________________________________

Hey there! It's time for another episode of News Bites.

I'm Paz Bueno.

And I'm Nancy Sun.

In today's news:

More furbabies than babies in Hsinchu, and an overview of India's first moon
rover.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…what does it take to be a planet?

Keep on listening to find out!
________________________________

新竹縣寵物數量超過新生兒
Pets Outnumber Newborns in Hsinchu County

Do you have a pet at home?

A fluffy cat or a friendly dog?

Well, you're not alone!

For the third year in a row (連續三年), Hsinchu County has had more new pets
than new babies.

Since 2020, the number of pet cats has increased by about 25 percent each
year…

…while dog registrations have risen 10 percent annually!
從2020年以來，寵物貓的註冊量每年增加25％，而寵物狗的註冊量則每年增加10％。

In 2022, 5,129 dogs and cats were registered as pets, while only 4,033 babies
were born in the county.
2022年新竹縣內註冊的寵物貓和狗數量達到5, 129隻，而只有4, 033名嬰兒出生。

Furbabies outnumber babies!
毛小孩數量超過嬰兒!

Officials say that this shows how pets are increasingly seen as "a part of
the family" (寵物越來越被看作是"家庭的一份子").

Not only that (不止如此), but Hsinchu County is also becoming more and more
pet-friendly (友善寵物).

It recently opened a new Animal Protection Education Park (保護動物教育園區)
in Zhubei.

This park is all about teaching people how to take good care of animals.

The county government also offers perks for people who adopt a pet instead of
buying one.
針對那些領養寵物而不是購買寵物的人，縣政府還提供了一些小福利。

They provide free pet registration (寵物登記), rabies vaccinations
(狂犬病疫苗), and sterilization (絕育手術).

They have even teamed up (合作) with eight local businesses that are all
about pets.

So, when people adopt, they can get discounts on stuff like vet visits,
grooming, pet boarding, and various pet products.
領養寵物的人可以享受到看獸醫、寵物美容、寄宿和各種寵物用品的優惠。

Some people are a bit worried that young families are choosing to adopt pets
instead of having babies.

They want the government to keep an eye on this (注意到這個情況), as Taiwan's
birth rate is going down (台灣的出生率正在下降).
________________________________

印度「月船」成功登陸月球南極
India's Moon Rover Successfully Lands on Lunar South Pole

India has joined an exclusive list of countries (極少數國家名單).

It's now the fourth country in the world to successfully land a lunar rover!
印度現在是全球第四個成功登陸月球的國家！

The Chandrayaan-3 moon mission was launched by the Indian Space Research
Organization, or ISRO.
月球任務 Chandrayaan-3 由印度太空研究組織發射。

It was launched on July 14th, and this mission consists of two main parts-a
lander named Vikram and a rover called Pragyan.
這個任務在7月14日發射，主要包括兩部分-登陸器 Vikram 和月球探測器 Pragyan。

The names come from Sanskrit (梵語)-chandra means 'moon', yana means 'ship'
(船).

And vikram means 'brave' (勇敢), and pragyan means 'wisdom' (智慧).

Vikram and Pragyan touched down near the moon's south pole (降落在月球南極)
on August 23rd.

That makes India the first country to land there.

People from all over India and even the world watched the landing (登陸).

Schools showed it live (現場直播), and people prayed (祈禱) for its success.

There were big celebrations, and the media called it India's biggest
scientific achievement so far (印度到目前為止最大的科學成就).

Indian newspapers celebrated with headlines (標題) like "The moon is Indian."

People in India were over the moon-literally!
印度人民真是高興到月亮去了！

Pragyan has special tools to check out what the moon is made of.

It will test the water ice on the moon's south pole, which could be super
useful for future missions.

Right now, both Vikram and Pragyan are taking a little "nap" (小睡一下).

They went to sleep mode (休眠模式) in early September because they were
running low on solar power (太陽能供應不足).

They're set to wake up and start working again on September 22nd, when the
sun rises on the moon (月球上日出的時候).

________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

Hsinchu County has more new pets than babies for the third year in a row.

Not only that, Hsinchu County is also becoming more and more pet-friendly.

The county government offers perks for people who adopt a pet instead of
buying one.

Some people are worried young families are choosing to adopt pets instead of
having babies.
________________________________

And,

India is the fourth country in the world to successfully land a rover on the
moon.

Chandrayaan-3's lander Vikram and rover Pragyan touched down near the moon's
south pole.

It's the first ever lunar mission to land there.

ISRO's goal is to check out what the moon is made of to help plan for future
trips.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

You've probably heard of Pluto, or 冥王星 in Chinese...

Pluto used to be one of our solar system's NINE planets... But in the year
2006, scientists decided it's not actually a planet...

So what's wrong with Pluto?

Scientists say a body in space needs three things, to be a planet:

1. It needs to go around a star... check!
2. It needs to be a round shape... check!
3. It has to be big enough for its gravity to clean up all the space rocks
around it... uh oh!

Even though Pluto is much bigger than the space rocks around it, its gravity
is not strong enough, and there are still lots of space rocks around it.

Well... at least we still have eight planets... and Pluto's still there!

If you have a fun fact or a joke you'd like to share with us, record your
message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might
hear it at the end of an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!

 

________________________________

Hi everyone, it's time for a new episode of News Bites...

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Brody Halverson.

In today's stories...

More meat, and a new breakthrough.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…

He's the man with the world's deepest voice, but how low can he go? Stay
tuned to find out!
________________________________

台灣人吃肉首度超過穀類
Taiwanese Eat More Meat than Grains


Many people like to eat meat...whether it's in hotpot, barbecue or a steak on
a sizzling iron plate.

And it seems tastes in Taiwan are changing.

Statistics (數據) from the Ministry of Agriculture show that the average
Taiwanese person ate more meat than grains last year.

In 2022, each person in Taiwan ate an average of 87.5 kilograms of meat.

And each ate an average of 87.4 kilograms of grain.

The difference is subtle (細微)...

But it may show that the way we eat is slowly changing.

What type of meat is your favorite?

Government data shows that the meat we eat the most is chicken.

Taiwanese each ate about 43 kilograms of chicken last year.

台灣人吃最多的肉類是雞肉，去年攝取量每人四十三公斤創歷史新高。

Some experts think this may be due to more people becoming interested in
sports and fitness (健康、體適能).

Many who want to keep fit or eat healthy may choose to eat chicken meat.

But beef consumption (食用) also hit a new high last year.

On average, each person in Taiwan ate just over 7 kilograms of beef.

Some people do not eat beef for religious or traditional reasons.

But that is slowly changing too.

On the other hand, pork consumption has decreased.

Each person ate an average of 36 kilograms last year.

Over the last few years, Taiwanese have also started eating less rice.

But they've started eating more potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other types of
tuber vegetables (根莖類).

台灣人吃米量這幾年來持續減少，不過馬鈴薯、地瓜等薯類的攝取量卻慢慢增加。

The Ministry of Agriculture says more convenience stores and fast food
restaurants are selling roasted sweet potatoes and French fries.

Sweet potatoes are also very popular in baking, tea drinks and local snacks.

All this means people eat more sweet potatoes.

Still, experts say a balanced diet is very important for good health.

As the old saying goes, "You are what you eat."
________________________________

移植豬腎猴子成功存活兩年
Monkeys with Transplanted Pig Kidneys Survive Two Years.


Kidneys are vital organs in the human body.

They filter blood and remove waste from your body.

But it is also an organ that is quite vulnerable (脆弱).

It can be damaged from injuries, diseases, drugs or too much medication.

As a result, there is a huge need for kidney transplants (腎臟移植) worldwide.

In the United States alone, 92,000 people are waiting for a kidney donations
(腎臟捐贈).

But there aren't enough donated kidneys for everyone who needs it.

Scientists are trying to find another way to solve the problem.

One idea is to use kidneys from pigs.

This is called "Xenotransplantation (異種移植)."

Pig kidneys and human kidneys are close to the same size.

成年豬的體重和器官大小，最符合成人腎移植的需求。

An experiment showed that monkeys that get a pig kidney transplant can
survive up to two years.

Experts say this is a groundbreaking achievement (突破性的成果).

But it's still a long way from clinical trials (臨床實驗).

A few transplants using pig organs have happened in recent years.

A human patient whose heart wasn't working well got a pig heart transplant.

That heart worked normally for 49 days.

The idea shows some promise.

But there are ethical (道德) issues to think about too.

Many are worried about how animals are treated in these experiments.

And others are worried about the danger from infectious diseases.

Scientists are still working on many other ideas for organ transplants.

With technology advancing every day, there is hope that a solution will come
soon!
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites...

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture show that the average Taiwanese
person ate more meat than grains last year.

In 2022, each person in Taiwan ate an average of 87.5 kilograms of meat.

And each ate an average of 87.4 kilograms of grain.

The difference is subtle...

But it may show that the way we eat is slowly changing.
________________________________

And,

Scientists are trying to find a solution for the huge need for kidney
transplants around the world.

One idea is to use kidneys from pigs.

An experiment showed that monkeys that get a pig kidney transplant can
survive up to two years.

Experts say this is a groundbreaking achievement.

But it's still a long way from clinical trials.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

In today's Tasty Tidbit, the man with the world's deepest voice can make
sounds that are so low, we can't even hear them.

Singer and voice artist Tim Storms holds the World Guinness Record for the
"lowest note produced by a human" and "widest vocal range". If you think of
the lowest note on a piano, Tim can make a sound that's seven octaves below
that. That sound is so low that it's "infrasonic", which means we can't hear
it. But elephants can.

If you have a fun fact or a joke you'd like to share with us, record your
message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might
hear it at the end of an episode!

Tune in again next time for an all new episode of News Bites!
 

________________________________

Hi everyone, it's time for a new episode of News Bites.

I'm Jacob Ingram.

And I'm John Seaward.

In today's stories...

A Kaohsiung neighborhood gets ready to move, and two scientists find
something amazing deep in the Earth.

And in today's tasty tidbit: Electricity in the human brain.

Let's check it out.

________________________________

高雄大林蒲村民準備搬家
Kaohsiung Neighborhood Prepares to Move

Have you ever been to Kaohsiung?

Maybe you've been to Siaogang District (小港區).

It's one of Taiwan's biggest industrial areas (工業區).

It's really heavy industry down there!

There are big factories, making steel (鋼鐵), oil (石油), and every kind of
chemical (各種化學品).

There's a company building huge ships, and a power plant burning coal.

小港工業區有工廠、造船廠、發電廠。

And right in the middle of it, there's a little village where people live.

It's called Dalinpu Village (大林蒲村).

For many years, the people of Dalinpu have had to live next to all of these
factories and power plants.

Every day, they eat and sleep surrounded by the pollution (污染) from the
industrial areas.

Now, the government (政府) says it will help the people move away from there.

They have agreed to spend 80 billion NT on the move.

The money will provide (提供) new homes to almost 6000 people from Dalinpu.

政府提供八百億元幫助近六千名居民搬家。

They will be able to escape the pollution, and live in a cleaner area.

Not everybody wants to leave Dalinpu.

Even though the air is dirty, some residents (居民) still regard it as home.

Some people have even lived there since before the area became an industrial
zone.

But most people want to go.

In 2017, they had a vote, and 90% of people agreed to relocate.
90%的居民投票決定搬遷。

Now they need to decide where to go.

Many of the details (細節) still need to be worked out.

But people agree that they can't stay there much longer.

Each year, the pollution gets worse.

So, the residents of Dalinpu are getting ready to say goodbye to their old
neighborhood (舊社區) and say hello to a cleaner, safer living environment
(生活環境).

________________________________

地球內部的另一個行星
Another Planet Inside Earth

What is inside our planet (行星)?

Yes, our planet Earth (地球)!

We live on the surface (地表).

But if you dig down, deep into the ground, what is at the center of the
planet?

In the past, people thought there might be a secret world down there.

Later, scientists found out that the core of the earth is made of hot rock
and oceans of magma.
科學家知道地球的核心是由岩漿組成的。

But recently, scientists have made a startling discovery (驚人的發現).

They think there might be another planet inside Earth.

How can that be?

It started when scientists tried to test a theory (檢驗理論).

They wanted to know how the moon (月亮) was made.

According to the theory, another planet called Theia crashed into Earth
billions of years ago.
根據理論，數十億年前，另一顆名為Theia的行星撞擊了地球。

The crash melted both planets, and blew lots of dirt and rocks into space.

Then, this rock came together to form the moon.

Scientists thought it was an interesting idea, but they weren't sure it was
correct.

After all, nobody was around billions of years ago, so how could they know?

A couple scientists thought if planet Theia had crashed into Earth, maybe
some pieces of Theia would still be inside our planet.
兩位科學家認為Theia 的一些碎片可能仍然存在於我們的地球內。

Dr Qian Yuan from California and Professor Hongping Deng from China used a
computer to test the idea.

The test showed that part of the planet Theia would remain as blobs of rock
(岩石團) inside Earth.

The amazing thing is, there really are two huge blobs of strange rock in the
earth.

The blobs are deep underground, 3,000 kilometers below Africa and the Pacific
Ocean.
他們確實在地下三千公里處發現了兩塊巨大的岩石。

Scientists know these blobs are different from the rest of Earth, but for a
long time they have not known where these blobs come from.

Now, Dr Yuan and Professor Deng say these blobs might come from the planet
Theia.

If that's true, it means there are parts of a completely different planet
buried (埋著) under our feet.

Now, the scientists want to test rocks from the moon.

If the moon rocks are similar to the underground blobs in Earth, then maybe
both of them came from the planet Theia.
如果月球岩石跟地下岩石團相似，那它們可能都來自Theia行星。

________________________________

So, in today's newsbites...

All the people from a Kaohsiung neighborhood are preparing to move away.

Dalinpu Village is polluted, because it is near an industrial area.

Now, the government has set aside some money to help nearly 6000 residents
find new homes.

And...

Scientists think there might be another planet inside Earth.

They think the planet Theia crashed into Earth billions of years ago.

That crash might have left parts of Theia inside Earth, and also created the
moon.

________________________________

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…

Did you know that the human brain generates about 20 Watts of electrical
power?

While the brain represents only about 2% of a person's total body weight, it
consumes about 20% of the body's energy.

The electrical activity generated by the brain, often measured in watts, is
roughly equivalent to the power consumption of a dim light bulb.

And that's today's episode of News Bites!

If you have a fun fact or joke you'd like to share with us, record your
message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to newsbites@icrt.com.tw and you might
hear it at the end of an episode. We'll see you next time for an exciting new
episode of News Bites!
 

________________________________

Welcome back, you're listening to a whole new episode of News Bites!

I'm Paz Bueno.

And I'm Nancy Sun.

Coming up next…
Cancer treatment funded by the government, and keeping cats in Singapore!

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…

Some distinctive patterns found in nature…and on us!

Keep listening to learn more.
________________________________

台灣首次全民健保涵蓋的CAR T細胞治療
The First NHI-Funded CAR T-cell Therapy

Cancer (癌症) is a disease where cells in the body grow out of control.

It can happen almost anywhere in the body and affects many people around the
world.

Treating cancer is a big challenge.

Doctors often use treatments like chemotherapy (化療), radiation
(放射線治療), or surgery (手術).

These methods aim to kill or remove cancer cells (癌細胞).

But sometimes, they can be hard on the patient's body.
對患者的身體影響較大。

Now, scientists are looking for new ways to fight cancer more effectively
(有效) and with fewer side effects (副作用更小).

One of these new methods is called CAR T-cell therapy (CAR T細胞治療).

It's a type of treatment that uses the patient's own immune system (免疫系統)
to fight the cancer.

And this year, a woman in her 70s has become the first patient to receive CAR
T-cell therapy covered by the National Health Insurance (全民健保).

She's being treated for a type of cancer known as DLBCL
(擴散性大B細胞淋巴瘤的癌症).

Nine years ago, she was first diagnosed with DLBCL and had gone into
remission (進入緩解期).

Sadly, her cancer returned two years ago.

That's where CAR T-cell therapy comes in.

It's a special treatment that changes a patient's white blood cells (白血球)
to help them fight cancer better.

This treatment is really expensive, costing about $8 million NT.

But now, thanks to the NHI system, it's available to more people in Taiwan
(變得更加普及).

This therapy has shown promising results.

About 40% of DLBCL patients can completely beat their cancer, and another 13%
show significant improvement.

However, because it's so costly (成本高昂), the NHI is currently only funding
this treatment for certain types of cancer patients.

Every year, the NHI plans to spend around $800 million NT to provide this
life-saving treatment to 110 cancer patients.

This month, six more patients will receive CAR T-cell therapy.

This step is a big deal in Taiwan's healthcare.

It shows a strong commitment (堅定承諾) to use advanced treatments and make
them accessible to more people.

________________________________

新加坡放寬 寵物貓法令
Pet Cat Laws in Singapore Change

Cats are such great companions (伴侶).

They're playful, independent, and can be really affectionate (跟人很親).

They're perfect for apartment living too!

They don't need much space and are pretty low maintenance.
不需要太多空間，而且照顧起來相對簡單。

In Singapore, a big change is coming for cat lovers!

For 34 years, cats were not allowed in most apartments.

But soon, this rule is going away.

People like Sunny, who secretly kept her cat Mooncake, will not have to worry
about fines anymore.
像Sunny這樣偷偷養貓的人不必再擔心罰款了。

Why the change?

Well, many people in Singapore love cats.

A survey in 2022 found that 9 out of 10 people think cats are great pets for
apartments.

So, the government decided it was time to update the rules (更新規則).

But it's not just about letting cats live in apartments.

There are new plans to keep cats safe and happy.

Each home can have up to two cats.

Cats will need a microchip and a license.
寵物貓需要有晶片和執照。

This change is exciting for cat owners.

Plus, it might help more rescued cats find homes.
也許可以讓更多被拯救的流浪貓找到家。

Singapore is known for having lots of rules.

For example, you can't buy or import chewing gum there.

And until now, you couldn't have cats in most apartments.

But times are changing!

Some people think the new cat rules could be better.

They want all cats to be sterilized (絕育) and owners to take full
responsibility for their pets.

This is important because sometimes cats need help, like when they get sick
or hurt.

Overall, this new law is a big step forward for cat lovers in Singapore.

It shows that the city cares about its furry citizens (毛茸茸的市民) and the
people who love them.

Now, cats like Mooncake can live happily and safely in their homes.
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

A woman in her 70s has become the first patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy
covered by the National Health Insurance.

She's being treated for a type of cancer.

This treatment is really expensive, costing about $8 million NT.

But now, thanks to the NHI system, it's available to more people in Taiwan.
________________________________

And,

A big change is coming for cat lovers in Singapore!

For 34 years, cats were not allowed in most apartments.

But soon, this rule is going away.

People like Sunny, who secretly kept her cat Mooncake, will not have to worry
about fines anymore.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

There are many distinctive patterns in nature.

Just like our fingerprints are all different, each zebra has its own special
pattern of stripes.

No two zebras have the same stripes, making them as unique as our
fingerprints!

And speaking of fingerprints, did you know that koala bears have fingerprints
too?

What's really surprising is that koala fingerprints are so similar to human
fingerprints that even experts can have a hard time telling them apart!

Nature sure has some interesting ways of making each creature special.

What's something about you that makes you unique?

If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with
us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might hear it at the end of an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!


 

________________________________

Hi there, it's an all-new episode of News Bites.

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Hope Ngo.

In today's news...

A superhero in a school uniform, and an ancient site with a modern twist.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit...

Oh, excuse you Earth! Earth burps too? We'll tell you all about it at the end
of the episode!
________________________________

高中生緊急CPR救援長者挽回一命
Student Saves Elderly Man


Not all superheroes wear capes.

Sometimes, a superhero is...a student.

One real-life superhero named Zhang Jing-lun used bravery and superfast
reflexes to save a life!

Imagine this...

You're waiting for your train at the train station.

Suddenly, someone nearby collapses (倒下).

What do you do?

This really happened to Zhang Jing-lun.

He was waiting for a train in Taoyuan...

When an elderly man close by fell down, and didn't get back up.

Jing-lun burst into action (採取行動).

The high school student heard workers at the station calling for help.

He told them he was certified to give emergency aid (急救).

He knew how to perform CPR (心肺復甦術).

Jing-lun checked the elderly man.

The man was not breathing, and did not have a pulse (沒有脈搏).

So Jing-lun started CPR.

And he asked train station staff to go get an AED (自動體外心臟電擊去顫器).

Police also helped.

This may surprise you, but it's not the first time Jing-lun has done CPR for
someone.

When he was in junior high, he performed CPR on his grandpa.

Unfortunately, Jing-lun could not save him.

This time around, Jing-lun was determined things would be different.

He worked very hard to bring the elderly man back to life.

Jing-lun said he was very scared.

And when he finally heard the man's heartbeat come back, he was so happy that
he cried.

The student says he made his grandpa a promise that he would help save lives.

張靖綸說救人是對爺爺的承諾。

Jing-lun worked hard and got his first-aid certification (急救執照).

He also started a first-aid team at school.

The team works at school events, helping make sure everyone stays safe.

And Jing-lun also got his EMT license (EMT緊急救護技術員資格)!

He says he is just doing his part to help people.

And Jing-lun's story shows that we all have the power to make a difference!
________________________________

馬來西亞景點「黑風洞」將設電扶梯
Ancient Malaysian Site to Get Escalator


Visiting an ancient temple in Malaysia sounds like an amazing experience.

But first, you have to climb lots of stairs!

The Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur may be around 400 million years old.

The caves are a religious site and a big part of an annual festival every
year.

Many tourists visit every year.

黑風洞是印度教的聖地，據說有約4億年的歷史。

The Batu Caves are famous for its big flight of rainbow-colored stairs.

But those stairs are a problem for some visitors.

To reach the temple in a limestone cave at the top, you have to climb 272
steps!

目前，遊客必須爬272層階梯才能到達頂部石灰岩洞穴中的寺廟。

Does that sound a little tough?

Well, people who take care of the site are thinking about adding an escalator.

They want to help the elderly, and people with disabilities.

They say they want everyone to be able to reach the top and experience the
temple's magic.

And they also want to build a "hall" (大廳) that can be used for special
events.

黑風洞的管理委員會打算在此設一座電扶梯，希望為那些無法或不願意爬272層階梯的人們提供另一個選擇。

But hold on, not everyone is happy about the escalator express!

Some are worried that the escalator will be bad for the caves.

They think such a modern machine would ruin the history of the caves.

Other people just don't think it's needed.

So do you think the escalator will solve problems, or create problems?
________________________________

So, in today's news…

High school student Zhang Jing-lun helped save an elderly man who collapsed.

He performed CPR and brought the man back to life!

The student says he made his grandpa a promise, and he is just doing his part
to help people.
________________________________

and...

The Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur is famous for its 272 rainbow-colored steps.

Now people who take care of the site are thinking about adding an escalator.

But some are worried that the escalator would ruin the history of the caves.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…

Did you know... the Earth burps? Sort of, kind of burps?

Our planet lets out these burps from "geysers".

It's hot water, steam, and minerals from deep underground.

These geysers can shoot water up really high, like up to 90 meters into the
sky.

That's about 30 floors high!

Deep inside the Earth, things are super-hot and bubbly, and when the pressure
gets too high...

BOOM!

Up comes a geyser, letting out all that built-up energy!

And that's it for today's episode of News Bites!

If you have a fun fact, a joke or news you'd like to share with us, record
your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you
might hear it at the end of an episode.

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!