WEATHER
Rain to stop, mercury to rise
There is to be a brief respite from yesterday’s cool conditions today and tomorrow, before the mercury drops again on Thursday, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. The high temperature in northern Taiwan yesterday dropped by between three and four degrees from Sunday to between about 23oC and 24oC. Yesterday’s low temperature was close to that of Sunday at between 17oC and 19oC, resulting in wet and cool conditions overall, the bureau said. The bureau said that cold winter weather has been slow to arrive this year due to the El Nino phenomenon. Temperatures are to rebound today and tomorrow, with highs of 24oC in northern Taiwan and as high as 30oC in central and southern Taiwan. However, another cold air front is to arrive from Thursday to Saturday and drive temperatures down to 15oC or 16oC.
HEALTH
Dengue outbreak continues
The number of dengue fever cases reported in Taiwan increased to 39,084 since the start of May, with 272 new cases recorded on Sunday, according to data released by the Central Epidemic Command Center yesterday. As of Sunday, Kaohsiung alone reported 251 new cases, compared with 180 reported a day earlier, updated data showed. The number of cases in Kaohsiung reached 15,686, while the number in neighboring Tainan totaled 22,630. The epidemic has shown signs of abating in Tainan, the nation’s worst-hit area this year, with only 10 new cases reported on Saturday. Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said the epidemic remains at its peak in Kaohsiung, and he urged local residents to clean up potential vector breeding sites in the city’s 37 districts to contain the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
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