ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/17-4/21
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/17-4/21
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/17 (月) こども家庭庁が始動
JAPAN LAUNCHES NEW CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AGENCY
Japan launches new children and families agency
2023年4月3日のニュース
April is a season for new beginnings here in Japan. It’s not just the start of the new fiscal year — it also marks the start of school for millions of kids. And this year, they’re being overseen by a new government body.
An inauguration ceremony was held Monday at the Tokyo office for the Children and Families Agency.
(Kishida Fumio / Japanese Prime Minister)
“To create a society focused on children, the most important thing we can do is listen to their voices, take them seriously, and reflect their perspectives in our policies.”
The new agency covers some functions previously managed by the health and welfare ministry and other bodies. It’s tasked with handling child benefits and support for people going through pregnancy and childbirth. It’ll also handle nursery school services and issues facing kids like abuse, bullying, and poverty.
The government is hoping the agency and expanded childcare benefits will help raise Japan’s plummeting birthrate.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/18 (火) “ストレス受けたトマトは音を出す”
STUDY: TOMATOES ‘SCREAM’ UNDER STRESS
Study: Tomatoes ‘scream’ under stress
2023年4月1日のニュース
Now, before we go, something that might unsettle your stomach. Tomatoes can talk, or at least make sounds. A study has found they emit high-pitched tones when they experience stress. But you don’t have to worry about a screaming salad, as the sounds are too high-pitched to be picked up by the human ear.
This is the tomato’s “voice.” Researchers adjusted the tones to a frequency humans can hear. The sounds were recorded using ultrasonic microphones by scientists in Israel.
They placed tomato and tobacco plants inside a soundproof box and exposed them to various types of stress, such as water deprivation and stem snipping. The group says it’s unclear what leads to the sounds, but suspects they’re created when water columns in dehydrated stems break down, generating air bubbles.
It also says some insects and small mammals can detect the sounds and their behavior might be influenced by what they hear.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/19 (水) 先端半導体 輸出管理を厳格化
JAPAN TO TIGHTEN EXPORTS OF CHIP MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT
2023年3月31日のニュース
Japan is tightening export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Other countries are taking similar measures due to growing concerns over security.
Exports of such equipment to China will face stricter procedures than to 42 listed countries and territories, including the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan.
The restrictions will go into effect in July and will cover 23 items. Exports to China or other destinations not on the whitelist will need the approval of the trade minister each time.
(Nishimura Yasutoshi / Japanese Trade Minister)
“This measure is aimed at preventing technology from being diverted to military use. We want to fulfill our responsibilities to the international community as a country with advanced technology. And we want to contribute to international peace and security.”
The U.S. has already strengthened export restrictions to China. It has been calling for similar steps by other countries, especially Japan, which holds a large share of the chip manufacturing equipment market.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/20 (木) 坂本龍一さん死去
AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN SAKAMOTO RYUICHI DIES AT 71
Award-winning musician Sakamoto Ryuichi dies at 71
2023年4月3日のニュース
Tributes have poured in from around the world for Japanese musician and composer Sakamoto Ryuichi. He died of cancer at the age of 71. He’s known for his work with the trailblazing electronic band Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Sakamoto co-founded the genre-defining group in 1978. YMO’s use of computers and electronic instruments, including synthesizers, pioneered techno-pop.
Sakamoto earned global acclaim by scoring films like “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.” He also won an Oscar and a Grammy award for his work on “The Last Emperor.”
Beyond music, Sakamoto was a prominent environmental activist. He campaigned for forest conservation, as well as the abolition of nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2023/4/21 (金) 対話式ＡＩ 開発中断求める署名活動
IT EXPERTS WARN AI RACE GETTING OUT OF CONTROL
It experts warn Ai race getting out of control
2023年3月30日のニュース
A group of AI experts and prominent figures in the IT industry are sounding the alarm over artificial intelligence. They are calling for a pause in the development of the technology, citing unforeseen risks.
The U.S. non-profit Future of Life Institute released an open letter asking for labs to halt work on AI more powerful than ChatGPT-4. OpenAI has kicked off a chatbot development race among major tech firms.
The letter warns that the competition is getting “out of control.” It says that powerful AI systems should be developed only once there is confidence that their effects will be positive and the risks manageable.
More than 1,300 people have signed the letter, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
