenario to play out again and delay opportunities for defense procurement.

Drones have once again sparked a battle between the ruling and opposition parties. Just a day earlier, AIT Director Raymond Greene and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen held a forum together, where Greene said Taiwan needed a “hornets’ nest” of drones. However, the KMT’s draft bill is being questioned, for KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun had previously drastically cut funding for drones from the general budget. Now she is saying once again drones should be part of the annual general budget, making those in the drone industry worry about their financial survival.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
Legislator (DPP)
The KMT’s stance has been inconsistent. Now that all the versions are referred to the committee, everyone in the Legislative Yuan can be rational.

Finally, draft drone bills are about to be discussed substantively. Which version best serves the national interest? The upcoming debates will be closely watched by both Taiwan and the US.

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

#Taiwanpolitics #Taiwandefense #defense #drones #UAVs

2026-07-03

Hong Kong dissident Lam Wing-kee dies in Taipei, aged 70

Hong Kong dissident and founder of Causeway Bay Books, Lam Wing-kee died at Lackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei on July 2, at the age of 70, from lung cancer. In 2015, Lam was taken into custody for eight months in China over allegations that his store sold books critical of the CCP. President Lai Ching-te published a social media post to pay respects, writing that the Hong Kong bookseller conveyed to the people of Taiwan in his most ordinary but steadfast way, just how valuable freedom is.

Hongkongers in Taiwan flocked to the store with flowers after news of Lam’s death broke out. Lam founded his shop in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay in 1994, and relocated to Taiwan in 2019 amid the Hong Kong protests. In 2020, Causeway Bay Books reopened in Taipei. Days before the reopening, he got splashed with red paint by three attackers. In Taiwan, Lam had repeatedly warned Taiwan the dangers of becoming the next Hong Kong.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#hongkong #lamwingkee #democracy #causewaybay #林榮基

2026-07-03

Farglory Ocean Park faces skepticism over rebranded eco-friendly dolphin program

After Farglory Ocean Park in Hualien gave its last dolphin show in early April, the park announced that it would not renew its dolphin show permit and would transition its dolphinarium into a conservation base. However, when the Dolphin Conservation Base opened in July, visitors were shocked to find that dolphins were still being used to entertain an audience. In response, the park said that the new exhibit isn’t meant to serve as entertainment, but to educate the public about dolphins’ natural behavior.

Following the trainer’s hand gestures, five dolphins spread out in a row leap from the water into the air. The audience gasps in amazement.

With just a simple gesture, the dolphin knows it’s the cue to get onto the platform. This is Farglory Ocean Park’s newly opened Dolphin Conservation Base after the venue closed for three months. The park had announced that it would no longer hold dolphin shows, but why are the dolphins still being exhibited like this?

-There are both performances and lectures.

Ms. Lu
Visitor
This event is very well organized. It allows kids to learn more about the dolphins’ ecology.

The amended regulations for managing animal exhibitions explicitly prohibit recreational performances from protected wild animals that involve "unnatural behavior." As a result, Farglory Ocean Park gave its last dolphin show in April. At the time, the park said it would introduce a new exhibit that focuses on education. On July 1, they launched the brand-new “Meet the Dolphins” program, transitioning into an ecological and educational format. As for the current “show,” the park says it’s to introduce the audience to dolphins’ natural behavior.

Shen Chien-shao
Farglory Ocean Park GM
What’s different is that we’re shifting the focus to the dolphins themselves. We’re introducing the species’ natural behavior. We’re no longer holding circus-like shows or having dolphins perform stunts. This is an eco-friendly demonstration.

Chou Huang Te-rong
Hualien animal protection office
We’ve completed the assessment on June 2 and approved their license for animal exhibits.

Ending dolphin shows was a huge step forward in animal welfare. As for the new exhibit, the animal protection office says it will conduct strict assessments to ensure that the operator doesn’t violate the law.

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

#dolphins #dolphinshow #animalwelfare #oceanarium #marinelife

2026-07-03

Taiwan’s oldest big-box store reopens in new location, becomes biggest

Taiwan’s very first US-style big-box store in Kaohsiung’s Qianzhen District has reopened as a flagship store in a new location just 1km away, in the Asia New Bay Area. It is now the country’s largest. Shoppers flocked in on the first day of reopening on Friday. On the same day nearby, a religious event kicked off at the Kaohisung Exhibition Center and a shopping center began its beer festival promotional campaign, drawing huge traffic flows. Let’s find out more.

Chang Ko-lun
FTV reporter
At this intersection, you’ll find the software park to the right and the shopping center to the left. In the future, the big-box retailer will share the same road, making this intersection much busier.

Shopper
Big-box retailer
I spent 10 to 15 minutes longer than usual to park. It seems like there’s a lot going on nearby.

Shopper
Big-box retailer
I’ve been going round and round today.

On this day, more than 40 tour buses flocked to Chenggong 2nd Road for the religious even at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. As there is already lots of traffic around the Kaohsiung Software Technology Park from commuting workers, the opening of the new store, plus the promotional event at the shopping center, brought even more traffic to the area. It’s estimated that in the future, there will be almost 50,000 people passing through every day.

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

#kaohsiung #costco #shopping #retail #mall

2026-07-03

Drone smashes into dormitory of Taiwanese postgrad in Ukraine

Anthony, a Taiwanese electrical engineering student, was fascinated with drones and aircraft and so he went to Ukraine’s National Aviation University in Kyiv to pursue a master’s degree in drone design. However, he never imagined he would have a very close shave with one. A drone smashed into his dormitory, nearly killing him. Here. Anthony tells a FTV news team in Ukraine the story of his harrowing experience.

Anthony
Foreign student in Ukraine
When it was happening, I could already hear the propeller noises. They were extremely loud, coming in from outside the window, so at that point, I told my roommate: “Run!”

The dormitory windows were shattered and the furniture was unrecognizable. This should have been the safest place for a master’s student to write his thesis and sleep, but that night Anthony’s life flashed before his eyes.


Anthony
Foreign student in Ukraine
It felt like the drone was in a swooping posture, meaning it had entered attack mode. As I reached the doorway, it hit the dormitory building, and the whole place violently shuddered. I really started to feel homesick after my dormitory was attacked by the drone. That’s when I truly realized these dangers could happen to me personally.

Anthony, from New Taipei City, went to Ukraine’s National Aviation University in Kyiv to pursue a master’s degree in drone design, where he usually studies satellite communications and flight control systems with his professor, while collecting model airplanes of all sizes at home.

Anthony
Foreign student in Ukraine
My parents and sister were all very supportive of me going to Ukraine, but they ultimately left the decision to me. Later, I grew to love aerospace and became more interested in that kind of thing, so I did some research and found that Ukraine was a good place, since the world’s largest transport aircraft was based there.

The key factor drawing Anthony to Ukraine was the An-225 Mriya, at the time the world’s largest transport aircraft, developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine. Some people fled Ukraine because of the war, but Anthony chose to stay because he believed that one day he would bring the technology he learned in the war back to 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

#drones #TaiwanUkraine #NAU #Ukrainedrones #studyabroad

2026-07-03

Mother in Taitung dangerously leaves baby in car when going shopping

How could a mother leave her baby in her car when she went shopping? This is one of two cases of outrageous neglect that we’ve uncovered on FTV. In another incident, an adult was driving a car, while two little girls were sitting with their bodies halfway out the sunroof. A witnessed filmed this, posted the footage online and it caused an uproar. The girls could have easily fallen out of the car if it braked suddenly or wobbled. Let’s find out more.

A black sedan passes through an intersection, attracting attention. It wasn’t the car itself that was unusual, but rather the fact that two little girls were sitting on the roof, half of their bodies sticking out of the car. Witnesses said the two girls were wearing goggles and were screaming all the way, seemingly quite excited.

This was seen at several intersections in a row. This outrageous scene occurred on Thursday night when the black sedan exited an interchange and drove along Section 6 of Jiaoxi Road in Yilan. The two girls sat on the roof of the car as it drove around while they enjoyed the breeze.

Member of the public
Appalled
If a car kept wobbling when in motion, and they accidentally fell off, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Lin Hsin-wei
Jiaoxi police station
The police issued tickets in accordance with regulations to maintain traffic order and ensure the safety of people on the road.

There was also another instance of adult negligence, this time in Taitung. A baby was seen lying in the passenger seat of an SUV, crying hysterically. A passerby noticed and immediately sought help. It turned out the baby’s mother had gone shopping in a mall.

Chang Wei-wen
Guanshan police station
Leaving infants and young children alone in a car, even for a short shopping trip, can endanger their lives due to factors such as high temperatures and a lack of oxygen inside the vehicle.

Chen Shu-lan
Taitung County Social Affairs Department
According to Article 51 of the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act, we cannot leave children under the age of six alone or entrust them to care from unsuitable individuals.

Police are reminding the public never to leave children under six years old alone in a car, as this is against the law. Don’t wait until a tragedy occurs and then regret it later.

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

#Childabuse #Neglectfulparents #childcare #traffic #roadtrip

2026-07-03

Couple stopped from taking pet hen on train

It’s common to bring dogs and cats on trains, but what about pet chickens? One couple from Keelung brought their pet hen on the train with them to Ruifang, but when they were preparing to board their return train, staff said that chickens are not allowed on passenger trains. What exactly are Taiwan Railways’ regulations regarding pets?

A brown hen rests calmly in its owner’s arms. But when the owner tried to board a train with the chicken in its cage, they were stopped by staff.

Hen owner
Vexed
We go all around, from Taipei to Yingge, taking Tze-Chiang Express trains, and we always use a pet carrier as required by Taiwan Railway. We had no issues at Qidu or Ruifang stations, but when we went to buy some chicken feed and came back to catch the train, station staff came over and asked if we meant to take the train. I said yes, and he looked inside the carrier and said because it’s a chicken, we can’t take the train. We have to find another way.

This couple wanted to take their pet hen of over two years on the train from Ruifang to Qidu, when they were told that chickens aren’t allowed on board. But they’ve taken the hen with them on trains before and never had an issue. The husband is disabled and uses an electric wheelchair, so he relies on his wife to help him. The couple waited at the station for over two hours, but couldn’t find a solution.

Hen owner
Vexed
We didn’t know. If we knew, then we wouldn’t have taken her in the first place. We never had an issue at any other stations, but this time when we came back to my hometown, we encountered this problem. It’s kind of ridiculous. Afterwards they just left us here. Now it’s been over two hours, and they still haven’t found a solution.

In the end, railway police took the wife and hen back to Qidu, while station staff helped her husband take the train back.

According to Taiwan Railway regulations, pet cats, dogs, and birds can be taken onboard as long as they are completely inside a carrier of appropriate size. But chickens, ducks, and geese are considered commercial animals and must be transported as cargo.

Chiang Yi-cheng
Railway police officer
Police received a report and went to the station, where staff explained that chickens can only be transported as cargo.

Even though Taiwan Railway has clear regulations, the couple never had an issue taking their hen on board over the past two years. It wasn’t until this time that they learned chickens can’t travel with passengers, revealing gaps in enforcement.

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

#chicken #hen #train #TRC #TaiwanRailway #pet #petonboard #cargo

2026-07-03

Chiayi government deals with over 1,000 stray dogs

Over 1,000 stray dogs have made a home in Chiayi’s Renyitan and Lantan scenic areas. The stray dog population has continued to grow as people abandon pets and residents feed strays. The local government installed smart fencing to catch and control them, but officials said efforts have been hindered by animal rights advocates. They’ve begun to collect evidence of their alleged interference.

A pack of stray dogs saunters in the middle of the road, blocking people from passing. Lots of strays can be seen around here, even during the day.

There are even puppies around, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s estimated that there are over 1,000 stray dogs by Renyitan and Lantan in Chiayi, and residents often feed them.

Resident
The packs are growing larger, worsening public hygiene. If someone is chased or injured by a dog, they wouldn’t know who to hold responsible.

Resident
I still feel uneasy if I see a pack of dogs ahead.

Lin Pei-ju
Chiayi County animal control official
According to statistics from the county’s animal protection hotline, nearly 50% of the problematic dogs are pets that were left to roam freely.

Leftover dog food is scattered around, attracting insects and vermin. Some pet owners even abandon their dogs here, leaving locals to care for them. The government set up smart fences to catch strays, hoping to curb breeding and keep the population under control.

Lin Pei-ju
Chiayi County animal control official
We carried out a large-scale, area-wide dog capture, sterilization, and rabies vaccine program. But the operation has encountered interference from many unidentified people.

Surveillance footage shows people letting dogs out of the smart fence, making the government’s program less effective. The country government said it has started to collect evidence of people interfering with the fences and feeding strays, and vowed to pursue legal action.

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

#Chiayi #dog #straydogs #petdogs #pet #dogpack #puppy #stray

2026-07-03

Tourists flock to unique cat-shaped cave in Taitung formed by coastal erosion

Taitung’s hottest new travel destination is a hidden "cat cave" near Jinzun Fishing Port! It doesn’t have any actual cats inside, but is named for its remarkable geography formed by millennia of wind and waves. Unique and peaceful, the cave has become a favorite among those looking for the perfect picture along Taiwan’s east coast.

Sunlight bathes the surface of the ocean as gentle waves ripple in the breeze, combining to form a shimmering expanse of paradise. The upper part of the cave in the foreground has two pointed, ear-like formations with a gently curving outline. From afar, it looks like a cat poking its head out to gaze at the ocean. Managing to be both adorable and peaceful, the spot has gone viral online, drawing scores of tourists to see for themselves.

-I found it on Google. It’s really special.
-It’s great for pictures, isn’t it?
-It is.

Lin Chung-chou
Local tourism operator
It’s a completely natural formation created entirely by erosion. When you frame a shot from here, it looks like a cat’s head. It’s uncanny and beautiful.

This secret "cat cave" can be found on one of the string of islands near Jinzun Fishing Port in Taitung’s Donghe Township. If you want to get a picture, you have to wait until low tide and trek about one-and-a-half kilometers from the port to reach the cave.

Lin Chung-chou
Local tourism operator
This spot easily ranks among the top two of our secret attractions here. But it’s not very easy to get to, since you have to walk along the beach for over a kilometer.

The formation is only revealed in full after the tide goes outat other times, it’s submerged beneath the waves. Locals urge tourists to check the tide forecast before heading out to make sure they can capture this ephemeral masterpiece carved by the power of nature.

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

2026-07-03

1,300 tons of carcinogenic cooking oil has made its way into supply chain

Taiwan has been hit by another food safety crisis. Soybean cooking oil manufactured in April by the local Taiwanese company Central Union Oil has been deemed carcinogenic. The problematic oil’s benzo[a]pyrene levels are four times the legal limit, and, to make matters worse, 1,300 tons has made its way onto store shelves. Taichung City Government has halted the company’s oil production and the problematic oil is being recalled.

Tsai Wen-che
Taichung Office of Food and Drug Safety
For this particular batch of soybean cooking oil, benzo(a)pyrene was detected in 1,300 tons.

Tseng Tzu-Chan
Director, Taichung City Health Bureau
The first batch of oil was shipped somewhere between April 8 to April 10. Currently, we’ve found about 20 products in the downstream supply chain.

Mr. Chiang
Central Union Oil
On July 1, we were notified to stop producing, processing, and shipping our cooking oil. Our company is currently in crisis management mode, as we’re focused on controlling risk and then finding out who’s responsible. In order to deal with this incident, instead of passively responding, we’re actively managing the situation. Therefore, we’ve invited experts to assist us in order to discover and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

The problematic cooking oil manufactured in April was already delivered to three wholesalers: Fwusow Industry has three types, Fopco has 4, and Taisun has 10. The companies were ordered to remove all the types from their shelves, and Central Union Oil has issued an apology. On June 29, Central Union Oil was informed by a third party inspection that benzo[a]pyrene limits had been exceeded, and the next day the oil manufacturer both notified the three wholesalers to stop shifting and contacted the authorities. The oil manufacturer emphasized that, in accordance with current laws, every six months it sends oil to be inspected. A task force has been formed to determine what went wrong.

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

2026-07-02

As the Taiwan ICDF turns 30, diplomatic allies voice their support

Three decades ago, the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund was created in order to strengthen friendships with diplomatic allies as well as help improve the livelihoods of their citizens. Several diplomatic partners shared what makes Taiwan’s approach special. And, perhaps more importantly, they expressed that they’re looking forward to what the next three decades will bring.

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund is celebrating 30 years, and today the results brought about by the Taiwan ICDF in the last three decades were on full display. This pink eco-friendly athleisure shirt is the result of a collaborative effort between Taiwan and its diplomatic ally Saint Kitts and Nevis, and this gallery of photos allows viewers to witness all that Taiwan has done with its partners in the last 3 decades. However, China’s use of dollar diplomacy to put pressure on Taiwan’s diplomatic allies has also got the media’s attention.

Journalist
Reuters
Taiwan and China, in particular, frequently trade accusations of dollar diplomacy. You know, throwing money at countries to say you must establish relations with us.

Kalani Kaneko
Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Our relationship with Taiwan for the last 28, almost 28 years, has been instrumental in developing Marshall Islands. And we’ve been a trusted partner, and we rely on Taiwan. I personally, I can speak for myself, I personally have not had any engagement with the PRC.

Kaneko emphasized that shared values are important. After an initially scheduled late-April visit to Eswatini was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to diplomatic pressure, in May President Lai Ching-te took a secret visit to the African nation. Eswatini also had high praise for the Taiwan ICDF.

Manqoba Khumalo
Eswatini Minister of Commerce
They are not coming into the country to say this is what we want to do for you. But they are saying to us where do you want us to assist you? And we have seen value in that as a country. So we look forward to an exciting 30 more years with ICDF.

Peifen Hsieh
Taiwan ICDF Deputy Secretary General
For example, in Guatemala we have already had a banana project where we use our technology from our TASA, and for Eswatini, as well, we have implemented many vocational training programs there which teach high technologies and so on and so forth.

Taiwan is doing more than just helping diplomatic partners with farming technology, as the island country is also incorporating its AI capabilities as well as ICT technology. With its multi-faceted approach, Taiwan is seeking to improve the livelihoods of its friends abroad.

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

#ICDF #diplomacy #foreignaid #taiwan #international

2026-07-02

Women’s rights groups, pharmacists protest emergency contraceptive tracking

The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s proposal to add two emergency contraceptives to the country’s drug traceability system has been met with intense public backlash. On Thursday, pharmacists and women’s rights groups spoke out against the proposal, worrying that it could reduce accessibility. The health minister responded by saying that the proposal will only go into effect once supplementary measures are in place. Let’s hear more.

Tu Ying-chiu
Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation
The number of OB-GYN clinics continues to decline year after year. In some remote areas, there are very few OB-GYN clinics, or even none. How are women in these places supposed to find a clinic and obtain emergency contraceptives? Lots of women, including victims of intimate partner violence or those who are unprepared for pregnancy, may fear being chided for speaking up, let alone step into a clinic, which are not very accessible in the first place. It’s not like everyone can obtain emergency contraceptives at a hospital or clinic within 72 hours.

Wu Pei-yi
Legislator (DPP)
Will you only hear women’s voices when women have finally had enough and are protesting loudly? What if a woman can’t get emergency contraceptives within the critical window and therefore has to carry on with the unplanned pregnancy or get an abortion? That would pose a greater risk to the woman’s physical health.

Huang Jin-shun
Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations
In most countries around the world, these two kinds of emergency contraceptives are classified as behind-the-counter drugs. We hope that the competent authorities will follow international conventions instead of going in the opposite direction.

Shih Chung-liang
Minister of Health and Welfare
There will certainly be relevant measures in place after we have made the announcement and before the changes come into effect, so that the rights of those who truly need these contraceptives under an emergency can obtain them.

Because emergency contraceptives must be taken within a 72-hour critical window, the public has in the past urged the government to reclassify emergency contraceptives as a BTC drug. Although classified as prescription only, in practice, these drugs could be obtained from any pharmacy. Activists are worried that the proposal would reduce accessibility, especially to underprivileged women. It remains to be seen what the minister meant as supplementary measures and whether the proposal will be passed at the legislature.

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

#emergencycontraception #EC #womenshealth #womensrights #plannedparenthood

2026-07-02

Nurses save the day when power bank smokes in emergency room

A man in Changhua City narrowly avoided disaster after his power bank suddenly began smoking and making popping sounds while charging his phone in a hospital emergency room. Nurses quickly responded with a fire extinguisher and then cooled the device in water, preventing the situation from escalating.

A man lies on a hospital bed waiting for his girlfriend to come back, when his power bank suddenly starts smoking. Startled, he jumps up and flees from the smoke. Hospital staff quickly grab a fire extinguisher and use it on the smoking battery.

Hsu Chi-wei
Firefighter
The power bank started emitting smoke and making popping sounds. Hospital staff immediately used a fire extinguisher to stop the smoke and then placed the power bank in water to cool it down.

The incident occurred in the emergency room at Hanming Christian Hospital in Changhua. Thanks to fire prevention training and lithium battery safety videos, hospital staff responded quickly. They followed the correct procedure, first extinguishing the smoke, then submerging the device to cool it. While fire extinguishers can temporarily suppress flames, they cannot stop the underlying thermal reaction that causes power banks to smoke.

Chiu Yu-jui
Hospital physician
The patient’s boyfriend’s power bank was on the bed and suddenly caught fire, burning a hole in the sheet. Fortunately, our nursing staff is well-trained in fire safety and were able to quickly put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.

Thankfully, the fire was quickly controlled, and no one was injured. The hospital later held a ceremony to commend the staff who helped put out the fire. It also urged people not to place power banks on beds or blankets, and not to bring plug-in power banks into the facility, noting that this incident could have injured patients and endangered staff.

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

#hospital #fire #powerbank #spontaneouscombustion #Changhua #firefighter #nurse #doctor #emergencyroom


2026-07-02

73-yo woman’s body pulled from bottom of truck after getting hit

On Tuesday evening, a 73-year-old woman in Tainan crossing the street got hit by a truck making a left turn. She immediately got dragged underneath the vehicle. Passers-by stopped to lift the vehicle and free her, and soon afterwards, she lost her vital signs. Fortunately, her pulse was restored by rescuers.

The ambulance rushes to the scene. Someone just got hit by a vehicle and is stuck at the bottom.

The victim, who’s wearing a pink shirt, was dragged to the bottom of the truck. A dozen passers-by lifted the vehicle with their bare hands to free her.

Member of public
Eyewitness
Lots of people helped lift the vehicle. When I saw that they’d succeeded in lifting the vehicle, the ambulance arrived.

Voice of Lee Chen-ping
Tainan City Fire Department
When the ambulance was about to leave, her condition suddenly deteriorated. She lost her breathing and pulse. So I got off the vehicle and helped the rescuer who was trying to save her.

The woman who was hit by a pickup truck and got dragged underneath the vehicle even lost her vital signs soon after she was freed. Fortunately, rescuers were able to restore her pulse before sending her to the hospital for treatment.

The accident happened in Tainan’s Yongkang District, a little after 7 p.m. The 73-year-old woman surnamed Wu was crossing the street on the pedestrian crossing when she got hit by the truck driven by a man surnamed Lu, who failed to yield to pedestrians and caused the near-fatal crash.

Hung Pai-liang
Yongkang Precinct, Tainan City Police
As of today, since the beginning of 2026, our precinct has dealt with 187 cases penalizing drivers who failed to yield to passengers. According to Paragraph 4, Article 44 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, a car driver that did not pause to allow pedestrians to cross first and committed an accident that resulted in injury, they shall be fined from NT$18,000 to NT$36,000 and have their license revoked for one to two years.

The truck driver didn’t stop for the woman on the pedestrian crossing and hit her directly, causing near-fatal injury. The police reiterated that drivers should always give way to pedestrians and not threaten their safety and lives.

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

#roadsafety #traffic #traffichell #pedestrianhell #baddrivers

2026-07-02

Taipei high school’s robotics team overcomes odds at event in Turkey

For the average high schooler, winning a single game at an international robotics competition in which your machine needs to be able to shoot balls through the air, into a target seems hard enough. But finding success after having Turkish customs seize your machine parts sounds like mission impossible. Refusing to quit, a team of high schoolers from Taipei taped together a robot that somehow won 4 qualification games in a row while also setting the daily record for points.

Hailing from Taiwan, this team of high schoolers studies in Taipei at VIS International School, an experimental education institution. They flew to Istanbul, Turkey, where they’re competing under the most difficult of circumstances.

Their faces may look calm, but their sweaty palms reveal how they truly feel; they’d packed up all their robot equipment, yet when they arrived in Turkey, customs seized all their parts. Not willing to throw in the towel, they borrowed tools and spare parts from the teams of other countries. They ended up assembling a robot that was essentially held together by tape, thereby forcing them to switch up their tactics. Unfazed, the team won 4 qualification matches while also setting the daily record for most points.

Member of public
Works in trade and customs
It’s really inspiring. What they did symbolizes the spirit of Taiwan, to never give up.

Member of public
Impressed
Just amazing. Even after having their parts confiscated, they still were able to use all the resources they could find there.

Member of public
Astonished
Really impressive. They found a way to solve the problem.

Because Taiwan is not a party to the worldwide ATA Carnet system, Taiwanese with goods seeking temporary admission to another country must first file an application with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. Complicating things, Türkiye and Taiwan haven’t signed a bilateral ATA Carnet agreement. A trading company employee advised people to look up their destination’s immigration regulations in advance.

Member of public
Works in trade and customs
Basically every country has pretty complicated regulations for hundreds, even thousands of goods. For the tools in a competition like this, of course the stuff should be mailed to the destination before the team arrives. But if you want to play it even safer, then you can contact an agent in your destination that knows how to handle trade-related issues.

Customs official
Taipei Customs Inspection Division
This might be a good time to let travelers know, that in order to prevent their rights from being infringed upon, they should be aware about the regulations of the country they’re traveling to.

Facing what seemed like mission impossible, the Taiwanese team was able to think on their feet and somehow find a way to win.

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

#robotics #Taiwan #Türkiye #customs #ATACarnet

2026-07-02

Deaf and mute painter donates proceeds from first solo exhibition

With his powerful skills of observation, the artist Liu Ching-yuan uses watercolors to paint the world as he sees it. After more than a decade of painting, the mute and deaf artist recently held his first solo exhibition at a foundation in Chiayi. His paintings were auctioned for nearly NT$1 million, with all proceeds donated to charity.

From his wheelchair, the artist Liu Ching-yuan happily looks at his painting on the wall, gesturing to his caregiver.

-He keeps saying that he painted this.

From scenes of daily life to flowers, butterflies, and horses, Liu’s distinctive, colorful paintings reflect how he sees the world. Liu, now 50 years old, has been deaf and mute since childhood, making communication difficult. But he found a way to express himself through art. Fourteen years ago, he was placed under the care of the Ruozhuer Foundation in Chiayi, which recently organized his first solo exhibition.

Yen Mei-yueh
Foundation caregiver
He knows what’s going on, because when he put on the exhibition, we told him it was his exhibition, which made him very happy.

Lee Yi-lan
Special education teacher
His vision is truly outstanding. He uses his remaining, highly developed senses, pouring all his feelings and emotions into his artwork.

Peng Chia-ju, a filmmaker who won Best Documentary Director at the Cannes Film Festival, was invited to co-curate the show. Liu’s works were publicly auctioned, drawing bids from attendees, including Legislator Tsai Yi-yu, local business leaders, and even representatives from TSMC. Total sales exceeded NT$1 million and all proceeds were donated to charity.

Peng Chia-ju
Documentary director
To be able to share the beauty of creation and help the Ruozhuer Foundation is a very moving and rare opportunity.

Undeterred by his disabilities, Liu expresses himself through his vivid artwork. In his first solo exhibition, he raised over a million dollars to give back to those in need.

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

#art #artist #artwork #disability #disabled #charity #foundation #exhibition #soloexhibit


2026-07-02

Taipower burying power lines to protect electricity supply in disasters

The typhoons that ravage Taiwan in the summer and autumn months often knock out power to homes and businesses in their path. High winds downing power lines and posts are also a concern as extreme weather becomes more common, even while power demand surges. Burying power lines is therefore a priority in many cities. FTV recently went 18 stories underground to give you an up-close look at how these teams are safeguarding power supplies for the future.

Jumbles of power lines criss-crossing old alleys like this are often a target of criticism.

To beautify communities and protect the supply of electricity, Taipower in the past few years has been hard at work burying power lines. FTV recently visited to give you an exclusive look at how it’s done.

- You do this every day. You go 10 stories below ground and climb back up. There’s no elevator.
- There’s no elevator.

Descending the staircase to a depth of 55 meters—equivalent to at least 18 stories—leads to the construction site. A cleanroom sealed with transparent PVC film minimizes intrusion by impurities that could compromise conductivity.

Lin Kuan-wen
Taipower contractor
When dust gets in, it first affects conductivity. When the voltage is this high, the particles may heat up as they pass through and in the most extreme cases could ignite.

They’re not only working underground, but also below the Keelung River, facing the constant threats of fire, water leaks, and toxic gas buildup. Air quality must be monitored around the clock to keep everyone safe.

Lin Kuan-wen
Taipower contractor
This one is a carbon dioxide meter. It measures concentrations of CO2 in the area. This one’s called a four-in-one gas monitor. It displays measurements for hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen concentrations, and combustible gas levels. An alarm will sound when it detects an abnormal reading.

Tsai Chih-meng
Taipower vice president
The work is done underground, so usually there’s a low accident rate.

Currently, nearly half of power lines in the country have been buried underground. In the outlying Penghu County where wind fortifications are essential, more than 90% have been buried. However, getting that figure up to 100% will require careful work to achieve the dual aims of disaster mitigation and aesthetic improvement.

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

#Taipower #powercables #powerlines #electricity #powersupply #underground #utilities #exclusive

2026-07-02

Taichung shop sells NT$160 seafood porridge with barely any seafood

A Taipei resident traveling in Taichung was left disappointed after buying a NT$160 seafood porridge at ASEAN Square. They expected plenty of seafood, but found only two small shrimp and a few pieces of squid. Feeling the portion was insufficient, he called the police and posted online to warn people. The store said maybe the chef put in less seafood that day and refunded the disgruntled customer.

A customer sifts through a NT$160 bowl of seafood porridge, disappointed to find only a few pieces of squid. Feeling ripped off, he returned the meal and called the police.

-It’s really too ridiculous!
-You can record it first.
-Yeah, I’ve already recorded it.

The police helped to settle the dispute, making sure the customer got his money back.

-160
- Did you refund him?
- Okay, we can do that.
- Do it while we’re here.
- NT$160.

Still fuming, even after he got his money back, the customer posted online to warn others, saying he bought a seafood porridge while traveling in Taichung and asking whether he was scammed. How is it NT$160 with just two little shrimp and a few pieces of squid? He asked the store, which said the seafood porridge has always been like that.

Voice of Mr. Tseng
Customer
The seafood had clearly been chopped up and frozen. I think it was absolutely awful. I showed the police after they came, and even they started laughing.

The store in question was at ASEAN Square close to Taichung Station. Is NT$160 too much for a porridge with so little in it? Let’s see what the locals think.

I think it’s a ripoff. Considering Taichung prices, it should be NT$70.

It’s expensive for this area.

The menu lists the seafood porridge for NT$150 rather than NT$160, but the store said the menu hadn’t been updated. But why is there so little seafood?

- How many shrimp do you put in?
- About five, but maybe the chef put in less that day. We refunded him, but he still called the police.

Mr. Tseng
Customer
She didn’t want to give me back my money at first, but once she knew I called the police, she said they would give me a refund.

The picture of the porridge on the wall shows four big shrimp and plenty of seafood. Compared with what was served, it’s no wonder the customer was angry.

Voice of Chen Yen-hung
Consumer protection official
The photo on the wall is an advertisement. As the business manager, you must ensure that there is no discrepancy between the advertisement and the actual product.

False advertising may violate the Fair Trade Act. In a situation like this, people can gather evidence and file a complaint online, with help from consumer protection authorities.

I bought a seafood porridge while traveling in Taichung. Was I scammed?? How is it NT$160 with just two little shrimp and a few pieces of squid?? I asked the store, and they said the seafood porridge has always been like that.

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

#seafood #porridge #restaurant #Taichung #expensive #scam #ripoff #falseadvertising

2026-07-02

New Chinese law for “ethnic unity” could make anybody legally liable

China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress went into effect today, meaning Chinese citizens, people living in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, and even non-Chinese in every part of the world are subject to the law. The law’s vague legal concepts essentially allow the CCP to punish anyone, anywhere, who, quote "undermines the ethnic unity and progress" of China. Several political scholars in Taiwan shared their opinions on the law’s true aim.

Liang Wen-chieh
Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson
The CCP’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress expands their scope of long-arm jurisdiction, which allows them to repress people abroad. The law uses vague legal concepts that inherently have nothing to do with rule of law. Instead, the law’s ultimate goal is about political intimidation, essentially causing a chilling effect that forces ordinary citizens into self-censorship.

Fan Shih-ping
NTNU political science professor
It’s about social stability. The law’s viewed as a tool that their regime uses to maintain its authority.

Wu Se-chih
Taipei University of Marine Technology professor
China uses this kind of law in hopes that it can suppress people abroad. China has dispatched many secret police in overseas offices in order to help carry out this Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which is a cause for concern in the international community.

Article 63 of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress states that individuals or groups outside of China that "undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division" could potentially be legally liable for their words or actions. The law’s legal concepts are vague, as the CCP could punish anyone it deems to be "undermining ethnic unity." Essentially, a person could be considered guilty if he or she had, in the past, written or shared an article that refers to China’s suppression of Taiwan or topics like Taiwanese sovereignty or independence. Furthermore, Western countries that support Xinjiang or criticize the CCP could also be legally punished.

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

2026-07-01