As the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs of slowing down, and having considered the Taiwanese medical system’s ability to cope, as well as the demands of business and trade, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), announced that, starting March 1, foreigners (including those from Hong Kong, Macao and China) holding valid residence certificates for Taiwan can enter the country without applying for permission in advance. However, they are required to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result obtained within three days before their flight, and home isolation after entry still requires one person per household.
Due to the successive discovery of mutant virus strains abroad, Chen said that in order to avoid the risk of community transmission due to large-scale gatherings, people must still wear masks during such events, and they must not remove them except to drink water. If a person does not wear a mask or eats and drinks carelessly, the offender will be fined between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 by the local government of the place where the offense took place.
The CECC also announced that, starting this month, passengers coming to Taiwan from medium-low and low-risk countries for short business trips can apply for shortened home isolation. Countries and regions with low infection risk include New Zealand, Macau, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Laos, Nauru, East Timor, Mauritius, the Marshall Islands and Bhutan, while those with medium-low infection risk include Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Liberty Times 照片:自由時報記者朱沛雄
(Translated by Lin Lee-kai, Taipei Times)
考量國際疫情趨緩、國內防疫量能足夠與商務貿易交流需求,中央流行疫情指揮中心指揮官陳時中宣布,三月一日起,持有我國有效居留證的外國人(含港澳中),不需申請就可入境,但仍需提供搭機前三天的PCR 核酸檢驗陰性證明,入境居家檢疫仍需一人一戶。
由於國外陸續發現變種病毒株,陳時中表示,為了避免因辦理大型集會活動造成社區傳播風險,民眾參加大型集會仍要全程戴口罩,並且除飲水外,不得摘除。若未戴口罩或任意飲食,由違反義務行為地的地方政府依法處三千元以上、一萬五千元以下罰鍰。
指揮中心也公布三月起恢復中低與低風險國家來台從事短期商務者,可申請縮短居家檢疫。目前低感染風險國家/地區有紐西蘭、澳門、帛琉、斐濟、汶萊、寮國、諾魯、東帝汶、模里西斯、馬紹爾群島、不丹;中低感染風險國家/地區有澳洲、新加坡、越南、柬埔寨。
(自由時報記者楊媛婷)
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too