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1. Asian markets stumbled overnight amid fears of a protracted¹ recession. Benchmarks in Japan and Hong kong each lost about six percent. The Dow Jones Industrials opened below 8000 for the first time today in five years.

2. A vote to bail² out the big three American automakers will not take place today after all. Senate majority leader Harry³ Reid canceled it, saying he did not have the votes for it to pass. The heads of Chrysler, Ford⁴ and GM testified in front of House leaders on Wednesday, asking for $25 billion in emergency loans.

3. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano may be the next director of the Department of Homeland Security. The two-term governor is neither confirming nor denying reports. She will reportedly be offered the position once the vetting⁶ process is complete.

4. A tool sack that got away from an astronaut during a spacewalk Tuesday--$100,000 in value. The astronaut was trying to clean up some grease when a bag and everything in it floated away. There will be more spacewalks, the astronauts are just going to have to share grease gun(s).

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. protracted: adj.

Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped. (FORMAL)

2. vet⁵: v.

to check someone's past activities, relationships etc in order to make sure that person is suitable for a particular job, especially an important one.

3. grease: n. 润滑剂

Grease is a thick, oily substance which is put on the moving parts of cars and other machines in order to make them work smoothly⁷.