NPR 2011-04-07

Emergency White House talks to try to end a budget stalemate and avert¹ a government shutdown had ended and without agreement.

"A shutdown could have real effects on everyday Americans. That means that small business owners who are counting on that loan to open their business, to make payroll², to expand, suddenly they can't do it. It means folks who are potentially processing a mortgage, they may not be able to get it."

President Obama, as heard on CNN, says he'll request another meeting with congressional leaders if budget negotiations³ continue to fail. House Majority Leader John Boehner has said that the negotiators still have a long way to go.

The Obama administration estimates that some 800,000 federal workers will be furloughed if the government shuts down. But NPR's Brian Naylor reports many federal agencies will remain open, even without a federal budget deal.

The Obama administration says those government workers that are necessary for the protection of life and property will remain on the job. That includes the military and law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, DEA and Border Patrol. Air traffic controllers will continue to guide the aircraft, and the TSA will continue to screen passengers. Social security and Medicare payments will continue, and the post office and federal courts will remain open. If you file new federal tax return electronically and you're expecting a refund⁴, it will go out on schedule. But the IRS says those who file on paper will experience delays. Brian Naylor, NPR News, Washington.

Defense⁵ Secretary Robert Gates is on a two-day visit to Iraq as the military continues its drawdown of forces there. NPR's Rachel Martin says it's still unclear if US troops will stay after the end of the year, when the drawdown is scheduled to be completed.

Secretary Gates will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdish leaders in the north of the country. According to a senior US defense official, Gates is here to reaffirm the long-term relationship between the US and Iraq. But he may be waiting for the Iraqis to figure out what that future relationship looks like. The US military withdrawal⁶ is supposed to be over by the end of this year. US defense officials have suggested that some troops could end up staying after that date to help support Iraqi security forces. But it will be up to the Iraqis to make that request. The US has already withdrawn⁷ roughly 100,000 troops from Iraq, close to 50,000 remain. Rachel Martin, NPR News, Baghdad.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is calling on the Obama administration to halt the air campaign against its troops. Administration officials say the letter is not being taken seriously. Meantime, former Pennsylvania Congresswoman Curt⁸ Weldon is in Libya to persuade Colonel Gaddafi to step down. Weldon, who was part of a bipartisan group that visited the country in 2004, is in Tripoli at Gaddafi's invitation.

This is NPR News.

The financial crisis in Europe has claimed another victim. NPR's Philip Reeves reports that Portugal is the third eurozone country to seek an international bailout.

After insisting for months it didn't need help, Portugal has succumbed⁹ to what everyone else said was inevitable¹⁰. It's concluded it has no choice but to follow Greece and Ireland and seek help from the European Union. Analysts¹¹ think it may need up to $114 billion. The decision was announced by the caretaker prime minister in a nationwide TV address. Burdened for years by stagnant¹² growth and heavy government debt, this small Southern European nation struggled to keep pace with Europe's big hitters. Matters worsened recently when its parliament threw out a government austerity program, triggering a summer election. Then some new numbers emerged, showing Portugal had missed its deficit¹³ cutting target. Already unsustainable interest rates on Portuguese¹⁴ debt spiraled to record levels, and it was game over. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

Toyota reached a milestone¹⁵ today by selling its one millionth Prius in the United States. Global sales of the world's first mass-produced hybrid¹⁶ gas-electric vehicle reached three million last month. High gasoline prices have helped boost popularity for the Prius, which gets up to 51 miles per gallon in city driving and 48 miles per gallon on the highway.

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft has docked at the International Space Station after delivering three new astronauts. The crew joins three others, whose mission expires next month. Next Tuesday, all six crew members will mark the 50th anniversary of the first human in space. April 12th will also be the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch. The shuttle fleet is being retired¹⁷ this year.

I'm Shay Stevens, NPR News in Washington

1 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

2 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

3 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。

4 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。

5 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。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

8 curt   

adj.简短的，草率的

参考例句：

• He gave me an extremely curt answer.他对我作了极为草率的答复。
• He rapped out a series of curt commands.他大声发出了一连串简短的命令。

9 succumbed   

不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死

参考例句：

• The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。
• After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后，该城终于屈服了。

10 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

11 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。

12 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

13 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。

14 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

15 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

16 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。

17 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。