Author: Phillip Charlier

British cyclist found without signs of life after falling from mountain road

bicycle
Traffic Accidents 
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A UK national was found without signs of life after crashing his bicycle and falling from the Central Cross Island Highway today, April 4. The Hualien County Fire Department received a report at 9:00 am that a man had fallen from the road edge at the 160.9KM mark of the Hualien section of the highway. The fire department dispatched rescue vehicles to the rescue. Rescue personnel reached the patient by ascending from the road at around the 164 kilometer mark

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Taiwan FDA distributing Hydroxychloroquine for free after WHO declares it ineffective for COVID treatment

hydroxychloroquine tablets
Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 5 Comments ,

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration is distributing Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to more than 6,600 community pharmacies for free in a decision made a short time after the World Health Organization issued “strong advice” against using the drug for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 last month. Taiwan’s health authorities purchased supplies of the drug in large quantities in the first quarter of 2020 as researchers and public health officials around the world initially supported the use of HCQ as a potential

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Express train crashes and derails in east coast tunnel: Dozens dead

severely damaged lead car of train
Disaster 
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At least 48 people are dead, and more than 70 injured after an express train derailed in a tunnel on Taiwan’s east coat near Hualien City this morning, April 2. The number 408 Ziqiang express train from Shulin to Taitung City derailed as it was entering the Qingshui Tunnel between Chongde and Heren stations at 9:28 am. More than 350 people were aboard the 8-carriage train, which was fully booked as today is the first day of 4-day holiday for

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Students use BB guns to fend off thieving monkeys on university campus

student armed with BB gun watches out for monkeys as she prepares to take food delivery
Animals 
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The Kaohsiung City Agriculture Bureau said that it is not illegal for students to use BB guns to protect themselves from monkeys, after a video was shared showing a female student carrying a BB gun to take a food delivery at Sun Yat-sen University. A driver for the popular food delivery service, Foodpanda, uploaded a video to social media showing a customer coming out of the female dormitory to take delivery of her meal armed with a BB pistol. The

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Starlux Airlines opens recruiting for 127 personnel: expecting recovery of aviation tourism industry

Starlux Airlines 321 neo
Aviation 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Starlux Airlines announced that it was seeking 127 recruits for flight crew and ground service personnel starting today, March 31. The positions are to fill manpower demand for new aircraft delivered, and flight routes opening in the second half of 2021, the airline said. Vacancies include cabin crew, maintenance, sales, customer service, airport operations and internal administration jobs. Starlux Airlines CEO Glenn Chai said that the global aviation industry has been hit hard by the epidemic in the past year,

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Yearning for Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, Chinese man sails to Kinmen County in home made boat

home made boat that landed on Wuqiu Island, Kinmen County
Society 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A man was arrested in Wuqiu Township, Kinmen County March 27, after sailing from Fujian Province, China, in a home made boat, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) revealed today, March 30. The 37-year-old man named Li sailed the rudimentary craft, made from steel bars, Styrofoam, wooden boards, and powered with an outboard motor from his home on Meizhou Island. The CGA said that Li had departed from Meizhou Island in the daytime of March 27, and landed on the coast

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Police prepare for massive gangster funeral: officer criticized for mobster-friendly Facebook post

police inspection point at funeral home
Crime and Criminals 
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Police in Tainan City are preparing to deploy more than 500 officers in what may be the largest deployment of police for a gang-boss’ funeral, but one officer today faced criticism for a post he made to Facebook that appeared a little too friendly toward the deceased. Chen Jianwen, 51, was gunned down in an execution-style killing by a former junior associate February 23 in what Tainan Police Department Commissioner Fang Yeang-ning (方仰寧) said was a result of infighting among

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Ship launch doesn’t quite go to plan at Port of Kaohsiung

listing ship at launch
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A ship suddenly tilted over precariously as soon as it hit the water during a launching ceremony at a shipyard in Kaohsiung Harbor this morning, March 27. Kaohsiung Harbor Police said that the 700-ton ocean-going fishing vessel “Shengfan 188” suddenly tilted over to a 45 degree angle when it was launched at the Sanyang Shipyard in Qijin District at around 11:00 am. Water almost reached the gunwales, and the ship was in danger of sinking. Two nearby tugboats immediately went

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Truck carrying Evergreen container causes traffic jam in China: picture goes viral

truck carrying Evergreen container across freeway
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

A truck carrying an Evergreen shipping container crashed and caused a traffic jam on a freeway in China this morning, and pictures of the incident went viral on Chinese social media platforms. According to information from the traffic monitor footage, the accident occurred shortly before 9:55 am today on the Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway in Nanjing. Following the accident, the truck was left askew across the road, almost completely blocking traffic, leading to comparisons with the Evergreen container ship currently blocking the

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“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” banned at Tokyo Disneyland to promote “gender inclusiveness”

Disney characters on show at Tokyo Disneyland
Society 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments ,

The traditional English language expression “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” is being replaced by “Hello, everyone” at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort in the interests of gender inclusiveness, according to Kyodo and other Japanese media agencies. Tokyo Disneyland and the resort have been “transitioning” the welcome announcements to be more accommodating to all guests with a more inclusive message that applies to people of all genders, Disney watchers and insiders, Inside The Magic reported. “Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo

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Evergreen commissions build of 20 new 15,000 TEU container ships

Evergreen Marine ship Ever Glory
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments

Taiwan’s global shipping giant Evergreen Marine Corp (TWSE: 2603) has commissioned Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries to build 20 new 15,000 TEU container ships, the company announced today, March 25. Evergreen Marine’s board of directors recently approved the construction of 20 new 15,000 TEU ships due to a rise in global demand. Each ship will be constructed at a price of US$115-130 million, with a total transaction value of US$2.3-2.6 billion, according to today’s press release.

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