NPR NEWS 2008-02-12

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.

Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates is in Iraq, he prays the U.S. Troops there for bringing about what he describes as a remarkable² change that Al-Qaeda has been routed and violence of all kinds has been dramatically reduced. But Gates endorsed³ the idea of pausing the drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq this summer to assess the effect on Iraqi security. 'I think that the notion of uh, of a brief period of consolidation⁴ and uh, evaluation⁵ probably does make sense.' He spoke⁶ to reporters after a meeting with General David Petraeus, the top U.S. Commander in Iraq, who has indicated he'd like a period of evaluation, after initial pullout is completed in July. Gates arrived in Iraq yesterday, a day when more than 50 people were killed. The violence continued today, 2 car bombs exploded in Baghdad, at least 5 people were killed.

The president of East Timor José Ramos Horta was critically wounded during an assassination⁷ attempt just before dawn in the capital city of Dili, Chard Bushard reports from Jakarta in neighbor Indonesia.

The Nobel Laureate was shot in the stomach during a gun battle after 2 cars pulled up to his home and opened fire, Ramos Horta was stabilized⁸ at a military hospital in Dili, and then airlifted to Australia under intensive care with two bullet wounds. Among the shooters was rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who was killed during the attack. Reinado deserted⁹ the army in 2006, and later revolted with hundreds of troops who were sacked by the government. He has been in hiding since escaping from a Dili prison in August that year. The rebel group also targeted the home of East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. Ramos Horta and Gusmao played key roles in the Timorese fight for independence from Indonesia, which ruled with an iron fist from 1975 to 2002. For NPR News, I'm Chard Bushard in Jakarta.

It looks increasingly likely the 3-month-old writers strike will be settled soon. Union leaders have approved a tentative new contract with Hollywood Studios. NPR's Sky Road reports.

Payment for work distributed online and another new media had been a sticking point in negotiations¹⁰ between the WGA and Studio heads. The proposed 3 year deal sets writers' compensation rates for streaming ad-supported programs, and increases residual¹¹ payments they received for downloaded TV programs and movies. The Guild's 10,000 plus members were briefed on the plan by Union leaders on Saturday night. They vote Tuesday on whether or not to end strike before they vote on the new contract. Union leaders say there won't be any more picketing¹² outside studios, and if writers vote to end the strike, they could be back at work as early as Wednesday. Sky Road, NPR News.

Senator Barack Obama won the democratic caucus¹³ in Maine yesterday after sweeping¹⁴ 3 States Saturday, Nebraska, Washington State, and Louisiana. Senator Hillary Clinton made a personnel change yesterday, replacing campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle with longtime aide Maggie Williams. Primaries will be held for both parties tomorrow in Maryland, Virginia and Washington.

This is NPR News.

The search will resume today in Port Wentworth Georgia for 2 workers missing since an explosion at a sugar refinery¹⁵ last week. Another body was recovered yesterday, bringing to 6, the number of confirmed dead. Dozens of workers were injured in the explosion Thursday night, possibly caused when combustible¹⁶ sugar dust ignited.

Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock surprised the field at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He won Album of the Year for a River, the Joni Letters, and album of songs by Joni Mitchell. Joe Ross reports.

Herbie Hancock was considered a long shot to win Album of the Year, an award that was supposed to go to British singer Amy Winehouse or rapper Kanye West. As he took the podium, Herbie Hancock observed that it's been more than 40 years since Jazz record had won the Award. 'I'd like to, to thank the, the Academy for, courageously¹⁷ breaking the mode this time, (applauding…) and in doing so, honor, the giants upon whose shoulders I stand.' One of those giants is Joni Mitchell. The album re-imagines Mitchell's songs using its instruments and guest vocal¹⁸ lists including Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, and Corinne Bailey Rae. For NPR News, I'm Joe Ross.

Actor Roy Scheider died yesterday in Little Rock, Arkansas. A hospital spokesman said he died of complications from a cancer of the blood cells. He may be best known for playing the police chief of a seaside resort who hunts for a man-eating shark in Jaws¹⁹. Roy Scheider was 75.

I'm Nora Raum. NPR News in Washington.

1 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。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

5 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

6 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。

7 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

8 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 residual   

adj.复播复映追加时间；存留下来的，剩余的

参考例句：

• There are still a few residual problems with the computer program.电脑程序还有一些残留问题。
• The resulting residual chromatism is known as secondary spectrum.所得到的剩余色差叫做二次光谱。

12 picketing   

[经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班，工人纠察线

参考例句：

• mass picketing of the factory 罢工工人集体对工厂的封锁
• "And my chaps were also there to prevent picketing! “我的人也是防着女工们要拦厂！ 来自子夜部分

13 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

14 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

15 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

16 combustible   

a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物

参考例句：

• Don't smoke near combustible materials. 别在易燃的材料附近吸烟。
• We mustn't take combustible goods aboard. 我们不可带易燃品上车。

17 courageously   

ad.勇敢地，无畏地

参考例句：

• Under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the army and civilians in flooded areas fought the floods courageously, reducing the losses to the minimum. 在中共中央、国务院的正确领导下，灾区广大军民奋勇抗洪，把灾害的损失减少到了最低限度。
• He fought death courageously though his life was draining away. 他虽然生命垂危，但仍然勇敢地与死亡作斗争。

18 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

19 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。