CNN 2009-02-17

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Reggie Aqui, thanks for checking in, here is what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

President Obama is creating a task force to oversee¹ the restructuring of the US auto² industry. GM and Chrysler have until tomorrow to present a plan to the Obama administration. This is in order to keep 17.4 billion dollars in government loans. The stakes, well, they're very high. The two companies combined have more than 90,000 hourly workers.

Also the President is expected to sign the $787-billion stimulus³ package tomorrow. He won't sign that bill in Washington though, he'll travel to Denver. He's still traveling around the country, talking about the economy. Obama's advisors⁴ say he is taking strong steps to fix the economy.

Hillary Clinton is on the road helping⁵ to make a network of partners during her first overseas trip as secretary of state. Clinton arrived in Japan today. She'll also visit China, South Korea, and Indonesia during her week-long trip.

It looks like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez can run for President again. About 54% of voters approved lifting term limits for all elected officials. What is that mean? Well, Chavez can run for a third six-year term in 2012. Critics say it just gives the president too much power.

Illinois Republicans want the man who took President Obama's senate seat to resign. They say Roland Burris lied under oath when he was asked if he ever talked to Governor Rod Blagojevich or his aides about the seat. Burris was appointed before the governor was impeached⁶ for trying to sell Obama's senate seat. And yesterday Burris admitted he was asked by the governor's brother to fundraise for Blagojevich, Burris says he refused.

A big crash, a rainout, and a surprised winner made this a wild one in Daytona. Nine cars were taken out when Dale Earnhardt Jr. tried to pass Brian Vickers inside. But in the end, the winner was Matt Kenseth, who didn't win a race last year. The race was called early because of rain. It's the fourth time that's ever happened. Kenseth got his first Daytona 500 win.

Be sure to stick with CNN.com 24/7 for news from around the world, we're gonna have your updates right here throughout the day.

1 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

4 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 impeached   

v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议

参考例句：

• Elected officials can be impeached. 经过选举产生的官员可以被弹劾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The judge was impeached for taking a bribe. 这个法官被检举接受贿赂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》