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1. A new book claims that al-Qaeda was planning a poison gas attack on New York subway system. Investigative reporter Ron Suskind writes in his new book that al-Qaeda's No. 2 man called off the plot in 2003. The White House will not confirm or deny the account.
2. In Iraq, a farmer claims he witnessed the attack on U.S. troops Friday. Two soldiers are still missing, a third is dead. The witness said gunmen took the troops captive. U.S. military is searching for the two by air, ground and in the water.
3. US troops moved into the Afghan mountains in an offensive to stop Taliban insurgence. The units are in position to cut off key transport routes for the militants. It's the largest military offensive in five years, militant attacks have been on the rise in recent months.
4. Forget the World Cup, Robo Cup is where the action is. Hundreds gathered to watch Germany and Japan in the finals. Competition pits humanoid robots teamed against each other in a soccer match. The Germans took an early lead, but couldn't hang on as the Japanese came back to win 9-5.
WORDS IN THE NEWS
1. investigative : adj
Investigative work, especially journalism, involves investigating things.
e.g. an investigative reporter
2. Ron Suskind
Ron Suskind was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal from 1993 to 2000 and is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer (1995, for Feature Writing). On January 13, 2004, his book with Paul O'Neill, The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill was published, revealing controversial details about the early years of the George W. Bush administration.
3. call off : phrasal verb
If you call off an event that has been planned, you cancel it.
e.g. The union threatened a strike but called it off at the last minute.
4. take somebody captive : phrase
If you take someone captive or hold someone captive, you take or keep them as a prisoner.
e.g. Richard was finally released on February 4, one year and six weeks after he'd been taken captive.
5. unit : n-count
A unit is a group within an armed force or police force, whose members fight or work together or carry out a particular task.
e.g. Two small Marine units have been trapped inside the city for the last 36 hours.
6. pit against : phrasal verb
to test somebody or their strength, intelligence, etc. in a struggle or contest against somebody/something else
e.g. Lawyers and accountants felt that they were being pitted against each other.
7. humanoid : noun, adj
a machine or creature that looks and behaves like a human
8. team : verb, usually passive
to put two or more things or people together in order to do something or to achieve a particular effect
e.g. He was teamed with his brother in the doubles.
9. come back : phrasal verb
to become popular or successful again
e.g. Long hair for men seems to be coming back in. |