Japan and the US to develop the next generation fighter - led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and supported by Lockheed

 Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

次期戦闘機を日米で開発　三菱重主導、ロッキードが支援

【イブニングスクープ】

北米

2020年12月11日 18:00 [有料会員限定]

政府が2035年の配備をめざす次期戦闘機の開発体制の大枠が固まった。三菱重工業を開発主体として、米防衛大手でF35などの開発実績をもつロッキード・マーチンが技術支援する。日米企業が協力して開発し、自衛隊と米軍が一体運用する最新鋭機となる。中国の軍事的台頭など緊迫する東アジア情勢をにらみ、日米同盟の連携を深める。

防衛省が近く公表する。今月下旬に閣議決定する2021年度予算案に構想設計費を盛り込み、同社の支援を受けて性能や開発費を詰める。

次期戦闘機は日米が共同開発した航空自衛隊のF2戦闘機の後継にあたる。防衛省は約90機を生産する計画で、配備までの総事業規模は5兆円を超すとの見方がある。

政府は18年末にまとめた中期防衛力整備計画（中期防）で日本の防衛産業を中心に次期戦闘機を開発すると記した。日本企業主導が実現すれば、1970年代に三菱重が開発したF1戦闘機以来となる。

防衛省によると中国は主力と位置づける「第4世代」の戦闘機を1000機超保有する。10年で3倍に増やした。相手のレーダーに探知されにくいステルス性能を備えた「第5世代」の配備も着々と進める。ロシアも第5世代機の導入を目指しており、大型の攻撃用無人機も開発中だ。

こうした動向を踏まえ、次期戦闘機は艦船や地上への攻撃、空中戦を全てこなす「マルチロール機」と位置づける。ステルス性能や、電磁波の妨害を受けても作戦を続けられる能力を備える。中国やロシアが最新鋭機の配備を進めているのに対応する。

防衛省は今年10月、開発主体として三菱重と契約した。同社が機体の設計やシステムの統合を担う。エンジンはIHI、機体はSUBARU、レーダーは東芝や富士通、電子戦装備を制御するミッションシステムは三菱電機などがそれぞれ担当する想定だ。

日本は40年以上、国内企業主導で戦闘機を開発していないため、技術支援にあたる外国企業の選定も進めてきた。防衛省は11月までにロッキードと米ボーイング、英BAEシステムズの3社に絞り(1)レーダーやミサイルなどのシステム統合力(2)高いステルス性と運動能力(3)効率的な開発技術――の面から評価した。

ロッキードを選んだ理由は開発実績と日米の同盟関係だ。世界最強と評されるF22やF35を開発し、ステルス技術にも定評がある。主に機体設計やシステム統合の面で三菱重に協力する。

開発時には日米のインターオペラビリティー（相互運用性）を重視する。有事に備え、次期戦闘機は米軍の主力のF22やF35とデータを連結させ、共同で作戦を展開しやすくする。

ロッキードは日本への提案にあたり、米ノースロップ・グラマンと連携した。ノースロップは複数の戦闘機で情報を結びつける「データリンク」やセンサーに強い。ロッキードと組むとノースロップの技術支援も受けやすくなる利点もある。

個々の構成部品は日本と防衛技術の研究で協力関係を構築している英国の企業との連携も探る。BAEは電磁波を使い相手の攻撃を防ぐ電子戦技術に強みがある。

次期戦闘機の開発を日本主導で進める背景には、国内企業のイノベーションや新産業育成につなげる思惑もある。

防衛産業のなかでも戦闘機の関連産業の裾野は広く、1機種あたりの製造に約1000社が関わるとされる。必要となる技術は高出力エンジンから赤外線センサー、軽くて丈夫な機体、情報システムと多岐にわたり、それぞれに高度な技術力が求められる。日本主導での開発を通じ、最先端分野でのイノベーション創出を狙う。

Translation

The outline of the development order for the next fighter aircraft, which the government aimed to deploy in 2035, was set. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries would be the main developer, and Lockheed Martin, a major US defense company with a track record of developing F35s, would provide technical support. To be developed by Japanese and US companies in cooperation, this aircraft would be a state-of-the-art machine operated by the Self-Defense Forces and the US military together as a single entity. In light of the tense situation in East Asia, such as the rise of China's military, cooperation between the Japan-US alliance would be deepened.

The Ministry of Defense might announce this soon. The concept design cost could be included in the 2021 budget draft to be decided by the Cabinet later this month; and with the support of the company, the performance and development costs would be worked out.

The next fighter would be the successor to the F2 fighter of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which was jointly developed by Japan and the United States. The Ministry of Defense planned to produce about 90 aircrafts, and it was estimated that the total business scale of this project until the stage of deployment could exceed 5 trillion yen.

The government had stated in a medium-term defense capability development plan (Chūki bō) compiled at the end of 2018 that it would develop the next fighter aircraft centered on the Japanese defense industry. If led by a Japanese company, it would be the first since F1 fighter developed by Mitsubishi Heavy in the 1970s.

According to the Ministry of Defense, China had more than 1,000 "fourth generation" fighters that was considered to be its mainstay. It was tripled in 10 years. It also steadily deployed the "5th generation" with stealth performance that was difficult for the other party's radar to detect. Russia was also aiming to introduce a fifth-generation aircraft, and was also developing large unmanned aircrafts for attack missions.

Based on these trends, the next fighter would be positioned as a "multi-role aircraft" that could handle all attacks on ships and ground, and also as a “Multi-role machine" that handled all aerial battles. This fighter had stealth performance and the ability to continue operations even if it was disturbed by electromagnetic waves. It was a response to China and Russia deployment of their state-of-the-art aircrafts.

In October of this year, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the main developer. This company would be responsible for the design of the fuselage and the integration of the system. It was assumed that IHI would be in charge of the engine, Subaru would be in charge of the fuselage, Toshiba and Fujitsu would be in charge of the radar while Mitsubishi Electric and others would be in charge of the mission system that controlled the electronic warfare equipment.

As Japan had not developed fighter aircrafts under the initiative of domestic companies for more than 40 years, it was now promoting the selection of foreign companies for technical assistance. By November, the Ministry of Defense had narrowed down three companies to Lockheed and Boeing in the US, and BAE Systems in the UK based on evaluation from aspects of: (1) System integration capabilities such as radar and missiles (2) High stealth and moving ability (3) Efficient development technology.

The reason for choosing Lockheed was its development record and the Japan-US alliance. It had developed the world's strongest F22 and F35, and had a good reputation for stealth technology. It would cooperate with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries mainly in terms of fuselage design and system integration.

During the time of development, emphasis would be placed on inter-operability between Japan and the United States. In preparation for an emergency, the next fighter could connect data with the US military's mainstay F22 and F35, making it easier to jointly develop fighting operations.

Lockheed collaborated with Northrop Grumman on its proposal to Japan. Northrop was strong in "data links" and sensors that connect information with multiple fighters. Working with Lockheed also has the advantage of being more likely to receive Northrop's technical assistance.

On Individual components, collaboration with British companies that were building cooperative relationships with Japan in defense technology would be explored. BAE had strengths in electronic warfare technology that used electromagnetic waves to prevent opponents from attacking.

Behind the development of the next fighter aircraft to be led by Japan was the speculation that it might lead to innovation in domestic companies and the development of new industries.

Within the defense industries, the fighter aircraft-related industries were wide spread, and it was said that about 1000 companies would be involved in the manufacture of each model of fighter. The required technologies ranged from high-power engines to infrared sensors, light and durable airframes, and information systems, each of them required advanced technological capabilities. Through this Japan-led development, the aim was to create innovation in the cutting-edge fields.

              So, this project shows that between the US and Japan there is a strong connection and trust. The research and development data of this next generation jet fighter could probably be a target for spying by other interested countries.

How well do dogs understand the owner's words? To verify it by measuring the brain

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

犬は飼い主の言葉をどの程度理解している？　脳の測定で検証

2020.12.09 Wed posted at 11:00 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 犬は自分の言葉を全て理解してくれていると飼い主は思うかもしれないが、実は単語を逐一聞き取っているわけではない――。そんな調査結果が８日の学術誌に発表された。

犬は音声の解釈に関して「人間のような」聴覚能力を持っているものの、人間のように単語と単語の微妙な違いを聞き分けることはできないと研究チームは解説している。

ハンガリーのエトベシュ・ロラーンド大学の研究チームは飼い犬を使って実験を実施。犬の頭に電極を貼り付けて脳波を測定し、脳の活動を調べた。

実験では録音した音声を再生して、犬が覚えている「ｓｉｔ（お座り）」などの指示言葉と、「ｓｕｔ」のように発音が似ていて意味のない単語、さらには「ｂｅｐ」のように全く発音が異なる意味のない単語を聞かせて反応を調べた。

その結果、犬が覚えている指示言葉と、発音が全く異なる意味のない単語との違いははっきりと聞き分けられることが分かった。「犬が覚えている指示言葉を聞かせた時と、全く発音が異なる意味のない単語を聞かせた時では、脳の活動が異なる。つまり、犬はそうした単語を認識していた」と研究者は解説する。

しかし、発音が似ている意味のない単語との違いは認識せず、自分が覚えている指示言葉と同じ単語として処理していた。

「犬は発話された全ての音声に注意を払っているわけではなさそうだ」「普通の犬が一生のうちに学習できるのは、少数の指示言葉にとどまる」と研究者は解説する。

ただし、犬が本当に人間の言葉に耳を傾けていることや、聞いたことのない人の声にも反応することは確認できたとしている。

Translation

(CNN) A dog owner might think that the dog understood all his words, but in reality it didn't listen to each word. The results of such a survey were published in an academic journal on the 8th.

Although dogs had "human-like" hearing abilities in interpreting speech, a research team explained that dogs could not distinguish between words as humans do.

A research team at the University of Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary conducted experiments with their dogs. Electrodes were attached to the dog's head, and brain waves were measured to examine brain activity.

In the experiment, a recorded voice played back instruction words such as "sit" that the dog remembered, and meaningless words such as "sut" which had similar pronunciation; the dog even listened to words "bep" and the like that had completely different pronunciations and had no meaning so as to examine the reaction.

As a result, it was found that the difference between the demonstrative words that the dog remembered and those completely meaningless words that had different pronunciation could be clearly distinguished. The researchers explained that "dog's brain activity is different when hearing a word that it remembers comparing to hearing a nonsensical word that has a completely different pronunciation, which means that the dog recognizes those words" .

However, it did not recognize the meaningless words that had similar pronunciations, and treated them  the same as those instruction words it had remembered.

A researcher explained that the "Dog doesn't seem to pay attention to every voice spoken," and that "a normal dog can learn only a few directives in his lifetime".

However, he said that the study was able to confirm that a dog could really listen to human words, and respond to the voice a person that it had never heard of before.

              So, this study shows that dogs are not very good at understanding human voice precisely.

Taiwan – one confirmed community infection of new corona - since April

A few days ago CNN.co.jp reported the following:

台湾、新型コロナの市中感染を確認　４月以来

2020.12.22 Tue posted at 19:01 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 台湾の保健当局は２２日、新型コロナウイルスの新たな感染者が１人確認されたと発表した。台湾の中での感染が確認されるのは４月以来、２５５日ぶり。

当局の発表によると、感染が確認されたのは３０代の女性。陽性反応を示した外国人パイロットと、今月８日から１０日までの間に接触していた。

台湾で４月１２日以降に確認された感染者は全員、域外からの渡航者だった。台湾に入る渡航者には隔離が義務付けられ、陽性者は隔離病棟で治療を受けることになっている。今月２２日には域外から入った３人の感染も確認され、累計の感染者は７７０人になった。

台湾は迅速な対応で感染を収束させた例として知られてきた。

新型ウイルスが最初に見つかった武漢からの直行便に対しては、昨年１２月３１日に乗客の検疫を開始。１月２１日に台湾初の感染者が確認されたことを受けて武漢からの入境を禁止し、中国本土と香港、マカオからの渡航者も検疫対象とした。

３月からは外交官らを除く全ての外国人の入境を禁止した。こうした措置と並行して接触追跡を徹底し、検査体制を強化した。

台湾で感染対策のルールを破った場合は厳しく処罰される。今月初めには、フィリピンからの出稼ぎ労働者が隔離中のホテルで８秒間だけ自室から出たとして、約３６万円の罰金を科された。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) - Taiwanese health officials announced on the 22nd that a person was newly infected with the new coronavirus was confirmed. It was the first time in 255 days since April that an infection was confirmed in Taiwan.

Officials said that a woman in her thirties was confirmed to be infected. She had been in contact with a foreign pilot who was tested positive between the 8th and 10th of this month.

All infected persons confirmed after April 12 in Taiwan were travelers from the outside region. Travelers entering Taiwan were required to be quarantined, and those tested positives were to be treated in a quarantine ward. On the 22nd of this month, three people from outside regions were confirmed to be infected, bringing the total number of infected people to 770.

Taiwan had been known as an example of a quick response to control the infection.

Passenger quarantine began on December 31st last year for direct flights from Wuhan where the new virus was first found. Following the confirmation of Taiwan's first infected person on January 21, entry from Wuhan was banned, and also travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau were targeted for quarantine.

From March, all foreigners except diplomats were banned from entering Taiwan. In parallel with these measures, a thorough contact tracking was carried out and its monitoring system was strengthened.

In Taiwan if anyone broke the rules on infection control, severe punished would be handed down. Earlier this month, a migrant worker from the Philippines was fined about 360,000 yen for leaving the room for just eight seconds during quarantine in a hotel.

              So, Taiwan is a good example on how to control the spread of Covid-19. It demonstrates an alternative way to deal with the pandemic without the need for a total city lockdown that is practiced in mainland China.

中國取消對美國外交官護照持有人訪問香港，澳門的簽證豁免

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

China revokes visa exemptions for U.S. diplomat passport holders visiting Hong Kong, Macau

Reuters Wed., December 9, 2020, 11:39 p.m. PST

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Thursday it would revoke visa exemption treatment for U.S. diplomatic passport holders visiting Hong Kong and Macau after the United States imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on more than a dozen Chinese officials.

Beijing will also implement reciprocal sanctions against some U.S. officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations, and their family members, over their "vile" behaviour on Hong Kong, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference.

China urges the United States not to go further down this "dangerous and mistaken path", Hua added.

She declined to give any names of those sanctioned or to say when the sanctions would start.

The United States on Monday imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 Chinese officials over their role in adopting a national security law for Hong Kong and over Beijing's disqualification last month of elected opposition legislators in Hong Kong.

The U.S. action was widely seen as part of an effort by outgoing President Donald Trump to cement his tough-on-China legacy and to box President-elect Joe Biden into taking a similarly hardline position on Beijing at a time of bipartisan anti-China sentiment in Congress. Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

In August the Trump administration slapped sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other top officials over what it said was their role in curtailing freedoms during a crackdown on the territory’s pro-democracy movement.

Translation

北京（路透社）- 中國周四表示，在美國對十多名中國官員實施金融制裁和旅行禁令之後，它將撤銷對赴港和澳門旅遊的美國外交護照持有人的免簽證待遇。

外交部發言人華春瑩在新聞發布會上說，北京還將對一些美國官員，國會議員，非政府組織人員及其家屬實施對等製裁, 因為他們在香港的“卑鄙”行為。

她說，中國敦促美國不要再走這條“危險而錯誤的道路”。

她拒絕透露被制裁者的名字或制裁的開始時間。

美國周一對14名中國官員實施金融制裁，並禁止其旅行，理由是他們在通過香港國家安全法方面的作用, 以及北京在上月取消香港在任的反對派議員的資格。

人們普遍認為，美國的行動是卸任總統唐納德·特朗普（Donald Trump）要鞏固其在中國強硬的遺產，並在兩黨反華情緒高漲的時候，令當選總統喬拜登（Joe Biden）在國會對北京採取類似強硬立場的努力的一部分。。拜登會於1月20日上任。

在8月，特朗普政府對香港行政長官林鄭月娥（Carrie Lam）和其他高級官員實施制裁，理由是他們在鎮壓民主運動期間減少自由方面有角色作用。

              So, it is another round of conflict between China and the US.

China expands its weather modification program – to an area bigger than India

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

中国、気象改変プログラムを拡大へ　インド超える面積が対象に

2020.12.05 Sat posted at 11:30 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 中国国務院は今週、人工降雨などの気象改変プログラムの対象地域を２０２５年までに５５０万平方キロ超に拡大する方針を明らかにした。これはインドの総面積の１．５倍以上に相当する。

国務院によると、基礎研究の進展や技術革新、安全リスク予防体制の改善が追い風となり、中国は２５年までに「先進的な気象改変システム」を持つに至る見込みだという。

今後５年間で、人工降雨・降雪の対象となる地域は５５０万平方キロ、降雹（ひょう）抑制の対象となる地域は５８万平方キロ超に達する見通し。国務院の声明では、気象改変プログラムにより災害救援や農業生産、森林・草原火災への緊急対応、猛暑や干ばつへの対処に改善が見込めるとしている。

中国がかねて気象制御に取り組んできた背景には、農地の保護に加え、主要行事に合わせ確実に青空をつくり出す目的もある。２００８年北京五輪の前にはスモッグを減らし、競技中の降雨を避けるため、「クラウド・シーディング（雲の種まき）」と呼ばれる技術で人工的に雨を降らせた。

クラウド・シーディングの発想自体は数十年前から存在する。湿度の高い雲の中に少量のヨウ化銀を注入すると、水分がヨウ化銀の粒の周りに集まり、重くなって雨として落下するという仕組みだ。

当初は不透明な部分もあったものの、中国はこの技術に重点投資し、２０１２年から１７年にかけて米ドル換算で１３億４０００万ドル超を投入。国営新華社通信によると、昨年には農業地帯の西部・新疆で雹による被害を７０％減らすことにつながった。

米国を含む他国もクラウド・シーディングへの投資を進めているが、中国はとりわけこの技術に熱心で、農業が雨期に大きく左右される隣国インドをはじめ一部地域では警戒感も広がっている。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) The State Council of the People's Republic of China announced this week that it would expand the coverage of its weather modification programs such as artificial rainfall to more than 5.5 million square kilometers by 2025. This was more than 1.5 times the total area of ​​India.

According to the State Council, with progress in basic research, innovation in technology, together with improvement in the safety risk prevention system, they were in a favorable situation. China was expected to have an "advanced weather modification system" by 2025.

Over the next five years, the area subject to artificial rainfall and snowfall was expected to reach 5.5 million square kilometers, and the area subject to hail control was expected to reach over 580,000 square kilometers. A statement from the State Council said the weather modification program could improve disaster relief, agricultural production, forest and grassland fire emergency response, and response to intense heat and drought.

Behind China's long-standing commitment to weather control was not only for the protection of farmland, but also for the purpose of reliably creating a blue sky in line with major events. Smog was reduced before the 2008 Beijing Olympics; and in order to avoid rainfall during the competitions, artificial raining was induced using a technique called "cloud seeding".

The idea of ​​cloud seeding itself had existed for decades. When a small amount of silver iodide was injected into a cloud that had a high humidity, water gathers around the silver iodide grains. It became heavy and fell as rain.

Although there were some uncertainties at the beginning, China focused on this technology and invested more than $ 1.34 billion in US dollars from 2012 to 2017. According to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency, last year hail damage was reduced by 70% in the western part of the agricultural area in Xinjiang.

Other countries, including the United States, were also investing in cloud seeding, but China was particularly keen on this technology, and there was growing caution in some regions, including neighboring India where its agriculture was heavily affected by the rainy season.

              So, China is expected to have an "advanced weather modification system" by 2025. It is interesting to note that China has invested more than $ 1.34 billion in US dollars from 2012 to 2017 on this weather controlling technology.

在使用輝瑞-德國生技公司的新冠肺炎疫苗上 - 加拿大科學家終於可以看到他們的努力成果

Yahoo News a few days ago reported the following:

Canadian scientists finally get to see their work on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine put to use

Elisabetta Bianchini

Yahoo News Canada Tue., December 15, 2020, 9:21 a.m. PST

As the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are administered across Canada Acuitas Therapeutics, the Vancouver-based company behind a key component of the vaccine, is excited about the historic moment.

“Obviously, as a Canadian company and as Canadian scientists, we were particularly pleased to see Health Canada provide the approval,” Acuitas Therapeutics president and CEO Dr. Thomas Madden told Yahoo Canada. “Everybody within Acuitas has been working all hours of the day and night since February this year.”

“They're just delighted that the work they put in has supported this early availability of vaccines and looking forward to more being available in 2021, to allow us to sort of gradually come out of this pandemic situation.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is using Acuitas Therapeutics lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system. The messenger RNA (mRNA) used in the vaccine is fragile after administration and is put in this carrier to protect it.

“[It is] using...a messenger RNA, which are the instructions to produce a protein that's found in the COVID-19 virus,” Dr. Madden, told Yahoo Canada earlier this year. “The message is administered, gets into our cells, the cells produce the COVID-19 protein, and our immune system recognizes that protein and develops an immune response, which protects us against future infections.”

Since Acuitas Therapeutics began working on helping companies develop COVID-19 vaccines, about 60 per cent of the company’s efforts went towards these developments. The Vancouver company is also working on COVID-19 vaccines with both Imperial College London and CureVac.

Could the vaccine be stored at warmer temperatures?

One of the core considerations of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the requirement to have it stored at ultra-cold temperatures, with recommended storage conditions set to -70 C. Dr. Madden stressed that there are still studies to evaluate whether there could be conditions where the vaccine can be stored at more easily achievable temperatures.

“It's simply the fact that we haven't wanted to delay making the vaccine available while studies are being conducted to demonstrate that it can be stored under other conditions...or at [-20 C],” he said. “Those studies need to be undertaken and the data then provided to the regulatory agencies, so that they can potentially approve alternate storage conditions.”

According to Pfizer, the vaccine vial can be stored for up to five days at between 2 to 8 C once thawed.

For anyone who still may have concerns about possibly receiving this vaccine, Dr. Madden stressed that no corners have been cut in the assessment process.

“The design of the clinical studies had previously been established by the regulatory agencies,” he said. “They had outlined exactly what information they wanted to receive, so that they would be able to review and assess safety and efficacy.”

In a statement, Dr. Madden also identified that there is the need for multiple companies globally to participate in the development COVID-19 vaccines.

“The more companies that are developing vaccines and sharing information on the safety and efficacy, the better it is,” a statement from the Acuitas Therapeutics president and CEO reads. “It’s important that people realize the spirit in which the biotechnology/pharmaceutical community is approaching this crucial task, and that is with innovative science and with a commitment to work together to benefit society on a global level.”

Translation

隨著輝瑞-德國生技公司(Pfizer-BioNTech) 的新冠肺炎疫苗注射首次藥在加拿大進行，作為在背後製作疫苗關鍵成分的溫哥華公司Acuitas Therapeutics對這一歷史性時刻感到興奮。

Acuitas Therapeutics總裁兼首席執行官Thomas Madden博士告訴加拿大雅虎說 “很明顯，作為一家加拿大公司和加拿大科學家，我們很高興看到加拿大衛生部提供了批准” 。又 說 “自今年2月以來，Acuitas內部的每個人都晝夜不停地工作。”

“他們感到高興的是，他們所做的工作為疫苗的早期提供提供了支持，並期待在2021年提供更多疫苗，以使我們逐漸擺脫這種大流行的狀況。”

輝瑞-德國生技公司疫苗正在使用Acuitas Therapeutics脂質納米顆粒（LNP）輸送系統。疫苗中使用的RNA（mRNA）信息傳達體在注射後成変脆弱，故放入該輸送系統對其進行保護。

Madden博士在今年早些時候告訴Yahoo Canada時說： “[正在]使用...RNA信息傳達，這是發現在COVID-19去生產病毒的蛋白質的信號指令。”; “信息號被注射，進入我們的細胞，細胞產生COVID-19蛋白，我們的免疫系統識別出該蛋白並產生免疫反應，從而保護我們免受將來的感染。”

自從Acuitas Therapeutics開始致力於幫助公司開發COVID-19疫苗以來，公司約有60％的努力用於這些開發。這家溫哥華公司還與倫敦帝國學院和CureVac合作研究COVID-19疫苗。

疫苗可以在較高溫度下保存嗎？

輝瑞-德國生技公司疫苗的核心考慮因素之一是要求將其保存在超冷溫度下，建議的存儲條件設置為-70C。Madden博士強調，仍在進行研究以評估是否可以使疫苗存放在更容易達到的溫度。

他說：“簡單的事實是，我們不希望為要進行研究表明可以在其他條件下或[-20 C]下儲存疫苗而推遲提供疫苗”;  “這些研究是需要進行的，然後將數據提供給監管機構，以便他們有可能批准替代的存儲條件。”

據輝瑞公司稱，一旦解凍，疫苗小瓶可以在2至8攝氏度之間保存最多5天。

對於任何仍可能對接種這種疫苗有疑慮的人，Madden博士強調說，在評估過程中他們沒有走捷徑。

他說：“臨床研究的設計是由監管機構以前定立的。” “他們準確地概述了他們想要接收的信息，以便他們能夠審查和評估安全性和有效性。”

Madden博士在聲明中還指出，全球需要多家公司參與開發COVID-19疫苗。

Acuitas Therapeutics總裁兼首席執行官在一份聲明中說： “越多公司開發疫苗, 並共享有關安全性和有效性的信息，效果越好” 。又說 ： “重要的是，人們必須意識到生物技術/製藥界用以邁進這一關鍵任務的精神，這就是要用創新科學與工作熱情，致力於在全球範圍內共同造福社會。”

       Acuitas Therapeutics president and CEO has expressed the spirit of the biotechnology/pharmaceutical community as about “the use of innovative science and with a commitment to work, together to benefit society on a global level”. It is an idealistic and touching professionalism among the scientists. In the 21^st century competitive world, I think national politics and economic interests may have played a even bigger role in making available the Covid-19 vaccine in such a short period of time.

The first wave of new corona vaccine – for the 50 states in the US

A few days ago CNN.co.jp reported the following:

USA

新型コロナワクチン、第１弾が全米５０州に

2020.12.15 Tue posted at 14:50 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 米食品医薬品局（ＦＤＡ）が承認した新型コロナウイル向けワクチンの第１弾が全米５０州とワシントン（コロンビア特別区）、米領プエルトリコに配送されたことがわかった。当局者が１４日明らかにした。新型コロナウイルスが米国で初めて見つかってから１年未満でワクチンが配布されたことになる。

米政府の「ワープスピード作戦」によって、米製薬大手ファイザーのワクチンは１年未満で開発された。ワクチンの多くは開発に何年もかかることから、今回の出来事は驚異的な業績といえる。配送についても、物流大手のフェデックスとＵＰＳが１３日に開始し、初日の分はすべて配送を終えたという。

公衆衛生局のジェローム・アダムス長官はＣＮＮの番組で、ワクチンの配布について、素晴らしいことだとの認識を示し、「きょう、我々は本当に希望を得た」と語った。

最初のワクチンは１４日、新型コロナウイルスの流行の最前線で仕事にあたっている医療従事者に対して使われた。

大部分の米国人がワクチンを接種できるようになるには数カ月かかる見通し。

米国では毎日数千人が新型コロナウイルスによって死亡している。ジョンズ・ホプキンス大学によれば、１４日午後、新型コロナウイルスによる米国での死者数が３０万人を超えた。

新規感染の件数も死者数も過去にない割合で加速しており、米国の人々はワクチン接種の前に今冬を乗り切らなくてはならない。

国立アレルギー感染症研究所のファウチ所長は、ワクチンの到着が新型コロナウイルスの流行の終わりだと考えないようにすべきだと警告している。

全米で今週配布のワクチンの数は約２９０万回分で、１４５万人のワクチン接種を始めるのに十分な量だ。

アザー厚生長官によれば、１２月末までに２０００万人がワクチンを接種でき、来年１月末までには最大５０００万人がワクチン接種できるようになる。

Translation

(CNN) It ​was revealed that the first wave of vaccine for the new corona approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had been delivered to the 50 states on top of Washington (District of Columbia) and Puerto Rico of the US. Officials made clear this on the 14th. The vaccine was distributed in less than a year after the new coronavirus was first discovered in the United States.

With the US government's “Operation Warp Speed” ​​, Pfizer, a major US pharmaceutical company had developed a vaccine in less than a year. This event was a phenomenal achievement, as many vaccines took years to develop. Regarding delivery, logistics giants FedEx and UPS had started work on the 13th, and was said to have been completed all deliveries of the first day.

Jerome Adams, Secretary of the Public Health Service, on a CNN show had expressed a recognition that the distribution of vaccines was great and said that "Today, we really got hope".

The first vaccine would be used on the 14th for healthcare workers working at the forefront in dealing with the new coronavirus epidemic.

It might take several months before most Americans could get the vaccine.

In the United States thousands of people died from the new coronavirus each day. According to Johns Hopkins University, in the United States the death toll from the new coronavirus had exceeded 300,000 in the afternoon of the 14th.

The number of new infections and deaths was accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and Americans had to survive this winter before receiving the vaccination.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned that the arrival of the vaccine should not be considered as the end of the new coronavirus epidemic.

The number of vaccines distributed this week in the United States was about 2.9 million, which was enough to start vaccination for 1.45 million people.

According to the Secretary of Health and Welfare, 20 million people could be vaccinated by the end of December; and up to 50 million people would be vaccinated by the end of January next year.

              So, this nation-wide vaccination program would help the US to return to its pre-pandemic level of economic activities very soon.

UAE announcement - China Sinopharm vaccine has 86% efficacy

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

Business

中国シノファームのワクチン、８６％の有効性　ＵＡＥ発表

2020.12.10 Thu posted at 16:00 JST

（ＣＮＮ） アラブ首長国連邦（ＵＡＥ）保健省は９日、中国国営製薬大手の中国医薬集団（シノファーム）が開発した新型コロナウイルスワクチンについて、８６％の有効性が確認されたと明らかにした。

ＵＡＥ国営通信に発表された保健省の声明によると、この結果は後期臨床試験（治験）で得られたデータの暫定分析に基づくもの。ＵＡＥは７月に治験を開始していた。

詳細はほとんど示されていないものの、今回の声名により、シノファーム傘下の中国生物技術（ＣＮＢＧ）が開発したワクチンに関して初めて情報が公開されたことになる。ＵＡＥは９月、第一線の労働者を対象に同ワクチンの緊急使用を承認していた。

声明は「分析では重大な安全上の懸念は示されていない」と説明。ただ、副作用の有無や、被験者のうち何人にワクチン、何人に偽薬が投与されたのかは明らかにしなかった。

声明はさらに、同ワクチンの「正式登録」はパンデミック（世界的大流行）の封じ込めに向けた大きな一歩になると付け加えたが、「正式登録」が何を意味するのかは詳しく説明していない。

ＵＡＥで行われた治験には、１２５カ国出身の有志３万１０００人が参加した。ＵＡＥ保健当局トップがＣＮＮに明らかにしたところによると、これまでに国内各地の１０万人近くが自主的に同ワクチンを接種したという。

中国の新型コロナワクチン開発では現在、４社が手がける５種類が治験の第３相に到達。中国は国内の感染をおおむね抑え込んだため、製薬企業はワクチンの有効性を試験する場所として他国に目を向けており、少なくとも１６カ国で第３相治験が始まっている。

Translation

(CNN) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Health announced on the 9th that the new coronavirus vaccine developed by the China Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), a major Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company, had been confirmed to be 86% effective.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Health published in the UAE state news agency, the results were based on a preliminary analysis of data obtained in final stage clinical trials. The UAE had begun clinical trials in July.

Although little details had been given, according to the announcement, it was the first time that information were released about a vaccine developed by China National Biotec Group (CNBG) under Sinopharm. In September, the UAE approved an emergency use of the vaccine for front-line workers.

The statement further said, "The analysis does not show any significant safety concerns". However, it did not reveal the presence or absence of side effects, or how many subjects were vaccinated, and how many were given the placebo.

The statement further added that the "formal registration" of the vaccine would be a major step towards containing a pandemic, but did not elaborate on what "formal registration" meant.

In the clinical trials conducted the UAE, 31,000 volunteers from 125 countries had participated. UAE health officials told CNN that nearly 100,000 people across its country had been vaccinated voluntarily so far.

In the development of the new corona vaccine in China, five types of vaccines handled by four companies had reached the third phase of clinical trials. As China had largely curtailed domestic infections, pharmaceutical companies were looking to other countries to test the effectiveness of vaccines, and phase III clinical trials had begun in at least 16 countries.

              So, China would be a potential Covid-19 vaccine major supplier soon.

UK - The first person to start vaccination is a 90-year-old woman

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

ワクチン接種始まる、一番乗りは９０歳の女性　英

2020.12.08 Tue posted at 19:24 JST

英ウェールズ・カーディフ（ＣＮＮ） 英国で８日、米ファイザーと独ビオンテックが共同開発した新型コロナウイルスワクチンの接種が始まった。

同国は先週、欧米諸国のトップを切ってワクチンを承認していた。

最初の１人は９０歳のマーガレット・キーナンさん。コベントリーの大学病院で１回目の接種を済ませた。３週間以上置いて２回目の接種を受ける。

政府の指針によると、接種後には次回の予定を書いたカードが配られる。２回目から７～１０日で免疫ができる。

英国はファイザーのワクチンを計４０００万回分注文しているが、第１弾で提供できるのは８０万回分。対象は８０歳以上の高齢者と介護施設の職員、前線で働く医療、社会福祉従事者に限られる。介護施設の入居者も優先されるが、政府の発表によると少し先になる見通しだ。

ファイザーのワクチンは零下約７０度の超低温で保管する必要がある。

英国は米モデルナのワクチンも７００万回分注文していて、当局が数週間以内に承認する見通し。こちらは零下２０度で保管することができ、介護施設などでの使用により適していると考えられる。

米食品医薬品局（ＦＤＡ）の諮問委員会は１０日の会合でファイザーのワクチンについて協議する見通し。今週中にもＦＤＡの緊急使用許可（ＥＵＡ）が出る可能性がある。

欧州医薬品庁（ＥＭＡ）はワクチンの緊急承認について、今月２９日に最終判断を下すと表明している。

Translation

Cardiff, Wales (CNN) The UK on the 8th had begun vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine that was jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNtech.

Last week, the country topped the list of Western countries to approve vaccines.

The first person was a 90-year-old Margaret Keenan. She completed the first vaccination at a university hospital in Coventry. She would receive the second vaccination after 3 weeks or more.

According to government guidelines, a card for the next vaccination appointment would be given. Immunization could be achieved in 7 to 10 days from the second vaccination.

The UK had ordered a total of 40 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, while the first batch could offer 800,000 doses. The target was limited to elderly people aged 80 and over, long-term care facility staff, and medical or social welfare workers working on the front lines. Residents of nursing homes could also be given priority, as the government had announced that they would be a little ahead.

Pfizer vaccine needed to be stored at ultra-low temperatures of about 70 degrees below zero.

The UK had also ordered 7 million doses of US Moderna vaccine, which the authorities was expected to approve it within a few weeks. They could be stored at 20 degrees below zero and was considered to be more suitable for use in nursing care facilities.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory board was expected to discuss Pfizer's vaccine at a meeting on Wednesday. The FDA's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) could be issued later this week.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had announced that it would make a final decision on the 29th of this month regarding the urgent approval of the vaccine.

              So, the British is the first country in the western world to begin a massive vaccination program to deal with the new coronavirus.

Singapore approves sales of artificially cultured chicken - the world's first

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

Business

シンガポール、人工培養鶏肉の販売を承認　世界初

2020.12.03 Thu posted at 16:05 JST

 ロンドン（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） シンガポール食品庁（ＳＦＡ）はこのほど、米サンフランシスコを拠点とする新興企業イート・ジャストに対し、実験室で培養した鶏肉の国内での販売を承認した。培養肉の販売を承認した国は世界で初めて。

イート・ジャストの１日の発表によると、この製品は人工培養した鶏の細胞からつくられたもので、チキンナゲットの原料として承認された。

同社のジョシュ・テトリック最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）はＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓに対し、人工鶏肉を使ったチキンナゲットについて、最初はシンガポールのレストラン１店で導入し、いずれ同国の飲食店や小売店で幅広く提供する予定だと明らかにした。

「我々は何百年、何千年と肉を食べてきたが、これまでは常に食用の動物を殺さねばならなかった」とテトリック氏は指摘している。

同社によると、培養肉は生体反応などを起こすための装置「バイオリアクター」でつくられ、たんぱく質やミネラルを豊富に含むという。

同社はシンガポールとカリフォルニア州北部に製造拠点を構える。今のところシンガポール以外では培養肉の販売の承認を得ていないが、今後は欧米にも販路を拡大していきたい考えだ。

米国ではすでに代替肉や植物由来たんぱく質の人気が高まっており、アジアでもこうした流れが定着しつつある。

今年は新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大で世界経済が混乱した状況にもかかわらず、植物由来たんぱく質を手がける米インポッシブル・フーズが、５億ドル規模の資金を新たに調達した。出資者は主にアジアの有力投資家で占められていた。

Translation

London (CNN Business) The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) had recently given an approval to a San Francisco-based start-up company Eat Just to sell laboratory-cultured chicken in Singapore. This was the first country in the world to approve the sale of cultured meat.

According to an announcement of East Just made on the 1st, the product was made from artificially cultured chicken cells and had been approved as a raw material for making chicken nuggets.

The company's CEO, Josh Tetric, told CNN Businesses to made clear that chicken nuggets made with artificial chicken could initially be introduced at a restaurant in Singapore and might eventually be widely offered at restaurants and retail stores in the same country.

"We've been eating meat for hundreds and thousands of years, until now, we always had to kill edible animals", Tetric pointed out.

According to the company, cultured meat was made with a device called "bioreactor" that caused biological reactions, and it was rich in proteins and minerals.

The company had manufacturing bases in Singapore and Northern California. So far, they had not obtained approval to sell cultured meat other than Singapore, but the company would like to expand its sales channels to Europe and the United States in the future.

Meat substitutes and plant-derived proteins were already gaining popularity in the United States, and this trend was taking root in Asia.

Despite the global economic turmoil caused by the spread of the new coronavirus, the Impossible Foods, an American plant-derived protein company, had raised $500 million in new funding this year. The financiers were mainly leading Asian investors.

              So, probably this new chicken meat could add new strengths to the spread of healthy food business in Asia.

On the main types of new corona vaccines under development around the globe

 Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

世界各国で開発中の新型コロナワクチン 主な種類は

2020年12月8日 22時59分

世界各国の製薬会社や研究機関でさまざまな種類の新型コロナウイルスのワクチンの開発が進められています。主な種類についてまとめました。

生ワクチン

生ワクチンは「弱毒化ワクチン」とも呼ばれ、実際のウイルスの中から毒性の弱いものを選んで増やしたものです。

生ワクチンは効果が高いものも多く、はしかや風疹など従来からさまざまな病気に対して使われています。

新型コロナウイルスではワクチンメーカーの阪大微生物病研究会や東京大学などで研究や開発が行われています。

不活化ワクチン

不活化ワクチンは、実際のウイルスをホルマリンで加工するなどして、毒性を無くしたものを投与するワクチンです。

季節性インフルエンザのワクチンはこの種類で、新型コロナウイルスでは、KMバイオロジクスなどが開発を進めているほか、中国では中国のメーカーのワクチンが限定的に投与されています。

VLPワクチン

VLPワクチンは、ウイルスそのものは使わず、ウイルスの表面に出ている突起の「スパイクたんぱく質」を人工的に合成したものを投与します。

「スパイクたんぱく質」は、ウイルスを攻撃する抗体の目印となります。

人工的に作ったものを投与することで、人に備わっている免疫の働きによって抗体を作り出します。

新型コロナウイルスについて、国内では大阪大学などで研究が行われているほか、アメリカなどでは数万人規模で安全性と有効性を確認する最終段階の臨床試験が行われています。

組み換えたんぱく質ワクチン

VLPワクチンと同様、ウイルスの表面にある「スパイクたんぱく質」を人工的に作り出すワクチンです。

遺伝子組み換え技術を使ってたんぱく質を作って、投与することで、体内でウイルスを攻撃する抗体を作り出します。

国内では、製薬大手の塩野義製薬が開発を進めています。

mRNAワクチン

mRNAワクチンは、ウイルスの表面にあるスパイクたんぱく質を作るための遺伝情報を伝達する物質、「mRNA」を使います。

人工的に作って注射で投与することで、体の中でスパイクたんぱく質が作られ、それを受けて免疫の働きによって抗体が作られます。

新型コロナウイルスの感染が広がる前には実用化されていない新たな技術で、開発にかかる期間が従来のワクチンより大幅に短縮できるのが大きな利点になっています。

新型コロナウイルスでは、アメリカの製薬大手、ファイザーが作ったワクチンの投与が始まったほか、別の製薬会社、モデルナのワクチンも最終的な臨床試験で高い効果を示したとしています。

日本国内でも、製薬大手の第一三共が、開発を進めています。

DNAワクチン

ウイルスの表面にあるスパイクたんぱく質のDNAを人工的に作り出して、ワクチンとして接種します。

投与されたDNAは体内の細胞の中で核に入り込んでmRNAを作りだし、そのmRNAによってスパイクたんぱく質が作られることで、抗体が生み出されます。

大阪大学発のバイオベンチャー企業、アンジェスのワクチンはこの種類で、国内では最も早く、実際に人に投与して安全性や有効性を確認する臨床試験を始めています。

ウイルスベクターワクチン

ウイルスのスパイクたんぱく質を作る遺伝子を、無害な別のウイルスに組み込んで、そのウイルスごと投与するワクチンです。

無害なウイルスが細胞に感染して、新型コロナウイルスのスパイクたんぱく質を作りだし、抗体が作られます。

イギリスのオックスフォード大学と製薬会社のアストラゼネカのワクチンはこの種類で、数万人規模に対して行われた最終段階の臨床試験で高い有効性が示されたとしています。

日本国内でもバイオ企業のIDファーマが開発を進めています。

Translation

Pharmaceutical companies and research institutes around the world are developing various types of vaccines for the new coronavirus. The main types are summarized below.

Live vaccine

Live vaccines, also called "attenuated vaccines," are made from the actual viruses by selecting less virulent ones and increasing them.

Many live vaccines are highly effective and have traditionally been used for various diseases such as measles and rubella.

Regarding the new coronavirus, research and development are currently done by vaccine manufacturers such as the Osaka University Microbial Disease Research Association and the University of Tokyo.

Inactivated vaccine

An inactivated vaccine is a vaccine that is processed with formalin on the actual virus, and administered with things that have no toxicity.

Seasonal influenza vaccine belongs to his type, vaccine for the new coronavirus is being developed by KM Biologics and others; while in China, vaccines of the Chinese manufacturers have been given a restricted administration.

VLP vaccine

About VLP vaccine, it does not use the virus itself, but administers an artificially synthesized "spike protein" of the protrusions on the surface of the virus.

"Spike protein" is a marker for antibodies to attack the virus.

By administering this artificially made product, an antibody is produced by the immune system that a person possesses.

Research on the new coronavirus is being conducted at Osaka University in Japan, and final-stage clinical trials are being conducted in the United States and other countries to confirm its safety and efficacy on a scale of tens of thousands of people.

Recombinant protein vaccine

Similar to VLP vaccine, it is a vaccine that artificially creates "spike protein" on the surface of the virus.

By making proteins using genetically modified technology and administering them, antibodies that attack the virus in the body are produced.

In Japan, the major pharmaceutical company Shionogi is developing it.

mRNA vaccine

mRNA vaccine uses "mRNA," a substance that transmits genetic information for the purpose of making spike proteins that is on the surface of the virus.

By artificially making it and administering it by injection, spike protein is made in the body, and in response to it, antibodies are made by the function of immunity.

It is a new technology that has not been put into practical use before the spread of the new coronavirus infection, and it has a great advantage in that its development time can be significantly shortened compared to conventional vaccines.

To tackle the new coronavirus, this vaccine made by the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has begun to be administered; meanwhile about another pharmaceutical company, the Moderna, its vaccine has shown to be highly effective in the final clinical trials.

In Japan as well, Daiichi Sankyo, a major pharmaceutical company, development is progressing.

DNA vaccine

The DNA of the spike protein on the surface of the virus is artificially created and inoculated as a vaccine.

The administered DNA enters the nucleus in the cells of the body to produce mRNA, and the mRNA produces spike protein, antibodies are thus produced.

This vaccine is now researched by AnGes MG, a bio-venture company from Osaka University, is belong to this type and is the earliest in Japan. Actual administration to humans in clinical trials to confirm its safety and efficacy has begun.

Viral vector vaccine

It is a vaccine in which the gene that makes the spike protein of a virus is incorporated into another harmless virus and administered together.

The harmless virus infects the cells to create a spike protein of the new coronavirus and thus creates antibodies.

In the United Kingdom, the vaccine by AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, together with the Oxford University belongs to this type; it has shown high efficacy in the final-stage clinical trials conducted on tens of thousands of people.

In Japan, ID Pharma, a biotechnology company, is also developing this.

              So, Japanese companies are doing their own research to find a vaccine to deal with Covid-19.

[Note: AnGes MG, Inc. (アンジェス株式会社) is a Japanese biopharmaceutical company. It is located in Ibaraki City in Osaka Prefecture and its main business is on the research and development of genetic drugs.]

Simon & Schuster sold to Penguin - US publishers in 1st and 3rd place integrated

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

 Business

サイモン＆シュスター、ペンギンに売却　米出版１位と３位が統合

2020.11.26 Thu posted at 12:40 JST

ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ Ｂｕｓｉｎｅｓｓ） 米メディア大手バイアコムＣＢＳは２５日、傘下の米大手出版社サイモン・アンド・シュスターを、同業最大手のペンギン・ランダムハウスに２１億７５００万ドル（約２２７０億円）で売却すると明らかにした。米国で１位と３位の出版社が経営統合することになる。

ペンギン・ランダムハウスは独メディア大手ベルテルスマンの子会社。売却契約は来年まとまる見込みで、規制当局の承認が必要となる。

バイアコムＣＢＳは米テレビのＣＢＳネットワークや映画大手パラマウント・ピクチャーズ、音楽専門チャンネル「ＭＴＶ」などを傘下に持つ。同社は今回の売却について、ＣＢＳとの昨年の合併を受け非中核資産を売却する取り組みの一環だと説明した。

サイモン・アンド・シュスターは米３位の出版社で、今年は著名ジャーナリストのボブ・ウッドワード氏や、トランプ大統領のめいのメアリー・トランプ氏らによる暴露本を出版。これ以外にもスティーブン・キング氏やドリス・カーンズ・グッドウィン氏といったベストセラー作家の作品を出版している。

一方、ペンギン・ランダムハウスは米最大手の出版社であり、最近ではオバマ前大統領の新たな回顧録を発売した。

サイモン・アンド・シュスターは契約がまとまった後も引き続き、独立した出版部門として事業を継続する。ジョナサン・カープ社長兼最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）らは現職にとどまる。

カープ氏は２５日付の従業員宛てのメモで、サイモン・アンド・シュスターは９６年間の歴史を通じて７社の傘下に入ってきたと指摘。「こうした変化の中で我々は新たな経営体制に適応し、他社を仲間に迎え入れ、そのたびにより強くなってきた」と述べた。

Translation

New York (CNN Business) - It became clear that Viacom CBS, a major US media company, had sold its affiliated major US publisher Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House who was the largest in the industry for $ 2,175 million (about 227 billion yen) on the 25th. The first and third publishers in the United States would be merged.

Penguin Random House was a subsidiary of German media giant Bertelsmann. The sale agreement was expected to be finalized next year and it might require regulatory approval.

Viacom CBS owned the CBS television network of the US, the Paramount Pictures that was a major movie company, and the music channel "MTV" etc. The company described the sale as part of an effort to sell non-core assets following last year's merger with CBS.

Simon & Schuster was the third-largest publisher in the United States, and this year it published a revealing book because of the renowned journalist Bob Woodward and President Trump's niece Mary Trump and others. Besides, it had also published works by best-selling authors such as Stephen King and Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Meanwhile, Penguin Random House was the largest publisher in the United States and recently it released a new memoir of former President Obama.

Simon & Schuster would continue to operate as an independent publishing division after the deal was signed. Director Jonathan Carp cum CEO together with others would remain in their current positions.

Carp pointed out in a memo to employees on the 25th that Simon & Schuster had been under the umbrella of seven companies throughout its 96-year history. He said "In the midst of these changes, we have adapted to the new management structure, and welcome other companies as friends and become stronger each time in the process."

              So, Penguin Random House is becoming even bigger now. It is interesting to know the fact that Penguin Random House is a subsidiary of German media giant Bertelsmann.

UK - Darwin's notebook including sketches about evolution - possibily stolen

"Tree of Life" drawn by Darwin (Source: CNN)

Recently cnn.co.jp reported the following:

Luxury

2020.11.25 Wed posted at 15:00 JST

進化論にまつわるスケッチ含むダーウィンのノート、盗難の可能性　英国

Amy Woodyatt, CNN

英国の自然科学者チャールズ・ダーウィンがかつて所有し、「進化論」に関連するスケッチなどを書き留めたノート２冊について、英ケンブリッジ大学図書館は２４日、「盗難に遭った公算が大きい」と明らかにした。ノートは２０年間紛失した状態にあり、その価値は数億円に上るとみられている。

２冊のノートのうちの１冊には、ダーウィンによる「生命の樹」のスケッチが描かれている。図書館は声明でこれらのノートについて、２０００年９月、写真撮影のため希少かつ高価値な収蔵品を保管する金庫室から持ち出されたと述べた。

同年１１月に撮影されたとの記録があるものの、翌年１月に定期点検を行ったところ、ノートを入れた小さな箱があるべき場所に戻されていないことが分かったという。

 ダーウィンが「生命の樹」のスケッチや進化論に関する概念をノートに書き留めたのは１８３７年の夏。ビーグル号による世界一周の旅から帰還した後だった。この数十年後には、生命の樹の発想をさらに展開させた著書「種の起源」を出版する。

長年にわたりケンブリッジ大学の図書館員は、広大な館内でノートを紛失しただけと思い込んでいた。同図書館の棚をすべて合わせた長さは２１０キロ以上。所蔵する本や地図、写本は１０００万冊余りに上る。

しかしノートの所在を「徹底的に」調べたところ、もはや館内には存在しないと考えられることが分かった。大学側は、盗まれた可能性が高いとしている。

同図書館の業務責任者は声明で、ノートの発見に全力を挙げて取り組む意向を示した。すでに地元警察に盗難届を出したほか、国際刑事警察機構（インターポール、ＩＣＰＯ）が管轄する盗難被害にあった文化遺産データベース「サイキ（Ｐｓｙｃｈｅ）」への登録も済ませているという。

ノートの内容は過去にデジタル化され、ケンブリッジ・デジタル・ライブラリーに収蔵されている。大学も引き続きノートの探索を行う計画で、完了まで５年かかると見込んでいる。

Translation

Amy Woodyatt, CNN

The University of Cambridge Library said on the 24th that two notebooks that were once owned by British natural scientist Charles Darwin that had sketches related to "evolution” written down were "probably stolen". The notebook had been lost for 20 years and was estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of yen.

One of the two notebooks had a sketch of the "Tree of Life" by Darwin. The library said in a statement that for photography purposes these notebooks were taken out of a vault in September 2000 that stored rare and valuable collections.

Although there was a record that photos were taken in November of the same year, a regular inspection in January of the following year revealed that the small box containing the notebooks had not been returned to the place where it should have been.

It was in the summer of 1837 that Darwin wrote down a sketch of the "Tree of Life" and the concept of evolution in his notebooks. It was after his returning from a trip around the world on the ship the Beagle. Decades later he would publish his book, On the Origin of Species, which further developed the idea of ​​the “Tree of Life”.

For many years, Cambridge University librarians believed that they had just lost their notebooks inside its big library. The total length of all the shelves in the library was over 210 km. It had more than 10 million books, maps and manuscripts.

However, a "thorough" examination of the location of the notebooks revealed that it no longer existed in the museum. The university said it was highly likely that it was stolen.

In a statement, the library's manager said he would do everything in his power to find the notebooks. In addition to having already filed a theft report with the local police, it had already been registered in the cultural heritage database "Psyche" under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol, ICPO).

The contents of the notebooks had been digitized in the past and were stored in the Cambridge Digital Library. The university also planned to continue searching for the notes, which was expected to take five years to complete.

Some books about Darwin

              Darwin is my idol and hero. I have read a few books written about him, and about his voyage around the world on a British science research ship the Beagle in December 1831. The book that I like most is entitled “Darwin -The Voyage of the Beagle” published by Wordsworth in 1997. It is a record on what Darwin had seen during this sea voyage. His encounters in South America had help him to develop his evolution theory. I always believe that his book On the Origin of Species published in 1859, which further developed his idea of the “Tree of Life”, had shaken the common belief that “human is made by God”.