1. The Democratic National Convention is now underway in Denver, with Michelle Obama headlining tonight's opening session. Her speech will humanize Barack Obama as a family man while she tries to show up her critics. Senator Ted Kennedy is also expected to make an appearance tonight.

2. Tropical Storm Fay may be gone. But heavy rain and wind are still hitting large parts of the South. The rain comes as relief to some farmers suffering from drought conditions in Alabama, Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and Tennessee. In Florida, some residents have started to clean up as water slowly recedes.

3. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Jerusalem on her seventh trip to the Middle East since peace talks’ relaunch last year. Hours before her arrival, Israel freed nearly 200 jailed Palestinians in a goodwill gesture aimed at helping in the upcoming round of peace talks between the two. Rice wants a peace deal by the end of the year.

4. During her new Sticky & Sweet Tour that kicked off this weekend, Madonna showed pictures grouping John McCain with Hitler, while other pictures seemed to link Barack Obama to Mahatma Gandhi. Her song called "Get Stupid" was performed to 40, 000 fans in Cardiff, Wales.

WORDS IN THE NEWS
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online
Merriam-Webster Online

1. show up:  v.
If someone or something shows you up, they make you feel embarrassed or ashamed of them.

2. goodwill:  n.
Goodwill is a friendly or helpful attitude towards other people, countries, or organizations.