Taipei prepares for New Year’s countdown event with big drill

Taipei prepares for New Year’s countdown event with big drill

2025-12-24

In the wake of last week’s stabbing, Taipei is set to hold a large-scale counterterrorism drill on Dec. 26, to prepare for New Year’s Eve. The drill will be held at Taipei City Hall MRT Station and the Taipei City Hall Bus Transfer station. In addition, measures have been taken over the past few days to ensure all potential risks are thoroughly prepared for. Let’s hear more.

Chang Wen-te
Taipei Deputy Mayor
Every year, we establish an interdepartmental emergency response command center. To upgrade security this year, we will also additionally assemble a disaster response emergency operations center team. Both teams will be on duty jointly monitoring and coordinating the situation.

Passenger
Riding Taipei MRT
It should help to some extent. It’s good that everyone is vigilant. If something happens, everyone will be nervous. You can just follow the crowd, but it’s best to have basic knowledge about what to do.

Taipei will mobilize more than 5,000 personnel for the New Year’s countdown event. They include police officers, volunteer police and volunteer firefighters. Everyone remains on high alert to prevent any incidents from happening.

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

#NYE #drill #safety #publicsafety #taipeiattacks

跨年活動倒數1週"繃緊神經" 北市12/26辦反恐演練

2025-12-24

1219在捷運台北車站、與中山站附近商圈，發生無差別隨機攻擊之後，接著下週就要跨年了，台北市府預計在12月26日，比照跨年規模，在捷運市府站、以及市府轉運站，做大規模「跨局處反恐演練」，這幾天也陸續做滾動式調整，把可能的危險都先做好萬全準備。

[[台北市副市長張溫德]]
“我們每年本來就會固定成立跨局處的應變指揮中心，我們今年度，為了因應整個維安的升級，除了應變指揮中心會跨局處成立之外，同時也會針對災害應變的EOC(災害應變中心)的團隊，我們也會同步組成，同時做兩邊的監控跟聯防。”

[[北捷市政府站旅客]]
“應該多少會有點幫助吧。大家有在警惕這件事情就滿好的。(遇事發)緊張一定還是會有，但是就跟著人群，但是一些基本的知識，還是要知道怎麼做。”

跨年進入倒數，台北市投入警力、義警、義消等，超過5千人一起守護民眾安全，大家都繃緊神經，避免遺憾再發生。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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When thinking of Sanxing Township in Yilan, the first thing that comes to mind is Sanxing scallions. But its silver willow tree industry is also thriving, producing 5 million branches a year and even selling them abroad. Recently, the head of a machinery company, himself an Yilan native, purchased 100,000 willow branches to support local farmers. He also donated products made from the branches to disadvantaged groups.

Willow branches are placed inside jars, paired with colorful dried flowers, and lit up, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

There are all kinds of products made from silver willow branches here, including gifts, aromatic pouches, and even essential oils. In addition to its famous scallions, Yilan’s Sanxing Township produces 5 million silver willow branches annually, accounting for 80% of the industry in Taiwan, most of which are exported.

Shen Ming-ching
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For exports, we only use harvests from the first and second years. Since we need to compete internationally, for the third year we place a strong emphasis on quality. Thanks to our unique technique, we can make forked branches rather than just single, straight ones, which differentiates our product in the market.

The silver willow grows well in Yilan thanks to its unique geographic conditions. The trees once covered 120 hectares of farmland. One Yilan native, now the head of a machinery company, recently bought 100,000 branches to support local farmers. Showing true altruism, he even donated products made from the branches to the disadvantaged.

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We will use them for bonsai or landscaping and l send them to places like orphanages. Silver willows have a very positive meaning for us. The word for them in Taiwanese is “silver,” so through this gesture, our company hopes to inspire more businesses to bring wealth—symbolized by the silver willow—back home.

Lin Mei-hua
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In the future, we hope that purchases in the silver willow industry can be on a larger scale. We hope to bring in social enterprises so they can participate in our local agricultural activities.

The local government hopes to invite more businesses to participate in local agricultural activities. By combining government guidance with corporate purchasing, the silver willow industry can rise even higher.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Kind fried chicken vendor gives replacement after man drops food

A story of daily life kindness at a fermented tofu fried chicken stand has garnered much attention online in the past few days. A customer who bought two bags of chicken accidentally dropped one, spilling the food on the ground. Before he had time to react, the stall owner had already served him up another portion, and insisted on giving it to him free of charge. This led to a back-and-forth that’s warmed the hearts of thousands online.

The vendor hands bags of freshly fried chicken to the costumer and turns back to his business. After grabbing a skewer, the customer ducks down… He dropped his chicken.

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It’s fine I’ll go without.

The vendor quickly packed him another serving of chicken, indicating him to not bother with the food on the floor. But the customer refused it, starting a push-and-pull at the stall.

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I saw the bag fall, and I thought, it’s fine. I served another portion and handed it to him, but he said there was no need. He said he’d eat food that fell on the floor as a kid, and that he’d be fine. But I insisted, telling him not to eat it. I kept trying to give him a fresh serving, but he kept refusing. So we got into this back-and-forth.

Though it was apparently the customer’s fault, the vendor chose kindness and gave him a replacement. A video of the exchange has gone viral online.

- He’s so kind
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- Yes!

- It’s great
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Other fried food vendors say that slippery plastic bags often end up on the ground. They say they usually just offer a refund.

Ms. Huang
Sells fried food
Sometimes they drop it. If it’s all still inside the bag and the food didn’t fall out, I’ll ask the customer if they still want it, or if they would want a refund.

In this case, the fried chicken vendor, who’s been running the stand for just over a year, decided to offer a replacement. With the end of the year around the corner, it’s small actions like these that warm people’s hearts.

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Dentists have improved full-mouth reconstructive surgery so it’s faster

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Some people lose teeth due to calcium loss. Now they can have a full set of teeth with the "All-on-4" digitally guided implant system for full-mouth reconstruction surgery.

Ms. Liu
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Whenever I ate, I would eat things that are a little softer, and when preparing meals, I might to cook them so that they suit me. Later on, when I learnt there was this dental implant surgery and a friend recommended them. I was able to get a treatment plan tailored for me and gradually I tried to resolve this issue as soon as possible so that I could eat normally again.

Full-mouth reconstruction with dental implants uses an ultra-precise minimally invasive dynamic navigation system. Only a small number of implants need to be placed in the upper and lower jaws, and then the dentures are attached to the alveolar bone. The patient can eat right after the procedure with temporary dentures.

Kang Chih-wei
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The principle of this dental implant technique is to use 4 to 6 artificial tooth roots, which are implanted at a special angle into a relatively stable position in the alveolar bone, without any need for bone grafting. This approach allows for excellent initial stability immediately after placement. The “All-on-4” dental implant method has demonstrated a survival rate of up to 96.9% over a 10-year follow-up period.

The technique can stably support the entire set of dentures without additional bone grafting. The treatment process is faster, it is less invasive and the oral functions can achieve the same stability as traditional dental implants. However, this technique requires a higher level of skill.

Kang Chih-wei
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This dental team has been trained and certified by the original manufacturer, and are capable of designing false teeth to ensure surgical precision and long-term success rates. The era of precision dental implants has arrived, bringing smiles to the public.

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Whimsy on every corner of Taichung this holiday season

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Chang Chiao-I
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Pedestrian lights along Taichung’s Calligraphy Greenway all have a little dinosaur, to accompany everyone crossing the road. Recently, the dinos appear quite different.

It huffs and puffs during the red light, and offers a gift on green. Look closely, and you’ll see that it’s also wearing a Santa hat.

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It’s wearing a Christmas hat. Very creative.

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My kid loved it when I first brought them here to see it. They were like, “Wow! The dinosaur is walking!” It shows up with a present on green light. Before, it was only a plain dinosaur whether it’s red light or green light.

For the festive season, Taichung’s Transportation Bureau had the pedestrian lights’ cartoon characters wear seasonal accessories, including the dinosaurs and the Calligraphy Greenway puppy. The annual Parklane Christmas market also features a 7m-tall Christmas tree that “snows” every nightime hour starting at 6 p.m.

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It’s really pretty. It feels like we’re covered in snow. Even though the weather’s really warm, it looks like it’s really cold. I like it.

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This 30-second video included two claims that seriously breached the Fair Trade Act. For this, the online retailer selling it in Taiwan was hit by a fine from the Fair Trade Commission.

The ad claims that doing 200 reps is equivalent to a 30-minute jog, and that you can lose weight while lying down on your phone. But as it doesn’t provide any medical evidence for the claims, the commission initiated an investigation. Apart from fining the online retailer NT$200,000, the company that makes the product was also fined NT$200,00 in April for false advertising.

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About 80% of all preserved radish in Taiwan is produced in Chiayi’s Budai Township, making it one of the area’s most important products. One family relied on pickled radish to raise five children, all of whom are also musicians. The eldest returned five years ago to take over the family business after getting a master’s in music from the US, and started organizing concerts at the factory as a thank you. The concerts have gotten grander over the years, bringing classical music to rural Taiwan.

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Most people think of learning music by playing in concert halls, but we wanted to break this stereotype by bringing music to rural areas as well.

The venue’s decor was also unique. Instead of bouquets, there were radishes. Budai Township in Chiayi is known for pickled radish, producing 80% of Taiwan’s total. The Chiu family has been making preserved radish for a century, over five generations. The eldest daughter, Chiu Pei-chen, took over the business five years ago. Even though she holds a master’s in music from the University of Wyoming, she can also operate a forklift. To combine her love of music with the family business, she started holding a “radish concert” series. Now in its fifth year, the event has grown even more spectacular. Even a local brass band from Chiayi joined in this year’s festivities.

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We hope to leverage our family’s expertise combined with local culture to enrich ourselves and revitalize the area.

By bringing classical music to the lives of rural people, this “radish concert” breaks down barriers and offers a fresh perspective on both traditional family businesses and music.

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