Taiwan ranked first in Northeast Asia and 26th globally in the latest World Happiness Report released March 14 by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, marking the nation’s best-ever performance in the annual survey.

“The Great Buddha+” will fly the flag for Taiwan at 2018 New Directors/New Films presented by Film Society of Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art March 28 to April 8 in New York.

“The Stolen Bicycle” by Taiwan novelist Wu Ming-yi is longlisted for this year’s Man Booker International Prize, the first time for a homegrown title to earn such recognition in the 13-year history of the prestigious literary honor.

Tour de Taiwan, the nation’s premier professional cycling race and part of the Union Cycliste Internationale Asia Tour, commenced March 11 in Taipei City.

Brussels’ Manneken-Pis, an iconic statue of a peeing child, was adorned in traditional Hakka attire March 7 as part of a cultural promotion event, underscoring the friendship between Taiwan and Belgium, according to the Cabinet-level Hakka Affairs Council.

The Bib Gourmand list for the inaugural Michelin Guide Taipei was unveiled March 6, spotlighting 36 eateries serving dishes ranging from local culinary delicacies to celebrated street food classics.

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was named the third best facility in the world serving over 40 million passengers per year at the 2017 Airport Service Quality Awards, according to organizer Montreal-headquartered Airports Council International March 6.

A government-funded scholarship is fostering the next generation of medical professionals from Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies.

A memorandum of understanding on cultivating talent from New Southbound Policy target countries was concluded March 5 by Kaohsiung City-based CPC Corp., Taiwan and Cheng Shiu University in southern Taiwan.

Andre Chiang has been named winner of the 2018 Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award for Asia, marking the first time a Taiwan-born chef has received the prize.