Taiwan Bear rescued from trap released after 8 month rehabilitation

Formosan black bear released into the wild

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Formosan black bear, Taitung County, wildlife rescue

A Formosan black bear rescued from an animal trap in Taitung County in December regained his freedom today after eight months recovering from wounds and surgery. Umas, as the bear was named, was found caught in a boar trap in the mountain district of Haiduan Township in December 2020. Estimated to be between one and two years old, Umas was found to have old and new injuries, including fractures, necrosis of his right forelimb, and gunshot wounds. After recovering from

Traffic Accidents

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment mental illness, traffic safety

A man who first came to police attention one week ago, after posting death threats on social media, and driving dangerously in Tainan City, has been arrested for driving his yellow Ford Mustang through a red light in Miaoli City, leaving a 21-year-old woman critically injured. The 23-year-old resident of Taoyuan City, named Ye, posted death threats against Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, last Saturday, August 7, apparently because he was upset about “unfair vaccine distribution.” The following

Fire

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment New Taipei City, residential fire

Four of seven victims have died, and one remains in a critical condition today, four days after a fire destroyed a residence in Sanxia District, New Taipei City. Three people were left dead, and four were injured, three critically, after a fire broke out on the first floor of the six story apartment building on Minsheng Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning, August 11. Six of the occupants had lost vital signs before or during rescue operations, according

Stupid Criminals

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, vaccine

As the world grapples with a rapidly mutating virus that experts in the west have openly admitted is “smarter than us,” a senior expert in China has proffered advice that could save your life. Zeng Guang, a member of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, with the title of Chief Epidemiologist, offered several solutions in the fight against the Delta variant. Zeng Guang pointed out that in the early days, the

Aviation

August 14, 2021August 14, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment aviation-accident, EVA Air

An EVA Air passenger aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway while landing at Guam International Airport this afternoon, August 14. EVA Air Flight BR20 departed from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 8:55 am this morning and landed in Guam at 3:53 pm local time. However, the tail of the Airbus A321-200 touched the runway upon landing, according to reports. The 146 passengers and 12 crew were all reported safe. However, the aircraft has been grounded for a thorough inspection.

Chen Shih-chung CECC press briefing Friday 13 August 2021

Health and Safety Media Issues

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, media

Taiwan reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 today “and two deaths from the disease,” wrote news outlet Focus Taiwan, following the CDC Central Epidemic Command Center’s press briefing and press release today, Friday, August 13. But the CDC did not say that two people had died of COVID-19. The CDC press release clearly stated that there were two deaths among the confirmed cases. Furthermore, the CDC provided details about the two deaths stating that case 8852 was a man in

F-16V involved in cockpit canopy incident

Military Affairs

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment air-force, aviation, f-16

A pilot was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday after the cockpit canopy flew of an air force F-16V, and an investigation into the incident is moving in the direction of human negligence, according to a senior air force official. The F-16 was one of four fighters to take off from Chiayi Air Force Base on a routine training mission at 7:29 am yesterday, August 11. However, shortly after the aircraft’s wheels left the tarmac, the cockpit canopy suddenly

Health and Safety

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chiayi County, search and rescue, Zengwen Reservoir

The body of a young man who went missing at Zengwen Reservoir in Chiayi County yesterday was found stuck in a flooded pavilion this afternoon, Thursday, August 12. The post-graduate student from National Cheng Kung University in Tainan City, named Lin, visited Zengwen Reservoir Scenic Area with a friend yesterday afternoon, August 11. Lin went missing while trying to retrieve a phone he had accidentally dropped in the water at around 4:00 pm, according to reports. Chiayi County Fire Department

Health and Safety

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, Tainan City, vaccine

A police officer in Tainan City thanked his “police family” for supporting him during a nearly one-month stay in hospital being treated for life- threatening blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. Su Yanhui, 52, was back at work as Director of Kunyang Police Station, and expressed his thanks at forum held for Tainan City police yesterday, August 11. Su was hospitalized June 21 after developing discomfort on the evening of June 20, just six days after being vaccinated.

Weather

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment indigenous people, Kaohsiung City, Taoyuan District

A female indigenous representative is missing after being swept away by a sudden surge of mud, water, and rocks, while crossing a stream in a mountain district of Kaohsiung City yesterday, August 11. Xie Yizhen (謝宜真) had been visiting residents of three villages left isolated after catastrophic levels of rain destroyed roads and bridges in Taoyuan District last week. See previous story: Emergency supplies flown into communities left isolated after disaster-level rain At around 5:40 pm, 54-year-old Xie was crossing

Business and Economy

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment New Taipei City, nuclear power, nuclear reactor

A group of legislators visited the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District yesterday, to learn how merely moving a chair caused a shutdown last month, and to review measures taken to ensure it won’t happen again. In an embarrassing comedy of errors that citizens on social media compared to something out of The Simpsons, Taiwan’s number two nuclear power plant went into emergency shutdown at 6:33 am, July 27, after an employee pushed a wheeled office

Author: Phillip Charlier

Taiwan Bear rescued from trap released after 8 month rehabilitation

Mustang Maniac’s week-long rampage ends with young woman fighting for her life

Residential fire death toll rises to 4 after 7-year-old succumbs to injuries

Ordinary masks not effective for new variants: Chinese expert advises on new solutions

EVA airliner tail strike on landing at Guam Airport

Two people died of COVID today? That’s not what the CDC said

F-16 makes emergency landing after canopy flies off: suspected human error

Body of graduate student found in flooded pavilion at scenic reservoir

Police officer back on duty after post-vax tug of war with death

Indigenous representative visiting stranded villagers swept away by flooded stream

Taipower reveals new safety features after nuclear power plant emergency shutdown leaves operators red-faced