Presidential Office denies report that Trump blocked Lai transit in New York

Presidential Office denies report that Trump blocked Lai transit in New York

2025-07-29

The Presidential Office has denied that Lai Ching-te has any plans to make overseas visits in the near future. The announcement came after rumors that Lai was planning to visit diplomatic allies in Central and South America in August, and make a transit through New York. Though the Presidential Office says Lai is staying in Taiwan to oversee typhoon recovery efforts in Southern Taiwan and tariff negotiations, a British media outlet says there’s another variable in the mix.

The Financial Times on Tuesday published a report with the headline “Donald Trump blocks Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te from New York Stopover.” The piece says that Trump decided to deny the transit in the US due to protests from Beijing. The US’s de facto embassy in Taiwan has responded to the claims, saying that there have been no changes to US policy regarding transits by high-raking Taiwan officials.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#taiwan #us #bilateral #international #賴清德 #visit #newyork #nyc

傳美拒絕賴總統過境紐約? AIT聲明:美國政策與做法並無改變

2025-07-29

先前傳出總統賴清德即將出訪中南美洲，並過境美國紐約，不過總統府昨晚(28號)宣布，考量南部災後復原及關稅，總統近期暫無海外訪問安排。

但"金融時報"報導，因為北京向華府抗議，川普似乎拒絕讓賴總統過境，不過AIT回應，包含總統在內的台灣高層官員過境美國，政策做法並無改變。

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Related News

Customized high-end in-car audio systems booming

The new car market may be slowing down, but the demand for customized high-end in-car audio systems is booming. From sports cars to sedans, drivers are turning their vehicles into personal concert halls. But with installation costs ranging between NT$500,000 and NT$3.5 million, it’s not just for your any casual radio listener. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look.

This minivan underwent a NT$3.5 million transformation, featuring premium cables and a top-tier amplifier valued at over NT$2.5 million alone.

Kuan Chang-hsiang
Car owner
Its sound is fuller and more rounded, with a springier quality and better low-frequency sound. I like this car and the feeling of sitting inside it. Its acoustic properties are quite good—for instance, the interior space and the distance and depth of the dashboard are both better, so that’s why I chose this car for the upgrade.

This sports car has also been repurposed. Operators designed a six-channel system along with tweeter units.

Huang Teng-hsien
Car operator
Installing a high-end sound system in this relatively low cost small sports car presents a major challenge due to its limited interior space. Additionally, the car’s metal panels lack the thickness and rigidity that are typically found in standard imported models. With an audio setup costing close to NT$600,000, integrating it into such a compact vehicle requires expertise.

Taiwan’s new car market saw a 14.4% decline in the first half of 2025 due to tariff and tax uncertainties. However, experts and operators say, while the new car market may be slowing down, the demand for customized high-end in-car audio systems is booming, witnessing an estimated 30% year-on-year growth.

Chang Hai-ching
IASCA Taiwan former president
Some buyers choose high-end second-hand cars, which leaves them with extra budget. With that surplus, many owners invest in customizing the exterior or upgrading the wheels, while others focus on enhancing the audio system. This year, we’ve seen some growth in our car audio business, and we’re looking forward to improved new car sales once tariffs are reduced.

The 2025 TAA International Hi-End Audio Show is set to take place from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10 at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#highendaudio #audio #TAA InternationalHiEndAudioShow

2025-07-29

Nantou farmer discovers 4cm live leech lodged in throat

2025-07-29

Cast of new Korean fantasy film reveals behind-the-scenes exclusives

South Korea’s highly anticipated fantasy film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is now in theatres, starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, and Nana. In exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast, Ahn Hyo-seop said his physical endurance was tested when they shot a running scene multiple times, while Lee Min-ho said his role felt a bit lonely at times, as his character fights alone.

Korean actor Ann Hyo-seop plays the lead role of Kim Dokja in the new film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. Kim is a young man with an ordinary office job who unexpectedly finds himself in the world of a fantasy novel he was reading. He uses his understanding of the story to try and change its tragic ending.

Ahn Hyo-seop
Korean actor
I really ran a lot. My lower body got very strong. I was so focused during the shooting that I didn’t feel tired, but it was definitely physically demanding. When we had to do another take after one was no good, sometimes I didn’t do as well as I would have liked.

Lee Min-ho
Korean actor
There is more to life than just the sunny side. Whether it’s a tragedy or a comedy, we accept it as our mission, doing our best to quietly keep going. Yoo Joong-hyuk completed this in loneliness and solitude.

While Lee Min-ho’s character fights alone, Ahn Hyo-seop fights side-by-side with partners. Another Korean star, Nana, a former member of the girl group After School, also gave her all for this film.

Nana
Korean actor
I wasn’t just passionate. I didn’t give up until we got the best shot. I stayed focused and kept filming until everyone was satisfied.

Chae Soo-bin
Korean actor
Yoo Sangah doesn’t have the ability to fight, but she defends or assists her partners, using silk threads to help them fight better or heal their wounds.

Shin Seung-ho
Korean actor
To be honest, there was nothing in front of me, but I had to act tense and on edge like I was in that environment, as if one wrong step could cost me my life.

With a star-studded cast including Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Shin Seung-ho, Chae Soo-bin, and Nana, fans are flocking to the theater to see the action-packed film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.

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

#Korea #film #KoreanDrama #actor #actress #movie #shooting #BTS #exclusive #OmniscientReadersViewpoint

2025-07-29

A Japanese agent in the music industry, wants to live in Taiwan and be Taiwanese

More and more people from foreign countries are choosing Taiwan as a place to live and work. Today, we meet Shiori, a Japanese agent in the music industry. She loves Taiwanese food and culture. Her love of Taiwan made her decide to study Chinese and take frequent trips to Taiwan. She’s determined to become a Taiwanese and this year received a Taiwan Employment Gold Card. Let’s meet her.

One of Taiwan’s most classic snacks is a bowl of braised pork on rice with an egg. Shiori, an agent in the music industry, loves Taiwanese food and culture so much, that she visits Taiwan all the time. She even studied Chinese and is determined to become a Taiwanese.

Shiori
Japanese agent in music industry
No matter where I go, the people I meet are very caring and gentle. In Japan, there’s a feel of distance between people. The feeling of distance in Taiwan is just right.

Although Shiori graduated from the Faculty of Education at Tokyo Gakugei University and is qualified to teach at elementary schools and high schools, she never became a teacher. At first she was a backpacker. During her years at university, she travelled all over the globe to 46 countries. After graduation, she worked in a travel agency. In 2015, she brought Japan’s Little League Baseball team to Taiwan for a match, and promptly fell in love with Taiwan. For reasons relating to the COVID pandemic, she became a freelance worker, hoping to become a mediator and act as a bridge between Taiwanese and Japanese cultures, so that even more Japanese can get to know Taiwan.

Kuo Kai-wen
Taiwanese friend
Generally Japanese people have quite a lot of rules and customs, but Shiori is a very carefree person who doesn’t get stuck in the small things.

Cheng Kuang-yu
Taiwanese friend
I’ve never seen a Japanese girl with so many expressions when she speaks. I even specifically asked her: You’re not an actress, are you?

On Shiori’s Instagram account, almost every photo shows her somewhere in Taiwan. Shiori often flew back and forth between Taiwan and Japan before she obtained a residence permit. She now shows off the Taiwan Employment Gold Card she received in April this year. She hopes to have more opportunities to work in Taiwan in the future and get even more deeply involved in the nation.

Shiori
Many Japanese people go to Taiwan. I like that.

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

2025-07-29

Kaohsiung temple mediums channel Virgin Mary during Germany trip

It’s hard to picture the Virgin Mary encountering Eastern gods in a Christian church. But recently, mediums from Yi-Cheng Tang Guandi Temple in Kaohsiung went to Europe to share their century-old practice of spirit writing. At the invitation of University of Erlangen-Nuremberg professor Michael Lackner, who was formerly a visiting scholar at Academia Sinica, temple representatives conducted two spirit writing ceremonies. Through the automatic writing ritual, the Virgin Mary welcomed the Eastern gods into her house of worship.

A group of spirit writers from Kaohsiung’s Yi-Cheng Tang Guandi Temple enter a church in Nuremberg, Germany. Medium Lin Mao-shen feels something immediately and begins a solemn welcoming ceremony.

In a rare convergence of religions, the group led by temple chair Hung Jung-li conducts a first-ever spirit writing ceremony in a European church. Many curious onlookers came inside to watch.

The group came at the invitation of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, particularly its center for Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices from a Global Perspective. Their focus unbroken, the mediums channel messages from the gods through a spirit writing ritual.

The Holy Emperor Guan dictated an acrostic poem on the theme of “alternative rationalities,” as well as another based on Professor Michael Lackner’s Chinese name, who invited the group. Every word and every line sounds meticulously crafted. The German spectators were riveted by the translation.

Michael Lackner
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg professor
Curiosity is the objective of academia. The main thing is this first step. Without an initial curiosity, your studies will be very boring.

Hung Jung-li
Yi-Cheng Tang Guandi Temple chair
The method is the same as in Taiwan. There’s no difference. An acrostic poem I think is a kind of respect. Since we’re visiting, the gods are showing respect for this place.

The second spirit writing ritual was conducted at a hall at the ruins of St. Catherine’s Church. The Virgin Mary also descended to welcome the visitors, dictating an even more refined poem. Both sessions were well received by the German audiences, who shared questions one-on-one.

Lucinda
Spectator
I think it’s true. I think it’s true.

Stephank
Spectator
No shock. It’s a great feeling of a very very fine energy.

Apart from the ritual, Professor Lackner, who used to be a visiting scholar of esotericism at Academia Sinica, also gave a lecture. Now that the visit is over, the spirit writing team will always have the unique distinction of introducing a new kind of religious exchange between the East and West.

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

#spiritwriting #spiritmedium #religion #religiousexchange #Germany #esoteric

2025-07-29

Tainan neighborhoods clean up after severe flooding

An elderly man in Tainan had to get 30 stitches, after the splatter from a passing truck shattered the glass door to his residence. That’s just one of the incidents that have arisen from the recent flooding in Southern Taiwan. In some areas, military personnel has been dispatched to help flood victims clean up. It’s been an exhausting summer storm season for the south.

The flooding reaches knee-height, but a heavy-duty truck still drives through at full speed.

It made a big splash. The splatter was so powerful, it even caused all glass panels on a nearby sliding door to shatter. The shards caused severe injury to the elderly couple living there, and the husband even had to get 30 stitches.

Victim
The splatter reached over, and the glass shattered, and flew over here.

Victim
All these are cuts from the glass shard. Three panels fell, two completely shattered. Even a signboard across the street fell after being hit by the splatter.

After a whole day and night of rain, even though the day had barely just begun, a local restaurant had to start the day with nothing other than cleaning.

Restaurant owner
The napkins are all wet. The flood level was so high, so of course they got wet.

Meanwhile, soldiers arrive to help local vendors clean up so they can quickly get back on their feet again.

Ms. Yin
Vendor
We get nervous every time it rains like this. The market will definitely get flooded. Even our neighbor got their door broken because the roof kept hitting it.

Only one day ago, the clothing store had to move their stock upstairs for safety. Now they’re going back on the rack.

Mr. Yin
Clothing store owner
The flood surged so quickly that I didn’t have time to move everything. I was so busy that I only had a sip of water at 11 p.m. even though I started at 4. I also didn’t eat anything yesterday. I was busy the whole day. It was really exhausting.

The area is susceptible to flooding whenever it rains heavily. Worse, with the typhoon and now extremely heavy rain from a low pressure belt, locals just can’t seem to catch a break.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#typhooncomay #extremeweather #traffic #accident #carelessdriver

2025-07-29

100s cram into station after Taipei Metro breaks down in morning rush hour

2025-07-29

FTV reporters who faced off against Chinese reps given hero’s welcome

Two brave FTV reporters have returned home after a bold standoff against two Chinese representatives at the Summer Universiade in Germany. Chuang Shun-fa and Tsai Ching-ching were given a hero’s welcome by their colleagues, for defending Taiwan’s dignity on the world stage. They were presented bonuses by none other than the President of FTV, and called role models by the TV station’s general manager.

FTV’s correspondents to the Universiade in Germany touched down in Taiwan at 6 on Thursday morning. Chuang Shun-fa and Tsai Ching-ching were received with a hero’s welcome by their colleagues at the airport. Shortly afterwards, FTV President Dorothy Wang and General Manager Liao Ji-fang praised them at the company.

Wang Ming-yu
FTV president
They brought glory to our country. We are over the moon! We at the company are thrilled, and so is everyone else. Of course, they should be praised for what they did to stand up for Taiwan and defend Taiwan’s dignity.

Liao Ji-fang
FTV General Manager
They demonstrated the bravery that the people of Taiwan have. They set an extremely good example to everyone, showing how to deal with Chinese people when they are being unreasonable. They are excellent role models.

Their courage has been rewarded both by the company and by FTV President Wang personally, who gave them both a hefty bonus and celebrated their heroism in public.

Chuang Shun-fa
FTV reporter
I didn’t really give it much thought. It was just an instinctive reaction when I saw these Chinese people trying to take our stuff. I think any other Taiwanese person would’ve done the same thing to stop them from stealing our things.

Tsai Ching-ching
FTV reporter
To us, it shows that FTV really values sports and Taiwan’s freedom and democracy. We did the right thing, and we are really grateful for all the appreciation.

The two journalists were unafraid of China’s provocations and leapt to action from the get-go to protect Taiwan’s athletes, showing the world Taiwan’s bravery and fearlessness.

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

#taiwan #heroes #ftv #莊順發 #蔡晴景 #brave #patriotic

2025-07-29

Relaxed rules for hiring foreign caregivers to take effect Aug. 1

Regulations are about to be relaxed for families who wish to hire a foreign caregiver. Currently, care receivers must be evaluated on their ability to perform activities of daily living via the Barthel Index. But starting Aug. 1, the assessment will no longer be required for two groups: people aged 80 and up, and people70 and up who have stage 2 cancer or higher. But the change has given rise to concerns that the looser rules could cause the caregiver market to shift toward serving older healthier people rather than people with conditions that require more intense care. Let’s hear more.

Chen Ching-ning
Taiwan Association of Family Caregivers
Since the passing of the new regulations, brokerage firms have started putting up new adverts. There are also rumors that caregivers will take on “easier” jobs. They advertise them as a housekeeper that can do household chores for the family. Meanwhile, families with severely ill patients get the short end of the stick. They already have pressing needs and are on the brink of collapse. If there is less availability of caregivers due to this, they will be in real trouble.

Huang Jen-hsiang
Potential Development Center for Spinal Cord Sufferers
Without a caregiver, I can’t get out of bed. I’m worried about what will happen to people with severe disabilities like me once the rules enter effect. We’re not trying to compete for resources. We just want a fair chance to live our lives.

Su Yu-kuo
Workforce Development Agency
Every year, about 40,000 to 50,000 foreign caregivers are hired in Taiwan. After the new rules, we expect the number to increase to 60,000 next year.

The ministries of labor and health are implementing six measures to better implement the relaxed rules. One of the key items is to increase the availability of caregivers, conducting triage based on care needs. There’s also a fast track for severe cases so they can have a carer within one day instead of seven for general cases. According to the labor ministry, there are about 197,000 families currently hiring foreign caregivers for patients with moderate to severe care needs. The relaxed rules could allow some 100,000 more families to apply for caregivers.

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

#caregiver #disability #taiwan #aging #移工

2025-07-29