ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」
In today's lesson, there might be a KO knockout in an unudual festival contest for baties, but we will focus on some finer details of the word "to."
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 こどもの日恒例の“泣き相撲”
5月20日(月)
BABIES TAKE TO SUMO RING ON CHILDREN'S DAY
May 5 is Children's Day in Japan, and a shrine in Hiroshima is celebrating with a special event –– “baby sumo.”
About 700 children aged six to 18 months took part in this year's crying contest. The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children. Two babies face each other in the ring, and the winner is the first one to cry.
(Mother)
“I was worried my baby might not cry, but he did right away. I hope he grows up big and strong.”
(Mother&Father)
“My niece took part in this event last year and it was cute, so we came this time.”
“My son didn't cry as much as we expected.”
Some bouts ended in a draw because neither baby flinched.
(2024年5月5日のニュース）
- is to pray -> be＋to不定詞で「目的」「〜するためのものです」
the annual event … is to pray「毎年行われるその行事は、祈るためのものです」 - wellbeing「well（良い）状態であること」「幸福、福祉、健全性」-> 子どもたちの「幸せ」
-> well-beingとハイフンで結ぶ表記もよく使います。 - the first one to …
反対のthe last one to …「最後に～する人」
＝＞自然な日本語では「最後まで～しなかった人」
He was the last one to know the secret. - right away「すぐに、すぐさま」 ＝immediatelyやinstantlyなどでも言いかえられますが、right awayが口語表現
- grow upは「育つ、成長する」
grow up big and strongは「大きく元気に育つ、たくましく育つ」 - nieceは「めい」「おい」ならnephewです。
「叔父、伯父」はuncle、「叔母、伯母」はauntです。
「いとこ」はcousinで、「はとこ」second cousin
「義兄弟」にはbrother-in-lawを、「義姉妹」にはsister-in-law - cute「生意気な、気取った」
Don't get cute with me. 「生意気言うな、気取るな、ふざけるな」
Clever or witty, especially in an impertinent or evasive way, as in falsely suggesting that one is ignorant about the matter at hand.
- not … as much as …「～ほど～ない」
- bout「（格闘技の）試合」
- end in a draw「引き分けに終わる、引き分けになる」
- neither A nor B「ＡとＢのどちらも～ない」＝全てを否定
He showed interest in neither science nor art. - flinch「たじろぐ、ひるむ、尻込みする」
flinchTo start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
->start
(驚いて)飛び上がる，びくっとする，飛び出す.
〔…に〕ぎくりとする
=>>> To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily:
started at the loud noise.
「向かって」いくという矢印（→）のイメージ
対象へ「向かって」いるということから、至近距離で「向き合う」
さらには対象に「到達」して接触する点（到達点）のイメージ
（１）「～すること」という名詞的用法
（２）「～する（ための）」という形容詞的用法
（３）「～するために」という副詞的用法
- The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
-> the annual event … is → to → pray 祈るという目的に「到達しようとしている」
When I hear "to" in this sentence, I imagine the event will be for the purpose of prying for health.
- I want to pray.
- He grew up to be big and strong.
It is really helpful to think of an arrow or direction when using the word, to. It maybe a difficult concept but I'm sure our listners can master it.
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The annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is (held) to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
=>
The (aim of the) annual event at Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is to pray for the health and wellbeing of children.
Two babies face each other in the ring, and the winner is the first one to cry.
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ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT REPORTING AWARDED PULITZER PRIZES
Journalists covering the conflict between Israel and Hamas have been recognized with what are considered to be the most prestigious awards in U.S. journalism.
The Pulitzer Prize Board on Monday announced the prizes for works published last year. It honored journalists covering Gaza with a special citation. It says an extraordinary number of them have died in an effort to tell the stories of Palestinians in the enclave.
Reuters news agency staff won the Breaking News Photography prize. It was for documenting the surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October as well as the first weeks of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza. The board calls the photos raw and urgent.
And a team from The New York Times took home the International Reporting prize. The board says it was in part for coverage showing how Israeli officials dismissed the Hamas attack plan that they obtained well before the group carried it out.
(2024年5月7日のニュース）
PARIS MAKES MOVES TO CLEAN UP SEINE RIVER BEFORE OLYMPICS
Now we go to preparations for this summer's Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. Officials have unveiled a new stormwater facility to combat a water quality problem in the River Seine ahead of the Games.
The underground facility has been set up near the river. Several events will be held in the Seine, including triathlon and marathon swimming.
The officials say sewage facilities in Paris are too old, so floodwaters flow into the Seine. The new facility can temporarily store up to 50,000 cubic meters of water and send it to a sewage treatment plant. They plan to operate it as early as this month.
City officials say they want to make the water quality improvement a legacy of the Games.
(Tony Estanguet / Paris 2024 President)
“It will be less pollution in the natural environment, with a river in a better state today than three years ago, and that will keep improving.”
(2024年5月3日のニュース）
BLOCKING MT. FUJI VIEW TO DETER MISBEHAVING TOURISTS
Tourists are flocking to a town in Japan to see Mount Fuji. But some cause a nuisance and behave dangerously. So the town is erecting a giant screen to block the view.
The problems arose in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture. Photos from a particular angle show Mount Fuji as though it's standing over a convenience store. Tourists wanting this shot stray onto the busy road or trespass on private property.
This week, workers began erecting a black screen that will be 20 meters long and 2.5 meters high. They're also putting up fences to keep people off the road.
(Australian visitor)
“It's not very safe. So it makes sense that they're going to try and block the view or impede the view. But I think people will still come and take photos.”
Town officials say they hope the screen will reduce overcrowding. Still, they say putting it up was a tough decision.
(2024年5月3日のニュース）
JAPAN CLOUD COMPUTING PROVIDERS FOCUS ON 'DATA SOVEREIGNTY'
Cloud computing providers in Japan are responding to customer demands for better security by offering what's known as data sovereignty services.
Data sovereignty refers to safeguarding information by keeping it within a country's borders and subject to local laws and regulations. The European Union and a number of other countries are adopting such procedures to improve data security.
Fujitsu has teamed up with U.S. IT giant Oracle to start a cloud computing service in fiscal 2025 that will keep data transfer and storage within Japan. Officials say the agreement ensures use of Fujitsu's local data centers, and no information will move offshore.
In a related development, NEC and NTT offer a service to Japanese companies using generative AI. It processes data through in-house servers without using data centers.
(2024年5月7日のニュース）
不法入国者をルワンダ移送 英で法案可決
UK LAWMAKERS PASS CONTENTIOUS RWANDA ASYLUM BILL
British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the plan will deter people from illegally crossing the English Channel. But United Nations officials are urging a rethink.
The legislation passed the House of Lords after clearing Parliament's lower chamber. It's one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship policies ahead of a general election due by late January next year.
Undocumented migrants are pouring into Britain, this year reportedly at the fastest pace ever. And Britain's leaders say the problem is weighing heavily on the state coffers. So they've brokered a deal with Rwanda.
The East African nation is still emerging from a devastating period of genocide in the 1990s. But the British government says Rwanda belongs to international treaties aimed at protecting the rights of refugees.
(2024年4月23日のニュース）
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- contentious「激しい議論を引き起こす、物議を醸す」=>controversialで言いかえることもできますが、contentiousの方がもっと強烈
- undocumentedは「正式な書類（許可書）がない、必要書類がない」
- the English Channelはイギリス南部とフランス北部を隔てる「イギリス海峡」
- United Nations officialは「国連の職員」、特に「幹部、高官」
- flagshipは「最も重要な、主力の、目玉の」
-> flagship model「主力モデル」flagship store「旗艦店」
Yes, in English flagship model or flagship store are often used. Even in Japanese I sometimes hear flagship used. For example,
・There are quite a few big brand flagship stores in Ginza. - the fastest … everは「今までで最も速い～」
- weigh on …は「～にのしかかる、重荷になる」 -> is weighing heavily on
- state coffersは「国庫」
- broker a dealは「取り引き、協定、取り決めなど」がまとまるよう取り計らう」
- emerge from …「（苦境から）抜け出る、立ち上がる」
British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
British lawmakers have approved
a contentious bill
to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
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★undocumented migrant ある国に「不法に入国した人」
= illegal immigrant「不法移民」
people from illegally crossing the English Channel
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda.
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda.
- British lawmakers have approved a contentious bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 タイタニック号の楽団長遺品 落札
5月14日(火)
タイタニック号の楽団長遺品 落札
VIOLIN CASE OF TITANIC ORCHESTRA LEADER SOLD AT AUCTION
A violin case belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic has been auctioned in Britain. It was found strapped to his body after the luxury steamship sank in 1912.
Britain's public broadcaster BBC has reported the brown leather bag belonging to Wallace Hartley fetched about 362,000 dollars at the auction on Saturday. The auction house says the leather bag, which carries Hartley's initials, “W. H. H.,” was a gift from his fiancée.
The orchestra played on the deck of the Titanic to calm panicked passengers after the ship struck an iceberg and began to sink. Hartley's body was recovered after the disaster with the case containing the violin strapped to him. He possibly used it for buoyancy.
The violin case was returned to his fiancée but later passed through the hands of a number of different people.
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- fetch 金額を目的語とする場合
->「（ある価格で）売れる、（ある金額を）手に入れる」
Oh, fetch, that brings back great memories of playing with my dog. I would use go fetch almost every day, when asking my dog to bring me his ball. This is usually used in this way when speaking to animals.
- buoyancy
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What a heartbreaking story. I'm glad his fiance could get the case back at the timme. Now it's such a rare and expensive piece of history.
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A violin case belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic has been auctioned in Britain.
A violin case
belonging to the leader of the orchestra on the Titanic
has been auctioned in Britain.
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★theの総称用法
The Dalai Lama will hold talks to decide on whether the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after him.
the institution of the Dalai Lamaは「ダライ・ラマという制度」
the institution of Dalai Lama -> 冠詞を付けない単数形の原形は抽象的意味
->「ダライ・ラマ」は固有名詞なので、個人の名前に聞こえて紛らわしいかもしれません。theを付けたほうが意味がはっきり
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violin
・a violin 「ある１つのバイオリン」（不特定単数）
・violins 「複数のバイオリン」（不特定複数）
・the violin 「（話に出てきた）そのバイオリン」（特定単数）
・the violins 「（話に出てきた）それらのバイオリン」（特定複数）
- I have borrowed the violin from your teacher.
- I play the violin.
-> the violin 「バイオリン（という楽器）」（特定・抽象）
theを付けて特定 ->「ピアノ」でも「ギター」でもなく、「バイオリン」
ほかの概念とはっきり区別したり対比したりするニュアンス
Today's lesson was fantastic. And Sam, you answered today's question so eloquently. I'm looking forward to even more questions from the listners.
eloquently - Capable of or characterized by eloquence
eloquence - fluent and persuasive discourse
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 米大学でイスラエルへの抗議デモ拡大
5月15日(水)
米大学でイスラエルへの抗議デモ拡大
PROTESTERS AND POLICE CLASH ON U.S. CAMPUSES
Protesters and counter-protesters have been shattering the calm on campuses across the U.S. Students, faculty, and those who live nearby are concerned tensions over the fighting in Gaza have created a “hostile environment.”
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been camping on the grounds of Columbia University for more than a week. They've heard warnings from police to dismantle their tents within the next few days. Police have already arrested more than 100 people.
Professors have canceled many in-person classes and are instead teaching online to prioritize “safety.” But protesters say their demonstrations have been peaceful.
Protesters and police have clashed on campuses nationwide. Many students are demanding that administrators cut financial ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.
ｰｰｰ
- counter-は「反対の、逆の」
counter-protester・counterprotesterは「対抗デモに参加する人」
counterculture「反体制文化」
counterattack「反撃（する）」
- 動詞shatterは「打ち砕く、粉々にする、ずたずたにする」
shatter one's hopesなら「（人の）希望を打ち砕く」
shatter a recordなら「記録を破る」
ｰｰｰ
shatter 「粉々にする、打ち砕く」
calm 「平穏」
hostile 「敵対的な」
pro-Palestinian 「パレスチナ支持の、親パレスチナの」
anti-Semitism 「反ユダヤ主義｣
ESG 「environment（環境）、social（社会）、governance（ガバナンス、企業統治）を考慮した投資活動や経営・事業活動」
ｰｰｰ
- hostile environment
hostile -> hostility
aggressive
violent
And that's probably why today's story used the word hostile. The situation is very tnese and and people are clearly taking sides. But there hasn't been much full-out violence yet.
*full-out
-> full out 全面的な -With one's full effort or energy.
And hostile als comes up in this pattern,
A hostile to or toward B,
which means that A is opposed to B or sees B as an enermy. Here's an example.
- Some people are hostile to the idea of social media.
I want you to include these pieces, hostile, sdudents, and the University's policy.
- Most students are hostile to the University's policy raising tuision.
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Many students are demanding that administrators cut financial ties to Israel and to weapons manufacturers.
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- disclose 「開示する」
- divest 「投資を引き揚げる」<>（invest「投資する」の反意語）
- We will not rest.
- blowback 「否定的な反応」
- backlash 「強い反発」
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I have some friends back home who got along great until the latest eruption in the Israel Plestine conflict. And now they seem really hostile to each other and vocal about which side. They're on the situation is definitely shattering the calm in a lot of places even on a personal level.
*vocal about ～を主張する、～についてうるさく言う
blowbackについて
“Blowback,” which comes from the idea of gases or flames “blowing back” in the reverse direction, is a big concern.
Here's an example of “blowback” in a sentence: After voting against the bill, the politician faced blowback from some of her supporters.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 北京モーターショー 新エネルギー車続々
5月16日(木)
NEW-ENERGY VEHICLES IN SPOTLIGHT AT BEIJING MOTOR SHOW
Auto industry reps and car lovers have descended on the Chinese capital for one of the world's biggest trade events. The crowds at this year's Beijing motor show are excited about the latest new-energy vehicles from across the world.
Roughly 1,500 auto and parts makers and other firms are taking part. EVs and plug-in hybrid cars are among the new-energy vehicles generating the most hype. The sector now accounts for a third of all car sales in China, which is the world's biggest market.
Auto firms aren't the only businesses with a presence. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is giving the crowds a close-up look at an EV car it put on the market a few weeks ago.
EVs are enormously popular in China. But growth in sales is slowing as consumers become more mindful of mileage limitations. Motorists are increasingly turning to plug-in hybrid cars, which can travel longer distances.
ｰｰｰ
I hope you're all charged up for today's lesson.
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- descend on（またはdescend upon）
人などがある場所に「（集団で）押し寄せる、押しかける」 - new-energy vehicle「新エネルギー車」
electric vehicle（EV）「電気自動車」、
plug-in hybrid vehicle（plug-in hybrid car）「プラグインハイブリッド車」
fuel cell vehicle「燃料電池車」が含まれます。 - mindful of …「～を心に留める、意識する、注意する」
- turn to …「～の方を向く、～に目を向ける」
Today's Takeaways
Auto industry reps and car lovers have descended on the Chinese capital for one of the world's biggest trade events.
- rep 「代表（者）、代理人」（representativeの略）
- presence 「存在感」
- great presence / significant presence 「大きな存在感」
- hype 「誇大宣伝（広告）」「（人々の）興奮、熱狂、注目度、話題性」
しかし最近では「（人々の）興奮、熱狂」や「注目度、話題性」
And you can also use “hype” as a verb. Here's an example: The actress has been hyping the movie all week on morning programming and variety shows.
- build hype「話題性を作る、注目を集めるように仕掛ける、盛り上げる」
- live up to the hype「騒がれているだけのことはある」
- electric vehicle hype（EV hype）「ＥＶ騒ぎ、ＥＶ祭り」
-> ”The hype is gone from the EV industry”や“Is EV just a hype?”=「一時的な流行（大騒ぎ）」というニュアンス
- low-end car 「大衆車」
- high-end car 「高級車、高価格帯の車」
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 熱中症特別警戒アラート 運用開始
5月17日(金)
JAPAN INTRODUCES SPECIAL HEATSTROKE ALERT
Japan's warning system to prevent heat-related illness has begun operations for this year, as the country gears up for what could be another intensely hot summer. It includes a new special alert against heatstroke.
The alert will be issued in prefectures where the so-called Wet Bulb Globe index is estimated at 35 or higher at all observation points. Japan has never before recorded that kind of dangerous heat and humidity, which could cause serious damage to people's health across a wide area.
Prefectures where the Special Heat Stroke Alert is issued will need to take action, including opening pre-designated “cooling shelters.” Schools, businesses, and event organizers will also be required to take steps to protect people from heatstroke. That includes canceling events and keeping people home if there's no way to keep them cool.
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- Wet Bulb Globe index「湿球黒球指数」
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature「湿球黒球温度」により示される指標
Japan's warning system to prevent heat-related illness has begun operations for this year, as the country gears up for what could be another intensely hot summer.
- gear up for … 「～の準備をする、～に備える」
-> get ready for
Right. For example,
Company is gearing up for an upcoming auto show.
- intensely 「強烈に、非常に、極めて」
intesely hot summer
- scorching weather 「焼けつくような天候」
- sizzling hot summer 「うだるように暑い夏」
- And there's plenty more where those expressions came from. Just on this program in fact, we coverd stories featuring thw words, scorching and sizzling. Other adjectives for describing high, high heat include,
blazing, sweltering and stifling.
- heatstroke
There are lots of expressions for heat-related illnesses. According to places like the Mayo Clinic, “heatstroke” is a serious condition where your body temperature rises to at least 40 degrees.
One common alternative name for heatstroke is “sunstroke.” Then there are also things like “heat exhaustion” and “heat stress,” which are slightly different from and less severe than heatstroke.
- floods
- storms
- heatwaves
silent killer
That which can cause death without showing any early indications that might act as warnings.
I'm a coach for my son's baseball team. So I know how dangerous the heat can be. Heatstroke like symptoms show up a lot in these month, even in kids you'd never expect to have problems, so when it comes to the heat, you can never be to careful.
ｰｰｰｰ
ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 トランプ氏 刑事裁判の初公判
4月30日(火)
Today's news story takes us to the Unitede States where historic trial is taking place in New York.
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TRUMP FACES FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL
Lawyers have gathered in a New York courtroom for the first-ever criminal trial of someone to have served in the Oval Office. They're debating allegations against former President Donald Trump related to payments of hush money to an adult film star.
Prosecutors say Trump's former lawyer paid the actor 130,000 dollars ahead of the 2016 election to keep her relationship with Trump secret. They say Trump reimbursed him then recorded the payment as a legal fee. He faces 34 charges of falsifying business records.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and says this is “political persecution.”
(Anti-Trump protestor)
“We, individually and collectively, are glad to see that Trump is finally being brought in front of a judge in a criminal case.”
(Trump supporter)
“It's not gonna be fair. And, like I said, if the man steps on a roach, they're gonna try to convict him for murder.”
Trump also faces charges in three other criminal cases.
(2024年4月16日のニュース）
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- 形容詞ovalは「卵型の、楕円形の」
=> the Oval Officeはアメリカの「大統領執務室」
- allegation=> allegedly 申し立てによると、伝えられるところによれば
- hush money => hush moneyは「口止め料」“Hush!”は「静かに！しっ！」
- reimburseは「払い戻す、返金する」
「従業員たちに（立て替え分の）交通費を払い戻す」reimburse travel expenses to employee
reimbursement「払い戻し（金）、返済」 - falsify「改ざんする、偽造する」/名詞形は、falsification「改ざん、偽造」
falsify
[ˈfɔlsəˌfaɪ]
falsification
[ˌfælsəfəˈkeɪʃən]
- persecution「迫害」/ persecute「迫害する」
- We, individually and collectively, are glad to see that
- roachはcockroach「ゴキブリ」の口語
- convict 動詞で「有罪判決を出す、有罪にする」: convict ... for ....
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If the man steps on a roach, they're gonna try to convict him for murder.
If the man steps on a roach,
they're gonna try
to convict him for murder.
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★会話ではgonnaでも文字ではgoing toと書きましょう
>> want toがwanna
実際の発音： It's not gonna be fair. And, like I said, if the man steps on a roach, they're gonna try to convict him for murder.
表記： It's not going to be fair. And, like I said, if the man steps on a roach, they're going to try to convict him for murder.
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You can do this with other words, too.
want to becomes wanna. For exampe,
I want to go to the store later.
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●be going toはwillよりもニュアンスが強い
「to（～の方向へ）今すでにgoing（進みつつある）」ことで、「～することになっている」「きっと、そうなる」という意味
状況はすでにその方向に進行しているので、will（発言の時点で「～するつもりである」）よりも確定的なニュアンス
--
I knew it was going to be an interesting lesson and it was! They will be even more news coming out until the presidential election in November. So let's work hard and study together.
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ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 イラン イスラエルに大規模攻撃
4月29日(月)
ISRAELI WAR CABINET CONSIDERS RESPONSE TO IRANIAN ATTACK
We start this hour in the Middle East, where Israel is debating how to respond to a recent drone and missile attack from Iran.
The assault began late Saturday night. Israel says it intercepted most of the projectiles with the help of other countries, including the United States. It is believed to be the first direct attack on Israel launched from Iran. Tehran says it was responding to a strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet Sunday to discuss a possible response. Reuters quoted Israeli officials as saying the war cabinet favored retaliation. However, it is reportedly divided over the timing and the scale of such a response.
But some international actors are trying to de-escalate the situation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on both sides to exercise restraint.
(Antonio Guterres / UN Secretary-General)
“It's vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”
(2024年4月15日のニュース）
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In today's lesson, let's focus on expressions that often appear on TV and radio news.
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quote ... as saying
For example, the police quoted the father as saying his child's innocent of the crime.
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- convene「招集する」
- (be) divided over …「～をめぐって意見が割れる、分かれる」=(be) split over …
- exercise restraint
- projectiles
[prəˈʤɛktaɪlz] / [prəˈʤɛktəlz] - missile
[ˈmɪsəl]
We start this hour in the Middle East, where Israel is debating how to respond to a recent drone and missile attack from Iran.
We start this hour in the Middle East,
where Israel is debating how to respond
to a recent drone and missile attack from Iran.
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★キャスターがニュース番組を開始するときの表現
- We start (this hour) in …, where …
- We start (this hour's program with news) in …, where …
- We begin in …, where …
We begin in the Middle East where Israel is debating - We start with … / We begin with …
We start with urgent news from Tokyo. - Our first story takes us to …「本日最初のニュースは～でのものです」
Our first story takes us to Tokyo where NHK is now broadcasting a new hit English radio show. - Good morning, everyone! We start with page 25 of the textbook.