美国国家公共电台 NPR 2016-1-4

 From NPR news in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.The execution of a top Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia is prompting worries about sectarian tensions. NPR's Leila Fadel reports the cleric was executed today along with 46 others cross the kingdom. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr became a symbol for many young Shias during anti-government protest in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. He also expressed support for opposition 1 protest of mostly Shias in the Gulf 2 country of Bahrain. Shia Iranians condemn 3 the execution. The foreign ministry 4 told Iran's state agency that Saudi government supports radical 5 Sunni ideology 6 while executing critics inside its own kingdom. And a senior Iranian cleric called the ruling family criminal and warned this execution would lead to its downfall. A resident in the Shia majority province of Qatif says Saudi security forces are fleeing the major roads in anticipation 7 of protests. And Reuters reports that Bahrain's  police buy tear gases at several dozen demonstrators protesting there was death in a Shia Muslim village west of the capital. Three other Shiite activists 8 were executed with Nimr. Leila Fadel, NPR news, Dubai.

 
 
The State Department is calling on leaders in the Middle East to deescalate tensions after Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia cleric. The US said today's election could further worsen sectarian violence. The State Department says it's reaffirming its cause on the country to protect human rights and ensure fair and transparent 9 judicial 10 proceedings 11. 
 
 
Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed off on a new security assessment 12 that describes the United States as a significant threat. From Moscow, NPR's Corey Flintoff reports the document will guide Russia's security policy. President Putin sighed off the national security strategy document on New Year's Eve. It says the United States and its western allies are trying to put pressure on Russia because they're afraid of Russia's growing strength and influence in world affairs. The US and its allies imposed sanctions on Russia after it seized Crimea and supported separatist militias 13 in East Ukraine. The Russian strategy document also says that the expansion of the NATO alliance is a threat to Russia's national security. The document is another indicator 14 of how far relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated 15 in the past several years. Corey Flintoff, NPR news, Moscow.
 
 
Communities in the middle west are assessing the damages caused by widespread flooding after days of heavy rains. In southern Illinois, flood water overran the land-small levee system. It started overtopping even .... And it just eventually eroded 16 away the levee and ... breaches 17 in it right now. Frank Lackmore with the Alexander County Emergency Management Board. Missouri governor Jay Nixon is asking for a federal emergency declaration in the wake of a severe flooding in the St. Louis area. At least 24 people have died in the flooding. This is NPR.
 
 
The Somali IS groups al-Shabaab has released a recruitment video that features footage of Republican presidential contender Donald Trump 18 calling for Muslims to be barred from entering the US. The propaganda video warns Muslims in the west that the US will be a land of religious discrimination and also urges African Americans to convert to Islam. 
 
 
10 of the 25 biggest office box hits this year centered on girls and women. As NPR's NW reports that's a major change for Hollywood over the past ten years. Let's start with this year's action movies. The latest * of the Hunger Games, Divergent and Mad Max, whose one-armed heroine.still administers an impressive beatdown. Meanwhile, the year's three biggest comedies, with Spy, Trainwreck and Pitch Perfect 2. Some of the year's most successful kids movies also told the stories of girls, such as Cinderella, Home and Inside Out. And Star Wars, the biggest movie in theaters now also sets its eyes on young woman and * fifty shades of grey. In the last decade, if you look at the year's 25 movies , there has never been more than 4 about girls and women. If these years try to continue, 2016 might bring something like parody 19. NPR news.
 
 
The WHO says if there are no new cases of Ebola in west Africa by January 14th, the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record will be declared over. Sierra Leon and Guinea have both gone 42 consecutive 20 days without any new infections. Liberia has 12 days to go to reach the milestone 21. I'm Windsor Johnston. NPR news in Washington.