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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

I'm Asieh Namdar at the CNN.com newsroom in Atlanta. Here is a look at what is happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

A big political score for Barack Obama this weekend. Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has officially endorsed¹ the senator. Powell says Obama is better suited to address the nation's economic problems and improve its standing² in the world. Powell who is a retired³ US General and a Republican was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.

President Bush is calling for a series of global summits to address the economy. The first summit will focus on ways that current crisis has been addressed as well as ways to keep it from happening again. No date has been said though a White House statement says the gathering⁴ will be held in the Unite States soon after the November 4th's General Election.

British and Iraqi leaders are discussing the future of British troops in Iraq. And Britain's new Defense⁵ Minister John Hutton made his first visit to Iraq over the weekend. A UN mandate⁶ allowing British forces to be in Iraq expires at the end of this year. The US is working on a similar deal to remain in Iraq beyond 2008.

And politics and comedy collided again on this weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live. Sarah Palin was on this show, critiquing Tina Fey's impression of her, alongside Alec Baldwin and executive producer Lorne MIchaels. Tina Fey's impersonation of Palin has turned into record ratings for SNL for the last few weeks.

And those are the headlines this hour, for more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is your source online, on TV, or when you are on the go.

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收听单词发音

1 endorsed
vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品
参考例句：
The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。来自《简明英汉词典》 The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。来自《简明英汉词典》

2 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 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。

4 gathering
n.集会，聚会，聚集
参考例句：
He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。 He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 defense
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。 The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 mandate
n.托管地；命令，指示
参考例句：
The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。 The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。