Penghu Residents Vote Against Casinos

October 15, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment casino, Penghu Islands

Residents of the Penghu Islands voted overwhelmingly against the legalization of gambling, and the development of casinos on the archipelago, in a referendum held today, Saturday, October 15, 2016. At the close of counting votes against stood at 26,598, with votes for at 6,210. There were a total of 32,808 valid votes, with 216 invalid, from a voter turnout of 39.56 percent. Votes against at today’s referendum exceeded those of a 2009 referendum when 17,359 residents voted against the development

scene of traffic accident in Zhonghe District

Traffic Accidents

October 14, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Zhonghe District

A 79 year-old driver crashed his car in a crowded market street in New Taipei City’s Zhonghe District, hitting multiple vehicles including 2 cars, 7 motorcycles and a bicycle, leaving 1 dead, one seriously injured, and 12 with lighter injuries. The driver, Mr Shen, claims his accelerator pedal was stuck. Media pictures showed the twisted wreck of a bicycle ridden by the deceased, who died at the scene, along with scattered scooters. Witnesses said Mr Shen’s vehicle left a bloody

Animals

October 13, 2016October 13, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cat killer, cruelty-to-animals

Post-graduate student Chen Haoyang (陳皓揚) was sentenced by the Taipei District Court to 10 months prison commuted to a 350,000NTD fine for the killing of two cats. The former National Taiwan University student, from Macao, first came to public attention last year after killing a popular street cat near the university campus. People called the cat 大橘子 (Dajuzi ‘Big Orange’). Chen was charged with animal cruelty offenses after confessing to torturing the cat to death. Both the university and Chen

a six vehicle pile-up on the national highway

Traffic Accidents

October 12, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment national highway

Six vehicles were involved in an accident on the national highway in New Taipei City this morning at around 11:00am. Wet weather may have been a factor in the accident. Three people were trapped in their vehicles. The three injured were conscious when rushed to hospital. Injuries were described as non-life threatening.

Culture

October 12, 2016November 2, 2016 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments archaeology, Dutch Formosa, national parks

Eight wrecks dating back to the Dutch colonial era have been discovered underwater in Taijiang National Park, Tainan, according to Academia Sinica Department of History and Philology researcher Liu I-chang. The ships were found after a study was commissioned four years ago. Mr Liu called on the government to develop an excavation plan. He said Taiwan played an important role in the age of exploration in the 17th century and that this history should be shared with the rest of

Animals

October 11, 2016October 12, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment koala, Taipei Zoo, taiwan-australia-relations

One of Taipei Zoo’s oldest koalas, Patrick, passed away yesterday October 10 after weakening due to old age. The 19 year old koala was born a Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, on Australia’s Gold Coast, and arrived at the zoo in 1999. At the time, Taiwan became only the fourth country outside of Australia to be home to the cute arboreal marsupials. For the last 2 years Patrick suffered from worn teeth and cataracts. Barely able to see, and unable to chew

Earthquake 97 recorded in Taitung (Taidong) magnitude 6

Earthquakes

October 7, 2016October 7, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake, Taitung

A magnitude 6 earthquake centered 30.8 kilometers east-south-east of Taitung(Taidong) City, Taiwan, awoke residents in Taitung City and County at 11:51pm, October 6, 2016. Residents of Green Island felt it as a magnitude 5, while the rest of Taitung County felt it as a level 4. The tremblor was felt as far away as Taipei City. People in Taitung commented on how long the shaking continued. One resident in Taipei, where the earthquake only registered as a level 1, said

Business and Economy Protest

October 6, 2016October 6, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, Formosa Plastics Group, protest

Sixty people, including police and reporters were injured during a protest in Changhua County when protesters clashed with police over the closing down of a chemical plant. Workers at the Formosa Plastics Group factory are facing unemployment after the Changhua County Environmental Protection Agency refused to renew the plant’s operating license. Seven people required treatment at a local hospital after the clash, including a police officer who suffered a fractured finger. A news reporter was also injured. Protesters hurled full

A rockslide blocks the Southern Cross-Island Highway in Taiwan

Disaster

October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment landslide, rockfall, Taitung

A rock-slide on the Southern Cross Island Highway this afternoon destroyed a rockfall-protection tunnel, and will probably delay re-opening of the road, after recent typhoon damage caused it to be closed to traffic. Road repair crews working in the tunnel managed to escape as falling rocks warned them of the impending disaster. The tunnel, located at the 184 kilometer mark at Liukuo Hot Springs in Taitung County, was due to be cleared by November. At around 3:00pm rocks began falling.

Business and Economy

October 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment china-airlines, flight-safety, Taoyuan International Airport

China Airlines confirmed that an A330 Airbus was damaged after a tail-strike incident during landing. The plane was forced to abort the landing and do a fly-around. The Aviation Safety Council has confirmed that damage to the aircraft structure is substantial and extends to the pressurized section. The council will carry out a full investigation of the incident. The accident occurred on a flight from Manila as it was attempting to land at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. A tail-strike can

Typhoon

October 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment highway-7, Ilan, survival

A motorcyclist taking a ride through the scenic mountains of Ilan County last Sunday, September 25, slipped off the road and down a steep slope in wet weather. The man was found by road engineers surveying typhoon damage today, Friday September 30. The 30 year-old man, surnamed Lin, from Luodong in Ilan County, was riding in the Mingchih (Clear Lake) Forest Recreation Area during wet weather, when he lost control and went over the edge of the road. Lin said

Month: October 2016

Penghu Residents Vote Against Casinos

Driver Plows into Crowded Street: 1 Dead, 13 Injured

Student Sentenced For Killing Cats

Six-vehicle Pile-up on National Highway

Dutch Colonial Era Ships Found in Tainan

Patrick the Koala Passes Away at Taipei Zoo

Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Rocks Taiwan’s East Coast

People Injured in Worker’s Protest

Rock-slide on Southern Cross-Island Highway

Plane Damaged After Tail-strike

Man Survives 6 Days and Typhoon After Motorcycle Accident in the Mountains