Temperatures fall to 8.5 degrees in Fugui Cape, as cold weather engulfs island

Temperatures fall to 8.5 degrees in Fugui Cape, as cold weather engulfs island

2023-12-21

The cold strengthened its grip on Taiwan, sending temperatures plummeting. The northern peak of Yushan hit a low of minus 1 degree in the early hours of Thursday morning. Over in the flatlands, the lowest temperature was 8.5 degrees at New Taipei’s Fugui Cape on Thursday afternoon.

The Central Weather Administration says there’s a possibility of snowfall at altitudes above 1,500 meters in the north and northeast from Thursday night to the early hours of Friday morning. Areas at 2,500 meters above sea level in the north, east and central regions could see rime ice, that is, ice formations on trees and other surfaces. The cold wave is expected to weaken on Saturday, but another cold front is expected to arrive on Sunday, so expect a cold Christmas.

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寒流發威! 下午平地最低溫新北富貴角8.5度

2023-12-21

寒流發威，玉山北峰週四清晨低溫，降到零下1度。平地的氣溫也從中午過後持續下滑，清晨最低溫出現在新北富貴角9.4度，下午只剩8.5度。

氣象署表示，週四入夜後到週五清晨，北部及東北部1500公尺以上高山，如果氣溫和水氣搭配，就有飄雪可能，中部以北、東部2500公尺以上高山，則是有機會看到霧淞。而寒流週六將稍微減弱，但週日又有冷氣團報到，天氣將會一路冷到耶誕節。

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2023-12-21

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te in final nationwide campaign sprint

As election campaigning draws to a close, DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te has launched a round-the-island trip. Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim will journey all over Taiwan for four days and three nights to rally DPP supporters. Lai’s first stop on Thursday was Yilan, which he dubbed “the holy land of democracy.” Lai promised that if elected, he will extend the high speed rail system into Yilan and make the Suhua Highway safer.

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te in a final sprint before Election Day has launched a four-day three-night round-the–island campaigning blitz. The first stop was Yilan, which Lai dubbed the “holy land of democracy.”

Lai dances and sings a song about supporting Taiwan and the crowd goes wild. They didn’t seem to mind the cold weather: the atmosphere in the crowd was on fire.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
For the first stop of this event, I chose to set forth from Yilan County, the holy land of democracy. The most important significance is to show the world that Taiwanese people will not yield to authoritarianism and will firmly follow the path of democracy. I’m asking everyone to once again use the ballot in your hand to choose the right person who is taking the right path.

As he called on everyone to “choose the right person” so that Taiwan’s democracy and freedom could be protected, he also announced policies of benefit to Yilan, Hualien and Taitung.

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
If Yilan is to develop, transportation infrastructure should keep pace. I will promote the extension of the high speed rail into Yilan and continue with the environmental vision of late county commissioner Chen Ding-nan and fully promote geothermal power generation.

When Lai’s supporters in Yilan caught sight of him, they gave him a full thumbs up.

Lai Ching-te supporter
Lai has more political vision and more guts. His political platforms are better and he’s younger. The other candidates are fools.

Lai Ching-te supporter
His abilities and those of Hsiao Bi-khim are hundreds of times better than the others.

A camera takes an aerial shot of the word “choose” that’s been formed by supporters holding cardboard placards over their heads. Lai’s next stops will be Hualien and Taitung, where his supporters will spell out “right person” and “right path.” Lai plans to travel all over Taiwan and work with all his campaign headquarters in each city and county. He hopes to mobilize his supporters and motivate people to vote.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21

Technical glitch in FTV’s YouTube video of presidential policy presentations angers TPP

The TPP on Thursday held a press conference to voice complaints about the first televised policy presentation hosted by FTV the previous day. The party accused FTV of manipulating the footage of the broadcast to cut out more than 40 seconds of remarks by Ko Wen-je. But FTV explained that what actually happened is that YouTube suffered a glitch that caused a lag of 44 seconds. That in turn was automatically deleted by the video platform in its final upload of the video. FTV says that it re-uploaded the footage to the platform as soon as it discovered the fault, rejecting claims that it had intentionally tampered with the video.

Ko Wen-je’s campaign team on Thursday held a press conference to voice complaints about the previous day’s televised policy presentation hosted by FTV. They say 44 seconds of the footage is missing from the broadcast uploaded on YouTube.

Vicky Chen
Ko Wen-je’s campaign spokesperson
As a broadcaster, why is FTV removing such important footage? Why are they editing out from the broadcast they uploaded? We demand an answer.

Ko’s camp was aggrieved, accusing FTV of deliberately editing out parts of the presentation. The missing footage happens to be of Ko speaking on his social housing policy, a key point on his platform. FTV’s online news department manager Scott Chen personally went to the press conference to offer an explanation.

Scott Chen
FTV online news department
We were watching the live broadcast of the event as it was happening. And so during those 44 seconds, YouTube experienced lagging issues. It’s like when you’re watching a video and it stops playing. Later, in the livestream upload, it looked like it had been edited out. But what happened is that when YouTube packages livestreams for upload, it automatically removes any laggy parts. So that’s why that part disappeared. Did we cut the part out? No. We don’t do that. And there’s no need to go out of our way to stir up trouble and cut 44 seconds out of the upload.

Chen said that FTV’s outgoing signal was stable, and thus the problem was likely on the receiving side, which resulted in lag. That caused YouTube to produce a video with a shorter duration than others, without any human involvement. Chen pointed out that FTV’s broadcast on Facebook had not been affected by the technical problem and therefore featured the missing footage.

Scott Chen
FTV online news department
The outgoing signals for YouTube and for Facebook were the same. So why would we cut off 44 seconds just from the YouTube version?

Vicky Chen
Ko Wen-je’s campaign spokesperson
As such a large news and media outlet, FTV should have informed us out of politeness that you were going to come here and give a response, admitting that there is indeed 44 seconds of missing footage on the FTV upload.

Ko’s camp said Chen had come uninvited, and continued to complain about the missing footage. FTV explained that after it discovered the glitch, it immediately uploaded a full version of the broadcast together with an apology. The Central Election Commission has also jumped into the row to clarify the facts.

Chen Chao-chien
Central Election Commission
Yesterday’s presidential policy presentations in audio and video channels provided by FTV and the official website of the Central Election Commission were broadcast entirely in accordance with the law.

The CEC said there were no irregularities with FTV’s broadcast and that the election was indeed fair and just.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21

US Secretary of State brings up Taiwan Strait in year-end remarks

2023-12-21

Winners of first Tourist Spotlight Awards are revealed

The winners of the first Tourist Spotlight Awards have been revealed! They were chosen through a public vote, with almost 2 million votes cast, as well as inspections from tourism experts from various fields. Minister of Transportation Wang Kwo-tsai was on hand to congratulate the award winners at a special ceremony. Taiwan’s domestic tourism is back to pre-pandemic levels, he said. The award winners also had a chance to talk about their achievements.

To the sound of a battle drum, warriors from the Tsou Indigenous group slap their arms, in the opening ceremony of the Tourist Spotlight Awards.

Chiang Yi-ying
Veoveoana Cooperative
The village of Veoveoana was one of the victims of Typhoon Moreakot. We have gathered together eight villages, and people can have a rich experience of Tsou culture. Visitors who would like to be a hunter can try out traditional archery.

Last year, Zhulu Park in Chiayi started a trial tourism project that combines the cultures of several villages. Visitors can experience aspects of Indigenous culture, and enjoy a traditional meal. The project won the awards for Tourist Experience and Best International Recommendation.

Ting Cheng-kang
Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor CEO
The Jingwu wine cellar has been officially open to the public since December 2022. We have always stored all our own liquor, and we use stainless steel vats, so under the lighting, they really shine in the spotlight.

Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor’s Jingwu Wine Cellar won the Most Popular Award. It has been opened to the public, 72 years after the company was founded. Its granite tunnel walls are deeply scented with liquor, and an artistic lighting design delights large numbers of visitors.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Minister of transportation
Domestic tourist trips have, in fact, recovered to the same level as before the pandemic – very busy. Our 16 representative offices abroad will do their utmost to promote these destinations.

The award-winning tourist destinations will be promoted by Taiwan’s de facto embassies abroad, in the hope of encouraging more visitors from at home and overseas to discover more of Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21

Tsai inaugurates new building at Hengchun Tourism Hospital

President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday went south to Pingtung for the inauguration of a new building at the Hengchun Tourism Hospital. The building contains the first MRI scanner and first hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber in the Hengchun Peninsula. Tsai said she hoped the building would help people in rural areas have better access to medical resources, to establish a medical safety net for Taiwan’s southernmost areas.

President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday headed south for the inauguration ceremony of a new medical building at the Hengchun Tourism Hospital. The plan for the facility was approved in 2017, by then-Premier Lin Chuan, and now the project is complete. But, in addition, to this, Tsai urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare to also set up a network of medical professionals across Pingtung.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
I’d like to ask the Ministry of Health and Welfare to help the Hengchun Tourism Hospital and appoint local specialist teams. After all, we have this new building, so it should be filled with good physicians. I hope it can strengthen cooperation with nearby hospitals, so that residents in the southernmost part of our country have equal access to medical resources. We hope to continue improving the medical resources and quality in this area.

Nearby Kenting attracts about 6 million tourists to the Hengchun Peninsula every year. The new medical building is equipped with the peninsula’s first MRI scanner and hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber. The Ministry of Health and Welfare says that starting next year, it will also have a cardiac catheterization room.

Victor Wang
Deputy minister of health
Now we have introduced the first MRI scanner in the Hengchun Peninsula, and a brand-new hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber. I think the main thing here is that now the people in southern Pingtung will not have to be redirected elsewhere for acute and critical care. This is an important milestone, a new start for the Hengchun Tourism Hospital to take on new responsibilities.

The government has taken care to improve medical resources in the area, so that patients with severe conditions can get treatment locally. That is hoped to reduce the risks associated with transportation to other centers, as well as general inconvenience. The building shows Tsai is making good on her promise to take care of her hometown, Pingtung.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21

ITRI brings together AI talents to create smart health care technologies

Artificial intelligence continues capturing headlines. The Industrial Technology Research Institute is working with government, industry and research agencies to bring the latest AI technologies into health care. These efforts have yielded results. For example, an AI-powered chat bot can keep older adults company. Another innovation is an AI system that can assess the pain levels of patients by reading their facial expressions. ITRI held an event to show off the fruits of its collaborations, saying that it hopes the smart medical care industry will grow to become one of Taiwan’s most important industries.

Its eyes blink and move as it chats with the humans. This adorable AI-powered chat bot is designed to engage with older adults to keep loneliness at bay.

Then there is this camera system, which can recognize expressions even if the patient is wearing a face mask. The system scans the eyes and eyebrows to assess the level of pain a patient is in by harnessing AI. This full time severe pain assessment system was developed by ITRI, and can help reduce direct contact with patients in severe conditions to minimize the risk of infection.

Eric Chuang
Alliance for LOHAS and smart healthcare
We have several models of cooperation with the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and Taichung Veterans General Hospital on the front of patients with acute pain, chat bots and so on. We have about 30 cooperative projects, which have already generated more than NT$20 million in business opportunities.

Chen Hung-lin
Taiwan Medical Clinics Association
It involves managing data about the disease, but also the lifestyle and habits of the patient. For example, if they exercise, and how intense it is. All these data points have to be managed and then combined. Currently the industry’s development is heading in that direction.

ITRI’s alliance for LOHAS and smart healthcare held an event to showcase its results. Experts came together to exchange ideas on how digital technologies and AI can offer more complete care to patients with chronic diseases and older adults.

Leu Jang-hwa
Administration for Digital Industries
The Ministry of Digital Affairs is planning to promote these technologies starting next year. We will also support and invest in these solutions for improving health care for older adults, and solutions that help carers.

The global digital health care market had a value of US$35.3 million in 2022, and is expected to grow to US$1 trillion in 2028. Smart medical technology is at the center of development. ITRI is working together with several agencies to build up the health care industry into one of Taiwan’s most important industries.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21

Antisocial parking at Hehuanshan leads parking lots to institute charges

A wave of antisocial parking behavior around the scenic area of Hehuanshan has led several parking lots to institute charges. Many of the private parking lots in the region are free. But vehicles have been found monopolizing the spaces long-term, making it difficult for visitors to find a space. Qingjing Farm has been one of the first to introduce charges, with mixed results. Some say they can understand the need for a fee, but think it should be set lower. Other parking lots plan to follow suit.

The private parking lot by Qingjing Farm is empty. Only a coach stops to drop off some visitors. In the past, the lot was free to use and packed to bursting. That led some vehicles to occupy the spaces permanently. But parking fees were introduced on Dec. 18, and the previous occupants have vanished.

Tourist
As far as I’m concerned, as tourists, we’re paying users, so it’s made the through-flow in the parking lot better. It’s not a bad thing. But I think the parking charges could be a bit cheaper.

The nearby Mist Plaza and Swiss Garden are both run by external operators. They used to offer free parking, but because the spaces would be occupied by long-term users, they introduced charges: NT$50 an hour for small cars, and NT$100 an hour for large vehicles, with no upper limit.

Coach driver
It would be OK if they charged you by the number of visits. But charging by the hour has a big impact.

Meanwhile, further up Hehuanshan, crowds are huge at weekends and holidays. Wuling Parking Lot is free, and spaces are hard to come by. The Nantou Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has started planning a parking charge, which it plans to implement in March next year.

Lin Kuo-chang
Nantou Branch, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
We will have different prices for weekdays and weekends and holidays. Weekdays will be NT$50 an hour, and weekends and holidays NT$60. The maximum charge for one day will be NT$300. In principle, scooters will have a flat charge of NT$20.

Member of public
I think there are pros and cons to charging. If they charge, maybe they can maintain the place better.

The parking lots which are slated to introduce changes include those at Wuling, Kunyang and Hehuan Villa.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-12-21