Typhoon Dujuan, the Moon Festival, and Bon Jovi

Tropical Dujian approaches Taiwan during moon festival 2015
Weather 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Tropical Storm Dujuan intensified into a typhoon this week and deviated from its predicted northward track towards Japan, and started to move northwest towards Taipei. Dujuan’s arrival coincides with Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and a long weekend. Millions of people have gathered with family to enjoy barbecuing and moon gazing outdoors. Sunday morning, September 27, Dujuan is packing winds of 55 m/s (around 200kmh), and is expected to intensify into a category 4 typhoon before making landfall around 8pm Monday evening. Many families enjoyed barbecuing

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Japan Floods: A State of Disaster

Homes in Japan are inundated, and many washed away after rivers broke their banks in the wake of Typhoon Etau
Weather 
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Unprecedented rain has caused massive flooding in at least two prefectures north of Tokyo and just south of Fukushima where a nuclear power facility damaged by the the 2011 earthquake and tsunami has struggled to contain contamination. Owner of the damaged nuclear power plant, TEPCO has reported that it’s drainage pumps were overwhelmed, and massive amounts of contaminated water are being contained at the site. Other sources claim contaminated water has flowed into the sea. Dramatic scenes of destruction reminiscent of

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Chinese Propaganda Parade: Celebrating 70 Years of Military Defeat.

Culture 
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This week in Beijing, bus lines were placed under transport restrictions, hospitals were put under an order to provide emergency treatment only, and television stations were under order to show only programs related to World War II and the Victory Day celebrations organized by the CCP. World War II was re-branded as ‘The anti-fascist War’, with particular focus on ‘the war of resistance against Japanese aggression’. The parade was publicized as being an international event with participants from 17 nations. The

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Wet Weather Causes a Spate of Accidents

A 6 car pile-up on the National Highway in Chiayi
Traffic Accidents 
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Wet weather across Taiwan this week has resulted in many traffic accidents. Yesterday, Saturday August 29, a two-vehicle collision on the national highway at Chiayi led to further collisions as other drivers failed to brake on time on the slippery road. A total of 6 vehicles were damaged, and 8 people were injured. Firefighters were dealing with the first collision when a pile-up of four cars occurred about 100 meters behind them. The 8 injured were ferried to three different

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Boy Punches Hole in 350 year-old Painting

A 12 year old boy is seen stumbling and accidentally punching a hole in a 350 year old masterpiece at an art exhibition in Taipei August 2015
Culture 
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Taipei: A 12 year old boy accidentally punched a hole in a painting when he stumbled during a visit to an art exhibition at the Huashan Cultural Park in Taipei, Sunday August 24. The painting, “Flowers” by Paolo Porpora (1617-1673), is valued at more than 1.5 million USD, and is part of a collection of 55 paintings from the late renaissance period on loan to Taipei as part of “The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius” exhibition. A security video of

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Post Typhoon Clean-up: Rescues and Airdrops Continue

Soldiers assisting residents in Wulai, after landslides and other damage caused by Typhoon Soudelor in Taiwan.
Disaster 
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Wulai Township: A clearer picture of Typhoon Soudelor’s destructive power emerged Monday, as weather cleared, floodwaters receded, and rescue crews reached isolated communities around Wulai, south of Taipei City. The main tourist thoroughfare, Wulai’s ‘Old Street’ is covered by mud, rocks, and other debris. The bridge linking the old street to the main part of the village and its hot-springs resorts, has lost its safety rails. The narrow gauge coal train, constructed during the Japanese colonial period, and now used

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Emergency Power Restoration too Slow: Electrical Workers Beaten by Thugs

Violent Crimes 
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Two employees of Taipower undertaking repairs to the power grid in Yunlin County in the wake of Typhoon Soudelor, were beaten up by a group of thugs wielding baseball bats, who hit the men and smashed a window of their truck. The men were led by former township chairman and husband of the current legislative yuan representative, who is one of three men charged with several offences after the incident. An electrical worker explains the incident and shows his injuries.

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Chinese Taipei vs. Taiwan

Stupid Stuff 
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This is Chinese Taipei: Not far outside the rarefied atmosphere of Taipei City stands the community of Wulai, and villages deeper in the mountains who are struggling to survive, with no electricity, clean drinking water, land or mobile communications. The damage caused by Typhoon Soudelor is only now beginning to be assessed, all over Taiwan. While the media has focused its attention on the metropolitan centers, the real victims of Typhoons in Taiwan are usually the people in the mountains.

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Typhoon Soudelor Grinding Over Taiwan: The Damage So Far

People stand in front of huge waves caused by Typhoon Soudelor in Taiwan August 7, 2015
Weather 
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The whole island of Taiwan is now under the influence of this year’s strongest tropical storm Typhoon Soudelor. Huge waves began pounding the east coast this morning, and tourists packed trains and buses to leave the popular tourist areas. Airports were crowded with travelers forming long lines to find vacant seats on flights before take-offs and landings are halted. The following incidents happened during the afternoon of August 7, long before the full brunt of the Typhoon was felt. In

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