NPR 2011-12-13

 President Obama playing host to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the White House is applauding the end of the Iraq War. He says Iraq will not stand alone once US troops leave at the end of the year. He says “we will never waver in the defense¹ of our allies”. 

 

“Iraq faces great challenges, but today reflects the impressive progress that Iraqis have made. Millions have cast their ballots--some risking or giving their lives to vote in free elections.”

 

Mr. Obama also said other nations must not interfere² with Iraq’s sovereignty, stopping short though of mentioning other countries by name.

 

The Supreme³ Court is jumping into the debate over illegal immigrants. Today the Justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked several tough provisions in Arizona’s new law. Elena Lacayo is an immigration specialist with the National Council of La Raza. She says the court will decide if the state is overstepping its authority. 

 

“The federal government has historically had full responsibility for regulating immigration. And the states are overstepping their bounds. They are overstepping their authority by trying to kind of usurp⁴ immigration law and create immigration law at the state level.” 

 

Ira Mehlman is with the Federation⁵ for American Immigration Reform. He says there is a good reason states want to regulate immigration. 

 

“States do have a compelling interest because that’s where the cost occurs. States now have to pay more than $80 billion a year to provide basic services and benefits to illegal aliens and their dependents.”

 

It’s estimated there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. 

 

It’s an emotional afternoon in Blacksburg, Virginia, where a funeral is underway for a Virginian Tech police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Officer Deriek Crouse's funeral is being held at the school’s Cassell Coliseum. A big contingent⁶ of law-enforcement officials is on hand to pay their respects. 

 

International debt inspectors⁷ are back in Athens today to examine the progress of financial reforms in Greece. As Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens, EU leaders want to see reforms before moving forward on the latest bailout package agreed to in October. 

 

The debt inspectors are expected to focus on efforts to cut the deficit⁸ as well as a new tax code that the coalition⁹ government will soon submit to parliament. The new code will revoke¹⁰ several exemptions¹¹ and a law for a close scrutiny¹² over returns by the self-employed. Tax evasion¹³ has been a problem in Greece for years. Austerity has introduced new taxes which many Greeks say they can’t pay with reduced wages and pensions. Private sector¹⁴ creditors¹⁵ are also expected in Athens this week to discuss a write-down plan in the bailout package that could significantly cut the country’s debt load. For NPR News, I’m Joanna Kakissis in Athens.

 

On Wall Street, the Dow is down 215 points. 

 

This is NPR News. 

 

San Diego’s Occupy movement joined a larger effort today to shut down West Coast ports. Organizers are trying to hit corporations in their pocket books by slowing down the transport of goods. From member station KPBS, Katie Orr reports. 

 

About 70 protesters gathered early this morning at a city park before marching through the streets to the San Diego Port’s 10th Avenue Marine¹⁶ Terminal. The local Longshoremen’s Union did not join the protest, but protester Mitchell Sterling¹⁷ says the unions should get involved. 

 

“Well, the ports are really indicative of Wall Street right on the waterfront. You know, the few companies that control all the imports coming into the country, they have it made offshore¹⁸ with really cheap labor¹⁹, and then they bring their cheap goods in through the port.” 

 

“Shut it down. We shut it down.”

 

Protesters rallied and blocked cars from entering the terminal at two entrances. Several protesters were arrested for blocking the street, but a port spokesman says it was business as usual. For NPR News, I’m Katie Orr in San Diego.        

 

A lawyer tells the Associated Press that no plea talks are underway in advance of tomorrow’s preliminary hearing in the Penn State child sex-abuse case. Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive²⁰ coordinator²¹ for the school’s football team, is charged with more than 50 counts of child sex-abuse involving 10 boys he met through his children’s charity. The alleged²² victims are scheduled to speak at tomorrow’s preliminary hearing. 

 

A prosecutor²³ in southwest Ohio will consider criminal charges following the fist fight between players at the end of the Cincinnati-Xavier basketball game. Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters²⁴ says he’ll review the brawl²⁵ to see if charges are appropriate. 

 

I’m Nancy Lyons, NPR News in Washington.

1 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。

2 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

3 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。

4 usurp   

vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位

参考例句：

• Their position enabled them to usurp power.他们所处的地位使其得以篡权。
• You must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest.你不应让它过多地占据你的兴趣。

5 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

6 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

7 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 revoke   

v.废除，取消，撤回

参考例句：

• The university may revoke my diploma.大学可能吊销我的毕业证书。
• The government revoked her husband's license to operate migrant labor crews.政府撤销了她丈夫管理外来打工人群的许可证。

11 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

12 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

13 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

14 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

15 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

17 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

18 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

19 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

20 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

21 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

22 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

23 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

24 deters   

v.阻止，制止( deter的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The filth here deters all but the invited guest. 这里污秽不堪，除非有事，外人是裹足不前的。 来自辞典例句
• Many people believe that capital punishment deters crime. 很多人相信极刑能阻止犯罪。 来自互联网

25 brawl   

n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂

参考例句：

• They had nothing better to do than brawl in the street.他们除了在街上斗殴做不出什么好事。
• I don't want to see our two neighbours engaged in a brawl.我不希望我们两家吵架吵得不可开交。