Month: July 2016

Queen to Rock Taipei September 19

Current members of Queen Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Adam Lambert
Entertainment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

British rock band Queen will perform at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall on September 19 as part of an Asian tour that will also include performances in Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. The announcement was made on the band’s website and Facebook page Wednesday July 13. The band formed 46 years ago in 1970, and today retains two of the four original members – Brian May and Roger Taylor, and includes vocalist Adam Lambert, Rufus Tiger Taylor(son of Roger

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Third Suspect Identified in ATM Heist: 80 Million Taiwan Dollars Stolen

Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Police have named a third suspect after a two-day bank heist that saw 34 ATM machines hacked and more than NTD$80 million dollars (around USD$2.5 million) stolen. The third suspect is believed to have remained in Taiwan. The estimated haul was revised upwards from yesterday’s reported NTD$70 million. A Latvian man surnamed Andrenjs is alleged to have stayed at the 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei’s Xinyi District along with the two Russian suspects who departed the country early Monday

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ATMs Hacked: Russian Criminals Steal NT$70 Million

Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Two Russian nationals spent two days in Taiwan stealing money from automatic teller machines belonging to First National Bank. They fled the country after stealing a total of $NT 70 million (about US$2.2 million). Their lucrative tour came to an end after they were seen by a member of the public while robbing an ATM at Guting in Taipei City. The men hurriedly left, while the machine continued to spew out NT$60 000 in bank notes. The person who witnessed

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Train Bomb Suspect Identified

A man suspected as responsible for an explosion on a train is seen shortly after the blast
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment

A suspect has been identified after DNA analysis of materials believed to have been used to make an explosive device were matched with one of the injured passengers currently hospitalized after a blast on a commuter train in Taipei City. Eyewitness reports and fingerprints found on the device also point to the suspect, 55 year-old Lin Ying-chang. Mr Lin appears to have been holding what has been described as a pipe-bomb when it exploded in car six. Twenty-five people, including

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Typhoon Nepartak Wreaks Havoc in Taitung

Debris litters a street after a typhoon in Taitung City
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taitung (Taidong) County, Taiwan, was the touchdown point for Typhoon Nepartak in the early hours of this morning, July 8, 2016. Taiwan awoke to scenes of destruction as the strongest typhoon to hit the island since 1955 made landfall slightly to the south of Taitung City. Cars and trucks were flipped over, and streets were blocked by collapsed awnings, signs and debris. Roofs were torn off buildings and windows imploded, leaving homes, convenience stores, and other businesses exposed to the

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Breaking News: Explosion on Taipei Train: 24 People Injured

a man receiving first aid at Songshan Train Station
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

An explosion on a train on a train traveling between Taipei Main Station and Songshan Station has left 24 people injured, one in a critical condition. Passengers reported hearing an explosion at 9.52PM. Car six of the northbound train traveling from Hsinchu to Keelung pulled into Songshan Station on fire. At the present time, 24 people have been reported injured, with 21 hospitalized. The cause of the explosion and fire is being investigated. Early reports pointed to a possible malfunction

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Taiwan Braces for Super-Typhoon

satellite image of typhoon Nepartak
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Taiwan is now bracing for a direct hit by a category 5 cyclone after the first named tropical storm of the season intensified to category 4 as it moved over warm waters. Windspeeds of 195kph with gusts of up to 240kph are being reported. Forecasters are predicting further intensification to category 5 over the next 24 hours. Headed for #Taiwan. Going hunting for a super #typhoon. Taiwan ain't easy chase turf, but here goes. #NEPARTAK pic.twitter.com/k4uBNB4Ebd — Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone)

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Typhoon Intensifies: Taiwan Prepares

map of predicted path of typhoon Nepartak
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Tropical storm Nepartak intensified into a moderate level typhoon over the last 24 hours and tracked closer to Taiwan. The Harbors Bureau announced a stoppage of ferry services on the east coast starting Wednesday July 6, when services will be limited to ferrying tourists on Green Island and Orchid Island back to Taiwan followed, by a full stoppage Thursday and Friday July 7 & 8. The first sea warnings are expected tomorrow. On Taiwan’s west coast, oyster farmers still recuperating

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Navy Assists Widow Call the Spirit of Her Husband Home

a daoist priest is seen with mourners on the deck of a navy vessel in Tainan, Taiwan
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Taiwan(ROC) Navy used two high-speed motor-launches to convey a grieving widow, mourning family, and a Daoist priest to the spot where her husband was killed by a missile two days ago. The mourning party led by the priest performed a ritual to invoke the spirit of the fishing-boat captain. Huang Wenzhong was killed by a missile, accidentally fired while equipment was being tested prior to a drill. Mr. Huang’s eldest son called out ‘Dad, come home’. After invoking the

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First Typhoon Forms in the Western Pacific: Record Broken

Tropical Typhoon Nepartak
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A tropical depression near Guam is expected to intensify to typhoon strength. Nepartak is the first named tropical storm of 2016 after a record spell of 201 days since the last typhoon left the region December 15, 2015. The previous record for typhoon-free days stood at 198, and was reached in 1973 and again in 1998. 0000UTC 03 July 2016 Center Location　8.9N　145.2E Movement ENE 15km/hr Minimum Pressure 998 hpa Maximum Wind Speed 18 m/s Gust 25 m/s Radius of 15m/s

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Protesters Unfurl “Taiwan is Not Chinese Taipei” Banner: Chinese Team Refuses to Play

protesters hang a banner stating that Taiwan is not Chinese Taipei in front of the Chinese team at a match in Pingtung County
Protest Sport 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

A Little League Baseball match in Pingtung County was delayed after protesters held up banners that read “Taiwan is not Chinese Taipei”. The Chinese team refused to play until the banners were removed. This year Taiwan is hosting the Asia Pacific LLB competition. The match between Taiwan and China was due to start at 2PM.

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