Monkeys with the munchies show no respect for the law: even police patrol car raided for snacks and drinks in Taiwan’s highest national park

composite image of macaques raiding cars including police patrol car

December 25, 2021December 25, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment formosan macaque, monkeys, Yushan National Park

Yushan National Park Headquarters has issued a warning to visitors to keep their vehicles locked, and to not feed the monkeys, as a troop of Formosan macaques grows increasingly bolder, recently even raiding a police patrol car parked at a popular trailhead. National park administrators warned that a group of macaques called the “Tataka Troop” have been carrying out depredations on tourists visiting the park, and even police officers on patrol are not immune. The key to stopping these attacks

composite image of suspect police and ambulance

Violent Crimes

December 23, 2021December 23, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment firearms, guns, New Taipei City, police shooting, Yonghe District

Police arrested three people during a raid on a gun-making workshop in New Taipei City this morning, and shot one suspect who fled the apartment armed with a pistol. Police Swat team officers broke down the door of an apartment on the fourth floor of a residential building on Fuhe Road in Yonghe District at 7:00 am, December 23, in the pursuit of a suspect believed to be making modified firearms. The 45-year-old man, named Chen had an extensive criminal

Typhoon

December 22, 2021December 22, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Joseph Wu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippines, typhoon

Taiwan donated US$500,000 to the Philippines to assist with disaster relief after a category 5 typhoon swept through the country, leaving at least 375 dead, and 400,000 displaced or homeless. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that Taiwan and the Philippines were neighbors who “shared weal and woe” and that Taiwan will stand with the Philippines. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release this evening, December 22, that Typhoon Rai had hit the Philippines with a devastating force,

house exterior and interior composite image

Drugs

December 22, 2021December 22, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drug-manufacturing, firefighters, Tainan City

Firefighters called to a fire in a house in Tainan City last month, uncovered an illicit drug manufacturing operation, police revealed today, December 22. Nearby residents reported an explosion and fire in the house in Jiali District at around 4:00 pm, November 24. The Tainan City Fire Department dispatched 15 vehicles and 31 personnel to the scene of the fire. Firefighters found the house unoccupied, and bare of furniture, but filled with chemical containers and laboratory equipment. The fire was

earthquake map and blackout composite image

Earthquakes

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake, Tainan City

More than 10, 000 households were affected by a power outage following a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Tainan City this evening, but no other damage was reported. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the tremblor struck 36.4 kilometers east-northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 9.4 kilometers at 6:59 pm. The highest intensity was felt in Nanxi, and Xinhua districts of Tainan City at a level four. A power outage followed due to a trip at the Nanhua

monitor footage screen grab of caregiver threatening patient

Society

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Yilan County

An Indonesian national employed as a caregiver in Yilan County was sentenced to serve one year in prison followed by deportation, after she held a knife to an elderly woman’s neck, causing injury, in an attempt to get her passport and air tickets back so that she could go home. According to the findings of the Yilan District Court, at around 3:30 am on August 8, 2021, 31-year-old Puji Lestari threatened the 81-year-old woman, named Wu, with a knife .

Fire

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment foreign workers, residential fire, Taitung County

An Indonesian national, and the daughter-in-law of the elderly woman she cared for were both declared dead, and two other people were injured when rescued from a burning mixed commercial and residential building in Taitung City in the early hours of this morning, December 21. The Taitung City Fire Department dispatched personnel after reports of a fire at a pharmacy on Xingsheng Road at around 1:00 am. Firefighters deployed water lines to fight the fire and simultaneously dispatched personnel to

Drugs

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment cannabis cultivation, Keelung City, marijuana

A man caught growing marijuana in Keelung City yesterday, December 20, told police that the 186 plants were for his own use. Police raided a house on Fuyi Street, after receiving a tip-off that the 50-year-old man, named Chen, was cultivating marijuana in the building. Police investigators found 13 mature plants, 173 seedlings, 13 bags of dried cannabis with a total weight of 549 grams, cultivation equipment, and other evidence. The plants were grown under lights, with black cloth covering

Fire

December 20, 2021December 20, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, residential fire

Firefighters in Changhua County rescued two people after their son set fire to the house because he didn’t want to get up for school this morning, Monday, December 20. The Changhua County Fire Department received a report of a fire in the house in Tianzhong Township at 7:41 am. Upon arrival, firefighters found the first floor of the house on fire, and two people calling for help from the upper floors. Firefighters used a ladder to rescue a 39-year-old woman

police officer provides essentials to elderly man caught attempting to steal to survive

Society

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Christmas-in-Taiwan, compassion, Taiwan police, Taoyuan City

Police at a station in Taoyuan City bought food for a man they arrested on suspicion of petty theft, then passed the hat around and sent him off with a little cash in his pocket, hoping that it could help him through the winter. Officers from Guishan District Police Precinct were on patrol last night when they noticed two men apparently having an argument on Wensan Third Street at around 9:00 pm. The police officers stopped to question the men,

2021 Taipei Marathon composite image showing race start and collapsed athlete receiving first aid

Sport

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 5 Comments Taipei marathon

Five athletes collapsed during the Taipei Marathon event this morning, and were rushed to hospital, at least three having lost vital signs, requiring Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The race started at Taipei City Hall at 6:30 am with the temperature at 13°C, and humidity at 62%. According to reports, a 50-year-old female collapsed, unconscious, on Renai Road, Section 2 at 7:28 am, and was rushed to National Taiwan University Hospital. At 7:43 am, a 41-year-old man collapsed and was also rushed

Monkeys with the munchies show no respect for the law: even police patrol car raided for snacks and drinks in Taiwan’s highest national park

Police shoot suspect in the leg after raid on underground gunsmith

Taiwan donates US$500,000 to Philippines for disaster relief in the wake of Typhoon Rai

Explosion, fire in house exposes illicit drug factory in Tainan City

Parts of Tainan City plunged into darkness after 4.6 magnitude earthquake causes power outage in southern Taiwan

Indonesian caregiver sentenced to 1 year in prison for injuring employer who withheld her passport & air tickets

Indonesian caregiver, employer, die in fire in Taitung City

Man caught growing 186 marijuana plants ‘for his own use’

Couple rescued after son doesn’t want to get up for school, sets fire to house

Cops pass the hat around to help elderly man get through winter after arrest for petty theft

5 athletes collapse during Taipei Marathon: 3 required resuscitation after losing vital signs