NPR 2009-01-23

President Barack Obama surrounded by retired¹ senior military leaders today began announcing some of his overhauling² of US treatment of terrorist suspects. Mr. Obama signed an executive order that would call for the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention³ center within one year. Another order signed by the President would shut down secret overseas CIA prisons, though he said it does not mean US would be any less strident in the war on terror. "The United States intends to prosecute⁴ the ongoing⁵ struggle against violence and terrorism and we are gonna do so vigilantly⁶, we are gonna do so effectively, and we are gonna do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals." The Obama Administration has already suspended trials for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo for 120 days pending⁷ further review. President's comments came at his first Oval Office signing ceremony.

Treasury⁸ Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner has cleared a major hurdle⁹ in his quest for Senate confirmation¹⁰. After grilling¹¹ Geithner yesterday on tax payments he missed, the Senate Finance Committee today voted in favor with being confirmed by the full Senate. More from NPR's David Welna.

All 13 Democrats¹² on the Finance Panel voted in favor of Geithner's nomination¹³. But the 10 committee Republicans split, Arizona's Jon Kyl was one of five who voted against Geithner citing the nominee's earlier failure to pay some 34,000 dollars in taxes. "I don't believe that the requisite¹⁴ candor¹⁵ exists for me to indicate my support for him with an affirmative vote." But the five other Republicans were more forgiving including Utah's Orrin Hatch. "What happened shouldn't have happened, but I believe that he made honest mistakes and I believe that this human being is the right person for this country at this time."  Democrats now hope to have a vote by the full Senate on Geithner's nomination soon. David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.

 
The economy continues its downwards¹⁶ slide. The latest numbers from the government show more people around country losing their jobs. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

 There were nearly 600,000 US workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week. That matches the highest level in more than twenty years. And it suggests that layoffs¹⁷ are continuing as we head into 2009. Nariman Behravesh's Chief Economist¹⁸ of IHS Global Insight. "I think all the indications are that the job market is in a bit of a free fall. These numbers are gonna get quite a bit worse in the next few weeks."  Behravesh expects the unemployment rate will rise to about 9% that translates into upwards¹⁹ of 2 million more people losing their jobs over the coming year. But Behravesh is hopeful that the government stimulus²⁰ taking shape in Washington will then start to turn the economy around. Chris Arnold, NPR News.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 105 points. The NASDAQ lost 41 points today.

 This is NPR.

Just days after the ceasefire and the subsequent withdrawal²¹ of Israeli troops from Gaza, smugglers were reported to be back at work digging and reopening tunnels to Egypt. One goal of Israeli airstrikes was to cut off the supply routes which in some cases were being used to bring weapons into Gaza, but in many cases are also used to bring in food during Israeli blockades. Israel contends it destroyed upwards of 70% of the tunnels in fighting before the current truce²². Some smugglers have said the number may be even higher. After more than two weeks of fighting, Israel pulled troops out of Gaza this past weekend.

 Two men have been sentenced to death in China over the tainted²³ milk powder scandal that killed six babies. NPR's Louisa Lim reports.

 These convictions are the first in the tainted milk scandal which has come to be seen as a national disgrace. Six babies died and almost 300,000 fell ill after drinking milk contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine used to artificially boost protein levels. Two melamine producers were given death sentences. The head of the Sanlu Dairy, Tian Wenhua was given a life term and fined 3.5 million dollars. Nine other people were given stiff terms ranging from five years in prison to a suspended death sentence. The Sanlu Group was fined 7 million dollars. But one father of a victim Zhao Lianhai told NPR that the penalties were too light and that government officials responsible for overseeing the industry should also be held accountable. Louisa Lim, NPR News, Shanghai.

After hovering²⁴ at a below 5% for a number of weeks, mortgage rates have tipped back up again. Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage this week rose to 5.12% from a record low of 4.96% last week.

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 overhauling   

n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越

参考例句：

• I had no chance of overhauling him. 我没有赶上他的可能。 来自辞典例句
• Some sites need little alterations but some need total overhauling. 有些网站需要做出细微修改，而有些网站就需要整体改版。 来自互联网

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 vigilantly   

adv.警觉地，警惕地

参考例句：

• He was looking ahead vigilantly. 他警惕地注视着前方。 来自互联网
• Why didn't they search more vigilantly? 那他们为什么不再仔细地搜一搜呢？ 来自互联网

7 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

8 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。

9 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

10 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

11 grilling   

v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问

参考例句：

• The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference. 部长在今天的记者招待会上受到了严厉的盘问。
• He's grilling out there in the midday sun. 他在外面让中午火辣辣的太阳炙烤着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

14 requisite   

adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
• Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。

15 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

16 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

17 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

18 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

19 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

20 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

21 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

22 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

23 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。