Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-07
By: CNA

A research team from National Taiwan University (NTU) has succeeded in identifying a

genome mutation highly correlated with lung cancer using rapid whole-genome sequencing technology, and the discovery can improve the diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer.

At a press briefing Thursday, researchers said that lung cancer remained the No. 1 killer among all diseases in Taiwan. Most lung cancers are first diagnosed based on symptoms, but symptoms of early-stage lung cancer are not very specific, thus causing difficulties in screening.

At the moment, the only method to identify groups with a high risk of developing lung cancer is resorting to familial penetrance.

In order to identify the risk factors, the research team conducted a study of a family with an atypically high density of lung cancer. By analyzing the data collected in the process of conducting rapid whole-genome sequencing of family members, the researchers succeeded in identifying a key genome mutation.     [FULL  STORY]

CIVIL CASE:Family members who sued Cheng Chieh, perpetrator of last year’s Taipei MRT attack, have been granted compensation but are unlikely to see any money

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 08, 2015
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

The New Taipei City District Court yesterday ordered Cheng Chieh (鄭捷), who attacked

passengers on Taipei’s MRT last year, to pay NT$29.81 million (US$938,307) in compensation to the victims of his attack. However, they are not likely not receive any money, because Cheng has no assets registered in his name.

In the court statement, the judge wrote that Cheng has yet to apologize to his victims and their families, and has shown no remorse for his actions.

The judge ruled Cheng must pay compensation to 10 people who filed a civil action against him. Yesterday’s ruling can be appealed.

Cheng, then a student at Taichung’s Tunghai University, attacked passengers on the metro rail on May 21 last year on the Bannan Line between Longshan Temple Station and Jiangzicui Station.

He killed Hsieh Ching-yun (解青雲), Chang Cheng-han (張正翰), Lee Tsui-yun (李翠雲) and Pan Pi-chu (潘碧珠) and injured 23 others.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-07
By: CNA

The 2015 Comic Exhibition in Taipei drew 106,000 visitors on its first day on Thursday,

the biggest ever opening-day crowd in the fair’s history, according to the organizers.

That is an increase of 5,000 visitors from last year, when 101,000 people visited the exhibition on its opening day, according to the Taipei-based Chinese Animation and Comic Publishers Association.

Over 70 publishers are displaying products at 610 booths at the fair this year, a 15% increase from last year, according to the association.

Roger Kao, secretary-general of the association, estimated that over 600,000 people will visit the six-day fair this year. Now in its 16th year, the exhibition is the largest of its kind in Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 07, 2015
By: Kan Chih-chi and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

With Typhoon Soudelor looked set to affect the nation’s east coast, Hualien and Yilan county governments yesterday announced that offices would be closed today.

As of 8:30pm, the Central Weather Bureau had raised both sea and land warnings.

Ships out at sea to the northwest and southeast of Taiwan, including areas close to Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) and Green Island (綠島), the Taiwan Strait and the northern parts of Taiwan should be on the lookout for strong winds and high waves, the bureau said.

At press time, the typhoon was 790km southeast of Hualien and was moving northwest at 23kph.

Classed as a category 2 typhoon by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the storm’s radius is expected to extend between 100km and 280km depending on whether its radius is classed as 7 or 10.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/07
By: Wang Shu-fen and Jay Chen

Taipei, Aug. 6 (CNA) Wind and rain are expected to pick up in eastern and northeastern

Taiwan Friday afternoon as Typhoon Soudelor approaches, the Central Weather Bureau said, adding that southern Taiwan will feel the storm’s full impact Saturday.

Sixteen cities and counties are warned of extremely torrential rain or extremely heavy rain when the typhoon sweeps across Taiwan from the east, the bureau said.

The regions in Taiwan proper where extremely torrential rain — an accumulation of 350 millimeters of precipitation or more in 24 hours — is expected include: Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.

The regions where extremely heavy rain is forecast — 200 millimeters or more in 24 hours — include Taipei City, Keelung City, Yunlin County, Chiayi County and Tainan City.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-06
By: Tan Ching-yu

Chinese leaders are expected to discuss the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan, which will

steer the country’s economic development from 2016 to 2020, at this year’s Beidaihe meeting in August.

The 13th Five-Year Plan will cover a crucial period of economic transformation in China, and how to position its future economic exchanges with Taiwan within the plan’s scope will test the wisdom of people pushing for ties across the Taiwan Strait.

Expectations that Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang will lose executive and possibly legislative power to the Democratic Progressive Party next year has currently stalled economic cooperation between Taiwan and China.

It would be a positive development if Beijing were to come up with favorable measures for Taiwan in the 13th Five-Year Plan, given the inactive relations between the two sides.     [FULL  STORY]