NPR 2012-04-10

 Signs today that North Korea is getting ready for a long-range rocket launch in the next few days, defying international warnings. All three stages of the rocket are now in position, and Doualy Xaykaothao reports South Korea is suggesting the North is also likely to test a third nuclear device.

 

Three years ago, when North Korea last tested what it then called a rocket launch, an underground nuclear test followed less than two months later. The North may repeat that pattern. According to South Korean intelligence officials, satellite images taken only last week show what could be a new underground tunnel for a possible nuclear test. The photos and accompanying analysis were leaked to local media just two days before South Korea's parliamentary elections and ahead of North Korea's planned rocket launch later this week. Earlier, international reporters got a rare tour of the North Korean launch site. For NPR News, I'm Doualy Xaykaothao in Seoul.

 

A judge has issued a gag order in the child sex abuse case against former Pen State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. NPR's Jeff Brady reports the order prevents both prosecutors² and defense³ attorneys from talking to the media.

 

Pennsylvania Judge John Cleland says in his order that the directive will help ensure a fair, impartial⁴ and orderly trial. He says given the publicity⁵ surrounding the case, the order is necessary. He’s barring attorneys along with their employees and investigators⁶ from talking to reporters both on and off the record. The judge also is asking attorneys to limit statements from witnesses in the case. Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing ten boys. Some of the instances of abuse allegedly happen on the university campus. Sanduksy says he’s innocent. The trial is scheduled to start in June. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

 

The prosecutor¹ in the Trayvon Martin case says she will not use a grand jury. A previous prosecutor has scheduled one to convene⁷ tomorrow. But State Attorney Angela Corey says she alone can determine whether to file criminal charges against George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer who shot the unarmed black teen in February. In Florida, a grand jury is only required in first-degree murder cases.

 

Gas prices continue to rise up an average of four cents a gallon over the past two weeks. John Felmy of the American Petroleum⁸ Institute says they are not going up because of a shortage.

 

“There a couple refiners have been shut down recently. But even so what we’ve seen is a record production of gasoline. There’s plenty of gasoline out there, and demand is down. It just costs more to produce.”

 

He says production has been marked expensive because crude oil costs have gone up sharply, and he says they are now going down and expects gas prices to follow suit.

 

On Wall Street at this hour, the Dow is down 90 points at 12,971; the NASDAQ is off 23 at 3,058; the S&P is down 12. 

 

This is NPR.

 

Cosmetic⁹ seller Avon has appointed Johnson & Johnson executive Sherilyn McCoy as its new CEO. Avon is hoping to reverse declines in domestic sales and recover from a bribery¹⁰ investigation¹¹ connected to the company's former CEO. Avon has been around since 1886, and for decades its Avon ladies have gone door to door in American neighborhoods, selling makeup¹². Now 80% of Avon's revenues comes from overseas. 

 

‘The Hunger Games’ is the box-office favorite for a third consecutive¹³ weekend. NPR's Trina Williams reports audiences' appetite for the blockbuster is greater than for some reheated hits from the 1990s.

 

“The time has come to select one courageous¹⁴ young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games.”

 

‘The Hunger Games’ is holding on to its top spot with an estimated 33.5 million dollars in ticket sales. 'American Pie' sequel ‘American Reunion’ and the re-release of juggernaut Titanic¹⁵ this time in 3D settled for second and third place. Considering the Easter holiday, traditionally a slower weekend for theaters, both managed respectable debut¹⁶ numbers. Titanic 3D’s opening coincides with the 100th anniversary of the cruise liner's tragic¹⁷ sinking. ‘Wrath Of The Titans’ is fourth on the chart. ‘Mirror Mirror’ follows. Trina Williams, NPR News.

 

In box offices on Broadway, ‘The Lion King’ has now been crowned the highest-grossing show of all time on the Great White Way, surpassing ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ For the theater week ending yesterday alone, ‘The Lion King’ netted over two million dollars.

 

I'm Barbara Klein, NPR News in Washington.

1 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

2 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

3 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。

4 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

5 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

6 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》

7 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

8 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

9 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

10 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

11 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。

12 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

13 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。

14 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

15 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

16 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

17 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。