AP美联社一分钟新闻 2008-10-20（在线收听）

1. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, is endorsing Democrat Barack Obama for president. Powell says both Barack Obama and John McCain are qualified, but thinks Obama can be a transformational figure. Powell also says he questions McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate and the direction the Republican Party is taking.

2. Both McCain and Obama campaigning Sunday in battleground states. McCain has several events in Ohio where several polls have the two nearly tied. Obama meanwhile in North Carolina, a state that has not voted a Democrat for president since 1976.

3. Police in Las Vegas are focusing on two persons of interest in the abduction of six-year-old Cole Puffinburger. The boy was found okay late Saturday wandering alone in Las Vegas. His grandfather has been arrested in the case.

4. And this is the mangled aftermath of a massive accident in France. One person died, 39 other people were hurt in the multi-car chain-reaction pileup.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. aftermath: n.

The aftermath of an important event, especially a harmful one, is the situation that results from it.

2. person of interest:

a phrase used by law enforcement when announcing the name of someone involved in a criminal investigation who has not yet been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It is often used as a euphemism for suspect.