Police stepped up patrols around an area of forest in Akita Japan, yesterday, June 18, to keep people from entering the area after a series of deadly attacks by bears. The bodies of four people killed in bear attacks have been found since late May. All of the victims were people in their 60s and 70s, who ventured into the forest to forage for wild bamboo shoots and other wild foods that are a popular delicacy in the region. On
Read moreMonth: June 2016
Murder by Chopstick
A 51 year old resident of Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan was arrested Thursday after stabbing his father in the neck with a chopstick Wednesday night. Michikazu Ikeuchi, was trying to prevent his parents arguing when he lost his temper. He had a 30 centimeter chopstick used for cooking in his hand at the time. “He said in his anger he waved the chopstick in front of his father but before he knew it, it got stuck in him,” a
Read moreTaiwan Tightens Net on Protected Fish Species: Imports Intercepted
Customs officials yesterday found protected species in a shipment of frozen fish imported from Indonesia. The shipment had been declared to contain blackspot tuskfish (Choerodon schoenleinii), also known as green wrasse, ‘and other parrot fish’. When inspected, the shipment was found to include 23 green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), with a total weight of 80kg. The species is protected under Taiwan’s wildlife protection laws, and is banned from export or import. When told the shipment violated the law, a representative
Read moreVietnam Marine Environmental Disaster a Threat to Taiwan’s New South Policy
Democratic People’s Party legislator Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) today urged the government of Taiwan to confront the issue of the massive fish-kill in Vietnam that the Vietnamese people are blaming on pollution from a steel mill in Ha Tinh Province controlled by Formosa Plastics Group. Su also called on the Taiwanese industrial giant, and other Taiwanese corporations investing in the region to show corporate responsibility, including respect for the environment and human rights. Su, who represents constituents in Yunlin County pointed
Read moreAmerican Kills Himself in Court After Marijuana Conviction
An American cram school teacher killed himself in a courthouse in Changhua County this morning after being sentenced to a four year prison term for growing marijuana. Upon hearing the judges decision, 41 year-old Tyrel Martin Marhanka, Chinese name 李瑪翰 (Li Mahan), pulled a pair of scissors out of his pocket and stabbed himself in the neck. Marhanka was rushed to hospital but the damage to blood vessels and his windpipe was too severe and doctors were unable to save
Read moreLive Tiger Shark Pups Rescued in Taitung: Valuable for Research
Fishermen operating out of Chenggong fishing port in Taitung County, Taiwan, brought in two dead pregnant female tiger sharks in two consecutive days, from which 75 live baby sharks were rescued. The tiger shark pups were taken to be tagged and released by the Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Research Institute. The first shark was brought in on Monday, June 13, and another Tuesday, June 14. Video broadcast by news networks shows a fish trader at the port cutting open the
Read morePlum Rain Pummels Northern Taiwan
Heavy, persistent rain in Taiwan’s north has caused flooding in Hsinchu and Taoyuan Counties, leading to road closures and train delays. Taiwan Rail’s western line has been reduced to single track traffic due to flooding at Hukou. At Taoyuan International Airport water leaks and a five minute power outage caused minor inconveniences for travelers. The power outage was caused by an overload switch being triggered when water pumps were turned on to drain floodwater. Locals call the seasonal summer monsoon
Read moreElderly Man Stabbed to Death on Tiger Mountain: 18 Year-Old Man Arrested
An 88 year-old man was found dead today after being reported missing by family when he failed to return home after a bike ride in the Four Beast Mountain area of Taipei City the previous day. A forensic examination found he had been stabbed more than 20 times in a vicious knife attack. The body of Mr Lee was found shirtless in an abandoned pavilion on Tiger Mountain. Police arrested an 18 year-old man this evening, Monday, June 13, in
Read moreWet Weather Causes Floods, Landslides, Traffic Accidents
Heavy rains caused flooding in Taiwan’s south along with landslides, while wet roads contributed to a spate of accidents across the island Monday, June 13. The Council of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service issued a red alert for 85 landslide-prone areas and a yellow alert for 252 others. Evacuation of residents in affected areas in Kaohsiung began last night and as of this morning up to 1900 residents have been relocated to safer areas. In Taichung city, the municipal government prepared
Read moreConstruction Fence Collapses: 3 Riders Injured
A construction fence on a Taipei Metro construction site in Banciao collapsed onto Minsheng Road, hitting a taxi and three motorcycle riders. The three injured were sent to Far East Hospital. Strong wind gusts caused the accident which occurred around midday.
Read moreTaiwan’s Oldest Nuclear Reactor May Be Restarted: If Safe…
The premier of Taiwan said he supported restarting the first reactor at the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant, if it is safe to do so. The comments were made Sunday June 5, as Taiwan faces a power crisis caused by limited supply and high demand, as the nation cranks up air-conditioners to cope with record high temperatures for June. Problems with the reactor, at Taiwan’s oldest nuclear power plant caused it to be shut down for maintenance in December 2014. The
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