1、From NPR news in Washington, Im Lakshmi Singh.Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity by providing arms and ammunition to rebels during neighbor Sierra Leones 10 years civil war. However the judges rule that the prosecution fail to pr
2、ove that Taylor was in direct command and control of the rebel forces. NPRs Susana George reports that the reaction in Sierra Leones capital Freetown is mixed.Civil war victims, government ministers and tribe leaders gathered within the walls* of the Special Court here in Freetown to watch the verdi
3、ct(裁定) to broadcast live from the head, “Count 1, acts of terrorism; Count 2, Murder.” Jaca , had both his arms amputated at the elbow, so-called short sleeves, by the rebels, Taylor is guilty of supporting. “I feel it that justice has been gone some *.” But just outside the Court walls, some Sierra
4、 Leoneans say the trial has been an unnecessary expense. There were national elections just month away. Its time to start looking towards the future instead of the past. Susana George, NPR news, Freetown, Sierra Leone.Another suicide bomber reportedly has struck again in Iraq. Reuters news service r
5、eports ten people were killed, 18 others were wounded.Congressman Paul Ryan is answering whelming Catholic critics who accuse the Budget Committee Chair of promoting a budget that supports the rich, neglects the poor. In a speech in Georgetown University, Ryan said his approach is along with Catholi
6、c teaching and that includes helping the nations most vulnerable citizens. He says failed economic policy is fall* squarely on President Obama, whom he accuses of unfairly lifting up one group at the expense of another.He doesnt seem to understand that he cant promote the common good by setting clas
7、s against class or group against group.”Republicans in pursuit of deficit reductions remain opposed to ending certain tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.For the third straight week, the Labor Department is reporting higher than expected claims for jobless benefit for last week. Seasonal adjuste
8、d claims decrease slightly from the previous week to 388,000. NPRs Cucci reports thats still thousands more than the market was expecting.Claims have been on an upward trend for the past several weeks. These indicators come at a crucial time for the economy. Strong employment gains in earlier part o
9、f year appear to be losing steam. And because jobs growth drives so many other parts of the economy, including housing and consumer spending, some worry this could signal the overall economy is stalling out. In March, the unemployment rate fell in part because some people gave up looking for work. A
10、nalysts are looking to April numbers due out next Friday for more hints about the direction the economy is heading. Cucci, NPR news, Washington.Dow was up 122 points. This is NPR news.The owner of a construction crane(起重机), connected to a deadly 2008 collapse in New York City is being cleared of all
11、 charges. James Lomma reportedly sat frozen as a judge announces his acquittal today. Lomma owned the 200 foot tall rig that snapped apart and killed two workers. The accident occurred within two months of similar incidents that killed several people. Both cases were nude calls for more crane safety
12、 measures in several US cities.Natural gas driller Chesapeake Energy says it will terminate a controversial financial arrangement with its CEO. NPRs Jeff Brady reports the company stock price dropped significantly in recent weeks as news of the deal emerged.Chesapeake CEO, Aubrey McClendon was given
13、 a stake in natural gas wells the company drilled. In recent years, as prices declined, he * money against those stakes to pay for drilling cost. Now Chesapeake says it will end the deal, giving McClendon stakes and its wells early. It was said to expire in 2015. The companys Board of Directors also
14、 will review McClendons financial arrangements. In announcing the change, the company reversed an earlier statement that said the Board was “fully aware of McClendons financial arrangements.” Now the company says the Board did not review, approve or have knowledge of the specific transactions. Jeff Brady, NPR news.US stocks have been gaining ground today, with Dow Jones Industrial Average up 121 points at last check, nearly 1% at 13,212; Nasdaq Composite Index up 25 points, nearly 1% at 3,054; and the S&P 500 up 10 points at 1,401.This is NPR news.
