Biker parks electric motorcycle inside public toilet to charge

2026-09-21

If you’re hiking on Hehuanshan, you might expect to see some animals or creepy crawlies in the public toilets. But what about an electric scooter? That’s what a visitor was recently shocked to find inside a restroom at Wuling, a popular site at the mountain. The vehicle took up the whole space, and to top it off, was plugged to the wall to get its battery charged. Let’s hear more.

Chen Chih-ming
Police officer
The behavior violates Article 13 of the National Park Law and can result in a fine of up to NT$3,000. In addition to the footage provided by the public, our squad has dispatched personnel to review nearby surveillance footage. Once the person’s identity is confirmed, a citation will be issued in accordance with regulations.

Lin Kuo-chang
Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
This behavior is highly inappropriate because it prevents other hikers from using the public restroom. We believe this conduct may also constitute as theft of public electricity.

Police say the motorist violated national park laws by taking the motorbike outside of permitted areas. Forestry officials say that it could also be considered theft, as the motorcycle was plugged to the wall to use public electricity. Officials say that visitors who need to charge up their vehicles or devices can ask police officers or park authorities for help, to get some juice legally.

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#nationalpark #hehuanshan #motorbike #electricity #ev

真"佔著茅坑"! 驚現整輛微電車停進武嶺公廁"蹭電"

2026-09-21

有民眾在合歡山武嶺亭公共廁所發現，竟然有人將整輛電動機車，停進廁所，"佔著茅坑，不拉屎！"是在"充電"！警方指出，汽機車停在規定之外的地點，已經違法，甚至還可能涉及竊電。

[[保七第九大隊分隊長陳志明]]
“行為違反國家公園法第13條規定，最高可裁處新臺幣3000元罰款，除民眾提供之影像，本大隊已派員調閱周邊監視器，在查明身份後依規定開單”

[[林保署南投分署森林育樂科長林國彰]]
“這個行為非常的不可取，因為影響到其他山友使用公廁的一個機會，這個行為，我們會認為涉及竊取公共的電源”

警方指出，行為人已經違反國家公園法，將車輛開進規定以外地區。主管機關除了將追究涉及竊電的竊盜罪，也呼籲民眾若真有緊急充電需求，可以向警方或太管處求助，不要違規違法。

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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

Sister buys banners along Taichung roadway as surprise birthday gift

Banners along the busy Gongyi Road in Taichung recently went viral after people noticed that every one featured the same pretty woman. Curious investigators set out for answers. They found out they were put up by a woman as a birthday gift for her sister, but it didn’t stop there. They also wanted to know how much each banner cost. A set of two goes for NT$200 along with another NT$200 deposit, but it’s subject to a lottery draw and content approval before going up.

Vehicles stream along this major roadway as a row of banners flap in the breeze. They all feature the same pretty long-haired woman, drawing the attention of people passing by. The text reads: "Peerless Beauty. Radiant at 30. Happy Birthday!" But who exactly is this lady?

Member of public
Wondering about lady
She probably lives around here. If not, why put them along Gongyi公益 Road? She’s pretty.

- Are you curious who she is?
- I’ll probably go look it up. Looks like she’s promoting something.

She’s featured in the entire row of banners, puzzling many residents. People posted online looking for answers, sparking even wider curiosity. The 12 sets of banners are on Gongyi Road, Section 2 in Taichung, stretching eight blocks from Dachang Street to Huiwen Road.

Member of public
Likes the B-day gift
She must be happy. Everyone will see her. She’ll probably take some photos with it. For NT$3,000 or NT$4,000, that’s a reasonable birthday gift!

Member of public
Finds B-day gift funny
If it were me, I’d probably be happy, but also really surprised and embarrassed. Your photos are everywhere and everyone knows who you are!

A relative of the birthday girl clarified online that they were commercial banners rented by the woman’s younger sister as a birthday gift.

Liao Jung-chih
Taichung Environmental Protection Bureau chief
In this case, an application to hang commercial banners was submitted according to standard procedures. They obtained the right through a lottery and the applicant paid the hanging fees and deposit in accordance with regulations.

Taichung has 67 such commercial banner spaces up for rent. The Environmental Protection Bureau accepts applications from agencies, organizations, and legal entities. Each set of two flags has a usage fee of NT$200, plus another NT$200 deposit. As long as the content doesn’t violate laws or public decency, anyone who wins the lottery can put them up, giving everyday people their very own superstar treatment for all of Taichung to see!

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#Taichung #birthdaygift #streetbanner #viral #celebrity

2026-09-21

Earbuds earn Guinness World Record for clearest calling

Wireless Bluetooth earbuds are an indispensable accessory these days, used not only for listening to music, but also for taking phone calls. Major manufacturers are therefore working hard to create active noise cancelation that can detect ambient sound, ensuring clear call quality, even when in a noisy KTV room. One manufacturer incorporated an AI chip to create the world’s clearest earbuds for calling, as certified by Guinness World Records. The charging case even doubles as a voice recorder that syncs with a smartphone to generate transcripts and smart summaries.

Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
With a tap, I can share my photo with everyone. But this isn’t a smart watch. It’s a new type of earbud.

Earbuds are getting more impressive by the year. This manufacturer’s flagship model puts the case on center stage. The user can switch functions right on this touchscreen without ever using their phone. You can even change the wallpaper to your favorite photo. Cooler still, the case doubles as a voice recorder. Just double-tap to start recording.

Once the audio files are transferred to your phone, it can generate a transcript or AI summary. But these days, people don’t just use their earbuds to listen to music. They also need to make crystal-clear calls.

- While singing at the top of our lungs, let’s test do a test. If I call my mom right now, how clear will it be?

On the other end of the line, the voice came through totally clear with no sign of singing at all. The manufacturer developed a proprietary AI chip to deliver superior noise canceling, combining eight microphones and two bone conduction sensors to isolate the speaker’s voice from ambient noise. The technology even won recognition from Guinness World Records. Sony’s latest WF-1000XM6 similarly boasts top-tier noise canceling and smart voice controls, offering about nine hours of battery life with noise canceling enabled. Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 also have active noise cancelation while incorporating real-time translation and a heart rate sensor.

Lin Ming-hui
Product manager
Overall revenue is increasing in Taiwan’s Bluetooth earbud market, although unit sales have dipped slightly. This indicates that consumers looking for Bluetooth earbuds may already be on their second or third pair, so they want more features and reliable quality.

Liao A-hui
Tech expert
Apple comes closest to brands like Sony, which prioritize audio quality and comfort. Brands like Soundcore these days are highlighting extended business uses or productivity boosts for work. Different manufacturers position their products very differently.

Consumers are looking beyond prices to seek out more smart capabilities, driving increasingly fierce competition in the high-end earbud market.

#earbuds #headphones #soundquality #callquality #GuinnessWorldRecords #noisecancelation #AI #smartgadgets #voicerecorder #3C #tech

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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2026-09-21

Taiwan takes over Dodgers Stadium as drone show lights up night sky

2026-09-21

Hai Kun submarine spotted at Kaohsiung Port for 15th dive test

2026-09-21

Formidable 40-year-old tree chopped down by mistake

2026-09-21

Convenience store sells shelf-stable rice from Japanese emergency prep brand

One of Taiwan’s convenience stores recently partnered with a well-known Japanese brand to provide self-stable rice that can sit at room temperature for a year, intended for customers to always have a stockpile at home for an emergency. Even if there’s no power, it can be heated up with a handwarmer. YouTuber HowHow was tapped to demonstrate how to prepare this “lazy man’s” food.

This simple dish is prepared in a flash, as YouTuber HowHow shows how to heat up this easy microwave meal. But the unassuming rice underneath holds a secret.

HowHow
YouTuber
If you lose water or power, eating only crackers or instant noodles could get old. It would be nice to have rice as well.

Peel back the plastic film, put it in the microwave for 90 seconds, and you have some piping hot rice, ready to eat. A convenience store teamed up with a Japanese brand to offer two kinds of emergency prep rice options: freeze-dried rice that rehydrates after soaking in hot water for 15 minutes, and cooked rice that remains shelf-stable at room temperature for a full year. In an emergency situation where there’s no power or microwave, handwarmers can be used to heat it up instead. But are people willing to try it?

Member of public
Wouldn’t try it
No. Normal rice, if you leave it out for too long, gets weevils and stuff. So I think it’s a bit weird, and I wouldn’t want to eat it.

Member of public
Would try it
I’d give it a try. Since it can last out of the fridge for a year, I’d give it a shot, since you can keep it at home and whenever you want, you can just pull out a pack and heat it up.

The company said that they use a low-temperature process to maintain a sterile environment below 15 degrees Celsius through transport, storage, and milling. Beyond retaining nutrients and freshness, it preserves the natural sweetness and original flavor of the rice.

Yamamoto Sho
Company general manager
Our process, straight from the start of production, ensures that no bacteria can form. You can technically eat it cold if you don’t have a handwarmer to heat it, but as the manufacturer, we don’t really recommend that approach, as cold, hard rice is difficult to digest.

The company hopes to encourage people to create “rolling emergency stockpiles” to prepare for disaster while going about their daily shopping routines.

#gobag #disasterprep #rice #conveniencestore #HowHow #Japan #microwavemeal

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2026-09-21

Nine people jump for their lives as fire breaks out in BBQ restaurant

On Sunday evening, a fire broke out at a yakiniku restaurant in Sanchong District, New Taipei City. The fire quickly spread from the first floor to the second and third floors. Nine people, including employees and customers, were trapped on the second floor and jumped out of the window to escape. Fortunately, they only suffered minor injuries.

Large black smoke billowed from the barbecue restaurant, followed by bursts of bright orange-red flames. The raging fire quickly became uncontrollable.

The fire quickly spread to the second floor, and diners had no time to flee, leaving them no choice but to jump out of the windows. A man was seen waving his hands on the first floor. People jumped down one after another, creating a dangerous situation.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene and confirmed that everyone had been evacuated. They immediately extinguished the fire, but the people who had escaped were still shaken.

Voice of diner
Escaped fire
Halfway through the meal, the fire at the next table over suddenly began to get bigger, with white smoke coming out. The staff tried to put out the fire, but it was not working, and then a lot more white smoke began coming out.

At around 8 in the evening, in New Taipei’s Sanchong District, a fire broke out at the Chongxin Road branch of a popular chain yakiniku restaurant owned by Jhu Jian Catering Group. During dinnertime, the restaurant had more than 30 people. The fire spread from the first floor to the third floor, at the time one employee and eight diners were trapped. They jumped from the second floor to escape. A man in his 50s suffered pain in his lower back and right ankle; a teenager had inhaled a lot of smoke. The others suffered minor injuries, and were all rushed to the hospital.

Voice of diner
Escaped fire
The fire began at the stove. There was a stove beneath, and the fire suddenly grew. Staff tried to calm the fire by using fire extinguishers. After, they noticed the white smoke was getting bigger.

The three-story building that caught fire had a burning area of 250 square meters. However, the fire reignited in the warehouse later that night at 11pm and again early the next morning at 3am. Firefighters continued to spray water to cool the building.

After the fire, the entire restaurant was charred black and burnt. Fire investigators returned to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

Ma Sheng-chieh
FTV Reporter
After the fire broke out, the first and second floors of the restaurant were completely destroyed. The fire even spread to the hot pot restaurant next door, where the second-floor windows were broken and the interior was charred black.

Furthermore, a nearby Japanese massage parlor was also affected, with one employee suffering from smoke inhalation injuries and still receiving treatment in the hospital.

Mr. Chen
Shop owner affected by fire
Some of the staff had smoke inhalation injuries, and it seems that if it had continued, they would have suffered from rhabdomyolysis. We didn’t realize how serious it was.

This is not the first time a fire has broken out at this yakiniku restaurant. According to the fire department, this branch has experienced three fires in the last three years.

Jhu Jian Catering Group stated the store has a total of seven fire extinguishers and a descent control system on the second floor. The alarm system functioned normally at the time of the fire, and the fire equipment passed checks in May. However, since the floor area of the restaurant does not exceed 1,500 square meters, sprinkler systems are not required. Jhu Jian Catering Group also stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation by relevant authorities and they will fully cooperate with the investigation.

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#Sanchong #barbecue #fire #fireescape #trapped #NewTaipei

2026-09-21

From AI cooling to energy savings: ITRI showcases latest innovations

At the 2026 Taiwan Innotech Expo, two breakthrough technologies from the Industrial Technology Research Institute are taking center stage, targeting two of AI’s biggest challenges: cooling and energy consumption. One is a heat sink that can rapidly cool high-performance chips and recently won a Silver Award at the Edison Awards in the US. The other is a rare-earth-free EC fan motor that can cut power consumption by up to 40%, with potential applications in semiconductor fabs.

With new and exciting tech advancements popping up every day, ITRI showcased its latest innovations in AI at an exhibition that drew huge crowds eager to learn about the newest cutting-edge tech.

- ITRI’s breakthrough has doubled the power output from 800 watts, to 1,600 watts.

Among the most notable breakthroughs in green energy tech was a 3D Aluminum Microchannel Thermosyphon Heat Sink, which has broken through the limitations of regular 3D vapor chambers.

Chang Wen-hua
ITRI Green Energy and Environment Research Labs
We developed this cooling technology for Nvidia’s GPUs, ad high-performance computing chips. The heat sink is made entirely of aluminum. Costs are 40% lower than existing cooling systems.

This innovative solution can rapidly cool down high-performance computing chips. The invention won a Silver Award at this year’s Edison Awards in the US, and a company is set to be established in Q1 of 2027. Another highlight at the show was a High-Efficiency Rare-Earth-Free Electronic Commutated Fan Motor.

Wang Chien-chang
ITRI Green Energy and Environment Research Labs
The black part at the top is the rotor. Usually, the magnets are put inside there. At the bottom is an innovative driver without electrolytic capacitors or Hall-effect ICs.

It uses 40% less electricity than AC motors, and meets the IE5 energy efficiency standard. The fan motor could be installed at semiconductor plants.

Wang Chien-chang
ITRI Green Energy and Environment Research Labs
About 90% of the world’s high-performance rare earths are produced by just one country. They are a key material to make high-efficiency permanent-magnet motors. So that’s what we were trying to solve: how to achieve world-class energy efficiency without having to use rare earths.

This motor uses no rare earths at all, helping reduce supply-chain risks while positioning the technology to tap into the growing AI-driven energy-efficiency market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#tech #innovation #ai #rareearth #itri

2026-09-21