NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-04-03

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"We can confirm that there was a tsunami. It's recorded at 2.1 meters at the time of peak, quite toward the epicenter and where other sites in northern Chile. We see water with a half meter."

Quake was also felt in Peru where the country's civil defense³ official says evacuations are underway along the coast. A magnitude of 8.8 quake and tsunami has hit the central Chile in 2010 killed more than 500 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. 

 

7.1 million of Americans have signed up for health insurance during the 6-month opening and enrollment⁵. President Obama announced that at White House today. But NPR's Julie Rovner reports even the president conceded the unlikely achievement is merely the start. 

Back October when the dysfunctional federal website was struggling to enroll⁴ anyone, the idea of signing up 7 million people, the original target goal, seemed improbable. And those numbers are likely to grow as people started a process before a Monday deadline finish up in the coming day, and more states report their figures. But what's amount to a victory lap, the president noted⁶ that tens of millions of people still lacking insurance. 

"And we work to get more Americans cover with the each passing year."

What remains⁷ to be determined⁸ is how many of those people who signed up follow through and pay their premiums⁹, and whether the mix of the healthy and the sick is good enough to keep insurance from raising premiums. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington. 

 

After nearly a month of bickering¹⁰ and horse training, Congress is now acting¹¹ a package aid for Ukraine and sanctions impose on Russia for its annexation¹² of Crimea. NPR's David Welna reports final passage of measures came tonight when the House voted overwhelmingly, sent the package on the president Obama. 

Just 34 house members voted against the economic system and sanction package, but that was only after the Senate degraded to drop provisions strongly opposed by House Republicans, the shift US fund and International Monetary¹³ Fund. The White House has been seeking Congressional approval for that change at IMF for the past 4 years, arguing that it will make bigger loans available to counties such as Ukraine. Sanctions against Russian citizens and some of its enterprises are brought in legislation and those are already announced by president Obama. This one is also different that it becomes mandatory¹⁴ when signed into law. David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

Major automakers are reported a strong sales in March. Ford¹⁵ and Chrysler posted its sales gain: Ford sales up 3%; Chrysler saw 13% sales gain. 

 

On Wall Street, the Dow was up 74 points today.

 

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A federal judge has officially slammed the door on a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit¹⁶ found by a New York man claimed half of ownership of popular social network site Facebook. Judge Richard Arcara has granted Facebook and its founder¹⁷, Mark Zuckerberg motion to dismiss the case brought by Paul Ceglia. The ruling reaffirmed another judge recommendation from a year ago, saying the lawsuit should be dismissed because the contract he had was fake claimed he and Zuckerberg have signed a contract and titling the half ownership of Facebook in exchange for start-off money. 

 

The godfather of house music has died. Frankie Knuckles¹⁸ was 59 years old. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports the pioneer DJ suffered from diabetes¹⁹ but his death came as a surprise to fans and friends. 

In mastering something to an abandoned Chicago warehouse²⁰ club in the 1970 when Frankie Knuckles changed the way people moved to music. 

In fact, some people say their style of electronic dancing music --- house takes its name from a warehouse. Knuckles was born from Bronx, started his spinning at some famous New York gay clubs and brought together black, white, gay and straight funs with the sound they were reflected his taste for @@ R&B, disco and @@ independent music. The tune²¹ of Knuckles mix and road was the starting point for music you hear now in almost any night clubs anywhere. In fact, at this very moment, someplace people are dancing to music Frankie Knuckles helped to create. Neda Ulaby, NPR News. 

 

Star attraction at national zoo in Washington got a bit of outdoor time today. Giant panda cub²² Bao Bao, venturing outside for the first time, spent about 2 hours in the zoo outdoor enclosure with its mother Mei Xiang. In aim to keep distance from panda cub proofing, placing collars on some trees to prevent Bao Bao from climbing too high. 

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