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Taiwan will relax the National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage regulations for lipid-lowering drugs starting September 1, 2026. The core of this change is to align with international guidelines by lowering the threshold for prescribing 'bad cholesterol' (LDL-C) drugs. The detailed regulations are as follows: 1. Expanded Drug Coverage: The first phase will include 57 lipid-lowering drugs (including statins, ezetimibe, and related combination drugs), with plans to expand to all 130 items by the first half of 2027. 2. Precise Coverage Based on 6 Risk Levels: Patients will be divided into 6 levels based on their Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk. • High and Very High Risk Patients (e.g., those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease): The threshold for prescribing drugs will be significantly lowered, allowing them to bypass the 3- to 6-month dietary observation period and start medication earlier. • Low Risk Patients (0 risk factors): NHI coverage will be provided if LDL-C levels reach 160 mg/dL or higher. 3. Follow-up and Benefits: Blood tests are required for follow-up tracking 6 to 8 weeks after starting medication. The new system is estimated to benefit 1.05 million patients, with annual savings of up to NT$5,694 per person for long-term medication users. 💢 Note: The actual prescription thresholds and risk stratification require professional assessment by a clinician based on blood test results. It is recommended to actively consult with your doctor during health check-ups or follow-up visits.

1. Tiered Medical Care and Co-payments: The National Health Insurance Administration continues to promote tiered medical care by increasing co-payments for outpatient services at some hospitals. This encourages patients with minor illnesses (e.g., colds, stomach discomfort) to prioritize visiting primary care clinics, optimizing medical resource allocation. 2. Chronic Disease Prescription Refills: Stable chronic disease patients (e.g., hypertension, diabetes), after physician assessment, can receive prescription refills for up to 3 months, reducing the burden of frequent hospital visits. However, regular follow-up appointments are still required. 3. Major Illnesses and NHI Drug Coverage: The eligibility threshold for cholesterol-lowering drug coverage has been relaxed, benefiting an estimated over one million patients with potential annual savings of up to NT$5,694. The coverage of certain new cancer and rare disease drugs will also continue to be reviewed. 4. Other Healthcare and Childcare Policies: Starting September 1st, the age limit for free infant dental fluoride application will be extended to 'children under 6 years old who have not yet started primary school.' Additionally, subsidies for the 2nd and 3rd cycles of IVF treatment will be increased to NT$150,000. 5. Chongyang Festival Elderly Gift Money: Chongyang Festival gift money for the elderly in all 22 cities and counties will be distributed sequentially starting in September. In some areas, eligible seniors aged 65 and above can receive a cash bonus of NT$10,000, automatically deposited as early as September 1st.

Disinfectant wipes contain alcohol and synthetic chemicals, and wiping them carelessly can easily cause damage to various items. Experts list 8 types of items to avoid wiping and suggest alternative cleaning methods: • Wooden Surfaces: Prone to peeling protective layers and deformation. It's better to use a dedicated cleaner or a slightly damp cloth with dish soap, then dry immediately. • Painted Walls: Can damage the paint. It's recommended to gently wipe with a sponge dipped in mild, diluted dish soap. • Electronic Screens: Can damage the oleophobic and anti-reflective coatings. Clean with a microfiber cloth using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water in equal proportions. • Natural Stone Countertops: Chemical components can erode sealants. Use a neutral cleaner or diluted dish soap. • Fabrics and Upholstered Sofas: Can cause discoloration and structural damage. Use a dedicated cleaner and treat stains by pressing. • Food Preparation and Utensils: Can leave chemical residues. Must be washed with hot soapy water or food-grade diluted bleach. • Leather Goods: Can cause moisture loss, cracking, and fading. Switch to leather-specific cleaners and conditioners. • Red Copper and Brass: Can accelerate tarnishing. Can be cleaned with a paste of vinegar, salt, and flour, or a metal-specific cleaner.

📜 Ingredients Pork Belly: 400g (approx.?) Ginger slices: 2-3 slices Rock sugar: 50g (add about 10g more if using granulated sugar) Seasoned Soy Sauce: 20g Cooking wine: 50-100g (original recipe called for 100g, but I didn't want too much, so I used 50g) Salt: a tiny bit Water: 400g (enough to cover the meat) Others (optional): 1-2 cloves garlic; 3 star anise, 3 bay leaves; or cilantro 📖 Instructions 1. First, pan-fry the pork belly until golden brown on both sides to render out excess fat, then pour off some of the fat. 2. Push the meat to one side. Use the remaining oil to melt the sugar, then stir-fry it with the meat to coat the meat with the caramel color. 3. Add the seasoned soy sauce, cooking wine, water, and salt. Throw in the ginger slices, stir-fry over high heat, then turn to low or medium-low heat and braise for 10-20 minutes. (If you have other aromatics, you can add them to braise together.) 🔖 Adding just one of the optional ingredients makes it delicious, but it's also fine without them. Also, besides the meat, you can add hard-boiled eggs or other ingredients you like, depending on your preference.

Taiwan's current 'Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act' has raised the smoking age to under 20 years old and enforces the strictest regulations by completely prohibiting e-cigarettes. 🚫 Penalties Related to E-cigarettes (Tobacco-like Products) Taiwan completely prohibits the manufacturing, importing, selling, displaying, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes. • Use: A fine of NT$2,000 to NT$10,000. • Possession: The Executive Yuan has passed an amendment draft (under review), which may impose a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$100,000 for possessing e-cigarettes in the future. • Supplying/Providing: A fine of NT$10,000 to NT$250,000. • Selling/Displaying: A fine of NT$200,000 to NT$1,000,000. • Advertising/Publishing: A fine of NT$400,000 to NT$2,000,000. • Manufacturing/Importing: Administrative penalties range from NT$10,000,000 to NT$50,000,000; the latest draft also adds criminal liability, with imprisonment up to 7 years. 👶 Penalties Related to Youth Smoking (Under 20 Years Old) • The Smoker Themselves: Must undergo smoking cessation education within a specified period. Failure to participate without a valid reason will result in a fine of NT$2,000 to NT$10,000. If the offender is under 18 years old, their parents or legal guardians will be fined. • Those Supplying Tobacco Products: Anyone supplying or selling tobacco products (including heated tobacco devices) to individuals under 20 years old will be fined NT$10,000 to NT$250,000.

KMT Legislator Liao Xian-xiang has proposed an amendment to the 'Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act,' advocating for a 'generational smoking ban.' The draft has been directly sent for a second reading in the Legislative Yuan, with key points as follows: • Regulation Content: It explicitly prohibits the supply of tobacco products and essential components of designated tobacco products to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. This restriction will not be lifted upon reaching adulthood, meaning a lifetime ban on purchasing tobacco. • Penalties for Violations: Those who violate the regulations by supplying tobacco products may face fines ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$250,000. • Ministry of Health and Welfare Response: Minister of Health and Welfare Shiu-chong Liang and the Health Promotion Administration stated that legislatively mandating a 'generational smoking ban' has few international precedents and is in an experimental phase (e.g., implemented in Maldives, passed in the UK, repealed in New Zealand). The government will continue to collect international outcomes and observe potential illegal private tobacco markets. Under the premise of forming social consensus and ensuring 'benefits outweigh harms,' they will carefully deliberate. Currently, they will continue to protect adolescent health through existing measures such as a complete ban on e-cigarettes, school outreach, and smoking cessation counseling.

📜 Normal Thangka (Status: Normal) • Material and Production Process: Over 99.9% is made of pure cotton cloth or silk. The canvas needs to be stretched on a frame, coated with ox bone glue, applied with plaster powder, and repeatedly polished with a conch shell until it's as smooth as paper, before it can hold mineral pigments. • Precious Pigments: Traditional Thangkas exclusively use natural mineral gemstones like gold, silver, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, and malachite, as well as plant-based pigments such as saffron and rhubarb. This makes the colors of Thangkas extremely brilliant and eye-catching, and even after centuries, they remain bright and unfaded. • Cultural Significance: Hailed as the 'Encyclopedia of Tibet,' its themes cover Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, history, and medicine. It is a sacred object for daily practice, contemplation, and worship by monks and lay believers, symbolizing solemnity and compassion. • Diverse Crafts: Besides the most common hand-painting, there are also various styles such as embroidery, Kesi (cut silk), brocade, appliqué (patchwork), and block printing. 😰 Human Skin Thangka (Extremely Rare Exception) • Material and Origin: Made using human skin. It primarily originates from the 'body self-sacrifice' (voluntary donation of skin to paint protective deities) by a very small number of high lamas in Tibetan Buddhism before their passing; or it is a product of cruel punishments inflicted by the ruling class on criminals under the old Tibetan serfdom system before the 1950s. • Cultural Significance: Religiously, it symbolizes the ultimate practice of detaching from the attachment to the physical body and being vigilant of the impermanence of life and death; historically and politically, it is often seen as a brutal historical testament to the barbarity and class oppression of the old era.

📜 Ingredients Sliced Pork Belly (diced): 300g Sugar: 20g Ginger slices: 2 pcs Onion: 1/4 or fried shallots 25g Cooking wine: 30g White pepper powder: 1g Four Seasons Soy Sauce: 50g Oyster sauce/Dark soy sauce: 18g Water: 350-400g (enough to cover all the diced meat) 📖 Instructions 1. Dice the pork belly: Overlap the sliced pork belly, first cut into thin strips 0.5cm wide, then cut crosswise into small cubes of about 0.5cm. 2. Pan-fry to render fat: Heat the pan without oil, add the 300g of diced pork belly directly, and stir-fry over medium heat. Cook until the pork cubes turn white, the edges are slightly browned, and clear pork fat is rendered. 3. Low-heat caramelization: Push the pork cubes to the side of the pan. Use the rendered pork fat to add 12g of rock sugar, turn to low heat, and stir-fry until the sugar melts and turns amber. Coat the pork cubes evenly with the caramel. 4. High-heat deglazing: Pour 30g of cooking wine, 50g of Four Seasons Soy Sauce, and 18g of oyster sauce along the edge of the pan. Sprinkle in 1g of white pepper powder. Turn to high heat and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until a rich soy sauce aroma is released. 5. Simmer with lid on low heat: Add ¼ of the onion and 400g of water (just enough to cover the ingredients). 6. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. 7. Reduce sauce and serve: Open the lid, turn to medium heat, and stir while slightly reducing the sauce. When the sauce becomes slightly thick and has an amber, oily sheen, it's ready to be served over rice.

If you encounter a traffic light where the red, yellow, and green lights illuminate simultaneously (e.g., due to a short circuit, control box malfunction, or bird's nest damage), this is considered a traffic light malfunction. To ensure life safety, please strictly follow these driving principles: 1. Treat it as a 'Red Light' rule: Stop and then proceed. According to our country's traffic safety campaigns and defensive driving concepts, when faced with contradictory and unrecognizable signal situations, you should prioritize treating it as a 'red light' or an 'intersection without signals.' Slow down your vehicle and come to a complete stop before the stop line at the intersection. 2. Observe surrounding traffic flow and conditions on opposing roads. • Look at opposing and cross traffic: Observe if traffic lights in other directions are also malfunctioning, or if they are already stopped or proceeding. • Look left and right: Confirm there are no oncoming vehicles from the sides and no pedestrians crossing the road before considering moving forward. 3. Right-of-way principles for intersections without signals. If it's confirmed that the traffic light at the intersection is completely inoperable and there is no traffic police directing traffic, please yield and proceed cautiously according to the 'right-of-way rules for intersections without signals': • Yield to vehicles on the main road from a side road. • Yield to straight-moving vehicles when turning. • If both vehicles are going straight and have equal right-of-way, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. 4. Actively report to the police. After stopping in a safe location or passing through the intersection, you can call 110 or the local government's citizen hotline (e.g., 1999) to report the issue to the relevant authorities for repair. This helps prevent subsequent vehicles from causing collisions or serious accidents due to unclear signals.

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