WEATHER
Hot conditions forecast
Taiwan is expected to continue to experience summer-like conditions this week with the influence of a warm, southwesterly system, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. With mostly sunny skies nationwide yesterday, highs were 31°C to 32°C in most areas, the CWA said. The stable weather is expected to continue this week, although humidity would increase in northern Taiwan, which would bring highs down to about 29°C on Thursday, the CWA said. Highs in central and southern Taiwan are expected to be little changed from yesterday, it said. Independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) urged people to take precautions against sun exposure, as ultraviolet levels are expected to be high.
Photo provided by the Central Weather Administration
TRANSPORTATION
TRC unveils souvenirs
Taiwan Railway Corp (TRC) on Friday unveiled a range of souvenir items ahead of two major religious events honoring the sea goddess Matsu. The company said it launched the items to coincide with the Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage, which is to start today in Miaoli County, and the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple procession in Taichung, which is scheduled to start on Friday. The items are towels and ribbon key chains, as well as small carry bags and stainless steel lunch boxes, it said, adding that they are available in discounted gift sets on the company’s Web site and at designated Taiwan Railway Shop locations. People can purchase a Matsu-themed towel and a ribbon key chain for NT$500 (US$15.76), a NT$200 discount from buying the items separately for NT$450 and NT$250 respectively, it said. The promotion runs through April 30.
FISHERIES
‘First Suao tuna’ auctioned
Meat from a Pacific bluefin tuna designated the “first Suao tuna” of the season was auctioned in Yilan County yesterday for NT$7,200 per kilogram, fetching nearly NT$1.99 million. The 276kg fish was sold at Nanfangao Fishing Port (南方澳) in Suao Township (蘇澳). It was caught by the Suao-registered Quan Chang Long No. 168 on Tuesday and delivered to port the following day, when it was designated the township’s first tuna of the season by the Suao Fishermen’s Association. The honor goes to the first vessel to return to port with a tuna caught alive on a longline and weighing at least 180kg, the association said. The Quan Chang Long also made the “first tuna” catches in 2020 and last year, it said.
TRAVEL
Travel trends shift
Rising airfares and geopolitical tensions are reshaping travel demand, with bookings shifting away from affected routes and toward Asia, Oceania and North America, Lion Travel Service Co general manager Lai Yi-ching (賴一青) said on Friday. Bookings have remained robust despite higher costs, with group tour bookings rising about 15 percent year-on-year since March, Lai said. Demand for Australia and New Zealand has surged about 40 percent, while bookings to the US and Canada have also increased, she said. However, routes transiting through the Middle East have been more affected by war-related uncertainties, prompting people to switch to alternative destinations, she added. East Asian destinations have benefited from the shift, with tour bookings to Japan up about 40 percent and South Korea rising about 20 percent, Lai said. Travel to Europe has also remained resilient, supported by more than 80 weekly direct flights operated by Taiwanese carriers, helping sustain group demand, she said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
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