NPR 2012-03-06

 President Obama is offering no sign as yet that the US has convinced Israel to hold its fire against Iran, where the government is suspected of working toward nuclear weapons. As he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, the president emphasized diplomacy¹ while the Israeli leader gave no sign of backing off military action, but Netanyahu agreed Iran is now a greater threat to both allies.

 

“You know, for them, you’re the great Satan, we’re the little Satan. For them, we are you and you are us. And you know something, Mr. President? At least on this last point, I think they’re right. We’re you, and you’re us. We’re together.”

 

Iran maintains it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

 

The fallout over Rush Limbaugh's remarks now includes biting comments from one of the most prominent figures in the Republican Party. Senator John McCain says the conservative radio host was out of line when he described Georgetown law school student Sandra Fluke as a slut and prostitute for testifying before lawmakers in favor of free insurance coverage² on contraception. NPR's Craig Windham has details on McCain's response.

 

McCain is the latest key Republican to distance himself from Limbaugh's remarks.

 

“Those statements were unacceptable in every way and should be condemned³ by everyone no matter what their political leanings are.”

 

McCain on CBS. Limbaugh apologized to Fluke for calling her a slut and a prostitute after her testimony⁴ to a congressional panel about birth control policy. Fluke tells ABC that Limbaugh's statement changes nothing, especially because it was issued when he was under pressure from sponsors. More than a half of dozen companies have pulled their ads from Limbaugh's show including at least two following his apology. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

 

Well, AOL is the latest to pull its ads from Limbaugh's show. In a statement, the company says, Limbaugh's comments are not in line with AOL's core values.

 

The country's services sector⁵ is growing. A report issued this morning reveals higher-than-expected increase last month. But NPR's Jim Zarroli tells us factory orders fell.

 

The Institute for Supply Management said its monthly index of economic activity in the services sector rose for the 26th consecutive⁶ month to 57.3. That was the strongest number since February of last year, and it was higher than most economists⁷ had expected. Any number above 50 suggests that the services sector is expanding. But at the same time, the Commerce Department said factory orders fell 1% in January. That was the largest drop in 15 months, and it happened following the expiration⁸ of a tax credit that was widely used by businesses. Jim Zarroli, NPR News, New York.

 

Here’s the latest from Wall Street. Dow’s down 37 at 12,940; NASDAQ down 32 at 2,945; S&P 500 down eight at 1,361.

 

This is NPR News.

 

Afghan police are reporting a suicide bombing today outside the military base where Quran burnings touched off nationwide protests in recent weeks. The Associated Press says at least two civilians⁹ were killed and four others were wounded in the attack near Kabul. However, coalition¹⁰ forces are not believed to be among the casualties. 

 

Jefferson County, Alabama is moving forward with the largest municipal  bankruptcy¹¹ in US history. From member station WBHM in Birmingham, Tanya Ott has details.

 

Attorneys for Jefferson County's creditors¹² including the Bank of New York Mellon had argued the county wasn’t eligible¹³ to file its four billion-dollar bankruptcy because its debt didn't include bonds. That was based on an earlier ruling in the bankruptcy of another Alabama town. But in a new two-page order, the judge handling Jefferson County's case says bond debt isn't required under state law. Jefferson County is home to Alabama's largest city, Birmingham. It incurred¹⁴ much of the debt by using risky¹⁵ investment practices to finance sewer¹⁶ upgrades. Several former county officials have gone to jail related to fraud in the sewer deal. The county’s had to lay off hundreds of workers, close satellite courthouses and make other cuts to deal with its debt. For NPR News, I'm Tanya Ott in Birmingham.

 

Worries that the Iran dispute we spoke¹⁷ of earlier could disrupt oil supplies are still playing out at the gas pump in the US, where drivers are now likely to pay more today than yesterday to fill up a tank. The national average is $3.77 for a gallon of regular, although residents of several states including Hawaii and California have been paying a lot more in recent weeks.

 

Dow down nearly 40 points.

 

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, Washington.

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

3 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

4 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

7 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 expiration   

n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物

参考例句：

• Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
• This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 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。

11 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

12 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

14 incurred   

[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式

参考例句：

• She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。
• We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

15 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

16 sewer   

n.排水沟，下水道

参考例句：

• They are tearing up the street to repair a sewer. 他们正挖开马路修下水道。
• The boy kicked a stone into the sewer. 那个男孩把一石子踢进了下水道。

17 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。