CNN 2009-05-01

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Nicole Lapin. Here's a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

 Chrysler has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy¹ protection. In a statement, the company says the filing of the automaker is in its best interest. The company failed to meet today's Treasury² Department deadline to reach deals with creditors³ who loan the company about seven billion dollars. Meantime, Chrysler says it has reached an agreement in principle with the Italian automaker Fiat⁴ to establish a global alliance of sorts to form what they call a vibrant⁵ new company.

 All schools are closed in Mexico which has been hit hardest by the swine flu virus. The strain's also known as H1N1. Mexico's president is telling people to stay home for about five days. Starting tomorrow, non-essential government offices will be closed untill next Tuesday. The World Health Organization has confirmed 236 cases of swine flu around the globe.

 It appears the August wedding for the suspected Craigslist killer⁶ is not gonna happen. That's according to a lawyer for Philip Markoff's fiancee Megan McAllister. He confirms the wedding is being quote "dismantled⁷" and says that the evidence against Markoff is making McAllister her family reevaluate him.

 Obviously they are disturbing to anybody who would look and at that particular, I don't say it's been put for some meaning but obviously you gotta have to understand that's not the person that she knew in love. That's not the person that her family took into their, took into their family as a person that was gonna marry their daughter. So you have that big dichotomy of what this person was to them and what he's now being portrayed⁸ in the media.

Markoff has pleaded not guilty to killing⁹ a woman at the Boston Marriott. He also denies robbing another woman he also reportedly met through Craigslist.

And those are the headlines at this hour. For more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is always your source on live on TV or on your cell phone.

1 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。

2 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

3 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 fiat   

n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布

参考例句：

• The opening of a market stall is governed by municipal fiat.开设市场摊位受市政法令管制。
• He has tried to impose solutions to the country's problems by fiat.他试图下令强行解决该国的问题。

5 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

6 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

7 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

8 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。