韩国、朝鲜同意缓和紧张局势

Koreas Agree to Ease Tensions 韩国、朝鲜同意缓和紧张局势

In the news …

Officials from South Korea and North Korea announced Tuesday they had reached an agreement. South Korea agreed to end its propaganda broadcasting into North Korea after Pyongyang expressed "regret" about a recent land-mine explosion that wounded two soldiers from the South. 

The two sides were holding talks at the Panmunjom truce¹ village. The talks began on Saturday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had declared a “quasi-state of war” against the South. Last week, the two Koreas also exchanged artillery² fire. No deaths were reported.

South Korea’s presidential security adviser³ said the two countries also agreed to hold talks again soon about improving relations.

The United States, an ally of South Korea, welcomed the agreement.

State Department spokesman John Kirby called the agreement a compromise. He said it is now up to North Korea "to act and not simply make assurances" about its military activities along the border between the two countries.

Search continues for Bangkok bomber⁴

Police are searching thousands of homes and buildings in Bangkok for clues in a bomb attack at a religious shrine⁵ a week ago. The bombing killed at least 20 people and injured more than 100 others. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police say they need to examine more than 10,000 places in the Thai capital, some more than once.

More than 1,000 police officers, soldiers and others are involved in the search. Thai officials want to show travelers that Bangkok is safe.

France honors four men for stopping attack on train

French President Francois Hollande has given the country’s highest award -- the Legion of Honor -- to three Americans and a Briton. The four men stopped a heavily-armed gunman from killing⁶ people on a train Friday.

Mr. Hollande said the actions of the men are, in his words, “a message of courage, solidarity⁷ and hope.”

Spanish officials say the attacker is a 25-year-old man from Morocco. He reportedly was in Syria some time during the past year. 

Stock markets in Asia drop sharply

Asian stock markets closed down sharply Monday. The drop in Asia continued a slide on international financial markets that started last week.

The falling value of stock shares is linked to fears that China’s economy is slowing more than had been expected.

Monday, the leading measure of Chinese stocks was down almost 8.5 percent. Traders were watching to see what steps the Chinese government might take to help the economy.

In Japan, the Nikkei index lost 4.6 percent of its value. The Japanese stock market closed at its lowest level in six months. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 4.9 percent. 

World oil prices also fell Monday. Oil prices recently dropped below $40 a barrel for the first time in several years.

Two pandas born in Washington, DC zoo

Two giant pandas were born Saturday at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. The second cub⁸ was born five hours after the first. The sexes of each animal will be announced at a later date.

Words in the News

index – n. a number that indicates changes in the level of something (such as a stock market) when it rises or falls

barrel – n. the amount of something in a barrel

shrine – n. a place connected with a holy person or event where people go to worship

courage – n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

solidarity – n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests and goals

1 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

2 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

3 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

4 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

5 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

8 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。