NPR 2011-06-20

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.

The Libyan government claims that NATO warplanes are targeting civilians². Officials there say an air strike in Tripoli today killed nine civilians, including two young children. The Libyan foreign minister called for a Jihad against the West. Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said that means Libya is seeking help in defending itself.

"We will not support any terrorist acts anywhere in the world, but we are asking the Muslim nations, all free nations in the West and Africa, Asia, Latin America to stand tall against this crime being committed against us because we all have moral responsibilities, and we would be held responsible before the eyes of God and the eyes of future generations."

NATO has maintained it tries to avoid civilian¹ deaths.

Syrian troops are reported to be clamping down in the region where civilians have been fleeing into neighboring Turkey. NPR's Peter Kenyon is in southwestern Turkey. He spent most of the morning on the so-called smuggler's trails that cross the mountains between the two countries.

I met a man who arrived yesterday from the Syrian village of Badama. He was very flattered it was stormed by the Syrian military. He said he saw tanks and heavy weapons. He saw houses being fired on. Badama is not a hotbed of anti-regime activism, but it is very strategically located. It's very close to the Turkish border, and it's the easiest way for displaced Syrians to reach Turkey. And what that means is now with the army part there, A: It's very difficult for Syrians fleeing other villages to use that route to get to the Turkish border; and B: It's harder for food and medicine and other supplies to come through that route as well.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reporting from southwestern Turkey.

Greece's embattled prime minister is calling on Greeks to rally around his unpopular austerity package. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports.

Papandreou has been under assault — street protests and a revolt within his own party that led to a government reshuffle. Hard-line socialists³ objected to a package of new tax hikes, privatizations and spending cuts. Appealing Sunday for a confidence vote from parliament for his new crisis cabinet, Papandreou said national divisions are not helping⁴ the country survive. The new government hopes to win approval of the new austerity measures by the end of the month, a condition set by the European Union and IMF to secure the next installment⁵ of a 155-billion-dollar bailout agreed last year. Papandreou also proposed a referendum that would amend⁶ the constitution, introducing labor⁷ market flexibility⁸ and making it easier to prosecute⁹ corrupt¹⁰ politicians. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Athens.

Economic problems prompted anti-government demonstrations¹¹ in Spain today. Thousands of people turned out to protest the lack of jobs. Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the euro zone — 21.3%.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Lawmakers appear no closer to an agreement on how to raise the debt ceiling. NPR's Allison Keyes reports one top Republican says they may need to adopt a short-term solution if they can't agree on a substantial plan.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the talks about the debt ceiling present an opportunity, telling CBS's "Face the Nation", "We're hoping with the debt ceiling discussions, we can begin to address deficit¹² and debt." McConnell also says if lawmakers can't agree on a substantial plan now, they'll end up with a short-term proposal over a few months. Democratic New York Senator Charles Schumer says deficit reduction is necessary but tells CBS it isn't enough to get the economy growing.

"There hasn't been enough focus on jobs and job creation."

Schumer says for every trillion dollars the government cuts from the deficit, it should seek to create a million jobs. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington.

Music lovers gathered at a legendary¹³ club in Asbury Park, New Jersey¹⁴ today to mourn the death of Clarence Clemons. He was known as The Big Man, not just for his physical size but his booming saxophone in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Clemons told the Associated Press in 2009 his sax is how he communicates.

"The horn is just an extension of myself. It allows you to listen to me, or to see me, you know, or to feel me. You know, if I didn't have the horn, I would, you know, know that I just would love a bass¹⁵ without the horn."

Springsteen called him "my great friend and partner." Clemons died last night from complications of a stroke he suffered about a week ago. Clarence Clemons was 69.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

6 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

7 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。

8 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

9 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

10 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

11 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。

12 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。

13 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

14 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

15 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。