Month: January 2020

Banana man outshines competition at Nantou County lantern festival

bananaman lantern in Nantou County
Odd News 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A 10-meter-tall rotating, singing rat that takes selfies complete with flashes and clicks every thirty minutes is the official central attraction at the Nantou Lantern Festival this year, but a lantern named “Banana Brother” is proving to be one of the most outstanding exhibits. The festival kicked off on January 18, spanning the Lunar New Year holidays, and running until February 9. Divided into 15 themed subject areas, the lanterns are arranged to illuminate various aspects of Nantou County, its

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ICAO blocks debate about Taiwan’s exclusion from pandemic-prevention efforts

ICAO headquarters
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has blocked social media users who are calling for Taiwan’s participation in the joint WHO-ICAO efforts to help curb the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Many Twitter accounts have been blocked by the organization, including those of Congressional staff, D.C.-based analysts, academics, and journalists, according to a report in AXIOS. “Taipei is an international transit hub, and Taiwan’s exclusion means it can’t take part in information sharing and logistical planning as the coronavirus spreads.” The

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Murder suspect found dead of apparent suicide: case details emerge

One of the last images taken of murder suspect
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A man suspected of murdering a woman in Taipei City before dismembering and disposing of her corpse was found dead in a residence in Keelung City, Sunday evening, and is believed to have committed suicide, rather than face a lengthy prison sentence. Police went on the hunt for Lin Guo-ping (林國平), 45, after the remains of a 26-year-old female Malaysian national, Ms Deng (鄧), were found Saturday, January 11, during an investigation into her disappearance. Lin’s body was found at

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Dismembered corpse of missing woman found in Keelung City

missing woman, Ms Deng
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A missing persons case has turned into a murder investigation after police found the dismembered remains of a woman in a mountain district of Keelung City, yesterday, January 11. Police began an investigation after a 26-year-old Malaysian national of Chinese ethnicity named Deng (鄧) was reported missing by a family member on January 6. Investigators who went to Ms Deng’s apartment on the fifth floor of a building in Wanhua District, Taipei City, noticed a suspicious smell of strong chemical

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Landslide victory for DPP sets records for democratic elections in Taiwan

President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen
Politics 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Today’s Presidential and legislative elections saw a major victory for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, and President Tsai Ing-wen, seeing records broken for voter turnout, and total votes for a President. Many districts saw record voter turnouts as young people in particular, traditionally considered complacent when in comes to voting, made efforts to return to their hometowns to place a vote. Taiwan does not allow absentee voting, and people are generally registered to vote at their parent’s residence until they purchase

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American Taiwanese citizens travel more than 12,000 kilometers to vote for a free and democratic Taiwan

David and Charlene Alexander arrive in Tainan City January 7, 2020
Society 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

A couple who lived in Taiwan for 39 years before retiring to the USA in 2018, arrived in Taiwan this week so they could vote in the upcoming Presidential election, Saturday, January 11. David Alexander, already a veteran of the Vietnam War, and Charlene Bos, first met in Taiwan when they were both working in English language programs for the Presbyterian Church in 1976. As David wrote on his blog Aboksu: “At that time Taiwan was listed as one of

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Cannabis compressed as “tea cake” intercepted at Taoyuan International Airport

cannabis compressed to resemble pu'er tea
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A Canadian citizen was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport after customs officials found 20 kilograms of marijuana in his checked baggage, police revealed at a press conference today, January 9. The 40-year-old Chinese Canadian man named Wei (危), was arrested at around 5:00 am, December 28, after an x-ray examination of his luggage raised the suspicions of customs officers. Officers took Wei and his baggage to an examination room where they opened the luggage. The officers found 20 round

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Air Force Black Hawk helicopter carrying high-ranking officers crashes: 8 dead, 5 survivors

crashed black hawk helicopter
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Eight people are dead, including the chief of armed forces in Taiwan, and other high ranking officers, after an Air Force Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of Wulai District, New Taipei City, this morning, January 2. Ministry of Defense (MOD) spokesperson Shi Shunwen told reporters that Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming (沈一鳴) and his entourage were on their way to Dong’ao, Yilan when they lost contact. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, carrying a total of

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