美联社一分钟新闻 2009-03-22（在线收听）

1. Iran's supreme leader is dismissing overtures from President Barack Obama. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says even though Obama congratulated Iranians on the Persian new year, US policy toward Iran hasn't changed. Obama has offered to ease relations if Iran tones down its combative rhetoric.

2. President Obama has listed his budget priorities in his weekly radio and Internet address. Obama says any budget Congress approves must cut the deficit, reform health care, invest in education and reduce US dependence on foreign oil.

3. The Pope is in Angola on his first pilgrimage to Africa. Pope Benedict has appealed to people to reach out and convert believers in witchcraft to Catholicism. Eighty percent of the country's population is Christian.

4. Round two of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament gets underway today and more upsets could be on tap. Last night, 13th-seed Cleveland State pulled off the big shocker by knocking off fourth-seed Wake Forest 84 to 69.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. overtures: [plural] n.

an attempt to begin a friendly relationship with a person, country etc

2. offer to do something:

to say that you are willing to do something

3. tone down: phr v.

If you tone down something that you have written or said, you make it less forceful, severe, or offensive.

4. witchcraft: n.

the use of magic powers, especially evil ones, to make things happen

5. upset: n.

when a person or team defeats an opponent who is considered to be much better than them

6. be on tap:

informal something that is on tap is ready to use when you need it

7. pull off: phr v.

If you pull off something very difficult, you succeed in achieving it.

8. shocker: n.

a film, news story, action etc that shocks you - used especially in news reports