TOPIC FOR SATURDAY MEETING(JANUARY/12)

------------------------------------ Today's Headline News -------------------------------------   1. The Federation of Korean Industries said, the nation’s top 30 conglomerates are expected to spend a combined 89.9 trillion won in facility investment this year, up 19.1 percent from last year. *conglomerates(원래 집성(체)의 뜻/ 대기업, -companies) *facility investment(시설투자)   Q1) What do you expect first for nation's big conglomerates? 2. Chinese President Hu Jintao has ordered his government to closely cooperate with Korea with regards to the Chinese people who were victims of a fire in a warehouse in Icheon.   3. Korean corporations secured a record $42.2 billion worth of overseas industrial plant orders in 2007 as demand from Middle Eastern and African countries rose.   4; U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend the inauguration of Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak next month, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Thursday.   5. South Korea's central bank on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged in January as concerns over growing external uncertainty outweigh rising inflation woes. *A outweighs B: A보다 B가 더 중요하다 *woes: 걱정거리   6. The government transition committee said yesterday, starting next year, smaller automobiles that pump cheaper liquefied petroleum gas will hit the streets.   Q2) What is your dream car? why do you wanna have it?   7.  Fresh interest rate cuts may be needed to shore up US economic growth amid a protracted housing slump and financial market turmoil, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday. * shore up: 지주로 받치다. 떠받치다. * amid: …의 한복판에;…이 한창일 때에 * protract: 시간을 연장하다   Q3) Are you expecting a decent economic growth of Korea for this year? Q4) Which on could be the best investment of your money for this year, still real-estate, stocks, or water/gold/raw materials?   ------------------------------------ Today's News Articles -------------------------------------   Hillary's teary episode helps in New Hampshire primaries Hillary Clinton admitted Wednesday that showing her softer side played a big part in putting her back in the running in the U.S. Democratic primaries with a big win in New Hampshire. Although polls had given rival candidate Barack Obama a considerable lead, a turning point came when Clinton got choked up while answering a question about what keeps her going. Misty-eyed, she said, "This is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public." Many believe her emotional outpouring tugged on the heartstrings of voters- particularly women, who turned out in greater numbers than men in New Hampshire. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, also said that from his wife's teary moment, "People saw who she was." * in the running: 승산이 있는  * turning point: 전환기 = pivotal point  * get choked up: 목이 메이다. * misty-eyed: 눈물을 글썽이다. = tears well up  * tugged on the heartstrings : 심금을 울리다   Q5) Do you think Hillary Clinton can be the next president of U.S.? Newspaper law to be scrapped under new government President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s incoming government has its sights set on scrapping a newspaper law that has been under fire for tightening up on freedom of the press and the media industry. The Newspaper Act has been criticized for focusing on major daily newspapers that are critical of the government. Under the regulation, newspapers with high market shares are subjected to monopoly laws. Organizations set up in enforcement of the Newspaper Act with the intention of increasing access in rural areas to a variety of newspapers are also likely to be shut down, as they have been criticized for helping pro-government papers gain a louder voice. The new government also hopes to breathe new life into the media industry by easing regulations that restrict newspapers from going into telecommunications and broadcasting.   Q6) Are you subscribing a newpaper? Q7) Which section do you read first? Golden Globes ceremony cancellation jolts Hollywood The nine-week old Hollywood writers strike is taking its toll on this year’s Golden Globe movie and TV awards since it was announced that the glamorous ceremony would be cancelled and replaced with a simple news conference. The fallout from the ceremony’s cancellation will be huge; it was estimated that the Golden Globes bring $70-$80 million to the Los Angeles economy a year. Since most of the after parties have been cancelled, the ripple effect extends to businesses like hotels, beauticians, caterers, and security guards. Magazines will also scramble to fill their pages, as celebrities are not likely to attend the news conference. One columnist says, “There are so many gray areas and such confusion. These stars are so baffled they may just stay home." *fallout: (악영향) 후유증, 부수적 결과-An incidental result or side effect eg)political fallout ;정치적 결과 (방사선 낙진의 뜻도 있다-the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a nuclear explosion: radioactive dust) *(review) ripple effect: 파급 효과, 연쇄 작용-the spreading outwards of the repercussions of a particular event or situation to areas beyond its initial location/ A gradually spreading effect or influence *scramble: 애써 해나가다-To struggle or contend frantically in order to get something (-egg scramble?) *baffled: 당황하다, 당혹스러워하다 To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie