CNN News:美國(guó)國(guó)務(wù)卿與伊朗外長(zhǎng)時(shí)隔多年首次會(huì)晤

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Welcome to CNN STUDENT NEWS.

We talked earlier this week about the tenserelationship between the United States and Iran.

In recent years, Iran's controversial nuclear program has added to that tension.

Iran says the program is for peaceful purpose, the U.S. and other countries believe Iran istrying to build nuclear weapons.

One way the U.S. and other countries have reacted to Iran's nuclear program is with sanctions.

Now, these are punishments, penaltiesthat restrict Iran's economic activities.

Sanctions are designed to pressure Iran into talking with the international community.

Yesterday, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Jawad Zurif and U.S. Secretary of State JohnKerry met in New York about Iran's nuclear program.

Here's why that's significant.

It's the first meeting between high level U.S. and Iranian officials in more than 30 years.

Is this legit?

Ben Franklin was the first person to run the U.S. Postal Service.

It's true.

In 1775 the continental congress appointed Franklin as the first U.S. postmaster general.

Back in the 18 century, the good old days, it cost six cents to send the letter through the mail.

In 1975, 200 years after Ben Franklin became the postmaster general, it cost ten cents.

Today, a first class stamp cost 46 cents, but the postal service wants to increase that to 49cents staring next January.

Then you might say, who cares, I don't send anything through the mail.

That's part of the issue.

Every year the amount of mail the postal service handles drops by hundreds of millions ofpieces.

The postal service lost $16 billion in 2012, another 1740 million from April through June of thisyear.

One of the ways to make up those losses is by increasing stand prices.

The postal service board of governors describes that move as the last resort, this three centincrease could raise $2 billion for the postal service, but the board of governors has to approveit first.

The postal service isn't the only part of the U.S. government that's facing some seriouseconomic questions.

Congress and President Obama have to consider something called the debt ceiling.

This is a limit on the total amount of money the U.S. government can borrow,

the ceiling, $16.7 trillion of debt is in sight and heeding it could have some consequences.