Obstacle detection warning system partially brings Taipei MRT to standstill

2026-09-18

Passengers on the Taipei MRT’s Brown Line were in for a rough ride at 12:30 on Friday afternoon, after the obstacle detection warning system brought part of the line to a standstill.

About 40 passengers bound for the Taipei Zoo were forced to get off the train at Xinhai Station, and were taken via shuttle bus the rest of the way. The line was then shut down from Linguang to Taipei Zoo, as technicians rushed to make repairs. Operations were fully restored just past 1 in the afternoon. The Taipei Metro says preliminary checks found an issue with the train’s running wheels, and the train has been sent back to the depot for further inspection.

#taipei #taipeimrt #citylife #brownline #passenger

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文湖線列車"行走輪破損"! 40名旅客辛亥站緊急換乘

2026-09-18

北捷文湖線辛亥站往動物園方向，今（18）天中午12點半出現障礙物偵測警訊，一度影響到列車運行。

行控中心當下就安排車上約40位旅客下車，換列車搭乘，同時啟動麟光站到動物園站間公車接駁。經過維修人員緊急搶修，下午1點多全線恢復正常營運。對此，北捷表示，維修人員初步檢視是列車的「行走輪」出現異常狀況，目前將列車移回機廠做進一步檢查。

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

Two chimpanzees escape their enclosure in Taipei Zoo

Two chimpanzees at Taipei Zoo escaped and wandered into the giraffe enclosure on Thursday evening, creating a chaotic scene. Taipei Zoo staff urgently evacuated visitors and spent nearly an hour capturing and safely returning the chimpanzees. An investigation revealed the escapade was due to a human error as the cage was not securely fastened. The zoo will enforce more employee training.

In the giraffe enclosure, a dark shape has appeared on a pillar. Take a closer look. It’s a chimpanzee! How did it get there?

The chimpanzee climbed to an elevated point, started howling and swinging his body.

Visitors witnessed an unexpected guest appear, which frightened even the giraffes causing them to run around. Staff members hurriedly chased after them.

Two male chimpanzees, 44 year-old named “Hsiao Chiang” and 11 year-old “Wa Chih” escaped from their enclosure at Taipei Zoo around 4pm. The zoo immediately evacuated visitors and launched an “apehunt.” Within an hour, they managed to tranquilize and capture the escaped chimps. They found Wa Chih at the giraffe enclosure, while Hsiao Chiang ran to the female chimpanzee enclosure and looked out from a high post.

Tsao Hsien-shao
Taipei Zoo spokesperson
We will have two to three layer mechanisms, during maintenance the door locks were not tightened, we took shortcuts and didn’t secure the locks after the work was done. We need to seriously review this internally and classify this as a human error.

Cheng Chiu-hung
Director of Veterinary Department
During the initial examination of the two chimpanzees, there were no issues with their blood tests. Therefore, the preliminary assessment is that there is nothing concerning.

In the last four months, Taipei Zoo has experienced three animal escape incidents, from baby anteaters, spider monkeys, to this “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” incident. Although all of the animals were brought back safely, the zoo says it’s examining its procedures to identify any oversights and prevent further escapes.

#chimpanzee #taipeizoo #animalsescape #madagascar #jailbreak

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2026-09-18

Transportation ministry and hospital urge full-face helmets

To promote scooter safety, the transportation ministry recently held a news conference with the Taichung Veterans General Hospital. Hospital staff shared their experience treating injuries from traffic accidents, urging scooter drivers to stay focused and wear full-face helmets. The ministry is offering subsidies for driving training and safety education on school campuses.

A young man with a broken leg sits in a wheelchair, sharing what happened in his recent accident. He was driving a scooter one evening and crashed while distracted, but his full-face helmet protected him from head injuries.

Mr. Tsai
Student
Helmets are really important. I hit my chin in the accident, so if I was wearing an open-face helmet, I might have broken more than my leg. The full-face helmet protected my chin.

Looking at trauma data in 2025, the Taichung General Veterans Hospital said nearly half of 18-year-olds brought in for trauma injuries were hurt in scooter accidents. People aged 18 to 24 accounted for 22.4% of all scooter accident injuries, the most of any age group. To promote traffic safety, the transportation ministry held a news conference with the hospital on accident prevention.

Chen Yen-po
Deputy Transportation Minister
Traffic safety requires everyone to do their part. The injuries medical staff see in hospital emergency rooms provide valuable feedback on how to educate people about using vehicles correctly.

Fu Yun-ching
Hospital superintendent
Hospital emergency rooms are on the front lines, treating lots of traffic injuries every day. It’s heartbreaking to see young people injured or even killed. Everyone should make sure to wear full-face helmets.

The doctor emphasized that simply wearing a helmet is not enough. Drivers need full-face helmets that provide complete protection. The ministry said it has invested in infrastructure improvements and strengthened road safety awareness among young people, hoping to instill safe driving habits from an early age.

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#roadsafety #trafficsafety #motorcycle #scooter #accident #emergencyroom #injury #driver #young

2026-09-18

Finding Snoopy at a famous Taipei temple

People have recently started visiting Ciyou Temple by Raohe Night Market to find where Snoopy is hidden inside. Pictures of the famous cartoon dog have been hidden in the stairs between the second and third floor for over 20 years. The temple even invited former first daughter Dr. Chen Hsing-yu to visit because she’s a huge fan of Snoopy.

People pray to the sea goddess Matsu at Ciyou Temple in Taipei’s Songshan District. Hidden beside the famous deities depicted at this temple is an internationally loved cartoon character.

- I’m not sure what it is.
- Do you want to go take a look?
- Sure!
- It’s so cute! If my grandson came, he’d love it.

- I saw it when I was going up the stairs. What’s Snoopy doing here?

- It’s quite special, I think I’ll take a photo of it.

Chen Meng-hsuan
FTV reporter
On the floor of the landing between the second and third floor is a whole row of little Snoopys. The temple put them here in 2003 during renovations for its 250th anniversary.

When the floor was redone, they added decorative elements to the landings so people wouldn’t slip as they went up the stairs. There are pigeons on the first landing, Snoopys above, and koalas and elephants with their young between the third and fourth floors.

Chen Yu-feng
Ciyou Temple chairman
It’s to prevent people from slipping. I thought of using Snoopy to make it more exciting for kids. Tourists from Japan tend to notice it too.

- Snoopy was in the temple, I was surprised!

Japanese tourists love the adorable cartoon. It went viral on travel websites, with people calling him “Emperor Snoopy.” Since former first daughter Chen Hsin-yu loves Snoopy, people said the temple should invite her to visit, and they liked the idea.

Chen Yu-feng
Ciyou Temple chairman
Chen Shui-bian’s daughter? She should come and see.

Snoopy has brought renewed fame to this 200-year-old temple as people discover he’s been hidden there for over 20 years.

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#Snoopy #temple #Taipei #RaoheNightMarket #CiyouTemple #Songshan #cute #easteregg #hidden #unexpected

2026-09-18

Limited catch to drive up Wanli crab prices NT$100

Autumn is the ideal time for eating crab. Every year from September to December, Wanli crabs are in peak season. The first catch of the year is already for sale. But this year, seafood lovers may have to dig a bit deeper into their pocketbooks. The local fishers’ association said the catch for live crab has been slim, and with many fishers still focusing on squid, crab might be around NT$100 more expensive this year.

Giant mud crabs are displayed for sale as the first Wanli crab catch of the season hits the market. But this year, prices are expected to be around NT$100 steeper than usual. Three are selling for NT$550. If one is particularly large, it could cost NT$650 or more. The three-spot swimming crab is around NT$450 for three, with prices varying by size. All the same, diners are eager to taste the first catch of the season.

- The males are larger, while females have roe.

In this fish market, there are crates and crates of crab to choose from. Vendors share tips on how to decide.

Ms. Huang
Fish market vendor
When choosing live crabs, look for a plump intestinal area and distinguish between males and females. You should also remember to release the small ones and refrain from eating egg-carrying females.

Vendors also say supply has been limited this year, making it harder on fishers. Prices might therefore be higher than usual. As we enter peak season for crab, supply may fall short of demand.

Chen Wen-chin
Keelung Fishers’ Association manager
There’s less fresh, live crab as well as frozen crab. Especially frozen, which we haven’t seen at all yet, since the farmers who would be catching crabs for freezing are all fishing for squid.

Voice of Wu Liang-cheng
ROC Fishery and Fishing Boat Association chair
It seems like all of the crabs we’re catching this year have been plump with excellent quality meat. Unless there’s severe weather, supply shouldn’t be an issue.

The main factor remains the exceptionally large supply of squid this year, which sells especially around the Mid-Autumn Festival for barbecuing. Many fishers wait until after the holiday to switch back to crab. Those longing for fresh, meaty crab or frozen catches might have to wait a little longer.

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#crab #fishing #fisheries #squid #seafood #MidAutumnFestival #costofliving

2026-09-18

Singaporean woman on Taiwan family trip dies after bus crash

2026-09-18

PLA drones may be spying on Taiwan’s missile drills

President Lai Ching-Te inspected joint precision-missile live-fire drills firing exercise at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County on Friday morning. The drills included Hsiung Feng III and Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missile systems, as well as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, all of which hit their targets. The Ministry of National Defense discovered that a PLA drone was operating off the east coast of Taiwan, seemingly to monitor Taiwan’s missile firing activities.

Hsiung Feng III missile accurately hit its target. Taiwan’s Armed Forces conducted joint precision-missile live-fire drills, which President Lai Ching-te personally oversaw at the Jiupeng Base in Pingtung County.

During the drills, Hsiung Feng III, Hsiung Feng II and HIMARS anti-ship missiles, were launched in turn, all accurately hitting their targets. In addition to traditional missile firepower, multiple drones including the “Switchblade” were also deployed in the exercise to attack maritime targets, demonstrating the Armed Forces’ joint strike capability by combining precision firepower with unmanned vehicles.

Lai Ching-te
President
All training exercises have successfully achieved their objectives. The National Armed Forces are accelerating the enhancement of their overall combat capabilities and are capable of defending national sovereignty and fulfilling their responsibilities for regional peace and stability. Peace is hard-won and requires firm resolve and sufficient strength to safeguard it.

In addition to inspecting the live-fire drills, President Lai also distributed extra allowances to soldiers ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival to reward their hard work. However, while he was inspecting the center, the PLA deployed drones to operate in the waters off Eastern Taiwan.

According to the Ministry of National Defense’s announcement of the PLA aircraft and ship movements, a PLA drone flew from Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ to the east of Taitung in the early morning, coinciding with the timing of the ROC military’s exercises, suggesting an attempt to monitor Taiwan’s missile firing activities.

#taiwandefense #HIMARS #taiwanmilitary #precisionmissile #taiwannews

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2026-09-18

From baseball to bandages, Taiwan innovations shine at Innotech Expo

From baseball pitches to life-saving medical breakthroughs, AI and innovation are changing the game in Taiwan. At the 2026 Taiwan Innotech Expo, cutting-edge technology is moving out of the lab and into the real world. The innovative solutions were showcased at the Innovation Economy Pavilion by the Department of Industrial Technology. There’s everything from tech that tracks a baseball’s trajectory down to the centimeter, to systems that monitor dialysis in real time. Another highlight is a technology that turns shrimp and crab shells into high-tech bandages that can stop bleeding in just minutes.

Baseball legend Chang Tai-shan throws a pitch. Every move is captured by a cutting-edge system.

The “Eagle Eye” tracking system is powered by AI and high-speed cameras that follow the trajectory of each ball and pinpoint the strike-zone within a margin of error of less than 1cm. The Taiwan Innotech Expo has kicked off, and another highlight is the advances in medical technology.

- Each bar represents a different toxin.

Traditionally, the effectiveness of dialysis could only be assessed after treatment was complete. But, thanks to DiaTrack, developed by ITRI, testing time gets reduced to just 15 minutes, allowing patients to monitor dialysis quality in real time.

Chen Li-wei
Department of Industrial Technology
Regular tests performed during dialysis only measure small molecules. And every time the test is done, it takes three hours or longer to get results.

Shrimp and crab shells that would otherwise be discarded, can be turned into life-saving materials.

- There was a person from Saudi Arabia who told us, “It gets up to 50°C here, so it needs to withstand high and low temps.”

Through a technology transfer from ITRI, crustacean shells can be processed into chitosan, which is used to produce bandages that stop bleeding within just 5 minutes. The resulting dressings are so effective that they meet military standards. And even better, the process reduces waste by 60%.

Tsao Tien-min
CoreLeader Biotech
They are extremely helpful, because they transfer their highest-quality tech to manufacturers. If you don’t use the right product, just 3 minutes could mean the difference between life and death. It’s designed to be packed into wounds.

These technologies addressing real-world needs have leapt from the lab to the exhibition floor. It goes to show that innovation is no longer out of reach, but a part of our everyday lives.

#innovation #technology #bandages #technologytransfer #baseball

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2026-09-18

Out-of-control passenger brings train to halt after missing stop

2026-09-18

Four artists display works t Kaohsiung hospital exhibit

2026-09-18

Tainan burger shop sells out of limited milkfish intestine burgers

2026-09-18