Japanese yen drops to 38-year-low of nearly 162 per US dollar

Japanese yen drops to 38-year-low of nearly 162 per US dollar

2024-07-02

A significant rise in U.S. bond yields is further widening the interest rate gap between the U.S. and Japan. According to the latest figures, the Japanese yen has plummeted to a 38-year low of nearly 162 yen per U.S. dollar. Analysts say the yen may continue to depreciate to 165 against the greenback. If you’re traveling to Japan this summer, travel enthusiasts say that paying by credit card could help maximize savings from the increasingly low exchange rate.

As of July 2, the Bank of Taiwan’s selling price was NT$0.2053 per yen. That means that exchanging NT$100,000 will get you 487,092 yen. That’s 36,033 yen more than what you would’ve got half a year ago. The yen’s depreciation is great news for foreign visitors, but for locals it is no laughing matter, as inflation runs rampant with no slowdown in sight.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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美債殖利率揚! 日圓狂貶38年新低專家:恐探165關卡

2024-07-02

美債殖利率大幅揚升，驅使美日之間的利率不斷擴大，日圓最新匯價來到近162兌一美元的38年新低，分析師認為日圓不排除下探165兌一美元，旅遊達人則是建議暑假要去日本旅遊的民眾，可以刷卡來賺取匯差。

台銀7月2日現鈔賣出牌告價0.2053元，拿10萬元台幣，可以換48萬7092日圓，對比半年前的收盤價，可以多換3萬6033日圓。日圓狂貶，國外旅客樂開懷，不過，日本當地民眾恐怕笑不出來，因為當前的通膨速度，宛如一部失速列車。

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President checks in with patient in new telemedicine trial program

A pilot telemedicine program by the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched on Monday, to provide medical care to patients right at their homes. The program allows people with disabilities and nursing home residents to see doctors remotely and get emergency care for infectious diseases. President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday headed to a hospital to inspect the system, where he reiterated his commitment to strengthening healthcare in Taiwan.

President Lai Ching-te is back again as Dr. Lai. On Tuesday, he inspected the launch of a pilot telemedicine program and he himself hopped on the computer to check up on his patient, a resident at a nursing home.

The conversation with Lai brought tears to the man’s eyes. During the inspection, Lai talked about his past experience as a young doctor.

Lai Ching-te
President
Back when I was a resident physician, I also hosted a show at a local TV station about medical care. Sometimes I would also offer free check-ups in the community. Though I was just a resident physician, I did garner some fame in Tainan, so sometimes, patients who had been ill for a long time would come to see me. Back then I would wonder if there could be a way to treat them from home, rather than have them come all the way to the hospital.

The program allows people with reduced mobility and disabilities, and residents at care institutions, to see a doctor via the internet from their residence and get emergency medical treatment for infectious diseases. The program cuts down on travel to medical facilities, while saving medical resources.

Lai Ching-te
President
After joining this program, doctors are required to visit the patient within three days, and nurses have to make visits daily. There is staff on-call 24 hours. During the day, nurses answer the phone, and at night, family doctors are on duty. This arrangement is even more comprehensive than that of regular medical services. If hospitalization is necessary, hospitals will set aside a bed for the patient, who’ll be taken straight in without having to go through the emergency room. They also won’t have to ask a lawmaker to plead for them to be admitted.

One of Lai’s key campaign promises was focused on healthcare in Taiwan. He had pledged to establish three major committees on the matter after assuming office and one of them is set to launch in late August. The move shows his commitment to healthcare in Taiwan.

Lai Ching-te
President
As a member of the medical community serving as president I hope to do things differently from my predecessors. I want to do more for our people on the front of health and wellness. I want our people to be healthy.

As Taiwan’s first doctor-turned-president, Lai hopes to use his expertise to strengthen healthcare.

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

2024-07-02

New enterovirus 71 vaccine with 99.21% effectiveness to be mass-produced in 2025

Every year between May and June enterovirus infections reach their peak. This extremely contagious virus puts fear in the hearts of parents with children aged 5 and below, a high-risk group for complications. On Tuesday, a subsidiary of vaccine manufacturing giant Adimmune provided some good news: its new EV-71 vaccine with a 99.21% effectiveness rate will hit the market in 2025.

Adimmune subsidiary Enimmune held a press conference on Tuesday to announce the unblinded results of its Phase III clinical trials for a vaccine against enterovirus 71.

Vic Chang
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Around the world we’ve done clinical trials in many countries and many different medical centers. Now the main topic for today is about the unblinded results of our clinical trial. So the effectiveness reached 99.21%, making it extremely effective. As for the protection it provides, it’s more effective than all the products that are currently for sale on the market.

Enterovirus is a contagious virus that often infects children. Infections peak in May or June every year, and the virus spreads by fecal–oral transmission and airborne transmission. Most people who are infected have symptoms like a mild fever or mouth ulcers. EV-71 is considered the most dangerous enterovirus, as it has a high mortality rate. In the past, the most effective vaccine on the market was Medigen’s, with an effectiveness of 96.8%.

Vic Chang
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We’ll still be taking our vaccine to many countries that’ll need it, which includes countries in Southeast Asia, China and countries in Northeast Asia, an area that’s currently in the middle of an enterovirus epidemic period. As for the quantity for Taiwan, starting from right now we’ll have a smaller amount available, but next year we’ll substantially increase the numbers.

Enimmune currently has about 50,000 doses of the EV-71 vaccine, but by next year it’ll mass-produce the vaccine so that over 100,000 doses will be available. Anticipating that in 2026 it’ll receive medical approval from Vietnam, the subsidiary pharma company has its sights set on the newborn market in countries throughout Southeast Asia.

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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Chang Li-ren showcases miniatures at Taipei exhibit

An exhibition featuring miniatures is being held at the Museum of National Taipei University of Education. Artist Chang Li-ren spent 14 years crafting miniatures of cityscapes and figurines. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look.

These true-to-life miniature cityscapes, buildings, and figurines were all inspired by different urban environments around Taiwan. Chang used wooden sticks and Styrofoam to build them.

His models are based on a 1:12 scale. Chang used his body, adjusting the scale based on his memory of spatial relationships between the urban spaces and his own body. Chang spent 14 years crafting this city.

Lin Mun-lee
Museum of National Taipei University of Education founder
Chang Li-ren’s work is a discourse on cities, society, and life. Through this work, Chang Li-ren also discusses the value and significance of existence in this social environment, and how to survive within the cracks.

Chang also created two short films and a comic book using the same miniature cityscapes and figurines. This exhibition showcases these works, along with the puppets and manuscripts used in the films.

Lin Mun-lee
Museum of National Taipei University of Education founder
He created two video works, as well as comic works. What is very special about the exhibition is that he produced all the content and subjects of the video, instead of shooting real scenes. His works explore the value and meaning of human existence in a society.

Chang won the Open Call for the latest Dreamin’ MoNTUE Project, organized by the Museum of National Taipei University of Education.

Lin Mun-lee
Museum of National Taipei University of Education founder
This is an international project. Chang Li-ren was selected from 60 works submitted from 13 countries. The jury factored in Chang’s focus and perseverance as a creator. Over the past 10 years, he devoted tremendous attention to his themes. No matter what kind of restrictions he encountered during creation, he never gave up.

The exhibition is on at the Museum of National Taipei University of Education until July 21.

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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Chinese cars raise information security concerns

Affordable Chinese cars are taking over a sizeable space in the global car market. But what about Taiwan? Vehicles made by MG Motor have become a hot commodity in Taiwan. And another Chinese company, Chery, is making preparations to enter the market with an official webpage. But some in Taiwan fear that these Chinese cars could bring in problems related to information security and data leaks.

China’s MG Motor is set to make a splash at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. later this month. MG cars, introduced to Taiwan by Yulon Motor, are selling well. That has left people wondering whether other Chinese car brands like BYD Auto or Chery will also expand to Taiwan.

Emmy Hu
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Would this allow Beijing to completely paralyze traffic on Zhongxiao East Road? If Beijing were to launch an attack on important political figures in Taiwan, they could potentially remote control the electric vehicles on the road and use them as a weapon. The car could potentially ignore your orders and crash into the Presidential Office Building.

Taiwanese influencers have been invited to visit China to present Chinese cars to their followers. Now, Chinese automaker Chery has set up an official Taiwan Facebook page and website to expand to Taiwan. Some people are worried that the cars could potentially be remote controlled from the other side of the strait. They also have voiced concerns regarding information and national security.

Eric Hsieh
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While the vehicle is in motion, it is connected to the internet. That is to say, its location and therefore the location of its owner could be exposed at any time. If you are having a private conversation in the car, or a business conversation, it could get transmitted elsewhere by the car. If there is no way to curb these potential information security problems, it could give rise to personal data leaks.

Car experts say that currently, the car servers are controlled from Taiwan. They say that if China were to find ways to remotely monitor them, it could prove disastrous.

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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High-tech UAVs at the National Fire Agency’s disposal for fires and floods

Taiwan’s typhoon season is upon us, and the National Fire Agency is ready for any disasters. It now has high-tech drones at its disposal that can identify the locations of individuals via thermal cameras. These unmanned aerial vehicles are also able to withstand intense heat, allowing them to survey fires from a close vantage point.

This drone’s camera remains locked on this individual who’s on the run, following him no matter where he goes. The flying device’s thermal sensors also allow it to know a person’s precise location.

In order to cope with Taiwan’s fickle climate during the summertime typhoon season, the Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency has incorporated drones into its disaster response measures.

Ma Sheng-chieh
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Instead of having the same old stuffy flood prevention press conference of years past, this year is the first time the National Fire Agency has taken the event outside, to showcase their latest drone technology.

This drone stands out from the pack of UAVs buzzing about. In addition to being in the U.S. military’s arsenal, this type of drone is also able to withstand scorching hot temperatures and its long battery life allows it to continue searching without needing to come back and charge up. The highest-end model costs NT$1 million.

Liu Shyh-fang
Minister of the Interior
Currently, over 700 of our firefighting colleagues have been trained to use these drones. An extremely high-ranking U.S. military officer told us that our disaster response level in Taiwan is “world class.” He used these two words to describe us.

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Its AI-assisted identification capabilities help the user take his or her searching capabilities to the next level. And you can use the drone and its thermal sensing technology to understand the source of the fire and its intensity.

On top of having infrared sensors and the latest AI-assisted tracking technology, the drones also have a coordinate reference system and 360-degree anti-collision system, which should prove useful during difficult search and rescue tasks. But the National Fire Agency isn’t just upgrading its hardware, as it has also released a cell phone application that will help the public have immediate access to disaster-related information.

Liu Shyh-fang
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Taiwan’s cell phone penetration is already very high. Now, when a typhoon alert gets sent out, please click this Firefighting and Disaster Prevention app on your cell phone. Inside there’s information about disasters, like info about disaster response areas and how to call for help.

The Ministry of the Interior is upgrading Taiwan’s disaster response capabilities by incorporating high-tech equipment that will help first responders carry out their missions even quicker than before.

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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