CNN 2009-01-07

I'm Reggie Aqui from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here's what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

The death toll¹ climbs, and the crisis deepens in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Here is what we know right now. An Israeli missile slammed into an elementary school where hundreds of civilians² had taken refuge. Gaza city is now surrounded by Israeli forces. And Palestinian doctors are bracing³ for even more casualties. They say at least 555 people have been killed, and the Red Cross has declared a full blown humanitarian⁴ crisis.

President-elect Barack Obama is laying the groundwork to offer 300 billion dollars in tax cuts for individuals and businesses. It's part of a massive stimulus⁵ plan. Obama wants it ready for signing within two weeks of his inauguration⁶. Obama's economic stimulus plan is aimed primarily at job creation and consumer spending.

Trying to get the rest of his team in place, Obama is also expected to name Leon Panetta as his choice for CIA Director. Panetta has no experience in the intelligence community, but he did serve as White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton. Retired⁷ Admiral Dennis Blair is expected the choice for Director of National Intelligence. He served in the National Security Council and was a military liaison⁸ with the CIA.

Congressional lawmakers are ready to take their seats today and the man named to succeed Obama in the Senate could face a rather ugly welcome. Senator nominee⁹ Roland Burris is a controversial pick because as he was known he was chosen by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Democratic leaders say it's not likely Burris will be seated today.

Tough times are hitting some of the more successful automakers. Now Toyota says that it is shutting down factories for eleven days as a sharp slide in US sales has left dealers¹⁰' lots full of unsold cars. The shutdown affects a dozen plants. In Japan, Toyota plans to turn the eleven days into paid company holidays for its employees.

We're learning a little bit more about the death of John Travolta's sixteen year-old son Jett. Officials at a funeral home in the Bahamas say Jett Travolta's body showed no sign of head trauma¹¹. According to the death certificate, he died of a seizure¹². Jett's body has now been cremated¹³. John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston are said to be bringing his remains¹⁴ back to Florida today.

And that's what's happening right now. Please stick with us at CNN.COM and CNN.COM/LIVE for these stories and the other breaking news of the day.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

4 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

5 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。

6 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 liaison   

n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通

参考例句：

• She acts as a liaison between patients and staff.她在病人与医护人员间充当沟通的桥梁。
• She is responsible for liaison with researchers at other universities.她负责与其他大学的研究人员联系。

9 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

10 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。

11 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

12 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

13 cremated   

v.火葬，火化（尸体）( cremate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He wants to is cremated, not buried. 他要火葬，不要土葬。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bodies were cremated on the shore. 他们的尸体在海边火化了。 来自辞典例句

14 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。