Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je appeared to be giving someone the finger during a live broadcast today, May 18, but it turns out that he was just trying to make a point. Mayor Ko said that there was good news amidst bad today, noting that the percentage of positive results at rapid testing stations in the city had fallen from 11% on the first day, to 4.7% today. Ko explained that on the first day of rapid testing, May 14,
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While New Year’s Eve parties in most counties and cities around Taiwan will have been cancelled after a returnee from the UK tested positive with what the media has been touting as a ‘mutant’ strain of COVID-19, Taipei City’s New Year’s Eve party will go ahead, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) announced today, December 31. New Year’s events around the country were cancelled one by one yesterday, with a series of announcements from municipal governments, many of whom decided
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Taipei City Mayor Ko Wenje attended a World Health Day walking event at Da’an Forest Park today, and expressed his hope that people would walk more and use their scooters less. Mayor Ko said that the “All Pass Ticket” will be available from April 16. The NT$1,280 pass will allow ticket holders unlimited rides on Taipei Metro and public buses throughout Taipei and New Taipei Cities for one month. The pass also includes free use of YouBike for up to
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Dozens of senior citizens were injured and one was rushed to hospital after a stampede for lucky tickets and free gifts at a Taipei City Government organized event this morning, October 28. Taipei City Social Welfare Department held an annual Senior Citizen’s Day activity and invited older residents to join the Mayor on a hike starting in Beitou District. Around 7,000 people were expected at the event, according to a press release issued by the Social Welfare Department. According to
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Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) apologized today after making controversial comments at a closed-door meeting with Democratic Progressive Party representatives yesterday. During a discussion of the city’s urban renewal program, Ko made an analogy comparing forced land acquisition for a set price per ping as being like rape, while offering market rates to land owners was a form of seduction. After making the analogy, he said “rape is cheaper than seduction.” The mayor’s comments were lambasted in the press, and
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Taipei City Mayor, Ko, Wen-je (柯文哲) tried out the new running track at the refurbished Taipei Municipal Stadium, and promptly went face-down after losing his balance this morning, April 7, 2017. Mayor Ko was inspecting the stadium after renovations were completed March 29, ahead of the 2017 Summer Universiade, which is to be hosted by the city August 19-30. The stadium received International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certification April 4. The mayor posed with a mascot before taking part
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Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je, speaking at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok today drew laughter from reporters when he said “Hong Kong is boring.” Ko responded to questions from reporters after a statement from a Thai tourism industry leader during a lunch meeting, who said that considering Taiwan’s recently implemented visa-waiver program for Thai visitors, and with increased publicity, the number of Thai visitors to Taiwan could surpass that of Hong Kong. Thai visitor numbers to Hong Kong last year surpassed
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March 28, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of Taipei’s MRT; a transportation network that created a paradigm shift in the capital city’s urban development. Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) has launched events to mark the occasion, including video and audio broadcasts contributed by various artists, and a series of collectible tokens in colors representing the five MRT lines. Evan Yo, Wang Dawen, Matthew Lien, and other artists, have contributed songs to celebrate the milestone, while the Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Taipei
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