Fencer Chen Yi-tung books historic Olympic ticket

Fencer Chen Yi-tung books historic Olympic ticket

2024-04-29

Chen Yi-tung has become Taiwan’s first male Olympian in fencing since 1988. He booked his ticket to Paris by winning the men’s individual foil event at the Asian-Oceanian qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates.

Twenty-one-year-old Chen was introduced to fencing in the third grade. At 15 years old, he was the youngest athlete to represent Taiwan at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Chen is the sixth Taiwanese fencer to ever qualify for the Olympics. The last time a Taiwanese fencer competed was 12 years ago, when Hsu Jo-ting made the Top 32 in the women’s epee event.

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台灣男子鈍劍好手陳奕通取得巴黎奧運資格

2024-04-29

台灣男子鈍劍好手陳奕通，在杜拜舉行的亞洲暨大洋洲區資格賽賽，拿下個人鈍劍冠軍，取得巴黎奧運的參賽門票，也成為1988年後，36年來台灣第一位進軍奧運的男子擊劍選手。

21歲的陳奕通，國小三年級開始學習擊劍，15歲就代表台灣，參加2018年雅加達亞運，成為最年輕的國手，如今進軍奧運，也是睽違12年之後，再度有台灣擊劍選手，挺進奧運會，2012年倫敦奧運，台灣女將徐若庭，曾在個人銳劍項目止步32強。

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China lifts ban on Taiwanese pomelos, greenlights travel from Fujian to Matsu

Beijing has extended three concessions to Taiwan following the KMT’s recent visit to China. First, it’s offered to donate prefabricated housing to earthquake-stricken Hualien. It’s also lifted an import ban on Taiwanese pomelos, and given the green light to Fujian for travel to Matsu. In response, the Executive Yuan said that the olive branch was a small step forward. But it emphasized that more communication was needed for healthy cross-strait exchanges.

During a visit to China, KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun-chi met Wang Huning, chair of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Fu had called for a thaw in cross-strait relations. China responded by offering to donate prefabricated housing to Hualien, lifting its import ban on Taiwanese pomelos, and allowing tourism from Fujian to Matsu. The last concession met a lukewarm response from Taiwan’s transport ministry.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
These regulatory changes are less than what we anticipated. Before the pandemic, people from all provinces of China were allowed to travel to Taiwan. Now they are letting residents from just one province visit Taiwan for tourism.

Lin Chun-hsien
DPP lawmaker
Cross-strait exchanges are not merely about economics. They are also determined by politics. A single political decision made unilaterally can kill all exchanges on the spot. That’s not something we want to see in the future.

The DPP lawmaker acknowledged that China’s regulatory easing was a positive move. But he said it was also important to have a system in place that prevents Beijing from unilaterally imposing bans and then lifting them. But a KMT lawmaker said the DPP was in no position to be so critical.

Cheng Cheng-chien
KMT lawmaker
This trip to the mainland was focused on tourism and agricultural and fisheries exports. The DPP should gather up courage to tackle the other issues, instead of watching our efforts and casting stones from the sidelines. That is not what responsible political parties do.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
Due to the many obstacles that have been set in our path, we hope that cross-strait exchanges can be approached from the angle of mutual benefit, goodwill and cooperation. This is indeed a small step forward. We need to communicate more in the future to ensure that the steps we take to opening up to each other are beneficial for both sides of the strait.

Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan said more goodwill on both sides of the strait could pave the way for mutual trust. He stressed that cross-strait exchanges should be handled with care, to prevent China from taking advantage of Taiwan.

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2024-04-29

Taiex closes above 20,000-point mark, tracking Wall Street gains

2024-04-29

Yilan offers installment plan for property taxes

The April 3 earthquake in Hualien has dampened tourism to neighboring Yilan County. Hotels have reported a sharp drop in occupancy rates. Ahead of tax season in May, the Yilan County government announced relief on property taxes, to ease the pressure on hotel operators.

A floor-to-ceiling window offers stunning views of Yilan’s verdant landscape. For many travelers, rooms like this are the top choice for an escape.

But the April 3 earthquake in Hualien has dealt a blow to local tourism. Once fully booked on weekends, hotels now struggle with vacancies. Earthquake aftershocks big and small have made many people reconsider trips to Yilan, Hualien, or Taitung.

Lin Chun-heng
Hotel representative
During the pandemic, tourism in Yilan and Hualien fared fine. But since the earthquake, people have hesitated to come to Yilan because they associate this area with Hualien.

With tax season coming up in May, the Yilan County government is offering an installment plan on property taxes. Amounts less than NT$200,000 can be paid in six monthly installments. Amounts between NT$200,000 and NT$1 million can be paid in 12 monthly payments. Amounts from NT$1 million to NT$5 million can be spread over 24 monthly installments. Anything above NT$5 million can be paid in 36 monthly installments over three years.

Lu Tien-lung
Yilan County Finance and Taxation Bureau
Taxpayers, including accommodation providers, who face difficulties in paying their taxes can submit the relevant documents at tax collection agencies before the deadline to request payment in installments.

Wang Wen-hsin
Yilan tourism association
It offers some breathing room. It definitely will lift some of the pressure on businesses.

The installment program applies to accommodation providers, as well as any taxpayer who can prove financial hardship. The local government hopes the program will help earthquake-affected citizens and the hospitality industry get through tough times.

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2024-04-29

Korean immigrant’s wood block prints win acclaim both in Taiwan and abroad

Now we meet Hyun-jin Kim, a South Korean artist who has built her life in Taiwan. She first moved to Taiwan at the age of 23 to study art. Since then, her life has taken many twists and turns. More than 40 years later, all those ups and downs are providing rich material for her work. She’s best known for her wood block printing. In recent years, her “Existence” series of contemplative prints has won acclaim both in Taiwan and abroad. She showed FTV how to print a wood block, and chatted to us about life as an immigrant in Taiwan.

Hyun-jin Kim focuses as her knife flicks back and forth. She works directly into the wood, bringing scenes from her life and her imagination onto the wood, as well as a vivid sense of a universe brimming with energy. Kim has been working on her “Existence” series for several years.

Hyun-jin Kim
Artist and Korean immigrant
What are these two people thinking? What are they saying to each other? People are walking the road behind them, thinking about things.

Kim uses the single-block printing method, carving each piece of wood multiple times, and printing a different color with each press. This piece already has five colors and is being pressed for the sixth time. This time, various shapes have been added and it’s being printed in pink.

Hyun-jin Kim
Artist and Korean immigrant
I’m so nervous. I don’t know how it will turn out.

Wood-block printing is very time consuming. It can be hard and lonely work. Kim looks forward to seeing each color emerge on the paper. Even if one print doesn’t come out as she hoped, she might be able to correct it for the next one. In the end, no print is a disappointment.

Hyun-jin Kim
Artist and Korean immigrant
Sometimes the color as it comes out is different to what I had imagined. But sometimes it’s more beautiful than I had imagined. So wood blocks bring us lots of anticipation and joy.

Kim came to Taiwan at the age of 23 as a graduate student of art. At one point, she had to put her artistic career on hold, but in the end she found her calling again in the world of wood blocks.

Pebbles picked up on the beach and used teabags become materials in her hands. Her prints have won many awards in Taiwan and abroad, and are her greatest treasures.

She came to Taiwan in order to elevate her art, and went through periods of loneliness and struggle here. But now life has come full circle. At 65, Kim is enjoying the present more than ever, with her family.

Hyun-jin Kim
Artist and Korean immigrant
Actually, when I look back, those feelings I had when I was at my lowest have all become material for my creativity. So they were things I needed to experience. So looking back, I’m grateful for everything.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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2024-04-29

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Fourth person dies in Polam Kopitiam food poisoning case

Now for an update on the Polam Kopitiam food poisoning scandal. A fourth person has died in connection to the outbreak. The 40-year-old woman succumbed to multiple organ failure early Monday morning, after seeking medical treatment for nausea and vomiting. She brings the outbreak’s death toll to four. Two others are currently in intensive care, and one of them is being considered for a liver transplant.

In the Polam Kopitiam scandal, the first person to come down with severe food poisoning was Huang Shu-chun, after eating a rice noodle dish. She was recently discharged from the hospital after 22 days.

Hsiao Shu-chun
Food poisoning victim
My liver indexes have returned to normal, but my doctor has told me not to eat anything too greasy or salty. No instant noodles and nothing overly processed. Basically, I should try to eat more whole foods.

The food poisoning scandal’s third death was reported over the weekend, and a fourth emerged early Monday morning.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
The latest casualty was a hospital patient. Her family did not wish to see her suffer, so they signed a DNR order and opted out of emergency resuscitation. She passed away today in the early hours.

This latest casualty was a 40-year-old woman who ate at the restaurant in Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 in mid-March. She fell ill with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and was admitted to Taipei’s MacKay Memorial Hospital. Doctors were able to stabilize her condition at first, but a worsening infection and multiple organ failure led to her death around 3 in the morning on Monday.

Voice of Chen Yen-yuan
Taipei health department head
Her lung infection worsened over the past few days, and her septic shock became more severe. There was no way to control the infection. The family was informed that her condition was irreversible.

To date, 35 cases have been reported in the food poisoning outbreak. These include four deaths and two people still in intensive care. One of the two is at Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital, and is showing signs of improvement following a liver transplant. The other, located at Neihu’s Tri-Service General Hospital, is still in a state of impaired consciousness. The patient is now undergoing an evaluation for a liver transplant.

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2024-04-29

Uses top 400m as TPASS celebrates one-year anniversary

The TPASS monthly transit pass was created to give commuters cheap and convenient access to public transportation. Almost a year on, about 6 million passes have been sold for use in 19 cities and counties, and used more than 400 million times.　To celebrate, the transportation ministry is holding a drawing with the grand prize winner to receive a transit value of NT$15,000.

Premier Chen Chien-jen, transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai and Executive Yuan Secretary-General Li Meng-yen share a stage to celebrate nearly one year with TPASS.

Chen Chien-jen
Premier
When my sister’s child returned to Taiwan, they traveled around everywhere. So to them, TPASS was pretty convenient. Not just us Taiwanese, but also international travelers have given good feedback.

Rolled out in July last year, the Cabinet coordinated among local governments to offer different fees depending on region. Today, a total of 6.09 million passes have been sold and used over 400 million times on all types of public transportation.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
We at the transport ministry are often criticized for our shortcomings. Only TPASS has been universally praised. We’ve been trying to promote use of public transport. We put in a lot of effort, but even reaching 5% was hard. But now we’ve seen enormous growth of 15.8%.

After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, Wang said the government is set to continue TPASS. It has also launched a raffle. Users who register on the Highway Bureau website before June 30 will be eligible to win one of 1,000 prizes, the grand prize being NT$15,000 in transit credit.

TPASS user
It’s not bad. I can ride the MRT as much as I want.

TPASS user
The policy is great. I can see the money I’ve saved. I think if its uses could be expanded further, it would be even better.

The response to TPASS has been enthusiastic. In addition to helping saving money, many users hope to see it expanded to encompass more uses in the future.

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2024-04-29

Calico cat called Dorayaki tapped to lead Houtong’s Cat Public Office

New Taipei’s Houtong, a small village famous for its cats, has gotten a new landmark: the Cat Public Office. It stands in a renovated railway dormitory, and it boasts comfortable living quarters for cats that are up for adoption. The office’s mission will be to turn tourist footfall into higher adoption rates. At its inauguration ceremony on Monday, a calico cat named Dorayaki was named the office’s first and cutest director.

The door opens to reveal wooden cat kennels, a tree-like scratching post, and plenty of feline toys. This is the new Cat Public Office at Houtong in New Taipei. The building previously housed a dorm for railway workers. Now it’s a comfortable living space for cats that are up for adoption. In 2023, the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office gave the building a facelift, making it an adoption center and fresh landmark for Houtong.

A calico cat sits vigilant. This is Dorayaki, the former head of the Cat Public Office planning committee. With the office now in business, Dorayaki has been promoted to become its first and cutest director.

Designer
It was a bit decrepit before. So it wasn’t a good environment for the kitties to interact with people. It was very hard to get close up and personal. The new design allows for more interaction between people and the animals. It feels more natural.

U.S. cable network CNN named Houtong one of six places worldwide “where cats outshine tourist attractions.” At a ceremony on Monday, the Cat Public Office introduced its initiatives for improving cat care in the village. The office issues cat “national IDs” and conducts a population census, in hopes of finding a suitable home for each cat.

Lee Wen
Agriculture Bureau
This is an info stand you use to access all sorts of information about the cat village in an easy-to-understand way. There is tourist information, information about cats and public health rules. It’s all available like at a regular district office.

Houtong’s Cat Public Office is not just a new tourist landmark, but an attempt to turn visitor traffic into higher adoption rates. The local government hopes the public will “adopt, not abandon,” give more animals a loving home, and help Houtong continue to be a friendly community for cats.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2024-04-29

Taiwanese American battles cancer though art

Sixth grader Lin Tzu-yang’s American father passed away when he was only 3 months old, leaving his mother to raise him on her own. Then when Lin was in second grade, his doctorsdiscovered a tumor in his brain. He found solace from his pain in drawing, and after winning the 10th Dream-Building Project, realized his dream of holding an exhibition of his work.

On one side of the painting are cancer cells faced by a litany of doctors, medicine and friends in an epic battle of survival between good and evil. The artist is 12-year-old Lin Tzu-yang, born to American and Taiwanese parents. When he was only 3 months old, his father died of illness. Then at the age of 8, Lin himself was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Lin Ai-lin
Lin Tzu-yang’s mother
It came out of the blue. When Tzu-yang’s father passed, it was actually Tzu-yang who got me through. So when I heard the news, I thought how could it be? It’s also malignant. After I heard it, that entire month I cried every day, whenever I thought about it.

Still young at the time, Lin didn’t understand the concept of life and death, but he could feel the pain as clear as day. He lost his hair during chemotherapy and the medications made him sick and irritable. All he had as a distraction was drawing.

Lin Tzu-yang
Cancer survivor
I just thought I don’t want my family to know or worry. I didn’t want the adults to know I wasn’t feeling well, so I drew.

He drew to forget his pain, but soon fostered a dream to exhibit his work. He got the chance in March with support from the National Immigration Agency’s Dream-Building Project. All proceeds from his art sales were donated to the care fund at the St. Mary’s Hospital hospice unit.

Lin Tzu-yang
Cancer survivor
With more medical equipment, they can treat more patients. I hope more people can be like me and live better lives.

Lin has made it to the other side of his illness. Sharing his experience through art has helped him express the joys and meaning of life.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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

2024-04-29

First plum rains to bring lower temps, showers islandwide from Wednesday

2024-04-29