CNN 2009-08-21

From the CNN center here in Atlanta, hello everyone, I'm Catherine Callaway with a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

AIG's new CEO says he's optimistic about the insurance giant's ability to pay back billions of dollars in federal aid and get the company back on its feet. The news helped AIG's shares surge nearly 30 percent to more than $30. Elsewhere, financial and technology shares in gains in overseas markets helped propel Wall Street today. The Dow Jones Industry Average climbed 76 points. S&P500 and NASDAQ also made some gains in Thursday's action.

Stocks did do well despite the latest round of bad news from the unemployment line. Uh, this weekly jobless report shows first-time claims rose again, rose more than expected to 576, 000. Experts had anticipated there would only be about 550, 000 new claims.

And that clash, uh, Cash for Clunkers program is quickly nearing its end. The Transportation Department just announced today that the program will end Monday at 8 p. m. Eastern Time. Hundreds of auto² dealers³ are already pulling out of the program despite initially⁴ being, uh, its biggest supporters. They're concerned now that the government will not reimburse⁵ them. Dealers are complaining that slow processing of paperwork could lead to more sales than the 3 billion dollars the government has set aside for the program. The government says that all of the dealers who participated in the program will be reimbursed⁶.

Senator Ted¹ Kennedy has sent a letter to Massachusetts' leaders, asking them to change a law to allow them to quickly replace him in the Senate. It comes amid growing concern about Kennedy's battle with brain cancer, although aides say there is no change in his condition. Kennedy wants the governor to be able to temporarily appoint someone to the seat when he dies. Current state law requires a special election within five months of a vacancy⁷.

Hurricane Bill still well out to sea and it's, it has weakened a bit. Forecasters say it's sending high swells⁸ throughout the western Atlantic. Bermuda has posted a hurricane watch though. Now the storm center is expected to move between the island territory and the eastern US on Saturday. Right now Bill's Category 3 hurricane, winds up to 120 miles an hour.

And those are the headlines for you right now. Stay with CNN for more on these stories and other news of the day. 

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

4 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

5 reimburse   

v.补偿，付还

参考例句：

• We'll reimburse you for your travelling expenses.我们将付还你旅费。
• The funds are supposed to reimburse policyholders in the event of insurer failure.这项基金将在保险公司不能偿付的情况下对投保人进行赔付。

6 reimbursed   

v.偿还，付还( reimburse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the firm's business will be reimbursed. 由公司业务产生的开销都可以报销。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Employees are reimbursed for any legal fees incurred when they relocate. 员工调往异地工作时，他们可以报销由此产生的所有法律服务费用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

8 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。