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Ex-inmate makes new life selling grandmother’s rice soup

A food stand from Yunlin is bringing the old-fashioned taste of Donggang all around Taiwan. Behind the stand’s bowl of rice soup is an inspiring story of second chances. The owner went to prison young, and after he got out, he and his wife used NT$100,000 in savings and a small truck to turn a family recipe into a fresh start in life.

A long line of people wait at a food stand, all for this remarkable dish.

The chef adds a generous amount of shrimp, scallops, squid, and oysters to the boiling pot. The layer of red oil on top is natural shrimp oil from Pingtung’s Donggang, and the scallions, fried in port fat, add a distinct flavor to this traditional seafood rice soup from Pingtung.

Member of public
Likes the food
It smells so great. I watched from there and saw him put a lot of ingredients in. I’ve never seen it made fresh like this. It’s really rare.

This nourishing soup, which is convenient to take away, was a traditional dish for farmers during the rice harvest. The stand’s owner, Watermelon, travels all over Taiwan. He sets up his stand rain or shine, because a little rain is nothing to him.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
I’m a former inmate and when I was getting out, my grandmother passed away. It’s tough when you get out of prison. You don’t know what to do and feel like society has changed so much that you can’t keep up. I actually hated rice soup when I was growing up, but now it’s saved me.

Watermelon was imprisoned twice when he was younger and missed saying goodbye to his grandmother. After his release, he struggled to reintegrate with society. Now it’s his grandmother’s rice soup that is giving him a second chance.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
When I was young, rice soup was the only thing I knew how to make. I didn’t really have any other skills. So I decided to keep my grandmother’s recipe alive. It was even harder when I first started out because no one came. People didn’t know me.

Watermelon drives his food stand around Taiwan, sourcing quality ingredients and impressing countless customers with his grandmother’s dish.

Watermelon
Food stand owner
The goal is for every person in Taiwan to taste my family’s rice soup.

For his customers, this bowl of rice soup is a warm, delicious meal. For Watermelon, it’s the taste of his childhood and savior of his adulthood.

#foodstand #ricesoup #seafood #seafoodsoup #Pingtung #Donggang #redemption #secondchance

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2026-09-29

KMT and TPP vote to reject all nominees to lead Control Yuan

The new legislative session kicked off on Tuesday, and already it’s off to a turbulent start. The legislature was set to vote on the nominees put forward by the Presidential Office to lead the Control Yuan. But once again the KMT and TPP joined forces to reject every single one of them. The Presidential Office, expressed regret, with Secretary-General Pan Men-an saying he had tried to arrange meetings with the opposition to no avail. Let’s hear more.

Lai Shyh-bao
Lawmaker (KMT)
The Control Yuan is just for show now anyway. I voted against all the nominees.

Hung Yu-hsiang
TPP Caucus
Despite the higher budget, the efficiency and speed at which complaints are handled is still terrible. We unanimously voted against all nominees.

Chen Pei-yu
DPP Caucus
Many of the cases handled by the Control Yuan affect people’s lives directly, for example through the National Human Rights Commission. There are also complaints, corrective actions and impeachments at local governments and government agencies. Completely shutting out the Control Yuan nominees is essentially denying people their right to seek redress.

Pan Men-an
Presidential Office
Long before the long weekend, on Sept. 14, we proposed that the party caucuses meet the nominees on Sept. 23 and 24. But we didn’t receive a positive response. We then called each of the party caucuses individually on Sept. 22, but the responses were more… maybe everyone was busy.

The DPP has slammed the opposition, saying that by shutting down the Control Yuan, there would be no agency left to handle complaints from the public. The lack of leadership has also brought impeachment and corrective procedures to a halt. The Presidential Office says it hopes the Control Yuan will be able to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

#controlyuan #politics #taiwan #impeachment #democracy

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2026-09-29

Chiang Wan-an angers temple after leaving behind their gift

Over the long weekend, Mayor Chiang Wan-an attended a banquet at Fude Temple in Zhongshan District. There, he received a festive and impressive sugarcane as a gift from the temple’s chairman. But much to the horror of temple representatives, he forgot to take it home. DPP Mayoral candidate, Puma Shen, on the contrary, placed the sugarcane at his campaign headquarters, hoping for continued prosperity.

- Thank you Mayor, we will certainly take this home.

Chiang Wan-an visited the Public Works Committee of the City Council, and faced ridicule from the councilors because of an incident the previous Saturday evening. Chiang had attended a dinner at Fude Temple in Zhongshan District where he received a sugarcane from Temple Chairman Lin Chun-yu. But amid the ruckus, he forgot the gift at the temple.

Lin Chun-yu (Sept. 28)
Fude Temple Chairman
When I saw him, I was quite angry about whether the sugar cane was left or thrown here.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei City Mayor
I am extremely sorry, when I realized yesterday, I immediately called Chairman Lin and apologized.

Despite profuse apologies, the first person to notice and take responsibility was a neighborhood chief who said it may have been the volunteers who had forgotten the sugarcane. But, there are many parties to point fingers at. The Civil Affairs Commissioner, Chen Yung-te, the RDEC chairperson, Yin-wei, spokespeople, bodyguards, all trailed behind Chiang Wan-an completely forgetting the sugarcane.

Hung Chien-yi
Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
The neighborhood chief speaking out is what we call “saving face,” and giving Chiang Wan-an a way out. Personally, I think that everyone involved in this matter, including the Civil Affairs Commissioner, Yin-wei, his secretary, all of them, should receive three major demerits.

Puma Shen also received a festive sugarcane, but he actually took it back to his office to put on display.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
We’ve placed the sugarcane at the campaign headquarters. We’re studying how to display it properly to boost its symbolism of prosperity. If we really cannot decide, then we will probably also go to consult the gods.

At first, the sugarcane was displayed like a sword, and then adjusted to stand upright as a symbol for continued progress. This sugarcane incident is becoming a topic of comparison between the candidates and an evaluation of their crisis management strategy.

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#pumashen #taipeimayor #taiwanpolitics #taiwanelections #dpp #bamboo #沈伯洋

2026-09-29

Comedy club feces attack linked back to Chinese Communist Party

Apparently, some people can’t take a joke. Back in May, a comedy club in Taipei, was vandalized with white paint and human feces by a 35-year-old man surnamed Kuo. The incident happened during a stand-up routine about Chinese leader Xi Jinping performed by comedian Huang Yi-hao. The perpetrator initially claimed he did it because he couldn’t get tickets to the show, but police later found that he got paid NT$50,000 for the spectacle.

Mr. Kuo eventually admitted that he had received instructions from a 33-year-old man surnamed Liu, who was himself acting on orders linked back to the Chinese Communist Party. The Mainland Affairs Council has confirmed that the incident could be traced back to Beijing. Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh梁文傑 stated that the two suspects could only be charged with property damage, and nothing more severe. He also called for more support for further amendments to Taiwan’s National Security and Anti-Infiltration Act.

#comedy #standupcomedy #lol #xijinping #comedyclub

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2026-09-29

Obese dog? This weight loss clinic in Kaohsiung can help

The Kaohsiung City Government has opened up a weight loss clinic for obese dogs. These pampered pooches are often overfed by their owners and don’t get enough exercise. The process is often more about training the owners than the dogs, with vets recommending that they put their dogs on a high-fiber, high-protein diet low in calories that feature vegetables, among other measures. Let’s find out more.

This is a Chihuahua and it weighs a whopping 9 kg!

This black American Bully is even more astonishing. It weighs a massive 21kg. Pampering from owners have caused these dogs’ weight to spiral out of control, forcing owners to enroll them in a weight loss program.

Owner
Has fat pet
Because it’s a short-muzzled dog, if it gets too fat, it puts a lot of strain on its knee joints and makes it pant too much, which isn’t good for its health. We adopted it three years ago; it weighed 15.5 kg then and now it weighs 22 kg. It also doesn’t like to walk.

Owner
Has fat pet
I’ve bought weight-loss dog food before, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The more it eats, the more it gains weight. I’ve also taken them for walks, but they seem to eat even more afterward.

Vets warn that if dogs are so obese that they lose their necks, this can not only cause joint problems, but also make it difficult to breathe. They suggest a diet low in calories featuring vegetables can be used to sneakily replace their usual fare.

Ho Chu-yuan
Veterinarian
If he becomes obese, his breathing efficiency will decrease, making him more prone to heatstroke. His joint and spinal degeneration will also occur faster and more severely than other older dogs. We recommend a high-protein, high-fiber diet. If he’s still hungry, boiled broccoli, carrots or zucchini are things dogs readily eat.

Losing weight doesn’t have to mean spending money at a training center. The Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office is teaching owners to hide food inside old cardboard boxes or containers. This forces chubby dogs-who usually do nothing but eat and sleep-to work a little harder for their meals.

Kuo Ming-chin
Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office
With proper guidance from the owner, and by secretly hiding a little food among these toys, the pet not only gets exercise, but also, importantly, engages its mind.

Studies show that dogs have a 70% success rate when they lose weight. The key lies with the owner. Spending more time with your furry friend, engaging in mental and physical activities, will help your beloved dog stay healthy and with you for longer.

#furryfriend #mansbestfriend #dog #fatdog #doggo

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2026-09-29

TSMC rumored to be considering second US site with 6 fabs in Texas

Could TSMC be preparing to expand to Texas? As it builds new facilities in Taiwan, Japan, Germany and the US, market rumors have emerged about an extra project in the US. The rumors claim that TSMC is considering a second manufacturing site with up to six fabs in Texas. Analysts say the plan seems unlikely, as a Texas expansion may be looking too far ahead. TSMC has yet to comment on the report.

TSMC’s production facility in the US state of Arizona continues to grow as steel beams can now be spotted at the site of Fab 3. Market rumors say TSMC has even bigger ambitions, to build a six-fab hub in Texas.

Nobunaga Chai
Cloud Express
Even though TSMC is making a lot of money, it’s not enough to support projects in both Arizona and Texas. The US facilities are still a very long way from completion. And in Taiwan, there’s the 1.4nm fab in Taichung and the 2nm fab in Kaohsiung.

An analyst says the great expansion is unlikely, as TSMC is spending a lot of money to ramp up production in Taiwan and to build facilities in Arizona, where costs are higher.

C.C. Wei (July 17)
TSMC CEO
We would like to announce an additional US$100 billion investment in Arizona.

TSMC initially committed US$65 billion to Arizona. Then, in 2025, the project expanded with plans to add three more fabs, two advanced packaging facilities and an R&D center. The project grew again with an investment of US$100 billion to build four more fabs and advanced packaging facilities. This totals to an investment of US$265 billion.

Nobunaga Chai
Cloud Express
The capacity should be enough to meet demand already. If you then add a site in Texas, that would go overboard. I don’t think there’s a high chance of any of that happening between 2030 and 2035. With Samsung’s Taylor facility and Intel’s capacity expansion, there isn’t really a need for more.

As of press time, TSMC had not responded to the reports. An analyst says that among the many factors to consider for an expansion at this scale would be that TSMC needs need firm commitments from clients before taking action.

#tsmc #tech #chips #semiconductor #tech

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2026-09-29

Health minister outlines “Health Token” rewards program in FTV exclusive

Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang marked his first year in office by giving an exclusive interview to FTV, where he elaborated on his “Health Token” policy that rewards the public for getting medical checks and vaccinations. Shih also talked about his traumatic experiences working as an emergency physician at NTU Hospital during the SARS outbreak where he watched an infected colleague collapse. Let’s find out more.

- The loss of any one of them is, in my opinion, our responsibility.

The memory of working as an emergency physician at National Taiwan University Hospital during the SARS outbreak—watching a colleague get infected and collapse—is deeply etched in the mind of Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang. That painful memory has now become nourishment, enabling Shih to make more well-rounded and flexible choices in his decision-making. This has led to the launch of the ’Health Token’ policy, which encourages the public to get health screenings and vaccinations

Shih Chung-liang
Minister of Health and Welfare
The higher the difficulty, the more tokens we award. For instance, a breast cancer screening earns 1,000 tokens. But with colorectal cancer screening, past data shows that among those who test positive during initial health checks, only around 80% actually go on to get a colonoscopy. Not everyone returns for it because the procedure is more demanding—so we offer 1,350 tokens for that.

Faced with the dual challenges of a declining birth rate and an aging society, Shih’s top priority is to transform the healthcare system.

Shih Chung-liang
Minister of Health and Welfare
For the elderly, our first priority is to shorten the period of life spent in poor health. The second thing is whether our system can be used more intelligently and flexibly."

In the interview, Shih spoke candidly and with confidence, expressing his hope to enhance the resilience of Taiwan’s healthcare system during his term.

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#Taiwanhealth #Taiwanminister #Taiwanhealthminister #Taiwanhealthpolicies #superagingsocieties #Healthtokens #healthtokenpolicy

2026-09-29

Taiwan gears up for exotic fireworks display and to celebrate National Day

With the mid-Autumn Festival long weekend just ending, Taiwan is now gearing up for the Double Ten National Day long weekend that begins on Friday Oct. 9. This year, the National Day Gala will be held on Friday Oct. 9 and for the first time will be held in New Taipei City. Meanwhile the holiday’s annual firework’s display will be held in Taitung County for the first time in nine years. Let’s find out more.

Dazzling fireworks explode in the night sky, including spherical and plum flower-shaped fireworks as well as fireworks in the shape of “double ten” characters, adding vibrant color to Taitung’s night sky.

With National Day approaching, the official gala will be held for the first time in New Taipei City on October 9th at Banqiao First Stadium. A total of eight performances are planned to showcase the rich cultural landscape of Taiwan.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei City Mayor
To my knowledge, it seems that from the Taipei County era to the New Taipei City era, there has never been a National Day Gala here. This is our first time, and this is my last year in office. I can actually use my position as mayor to organize this National Day celebration for our country. Happy birthday, ROC!

The National Day fireworks display will be held in Taitung County, making use of Taitung’s mountain and sea landscapes and reflecting the characteristics of Austronesian culture. It will last for about 30 minutes with more than 19,000 fireworks.

Yao Ching-ling
Taitung County Commissioner
The last time we hosted a National Day fireworks display was in 2017. After nine years, we are extremely happy to have the opportunity to host the National Day fireworks again. We will have snacks on site, and there are many other ways to watch the fireworks. You can also watch the fireworks from the sea. The venue can accommodate 300,000 people, and rest assured, the entire city of Taitung is your viewing spot.

A National Day-themed gift box has also been launched. Connecting Taitung and New Taipei City, the box features a selection of representative local products from both places as a symbolic blessing from the cities. Beyond visual and auditory experiences, it allows people to get to know local specialties through taste.

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#Taiwanholidays #Taiwannationalday #Newtaipeicity #Taitung #Taiwanfireworks #Taitungtourism

2026-09-29

Thrill-seeking men set off big fireworks in parking lot

Several men in Pingtung City set off fireworks at each other in a parking lot without permission on Monday evening, sending fireworks in all directions. Onlookers were concerned that the men could be injured in the crossfire. This begs the question whether the festival spirit blurs the line between celebrating and being reckless?

Several men have set off fireworks in a parking lot, and to make matters interesting, are shooting at each other.

The men clearly find some delight in this while disregarding the beloved parked cars around them.

Voice of local resident
Witnessed the incident
They are setting off fireworks, but also shooting at each other. After waiting for some time, I asked them whether they feared damaging other peoples’ cars. Then one of the men said, they are shooting upwards, so there wouldn’t be any accidents. Still, this is dangerous; at times cars can leak gasoline which could have set off an explosion from the fireworks.

The location was a parking lot in Pingtung City where locals had parked their cars. Seeing the fireworks, many were left fearing that fireworks would hit them, or damage their cars. The reckless men shot fireworks at each other too without any protective gear as if they were adrenaline junkies.

Nearby locals
Witnessed the incident
From 9:30 to 10pm, they started SHOO SHOO SHOO, setting off fireworks, the big kind too not the small sparklers.

Nearby locals
Witnessed the incident
Others have cars there, if I parked there, I would also be against it.

At the parking lot in the morning, the ground was littered with waste from the fireworks, including ash, debris, and trash.

Staff member
Parking Lot
Residents said that someone set off fireworks in the parking lot, we will see how the company handles this.

Wang Yi-hsuan
Pingtung County Environmental Protection Bureau
From 10pm to 7am of the following morning, the setting off of fireworks that are flying, ascending, or making loud noises was prohibited. Violators will be fined between NT$30,000 to NT$150,000.

Turning an average parking lot into your playground can easily become a very expensive leisure activity, especially if your toys are fireworks. In this case, the Environmental Protection Bureau was not notified, but the parking lot operator will inspect for damage and seek compensation.

#midautumnfestival #fireworks #pingtung #crossfire #firecrackers

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2026-09-29

Father arrested after taking daughter out on humiliation parade in Sanchong

A girl in Sanchong was being publicly humiliated by her father until a brave bystander stepped in on Sunday afternoon in New Taipei’s Sanchong District. The disturbing incident involved the girl wearing a string of signs around her neck containing insulting language that presented her as a “thief” and a “beast.” Police were called to the scene and arrested the father, who is suspected of violating a protective order.

Voice of witness (anonymized)
Saw the humiliation
The girl had a sign hanging from her body that said “This person is a thief” and something about her being a beast. She wasn’t even crying. She just looked at the ground and walked without saying anything. She seemed really scared.

Hsu Chih-chi
New Taipei Domestic Violence Prevention Center
In June 2025, we received a report about excessive discipline. The city government issued a protective order for the girl, and the court ordered 12 weeks of counseling and educational guidance. Social workers were dispatched right after we received the new report, and emergency placement was arranged for the girl.

Security camera footage shows the girl being paraded along a major road with the signs hanging around the neck. She reportedly also had some visible injuries. Her father followed closely behind, while her brother recorded the disturbing scenes on his phone. New Taipei City Education Department says that both the girl and her brother are continuing to attend school normally. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center has also intervened and is assisting with the girl’s ongoing placement and care.

#humiliation #badparenting #newtaipei #sanchong #三重

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2026-09-29