Quarantined residents treated like prison inmates: food delivered searched for drugs and contraband

food opened, crushed, and dug through in search for contraband

February 20, 2022February 20, 2022 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments COVID-19, human rights, mass formation psychosis, quarantine, virus mania

A college student complained that food delivered by her family while she resided in a quarantine facility was opened, dug through, and crushed by quarantine personnel, making her feel that she was being treated like a criminal, but the Minister of Health and Welfare said that this was “necessary.” The college student revealed the information along with pictures on the student-oriented social media platform “D-card,” on February 17th. The pictures showed that packets of snacks such as potato chips were

police attempt to administer alcohol breath test on driver

Traffic Accidents

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drunk driving, drunk-driver, Kaohsiung City

A driver who crashed into motor scooters, injuring two people in Kaohsiung City today, was too drunk to perform an alcohol breath test, and had to be sent to hospital for a blood test instead. At around 3:00 pm, the 57-year-old man, named Shih, crashed head-on into three motor scooters waiting at a red light at the intersection of Benguan Road and Jinding Road. Two of the scooter riders were injured and sent to hospital. The most seriously injured suffered

Traffic Accidents

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fatal accident, Hualien County

Three people died and two were injured in a single-vehicle high-speed crash on the Xincheng section of Highway 9 in Hualien County this morning, February 19. According to reports, a car carrying 5 people went out of control while overtaking a gravel truck and slammed into a tree at high speed at around 10:00 am. Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to cut the occupants out of the mangled wreck of the vehicle. Three people lost vital signs at the scene

Culture

February 18, 2022February 18, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Asia Pacific, Austronesian, indigenous people

A documentary series exploring the origins of the Austronesian speaking peoples starting in Taiwan, and expanding as far away as New Zealand and Easter Island, premiers on National Geographic tonight, February 18, at 9:00 pm. The three part series will explore language, shipbuilding, tattoos, architecture, and arts and crafts, and will be aired in more than 40 countries in the Asia Pacific region. The second episode will air on February 25, and the final episode on March 4. The National

Taiwan army CM-33 Clouded Leopard and Skoda Fabia after minor collision

Military Affairs Traffic Accidents

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment army, military exercises, New Taipei City

A Taiwan army CM-33 “Clouded Leopard” armored vehicle had a minor collision with a Škoda Fabia during urban combat drills in New Taipei City today, just six days after a similar incident in Taoyuan City. At around 2:00 pm, the 8-wheeled, 22-tonne domestically-produced CM-33 driven by a 24-year-old army sergeant from the Guandu Division, hit the rear of the Czech-made supermini car in front of the Zhuwei MRT Station in Tamsui District. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the accident, and

composite image of Jesus Balloon Shop ad and laughing gas bottles being seized by police

Drugs

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment laughing gas, New Taipei City, nitrous oxide

A 31-year-old man was arrested and 137 cylinders of nitrous oxide were seized in New Taipei City, following an investigation into laughing gas being sold under the brand, “Jesus Balloon Shop.” The New Taipei City Police Criminal Investigation Corps began an investigation after finding an internet user advertising flavored laughing gas on social media sites at a price of NT$4,500 per bottle. Flavors advertised included cola, sarsaparilla grape, mango, and honeydew melon. Police investigators traced the posts to a man

Violent Crimes

February 17, 2022February 17, 2022 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments knife-attack, KTV, Pingtung County

A suspect wanted for attacking two people with a watermelon knife, killing one, and seriously injuring another, during a dispute at a KTV in Pingtung County last month, has been arrested after a 21-day-long manhunt, Pingtung County police announced today, February 17. Pingtung County Police received a report of a dispute at a KTV in Pingtung City at 5:36 am, January 26. Fifteen police officers were dispatched to the scene of the incident. When police arrived the fight was over,

Disaster

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, mass formation psychosis, quarantine

The building that housed a hotel used for COVID-19 quarantine until four people died in a fire after being told to stay put in their rooms will be demolished by the end of the year, the Changhua County Government announced yesterday, February 15. In June 2021, a fire broke out in the empty bottom floors of the building, leading to the death of three quarantined hotel “guests,” and a firefighter who went to their assistance after hotel managers told them

Traffic Accidents

February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment chemical hazard, Miaoli County, truck-accident

The driver of a chemical tanker was slightly injured, but fortunately no sulfuric acid leaked, after the truck rolled over on an exit of National Highway 3 in Miaoli County today, February 15. The Miaoli County Fire Department received reports that a tanker truck carrying sulfuric acid had overturned in the northbound exit lanes at the Zhunan Township interchange at 12:32 pm, and that an unknown liquid was leaking onto the road. Firefighters arrived to find that the liquid was

Fire

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gas explosion, New Taipei City

One woman died, and three other people were injured after a gas explosion in a New Taipei City apartment early this morning, February 14. Residents in the vicinity of Xinming Street in Xindian District were awoken by a loud explosion at 4:14 am. Firefighters responded to reports of the explosion and fire in a fourth-floor apartment of a 5 storey building. The fire was brought under control and extinguished at 4:29 pm. A 46-year-old woman, named Zhou was found in

Marine and Fisheries

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cetaceans, marine biology, pygmy sperm whale, whale

A rarely seen in Taiwan pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) died despite rescue efforts after stranding on a beach in Chiayi County this morning, Sunday, February 13. A fisherman found the pygmy sperm whale stranded on a beach in Budai Township at around 8:00 am. The fisherman reported the stranding to the local branch of the National Coast Guard Administration. Coast guard officers contacted the National Cheng Kung University Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center, and attempted to keep the

Author: Phillip Charlier

Quarantined residents treated like prison inmates: food delivered searched for drugs and contraband

Driver involved in accident too drunk for breath test

Single-vehicle crash on east coast highway leaves 3 dead, 2 injured

Documentary series on Austronesian origins in Taiwan premieres on National Geographic

Testing of made in Taiwan armored vehicle vs European cars continues: Last week a Volvo, this week a Škoda

Man arrested for selling Jesus-brand flavored laughing gas

Suspect who killed one, cut off another man’s arm, arrested after 3 weeks on the run

Quarantine death hotel building to be demolished

Sulfuric acid tanker rolls over on freeway exit

1 dead, 3 injured after residential gas explosion in New Taipei City

Rare pygmy sperm whale dies after stranding on Taiwan’s west coast