NPR 2011-02-26

The White House is moving ahead with sanctions on Libya, where more people are reported dead from a crackdown on anti-government protesters in Tripoli. Spokesman Jay Carney says the US is finalizing¹ the sanctions process today.

"The United States is involved in ongoing² negotiations³ today at the UNSC, the UN Security Council, on a resolution that could include a weapons embargo⁴, individual sanctions against key Libyan officials and an asset freeze."

US embassy operations in Libya are suspended. Meanwhile, a ferry that departed Tripoli earlier today after delay because of rough seas is pulling into a port in Malta. The vessel⁵ is carrying some 300 people. More than half of whom are Americans escaping the unrest. More Americans and other foreigners are also on a US-chartered flight that also left Tripoli today.

As foreigners scrambled⁶ to get out of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi addressed supporters in Tripoli Central Square, calling on them to fight anyone including foreign powers, who he says are attempting to topple his regime.

"We will defeat any foreign attempts as we defeated the former Italian imperialism⁷."

Gaddafi is heard through an interpreter on Al-Jazeera English. In eastern Libya, NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro says people are celebrating the control of the city of Benghazi by the opposition⁸.

There are thousands of people that have converged⁹ here, first to pray and then to protest. This is, of course, the Muslim holy day, and a message they say here is to Muammar Gaddafi, who is still clinging the power in the west of the country. All of the east is pretty much under the control of the protesters. There's a real feeling of solidarity¹⁰ here. They don't want this country to be split. They want a unified¹¹ Libya, free and democratic.

NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro in eastern Libya.

Jordan is reporting massive protests. Police estimates today's pro-democracy demonstrations¹² drew thousands of people, the largest turnout in eight weeks. From Amman, Dale Gavlak reports security forces were out in large numbers in an attempt to avoid a repeat of last week's violent confrontations¹³.

Calling for lower prices and changes to the constitution which give King Abdullah absolute say, ordinary Jodanians, such as unemployed¹⁴ Amer Warat, had joined the activists¹⁵.

"The authorities of the king himself — though they have been changed a lot, say, 180 degrees. So, we're coming peacefully just to ask for these changes. We want our rights. That's all."

Inspired by Tunisia and Egypt , Jordanians are asking to be able to elect their prime minister and cabinet officials and enjoy a greater political say. For NPR News, I'm Dale Gavlak in Amman.

Angry protests today over deepening poverty in Iraq are claiming more lives. At least 14 people have been killed, and dozens injured in fighting between demonstrators and security forces across Iraq.

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The sharp jump in the cost of petroleum¹⁶ is triggering emergency measures in Spain. The Spanish government says it will lower speed limits and cut train ticket prices. The deputy prime minister says there's no threat to Spain's energy supply, but the country's anticipating higher energy costs as a result of the unrest in Libya. The temporary measures are expected to take effect March 7th.

In an unusual open letter posted on its website, Chinese telecom equipment maker¹⁷ Huawei is inviting¹⁸ a US investigation¹⁹. From Shanghai, NPR's Rob Gifford reports the company wants to dispel²⁰ what it says is a mistaken fear that it's a threat to American national security.

Huawei Technologies last week announced that it was giving up its attempted purchase of American computer company 3Leaf Systems after it failed to win approval from a US security panel. That failure has prompted Huawei Deputy Chairman Ken²¹ Hu to write the open letter. In it, he rejects what he calls "untrue allegations" that Huawei has ties to China's military, receives improper²² Chinese government financial support or is a threat to American national security. Huawei Technologies is one of the world's largest makers²³ of network switching gear and reported sales of $28 billions last year, but it did struggle to gain a foothold in the US market. Rob Gifford, NPR News, Shanghai.

Still seeing gains in US stocks, at last check, the Dow was up 66 points, more than 0.5% at 12,134 in trading of just over two billion shares; NASDAQ up 40 at 2,778; and the S&P 500 up 13 at 1,319.

1 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

5 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

6 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 imperialism   

n.帝国主义，帝国主义政策

参考例句：

• They held the imperialism in contempt.他们鄙视帝国主义。
• Imperialism has not been able to subjugate China.帝国主义不能征服中国。

8 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。

9 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

11 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

12 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

13 confrontations   

n.对抗，对抗的事物( confrontation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At times, this potential has escalated into actual confrontations. 有时，这一矛盾升级为实际的对抗。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• These confrontations and uncertainties were bing played out for the first time on a global scale. 所有这一切对抗和不稳定，第一次在全球范围内得到充分的表演。 来自辞典例句

14 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

15 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

17 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

18 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

19 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。

20 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

21 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

22 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

23 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》