NPR 2011-08-21

 Thousands of Verizon Telecom workers are ending their strike and returning to work Tuesday. But Verizon chief spokesman Peter Thonis says both sides have yet to reach a labor¹ deal.

 

"We've agreed on a process. We've, we've, we have agreed collectively to begin to negotiate the major issues."

 

About 45,000 unionized workers linked to the Landline Division of Verizon went on strike August 7th, potentially affecting nine states from Massachusetts to Virginia.

 

Libyan rebels say they now have their sights set on the capital Tripoli after seizing control of a city 30 miles west of the capital. NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports the opposition² has taken control of Zawiya, which was strategically important in their campaign to unseat Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

 

This led to plenty of the battles of fighting Gaddafi's forces to the east of the city. This is not a fight just within Zawiya. Now that Zawiya has been liberated³, they're pushing on to the capital Tripoli. The sources here say the forces will not hold the country until they hold the capital. So they will not stop until they reach the seat of Gaddafi's power, which is Tripoli. 

 

NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro tracking events in Zawiya. 

 

Israel and Egypt are trying to defuse tensions that have tested their more than 30-year-old peace treaty. The Jewish state apologized today to Egypt for the deaths of at least three Egyptian security personnel who were caught in the crosshairs of the battle between Israeli forces and suspected Palestinian militants⁴ this week. The apology came hours after Egypt reportedly announced plans to recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv. From Cairo, NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson has more on this story.

 

Earlier, Egyptian state TV announced following a cabinet meeting that the Arab country was recalling its ambassador. But hours later, the statement disappeared from the airwaves. Instead, the official network reported the Egyptian foreign minister would summon the Israel ambassador about the shootings. The state-run Al-Ahram and its online service called the reports of the Egyptian ambassador recall an unintentional air. A recall would stimulate⁵ sharp escalation⁶ in tensions between Egypt and Israel. Relations between the two have been cool at best this year. News agencies are reporting Israel has not received official notification of the recall and is investigating the shootings that followed a roadside ambush⁷ in southern Israel. Eight Israelis were killed in that attack. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Cairo.

 

Two American men detained for more than two years in Iran have been convicted of espionage⁸ and sentenced to eight years in prison. They were among three hikers captured along the Iran-Iraq border. The third American woman was released last year. 

 

You're listening to NPR News.

 

Northeastern Wisconsin is reeling from an apparent tornado⁹ that authorities say killed at least one person. Emergency Management spokeswoman Lori Getter says there's also been some damage, and about 2,000 people have been affected¹⁰.

 

"And that area is very rural. It has lots of trees. Again with the strong winds and a potential tornado, there are lots of trees down on roads, lots of downed power line."

 

The National Weather Service says the storm also generated large hail. 

 

In Pittsburgh, authorities say they have recovered the body of a woman who was killed during flash floods yesterday. High water from storms sank more than a dozen vehicles, including one carrying a woman and two children that became pinned to a tree. They were also killed.

 

Job creation takes center stage in this week's media addresses, and we have more on this from NPR's Giles Snyder.

 

President Obama is accusing Congress of holding back the economic recovery, saying there's something, such as passing a road construction bill, that lawmakers could get done right away.

 

"The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That's the problem we have right now. That's what's holding this country back."

 

Mr. Obama recorded his this weekly address while he was on his bus tour of the Midwest. In the GOP address, Ohio Governor John Kasich urged both sides to compromise when required.

 

"It's my hope President Obama will listen to the people and partner with Republicans to get our economy back to creating jobs and producing growth."

 

Kasich also said Republicans should not be stiff-necked when important work must be done. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

 

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 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。

3 liberated   

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

• The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
• The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

4 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。

5 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

6 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

7 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

8 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

9 tornado   

n.飓风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。