ICAO blocks debate about Taiwan’s exclusion from pandemic-prevention efforts

ICAO headquarters
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has blocked social media users who are calling for Taiwan’s participation in the joint WHO-ICAO efforts to help curb the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Many Twitter accounts have been blocked by the organization, including those of Congressional staff, D.C.-based analysts, academics, and journalists, according to a report in AXIOS. “Taipei is an international transit hub, and Taiwan’s exclusion means it can’t take part in information sharing and logistical planning as the coronavirus spreads.” The

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Murder suspect found dead of apparent suicide: case details emerge

One of the last images taken of murder suspect
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A man suspected of murdering a woman in Taipei City before dismembering and disposing of her corpse was found dead in a residence in Keelung City, Sunday evening, and is believed to have committed suicide, rather than face a lengthy prison sentence. Police went on the hunt for Lin Guo-ping (林國平), 45, after the remains of a 26-year-old female Malaysian national, Ms Deng (鄧), were found Saturday, January 11, during an investigation into her disappearance. Lin’s body was found at

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Dismembered corpse of missing woman found in Keelung City

missing woman, Ms Deng
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A missing persons case has turned into a murder investigation after police found the dismembered remains of a woman in a mountain district of Keelung City, yesterday, January 11. Police began an investigation after a 26-year-old Malaysian national of Chinese ethnicity named Deng (鄧) was reported missing by a family member on January 6. Investigators who went to Ms Deng’s apartment on the fifth floor of a building in Wanhua District, Taipei City, noticed a suspicious smell of strong chemical

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Landslide victory for DPP sets records for democratic elections in Taiwan

President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen
Politics 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Today’s Presidential and legislative elections saw a major victory for Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, and President Tsai Ing-wen, seeing records broken for voter turnout, and total votes for a President. Many districts saw record voter turnouts as young people in particular, traditionally considered complacent when in comes to voting, made efforts to return to their hometowns to place a vote. Taiwan does not allow absentee voting, and people are generally registered to vote at their parent’s residence until they purchase

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American Taiwanese citizens travel more than 12,000 kilometers to vote for a free and democratic Taiwan

David and Charlene Alexander arrive in Tainan City January 7, 2020
Society 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments ,

A couple who lived in Taiwan for 39 years before retiring to the USA in 2018, arrived in Taiwan this week so they could vote in the upcoming Presidential election, Saturday, January 11. David Alexander, already a veteran of the Vietnam War, and Charlene Bos, first met in Taiwan when they were both working in English language programs for the Presbyterian Church in 1976. As David wrote on his blog Aboksu: “At that time Taiwan was listed as one of

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Cannabis compressed as “tea cake” intercepted at Taoyuan International Airport

cannabis compressed to resemble pu'er tea
Drugs 
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A Canadian citizen was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport after customs officials found 20 kilograms of marijuana in his checked baggage, police revealed at a press conference today, January 9. The 40-year-old Chinese Canadian man named Wei (危), was arrested at around 5:00 am, December 28, after an x-ray examination of his luggage raised the suspicions of customs officers. Officers took Wei and his baggage to an examination room where they opened the luggage. The officers found 20 round

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Air Force Black Hawk helicopter carrying high-ranking officers crashes: 8 dead, 5 survivors

crashed black hawk helicopter
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Eight people are dead, including the chief of armed forces in Taiwan, and other high ranking officers, after an Air Force Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of Wulai District, New Taipei City, this morning, January 2. Ministry of Defense (MOD) spokesperson Shi Shunwen told reporters that Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming (沈一鳴) and his entourage were on their way to Dong’ao, Yilan when they lost contact. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, carrying a total of

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Suspect shot after armed confrontation with police in elementary school parking lot

students watch as police leave scene of shootout
Crime and Criminals 
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Students arriving for school at an elementary school in Sanchong District, New Taipei City this morning were escorted to the school gym, while police confronted an armed gangster in a parking lot under the school. Police in Xinzhuang District were conducting a roadside check on a vehicle driven by a suspected drug dealer named Song at around 6:00 am, when the suspect suddenly drove off, ramming a police vehicle and slightly injuring one of the officers. Officers fired three shots

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Facebook to open ‘war room’ for upcoming Taiwan presidential elections

Facebook election war room 2018
Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

For the first time, social media giant Facebook will set up a ‘war room’ to counter misinformation and interference in in the upcoming Taiwan presidential election, January 11. Taiwan’s Central News Agency quoted an “industry insider” as saying that Facebook is setting up a war room in the Asia Pacific headquarters of Taipei and Singapore, and will begin operations after January 1. The war room will bring together members of different departments, including Facebook’s public policy, political advertising, content review,

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Man arrested for throwing old woman off bridge after scooter accident

a woman is lifted on a stretcher
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Vietnamese migrant worker was arrested on Christmas eve, two hours after he allegedly knocked over an elderly woman, then threw her off a bridge before fleeing the scene of the accident in New Taipei City. Shortly after 9:00 pm on December 24, 79-year-old Ms Du (杜) was walking across Fenglin Bridge in Ruifang District, when she was hit by a scooter from behind. According to a witness, the scooter rider then picked up the petite Ms Du, and threw

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Whale shark rescued after stranding on Green Island

whale shark stranded on Green Island, Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Up to twenty people helped to keep a 7-meter-long whale shark alive before pushing it back into the sea on Green Island, in a difficult rescue operation involving Coast Guard officers, marine scientists, and members of the general public, yesterday, December 22. Coast Guard officers on Green Island received a report at around 4:30 pm that a large whale shark was seen stranded on rocks at Sleeping Beauty Rock Beach. When coast guard officers arrived at the scene, residents of

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