Balloon Causes High Speed Rail Delays

May 16, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Highspeed Rail, THSR

A balloon entangled in overhead power lines caused delays that affected up to 12,000 passengers traveling on Taiwan High Speed Rail between Taichung and Miaoli this morning, May 16. Nine south-bound and 11 northbound services were affected as bidirectional travel was limited to a single line. The large red balloon was spotted shortly before 8:00am, and was removed at 9:35am. Power was restored at 9:38am. Crew were sent to the location above the Daan River and had to walk 800

Stupid Stuff

May 15, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment traffic-accident

A man jumped out of a moving vehicle in Hsinchu County yesterday, resulting in a severe head injury and inter-cranial bleeding. The 38 year-old man named Chen, jumped out of the backseat after having a fight with his girlfriend, who was driving. Ms Gao, also 38, kept driving after Chen jumped, and has been charged by police for leaving the scene of an accident. Gao, who was distraught when told of the seriousness of Chen’s injuries, told police she thought

Entertainment

May 15, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chu-Keliang

Popular entertainer Chu Ke-liang died of liver failure at 5:00am this morning, Monday, May 15, at National Taiwan University Hospital after a long battle with colorectal cancer. He was 70 years-old. President Tsai Ingwen was among the many who sent condolences to Chu’s family. President Tsai wrote on Facebook that Taiwan had lost a generation’s King of Comedy. “We hope he will continue to bring laughter in heaven,” said Chu’s family, who released a statement around 7am. Born Hsieh Hsin-Ta

Society

May 11, 2017April 24, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment taxi

[Cover picture: Mirror Media] Known as Taiwan’s shortest taxi driver, Cheng Jianzhi (程健智) quit his job in veterinary research to fulfill his high-school dream of driving a ‘barrier-free’ taxi. Just 123cm tall, Cheng was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Cheng was forced to drop out of high school due to injuries, but enrolled in veterinary studies at the age of 27. After graduation Cheng worked for the Council of Agriculture. Now 44 years-old, as a

Politics

May 11, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gaffe, Ko Wenje

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) apologized today after making controversial comments at a closed-door meeting with Democratic Progressive Party representatives yesterday. During a discussion of the city’s urban renewal program, Ko made an analogy comparing forced land acquisition for a set price per ping as being like rape, while offering market rates to land owners was a form of seduction. After making the analogy, he said “rape is cheaper than seduction.” The mayor’s comments were lambasted in the press, and

an old man is beaten up by a younger man in a road rage incident in Taipei City

Violent Crimes

May 10, 2017May 10, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment road-rage, taipei

A 60 year-old man was beaten up by a younger man after he stopped his scooter at a red light, blocking the path of a couple on a scooter behind him, on Yanping Road, Taipei City yesterday, Tuesday, May 9. The younger man, who was not named in Chinese language reports, took a knife out of his scooter’s helmet compartment and threatened the older man, named Zhai (翟) before beating Zhai with his motorcycle helmet. Mr Zhai suffered a black

Animals

May 9, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment formosan macaque, Taitung

Concerned citizens have uploaded pictures of a severely injured Formosan macaque to a Facebook group in the hope of getting the attention of relevant authorities. A Facebook user surnamed Lee uploaded pictures and video taken on May 8 of a macaque in Taitung County’s Donghe township. The animal has both forelimbs missing, with exposed bone and bloody flesh. After the pictures were uploaded to the I Love Taitung Facebook group, other users also uploaded pictures of the same animal taken

the wreck of a taxi after it crashed at high speed on the national highway Ilan County Taiwan

Traffic Accidents

May 9, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Ilan County, national highway, traffic-accident

A taxi driver and his son are dead after the driver lost control of his car at high speed on a highway offramp in Ilan County last night. Mr Lee, 56 and his 23 year old son were returning home to Ilan from Taipei City at around midnight when the accident occurred near the Ilan Interchange on Highway 5. The taxi appears to have hit a concrete traffic separator at the top of an off-ramp before flipping and rolling. Firefighters

woman stuck in canopy after falling from building

Odd News

May 8, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment building fall, Taichung

A 51 year-old woman in Taichung fell from the third floor of a building and landed on a first floor awning. Her legs crashed through the awning, leaving her upper body resting on top. Ambulance officers found the woman bruised and unconscious, but not seriously injured. Family members told them the woman had taken sleeping pills and had been hanging a quilt on the third floor balcony when she fell. Firefighters received a report at around 5:00am that a woman

dog being groomed in convenience store dining area

Stupid Stuff

May 7, 2017 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment convenience store, dog grooming

Pictures of a couple grooming a dog on a convenience store dining table sparked outrage among Taiwanese netizens after they were uploaded to social media. The pictures appeared on a popular breaking news Facebook page. Although the location of the store was unspecified, it could be clearly seen that the incident occurred in a Taiwan 7-11 store. The pictures showed dog hair strewn over the table and on the floor. The pair seem oblivious to customers eating nearby.

scene of a hit and run accident on the national highway

Traffic Accidents

May 7, 2017May 7, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment hit and run, national highway

A newspaper delivery truck driver left the scene of an accident after hitting and killing two road construction workers on the National Highway at around 4:00am this morning, May 7. The driver returned to the scene and turned himself in about half an hour later. Mr Zhu, 58 said he had pulled over about 200 meters down the road after suspecting he had hit somebody or something. However, another road construction worker who was unaware of the accident told the

Balloon Causes High Speed Rail Delays

Man in Coma After Jumping Out of Moving Car

Taiwan’s King of Comedy Passes Away

Taiwan’s Shortest Taxi Driver Dedicated to Helping Disabled

Taipei Mayor Gaffes Again: Rape is Cheaper than Seduction

Road Rage: Young Man Beats up 60 year-old

Taitung County Macaque Loses Both Arms

2 Dead in Single Vehicle Crash

Woman Falls From Third Floor and Goes Back to Sleep

Dog Groomed in Convenience Store Dining Area

Two Road Construction Workers Killed in Hit and Run