VOA标准英语2009-Approval Given for Australia's Biggest Wind

The government has approved plans for Australia's biggest wind farm to be built near the outback town of Broken Hill in New South Wales. Almost 600 turbines will generate enough electricity for more than 400,000 homes. A forest of giant turbines wil

VOA标准英语2009年-Diplomatic Activity Builds to Halt Eastern Cong

Diplomatic activity aimed at ending the violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is intensifying. The United Nations mediator for eastern Congo, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, arrived Thursday in Kinshasa for talks with Congole

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Optimism Counters Pessimism on European M

Pessimism over bank failures and optimism over the inauguration of Barack Obama are resulting in mixed trading around the globe. While financial stocks in Asia took a dive Tuesday, shares in Europe were mostly steady as the inauguration of Barack Ob

VOA标准英语2009年-The Truth Behind the 2012 Prophecy

The coming end of the Mayan calendar cycle prompts apocalypse fears Faiza Elmasry | Washington, DC 15 December 2009 On December 21, 2012, the 5,125 year cycle of the Mayan calendar will end. The ancient civilization, which reached its peak in the Yuc

VOA标准英语2009年-Zimbabwe Leaders Review Economic Progr

Finance Minister Tendai Biti says the country needs billions of dollars to pull its economy back to the levels of a decade ago when it was at its peak. Ish Mafundikwa | Harare 24 December 2009 Photo: AP Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti Finance M

VOA标准英语2009年-Thailand Set to Repatriate Lao Hmong D

Many Hmong fought with the United States against communist forces during the Vietnam War and say Lao government has discriminated against their families ever since. Daniel Schearf | Bangkok 23 December 2009 Photo: AP Hmong refugees walk outside their

VOA标准英语2009-Obama Proposes Auto Standards: More Fuel Economy

President Barack Obama has announced Tuesday the toughest-ever fuel efficiency and emissions standards for vehicles sold in the United States. It is the first U.S. national limit on greenhouse gas emissions. President Barack Obama at the White House

VOA标准英语2009年-Weak Recovery Expected for Asia's Tourism

The immediate outlook for Asia's tourism industry remains bleak as most major markets report sharp falls in visitor arrivals. There are hopes a recovery will come in 2010. Fishermen sit on boats at lake near Mount Kinabalu, the tallest peak in South

VOA标准英语2009年-Republicans Choose First African-American as Pa

U.S. Republicans have elected the first African-American to head their party's national committee. Top Republicans from around the country chose former Maryland Lieutenant-Governor Michael Steele to be the next chairman of the Republican National Co

VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Looks Forward to Working With Obama

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has been listening to and reviewing statements by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and looks forward to working with the new U.S. administration on a wide range of issues. Russian Foreign Minister Serg

VOA标准英语2009年-Asia Hopes to Spend Its Way Out of Economic Cri

With the global economic slowdown increasingly felt in Asia, the region's governments have taken steps to shield their economies from the worst. But will these measures work? Asian governments are spending like never before. Japan's government says

VOA标准英语 Israel Prepares to Swear In Netanyahu as Prime Minis

Israel is preparing to swear in rightist Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. Mr. Netanyahu will lead a coalition government dominated by rightists. Mr. Netanyahu, however, is sounding a conciliatory tone, promising to work for peace with the Arabs

VOA标准英语2009年-World Markets End Rough Week on Down Note

World markets were all off sharply at the end of the week after a drop on Wall Street Thursday that saw the Dow index hit a six-year low. Grim corporate news in Asia and Europe kept the negative pressure on. In Sweden, carmaker Saab has filed for ba

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton: Kyrgyzstan Decision to End US Access t

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says an announced decision by Kyrgyzstan to end U.S. access to an airbase serving NATO troops in Afghanistan is regrettable, but not a major setback for the Obama administration. Clinton discussed the Afghan confli

VOA标准英语2009年-Sheikh Hasina Calls On Rivals to Cooperate in B

In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who won a landslide victory in the country's first election in seven years, has called on her main rival to cooperate in restoring democracy. The appeal came after her opponent rejected the election results. Former Bang

VOA标准英语2009年-US Cites Pakistani 'Assurances' on Released Nuc

A senior State Department official says Pakistan has given the United States assurances that nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan - released from five years of house arrest last week for selling nuclear secrets - will no longer pose a proliferation risk. U.S

VOA标准英语2009年-Barack Hussein Obama Becomes 44th US President

Barack Obama has become the 44th President of the United States, taking the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol before a crowd of more than one million people who had gathered in frigid temperatures to see the first African American beco

VOA标准英语2009年-Gunmen Attack Rawalpindi Mosque in Pak

Police say gunmen attacked a mosque Friday near the country's army headquarters, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 40 others. Sean Maroney | Islamabad 04 December 2009 Pakistani soldiers take up position outside a besieged mosque in P

VOA标准英语2009年-Studies Contend Bhopal Still Contamina

Supporters of victims of world's worst industrial disaster, which happened 25 years ago this week, are releasing new scientific studies claiming a continuing environmental disaster in the central Indian city, Bhopal. Steve Herman | New Delhi 30 Novem

VOA标准英语2009年-Counting Underway in Equatorial Guinea

President Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979 coup, looks set for victory in Equatorial Guinea's presidential election Kate Thomas | Dakar 30 November 2009 President Teodoro Obiang is shown casting his vote for president at the