美联社新闻一分钟 2006-07-17

（单词翻译）

1. President Bush joins G-8 leaders in calling for an immediate¹ end to the bloodshed in the Middle East. The statement from world leaders requires an end to terrorist attacks on Israel.

2. No let-up in the strikes between Israel and Lebanon. An Israeli air strike in Tyre has killed at least 9 civilians² and wounded more than 50 others. A Hezbollah rocket attack killed 8 people in Haifa.

3. Loom³ing thunderstorms are threatening the work of firefighters in Southern California. Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling wildfires in the desert of San Bernardino County.

4. It's a green light for Discovery. The space shuttle has been cleared to return to Earth. It's expected to land in Florida tomorrow.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. bloodshed : n-uncount
Bloodshed is violence in which people are killed or wounded.

2. let-up : n-uncount
If there is no let-up in something, usually something unpleasant, there is no reduction in the intensity⁵ of it.

3. loom : verb
If a worrying or threatening situation or event is looming⁴, it seems likely to happen soon. (JOURNALISM)

4. thunderstorm : n-count
A thunderstorm is a storm in which there is thunder and lightning and a lot of heavy rain.

5. a green light : phrase
If someone in authority gives you a green light, they give you permission to do something.

6. clear : verb
If a course of action is cleared, people in authority give permission for it to happen.