Suspended sentence for recycling staff who gave away discarded rice cooker

Suspended sentence for recycling staff who gave away discarded rice cooker

2025-12-02

A sanitation worker in Taipei is facing legal consequences for gifting a discarded rice cooker to an elderly woman in need. The worker, surnamed Huang, gave the cooker, valued at NT$32, to the woman so that she could cook herself a hot meal. But the kind gesture got him reported for corruption. In the first-instance verdict he’s received a three-month jail term, suspended for two years. Let’s hear more.

Mr. Huang
Sanitation worker
We all try to help those who are in a difficult situation. If I can keep my job, I’ll keep working. If not, I’ll retire. But I fear that after this nobody will dare offer help to anyone anymore. If you can’t do good, it’s really sad. But that’s just reality. Life goes on. I can accept the ruling, it’s alright. If that’s what the judge decided, that’s fine.

Mr. Huang insisted that he was just trying to help. His case sparked widespread public debate in Taiwan since it came to light last year. Several factors contributed to the reduced sentence, including his confession and the low value of the so-called “illicit gains,” that is, the discarded rice cooker. The case has also prompted the Ministry of Justice to put forward an amendment to change the law regarding “petty corruption” and allow courts to waive punishment depending on the circumstances.

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

#justice #ricecooker #bizarre #unfair #inequality

撿二手電鍋送拾荒婦清潔隊員遭判3個月、緩刑2年

2025-12-02

台北市北投一名黃姓清潔隊員，日前將回收車上價值僅僅32元的二手電鍋，轉送拾荒婦人，讓她有一口熱飯可以吃，沒想到，自己被依貪汙罪起訴，一審結果出爐，被判有期徒刑3個月、緩刑2年。

[[台北市清潔隊員黃先生]]
“我碰到比較可憐的人，我們也是會幫助他，可以保住工作(的話)繼續做，不行的話就退休。沒有人敢幫忙了，好人做不得，很難過也沒辦法，要面對現實，總是生活要過啊。可以可以(接受)，沒關係啦，法官這樣判就沒關係啦”

一邊說著好人做不得，一邊又說還是會幫助可憐人，道盡黃先生心中的無奈。這起案件也引起廣大社會輿論，士院合議庭審理，將自首、犯罪財物價值低微等能減刑的條款通通引用。法務部也將「小額貪污」修法陳報行政院，未來法院能依照個案情節，判處免刑。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
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Considering that many people marry later in life, early family planning is important for those who want to have kids. One 44-year-old engineer froze her eggs six years ago in the hopes of having children with the right partner in the future. She got married last year and, through in vitro fertilization, gave birth to a daughter this year. Assisted reproduction helped her family grow at the time that was right for them.

Doting on their baby girl, this family sings happy birthday to their youngest member. The mother, Ms. Hsu, works as an engineer in the tech industry. Now 44, she froze her eggs six years ago in the hopes of having children with the right partner in the future.

Ms. Hsu
Mother
I thought I’d save my younger eggs first, because I wasn’t sure if I would meet Mr. Right, get married, or even have the chance to have kids in the future. So, at that moment, I thought I would freeze my eggs to keep them at their youngest state.

Husband
I think it wasn’t easy for my wife. I’m scared of needles, so when I saw her giving herself shots, I felt sorry.

Ms. Hsu’s husband, who is from Singapore, is very grateful that she froze her eggs. Shortly after they got married, they went to the hospital to ask about in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Lee Chun-yi
Lee Women’s Hospital CEO
When women get a little older, their number of eggs decreases significantly, and the quality decreases significantly as well. These two factors make it difficult to extract eggs in the future, which means the chance to get a good embryo decreases. So, I encourage women to freeze their eggs as soon as possible if they’re still looking for a suitable partner.

The doctor said that women’s anti-mullerian hormone, or AMH, index, which indicates the number of eggs left, decreases with age. For women over 30 who might want to have kids in the future, the doctor recommended checking their AMH annually and freezing their eggs at the right time to preserve fertility.

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

#kids #children #daughter #family #marriage #IVF #invitrofertilization #assistedreproduction #eggs #fertility

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A once troublesome invasive fish species in Sun Moon Lake is dwindling

Sun Moon Lake once used to be ravaged by an invasive fish, the giant snakehead, which had a big impact on the lake’s ecosystem. Every summer the Nantou County Government would use electrofishing to catch giant snakeheads and remove its fry. However, this year the catch hit a record low of just over 800. People are questioning whether this is due to the successful efforts of the county government and its cooperation with local communities -- or if it’s been displaced by another invasive species, the peacock cichlid. Let’s find out more.

The giant snakehead is an invasive fish that once ravaged Sun Moon Lake and caused ecological devastation. The local government has since stepped in to prevent this. Every summer tens of thousands of its fry have been zapped with electrofishing. However, this year, just over 800 of the fish have been caught so far.

Tseng Yin-wei
Nantou County Government
There could be other reasons for its decline besides the efforts of our county government, such as people accidentally releasing fish, maybe they released peacock cichlid and it might be preying on giant snakehead? It’s also possible that recently the climate has changed suddenly and that made the giant snakehead suddenly unable to adapt. Taiwan’s climate has seen many changes.

The Nantou Government’s agricultural authorities do not rule out the possibility that a new species of fish may be active in Sun Moon Lake, and has become the new dominant species.

Fisher
Sun Moon Lake
Many people thought that after the peacock cichlid appeared in Sun Moon Lake, it might become the new overlord of the lake, the lake’s evil tyrant. But personally I think that’s unlikely. It simply can’t compete with the giant snakehead. The largest snakehead found in Sun Moon Lake so far is nearly 1m long, while the largest peacock cichlid that people are sharing online so far is probably no more than 60cm long.

Anglers believe that the peacock cichlid is not having a significant impact on the giant snakehead. Whether it will become the next invasive species to massively multiply in Sun Moon Lake remains to be seen.

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

#fish #ecology #sumoonlake #nantou #travel #taiwan

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Community home helps underprivileged children recover through animal therapy

A children’s home in Taitung’s Beinan Township houses more than 50 underprivileged children, many of whom have suffered abuse. To help them recover from trauma and bring joy into their lives, the home arranges animal therapy sessions to help them relearn to love and trust by interacting with pets.

Children play happily with dogs in a grassy field, enjoying brushing, petting, and running around with them. Even something as simple as this brings joy to their faces.

A dog trainer plays a game with the kids, rewarding them if they guess a dog’s age correctly. This children’s home in Taitung’s Beinan Township houses more than 50 underprivileged children, many of whom have suffered abuse. To bring joy back into their lives, the home organizes animal therapy sessions for them.

Lin You-yu
Dog trainer
Interacting with dogs helps relieve the children’s stress. When you touch something furry, your brain releases dopamine. I’m a dog trainer, so I teach the kids how to control the dogs, and they’re eager to learn.

In addition to dogs, the home also raises chickens, ducks and geese, helping children learn responsibility by caring for animals. The director of the home also respects the children’s Indigenous backgrounds, encouraging them to learn their native languages and cultures, taking them hiking and teaching them to sing and play drums.

Lu Li-han
Home director
We think that interacting with pets opens another level within the children’s hearts. We also have our own band and hold events with drums, singing, and dancing, because 80% of our children have Indigenous backgrounds, and we want them to grow in a way that best suits each of them.

Caregivers here are not just teachers, but also act as guardians. They provide a safe space and loving family for these children, helping to rebuild their courage and trust one step at a time.

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

#Taitung #animaltherapy #children #childrenshome #underpriviledged #abuse #dogs #dogtherapy #indigenous #pets #love

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Locomotive with special livery from Japan on display outside Taipei Main Station

Taipei residents were surprised with the sight of a large golden object, that is, a locomotive from Japan’s Tobu Railway late night on Monday. Many railway fans were excited to see it and took many photos. This Tobu Railway locomotive with an upgraded livery is in Taiwan to be formally unveiled on the 18th, to mark ten years of partnership between Taiwan Railway and the Japanese company.

This large gold object placed in front of the Taipei Main Station is impossible to miss. It’s a locomotive from Japan’s Tobu Railways.

Betty Chou
FTV reporter
This locomotive is the number 101-1 car from Japan’s Tobu Railways. It has been repainted with a golden livery, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the partnership between Taiwan Railway and the Tobu Railways.

The retired locomotive was only going to be formally exhibited on Dec. 18, but railway fans were already excitedly snapping photos when it was transported to the train station late at night.

A netizen made a post about seeing this giant object on the streets of Taipei, and witnessing many people taking photos of it.

Member of public
Saw Tobu Railway locomotive
Tobu Railways gave the locomotive to Taiwan Railway, as a sign of their friendship. It’ll be on display at Taipei Main Station.

According to Taiwan Railway, there will be a 10th anniversary event for the partnership with Tobu Railways on Dec. 18. The golden locomotive arrived at the Port of Taipei on Monday, and was delivered outside the East Gate of Taipei Main Station by Tuesday morning, after a night of transportation and placement. It can already be viewed by the public.

Member of public
Saw Tobu Railway locomotive
We found out about it online. It was last in Taiwan when the partnership was signed. I photographed it in its original livery, which was the partnership signing livery. I believe this is a gift from Japan, so I’ve come here especially to take a look.

Member of public
Saw Tobu Railway locomotive
I came from Tainan. I’ve taken photos of it in Japan. While in Japan it was in motion and carrying passengers, but here it’s still, so it’s different.

This locomotive is among the first of Tobu Railway’s Limited Express SPACIA series, making its display in Taiwan even more special, and symbolizing the solid partnership between Taiwan Railway and the Japanese company.

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One car left six scooters on the ground, eight people injured and one person trapped under the vehicle in a chain crash in Hsinchu on Monday evening. The incident happened at rush hour, when the scooters were waiting at a red light. The car approached from behind, knocking them over to the ground. Seeing that a woman had ended trapped under the car, dozens of bystanders rushed to help and lift the car to free her.

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The person was able to reply and was without life-threatening injuries. Nonetheless, the chain collision was a shocking sight.

Member of public
Reported the crash
Crash, bang, wallop! I turned around and saw there was a person under the car, trapped under there. Everyone moved the scooters aside and got to work to freeing her. I called the police and an ambulance.

Scooters lie on the ground, and bits and pieces cover the road. The crash happened at rush hour around 7 on Monday evening in Hsinchu’s East District, at the intersection between Shipin Road and Xida Road. It’s thought the car driver may have been distracted, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and knock over six scooters. A total of 8 people were injured, including the woman who ended up under the car.

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Treaty of San Francisco the latest in China-Japan diplomatic spat

Japan’s Prime Minister last week appeared to walk back on an earlier statement that angered China. PM Takaichi Sanae had said that her country was not in a position to recognize Taiwan’s legal status, having renounced all rights and claims under the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. However, that only offended Beijing even more, as it was not a signatory in the treaty. A former Japanese city representative joked that if China were not to recognize the Treaty of San Francisco, then Taiwan would continue to be a Japanese territory, not Chinese.

In a US podcast program, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim was asked about whether there’s a possibility the US may have to step in to defend Taiwan. This was how she responded.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice President
Everything we are doing is to prevent that particular hypothetical situation from staying hypothetical, from never actually happening so that no one will ever have to make painful decisions about going into conflict or war. And that’s why deterrence is just so important. That is why strengthening Taiwan’s capabilities is just so important.

Last month, Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated that a military emergency over Taiwan could be a survival-threatening situation for Japan. She later appeared to walk back on the statement saying that having renounced all rights and claims under the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan was not in a position to recognize Taiwan’s legal status. That angered Beijing further.

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The so-called “Treaty of San Francisco” was issued with the exclusion of important parties to the WWII, such as the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, in order to seek a separate peace deal with Japan. Anything set out in the treaty on the sovereignty over Taiwan or the handling of the territory and sovereign rights of China as a non-signatory, is thus entirely illegal and null and void.

Through the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco, Japan renounced its former sovereignty over the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores. But, as it did not explicitly state their sovereignty status, it became the main argument for the “Theory of the Undetermined Status of Taiwan.” A former Japanese city representative, Matsumaru Makoto joked that China’s refusal to recognize the Treaty of San Francisco was effectively stating that Taiwan continues to be a Japanese territory, and not Chinese. He said China was essentially digging its own grave.

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Facing geopolitical tensions, our role is to be a peacemaker. That Taiwan belongs to the ROC is an undisputable historical fact, which is also backed by a historical document.

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When you won’t even recognize the Treaty of San Francisco, which outlines the status of Taiwan after Japan lost WWII, you only complicate things. Taiwan’s way forward is ultimately to be decided by the people of Taiwan.

Despite unresolved issues, the Treaty of San Francisco remains the most important document on defining post-WWII geopolitical order in East Asia.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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