Hot and mostly sunny weather is forecast across Taiwan until Friday, when an approaching weather system is to bring cooler temperatures and rain in the north, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today.
The CWA forecast daytime highs of 28°C to 33°C nationwide today, with slightly warmer temperatures tomorrow and much lower temperatures at night.
Photo: Taipei Times
The north is to continue to be affected by smog today, with the air quality index (AQI) forecast to rise above 150 in some areas, indicating unhealthy conditions for all groups, the Ministry of Environment said.
The ministry blamed the smoggy conditions on the wind, saying that the prevailing southwesterly winds were funneling pollutants into the north.
On Friday morning, an incoming cold air mass is to break the recent warm spell, bringing cooler, cloudy weather to much of Taiwan and rain to the north, the CWA said.
Temperatures over the weekend are to remain on the cool side, with highs below 20°C and a continued chance of rain in the north, and highs in the low 20s in other regions, the CWA's seven-day forecast showed.
Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said that the cold front is expected to weaken in the early part of next week.
As a result, temperatures would gradually rebound from Monday to Wednesday, although conditions in the north would remain cool and wet, Wu said.
Based on current forecasting models, the weather is expected to be stable, clear and warm over the Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Day holidays on Thursday and Friday next week, Wu said.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
The Chinese military has boosted its capability to fight at a high tempo using the element of surprise and new technology, the Ministry of National Defense said in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) published on Monday last week. The ministry highlighted Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) developments showing significant changes in Beijing’s strategy for war on Taiwan. The PLA has made significant headway in building capabilities for all-weather, multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, operational control and a joint air-sea blockade against Taiwan’s lines of communication, it said. The PLA has also improved its capabilities in direct amphibious assault operations aimed at seizing strategically important beaches,
‘MALIGN PURPOSE’: Governments around the world conduct espionage operations, but China’s is different, as its ultimate goal is annexation, a think tank head said Taiwan is facing a growing existential threat from its own people spying for China, experts said, as the government seeks to toughen measures to stop Beijing’s infiltration efforts and deter Taiwanese turncoats. While Beijing and Taipei have been spying on each other for years, experts said that espionage posed a bigger threat to Taiwan due to the risk of a Chinese attack. Taiwan’s intelligence agency said China used “diverse channels and tactics” to infiltrate the nation’s military, government agencies and pro-China organizations. The main targets were retired and active members of the military, persuaded by money, blackmail or pro-China ideology to steal
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and