VOA标准英语2009年-GM Crops Dominate US Farms, but Organic In

By Steve Baragona Washington 29 October 2009 Garden pest As farmers across the United States are bringing in the harvest, silos are filling up with record or near-record quantities of corn and soybeans. To an extent not seen anywhere else in the wor

VOA标准英语2009-Equatorial Guinea Prepares to go to polls

President Teodoro Obiang is expected to easily win Equatorial Guinea's presidential vote Sunday; 291,000 people are registered to vote Kate Thomas | Dakar 27 November 2009 General view of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (2008 file photo) Equatorial Guinea

VOA标准英语2009-Thousands of American Muslims Travel to Saud

One of a Muslim's duties, according to the five pillars of Islam, is to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once during his or her lifetime. An estimated three million Muslims have traveled to Mecca to perform the Hajj. Mohamed Elsh

VOA标准英语2009-Conflict Minerals Under Study in US Congress

Bipartisan legislation on so called conflict minerals was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives. The bill is designed to create transparency and allow consumers to make informed choices when they purchase electronic devices like cel

VOA标准英语2009-US Economists Predict Consumers Will Be Caut

The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. According to lore it's the day that store ledgers move into the black and companies become profitable. Elzabeth Lee | Washington 26 November 2009 Black Friday shoppers (fi

VOA标准英语2009-Afghan President Reaches out to Taliban on E

Mr. Karzai says he is once again calling on his Afghan brothers - the Taliban and other Islamist militants groups - to come back to their homeland to work toward peace, stability and prosperity. Sean Maroney | Islamabad 27 November 2009 In this hand

VOA标准英语2009-Muslim Pilgrims Ascend Mount Arafat in Annua

A vast sea of white-cloaked pilgrims gathered inside and outside the Namera mosque on Mount Arafat to hear the afternoon call to prayer on the second day of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Edward Yeranian | Cairo, Egypt 26 November 2009 Musli

VOA标准英语2009-Namibia Votes in Presidential Election

Election analysts say President Hifikepunye Pohamba is poised to win a second, five-year term. His ruling South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) is forecast to retain its two-thirds majority in parliament. Scott Bobb | Johannesburg 27 Nove

VOA标准英语2009年-Economists: Stimulus Might Create Fewer US Jobs

A group of economists has told Democrats in Congress on Tuesday that it might take longer for the recently-passed $787 billion stimulus plan to generate the number of jobs lawmakers and President Barack Obama hoped it would. House Speaker Nancy Pelo

VOA标准英语2009年-Nigerian Opposition Parties Seek Grand Coa

Nigerian opposition politicians are discussing the formation of a broad-based opposition party that can wrest power from the ruling People's Democratic Party in elections scheduled for 2011. The PDP has dominated the Nigerian political landscape sin

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Faces Tough Issues on First Overseas

White House officials say U.S. President Barack Obama is going to Europe this week to consult and to listen. Although he is popular with the European public, Mr. Obama likely will face some tough talk from their leaders. President Barack Obama durin

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: America Expects Accountability From

U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States will give Pakistan the tools it needs to help defeat al-Qaida, but expects accountability in return. Pres. Obama, flanked by Sec. of State Clinton, Defense Sec. Gates, announces new strategy for Afg

VOA标准英语2009年-Mauritania's Military Ruler Running for Pr

Mauritania's military ruler says he will run for president in elections he has scheduled for June. The military toppled Mauritania's first freely-elected leader eight months ago. Mauritania's military ruler Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (File) Genera

VOA标准英语2009年-SADC Leaders Prepare to Meet on Madagascar

Southern African leaders are preparing to meet Monday in Swaziland to discuss an economic recovery plan for Zimbabwe and the recent change of government in Madagascar. We report from the summit site in Ezulwini, outside the capital, Mbanane. SADC lo

VOA标准英语2009年-African Help Demobilize Liberian Fighters

African military veterans are in Liberia for a program to help the government meet the needs of former fighters from the country's long civil war. Liberia's government hopes to benefit from the experience of other African nations that have successfu

VOA标准英语2009年-G8 Labor Summit Discusses Global Welfare P

A three-day summit of the Group of Eight labor ministers and of six other major economies has opened in Rome on to discuss ways to strengthen welfare systems and help the rising number of jobless. A general view of the hall of the first day of the G

VOA标准英语2009-Drop in Tourism Adds to Egypt's Economic Woes

A slump in tourism is aggravating Egypt's economic woes and affecting the lives of those who depend on the industry for a living. About 20 percent of Egypt's foreign currency earnings come from tourism. In 2008, almost 13 million foreign tourists vi

VOA标准英语2009-Anti-Globalization Clashes Continue in Turin

At least 19 police officers were injured in clashes with anti-globalization protesters in Turin. Thousands of students protested against the economic crisis on the sidelines of a G8 meeting of international university clergymen. Students, wearing bl

VOA标准英语2009年-American Grandmother Helps Educate Senegal

An American grandmother thought she was moving to Africa in order to homeschool her daughter's five children. As it turns out, Viola Vaughan is helping thousands of Senegalese girls with their school work, in a place where girls can often be left be

VOA标准英语2009年-Saudis, Others Looking Forward to Obama Vi

President Obama is set to visit Saudi Arabia on June 3 to meet with King Abdullah, just a day before visiting Cairo, and many Saudis are speculating about what the two men will discuss. As the guardian of Islam's holy sites and the author of a 2002