NPR 2012-12-27

　　From NPR News in Washington, I’m Jeanine Herbst.

 

　　Russia’s Upper House of Parliament has passed an amendment¹ that would ban Americans from adopting Russian children, Jessica Gallaher reports from Moscow the measure still has to be signed into law.

 

　　All 143 members of Russia’s Federation² Council voted in support of the measure, which has sparked criticism from the West and Russian activists³. The amendment is part of a larger measure created by Russian lawmakers in response to the United States’ passage of the so-called Magnitsky Act. The act bars entry and freezes the assets of any Russian citizen accused of violating human rights. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the measure is an adequate response to the Magnitsky Act. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the amendment is a bad idea. The measure still has to be signed by Putin before it becomes law. For NPR News, I’m Jessica Gallaher in Moscow.

 

　　Former South African President Nelson Mandela is out of the hospital. The anti-apartheid icon⁴ has been in the hospital since December 8th, diagnosed with a lung infection and gallstones. A spokesman says the 94-year-old will receive medical care at his home in Johannesburg until he’s fully⁵ recovered.

 

　　A blizzard⁶ warning for much of the nation’s mid-section has been cancelled, as Jennifer Fuller of member station WSIU in Illinois reports powerful winter storms left dangerous conditions behind.

 

　　The National Weather Service says between eight and 10 inches of snow fell overnight and the region could see a few more inches before the system moves out later today. While lead forecaster Dan Spaeth says the snow may be tapering⁷ off. Conditions will remain dangerous.

 

　　“Even when the snow is gone, or the snow is not falling anymore, there will be drifting and blowing of snow which may make it difficult to keep the roads clear and the source is trying to be, have safe travel through the area.”

 

　　Roads are snow and ice-covered across the region and transportation crews say the blowing and drifting snow will make things difficult for the next several days. For NPR News, I’m Jennifer Fuller, in Carbondale, Illinois.”

 

　　The two surviving firefighters shot in an apparent ambush⁸ as they responded to a house fire in upstate New York are on the mend. Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino said in a statement they are humbled⁹ and overwhelmed for the outpouring of support. Doctors say they are doing well and their condition has been upgraded to satisfactory. Two other firefighters died when the police say William Spengler Junior set his house on fire, then opened fire on the first responders and then killed himself.

 

　　Retail¹⁰ sales lower this holiday season. MasterCard Advisors¹¹ and SpendingPulse report sales of jewelry¹², home goods, electronics and clothing in the two months leading up to Christmas, rough to 0.7%. That’s the worst performance in four years and well below the 3% to 4% increase, analysts¹³ were expecting.

 

　　On Wall Street at this hour, down but just slightly. The Dow down one point right now at 13,137; the NASDAQ is also lowered about 0.5%, down 14 points at 2,999; the S&P 500 is down four points at 1,423.

 

　　This is NPR.

 

　　The Department of Transportation is weighing in on whether to make airlines review prices for baggage and other fees to online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. Travel industry officials and consumer advocates complain it’s getting harder for consumers to know the true price of airfares so they can compare. Airlines don’t want the government to regulate fee information but consumer groups do. The DOT is working on a proposal to address the issue but it won’t be released until May, because the agency is getting flooded with suggestions from both sides.

 

　　Israel’s fast tracking plans to build almost 1,000 new homes in East Jerusalem. Linda Gradstein reports Palestinians say the construction is a red line.

 

　　A government planning committee asked contractor¹⁴ to submit bids to build 942 homes in the Gilo area of southern Jerusalem. Once a bid is awarded, construction can begin. Some 40,000 Israelis already live in Gilo, which Israel calls a neighborhood of Jerusalem and Palestinians call a settlement. It is built on land Israel conquered in 1967 and later annexed¹⁵. A Palestinian spokesman said the Palestinian authority will use all possible means to respond to the Israeli plan. The homes are among more than 5,000 new homes in East Jerusalem that Israel announced plans to build, sparking international condemnation¹⁶. For NPR News, I’m Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem.

 

　　Among the new laws taking effect in 2013 measures on gay rights, federal approved laws allowing same-sex couples to marry take effect in Maine next Saturday, and in Maryland next month. California is also banning a medically discredited¹⁷ form of psychotherapy, aimed at making gay teenagers straight, although the law is on hold during a court challenge.

 

　　This is NPR.

1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 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。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。

7 tapering   

adj.尖端细的

参考例句：

• Interest in the scandal seems to be tapering off. 人们对那件丑闻的兴趣似乎越来越小了。
• Nonproductive expenditures keep tapering down. 非生产性开支一直在下降。

8 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

9 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

10 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

11 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

12 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

14 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

15 annexed   

[法] 附加的，附属的

参考例句：

• Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。
• The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。

16 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

17 discredited   

不足信的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷，不得人心。
• Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。