New York Yankees sign 18-yo pitcher Lai Chien-fan

New York Yankees sign 18-yo pitcher Lai Chien-fan

2026-06-26

An 18-year-old has been signed to the New York Yankees. After 16 years, Lai Chien-fan has become the third Taiwanese player to join the Yankees, after Wang Chien-ming in 2000 and Kuo Fu-lin in 2009. Lai has just graduated from Taoyuan’s Daxi Senior High School. The signing ceremony on Friday was attended by his Yankees Taiwanese predecessors. Let’s hear from all of them.

Lai Chien-fan
New York Yankees pitching prospect
I am the New York Yankees’ Lai Chien-fan. I had chosen to attend high school in Taoyuan, which is very far away from home, but my family had supported my decision. Now, I’m going even farther. I will work harder and hopefully reach the Majors. I hope to achieve what Wang Chien-ming has. What he had achieved really wasn’t an easy feat.

Matt Slater
Yankees global player acquisition supervisor
Chien-fan displays tremendous abilities that we believe can make him a Major League player. It has been 16 years since the New York Yankees signed a player in Taiwan… 12 years since we signed a player in Asia.

Wang Chien-ming
CTBC Brothers pitching coach
Of course we hope he could stay in Taiwan. But on second thoughts, even if he did, it’s not completely certain that we will get him on our team. So it’s great that he’ll be challenging himself in the US. I hope he’ll continue on his endeavors over there.

Kuo Fu-lin
TSG Hawks player
There will be excellent players from around the world. Don’t be intimidated when you see how tall and buff they are. You’ll also become even better.

Born in Taitung to an Amis family, Lai was selected to join the country’s U18 team in Grade 11. He had thrown a fastball with a speed as high as 154km/h. According to reports, his contract is worth US$850,000, around NT$25 million. He is expected to arrive in the US before the end of the year to hopefully join the Yankees’ off-season training.

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#MLB #baseball #yankees #athlete #amazingteens

相隔16年再簽台將! 18歲火球男賴謙凡正式加盟紐約洋基隊

2026-06-26

美國職棒紐約洋基隊，過去只簽過兩位台灣選手，分別是2000年的王建民、2009年的郭阜林，如今相隔16年再簽下台灣球員，是來自臺東的投手賴謙凡，今年剛從桃園大溪高中畢業，簽約記者會上，兩位洋基前輩也特別現身。

[[紐約洋基隊球員賴謙凡]]
“我是洋基隊的賴謙凡，我高中的時候要選擇去桃園就讀，是離家非常遠的地方，但是他們(家人)也都很支持我的決定，但是現在也要越跑越遠了。會更加努力，能夠往上爬到大聯盟，我也想要達成(王建民)那樣的成就，因為他那種成就，其實也不是一件非常輕易的事情”

[[洋基全球球員招募主管 Matt Slater]]
“賴謙凡展現非常出色的能力，洋基球團相信他未來可以成為好的大聯盟選手，這是相隔16年洋基再次簽下台灣選手，也是隔了12年在亞洲簽下球員”

[[中信兄弟投手教練王建民]]
“當然很希望他可以留下來嘛，可是結果後來想一想，說留下來好像我們這一隊也選不到，所以還是希望他可以去挑戰美國，希望謙凡過去的時候就繼續努力”

[[台鋼雄鷹球員郭阜林]]
“來自世界各地的很優秀的球員，那希望你不要因為看到他們身材高大就害怕，你也可以變得更好”

來自台東阿美族的賴謙凡，高二就入選U18世界盃國手，曾飆出154公里最快球速，根據外媒報導，簽約金為85萬美元，約新台幣2500萬元。球團透露賴謙凡，預計今年底前往美國，希望能趕上球隊的休賽季訓練。

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Luxury homes in Taipei are getting smaller. The days of buying properties over 100 ping are fading, as high-end buyers shift toward more compact units. In one major development in Zhongzheng District, 37 sales over the past three years averaged nearly NT$100 million each, but the actual living space was under 60 ping. Experts say tighter credit rules and a 30% mortgage cap are pushing wealthy buyers to reconsider and choose smaller homes.

This luxury apartment building in the heart of Taipei’s Zhongzheng District has apartments ranging from 57 to 70 ping. It has sold 37 units over the past three years, making it a favorite among wealthy buyers.

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Close to the Bo’ai Special Zone and Ministry of Economic Affairs, apartments in this safe and quiet area cost about NT$100 million. But after accounting for shared facilities and parking, the actual living space is smaller than 60 ping.

While luxury homes were traditionally large, smaller units are becoming the norm in Taipei’s high-end housing market. The top three best-selling luxury developments built within the past 10 years all have an average interior space of less than 75 ping.

The second best-selling luxury residence over 10 years old sold seven units over the past three years, with an average interior space of 75.6 ping. The shift in the market is largely driven by the Central Bank’s seventh round of selective credit controls.

Kuo Han
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Because the mortgage is capped at just 30%, buyers purchasing luxury homes must provide 70% in cash. For a NT$100 million property, that means putting down NT$70 million up front, so smaller units have become a more attractive option. In addition, land in Taipei is limited. Traditional luxury apartments were mainly in Xinyi District, but now luxury developments are emerging in areas that were previously less common, such as the Dunnan area and Zhongzheng District.

Today’s wealthy buyers are less focused on purchasing large homes. Even with tighter government controls, location and scarcity remain the key factors for keeping luxury property values stable.

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

#apartment #Taipei #property #realestate #luxury #luxuryhome #luxuryapartment #mortgage #price

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Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes fly off French shelves

Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes were sold in France for the first time this year, offered at high-end supermarkets for over NT$2,000 per kilogram. Despite the high price, the first shipment sold out within two days. Prices later surged to over NT$3,600 per kilogram, but demand continued to outstrip supply.

Bright red mangoes glisten in the sunlight, their golden yellow flesh sweet and juicy. These premium Irwin mangoes were recently boxed and shipped to France to be sold at the iconic Galeries Lafayette department store.

Voice of Weng Kai-li
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It’s an honor that Taiwan’s agricultural products have truly reached world-class standards, enabling them to be sold here.

Taiwan’s sweet Irwin mangoes have won over French customers, selling out quickly after they hit the shelves. Prices have even more than doubled. Even among mangoes from other countries, Taiwan’s produce stood out due to their bright red shine and delectable sweetness.

Voice of Weng Kai-li
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They sold really well once they hit the market, selling out in just two days. Besides their striking color and appearance, Irwin mangoes’ sweet aroma can be smelled from far away.

France’s Galeries Lafayette is renowned for carrying luxury brands. After passing strict EU quarantine requirements and overcoming major shipping challenges, Irwin mangoes have sold well in France’s premium market, boosting confidence for farmers back in Taiwan.

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I’m really proud. We will continue to assist our farmers in Pingtung, marketing more of Pingtung’s great products around the world.

Taiwan’s mangoes are selling well in South Korea as well as France, proving there is no need to rely on the Chinese market. Although international shipping and cold chain management is costly, it has enhanced Irwin mangoes’ international competitiveness and put a spotlight on Taiwan’s agricultural products.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#mango #Irwin #Taiwan #France #international #market #success #internationaltrade

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Nigerian child flies to Taiwan for life-changing surgery

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Dressed like a princess in a pink tiara, seven-year-old Miracle from Nigeria came to Taiwan with her mother for a life-changing surgery. She had a rare birth defect in which the opening to the anus was missing or blocked. Although she had previously undergone a colostomy, her family’s financial difficulties meant she could only use diapers and bandages to manage her condition.

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I was very, very happy because I was thinking, “Is this real life, or a dream?” I’m surprised because it just seems like a movie, is it real, or is it not real? But I just thank God for every day.

Jennifer sold her property to fly to Taiwan with her daughter. With the support of the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps and Taipei Medical University, Miracle was able to get the reconstructive surgery she needed to live a normal life. After her surgery, Miracle celebrated her birthday for the first time in Taiwan.

Jennifer
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After flying across the world, Miracle has marked a new beginning to her life. Her dream is to become a doctor so she can help others, just like these doctors have helped her.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Countdown, lift off! A CubeSat space telescope that has input from research teams at National Chung Hsing University and National Tsing Hua University successfully launches into space aboard a Japanese Jaxa H3 rocket.

Goto Tomotsugu
National Tsing Hua University
Out CubeSat is a more sensitive one to make this measurement, and we’re trying to reveal where this faint light is coming from.

This mission, led by the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or Jaxa, along with 13 industry, academic and research institutions from Taiwan and Japan, marks a significant milestone for Taiwan’s academic community when it comes to participating in international space science missions.

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The data reception system as well as the subsequent data processing and calibration systems used in the mission were all independently developed by the Taiwanese team. Following the successful launch, the research team will verify the satellite’s functionality and conduct preliminary observations. Over the next year, they plan to continuously collect cosmic background radiation data, moving a step closer to unraveling the mystery behind the origin of the universe’s “excess light.”

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#Jaxa #NCHU #NTHU #VERTECS #Cubesat #spaceresearch #spacetelescope

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At this residential building, floodwater from the courtyard poured in as soon as a window was opened, likely the result of a clogged drain.

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The streets were shoddily patched together. If you add what’s over there, it was about this high before. The road surface should be elevated. The more work they do, the worse it gets.

- 8:30.
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- Of course I’m worried. I can’t even bother to sweep the water. I’ll do it when it subsides a bit.

Local residents are baffled as to why their mayors did not call off work and classes with such heavy rainfall. On Friday morning, Zhubei City Mayor Cheng Chao-fang announced that his town would suspend work and classes after midday. He also wrote that he only learnt at 8:50 a.m. from county Commissioner Yang Wen-ke’s Facebook page that the county government had authorized individual townships to call off work and classes at their own discretion.

Netizens flooded Yang Wen-ke’s post to slam him, accusing him of shirking his responsibilities. One user commented, "The county government failed to make a decision and didn’t even notify grassroots staff. Does the commissioner think he can just pass the buck with a single Facebook post?" After all, residents were already furious after risking the floodwaters to get to work first thing in the morning.

Local borough wardens have been busy all morning inspecting damages.

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Five cutting-edge inventions win ITRI Elite Awards

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At ITRI, our primary focus is on strategizing for the future, driving innovation in domestic industries and serving as a trusted industrial partner. We also hope that this Elite Award ceremony and the recognition it brings will provide great encouragement to our colleagues.

The ITRI Elite Awards, often referred to as the "ITRI Oscars," have announced their winners. This year’s five gold award-winning technologies focus on AI, next-generation communications, and net-zero sustainability. Among them, the AI-enabled large-scale demonstration project, which won the Industrialization Contribution Gold Award, has been implemented in more than 2,000 companies. Through AI-based segmentation and labeling technology, it has helped the food and beverage industry increase the average order value and lowered the barriers to AI adoption for SMEs.

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Our Elite Awards this year cover areas that are closely related to our future strategies. We are also cooperating with government policies, leveraging the capabilities of ITRI to serve and drive different industries, helping them save on labor costs, increase efficiency and promote innovation.

Also winning a gold award was ultra-high frequency technology, which targets the needs of 6G and satellite communications. It not only improves chip efficiency but also pioneers the integration of chips, antennas, and heat dissipation modules. In the field of net-zero sustainability, the domestically produced zero-rare-earth EC fan motor saves 40% more electricity than traditional motors, further upgrading energy conservation for the industry.

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