NPR 2011-07-14

A fourth round of debt talks resume[s] this hour at the White House, with the administration saying it's confident, one way or another, lawmakers will vote to raise the nation's debt ceiling before an August 2nd deadline. But as NPR's Scott Horsley reports, President Obama is holding out for more.

"The Obama administration welcomed the so-called backup plan from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to raise the debt limit, calling it an acknowledgment that the government's bills must be paid. The White House spokesman Jay Carney says President Obama still wants to strike a compromise with Republicans to reduce the federal deficit¹."

"We remain confident that we will get an agreement that reduces spending, that cuts the deficit. What is at issue here is how significant an agreement, and he is absolutely confident that it is the right position to take to push this process forward to get the biggest possible deal."

Mr. Obama says that deal should also include increased tax revenue which Republicans call a "nonstarter." Scott Horsley, NPR News, the White House.

The heart of India's financial capital Mumbai is reeling from a series of bombings today. Casualty figures have gone up, at least 20 dead and more than 100 people wounded. India's home minister is warning people against reprisal² attacks.

"The entire city of Mumbai has been put on high alert. I would appeal to the people of Mumbai and people all over the country to remain calm and maintain peace."

The US offered to help India find those responsible.

President Obama's reelection campaign says it raised more than 86 million dollars over the spring. NPR's Peter Overby says that amount is more than double the total raise so far by all the Republican presidential hopefuls.

The Obama campaign puts the emphasis on its small donors³. Here's campaign manager Jim Messina in a video emailed to supporters early this morning."

"Five hundred and fifty-two thousand four hundred and sixty-two people made a donation to this campaign in the first three months. More grassroots support at this point in a process than any campaign in political history."

He said the average contribution was 69 dollars. On the other hand, about 45% of the money was raised at big events for the Democratic National Committee. The DNC's contribution limit is more than seven times higher than the 5,000-dollar maximum at the Obama campaign committee. Peter Overby, NPR News, Washington.

"It's Alex Morgan. Can she finish this one? Ah, suspending goal. Alex Morgan."

As heard on ESPN, that last goal by US woman soccer player Alex Morgan solidified⁴ the US's 3-1 defeat of France and won them a ticket to the World Cup finals. The first two goals came from Lauren Cheney and Abby Wambach. The US women will head to the finals on Sunday and face either Sweden or Japan. That game is under way.

Before the close on Wall Street, the Dow was up 45 points at 12,492.

You're listening to NPR News.

The trial of baseball pitching star Roger Clemens opened today, with a prosecutor⁵ telling the jury that the government would prove with physical evidence that Clemens was injected with steroids and human growth hormone⁶. But as NPR's Nina Totenberg reports, Clemens' lawyer said a trainer had manufactured the evidence.

Clemens is charged with lying to Congress when he denied under oath that he used steroids and human growth hormone. Prosecutor Steven Durham said that Clemens' trainer Brian McNamee had produced needles and cotton balls that contain Clemens' DNA⁷, as well as steroids and HGH. The prosecutor said McNamee would testify that he repeatedly injected Clemens with the illegal substances. But Clemens' lawyer Rusty⁸ Hardin suggested that McNamee had manufactured the evidence in order to escape prosecution⁹ himself. In this case, said Clemens' lawyer, "All roads lead to Brian McNamee." And to put it delicately, he is a liar¹⁰. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

Tycoon¹¹ Rupert Murdoch won't be taking over BSkyB anytime soon. He withdrew (withdraw口误) his bid today as his newspapers come under fire for alleged¹² phone hacking¹³ exposing controversial relationships between British politicians, members of the media and police. Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed a senior judge to lead an investigation¹⁴ into the scandal which also includes allegations of police bribery¹⁵.

At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 45 points at 12,492 before the close; NASDAQ had gained nine points; it's at 2,797; S&P 500 up four at 1,318.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, Washington.

1 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。

2 reprisal   

n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠

参考例句：

• There is no political alternative but a big reprisal.政治上没有旁的选择只能是大规模报复。
• They bombed civilian targets in reprisal.他们炮轰平民目标作为报复。

3 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 solidified   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• Her attitudes solidified through privilege and habit. 由于特权和习惯使然，她的看法变得越来越难以改变。
• When threatened, he fires spheres of solidified air from his launcher! 当危险来临，他就会发射它的弹药！

5 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

6 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

7 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

8 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

9 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

10 liar   

n.说谎的人

参考例句：

• I know you for a thief and a liar!我算认识你了，一个又偷又骗的家伙！
• She was wrongly labelled a liar.她被错误地扣上说谎者的帽子。

11 tycoon   

n.有钱有势的企业家，大亨

参考例句：

• The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
• The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。

12 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

13 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

14 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。

15 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。