NPR 2008-02-25

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

 

The National Assembly of Cuba meets today to select a new leader, now that Fidel Castro is stepping aside after 49 years in power. The delegates are expected to name his brother Raul as head of state. Raul has been acting¹ president since July of 2006 when Castro announced he had surgery and was temporarily relinquishing² power. He hasn't been seen in public since then.

 

Turkey's military operation in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq is now in its fourth day. Kurdish PKK militants³ are claiming they've shot down a Turkish helicopter. The Turkish military did not confirm the claim. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Baghdad.

 

A pro-Kurdish news agency reported that fighters from the Kurdish Worker Party, or PKK, hit down a Cobra helicopter near the Turkey-Iraq border. There was no confirmation⁴ either from the Turkish military or independent sources. Casualty claims are also impossible to verify. The Turkish army says its forces have killed scores of Kurdish fighters in the first three days of the operation while confirming just 7 fatalities⁵ of its own. PKK spokesmen say at least 15 Turkish troops have died while refusing to comment on Kurdish casualties. The PKK wants a separate Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. The Bush administration says it respects Turkey's right to defend itself, but cautions that any military action must be limited to PKK targets and not include the Peshmerga security forces which control northern Iraq. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Baghdad.

 

Governors from both parties are reportedly expressing strong objections to new Medicaid regulations that they say would shift billions of dollars in expenses to the states. As a result, the governors say some states may be forced to cut back on Medicaid services. NPR's Craig Windham has more.

 

The governors who've gathered in the nation's capital for the winter meeting of the Governor's Association say the Medicaid changes could not come at a worse time with the economic slowdown already shrinking state tax revenues. The rules are set to take effect later this year unless Congress intervenes. The New York Times reports the changes include a reduction in federal payments for teaching hospitals, public hospitals and services for the disabled. The new rules are designed to bolster⁶ the financial integrity of Medicaid, the federal program that provides health insurance to more than 60 million low-income Americans, about half of them children. But California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Times the changes would effectively end the federal government's participation⁷ in many crucial components⁸ of Medicaid. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

 

Another major topic at the meeting is energy. Some governors want more work done to promote renewable fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel. The House will consider legislation this week that would shift about 18 billion dollars in tax breaks from Big Oil companies to renewable sources by extending and expanding tax incentives⁹ for items such as hybrid¹⁰ cars and energy-efficient homes.

 

This is NPR News from Washington.

 

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is scheduled to deliver a major speech today in Chicago. It would be his first public appearance in a year. Natalie Moore reports from Chicago Public Radio.

 

Today's event marks annual Savior's Day convention that honors the Nation of Islam founder¹¹. "The Gods at War" is the title of Farrakhan's speech. Minister Ishmael Muhammad says that's the theme because of gang and youth violence afflicting¹² cities. "We all are well familiar with the violence that is in the streets and the incidents of violence that is taking place in high schools, in the college campuses" Farrakhan will give the speech in downtown Chicago to an expected crowd of 20, 000. The minister turns 75 in May and has battled prostate cancer. In the fall of 2006, Farrakhan announced he was turning over the daily operations of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam to an executive committee because of medical problems related to his illness. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Moore in Chicago.

 

In the race for the Democratic nomination¹³ for president, Hillary Clinton accused Barack Obama yesterday of distorting her record on health care and trade issues. Obama said his recent mailings on those subjects are accurate and she's playing politics. Mike Huckabee remains¹⁴ in the race for the Republican nomination. He appeared as himself last night on Saturday Night Live during the "Weekend Update" segment. He said he will not overstay his welcome that when it's time, he'll exit the race with class and grace. Then Huckabee stayed and stayed and stayed on the set despite repeated cues from the anchorman to leave. This was the first new episode of "Saturday Night Live" since the writers' strike in November.

 

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

 

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 relinquishing   

交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃

参考例句：

• The international relinquishing of sovereignty would have to spring from the people. 在国际间放弃主权一举要由人民提出要求。
• We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. 我们很明白，没有人会为了废除权力而夺取权力。 来自英汉文学

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
• The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

9 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

10 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

11 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

12 afflicting   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflicting modern society. 暴力犯罪仅仅是困扰现代社会的严重问题之一。
• Violent crime is only one of the maladies afflicting modern society. 暴力犯罪仅仅是危害社会的弊病之一。

13 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。