Elderly Injured in Stampede for Freebies

stampede at senior citizen's day event in Taipei City

October 28, 2017October 28, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Ko Wenje, Senior Citizen's Day, stampede, Taipei City, trampled

Dozens of senior citizens were injured and one was rushed to hospital after a stampede for lucky tickets and free gifts at a Taipei City Government organized event this morning, October 28. Taipei City Social Welfare Department held an annual Senior Citizen’s Day activity and invited older residents to join the Mayor on a hike starting in Beitou District. Around 7,000 people were expected at the event, according to a press release issued by the Social Welfare Department. According to

swastika marketed as German national flag

Society

October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Nazi symbols

A car accessories store in Jhubei City, Hsinchu County is selling Nazi flags as German flags. When exposed on social media, commenters criticized the store for “lacking international values”. A Facebook user uploaded images to a Hsinchu-based breaking news group earlier today showing the Nazi flag for sale among the national flags of many nations. Sitting between the American and Canadian flags, the label in Chinese reads “German national flag.” A reporter for Liberty Times Network went to the store

Taiwan police officer tows foreign student to mechanic

Society

October 11, 2017October 12, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment foreign students, Taiwan police

A Ukrainian student studying at National Chiao Tung University was impressed by the helpfulness of Taiwan police after police officers helped him locate a mechanic and then towed him to the repair shop yesterday, October 10. Mykola was enjoying a trip around Hsinchu County’s Neiwan Scenic Area when his scooter broke down. It was a national holiday and the last day of a four-day long weekend, so most motorcycle repair shops were closed. Two police officers spotted the blond-haired, blue-eyed

Society

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment correctional facilities, Taipei Prison

A 6 storey building was opened at Taipei Prison in Taoyuan this morning. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said that the new facility will help reduce overcrowding and ensure that international human rights standards are met. The original prison was designed to hold 2,700 prisoners but already has a prison population that exceeds 3,000. The new building will be able to house 1,300 inmates in 146 cells that have bunk beds and a writing desk. Taiwan’s prison authorities are striving

Society

September 28, 2017September 28, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment foreign workers, illegal immigration

Immigration police, New Taipei City police, and Labor Bureau officials yesterday raided a chicken slaughter and distribution factory in Hsinchuang District. Of 78 foreign workers, 65 were found to be undocumented. Police received a tip-off recently that a chicken factory was employing the undocumented foreign workers in order to meet extra demand for chicken meat in the lead up to the mid-Autumn festival, when Taiwanese according to recent tradition, gather with family and friends to enjoy a barbecue. The 2,000

Society

September 19, 2017December 2, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chiayi County, corpse, mummy

Graphic Image Warning! Real-estate agents inspecting a house in Chiayi County ahead of a foreclosure sale, were shocked to discover a mummified corpse in a bathroom. The corpse is believed to be the owner of the house owner, Mr Liao. Mr Liao 64 had inherited the house after his parents died a couple of years ago, but did not make the mortgage payments. The bank and its agents could not locate Mr Liao, so they contacted his younger brother to

Society

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment extradition, UK-Taiwan, zain dean

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled in favor of Taiwan judicial authorities contesting a decision made by the Appeal Court in Scotland concerning the extradition of a Scotsman who absconded from Taiwan after being convicted of offenses relating to a fatal traffic accident in 2010. Zain Dean was convicted and sentenced after trial by the District Court of Taipei in March 2011. The court pronounced Dean guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol, negligent manslaughter, and

coast guard officers recover human remains on the shore

Society

June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment flood, Matsu Islands, missing persons

A badly decomposed corpse found in the Matsu Islands is believed to belong to an 85 year old woman named Tang, who fell into flood waters in a mountainous area near Keelung City June 2. Coast Guard officers received a report from fishermen who were gathering shellfish when they stumbled across human remains on the shore of Nangan, the southern main island of the Matsu group, at around noon yesterday. Although the corpse was in such an advanced state of

mortality statistics presented at a press conference

Health and Safety Society

June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment 2016, mortality statistics, Taiwan

Ministry of Health and Welfare officials today released national mortality statistics for 2016, and noted that on average one person died every 3 minutes and 3 seconds, 11 seconds faster than the previous year. The statistical report revealed that a total of 172, 418 people died in Taiwan last year. The leading cause of death was cancer, which took a life every 11 minutes, 2 seconds, 11 seconds faster than the previous year. Cancer accounted for 27.7% of deaths, with

woman on ledge on top of highrise building

Society

June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment highrise-rescue, Tainan City

Firefighters and police were involved in a risky rescue in Tainan City yesterday, when a suicidal woman climbed over a safety barrier and sat on a narrow ledge on the roof of a 24-story building. Ms Lee, 22, held on to a steel post and lowered herself off the ledge. Officers held her until a firefighter used rappelling equipment to suspend himself below the woman. The firefighter then pushed her back up to the ledge. Ms Lee reportedly had become

Society

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment employment, labor-law, THSR

[Cover picture: Nikkei] A Kaohsiung City Government councilor, and a spokesman for a prisoner rehabilitation group spoke out today against a clause in Taiwan High Speed Rail’s tender contracts that prohibit contractors from employing people with criminal records. Kaohsiung City councilor Lina Chen (陳麗娜) said the restriction was discriminatory, unlawful, and unconstitutional. Councilor Chen requested THSR to remove the discriminatory clause or she will report the company to the Control Yuan. A spokesperson for a prisoner rehabilitation group, Liu Jia-guo

Society

Elderly Injured in Stampede for Freebies

Store in Hsinchu Sells Swastika as German National Flag

Cops Help Foreign Student Tow Scooter to Repair Shop

Taipei Prison Expansion Completed: Overcrowding to be Reduced

65 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Swoop on Chicken Slaughterhouse

Mummified Corpse Found in House

UK Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Taiwan Judiciary in Extradition Case

Flood Victim’s Remains Found on Matsu Islands

Taiwan’s Death Clock Ticking Faster: Ministry of Health and Welfare

Firefighter Rappels to Rescue Woman Dangling 24 Floors Up

Taiwan High Speed Rail Criticized Over Discriminatory Hiring Policy