VOA标准英语2009年-US Jobless Total Rises by 651,000 in February

The deep downturn in the US economy gathered strength in February as another 651,000 workers lost their jobs. Crowds wait to apply for jobs outside the New York Department of Labor in the Bronx in New York, 06 Mar 2009 It was the third straight mont

VOA标准英语2009年-UN: Refugees Increasingly Being Refused As

By Lisa Schlein Geneva 28 September 2009 The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, is appealing to countries to open their borders to asylum seekers. He says the number of places where people fleeing conflict and persecution can fin

VOA标准英语2009-Kenya Undecided on Sending Troops to Somalia

Kenya's prime minister says the government is not ready to say whether the country's military will intervene in the conflict in neighboring Somalia. Kenya and other countries in the region are under intense pressure from the Somali government to sen

VOA标准英语2009-S. Korean Minister Says Social Instability I

South Korea's chief official on North Korea policy says he believes North Korea's recent acts of international defiance are aimed at shoring up power at home. With talks to end the North's nuclear weapons at a standstill, South Korea is intensifying

VOA标准英语 Archaeologists Closing In on Possible Site of Cleopa

A team of archaeologists from Egypt and the Dominican Republic believe that they are on the verge of locating the burial site of legendary Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and her illustrious Roman consort, Marc Antony. The team, doing excavations near the

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Prepares for Asian Journey

By Paula Wolfson Washington 09 November 2009 President Obama, speaking at the White House, 6 Nov 2009 U.S. President Obama heads to East Asia this week for his first trans-Pacific trip in office. Asians are waiting to take the measure of Barack Obam

VOA标准英语2009年-Chiapas Improves Port for Economic Develop

Despite its beauty and vast natural resources, Chiapas is the poorest province in Mexico. The government is trying to turn this around by upgrading the old fishing port of Chiapas. Officials say improvements made in the port's infrastructure during

VOA标准英语2009年-Australian Lawmaker Urges Immigration Cuts

An Australian legislator has called for a sharp reduction in the number of immigrants allowed in the country, along with more rigorous background checks on new settlers. The intent is to determine whether immigrants from Africa or the Middle East ha

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama in Mexico for North American Summit

U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Mexico for the North American Leaders Summit. Mr. Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon will attempt to coordinate their efforts on a number of issues. Presiden

VOA标准英语2009年-Houston Socialite Champions Afghan Develop

A few years ago, people learned about a little-known chapter in the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan through a book and, later, a movie called Charlie Wilson's War. Wilson was a maverick Texas congressman who found ways of funding Afghan

VOA标准英语2009年-Swine Flu Death Toll in India Increases

In India, five more people have died of swine flu, taking the death toll from the HIN1 virus to six. Image of H1N1 influenza virus The city of Pune reported its third death due to the H1N1 virus on Monday, when a 35-year-old doctor of traditional me

VOA标准英语2009年-Britain's Intelligence Chief Denies Use of

The head of Britain's secret intelligence service, MI-6 denies that there has been torture or the complicity to torture by the service in connection with arrests and interrogations of terrorism suspects abroad. MI-6 chief John Scarlett is adamant -

VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Bombs Gaza Tunnel in Response to Mo

Israeli warplanes have pounded a tunnel leading from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. Israel believes the tunnel was being used to smuggle explosives to the Palestinian enclave. A Palestinian man works at one of the tunnels linking the southern Gaza Strip t

VOA标准英语2009年-Somali Pirates Release Italian Tugboat

An Italian tugboat and its crew of 16, seized by Somali pirates four months ago, has been released. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini expressed his satisfaction at the outcome after months of negotiations. Franco Frattini (File photo) The Ita

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Urges Angola to Hold Free, Fair El

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos to hold free and fair elections. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens to Angolan Foreign Minister Assuncao dos Anjos in Luanda, 10 Aug 2009 Secretar

VOA标准英语2009年-Intimidation, Insecurity Remain Concerns B

With less than two weeks to go before Afghanistan holds its presidential election there is continuing concern about intimidation and insecurity. A report issued by Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission and the United Nations mission give

VOA标准英语2009年-Top Revolutionary Guard Official Wants Mou

The political chief of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard force says opposition political leaders should be put on trial for inciting violence during weeks of unrest after Iran's disputed June 12 presidential elections. From left, defeated Iranian

VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Rules Out Dismantling West Bank

The thorny issue of Jewish settlements topped the agenda at Israel's weekly Cabinet meeting. The right-wing government is hardening its position. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, 9 A

VOA标准英语2009年-US Official says Iran Confirms Holding 3 A

President Barack Obama's national security advisor says Iran has confirmed it is holding three Americans who are believed to have strayed into Iranian territory while hiking in northern Iraq. Retired General Jim Jones says the Iranian government has

VOA标准英语2009年-First Swine Flu Vaccinations Ready by Sept

The World Health Organization says it expects the first anti-Swine Flu vaccines to be available in September. WHO says clinical trials to test their efficacy and safety are going on in five countries. Technicians handle samples to be tested for swin