TransAsia Airways Grounded

November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment aviation, transasia-airways

Rumors that began this morning saying that TransAsia Airways would suspend flights have been confirmed by Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Authority this afternoon. The embattled Taiwan-based airline failed to regain consumer confidence after two crashes in succession rattled the nerves of passengers and aircrew. TransAsia Airways denied the rumors this morning, and refused to comment further on the issue. Ticket ordering systems at the airport, and on the company’s website went offline at around 1:00pm. The website currently says the ordering

health officials collect food samples at a school in Taoyuan County

Health and Safety

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment food-poisoning, Taoyuan

Photo: Taoyuan City Health Bureau. About 300 students and staff suffered abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating a school lunch delivered to 3 elementary schools in Taoyuan County, Thursday, November 17. School administrators were not aware of the problem until the following day, when they noticed an extraordinary number of students and staff took the day off sick. The three schools affected were Dongmen, Ximen, and Qingxi Elementary schools. On Friday morning, the three schools canceled lunch delivery from the

cpc gas station fitted with solar panels in Taiwan

Business and Economy

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment CPC, solar power

Cover Photo: Big Sun Group. Taiwan’s state-owned petroleum company CPC, has turned 7 gas stations into solar-power generators, and plans to roll out solar panels on 100 more in 2017. The company has identified 365 stations so far as suitable to host solar arrays, and is searching for more locations among 612 gas stations and 12 oil depots. As well as generating solar electricity, the company’s stations are also implementing energy-saving measures. Lighting in all CPC gas stations and depots

Taiwan's first domestically produced light rail train made for the Tamsui light rail system

Business and Economy

November 16, 2016November 18, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment manufacturing, MRT, Tamsui Light Rail

Cover picture: United Daily News. The first train for the Tamsui Light Rail project rolled off the production line today at a factory in Hsinchu. It is the first light rail train to be manufactured in Taiwan. The LRTs are being manufactured by Taiwan Rolling Stock Company in cooperation with German company Voith Engineering Services. An unveiling ceremony was attended by New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫). A Taipei Metro spokesperson said the light blue color represents the clear

Pistol used to shoot at police in Chungho District, New Taipei City, November 15, 2016. Photo: United Daily News

Violent Crimes

November 15, 2016November 18, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment shooting

Cover Picture: United Daily News Police shot a man in Chung-ho District of New Taipei City this morning, after he fired two shots at the officers. Police were carrying out a check on a car that had broken down, and was blocking traffic. After asking the driver to show his ID and drivers’ license, the man pulled a gun on them and fired. One police officer was wounded when a bullet grazed his left hand. The other policeman returned fire,

Culture

November 14, 2016November 15, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cultural unification, Jackie Chan, National Palace Museum

Workers began removing a set of 12 heads representing the animals of the Chinese zodiac, at the National Palace Museum Southern Branch, this morning, November 14. The figureheads were a gift from entertainer Jackie Chan, and are replicas of a set of figureheads looted by French and British forces from the Chinese imperial Old Summer Palace in 1860. But many in Taiwan, including members of government, consider the gift to be a form of Trojan Horse. NPM authorities first announced

Paramedic points to waterhole where 3 people drowned in Chiayi County, Taiwan

Health and Safety

November 12, 2016November 13, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chiayi County, drowning

Chiayi County: Three people drowned at a popular scenic spot in Chiayi County’s Meishan Township, after a 14 year-old girl fell into deep water. The girl’s 16 year-old sister dived in to save her, and was followed by the girls’ mother and father. The parents and older sister drowned, while the younger girl was the only one to survive. When paramedics arrived at the scene, the 3 victims showed no vital signs. The Wu (吳) family had traveled from their

Events

November 12, 2016November 12, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment supermoon

Picture: 植然范 The biggest full moon in 68 years will be viewable around the world from Monday November 14, to Tuesday November 15, as the moon approaches its closest orbit point to the earth. In Taiwan, the moon will rise at 17:16 Monday, and set at 5:28 Tuesday, according to the Central Weather Bureau. The moon will reach it’s perigee (closest orbit point) at 356,508 kilometers from the earth. At this point, the moon will be within 137 kilometers of

Typhoon

November 11, 2016November 11, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Typhoon Ma-on

A tropical storm in the north-west Pacific Ocean formed into typhoon-strength, and was named Ma-on, Wednesday, November 10, 2016. It is the 24th named tropical storm for the 2016 typhoon season. At 2:00pm, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said the cyclone was unlikely to affect Taiwan. The bureau expects the storm to move west-northwest.

Culture

November 10, 2016November 11, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment arhaeology, Heping Island, Spanish Formosa

[Picture: United Daily News] Spanish and Taiwanese archaeologists excavating a site on Heping Island in Keelung City unearthed 4 sets of human remains, including a complete skeleton, Monday, November 8. Spanish archaeologist ELENA SERRANO said the method of burial suggests the skeleton may be European. The body was laid on its back with hands folded over the chest. The feet are to the east, and head to the west. Europeans buried people this way so the person could rise facing

giant stink bug in Taiwan Tessaratoma papillosa

Environment

November 10, 2016November 10, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment exotic pests, giant stink beetles, Keelung

Taiwan Environmental Information Center has reported that Keelung City has experienced an explosion of giant stink bugs this year. The bugs can spurt a skin-burning venom when disturbed. The exotic species, Tessaratoma papillosa, is believed to have traveled by ship from Kinmen in 2009. The bugs are commonly found in China. Since they arrived, they have been recorded all over the island except for Hualien and Taitung counties. The giant stink bugs are a pest in trees of the Sapindaceae

TransAsia Airways Grounded

300 Teachers and Students Poisoned by School Lunch

Gas Station Rooftops Become Solar Farms

First Made in Taiwan Light Rail Train Rolls Out

Gunfight in Rush Hour Traffic

Museum Removes Politically Controversial Jackie Chan Gift

Girl Orphaned After 3 Family Members Drown Saving Her

Supermoon Rising Monday

Late Season Typhoon: Tropical Storm Ma-on

Human Remains Found in Archeology Dig May be European

Exotic Venom-spurting Stinkbugs Invade Taiwan