Legislative Yuan passes contested bills, DPP to seek constitutional interpretation

Legislative Yuan passes contested bills, DPP to seek constitutional interpretation

2024-05-28

The Legislative Yuan has passed three contested bills that expand the parliament’s powers over the executive branch. One bill introduces penalties for holding the legislature in contempt. Another expands the legislature’s powers of investigation. The third requires the president to deliver an annual state of the nation address at the legislature, and to take questions from lawmakers. The bills were introduced and passed by the opposition parties, using their legislative majority.

Ruling party lawmakers plan to seek a constitutional interpretation on the legislation. Outside the Legislative Yuan, thousands of protesters gathered over the course of the day. The protest’s organizer, Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang, said that the battle wasn’t over yet. Civic groups will request that the Executive Yuan object to the bills. They’ll also take their concerns directly to legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu.

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國會擴權案三讀通過! 民進黨團將提釋憲反制

2024-05-28

國會改革表決大戰第四回合，藍白以人數優勢，強行三讀通過立院職權行使法，內容包含總統國情報告常態化、聽證調查權、藐視國會部分條例。

民進黨團已經展開釋憲工作準備，要持續用其他方法阻擋。立法院外，發起抗議行動的主要團體經民連召集人賴中強宣布，反國會擴權活動沒有結束，接下來公民團體會請求行政院提覆議、釋憲，也會派代表找院長韓國瑜，當面表達訴求。

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Lai visits troops with zongzi to mark Dragon Boat Festival

President Lai Ching-te visited the troops on Tuesday, following China’s large-scale “encirclement” drills around Taiwan. He made stops at bases central to the East Coast’s defense. Lai thanked soldiers for keeping the country safe. He also joined them for a meal of zongzi to mark the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.

An artillery firing drill gets underway, as President Lai Ching-te watches on in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Despite heavy rains shortening the exercise, the soldiers performed at their peak.

Besides inspecting a mixed squadron in Hualien, Lai visited a naval base armed with Hsiung Feng missiles. He also stopped by the Air Force’s Fifth Tactical Wing, which is home to F-16 fighters. Ahead of Dragon Boat Festival, Lai arrived with zongzi to celebrate with the troops.

Lai Ching-te
President
Dragon Boat Festival is coming up soon. Today we’ve prepared meat zongzi as a gesture of our appreciation to you all. National security takes no holidays. Only because our brothers and sisters in the military hold fast to their posts can the people peacefully enjoy the festival. Let us continue to work hard together to make our nation even safer. Because of China’s recent military drills, you all have been under great duress. Thank you all.

Although it was a routine visit to the troops, Lai stopped at bases central to eastern Taiwan’s air and naval defense, which was recently challenged by China’s encirclement drills. Notably, he sported an F-16V bomber jacket.

Lai Ching-te
President
Just now, the pilots of this wing thoroughly briefed me on their response to CCP aircraft disruptions, and on the performance capabilities of our fighter jets. Everyone is on standby 24 hours a day, maintaining our air patrols. Under the leadership of wing commander Chuang, our brothers and sisters are enhancing our air defense and protecting our skies with unwavering determination and outstanding combat skills.

It was Lai’s ninth day in office and his second visit to the troops. Due to heavy rains that briefly closed a Hualien airport, Lai’s departure was delayed by 10 minutes. But the rest of his tour proceeded as planned.

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2024-05-28

Heavy rains batter Taiwan, with more wet weather forecast for weekend

Heavy downpours battered the west coast on Tuesday, causing flooding and traffic chaos. The rains are expected to subside Wednesday and Thursday as a convective front moves away. But they’re set to return over the weekend with even greater intensity.

A strong convective system is moving in and making its presence felt. In Chiayi’s Minxiong Township, 59 millimeters of rain fell in just one hour. The daily total hit a staggering 149 millimeters in Chiayi’s Dapu Township and 147 millimeters in Tainan’s Baihe District.

Rainstorms also battered Miaoli’s Zhunan Township, flooding a tunnel on Huanshi Road with more than 80 centimeters of water. According to the Central Weather Administration, as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, seven of the Top 10 rainiest locations were in Miaoli, where Tongxiao and Yuanli both made it to the Top 3 with more than 100 millimeters of precipitation.

Heavy rains also fell over Taichung. At around 7 a.m., flooding on Freeway No. 1 reached halfway up the car tires at the northbound exit ramp of the 160-kilometer mark. Highway police responded immediately, putting up warning lights. The ramp’s outer lane was closed off, so that just one car could pass at a time. The incident caused major bottlenecks during rush hour, forcing many drivers to reroute.

Over at Huwei Township in Yunlin, the morning downpour flooded many low-lying roads, creating pools of standing water.

Lin Po-tung
CWA
There are now convective currents moving in from the Taiwan Strait. Some currents have even intensified over land. The main area affected is the western half of the island. That’s where the impact of the convective currents is most noticeable. After the cloud system passes through, it could also bring localized heavy showers to Hualien and Taitung.

The Central Weather Administration has issued heavy and extremely heavy rain advisories across the west coast. Extreme weather, lightning strikes and strong gusts are also expected.

Lin Po-tung
CWA
From Friday to Sunday, the front will once again approach and affect us. We may see heavy rains across Taiwan, and even more intense weather. Watch out for lightning, strong wind, or sudden heavy downpours. Starting next Monday, the front will move south again and the wet weather will ease islandwide.

Heavy rains are expected over the weekend. The CWA says that this season’s first tropical storm is continuing its path toward Japan, and is not expected to affect Taiwan.

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2024-05-28

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang draws crowd during Taipei shopping excursion

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Shareholders’ meetings spark excitement about commemorative memorabilia

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Certified golf instructor gets youth on the green with thorough training

Today we take you to meet golf instructor Alice Ho, a certified golf instructor at an international golf academy in Taiwan. Before moving to Taiwan five years ago, Ho was a college athlete in the U.S. Besides teaching, Ho is involved in the organization of an annual golf open that will once come again to New Taipei this summer. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Ho to find out more.

The student takes a swing. IPad in hand, an instructor gives a detailed analysis of the motion and tells the student how to improve.

This is Alice Ho, a golf instructor at an international golf academy.

Alice Ho
Golf instructor
I teach a range of classes. If you come to me for a private lesson, it could be one-on-one, one-on-two, or one-to-three. Or a big group class. If we are here at the range, we will basically have a bay here. I will teach you just the basics. I like to focus on the basics, the fundamentals, and maybe give you some drills and exercises you can take home with you. And if this is OK, we can go to the golf course and also do a playing lesson.

Ho began playing golf at a young age and started playing competitively when she was 11 years old. She played Division 1 golf at Southern Illinois University while studying human nutrition and dietetics. Chen moved to Taiwan five years ago to help launch a church, and she stayed to teach golf.

Alice Ho
Golf instructor
Five years back I moved to Taiwan with a group of people from my church in the US to help start a new one in Taipei. That was my main reason for coming. I stayed here through just teaching golf. That is also my passion so I have been doing that since. Turns out I met my husband at that church so now I am married and we will call Taiwan our home sweet home for now at the moment.

Every year, her golf academy holds the Taiwan Junior Open. Registrations are now open and the open will be held from Aug. 16 to Aug. 18.

Alice Ho
Golf instructor
I help coordinate the Taiwan Junior Open, which is hosted every August. This is a prestigious tournament where we invite great players from around the world to attend this tournament. We are excited to have that happen again. We are currently accepting international participants. The deadline is on June 30 for entries. Domestic entries open later after that.

Ho says she hopes to continue to take on more senior roles in the academy, elevate her teaching game and explore more creative ways to engage her students.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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2024-05-28

Taiwan builds satellite system to stay online should China attack

Taiwan is building a satellite system to secure communications in the event of a Chinese attack. Currently, Taiwan is linked to the rest of the world by 15 submarine cables, which could become a prime target for a PLA attack. Already last year, residents of Matsu were left without internet for weeks, after two underwater cables were damaged by passing ships.

More than a thousand low-orbit satellites make up SpaceX’s Starlink, a satellite internet constellation. The system has provided internet service in the warzones of Ukraine and Gaza and at natural disaster sites, allowing locals to connect with the outside world when ground telecoms equipment is damaged. But the system is largely under the control of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Elon Musk
SpaceX CEO
The policy has been to reunite Taiwan with China. From that standpoint, it is maybe analogous to Hawaii.

Due to Tesla’s business interests in China, Musk has made clear his pro-China sentiments. Taiwan currently does not have access to Starlink. Its connectivity, which depends on 15 submarine cables, is at risk if China were to attack. Last year, Matsu was left without internet after two of the cables were severed.

Reporter
If the internet or the communication lines were cut, Taiwan could go into the dark, right? Without this.

Wu Jong-shinn
Taiwan Space Agency
Yes, I think so.

CNN spoke with Wu Jong-shinn, director-general of the Taiwan Space Agency. It asked about Taiwan’s multi-billion U.S. dollar program to build its own version of Starlink, to ensure secure communications.

Wu Jong-shinn
Taiwan Space Agency
China is rising up in space tech. For example, Taiwan has these political difficulties internationally, as you know. But in space there is no country divisions, there’s no boundaries.

The Taiwan Space Agency is developing two communication satellites, the first of which could be launched by 2026. But according to an Australian expert, Taiwan would need at least 50 satellites to provide, quote, “fairly decent” emergency coverage. He said that for reliable bandwidth, hundreds of satellites would be required, and the more the better, provided that there’s enough funding to launch them all.

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2024-05-28

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Glass art show in Taipei focuses on environmental protection

The famous glass artist and actor Loretta Yang has a new show on in Taipei. Her latest passion is environmental protection, and incorporating reused waste materials in to her art. The show at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park includes an innovative series of glass art works based on “Time and Space.” Yang is also collaborating with an industrial wooden items manufacturer, in the hope of broadening the scope of her activism as well as her art.

Two-time winner of the Golden Horse for Best Leading Actress, Loretta Yang, switched tracks to focus on a career in glass art 40 years ago. Now she’s even more passionate about ocean protection.

Loretta Yang
Glass artist and actor
Concerning sustainability, I think that right now, across the whole world, we are facing a huge crisis of consciousness concerning the environment. If I make my materials reusable, that means it’s helping the environment, helping protect the environment.

Yang gave us a tour of her glass art works, and how she has incorporated “green design” into her work. She wants to work with repurposed waste materials as well as reduce her carbon footprint. In recent years, she’s collaborated with an industrial wooden items manufacturer, and hopes a cross-disciplinary project will make a big splash.

Chiang Shih-chen
Wooden items manufacturer
We don’t come from the same world. When we bump together, naturally we have a lot of differences, and the friction we experience there creates fireworks! Different perspectives.

Loretta Yang
Glass artist and actor
There are certainly challenges! But I think that’s where fireworks come from. We don’t need to fear challenge. Mr. Chiang loves it when we challenge him!

Yang’s works are on display in the Taiwan Design Pavilion at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The show highlights circular design and innovates the glass art field with a series of tables themed on the concept “Time and Space.”

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2024-05-28

Tour guide helps expand Thai tourism market in Taiwan

Born in Thailand, Lily Shiu came to Taiwan to study and eventually settle down. She has a passion for sharing cultures, and often visits communities to teach about Thailand. She is also a certified tour guide in Mandarin and Thai, making good use of her mother tongue to expand horizons for herself and the Thai-language market in Taiwan.

Tour guide Lily Shiu explains the history of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Thai. After over two decades in Taiwan, she has a special fondness for the job.

Lily Shiu
Tour guide
I love to travel myself, and I love Taiwan. Taiwan’s very small, but there are still a lot of places I haven’t seen. With the New Southbound Policy, the tour guide test has Southeast Asian languages including Thai, so I wanted to give it a shot.

To develop the burgeoning Southeast Asian market, the government’s New Southbound Policy supports tour guides proficient in target languages. Shiu passed thanks to her language skills, and is now highly in demand.

Lily Shiu
Tour guide
My travelers tell me that the next time they come to Taiwan that they’ll have me lead their tour. We’re all happy to know one another and add each other as friends. I feel so accomplished, especially when they say they had a great time and want to come back to Taiwan again.

Shiu is originally from the north of Thailand. In 1998, she came to Taiwan as an overseas Taiwanese student, then married into a family in Pingtung. In her free time, she likes to make art. Mangrove roots, coconut shells and other natural materials are her media of choice.

She brings her artwork to share with communities and elderly residents.

Lily Shiu
Tour guide
I like a challenge. If you hear of an opportunity, let me know, and I will give it a shot. I also want to try my hand at leading a tour group. I’m a tour guide now. I want to show Taiwan to Thai people, and also introduce Taiwanese to Thailand.

Trying new things and meeting all challenges before her, Shiu hopes to become an ambassador contributing to exchange between her two homes.

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

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2024-05-28

Taiwan bird research lab goes viral in Japan

A Taiwanese bird research lab has gone viral in Japan, with a clever weight measurement device! The researchers at NPUST Bird Ecology Lab attached a tree branch to a pair of scales. Now, whenever a wild bird lands on the branch, they get a quick and easy reading of its weight. It’s a truly non-invasive way to gather data about wild birds. Biologists at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology have been studying birds and their ecosystems in the lab for decades– but this is the first time they’ve gone viral online!

A common kestrel stands on the scale. It weighs in at 250 grams.

Now it’s an osprey’s turn. But it’s too heavy for the scale, which registers “Off the charts.” Then in the night, a Japanese scops owl swoops in.

Researchers at NPUST Bird Ecology Lab have studied the ecology of birds of prey in Taiwan for many years. Their latest bright idea is to use this tree branch as a platform for a scale. But they didn’t expect one of their photos to get shared on social media by Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Japan – and then go viral in Japan.

Mr. Huang
NPUST Bird Ecology Lab student
We’re quite shocked to go viral in Japan! It’s the first time someone has thought to install scales on a landing post on their lab.

The photo attracted 100,000 unexpected new followers on social media. These cute birds have really won the hearts of Japanese internet users, who are also impressed with the nifty scales innovation.

Huang Hsiao-yu
NPUST Bird Ecology Lab raptor researcher
When a bird stands on it, you can see its general weight from the pointer. Of course it’s not a terribly accurate figure, because there might be a leverage issue. But it’s an extremely simple and easy way to measure the weights of wild birds.

It’s not easy to capture wild birds, but with this simple jump-on scales system, researchers can gather useful data without disturbing birds’ lives. It might not be 100% accurate, but it’s certainly ignited plenty of interest in our feathered friends.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-05-28