________________________________

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

I'm Jacob Ingram.

And I'm Nancy Sun.

In today's stories: A man from Hsinchu spends a week in the desert, and a
photo of a bird surprises people.

Let's go!
________________________________

台灣人徒步穿越非洲沙漠
Taiwanese Man Walks Across African Desert

Could you walk across the desert (沙漠)?

I don't know.

If I tried to do that, I might just die.

The desert is so hot and dry (乾燥).

It sounds really difficult.

But it's not impossible.

Some people still do it.

In fact, a guy from Taiwan recently finished a race (比賽) across the desert.

It was a man from Hsinchu County named Gao Yu-jin (高玉金).

He travelled all the way to Africa, to the country of Namibia, to join a race
across the Namib Desert.

The Namib Desert is not an easy place to survive. It is the oldest desert in
the world, and one of the driest.

Gao went there to join a 7-day race across the desert. It was an
ultramarathon, meaning Gao had to go on foot 250 kilometers to finish the
race.
高玉金從台灣新竹前往非洲納米比亞參加超級馬拉松。

Gao knew it would be very hard. The desert was harsh, and temperatures
sometimes got up to 50 degrees Celsius during the day.

What's more, Gao is already 60 years old.

Many of the other racers were younger and fitter.

But Gao was determined to do it (決心這麼做).

He carried a heavy backpack with lots of water to drink.

He also had protective clothing to ward off the sun, and walking poles
(登山杖) to help him keep his balance as he trekked across the desert dunes.

It was really tough (辛苦).

Gao said he felt mixed emotions during the race, such as resentment,
helplessness, and pain.

He said he often thought about giving up, but still he kept on going.
他說比賽時心情很複雜，有怨恨、茫然、痛苦等等。他說他途中多次想要放棄，但是他堅持了下來。

Finally, after a week in the desert, he finished the race, getting 74th place.

After the race, he got on social media to say he was proud of himself.

Gao thanked his family for supporting him.

He said the race made him believe that every person has unlimited potential
(無限的潛力).

So how about it?

Do you want to try walking across the desert?

The race happens every year.

Maybe one day, it will be you out there, testing your strength and endurance.
________________________________

攝影師贏得人工智慧攝影比賽獎項
Photographer Wins AI Photo Contest

Have you ever seen picture made by AI?

Yes. Some of them are super weird (超奇怪).

If you ask AI to make a photo of an animal, it might show you an animal with
two faces!

That's scary.

On the other hand, lots of AI photos are super cool.

Sometimes, you can't even tell (看不出來) the photo was made by AI.

You know, some people use AI photos to win photography contests (攝影比賽),
even if that is against the rules.

When the judges find out the photos come from AI, the photos get disqualified
(被取消了比賽資格).

That makes sense, as people worry about AI replacing human artists.

But now one human artist is fighting back.

In a recent contest, the photographer (攝影師) Miles Astray broke the rules,
but in the opposite way.

He took a real photo, but made it look like an AI photo.

Then he entered it in a contest for AI photos, and he won!

What was the photo?

It was a photo of a pink bird - a flamingo (紅鶴) - standing on the beach.

The flamingo looks like it has no head, like a lot of creepy AI photos do.

But it was actually a real photo of a flamingo.

The bird was hiding its head in its feathers, which is what real flamingos do
when they sleep.
照片看起來像一隻沒有頭的鳥，但實際上是一隻正在睡覺的紅鶴。

The judges thought it was a weird and cool AI photo, and they gave it a prize.

Imagine their surprise (驚訝) when the photographer told them it was a real
photo he took with his camera.

Of course, the photographer was disqualified from the contest.

But he feels his project was a success, because he made people think.

他讓大家思考。

He says he wants people to question (質疑) the pictures they see.

People should always ask themselves: Could that be real, or was it created
with AI?
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

A Taiwanese guy raced across the African desert.

Gao Yu-jin traveled from Hsinchu to Namibia to join the 7-day ultramarathon.

It wasn't easy, but after 250 kilometers, Gao finally walked across the
finish line.
________________________________

And,

A photographer surprised people when he won an AI photo contest using a real
photo.

His photo of a flamingo looks weird enough to be made by a computer, but it's
totally real.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

For today's Tasty Tidbit,

Did you know the Earth isn't perfectly round?

While the Earth may appear round, it's actually slightly flat at the top and
bottom, which are called the poles.

It's also a bit wider in the middle - the equator (赤道).

This is because the Earth spins (旋轉) very fast, which causes a bulge (凸出)
at the equator.
________________________________

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

If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story 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, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Jacob Ingram.

And I'm Nancy Sun.

Coming up next in today's news: Internet usage increases among elderly in
Taiwan and the National Gallery celebrates its 200th anniversary!

And in today's Tasty Tidbit: Art was once a part of the Olympics!

Stay tuned for more on those stories!
________________________________

台灣老年人網路使用率增加
Increased Internet Usage Among Elderly in Taiwan

Can you imagine life without the internet?

Imagine not being able to message your friends, order food online, look up
important information, or find your way around town.

Before the internet, people had to go to libraries and read through books.

They also had to carry around pocket maps (口袋地圖) so they wouldn't get
lost.

It's shocking (令人震驚的) to think that the internet has only been available
to the public (對外開放) for 30 years.

This means, a lot of the older population (老年人口) didn't have access to
the internet when they were younger.

But as time went on, the internet became more and more popular.

Now, it connects us with people from all over the world and allows us to
access information (資訊) quickly and easily.
現在，網路讓我們可以和世界各地的人交流，使我們能夠快速、輕鬆地獲取資訊。

The Ministry of Health ran a survey to analyze trends (分析趨勢) in the
elderly between 2017 and 2022.

It showed that internet usage among seniors in Taiwan has increased by 50
percent.

For those aged 55 to 64, internet usage has risen from 65 percent to 87
percent.

Why?

Well, there are many factors (因素).

The internet is a lot more accessible now thanks to technology.

Smartphones and high-speed internet connections are more affordable.

Wi-Fi and mobile networks (手機網路) have expanded (擴大), so people can
connect to the internet more easily.

In addition, Apps and websites are now more user-friendly (易於使用的), so
they're easy to use for both the young and elderly.

With the internet at our disposal, we're able to achieve (實現) so much.

We're can self-study different subjects, FaceTime our friends, watch films at
home, go online shopping, and much more.
________________________________

英國國家美術館
The National Gallery

Have you heard about Van Gogh's famous sunflower paintings?

Well, you'll be able to find one of them at the National Gallery in London!

The National Gallery opened in 1824.

The museum was founded when the British government (英國政府) bought 38
paintings from an art collector (收藏家).

Today, the National Gallery has over 2,300 paintings.

It's like a giant treasure chest (百寶箱) of art!

This year marks its 200th anniversary (200週年紀念日).

The museum has a rich collection of Western European paintings ranging from
the 13th to the 19th century.
博物館內藏有豐富的13世紀至 19 世紀西歐繪畫作品。

These paintings are like windows to the past.
這些畫就像通往過去的門戶。

They show us how people lived, how people dressed, and much more!
它們向我們展示了當時人們的生活方式、穿著等等。

Lots of people from all around the world visit the National Gallery every
year.

This year also commemorates (慶祝) the 100th anniversary of the museum
acquiring (獲取) two famous paintings: "Van Gogh's Chair" and "Sunflowers."

To celebrate, the National Gallery will hold a Van Gogh exhibition (展覽)
titled "Poets and Lovers." (詩人與戀人)

It's going to be the biggest Van Gogh exhibition in the UK since 2010!

You'll be able to witness many of his famous paintings all in one place!

The exhibition starts September 14th.

Van Gogh's art is very popular today.

You might have seen his swirly (旋渦狀的), colorful paintings in books, on
TV, or even on t-shirts.

Yet surprisingly, Van Gogh wasn't famous when he was alive.

He produced more than 2,000 artworks (作品), but not many people noticed his
talent (才華) back then.

Today, his work is loved by millions.

People travel far to get a glimpse of his paintings in real life.

If you visit the National Gallery, you'll get to see Van Gogh's unique (別致)
artworks!
________________________________

So in today's News Bites:

Internet usage among seniors in Taiwan has increased by 50 percent.

Over the last few years, the internet has become more accessible partially
due to cheaper and faster technology.
________________________________

And this year marks the National Gallery's 200th anniversary.

It is also the 100th anniversary of the museum acquiring "Van Gogh's Chair"
and "Sunflowers," two of Van Gogh's famous paintings.

To celebrate, the National Gallery will hold a Van Gogh exhibition titled
"Poets and Lovers."
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

Did you know that art used to be an Olympics event?

Art competitions were a part of the modern Olympic Games from 1912 to 1948.

During that time period, artists received medals for their architecture,
music, paintings, sculptures and literature inspired by sports.

Pierre Coubertin is the founder of the modern Olympics.

He believed that a true Olympian had to be someone who not only demonstrates
athletic strength, but also had artistic skills.
________________________________

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

If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with
us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at
newsbites@icrt.com.tw.

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, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Kelly Kimura.

In today's stories, top night markets for international visitors, and a big
bird takes over the New York skyline.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit, one student from New Taipei tells us all about a
strange animal!

Stay tuned for more on those stories!
______________________________________________________

外國觀光客最愛台灣的那些夜市?
Visiting Tourists Rank Favorite Night Markets


We're used to visiting Taiwan's awesome night markets whenever we want.

Looking to do some shopping?

Feel like shooting some darts (飛鏢)?

Or how about some delicious treats?

Night markets are a super fun way to enjoy a night out (外出玩樂的夜晚).

And visitors from other countries love night markets too.

In fact, a government survey shows night markets are a favorite thing to try
out for international tourists!

But which ones do they like best?

The survey shows the famous Shilin Night Market in Taipei was the top choice.

Almost 38 percent of visitors made sure to stop by there on their trip to
Taiwan.

Government data shows that around 2.4 million international tourists visit
Shilin Night Market every year!

Then there's Raohe Street Night Market, with almost 29 percent.

And rounding out the Taipei trio, is Ningxia Night Market at 17 percent.

But hold up, there's lots of love for places outside of Taipei too.

Down south in Kaohsiung, Liuhe Night Market takes the fourth spot.

It's the most popular night market outside of Taipei, attracting almost 7
percent of international visitors.

And Taichung's Fengjia Night Market takes fifth, with just over 6-percent.

Overall, the survey shows that almost 6.5 million tourists visited Taiwan
last year.

And it seems like they had a great time.

Over 97 percent said they really enjoyed their trip.

And more than half said they would visit Taiwan again within five years.

去年來台的外國觀光客有將近650萬人，97%對台灣旅遊感到滿意，過一半說願意五年內再回來玩。

Many said they liked that Taiwan's people are so friendly.

They also said it was very easy to get around, and the island felt very safe.
______________________________________________________

"鴿"吉拉? 巨型鴿子雕像佔領紐約高架公園
Giant Pigeon Sculpture Takes New York


Something BIG is headed to New York City.

What is that?

It's as tall as a building.

It's got sharp claws on its feet!

It's not Godzilla...

It's not aliens...

Is that...is that a...pigeon?

Pigeons are everywhere in New York City.

They hang around on the streets.

They look for food in parks.

They sit and relax on buildings.

They are a part of the city.

In fact, scientists think there are more pigeons in New York City than people!

They estimate (估計) that there are about 9 million pigeons in NYC, compared
to 8 million people.

A long, long time ago, there weren't any pigeons in the area.

Scientists think European settlers (歐洲定居者) brought pigeons to the city
in the 17th century.

And pigeons are definitely a part of the city now.

But guess what, these birds are about to get "SUPER-SIZED"

The city is putting a realistic sculpture (真實的雕像) of a pigeon in High
Line Park (高架公園).

And this pigeon sculpture is about 5 meters tall.

That's almost as tall as a giraffe!

And what would you name this huge piece of art?

"Giant Pigeon"?

Or "Big Bird"?

How about..."Dinosaur".

"Dinosaur" is made by an artist named Ivan Argote.

Ivan likes putting pigeons into his art.

And he says he calls this sculpture "Dinosaur", because it's so big.

Ivan also says dinosaurs are ancestors (祖先) of pigeons.

這隻巨型的"鴿子"名為 "Dinosaur", 是藝術家Ivan Argote 打造的雕塑。

City officials say Ivan's art is very interesting.

They say he can take something familiar (熟悉)...

And make people think about it in a new and different way.

What do New Yorkers think about this giant pigeon statue?

They'll have some time to think about it.

"Dinosaur" will loom over New York City for 18 months.
______________________________________________________

So in today's News Bites:

A government survey says night markets are a favorite thing to try out for
international tourists!

The survey shows the famous Shilin Night Market in Taipei was the top choice.

Down south in Kaohsiung, Liuhe Night Market takes the fourth spot.

And Taichung's Fengjia Night Market takes fifth.
______________________________________________________

New York City is putting a realistic sculpture of a pigeon in High Line Park.

This pigeon is almost as tall as a giraffe!

The sculpture is called "Dinosaur".
______________________________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

In today's Tasty Tidbit....

How does a lion say "hello" to other animals?

It says "Pleased to EAT you!"

And now 10-year-old Ray from TYK Elementary and Junior High School in New
Taipei tells us all about another fun animal.

******

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

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 at
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, welcome to a new episode of News Bites!

I'm Nancy Sun.

And I'm Kelly Kimura.

In today's stories, top night markets for international visitors, and a big
bird takes over the New York skyline.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit, one student from New Taipei tells us all about a
strange animal!

Stay tuned for more on those stories!
______________________________________________________

外國觀光客最愛台灣的那些夜市?
Visiting Tourists Rank Favorite Night Markets


We're used to visiting Taiwan's awesome night markets whenever we want.

Looking to do some shopping?

Feel like shooting some darts (飛鏢)?

Or how about some delicious treats?

Night markets are a super fun way to enjoy a night out (外出玩樂的夜晚).

And visitors from other countries love night markets too.

In fact, a government survey shows night markets are a favorite thing to try
out for international tourists!

But which ones do they like best?

The survey shows the famous Shilin Night Market in Taipei was the top choice.

Almost 38 percent of visitors made sure to stop by there on their trip to
Taiwan.

Government data shows that around 2.4 million international tourists visit
Shilin Night Market every year!

Then there's Raohe Street Night Market, with almost 29 percent.

And rounding out the Taipei trio, is Ningxia Night Market at 17 percent.

But hold up, there's lots of love for places outside of Taipei too.

Down south in Kaohsiung, Liuhe Night Market takes the fourth spot.

It's the most popular night market outside of Taipei, attracting almost 7
percent of international visitors.

And Taichung's Fengjia Night Market takes fifth, with just over 6-percent.

Overall, the survey shows that almost 6.5 million tourists visited Taiwan
last year.

And it seems like they had a great time.

Over 97 percent said they really enjoyed their trip.

And more than half said they would visit Taiwan again within five years.

去年來台的外國觀光客有將近650萬人，97%對台灣旅遊感到滿意，過一半說願意五年內再回來玩。

Many said they liked that Taiwan's people are so friendly.

They also said it was very easy to get around, and the island felt very safe.
______________________________________________________

"鴿"吉拉? 巨型鴿子雕像佔領紐約高架公園
Giant Pigeon Sculpture Takes New York


Something BIG is headed to New York City.

What is that?

It's as tall as a building.

It's got sharp claws on its feet!

It's not Godzilla...

It's not aliens...

Is that...is that a...pigeon?

Pigeons are everywhere in New York City.

They hang around on the streets.

They look for food in parks.

They sit and relax on buildings.

They are a part of the city.

In fact, scientists think there are more pigeons in New York City than people!

They estimate (估計) that there are about 9 million pigeons in NYC, compared
to 8 million people.

A long, long time ago, there weren't any pigeons in the area.

Scientists think European settlers (歐洲定居者) brought pigeons to the city
in the 17th century.

And pigeons are definitely a part of the city now.

But guess what, these birds are about to get "SUPER-SIZED"

The city is putting a realistic sculpture (真實的雕像) of a pigeon in High
Line Park (高架公園).

And this pigeon sculpture is about 5 meters tall.

That's almost as tall as a giraffe!

And what would you name this huge piece of art?

"Giant Pigeon"?

Or "Big Bird"?

How about..."Dinosaur".

"Dinosaur" is made by an artist named Ivan Argote.

Ivan likes putting pigeons into his art.

And he says he calls this sculpture "Dinosaur", because it's so big.

Ivan also says dinosaurs are ancestors (祖先) of pigeons.

這隻巨型的"鴿子"名為 "Dinosaur", 是藝術家Ivan Argote 打造的雕塑。

City officials say Ivan's art is very interesting.

They say he can take something familiar (熟悉)...

And make people think about it in a new and different way.

What do New Yorkers think about this giant pigeon statue?

They'll have some time to think about it.

"Dinosaur" will loom over New York City for 18 months.
______________________________________________________

So in today's News Bites:

A government survey says night markets are a favorite thing to try out for
international tourists!

The survey shows the famous Shilin Night Market in Taipei was the top choice.

Down south in Kaohsiung, Liuhe Night Market takes the fourth spot.

And Taichung's Fengjia Night Market takes fifth.
______________________________________________________

New York City is putting a realistic sculpture of a pigeon in High Line Park.

This pigeon is almost as tall as a giraffe!

The sculpture is called "Dinosaur".
______________________________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

In today's Tasty Tidbit....

How does a lion say "hello" to other animals?

It says "Pleased to EAT you!"

And now 10-year-old Ray from TYK Elementary and Junior High School in New
Taipei tells us all about another fun animal.

******

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

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 at
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, welcome to an exciting new episode of News Bites!

I'm Kelly Kimura…

And I'm Jacob Ingram.

Coming up next in today's news: the school milk program is getting more
money, and an ugly painting is by… well, listen to find out!

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…teens buy an oil well so it can be shut down!

Stay tuned for more on those stories!
___________________________________________________________

學生喝鮮奶計畫 預算增至新台幣15億元
School Milk Program Budget to Rise to NT$1.5 Billion

Everyone knows that milk is nutritious (有營養的).

It helps our bones (骨頭), teeth, and muscles (肌肉) grow strong.

That's why Taiwan has a new $710 million NT school milk program.

This year, the program is working to give fresh milk to students.

Schools in nine cities and counties have gotten milk deliveries (交貨).

Many parents hope that all schools, from kindergarten to middle school, can
join this program.

Next year, the budget (預算) for the program will be raised to $1.5 billion
NT.

The Ministry of Agriculture (農業部) will work with the Ministry of Education
(教育部) to give milk to more schools.

The two ministries will each give half of the budget.

Milk will be delivered to schools two times a week.

About 20,000 tons of dairy products will be needed.

Some are worried that this much milk will not be good for Taiwan's dairy
farmers (酪農業).

But this is only four percent of the milk produced (生產) in Taiwan.

The goals (目標) of the program are to give children nutritious milk and
support Taiwan's fresh milk producers.

However, there are still some problems.

For big schools with lots of students, keeping fresh milk cold may be a
problem.

Some schools might have to buy large refrigerators to keep the milk cold.

This is why many schools use ESL, or Extended Shelf Life, milk (保久乳).

Some people think giving students milk coupons (牛奶兌換券) is a better idea.

But some children cannot easily get milk outside of school.

They may live far from stores.

Students in many countries, such as Japan and Canada, have had milk at school
for years.

Although many problems need to be solved (解決), the program is good for the
children of Taiwan.

農業部與教育部將與各地主管機關密切合作，造福孩童。
__________________________________________________________

60年前發現的畫作 可能是畢卡索所畫
Painting Found 60 Years Ago Might Be by Picasso

Have you ever found something that your family has had for a long, long time?

It might be something that belongs to your parents or grandparents.

If you're lucky, it might be valuable (值錢).

This happened to Andrea Lo Rosso.

His father Luigi was a junk (垃圾) dealer (經銷商) in the 1960s.

A junk dealer buys things from people and tries to sell them to make money.

In 1962, Luigi found a painting in a house in Capri (卡布里), an Italian
island.

It had a signature (簽名) on the top left corner, but Luigi didn't know whose
it was.

Andrea said Luigi didn't know about art, so he didn't know who Picasso was.

When he was a kid, Andrea read about Picasso's work in an encyclopedia
(百科全書).

He told Luigi the signature looked like Picasso's signature shown in the
encyclopedia.

But his father didn't understand.

His mother said the painting was ugly (醜陋的) and horrible (可怕的).

She didn't want to keep it.

Later, Andrea saw another Picasso in an art book that looked like the
painting on their wall.

He also learned that Picasso often visited Capri.

Over the years, the Lo Rossos showed the painting to a few art historians
(藝術史學家).

The art historians told them that the painting wasn't by Picasso.

However, some of the art historians who looked at the painting wanted to buy
it!

This made the Lo Rossos think that the painting was by Picasso.

Recently, a person whose job is to look at paintings and see who painted them
said that the painting was by Picasso.

She said it was worth (值得) around $6.6 million US dollars.

That's 212 million NT!!

下次家裡翻出陳年物品，先別急著丟掉，搞不好很值錢呢。
___________________________________________________________

So in today's News Bites:

Taiwan's school milk program will get a bigger budget next year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education are working
together to have fresh milk delivered to more students around the country.

Although there are many problems that need to be solved, the program is good
for the children of Taiwan.
___________________________________________________________

And...

Long ago, a painting that was called horrible was found by a junk dealer.

He didn't know how valuable it was.

His son thought the painting might be by Picasso.

Now an expert says it is!
___________________________________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

And in today's Tasty Tidbit...

A boy wanted to be a sanitation worker (環衛工人) when he grew up.

He saw lots of trash.

He saw sanitation workers cleaning it up.

In high school, he still wanted to clean up the environment (環境).

He found out about old oil wells (井).

There are over 100,000 old oil wells in America.

Nobody owns them.

Lots of gases that are bad for the environment come out of these oil wells.

Nobody stops the gases.

What could this teenager do?

Maybe most people would do nothing - what a big job!

Well, he and two friends raised $350,000 NT in three months!

They used the money to help stop gases coming out of one oil well.

What a great idea!
___________________________________________________________

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

If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with
us, record your message and send your Tasty Tidbit to us at
newsbites@icrt.com.tw.

You might hear it at the end of an episode!

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