Unseasonal mass butterfly migration closes freeway lane

Unseasonal mass butterfly migration closes freeway lane

2026-07-15

If you live in Yunlin, you’re probably used to the freeway lane closures that happen every year due to the migration of thousands upon thousands of purple crow butterflies. This spectacular natural phenomenon and the ensuing traffic restrictions usually take place in March or April, around the Tomb-Sweeping Festival. But this year, for the first time in decades, the butterflies have gone on their northward migration in July. A huge swarm formed in the area on Wednesday, with as many as 608 butterflies crossing National Freeway No. 3 in one minute.

A dense swarm descended on the freeway. It was far bigger than the spring migration, which only recorded a peak count of 100 butterflies per minute. Amid the unexpected surge, the Freeway Bureau rushed to close the outer northbound lane in Linnei, between the 252.5K and the 251K markers, to prevent vehicles from striking the butterflies. Conservationists say a big butterfly surge was also recorded in September 2009, following Typhoon Morakot. But they say it’s the first time in 20 years that such a massive migration takes place in July.

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

#butterfly #insect #iloveinsects #nature #amazing #humansbeingbros

7月首見紫斑蝶大爆發! 國3林內段緊急"封道護蝶"

2026-07-15

國道3號雲林林內段，是紫斑蝶北返的重要廊道，高公局每年為此封路讓為"蝶道"，過往紫斑蝶每年清明前北返遷徙，15日卻罕見在七月盛夏出現大批紫斑蝶飛越國道，最高每分鐘多達608隻。

一隻一隻、密密麻麻的，飛舞過國道上空的是紫斑蝶，今年3、4月紫斑蝶北返季數量偏少，最高每分鐘只100多隻，喊在7月盛夏爆大量，國道高公局緊急封閉雲林北上252.5K至251K林內段外側車道，避免紫斑蝶遭車輛撞擊。保育協會方面指出，2009年八八風災時，9月也曾爆量，但在7月盛夏爆量是20年首見。]

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Carwashes become one-stop shop for deep cleaning household items

Are carwashes only for vehicles? Not necessarily! Many people have started thinking out of the box by bringing household items like window screens, floor mats, fans, and even tents and pet carriers in need of a clean to carwashes. No need to scrounge for space at home or buy specialty cleaning equipment. These places have everything you need to get everything squeaky clean.

Chang Chiao-yi
FTV reporter
Of course, it’s common to see cars and scooters at a self-service carwash. But have you ever thought of bringing window screens, fans, or an AC filter?

Fans accumulate thick layers of dust over time, but they’re a pain to dismantle and clean. But here, one blast from the air gun, and it’s like new within 10 seconds.

Voice of Mr. Chang
Carwash manager
I often see people washing floor mats here. They come out clean and it’s convenient. What’s less common is that during spring cleaning, people will bring boxes, chairs, and other furniture to power wash.

Bikes caked in mud from trail rides, dirty floor mats, hard-to-clean pet carriers and baby strollers, even muddy camping tents can be brought to a self-service carwash to clean. At this point, nothing is that surprising.

Member of public
Amazed at versatility
I’ve never tried it before. Most people love their cars and come here to wash them. I’ve never seen a sofa or something like that. That would be pretty impressive. Just hauling it over is a feat.

With high-pressure and low-pressure water guns, suds, and air dryers, carwashes come equipped with all the cleaning equipment you need, saving people from buying tons of speciality tools and finding the space for it all at home. Coming here saves on both time and effort.

Voice of Mr. Chang
Carwash manager
Generally speaking, as long as people don’t break the equipment or ruin the space, we don’t mind what they do, since they’re just coming here to clean. We also have a license plate recognition system, and from what we’ve seen, all our customers are very rule-abiding and respectful of each other.

Carwashes are no longer just for vehicles. With a little out-of-the-box thinking, they’ve become a godsend for anyone looking to give their things a deep clean.

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

#carwash #creativethinking #deepclean #powerwash #lifehack #springcleaning

2026-07-15

Licensed ‘cabin scooter’ drivers allowed on road, banned from highways

Have you ever heard of cabin scooters? The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has officially allowed these three-wheeled, fully enclosed motorbikes with a steering wheel on the roads. Although they look like a scooter, since they have gas and brake pedals, they will be regulated like cars. This means drivers must have a car driver’s license, and they must be parked in car parking spaces, although they can’t go on highways or expressways. Still, one of these would set you back more than NT$300,000.

Packed into a streamlined, rounded frame, this vehicle has both a windshield and doors, even though it’s standing on just three wheels. It’s an example of a new, fully electric “cabin scooter.”

People lined up at the Taichung International Auto Show to give one of these a test drive. It’s built to be compact and lightweight, without sacrificing on functionality. Inside there are two seats, a steering wheel, air conditioning, and even a touchscreen dashboard. A single vehicle costs more than NT$300,000.

Member of public
NT$300,000? No way. It’s too expensive. At that point, I may as well just buy a car.

Member of public
It’s pretty cool! At least it’s fully enclosed, so it’s a little safer.

Delivery driver
It’s inconvenient. If you’re looking for efficiency, it might not be fast enough, since we have to weave through traffic.

The motorbike is 2.4m long and less than 1m wide, with speeds of up to 80km per hour. Unlike a scooter, you won’t need a helmet, but this three-wheeled vehicle will be regulated like a car. Drivers need a car driver’s license, and can only park in spots designated for larger vehicles. There’s no need to do two-stage left turns, but they can’t go on dedicated scooter lanes or highways. Driving one with only a motorbike license will be punishable by a fine of up to NT$12,000, while driving without any license at all could be up to NT$36,000.

Yang Hsin-ju
Car expert
It won’t fit inside a regular motorbike parking space, so it will be used and regulated entirely different from motorbikes. Unless you travel long distances and have a parking space, the typical convenience afforded by a regular motorbike simply would not be possible with this type of vehicle.

Back in 2013, a Japanese carmaker came out with a three-seater “micro” concept car. Limited by regulations and cost, it was only trialed for a short while in limited areas. Now that Taiwan has given the green light, you might see some of these unusual vehicles on the roads—looking like a motorbike, but governed by automobile regulations.

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

#driving #motorbike #cabinmotorbike #threewheeler #TaichungAutoShow #electricvehicles #MOTC

2026-07-15

Food delivery could get pricier with new law protecting workers’ rights

Ordering food in Taiwan is about to get more expensive. Ahead of a new food delivery law taking effect on July 21, Uber Eats has announced major fee increases, with Uber One’s monthly subscription jumping more than 60% from NT$120 to NT$199, while merchant service fees are also rising. Foodpanda says the costs of each order could increase by 30% to 50%. While some restaurant owners accept commissions of nearly 40% as the price of advertising and reaching new customers, many diners and small businesses worry the extra costs will ultimately be passed on to them, making takeout an even pricier convenience.

It’s not even noon yet, but there’s already tall piles of bentos on every table. Everyone at this shop in Shilin District is rushing to get everything ready, after receiving an order for 500 lunch boxes from seven or eight tour buses. Delivery platforms have brought them customers from outside the neighborhood.

Wang Cheng-wei
Bento shop owner
We’ve been on delivery platforms for four or five years. We split the revenue based on a commission rate we agreed on. They’ve helped us reach new customers, people who aren’t nearby.

But the commission rate can be steep.

Wang Cheng-wei
Bento shop owner
The commission can be close to 40%. Delivery isn’t our main source of income, our regulars are. But we consider it a form of advertising to increase our visibility.

With a new food delivery law that’s taking effect on July 21, Uber Eats has announced it will hike service fees to partner vendors by 2.5 to 3 percentage points. And customers paying for Uber One memberships will have to shell out 66% more in fees, as monthly plans will rise from NT$120 to NT$199, and annual plans from NT$1,200 to NT$1,990. Foodpanda says it will also make adjustments, as it estimates the cost of each order will increase by 30% to 50%.

Customer
Uses food delivery apps
My credit card is charged automatically, so I don’t really pay attention. But I might check whether other platforms are cheaper, and consider switching.

Cheng Li-chia
Union chair
I think the platforms aren’t being transparent about their profit figures. We think they’re using the law as an excuse to raise prices. This matter should be discussed rationally and based on the facts.

The new law aims to protect the rights of delivery workers, vendors and consumers. But if it ends up being used as a scapegoat to raise prices, for some restaurants and consumers it could be the final straw.

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

#fooddelivery #deliverer #ubereats #foodpanda #food #yum #convenience

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Express trains stop at Tainan’s Longtian Station for first time

A century-old train station is welcoming Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains for the first time. Only local and Juguang Express trains have stopped in Tainan’s Longtian Station since it opened in 1902. As Taiwan Railways plans to phase out the Juguang service, the Tze-Chiang Limited Express will now stop at the station twice a day.

A Tze-Chiang Limited Express train pulls into Longtian Station in Tainan. It’s the first time in the station’s history that this type of train has stopped here.

Only local and Juguang Express trains have stopped at the station since it opened in 1902. As Taiwan Railways is phasing out the Juguang service, the small station is set to welcome Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains for the first time.

Member of public
Likes the convenience
It’s very convenient. To take a reserved-seat train from my house, I used to have to go to Xinying Station, 20 to 30 minutes away by scooter.

Member of public
Likes the convenience
Catching the train from Longtian Station will be more convenient than before.

The new service will make it much more convenient to travel to urban areas. Compared with local trains, the Tze-Chiang cuts travel time by at least half. But while stopping at smaller stations is convenient, it could also extend the overall travel time for reserved-seat trains.

Member of public
Concerned about slower service
It’s an express train, so if it’s always stopping at small stations like this, then it won’t be as fast as originally intended.

The new express trains may be more convenient for passengers, but taxi drivers say it might not help them much.

Taxi driver
Not keen on change
It’s more convenient for travelers. But for us taxi drivers, we still get a limited number of passengers.

The Tze-Chiang express will now stop at Longtian Station twice a day, making traveling more convenient for people living near the small station.

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

#TaiwanRailways #train #TzeChiang #expresstrain #commute #station #LongtianStation

2026-07-15

China’s ethnic unity law escalates transnational repression

China’s new ethnic unity law took effect on July 1, sparking concerns that Beijing could use the legislation to extend its reach overseas. The law could be used to target people accused by China of promoting “ethnic division” anywhere, adding to concerns over China’s growing use of legal tools to escalate transnational repression.

- Putting it simply, this law is a cross-border repression law.

China’s “ethnic unity” law took effect on July 1. The preamble alone is over 800 words long.

Sang Pu
Taiwan Hong Kong Association director-general
This is the first law with a preamble enacted by the Chinese Communist Party since the 18th National Congress in 2012. A preamble reflects the intentions of the ruler or authoritarian leader. Few laws have preambles. The Constitution is one example, so I view this law as having a quasi-constitutional status.

Article 21 stipulates that Taiwanese are Chinese nationals, and those deemed to be engaging in “ethnic separatism” could face legal liability. The law recognizes no borders, effectively extending China’s long-arm jurisdiction around the world.

Chen Yu-chieh
Academia Sinica associate researcher
I think its purpose is to make people around the world self-censor and intimidate them. China doesn’t need to arrest lots of people. It just sends the message that it has the authority to arrest you.

Beyond measures wrapped in the guise of the law, China has long used violence and psychological intimidation toward those it views as being dissidents.

A Hong Kong citizen living in Taiwan, Tong Wai-hung, joined the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests and called for a boycott of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council elections last year. In November that year, his Taipei boxing gym was vandalized by suspects from Hong Kong.

Liang Wen-chieh (January 2026)
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister
The purpose was clearly to warn and intimidate him as well as other Hong Kongers in Taiwan.

In 2019, Hong Kong singer Denise Ho was attending a pro-Hong Kong rally in Taiwan when she was attacked with paint. The late Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lam Wing-kee was also assaulted after moving to Taiwan in 2020. Just six days after the ethnic unity law took effect, Japanese journalist and friend of Taiwan Akio Yaita was beaten by a suspect from Hong Kong.

Akio Yaita (July 6)
Journalist
Using violence to respond because you disagree with my views or statements should absolutely not be allowed.

Karen Kuo (July 7)
Presidential Office spokesperson
This is the first case of cross-border repression and violent intimidation occurring in Taiwan after China implemented the ethnic unity law. Of course, we strongly condemn this act.

China is using the law as pretext for transnational repression, highlighting its domineering and unreasonable behavior with its brazen actions.

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

#ethnicunitylaw #ethnicunity #China #CCP #HongKong #repression #violence #intimidation

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