voa标准英语2008-Businesses Around World Try to Boost Sales

Retailers around the world are slashing prices in the hopes of convincing wary consumers to spend money again, as one survey finds critical holiday sales in the United States fell by as much as four percent this year. But encouraging spending could

voa标准英语2008年-Pakistan's Gilani to Send Spy Agency Chief to M

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani says Indian leaders must not blame his country for this week's deadly terror attacks in Mumbai. And in an unprecedented move, he has agreed to send the chief of Pakistan's top spy agency to India to help in

voa标准英语2008年-Tentative Agreement Pushes Zimbabwe One Step Fo

Negotiators from ZANU-PF and both Movement for Democratic Change party factions Thursday signed a 46-page constitutional amendment to enable formation of a unity government. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare the signed agreement now needs to be a

voa标准英语2008年-US Wants North Korean Verification Commitments

The United States said Friday it expects North Korea, during an international meeting in Beijing next month, to commit, in writing, to allow inspectors to take samples from its nuclear sites. North Korea contends it hasn't agreed to sampling as part

voa标准英语2008-Britain Calls for Urgent Ceasefire in Gaza

Three days into Israel's air assault on Gaza, Britain's Foreign Secretary warns of a very dark moment in the Middle East peace process. David Miliband is calling for an urgent, immediate ceasefire. His is just one of many concerned voices in Europe

voa标准英语2008-AU Welcomes Somalia President's Resignation

Africa's top peace and security official has welcomed the resignation of Somalia's President Abdullahi Yusuf, saying it clears the way for actions that could prevent the country from descending into chaos as Ethiopian troops withdraw. African Union

voa标准英语2008年-US Says 2 Americans Killed in Mumbai Attacks, B

The State Department says two Americans have been confirmed killed and two others wounded in the Mumbai terrorist attacks and that additional U.S. citizens were still at risk in the Indian financial hub. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is engage

VOA标准英语10月-European Share Rally Extends Into Third Day

European shares extend their rally into a third day Thursday. For VOA, Tom Rivers in London has details. Encouraged by the U.S. Federal Reserve half a percentage point interest rate cut, European markets, as in Asia, have picked up some lost ground

voa标准英语2008-Residents on Israel-Gaza Border Face Constant Ro

Israeli aerial attacks and bombardments of the Gaza Strip continued Tuesday for the fourth day in a row. At least 350 Palestinians have been killed in the military offensive thus far, including at least 60 civilians. Three Israelis have been killed

voa标准英语2008-US Joins International Call for Immediate Gaza C

The United States has joined other powers in the international Middle East Quartet in urging an immediate Gaza Strip cease-fire. The Quartet - the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations - discussed the crisis on Tuesday in a mi

voa标准英语2008-Moderates in Middle East May Suffer if Israeli-H

Israeli warplanes continue to hit suspected Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Palestinian militants are keeping up their rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli border communities. Smoke rises following an Israeli missile strike in nor

voa标准英语2008-Egypt Will Not Fully Open Gaza Border Crossing

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says Egypt will not fully open the border crossing into Gaza, unless Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is in control there. Meanwhile, Arab diplomats are preparing to discuss the crisis Wednesday. Palestinian Presi

voa标准英语2008-Ghana Elections, Second Round Sunday

Presidential candidates in Ghana wrapped-up their campaigning Friday ahead of Sunday's run-off election to succeed out-going President John Kufuor. Ghana's opposition party candidate John Atta Mills (l) and Ruling party presidential candidate Nana A

voa标准英语2008-South Korean Political Minority Seeks Sit-in Sta

South Korea's parliament is experiencing a extended period of paralysis that is getting increasing physical. Minority politicians have vowed to block a set of bills they oppose by any means necessary. So far they are keeping their word. About 50 mem

voa标准英语2008年-Suicide-Bomber Attacks Shi'ite Mosque in Musayy

A suicide bomber blew himself up among worshippers outside a mosque loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 15 others. The blast came just one day after the Iraqi parliament

voa标准英语2008年-Somalia's Transitional Government Fears Withdra

Officials in Somalia's transitional federal government are expressing deep concern about the future of the government after its chief military backer and political ally, Ethiopia, announced its intention to withdraw its forces from Somalia by the en

voa标准英语2008-Tens of Thousands of Guineans Attend Conte Funer

Thousands of Guineans turned out Friday to pay their respects to former President Lansana Conte, whose death this week sparked a military coup. Mutinous soldiers have consolidated power with the resignation of Guinea's prime minister. Guinean soldie

voa标准英语2008年-UN Special Envoy Arrives in Democratic Republic

The United Nations Special Envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Olusegun Obasanjo, has arrived in Kinshasa seeking to end the renewed fighting in the east. The visit comes as rebels take another town near the Ugandan border and relief official

voa标准英语2008-Bangladesh Mobilizes Security Forces Ahead of Cr

Bangladesh is putting hundreds of thousands of uniformed personnel and civilian monitors onto the streets in hopes of securing a fair and peaceful election Monday. The national parliamentary balloting is to clear the way for the government caretaker

voa标准英语2008-EU Calls on Israel to Observe Humanitarian Truce

The European Union, or EU, is calling on Israel to observe a humanitarian truce after a four-day Israeli air offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France, which currently heads the EU, hosted a meeting in Paris