9/5 (금) Today's News Catch-up

9/5 (금) Today's News Catch-up작성자모닝스페셜
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Today's Headlines   
    
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① The U.S., South Korea and China will meet today in Beijing to discuss North Korea's initial steps to restart its plutonium-producing nuclear reactor.


② Korea's household debts reached an all-time high of 660 trillion won in June, pointing to worsening family finances in light of the slow income growth.
*pointing to(가리키다, 표시하다-> ~의 증거가 되다)
*in light of(~에 비추어, ~을 고려하여, ~에 의하여)


③ President Lee Myung-bak said the government will loosen the string of regulations on the broadcasting and communications sector to create quality jobs and world-class media enterprises.
*loosen the string of regulations(규제 완화책을 쓰다<-> tighten the strings)
*quality jobs(양질의, 좋은 직업, 일자리)


④ Thailand's prime minister Samak Sundaravej has vowed to stay in office, but offered a referendum aimed at ending the political crisis that has raised fears of violence and economic chaos.



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Today's News Articles
    
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Philippine Government dismisses peace panel

A panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, has been dismissed by the Philippine government. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Wednesday that she sent the negotiators on their way, and that the government would seek peace with MILF through other channels. An agreement last month gave MILF more land for an autonomous Muslim region. However, the peace process was stalled when Christians in the area brought the case before the Supreme Court, where the agreement was stopped. Since then, there has been fighting on an island in the south Philippines, resulting in dozens of deaths. Although there is now a ceasefire, the MILF chief negotiator says, 'We reserve the right to defend ourselves.'

*send someone on his/her way:
send someone on their way-~를 보내다, 돌려보내다, 떠나보내다, to cause someone to leave
/ send someone on something: to mail something you have to another place. send someone packing, 

*through other channels:
다른 경로(통로)을 통해-> 다른 방법으로, (the government would seek peace with MILF through other channels-> 정부는 다른 방법으로 MILF와의 평화를 모색하고 있다) 

*bring something before the court:
재판에 회부되다, 
eg) He was brought before the court and found guilty. 
The murderer was committed for trial.
He was brought up on a charge of drunken driving.

*reserve the right to (verb):
verb 할 권리를 가지고있다. 
eg) The management reserves the right to refuse admission.



Plans for free English classes under fire in France

Calling poor English a 'handicap', French Education Minister Xavier Darcos is receiving some criticism after announcing plans this week to offer free English classes during school holidays next year. The plan is a departure from France's typically adamant promotion of the French language. Two years ago, then-President Jacques Chirac made a scene at an EU summit when he stormed out of a meeting when another Frenchman began a speech in English. Darcos said of the plan, 'Well-off families pay for study sessions abroad, I'm offering them to everyone right here.' French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has admitted his English needs improvement, is e,xpected to support the plan.

*handicap:
<스포츠〉 핸디캡(우세한 편에 주는 불리한 조건)/ 신체[정신] 장애-> (성공의 장애물) 불리한 조건, 악조건, 불이익, A hindrance, disadvantage, 

*be a departure from something:
departure: 출발, 떠남-> …에게 있어서의 (새로운) 시도, 방침[for]/ (…의) 발전, 기원[in], a divergence from previous custom, rule, etc

*make a scene:
create/ make a scene: 한바탕 소란을 피우다, 야단법석을 떨다, 난리치다 to be loud and rude with other people or in public, be controversial 

*storm out:
(폭풍우가 몰아치다) 화를내다, 사납게 뛰쳐나가다, To be extremely angry; rant and rage
 
*well-off:
순탄한 환경에 있는, 복받은, 유복한, In fortunate circumstances, moderately wealthy



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Today's Closing Tip
    
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You wined and dined me. 
-넌 나를 특별대우 해줬어. 

by 다반향초 | 2008/09/16 22:54 | 트랙백(1) | 덧글(0)

9/4(목) Today's News Catch-up

9/4(목) Today's News Catch-up작성자모닝스페셜

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            Today's Headlines

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1. The won-dollar exchange rate has continued its upward swing for 4 days in a row. Meanwhile,oil prices have taken a plunge of more than $6 a barrel since Friday, and touched their lowest level in five months on Wednesday.

* upward swing : 상승세
* take a plunge: 급락하다
 -nosedive, plummet


2. North Korea is reportedly reassembling nuclear facilities at Yongbyon in protest against the United States' delay in removing the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

*list of state sponsors of terrorism: 테러 지원국 명단


3. According to the UN World Food Program, an increasing number of North Koreans are now foraging for wild foods. North Korea is _expected to become a recipient of half a billion dollars' worth of UN emergency food aid.

* forage for : (주로 먹을 것을 찾아) 돌아 다니다, 헤매다
* recipient: 수령인, 수혜자


4. Declining birth rates have brought the population of elementary school children to its lowest-ever since the Education Ministry began collecting annual statistics in 1962.


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            Today's News Articles

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#1 Controversial Aso may replace Fukuda as Japan’s PM

Following Yasuo Fukuda’s sudden resignation as Japan’s prime minister, half of the ruling party’s branches are supporting former foreign minister Taro Aso, who has already run for leadership four times. Aso has not yet formally announced his candidacy for the September 22 vote, when party branches and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's lawmakers will choose a new leader. Aso supports higher government spending to prop up the economy, which some fear will reverse Japan’s work on cutting its massive public debt. Additionally, there is speculation that Aso’s hawkish policies will bring in other candidates to stall his campaign for leadership. Analysts say that there is a good chance the new leader will call a snap general election in order to make the most of any jump in public ratings after the unpopular Fukuda.


*prop something up
~를 지지하다, 지원하다
-to support it or help it to survive
e.g.) Investments in the U.S. money market have propped up the American dollar.


*stall someone/something
막다, 지연시키다, 시간을 벌다
-prevent sb. from doing sth.


*snap election/decision/judgement/etc…
조기 선거
-early election


*make the most of something
~를 십분 활용하다, 최대한 이용하다


#2 Suicide rates among U.S. teens remain alarmingly high

Although the teen suicide rates in the U.S. have taken a slight dip, they still remain higher than expected in a disturbing trend that has continued since 2004. Some experts have suggested that public health warnings in 2003 and 2004 about the use of anti-depressant medication may be correlated with the rise in teen suicides. In late 2004, the FDA ordered pharmaceutical companies to put black box warnings on anti-depressant medications’ labels, saying that the drugs could increase teens’ suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Prescriptions of anti-depressants and diagnoses of depression dropped soon after. A psychiatry professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago noted that the continuing rise is not just a coincidence, saying, “What's important is this shows us that the 2004 data wasn't just some blip on the radar.”


*take a slight dip
약간 떨어지다, 소폭 감소하다
참고) take a dip 수영하다


*anti-depressant
항 우울제의


*be correlated with
~와 상관관계가 있다, 상호 연관성이 있다


*black box warning
매우 강력한 경고 문구
(주로 심한 부작용 등을 적어놓은 것)
=black label warning


*a blip on the radar
레이더 화면 위에 나타나는 작고 깜박거리는 점,
--> 무시해도 될 만한 사소한 일, 크게 걱정하지 않아도 되는 일


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               Today's closing tip

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Please don't dog-ear this book.
-책장 접지마

by 다반향초 | 2008/09/16 22:53 | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

9/3 (수) Today's News Catch-up

9/3 (수) Today's News Catch-up작성자모닝스페셜
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Today's Headlines  
   
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① President Lee Myung-bak yesterday instructed the Cabinet to rev up housing redevelopment and reconstruction projects in order to help boost job creation.
*rev up(활성화시키다다, 힘을 불어넣다, stimulate) 
*boost job creation(일자리, 고용창출을 늘리다)


② The government will carry out projects to help about 460-thousand low-income credit delinquents repay their debts through a phased credit recovery program. 
*carry out(implement, [계획 따위]를 실행에 옮기다, 본격화하다)
*credit recovery program(신용회복프로그램)


③ After the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the Japanese government has reportedly decided to postpone a planned trilateral summit with South Korea and China.


④ Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in Bangkok after anti-government protesters clashed with government supporters. The Korean government imposed restrictions on travel to the country.


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Today's News Articles   

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#1. Government Declares State of Emergency in Thailand

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok yesterday in the wake of serious clashes between pro-government and anti-government groups. One person was killed and scores injured when a pro-government mob armed with knives and other makeshift weapons marched on the anti-government protesters occupying Government House. With the state of emergency in effect, public gatherings of more than five people are illegal and the media is tightly controlled. To allay fears that the military will clamp down too hard on protesters, Samak has promised that troops used to enforce the law will be unarmed, carrying only shields. Adding fuel to the fire, Thailand’s Electoral Commission has ruled that Samak’s People's Power Party committed electoral fraud and should be dissolved. 

*In the wake of: 
① ~의 뒤를 밟아, 뒤를 좇아-> ② ~의 결과로서 -following or as a result of something. The airport lowered parking rates in the wake of many complaints from drivers who felt the rates were far too high.

*Makeshift: 
임시 변통의 것, (일시적인) 대용품; 미봉책-A temporary or expedient substitute for something else, something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency


*To allay fears:
allay-〔공포·의심·노여움 따위〕를 가라앉히다-> allay fears[a tumult] 공포[소동]를 가라앉히다, To calm or pacify; set to rest

*Clamp down: 
(n)탄압, 엄중한 단속(crackdown)[on]/ 엄하게 단속하다. -to suppress (something regarded as undesirable), To become more strict or repressive; impose controls
(clamp-죄는기구)

*Add fuel to the fire: 
(add fuel to the flame/ fan the flames) 불에 기름을 붓다, 격정을 더욱 부추기다 -to make an argument or a bad situation worse


V.O.A. news

#2. Indonesia Begins the Holy Month of Ramadan

On the first day of Ramadan, pious Muslims awaken long before the pre-dawn call to prayer rings out across the Indonesian capital. Throughout the holy month, eating and drinking is a priority in these early hours because once the sun rises a day of fast begins. Meaning 'ninth month' the word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic term for 'scorched earth'. Participants must not eat, drink or have s,ex before the fourth prayer of the day at sun-down. For most Muslims it is a chance reflect upon those less fortunate. For the less devout Muslims, Ramadan is an opportunity to re-connect with their faith or an exercise in self-discipline. Food prices often increase dramatically because of increased demand for staples and speciality items. Across Indonesia, prices for eggs, meat and cooking oil grew by as much as 25% this past week. The government has urged retailers not to increase prices, insisting that food stocks are plentiful.

*pious:
신앙심이 깊은[두터운], 경건한<-> impious/ -religious, Having or exhibiting religious reverence; earnestly compliant in the observance of religion; devout
 
*ring out:
① (종을 치며) ~을 보내다 ② 퇴근 시간을 기록하다; 퇴근하다 
③ 울려 퍼지다-to send out a loud resounding noise ④전화를 걸다 

*a day of fast(fast day):
(종교의) 단식일, 정진일, a day designated for fasting
/to fast : 단식하다, 절식하다; (…을) 끊다. 
2. (종교적 행사나 건강을 위해) 음식을 가려서 먹다

*self-discipline:
자기 훈련[수양]; 자제, Training and control of oneself and one's conduct, usually for personal improvement
/enforce[keep] discipline 
/establish discipline
/maintain discipline 

*staples and speciality items:
staples: (문구)스테이플-> 주요 산물, 명산물; 주요 상품/ 주요소, 주성분(주식), A basic dietary item / speciality item: 특산물/ 특산품(delicacies)

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Today's Closing Tip

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Crunch time begins. 
-지금부터 업무가 집중적으로 몰릴 거야.
(이제 바빠질 시간이야)

by 다반향초 | 2008/09/16 22:53 | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

9/2 (화) Today's News Catch-up

9/2 (화) Today's News Catch-up작성자모닝스페셜

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Today's Headlines 
  
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① Weaker than feared, Hurricane Gustav touched down as a Category 2 storm on the southwest coast of New Orleans. It is not likely to deal as severe a blow as forecasters had warned.

* touch down: 상륙하다
* deal a blow: 타격을 입히다

② With the snowballing trade deficit, the won-dollar exchange rate surpassed 1,110 won on Monday, the highest almost in four years.  

③ The government unveiled its largest tax cut plan yesterday. Under the 26 trillion won tax cut package, each Korean adult could save about 300 dollars in tax over the next five years.

④ Japan’s beleaguered and unpopular prime minister Yasuo Fukuda has resigned after less than a year in the job. His sudden resignation plunged Japanese politics into deeper chaos. 

* beleaguered: 여러가지 어려움/반대/비난을 겪고 있는
* plunge sth. into chaos: ~를 혼란에 빠뜨리다

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Today's News Articles 
  
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#1  Italy offers apology and compensation for colonial past in Libya

To make amends for its 30-year occupation of Libya that ended in 1943, Italy apopogized and agreed over the weekend to pay Libya a $5 billion reparation package, along with other compensation. Libya says that Italian soldiers killed citizens and forced people out of their homes during the colonial era. Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi said of the deal, 'No one believed that a day would come when a colonial state apologizes, expresses regret and pays compensation for its colonization,' In return, Italy expects Libya to do a better job of helping it keep thousands of illegal immigrants from its coastlines at bay. Libya has mostly not delivered on previous promises about the problem.

* make amends for sth. to sb.
  보상하다 
-make atonement for 


* colonial era
  식민통치기, 강점기


* keep/hold someone/something at bay
  ~를 가까이 오지 못하게 하다, 막다, 저지하다 


* not deliver on something
  (약속 따위를) 어기다, 이행하지 않다
-not keep a promise


#2  Tenth U.S. bank fails this year

Integrity Bank, a bank in the state of Georgia, became the tenth U.S. bank to bite the dust this year. The bank was done in by real estate loans, which were also responsible for its success. Integrity opened in November 2000, and was firing on all cylinders during the real-estate market boom earlier this decade, but got itself in a pickle when the market started going downhill. The number of bank failures in the U.S. has jumped this year due to many people defaulting on their mortgages. In addition, data released last week indicated that there are 117 troubled U.S. banks, which is the highest number in five years.


* bite the dust
쓰러지다, 전사하다, 죽다
-fall to the ground, wounded or dead


* be done in by
~에 의해 죽음을 당하다, (여기서는) 파산하다 
-do in :죽이다 (inf.)


* fire on all cylinders
전력을 다하다, 완전 가동하다
-used when talking about your very best efforts, also in terms of intellectual effort
e.g. I fired on all cylinders for two weeks and got the project finished ahead of time


* get oneself in a pickle
곤경에 처하다, 난처한 입장에 놓이다
-pickle =predicament


* default on one's mortgage
주택담보대출을 상환하지 못하다 
-default on: (대출 등의 채무를) 이행하지 못하다

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Today's closing tip 
  
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 That's cutting it too close.
 - 그건 너무 빠듯해. 

by 다반향초 | 2008/09/16 22:53 | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

9/1(월) Today's News Catch-up

9/1(월) Today's News Catch-up작성자모닝스페셜
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Today's News Headline

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① The 18th National Assembly`s four-year term begins Today. The regular parliamentary 
   session will focus on reforming the tax system, easing regulations and improving people`s 
   livelihoods.

② The Buddhist community held services at temples nationwide on Sunday after tolling a bell 
   33 times simultaneously in protest of what it called the government’s religious partiality.

* toll a bell (주로 범종 따위의 큰 종을 타종하다)
* in protest of (~에 대한 항의의 표시로)
* religious partiality (종교적 편향성 =religious bias)

③ Tens of thousands of people streamed out of New Orleans as the city braces for its worst 
   hurricane since Katrina. Hurtling past Cuba and into the US Gulf Coast, hurricane Gustav 
   has already left 81 people dead.

* stream out of(~로부터 쏟아져 나오다)
* brace for (주로 공격이나 위기 등 부정적인 것에 대해 미리 대비하다, 준비하다)
* hurtle past (~를 빠른 속도로 지나, 쏜살같이 ~로 돌진하다)

④ A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, killing at least 
   22 people and injuring about 135. 

------------------------------------- 
  
Today's News Articles 
  
------------------------------------- 
  
#1  Hurricane Gustav bears down on Gulf Coast

New Orleanians are heading for the hills after Mayor Ray Nagin ordered an emergency evacuation of the city yesterday. With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 'This is the real deal, not a test,' Nagin said, stressing that all who choose to stay behind accept all responsibility for themselves and their families. Officials have learned from their mistakes and are doing their best to avoid a repeat of the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It seems that people living in New Orleans learned something from Katrina too; many residents hit the road as soon as they got wind of the storm, without waiting for the official evacuation order. 


* to head for the hills
 도망치다, 피난가다
– escape, run away


* to bear down on something
 ~를 향해 돌진하다, 달려들다, 성큼 다가가다, 급습하다
- to move toward someone or something in a threatening way. 
e.g.) Another storm is bearing down on northern California. 
The car gathered speed and bore down on him, so he jumped into the ditch.


* the real deal 
 (연습이 아닌) 100% 실제 상황
– not an imitation or a practice drill.


* to hit the road 
 출발하다, 길을 떠나다
– to start a journey


* to get wind of something 
 ~에 관한 이야기/소문/풍문을 듣다, 기미를 알아채다, 눈치를 채다
–to hear a piece of information that hasn’t been officially announced


#2  McCain Names Sarah Palin as VP

Arizona Senator and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has floored political pundits by naming Sarah Palin, the virtually unknown Governor of Alaska, as his vice presidential candidate. Widely held suspicions that the decision was mainly a bold attempt to win over disillusioned Hillary supporters were confirmed by Palin herself during a speech in which she said 'Hillary Clinton left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America.' Although many have scoffed at the apparent inexperience of Palin, who became the youngest ever Governer of Alaska in 2006, she does have a reputation of being a giant-killer. According to Eric Croft, a Democratic state representative, 'The landscape up here is littered with people who have underestimated her.'


* to floor somebody 
 (~를 쓰러뜨리다, 때려눕힌다는 의미에서 출발해서) ~를 경악하게 하다, 매우 놀라게 하다
- to stun; overwhelm
e.g.) The very idea floored me.
참고) Floor it! (운전할 때) 좀 더 밟아 봐!


* win over 
 ~의 마음을 얻다, ~의 지지나 동의를 얻다
- to gain the support or consent of
e.g.) His robust performance won over his critics.


* glass ceiling 
보이지 않는 유리 장벽, 주로 여성이나 사회적 소수자들이 기업 내에서 승진 또는 사회적 지위 상승을 하려 할 때 겪는 보이지 않는 차별을 의미한다. 
- An unacknowledged discriminatory barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising to positions of power or responsibility, as within a corporation


* scoff at someone
비웃다, 조소하다, 조롱하다 (mock, laugh at)


* littered with 
 ~로 어질러져 있는, ~가 수두룩하다
- to scatter or be scattered in an untidy fashion

------------------------------------- 
  
Today's closing tip 
  
------------------------------------- 

A penny saved is a penny earned. 
-절약하는 것이 버는 거야.

by 다반향초 | 2008/09/16 22:53 | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

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