NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-03-08

President Obama has signed an executive order today that could clear the way for further sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing¹ situation in Ukraine, a plan for the imposition of a broad range of sanctions if need be. President appeared in a briefing in the White House press room today after signing the order, saying any future discussion over the future of Ukraine should include the legitimate² government of the country. 

In 2014, we are ro* on the days when orders can be rerun over the heads of democratic leaders. 

President spoke³ for about an hour today with Russian President Vladmir Putin, emphasizing that Russia's actions are in violation⁴ of Ukraine sovereignty and called for a diplomatic solution to situation there, when he's also saying international monitor should be allowed inside the country.

 

 

Senators blocked a bill that would've stripped senior military personnel their authority to prosecute⁵ rapes⁶ and other serious offences within their ranks, the 55-45 vote short of the 60 votes the measure would've required to move forward. Pentagon leadership have vigorously opposed the measure maintaining military leaders that should have more authority over the men and women they supervise, not less. Backers of the bill contend that far-reaching changes are needed to curb⁷ what's been a recent rush of sexual assaults inside the military.

 

 

Boeing plans to shift about 68,000 non-union employees away from its defined-benefit pension plan. It actually goes some member station KPLU in Seattle, explains the move comes after union ice machines that expect some of these changes. 

The change affects more than 1/3 of Boeing's workforce⁸. Starting at 2016, the company will make contributions into a 401(k) retirement⁹ plan instead of into the pension. Workers will still get pension benefits they've already accrued¹⁰. * of Warton School at the University of Pennsylvania says Boeing faces a big pension obligation that's not completely founded.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 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。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

6 rapes   

n.芸苔( rape的名词复数 )；强奸罪；强奸案；肆意损坏v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的第三人称单数 )；强奸

参考例句：

• The man who had committed several rapes was arrested. 那个犯了多起强奸案的男人被抓起来了。 来自辞典例句
• The incidence of reported rapes rose 0.8 percent. 美国联邦调查局还发布了两份特别报告。 来自互联网

7 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

8 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

10 accrued   

adj.权责已发生的v.增加( accrue的过去式和过去分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累

参考例句：

• The company had accrued debts of over 1000 yuan. 该公司已积欠了1000多万元的债务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have accrued a set of commemoration stamps. 我已收集一套纪念邮票。 来自《简明英汉词典》