NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-01-02

　　From NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone.

 

　　Just before 2 am, the US Senate overwhelmingly endorsed¹ a measure to catch the government economy in free fall. But despite the post deadline timing², the House is not rushing to pass the bill. The situation leaving federal fiscal³ affairs once again in limbo⁴. On the House floor, Congressman⁵ Dennis Kucinich said it reminded him of a movie.

 

　　A New Year's deal for New Year's day, or it's a Groundhog Day, because like the movie, Groundhog Day, this government in two months will arrive at another crisis of debt, of spending and taxes.

 

　　The Senate passed plan would raise taxes on annual family income over $450,000, cancel pay raises for Congress and help prevent milk prices from rising dramatically. The measure would extend benefits for the long-term jobless and prevent a 27% cut in fees for doctors who treat medicare patients. NPR's John Ydstie says big issues remain unresolved.

 

　　One part of the fiscal cliff that is being put off by this deal is the issue of the automatic spending cuts, the $110 billion in spending cuts from defense⁶ and from discretionary programs. The Congress would deal with those about two months from now under this deal. But that comes at the same time as the Congress will be facing a fight over raising the debt ceiling. So it could be another time threatens the economy. NPR's John Ydstie.

 

　　As of today, under the Healthcare Reform Act, businesses are required to start providing workers with contraception coverage⁷. But as WDET's Quinn Klinefelter reports a company in Michigan now has time to appeal.

 

　　A US district judge granted a temporary restraining order, allowing a property management company owned by the founder⁸ of Domino's Pizza to avoid providing contraception to employees. Owner Tom Monaghan says he beliefs birth control is a "gravely immoral⁹ practice ". The ruling does not cover Domino's Pizza which Monaghan sold Bain Capital in 1998. But it is one of about a dozen lawsuits¹⁰ nationwide, arguing the contraception mandate¹¹ violates religious beliefs. The judge in the Michigan case says he issued the restraining order because the matter can not be resolved before the mandate takes effect. For NPR News, I'm Quinn Klinefelter in Detroit.

 

　　Chaos¹² in a province in northwestern Pakistan. Authorities there say six women and one man, teachers and health workers were gunned down. Swabi Pakistan Police Officer Abdur Rashid.

 

　　Some member this community center was coming back. It was ambushed¹³, six of the female were murdered and one man member was also murdered, the driver is injured.

 

　　Militants¹⁴ in the region oppose female education and in the past have attacked girls and blown up their schools.

 

　　This is NPR News.

 

　　About 60 people, many of them children are reported to have been killed in Ivory Coast after a stampede at a New Year's fireworks display. The Ivorian authorities have ordered an investigation¹⁵ and NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports it's not immediately clear what led to the panic that triggered the crash.

 

　　There are several versions of what sparked the deadly incident near the main stadium in Ivory Coast main city Abidjan. Some reports say the lagoon-side fireworks bonanza¹⁶ ended in what sounded like gunfire, panic the crowds leaving the festivities, which led to a stampede and dozens of deaths. Many children were reportedly among the New Year's revelers who were trampled¹⁷ and perished in the early hours. As day dawned in Abidjan, abandoned clothes and shoes and blast things could be seen after an event that was organized to celebrate the return of peace following the post election conflict in Ivory Coast. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Accra.

 

　　2013 marks the 400th anniversary of some native Americans believe it is the first treaty between the Iroquois nations and the Europeans. Some scholars challenged the veracity¹⁸ of the treaty, but in upstate New York, the Onondaga people and representatives of other Iroquoian nations, planned several events over the course of the coming year ranging from canoe convoys¹⁹ to presentations about the dangers of hydraulic²⁰ fracturing.

 

　　Playboy's Hugh Hefner  and 26-year-old Playmate Crystal Harris are now married. She broke off the engagement a year ago but exchanged vows²¹ with the 86-year-old Hef. on New Year's eve.

 

　　I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

1 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

3 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

4 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。

5 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

9 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

10 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

11 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

12 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

13 ambushed   

v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

15 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

16 bonanza   

n.富矿带，幸运，带来好运的事

参考例句：

• Bargain hunters enjoyed a real bonanza today.到处买便宜货的人今天真是交了好运。
• What a bonanza for the winning ticket holders!对于手持胜券的人来说，这是多好的运气啊。

17 trampled   

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

18 veracity   

n.诚实

参考例句：

• I can testify to this man's veracity and good character.我可以作证，此人诚实可靠品德良好。
• There is no reason to doubt the veracity of the evidence.没有理由怀疑证据的真实性。

19 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

20 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

21 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。