NPR 2011-01-09

The status of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona is uncertain following a shooting in Tucson. In one report, a hospital spokesperson says the congresswoman is undergoing surgery, but there are conflicting reports regarding her condition. She was reportedly shot point-blank in the head about three hours ago. Buzz Conover of member station KUAZ tells us a gunman opened fire during an outdoor public event.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and nine to ten additional people were shot this morning while she was doing what they called a "Congress on Your Corner". She goes out when she's in town and sits in shopping malls and places like that and is scheduled to some private grocery store in her district and meets with constituents², handles constituent¹ services, hears what people think. And during that event, which was in the front of a grocery store in northwest Tucson, she was shot.

Buzz Conover of member station KUAZ.

University Medical Center in Tucson is due to hold a briefing this hour.

President Obama says there are clear signs the economy is improving. Matthew Algeo reports the president also used his weedly address to reach out to the new Republican majority in the House.

Although the most recent job report was mixed, President Obama says overall things are looking up.

"The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year. And each quarter was stronger than the last, which means the pace of hiring is picking up."

The president also called on Repuclicans to put aside what he called "symbolic³ battles", but in the GOP address, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor promised Republicans would keep fighting at least one battle, the battle to repeal⁴ the presdient's health care law.

"We will provide Americans with the mainstream⁵ solutions they were denied when Democrats⁶ used dubious⁷ procedural tactics to jam though the bill along strictly⁸ partisan⁹ lines."

Cantor said the best way to improve the economy is to cut spending and eliminate what he called "job killing¹⁰ regulations". For NPR News, I'm Matthew Algeo in Washington.

Iraq's vehemently¹¹ anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is urging Shiites to resisit what he called American "occupiers" by all means. The radical¹² cleric delivered his first speech in Iraq in four years after returning from self-imposed exile.

In Sudan, clashes continue between southern forces and unity¹³ supporters ahead of southern Sudan's vote on indepedence tomorrow. At least six people have been killed. Southern Sudan is widely expected to vote to succeed from the North.

Defense¹⁴ Secretary Robert Gates heads to China today, hoping to lay the groundwork for improving relations between Washington and Beijing. The visit comes a week ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington. US-Chinese ties have been strained over the past year.

This is NPR News.

Heavy rain is falling in Australia's already flooded state of Queensland. Floodwaters are now threatening the neighboring state of New South Wales.

After thousands of birds fell from the skies over the Southern US, a similar mystery in northern Itlay, where officials are wating for test results to come out Monday. That will provide clues as to wild dead turtle doves have been following from the sky over the last week. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports wildlife officials have already picked up nearly 1,000 carcasses.

In the northern city of Faenza, the turtle doves were found in an industrial area. And all had blue color beaks¹⁵, a sign that scientists say could indicate poisoning. Officials at a local bird protection association said it appears the birds had damaged their kidneys and livers by overeating sunflower seeds from a nearby oil processing plant. The incident came after a series of similar cases across the world in Arkansas and Texas and in Sweden. The turtle dove incident is the largest to have hit Europe thus far. And it's not just birds; millions of fish have been washing up on local riverbanks and coastlines. Tests are currently being carried out by the local Forestry¹⁶ Department. A World Wildlife Federation¹⁷ official said it's the numbers which make this such a notable event. And for the moment, the cause is a mystery. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.

Wikileaks says US officials have issued subpoenas¹⁸ for details about its Twitter account. The website says US investigators¹⁹ have gone to Twitter headquarters, demanding personal details related the founder²⁰ Julian Assange and others, including the Army analyst²¹ suspected of giving Wikileaks classified information.

I'm Barbara Klein. NPR news in Washington.

1 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

2 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

5 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

6 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

12 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。

13 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

14 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。

15 beaks   

n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者

参考例句：

• Baby cockatoos will have black eyes and soft, almost flexible beaks. 雏鸟凤头鹦鹉黑色的眼睛是柔和的，嘴几乎是灵活的。 来自互联网
• Squid beaks are often found in the stomachs of sperm whales. 经常能在抹香鲸的胃里发现鱿鱼的嘴。 来自互联网

16 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。

17 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。

18 subpoenas   

n.（传唤出庭的）传票( subpoena的名词复数 )v.（用传票）传唤（某人）( subpoena的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• My company has complied with committee subpoenas by supplying documents confirming all that I have said. 本公司按照委员会的要求，提供了能够证实我刚才发言的文件。 来自辞典例句
• Congressional Investigations: Subpoenas and Contempt Power. Report for Congress April 2, 2003. 金灿荣：《美国国会的监督功能》，载《教学与研究》2003年第2期。 来自互联网

19 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 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。

21 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。