CNN 2009-01-02

Hello, I'm Naamua Delaney at the CNN Center in Atlanta. And here is a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

There is no letup in the fighting in the Middle East. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue for a sixth straight day. Hamas says a rocket killed one of its top militant¹ leaders. Israel says it bombed the home of another Hamas leader, but it doesn't know if the targeted militant was there. The number of casualties continues to grow. Palestinian medical sources say more than 400 people have been killed in Gaza, another 2000 wounded. Earlier today, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss peace proposals. France is calling for a 48-hour truce², an idea that Israel had earlier rejected.

In Baghdad, a heavily fortified³ area is back in Iraqi hands for the first time since the war began. The so-called Green Zone, a four-square-mile area in the heart of Baghdad was handed over by U. S. military leaders today to Iraqi authorities as part of a security agreement. The area houses Iraqi government offices and the U. S. Embassy.

A man wanted for questioning about bomb threats at Aspen, Colorado Banks has been found dead of an apparently⁴ self-inflicted wound. The body of 72-year-old James Blanning was discovered in rural Pitkin County, just east of Aspen. The threats, hand-delivered to two of the banks, shut down part of resort town yesterday. Police cleared out a 16-block area. Investigators⁵ say Blanning was threatening mass deaths if he didn't get 60, 000 dollars for each of a total of four bombs. Police say they believe Blanning acted alone. Now this plan was  thwarted⁶ when at least one of the banks immediately called police. Investigators say they disabled all four bombs.

Some people in Ukraine could be in for some frigid⁷ days and nights. Russian energy giant Gazprom has cut off supplies of natural gas to Ukraine, saying the Ukrainian's owed some 2 billion dollars for past deliveries. Ukraine says it's paid the debt in full. Ukraine state-run energy company says it's now tapping into underground storage sites for extra gas.

Happy New Year! It's been a chilly⁸ start to the New Year for lots of us. Hundreds of thousands shivered in New York Times Square. They came to see that famous Waterford Crystal ball fall. Senator Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton helped New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg push the button for the ball drop and usher⁹ in 2009.

Well, those are the headlines this hour. Do stay with CNN for more on these stories and the other news of the day.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 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。

3 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

7 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

8 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

9 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。