One fighter pilot dead, one missing after mid-air collision over ocean

March 22, 2021March 22, 2021 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment air-force, plane collision

One pilot has been declared dead after being airlifted from the sea, and one is still missing after two F-5E fighters collided while flying off the coast of Pingtung County this afternoon, March 22. According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), four F-5E fighters of the 7th Flight Training Wing took off from Taitung Airbase at 2:30 pm on a routine training mission. At 3:06 pm two of the jets disappeared from radar screens around 2.6 kilometers from the

police investigating site of robbery and kidnapping

Crime and Criminals

March 21, 2021March 21, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment kidnapping, Nantou County, robbery

A pleasant hike in a popular scenic area in Nantou County turned into a 12-hour ordeal when a man was confronted by two men, robbed, tied up, carjacked, and dumped a remote mountain area, Friday, March 19. According to reports, the 30-year-old man named Hsia, was resting in a pavilion on Jinlong Mountain in Yuchi Township at around 11:00 am when two men approached him, and demanded his money. Hsia was physically intimidated by the men, and forced to hand

Traffic Accidents

March 20, 2021March 20, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment freeway accident, Taichung City

A woman and a child died, and a man suffered burns to 50% of his body, after a car was hit by a cement truck and caught fire on the West Coast Expressway in Qingshui District, Taichung City today, March 20. Taichung City Fire Department dispatched personnel to the scene of the accident at the 153 kilometer north mark of the West Coast Expressway (Provincial Highway 61) after receiving reports of the accident at 2:20 pm. The 54-year-old driver survived

black kite nest almost engulfed in flames during wildfire, but rescued by firefighters

Animals

March 20, 2021March 20, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment birdwatching, Pingtung County, wildfire, wildlife rescue

A brood of black kite (Milvus migrans) hatchlings was saved from being burned alive after researchers monitoring the bird family in preparation for a live broadcast to YouTube saw the nest about to be engulfed in flames, Tuesday, March 16. The National Pingtung University of Science and Technology Bird Ecology Lab, with the support of the Forestry Bureau set up camera equipment to monitor the nest on March 12 in preparation for a constant live broadcast for the general public

Environment

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment pollution, weather

Dust from China’s worst sandstorm in decades will begin to affect air-quality in Taiwan starting Sunday evening, March 21, according to the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The EPA says that according to the latest observational data from the Central Weather Bureau, strengthening of the northeast monsoon and a continental high-pressure system will not cause a temperature drop starting Sunday night, and will also bring dust from the sandstorms. According to the report, on Monday, March 22, central and northern parts

Fire

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Alishan, Chiayi County, wildfire

The Chiayi Forest Management Office has advised the public to avoid highway 18 and use the alternative route 21 due to a wildfire and rockfalls that have blocked the road between the 68 and 69 kilometer mark. Firefighters have been fighting a difficult battle with a blaze in steep terrain below the road since yesterday afternoon, March 18. Fire fighting crews were dispatched from several local fire stations at around 2:00 pm yesterday. A National Airborne Service helicopter was also

flag ceremony for Austronesian athletes prior to National Indigenous Games, Taiwan, 2021

Culture Sport

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Austronesian, indigenous people

Twenty-one people from nine Austronesian nations will compete in traditional sports events with local indigenous athletes at this year’s biennial National Indigenous Games, which kick off tomorrow, March 19, in Yilan County. It is the first time international athletes have participated in traditional Austronesian sports events that will run alongside the official national athletic competitions. Austronesian Youth United will hold three traditional sports competitions, including traditional archery, wood-sawing, and weight carrying. Countries represented in the games include the Marshall Islands,

AstraZeneca vaccine vial and NHA data card

Health and Safety

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, Ministry of Health and Welfare, vaccine

Preliminary results from a survey of medical personnel working in hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients in Taiwan has revealed that less than 33% are willing to take the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said today, March 16. With results received from 90% of those asked to take the survey, 32.7% responded that they were willing to receive what many media agencies euphemistically refer to as “the jab.” “About 90 percent of medical personnel at those hospitals,

Traffic Accidents

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bus accident, bus crash, suhua highway, Yilan County

Five people died and 40 were injured after a tour bus crashed on the Su’ao to Hualian Highway (Highway 9) near Su’ao, Yilan County this afternoon, March 16. Emergency services received reports of the bus crash at the 115 kilometer south mark at 4:29 pm. Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched from stations in Su’ao, Nan’ao, and Guanyin Townships. Civilian ambulances were also dispatched from from St Mary’s Hospital in Luodong, along with surgeons and nurses. According to United Daily News,

International

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Myanmar, protests

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Taiwanese enterprises in Myanmar to hang up the national flag and signs in Burmese to avoid being misidentified as Chinese after a Taiwanese shoe factory was caught up in protests last night, March 14. Ten Taiwanese staff were trapped in the Tsang Yih Company’s shoe factory in the Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone in Yangon while a nearby Chinese-owned factory burned. Protestors anger turned toward Chinese enterprises, as China is viewed as being supportive of

Japanese group Lunch Duty Taiwan pineapple song

International Relations

March 14, 2021March 16, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Japan-Taiwan, music video

A Japanese musical group with a focus on food has released a song to support Taiwanese farmers after China banned the import of pineapples from Taiwan earlier this month. The band Kyu Shoku Tou Ban (給食当番) produced the song after seeing news reports about the plight of Taiwanese pineapple farmers facing a sudden ban on their product in China, which normally fills more than 90% of Taiwan’s pineapple export demand. China announced that it would temporarily stop imports of Taiwanese

One fighter pilot dead, one missing after mid-air collision over ocean

Lone hiker robbed, kidnapped, and dumped in remote area in Nantou County

Two dead, one person critical after car hit by cement truck catches fire on West Coast Expressway

Raptor family saved from wildfire thanks to live Internet broadcast

Dust from China sandstorm to affect Taiwan from late Sunday

Wildfire, rockfalls block highway 18 in Chiayi County

Austronesian youth from 9 nations will join Taiwanese indigenous people at this years National Indigenous Games

Less than one-third of Taiwan’s medical professionals willing to take Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

5 dead, 40 injured in bus crash on Suhua Highway

Taiwanese factory in Myanmar caught up in anti-China protest

Japanese foodie music group releases song promoting Taiwan pineapples following China import ban