NPR 2011-01-20

Presidents Obama and Hu Jintao of China are trying to narrow the diplomatic gulf¹ between their nations with promises to just keep talking. One of the most divisive issues is US concern over China's undervalued currency. President Obama's urging China to allow the free market to determine the value of the yuan. When a reporter asked Mr. Obama if the US should be worried about China's rapid economic growth, the president replied:

"The development of China has brought unprecedented² economic growth to more people more quickly than just about any time in history. And that's a positive good for the world and it's something that the United States very much appreciates and respects."

President Obama also says he is still urging China to improve its human rights record. Both leaders agreed to talk more on that issue.

Federal mine safety investigators³ today blamed a series of maintenance and equipment failures for the coal mine explosion last April that killed 29 mine workers. NPR's Howard Berkes reports investigators now sound confident that they know what triggered the blast at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.

But they're not ready to say they're 100% certain. They're still gathering⁴ and analyzing⁵ evidence. Still, in a briefing with reporters, the Mine Safety and Health Administration said the Upper Big Branch explosion began as a small ignition of methane⁶ gas, the kind that is not uncommon⁷ in coal mines. This one didn't burn itself out or dissipated, investigators said, due to poor ventilation in the mine, a poorly maintained mining machine that generated sparks, water sprayers that were rendered useless and excessive coal dust. The coal dust, they said, turned a small ignition into a massive and deadly blast. Mine safety officials also completely discounted Massey Energy's theory that it was methane or natural gas alone that fueled the explosion from a crack in the mine floor. Massey will present the findings of its own investigation⁸ Friday to families of the victims. Howard Berkes, NPR News, Beckley, West Virginia.

Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut says he is retiring. The former Democrat-turned independent addressed a crowd this afternoon to announce he would not run for a fifth term next year.

A proposal to repeal⁹ the health care law that was enacted¹⁰ last year comes up for a vote in the House later today. Debate is under way, with Republicans arguing the sweeping¹¹ health care measures are much too costly¹² for a still-weak economy. However, President Obama has long argued that the US cannot afford not to change a system that he says has been pulling the country deeper into death for years.

At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 19 points at 11,819; the NASDAQ Composite Index off 42 at 2,724.

This is NPR.

Palestinians are pushing ahead with their efforts to have the UN Security Council condemn¹³ Israeli settlement building. As NPR's Michele Kelemen reports, the US argues that this is an issue that should be resolved in negotiations¹⁴ rather than in UN resolutions.

The Palestinian representative to the United Nations says Israeli building projects pose a serious threat to a negotiated peace, and he argued it's time for the Security Council to send a strong message to Israel. US Deputy Permanent Representative Rosemary DiCarlo described Israeli settlement expansion as "corrosive¹⁵", but added this is an issue that Israelis and Palestinians have to resolve themselves.

"We therefore consistently oppose attempts to take these issues to this council and will continue to do so."

The US hasn't said whether it will veto the resolution, but has been encouraging Palestinians to drop the effort. Lebanon's ambassador says the resolution was cosponsored by more than 120 countries, and he urged the council to speak with one voice in condemning¹⁶ Israeli settlement activity. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

Rescuers are searching still for possible victims of a suicide bombing in Baqouba, Iraq that authorities say killed at least 12 people today and wounded more than 50 others. Police in the city that's northeast of Baghdad said the attack was carried out by two people. The first gunned down security guards and allowed a second person to drive an ambulance into the site that exploded. A short time later, a suicide bomber¹⁷ attacked Shiite pilgrims on a road between Baqouba and Baghdad. Authorities say at least one person was killed.

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

6 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

7 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

8 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。

9 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

10 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

11 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

12 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

13 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

14 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。

15 corrosive   

adj.腐蚀性的；有害的；恶毒的

参考例句：

• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。
• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。

16 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

17 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。