CNN 2009-11-17

Good morning. I am Melissa Long, here at the CNN center in Atlanta, on this Thursday morning, the 12th of November. Here is a look at some of the stories happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

The number of Americans who have died from swine flu may be four times higher than we thought. The New York Times says the CDC is estimating H1N1 may have killed 4,000 people in the US since April. The virus is getting more dangerous but the CDC is now counting lab confirmed cases and deaths from complications¹ related to H1N1.

Heavy rain from what’s left of the tropical storm--Ida is now battering² the mid³ Atlantic. Virginia’s government declared a state of emergency and there are coastal⁴ flood warnings in some areas. The storm has moved out of Georgia but now performed flooding several neighborhoods. Some were still recovering from mass of flooding back in September.

Mike Gerard Tyson is in trouble. The former box champ was arrested last night after a scuffle at the LA International Airport. Police say he punched a paparazzi (pl.) paparazzo in the head, sending him into the floor. The photographer went to the hospital with a cut on his forehead. Both men have been charged with misdemeanor battery.

And if you are looking for a bargain penthouse in New York City, Bernie Madoff's old apartment, still on the market. Can you afford it? 8.9 million dollars, but that is a million less than the original asking price. His place in Palm Beach Florida has also been cut; it can be yours for 7.9 million dollars.

Those are headlines for you this hour. Do stay with us here at CNN.com and for more on these stories or other news that develops today.
 

1 complications   

（新出现的）困难，难题( complication的名词复数 )； 并发症； 曲折

参考例句：

• Complications set in, and the patient died. 病人因出现并发症而死亡。
• Normally there are no complications with the medicine. 服用这种药按理不会产生并发症。

2 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。