The Central Union Oil (中聯油脂) scandal involves soybean salad oil found to contain excessive benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic compound. Authorities said the company delayed reporting the problem, prompting recalls of affected oil and downstream food products and a review of food safety reporting rules.

Construction crews have begun removing underground foundation piles left from the former Zihciang Overpass in Fongshan District, as work continues on the Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line. The city said crews will use casing equipment to cut and pull out the old piles, a method intended to reduce noise, vibration, and dust.

Two 35-meter whale kites will make their Taiwan debut at this year’s Cijin Kite Festival, which opens Saturday at Cijin Beach, the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau said. The 2026 Cijin Kite Festival and Inflatable Water Park will be held July 25 and 26 and Aug. 1 and 2 near Love Gate (鍾愛之門) at Cijin Beach.

A Kaohsiung city councilor has said one of Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) biggest unfinished goals is the long-delayed effort to bring giraffes to Shoushan Zoo (壽山動物園).

The rebuilt Jiuru Bridge (九如橋) is expected to open to traffic July 31, with final construction work now underway, the Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau said.

Live Nation Taiwan’s Kaohsiung event page lists Westlife as the headliner but does not specify which individual members will appear.

At least six major malls or landmark retail projects are expected to open in Kaohsiung over the next five years, as transport-oriented development and high-tech investment reshape the city’s commercial map, the Commercial Times reported. The new projects are expected to shift Kaohsiung’s department store market away from traditional single-district shopping areas and toward a multi-center model built around rail and MRT hubs.

The north and south sections of Kaohsiung Station Ichibangai (高雄駅一番街) officially opened Saturday, creating what the city says is Taiwan’s largest anime-themed underground shopping area. The 2,300-ping complex was developed by Kaohsiung Metro Corp. and Mofan Co. (墨凡公司). It includes more than 50 brands offering anime merchandise, food and drinks, toys, collector displays, and consignment-style retail spaces.

The city’s Parks Office said it would inspect conditions at the park, replant grass in exposed areas, and work to improve drainage.

The city will announce rental details on July 27, and applications will be accepted from Aug. 6 to Aug. 25. Applicants must be adult ROC citizens who either have household registration in Kaohsiung or study or work in the city. Household members must not own a home in Kaohsiung, and the average monthly income per household member must not exceed NT$59,395.