■ POLITICS
Change China policy: Yu
On the 28th anniversary of the US' passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun yesterday urged Washington to specify in the Act that its "one China" policy does not apply to Taiwan. Yu told a press conference that the US should replace its "one China" policy with a policy that distinguishes Taiwan from China because Taiwan is an independent sovereignt state and not part of China. "Everyone knows that the peace and stability in the western Pacific is closely related to the interests of the US and Taiwan," he said, adding that Washington should not force Taiwanese to keep President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) "four noes" pledges made in 2000. The Taiwan Relations Act was passed by the US Congress in 1979 after the US established diplomatic ties with China.
■ EDUCATION
Translation test to be held
The Ministry of Education will hold its first certification test for Chinese-English translators on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 as part of its "Certification of Professional Translators" plan, the ministry announced recently. Comprised of written translation and oral interpretation sections, the exam will test examinees' translation skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages' (CEFRL) standards, which categorize foreign language proficiency on a scale ranging from A1, indicating a fundamental knowledge of the target language, to C2, or "mastery" of the foreign language. A test outline and example test questions will be made available to prospective examinees at the end of next month and September respectively, with registration occurring from Oct. 8 to Oct. 24, a press release said. Examinees who pass will be officially certified by the Taiwanese government as translators.
■ SOCIETY
Dogs taught to scare monkeys
Stray dogs are being trained to clear Old Tianmu Trail (天母古道) of Formosan Macaque monkeys, which try to get food by preying on tourists on the trail. In cooperation with local Tianmu residents, Agouworld -- an association dealing with stray animals -- will train dogs to chase the monkeys away. Cheng Yuan-hsin (鄭媛心), an Agouworld member, says the association recently talked with local borough wardens and residents before bringing dogs out on the trail for a trial, adding that after coming upon a group of about 15 monkeys, the dogs effectively chased them back into the trees. Cheng said the dogs would not harm the monkeys and that Agouworld has cooperated with the Taipei Municipal Institute for Animal Health in selecting five dogs from the Neihu Animal Shelter.
■ SPORTS
Liaolo Bay race announced
Organizers of this year's Liaolo Bay Swim Race said yesterday that those who wished to join the contest have until June 30 to apply and pay the entrance fee. The 3km swim -- an annual event now in its fifth year -- will take place on July 29 in Liaolo Bay (料羅灣) in southern Kinmen (金門). The event is organized by the Kinmen County Government, the Kinmen County Sports Association and Kinmen County Stadium. Contestants must be in good health and at least 10 years old to qualify for a starting position. The swimmers will be divided into different age groups for the long-distance swim. A maximum of 500 swimmers will be allowed to participate, with a limit of 1,500 others engaging in a non-competitive swim. The organizers said that all participants in the race will receive souvenirs.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
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