Author: Phillip Charlier

All imported COVID cases today were fully vaccinated

cecc press conference November 15, 2021
Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center announced today that there were nine cases of COVID-19 detected among arrivals to the country, all of whom were fully vaccinated. There were no domestic cases reported for the 10th day in a row, and no deaths reported among past or present cases. The nine imported cases were detected among arrivals between October 30 and November 13 from the United States, Indonesia, Germany, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The cases consisted of five males and

Read more

Couple on scooter killed by drunk driver in Kaohsiung City

composite image of scene of fatal drunk driving accident in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A husband and wife who had just set off for a day trip to the mountains both died after being hit by a car driven by man affected by alcohol in Kaohsiung City this morning, Saturday, November 13. The couple, riding a scooter, had just left their home to meet up with friends and relatives, and were passing through the intersection of Guangming Road and Wengyuan Road in Daliao District at 5:10 am when a black Lexus sedan driven by

Read more

Invasive giant toad species found in Taiwan

Rhinella marina in Taiwan
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

On of the top 100 invasive species in the world – the cane toad (Rhinella marina), has been found in Nantou County, Taiwan, according to the Nantou Forest Management Office. An amphibian conservation volunteer team recently discovered the toads in a vegetable garden in Caotun Township, Nantou County. The team undertook a search and removed 27 individuals from the garden. The Nantou Forest Management Office contacted Professor Yang Yiru of National Dong Hwa University, and in cooperation with conservation volunteers

Read more

Goodbye Glasgow: China ramps coal production up to record high, makes promises

thermal power plant and coal use chart composite image
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

As international movers and shakers reached the anticlimactic finale of their COP26 climate change hobnob in Glasgow, Scotland, China announced that its daily coal production has broken historical records. The People Republic of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) reported that national coal production reached a record high of 12.05 million tons on November 10. The November 11 report said that the figure represented an increase of 120,000 tons per day on the previous peak production level. “Coal production

Read more

Police officer’s thumb reattached after drunk driver bites it off

police officer's bandaged thumb after being surgically reattached
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A police officer in Hualien City had to have his thumb reattached by surgeons after a drunk driver bit it off while resisting arrest. Police on a routine patrol in Meilun District, Monday night, November 8, stopped an elderly man after he was seen going through a red light and appearing unstable while riding an electric scooter. The 71-year-old man, named Liu, refused to cooperate with a roadside alcohol breath test, claiming that he was a retired civil servant, and

Read more

Teen bashed into life-threatening condition after bumping into Maserati

composite picture of injured man and damaged car
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

An 18-year-old man remains in a coma after being beaten almost to death by three men following a minor traffic accident in Taichung City three days ago. According to reports, on November 7, a first-year university student, named Song, driving a white Volkswagen with 4 passengers on their way home after a church meeting, sideswiped a Maserati sports car while changing lanes on Taiwan Avenue in Xitun District at around 12:40 am. After pulling over, three men alighted from the

Read more

It’s only November and depth of snow in Southern Mongolia breaks 70-year record

snow in Mongolia
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Snow in Tongliao, Southern Mongolia, has accumulated to a depth not seen since 1951, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Heavy snowfall has lasted around 46 hours in the Chinese-occupied region, with a cumulative snowfall of 81.3 millimeters in the city of Tongliao, and a snow depth of 68 centimeters at the Kulunqi Weather Station, according to reports. According to the China Meteorological Administration, if the snow does not melt quickly, it may declare a natural disaster. A snowfall disaster

Read more

Passersby spooked by banana bags at night

Odd News 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A resident of Yilan County uploaded pictures to social media after feeling spooked by what appeared to be ghostly human figures suspended in midair on a rural roadside in Wujie Township. The pictures were shared to the Facebook group “Yilan Knowledge +” as a warning in case people passing through the area at night get a fright. The spooky effigies turned out to be banana bunch covers used by a banana farmer to protect the ripening fruit. Banana bunch covers

Read more

Expat trail runner finds remains of another missing hiker in remote mountain area

Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

A Czech national resident of Taiwan is gaining a reputation for tracking down lost hikers after finding the remains of a missing man in the mountains of Nantou County, yesterday, Monday, November 8. Petr Novotny, who runs the outdoor sports company Beast Runners came to media attention when he joined the search for a missing off-road motorcyclist in the mountains of Hsinchu County in September this year. In the same month Novotny joined the search for a 60-year-old man named

Read more

Taiwan aims to attract 100,000 foreign professionals by 2030

National Development Council Foreign Recruitment seminar
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

The government of Taiwan aims to increase the number of foreign professionals working and residing in Taiwan to 100,000 by 2030, according to the National Development Council. Speaking at a seminar on the 2021 amendments to the Act for Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, yesterday, November 8, NDC Deputy Minister Shih Keh-her said that it hopes to improve the recruitment laws and related supporting facilities in order to meet the goal of recruiting 10,000 foreign professionals by the end

Read more

Gravel trucks collide on Suhua Highway, one driver drunk

gravel truck crashed on Suhua Highway
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The driver of a gravel truck involved in a collision on the Suhua Highway today was drunk at the time of the accident, according to a police investigation. According to the investigation so far, the 32-year-old driver of a gravel truck, named Shen, skidded into the mountainside wall before veering out of control into the oncoming traffic lane, and crashing through the guardrail at the 114.9 kilometer mark. Another gravel truck traveling in the opposite direction driven by a 67-year-old

Read more