A Taiwanese high school student was among the injured when a gunman opened fire outside an under-21 nightclub in the US late on Saturday.
The attacker opened fire outside the nightclub in Portland, Oregon, killing two girls and wounding seven people, including the Taiwanese student, before shooting himself in what police say might have been a random act of violence.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said yesterday the Taiwanese exchange student, surnamed Chang, was not seriously injured, according to information he received from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.
Chen said the office would offer the student any necessary assistance.
A Peruvian exchange student was killed, as was an American girl preparing for a trip as an exchange student. The wounded also included students from Italy, Ecuador, France and Guatemala, officials said.
Detective Mary Wheat, a police spokeswoman, said the shooting did not appear connected to gangs, and there was no indication the man had a relationship with any of the people he shot in front of The Zone nightclub.
A stray bullet hit a man outside a neighboring bar.
Police late on Sunday identified the alleged shooter as Erik Salvadore Ayala, 24.
He remained in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital after shooting himself in the head, Wheat said.
Wheat said investigators were trying to determine the shooter’s path to the club, but it did not appear he had been inside it or the nearby bar beforehand. Police seized a car in downtown Portland that is associated with Ayala.
Police have recovered the gun used in the shooting, Wheat said.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,