CNN 2009-04-04

Good morning. From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Reggie Aqui. Thanks for checking in. Here is a quick look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

More disappointing news about the economy out today. The government is now saying unemployment has hit a 25-year-high last month, climbing now to 8. 5%. That's the highest it's been since October, 1983. Employers trimmed 663,000 jobs from their payrolls¹ in March. Two million jobs have been lost this year alone and more than 5 million have been lost since the start of last year.

President Obama addressed the people of France this morning during a town hall style meeting in Strasbourg. The President explained how both US and France must find new ways of working together. "This has been a very productive conversation I look forward to further productive conversation this evening and tomorrow surrounding NATO's mission. And I am confident that when the United States and France are acting² in concert, that the prospects³ for peace and prosperity around the world are strengthened." The President is traveling just over the border today to meet with the German Chancellor⁴.

North Korea is going ahead with its final preparations to launch a rocket perhaps within the next day. The North says it's sending up a communication satellite, but Japan and other countries have called it a missile test. There is a five day window for the launch. A successful launch will mean North Korea has a long range capability⁵ and that has Japan worried.

Speculation⁶ is running rampant⁷ that Internet search engine Google is interested in buying out Twitter. The influential⁸ blog Tech Crunch⁹ reported on Thursday that Google is in late stage negotiations¹⁰ to acquire Twitter. Google says it does not comment on rumor¹¹, well, Twitter has not responded to a CNN email.

Be sure to stick with us at CNN. com 24/7 for news from around the world. We're gonna continue to update you right here throughout the day.

1 payrolls   

n.（公司员工的）工资名单( payroll的名词复数 )；（公司的）工资总支出，工薪总额

参考例句：

• Indices of employment, payrolls, and production steadied in February 1931931年2月，就业、工资额和生产指数稳定。 来自辞典例句
• Wall Street responded to the payrolls figures with gusto. 华尔街对就业数据作出了积极的反应。 来自互联网

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 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。

7 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。