NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2013-08-28

 United Nations investigators¹ are expected to return tomorrow to the outskirts² of Damascus, site of last week's alleged³ chemical weapons attack in Syria. They went to the area yesterday to collect samples, but the Arab League is joining Western leaders today in declaring poison gas was used. And White House spokesman Jay Carney reaffirmed the Obama administration's position on that today.

here is no doubt here that chemical weapons were used on a massive scale on August 21st outside of Damascus. There is also very little doubt and should be no doubt for anyone who approaches this logically that the Syrian regime is responsible for the use of chemical weapons on August 21st outside of Damascus.?

But Syria strongly denies it was behind that attack, so do Russia and China -- UN Security Council members who are likely to block the international body from authorizing⁴ military strikes on Syria.

Meanwhile, the possibility of Western military action is rattling⁵ US markets. Wall Street fell for a second day; S&P 500 is down more than 1%; NASDAQ nearly 2%; Brent and US crude rose amid concerns that oil supplies could be affected⁶.

The second day of sentencing is under way in Texas in the trial of Army Major Nidal Hassan. The convicted solider who had seldom spoken during his trial may actually speak today. From member station KUT, Terence Henry has more.

Hassan had earlier told the judge that he would address the court a day after survivors⁷ and family members had testified. But during proceedings⁸, he surprised the court and said he was ready to speak. Hassan told the judge he does not intend to introduce any evidence or call any witnesses during his testimony⁹. Government prosecutors¹⁰ are seeking the death penalty for Hassan, who was found guilty of murdering 13 people and wounding 32 at the Fort Hood¹¹ military base in 2009. If he receives a death sentence, there would still be an automatic appeals process that could take years. From NPR News, I Terence Henry at Fort Hood.

One of the largest fires in recent California history is covering more territory this day. Overnight it grew to about 280 square miles in and around Yosemite National Park, but it is now about 20% contained. San Francisco power and water supply is threatened. For that reason, the city is under a state of emergency. The Rim¹² Fire also threatens the area's historic giant sequoias.

A hearing took place today to determine whether three former US Naval¹³ Academy football players should be court-martialed on charges they sexually assaulted a female midshipman. Today Midshipmen Eric Graham, Josh Tate and Tra'ves Bush appeared at proceedings at the Washington Navy Yard. They were accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Minneapolis last year and lying about it.

At last check on Wall Street, Dow was down 142 points at 14,804. This is NPR News.

A late summer heat wave on the Northern Plains is causing temperatures and heat indices to reach triple digits¹⁴ at a time when many schools are beginning classes. South Dakota Public Broadcasting Gary Ellenbolt has more.

High school football teams across South Dakota are getting ready for their first games this weekend. Coaches are getting their players ready in what some officials say could be the hottest final week of August on record. One coach adjusting for the hot weather is Andrew Homan, head football coach at Vermillion High School.he rest of the week we're just gonna go half-shelled, which just helmets and shoulder pads. And today is kind of be more of a mental day. Of course we will get our trainer that does a great job watching and make(sic) sure we get our water breaks or if she sees a kid, can pull him aside.?

Homan Vermillion Tanagers have one advantage no other team in the state can claim: On days when it not at news, he can move the team to the University of South Dakota's indoor field. Temperatures are expected to reach 90 to 100 degrees each day this week. For NPR News, I Gary Ellenbolt in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Turning to the US economy, consumers are expressing more confidence in the economy's outlook. The Conference Board confidence index rose to 81.5 this month. That close to a five-and-half-year high. Consumers are more optimistic about the economy's future several months ahead, but the private research group says people are still a bit more reserved about the current state of affairs. Home prices, meanwhile, are showing signs of slowing in most markets month-to-month that is, and that may be reflecting the impact of rising mortgage rates in the country. Standard & Poor Case-Shiller Price Index shows 14 of 20 cities surveyed posted smaller gains in June compared with the month before, even though June is the middle of the summer buying season.

1 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》

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

5 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

9 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。

10 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。

11 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

12 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

13 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

14 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》