iPads delivered by helicopter to kids living in stranded mountain communities

NASC Black Hawk helicopter delivering supplies in Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment National Airborne Service Corps, Taoyuan District

A helicopter was used to deliver iPads to a remote mountain community in southern Taiwan yesterday, as kids prepare to go back to school in villages left cut-off after roads and bridges were destroyed by floods earlier this month. Forty-two iPads were among the 600 kilogram load of essential supplies airlifted by a National Airborne Service Corp Helicopter yesterday, August 24. The iPads were purchased by the Kaohsiung City Government Education Bureau, and delivered to Zhangshan Elementary School to help

paragliders attacked by tourists on Wai Ao Beach

Violent Crimes

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment paragliding accident, Yilan County

A paraglider who stepped on a man’s foot while landing on a beach in Yilan County was punched to the ground and kicked, and another paraglider who came to his assistance was also physically assaulted Saturday, August 21. Video footage accompanying news reports showed the paragliding instructor, named Chen, as he came in for a landing on Wai Ao Beach, in Toucheng Township, at around noon, Saturday. Chen, who was flying tandem with a female passenger, is seen accidentally running

Business and Economy

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Australia, science and technology, space industry

Taiwanese space technology company TiSpace will conduct test launches from a base in Australia after getting a green light from Australian regulators, according to press releases issued by the Australian government and TiSpace, Monday, August 23. TiSpace will conduct test flights of its 10 meter-long, two-stage, sub-orbital rocket, Hapith I, from the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in South Australia. The launch complex is operated by Southern Launch. Minister for Industry, Science, and Technology Christian Porter said that the agreement

man after he was shot and bullet hole in window

Violent Crimes

August 22, 2021August 22, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment National Freeway, road rage, Taichung City

A man was shot in the arm in what police believe was the result of a “driving dispute” on National Freeway 1 in Taichung City last night. According to the media reports, the 25-year-old man, named Lin, was driving from Taoyuan City to Taichung City with his girlfriend when somebody driving a black sedan began to flash their headlights and tailgating his vehicle after passing the Fengyuan Interchange at around 9:00 pm. Lin attempted to speed away and a game

Animals

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment animal rescue, animal smuggling

Animal protection groups and animal lovers had just launched a campaign to rescue 154 cats seized in an anti-smuggling operation in recent days, but were left reeling when authorities announced the animals had already been euthanized according to the law, today, August 21. Taiwan Coast Guard Administration found the cats concealed on a fishing boat intercepted off the coast of Taiwan on Thursday. The 154 cats, believed to have originated from breeders in China, were made up of rare breeds

Evergreen container ship Ever Given Suez Canal

Breaking News

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Evergreen, shipping

Taiwan’s Evergreen Shipping Company’s massive container ship Ever Given passed through the Suez Canal yesterday, August 20, and there is absolutely nothing to report, according to international media outlets. “The huge container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March – disrupting global trade – has passed back through the waterway without incident,” said the BBC. Reuters was also one of the many news outlets around the world who reported that the Ever Given had passed through the crucial waterway,

Animals

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment animal smuggling, Taiwan Coast Guard

The coast guard intercepted a fishing boat off the coast of Tainan City, Thursday, and found around 200 cats hidden on board the vessel. Kaohsiung Coast Guard Investigation Branch had been monitoring the vessel “Shun” via radar after it left Badouzi Fishing Port in northern Taiwan August 14 and found that the Shun made contact with a Chinese fishing boat off the Penghu Islands. The coast guard intercepted the boat around 8 nautical miles off the coast of Tainan City,

International Relations

August 20, 2021August 20, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, defense, USA-Taiwan

The United States would respond to any action against, or invasion of Taiwan, US President Joe Biden said during an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos, Wednesday, August 18. In his first interview since the US’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan began, Biden made reassurances that the United States can be trusted to stand by its allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. “You already see China telling Taiwan, ‘See? You can’t count on the Americans,’” Stephanopoulos prompted Biden. “Why wouldn’t

Drugs

August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 4 Comments cannabis cultivation, marijuana

Police uncovered growing locations of a rare strain of marijuana in Yilan County, Taichung City, and Kaohsiung City, after a months-long investigation that uncovered a drug ring centered around a beef noodle restaurant in northern Taiwan. The Third Special Police Corps began an investigation into the drug ring in April after the arrest of a male foreign student who was found growing a rare cannabis variety known as “sour diesel” in Taoyuan City. The suspect, described in media reports as

aboriginal hunters with African Sacred ibis

Environment

August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment indigenous people, invasive species

There should be only a handful of African sacred ibis left in Taiwan by the end of this year, according to the Forestry Bureau, thanks to the efforts of indigenous hunters who were brought in to deal with the invasive species after previous strategies had failed. In 2016, numbers of African sacred ibis were estimated at around 1,000 birds inhabiting wetlands in Changhua County and some other areas along the west coast. The population is believed to have grown from

suspect chases man with knife in Taichung City

Violent Crimes

August 18, 2021August 18, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment knife-attack, Taichung City

Police are searching for a man who injured the owner of a buffet restaurant with dozens of knife wounds in a frenzied attack in Taichung City this morning, August 18. According to witnesses, the 56-year-old restaurant owner, named Hsieh, had just opened his buffet-style restaurant for lunch at 11:00 am when a man arrived on a motorcycle and attacked him with a knife. Hsieh was standing standing outside the restaurant in Dali District, when the man wearing a white shirt,

iPads delivered by helicopter to kids living in stranded mountain communities

Paraglider beaten up after landing on tourist’s foot at Wai Ao Beach

Taiwan space startup to launch from Australia later this year

Man shot in freeway road rage incident

Animal lovers left stunned after learning 154 illegally imported cats already euthanized

No news is good news: Ever Given passes through Suez Canal

Coast guard intercepts cat smugglers off south Taiwan coast

Biden reassures: if Taiwan were invaded, the US would respond

Mad reefer: beef noodle shop peddles manic marijuana strain

Taiwan winning war against invasive bird species thanks to aboriginal hunting skills

Police hunting for suspect who hacked restaurant owner down in the street in Taichung City