NPR 2010-04-08

Crews are trying to bore holes into a West Virginia coal mine. They’re trying to vent¹ poison gas, so they can’t send rescue crews into search for four miners. They were in explosion Monday that killed 25 other people. NPR’s Dianna Douglas is in Melville, West Virginia.

 

The first hole was drilled more than 1,000 feet into the mountain. Rescuers banged on the drill pipe to try to send a signal to the miners. They heard nothing in response. They’re drilling more holes to vent the mine of poisonous methane² gas which likely caused the massive explosion. No one can enter the mine until it clears. Families waiting for word are clinging to the hope that the miners escaped to one of the rescue rooms with enough oxygen and food to live for a few days. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin says they’ll continue with the operation as a rescue, not a recovery. The mine is under investigation³ for hundreds of safety violations⁴. And Massey Energy, the owner, is facing a possible credit downgrade. Dianna Douglas, NPR News, Melville, West Virginia.

 

Meanwhile, an official for the Federal Mine Safety Administration says tests still show dangerous gas levels remain high. It’s affecting the drill rescue teams, so they cannot yet send in search teams to look for the missing men.

 

The former chairman of the Federal Reserve says he acted correctly in keeping interest rates low when he was head of the Central Bank. Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan led the institution from 1987 through 2006. He says regulators didn’t see all the risks associated with surging housing prices at the beginning of this decade. The housing meltdown is blamed by many for triggering the recession. Greenspan says other economic factors spurred the downturn, such as China’s growing economic power.

 

The United States is appealing for calm in a Central Asian country, Kyrgyzstan, where protesters have clashed with police. News agencies report 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured. Opposition⁵ leaders say they have taken power. But State Department can’t confirm the government’s fallen. NPR’s Michele Kelemen reports.

 

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says US diplomats⁶ have been reaching out to officials and the civil society groups in Kyrgyzstan as protesters angry about corruption⁷ have been taking over government buildings in the capital, Bishkek.

 

“We urge all parties to show respect for the rule of law and resolve differences in a peaceful, orderly, and legal manner.”

 

The US uses its military base in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan. Crowley says that base is functioning normally and all US Embassy personnel are accounted for. He adds Americans in Bishkek have been warned to stay away from the protests. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

 

President Obama leaves for the Czech Republic later today. He’s expected to sign a new nuclear arms reduction treaty tomorrow with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The White House says the new treaty is about reducing both countries’ nuclear armaments.

 

On Wall Street before the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 77 points. It was at 10,892.

 

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In Memphis, a Tennessee court has unsealed thousands of pages of documents involving a priest accused of sexual abuse. The documents obtained by the Memphis Commercial Appeal Newspaper show the Diocese of Memphis protected accused priests. NPR’s Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports.

 

The case against Father Juan Carlos Duran settled last year for two million dollars after a man accused a Dominican priest of abusing him in February, 2000 when he was 14. The documents show that at least 15 priests have been accused in the diocese over four decades. Father Duran was expelled from the Franciscan order for sexual conduct with the minor⁸ before he joined the Dominicans. The Dominicans did not mention that to Memphis church officials, paving the way for the priest to allegedly abuse again. The documents also show that a teenage boy accused another priest, William Kantner. While church officials were investigating the allegations against Kantner in 2004, the bishop⁹ wrote a letter of good standing¹⁰ for him, which allowed the priest to visit and perform services in Mexico. Barbara Bradley Hagerty, NPR News.

 

The space shuttle Discovery is safely docked at the International Space Station. The seven-person crew arrived a few days after a Soyuz capsule with three people aboard docked there. Tomorrow, the Discovery crew will move a huge bin¹¹ onto the shuttle cargo¹² bay and link it to the station. Astronauts will be able to unload spare parts from the bin.

 

The prime minister of Thailand has declared a state of emergency. Some anti-government protesters burst into the Thai parliament today. They’re trying to force demands for new elections. Prime Minister Abhisit has now ordered the Thai army to restore order after weeks of demonstrations¹³ by anti-government protesters.

 

1 vent   

n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄

参考例句：

• He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
• When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

2 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。

3 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。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 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。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

9 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

12 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

13 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。