New Taipei City the New Gotham City: Police Begin Crackdown

Police raids on the evening of November 30, 2016

November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gang violence, New Taipei City, police-raids

Cover Picture: United Daily News. New Taipei City police chief Hu Mu-yuan announced the launch a coordinated crackdown on organized crime groups responsible for a spate of street violence that has led commentators to dub New Taipei City as “New Gotham City”. The operation begins tonight, November 30. The call comes after the month of November saw street brawls occur just about every night. There have been twenty six cases of street violence recorded in the city so far this

Entertainment

November 24, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Scorsese, Silence-216-film

Paramount Pictures released the official trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” yesterday, providing a preview to the sets and locations used around Taiwan, where the movie was filmed in 2015. Paramount announced the film will appear in theaters December 2016. Scorsese chose to shoot the film in Taiwan after talking to Taiwan-born director Ang Lee. Lee filmed “Life of Pi” on the island. Taiwan provided a suitable, and much cheaper location to film the story, which is set in 17th century

a surfer practises before the Taiwan round of the World Surfing League's global competition

Sport

November 24, 2016November 24, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment donghe, surfing, Taitung

An opening ceremony today saw an Amis blessing ritual, and a performance by an indigenous drumming group, as surfers gathered for Taiwan’s only international surfing contest, in Taitung County, Donghe Township’s Jinzun Beach. Surfers will begin competing for NTD$2.5 million (more than USD$78,000) in prize money tomorrow, Thursday, November 24 until Sunday, November 27. Surfers began testing the waters today, and spectators gathered on the beach to watch the world class surfers warming up for tomorrow’s contest. The competition is

Culture Weather

November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cross-island highway, national highway, rockfall, su-hua highway

Three days of continuous rain has resulted in rockfalls, road-blockages, and a spate of traffic accidents in Taiwan, Wednesday, November 23. On Provincial Highway 9(the Su-hua Highway), a 55 year-old woman was seriously injured in a traffic accident at around 10:00am. The woman was riding as a passenger on a scooter when it collided with a semi-trailer at the 116km mark. A series of rockfalls saw the road temporary blocked in several locations, as road crews rushed to clear debris.

Fire

November 22, 2016November 22, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment building-codes, Taichung

Eighteen homes were razed to the ground, November 21, in Taichung County’s Tanzi District, after a fire broke out on the second floor of one of the residences. Firefighters received a call at 5:52pm after black smoke was seen billowing out one of the dwellings on the residential block. Sixty-seven firefighters and 23 firetrucks were dispatched to the scene. Due to the intensity of the blaze, the fire quickly spread to neighboring houses, and firefighters were unable to contain the

Business and Economy

November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment aviation, transasia-airways

Rumors that began this morning saying that TransAsia Airways would suspend flights have been confirmed by Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Authority this afternoon. The embattled Taiwan-based airline failed to regain consumer confidence after two crashes in succession rattled the nerves of passengers and aircrew. TransAsia Airways denied the rumors this morning, and refused to comment further on the issue. Ticket ordering systems at the airport, and on the company’s website went offline at around 1:00pm. The website currently says the ordering

health officials collect food samples at a school in Taoyuan County

Health and Safety

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment food-poisoning, Taoyuan

Photo: Taoyuan City Health Bureau. About 300 students and staff suffered abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating a school lunch delivered to 3 elementary schools in Taoyuan County, Thursday, November 17. School administrators were not aware of the problem until the following day, when they noticed an extraordinary number of students and staff took the day off sick. The three schools affected were Dongmen, Ximen, and Qingxi Elementary schools. On Friday morning, the three schools canceled lunch delivery from the

cpc gas station fitted with solar panels in Taiwan

Business and Economy

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment CPC, solar power

Cover Photo: Big Sun Group. Taiwan’s state-owned petroleum company CPC, has turned 7 gas stations into solar-power generators, and plans to roll out solar panels on 100 more in 2017. The company has identified 365 stations so far as suitable to host solar arrays, and is searching for more locations among 612 gas stations and 12 oil depots. As well as generating solar electricity, the company’s stations are also implementing energy-saving measures. Lighting in all CPC gas stations and depots

Taiwan's first domestically produced light rail train made for the Tamsui light rail system

Business and Economy

November 16, 2016November 18, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment manufacturing, MRT, Tamsui Light Rail

Cover picture: United Daily News. The first train for the Tamsui Light Rail project rolled off the production line today at a factory in Hsinchu. It is the first light rail train to be manufactured in Taiwan. The LRTs are being manufactured by Taiwan Rolling Stock Company in cooperation with German company Voith Engineering Services. An unveiling ceremony was attended by New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫). A Taipei Metro spokesperson said the light blue color represents the clear

Pistol used to shoot at police in Chungho District, New Taipei City, November 15, 2016. Photo: United Daily News

Violent Crimes

November 15, 2016November 18, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment shooting

Cover Picture: United Daily News Police shot a man in Chung-ho District of New Taipei City this morning, after he fired two shots at the officers. Police were carrying out a check on a car that had broken down, and was blocking traffic. After asking the driver to show his ID and drivers’ license, the man pulled a gun on them and fired. One police officer was wounded when a bullet grazed his left hand. The other policeman returned fire,

Culture

November 14, 2016November 15, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cultural unification, Jackie Chan, National Palace Museum

Workers began removing a set of 12 heads representing the animals of the Chinese zodiac, at the National Palace Museum Southern Branch, this morning, November 14. The figureheads were a gift from entertainer Jackie Chan, and are replicas of a set of figureheads looted by French and British forces from the Chinese imperial Old Summer Palace in 1860. But many in Taiwan, including members of government, consider the gift to be a form of Trojan Horse. NPM authorities first announced

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Month: November 2016

New Taipei City the New Gotham City: Police Begin Crackdown

Filmed in Taiwan: Trailer for Scorsese’s “Silence” Released

Taiwan International Surfing Open Kicks off in Taitung

Continuous Rain Causes Rockfalls and Traffic Hazards

Eighteen Homes Destroyed in Blaze: 1 Dead

TransAsia Airways Grounded

300 Teachers and Students Poisoned by School Lunch

Gas Station Rooftops Become Solar Farms

First Made in Taiwan Light Rail Train Rolls Out

Gunfight in Rush Hour Traffic

Museum Removes Politically Controversial Jackie Chan Gift