Seasonal winds from the northeast are expected to lower temperatures starting this weekend, with northern and eastern Taiwan likely to see daytime lows of about 20°C and highs between 26°C and 28°C through Thursday, the Central Weather Bureau said. An increase in humidity could bring showers during the period.
The cold air should have less of an effect on central and southern Taiwan, where temperatures are expected to range from 22°C to 32°C with slightly cloudy to sunny skies, the bureau said.
The bureau added that Typhoon Phanfone is unlikely to directly affect the nation in the coming days, as it would likely move northeast toward the main islands of Japan after passing Okinawa.
Those planning to travel to Japan over the weekend should watch the storm’s development for possible flight disruptions, it said.
In other news, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said next week would be a significant one for stargazers, as a total lunar eclipse, the peak of a meteor shower and the brightening of a planet are all expected on Tuesday.
The Draconid meteor shower peaks late on Tuesday night, producing up to 10 shooting stars per hour, the museum said.
The Draconid meteor shower is created each year when Earth passes through a trail of dust left over by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, an icy wanderer of the solar system that orbits the sun once every 6.6 years.
In addition, the planet Uranus is to be at its brightest for the year on Tuesday when it reaches opposition, which occurs when Earth passes between Uranus and the sun.
Meanwhile, a total lunar eclipse is to be visible between 6:30pm and 7:30pm on Tuesday, weather permitting, the museum said.
The last time a lunar eclipse and a Uranus opposition occurred simultaneously was in September, 2006, the museum said, adding that such a coincidence is not due to take place again until November 2022.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
About 4.2 million tourist arrivals were recorded in the first half of this year, a 10 percent increase from the same period last year, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. The growth continues to be consistent, with the fourth quarter of this year expected to be the peak in Taiwan, the agency said, adding that it plans to promote Taiwan overseas via partnerships and major events. From January to June, 9.14 million international departures were recorded from Taiwan, an 11 percent increase from the same period last year, with 3.3 million headed for Japan, 1.52 million for China and 832,962 to South Korea,
REWRITING HISTORY: China has been advocating a ‘correct’ interpretation of the victory over Japan that brings the CCP’s contributions to the forefront, an expert said An elderly Chinese war veteran’s shin still bears the mark of a bullet wound he sustained when fighting the Japanese as a teenager, a year before the end of World War II. Eighty years on, Li Jinshui’s scar remains as testimony to the bravery of Chinese troops in a conflict that killed millions of their people. However, the story behind China’s overthrow of the brutal Japanese occupation is deeply contested. Historians broadly agree that credit for victory lies primarily with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)-led Republic of China (ROC) Army. Its leader, Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a
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