Monkeypox vaccinations to roll out as early as March 24

2023-03-14

Taiwan on Tuesday reported four more local infections of mpox [EM-pox], the disease previously known as monkeypox. That’s the third week in a row that Taiwan detects patients who acquired the disease in the country. To curb spread of the disease, the CDC is set to expand eligibility for mpox vaccines on Saturday, with the first shots under the program to be administered as early as next Friday. An additional 10,000 vials of the vaccine are due to arrive in early April.

The CDC says it will announce more details on how to register for a vaccine next week. The four cases announced on Friday were residents in Taipei, New Taipei, Hsinchu and Yunlin. So far Taiwan has recorded 12 cases of mpox, that’s seven local cases, and five imported cases.

本土猴痘再爆4例猴痘疫苗最快下週五開打

2023-03-14

今天再爆4例猴痘本土個案！國內已經連續三週有猴痘本土案例，疾管署增購1萬劑猴痘疫苗預計下月初到貨，至於擴大納入可接種疫苗對象，包括與確診者性接觸、有高風險性行為者等，將從六都開始，最快下週五開打！

至於預約接種細節，將在下週疾管署記者會說明。週二公布的4例個案，是30多歲到50多歲男性，包括北市、新北、新竹市和雲林縣各1例，截至目前台灣共累計確診12人，包括7例本土及5例境外移入。

Cross-national parliamentary delegation led by former Kosovo PM visits Legislature

2023-03-14

The government-owned defense contractor announced five drone models

Defense contractor NCSIST has announced five new drone models, which it says improve on the range, attack and reconnaissance capabilities of previous models. One model, an entirely new drone based on the design of the U.S.-made Switchblade drone, can be carried by soldiers and launched from anywhere. The institute said the drones will give the Army the tools it needs for a variety of scenarios.

Drones of different types are lined up on display. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology held a press conference to share its progress in drone development.

Pi Hsiang
FTV reporter
The NCSIST today announced the completion of five new types of drones. Among them is this model, an armed scout drone that can be carried by a single soldier, which has garnered lots of attention.

The institute’s new scout drone, which has been likened to U.S. manufacturer AeroVironment’s Switchblade drone, is launched like a mortar. It can carry a high-explosive warhead for up to 10 kilometers. The institute calls it a “flying grenade” that can take out valuable targets.

Chi Li-ping
NCSIST
It’s carried by a soldier in the field and acts like a flying grenade. It’s useful in attacking targets that come near the shore. We are already working on the next generation of this drone.

The institute has also developed a new version of its Chien Hsiang anti-radiation loitering munition drone, which can be fired from a launch vehicle, and can use optical sensors and satellite data to hone in on moving targets.

Chi Li-ping
NCSIST
We have reached a very stable aerodynamic design through our research and development for the Chien Hsiang, and have now developed a version with extended range that works with GPS satellite positioning. It can use sounds and imagery to identify targets. These drones will provide the Army with the weapons it needs for different strike modes.

NCSIST says its new drones feature advancements in both attack and reconnaissance capabilities. Its Albatross model used for naval reconnaissance is now in its second generation, and has an extended range of 300 kilometers. Its radar has also been upgraded to improve performance. The smaller Cardinal series of drones has also received upgrades, including multi-axis motors on both sides allowing vertical take-off and landing.

2023-03-14

Taiex closes down as collapse of Silicon Valley Bank continues rocking markets

2023-03-14

Almost 100,000 high-res images of National Palace Museum artifacts leaked

The National Palace Museum on Tuesday confirmed that almost 100,000 high-resolution images from its collection have been leaked by Chinese hackers. That’s about one quarter of the museum’s digital collection. According to the museum, the leak happened last June, and a research assistant has since been punished for the matter. The National Palace Museum says it will try to get the leaked images taken down from the relevant websites, saying there is nothing more it can do.

Open up Taobao and search for “Taipei National Palace Museum” in Chinese, and you’ll find high resolution images of artifacts in the museum’s collection selling for as little as NT$20. Go on Baidu, and you’ll even find some images downloadable for free. Last year, National Palace Museum came under fire after it allegedly tried to hush reports that staff had damaged physical artifacts. Now, it’s in the spotlight again for allegedly covering up a leak of images from its database by Chinese hackers.

Chen Chien-jen
Premier
The relevant report from Jan. 3, 2023 confirms that there was indeed a leak.

Huang Yung-tai
National Palace Museum
An internal investigation found that about one quarter of the images had been leaked. That’s one quarter of about 400,000 images, or just under 100,000 images. A research assistant surnamed Lin has been punished for the matter.

The images were leaked in June last year, giving rise to criticisms that the museum had tried to sweep the matter under the carpet. It has also raised concerns over the museum’s cybersecurity.

Huang Yung-tai
National Palace Museum
We did not hush it up. We have been investigating the matter since then. Back in June, we dealt with the matter on the spot. They were too fast though, in just one second they were able to copy all those images.

Chen Chung-yu
National Palace Museum
Right now it seems like the high definition images had between 20 and 30 million pixels. The hacker took them section by section, and then put them all together again using software. The images circulating are not the original high-definition files.

The images are now circulating on Chinese webpages. The National Palace Museum says there is nothing it can do now to stop the images from being copied.

Huang Yung-tai
National Palace Museum
We are planning to get a lawyer to ask Taobao to take the images down on the grounds of an infringement of intellectual property laws. We’ve decided to ask the platform to take them down immediately.

The National Palace Museum says it will take action to get the images removed. But with scandal after scandal, a shadow of doubt has been cast on the institution’s approach to digitizing its collections.

2023-03-14

Wisteria, coffee, mountains and fireflies: the delights of Rueili Scenic Area

And now we head to Chiayi County, to check out the “city of purple.” It’s wisteria season in Rueili Scenic Area. Tourists flock to this part of Alishan National Park to see the distinctive purple flower bloom. One local restaurant even puts wisteria on its menu. But there are lots of other attractions in the area too. From local specialty coffees, to fireflies and spectacular views of the mountains, this hidden gem is a must-visit for nature lovers.

A tendril of wisteria hangs down like a waterfall. Visitors come to enjoy the dreamy landscape here in Rueili Scenic Area. March to April is wisteria season, and it’s a major highlight of Chiayi’s calendar.

Tourist
It’s like a dreamscape. I think the purple creates a kind of mysterious and soothing feeling.

Tourist
I’m from Malaysia. We only have fake wisteria there, no real wisteria. It’s beautiful here!

But the purple blossoms are not just for show: at this restaurant, they’re also on the menu.

Tofu is fried in the pan and doused in Rueili’s shiso plum sauce, then sprinkled with wisteria petals to make a gourmet dish that looks as exquisite as it tastes.

Tsung Wei
Restaurant owner
Normally, when we see wisteria, we just sniff its scent. It has a subtle, elegant fragrance. The heat of the cooking brings that fragrance out. The wisteria will be at its peak around Mar. 15. Anytime before the end of the month, it should be lovely to come down and admire the wisteria.

In recent years, Chiayi’s premium coffee growers have garnered many awards. Tourists now come here just for the cafe culture that has grown up in recent years. And at this eatery, a new generation of owners are bringing coffee into an innovative menu. This cutlet has been slowly simmered to perfection. It’s then bathed in arabica coffee, for an invigorating and mouth-watering dish.

A-hsiang
Restaurant owner
We have our own coffee plantation, our own coffee farm, so we thought we’d bring local ingredients into our food.

Nearby is another plantation that grows tea, as well as the “Geisha” variety of coffee beans. Visitors can sit outside under the shade of the coffee trees, to enjoy an unparalleled view of the mountains while they sip their drinks.

Yen Tsun-yu
Cafe owner
In the early days, we only grew tea. In recent years, we’ve also got into the coffee industry. When you come here and see the place, it’s such a lovely and relaxing environment in which to sit and drink tea or coffee.

And from this hotel you can look out of the window straight down onto the fields of tea,or up at the mountains. The owner says it’s grounding and relaxing for mind and body.

Yeh Li-chi
Hotel owner
When you wake up, first thing in the morning, you can see the mountains far off, and everything is lush and verdant. The air quality is great. Sometimes you can also admire a sea of clouds over the valley. It’s the wisteria season now, and then in April and May it will be firefly season. For an evening activity, we take visitors to go and see the fireflies.

For wisteria fans, now is the time to head to Chiayi. But if you’re happy to admire the many other natural wonders of the mountains, this “city of purple” has something for everyone all year long.

2023-03-14

Chang Gung Hospital opens a web-connected surgery training center

New technology is opening up new options for medical training. Some of that tech is on display at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s new surgery training center. Doctors can practice surgical procedures using VR equipment, and can link up with doctors in other countries online through video and software links. The hospital said it hopes the new center will cultivate local talent, and encourage more international medical students to study in Taiwan.

A doctor interacts with a device that simulates endoscopic surgery. The system faithfully recreates the complexities of the procedure.

Chan Yi-sheng
Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
We can have five to 10 medical students learning the procedure at the same time online. They can learn from each other, or test each other’s knowledge.

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital built a surgery training and research center over the course of two years, at a cost of NT$700 million. The center helps prepare doctors to respond to circumstances that may arise during surgery, and offers plenty of space for training.

Lee Shih-chen
FTV reporter
There are 24 operating tables that instructors can use to train students. The hospital says it hopes to provide the best environment possible for instructors to pass on their knowledge and experience.

Chang Gung says the large training space provides all the equipment needed to prepare doctors before they head into the operating room. They can practice procedures, and interact online with medical students and doctors, both at home and abroad.

Chen Chien-tsung
Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
We will offer different training for each specialty. That way, the training process can address the needs of all doctors, from young resident physicians to senior resident physicians, and even young attending physicians – all can get very complete training

Chang Gung hopes its new surgery training center will help cultivate the skills of domestic surgeons, and also attract foreign doctors to study in Taiwan. On the center’s opening day students from 22 countries including Japan, South Korea and Malaysia attended a demonstration virtually though the internet.

2023-03-14

Taipei MRT to trial letting pets ride in special pets’ carriages with just a lead

A special event next month will see pets and their owners ride freely on the Taipei metro! Currently, pets must be kept in cages whenever they go on the metro, but some think that should change. Taipei MRT is mullingover a more relaxed policy. So to celebrate International Pet Day, Taipei metro will let animals ride in special pets’ carriages with just a lead. Spaces are extremely limited for the special journey on Apr. 9. If you’d like to hold your cat in your lap as you ride along the MRT line, you better grab a seat quick!

Right now, if you want to take a pet onto Taipei metro, it needs to be put in a carrier. But for just one day, on Apr. 9, Taipei metro will open up special carriages for both pets and owners to amble freely onboard.

Member of public
Normally, if you spend too long on the metro, the animals start to feel unhappy. If I could let them out, and they could move around freely, I think they’d be much happier.

Thirty sets of tickets will go on sale, for four pets’ carriages. Up to four people and two pets can join each ticket set. The animals need to be in a harness and on a lead for the whole journey, which will run from Xiangshan Station to Yuanshan Station. But some pet owners are concerned that gathering too many animals together in one carriage could lead to altercations.

Member of public
Dogs aren’t always like humans. They might not get along. What if they start fighting?

Liu Shih-chu
Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation
When pets and their owners ride in the pets’ carriage together, the owners can take their animals out of the cage or buggy and hold them in their laps, or let them sit on the metro seats, to experience riding the metro together. We will gather more feedback from this trial event, which we will use to evaluate whether or not to institute this policy regularly.

The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation says that pet railings will be used in the trial to separate dogs and cats. There will also be a professional pet trainer on board, ready to step in and support if any animals get into a hairy situation.

2023-03-14

Stage 3 of Tour de Taiwan gets cyclists acquainted with local Hakka culture

The third stage of the Tour de Taiwan took place on Wednesday, a 154.5-kilometer route with views of rural Taiwan and with a distinctly Hakka flair. Racers set off from Hsinchu High Speed Rail Station and biked across Miaoli to finish up in Taichung. Winding roads made it a highly technical stage, but it was also an opportunity for racers to get acquainted with local Hakka Culture.

Wearing traditional Hakka garments and holding up oil paper umbrellas and fans, the performers break into dance. The Hakka Affairs Council brought these dancers here to cheer on the participants of the Tour de Taiwan. A group of young dancers also put on an exciting show.

Holding up gigantic tung blossoms, and wearing outfits featuring Hakka flower patterns, the kids give it their all. Their efforts are to show the beauty of the third stage of the round-the-island tour, called “Taiwan Romantic Route 3.”

Lee Kai-chih
Chinese Taipei Cycling Association
Today is the “Taiwan Romantic Route 3” stage. All foreign participants agree that it was a very challenging stage. At the same time, its path has a lot of cultural elements.

This third stage of the Tour de Taiwan was arranged by the Hakka Affairs Council in collaboration with Hsinchu County, Miaoli and Taichung. The race kicked off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday from Hsinchu High Speed Rail Station, and ended in Taichung’s Shihgang Visitor Information Center. The stage was 154.5 kilometers long, and is the only one in the tour that runs across several cities and counties. With its views of the beautiful countryside, and with Hakka elements dotting the place, it was an opportunity for cyclists to experience the warmth of Hakka locals.

Chou Chiang-chieh
Hakka Affairs Council
The scenery along the route I think is better than that of other stages. We’re showing the beauty of Hakka villages to the whole world, offering our warmth to participants from every country.

The Hakka Affairs council brought together 15 towns, 22 middle and elementary schools and more than 3,000 locals to put on rest stations with a Hakka flair. All for racers to enjoy the views of the 3rd stage of the race while getting acquainted with the beauty of Hakka villages and their people.

2023-03-14

Taste of Peru in Taipei

Today, we take you to meet Jose Fernandez, founder and chef of a Peruvian restaurant who came to Taiwan from Peru 20 years ago. His love for his home country and Taiwan inspired him to open a restaurant in Taipei, where he cooks up authentic Peruvian dishes all by himself. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to him to find out more.

At this restaurant, you can eat classic Peruvian dishes, such as Peruvian pickled chicken.

Peruvian pickled chicken is served with smoky chargrilled chicken, quinoa rice, and fresh stir-fried vegetables, with a generous helping of spices on the side. The chicken is grilled in a charcoal oven that is over 200 kilograms. That oven made the journey all the way from Peru to Taiwan.

Jose Fernandez
Owner and chef
Peruvian grilled chicken has 15 kinds of marinades, all of which are stuffed in, including red wine and chile, and more, and then it takes four to five hours to marinade, and six hours in summer. We use a charcoal oven to give it more taste. When you go to Peru, you must eat ceviche and grilled chicken.

There’s also Peru’s national dish, ceviche – fresh fish marinated in lemon juice, spiced with onions and chile peppers. It took Fernandez quite some time to decide on which type of fish to use for the ceviche. He finally chose cobia.

Jose Fernandez
Founder and chef
There are a lot of fish in Taiwan, but I wanted to find fish suitable to make ceviche, and not just random fish. It must have the right taste. I didn’t know what kind of fish to use at first. I went to the market to see. I think the taste is very important. Tilapia meat is delicious, but I don’t like the taste very much. I decided to buy cobia, and I am very happy about that. Taiwanese people like cobia very much.

The owner of the restaurant, Jose Fernandez, is from Peru. After marrying a Taiwanese woman, the two moved to Taiwan together. At first, he taught salsa dance, but after teaching for 10 years, he wanted to try something new. Since he loves cooking and also missed food from Peru, he decided to open a Peruvian restaurant. His store is one of the very few Peruvian restaurants in Taiwan.

Jose Fernandez
Founder and chef
When I first got to know Taiwan, people always asked me, what should I eat when I go to Peru? You can eat ceviche, saltaldo, seco. They don’t know what to eat there. They go there to eat food for foreigners like pasta and pizza. They have never eaten Peruvian food. So I want to cook very famous Peruvian dishes, so that Taiwanese can eat Peruvian dishes here, then go to Peru knowing what to eat.

Peru is more than 17,000 kilometers away. Before his patrons have the opportunity to visit Peru, Fernandez hopes to give them a taste of his home country right here in Taiwan.

2023-03-14

Monkeypox vaccinations to roll out as early as March 24