------------------------------------- Today's Headlines ------------------------------------- ① The government said Monday that 41 state-owned firms would be privatized, merged or restructured under the first phase, but the plan stops short of including the nation's biggest government-run energy companies. ② The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties agreed Monday to speed up the formation of parliamentary committees to end the country's two-month-long legislative vacuum, officials said. floor leaders(정당의 원내총무) speed up (속도를 높이다, 가속하다 =accelerate) ③ The United States said North Korea will not be removed from a terrorist list on Monday due to the lack of a complete verification plan for North Korea's nuclear programs. ④ Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife failed to appear at a court hearing Monday amid reports they may go into exile. Thaksin was under obligation to testify in court while his wife is out on bail. go into exile (추방당하다, 떠도는 신세가 되다) under obligation to do (~할 의무가 있다 =be obliged to do) out on bail.(보석 출옥 중이다) ------------------------------------- Today's News Articles ------------------------------------- Heated conflict between Russia and Georgia in the Caucasus Both Russia and Georgia have accused each other of continuing attacks in the South Ossetia region, where a Georgian attack last Friday set off Russian counter-attacks and bombings. Georgia reports that its town of Gori, used as a jump-off point for Georgia into South Ossetia, was attacked overnight and is now mostly a ghost town after thousands of its residents fled for safety. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been arguing that Russia has picked a fight with Georgia, and that, 'It is clear that Russia's current leadership is bent on restoring a neocolonial form of control over the entire space once governed by Moscow.' South Ossetia is a Russian-supported breakaway Georgian province that has had de facto independence since the end of a war in 1992. *jump-off point 출발점 starting point A place used as a base for preparation before going to some other place for some mission *ghost town 유령도시 A once thriving town, especially a boomtown of the American West, that has been completely abandoned A deserted settlement *pick a fight with ~에게 싸움을 걸다 =pick a quarrel with to intentionally start a fight or argument with someone. eg) When she was first in Congress, she foolishly picked a fight with a very powerful politician. *be bent on doing something 힘을 쏟고 있다. fixed in your purpose; eg) bent on going to the theater =dead set Invisibility cloak not far from reality, say scientists Invisibility cloaking technology is shrouded in mystery for most people. However, scientists from the University of California at Berkeley say a new material that could render people and objects invisible may be within sight. Of course, the material is not magic like the invisibility cloak worn by Harry Potter; instead, it reflects advances in nanotechnology. By using special materials called meta-materials, scientists are trying to bend light around objects so that they will not cast reflections or shadows. People can see naturally-occurring objects because light is scattered upon hitting them. The new technology has been said to deflect light like water flowing around a smooth rock in a stream. It could be used for a wide range of applications, including military ones. *be shrouded in mystery 비밀에 휩싸이다, (사건이) 미궁속에 빠지다 =be wrapped in mystery, cloaked in mystery shroud : To wrap (a corpse) in burial clothing To shut off from sight; screen *be within sight 보이는 곳에,~이 일어나려고 하는 =on the horizon If something is withing sight or in sight, you can see it. Possibility exists for the future; it may happen soon. *reflect something 반영하다, 나타내다. To show something: to express or be an indicator of something To bring as a consequence To give evidence of the characteristics or qualities of someone or something *naturally-occurring 본래, 천성적으로 존재하는 existing by nature and without artificial aid ------------------------------------- Today's Closing tip ------------------------------------- It is generating a buzz. 입소문이 나고 있어. |