TOPIC FOR SATURDAY MEETING(FEBRUARY/23)

------------------------------------- Today's Headline News -------------------------------------   1. The independent counsel yesterday cleared President-elect Lee Myung-bak of all crime allegations, thereby paving the way for the smooth launch of his presidency next Monday. *to clear someone of something: ~가 ~이 없음을 밝히다;  allegations=혐의; * to pave the way for: ~의 길을 열다; ~을 용이하게 하다.  = open the door for, set the stage for   Q1) Are you satisfied with the result from the independent counsel? Q2) Do you agree with the opinion that if you are not guilty by law, you don't need to feel sorry?   2. The government's safety standards were called into question again after a fire broke out in the central government building yesterday. An electric fault could have caused the fire. * to call into question = 의문 삼다, 문제 삼다, 의심되다   3. The price of oil touched an all-time peak of 101.32 dollars a barrel on Thursday. Oil's surge propelled gold to a record high of 948.59 dollars an ounce.   Q3) When do you feel that oil price is rising?   4. Serbian protesters broke into the U.S. Embassy in downtown Belgrade today set fire to the building during a government-sponsored rally against Kosovo's declaration of independence.   ------------------------------------- Today's News Articles -------------------------------------   Cubans' economic hopes rest on new leader Many Cubans are wondering what the future holds for them after their ailing leader since 1959, Fidel Castro, announced Tuesday he would no longer run as president. Fidel's 76-year old brother, Raul Castro, is expected to be named as the successor in a parliament meeting this Sunday. Some reform-seekers see a ray of hope for change with Raul; while acting as president over the past 19 months, he acknowledged that Cubans' salaries do not provide basic needs, and has encouraged Cubans' complaints when the government mishandles the economy. Some Cubans hope their country will follow in China's footsteps - remaining politically communist while letting the economy be mostly determined by markets. However, Fidel may continue to play a role behind the scenes to keep any capitalist reforms out of Cuba.   *what the future holds: 미래가 어떤일을 가져올지, 미래에 무엇이 일어날 지 = What may happen in the future = What lies ahead fate (운명)의 의미가 담겨있다. *a ray of hope: 한가닥 희망, 실날같은 희망 = a small chance; a glimmer of hope = a light at the end of the tunnel *to follow in someone's footsteps: …의 뒤를 따라가다;…의 선례를 따르다, = To carry on the behavior, work, or tradition of someone. = take the same path *behind the scenes: 배후에서 = in the background, behind the curtain, in secret, out of public view. happening or conducted out of view of the general public China and Russia accuse U.S. of militarizing space U.S. Defense officials say it appears a missile fired from a warship in the Pacific Ocean was right on the money in hitting the fuel tank of a crippled spy satellite in space. The U.S. says that shooting down the satellite was necessary because of its toxic fuel that could be deadly when it re-enters Earth's atmosphere, but the move has been met with criticism. Professor Michio Kaku, a renowned physicist, said, "This latest move can be seen as provocative, since the US has refused to renegotiate and strengthen the 1987 Outer Space Treaty." China and Russia also point the finger at the U.S. for militarizing space. However, some might consider China's criticism a case of the pot calling the kettle black last year in January, western governments heavily protested when China shot down an out-of-order weather satellite. *right on the money: 정확하게 맞다, 정통으로 맞히다 = right on target, right on the nose, right on the mark, = bullseye! *provocative: 성나게 하는, 도발하는, 자극하는 = inciting, stimulating, irritating, or vexing *point the finger at: ~을 비난하다, 지탄하다, ~에게 손가락질 하다 to accuse someone of being responsible for something that has happened. = to blame, accuse, condemn *the pot calling the kettle black: 뭐 뭍은 개가 겨 뭍은 개 나무란다 = to be hytocritical = look who's talking!   Q4) What are you into thesedays? Q5) Have you watched any movies or read any books or magazines, recently?