VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Cuts All Gas to Ukraine as Europe Shiver

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has approved a halt to all deliveries of Russian natural gas to Ukraine. Earlier, Ukraine shut all four of its pipelines that ship the fuel to Europe. Vladimir Putin Prime Minister Putin's go-ahead to stop gas shipments

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Says He Cannot Take Stand on Gaza Until H

President-elect Barack Obama says he is concerned about the violence in Gaza, but that it would not be right for him to speak at length about the conflict until he takes office later this month. President-elect Barack Obama (l) and President Bush at

VOA标准英语2009年-Ukraine: Gas Talks With Russia to Resume Thursd

Ukraine and Russia are expressing concern about their image as reliable gas suppliers amid growing gas shortages in Europe, for which Moscow and Kyiv are blaming each other. European officials warn of a crisis across region as a dispute between Russ

VOA标准英语2009年-Red Cross Boosting Aid to Somalia

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it is increasing its aid to hundreds of thousands of destitute people in Somalia. It said drought, floods and the effects of 17 years of armed conflict and lawlessness have taken a terrible toll on t

VOA标准英语2009年-At Least 30 Killed in Israeli Attack on UN Scho

Medical officials in Gaza say dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks Tuesday, including at least 30 in one attack when Israeli troops fired on a U.N. school. The Israeli military offensive is now in its second week and it is estimated

VOA标准英语2009年-Humanitarian Efforts Struggle Along Egypt-Gaza

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on Monday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a European Union delegation to discuss ways to reach an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. While diplomatic talks have been unsuccessful in ending the viol

VOA标准英语2009年-Rice to New York for Gaza Diplomacy

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is joining U.N. Security Council and bilateral diplomacy on the Gaza crisis in New York. The United States is seeking a deal on Gaza that would end Hamas rocket fire into Israel, halt arms smuggling to the mi

VOA标准英语2009年-Int'l Red Cross Decries Gaza Humanitarian Crisi

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Gaza is suffering what it calls a full-blown humanitarian crisis. It said the death toll and number of injured is rising, the infrastructure of the Palestinian territory is shattered and civilians la

VOA标准英语2009年-Sarkozy Urges Syria to Exert Pressure on Hamas

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in Syria Tuesday in an effort to arrange a cease-fire in the beleaguered Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces continued their offensive against Hamas militants, who continue firing rockets into Israel. Nicolas Sarkoz

VOA标准英语2009年-US House Democrats, Republicans Pledge Bipartis

As a new 111th Congress convened in the U.S. Capitol,Tuesday, majority Democrat and minority Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives sounded notes of bipartisanship, pledging to work to repair the U.S. economy. Scene in US House of R

VOA标准英语2009年-New Initiative to Boost Crop Yield in South Asi

A new international initiative to increase grain crop yields could help raise incomes for six million farmers in South Asia and combat hunger in one of the poorest regions of the world. Indian farmer women winnow mustard crop at Baraikapurva village

VOA标准英语2009年-Bush Establishes Huge Pacific Marine Sanctuary

U.S. President George Bush is launching one of the biggest conservation efforts in the world. He is designating large tracts of the Pacific as national monuments - meaning they are protected from commercial fishing, mining and other uses. President

VOA标准英语2009年-US Military Honors Bush as He Prepares to Leave

The U.S. military has paid its formal farewell to President George Bush, as he prepares to step down as commander-in-chief. Representatives from all branches of the armed forces took part in a ceremony honoring the president at an army base near Was

VOA标准英语2009年-Diplomatic Efforts Intensify as Israel's Gaza O

Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict have intensified with high level talks in Egypt, Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah. But, there were no signs of an imminent cease-fire as Israel pursued its ground and air offensive in Gaza. Fro

VOA标准英语2009年-EU Urges Resolution of Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispu

The European Union says a gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine does not threaten European supplies. But the issue is serious enough to prompt an emergency EU meeting on Monday, and fresh efforts to resolve the dispute. Pipes seen in a gas storage

VOA标准英语2009年-Tensions Threaten Kenya's Fragile Coalition Gov

Kenya's fragile eight-month-old coalition government is in deep crisis amid accusations that President Mwai Kibaki is trying to sideline and undermine the authority of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Months of tension between the two leaders peaked

VOA标准英语2009年-Guinea's New Prime Minister Faces Challenges

Guinea's new prime minister faces many challenges in returning his country to civilian rule. Guinea's military leaders chose an international banker as their prime minister to lead a process toward new elections following last week's military coup.

VOA标准英语2009年-Belarus Gets $2.5 Billion Credit Line From IMF

The International Monetary Fund, with the concurrence of the United States, has agreed lend Belarus $2.5 billion to help it deal with effects of the global economic crisis. The IMF decision Wednesday reflects a thaw in relations between the authorit

VOA标准英语2009年-France's Sarkozy Will Leave Mixed Legacy as EU

On New Year's Day France hands over the rotating European Union presidency to the Czech Republic, ending one of the most eventful six-month tenures ever as head of the 27-member bloc. Nicolas Sarkozy (file) French President Nicolas Sarkozy is known

VOA标准英语2009年-Bangladesh Pins Economic Hope on Garment Indust

Despite the global financial meltdown, the garment export industry in Bangladesh has yet to see a downturn. The industry is remaining competitive because of falling cotton and yarn prices, as well as low labor costs. But many industry leaders say th