Miaoli turns to recycled water as water crisis looms

2024-03-26

Miaoli County is running out of water. Its two major reservoirs, Liyu Lake and Mingde Reservoir, have dropped below 40% capacity. Officials say the shortage is due to scarce spring rains and high agricultural demand for water. The county government will now start to provide recycled water for public use.

Yang Ming-nao
Miaoli water resources official
The water resources centers can produce about 2,000 tons of recycled water every day. We hope that our residents will make the most of this recycled water.

Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli County commissioner
Although Liyu Lake has more water in comparison, it supplies 600,000 or 700,000 tons of water to Taichung every day, an enormous amount.

From April onward, agricultural water use will be restricted in Miaoli County, on a schedule of four days on and four days off. The restriction will affect more than 1,200 hectares of farmland. Meanwhile, Nantou’s Sun Moon Lake is also depleting fast. As a safety measure, local authorities have removed sections of two reservoir docks to prevent damage.

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苗栗2大水庫蓄水率低於4成日月潭水位下降5米

2024-03-26

今年春雨少，加上支援春耕灌溉，中部水情開始吃緊了。苗栗縣縣內兩大水庫，鯉魚潭及明德水庫蓄水量皆不到4成，縣府公布，5處資源回收中心開放取用限量的回收水。

[[苗栗縣水利處長楊明鐃]]
“水資源中心每天處理完的回收水，總量大概有兩千噸左右，希望我們的民眾能夠盡量的使用我們的回收水。”

[[苗栗縣長鍾東錦]]
“鯉魚潭水庫雖然水量比較多，可是它每天供應台中六、七十萬噸，數量很嚇人。”

苗栗縣府決定下個月4日起，啟動"供4停4"的輪灌作業，預計影響超過1200公頃的農田。另外，南投日月潭距離滿水位已相差5公尺，日月潭國家風景區管理處啟動應變措施，將「朝霧碼頭」2號浮排，以及「伊達邵碼頭」1、2號浮排，預警性拖離。

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Navy takes delivery of two Tuo Chiang-class corvettes

The Navy has taken delivery of two more Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The An Chiang and the Wan Chiang are the last two vessels remaining in an initial batch of six. They are fitted with several missile systems that allow them to hit air and sea targets simultaneously. Though small in size, the ships are mighty, and have been dubbed “aircraft carrier killers.”

At a ceremony attended by President Tsai Ing-wen, the Navy took delivery of the An Chiang and Wan Chiang corvettes.

As Tsai watched on, Lungteh Shipbuilding presented certificates and models of the ships, to symbolize the completion of the handover. Tsai led an inspection of the two high-performance vessels.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Four years ago, I christened our first high-performance vessel, the Ta Chiang corvette. The Chinese character of “Ta” symbolizes our domestic shipbuilding efforts. Through perseverance, we can make a tower out of sand. Over the past few years, we have been committed to self-reliance in national defense. With every vessel produced in Taiwan, the process of christening, launching and handing over ships has only become faster.

Huang Shou-chen
Lungteh Shipbuilding
It can sail very fast, at a maximum speed of more than 40 knots. It has a shallow draft, allowing it to dock at fishing ports all around Taiwan. Its stealth design makes it hard to detect, and it is equipped with advanced and forward-looking automated and digital systems.

The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes are equipped with Hsiung Feng-II, Hsiung Feng-III and Sea Sword II missiles that can strike aircraft carriers. They also have a 76mm cannon and a Phalanx CIWS weapon system, allowing the vessels to engage in close combat as well as target enemy ships and aircraft. The equipment makes them powerful for their size, making them an important force in asymmetrical warfare.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
These high-performance vessels offer stealth capabilities and navigation stability. They are the Navy’s first small-sized ships with air defense capabilities. These features create a safer working environment for sailors in the line of duty. I would like to thank all our sailors for their hard work and efforts on the front line. The government will continue to strive for a modern, professional, and high-quality force, and demonstrate its commitment to defending our nation’s maritime borders.

With the handover of the Wan Chiang and An Chiang, the first batch of Tuo Chiang-class corvettes has been completed. Construction on the second batch will begin later this year.

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2024-03-26

Lai Ching-te talks AI with Taiwan’s top ICT players

President-elect Lai Ching-te is on a two-month tour of Taiwan’s industrial landscape. After meeting top players in the drone and chip industries, he arrived at Taoyuan on Tuesday for a meeting with ICT executives. According to participants, the meeting focused on artificial intelligence and how Taiwan can stay at the heart of the AI revolution.

Lai Ching-te
President-elect
The economy is the lifeblood of Taiwan’s survival and development. Many think that we only have a semiconductor industry. But actually, our ICT industry is even more robust. That’s why I have this important responsibility of coming here to meet you all and listen to your valuable suggestions.

Ahead of Inauguration Day on May 20, President-elect Lai Ching-te has embarked on a two-month industrial tour. Earlier on, he visited top players in the semiconductor and drone industries. On Tuesday, his focus was on artificial intelligence, as he met with representatives of about 30 ICT firms. The meeting came after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared Taiwan “the center of the AI revolution.”

Jensen Huang (March 23)
Nvidia CEO
Taiwan is the center of this new computer revolution, this AI revolution.

Lai said he was committed to keeping Taiwan at the heart of the revolution. Sources say he pledged to improve Taiwan’s investment environment and help companies grow domestically. By providing the necessary utilities, land, labor and talent, he hopes to create a resilient and secure business environment, enabling Taiwan to progress despite turbulent world politics.

Maurice Lee
Taiwan Printed Circuit Association
The increase in electricity rates is going to put a lot of pressure on PCB companies. But we understand the move. The government has subsidized electricity for a long time already.

Richard Lee
Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association
We insist on three things. The first is innovation. The second is deeper support for the digital transformation. The third is becoming a country where the “economic sun never sets,” by supporting our businesses’ global expansion. That is something that will move us into the future.

During his tenure as premier, Lai had encouraged Taiwan-headquartered businesses to bring manufacturing back to Taiwan. One company that responded was Quanta. After the meeting with ICT reps, Lai visited Quanta’s headquarters for a closed-door talk with company chair Barry Lam and briefings on the latest in AI and 5G.

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2024-03-26

Labor Day for all? Premier says decision coming soon

2024-03-26

Taipei Metro to acquire new state-of-the-art trains from South Korea

The Taipei Metro will soon get a brand new set of trains from South Korea. The new train carriages have been redesigned to facilitate larger passenger volumes. They are also brighter and more accessible than previous models. The first new train could hit the rails as early as 2027, with another six trains to follow until 2028.

In the capital, many commuters get to work on the Taipei Metro, which is set to soon introduce new train cars from South Korea. Let’s have look through a virtual reality rendering.

The two windows on each side have merged to become one large window and the seating layout has been changed to one row of seats on each side. The first and last cars on each train have dedicated spaces for wheelchair users. The LED signs have been replaced with liquid crystal display screens and interior lighting has been made brighter.

Member of public
After all, there are a lot of people at rush hour. Having fewer seats could have an effect on how crowded it gets.

Liang Hsing-ju
South Korean train manufacturer
The project is still in the design phase and small adjustments may be made later on. Since the COVID pandemic, everyone is very concerned about air quality. Since there is a large volume of commuters during rush hour, Taipei Metro asked us to install equipment to address air quality concerns.

Taipei Metro currently plans to procure seven trains, or a total of 42 cars. The first delivery is slated for late 2025, and the first train could go into service as early as April 2027.

Ling Chi-yao
Taipei Metro
The trains will be delivered through 2026 and they will all complete testing by the end of 2028. We will consider the operating demand in planning their routes. The interiors of the trains will be designed keeping in mind passengers’ needs regarding spaciousness, mobility and safety.

The trains will be running on routes that have high passenger volumes, meaning that the trains must be designed in a way that allows a large numbers of people to board and alight with ease. This first sneak peek at the trains has given transport enthusiasts much to talk about.

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2024-03-26

Documentary pays tribute to 228 Incident victim Tang Te-chang

A new documentary pays tribute to the life of 228 Incident victim Tang Te-chang. Directors Huang Ming-cheng and Lien Chen-hui spent five years on the film. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the directors to find out more.

The documentary captures the life of 228 victim Tang Te-chang, by interviewing those who knew him. Tang, who hailed from Tainan, was a policeman, a lawyer, and a public security chief. He was arrested by KMT troops and executed in a park at the age of 40. The documentary took five years to shoot.

Huang Ming-cheng
Director
"In Search of a Mixed Identity" is not only a 228 story. I think it is also a story about Tang Te-chang’s search for identity. We’re seeing that Tang is not alone in this search. It’s happening right now in Taiwan society. Today’s society is also seeking its national identity.

Lien Chen-hui
Co-director
People who have watched the documentary have said, "I am from Tainan. How do I not know this story?” Some viewers said that after watching it, their heart was touched. They want to learn more about Tang Te-chang and related stories.

The Feb. 28 Incident occurred in 1947. Tens of thousands of people, including many Taiwanese elites and intellectuals, were killed or imprisoned by the KMT government.

Huang Ming-cheng
Director
The story of Tang Te-chang takes us to see what happened in Taiwan after the Japanese colonial era, two years after the war ended. After the KMT government came, why did the 228 Incident happen? What happened exactly in that short space of time? If we know what happened in the past, it can help us make choices for the future.

Lien Chen-hui
Co-director
The response from the audience after watching the film was very enthusiastic. Their first reaction was that the documentary was different from what they envisioned it to be. It was not that sad or heavy. Just follow along with the documentary and explore this journey and history with us. After watching it, they laughed, cried, and were very moved.

Through the documentary, the directors hope to pay tribute to Tang, while telling the story of a dark chapter of Taiwan’s past.

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2024-03-26

Ma hopes to reunite with ‘old friend’ during China visit: office

Former President Ma Ying-jeou will visit China from April 1 to 11, according to his office. The office director said that during the trip, Ma hopes to reunite with his “old friend,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The pair first met nine years ago, at a historic summit in Singapore. Responding to the trip’s announcement, Premier Chen Chien-jen expressed respect for Ma’s plans. But he urged Ma to convey Taiwan’s mainstream public opinion during his meetings.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou will return to China on April 1 at the invitation of Chinese authorities, his office announced. His 11-day visit will include a stop in Beijing. His foundation expressed hope for a second meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director
Of course, we hope that if we have the opportunity to go to Beijing – it’s been nine years since they met, and I feel that former President Ma would want to see his old friend. Of course, we will be guests there, so we respect China’s arrangements. The two of them made history together in 2015. So we hope to have the opportunity to reunite with an old friend.

According to the director of Ma’s foundation, Xi had said, “Until we meet again” at the end of the 2015 Ma-Xi summit. Ma, too, would be happy to see an old friend, the director said.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen
Ma Ying-jeou Foundation director
No matter who he meets in China, whether it’s Chinese students, citizens or officials, former President Ma wants to convey the sentiments of the Taiwanese people: That we are a people who love peace and oppose war, and that we want cross-strait peace and exchanges.

Chen Chien-jen
Premier
We respect former President Ma’s right to plan his personal itinerary. With regard to the former president’s request for security arrangements, we will provide the necessary assistance. I also want to ask former President Ma to remember the Taiwanese people’s values during his travels: values such as sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law.

Wu Szu-yao
DPP lawmaker
He should avoid participating in activities with a pro-unification overtone. I also hope that during his trip, no matter who he meets – however high-level they are – he will convey messages befitting his position as a former R.O.C. president, messages that reflect mainstream opinion in Taiwan.

Premier Chen Chien-jen urged Ma to convey Taiwan’s mainstream public opinion in China. He also said Ma should notify the Presidential Office of who he will meet, and not accept every encounter arranged by his hosts.

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2024-03-26

Red yeast rice products pulled from shelves after dozens sickened in Japan

Products containing red yeast rice made by Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals have been pulled from shelves in Taiwan. The recall comes amid reports that 76 people in Japan fell ill and one died after ingesting products containing the ingredient. The company is investigating the link between the adverse reactions and its red yeast rice-based products.

Akihiro Kobayashi
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical
We extend our deepest apology to customers whose health may have been compromised. Customers currently taking the relevant products should immediately stop consuming them.

As of Tuesday morning, 76 people in Japan reportedly had adverse reactions after ingesting red yeast rice-based supplements made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. One death was also reported in connection to the product. This was a person with kidney damage who had consumed the supplements over a long period of time. The problematic products are also sold outside of Japan, by 52 companies in countries including Taiwan.

SHS Biotech, which sells products containing red yeast rice, has announced a recall, saying it will provide refunds to consumers who purchased potentially problematic products. Another dietary supplement maker, Da Yi Biotech and Health Food, has released a statement saying that third-party tests on its products have not found any harmful citrinin, microorganisms, drugs or heavy metals. Daiken Biomedical has deshelved its Q10 Natto Plus Red Yeast Rice product while tests are being conducted, as the supplement uses ingredients made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. Customers can also return the products for a refund.

Hsueh Jui-yuan
Health minister
As a preventative measure, all products containing Japanese red yeast rice made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical must be pulled off shelves.

Yi Li-chen
Pharmacist
The problematic products could cause liver damage, which can indirectly result in kidney damage. The main cause would be mold, or rather, the toxins produced by mold.

A pharmacist says that improper red yeast rice fermentation can result in citrinin, which can result in liver and kidney damage when ingested in large quantities. Investigations are underway to find whether the health supplements are to blame for the adverse reactions.

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2024-03-26

Penghu International Fireworks Festival a treat for anime fans

2024-03-26

Kaohsiung volunteers carry huge pails of tea up Mount Shoushan every day

And now for a look at a quirk of Kaohsiung culture. A team of volunteers carries huge pails of tea up Mount Shoushan every day. The tea is offered to hikers at tea pavilions on the popular hiking trails. At the grand opening of a new trailhead on the mountain, hundreds of hikers were out in force. They needed lots of tea to quench their thirst on the peak! And a representative of Kaohsiung City government took a turn in the tea-carrying team. He said it’s a way people show their love for Kaohsiung in action.

The new trailhead on Kaohsiung’s Shoushan is officially opened. It’s just a short stroll from the nearby light rail Gushan Station, and has a large parking lot. Its opening attracted lots of curious hikers.

Hiker
I haven’t been here before. I always go from the zoo trailhead, so it’s my first time here.

Hiker
It used to be hard to park the car if you came up here. But just now, the place we came up was very wide with lots of space to park.

Hikers familiar with Shoushan all have strong memories of its tea pavilions. These large pails of water are brewed into a variety of teas thanks to the care of hikers. It makes a refreshing picnic spot.

The tea doesn’t grow on trees, of course. It’s carried up the mountain by volunteers, in pails of 20 or 30 liters apiece. Legends abound about the Shoushan Tea Team. Even the head of Kaohsiung City Sports Development Bureau had a go at carrying one of the tea caddies up the mountain.

Hou Tzun-yao
Kaohsiung City Sports Development head
It’s not easy, it’s tough. But it’s a good experience. The Shoushan Tea Team carries love up the mountain every day. They’re putting their love for Kaohsiung out there with their feet.

Hiker
I admire them. It takes strength, but also passion, I think. It must be quite a big sacrifice.

The Shoushan Tea Team has been going for decades, but they still hold to their mission with as much enthusiasm as they had on the first day. For any visitor to Kaohsiung, it’s a distinctive sight to watch out for.

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2024-03-26

Hospital uses innovative 3D printing to treat a child with a rare form of cancer

Today we take you to hear a success story in curing malignant cancer. A 6-year-old boy was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor in his face, known as spindle cell sarcoma. A hospital utilized 3D printing to map out his facial bones in an innovative treatment they had never tried before. This technique allowed doctors to perform minimally invasive surgery on his eyelids and mouth, reducing scarring. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the details.

Six-year-old Chen began to suffer from facial asymmetry six months ago. Although he had no symptoms of pain or numbness, a medical examination revealed he had a malignant tumor with a diameter of 1.7 centimeters on his right cheekbone. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer called spindle cell sarcoma.

Patient’s mom
At that time, I knew something wrong because his whole face was very swollen. Then he got his diagnosis. Of course, it was devastating. It felt like falling from heaven to hell. And then we heard this on his birthday.

To accurately remove the tumor, the medical team used 3D printing to recreate the bones on his face, putting them together just like a puzzle, to locate the surgical site. Then they performed minimally invasive surgery on his eyelids and mouth to reduce scarring. The doctors also utilized liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the cancer cells.

Wang Tien-hsiang
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Using the 3D-printout as a guide, we determined the position, and we placed it on the patient’s bone during the operation and then made precise cuts. For the bones containing tumors, we first dug out the tumor in the middle. Then, of course, there was be some remaining tumor cells. We used liquid nitrogen to freeze it to kill the cancer cells and then transplanted the bone tissue back into the patient’s body.

Wang Tien-hsiang, a doctor with Taipei Veterans General Hospital, says it would have been much harder to treat the child if the diagnosis was made later in his life. Fortunately, Chen has now recovered and will be celebrating his seventh birthday soon.

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2024-03-26

Miaoli turns to recycled water as water crisis looms