Lai proposes free business class upgrades for military personnel

Lai proposes free business class upgrades for military personnel

2025-07-02

National defense was the main topic of President Lai Ching-te’s fourth talk in his "10 Talks" series. Among the issues covered was a new policy that gives military personnel priority boarding at airports. He said in the future, they could also get free upgrades to business class. Let’s hear more.

Lai Ching-te
President
I asked the minister of transport to discuss the matter. If there are empty seats in business class, they should get an upgrade automatically.

Hsu Chih-chieh
Lawmaker (DPP)
Lai Ching-te is showing his respect for the military with these perks and honor. That’s a core value I agree with. As for implementation, the transport ministry will discuss the matter with airlines.

Lai also pointed out that neighboring countries such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines were increasing their military spending. In contrast, he said, Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature was freezing and cutting budgets. This year’s defense budget was cut by NT$8.4 billion, with an additional NT$89.94 billion in freezes, a record high in Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#politics #military #servicemen #officer #taiwan #賴清德

團結國家第四講"聚焦國防" 賴總統:軍人搭飛機優先升等

2025-07-02

總統賴清德團結國家十講來到第四場，聚焦"國防"，除了軍人優先登機之外七月正式上路外，賴總統再加碼，未來還可能升等商務艙。

[[總統賴清德]]
“(我請)交通部部長再去接洽，登機之後如果發現商務艙有空位，應該自動升等”

[[立委(民) 許智傑]]
“賴清德總統展現對軍人的重視，給軍人更多的福利及榮耀，這個核心價值我相當認同，至於施行的細節，後續交由交通部與航空公司溝通”

除了力挺國軍，賴清德演講表示，台灣周邊的日本、南韓、菲律賓等國家都逐年調升軍費，但我國的在野黨卻在立法院大幅凍刪國防預算。今年度國防預算遭刪除84億元、凍結899.4億元，創下史上最高。

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As the night market gets ready to open, vendors are busy prepping ingredients and cooking—but one oyster omelet stall is also busy setting up an air-conditioned space.

The owner of this stall has set up a blue canopy surrounded by clear plastic sheets to keep the cold air from escaping. A sign on top reads “AC open to VIPs,” promising a cool and refreshing way for customers to enjoy their oyster omelet.

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The nice thing about it is, if customers feel too hot they can enjoy some air conditioning. He charges NT$10 per person.

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I think it’s pretty innovative. It’s especially nice if you’re with your girlfriend. Paying NT$10 to make her happy? Totally worth it.

Visiting the stall in person, you’ll find a small air-conditioned zone with a portable water-cooled fan inside. The space fits about 2 to 3 tables and several stools.

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If a customer wants to sit inside, we’ll let them know it’s NT$10 per person. We ask if they’re okay with it before taking the order. If not, they can sit outside. For little kids, we don’t charge, but for taller kids, we do—it depends on their height.

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The AC unit cost me a little over NT$10,000, and the tent was another NT$4,000 to NT$5,000—so over NT$15,000 in total. We just started using it. The idea is to give customers a more comfortable dining experience.

Most night market stalls are open-air and rely on large floor fans to cool customers—but those usually don’t help much. As the weather heats up, this creative solution has caught the public’s attention. Whether the NT$10 surcharge can offset the electricity costs remains to be seen.

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NTHU professor hires part-timers to take care of his cuttlefish

A life science professor at National Tsing Hua University recently posted a job ad seeking four part-timers to take care of his pharaoh cuttlefish, which were quickly filled. A four-to-five-hour shift involves feeding the cuttlefish, monitoring water quality and cleaning the fish tanks. However, not all animal lovers qualify, because the baby cuttlefish are easily startled. It’s also a risk that someone may not be able to resist stealing them and turning them into a dish.

These tiny pharoah cuttlefish looking on with round goggly eyes are only one-month old. They even know how to look at the camera.

This space isn’t an aquarium, but a cuttlefish room at National Tsing Hua University. A professor is researching their neural mechanisms.

Chiao Chuan-chin
NTHU Life Science Professor
My students and I rearranged this new cuttlefish room. To keep cuttlefish, you must take care of them round-the-clock; so sometimes even students might not have time to take care of the cuttlefish on weekends. That’s why we’re hiring part-timers.

The research lab’s job posting received numerous applications as soon as it opens, as if it’s the students’ dream job. But these tiny creatures are actually quite fussy. They must be fed regularly, and the water frequently replaced and the pH levels monitored. In addition, they’re easily startled and release ink when stressed.

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It’s actually not so easy to take care of cuttlefish. They also release ink when stressed.

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Sometimes you might assume the water quality is fine because it seems so when you’re taking measurements, but the cuttlefish keep dying. So then you’d wonder why they died. Is it because the tank is not big enough, or is it the stuff we gave them? We must detect and fix errors in order to make sure they’re really healthy.

To make sure the cuttlefish can thrive, it’s not enough to only look at the measurable data. The students also have to be able to respond to them effectively.

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A flock of ducks become online favorites when they visit a car dealership

At a used car dealership in Kaohsiung’s Daliao District, a group of curious visitors recently showed up. Poking their heads around the showroom, a flock of seven ducks amused the staff with their antics. However, just as one staff member approached them, the ducks quickly turned around and waddled off. The staff discovered the ducks actually lived across the street and had apparently crossed the road to do some car shopping. The manager said he’d recommend an SUV for a family that size.

Inside the dealership, the sales team is finalizing a deal with a customer when suddenly, a group of special guests shows up on the lot.

Seven ducks wander around the showroom, curiously peeking at the cars. But as soon as a staff member comes out to greet them, they line up and make a speedy exit.

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This scene happened at a used car dealership in Kaohsiung’s Daliao District. The adorable duck visitors made quite an impression. The manager joked that maybe they were shopping for a large family vehicle.

Ms. Chang
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Maybe they came to check out a seven-seater, but we sold the one we had a while ago. I guess I could recommend them an SUV.

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It’s a leisurely drive along Longtan Road at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, with trees on both sides providing shade. Until this.

A mango falls right on the car. Students say it’s nothing new—everyone there will eventually get hit by a mango. One graduate student posted a photo of his scooter after it got hit by a mango and left a gaping hole on the headset.

Voice of student
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology
I heard a loud bang coming from the headset. I thought something exploded in my scooter or something. But it turned out a mango had left a hole, and was even lodged inside. I reported the incident to the police with the mango and shattered pieces as evidence.

Someone joked that he’s probably eligible for state compensation. But it actually could be the students themselves that are to blame.

Chang Chuan-Yu
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Every year there’ll be students or nearby residents coming to try and pick the mangos. They’d use a wooden pole and hit the branches for mangoes to fall. We’d also make sure to clean up the road surface.

It’s not all bad though. The fallen mangoes are free for all to enjoy. Just exercise caution when you pass by, because the force of a mango falling is quite strong.

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In other words, there’s a force of 50kg per cm-square. That’s a very, very strong force, more than strong enough to shatter glass.

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The annual National Theater and Concert Hall Summer Jazz Festival’s is back under the theme, "Sounds Cool!" It was inspired by Cool Jazz and the spirit of legendary trumpeter Miles Davis. One of the musicians will be Grammy-nominated Fred Hersch, whose piano trio pays tribute to Miles Davis.

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Most of the jazz musicians we invited have won multiple Grammy Awards or received Grammy nominations. We have Fred Hersch performing jazz piano, and a female vocalist, Cécile. We aim to bring the world’s finest jazz musicians to Taiwan to perform. At the same time, we strive to systematically introduce jazz-related elements — whether it’s historical background or musical styles — to Taiwanese audiences through this jazz festival. This year, we focus on cool jazz.

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