An outbreak aboard a cruise ship of a rare rodent-borne illness called hantavirus has left three passengers dead and sickened others, but global health officials say the risk to the general public remains low because the germ does not easily spread between people. “This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization (WHO). “Most people will never be exposed to this.” The virus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings. Hantaviruses have been around for centuries and are thought to
Have you ever wondered how people navigate the world when they can’t see a map? For individuals with visual impairments, conventional maps are nearly impossible to use. This is where tactile maps come in — essential tools that allow people to “see” the world through touch. A tactile map is specially designed with raised lines, textures, and symbols to represent geographical features such as roads, rivers, and buildings. Users explore it with their fingertips. However, these maps are not exclusively for people with visual disabilities. They serve as valuable multisensory learning tools that enhance spatial understanding for everyone, making
A: In early May, there were concerts by Icyball, Chyi Yu, Korea’s EXO and Japan’s Anisama, but I missed them all. What a shame. B: That’s OK. There are shows coming up by various artists, including Power Station, Accusefive, Japanese singer Mika Nakashima, Chinese-Icelandic jazzer Laufey, and even Singaporean diva Stefanie Sun. A: After a 12-year hiatus, Stefanie is finally returning to Taipei again. B: In late May, there will be more shows by Crowd Lu, WeiBird, Korea’s Donghae, 2AM, EXID, and Thailand’s BUS. A: The Thai boyband is so popular. It looks like “T-pop” is catching up with J-pop
對話 Dialogue 清清:這個週末就是母親節了,你們打算怎麼過? Qīngqing: Zhè ge zhōumò jiù shì mǔqīn jié le, nǐmen dǎsuàn zěnme guò? 華華:有啊,我們家通常會去餐廳吃飯,不過很難訂位。 Huáhua: Yǒu a, wǒmen jiā tōngcháng huì qù cāntīng chīfàn, búguò hěn nán dìngwèi. 清清:而且那天的餐廳都比較貴。 Qīngqing: Érqiě nà tiān de cāntīng dōu bǐjiào guì. 華華:所以也有人選擇在家吃,比較輕鬆。 Huáhua: Suǒyǐ yě yǒu rén xuǎnzé zài jiā chī, bǐjiào qīngsōng. 清清:聽起來不錯,在家也可以慢慢聊天。 Qīngqing: Tīng qǐlái búcuò, zài jiā yě kěyǐ màn man liáotiān. 華華:對啊,而且不用趕時間,氣氛也比較自在。 Huáhua: Duì a, érqiě bù yòng gǎn shíjiān, qìfēn yě bǐjiào zìzài. 清清:那你們會送禮物嗎? Qīngqing: Nà nǐmen huì sòng lǐwù ma? 華華:會,不過每次都不知道要送什麼。 Huáhua: Huì, búguò měi cì dōu bù zhīdào yào sòng shénme. 清清:我媽都說「不用買」,可是收到還是很開心。 Qīngqing: Wǒ mā dōu shuō “bú yòng mǎi”, kěshì shōudào háishì hěn kāixīn. 華華:真的,我覺得陪她一起吃飯、聊天最重要。 Huáhua: Zhēn de, wǒ juéde péi tā