ENTERTAINMENT
Film screenings announced
Mongrel (白衣蒼狗), an award-winning movie on the life of migrant workers working illegally as caregivers in Taiwan, is to start a limited run in Kaohsiung on June 27. The first two theaters on the screening tour are Vieshow Cinema in the FE21 Mega shopping mall and in89 Cinema at the Pier-2 Art Center, with subsequent screenings to be announced. The movie earned a Golden Camera Special Mention Award in the category dedicated to first feature films at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. “It’s not a film that caters to mainstream tastes and it’s not a successful art film. I did what I could, that’s all,” said Singaporean director Chiang Wei-liang (曾威量), who codirected the film with Taiwanese director Yin You-qiao (尹又巧).
Photo courtesy of Activator Co
AIRLINES
CAL flight to be probed
The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport yesterday said that it would launch an investigation into a China Airlines (CAL) flight that failed to follow air traffic control instructions and landed on the wrong runway at Busan’s Gimhae International Airport, classifying the case as a “quasi-accident.” Although Thursday’s incident involving Flight CI186 from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport caused no damage or injuries, it met the criteria for a serious incident under aviation safety regulations, the ministry said. The ministry said that its Korea Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board would lead the probe. The incident was first brought to public attention by Taiwanese aerospace YouTuber and former pilot James Wang (王天傑), who said during a livestream that the CAL aircraft had landed on the incorrect runway. The Transportation Safety Board earlier said that it would support the South Korean investigation if requested and is prepared to take over should the South Korean authorities opt not to proceed with their own probe. CAL has launched an internal investigation.
CRIME
Fraud suspects arrested
Six people who set up a fan page that purported to belong to Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) have been arrested for alleged investment fraud, the New Taipei City Police Department Criminal Investigation Corps said on Wednesday. The operation allegedly defrauded more than NT$13 million (US$438,183) from more than 100 people, police said. The suspects operated what they presented as a digital technology marketing company, with a manager surnamed Lee (李) and five others, police said, adding that the fake fan page lured people into joining Line groups by claiming to offer stock analysis and investment tips from Huang, but led to fake investment Web sites.
CULTURE
Diving event announced
The Ministry of Culture has scheduled two events in the middle of August as it introduces Protected Wreck Days to raise public awareness of underwater cultural heritage. In collaboration with National Tsing Hua University, the ministry said that it would hold a three-day scuba diving event from Aug. 15 to 17, focusing on “Jiangjun No. 1” (將軍1號), a shipwreck discovered near Penghu County in 1995. There is also a one-day seminar on Aug. 15. The Jiangjun No. 1, near Jiangjun Islet in Penghu County, is believed to have been a wooden vessel carrying building materials and ceramic goods, the Bureau of Cultural Heritage said. The three-day diving event has 20 spots available for applicants holding a Divemaster certificate or higher.
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
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