HEALTH
Dengue cases total 25,379
The nation reported another 248 cases of dengue fever, bringing the total number of infections since the start of May to 25,379, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. As of Sunday, Kaohsiung and Tainan, where the dengue fever outbreak is concentrated, had reported 125 and 119 new cases respectively. It appears that the dengue fever outbreak is intensifying in Kaohsiung and abating in Tainan, the CDC said, adding that the two southern cities have accumulated 4,544 and 20,400 cases so far respectively. While 23,076 dengue patients have recovered nationwide, 43 are still being treated in intensive care units, CDC statistics showed. In addition, Tropical Storm Koppu could bring rain as it approaches the nation, which is favorable for vector breeding.
CULTURE
Museum to be renovated
The Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), a popular indoor and outdoor showcase for dramatic sculptures located on the nation’s northern coast, is to close for three months from Nov. 2 for a renovation of the museum’s interior and restoration of some of its artworks. It is to be the first time the museum has closed for such a long period of time since it was established by Ju Ming (朱銘), the nation’s best-known sculptor, in 1999 to house his works, the museum said. Before the museum gets its facelift, it is to be open to the public free of admission between 6pm and 9pm on Oct. 31, and music is to be performed in the outdoor space to entertain visitors, it said. The museum added that the huge Living World Series collage of works displayed in the central hall of the main building are to be taken down during the three-month closure to be maintained and restored.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by