Council of Agriculture successfully develops non-toxic weapon against fall army worm

fall armyworm detected in corn crop in Taiwan

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Agriculture, fall army worm, invasive species

Researchers at the Council of Agriculture’s Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute (TACTRI) have developed trap for fall army worm which they hope to have on the market by June next year. Considered a serious global pest by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, the fall army worm was detected in Taiwan for the first time in June last year, and quickly spread around the island. The traps developed by TACTRI use a formula based on the

Drugs

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment amphetamines, Ministry of Justice

Four officers of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) were demoted and transferred today while an investigation continues into 6.5 kilograms of amphetamines that was “lost” while being transferred to a lab in New Taipei City. According to media reports, officers from the Keelung City Field Office, Maritime Affairs Field Division lost the haul while it was being delivered to a investigative laboratory in Hsintien District, New Taipei City, in November last year, but the incident was not reported

Society

November 15, 2020November 15, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Kaohsiung City, lost and found

Police in Kaohsiung City took just three hours to find the owner of two bundles of cash handed in by separate finders on November 11, Apple Daily, and ET Today reported today. According to the reports, an 82-year-old woman named Hsu, withdrew NT$20,000 from a post office in Daliao District on Wednesday, and stuffed the money into one of her pockets. While walking home, and unbeknownst to Ms Hsu, a portion of the cash fell out of her pocket at

marijuana plants grown at a farmhouse in Pingtung County, Taiwan

Drugs

November 14, 2020November 14, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cannabis cultivation, marijuana, Pingtung County

Police in Pingtung County seized 524 cannabis plants, and arrested two male suspects, after raiding a farmhouse in Zhutian Township Thursday morning, November 12. Police said at a press conference today that the bust came after an investigation spanning more than three months. In July, police were tipped off that someone was manufacturing and selling marijuana cigarettes somewhere in the Zhutian area. After a three month long investigation two suspects and a property were identified. On the morning of November

Marine and Fisheries

November 10, 2020November 10, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment great white, megamouth shark, shark

Taiwan’s Fisheries Agency announced that a ban on catching great white, basking, and megamouth sharks went into effect today, November 10, after a 60-day notification period for objections to an amended law passed the threshold. The proposed ban was put forward in July this year after a series of controversial catches raised concerns of conservation groups, who have long called for the ban. In a four-day period between June 15 and June 18 this year, six rare megamouth sharks were

smoke pours from a Tesla charging station in Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu County, Taiwan

Health and Safety

November 8, 2020November 9, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment electric vehicles, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu Science Park, Tesla Motors

Firefighters suspect a short circuit was the cause of an incident of a Tesla charging station suddenly emitting a pall of white smoke this afternoon, November 8, at Hsinchu Science Park. According to ET Today, Firefighters responded to a report at around 5:00 pm, and after arriving at the scene, immediately called state-owned power company, Taipower, to cut off the electricity supply. After the power was cut the smoke gradually reduced in volume, and firefighters cooled the power supply unit

Fire

November 8, 2020November 8, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gas explosion, Tainan City

Four people were injured in Tainan City when a gas explosion and fire destroyed a self-service laundry in Tainan City yesterday evening, November 7. The Tainan City Fire Bureau received reports of an explosion and fire at a laundromat on Da-ren Street, Yongkang District at 9:29 pm. Twenty-six vehicles and 56 personnel were dispatched to the scene of the explosion. Three men and one woman were found injured. The most seriously injured was a 65-year-old man who suffered burns to

Animals

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment exotic pests, invasive species, Taipei City

A species of crayfish that reproduces asexually, and first appeared in Germany in 1995 before spreading through Europe and Africa, has been found infesting ponds in Da’an Forest Park, Taipei City. Taipei City Councilor Lo Chih-chiang (罗智强) held a press conference today, and said that a large number of the marbled crayfish had appeared in the ecological ponds of Da’an Forest Park. Lo revealed that the marbled crayfish were first discovered in the park in June last year by Associate

traffic lane violation recorded by traffic law enforcement camera

Business and Economy

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Taoyuan City, traffic cameras, traffic safety

New traffic law enforcement cameras installed at an intersection at National Freeway 1 Linkou Interchange yesterday, November 2, have already racked up 812 violations, netting NT$484,200 in fines after just 24 hours. The Traffic Police Corps of Taoyuan City Police Department said that the new law enforcement equipment can cover a variety of traffic violations. As well as red-light runners, the cameras can capture and record illegal lane changes, and cars using left or right turn lanes to go straight,

Police detectives and suspect at crime scene

Violent Crimes

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, Dacun Township, homicide

A man in Changhua County has been charged with murder following an investigation launched in May when human remains were found in a steel drum in Dacun Township. On May 11, a Taoist Priest collecting recyclable materials, accidentally knocked over a steel drum, which was located in a fire alley next to a drainage ditch. Bones fell out of the drum, which the priest immediately recognized as human. The subsequent police investigation revealed that the drum contained a human skeleton,

Society

October 31, 2020October 31, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment foreign students, homicide, Tainan City, Tsai Ing-wen

President Tsai Ing-wen today apologized to the family of a Malaysian student who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Tainan City, October 28, and extended apologies to the country and people of Malaysia, adding that the incident did great harm to Taiwan’s international image. The 24-year-old female student surnamed Chung (鍾) was reported missing Thursday, October 29, after failing to return home from the Chang Jung Christian University the previous night. A subsequent police investigation led to the identification of

Council of Agriculture successfully develops non-toxic weapon against fall army worm

Investigation Bureau loses 6.5 kilograms of amphetamines

Elderly woman loses two bundles of cash: both turned in to police by separate finders

More than 500 marijuana plants seized in Pingtung County raid

Fishing ban on great white sharks, basking sharks, and megamouth sharks goes into effect today

Tesla charging station emits smoke in Hsinchu Science Park after transformer box catches fire

Laundromat gas explosion injures 4 in Tainan City

Mutant invasive crayfish found infesting ponds in Taipei City park

High-tech traffic cameras installed at intersection capture 812 violations on first day of operation

Police solve 16-years missing person’s case after bones found in steel drum

President Tsai apologizes to victim’s family, people of Malaysia after student abducted, murdered in Taiwan