The 2026 Pingtung Summer Carnival (屏東夏日狂歡祭) opened Friday night at Pingtung County Citizens Park (屏東縣民公園), launching nearly two months of children’s activities, play equipment, and themed performances.

Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-rong (林欽榮) previously said the site would include a rope climbing system, bouldering area, balance-bike and inline-skating practice areas, a parkour practice zone, and a pump track: a looping course with bumps and banked turns for balance bikes, scooters, and other small-wheeled activities.

Music festival Waterbomb, first launched in 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, is scheduled to hold a Kaohsiung edition on Sept. 12-13 at the plaza opposite Dream Mall (夢時代).

KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate and Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) said the popularity of the 2026 Korean campus-conflict drama series known in Chinese as Iron Fist Education (鐵拳教育) reflects a deeper sense of frustration among Taiwan’s teachers.

Education officials said disagreements between parents, teachers and students are common on campuses, but if handled poorly in the early stages, they can quickly move into complicated legal investigation procedures. That can consume school resources and deepen conflict, the bureau said. The planned mechanism would emphasize “communication first,” encouraging schools to bring in outside professionals in psychology, counseling, law and education when needed to help resolve disputes early.

I concur with those who ask whether, in the pursuit of establishing Taiwan as a multicultural society, the continued use of Chinese as the exclusive official national language remains a judicious decision. Could designating English as a second official language in Taiwan help ensure — for example — that all public services are available in both languages?       

Officials said most falls appeared to be caused by children running, chasing each other, or colliding in the water-play area. The office said the ground surface had been upgraded to improve slip resistance, but urged visitors not to run in the water area.

The “2026 Doudhen Lai Liaoliao” event will run May 23-24 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the grass area outside Exit 1 of the station. The bureau said the event is designed as a family-friendly outing for children while giving visitors a closer look at Daliao’s agricultural and cultural identity.

Lai’s trip had originally been planned for April 22, but it was abruptly postponed after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permits for his aircraft. Taiwanese officials blamed Beijing, accusing China of using diplomatic and economic pressure to block the visit. China has not framed it that way, but it thanked the countries involved for upholding the “one-China” principle.

The project is expected to be finished by the end of June, with trial operations likely during the summer vacation period. All facilities will be free to use.