NPR 2008-02-17

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham.

 President Bush's in Tanzania, second stop on a five-nation trip to Africa. The trip is part of an administration effort to highlight successful U.S. policies on the continent. Mr. Bush threw his support today behind a power-sharing arrangement to end the political crisis in Kenya, and he's set to discuss the problems there and in Chad and Zimbabwe in discussions with the new chairman of the African Union. Earlier today, in Benin, Mr. Bush praised that country's president. "And we will not be standing¹ here, if you and your government was not committed to your people, now you mentioned some of the dollar, money we were spending with you, but those dollars come with great compassion² and we care when we see suffering." After Tanzania, Mr. Bush will visit Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.

 A suicide car bomber³ detonated a blast that killed at least 37 people in Pakistan's volatile⁴ tribal⁵ area today, two days before the country's parliamentary elections, dozens of others were injured. It was the third large election-related bombing in Pakistan in recent weeks. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

 The authorities in Pakistan have long feared these will be violent elections and they have been proved right. Within the last week, the government has deployed⁶ more than 80,000 troops and paramilitary forces around the country. This didn't prevent a suicide bomber from driving up to an election office and detonating his car amidst a crowd outside. It happened on the last day of campaigning for the elections for Pakistan's Parliament and provincial⁷ assemblies. The bomber struck outside the local headquarters of Benazir Buhtto's Pakistan People's Party in Parachinar in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. Officials say many of the victims were supporters of Bhutto who was assassinated⁸ late last year. The area has a history of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, but it's not yet clear this was a factor. Philip Reeves, NPR News, Lahore.

 At least 8 people were killed early this morning when a car plowed⁹ into a crowd that was watching an illegal drag race in Maryland. NPR's David Nogueras has that story.

 Police say a crowd of people had gathered along a stretch of road in Akaki, Maryland, just 20 miles south of Washington D.C. Prince George's County police corporal Clinton Copeland says after the initial crash, a tractor trailer may have also hit some of the wounded as he tried to avoid the accident. "The southern one was one of the most terrific scenes that I have seen in my career, and it just it's...I mean... I'm pretty much at a lost for words." At least 4 people were transported to hospitals including the driver who ran the vehicles involved in the alleged¹⁰ drag race. David Nogueras, NPR News, Washington.

 Astronauts from the Space Shuttle Atlantis and crew members from the International Space Station worked today to outfit¹¹ a new laboratory module¹² that's been attached to the orbiting outpost. Atlantis is scheduled to land on Wednesday to clear the way for the military's effort to shoot down a disabled spy satellite.

 This is NPR News from Washington.

 Police in Illinois say, Steven Kazmierczak, the gunman who killed 5 students at Northern Illinois University before taking his own life spent two days before the attack at a motel near the campus. A search of the room reportedly turned up empty containers of Red Bull and Gatorade, cigarettes, cold medicine as well as a laptop computer and a duffle bag with the zippers¹³ glued shut. School officials say the rapid response to the incident probably saved lives. Police arrived in less than two minutes after the shooting began. Kazmierczak had more ammunition¹⁴ and one of his four weapons had not been unholstered.

 Employees at a Michelin tire factory in eastern France that is slated¹⁵ to be shut down have locked two managers in an office there and are holding a tire burning vigil. Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris.

 French television is showing scenes of a tire burning vigil out front of the plant in Toul, France whose closure will put nearly a thousand people out of work. On Friday the French tire maker¹⁶ Michelin reported a 35 percent surge in 2007 net profits. Its sales in 2007 were some $23,000 billion. And that is why employees say they are protesting the closure of their factory. They say the hugely profitable company owes something to its loyal employees as well as its shareholders¹⁷. The workers took two managers hostage Friday and said they planned to keep their protest going through the weekend. A French state mediator¹⁸ held talks with the unions on Saturday in an effort to ease tensions. Despite the plant closing, Michelin says it plans to maintain a strong industrial base in West Europe in France and in North America. For NPR News, I'm Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.

 The administration's warrantless eavesdropping¹⁹ authority expires at midnight. President Bush has been criticizing the House for failing to renew the program, but lawmakers say the president rejected an offer to extend the current law temporarily.

I'm Craig Windham.

 

1 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。

2 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

3 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

8 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

9 plowed   

v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过

参考例句：

• They plowed nearly 100,000 acres of virgin moorland. 他们犁了将近10万英亩未开垦的高沼地。 来自辞典例句
• He plowed the land and then sowed the seeds. 他先翻土，然后播种。 来自辞典例句

10 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

11 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

12 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

13 zippers   

n.拉链( zipper的名词复数 )；用拉链的人，装拉链的包

参考例句：

• Buttons, zippers should be glitch free and sharp edge. 纽扣、拉链应无毛刺和锐利边缘。 来自互联网
• Buttons, Zippers, Trimmings and Accessories for the Garment Industry. 主营钮扣，拉链，装饰品和其他服装辅料。 来自互联网

14 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

15 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

16 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

17 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

18 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

19 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。