2025年10月4日「モバイル英語学習」第898号(英語のエッセイ): Countries Without…

No Rivers – Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without any permanent rivers. It relies on aquifers and desalination for water.
No Mountains – The Maldives is the flattest country on Earth, with its highest natural point only 2.4 meters above sea level.
No Airports – Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City have no airports of their own. Travelers must fly into neighboring countries.
No Coastline – Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country. Liechtenstein goes further — it’s one of only two countries in the world that are doubly landlocked, surrounded entirely by other landlocked nations.
No Army – Costa Rica, Iceland, Panama, Liechtenstein, and Vatican City are among the few countries with no standing military.
No Capital City – Nauru is unique: it has no official capital. Government offices are simply located in the Yaren district.
No Forests – Qatar, Greenland, and San Marino have no significant forest cover. Their landscapes are dominated by desert, ice, or urban areas.
No UNESCO Sites – Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein have no UNESCO World Heritage sites — rare for European nations.

2025年9月27日「モバイル英語学習」第897号(英語のエッセイ): The shortest war in history

Notes:
conflict /ˈkɒn.flɪkt/ 紛争、争い;
ultimatum /ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm/ 最後通告(相手に従わなければ行動を起こすと警告する最後の要求);
artillery /ɑːˈtɪl.ə.ri/ 大砲;
consulate /ˈkɒn.sjə.lət/ 領事館(外国にある自国民を守るための政府の事務所);
throne 王座;
colonial /kəˈləʊ.ni.əl/ 植民地の;
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The shortest war in history happened on August 27, 1896, between Britain and Zanzibar. It lasted only about 38 minutes. The conflict started when the Sultan of Zanzibar, Hamad bin Thuwaini, died. Britain wanted the new ruler to be someone friendly to them. But another man, Khalid bin Barghash, took the throne without British approval. The British gave him an ultimatum to step down. He refused, and instead gathered his soldiers and artillery near the palace. At 9:02 a.m., British warships began to fire at the palace. By 9:40 a.m., the palace was in ruins, and Khalid fled to the German consulate. More than 500 Zanzibaris were killed or wounded, while only one British sailor was injured. Afterward, Britain placed their chosen sultan on the throne. This tiny war shows how powerful Britain was during the colonial period.
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