3 Grandma Pickpockets Arrested Working Traditional Lunar New Year Markets

a pick-pocket is photographed by police at a traditional Chinese market in Taipei

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chinese New Year, New Taipei City, new year, pickpocket

Sharp-eyed police officers formed a task force in greater Taipei and have arrested three female pick-pockets at three different traditional markets as shoppers throng to buy supplies for the Lunar New Year holiday. The three were aged 71, 64, and 59. Ms Huang, 71, traveled from Taichung to work the markets in Taipei. Police believe Huang, who has criminal records for pick-pocketing extending back to 40 years ago or more, is too well known in Taichung, and thus headed to

A rubber band, plastic straw, pieces of string or wire, and other objects shown in the belly of a fish gutted in Ilan County Taiwan November 2016

Environment

February 13, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment marine environment, ocean, plastic, pollution

[Picture from previous article Litter Found in the Bellies of Dolphinfish ] A range of disposable plastic products, including plastic bags, drinking straws, disposable tableware, eating utensils, and drinking cups, will be completely banned by 2030 under a plan rolled out by the Environmental Protection Administration today, February 13. EPA Director, Lee Ying-Yuan launched the Taiwan Marine Waste Management Action Plan this morning. Under the plan, next year, 2019, will see plastic drinking straws banned in major chain restaurants. By

Starving dogs rescued from a dog farm in New Taipei City

Animals

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cruelty-to-animals, Danshui, dog, New Taipei City

Animal protection officers rescued 200 dogs and 7 cats from a property in Danshui District after a report was received from the Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office personnel acted after the TSPCA proffered photo and video evidence of dogs eating dogs, according to Liberty Times. Inspectors, with the help of a number of veterinarians and animal protection volunteers, visited the property February 6, and found a rat-infested

Traffic Accidents

February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug-driving, nitrous oxide, Taoyuan

A woman in Taoyuan City yesterday was charged with the crime of public endangerment, after being found to have been driving under the influence of laughing gas when she crashed into another vehicle on Shoushan Road. Ms Liu, 23, rear-ended a car stopped at a red light at around 12:00 pm Sunday. When the driver of the other vehicle got out of his car to talk to Liu, he found her sitting in her car vigorously sucking on a balloon,

partially collapsed building in hualien city 2018

Earthquakes

February 8, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake search and rescue, hualian, hualien, hualien earthquake

The Central Disaster Response Center this evening, February 8, said that the current death toll from the Hualien earthquake now stands at 10, with 272 injured, and seven missing. A total of 772 people are in emergency accommodations. Among the deceased are four Chinese nationals, and a Filipino carer named Melody who was found trapped in a closet in the ill-fated Yun-Men Tsui-di building. Among the missing are five Chinese Nationals, and two Canadian citizens with the surnames Su (蘇)

Fire

February 1, 2018February 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gas explosion, Kaohsiung

Up to 20 people were injured, with three in intensive care, after a gas explosion at a bento restaurant in Xiaogang District, Kaohsiung City this evening, February 1. Liberty Times reports that a massive blast plunged the restaurant into a sea of fire at around 6:50 pm. Glass fragments showered the street, and the windows of nearby vehicles shattered. Video uploaded by the public to social media showed an intense blaze that ensued after the explosion. Both Liberty Times and

Traffic Accidents

February 1, 2018February 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment freeway accident, pile-up

New Taipei City: Four people were injured, one seriously, after a the driver of a small truck lost control of his vehicle and rolled it on Freeway 3 early this morning, Thursday, February 1. Liberty Times Net describes the series of events as follows. At around 5:30 am, the driver of a small goods truck (vehicle A) lost control of his vehicle, which landed on its side in the middle of the north-bound lanes of the Freeway at the 36.5

bus charges through red light on wrong side of road

Health and Safety

January 29, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bus, Taichung, traffic safety

A bus driver in Taichung City was recorded crossing double yellow lines and charging through a red light to make a left turn, January 27. At around 9:00 pm, the day before yesterday, the bus owned by Geya Bus Transportation Company overtook cars by traveling down the wrong side of the road for a distance of about 100 meters before charging through a light that had just turned red. The bus driver was identified as Mr Chen in an Apple

Business and Economy

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment industrial-accident, refinery fire, Taoyuan

Residents in Taoyuan City were rudely awoken by a massive explosion at the CPC oil refinery at around 6:40 am this morning, January 29. Following the explosion, a fire engulfed the desulfurization unit. According to media reports, the explosion was heard as far as 10 kilometers away. The fire bureau dispatched 93 personnel, 37 fire appliances, and 3 ambulances to the scene of the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. According to preliminary reports, the explosion and fire occurred

Society

January 26, 2018January 26, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment coast guard, college entrance examination, Orchid-Island, Taitung

The coast guard dispatched a patrol boat to Orchid Island yesterday to pick up two students who feared they would miss out on the College Entrance Examination after ferry services and flights to the island were cancelled due to bad weather. More than 136, 000 test candidates will sit for the exams today, Friday, January 26, and tomorrow, January 27. The tests are taken by students in their last year of high school, and are an important part of the

Odd News

January 25, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment military explosives ordnance team, New Taipei City

A military explosives team was called to Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, this morning, after a grenade was spotted on the sidewalk outside an electrical appliance store. Police blockaded the area and called the military after receiving a report about the grenade at around 8:00 am. After inspecting the object, the military ordnance team identified it as a non-lethal model grenade, possibly designed as a movie prop.

3 Grandma Pickpockets Arrested Working Traditional Lunar New Year Markets

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Driver Charged after Driving under the influence of Laughing Gas

Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 10: CWB Can’t Rule Out Possibility of Bigger Quake to Follow

Gas Explosion in Kaohsiung Restaurant Injures 20

9 Vehicle Pile-up on Formosa Freeway

Bus Driver Shows Reckless Disregard for Public Safety

Explosion and Fire at Oil Refinery

Coast Guard to the Rescue of Orchid Island Test Candidates

Military Explosives Team Identifies Grenade on Sidewalk as Fake