CNN 2009-02-06

Good morning from the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Reggie Aqui, thanks for checking in. Here is a quick look at what' s making news right now.

More work on the economic stimulus¹ package today, but aides say President Obama remains² hopeful the Senate will pass the plan by the end of the week. One part of the stimulus plan is getting a lot of attention, the so called "Buy American" provision. Several versions were on the table, but yesterday, Senators agree to soften³ the plan ,clarifying that the clause will not override⁴ existing trade agreements.

Meantime ,a dismal⁵ jobless report is just out today, new jobless claims surged last week ,to 626,000, which is a 26-year-high, and a much higher number that is expected by the Labor⁶ Department. Meantime, the number of people drawing unemployment benefits is at all-time high. Around 4.8 million people are receiving unemployment cheques, unemployment cheque I should say, for at least one week.

FEMA is warning victims of that recent ice storm in Kentucky and Arkansas not to eat the peanut butter that they included in the emergency kits⁷ because they might be tainted⁸ with salmonella. Thousands of people are urged to throw out the peanut butter as a precaution. The nationwide outbreak has made hundreds of people sick.

The FBI hopes new advances in forensic⁹ technology can help crack the case of cyanide tainted Tylenol that killed seven people. The FBI is taking a second look at that case that dates way back to 1982. Agents search the home of the man convicted of trying to extort¹⁰ one million dollars from Tylenol’s manufacturers. The man was in charge with their deaths and denied having anything to do with the poisonings.

CNN has learned Yemen has emerged as a new safe haven¹¹ for Al Qaeda operatives. We've learned that over the last several weeks , several Al Qaeda operatives have entered Yemen from Saudi Arabia and established a network that could threaten US and Saudi targets. As a result , Yemeni security forces have gone on high alert.

That's a quick look at your headlines right now. Please stick with us at  CNN and CNN.com live, we will bring you your updates throughout the day.

1 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

4 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

5 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

8 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

10 extort   

v.勒索，敲诈，强要

参考例句：

• The blackmailer tried to extort a large sum of money from him.勒索者企图向他勒索一大笔钱。
• They absolutely must not harm the people or extort money from them.严格禁止坑害勒索群众。

11 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。