voa标准英语2008-Indonesia Sends Troops to Quell Sectarian Violen

Indonesia has sent hundreds of troops to its eastern Maluku Islands to quell violence that broke out between Christians and Muslims, leaving at least six people injured and dozens of buildings torched. Local police say clashes broke out Tuesday, aft

voa标准英语2008-Mortgage Finance Officials Defend Actions on Ris

U.S. lawmakers challenged former top executives of major government-backed mortgage finance companies to explain why they took on billions of dollars in risky loans. Questioning of the former heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac came as a House of Re

voa标准英语2008-India Increases Vigilance Along Border With Bang

India government officials say they have ordered closer surveillance of land borders amid concerns of more potential terrorist strikes inside the country by militants infiltrating from either Bangladesh or Pakistan. India has increased vigilance alo

voa标准英语2008-NATO, Russia Meet for First Time After Georgia I

NATO and Russia held their first high-level talks Friday since Moscow invaded Georgia in August, sparking international criticism. Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, gives a press conference in Brussels, 19 Dec 2008 The lunchtime talks too

voa标准英语2008-Mugabe Vows to Hold Onto Power Saying 'Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe said Friday that Zimbabwe is mine and vowed never to surrender, saying no African nation is brave enough to topple him. Mr. Mugabe's statement comes as Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change pa

voa标准英语2008-Economic Outlook Slides in Europe and Asia

European stock markets fell Friday after a mixed performance in Asia. A weak outlook for oil prices depressed global markets as share of crude hits its lowest level in five years. European stocks are generally down again as energy shares made invest

voa标准英语2008-Russia to Assist Ailing Domestic Car Makers

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is offering government assistance to car buyers in an effort to support the country's ailing auto producers. The move comes amid an economic slowdown that is also affecting American car companies in Russia. Russ

voa标准英语2008-Russian Naval Ships Arrive in Cuba

Three Russian warships have entered Cuban waters as part of a voyage aimed at boosting Russian ties with several Latin American nations. Russia's ship, Admiral Chabanenko, arrives at Havana bay, 19 Dec 2008 Cuban soldiers fired ceremonial shots to w

voa标准英语2008-India Cancels Cricket Tour of Pakistan

A tour by India's national cricket team to Pakistan early next year has been canceled. The move was widely anticipated, in wake of the terror attack on Mumbai which India blames on Islamic extremists from Pakistan. From left, former Olympian Milkha

voa标准英语2008-Laura Bush Meets With US-Afghan Women's Council

For the last time as first lady, Laura Bush has presided over a meeting of an organization dedicated to promoting women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. During the meeting at the White House, U.S.-Afghan Women's Council participants discussed achieveme

voa标准英语2008-Talks to Reach Political Resolution to Georgia C

Georgia and Russia have agreed to work to resolve security incidents in the breakaway South Ossetia region where the two countries fought a war in August. Although the two days of talks did not produce a detailed accord, mediators say progress was m

voa标准英语2008-Homeland Security Chief: Bush Has Kept America S

Outgoing U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the fact that U.S. territory has not been attacked since September 11, 2001, is the central accomplishment of his four years in office. Chertoff credits the policies of U.S. President G

voa标准英语2008-South Korean Lawmakers Blockade, Brawl Over US T

A move by South Korean lawmakers to advance a controversial free-trade agreement with the United States has sparked physical clashes between opposing parties -- with one side physically barricading itself from the other. The scuffles underline an in

voa标准英语2008-British Leader Explains Planned Troop Withdrawal

Addressing parliament Thursday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled the specifics of next year's British military withdrawal from Iraq after what will be six years of deployment. Gordon Brown has rejected an early inquiry into why his country went

voa标准英语2008-Bush Says Economic Meltdown Forced Aggressive In

President Bush says the ongoing financial crisis has forced him to endorse aggressive government intervention in numerous economic sectors in spite of his core, free market principles. President Bush restated his desire to prevent the U.S. auto indu

voa标准英语2008-Bush, Abbas Claim Progress in Mideast Peace Talk

U.S. President George Bush and visiting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas say the Middle East peace process is heading in the right direction, even though the Palestinians and Israelis still do not have an agreement. President George W.

voa标准英语2008-US Vice President-Elect Promises Action to Reviv

U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden says the incoming White House economic team is making progress toward agreeing on details of an economic stimulus plan. President-elect Barack Obama's advisers are increasing the number of jobs they want to create

voa标准英语2008-Analysts: Afghanistan to be Key Challenge for Ob

One of the first foreign policy challenges facing the Obama administration will be how to proceed with the war in Afghanistan. Three former senior U.S. government officials talk about the situation in Afghanistan: Former Secretary of State Lawrence

voa标准英语2008-Review of Botched Case Calls for Overhaul of Aus

An official inquiry has found that Australian police had no evidence to charge an Indian doctor over suspected links to a terrorist plot in Britain. Dr. Mohamed Haneef was arrested in Brisbane in July 2007 and eventually was released after a bungled

voa标准英语2008-Russian PM: Era of Cheap Natural Gas is Ending

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warns that the era of cheap natural gas is ending because of multi-billion dollar investments needed to develop the industry. Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting of a dozen leading natural gas exporters who conve