NPR 2009-10-20

In Vienna today, the head of the United Nations nuclear agency said talks with Iran to move most of its enriched uranium out of the country are off to a good start. From Vienna, NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

 

Following an afternoon of close-door talks here, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei said the initial meetings had been constructive¹ and the talks would continue. The delegations² from Russia, the US, France and Iran said little afterwards. Tuesday's talks will again center on a proposal to send almost 75% of Iran's declared stockpile of low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for processing into fuel for a medical research reactor³ in Tehran. Iran agreed to the deal in principle in Geneva earlier this month. If implemented⁴, the deal could alleviate⁵ fears / Iran could quickly enhance its low-enriched uranium and make a nuclear bomb, the so-called breakout scenario⁶. But even if a deal is struck on the low-enriched uranium, some western powers still want a full suspension of Iran's nuclear program. Eric Westervelt, NPR News, Vienna.

 

With the United Nations-backed fraud investigators⁷ throwing out roughly 1/3 of the votes that were cast for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the White House today is calling on Afghan leaders to prove to their people and the world the results of the August election were legitimate⁸. The announcement will set the stage for a runoff between Karzai and his top challenger, former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. Still not clear is whether an Afghan-led independent election commission would totally accept the findings. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today she expects Karzai to announce tomorrow how he plans to proceed.

 

The Justice Department has instructed federal prosecutors⁹ not to go after people who sell medical marijuana in compliance¹⁰ with state laws. That guidance came out today in a three-page memo¹¹ to US attorneys. More from NPR's Ari Shapiro.

 

This memo formalizes a position that Attorney General Eric Holder¹² first described to reporters in March. 

 

"The policy is to go after those people who violate both federal and state law."

 

That's different from the Bush administration which allowed prosecutors to arrest people for selling medical marijuana even in states where it's legal. Allen St. Pierre is executive director of the group NORMAL, which advocates for marijuana legalization. He believes this new memo is a harbinger of more lenient¹³ drug policies to come.

 

"There have already been invitations made to drug policy groups to meet with the drug policy director, something that hasn't happened in 20 years."

 

The Justice Department memo says prosecutors should still go after people who use medical marijuana as a front for other illegal activity. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, Washington.

 

Some strong earnings¹⁴ reports as well as optimistic forecasts from at least one bellwether¹⁵ company helped give the financial markets a lift to start the week. That includes better-than-expected earnings from diversified¹⁶ manufacturer Eaton and newspaper giant Gannett.

 

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 96 points. The NASDAQ was up 19 points today.

 

This is NPR.

 

Supreme¹⁷ Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has temporarily blocked officials in Washington State from releasing the names of people who signed a ballot¹⁸ measure on gay rights. That ruling will temporarily hold a federal appeals court ruling last week that ordered the release of the names. The case involves a state ballot initiative that asked voters to approve or reject the state law that grants registered domestic partners the same legal rights as married heterosexual couples. Kennedy said today the order would remain in effect while he considers a request by a pro-marriage group that asked for the lower court ruling to be reversed.

 

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today told a meeting of the world's largest economies he's concerned the upcoming climate change summit in Copenhagen may not result in an agreement. Larry Miller¹⁹ has more from London.

 

Prime Minister Brown said it would be catastrophic if the UN climate change summit in December fails to take strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions²⁰.

 

"If we act now, if we act together, if we act with vision and resolve, success at Copenhagen is still within our reach. But if we falter²¹, the Earth will itself be at risk. And for the planet, there is no Plan B."

 

Brown told the 17-nation Major Economies Forum²² that preparatory talks within the UN are at an impasse²³ with negotiators moving too slowly. Brown appealed over their heads to world leaders to engage directly to break that impasse. For NPR News, I'm Larry Miller in London.

 

Crude oil futures²⁴ prices closed higher today. The near-month contract for a benchmark grade crude oil was up $1.08 a barrel today to end the session at $79.61 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

1 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

2 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

3 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

4 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

5 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

6 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

7 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

9 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

10 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

11 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

12 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

13 lenient   

adj.宽大的，仁慈的

参考例句：

• The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
• It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。

14 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

15 bellwether   

n.系铃的公羊，前导，领导者，群众的首领

参考例句：

• University campuses are often the bellwether of change.大学校园往往引领变革的新潮。
• For decades the company was the bellwether of the British economy.几十年来，这家公司一直是英国经济的晴雨表。

16 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

18 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

19 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

20 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

21 falter   

vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚

参考例句：

• His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
• As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时，脚步迟疑了起来。

22 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

23 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

24 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。