CNN 2009-03-19

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

AIG's CEO is on Capitol Hill today. Edward Liddy is expected to answer questions from lawmakers about huge bonuses paid to executives despite the fact that the government forked over billions to keep the company afloat. Well, now the government wants some of that money back. Senators are also working on a plan to tax the bonuses given by companies that got bailout money.

A new report shows inflation is running a little higher than expected. Consumer prices rose 0.4% last month. It's the biggest jump in seven months, the main culprit, higher gas prices. And a brand-new CNN poll shows the economy is forcing some Americans to spend less on daily necessities and delay big purchases. 32% say they've cut back on food and medicine in the past six months, families making less than 25,000 dollars were hit the hardest.

Pope Benedict XVI is courting controversy¹ in Africa with his stance on condom use. On his first papal visit to Africa, the pope is telling Africa's bishops² to defend traditional family values by refusing to soften³ the Vatican's ban on condom use. The pontiff is on a seven-day trip to the continent.

Josef Fritzl says watching his daughter's taped testimony⁴ led to his surprising plea change. The 73-year-old Austrian now says he is guilty of murder and enslavement as well as rape⁵, incest and other charges. Both verdict and sentencing are expected soon, Fritzl faces life in prison.

Astronauts will soon start installing new solar wings on the international space station. Space shuttle Discovery docked with the station yesterday. The seven-member shuttle crew greeted the space station members shortly afterward⁶. Today they are gonna remove the solar wings from the shuttle's payload bay.

And thanks for watching. Please stick with us here at CNN.com and CNN.com Live, of course we will have updates for you right here throughout the day.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

3 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

4 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

5 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

6 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。