CTS Todays R.O.C. Taiwan News English Version

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Shooting for Olympic Medals


The inaugural Youth Olympic Games will open tomorrow in Singapore, and 24 young athletes from Taiwan are qualified to participate. According to pre-game analysis, the Chinese Taipei team's medal chances this year mainly lie in the events of javelin and archery. 24 athletes spent a year of qualifying trials to become members of the Chinese-Taipei team which will go to Singapore to attend the first Youth Olympic Games. They will compete in 10 categories with 17 year-old Tan Ya-Ting already qualifying as a national representative for archery competition in the Asian Games as she is now aiming for a Youth Olympic gold medal. And this athlete who won silver in the Asian Junior Athletics Championships, Cheng Chao-Tsun as has medal desires though the weight of the Youth Olympic javelin is 100 grams lighter than that used in adult competition as he is currently making an adjustment. In addition to competing for medals, the Chinese-Taipei team says another special aspect of the competition is the ability to exchange with members of different teams as well as the chance to make friends from around the world.

Lover's Legend Comes To Life

To wish the public a happy Chinese Valentine's Day, the Yilan County government has recreated the romantic scenery from a Chinese love story, through the Magpie Bridge, which oversees the Dongshan River.Now, let's take you to the symbolic bridge to experience it all. The Weaver is dancing alone beside the Dongshan River, and looks forward to its once a year visit with the Cowherd as they meet in the galaxy. This 220 meter long and 18-meter wide Magpie Bridge conveys the story of the Weaver and the Cowherd, and on the eve Chinese Valentine's Day the location is particularly attractive with lights decorating the area and leading many romantic boats passing allowing many to fall back in love. With the feeling of sweet love in the air, and even if one does not have a love, one can also quickly declare their love in this "love prompt delivery" box with some making confessions of love,and expressing feelings that they otherwise not say which would go to the county government and on Chinese Valentine's Day will appear in the galaxy above the Dongshan River, making for a very romantic summer night.

Childcare Project Controversy

Taipei City government is launching a series of childcare projects to lessen the burden on working parents. Also, in an attempt to increase the birth rate in Taiwan, the proposed agenda will extend after-school care service at elementary schools and public kindergartens. However, this talk is sparking concerns left and right, from parents, to teachers, and even to care center owners.In order to encourage its residents to give birth, Taipei city is promoting a new plan to expand after school care by extending the hours to 7pm for elementary school and to 6pm for kindergarten with no limit on the number of students to satisfy parents' need.However, the new plan is faced with the Taipei City Teachers Association Opposition, saying that it would only increase the teachers' burdens.

Parents are generally giving positive response to the plan and understand the good will by the government; however, they worried about the qualification control of those teachers and called out to the government for a more detailed plan.The proposed plan would cost more than NT$ 24.54 million annually.

The privately operated after school care centers pointed out that, with more people having less children, the extended hours of public school after school program would only make it harder for them to survive.The after school centers of Taipei City's elementary school and kindergarten suggested that the government use the budget to subsidize parents to send their children to nearby private care centers; the suggestion would lessen the parents financial burden while encourage those licensed centers to do a better job

A Life's Work of a Master Writer

An exhibition on the creative works of Taiwan's literary giant Huang Chun-ming has opened, showing his early manuscripts, short novels, paintings and even the latest books and plays he wrote for children.Chaos is reigning in the palace because the prince doesn't want to become king. Director Huang Chun-ming addresses the young actors with a microphone, and rushes onto the stage when one of the actors trips and falls. His concern is written all over his face as he asks the child if he is all right. It is clear that many children today are unable to identify with their family, society, or country. Several years ago, Huang founded a children's drama troupe in the hopes that theater could move young actors and audiences and help them find a sense of belonging. The renowned author has also written and illustrated a number of children's books in recent years. Huang's handwritten drafts and several self portraits were recently exhibited at a retrospective on his career. However, he says that his greatest joy at this stage in his life is touring with his troupe. He is also spending time with his grandchildren, and planting the seeds of literature in the hearts of children around the island.