Diner gets extra-smoky lunchbox containing cigarette butt from chef

2026-09-23

A diner who bought a takeaway lunchbox at a self-serve restaurant in Tainan got an extra smoky meal, thanks to a cigarette butt that had been marinating in the sauce. The shocked diner picked it out of their food and called the restaurant to complain. But they were left fuming at that response they got. The person on the other end of the phone simply promised that they would tell their chef to quit smoking on the job. Health authorities have since launched an inspection into the business.

The diner took a photo of the discovery, holding up the cigarette but with a pair of chopsticks. At first, they thought the butt was an extra chewy intestine, or a charred spring onion. But one whiff gave it all away: the aroma wasn’t herbs or spices, but tobacco. Fortunately, the butt didn’t end up in anyone’s stomach, and neither did the rest of the meal, as the diner lost their appetite.

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#smoky #lunchbox #selfserve #tainan #marinate

這不是蔥... 吃便當夾出"菸頭" 店家消極回覆民眾氣炸

2026-09-23

台南有民眾到自助餐店，買了一個便當，沒想到回家吃到一半，竟然在裡頭發現一根剩下半截的菸頭，直呼超級噁心，打電話向店家反映，店家卻只說，會勸廚師不要邊抽煙邊炒菜，讓民眾無法接受，一早衛生局也到自助餐店稽查。

便當吃到一半，民眾用筷子夾起一小根長條物，越看越不對勁，竟然是一根菸頭。消費者氣的發文寫下，起初以為是腸子或是燒焦的蔥，拿起來端倪，聞了聞還有煙的味道。雖然這次民眾沒有誤把菸頭吃下肚，只是這次光是看到出現在便當內，恐怕已經讓人食慾全無。

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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

Man kills all fish in temple koi pond with air freshener beads

A temple in Taichung’s Shalu District was recently the site of a mass fish murder. A man was spotted on camera dumping an entire container of crystal air freshener beads into the temple’s pond. Thinking it was food, the koi scrambled to eat them, but the expanding toxic beads caused the fish to all die one after another. Irate, the temple management pressed charges, and the man was sentenced to 40 days in prison along with an NT$200,000 fine.

A man walks up to a koi pond, takes a container with air freshener beads out of his jacket, and dumps it into the water. Thinking it’s food, the fish churn in excitement. He then turns and leaves the koi to die off one by one within the week.

Member of public
Outraged
There were over 20 fish. They’re living creatures, too. This behavior is entirely unacceptable.

Member of public
Outraged
There’s no sense of responsibility to others. He harmed small animals. You shouldn’t dump an unknown substance into someone else’s fish pond.

The pond is behind this temple in Taichung’s Shalu District. It used to have 10 German and 10 Japanese koi, worth around NT$50,000. But after meticulously caring for the fish for over two years, at the end of last year, they all died off at once. A review of the CCTV footage revealed the culprit.

- Did he ever compensate you?
- No. He was adamant in saying he was in a bad state and wouldn’t pay. He said he’d rather commute his sentence to a fine or go to prison.

The temple representative said they don’t know the man, but suspect he was disturbed and lashed out at random. The entire pond was contaminated by the poison and needed to be thoroughly cleaned before it could hold fish again.

Temple representative
Tried again
After the incident, we tried raising another batch, but the same thing happened and they all died off. We asked an expert and they told us we had to buy disinfectant and clean the pond five times, drain all the water, let it dry for about 10 days, and then refill it.

The court determined that the man violated the Animal Protection Act, and sentenced him to 40 days in prison along with a NT$200,000 fine. The ruling is subject to appeal.

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#animalcruelty #koi #koipond #temple #Taichung #airfreshener #crime

2026-09-23

Massive teacher shortage is straining schools countrywide

Teachers’ Day is just around the corner! Yet, statistics from the Ministry of Education are rather surprising. They claim there is a shortage of teachers across Taiwan, with Taipei City bearing the worst of it. A job bank reveals education-related job openings surged to 38,000. There seems to a severe labor shortage across public schools and tutoring centers. Teachers claim salaries are too low, forcing them to quit.

Teachers are juggling many responsibilities. From teaching classes and grading homework, to looking after students. With the huge shortage of teachers, there are even cases of math teachers stepping in for scout classes.

Mr. Pan
Keelung Chien Te Junior High School
This semester, I was assigned to support the Scouts, but I majored in Mathematics. I haven’t tied a knot or pitched a tent in my life, so I will have to learn. Even so, I will then have to teach the students. They just don’t have teachers, even if you offer poor quality of teaching, their hands are tied.

More and more teachers are quitting. Turning 30 this year, Ms. Wang graduated with a Masters from NTNU and worked as an elementary school IT teacher. Due to incredible pressure from parents and administrative work, she switched to working in tech and watched her salary multiply.

Ms. Wang
Former Teacher
Back then, I paid over NT$4,000 or NT$5,000 every month just for public insurance and retirement benefits. If you add on health insurance and other costs, it would quickly add up to NT$7,000 or NT$8,000 a month. My monthly salary was around NT$48,000. Today, I work in tech, and earn over NT$1 million a year.

The shortage of substitute teachers has reached a record high in Taiwan, reaching 614, according to the Ministry of Education. Job banks reveal similar insights related to education-related job openings totaling at 38,000. Public schools, cram schools, childcare, special needs, are all facing severe shortages of staff. The survey suggests junior high school teachers are the most overworked, facing incredible pressure and unfair compensation.

Chuang Yu-chieh
Job Bank Spokesperson
Our survey indicates that most people believe the appropriate compensation for a junior high school teacher is around NT$65,180.

60% of teachers believe that compensation needs improvement and impractical administrative tasks be reduced. What was once considered a solid career path is rapidly losing its appeal. Without crucial systemic changes, fewer people will be celebrating Teachers’ Day in the coming years.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#teachershortage #publicschool #cramschool #teachinginTaiwan #taiwanteachers

2026-09-23

Taichung high school challenges students to be on time for 100 days

2026-09-23

Local sheep prefer evenings out over targeted grazing

Yesterday evening around 8pm, cars were stuck at intersections in Xiluo Township of Yunlin due to a sheep jam. You heard that right. Sheep. A landowner borrowed a flock of sheep to clear the weeds in an open area, but the sneaky sheep had slipped through the cracks in the fence and decided to clock off work early. Local residents quickly banded together to capture the animals.

The sky is dark, but bright fluffy clouds are seen on the road. These are actually sheep who don’t want to go home.

- Xiluo Night Market is here.
Going inside the market
- Go left. Go left.

On Tuesday evening in Yunlin County, sheep suddenly appeared on Fulai Road in Xiluo Township. Who let the sheep out? Local residents also wondered this as they quickly alerted the relevant authorities to help find the owner. They banded together using messaging groups to help capture the sheep.

-They’re over there!

Member of public
Concerned about sheep
You have to grab the sheep, tighten the reins around its neck quickly and stop it from escaping. What else can you do?

Member of public
Likes to eat lamb
I brought my daughter to see what sheep look like before they are cooked, hahahaha.

Member of public
Great sense of humor
This is hilarious. Has anyone called the police?

It was later revealed that a landscaper borrowed the flock to graze on overgrown grass in some open areas. Unfortunately, the sheep were uninterested in working and followed their leader towards Xiluo Night Market for an exciting night on the town.

Member of public
The sheep are still on the road, let’s surround them, once rounded off, we can slowly approach.

Member of public
Eager to catch sheep
Help us round them, help us catch them!

It took dozens of people more than an hour to round up the runaway sheep and load them in a small truck. Local residents joked that the activity was “more tiring than a sports meet.” Using sheep for targeted grazing and weed control is sustainable, but perhaps the fluffy creatures are more interested in becoming traffic police than landscapers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#thegreatescape #shaunthesheep #thesheepdetectives #yunlin #animals #cute #sheep

2026-09-23

DPP candidate in Hualien collapses mid-song onstage and dies in hospital

A desperate race to save a local election candidate in Hualien ended in tragedy. During a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration Tuesday night, 53-year-old DPP candidate Chiu Feng-ying suddenly collapsed onstage while singing. Campaign workers from different candidates and political parties immediately sprang into action, taking turns performing CPR until she was rushed to the hospital. But after a night of treatment, her family made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support early Wednesday morning.

- Hang on. If you’re tired, let’s switch with Chairman Chien.

Campaign staff from different candidates and parties rush to perform CPR on the woman on the floor. While some perform compressions, others stay on the side ready to jump in when needed. The woman is Chiu Feng-ying, a DPP candidate running to represent Sinchen Township in Hualien.

Shih Sheng-kang
EMT
She was seen collapsing onto the ground on stage while she was singing. When we arrived, she wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse, so we immediately began administering CPR.

The incident happened at a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at Shun’an Village on Tuesday evening. Chiu had gone to the event to meet with her supporters. She was singing onstage when she suddenly collapsed mid-song and lost her vital signs.

She was rushed to the hospital, and at one point regained a weak pulse. Ultimately her family decided to cease resuscitation efforts at 3 in the morning.

Voice of Chen Ching-feng
DPP Hualien Office
A CT scan revealed that she likely suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurism, which caused intracranial bleeding.

Hu Jen-shun
Hualien County Councilor (DPP)
She passed away after life support was withdrawn in the early hours of the morning. As her comrade in the DPP, we walked the same road to democracy and freedom, and worked side-by-side on the campaign trail. We are devastated. We will finish the project she started.

Chiu passed away at the age of 53. Some 10 years ago, she moved from Taoyuan to Hualien for work. After getting involved with the local community, she decided to take an extra step and run for election. Sadly, tragedy struck before she could see her first campaign through.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#election #karaoke #midautumnfestival #邱鳳英 #obituary

2026-09-23

Man punches woman bloody on Taipei MRT after she steps on him

2026-09-23

Kaohsiung produces traffic safety picture book from students’ perspectives

The Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau has launched a new traffic safety book from the perspective of junior high school students, hoping this will help to instill traffic awareness in Taiwanese at a young age. It’s all based on the students’ observations of traffic on their daily commutes to school. Let’s find out more.

The Kaohsiung City Government invited picture book author Li Chin-lun and aesthetic education specialist Liao Hui-lan to guide students from Kaohsiung Municipal Fongshan Junior High School to transform their everyday traffic experiences on their commute into relatable picture book stories.

Lee Chin-lun
Picture book author
First, we conduct field research with the students to gather a collection of their creative materials. I then adapt this material and compose it into a picture book.

In the picture book, whether it’s the story arrangement, narrative, or hand-drawn illustrations, everything is presented from the perspective of junior high school students observing their commuting environment. Regardless of age, anyone can easily understand how to follow road safety concepts through simple pictures and text.

Charles Lin
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor
Transportation isn’t just about infrastructure or regulation—more importantly, it must be rooted in our mindset and safety education needs to start at a young age

More importantly, the book also incorporates traffic safety knowledge such as stopping and waiting for pedestrians and prohibiting scooters from riding on sidewalks, making traffic safety not just about rules and regulations, but rather safety knowledge that can be practically applied.

Charles Lin
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor
The city government will also continuously work hard, and we will allocate related budgets. We also hope to find a different school every year, and we even want high school students to participate in the production of these picture books.

For three consecutive years, the city government has launched traffic safety picture books, hoping to promote traffic safety awareness from an early age through reading. This also influences parents and older adults who are helping their kids, extending coverage across multi-generational households, so that they can jointly create a more child-friendly traffic environment.

#Taiwantraffic #trafficsafety #Kaohsiungtraffic #childrensbooks

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

2026-09-23

NSTC initiative to popularize science with kids and adults alike kicks off

A program created by the National Science Council to help kids and adults better understand science is now in its 8th year. The program, “Kiss Science,” takes the pubic to more than 100 scientific research sites across Taiwan, with 34 opening up this year for this first time. There are also science-themed camps for high school students and films for kids. Let’s find out more.

With their nimble fingers turning the cubes, these children quickly solve two Rubik’s cubes in less than a minute.

Crowds are gathering at an event announcing the official launch of this year’s Kiss Science popular science initiative.

Wu Cheng-wen
National Science and Technology Council
This event is a well-established tradition and this year is the eighth edition. Our people, from children to adults, have the opportunity to experience firsthand the importance of science in our lives.

Kung Chi-kang
National Science and Technology Council
A major feature this year is our science walking tour. This means we have designed five routes across four different cities and counties, where scientific experts will lead in-depth introductions and discussions.

To promote scientific knowledge, the National Science Council and various ministries have joined hands to hold large-scale popular science activities that connect more than 100 scientific research sites across Taiwan. This year, 34 new sites are making their debut, and the public will be led into laboratories for close-up experiences. Special activities to popularize science have been created aimed at students of different ages to stimulate their curiosity.

Kung Chi-kang
National Science and Technology Council
For Kid’s Science, we will design events called “Amazement at Science” and “Science Cinema,” where children can watch science activities and movies at Taipei Main Station. For older children, we have more than 30 booths for junior high and elementary school students to get hands-on experience with science. In addition to this, we also combine it with round-island train activities aimed at popularizing science.

In addition to science education for children, there are also themed camps designed specifically for high school students. Through one-on-one teaching, students are led into experimental labs to experience the infinite charm of science.

#Kissscience #Taiwanscience #Taiwankidsactivities #NSTC

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2026-09-23

Romantic heart-shaped tree draws crowds to Tainan’s North District

A tree on Hewei Road in Tainan’s North District has recently gone viral for its unique shape, perfectly resembling a rounded love heart. From another angle, it looks more like a mushroom cap. Many people have been coming to take pictures with what is quickly becoming a new landmark for the city.

All of these people snapping photos nonstop came just to see this special heart-shaped tree.

With dense foliage shaped into a perfect rounded heart, it’s no wonder it’s so popular. Some make heart shapes with their hands while posing with it.

Member of public
Loves the tree
It’s pretty! My colleague saw it on Threads and asked if it really exists in Tainan. So I told him, yeah, it’s really here.

Member of public
Came to see tree
It looks just like a heart. It’s actually my friend’s birthday today, so I came to take a picture for him.

Member of public
Came to see tree
My wife saw this really distinctive tree online. She really wanted to come here and take some pictures.

Many people are traveling from afar to take photos with the tree, endlessly trying out different angles to get a unique shot. Growing near Hewei Road in Tainan’s North District, the tree’s natural heart shape became even more pronounced after a light pruning by the district office. From another angle, it looks more like a mushroom cap.

Huang Wen-tsung
Daxing Borough warden
After it grew into a heart shape, our team worked with the district chief and city government to prune it a little bit. Just with that light trim, it became a perfect heart—the heart of Daxing Borough.

Pan Pao-shu
North District chief
Warden Huang Wen-tsung told the district office there was a tree in his borough that could become a local landmark.

The name “Daxing” sounds similar to the Taigi word for “thoughtful.” Playing on the pun, the local leaders decided to shape the tree into a heart to serve as their new symbol.

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

#Tainan #locallandmark #photoop #heart #tree #viral #NorthDistrict

2026-09-23