AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-02-01（在线收听）

1. Iraqi leaders are celebrating what they are calling safe and successful provincial elections. Results are not expected before Tuesday. A total of 440 seats are at stake on the various provincial councils in the election, covering the whole country except four northern areas.

2. Democrats and Republicans say former Senator Tom Daschle's failure to pay his taxes on time isn't expected to derail his confirmation as health secretary for the Obama administration. Daschle recently filed amended tax returns to report more than 128,000 dollars in back taxes and nearly 12,000 dollars in interest.

3. Global leaders meeting in Switzerland have a simple message for the world: Keep trading. The leaders warn that if nations choose to barricade their economies behind new commercial barriers, they risk making the global economic crisis even worse.

4. Serena Williams has claimed another Grand Slam title. She took the Australian Open title in straight sets. It's her tenth Grand Slam title.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. derail: v.

to spoil or interrupt a plan, agreement etc

2. tax return: n. 纳税申报单

the form on which you have to give information so that your tax can be calculated