VOA标准英语2008年-Hong Kong Prepares For Equestrian Olympics

For horse lovers, the main event of the Olympics is the equestrian competition - and that will be held in Hong Kong, not Beijing. In Hong Kong, Claudia Blume has this report on preparations for the biggest sport event ever hosted in the city. It's h

VOA标准英语2008年-Liberian Women Advocate Change in Post-Conflict

Nearly 30,000 women and children were drawn into the 13-year civil war that ended in Liberia in 2003. As they try to regain their lives, Amnesty International is helping former women soldiers reintegrate into society. From New York, VOA's intern Mah

VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Urges Iran to Accept EU Nuclear Proposals

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama has called on Iran to accept a European proposal to halt its nuclear activities. Obama, who has been meeting in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, called the standoff with Iran extremely serious. Li

VOA标准英语2008年-Rice Urges Pakistan to Clamp Down on Militants

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is calling on Pakistan to intensify efforts to combat Taliban militants who use its border areas to launch attacks against Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters in the western Australian city of Perth Friday, Ri

VOA标准英语2008年-US Expands Sanctions Against 'Illegitimate' Zim

President Bush Friday ordered expanded U.S. sanctions against what he termed the illegitimate government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. At the same time, the United States is offering the country aid if there is a negotiated end to the count

VOA标准英语2008年-Cyprus' Rival Leaders Agree to Start Historic R

Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders meeting in Nicosia have agreed to resume reunification talks in September to try and end the 34-year division of the Mediterranean island. The U.N. Chief of Mission in Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, made the announce

VOA标准英语2008年-Indian Government Expected to Revive Economic R

The Indian government is expected to revive an economic reform agenda following its victory in a confidence vote earlier this week. Anjana Pasricha has a report from New Delhi. When the Congress-led coalition government came to power four years ago,

VOA标准英语2008年-Firefighters Target Stubborn Blazes in Northern

Firefighters in California are making progress against 30 major wildfires still burning around the state. Since the end of June, crews have contained more than 2,000 blazes in what officials have called the biggest fire episode in California's histo

VOA标准英语2008年-US Warns Iran Time Running Out for Nuclear Deal

U.S. officials are warning Iran that time is running out for Tehran to respond to proposals by the EU and the Security Council to resolve the nuclear stand-off. Iran was given two weeks to reply before risking yet another round of sanctions. VOA's S

VOA标准英语2008年-Is This Water or Ambrosia?

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting last month, the mayor of Albuquerque, N.M., asked a provocative question: How would his citizens feel if the city bought thousands of ordinary writing pens the kind that cost about $1 each in most stores and

VOA标准英语2008年-Scientists Solve Mystery of Brilliant Northern,

Scientists have solved the mystery behind the brilliant northern and southern light show known as Aurora Borealis. The phenomenon is caused by electromagnetic energy from the sun, which experts say also wreaks havoc on ground-based power grids and s

VOA标准英语2008年-Locusts Threaten to Inflict More Misery on Aust

Locusts are threatening to inflict more pain on some of the most drought-ravaged parts of eastern Australia. Hundreds of farmers have found beds of locust eggs and officials fear that many more have not been reported. Officials have said that recent

VOA标准英语2008年-North Korean Silence Creates Gaps in Tourist Ki

South Korean investigators have released what they call interim findings in a probe of this month's shooting of a South Korean tourist by North Korea's military. However, amid the North's total refusal to cooperate in an investigation, serious infor

VOA标准英语2008年-Serial Explosions Hit Southern Indian City

India's high-tech city of Bangalore was rocked by seven low-intensity explosions on Friday afternoon. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that one woman died and several other people were injured in the first such attack on the sou

VOA标准英语2008年-UN Human Rights Commission Welcomes Nomination

The Human Rights Office in Geneva says it welcomes the nomination of South African jurist, Navanethem Pillay as the new High Commissioner and looks forward to her leading the organization, which is growing in scope and in importance. Her nomination,

VOA标准英语2008年-Paris Awaits Obama

After a stop-over in Germany, democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is due in Paris Friday, where he is expected to meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from the French capital. As elsewhere in Europe, the U.S. pr

VOA标准英语2008年-Bangladesh Prepares New Voter List

Bangladesh has compiled a new voters list that is expected to pave the way for fair elections scheduled to be held later this year. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, past elections in the country have been marred by allegations that ruling

VOA标准英语2008年-Former Iraqi Prime Minister Testifies Before US

In testimony to a congressional committee, former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says the United States and Iraq are at a critical stage of deciding on a measured and responsible withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from

VOA标准英语2008年-North Korea Signs On to Southeast Asia 'Amity'

North Korea has signed what amounts to a nonaggression treaty with 24 nations. The signing took place on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian regional forum in Singapore. Observers are calling the move an important symbolic step for the isolated North

VOA标准英语2008年-Dismissed Turkish Mayor Continues Quest to Make

A mayor offering services in different languages to his multi-ethnic community may not sound like anything out of the ordinary. But in Turkey the local mayor in city of Diyarbakir was dismissed and is possibly facing prison for speaking Kurdish. Abd