Washington, D.C.

Poet tapped for arts post

A poet, critic and translator is President Bush’s choice to head the National Endowment for the Arts, the federal agency that channels aid to artists and arts groups.

Dana Gioia, 51, won a 2002 American Book Award for his third book of verse, “Interrogations at Noon.” His book-length essay “Can Poetry Matter?” explores poetry’s place in American culture. He is a longtime commentator for the British Broadcasting Corp.

If confirmed by the Senate to a four-year term, Gioia would succeed Michael P. Hammond, who died in January after just a week as chairman.

New York City

Plane search yields no radioactive material

Federal agents Wednesday met an airliner from Moscow at Kennedy Airport after receiving a tip that it might have radioactive material on board, but nothing harmful was found, a U.S. Customs Service spokeswoman said.

Two passengers were detained briefly for questioning and were released, Janet Rapaport said.

Agents ordered the plane to keep its distance from the passenger terminals after it landed, the 188 people aboard were evacuated, and the aircraft was searched. No trace of radiation was found.

“It turns out it was a box full of furs,” said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Robert Johnson.

China

Explosion traps 44 miners

A powerful gas explosion tore through a state-owned coal mine in northern China, leaving at least 44 miners trapped underground, the official Xinhua News Agency said today. Eight people were reported rescued.

Fifty-two miners were working underground at the Zhujiadian Coal Mine in Luliang, in the northern province of Shanxi, when the explosion took place about 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, Xinhua quoted provincial authorities as saying.

China’s mines are among the world’s deadliest. They often lack even basic safety equipment, and miners are usually too poorly trained to understand the risks.

More than 3,500 miners have been killed this year in explosions, floods and other mishaps in Chinese mines.