February CPI rose by 1.75%, highest rate in 10 months

February CPI rose by 1.75%, highest rate in 10 months

2026-03-06

The Lunar New Year was a welcome break for most of us, but it was also an opportunity for many businesses to raise prices. Among them is popular Lao Shandong, a popular eatery that raised the price of its dumplings by more than 10%. Also hiking prices was Chingdao Pork Chop, where menu items are NT$10 higher now. The price increases and the effect of the break resulted in the consumer price index to increase 1.75% annually in February, the biggest rise in 10 months.

The government statistics agency says that the core CPI, which excludes vegetables, fruit and energy prices, went up by 2.6%. Across the seven key CPI categories, five recorded increases, with the most significant rises in education and entertainment, which rose by 3.28%. But now, concerns are centering on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on prices this month. The statistics agency has assuaged concerns, saying that the CPC Corporation has stabilization systems in place to keep fuel prices among the lowest in Asia. It says that the CPI rate for March may still be under the government-designated 2% threshold.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#cpi #inflation #middleeast #prices #costofliving

春節推升物價！2月物價指數上漲1.75% 創10個月最高

2026-03-06

二月份是農曆春節，不僅不少餐飲業喊漲，像是老山東水餃2月起每顆水餃10塊錢，還有青島排骨2月起調漲10塊錢，加上年節效應，讓2月最新消費者物價指數，年增1.75%，創下10個月以來最高。

主計總處表示，扣除蔬果、能源後的核心CPI為2.6%，綜合七大類指數，就有5類上漲，最明顯的是教養娛樂類漲3.28%。至於中東情勢影響，國際油價狂飆，民眾也關心，是否會影響3月物價，主計總處強調，中油有亞鄰最低價的平衡機制，預估3月整體CPI年增率仍可控制在2%以下。

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Related News

Monkeys break in, steal food from house in Shoushan

Monkeys are causing trouble on Kaohsiung’s Shoushan once again. Two macaques broke into a house and made themselves right at home, helping themselves to their food. They didn’t even scamper off when the homeowner came back. She tried to scare them off with a long stick, but one of them hit her on the head, making her feel helpless.

The door swings open and a monkey casually walks inside. Caught on a security camera, he makes himself right at home.

The big macaque jumps on the table and is joined by a smaller one, both looking for food. Startled by a noise outside, they jump off the table. But the big one comes back a bit later, taking some snacks off the table.

One monkey enjoys its stolen snack outside while the other sits close by. When the homeowner came back with a long pole to scare them off, one smacked her on the head.

Homeowner
Monkeys broke in home
It took my egg rolls out here to eat and had some chips too. Two inside were eating fish crackers.

This incident occurred on the foothills of Shoushan in Kaohsiung. The homeowner’s children were sleeping when the monkeys broke in and stole food. It seems more macaques have been coming down the mountain looking for food lately.

Homeowner
Monkeys broke in home
It’s been more common over the last two or three months. Even if we close the doors and take out the trash, they still come here to cool off.

Lin Mei-yin
Taiwan Monkey Coexistence Association secretary-general
If a monkey breaks into your home, remember to actually open all the doors and windows, then hit the ground with a pole to scare it away from people and children.

Monkeys are often seen around here, as Shoushan is their natural habitat. Once, a driver in the area rescued a lone baby macaque and sent it to the Shoushan Zoo, where it recovered smoothly.

Lee Chien-ho
Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau official
If we see lone baby monkeys in the wild, there might be a community nearby, so it’s best for us not to get directly involved. In situations like this, we should just observe.

Macaques’ breeding season is from April to June, so the baby macaque was likely separated from its mother shortly after birth due to an emergency. Fortunately, the infant was safely rescued.

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

#monkey #Kaohsiung #macaque #burglar #breakin #mischief #food #snacks #animal #animalrescue

2026-03-06

Hospital superintendent leads staff in exercising

Even with his busy schedule, MacKay Memorial superintendent Chang Wen-han still exercises regularly by walking at least 7,000 steps a day inside the hospital. Chang, who hopes to lose 5kg this year, says that regular exercise can improve mental and physical health.

Superintendent Chang Wen-han walks into a hospital staff meeting. After taking his place, he leads everyone through some exercises.

Stretching their arms and moving their waists, MacKay Memorial Hospital staff join in aerobics exercises. Dr. Chang hopes that everyone can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
Sitting for long periods of time is not good for our staff, so we do some exercises before starting the meeting to improve our circulation and clear our minds.

Beyond leading staff through exercises, Dr. Chang also jogs daily. Years of experience have taught him the importance of fitness.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
If you exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five consecutive days, the risk of sudden death would be far lower than those who do not exercise or exercise only one day.

Dr. Chang is an expert in emergency medicine and accustomed to high-stress situations. In recent years there has been a shortage of emergency room staff, so Dr. Chang offered advice to young doctors.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
Saving lives in the ER lets you feel the joy of being a doctor. It inspires our spirit to keep growing. So, I encourage young people to come and help our world and do more. Emergency medicine is a great profession. You can do it!

- Climbing the stairs at an angle minimizes impact to the knees.

Sharing the best way to climb the stairs, Dr. Chang finds opportunities to exercise during ordinary days at the hospital.

Chang Wen-han
MacKay Memorial Hospital superintendent
I’ve calculated it, and between seeing patients and rounds, I walk about 7,000 steps a day at the hospital. I want to lose 4 or 5kg this year to meet my standards.

In the new year, Dr. Chang encourages everybody to exercise when they can and lead a healthy life.

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 #fitness #hospital #steps #weight #newyear #exercise

2026-03-06

Collab with Mazu for 2026 World Down Syndrome Day

March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, while the third month of the traditional calendar marks the sea goddess Mazu’s birthday. Taiwan’s Down Syndrome Foundation is now running a campaign that incorporates both occasions, teaming up with Beigang Chaotian Temple for this year’s visuals. Between Feb. 27 and March 29, a special livery featuring four deities—including Mazu, of course—will deck out a train along the Red Line of the Taipei MRT, raising awareness in everyday life.

An MRT train is arriving. This one sports a colorful special livery, but the surprise doesn’t end here. There’s more inside.

Tsai Wan-chen
FTV reporter
There are lots of cute designs inside the train car, such as this illustration of Mazu. Passengers can mirror her pose and take a picture interacting with her.

Member of public
MRT passenger
It changes often. I do take note. That way, I’ll know what events are on.

Tourist
MRT passenger
I like them. I think they are representative of your culture. I really like Taiwan and the MRT.

Taiwan’s Down Syndrome Foundation has teamed up with Beigang Chaotian Temple for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day campaign. The visuals feature four deities worshipped at the temple, including Mazu, Wenchang Dijun, Nezha and the Tiger Deity. Drawings by children with Down syndrome are also incorporated and featured on the Taipei MRT, taken by millions every day.

Lin Cheng-hsia
Down Syndrome Foundation ROC
In Taiwanese culture, temples are a place of gathering. We’ve incorporated temple culture with the idea of co-existence. We’re also inviting Beigang Chaotian Temple’s Mazu to travel north to Taipei. We also have a special MRT livery, so that everyone—from office workers, to grocery shoppers, to students—all the people who primarily take the MRT as a means of transportation, will get to understand our idea of co-existence, and thereby naturally become aware of Down Syndrome.

In Taiwan, the third month belongs to Mazu, as her birthday was said to be on the third lunar month. Discrepancies between the Gregorian and traditional lunisolar calendars aside, temples are getting ready to celebrate the much-loved goddess. The Down Syndrome Foundation will also host the Beigang Mazu before the annual procession.

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

#TogetherAgainstLoneliness #WDSD2026 #taiwan #folkreligion #publictransport

2026-03-06

Tea trader plays cat meows to keep rats away from goods

2026-03-06

Woman left with dog tooth in eye after getting bite from Maltese

A woman in Kaohsiung only wanted to hold her friend’s Maltese, but the dog didn’t want the stranger to get close, and bit her on the face. Her right eye was bitten hard and left bleeding. More appallingly, the eye doctor that treated her found a piece of the dog’s tooth lodged in the eye. Fortunately, she was treated just in time, and escaped the risk of going blind in that eye.

The Maltese is like an adorable snowball. It’s no wonder a woman in Kaohsiung wanted to play and cuddle with one. But her advances weren’t welcomed. The dog bit her, leaving her at the risk of going blind in one eye.

She had lacerations on the eyelid, and a swollen and bleeding conjunctiva. The injury was worse than she or the doctor initially thought. When the doctor lifted the eyelid for an inspection, he found a mysterious white-colored shard lodged in the eye. It was a bit of a tooth from the dog.

Hung Chi-ting
Opthalmologist
I immediately rinsed the site with saline solution to clean it, but she still felt that her eye was really swollen. I lifted the eyelid and saw this white-colored object.

The woman was visiting a friend at their home and saw their pet Maltese, which she found really adorable and wanted to hold it. But the dog didn’t want to be near her, so it suddenly went close to her face and bit her, leaving her right eye bleeding right there and then.

Hung Chi-ting
Opthalmologist
The Maltese rushed toward her and bit hard. The teeth sunk into her and when the dog tried to free itself, one tooth fractured and was left at the site.

This instance of a 0.3cm piece of tooth fragment lodged in the eye makes for a rare medical case. Moreover, due to the number of bacteria in the mouth, the injury could develop into ulcers and even be life threatening.

Yen Hsing-chuan
Dogs Lover Taiwan
Small dogs aren’t necessarily docile or non-temperamental. Before a dog attacks, it may signal with body language or canine language to let you know that it doesn’t like what’s being done to it.

The dog lovers’ association also reminds people not to get too close to an unfamiliar dog abruptly, to avoid frightening it and causing it to attack in response. Fortunately, the woman who got bitten was treated in time and has recovered.

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

#dogs #cutedogs #cuteanimals #pets #respect

2026-03-06

Much-anticipated centipede parade back with lavish offerings for worshippers

Every three years, around halfway through the first lunar month, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the much-anticipated centipede parade as part of the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony. This year, 108 kids role-playing deities took part in the 201m array, seated high up on a chain of wooden planks on wheels. Assuming the position of gods, they toss items of blessings to the crowd down below, sponsored by their own parents as offerings for good fortune. One kid even had gold jewelry worth NT$30,000 for lucky worshippers.

Young children are dressed to represent deities and seated on a chain of wooden planks, forming a centipede array. They toss items of blessings to worshippers on either side, who are waiting in anticipation. The youngest of the 108 role-playing kids is only 1-year-and-7-months old.

- The kid’s own mother was once seated on the centipede herself. We want the kid to be blessed with health so she’s easier to take care of.

- What did you toss down?
- Red envelopes and candies.
- This is your second time taking part. How do you feel?
- I think it’s really fun.

Every three years, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony, which features the spectacular centipede parade. A total of 108 children under the age of 12 are carried on a chain of wooden planks stretching 201m. Each kid represents one of the 108 Stars of Destiny. They toss various auspicious items offered by their own parents at the crowd of worshippers, which included red envelopes and lobsters in some years. Some parents even offered items so generous as genuine US dollar bills and gold jewelry and nuggets.

I prepared some gold jewelry and home appliances.

Worshipper
Centipede parade
I got the feeling that the kid was about to toss something to me. I was really so lucky. I’m just about to travel to Germany to visit my daughter, and I got a US dollar bill. It’s really so great to win a US dollar banknote. I’m keeping it as a memento.

The offerings get people excited about the centipede parade every three years, and parents of the lucky children who get to role-play a deity are equally happy to contribute to this Lunar New Year festivity.

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

#taiwan #culture #nationalheritage #folkreligion #LNY

2026-03-06

Locals flee in fear of big truck explosion after smoke fills street

2026-03-06

German companies confident in future of Taiwan’s economy

2026-03-06

President Lai urges lawmakers to support Armed Forces

President Lai Ching-te has unveiled Taiwan’s next push into cutting-edge technology during a visit to the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center. Lai announced expanded support for a national quantum computing strategy, highlighting recent breakthroughs such as the development of a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip. But while the focus of the visit was tech, Lai also spoke about national defense. Lawmakers have advanced three competing versions of a special defense budget that vary dramatically in size. As such the president urged the opposition-controlled legislature to support the Armed Forces with the special budget in full and ensure that Taiwan’s security is not compromised.

President Lai Ching-te visited the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center for the launch of a national strategy on high-speed quantum computing. During the visit, he toured exhibits featuring superconducting computers and qubit technology, and reaffirmed a promise he had made to National Science and Technology Council Head Wu Cheng-wen.

Lai Ching-te
President
The promise I made to Mr. Wu in private doesn’t count, but I would like to announce publicly again that we will strongly support the second phase of the plan. In January, we officially unveiled a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip, allowing the world to see that Taiwan has entered the quantum technology race. Not only can we develop the technology ourselves, we can also manufacture quantum computing chips and have the ability to build quantum computers. As long as we unite and everyone across different fields gives their full effort, Taiwan will hold a highly competitive position in the future.

Though technology was the focus of the visit, Lai also addressed national defense. On Friday, the Legislative Yuan sent three versions of a special defense budget bill directly to a second reading, proposals from the Executive Yuan, the KMT caucus and the TPP caucus. The Executive Yuan’s proposal totals NT$1.25 trillion. The KMT caucus version, originally NT$350 million plus an unspecified amount, has been increased to NT$380 million plus the additional sum. The large gap between the proposals has raised concerns about Taiwan’s combat readiness. Lai called on lawmakers to support the Armed Forces.

Lai Ching-te
President
I also hope the review will be conducted based on professional judgment and the needs of the country. In particular, I hope that lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, will demonstrate support for the Armed Forces and ensure that our national security is not discounted.

Amid rising political pressure and military intimidation from China, debate over Taiwan’s defense spending continues to intensify.

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

#nationaldefense #taiwan #defense #Laichingte #armedforces #賴清德

2026-03-06