CNN 2009-04-02

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

We begin with protests that are heating up in the financial district of London. Thousands of protesters have gathered at the steps of the Bank of England--the UK's version of federal reserve and they're protesting globalization and calling for G-20 nations to do more to protect the environment. President Obama is meeting with other world leaders to discuss economic solutions. The President says we can only recover if we all work together.

President Obama met this morning in London with Russia's president. The two leaders talked about nuclear arms reduction. Negotiations¹ to work out a new agreement on reducing nuclear arms will begin soon. This comes as Mr. Obama announced he is heading to Moscow in July .

The Justice Department is asking federal court to set aside the verdict and drop all charges against former senator Ted² Stevens. The Alaska republican was convicted last October on charges of lying on financial disclosure forms in order to conceal³ gifts received from friends. But the Justice Department now admits that Stevens was not given access to notes that could have helped him during his trial.

The private sector⁴ lost some 742,000 jobs just last month. That's according to payroll⁵ processing from ADP. Meanwhile the latest company slashing⁶ jobs is 3M. The maker⁷ of scotch⁸ tape and post-it notes is cutting 1,200 positions globally. Although that number doesn't include some cuts made earlier this year.

The largest federal tobacco tax increase ever takes effect today. It's going from 39 cents a pack to a dollar and one cent a pack. The extra revenue will help pay for President Obama's plan to expand health insurance for kids.

And that's what happening right NOW IN THE NEWS. Please stick with us 24/7 for news from all around the world. Of course we'll continue to have these updates right here throughout the day.

1 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。

2 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

3 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

6 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

7 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

8 scotch   

n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。