NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-07-30

 At least 5 Israeli soldiers were killed in the deadliest day for Israel since the fighting in Gaza began. Linda Gradstein reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not stop fighting until it neutralizes¹ all of the tunnels running to Gaza and Israel. 

The Israeli soldiers were killed in two separate incidents, one inside the Gaza Strip and the other from a motor on the Gaza border. Israel responded with firing. Palestinian officials said at least ten people, including three children were killed. The incidents came after a one-day cease-fire over the weekends sparked hopes that the three-weeks of fighting that have killed at least a thousand Palestinians and fifty Israelis were nearing their end.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel wants to see a demilitarized Gaza Strip, and that "neutralizing² the tunnels is the first step". Netanyahu said the situation in which Israeli citizens live under the threat of rocket fire from the sky, and infiltrations into Israel from underground is non acceptable. From NPR news, I am Linda Gradstein, in Jerusalem.

 

In the decision that could lead to the ultimate sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, a judge today has ruled against owner Donald Sterling³. There's efforts to block a proposed two-billion sale of the ball club. In a tentative ruling, a superior court judge's siding with Sterling's estranged⁴ wife, despite her husband's objections, the sell to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer should be allowed to proceed. In this ruling the judge determined⁵ Shelly Sterling acted properly when she removed her husband as trustee of the family trust that owns the team.

 

National Association of Realtors reports fewer Americans signing contracts to buy homes in June. NPR's Chris Arnold reports it's the latest sign US real estate market cool during the summer. 

One thing economists⁶ look at when they want to see where the housing market headed is the monthly report on pending⁷ home sales. That is sales that in the works but that haven't actually closed yet. Analysts⁸ were predicting that number would rise 0.5% in June, but instead pending home sales fail 1% and they are down 7% compared to a year ago. Back then the housing market looked like it was started to pick up steam and get back to normal, but then has it slumped⁹ again during the long cold winter. The warmer months overall have bought some more house sales but still not back to last year's levels. The National Association of Realtors says that in part because most Americans' wages remain flat and mortgage credit is tight. Chris Arnold, NPR news.

 

Major merge¹⁰ involving number two and three deep discount chains: Dollar Tree announced today its buying level discount of family dollar in a cash and stock deal was around 8.5 billion dollars. Merged¹¹ capital have more than 13,000 locations, making Dollar Tree bigger than the current number one deep discount chain, Dollar General. 

 

A mixed close on Wall Street today, the Dow's up 22 points, the 16, 982. The NASDAQ drop to a point the S&P 500 was up for fraction. You are listening to NPR news, in Washington.

 

Software maker¹² Microsoft is looking like *the way as US companies be targeted by China in an anti-trust investigation¹³, with government officials paying a visit to the company's Chinese offices today, * representatives from China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce which is responsible for enforcing business laws. They visited two Microsoft offices in Beijing, Shanghai and two other locations. Government agency declined to comment on why the visits were paid. Microsoft says the company was happy to answer the government's questions, but also provided no other details. 

 

Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a 12-million-dollar civil fine against Southwest Airlines for allegedly not complying with repairs on some of its jetliners. NPR's Craig Windham reports the *intinent decided¹⁴ by the FAA related to repairs to Boeing 737 planes.

The FAA alleges¹⁵ that starting 2006, Southwest and the contractor¹⁶ did not follow proper procedures when replacing the aluminum¹⁷ fuselage skins on 44 planes to eliminate potential cracking. The FAA says Southwest returned those planes to service when they were not in compliance¹⁸ with federal regulations. Inspectors¹⁹ later approve the repairs. A spokeswoman for Southwest says the FAA's letter focuses on the repair issue that were addressed years ago, issues which do not affect any of the airlines' current fleet of planes. Southwest has 30 days to reply formally to the FAA's letter. Craig Windham, NPR news, Washington.

 

British banking²⁰ firm is agreeing to pay off 369 million dollars in fines. US and British regulators settled charges the firm sought to manipulating a key interest rate banks choose to borrow from one another. Charges in the cases was Lloyds Banking Groups tried to manipulate the LIBOR which was used to save trillions of dollars of contracts around the world.

1 neutralizes   

v.使失效( neutralize的第三人称单数 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• The dendrimer locks onto toxins and neutralizes them. 树状物锁在毒物表面，从而中和毒物。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器
• A substance, such as magnesia or sodium bicarbonate, that neutralizes acid. 解酸的，抗酸的，防酸的，中和酸的消除或中和酸度的，尤其胃酸。 来自互联网

2 neutralizing   

v.使失效( neutralize的现在分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• This juice-about a quart a day--pours into my duodenum, neutralizing acids. 这种消化液（每天约分泌1品脱）流入我的十二指肠，把酸中和了。 来自辞典例句
• AIM: To verify the role of a synthetic peptide in neutralizing endotoxins. 目的：检验一条合成肽在中和内毒素活性方面的作用。 来自互联网

3 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

4 estranged   

adj.疏远的，分离的

参考例句：

• He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
• The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 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》

7 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

10 merge   

v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体

参考例句：

• I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
• The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。

11 merged   

（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中

参考例句：

• Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
• The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

12 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

13 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。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

16 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

17 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

18 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

19 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。