NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2025年11月勉強分②
国連PKO要員 約4分の1削減へ
< 見出し>UN TO CUT PEACEKEEPING FORCE AMID FUNDING SHORTFALL
・shortfall：不足、欠損
The United Nations is scaling back its peacekeeping operations, forcing thousands of personnel to withdraw from global hotspots.
・scale back ～：～を縮小する
・peacekeeping operations：平和維持活動（略称 PKO）
・hotspot：戦地、紛争地域
This comes as the organization faces a funding shortfall due to unpaid contributions from the United States.
・contribution：ここでは国連に支払う「分担金」
Senior UN officials say the world body will reduce its peacekeeping force by roughly 25 percent.
That’s about 13,000 to 14,000 peacekeepers who will return home or be laid off.
They say the cuts are part of contingency measures to reduce 15 percent of the peacekeeping budget.
・contingency：不測の事態、不慮の出来事、ここでは「臨時の、緊急時の 」 [kəntíndʒənsi]
Officials warn the reductions will have a significant impact on the UN’s ability to carry out its missions, mainly in the Middle East and Africa.
These missions include monitoring ceasefires and protecting civilians.
・ceasefire：休戦、停戦
Each UN member state is legally obligated to pay its portion toward peacekeeping.
Washington is responsible for more than 26 percent of the budget.
UN officials are urging member states, including the U.S., to pay their share of contributions.
ローソン 災害支援コンビニ100か所設置へ
< 見出し>LAWSON TO DESIGNATE 100 STORES AS DISASTER RESPONSE HUBS
・hub：拠点、中心地
Japanese convenience store chain Lawson says it will upgrade 100 of its shops nationwide by fiscal 2030 so they can be used as disaster response hubs.
The company cited the need to prepare for large-scale disasters, such as an anticipated massive earthquake in the Nankai Trough off Japan’s Pacific coast.
・trough：（大地や海底の）溝 /trɑːf/
“Many people will go to a convenience store first when disaster strikes. We want to meet their expectations.”
Lawson said the designated stores will have solar panels on their roofs and be able to draw power from the company’s electric vehicles to continue operating.
・draw power：電力を取る
People will be able to charge their smartphones at them.
The outlets will also use Starlink satellite internet services to secure emergency communications.
・outlet：店舗
※out+letから何かが外へ出ていくイメージの意味になる。「店舗」は商品が外に出ていくイメージ。「コンセント」も同様。（by GPT）
Lawson said one store will be fitted out with the equipment to conduct disaster drills before the end of this fiscal year.
・fit out A with B：ＡにＢを備え付ける、ＡにＢを装備する
※fit outでなぜ「装備」になるのか下記GPT欄参照
“･･･one store will be fitted out with the equipment ･･･." で「fit out」がなぜ「装備する」？
句動詞では、out は「完全に」「全体的に」「外側まで」というニュアンスを加える。
なので
fit：何かをうまく合うように取り付ける
fit out：「全体的にきちんと取り付ける」→「必要な装備・設備をすべて整える」
例）
・The ship was fitted out for a long voyage.「船は長い航海のために装備が整えられた」
・The office is being fitted out with new computers.「オフィスには新しいコンピューターが備え付けられているところだ」
↓
能動態で書くと語順はどうなる？
fit out の目的語（A）は「場所・乗り物・建物」など
with の後ろ（B）は「設備・装備・機器」など
なので、例えば上の2番目の例文は（主語が “I" なら）
I’ve been fitting out the office with new computers.
（× I’ve been fitting out new computers to the office. ・・・と最初書いてしまった）
高市首相 初の所信表明演説
< 見出し>TAKAICHI POLICY SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMY AND DEFENSE
Japan’s new prime minister has laid out her vision for the country’s future.
Takaichi Sanae says she’ll tackle rising prices while strengthening the country’s defenses.
Takaichi delivered her first policy speech in the Diet.
“I’m determined to turn people’s anxieties about their present and future into hope and to build a strong economy.”
・(be) determined to ～：～する決意がある
Takaichi said the Cabinet will swiftly draw up a set of economic measures and submit a draft supplementary budget to fund them.
・swiftly：迅速に、早急に
・draw up：（文書などを）作成する、取りまとめる
・supplementary：追加の、補足の
・supplementary budget：補正予算
On foreign and national security policy, Takaichi expressed deep concern over the military activities of China, North Korea, and Russia.
She said she aims to further improve ties with the United States.
On defense, Takaichi said she aims to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities.
She added the government will speed up its plan to raise defense spending and related expenditures to 2 percent of GDP.
・expenditure：支出、経費
※expenseとの違いについて下記GPT欄参照
“･･･ the government will speed up its plan to raise ･･･ related expenditures･･･." の「expenditure」と「expense」との違いは？
expenditure（支出）：政府・企業など大きな組織が計画的・公式に使うお金
（フォーマルでニュース・経済文に頻出）
expense（費用）：もっと日常的なお金・特定の用途の「費用」
この文でここで「expense」にすると、スケールが小さく日常的になってしまい、政府レベルの予算というニュアンスには合わない。
日経平均株価 初の5万円突破
< 見出し>NIKKEI 225 CLOSES ABOVE 50,000 FOR FIRST TIME
Tokyo’s main stock index kicked off the week by hitting an all-time high, closing above the 50,000 mark for the first time.
・all-time high：これまでの最高の高さ
Investors welcomed the news of easing tensions between the U.S. and China.
Traders celebrated as the Nikkei 225 reached the key milestone soon after the opening.
The Nikkei ended on Monday at 50,512, up more than 1,200 points, or nearly 2.5 percent.
Investors bought across the board.
China is expected to postpone tighter export controls on rare earths for a year.
In response, the U.S. will hold off from raising tariffs on Chinese goods by 100 percent.
・hold off from ～ing：～するのを控える、延期する、～をいったん見送る
The Tokyo benchmark has gained 26 percent so far this year.
・the Tokyo benchmark：the Nikkei 225やthe Nikkeiを言いかえたもの
Among the drivers have been the Japan-U.S. trade agreement, an expanding AI market, and positive views of the economic policies of Japan’s new administration.
・driver：（上昇・成長などの）要因、原動力
※この文の構造について下記GPT欄参照
※今回の放送回での学習ポイント「eitherに「どちらか一方の」と「両方の」という相反する意味がある理由」に関しては、「自民党新総裁に高市早苗氏」の豆知識参照。
“Among the drivers have been the Japan-U.S. trade agreement, ･･･." の文の主語と述語は？
Among the drivers (S) + have been (V) + A, B, and C (C)
主語が長いため、読みやすさのためにひっくり返してある（倒置）。
通常の語順にすると：
“The Japan-U.S. trade agreement, an expanding AI market, and positive views … have been among the drivers."