Afghanistan crisis bodes badly for Taiwan says former US President

Trump Sean Hannity interview August 17, 2021
International 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments ,

Former United States President Donald J. Trump predicted that bad things will happen to Taiwan after the calamity of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump spoke of the implications for Taiwan in an interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, Tuesday, August 17. “I think bad things will happen in respect to Taiwan because they [China] don’t respect our leadership and they no longer respect our country,” he said. “And that’s a really bad thing. China does not respect us any longer,” Trump said. Trump said that China’s

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Origin of the Austronesians: book on one of the greatest migrations in human history launched in Taiwan

book launch for Origins of the Austronesian People's August 17, 2021
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Council of Indigenous Peoples launched a book that explores the origin of the world’s most widely distributed language group, yesterday, August 17. The Origins of the Austronesians consists of articles by experts and scholars from around the world, and was published under the auspices of Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples. The book is the culmination of efforts that began at the International Austronesian Languages Revitalization Forum, jointly organized by Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, and held in Palau

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Suspect shot by cops arrested after night hiding in forest

suspect vehicle crashed
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Police arrested a suspect in Nantou County today after the man had been shot while escaping from a police roadblock yesterday afternoon. Police from Renai Township set up a road block in Wushe yesterday, August 17, to intercept suspected wood poachers in the mountain district. At around 5:40 pm, officers attempted to stop two men in a black sedan, but the driver suddenly reversed his vehicle, attempting to ram the officers, hitting a police car, parked scooters, and a residential

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Fatal high-speed drunk driving crash in Pingtung County: car disintegrated on impact

separated front of car
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

One man died and another was left in a critical condition after a single-vehicle crash in Checheng Township, Pingtung County yesterday, August 15, but the car was so badly damaged that police do not know which man was the driver. Traffic monitor footage of the incident shows that at 5:36 am Sunday, a black car drifted across the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Tainzhong Road at high speed before slamming into the safety island. Two men were rushed to Hengchun

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People play Popcat while world burns but Taiwan pipped on the pop chart

popcat game webpage screenshot
Stupid Stuff 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

As the world watches the Taliban’s advance on Kabul, and western civilization crumbles in the face of mutant strands of RNA, citizens in a bunch of mostly democratic countries in Asia and Europe are mindlessly poking their digital devices, oblivious to the impending apocalypse. Based on a popular meme where a cat called Oatmeal opens her mouth in the form of a perfect “O,” the game “Popcat” requires the player to simply poke the closed mouth of the cat to

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Taiwan Bear rescued from trap released after 8 month rehabilitation

Formosan black bear released into the wild
Animals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A Formosan black bear rescued from an animal trap in Taitung County in December regained his freedom today after eight months recovering from wounds and surgery. Umas, as the bear was named, was found caught in a boar trap in the mountain district of Haiduan Township in December 2020. Estimated to be between one and two years old, Umas was found to have old and new injuries, including fractures, necrosis of his right forelimb, and gunshot wounds. After recovering from

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Mustang Maniac’s week-long rampage ends with young woman fighting for her life

man arrested for dangerous driving
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A man who first came to police attention one week ago, after posting death threats on social media, and driving dangerously in Tainan City, has been arrested for driving his yellow Ford Mustang through a red light in Miaoli City, leaving a 21-year-old woman critically injured. The 23-year-old resident of Taoyuan City, named Ye, posted death threats against Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, last Saturday, August 7, apparently because he was upset about “unfair vaccine distribution.” The following

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Residential fire death toll rises to 4 after 7-year-old succumbs to injuries

firefighters Sanxia District fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Four of seven victims have died, and one remains in a critical condition today, four days after a fire destroyed a residence in Sanxia District, New Taipei City. Three people were left dead, and four were injured, three critically, after a fire broke out on the first floor of the six story apartment building on Minsheng Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning, August 11. Six of the occupants had lost vital signs before or during rescue operations, according

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Ordinary masks not effective for new variants: Chinese expert advises on new solutions

Zeng Guang epidemiologist
Stupid Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

As the world grapples with a rapidly mutating virus that experts in the west have openly admitted is “smarter than us,” a senior expert in China has proffered advice that could save your life. Zeng Guang, a member of the high-level expert group of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, with the title of Chief Epidemiologist, offered several solutions in the fight against the Delta variant. Zeng Guang pointed out that in the early days, the

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EVA airliner tail strike on landing at Guam Airport

EVA Air Airbus A321-200
Aviation 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

An EVA Air passenger aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway while landing at Guam International Airport this afternoon, August 14. EVA Air Flight BR20 departed from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport at 8:55 am this morning and landed in Guam at 3:53 pm local time. However, the tail of the Airbus A321-200 touched the runway upon landing, according to reports. The 146 passengers and 12 crew were all reported safe. However, the aircraft has been grounded for a thorough inspection.

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Two people died of COVID today? That’s not what the CDC said

Chen Shih-chung CECC press briefing Friday 13 August 2021
Health and Safety Media Issues 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 today “and two deaths from the disease,” wrote news outlet Focus Taiwan, following the CDC Central Epidemic Command Center’s press briefing and press release today, Friday, August 13. But the CDC did not say that two people had died of COVID-19. The CDC press release clearly stated that there were two deaths among the confirmed cases. Furthermore, the CDC provided details about the two deaths stating that case 8852 was a man in

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