AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-02-19（在线收听）

1.President Obama announces an ambitious plan to avert home foreclosures of people with troubled mortgages by coercing lenders to lower interest rates. The president is also backing legislation to give bankruptcy judges the power to alter mortgage terms, lenders opposed that. Obama's announcement comes in Arizona which has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

2.Add the Chicago Tribune to the increasing chorus demanding that Illinois Senator Roland Burris resign. An editorial says Burris has lost the benefit of doubt over events surrounding his appointment by the ousted former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

3.Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has extended an open hand to the Muslim world during a stopover in Indonesia. Clinton pledged a new American openness to ideas from abroad, the Muslim world in particular as she continues her first trip abroad as top diplomat.

4.Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal wanted to greet President Obama when he arrived in Phoenix. He couldn't make it. Instead, the son of the city's mayor gave the president one of Shaq's gigantic size 23 sneakers.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.avert: vt.

to prevent something unpleasant from happening

2.the Chicago Tribune: n.

The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company.

3.extend an open hand to: phrase

If you extend and open hand to somebody, you are showing you generosity and friendliness.