CNN 2009-01-03

Good morning to you and happy Friday, from the CNN Center in Atlanta. I’m Reggie Aqui. Here’s what’s happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Fighting in Gaza intensifies¹ as Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas enter a seventh day. The Israeli military says an airstrike today hit the Gaza home of a senior Hamas military leader who Israel said was a leading figure in developing rockets used to attack Israel. Israeli tanks and troops are also building up on the Gaza border, that could mean a ground invasion is next. Palestinian medical sources say more than 420 people have been killed in Gaza.

The Obamas are coming back home and then heading to Washington this weekend. The future first family will stay at the Hay-Adams Hotel before moving into Blair House which is across from the White House on January 15th. On Monday, Obama meets with House speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss the stimulus² package aimed at jump-starting the economy.

Two children who were at the centre of an Amber³ Alert, they are now safe. The children were found early today in a Taylorsville North Caro… in Taylorsville, North Carolina, I should say. CNN affiliate⁴ WSOC reports, their father, who cops say had taken them, killed himself during a stand-off with authorities. The deputies in North Carolina found the kids' mother and another person dead in the father's home. A neighbor was also killed.

The Coast Guard is still searching for a carnival⁵ cruise ship worker who fell overboard off the coast of Florida. Six crew members saw him fall into the water early yesterday morning. They threw him a life ring, but they are not sure if he caught it. The cruise ship was returning from a four-day Bahamas cruise.

A federal commission created by Congress is pushing for a 50% increase on gas and diesel⁶ taxes. The commission says the increase is needed to raise funds to build and repair the country's roads. Meanwhile, gas prices are up slightly this morning. That is a switch. According to AAA, the national average for regular unleaded is $1.63 a gallon, that's still more than 60% less than what we were paying over the summer.

Those are your headlines right now. Please stick us with the cnn.com and cnn.com/live for more on these stories and the other breaking news of the day.

1 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

4 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

5 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

6 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。