Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-08-26

Opponents of the government’s pension reform program block athletes from entering the venue of the Universiade opening ceremony in this photo from August 19. (CNA file photo)

The Taipei City Government says police will be on hand at the closing ceremony of the Universiade Games to maintain order.

Taipei is currently hosting the world games for student athletes. The games’ opening ceremony on August 19 was marred by mass protests organized by opponents to the government’s pension reform program. Protesters blocked athletes from entering the venue, disrupting the parade of nations.

City government spokesperson Liu Yi-ting said Saturday that there will be zero tolerance for law-breaking if mass protests happen again during the closing ceremony Wednesday.    [FULL  STORY]

‘Possibly the most important part of traveling,’ says Good Eye Taipei.

The News Lens
Date: 2017/08/26

There are countless places in Taipei that offer comfort through different massage

methods — typical services include foot massage, shiatsu, massage with oils — at varying price points.

For a more stylish, clean, and comfortable environment, visit Taiwanese style massage place Relaxing Trip by Fujintree. For travelers seeking who seek complete and utter relaxation, go to Nuance Privee where they also offer hairdressing and mani-pedi services. For a massage at any hour of the day, go to Dancing Finger Massage and Six Star Foot Massage, which both also offer gua sha massage and cupping glass therapy.

You can also find less glamorous but reasonably priced blind massage stands at MRT stations or underground street entrances, such as Ahgan Massage, which are good options when it comes to quick but effective alleviation.

Here’s a list of Taipei best massage places to check out after a long day exploring the city.   [FULL  STORY]

Trolley line fell victim to 2015 Typhoon Soudelor

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/08/26
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Wulai Trolley (烏來Lokah台車) which ran near the scenic

indigenous village from as early as in 1928 during the Japanese colonial era until the devastation of Typhoon Soudelor in August 2015, came back to life Saturday in a cuter version for present-day tourists.

The train’s original incarnation served to move trees from the forest to the factory, with the opening of a road to Wulai in 1951 leading to the transportation of people for the first time.

The typhoon hit the popular weekend destination in New Taipei City hard, leading to a reconstruction effort which included a budget of NT$55 million (US$1.8 million) spent by the Forestry Bureau (林務局) at the Council of Agriculture on the revival of the trolley project.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/26
By Tsao Yu-fan and Kuan-lin Liu

Los Angeles, Aug. 25 (CNA) FormoSat-5, Taiwan’s first domestically developed

satellite, is operating smoothly after being in orbit for a day, an official from Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO) said in the United States Friday.

Communication between the satellite and the ground station in Taiwan, which first took place 404 minutes after the launch, is taking place smoothly, according to Chang Ho-pen (張和本), director of the NSPO project to build FormoSat-5.

The satellite is able to receive orders from the ground station, while the NSPO also can get transmissions from the satellite, he said.

The miniature satellite first made contact with planet Earth through the NSPO’s ground antenna in Svalbard, Norway roughly 83 minutes after liftoff.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/08/25
By: Agencies

Excited students bounded down the stairs and poured out of the bus into the dusty parking lot of the Wusheng Night Market just as dusk began to settle. The crowd buzzed in French, Spanish, German, and the only language these international students all shared: English. In the distance, they could see the crisp flags fluttering in the breeze marking stalls where they could find new menus; menus they can read.

With funding provided by the Flomo Education Foundation, Tainan City’s Office of English as the Second Official Language (OEASOL), working with the Bureau of Economic Development’s Market Administration Office and the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology’s (STUST) Department of Applied English have produced bilingual menus for vendors at Wusheng, Flower, and Yongkang District’s Yenhang night markets. After distributing the Chinese/English menus to vendors at Wusheng Night Market, OEASOL invited international students from STUST to experience a more accessible market. “We invited the students to comment on their experiences, hoping that they would provide insight into similar endeavors in the future,” said OEASOL representative Chris Caputo, adding, “we also hope they will share their night market sightseeing experiences with family and friends and help provide international marketing for Tainan.”    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/25
By Wang Yang-yu, Hsieh Chia-chen, Lu Hsin-hui, Y.F. Low, and
Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was found not guilty

on Friday of abetting the leak of classified information related to the investigation of an opposition lawmaker while the probe was in progress in September 2013.

In response to the ruling handed down by the Taipei District Court, Ma said through a spokesperson that he was gratified with the result, which he said has established the administrative powers of the president based on the Constitution.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesman Ruan Jhao-syong (阮昭雄), said, however, that his party regretted but respected the ruling, which can be appealed by prosecutors.    [FULL  STORY]