CNN 2009-03-05

Good morning to you, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Reggie Aqui. Here is a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

The Obama administration has released details of its 75-billion-dollar homeowner bailout plan this morning. And now homeowners can start contacting their lenders to see if they qualify. That plan is expected to help up to nine million families rework mortgages to avoid foreclosures and even lower monthly mortgage payments.

Job cuts were actually down 23% in February from January's numbers. That is according to a key employment report released earlier today. The report says the number of planned job cuts announced in February total just over 186,000, which is again down 23% from the previous month. That could raise hopes that job cuts may have peaked.

an arrest warrant has been issued for the president of Sudan. The International Criminal Court is charging Omar al-Bashir with crimes against humanity for the genocide in Darfur. The UN says 300,000 people have died in Darfur and nearly three million more have been forced from their homes.

 Back here in the US. A jailed laborer² from El Salvador faces charges of the murder of Chandra Levy³. A judge has signed an arrest warrant for Ingmar Guandique. He is already in prison for attacking two other women in the same Washington D. C. Park where Levy's body was found. The Washington intern¹ was attacked and killed nearly 8 years ago.

The Coast Guard has called off its search for two NFL players and their friend missing off the Gulf⁴ Coast of Florida. But friends and family of Marquis Cooper, and Corey Smith and William Bleakley are not ready to give up and they're organizing their own search. A fourth man, Nick Schuyler was found alive on Monday.

It is a second term for LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa won yesterday's election with 56% of the vote more than enough to avoid a run-off. There has been speculation⁵ that the mayor, a democrat⁶, may seek the California governor's office in 2010. He says he hasn't made a decision.

Someone is about 212 million dollars richer this morning. The winning ticket for Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot was sold in Ocean County New Jersey⁷. No word yet on who is holding that ticket. The winning numbers are 26 32 35 43 and 52 with the mega number of 10.

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

1 intern   

v.拘禁，软禁；n.实习生

参考例句：

• I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。
• The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。

2 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

3 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。