NPR 2012-06-03

 A judge in Cairo today ordered that Hosni Mubarak spent the rest of his life in prison. For his part in the deaths of hundreds of protestors, during the uprising that drove him from power last year. The former president sat stoneface and frowning as the judge announced the decision. Kimberly Adams reports Egyptians are expressing relief. 

From many people that I have talked to the this far, be happy that there was a conviction. He is going to ** judge penalty which a lot people wanted. Many people are just happy he was convicted. And they see that at least some kind of justice. Reporter Kimberly Adams in Cairo.

Mubarak was then flown by helicopter to a prison hospital, he is 84 and being held in the military hospital during the trial. 

 

 

Nato forces rescued four hostages held in a cave in northern Afghanistan, including a British woman and a Kenyan woman. NPR's Quil Lawrence reports all five kidnappers¹ were killed. The hostages were medical charity workers who had been brining aid to remote mountain communities in Badakhshan province when they disappeared on May 22nd. Ransom²  demands followed shortly after. NATO officials said a team of soldiers were inserted by helicopter under cover of darkness, located the hostages in a cave and rescued them before dawn local time. The British and Kenyan women are now receiving aid from the UK embassy in Afghanistan. Officials in Badakhshan province said the kidnappers were criminals. NATO officials said the group had close linked to Taliban insurgents⁴. The line between criminal and insurgent³ activity is often blurry⁵. Quil Lawrence, NPR News. Kabul.

 

 

Defense⁶ Secretary Leon Panetta said today the US and China must learn to work better together for the benefit of the Asia Pacific region. He spoke⁷ at a security conference in Singapore. Panetta said the US and China understand their conflicts but must improve their communications and military relationship. 

 

 

The recall election of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is only a few days away. NPR's David Schaper reports both the Republican incumbent⁸ and the Democratic challenger Tom Barrett are stumping⁹ with the help of national political heavyweights.

Campaigning downtown, Milwaukee with the city's mayor Tom Barrett, former President Bill Clinton evoked¹⁰ decisive urgency.

This is a big deal. 

And Clinton blasted  what he called, Scott Walker's divid and conquer never compromise style.

That is what's wrong with America today. It is not the road back, it is a road to a dead end. 

At a factory in Milwaukee suburb, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley explained why she is campaigning for Walker. 

It's because he had the courage to go through the burn. He had the courage to take on even when it got ugly, and he never stopped. He never stopped.

Haley urged Wisconsin voters to reward Walker's courage with a victory on Tuesday. David Schaper, NPR News, Milwaukee.

 

 

This is NPR News.

 

 

Officials in New Mexico report firefighters have now contained about 15% of the largest wild fire in state history. The blaze in the Gila National Forest is also the largest wildfire in the nation at this time. It's burnt more than 354 square miles. ** is a spokeswomen for the US forest service. She says the blaze spread quickly. 

This area has been in a drought for several years, though the fuels are extremely dry, the temperatures are extremely hot. 

The fire has destroyed a dozen cabins and eight outbuildings. 

 

 

An ambitious plan to build a four-billion-dollar convention center and casino in New York city has fallen through. The governor of New York says talks with the developer have stalled. NPR's Joel Rose reports.

Governor Andrew Cuomo wanted to put a casino in the nation's largest convention center, near the Aqueduct racetrack  and the JFK Airport in Queens. In his state to the state speech earlier this year. Cuomo said the plan would create tens of thousands of jobs. The Malaysian  gambling¹¹ company Genting was supposed to foot the bill. But in an interview with WOR Radio, Cuomo acknowledged that no longer appears likely.   

We had those conversations going on for a few weeks. The conversations haven't really worked out. 

Cuomo says the state is now having discussions with other gaming companies. He still plans to move forward with a constitutional amendment¹² to legalize casino gambling in New York. Joel Rose, NPR News.

 

 

New York city's Metropolitan¹³ Museum of Art is being asked to give up to ancient statues that  have been a highlight of its southeast Asian collection for 20 years. The New York Times reports the Cambodian government says the figures were stolen around 1970, they date to the tenth century. 

1 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

3 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

4 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

5 blurry   

adj.模糊的；污脏的，污斑的

参考例句：

• My blurry vision makes it hard to drive. 我的视力有点模糊，使得开起车来相当吃力。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The lines are pretty blurry at this point. 界线在这个时候是很模糊的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 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。

8 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

9 stumping   

僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的现在分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说

参考例句：

• She's tired of stumping up for school fees, books and uniform. 她讨厌为学费、课本和校服掏腰包。
• But Democrats and Republicans are still dumping stumping for the young. 但是民主党和共和党依然向年轻人发表演说以争取他们的支持。

10 evoked   

[医]诱发的

参考例句：

• The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
• Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。

11 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

12 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

13 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。