Taipei, Nov 16 (IANS) A research team has found the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) in Taiwan has doubled over the last two decades, Xinhua reported. Researchers at Taiwan's institute of biomedical sciences analysed data from 9,079 respondents, found the prevalence of CMDs rose from 11.5 percent in 1990 to 23.8 percent in 2010, according to a press release issued by Taiwan's "Academia Sinica"

Taipei, Oct 23 (IANS) At least 12 people were killed when a fire enveloped a hospital in Taiwan Tuesday.

Taipei, Oct 10 (IANS) The inaugural Yeangder Golf Championship will be the season's finale of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) here in November, with a total prize money of $120,000. This will raise this season's ADT schedule to a record 13 tournaments, a jump of eight events from its inaugural year in 2010.

Taipei, Oct 4 (IANS) The Indian junior judo team won one silver and two bronze medals at the seventh Taipei Open International Junior Judo Championships here Thursday. Promod Kumar won the silver in the men's under-100kg category while in the women's section, Rukhshar Khan (under-52kg) and K.H. Rashi Devi (under-70kg) won a bronze each

Taipei, Sep 25 (IANS) Taiwanese fishing boats that sailed to the disputed Diaoyu islands to protest Japan's purchase of the islands completed their voyage Tuesday.

Taipei, Sep 17 (IANS) India's Gaganjeet Bhullar fought his way to his third Asian Tour title by closing with three-under-par 69 at the weather-shortened Yeangder Tournament Players Championship here Monday. Bhullar had to fend off the challenges of American Jason Knutzon and 14-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand to win the US$500,000 event with his three-day total of 12-under-par 204 at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. Knutzon enjoyed his best result of the season with his tied-second finish alongside Thaworn, whose hopes of securing a back-to-back victory effectively ended when he was left to mull a one-shot penalty incurred because of slow play. Having to settle for second best behind Thaworn in Malaysia a fortnight ago, Bhullar was determined to make amends for his disappointments at the Yeangder TPC which was reduced to 54-stroke play tournament because of inclement weather. "I told myself that I've got to win this tournament no matter what happens. I played really well on the par-fives all week," said Bhullar. "This whole week I was totally focused and I was in the zone." Bhullar held a single shot lead heading into the final round and quickly extended his advantage to two with an opening birdie on the first hole. He dropped a shot on the third but recovered quickly with two more birdies on the fourth and eight holes to turn in 34. After another birdie on the 10th hole, Bhullar dropped two shots on the 11th and 13th which saw his lead over Knutzon and Thaworn trimmed to one-shot. Bhullar answered back with another two birdies in his closing three holes which included the 16th hole and par-five 18th to cement his place as the week's best golfer. Scores: 204 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 66-69-69. 208 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 66-71-71, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-66-72. 209 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 67-75-67, Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 72-69-68, David Lipsky (USA) 72-67-70, Berry Henson (USA) 69-68-72. 211 - Yeh Wei-tze (TPE) 68-72-71. 212 - Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 71-71-70, Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) 71-71-70, Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 69-72-71, Mars Pucay (PHI) 72-69-71, Himmat Rai (IND) 71-70-71.

Taipei, Sep 16 (IANS) India's Gaganjeet Bhullar had two closing birdies to thank for giving him the second round lead when play finally resumed at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship Sunday. The 24-year-old Indian battled to a three-under-par 69 to take a slender shot advantage over 14-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand after compiling a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. Thaworn took second place when he signed for the round's lowest score of 66 to pile the pressure on Bhullar while Berry Henson and Jason Knutzon of the United States returned with a 68 and 71, respectively, to share third place. Starting the day in equal second place, Bhullar got off to a commanding start with an opening birdie, followed by an eagle on the fifth hole. He dropped a shot on the seventh before reaching the turn with a three-shot lead over the chasing pack. Bhullar appeared to be cruising home after marking his card with another birdie on the 10th hole. However, a double-bogey six on the 14th led to some anxious moments for the two-time Asian Tour winner. "I hit it to the right of the woods and laid it up short of the green. The lie was too fluffy and my club just went underneath. I was four-on and then I had like a five-footer to save five but I missed that," said Bhullar. Two birdies on the 17th and 18th holes however managed to provide that much-needed relief for Bhullar. "Trust me. The last two birdies were definitely much needed to ease the pressure. I played well today considering the last two days I was just sitting in my room and couldn't do anything," said Bhullar. Although Bhullar is standing on the verge of winning his third Asian Tour title with 18 holes to play, he remains wary of Thaworn who lurks closely. "The final 18 is going to be interesting as it has been a long time since I last played with Thaworn," said Bhullar. The third and final round will be played Monday after inclement weather Saturday forced play to be abandoned and left tournament officials with no choice but to reduce the US$500,000 event into a 54-stroke play tournament. Scores after round two: 135 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 66-69. 136 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-66. 137 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 66-71, Berry Henson (USA) 69-68. 139 - David Lipsky (USA) 72-67, Marcus Both (AUS) 71-68. 140 - Yeh Wei-tze (TPE) 68-72, Gavin Flint (AUS) 70-70, Angelo Que (PHI) 65-75. 141 - Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 72-69, Himmat Rai (IND) 71-70, Sung Mao-chang (TPE) 74-67, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 74-67, Mars Pucay (PHI) 72-69, Kim Gi-whan (KOR) 70-71, Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA) 69-72, Wu Wen-ting (TPE) 74-67.

Pyongyang, June 10 (IANS) North Korea has said it has no plans to conduct a nuclear test "at present", the country's official news agency KCNA reported. A foreign ministry spokesman said South Korea tried to "rattle the nerves of North Korea in a bid to cause it to conduct a nuclear test, though such a thing is not under plan at present".

Taipei, June 10 (IANS) An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale hit sea off Taiwan's eastern coast Sunday morning, according to the island's meteorological authorities. There was, however, no immediate report of any casualty or damage to property.

Pyongyang, May 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti) North Korea held at least three public executions of people charged with cannibalism in the last few years, Yonhap news agency reported Thursday. Some North Koreans ate and sold human flesh during the massive famine in the late 1990s, which according to various estimates resulted in some two million deaths, the agency quoted information from the Korea Institute for National Unification as revealing.