NPR 2011-10-21

 President Obama is calling this a momentous¹ day for Libya hours after the world learned that ousted² dictator Muammar Gaddafi was dead.

 

"Today, we can definitely say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating³ the control over the country. And one of the world's longest-serving dictators is no more."

 

Libya's interim⁴ leadership says Gaddafi, who ruled for more than 40 years, died from injuries he sustained as his hometown Sirte was overrun by revolutionary forces. The Associated Press cites interim government officials saying that one of Gaddafi's sons, Moatassem, has also been killed, and they say they’ve captured another son, one-time heir apparent Saif al-Islam, who's been wounded. This was the moment so many Libyans, including Nasir, who spoke⁵ to the BBC, had been waiting for.

 

"I just got back call from the Green Square, from the town of, downtown Tripoli to change my clothes, to wear my shirt with the new flag on it and my cap and get my children with me and to go down there to celebrate of the new victory."

 

Libyan flags and banners are seen waving above large crowds energized⁶ by news that Gaddafi was no longer a threat. Gaddafi's downfall comes more than seven months after the people rose up against the regime that had been in power for decades. As in Egypt and other parts of the region, Libya's uprising was inspired by that of Tunisia. That's where the BBC's Pascale Harter says people have converged⁷ outside the Libyan embassy to celebrate [of] the new victory.

 

The situation here is one of abject⁸ joys as about between 500 and 1,000 people gathered outside the embassy waving Libyan flags, as also Tunisians here waving their revolutionary flags, coming to turn out and chant with the Libyans in solidarity⁹.

 

That's the BBC's Pascale Harter in Tunis.

 

In the US, fewer existing homes are selling. A trade group says sales were down 3% last months. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, they remain below the level. Economists¹⁰ say it's consistent with a healthy market.

 

Economists would rather see a number more than neighborhood of six million. But the National Association of Realtors says sales of existing homes dropped last month to a seasonally¹¹ adjusted rate of just over 4.9 million. The housing market has been troubled by a glut¹² of unsold homes and foreclosures which are driving prices down. Even historically low mortgage rates don't appear to be enough to entice¹³ buyers. The group says home sales are being hurt by a big decline in first-time buyers. They're important because they allow sellers of more moderately priced homes to move up to more expensive ones. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

 

The Greek parliament is backing new austerity measures. They approved the bill a short time ago despite protests raging in central Athens.

 

And US stocks are up, Dow gaining 56 points; it's at 11,560. 

 

This is NPR.

 

Indonesian authorities have brought a suspected Indonesian terrorist back to the site of the 2002 Bali bombings to reconstruct his alleged¹⁵ role in making the bombs that killed more than 200 people. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Jakarta that the suspect was extradited from Pakistan in August.

 

Police spokesman General Anton Bachrul Alam said that police took Umar Patek to four sites on the resort island of Bali to reenact his activities there. The attackers detonated two bombs at popular nightclubs and a third near the American consulate¹⁶. Patek recently told the Jakarta Globe newspaper that he only advised the bombers¹⁷, and that he unsuccessfully tried to talk them out of it. Pakistani authorities arrested Patek on January 25th in Abbottabad, the same town where US soldiers killed Osama bin¹⁴ Laden¹⁸ in May. General Alam said it was not yet clear whether or not Umar Patek met with bin Laden there. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Jakarta.

 

The Basque separatist group ETA says it is ending its more than four-decade-long armed campaign. It issued a statement today telling a Basque daily publication that it wants open dialog with Spain and France. ETA declared a permanent ceasefire back in January. However, until now it had not announced intentions to end its armed campaign.

 

We're seeing US stocks mixed at the moment, the Dow up 56 points or more than 0.5% at 11,560; NASDAQ off three points at 2,601; S&P 500 up seven at 1,216.

1 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

2 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

3 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

7 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 abject   

adj.极可怜的，卑屈的

参考例句：

• This policy has turned out to be an abject failure.这一政策最后以惨败而告终。
• He had been obliged to offer an abject apology to Mr.Alleyne for his impertinence.他不得不低声下气，为他的无礼举动向艾莱恩先生请罪。

9 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

10 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

12 glut   

n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽

参考例句：

• The glut of coffee led to a sharp drop in prices.咖啡供过于求道致价格急剧下跌。
• There's a glut of agricultural products in Western Europe.西欧的农产品供过于求。

13 entice   

v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿

参考例句：

• Nothing will entice the children from television.没有任何东西能把孩子们从电视机前诱开。
• I don't see why the English should want to entice us away from our native land.我不明白，为什英国人要引诱我们离开自己的国土。

14 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

15 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

16 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

17 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。