NPR 2009-11-25

President Obama welcomed the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House today on a formal state visit. The president says he and the Indian leader have agreed to increase cooperation on law enforcement issues and intelligence. And he underscored his administration's support for an agreement on civilian¹ nuclear cooperation between India and the United States. Both leaders met with reporters at the White House today and Mr. Obama was asked about his pending² decision about the US military strategy in Afghanistan. "After eight years, some of those years in which we did not have, I think, either the resources or the strategy to get the job done, it is my intention to finish the job. " Mr. Obama is expected to announce his Afghan strategy early next week.

 

The US economy's return to growth during the third quarter this year was not as robust³ as originally thought. The government has revised its first estimate. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

 

The government had originally estimated that the economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in July, August and September. But the updated data shows the economy grew at a slower 2. 8% annual rate. Several factors helped to push down the growth number. Consumer spending was weaker than initially⁴ reported. There was also less commercial construction activity and businesses trimmed their inventories⁵ more than originally thought. In addition, a larger trade deficit⁶ was a drag on growth. The 2. 8% growth rate ended a record four-straight quarters when the economy was shrinking. Even with the downgrade, the economic expansion in the third quarter very likely signals the end of the worst recession since the Great Depression. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission admits it did not act as quickly as it should have a day after announcing a voluntary recall of more than 2 million baby cribs due to concerns about possible entrapment⁷ and suffocation⁸. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports.

 

The chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission acknowledged during interviews today that the agency hadn't moved as quickly as it should have on crib safety. The statement comes amid a large recall of baby cribs designed with so-called drop-sides. The side slide up and down, making it easier for parents to pick up their babies. But over the past several years this design of crib has been linked to several infant deaths and a few dozen injuries. Past recalls have included more than 5 million drop-side cribs. And consumer groups have pushed the call attention to the issue. The head of the CPSC says the commission will write regulations in the next few months and look closely at the issue. She says drop-side cribs will likely not be used in the future. Allison Aubrey, NPR News, Washington.

 

On Wall Street at the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 16 points at 10, 433. The NASDAQ was down seven points. It was at 2, 168.

 

You are listening to NPR News from Washington.

 

A wide-ranging investigation⁹ into the events leading up to the Iraq War and the conduct of the war is underway in London. It is the first such inquiry¹⁰ by any country that took part in the Iraq invasion. Larry Miller¹¹ reports from London.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 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。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

5 inventories   

n.总结( inventory的名词复数 )；细账；存货清单（或财产目录）的编制

参考例句：

• In other cases, such as inventories, inputs and outputs are both continuous. 在另一些情况下，比如存货，其投入和产出都是持续不断的。
• The store must clear its winter inventories by April 1st. 该店必须在4月1日前售清冬季存货。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 entrapment   

n.（非法）诱捕，诱人犯罪；诱使犯罪

参考例句：

• The most common structural targets associated with oil entrapment are anticlines and faults. 与储油圈闭有关的最一般的构造目标是背斜和断层。 来自辞典例句
• The purely mechanical effect of glandular trichome exudates is the entrapment and immobilization of small arthropods. 具腺毛状体分泌物的纯机械作用是诱捕和粘住小的昆虫。 来自辞典例句

8 suffocation   

n.窒息

参考例句：

• The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
• The room was hot to suffocation. 房间热得闷人。 来自辞典例句

9 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。

10 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

11 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。