Taiwanese southpaw Lin Wei-en signs with Oakland Athletics for NT$43.5 million

2024-06-06

Another Taiwanese baseball player is about to join Major League Baseball in the U.S. It’s 18-year-old southpaw Lin Wei-en, who recently graduated from Pingjen Senior High School. Lin will be playing with the Oakland Athletics and wear number 97. He signed on for US$1.35 million, or about NT$43.5 million. Lin’s signing bonus is the biggest amount for a Taiwanese left-handed pitcher in the U.S., surpassing the previous titleholder, Kuo Hong-chih who was signed for US$1.25 million. Let’s hear from Lin.

Lin Wei-en
Taiwanese pitcher
I would like to thank my parents, my family, my mentor Chang Tsang-pin張滄彬and my coaches. It’s thanks to them that I am where I am today. I’m very grateful for the Athletics’ interest in me. I will work hard to make it in the MLB. I had a trainer in high school help me with my physical fitness, and worked on managing my diet. Mentally, my coaches have offered me guidance all along on how to handle the high pressure of competition, and overcoming challenges that can affect me mentally.

Back in his second year of high school, Lin Wei-en was already determined to play in the U.S. His coaches were very supportive and helped him prepare. As the recipient of the highest signing bonus for a leftie pitcher, Lin has not forgotten to give back to his former schools. The young athlete has donated a total of NT$450,000 to Guishan Elementary School, Hsin Ming Junior High School and Pingjen Senior High School.

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左投林維恩加盟運動家簽約金4350萬創紀錄

2024-06-06

美國職棒要又增添一位台灣好手了，才18歲的左投林維恩，剛從平鎮高中畢業，今天就正式加盟奧克蘭運動家隊，穿上了97號的球衣，他的簽約金135萬美元，大約4350萬台幣，也超越郭泓志的125萬美元簽約金，成為台灣史上簽約金最高的旅美左投。

[[運動家隊投手林維恩]]
“很謝謝父母，家人，張(滄彬)老師，教練，就是謝謝他們，有他們才會有今天的我，謝謝他們(運動家)的青睞，我以後會去努力朝大聯盟邁進。身體素質就是，高中就有訓練師幫忙帶，然後飲食，心理就是，面對比賽那個高壓力的環境，要怎麼克服自己的心理，就教練私底下都有在指導”

其實，早在高二的時候，林維恩就已經立下志向要進軍美國，教練也很配合，提早讓他開始準備自己。這回締造台灣左投旅美簽約金的紀錄，林維恩也不忘回饋，曾經培養過他的學校，分別捐款給桃園龜山國小、新明國中以及平鎮高中，總共45萬。

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Executive Yuan to request reconsideration of controversial legislative power bills

A set of controversial bills to expand legislative powers has been delivered at the Executive Yuan. Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet may seek a reconsideration of the bills by the Legislative Yuan to potentially get them withdrawn. If the lawmakers uphold the bills again, the DPP says it will request a ruling on whether they are constitutional. The bills had triggered sharp backlash from the public when they were passed last month, putting significant pressure on KMT and TPP lawmakers.

Last month on May 28, the Legislative Yuan passed several bills to expand its powers. On Wednesday, the bills were delivered at the Executive Yuan. Premier Cho Jung-tai has asked Minister Without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin to evaluate whether to seek remedies in accordance with the Constitution. The matter was added to the Executive Yuan’s agenda for Thursday, to decide whether to send the revisions back to the Legislature for reconsideration.

Chen Shih-kai
Executive Yuan spokesperson
As the country’s highest administrative body, we must act in accordance with laws and we have the responsibility of defending constitutional order and safeguarding the basic rights of the people.The purpose of the reconsideration is not to further escalate tensions between ruling and opposition parties. We hope that by invoking this constitutional process, the Legislative Yuan will reconsider the contents of the bill to achieve a consensus that’s in line with the Constitution and in the best interests of our nation.

According to the Constitution, if the Executive Yuan deems a resolution passed by the Legislative Yuan difficult of execution, it may request the Legislative Yuan to reconsider the resolution, within 10 days after its transmission to the Executive Yuan. That means the request must be made by June 14.

Hsu Chiao-hsin
KMT lawmaker
If the Executive Yuan requests reconsideration, it would be quite unacceptable, in my opinion. Our demands are very simple. That is, officials summoned for interpellation should not tell lies. They should tell the truth as it is. Isn’t that what the people want?

Ker Chien-ming
DPP lawmaker
If the reconsideration isn’t successful, we will call for a constitutional interpretation. We will absolutely do so. We must demonstrate our commitment to upholding a constitutional government.

If the request for consideration goes ahead, the Legislative Yuan will have 15 days to reach a final resolution on the bill, which must be agreed on by at least half of all lawmakers. If upheld, it must then be accepted by the Executive Yuan and sent to the president to be announced and enter effect. The DPP legislative caucus says if that happens, it will request a constitutional interpretation.

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2024-06-06

US defense contractors take part in closed-door defense conference in Taipei

A recent report by Reuters revealed that the U.S. state department has agreed to sell Taiwan spare and repair parts for F-16 fighter jets. The news was a shot in the arm for Taiwan’s Armed Forces. It also shows that new defense minister Wellington Koo has his sights set on getting things done, which includes exchanges like Thursday’s closed-door US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference.

Former commanding general of the Marine Forces Pacific Steven Rudder led a delegation of U.S. defense contractors to Taipei, where the 40-member group took part in the annual U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference. More than 100 Taiwanese defense contractors also attended the closed-door conference. Issues covered included aerospace, shipbuilding, information security, and national defense logistics.

Liu Kuan-hua
ChenFull Precision
In Taiwan we have good manufacturing ability and capacity. And we also are excellent in terms of delivery time and quality, so we’ve made them be able to have even more confidence in us.

Ma Wan-june
Aerospace Industrial Development Corp
We want to be able to help ourselves, because we believe that the spirits above help those who help themselves. So this is why we’ve worked so hard at developing our own domestically-built military airplanes; I’d say this shows our own defense autonomy. Companies have different cultures, and, to me, I want them to really get to know what we’re about.

Key topics at the conference included domestically developed warships and fighter jets, utilization of AI national defense technology, and drone technology. These types of technology show the close connection the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan have with one another.

Wellington Koo
Defense minister
This is the culture of how private companies interact with one another. But I don’t think there’s any real connection between this aspect and the process of the defense ministry’s own arms purchases.

Koo also stressed the importance of Taiwan needing to strengthen its own self-defense capabilities. Becoming part of the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific strategy can effectively deter China’s military threat.

Wellington Koo
Defense minister
Of course, the primary focus is still on us strengthening our own self-defense capabilities, and by being part of the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific strategy we’ll become an important link in the entire chain, which will provide effective deterrence; this is our main focus. As for the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan working together, we do work together, but we just can’t divulge it.

Koo’s words have given the public a lot of room for imagination when it comes to exchanges between the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan.

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2024-06-06

Taiwan top choice for expansion: Supermicro founder

2024-06-06

Taiwanese mayors are striving to make their cities home to Nvidia’s supercomputers

Nvidia has overtaken Apple to become the world’s second most valuable company. The AI giant’s CEO Jensen Huang is currently in Taiwan, where he’s been spotted at Computex, night markets, and restaurants. Also seeking out Huang are nine mayors and county commissioners, who are vying to make their municipalities be home to Nvidia’s supercomputers.

Jensen Huang, the “godfather” of AI chips, has been spotted again. In the morning, Huang was seen at Nvidia’s Taipei headquarters, and by lunchtime he was back at the same traditional Taiwanese restaurant that he recently took supply chain partners to.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
I will leave on Saturday morning. I will definitely come again before the year is over.

During Huang’s trip to Taiwan, wherever he goes fans follow. Nine of those fans include Taiwanese mayors and county commissioners, who are doing everything in their powers to attract Nvidia to their municipalities.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
After both parties have talked, we’ll then offer the best conditions and benefits that we can; it’ll be an all-out effort. We want to be proactive about winning over Nvidia.

Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung mayor
Our ocean views are unrivaled. And there are dock spaces as well; going out to sea is a great way to relieve stress. Our transportation is also fantastic. We have the basic yet essential aspects that industries need.

Huang Wei-che
Tainan mayor
Our city has some diplomacy agendas that we’d already finalized back in March and April. Back then we didn’t know that Jensen Huang and Lisa Su would be coming to Taiwan’s Computex. Jensanity has swept over the island, but, to be frank, we need to stay here and take care of our own city affairs.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che even canceled a trip to Thailand in order to court companies to invest in his city. Jensen Huang revealed his company’s new R&D center might just be located near Taipei, but despite this many municipality leaders have not given up in their pursuit of Nvidia. And now the tech CEO has provided his location considerations.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
We need more power in Taiwan, so we will put our AI supercomputers where there’s abundant energy. But we will put the supercomputers in the right place.

In 2022, Taipei’s Neihu District became the home of Nvidia’s first R&D center, which currently has about 400 workers. But Huang is yet to confirm whether this center will be expanded in size or if a second R&D center will be built. With the future up for grabs, municipality leaders are striving to curry favor with the godfather of AI chips.

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2024-06-06

Wei Chuan Dragons cheerleader Lee Dahye shows off talents

2024-06-06

Fifth death reported in Polam Kopitiam food poisoning cluster

One more death has been reported that’s linked to the Polam Kopitiam food poisoning cluster in Taipei. The victim was a woman in her 50s who had eaten at the restaurant’s Xinyi branch on March 22. She had been in need of a liver transplant and suffered from multiple infections that ultimately caused her death. That brings the total number of fatalities to five.

The food poisoning cluster at Polam Kopitiam has claimed one more life, a 53-year-old woman who had eaten fried rice noodles with eggs at the restaurant’s branch in Taipei’s Xinyi District on March 22. She felt unwell after the meal, and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Tri-Service General Hospital on March 25. She died on June 5, from multiple infections.

Voice of Chen Yen-yuan
Taipei health department head
Bongkrekic acid caused liver failure, after which the infections got out of control. Being at the intensive care unit can easily lead to multiple infections. The infections plus the administration of the maximum dosage of cardiotonic drugs made her situation unmanageable, which led to her death.

It is the fifth death linked to the food poisoning cluster. One diner remains hospitalized.

Voice of Huang Chien-hsien
Shink Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital
The treatment may involve intravenous infusions and cardiotonic injections. The patient may also be intubated, such as in cases of respiratory failure. Under normal conditions, without tubes, germs won’t cause infections. But when you are intubated, the germs can more easily access the body, causing infections.

Victims who recovered after a close call with death have been left with huge medical bills and no compensation yet. Reports say that some of them had to borrow money from relatives and friends to cover the expenses. Victims of the cluster have had to rely on themselves. The Consumers’ Foundation will file a class action lawsuit on their behalf, with a press conference to be held on the matter on June 13.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
We provided as much assistance as we could from the very beginning. The relatives have agreed to the class action lawsuit and they’re willing to go ahead and have the assistance of the Consumers’ Foundation act on their behalf.

With compensation stalling, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government will provide all the assistance necessary, adding that the relevant procedures to provide compensation are already underway.

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2024-06-06

Keelung announces revitalization plan for Chaojing Park businesses after landslide

2024-06-06

Annie Chen is new spokesperson for World Vision in their work for refugees

Celebrated actor Annie Chen is the new spokesperson for World Vision in their work for refugees. The actor recently went to Bangladesh to visit Kutupalong refugee camp, the world’s largest refugee camp. There she met a number of displaced families, just a tiny fraction of the one million residents of the camp. She shared about her impressions of refugee life, as well as her memories of going through the Jiji earthquake as a child, to encourage viewers to join in the charity’s 30 Hour Famine project.

30 Hour Famine spokesperson Annie Chen recently visited the largest refugee camp in the world. It’s one twentieth the size of Taipei and has 1 million residents. She met a family of six who live in a home of less than 2 ping – a situation that broke her heart.

Annie Chen
30 Hour Famine spokesperson
Actually, just looking at how much rice they had, it was about five mouthfuls of rice for an adult. And on the side, maybe three or four cloves of garlic. That was the entire meal for the whole family. That was hugely shocking to me.

Just NT$10 is assigned to each refugee a day. Almost all the children living here are malnourished. Annie Chen became a kids’ favorite in the camp, doing her best to bring out a smile for her audience. She also shared her own story of living through the 1999 Jiji earthquake as a child.

Annie Chen
30 Hour Famine spokesperson
Through various means, we made our way over a series of mountains and we reached a high place. I looked down at Dongshi, a place I knew so well, and thought “How has it turned into such a ruin?” I think I was a third or fourth grader at the time. It was such a shock. So I thought, “When I grow up, I want to be able to contribute something.”

Li Shao-ling
World Vision Taiwan director
Right now, the number of refugees worldwide has grown to almost 110 million, and 40% of them are children. Preschool children represent the majority.

Chen’s experience of the camp had a huge impact on her, and she’s calling on more people to support the 30 Hour Famine project, to reach out a hand of support for the children she met.

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2024-06-06

Microalgae protein extract proven to combat viruses

2024-06-06

Kaohsiung French Festival from June 7 till June 9

2024-06-06

Taiwanese southpaw Lin Wei-en signs with Oakland Athletics for NT$43.5 million