Taiwan News
Date: 2017/07/13
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Many people have tried to lose weight by exercising hard

but kept eating unrestrictedly. However, experts rebutted this method as one of the most common misconceptions, stressing that diet should always play a leading role in efforts to lose weight while exercise play an indispensable supporting role.
If people eat less, exercise more and follow the regimen consistently, they can expect to lose one to four kilograms every month, according to the experts.
Chinese Taipei Association for the Study of Obesity (CTASO) recently conducted a survey of 1,000 females aged 25 to 40 regarding dieting practices and weight loss. The survey found that nearly 90% of the females had tried to lose weight, and more than 50% of them said they almost never stopped trying to lose weight.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/07/13
By: Sophia Yeh and Elaine Hou

Taipei, July 13 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her Paraguayan counterpart Horacio Cartes reaffirmed the strong ties between the two diplomatic allies on Thursday in Taipei, with the visiting president from the South American country pledging that the friendship will continue.

During the state dinner she hosted for Cartes, Tsai said that Paraguay is a true friend of Taiwan and has stood next to Taiwan as it suffered difficulties on many international occasions.

Citing as an example, she said Paraguay spoke up for Taiwan during the World Health Assembly meeting in May, which Taiwan was blocked from attending due to China’s obstruction. It has been an honor for Taiwanese people to have such a good friend as Paraguay, Tsai said.    [FULL  STOERY]

The China Post
Date: July 13, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwan lawmaker apologized for inadvertently slapping

another lawmaker in the face during the review of an infrastructure bill on Thursday.

A fiery scene was witnessed at the Legislative Yuan as the first full plan of the Cabinet’s flagship infrastructure bill came to the floor for debate.

When pan-blue lawmakers ran up to the lectern in a bid to halt proceedings, pan-green lawmakers followed in hot pursuit. The two camps clashed, shouting epithets and shoving each other.

After the fracas, Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) complained that Kuomintang Legislator Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) had slapped her in the face and grabbed her throat.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post  
July 13, 2017

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The end is in sight for Yunlin’s garbage mountain and a new day is

dawning for Taiwan’s waste disposal techniques, according to the Environmental Protection Administration.

Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), head of the environmental authority, said Wednesday that Yunlin’s garbage problem was “more or less solved.”

Garbage has built up to the height of a four-story building in the Yunlin County capital Douliu, which has no working incinerators.

Yunlin relies on its neighbors to process its waste and, in return, stores a ratio of the ash that results from burning waste. When Douliu announced that it had no more space for ash, the reciprocal arrangement was broken off.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/07/12
By George Liao,Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Taipei Department of Economic Development (DED) is teaming up with Beitou Farmers’ Association to organize the “2017 Beitou Rice Harvest Fun” event on July 30 to encourage the public to learn more about the rice culture.

Taipei still boasts a vast expanse of paddy fields even though they are the last ones within city parameters. Guandu Plain, home to a diverse ecosystem, yields rice crops twice a year.

This year, the organizers seek to inject artistic flair into the harvest activity with installation art – rice straw ducks – created by students from Taipei National University of Arts and local residents. The inspiration came from the custom of keeping ducks as an extra source of income by rice growers dwelling in the Guandu Plain in the early days.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/07/12
By: Sunrise Huang and Lilian Wu

Taipei, July 12 (CNA) Austrian priest Gutheinz Luis (古寒松神父), who has devoted himself to helping sufferers of Hansen’s disease for 43 years, received Republic of China citizenship on Wednesday.

“I was born to love Taiwan. I’m a Taiwanese,” he said.

Deputy New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) presented Father Luis with the National ID card in recognition of his selfless devotion, praising him as “an angel,” who has dedicated his life to looking after those afflicted with Hansen’s disease.

“If I had my life over again, I would still come to Taiwan to serve these kind patients,” he said.  [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: July 13, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan welcomed a new player in the ride-hailing game on

Wednesday: TaxiGo, which lets you book a cab with a few taps on social media.
Developed in Taipei and formally launched yesterday, TaxiGo is a ride-hailing app that works on Facebook and Line, too, with help from a chatbot.

Users can “converse” with the app in Chinese, English or Japanese by typing in an address and ordering a cab, according to the developers TMS Group (TMS全鋒事業) and Leopard Mobile (雪豹科技).

GPS tracking of the ride can be shared with family and friends for the rider’s safety, developers said.

This year, the app was the only Taiwanese service provider to be nominated for Tokyo’s Line Bot Awards, according to TaxiGo director Huang Pei-an (黃佩恩).
[FULL  STORY]