VOA慢速英语2015 中国努力营救沉船幸存者（在线收听）

China Races to Find Ferry Accident Survivors 中国努力营救沉船幸存者

Chinese authorities are working quickly to reach survivors still trapped under a passenger ship that capsized -- or turned over -- in the Yangtze River late Monday. More than 450 passengers and crew were on board the ship when it went down. Most of the passengers were elderly Chinese tourists.

Only 15 people are known to have gotten out alive. More than 400 passengers are still missing. The People’s Daily website reported late Tuesday three bodies were found 50 kilometers from the wreckage site.

Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri

Boko Haram militants have again attacked the Nigerian city of Maiduguri. The city is set to be the new base of government operations aimed at defeating the group.

Reports from the city said fighters used grenades in Tuesday's attack but were unable to advance beyond the city limits.

Later, a suicide bomber attacked a cattle market in Maiduguri. Early reports said up to 20 people died in the explosion.

Nine NGO employees shot dead in Afghanistan

Police in northern Afghanistan said Tuesday unknown gunmen have shot dead at least nine employees of an aid agency. The attack took place in Balkh province. The victims were from the non-governmental organization, People in Need.

The United Nations warned last month that the Afghan conflict has caused a record rise in civilian deaths in the first few months of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.

No one has claimed responsibility for Monday's killings of aid workers in Balkh.

US Senate  votes on spy programs

The US Congress completed action Tuesday to end the government's huge program of collecting telephone call data designed to help stop terrorist attacks.  American telephone companies will take over the task in six months.

The Senate voted 67-32 in favor of legislation already approved by the House of Representatives.  It was then sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.  Mr. Obama says he will quickly sign the legislation.  He says the new rules protect both civil liberties and national security.

Words in the News

trap – v. to cause (a person or animal) to be unable to move or escape from a dangerous place

base –n. the main place in which a person works or lives or a business operates

grenade – n. a small bomb that is designed to be thrown by someone or shot from a rifle

surveillance – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime