Author: Phillip Charlier

“When Worlds Collide: A Formosan Black Bear’s Deadly Dance with Civilization” wins Gold at Houston Film Fest

When Worlds Collide: A Formosan Black Bear's Deadly Dance with Civilization movie poster
Animals Environment 
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A documentary film about a Formosan black bear that was rescued from animal traps multiple times before finally being fatally shot by hunters won the Gold Award in the Documentary Feature Film category of the 56th Houston Film Festival, and is available to be watched for free on multiple platforms. The film documents the life of a bear dubbed 711/568 by wildlife researchers, beginning with the animal being rescued from a wire snare in the mountains of Taitung County, October

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Japan deploys Patriot III anti-aircraft missiles on islands close to Taiwan

composite picture showing map of Taiwan and Japanese islands in the Miyako Strait
Military Affairs Regional 
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Japan will deploy Patriot III anti-aircraft missiles on Yonaguni Island, just 111 kilometers from Taiwan’s east coast, purportedly in response to North Korea’s long-range ballistic missiles, according to reports in Japanese media outlets today, Monday, May 8. Major Japanese media outlet Jiji Press reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced today that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force will deploy Patriot III (PAC-3) anti-aircraft missiles at the Air Self-Defense Miyako Base in Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, PAC-3 missiles

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2 killed, Tesla disintegrates in high-speed drunk driving crash on Taichung City expressway

Aftermath of high-speed drunk driving crash in Taichung City
Traffic Accidents 
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A driver with a blood alcohol level almost three times over the legal limit was one of two men who died at the scene of the accident after a Tesla slammed into a concrete Jersey barrier on an expressway in Taichung City early Sunday morning, May 7. Taichung City Fire Bureau responded to reports of the crash at an offramp of Expressway 74 in Xitun District at 5:48 am. Firefighters and paramedics found the vehicle had completely disintegrated due to

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Female friend now main suspect in Australian student Alex Shorey poisoning case

Australian student medivaced out of Taiwan
Health and Safety 
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A 45-year-old Taiwanese woman is being investigated as a suspect in the Alex Shorey poisoning case after an empty bottle of rat poison was found in her home, where the 24-year-old Australian student was staying. According to reports in multiple Taiwanese media outlets, the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office brought the woman in for questioning after finding an empty bottle of rodenticide in the woman’s Taipei City home during a search on May 3. The woman confessed to having put the

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Taiwan may convert retired fighter jets into drones

Taiwan air force F-5
Military Affairs 
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Taiwan’s defense industry is considering converting its aging F-5 fleet into Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) as constant provocations by the Chinese military puts pressure on air force manpower, it was revealed in Taiwan’s legislature today. Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng met with the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan today, May 4, to report on a range of issues, including the Naval and Air Combat Power Enhancement Plan and F-16V(Block 70) procurement progress. Democratic

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MSC Bellissima sets record for largest cruise ship to dock at the Port of Keelung

MSC Bellissima at the Port of Keelung
Travel and Tourism 
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The largest cruise ship to ever dock at the Port of Keelung sailed into the harbor today, May 4, bringing more than 4,600 visitors to the harbor city and Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. The MSC Bellissima sailed into the harbor at around 6:00 am, and was greeted by tugboats with a water salute. The 315-meter-long ship is operated by MSC Cruises, and has 19 decks, 2,217 cabins, 18 elevators, and three swimming pools. There are 1,564 personnel on board to serve

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“The new normal:” Chinese drone circles Taiwan for second time in a week

composite image showing BZK-005 uav and flight path around Taiwan
Military Affairs 
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The Chinese military flew a drone around Taiwan yesterday, May 2, just six days after it made the first encirclement using a bomber drone on April 27, rapidly escalating the maneuver from unprecedented to “new normal.” According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, a People’s Liberation Army Air Force BZK-005 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flew eastwards from the Chinese coast, crossing the center line of the Taiwan Strait in the north, then passing between Yonaguni Island, Japan, and Taiwan’s east

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Pilots, flight attendants decline invite to COVID after-party: human rights abuses cannot be nullified with awards

composite image showing medical professions in clown suits and pilots in PPE
Aviation 
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Both the Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union and the Taoyuan Pilots’ Union declined invitations from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to an event labeled as a COVID-19 contribution appreciation and awards party, citing the stigma and deprivation of human rights they suffered over the last three years as the reason for not attending. The ceremony was held yesterday evening, May 2, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Taipei, and was hosted by President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Chen Chien-jen. The President

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New level of threat-posture: Chinese jumbo bomber drone flies around Taiwan for the first time

composite image showing Chinese TB-001 drone and flight path around Taiwan
Military Affairs 
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Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that in the 24 hours up to 6:00 am this morning, April 28, a total of 38 sorties by Chinese military aircraft were recorded in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, including 19 that crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, and one that completely encircled Taiwan. A TB-001 UAV flew via the Bashi Channel, south of the island, and traveled north, returning to China via the Miyako Strait in what appears to be

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Republican Party Biden attack ad features attack on Taiwan

AI generated Taipei 101 in bombing raid
International 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment

The Republican Party released a video advertisement yesterday featuring AI-generated images of a Chinese attack on Taipei City, along with scenes of economic and social disaster, warning Americans against voting for the Joe Biden in the next presidential election. The ad, titled “Beat Biden,” opens with images of a victorious Biden and Kamala Harris, and the question “What if the weakest President we’ve ever had were re-elected?” The scene then cuts to images of a Chinese warplane, and Taipei 101

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Runway closed after Taoyuan International Airport receives report of bomb on plane

China Air plane on tarmac
Aviation 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment

A China Air passenger plane landed at Taoyuan International Airport this morning, but remained parked on taxiway after airport administrators received a report that explosives were aboard the aircraft today, Wednesday, April 26. China Air flight CA185 departed Beijing at 8:25 am and was scheduled to land at Taoyuan International Airport at 11:45 am. However, at around 11:00 am the Taoyuan Airport Company received a report that there was a bomb on the plane. The airport company informed the Aviation

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