CNN 2009-03-31

Hello everyone, from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Catherine Callaway, so glad you're checking in with us today. Here's a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

General Motors CEO is out. And some major, this is after some major pressure from the White House. Rick Wagoner announced his resignation today. Meantime, GM still has a rough road ahead. President Obama is giving the company sixty days to prove that it is viable¹ or it could go into a structured bankruptcy². Meanwhile the president is giving Chrysler just thirty days to come up with a new restructuring plan.

People living in Fargo, North Dakota are not letting their guard down just yet. Emergency crews are dropping eleven one-ton sandbags from helicopters as trying to divert the violent currents from the Red River. And even after a weekend of record flooding, North Dakota is now bracing³ for a snowstorm that could test sandbag dikes even as the river begins to slowly recede⁴.

In Pakistan, eight cadets and staff members are dead after an eight-hour standoff with gunmen who stormed the police academy there. At least 52 others were wounded in the attack. Authorities say four gunmen were killed and three militants⁵ were arrested.

There's a new picture that appears to show a rocket on a launch pad in North Korea. Take a look at this; this is the satellite image that comes from the Institute for Science and International Security. North Korea says it's planning to launch a commercial satellite sometime between April 4th and 8th. U.S. Defense⁶ Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday if there's little doubt that the planned launch is designed to bolster⁷ North Korea's military capability⁸, both Japan and the U.S. are mobilizing defenses ahead of that launch.

It appears that Tiger Woods is all the way back from knee surgery. He came back from five shots behind in the final round and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational with the dramatic 16-foot birdie on the final hole. This is Tiger's first win since being out due to knee surgery nine months ago. Up next for him, the Masters which will begin April 9th.

Be sure you stick with CNN.com 24/7 for news from around the world, we'll also have updates for you right here throughout the day.

1 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

2 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

3 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

4 recede   

vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进

参考例句：

• The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。
• He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

8 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。