ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/17(月)-21(金)
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/17 (月) 米最高裁 入学選考で人種考慮は違憲
U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
U.S. supreme court rejects affirmative action
2023年6月30日のニュース
College administrators across the U.S. have tried for decades to reflect the diversity of society on campus. They’ve used race as a factor in admitting new students. But now, justices on the Supreme Court have struck down affirmative action as unconstitutional.
A group called Students for Fair Admissions filed lawsuits against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. They claim the schools admitted Black and Hispanic students who were unqualified and discriminated against white and Asian American applicants.
The justices decided the programs were not consistent with the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, which guards against discrimination. A majority agreed the admissions policies lack “measurable objectives” warranting the use of race.
Officials at Harvard posted an open letter saying they’ll comply with the decision. But they maintain that learning depends on a community comprising people of many backgrounds and perspectives.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/18 (火) 甲府でワインの仕込み作業始まる
YAMANASHI WINERY HARVESTS UNRIPENED GRAPES
Yamanashi winery harvests unripened grapes
2023年6月28日のニュース
A vineyard west of Tokyo is using grapes that have yet to ripen to make wine it says has a refreshing acidity.
The small wine producer in Yamanashi Prefecture uses the Delaware variety of the fruit and harvests it this time of year.
About 1,400 kilograms were gathered Tuesday and fed into a machine that removes the stems. The yellow-green juice squeezed from the grapes was then put into tanks for fermentation.
The winery says it’s blessed with large grapes this year. It says the wine will likely have a refreshing taste.
(Kubodera Shinshi / President, Domaine Q)
“These grapes probably have the best quality in years. An extremely hot summer is expected, so I hope consumers keep the wine well chilled and enjoy it.”
Production will last until around July 10. The maker plans to sell the new wine from the end of the month.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/19 (水) イスラム教徒の大巡礼“ハッジ”が最高潮
MUSLIMS GATHER IN SAUDI ARABIA FOR HAJJ PILGRIMAGE
Muslims gather in Saudi Arabia for Hajj Pilgrimage
2023年6月28日のニュース
Millions of Muslims have marked the most sacred day on their calendar. Many set out in the dark of night for the spiritual peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Hajj pilgrims on Tuesday made their way toward Mount Arafat to offer prayers. The hill is the place where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his final sermon.
Saudi officials expect more than 2 million participants in the holy city of Mecca and the surrounding areas this year.
Earlier, the country restored diplomatic ties with Iran after a seven-year rift. Flights resumed in mid-June for pilgrims from the Yemeni capital Sanaa. That’s the stronghold of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
At the international airport there, the first group of pilgrims departed for the Hajj since the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen in 2015.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/20 (木) 中国 改正「反スパイ法」が施行
CHINA’S REVISED COUNTERESPIONAGE LAW TAKES EFFECT
China’s revised counterespionage law takes effect
2023年7月1日のニュース
Authorities in China have broadened their definition of espionage in a revised law that took effect Saturday. And the changes are raising concern that more foreign nationals could be arbitrarily locked up.
The country’s counterespionage legislation first took effect in 2014 to protect state secrets and other information from being stolen. Leaders in Beijing approved the changes in April. Starting Saturday, spying activities include theft of documents, data, reference materials, and items related to national security.
Government officials in Tokyo say China has detained at least 17 Japanese nationals for alleged spying since 2014. Nine were given prison terms. The trials were held behind closed doors, and authorities did not elaborate on how they had breached the law.
ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 23/7/21 (金) ハワイで“完全自動運転”の鉄道 運行開始
FULLY AUTONOMOUS RAIL SYSTEM OPENS IN HONOLULU
Fully autonomous rail system opens in Honolulu
2023年7月2日のニュース
Honolulu, Hawaii, is one of the most popular resort destinations in the world. And this weekend, the city opened the first fully automated rail system in the U.S., with technology provided by a Japanese company.
The initial segment of the Skyline began driverless operations on Friday. It connects nine stations from central Honolulu to the city’s outskirts over a distance of about 17 kilometers in 20 minutes. The carriages have space inside for bicycles and surfboards.
(Citizen)
“Very excited to be here. I think this train will help Hawaii a lot. And I think it’ll give us the opportunity to go around the island without having to deal with all the traffic that we always deal with.”
The rail system is expected to reduce traffic congestion, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gas emissions. Japanese company Hitachi manufactured the train carriages for the city of Honolulu.
