NPR 2009-4-14

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

President Obama has fulfilled a campaign pledge to shift US policy toward Cuba. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs formally announced changes that ease limits on Cuba-American's relations with their homeland. "The president has directed the Secretary of State, Treasury¹ and Commerce to carry out the access necessary to lift all restrictions² on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba and to send them remittances³."

The administration will also begin issuing licenses⁴ to telecommunications companies to provide services to residents of the communist island. The White House says these steps will support Cuban’s desire for human, political and economic rights.

After several days of debate, the United Nations Security Council has approved a statement, condemning⁵ North Korea's recent rocket launch and reinforcing sanctions on Pyongyang. NPR's Michelle Kelemen reports.

The statement condemns⁶ North Korea's April 5th launch but does not specify⁷ whether it was a satellite launch as North Korea has said or a ballistic missile launch as the US and others believe. The text of the statement was watered down to get all the Council members to agree to it. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the idea was to send a message to the North Koreans that this type of activity must not happen again. The Security Council statement demands that North Korea not conduct any further launches and it calls for the enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang. Michelle Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

In Thailand, two people were killed in clashes between soldiers and anti-government protestors in the capital Bangkok. Today's violence comes a day after the government declared a state of emergency to put an end to the demonstrations⁸. NPR's Michael Sullivan has more from Bangkok.

Thai soldiers used automatic weapons and tear gas to push back crowds of demonstrators who blocked one of Bangkok's main intersections⁹. Other brief clashes were reported nearby with dozens injured on both sides. Hospital officials say four people, two of them soldiers were treated for gunshot wounds. Under the state of emergency, public gatherings¹⁰ of more than five people are banned but thousands of demonstrators remain outside the prime minister's compound and have vowed¹¹ to stay. So far, the military has made no effort to remove them. The red shirt demonstrators are supporters of deposed¹² prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, they want the current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and for a new elections to be held. They claim his government came to power four months ago through illegitimate means. Michael Sullivan, NPR News, Bangkok.

Goldman Sachs announced a higher than expected first quarter profit today of 1.66 billion dollars. The bank says it plans to raise five billion dollars in a public stock offering to help pay back government bailout funds.

On Wall Street today, the Dow fell 25 points to close at 8,057. The NASDAQ was up a fraction at 1,653.

This is NPR News.

The president of Pakistan has signed a law that allows strict Islamic law to be imposed in the northwestern Swat valley where Taliban militants¹³ have been operating. In exchange, local Taliban leaders have agreed to a ceasefire. The Taliban had already carried out strict Islamic punishments in the Swat valley, beheading opponents and burning girls’ schools. Critics, including the US, say the new rule surrenders to extremists who have been brutalizing residents of Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan.

A beloved sports broadcasting voice has been quieted. Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry¹⁴ Kalas died today before a game in Washington D.C. NPR’s Mike Pesca reports.

It was to be the first world game of Harry Kalas’ 39th season as the voice of the Phillies, but he collapsed¹⁵ in a broadcast booth in Nationals Park and cannot be revived. Kalas began by announcing Huston Astros' games, providing voice-overs for NFL films and commercials. But it was his Philly play-by-play duties, including his signature "Outta here!” home run call that made him famous. After not being allowed to broadcast the Phillies first world series victory in 1980 because of a rights issue, Kalas was on the air waves when his team won the series last year. Phillies' president David Montgomery said of Kalas' passing: We lost our voice today. Kalas was 73 years old. Mike Pesca NPR News.

A jury has found rock producer and songwriter Phil Spector guilty of second-degree murder. Spector was convicted today of shooting to death Lana Clarkson six years ago. The actress was found shot in the mouth in the foyer of Spector's mansion¹⁶ hours after the two met at a night club where she was working.

1 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。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

4 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

5 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

8 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

9 intersections   

n.横断( intersection的名词复数 )；交叉；交叉点；交集

参考例句：

• Traffic lights have been placed at all major intersections. 所有重要的交叉路口都安装了交通信号灯。
• Intersections are of the greatest importance in highway design. 在道路设计中，交叉口占有最重要的地位。 来自辞典例句

10 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

11 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

12 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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。

14 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

15 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

16 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。