Firefighters Farewell Four-legged Colleague

Bailey the Taipei City Search and Rescue Team dog

May 8, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment rescue dog, search and rescue

Firefighters from Taipei City Urban Search and Rescue Team held a funeral service for retired search and rescue dog Bailey, yesterday, May 7, after the black Labrador passed away April 26. Bailey was born in 2004, and joined the rescue team in 2006. Bailey obtained Advanced Dog Certification, and International Search and Rescue Dog Organization (IRO) RH-TB Certification in 2010 and was involved in search and rescue operations during earthquake, typhoon, and mountain disasters. Colleagues nicknamed Bailey “Black-water Boomerang,” for

Crime and Criminals

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment acid attack, Tainan

Two police officers and a firefighter were treated in hospital for acid burns this morning, after a suicidal man wanted on drugs charges threw acid on them. At around 5:00am, police in Tainan City received a report that a man named Chen had locked himself into the third floor of a house in Rende District, and was threatening to commit suicide. Chen was hitting the walls of the house with a hammer, shouting, and disturbing neighbors. Police broke into the

firefighters and paramedics attempt to rescue workers from sewage tank

Health and Safety

May 7, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment industrial-accident, workplace-safety

Three men died after entering a sewage tank under a residential building in Kaohsiung City this afternoon. At around 4:40pm, a worker named Lin, 30, entered the tank, but stopped responding to his coworkers above. Another worker, named Gao, 54, entered the tank to investigate. When Gao stopped responding to communications, the boss, also named Gao, 43, informed the building administrators, then entered the tank himself. The three men were pulled out of the tank by firefighters at around 5:19pm,

Crime and Criminals

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment firearms, guns, organized crime

More than 100 guns were intercepted by customs police at the Port of Keelung, April 29, and 6 suspects were arrested last night in Sanxia District of New Taipei City, as police continue a crackdown on organized crime groups ahead of municipal elections to be held in November this year. The cache of 109 firearms was found in a shipping container of injection molding machines sent from Hong Kong. The cache included 102 handguns, 5 assault rifles, a sub-machine gun,

Vice-President Chen Chien-jen hosts a Star Wars convention at the Presidential Palace, 2018, May the Fourth be with you

Society

May 4, 2018May 5, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chen Chien-jen, May the Fourth, Presidential Palace, Star Wars

[Cover Picture: Office of the President] Vice President Chen Chien-jen welcomed Star Wars fans to the Presidential Palace to celebrate Star Wars Day, today, May the 4th. In his welcoming speech, Chen, flanked by Darth Vader and Chewbacca, welcomed the fans, and said “Taiwan is a beautiful place. We have abundant natural resources.” He then quoted Master Yoda, saying, “Size matters not.” And added: “Taiwan is bigger than you think.” Chen concluded his speech with “May the Force be with

Naked man runs into lottery shop attempting to slash people with a knife

Violent Crimes

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Ilan County, knife-attack, random violence

Four people, including the suspect, were treated in hospital after a naked man randomly attacked people in Luodong Township, Ilan County yesterday evening, May 2. Police received reports at around 8:15pm that a naked man was randomly attacking people in the streets with a knife. The 27 year-old suspect named Lin first went to a lottery store where he unsuccessfully attempted to slash a person with a chopping knife. Lin then ran into an Internet cafe and chased a 26

Violent Crimes

May 3, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua, homicide, murder

A 38 year-old man has been arrested after the body of a 73 year-old woman was found in a chicken coop in Changhua City several days ago. On April 30, Ms Ke went to the chicken coop 3.5 kilometers from her home to feed the chickens. When Ke didn’t return home, concerned family members went to search for her. They found Ke’s body in a container shed. Her pants had been removed and were wrapped around her neck. An initial

Aviation Travel and Tourism

May 2, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment direct flights, Hanoi, Taichung, Vietjet Air, vietnam

From June 22, Vietjet Air will offer direct flights between Taichung and Hanoi 5 times per week, the company announced today. The new route is designed to meet increasing demand from travelers, and promote trade and regional integration, the company said. Flights will operate daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays, departing Taichung at 5.30pm and arriving in Hanoi at 7:20pm. Flights from Hanoi will depart at 1:00pm and arrive in Taichung at 4:30pm. The Hanoi-Taichung route is the 7th route between

Environment

May 2, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chiayi, poison, wildlife conservation law

A farmer was arrested in Shuishang township, Chiayi County, yesterday, after more than 250 dead birds were found around a rice field. The man admitted that he had spread poison grain in order to kill rats and mice that were feeding on his crop. Police started an investigation after it was reported that hundreds of dead birds had been found April 30. A 40 year-old man named Huang was taken in for questioning last night. He admitted that he had

Environment

May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fishkill, Pingzhen District, pollution, Taoyuan

More than 10 tons of dead fish were collected from streams in Taoyuan City, after chemical contamination from a factory destroyed by fire over the weekend caused waters to turn acidic. Dead fish floated on the surface of local streams and covered creek banks beginning Sunday, after a fire, which was still smoldering this morning, Tuesday, May 1, consumed much of the multi-story printed circuit board factory Saturday night. Five fire fighters, and two Thai nationals employed at the factory

sewage sludge at beach in Kenting National Park

Marine and Fisheries

May 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Kenting, Pingtung County, pollution, sewage treatment

The waters of Nanwan Beach in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township turned black this morning after sewage sludge was accidentally released from a sewage treatment plant. Beach-goers said that the water suddenly turned black and smelly at around 11:00am today, May 1. Surfers reported suffering from itchiness all over their bodies after being caught in the stinky slick. Liberty Times reported that foreign tourists remained unaware of the problem and continued to swim in the surf zone. Personnel from Pingtung County

Firefighters Farewell Four-legged Colleague

Police and Firefighter Burned in Acid Attack

3 Workers Die in Underground Sewage Tank

Huge Firearms Cache Intercepted Ahead of Municipal Elections

May the 4th be with you Taiwan

Naked Maniac Slashes 3 People in Random Knife Attack

Man Arrested for Murder of 73 year-old Woman

Vietjet Air Launches Direct Flights between Taichung and Hanoi

Hundreds of Birds Killed by Rat Poison in Chiayi County

Chemical Leak from Factory Blaze Causes Fish-kill in Local Streams

Kenting Beach Contaminated by Sewage Sludge