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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
From NPR news in Washington, I am Nora Raum.
The hostage crisis at a gas plant in the Sahara desert is over. Algerian officials say troops stormed the facility today. They say at least 32 militants1 and 23 captors died. The nationalities of the workers killed have not been released. NPR’s Philip Reeves reports British Defense2 Secretary Philip Hammond wants more information.
News the siege over was first announced by Algeria State News Agency. It said Algerian forces launched a final assault. Hammond gave no causality numbers, but said Britain was in close contact with Algerian government officials who said the operation has ended.
“The latest information that we have is that the hostage situation has now been brought to an end by further assault by Algerian forces which has resulted in further loss of life.”
Hammond said he was pressing the Algerians for more details.
“The loss of lives as a result of these attacks is appalling3 and unacceptable. We must be clear that it is the terrorists that bear sole responsibility for it.” Philip Reeves, for NPR news, London.
Law enforcement officials are expecting smaller crowds for Monday’s inauguration4 of President Obama than four year ago. But NPR’s Brain Naylor reports security will still be tight.
There are barricades5 along the inaugural6 parade route and miles of temporary fencing along Washington streets and preparation for the inaugural activities. The coast guard will be patrolling the Patomac River. And the FAA has imposed tighter-than-normal flight restrictions7 around the capital city. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
“Protecting an event this large, complex with these many different venues8, with this number of people coming, requires a lot of coordination9 and a lot of organization.”
Law enforcement officials have set up a security command post in the Washington suburbs. Some 1.8 million attended President Obama’s first inauguration, less than half of that are expected this time. Brain Naylor, NPR news, Washington.
Before his first inaugural, the President has started the National Day of Service on the Saturday before Martin Luther King Day. It’s designed to honor the memory of the slain10 civil rights leader by having people donate their time to the community. Today, the President and his family helped fixed11 up an elementary school in Washington. He noted12 that some volunteers had an easier time than others.
“The every young people did some really good work. And some of the older folks like me who in hurt getting our knees kinda bending down a little bit, we were able to manage, also. And somehow Mitchell looks stylish13 the whole time she was doing it.”
The President said he hopes the National Day of Service will be a tradition for future presidents. Meanwhile, others are attending rallies today in support of their right to own guns. Hundreds of advocates are gathering14 in state capitals to protest any effort to impose stricter gun controls.
This is NPR news from Washington.
West African leaders are holding a crisis summit today to discuss how best to coordinate15 the international military effort to dislodge the Islamist militants from Mali. NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports that regional troops have begun deploying16 in a bid to reclaimed17 occupied northern Mali.
“West African heads of state are gathering in Ivory Coast for the first high-level meeting since the French military intervention18 in Mali last week. France’s decisive move came after Islamist fighters advanced south from their strongholds in the north. West Africa had a UN mandate19 to send in a regional force to try to end the partition of Mali. That strategy planned for later this year was overtaken by events. French troops backing the beleaguered20 Malian army will continue to play a leading role. Regional leaders must agree on the rapid deployment21 of West African troops to assist in the effort to drive out the well-armed and mobile Jihadi fighters. But Mali’s anxious neighbors are asking ‘push them where?’. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR news, Bamako.”
The US is now about half way through the flu season and officials say it is shaping up to be worse than average. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more older people are being hospitalized with a flu. CDC director Doctor Tom Frieden says there is still time to avoid it, get a flu shot.
“Although that the flu vaccine22 is far from perfect, it’s by far the best tool we have to prevent influenza23. You can still protect yourself through vaccination24, particularly for folks out west, you probably have most of the flu seasons still to come.”
Widespread flu is reported in all 50 states except Tennessee and Hawaii.
I am Nora Raum, NPR news.
点击收听单词发音
1 militants | |
激进分子,好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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2 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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3 appalling | |
adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的 | |
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4 inauguration | |
n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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5 barricades | |
路障,障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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6 inaugural | |
adj.就职的;n.就职典礼 | |
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7 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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8 venues | |
n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 );会场;(尤指)体育比赛场所;犯罪地点 | |
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9 coordination | |
n.协调,协作 | |
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10 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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11 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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12 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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13 stylish | |
adj.流行的,时髦的;漂亮的,气派的 | |
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14 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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15 coordinate | |
adj.同等的,协调的;n.同等者;vt.协作,协调 | |
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16 deploying | |
(尤指军事行动)使展开( deploy的现在分词 ); 施展; 部署; 有效地利用 | |
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17 reclaimed | |
adj.再生的;翻造的;收复的;回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 );要求收回;从废料中回收(有用的材料);挽救 | |
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18 intervention | |
n.介入,干涉,干预 | |
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19 mandate | |
n.托管地;命令,指示 | |
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20 beleaguered | |
adj.受到围困[围攻]的;包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词);困扰;骚扰 | |
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21 deployment | |
n. 部署,展开 | |
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22 vaccine | |
n.牛痘苗,疫苗;adj.牛痘的,疫苗的 | |
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23 influenza | |
n.流行性感冒,流感 | |
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24 vaccination | |
n.接种疫苗,种痘 | |
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