President Lai slams legislature for failure to review general budget

President Lai slams legislature for failure to review general budget

2026-02-02

Speaking to reporters outside the Taipei Post Office, which he visited on Monday morning, President Lai Ching-te again urged the Legislative Yuan to review the general budget and the Executive Yuan’s version of the special defense budget bill. Before the last legislative session ended last Friday, lawmakers of the ruling party rejected the opposition’s proposal to first review a portion of the annual budget encompassing government subsidies such as the T-Pass. The opposition also snubbed the Executive Yuan’s special defense budget bill and advanced the TPP’s version for second reading. Let’s hear more from the president.

Lai Ching-te
President
It’s unbelievable that the Legislative Yuan’s leading parties, the KMT and the TPP, did not for one instance review the central government’s budget, which was planned for the good of the country and the people. At the same time, they’ve disregarded China’s threats and blocked the special defense budget bill. As president, I cannot criticize the Legislative Yuan speaker but can only plead that Speaker Han Kuo-yu do his job and get the central government’s budget passed the soonest possible. Also pass the special defense budget bill. It’s what lawmakers ought to do, and the legislative speaker’s responsibility.

Barring an amendment on social housing reserving 20% of all units to newlyweds, which passed unanimously, all other amendments passed on Friday were voted in by opposition lawmakers through their majority. The premier has expressed refusal to countersign the three amendments into law, a decision the president and DPP lawmakers support. They are an amendment to no longer consider organizations established during the martial law era as affiliated with the KMT; an amendment to the Satellite Braodcasting Act that allow channels to continue broadcasting on their original slots during administrative lawsuits; and a bill classifying aides’ pay as lawmaker subsidies. The president also called on the public to judge for themselves whether these amendments are reasonable.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#taiwanpolitics #dpp #kmt #tpp #賴清德

向韓國瑜喊話賴總統:盼發揮院長功能盡速通過預算

2026-02-02

總統賴清德趁著農曆過年，前到北門郵局慰勉辛苦的郵務人員，但他心繫總預算及國防特別條例至今依舊卡關，向立法院長韓國瑜喊話，盼他能發揮功能，讓總預算能儘速完成審議，讓國防特別預算也能夠儘速通過。

[[總統賴清德]]
“在立法院當家的國民黨跟民眾黨，竟然在預算會期，對福國利民的中央政府總預算，卻沒有任何的審查，同時也無視中國的威脅，對於國防特別條例也同樣在阻撓，對立法院院長，我身為總統沒有批評，只有請託，我要請託韓國瑜院長，希望他能夠發揮功能，讓中央政府總預算能儘速完成審議，讓國防特別預算也能夠儘速通過，這個是立法委員的職責，應該也是國會議長應該有的權責”

總統也力挺，行政院以不副署的方式，攔截藍白強推的不當黨產條例、被視為中天條款的衛廣法，及助理費變立委補助費的立法組織法三讀等三個惡法。總統希望全國民眾能夠評評理，立法院這樣做到底對不對。

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Taiwan improves drone capabilities with enhanced army training

Drone warfare has become prominent in the modern battlefield. Today we’ll take you to the Taiwanese military’s Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center where army instructors are teaching trainees how to operate all kinds of drones in preparation for a potential war.

Like a gray helicopter, a manually-controlled drone takes off vertically. It gradually increases its altitude. Once stable, it can perform all kinds of operations.

The army’s tactical short-range UAV named “Capricorn” has an operational range of up to 30 kilometers, a loitering time of one hour and a top speed of 64 kilometers per hour. It is able to provide reconnaissance capabilities in all kinds of weather. As a trainee operates the flight, instructors are on hand to provide detailed explanations. This is the military’s newly-established Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center.

Wang Pei-yu
Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center instructor
What we want to teach the trainees is how to handle all kinds of situations during these flights. Before their flights, we require trainees to conductor a preliminary check of environmental conditions and the state of the drone.

The army has also set up small-scale indoor training facilities where trainees operate the flight of small drones. These facilities incorporate audiovisual reaction training systems designed to improve reaction speed and accuracy, as well as throttle control training to enhance the precision and finesse of manual control.

By combining drones with virtual reality technology, officers and soldiers can fly from a first-person perspective, which enhances immersion and makes UAV flight training more comprehensive.

Lo Ching-yu
Unmanned Aircraft System Training Center trainee
Drones are really difficult to control, it’s not like what you’d imagine. It’s not like playing with a remote-controlled airplane. I think it’s because they have a high degree of sensitivity, so if you don’t control them well, they’ll fly around erratically. Actually, more and more people are coming here for drone training, and this is really important.

Drones have already become a prominent feature of the modern battlefield. The military is increasing training capacity with hopes of enabling more service personnel to become proficient in their operations.

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

#Taiwanmilitary #drones

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Fleecy materials in clothing can cause severe rashes

Temperatures have plummeted during the recent cold spell, causing many parents to bundle their children up warmly in fleecy clothing and sweaters. However, some children have been hospitalized with severe and painful rashes all over their bodies. The causes weren’t allergies or insect bites. Instead the culprit was inner garments lined with fleece or material resembling fleece. Doctors say while this provides warmth, the heat and friction wreaks havoc on children’s skin. Instead choose cotton for your child’s innermost clothing layer.

During the cold winter, children should wear at least two or three layers of clothing. Some may wear sweaters or other thicker garments. However, be careful not to let fleecy inner clothing come into direct contact with their skin.

Parent
I worry this might easily cause skin allergies in children.

Parent
Because they are always moving around. They are also very sensitive to heat, so I won’t dress them in clothes with fleecy lining. At the most, they will wear thermal underwear.

There was a rash here and rash there, and the parents were frantic with worry, so they rushed their child to a doctor. At first they were worried their child had eaten something they shouldn’t, triggering an allergic reaction. However, the doctor’s examination revealed the real cause.

Yen Chun-yu
Pediatric infectious disease physician
Parents often dress their children in thicker clothes with a brushed or fuzzy lining. For children with sensitive or allergy-prone skin, these garments can sometimes trigger reactions. When combined with sweating from the thick clothing, this irritation can lead to folliculitis and hives, resulting in quite severe rashes. Recently, about one in five children with skin problems had issues caused by incorrect clothing choices, such as wearing clothes with a fleecy lining or scarves made of rough, fluffy material.

Although most of the time it’s just redness and swelling, not ulceration, the itching and pain can be very uncomfortable when it gets severe.

Ho Wen-tsao
Dermatologist
For example, Malassezia folliculitis can be so itchy that it can keep children awake at night. Or bacterial folliculitis, where each bump gives a stinging sensation. Acute eczema, which sometimes oozes a little tissue fluid, can also be unbearably itchy.

To avoid developing rashes, doctors recommend the innermost layer of clothing be pure cotton. For the outer layer, choose a fleecy sweater or other thick warm sweaters. This keeps kids warm without irritating their skin.

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

#fleece #cold #rash #childcare

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Trendy Tainan Half Marathon ponchos sell out immediately

The Tainan Half Marathon is marking its 20th anniversary this year as one of the city’s most iconic international road races. Two towel ponchos that participants can buy after registering have become wildly popular for their Tainan-inspired designs featuring the city’s love of sugar and classic shopping bag.

Cheng Po-hui
FTV reporter
Tainan’s Historical Capital Half Marathon is to be held on March 1. But before the starting gun even sounds, two souvenirs have already raced ahead.

These towel ponchos are unmistakably Tainan. Although they have to be purchased extra, all 2,400 of them have already sold out.

Member of public
Likes the ponchos
They’re cool. And go well with fashions these days.

Member of public
Gets the hype
If you want to collect different things, or if you like the design, then you’ll want to get a few more for your friends and family.

When you put on this Tainan sugar poncho, it looks like you’re wearing a big sack of sugar. Especially with the city’s “full sugar” slogan on the back, young people have found it very appealing.

Chen Liang-chien
Tainan Bureau of Sports Director
They sold out immediately. Sugar and salt are the main industries in Tainan, both historically and now.

This colorful poncho inspired by the Gaji shopping bag also incorporates a classic Taiwanese design that has gained international appeal.

Chen Liang-chien
Tainan Bureau of Sports Director
This year in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports we added a recreational division so wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges can also participate.

As the Tainan Half Marathon prepares to celebrate its 20th year, it’s not only set a record for signups, but also created a special recreational division in line with the Ministry of Sports’ equality initiative to make sports more open and accessible to everyone. But if you’ve had your eye on the ponchos, you’re unfortunately out of luck. Limited edition sales can be tough.

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

#towelponcho #poncho #limitededition #TainanHalfMarathon #marathon #roadrace #running #Tainan #sugar #Gajibag

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Taroko oak replaces centennial banyan tree in Fuli, Hualien

A century-old banyan tree that stood beside a temple in Hualien’s Fuli Township, serving as a landmark for the local community, was removed last year after it was damaged by a typhoon. Residents chose to replace it with a Taroko oak, a species endemic to Taiwan, hoping to carry on the old tree’s spirit by continuing to serve as a community gathering place.

A large crane carefully transplants a tree into its new home. It’s not a common camphor or banyan tree, but a Taroko oak, a species endemic to Taiwan.

A century-old banyan tree stood here before, serving as a gathering place for the community. But it was damaged in Typhoon Kong-rey last year and its roots rotted, leaving the local government no choice but to remove it. Now residents gather to bless the new tree, encouraging it to take root.

Peng Jen-ting
Tree donor
After consulting with local leaders, the organizing committee invited me to take a look. Since I’m from Fuli, I thought I would donate one of my large trees to the town. Being a Fuli native, I hope this will help my hometown.

Yeh Chia-chi
Resident
Planting this tree for everyone in Fuli, we wanted it to be a more representative species. It might be the only land god temple in Taiwan that has a Taroko oak tree.

Standing 8 meters tall—nearly three stories high—this Taroko oak is 30 years old and still growing. This road has a hundred-year history as a Hakka old street, and the temple is a religious center for the community. With a new tree planted, the space can continue to serve its community.

Yeh Hsiu-o
Resident
The banyan tree was a local landmark. When people mentioned Fuli’s banyan tree, they immediately knew where it was.

Chiang Tung-cheng
Fuli Township Mayor
As this tree slowly grows strong and healthy here, it will become a place where we can enjoy the shade, gather, and hold community events in the future.

As the community cares for it, the tree will grow large, and its branches and leaves will become denser. Residents coming to pray at the temple or just passing through can relax under its shade.

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

#temple #Hualien #Fuli #tree #templetree #banyan #oak #Taroko #planting

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Cram school owner’s kid forces 6-yo to swallow 3cm magnet

A messy bullying dispute at a Tainan cram school ended in court, after a 6-year old student ended up with a magnet in his stomach. The kid had been bullied at the cram school by the school owner’s kid, who’s in the fifth grade. Though bullying is not unheard of among schoolkids, this case was especially shocking, as the aggressor forced the victim to swallow a 3cm magnet. It was only after the kid was treated for stomach pains that the parents learned of the incident. The cram school even refused to hand in security footage from the time of the aggressive act. After local authorities stepped in, the cram school was found with three counts of violations. Meanwhile, the victim’s parents are also suing for assault.

- Take your meds, sweetie.
Don’t worry. It’ll come out.

The little boy wouldn’t stop crying. His parents gently coax him to take laxatives, because there’s a 3cm magnet in his belly.

Mr. Fang
Father
An older kid wanted to play with him, but he didn’t want to. So they started shoving each other, and my son was forced to swallow the magnet.

The father is heartbroken that his 6-year-old kid was bullied at a cram school in Annan District, Tainan. The X-ray image clearly shows the magnet in his body. To add insult to the injury, when Mr. Fang asked to inspect security footage, the cram school refused.

Mr. Fang
Father
The aggressor is the cram school owner’s kid. I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t show me the security footage. His only response was that the security camera wasn’t working.

The father is furious that the cram school wouldn’t deal with the incident. A city councilor also lambasted the cram school, saying that the act of aggression went beyond bullying as it threatened the victim’s life.

Shih Ching-fa
Tainan Domestic Violence Prevention Center
The action violated Article 49 of the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act, and pursuant to Articles 13 and 45, the cram school has a duty to report it. Failing to report the incident is liable to penalties.

Cheng Hsin-hui
Tainan City Department of Education
While conducting administrative investigation, we found two counts of violations; there was also an instance of delayed reporting with another incident. We will issue penalties in accordance with regulations.

Tainan’s Department of Education found three instances of operational violations by the cram school, and will issue penalties accordingly. Meanwhile, the kid’s parents are also suing for assault, in order to seek justice.

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

#bullying #cramschool #violence #juvenilecrime #shocking

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Teppanyaki worker goes viral after wardrobe fail

A hilarious wardrobe malfunction at a teppanyaki restaurant has taken the internet by storm. The incident happened at a shop in Tainan that was open late at night. The only member of staff working at the restaurant was in the toilet, when a potential customer walked through the door. The worker rushed to attend to them, but he was so eager to get to work that he didn’t put his pants on properly. You can imagine what happened next. The pants fell down his legs, causing him to trip and fall face-first on the floor. The diner seemingly didn’t know how to react, and ultimately fled the scene as fast as he could. After a short while, he returned to take pictures of the awkward reception, which has caused countless people to laugh out loud online.

A worker at the teppanyaki rushes out from the toilet to greet a costumer… until a wardrobe fail left him on the floor.

From another angle, seeing the staff fall down bare-butted, the diner turns around and runs off, frantically trying to open the door to flee the scene.

- I’d look away and wait for him to put the pants back on.
- Would you tell your friends he wasn’t wearing pants?
- Yes.

- It’s so awkward
- So you don’t think it’s funny?
- It is, it is funny. There’s no need for such a rush!

The diner thought the scene was so amusing that he returned to the restaurant to take more photos. Amusing and mortifying. The teppanyaki worker has since apologized, explaining that he was manning the shop alone and went for a toilet break when there were no customers. That ultimately resulted in this viral and hilarious moment.

Worker
Works at another teppanyaki shop
You can get quite nervous in situations like this, like when customers suddenly arrive while you’re in the toilet. You might have been holding it in for a long time. We stand for three, four, sometimes five hours straight. When it’s busy, you really don’t have time to use the toilet.

Running a shop single-handedly is quite a tough job. Working alone, you have to mind your valuables when you’re using the toilet, and have to stay put in case customers arrive. If you panic, you could end up tripping over your pants, and accidentally launching your restaurant to fame.

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

#funny #hilarious #wardrobefail #wardrobemalfunction #teppanyaki #tainan #fail

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