Near-Sighted Driver Hits and Kills Woman: Continues Driving with Body on Roof

August 8, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ghost month, hit and run

A near-sighted man with a severe visual impairment drove without glasses on the evening of August 4. At around 1:00am he struck and killed a woman, and continued to drive with the body of the woman on the roof of his car. The 33 year-old man surnamed Chen said he felt a bump and saw a dark object flying up from the front of his car and cracking the windshield, but when he stopped and looked behind him he didn’t

Ms. Liu is arrested after playing Pokemon Go

Stupid Stuff

August 7, 2016August 7, 2016 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment Pokemon-go

On the first day Pokemon Go was released in Taiwan, people wandered the streets late at night hunting for virtual monsters, despite the fact that it is ghost month. The gates of the underworld are said to have opened on the first day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calender, which fell on August 4 this year. People usually avoid going out late at night, avoid swimming or going near the ocean, rivers, or streams, and engage in

The American Eagle, fishing vessel on fire in Kaohsiung Harbor

Fire Marine and Fisheries

August 5, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment American Eagle, ship-fire

An American-flagged fishing vessel caught fire while docked in Kaohsiung harbor today, August 4, 2016. Nine fire trucks and two fire boats were dispatched to deal with the blaze. At 3:13pm, thick smoke and flames erupted from behind the bridge of the 258.4 foot American Eagle. The flames spread to the bridge, but fortunately nobody was trapped on the vessel and no casualties were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated. It took firefighters more than an hour

A statue of the Holy Mother in Pingtung County, Wanchin village.

Odd News

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Pingtung County, statue burned

A statue of the Virgin Mary housed in Taiwan’s oldest Catholic church caught fire today. Fire fighters are investigating whether arson is involved. Firefighters received a report at 4:28pm. By the time firefighters arrived church members and visitors had already put out the fire using fire extinguishers. The clothes and wig were burned in the fire, which firefighters say covered an area of 9 meters square. The area has been cordoned off for a forensics investigation tomorrow. The statue is

Violent Crimes

August 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment cop-attack, Wu Zhizhan

A teppanyaki cook who was released on bail after a vicious knife attack on a police officer in Banciao yesterday was re-arrested this afternoon, and will remain in custody. Wu Zhizhan (吳志展), 56, attacked the officer with a meat-cleaver after being issued fines for his illegally parked vehicle. Video of the crime shows a vicious and frenzied attack which the police officer was lucky to have survived. Police and the public were shocked to awake to the news this morning

Violent Crimes

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 4 Comments knife-attack, violence against police

A New Taipei City Court released a man on a NT$300,000 bail today despite the fact he attempted to murder a police officer in a vicious attack with a meat-cleaver. Wu Zhizhan (吳志展), a 56 year-old teppanyaki cook in Banciao District, lost his temper yesterday, after receiving parking tickets to a value of NT$5400. He saw a police officer, surnamed Zhang, issuing tickets nearby, grabbed a meat cleaver from his truck, and attacked the officer. The 34 year-old officer carried

A boulder in a tourist coach after a rockslide in Taiwan

Traffic Accidents

August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment rockslide

A woman was killed and three passengers injured when a boulder plunged through the roof of a tourist coach traveling on the National Cross Island Highway this afternoon. The bus was carrying 35 passengers who departed Taipei at 7:00am on a day trip to Hualian. The accident happened at 1:40pm. The deceased and one injured passenger were rushed to Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualian. The two other injured passengers declined further medical treatment after being treated at the scene.

President Tsai Ing-wen welcomes aboriginal representatives to the Presidential Palace August 1, 2016

Politics

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Aboriginal reconciliation

Today August 1 has been declared Aboriginal People’s Day in Taiwan, and President Tsai Ing-wen inaugurated the day with an apology speech to Taiwan’s indigenous people. She began her speech by saying “22 years ago the constitution was amended to give the formal title yuan Zhu min (original citizens) to the aboriginal people. Not just to remove discrimination but to recognize them as the original owners of the land. On behalf of the government, I convey to all the aboriginal

Weather

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Typhoon Nida, waterspout

The whole of Taiwan is under the influence of Typhoon Nida this morning, with heavy rain warnings in place for Hualian, Taitung, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung Counties. The highest rainfall recorded today is in Pingtung’s Dawu Mountain where 275mm has fallen in the last 24 hours, including 48.5mm between 7:00am and 8:00am. Authorities have urged people to stay away from the beaches and shoreline as large waves are expected to pound the coast. Ferry services to the island of Xiao Liuqiu

Month: August 2016

Near-Sighted Driver Hits and Kills Woman: Continues Driving with Body on Roof

First Pokemon Go Arrest: Players Defy Ghost Month Tradition

American Ship Catches Fire in Kaohsiung Harbor

Statue of Virgin Mary Catches Fire in Taiwan’s Oldest Catholic Church

Cook Re-Arrested for Attempted Murder of Cop

Man Released on Bail After Vicious Attack on Police Officer

Boulder Falls on Bus: One Passenger Killed

President Begins Reconciliation Process With Apology to Taiwan’s Indigenous People

Typhoon Passes South of Taiwan: Waterspout Appears in Taitung County