NPR 2008-10-06

The latest financial bailout comes not in the US but in Germany where government officials and private banks have agreed on a 69-billion-dollar deal to save lender Hypo Real Estate. Diane Swonk, Chief Economist¹ with Mesirow Financial says there are a number of major banks in trouble overseas. "The fact that this is rapidly becoming a very global situation, leaves it even less steady for our financial market." The German bailout came on the same day the German government announced it is guaranteeing all private savings² accounts in that country, accounts valued at more than 700 billion dollars.

GOP vice³ presidential nominee⁴ Sarah Palin is standing⁵ by her claim that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, in her words, "pals⁶ around with terrorists". Palin says Obama's association with Bill Ayers, a 1960's-era radical⁷ who's now a college professor, is an issue that is fair to discuss. And McCain's supporter Senator Joe Lieberman agrees. "If the shoe was on the other foot, and John McCain had one of his earliest campaign events at the home, of somebody who affirm the right wing group that had bombed buildings, and then had been on board with the guy for several years. You bet the Obama campaign would have been raising that question." Lieberman was on FOX News Sunday.

Obama today dismissed Palin's comment and similar criticism from the McCain campaign. "Senator McCain and his operatives are gambling⁸ that they can distract you with smears⁹ rather than talk to you about substance. They'd rather tear our campaign down than lift this country up." Obama speaking at a rally in Nashville, North Carolina. Obama has denounced the radical views and actions of Ayers who was the founder¹⁰ of the Weather Underground group during the Vietnam War. Obama was a child at that time.

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni today said she will keep pursuing a peace deal with the Palestinians if she succeeds in forming a new coalition¹¹ government. Linda Gradstein has the story from Jerusalem.

It was Livni's first foreign policy address since she was nominated to form Israel's next government. That came after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned in the wake of a series of corruption¹² allegations although he remains¹³ in power until Livni either forms a new government or elections are held. Livni said Israel must not allow dates or political changes to stand in the way of negotiations¹⁴ referring to the upcoming American elections. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Malki who also spoke¹⁵ at the policy conference in Jerusalem said Palestinians see the next few months as a time of uncertainty¹⁶. He said they are waiting to see the results of the American elections and that the two candidates have different policies. He also said he hopes Livni is able to form a government as that would show commitment to the negotiations for a Palestinian state. From NPR news, I am Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem.

This is NPR News from Washington.

A new medical research report has concluded that men who are overweight or who have high insulin levels are more likely to die if they get prostate cancer. The finding comes from a large study of physicians in the US. NPR's Richard Knox reports.

The Harvard-based physician's health study has followed 22000 doctors for 26 years. The new study that looked at the fate of more than 2500 participants who had prostate cancer is published in a journal called the Lancet Oncology. Men who were overweight at the time of their prostate cancer diagnosis¹⁷ were 47% more likely to die of the disease. Obese¹⁸ men were nearly three times more likely to die. Men with high insulin levels also had much higher prostate cancer mortality. Worst of all, men were four times more likely to die of prostate cancer if they were both overweight and had high insulin levels. Study authors say men should exercise to keep weight under control and insulin levels low if they want to survive prostate cancer. Richard Knox, NPR news.

A majority of members of the US Supreme¹⁹ Court attended a church service today that is called the "Red Mass". It is a tradition before the High Court opens its fall term. Chief Justice John Roberts was joined by justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Breyer as well as a number of top government officials. Roman Catholic cardinal²⁰ John Patrick Foley told the gathering²¹ that he sees similarities between priests and lawyers and judges because he says all see the law as a means in which people can be educated to perceive what is good and to strive for it. The name "Red Mass" dates back centuries and refers to the red vestments worn by the priests who lead the prayers for guidance for those who seek justice.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 pals   

n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙

参考例句：

• We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。
• CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网

7 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

8 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

9 smears   

污迹( smear的名词复数 )； 污斑； （显微镜的）涂片； 诽谤

参考例句：

• His evidence was a blend of smears, half truths and downright lies. 他的证词里掺杂着诽谤、部份的事实和彻头彻尾的谎言。
• Anything written with a soft pencil smears easily. 用软铅笔写成的东西容易污成一片。

10 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

11 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。

12 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

13 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

14 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

15 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。

16 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

17 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

18 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

19 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。

20 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

21 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。