Cook Re-Arrested for Attempted Murder of Cop

August 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment cop-attack, Wu Zhizhan

A teppanyaki cook who was released on bail after a vicious knife attack on a police officer in Banciao yesterday was re-arrested this afternoon, and will remain in custody. Wu Zhizhan (吳志展), 56, attacked the officer with a meat-cleaver after being issued fines for his illegally parked vehicle. Video of the crime shows a vicious and frenzied attack which the police officer was lucky to have survived. Police and the public were shocked to awake to the news this morning

Violent Crimes

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 Phillip Charlier 4 Comments knife-attack, violence against police

A New Taipei City Court released a man on a NT$300,000 bail today despite the fact he attempted to murder a police officer in a vicious attack with a meat-cleaver. Wu Zhizhan (吳志展), a 56 year-old teppanyaki cook in Banciao District, lost his temper yesterday, after receiving parking tickets to a value of NT$5400. He saw a police officer, surnamed Zhang, issuing tickets nearby, grabbed a meat cleaver from his truck, and attacked the officer. The 34 year-old officer carried

A boulder in a tourist coach after a rockslide in Taiwan

Traffic Accidents

August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment rockslide

A woman was killed and three passengers injured when a boulder plunged through the roof of a tourist coach traveling on the National Cross Island Highway this afternoon. The bus was carrying 35 passengers who departed Taipei at 7:00am on a day trip to Hualian. The accident happened at 1:40pm. The deceased and one injured passenger were rushed to Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualian. The two other injured passengers declined further medical treatment after being treated at the scene.

President Tsai Ing-wen welcomes aboriginal representatives to the Presidential Palace August 1, 2016

Politics

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Aboriginal reconciliation

Today August 1 has been declared Aboriginal People’s Day in Taiwan, and President Tsai Ing-wen inaugurated the day with an apology speech to Taiwan’s indigenous people. She began her speech by saying “22 years ago the constitution was amended to give the formal title yuan Zhu min (original citizens) to the aboriginal people. Not just to remove discrimination but to recognize them as the original owners of the land. On behalf of the government, I convey to all the aboriginal

Weather

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Typhoon Nida, waterspout

The whole of Taiwan is under the influence of Typhoon Nida this morning, with heavy rain warnings in place for Hualian, Taitung, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung Counties. The highest rainfall recorded today is in Pingtung’s Dawu Mountain where 275mm has fallen in the last 24 hours, including 48.5mm between 7:00am and 8:00am. Authorities have urged people to stay away from the beaches and shoreline as large waves are expected to pound the coast. Ferry services to the island of Xiao Liuqiu

Aboriginal protesters in Taipei July 21, 2016

Culture Protest

July 31, 2016August 1, 2016 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment Aboriginal reconciliation, Tsai Ing-wen

Aboriginals gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Taipei tonight, on the eve of August 1, when it is expected that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will deliver a speech that includes an apology to Taiwan’s Indigenous people. Riot police set up a cordon on Ketagalan Avenue, and attempted to move the group away. “Who are you to tell us where we can stand,” an indigenous leader proclaimed. “We were here before you, and we will decide where to stand.” The delegation

A tourist coach after all passengers were killed with the driver and tour guide aboard in a tragic fire July 19, 2016 in Taiwan

Disaster

July 30, 2016July 30, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment coach fire

The plot thickened today in an investigation into a tragic fire that killed 26 people traveling on a coach in Taiwan July 19, 2016. Yesterday, a forensics report found that the driver, Su Ming-cheng (蘇明成) had been driving drunk, and had stored 5 bottles of gasoline in the drivers compartment. Investigators began considering the possibility that the event may have been a murder-suicide. Apple Daily reports that a tour guide who previously worked with the bus driver recognized him after

The scene of an accident in Hualian where two cyclists died

Traffic Accidents

July 30, 2016July 30, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cycling, traffic-accident

Two cyclists died this morning when a taxi driver drove down the wrong side of the road and hit them at high speed on the Su-Hua Highway in Hualian County. Witnesses of the accident frantically tried to revive the men, aged 50 and 26, using CPR until ambulances reached the scene, but both men were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The taxi driver was found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.76.

Scene of an accident where a pedestrian was hit by a bus and died

Traffic Accidents

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment traffic-accident

An American psychology professor died on July 10 after being hit by a bus while crossing a road in Taipei. University of California, Santa Cruz Professor of Psychology Bruce Bridgeman was visiting Taiwan to give a lecture at Taipei Medical University. Professor Bridgeman was hit by the bus around 10:00am while crossing Ren-ai Road at the intersection of Fuhsing Road. He was rushed to the nearby Ren-ai Hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival. He had been scheduled to deliver a

Fire

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment coach fire

The driver of a tourist coach that caught fire on National Freeway 2, killing all 26 people on board, is suspected of having been driving under the influence of alcohol, and deliberately setting himself and the coach on fire. A forensic report released today states that alcohol was found in the stomach, blood, and urine of the bus driver at a level of 1.07 milligrams per liter. The report also states that the driver’s compartment contained several containers of gasoline,

Regional

July 28, 2016July 28, 2016 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment armed-robbery, Jilin-Province, North-Korea

Five North Korean soldiers on border-guard duty crossed into China on July 23, committing armed robberies in two villages. Two were detained after a shootout with Chinese military police this morning, July 28, while three are still on the run. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, authorities in Jilin Province told residents to be on the alert and to try to avoid going out at night until the three men are caught. Several Chinese military police officers were injured

Cook Re-Arrested for Attempted Murder of Cop

Man Released on Bail After Vicious Attack on Police Officer

Boulder Falls on Bus: One Passenger Killed

President Begins Reconciliation Process With Apology to Taiwan’s Indigenous People

Typhoon Passes South of Taiwan: Waterspout Appears in Taitung County

Indigenous Taiwanese Gather in Taipei Ahead of Reconciliation Speech

Driver Suspected of Mass Murder-Suicide Allegedly Faced Jail term for Sexual Assault

Two Cyclists Killed by Drunk Taxi Driver in Hualian

American Professor Killed in Traffic Accident

Driver Suspected of Deliberately Setting Bus on Fire

North Korean Soldiers On the Run in China: Shootout with Chinese Police