Students charged after cat abuse video shared on social media

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Two male college students were charged with offences against the Animal Protection Act after one of them uploaded a video showing the other abusing a pet cat, yesterday, October 28. The 20-second-long video filmed by a Taiwanese student named Chen, showed his fellow student, of Chinese nationality, named Lin, biting the tail of an American shorthaired cat. After the cat responds by hissing and kicking back, Lin then slaps the cat on the head, throws it to the ground, and

Military Affairs

October 29, 2020October 30, 2020 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment air-force, plane crash, Taitung County

The pilot of an F-5E fighter jet died after ejecting from the plane off the coast of Taitung County this morning, October 29. The F-5E single-seat fighter of the Air Force Seventh Wing crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the Taitung Chihhang Air Force Base at 7:30 am on a regular training mission. The pilot, Captain Chu Kuan-meng (朱冠甍) reported engine failure two minutes after take off, and ejected from the aircraft over the ocean. An Air

Traffic Accidents

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment bus crash, Keelung City

Fourteen people were injured, none seriously, after suspected brake failure led to a bus crash in Keelung City this evening, October 27. Bus driver, Mr Wu, said that the brakes failed as he approached the three-way intersection of Zhongzheng Road, Xiangfeng Street, and Fengren Street, at 5:45 pm. The route 103 bus traveling between Badouzi and Keelung City downtown crashed into 10 scooter riders, knocked down road signs, hit a utility pole, then crashed into a light truck, leaving a

Animals

October 27, 2020October 28, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment birdwatching, endangered species, Kaohsiung City, oriental stork

Birdwatchers in southern Taiwan were over the moon earlier this month when a rare oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) appeared for the first time in nine years, however, the bird was found dead this morning, October 27, of apparent electrocution. The stork was first spotted in Yong’an Wetlands, Kaohsiung City in mid-October, when it was noted that the bird was tagged with the number “E37,” and fitted with a satellite transmitter. The bird was found to have been bred by researchers

Taiwan Coast Guard officers retrieve an empty life raft after a ship sinks in the Taiwan Strait

Marine and Fisheries

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Port of Kaohsiung, ship-sinking, Taiwan Strait

Five Thai nationals were rescued and five are missing after a ship lost power in the Taiwan Strait, then sank while being towed to the Port of Kaohsiung last night, October 23. The Seatran Ferry 12, a Tuvulu-registered passenger – vehicular ferry, had been purchased in Japan, and was en route to Thailand when the main engine and auxiliary engines failed at around 11:00 am, yesterday. The ship’s crew contacted a shipping company and hired a tug to tow it

WION's Palki Sharma interviews Joseph Wu, Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs

International Relations

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China expansionism, foreign affairs, Joseph Wu, Taiwan-India

Senior editors at India’s World is one News (WION) struck back after the Chinese Embassy sent a letter protesting an interview conducted with Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, October 21. The letter sent by the Chinese Embassy to the New Delhi based media outlet “lodges firm opposition and strong protest against WION providing [a] platform for Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority separatist activities.” Ironically, the content of the letter, which WION Executive Editor Palki Sharma posted on Twitter, actually

Protest

October 21, 2020October 21, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hong Kong, Hong Kong 12, protest

Human rights groups are organizing a demonstration to be held in Taipei City, Sunday, October 25, in support of 12 Hong Kong democracy activists who are being held in China after attempting to flee to Taiwan by sea, August 23. The Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association, the Civil Justice Reform Foundation, and other civil rights groups are organizing the Taiwan Supports Hong Kong Parade. Organizers have called on supporters to gather at 2:00 pm, October 25, at SOGO Square, outside

Business and Economy

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Taiwan Railway Administration, train

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is preparing to take delivery of the first shipment of new EMU900 local service trains which are expected to arrive October 24. Built in Korea by Hyundai Rotem, the trains are being touted as a big improvement in local train services. With a total cost of NT$25.3 billion (US$873 million), TRA has ordered 52 trains at 10 cars per train. The first 20 cars will arrive at the Port of Hualien, Saturday. The EMU900 will gradually

Crime and Criminals

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment amphetamines, Chiayi County, hit and run

A suspect was arrested yesterday, after an investigation into a hit and run accident in Chiayi County, and police also found a handgun, ammunition, and drugs in the suspect’s motel room. On the morning of October 12, a car suspected to have been driven by a man named Lin, hit a scooter in Dalin Township, Chiayi County. The 32-year-old scooter rider, named Lee, was left seriously injured, and died in hospital yesterday, October 19. Lin did not stop after the

Chen Shih-chung coughs during press conference

Health and Safety

October 17, 2020October 17, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chen Shih-chung, China, COVID-19, false positive, Polymerase Chain Reaction Test

Chinese officials claimed yesterday that COVID-19 tests on 10.9 million people in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, had all returned negative results, but Taiwan’s Health Minister, Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), said today that such a result was impossible. Citywide tests for Qingdao City’s population of 11 million were ordered after a cluster infection of 13 people centered around a local hospital was discovered recently. The cluster was claimed to be China’s first case of locally transmitted COVID-19 in over two months. The

marijuana plants seized in New Taipei City

Drugs

October 16, 2020October 16, 2020 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment cannabis cultivation, marijuana, New Taipei City

A man told police that 467 marijuana plants growing on two New Taipei City properties were for his own use, but investigators are not buying his claim. Police began an investigation recently after residents reported a suspicious smell coming from a house in Tamsui District. Investigators suspected the smell was marijuana and applied for a search warrant. Yesterday afternoon, October 15, police raided the property and arrested a 43-year-old man named Liao after finding 120 cannabis plants in the house.

Students charged after cat abuse video shared on social media

Pilot dies after fighter jet crashes off east coast

14 people injured in Keelung City bus crash

Endangered stork, rare visitor in Taiwan, found dead of electrocution

Five missing after ship sinks in the Taiwan Strait

Indian press hits back at China’s attempt to dictate what and how it reports regarding Taiwan

Demonstration in Taipei Sunday in support of Hong Kong democracy activists detained in China

First of 52 new commuter trains to arrive in Taiwan Saturday

Man arrested for fatal hit and run also faces drugs and guns charges

China claims 10.9 million COVID tests in Qingdao City all negative: Taiwan’s Health Minister says “impossible”

Suspect cannabis grower claims 467 plants were for his own use