Lai forms three committees to tackle national challenges

Lai forms three committees to tackle national challenges

2024-06-19

President Lai Ching-te has announced the creation of three committees to address national challenges. Lai plans to lead all three committees, which will tackle the issues of climate change, emergency preparedness, and health care. The announcement was made at a press conference marking his first month in office. This is what the president had to say.

Lai Ching-te
President
One goal is to engage in dialogue with civil society. We will invite the participation of people from different political parties, people with diverse opinions. It’s against this context that we invited Pegatron Chair Tung Tzu-hsien to serve as a deputy convener.

The opposition questioned the necessity of the committees, saying that they undermine the role of the Executive Yuan. Responding to these concerns, Lai said that his administration stands united, and that Premier Cho Jung-tai had been fully consulted on the committees.

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3委員會遭疑架空閣揆賴總統:與卓榮泰充分討論

2024-06-19

總統賴清德上任到明天就滿月了，今天他召開記者會，宣布將成立三大任務型編組委員會，由他親自擔任召集人，擬定國家發展戰略。

[[總統賴清德]]
“(委員會)其中一個目標就是加強社會對話，也就是會邀請不同黨派，不同意見的人共同參與，邀請童子賢董事長來擔任副召集人，也是在這樣的背景之下來進行。

對於在野質疑三大委員會疊床架屋、架空閣揆，賴總統表示，國政是一體的，在推動3個委員會過程中，已經和行政院長卓榮泰充分討論。

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DPP campaigns against ‘reform’ legislation ahead of Friday vote

The opposition’s so-called "reform" legislation could be revoked with a crucial vote this Friday. Ahead of this second reckoning, the DPP is campaigning across the nation. In Hualien, DPP Councilor Chang Mei-hui argued against the amendments inside a busy market. Councilor Lin Yan-feng spoke to a captivated audience in Taipei’s Beitou. From Wednesday to Friday, civic groups will hold street demonstrations outside the Legislative Yuan, to pressure lawmakers ahead of the vote.

Lin Yan-feng
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
Our hope is that more people will come to understand what this legislation is all about.

DPP Taipei City Councilor Lin Yan-feng campaigns on the street, ahead of Friday’s vote on the Cabinet’s reconsideration motion. She urged opposition lawmakers to break ranks and vote to nullify the so-called “reform” legislation.

Lin Yan-feng
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
The KMT and TPP should send the legislation back to committee for review, in accordance with democratic principles.

Member of public
This is our country and it’s up to us to save it. Don’t even mention Huang Kuo-chang and Fu Chi-kun to me. Or Hsu Chiao-hsin. All of these people are useless.

Member of public
The blue and white camps are so overbearing. They forced the legislation through by sheer numbers.

Over the next three days, civic groups will hold a street demonstration outside the Legislative Yuan. Meanwhile, DPP members nationwide will continue their campaign against the contested legislation. In Hualien, DPP Councilor Chang Mei-hui rallied supporters at a traditional market. In Taichung, councilors also took the streets.

Chiang Chao-kuo
Taichung City councilor
These next three days are the most important. We must block this legislation that illicitly expands the legislature’s power and subverts the Constitution.

Chang Mei-hui
Hualien County councilor (DPP)
We need to let folks know that lawmakers have a duty to review bills, but that administrative procedures and procedural justice must be in place.

Member of public
For the ruling DPP, this is a difficult challenge. But at the same time, it’s allowing the people to see clearly that we are the masters of the nation. It’s really something to be afforded this kind of respect.

Locals decried the opposition for ignoring public opinion and using its majority to force through legislation. They had praise for the DPP’s grassroots approach, saying it made their opinions feel heard.

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Junior-high students bake delicious handmade bread on campus

Chung Hsing Junior High School in Nantou has a hidden delicacy that few people outside the school community have enjoyed. These are baked goods entirely handmade by students in the baking class, who practice every day so they can earn their baking license. Using quality ingredients, the baked goods come out sweet, but not cloying. Those outside the community can only enjoy them when the school holds events.

As the oven opens, the smell of freshly baked bread fills the air.

Baking teacher
They have to make them this pretty for me to be satisfied.

These chocolate pineapple and butter-crust buns are all handmade by students at Chung Hsing Junior High School in Nantou. Every month these students use thousands of kilograms of flour, keeping them very busy. With this training, many students earn their baking license.

Chen Szu-yu
Student
There’s a lot of pressure, because we have to get the license and compete, and we don’t have much time, so it’s very stressful. But if you can get all the licenses and win first place in competitions, suddenly all the stress is gone.

Chang En-chi
Student
I felt really accomplished after getting my license. I made my school proud and increased my opportunities for further education.

Baked goods made during practice sessions are usually taken home by teachers and donors to the school. Those outside the community have to wait until the school holds an important event, like a baking competition, to try them.

Visitor
It tastes very buttery and doesn’t have an artificial flavor like breads sold outside.

Lee Chih-ching
Chung Hsing Junior High principal
We encourage those who participate in our events to share our ideals. By making donations, they support the long-term development of our skills classes. When we have new products, we share them with donors, giving back to those who share our ideals.

There are delicious delicacies hidden in this junior-high school. As students prepare to earn their baking license, they fill the campus with the smell of freshly baked bread.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Meet Chen Yi-chen, sports ambassador for the Strong Generation

We all know that exercise is important at every age. But finding the motivation to get out and get moving can be tough. Sometimes we all need a cheerleader, and that’s where Chen Yi-chen 陳亦珍 comes in. Chen is the sports ambassador for the Strong Generation older people’s campaign. Her story is an unusual one. She had never enjoyed sports, and found exercise difficult as a young woman, due to her flat feet. It was only at the age of 50 that she fell in love with working out. And it was all because she found not only the right sport but folks who encouraged her.

Chen Yi-chen
Strong Generation sports ambassador
I only started to get really into sports when I was 50. Cycling makes you feel like nowhere is off limits, like you have wings.

This 64-year-old cyclist is Chen Yi-chen. She’s glowing with happiness as she pedals her way all over the world.

Chen Yi-chen
Strong Generation sports ambassador
I went cycling in Spain, on the pilgrimage route, for two weeks. I went to Norway, too, and the Shimanami Kaido in Japan. All the famous spots in Taiwan, really: Wuling, Taipingshan, Hsuehshan.

Chen shares her cycling resume proudly. She spent many years working in the magazine industry. She had never liked sports, ever since she was a child, and found it difficult to walk because of her flat feet. After an operation in her 40s, to her complete surprise, she started to fall in love with exercise.

Chen Yi-chen
Strong Generation sports ambassador
My fitness had gotten really bad. I felt tired after just a short walk. I wasn’t sleeping well. The doctor said to me, “Get some exercise.” I thought, “Is there an activity I actually like, a sport I actually enjoy?” I landed on cycling, and then I realized, “This is fun!” Because you don’t have to put your feet on the ground!

Chen likes to go cycling in the afternoon and then hit the gym in the evening. She exercises every single day of the week, swimming, weightlifting, mountain climbing, and cycling. Now she’s a sports ambassador for the “Strong Generation” campaign, tasked with waving the flag for the importance of exercise in middle age and beyond. She’s already got more than 5,000 followers on Facebook, and wants to encourage everyone to get active.

Chen Yi-chen
Strong Generation sports ambassador
It’s not that easy to get everyone outdoors and exercising. You need people to constantly encourage you, and give you a goal.

For Chen, setting goals in her sports regimen is very important. That inspires her to rise to the challenge, and she relishes upending stereotypes about old age. Her next target? Learning to ride a horse.

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Rail operator’s R200 locomotive enters service

The Taiwan Railway Corporation’s R200 locomotives are in service. Built by Swiss company Stadler Rail, the diesel-electric locomotives were launched Wednesday, after completing a year of testing and adjustments. They will be used for freight and military transport, improving safety and lowering costs. And rail fans take note. R200 merchandise is now available at TRC stores nationwide.

The locomotive starts slowly, pulling eight cars loaded with marble, military trucks, and shipping containers. The Taiwan Railway Corporation’s R200 entered service on Wednesday. Rail fans gathered bright and early to ensure a front-row seat at the launch.

Member of public
I got here around 7 a.m. It’s very cool.

Member of public
I came over here from New Taipei. This new locomotive is much quieter. It produces a lot less pollution. It’s also much more powerful.

The R200 is a high-performance diesel-electric locomotive supplied by a Swiss company. It has a powerful 2,700-horsepower motor. It also exceeds the Taiwan government’s standards for mobile-source pollutants. The R200 is Taiwan’s first locomotive equipped with peripheral cameras, which give views surrounding the vehicle. It’s also got engine overheat protection and automatic fire suppression, improving safety for train crews.

Member of public
I got here around 7:30 a.m. I bought two keychains, two souvenir water bottles, and a mug.

At the locomotive’s launch event, rail fans flocked to booths selling R200 merchandise. The first 100 people at the event received a limited-edition R200 EasyCard.

Tu Wei
Taiwan Railway Corporation head
In the future, the R200 will be used for freight, military transport, and other special purposes. It will help the Taiwan Railway Corporation improve its freight services.

The rail operator said that in the future, the R200 will be deployed at the Hualien and Changhua locomotive depots, undertaking freight transport along the Eastern and Western main lines. It’s expected to improve the safety and efficiency of freight transport, while reducing transportation costs.

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Taipei to reduce traffic light wait times to spare drivers from heat

Now that the temperatures have surpassed 30 degrees, it can be unbearable to sit at a traffic light under the hot sun. Many scooter drivers instead illegally find shaded areas to wait. To reduce the amount of time drivers have to sit in the heat, Taipei announced that in July and August, 740 red lights are to be shortened by 21 seconds on average. One intersection in Tianmu cut its time down to 80 seconds from 170.

For waiting at red lights under the scorching sun, many scooter drivers wear gloves, sleeves, and thin jackets as well as sunscreen. Yet even with all that, sitting in over 30 degree temperatures can be too much.

Scooter driver
If there’s a tree nearby, I’ll wait under it or in the shade.

Scooter driver
I wear sunscreen. You have to protect your hands. Also sleeves and ice water.

Scooter driver
You have to wait by the side of the road. If there’s no shade, then you just have to deal with it. If your arms are like this and the top gets tanned, just turn them over. At least it won’t be uneven.

To minimize time spent in the sun, Taipei is shortening red light times from July 1 until the end of August. At 740 intersections across the city, times will be cut by 21 seconds on average. The biggest change is in Tianmu, where one light will be reduced by 90 seconds.

Scooter driver
Sometimes there’s nowhere shaded to wait and it really gets too hot in the sun. So it’s nice that they’re cutting the times.

Scooter driver
You need to have the proper supporting measures. If you don’t, I have to wait for pedestrians to cross. If I don’t turn in time, it’ll be another 20 seconds and it’s the same.

The city government says that wait times will only be reduced from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to minimize impact on other motorists.

Wu Yu-wei
Taipei traffic control deputy head
If at a particular intersection, vehicles aren’t able to turn right in time, like the one I just mentioned, we’ll do our best to fix it. For the traffic light times, we’ll avoid peak hours.

Fewer lights will be shortened this year than in the past two years. But no matter what, having to wait a few fewer seconds in the sun is a welcome reprieve for motorists.

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

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Dance class conquers mountains to merge dance with nature

At New Taipei City’s Xinpu Elementary School, there is a dance class that brings the beauty of dance to the outdoors. Moving their rehearsal studio to the mountains, in recent years they have conquered Hehuan Mountain, Jade Mountain, Jiaming Lake, and more. This year they went to Shuiyang Forest, creating unforgettable memories for new students.

Surrounded by bamboo stalks and running water, six students dance gracefully to beautiful music.

As their skirts sway with each step, the beautiful dance blends in with the picturesque surroundings.

These dancers are from Xinpu Elementary School’s dance class. They’ve left their dance studio, filming amidst Shuiyang Forest in the mountains of Nantou.

Kan Wen-yuan
Xinpu Elementary teacher
Since these students are so skilled, I thought why not try something a little different? Using a drone to film them dancing among lovely scenery, we can show beauty at its finest.

Wang Tzu-yueh
Xinpu Elementary student
Up in the mountains, you can merge your body with nature and dance with more feeling. The rehearsal studio has limited space, so it doesn’t have that feeling of extension.

They go outdoors to dance amidst nature, but climbing the mountain isn’t easy.

On the difficult journey up to Shuiyang Forest, the students’ skin became marked by cuts and scrapes, and their feet grew blisters.

But the classmates supported each other as they overcame every challenge, developing closer bonds and making precious memories.

Chiang Yung-chi
Xinpu Elementary student
Actually, I was quite scared. I kept asking the teacher if I would die if I ran into stinging nettles. But no matter what happened, I overcame it, and I don’t really regret it.

After crossing streams and valleys, they still had to pass muddy roads before reaching the end of their 12-kilometer journey. The students may have struggled, but they never gave up.

Tsai Yun-hsi
Xinpu Elementary student
My feet were worn out and my backpack zipper broke. In this uncomfortable situation, I told myself, I’m already on the mountain, so I have to finish what I started.

Overcoming many challenges, these students shed blood, sweat, and tears to blend dance with nature.

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

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