TRAVEL
New rule for Canada visas
Starting on Dec. 31, Taiwanese applying for Canadian visas — but not electronic travel authorizations — must submit biometric information, including fingerprints, and a photograph to the Canada visa application center in Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The new rule, which covers multiple types of visa, including study or work permits, permanent residence and asylum, took effect on July 31 for applicants from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and is to apply to those from Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the Americas as of Dec. 31. Whether applicants apply online or submit paper applications, they still must register their biometric information with the application office in Xinyi District (信義), the ministry said. However, the new rule does not apply to applicants under the age of 14 or over 79.
TOURISM
QR English tours for Tainan
Major historical sites in Tainan are offering self-guided QR code tours in English, as part of the city’s efforts to cater to the needs of foreign visitors, the city’s Office of English as the Second Official Language said last week. Starting today, the QR codes are available at Fort Provintia, Fort Zeelandia, Anping Tree House, Eternal Golden Fortress and the Koxinga Shrine, office Deputy Director Sabrina Tien (田玲瑚) said. Visitors can use their smartphones to scan QR codes at various locations around the sites to learn about their history or background, the office said. The three-and-a-half-year old office strives to “provide English resources to both foreigners and citizens and establish an environment that is friendly to both English speakers and English learners,” according a statement on its Web site.
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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