Month: November 2016

Girl Orphaned After 3 Family Members Drown Saving Her

Paramedic points to waterhole where 3 people drowned in Chiayi County, Taiwan
Health and Safety 
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Chiayi County: Three people drowned at a popular scenic spot in Chiayi County’s Meishan Township, after a 14 year-old girl fell into deep water. The girl’s 16 year-old sister dived in to save her, and was followed by the girls’ mother and father. The parents and older sister drowned, while the younger girl was the only one to survive. When paramedics arrived at the scene, the 3 victims showed no vital signs. The Wu (吳) family had traveled from their

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Supermoon Rising Monday

Supermoon Taipei 101
Events 
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Picture: 植然范 The biggest full moon in 68 years will be viewable around the world from Monday November 14, to Tuesday November 15, as the moon approaches its closest orbit point to the earth. In Taiwan, the moon will rise at 17:16 Monday, and set at 5:28 Tuesday, according to the Central Weather Bureau. The moon will reach it’s perigee (closest orbit point) at 356,508 kilometers from the earth. At this point, the moon will be within 137 kilometers of

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Human Remains Found in Archeology Dig May be European

Culture 
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[Picture: United Daily News] Spanish and Taiwanese archaeologists excavating a site on Heping Island in Keelung City unearthed 4 sets of human remains, including a complete skeleton, Monday, November 8. Spanish archaeologist ELENA SERRANO said the method of burial suggests the skeleton may be European. The body was laid on its back with hands folded over the chest. The feet are to the east, and head to the west. Europeans buried people this way so the person could rise facing

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Exotic Venom-spurting Stinkbugs Invade Taiwan

giant stink bug in Taiwan Tessaratoma papillosa
Environment 
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Taiwan Environmental Information Center has reported that Keelung City has experienced an explosion of giant stink bugs this year. The bugs can spurt a skin-burning venom when disturbed. The exotic species, Tessaratoma papillosa, is believed to have traveled by ship from Kinmen in 2009. The bugs are commonly found in China. Since they arrived, they have been recorded all over the island except for Hualien and Taitung counties. The giant stink bugs are a pest in trees of the Sapindaceae

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Canadian Man Found Dead in Taipei Hotel

Culture 
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A 46 year-old Canadian man was found dead in a hotel in Wanhua District at around 9:00pm, November 8, 2016. Firefighters who responded to a report found the man in bed with his head covered with a plastic bag. A suicide note was found beside the body. Investigators said that when the body was found, rigor mortis had already set in. The man had been staying at the hotel, which is located on Xining South Rd, since sometime last month.

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Coldplay to Play in Taiwan April 2017

coldplay band
Entertainment 
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November 8 Liberty Times Network Reported that concert organizers Live Nation had confirmed Coldplay will perform in Taiwan April 2017 as part of their Asian Tour beginning late March. According to the Chinese language report, Live Nation said the tour dates would be announced next Tuesday, November 15, and that the concert would be held at an outdoor venue in Taoyuan, due to a lack of suitable venues in Taipei City. Apple Daily reported November 11 that the concert is

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Sinkhole Opens in the Middle of Japanese City

sinkhole in Hakata City Fukuoka Prefecture
Regional 
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Subway construction work caused a sinkhole to open next to JR Hakata Station in the capital of the Fukuoka prefecture. The sinkhole has swallowed a major road, causing power and gas supply disruptions, and threatening nearby buildings. The sinkhole first appeared at around 5:15am. Residents and office workers around the sinkhole were evacuated at 9:45am after the sinkhole expanded and showed signs of threatening buildings. Power outages have affected the Bank of Fukuoka’s online systems and caused disruptions to ticketing

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Angry Father Smashes Toy Rabbit Who Says Taiwan is Part of China

smashed rabbit made in China
Politics 
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The father of a pre-schooler smashed a toy rabbit and posted pictures on-line after the Chinese-made educational toy said “the biggest island in China is Taiwan.” The incident drew comments from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and legislators. The father purchased the “Showtime Rabbit story machine” on the Chinese shopping website Taobao. The toy is marketed as teaching Chinese culture, stories, songs, geography, music, and more. It was priced at 15 yuan to 30 yuan (about NT$ 69 ~ 138).

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Ambulance Smashes into Police Car: 1 Dead, 5 Injured

Police-ambulance collision
Traffic Accidents 
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Photo: United Daily News One person died, and four were injured, when an ambulance traveling at high speed hit a police car, turned over, and ended up in a ditch. The accident occurred at 14:45 Xu Jia Township, Chiayi County. Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction when police spotted a motorcyclist riding without a helmet. Video from the ambulance’ dash-cam shows the police car indicating a left turn. The ambulance, was about to overtake the police car at

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Starr Chen/Jolin Music Video Draws Flak

egoholic starr chen jolin tsai
Entertainment 
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Some students, and alumni of Zhongshan Girls High School in Taipei are incensed by the use of school uniforms bearing the school’s name in a new music video produced by Starr Chen, with vocals by Jolin Tsai. The music video “Ego-holic” features bullying as the theme, and shows the story of a fat girl being bullied and physically beaten by other girls at school. Complaints first arose about “Jolin’s new music video,” and were directed at the singer herself. The

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