NPR 2011-07-17

Despite objections raised by China, President Obama welcomed the Dalai Lama to the White House today. China had warned meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader could damage US-Chinese relations. Administration officials say the visit shows the president's support for preserving Tibet's culture and protecting human rights.

The president is appealing to the public as the debate over raising the nation's debt ceiling moves to Congress.

"You sent us to Washington to do the tough things. The right things. Not just for some of us, but for all of us. Not just what's enough to get through the next election — but what's right for the next generation."

President Obama speaking in his weekly address. Republicans want a deficit-cutting deal in return for raising the debt limit, but they disagree with Democrats¹ on how to do it.

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah delivered the Republican address. He blames Democrats for the impasse², and he argues for passage of a balanced budget amendment³.

"This kind of strong budgetary reform would put us on a path to fiscal⁴ health and would prevent this White House or any future White House from forcing more debt on the American people."

House Republicans are due to vote on such a measure next week.

The National Weather Service is keeping heat advisories⁵ and warnings in place throughout the Great Plains from Texas to Wisconsin. From members station KOSU, Michael Cross reports.

Meteorologists are predicting highs above 100 with heat indices around 110 for the foreseeable future with little rain in sight. John Serbia, a farmer in western Oklahoma, says it's tough because the water is running out.

"A lot of creeks⁶ and springs have had the water running in for years, and they're drying up. So it's maybe a bit stressed right now."

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin is issuing a burn ban for 45 of the state's 77 counties as the drought conditions have contributed to more than 140 fires this summer. Climatologists predict the drought might not end until at least fall. For NPR News, I'm Michael Cross in Oklahoma City.

Hundreds of Syrian opposition⁷ leaders gathered in Turkey today in hopes of building a shadow government. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Istanbul that the US is taking a cautious approach to the nascent⁸ opposition.

They came from Syria and abroad to support the demonstrators killed by the al-Assad regime in the past four months and to try to convince the rest of the world that they can forge a new more democratic government. Ex-judge Haitham al-Maleh, a veteran Syrian activist⁹, said the opposition must put aside these differences to honor those who gave their lives for a better Syria. He's heard here through a translator.

"We are confronting one of the worst regimes in the world. And these youngsters who confronted this fascist¹⁰ regime, you are heroes, you are all heroes."

Washington has maintained a cautious approach. It has not called on Bashar al-Assad to step down as it did with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Istanbul.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Heavy fighting was reported today in Libya between rebels and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. Neither side appears to be gaining ground. Rebels are encouraged now that more than 30 nations including the US recognize the main opposition group as Libya's legitimate¹¹ government.

The Japanese Olympic Committee says it is formally backing Tokyo as Japan's bid to host the 2020 Summer Games. John Matthews reports the bid is Tokyo's retry after losing the 2016 Games to Rio de Janeiro.

JOC president Tsunekazu Takeda says Tokyo-held Olympics in 2020 would showcase Japan's recovery from the devastating¹² earthquake and tsunami¹³ on March 11th. Having lost the 2016 bid, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara claims the city is ready to host the games at any cost. Tokyo's bill for its failed 2016 bid came to around 180 million dollars, and this year's bid is expected to cost even more. Some analysts¹⁴ are skeptical¹⁵ of Tokyo's chances. Aside from a lack of support at home for the 2016 bid, they claim Olympic officials will not hold games back-to-back in the same region. Pyeongchang, South Korea is scheduled to host the 2018 Games. For NPR News, I'm John Matthews in Tokyo.

Japan is in the final in the World Cup tomorrow to determine first place in women soccer. It faces the United States. Sweden beat France 2-1 today to take third place. Soccer officials said today that another three North Korean soccer players have tested positive for steroids at the tournament, bringing to five, the number of North Korean athletes caught doping. North Korea was eliminated from the World Cup in the first round after losing to the US and Sweden and tying with Colombia.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

3 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

4 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

5 advisories   

n.（有关进展、动向、建议等的）报告( advisory的名词复数 )；公告；通告；通报

参考例句：

• Compliance with Practice Advisories is optional. 是否遵守实务公告由审计师自行选择决定。 来自互联网
• Hardened-PHP: not as such a PHP security information website, but it does have security advisories. 增强PHP:不仅仅是一个PHP安全新的网站，它还提供安全建议。 来自互联网

6 creeks   

n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪

参考例句：

• The prospect lies between two creeks. 矿区位于两条溪流之间。 来自辞典例句
• There was the excitement of fishing in country creeks with my grandpa on cloudy days. 有在阴雨天和姥爷一起到乡村河湾钓鱼的喜悦。 来自辞典例句

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 nascent   

adj.初生的，发生中的

参考例句：

• That slim book showed the Chinese intelligentsia and the nascent working class.那本小册子讲述了中国的知识界和新兴的工人阶级。
• Despite a nascent democracy movement,there's little traction for direct suffrage.尽管有过一次新生的民主运动，但几乎不会带来直接选举。

9 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

10 fascist   

adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子

参考例句：

• The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。

11 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

12 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

13 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

14 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。

15 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。