NPR 2011-12-12

 Syrian activists¹ say the army and defected soldiers are clashing in the north and south of the country. NPR’s Peter Kenyon reports observers say more than 60 people have been killed just since Friday.

 

The London-based Syrian Observatory² for Human Rights and opposition³ Local Coordinating⁴ Committees say military units engaged with former soldiers now supporting the opposition in the northern Idlib province and near Deraa in the south. Activists have called for a general strike to demand an end to the fighting. The official SANA news agency describes the strike call as provocative⁵ and predicted it would be ineffective. Among those killed this weekend, according to activists, was Dr. Ibrahim Othman, who helped found Physicians’ Revolutionary Coordinating Committee. He was reportedly killed near the Turkish border while trying to cross over to safety. Peter Kenyon, NPR News.

 

Negotiators for 194 countries have reached a new climate deal in Durban, South Africa. It extends the Kyoto Protocol⁶ for five years and paves the way for all countries to commit to cutting emissions⁷ no later than 2020. 

 

Britain’s coalition⁸ government is showing signs of cracking at the top. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says he sharply disagrees with Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to oppose changes to the European Union treaty aimed at saving the euro and the eurozone.

 

“I am bitterly disappointed by the outcome of last week’s summit, precisely⁹ because I think there is now a real danger that over time United Kingdom will be isolated¹⁰ and marginalized within the European Union.”

 

The EU’s 26 other member nations are expected to agree to amending¹¹ the treaty that tightens¹² the union’s fiscal¹³ unity¹⁴. 

 

Two New York lawmakers have taken note of airline passenger complaints about airport security screenings. NPR’s Allison Keyes reports they are now calling on airports to provide passenger advocates. 

 

The proposal from Senator Charles Schumer and New York State Senator Michael Gianaris comes in the wake of claims from an elderly woman that she was strip searched by transportation security administration officials at JFK International Airport recently. Schumer says while security must be a top priority, flying shouldn’t become a degrading experience. In a posting on its website, the TSA denies that anyone has been strip searched and says it’s establishing an 800 number for passengers with disabilities or medical conditions to call prior to flying to get guidance about screening. The agency also says its officers at JFK are receiving refresher training on how to respectfully screen such passengers. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington. 

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he’s launching an investigation¹⁵ into allegations of fraud in parliamentary elections held a week ago. Tens of thousands of demonstrators had been demanding a revote, charging the vote was rigged. Medvedev announced the probe on his Facebook page. 

 

This is NPR News. 

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao is promising¹⁶ to increase his country’s imports. He says it’ll be a much-needed boost for foreign economies struggling to emerge from the doldrums. Hu estimates China will import $8 trillion worth of goods and services over the next five years. He’s making the vow¹⁷ as many international leaders criticized China’s economic policies for keeping the nation’s currency artificially low, making Chinese exports cheaper. 

 

Members of Congress are responding to reports of bitter in-fighting at the agency that regulates nuclear power plants. As NPR’s Jeff Brady tells us, the conflict comes as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission works on reforms in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear accident.  

 

The split at the NRC is between Chair Gregory Jazcko appointed by President Obama and four other commissioners¹⁸ at the agency--two Democrats¹⁹ and two Republicans. Jazcko has questioned his colleagues’ commitment to health and safety. They say Jazcko is intimidating²⁰ senior staff and members of the advisory²¹ panel. Senate Majority Leader Harry²² Reid’s spokesman issued a statement praising Jazcko for his “safety-oriented approach”. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski issued her own statement, calling Jazcko’s leadership divisive and asking the president to step in to maintain faith of the agency. A Congressional hearing with all five commissioners is scheduled for Wednesday. Jeff Brady, NPR News. 

 

Mexican officials say at least three people are dead in a strong earthquake that shook the ground from Mexican City to Acapulco. The magnitude 6.5 temblor rocked buildings and nerves. But because of its depth, its impact wasn’t as destructive as it might have been. 

 

I’m Barbara Klein, NPR News in Washington.

1 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》

2 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

5 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

6 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 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。

9 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

10 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

11 amending   

改良，修改，修订( amend的现在分词 )； 改良，修改，修订( amend的第三人称单数 )( amends的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Amending acts in 1933,1934, and 1935 attempted to help honest debtors rehabilitate themselves. 一九三三年，一九三四年和一九三五年通过的修正案是为了帮助诚实的债务人恢复自己的地位。
• Two ways were used about the error-amending of contour curve. 采用两种方法对凸轮轮廓曲线进行了修正。

12 tightens   

收紧( tighten的第三人称单数 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• One set of provisions tightens emission standards. 一套使排放标准更加严格的规定。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Requires no special tools or fittings; hand tightens to relief valve outlet. 不需要专用工具或管件；用手将其紧固到安全阀上即可。

13 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

14 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。

15 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

16 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

17 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

18 commissioners   

n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官

参考例句：

• The Commissioners of Inland Revenue control British national taxes. 国家税收委员管理英国全国的税收。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The SEC has five commissioners who are appointed by the president. 证券交易委员会有５名委员，是由总统任命的。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

19 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》

20 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

21 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

22 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。