Hello 通勤家族,歡迎收聽Look Back Sunday回顧星期天,John老師在這個節目會彙整過去一年不同國家與主題的熱門跟讀文章,讓你可以在十五分鐘內吸收2020年最精華的世界時事趣聞!我們先從台灣的趣聞開始,Let's get right to it!
Original icon font promotes beauty of Taiwan
日本設計師Holoko和英國工程師Rob攜手創作出100個代表台灣的文字圖標(Taiwan Icon Font),提供免費下載,期望透過台味十足的圖標,讓世界知道台灣的魅力,吸引更多人來台觀光旅遊。
Holoko and Rob, a Japanese designer and a British programmer, recently joined hands to design a hundred Taiwan-themed icon fonts in hopes of introducing local tourism attractions and attracting more tourists to Taiwan.
文字圖標是什麼呢?使用者只要打入對應代碼,便能產生小圖示,也可以像文字一樣改變圖示大小、顏色。
But, what’s an icon font? Icon fonts are fonts that contain symbols and glyphs instead of letters and numbers. Internet users can style them with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to create original designs in a variety of colors and shapes.
圖標種類分為四大類,分別是觀光景點、產品、交通、其他。除了全台從南到北和離島的觀光景點之外,還有珍珠奶茶、台灣鐵路、YouBike等等代表台灣的事物都變成超可愛迷你圖示。
The aforesaid icon font is organized into four types, including sights, products, traffic and more. In addition to famous Taiwan attractions and offshore islands, various cultural features such as pearl milk tea, Taiwan Railways Administration, and YouBike have been converted into cute mini icons.
Taiwan Icon Font官網寫道,創作者的發想理念緣起於2019年8月陸客來台禁令生效,對台灣觀光業造成衝擊,然而,設計師認為來台灣的不只有中國人,台灣的美足以吸引來自世界各地的人,盼能藉由小圖示宣傳台灣之美。
In 2019, China imposed a travel ban that froze individual tourists’ permits to Taiwan, which caused a significant impact on Taiwan’s tourism. Against this backdrop, Holoko and Rob launched this project with the hopes of bringing more people from around the world to discover the beauty of Taiwan, according to the designers’ official website.
文內自介寫道,「我們支持台灣,因為台灣有好大的吸引力,而且台灣就是我們的好朋友!」熱愛台灣的設計師不僅被台灣景致吸引,對他們來說,台灣更像是好朋友。舉例來說,珍珠奶茶在日本掀起的熱潮、每年增加的旅台日人、台灣2011年傾囊相助日本東北地震賑災,可見台灣與日本友好關係。
In addition, they stressed how “we support Taiwan not only because Taiwan is attractive but also is our friends.” Among other highlights, they remarked that Taiwan-Japan ties have been blooming ties in recent years which can be seen in the pearl milk tea craze in Japan, an increase of Japanese tourists to Taiwan and donations to the Japan earthquake in 2011.
「WE STAND BY TAIWAN」是計畫口號,呼應整體概念。設計師支持台灣自由、尊嚴而開始了這個計畫。目前已經出了第一版,而設計師們也會持續更新改善,讓世界認識台灣。
“We Stand By Taiwan” the slogan of the project, reflects such design concepts. The two foreign creators launched this project with the aim of supporting freedom in Taiwan. So far, the first version has already been released and they will continue to improve their original font to let more people know about Taiwan.
Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200114-931025
Legendary singer/actress Barbra Streisand lauds Taiwan’s virus control
In a tweet on April 5, legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand praised Taiwan for its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. “Taiwan, despite being just 100 miles from mainland China with regular flights to and from Wuhan, has successfully staved off the worst of the coronavirus pandemic,” the superstar tweeted.
在四月五日的推特中,傳奇歌手、演員芭芭拉史翠珊大讚台灣對於武漢肺炎的爆發處理得宜。這位超級巨星推文說:「儘管台灣距離中國大陸僅約一百英里,與武漢間還有例行往返的班機,但已成功擊退新冠病毒流行病最嚴峻的挑戰。」
She pointed out that Taiwan had only five deaths at the time, and that most schools and businesses remained open. Later that day, President Tsai Ing-wen retweeted Streisand’s post, saying that it is encouraging to have one of the world’s most distinctive voices speak up in support of Taiwan’s proactive approach against the outbreak.
她指出台灣至當天為止只有五例病死,大多數學校與商家仍正常運作。蔡英文總統隨後在當天亦轉推這則推文並說,世界上最特別的聲音,能發聲力挺台灣主動對抗疫情的方法,這真是令人大受鼓舞。
“We are more than willing to share our experiences with friends around the world as well,” the president wrote, followed by hashtag #TaiwanCanHelp — a slogan signifying Taiwan’s willingness to contribute to the world during the pandemic. Fans have suggested that Streisand stage a concert in Taiwan after the crisis, so she can see this beautiful land in person.
蔡總統並說:「台灣很樂意與世界各地的朋友分享我們的經驗。」在文末並附上「台灣能夠幫忙」(#TaiwanCanHelp)的標籤——藉此口號表示台灣願為全球防疫盡一己之力。還有歌迷建議史翠珊在疫情平息後來台開唱,親自看看這片美麗的土地。
Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/04/17/2003734741
Taiwan’s culinary innovations cause a stir in the world of pizza
Forget your pepperoni or other pizza toppings: Pizza Hut Taiwan has teamed up with Menya Musashi, a popular Japanese ramen restaurant chain, to serve up the world’s first ramen pizza, and it has attracted global interest after a CNN report about the new mashup was published on the front-page of its Japanese version.
忘掉你愛的臘腸或其它配料吧。台灣必勝客近日與熱門日本拉麵連鎖店麵屋武藏合作,共同推出全球首創的「拉麵披薩」!美國有線電視新聞網(CNN)對此混搭的相關報導,還衝上該媒體日本版網站首頁,並進而引發全球關注。
The new pizza has the toppings of a Japanese-style barbecue pork ramen — complete with thick noodles, barbecue pork slices, fresh chilies and white sesame, as well as a half-boiled egg sitting in the middle. It is also garnished with green onions and bamboo shoots on the side.
基本上,這款新口味披薩上有著日式叉燒拉麵的配料——包括粗麵條、叉燒肉片、一些辣椒末和白芝麻,中間還擺著一顆半熟的糖心蛋,旁邊則裝飾著一些青蔥及筍片。
Pizza Hut Taiwan told CNN that its creative pizzas are just a way to introduce some fun into the customer experience. “Taiwanese consumers live a high-pressure life with long working hours and a high cost of living. The food scene has become an exciting and creative escape,” said Lily Chou, the company’s marketing director, adding that it is definitely the first ramen to be served as a slice.
台灣必勝客告訴CNN,它的各種創意披薩其實是想為顧客們帶來一些樂趣。行銷總監周佳麗指出︰「台灣消費者過著高工時、高生活成本的高壓生活,而令人興奮的創意美食已成為逃離壓力的出口,」她還說這絕對是第一款用手吃的拉麵。
The Taiwanese are known for their creativity in making special food and drinks: some of their previous mashups have included matcha green tea pizza, durian pizza, stinky tofu pizza, and even bubble tea pizza. Also known as “boba tea” or “pearl milk tea,” the famous tea of Taiwanese origin mixed with milk and small tapioca balls has become a global sensation in recent years. Domino’s Taiwan even caused a pizza war by launching its “bubble tea pizza” late last year.
台灣人向來以製作新奇飲食的創造力而聞名,之前推出的混搭還包括抹茶披薩、榴槤披薩、臭豆腐披薩,甚至珍珠奶茶披薩等。珍奶在英文中又被稱作波霸奶茶或泡沫奶茶,這種知名茶飲一般混合著牛奶,及樹薯粉製成的粉圓,近年逐漸在世界各地造成轟動。台灣達美樂去年底就因為推出黑糖珍珠披薩,而掀起一場披薩大戰。
“It might be the ultimate meeting of eastern and western cuisine — Taiwan’s famous bubble tea as a topping on a Domino’s pizza,” CNN reported. Domino’s Taiwan originally planned to offer the dessert pizza covered in brown sugar pearls, cheese and honey for a month, but the popularity of the bubble tea pizza secured its spot on the regular menu, and rivals have been trying to join this trend. “In Taiwan everyone loves the texture ‘Q,’ which means chewy or bouncy in the way boba is, and this pizza was indeed very ‘Q,’” Lev Nachman, a US PhD candidate conducting research in Taiwan, told CNN.
CNN稍早報導說︰「台灣著名的珍奶化身達美樂披薩配料——這或許是東方和西方飲食的終極交會。」最初台灣達美樂僅計劃推出這款覆蓋著黑糖珍珠、起司、蜂蜜的甜點披薩一個月,不過因產品大受歡迎,最後被加入正式菜單,其它對手亦開始追逐這股風潮。
在台灣做研究的美籍博士候選人南樂對CNN說:「在台灣,每個人都愛『Q』、也就是有嚼勁、會彈牙的口感,就像珍珠粉圓,而這款珍奶披薩口感的確很『Q』。」
Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/07/06/2003739406
Taiwan to stop, not block, local sales for Chinese TV streaming services
Taiwan plans to stop local sales for Chinese Internet television streaming services operated by the likes of iQiyi and Tencent Holdings, according to regulations released this week, but does not plan on blocking the services.
根據本週發布的規範,台灣將禁止中國的網路電視串流服務在境內進行銷售活動,受到限制的對象包括愛奇藝與騰訊控股等業者,但是串流服務並不會遭到封鎖。
Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has long been suspicious of Chinese attempts to sway its population, including by use of fake news spread online and efforts to influence Taiwanese media.
被中國聲稱為其主權領土的民主台灣,長久以來相當懷疑中國潛移默化台灣人民的企圖,包括利用網路上散布的假新聞,以及各種影響台灣媒體的手法。
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said late Tuesday that the rules barring Taiwanese companies from selling or operating as sales agents for Chinese Internet streaming services will take effect Sept. 3. The service iQiyi applied in 2016 to set up a Taiwanese subsidiary, but was rejected because Chinese companies cannot operate online streaming services there, the ministry said.
經濟部於週二晚間宣布,台灣公司禁止經銷或代理中國網路串流服務的規定,將於九月三日正式上路。經濟部表示,愛奇藝曾於二○一六年申請成立台灣子公司,但是遭到拒絕,因為中國公司不得在台灣從事網路串流服務等業務活動。
However, Taiwan is not blocking or banning them, the National Communications Commission said. “People can still watch and pay for overseas subscriptions,” commission deputy chief Wong Po-Tsung told Reuters, adding that officials would ensure that subscribers’ rights are not affected.
不過,國家通訊傳播委員會表示,台灣並不會封鎖或是禁止這些平台。通傳會副主委翁柏宗向路透表示:「觀眾仍然可以收看,並且付費海外訂閱。」他補充說,政府官員會確保訂閱者的權益不受影響。
The commission ruled in May, after months of debate, that Chinese online television service providers would not advertise their services in Taiwan.
經過數個月的爭論後,通傳會在五月做出決定,中國的網路電視服務提供業者不得在台灣廣告和促銷其服務。
Baidu-backed, Netflix-like iQiyi said in a statement issued by unit iQiyi International that it was paying close attention to the situation and that it believed it should “not become the specific target of legislation.” “We wish to see the Taiwanese government departments involved recognize the benefits of an open market economy,” it added. Tencent, which runs Tencent Video, declined to comment.
由百度持有股份、類似Netflix的串流平台愛奇藝,在一份由愛奇藝國際發布的聲明中表示,該公司正在密切注意情況,並且認為公司「不應該成為立法的特定對象。」該公告補充表示:「我們希望看到台灣政府的相關部門認知到開放市場經濟的益處。」經營「騰訊視頻」(在台灣以「WeTV」上架)的騰訊則是拒絕發表評論。
Taiwan has a free Internet, unlike China, which blocks sites such as Google, Facebook and Twitter. Taiwan also does not ban access to popular Chinese apps like WeChat or sites like Baidu. China does not permit Taiwanese firms to offer Internet television streaming services.
台灣擁有自由的網路,不像中國封鎖包括Google、Facebook、Twitter等網站。台灣也沒有禁止使用WeChat等受歡迎的中國手機應用程式,或是封鎖百度等網站。中國則是不允許台灣公司在當地提供網路電視串流服務。
Chinese Internet giants have come under pressure internationally, led by the US, where President Donald Trump ordered ByteDance last week to divest video-sharing app TikTok’s US operations within 90 days, the latest effort to ramp up pressure on the Chinese company over concerns about data security.
近來,中國的網路巨頭在國際間受到不少壓力,首先是美國總統川普簽署行政命令,要求「字節跳動」必須在九十天內出售或分拆旗下影音分享手機應用程式「抖音」的美國業務。這是川普政府因為資訊安全顧慮,而對該中國公司增加壓力採取的最新動作。
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating iQiyi after a short seller accused it of inflating user numbers and prices, it said last week.
上星期,愛奇藝則表示美國證券交易委員會正在調查該公司,原因是受到一間美國放空機構指控造假,誇大訂閱戶數量和營收。
Source article: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2020/08/23/2003742111
每日英語跟讀Podcast,就在http://www.15mins.today/daily-shadowing 每週Vocab精選詞彙Podcast,就在https://www.15mins.today/vocab 每週In-TENSE文法練習Podcast,就在https://www.15mins.today/in-tense |