MOVIES
‘Beyond Beauty’ still on top
Fifty-three days after hitting theaters, documentary film Beyond Beauty: Taiwan From Above (看見台灣) is still flying high at the box office, with ticket sales approaching the NT$180 million (US$6 million) mark. Already the highest-grossing documentary ever to hit the local box office, Beyond Beauty is well on its way to become the third-biggest film of the year, according to distributor Activator Marketing Co. The film, made up entirely of footage of Taiwan shot from the air by long-time aerial photographer Chi Po-lin, grossed about NT$40 million at theaters around the country between Dec. 9 and Sunday. Since it opened on Nov. 1, it has made NT$86 million in Taipei alone. The documentary highlights both Taiwan’s natural beauty and the damage done to its mountains, rivers and oceans by natural disasters and human beings, sending a strong message on the importance of environmental protection.
TOURISM
Actress to attract Japanese
Model and actress Lin Chi-ling (林志玲) was named a Tourism Bureau goodwill ambassador on Monday in the hopes of boosting tourist numbers from Japan, where the actress has a large a fan following. Taiwan reached its goal of 7.7 million foreign visitors this year on Saturday last week and expects the number to climb to 7.98 million by the end of the year, according to Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Jonathan Chen (陳純敬). While traveler numbers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore increased this year, fewer-than-expected Japanese came because of depreciation of the yen, Chen said. Her 15-second commercial, which features scenic spots and cuisine, will air on Japanese television channels in April next year.
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) hosted a dinner in Taipei last night with key Taiwanese suppliers to celebrate the successful mass production of the company’s new Blackwell AI systems. Speaking to the media earlier yesterday, Huang thanked Nvidia’s Taiwanese partners for their contributions to the company’s ecosystem, while also sharing his plans to meet with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀). In response to rumors that Nvidia will launch a downgraded Hopper H20 chip for China in July, Huang dismissed the reports, saying, “That is not true.” He clarified that there
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