VOA标准英语2009年-Speculators Cause New Price for Garlic

Alison Klayman 17 December 2009 Over the last few months garlic prices have risen 40 times in some parts of China, the world's main garlic supplier. A smaller garlic crop and frenzied speculation gave consumers nationwide a reason to complain at the

VOA标准英语 Top Republican Senator to Switch Parties

Veteran U.S. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania stunned the Washington establishment by announcing he is leaving the Republican Party to become a Democrat. The move will bring Democrats closer to the 60-vote majority they need to overcome potenti

VOA标准英语 US Officials Hopeful on Climate Talks

Senior Obama administration officials say they believe a Washington meeting on climate change this week has somewhat improved chances for a new international treaty to tackle global warming. Experts from 16 major countries and the European Union too

VOA标准英语 Russia: Opposition Charges Election Fraud in Future

Sunday's mayoral election in Sochi, Russia, host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, has resulted in charges of fraud against the Kremlin favorite who is reported winning the contest in a crushing landslide. In an election seen as a test of President Dmitr

VOA标准英语 Mexican Officials Struggle to Contain Swine Flu Epid

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level from three to four, as health officials around the world take steps to prevent the spread of the swine flu that has caused at least 149 deaths in Mexico and illnesses in several other

VOA标准英语 New Zealand Confirms 3 Swine Flu Cases

New Zealand has confirmed three people have tested positive for swine flu - the first in the Asia-Pacific region. Eight more patients are awaiting test results and officials expect they too have contracted the virus, which is thought to have killed

VOA标准英语 Australian Researchers: Surgical Face Masks Importan

In what Australian researchers say is a world-first clinical trial, surgical masks have been found to be a cheap and effective front-line weapon against epidemics such as swine and avian flu. A team at the University of New South Wales says masks ha

VOA标准英语 Obama Faces 100 Days Test

President Barack Obama is going through a rite of political passage this week - he is marking his first 100 days in office. The significance of the 100 days marker goes back to the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, who assumed power at the height of

VOA标准英语2009年-Death Toll in Philippines Continues to Cli

By Brian Padden Jakarta 29 September 2009 People view victims of massive flooding in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, 29 Sep 2009 Philippine authorities say that 240 people have died in the floods caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana but that numb

VOA标准英语2009年-30 Afghan Civilians Killed in Roadside Bom

By Sean Maroney Islamabad 29 September 2009 Local officials in southern Afghanistan say a roadside bomb blasted a passenger bus Tuesday, killing 30 civilians and wounding at least 39 others. The latest violence comes days after a U.N. report declare

VOA标准英语2009年-Honduras Shuts Down Broadcasters, Some Con

By Brian Wagner Tegucigalpa 29 September 2009 The interim government in Honduras has closed two news broadcasters and suspended some constitutional rights in response to the country's ongoing political crisis. In Tegucigal, officials say they are co

VOA标准英语2009年-Guinea's Military Ruler Tries to Distance

By Scott Stearns Dakar 29 September 2009 Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, attends a meeting at Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp in Conakry, Guinea (File) Guinea's military ruler is trying to distance himself from the violence that killed at least 58

VOA标准英语2009年-Human Rights Group: Guinea Military Kills

By Ricci Shryock Dakar 29 September 2009 Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, attends a meeting at Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp in Conakry, Guinea (File) Guinea's military ruler is trying to distance himself from Monday's killing of at least 150 opp

VOA标准英语2009年-India Poised for Major Expansion of Nuclea

By Anjana Pasricha New Delhi 29 September 2009 India will see a large increase in nuclear-power generation in the coming years, helping the country bridge its huge energy deficit and combat climate change. India says global efforts to prevent the sp

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Leads Call to Slow Global Warming

By Margaret Besheer United Nations 19 September 2009 The United Nations is keeping itself at the forefront of international efforts to slow global warming. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made climate change his signature issue, and he is try

VOA标准英语2009年-Ne-Yo Brings Sophistication to Hip-Hop

By Larry London Washington 21 September 2009 With a collection of five Top 10 Billboard chart hits off of two Number One albums, RB performer Ne-Yo has established himself as a powerful force in music. Since writing the chart-topping hit, Let me Lov

VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan Minister: 'We Agree with McChrystal

By Margaret Besheer United Nations 29 September 2009 Afghanistan's foreign minister told the United Nations General Assembly that his government welcomes the assessment from the U.S. and NATO commander in his country that more troops are needed to f

VOA标准英语2009-Top US Officer Takes More Active Role on Afg

The top American military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, has taken a particularly active role in changing the U.S. approach to Afghanistan, contributing to the new strategy, choosing the new commander for U.S. and NATO forces, and deciding to replace

VOA标准英语2009-New Torture Allegations Against Kenyan Secur

A human-rights group is bringing fresh allegations of torture by Kenya's security forces. In a new report, Human Rights Watch says hundreds of civilians were tortured or beaten during a government security operation to disarm militants last year. Hu

VOA标准英语2009-New Honduras Government Resists Internationa

The new president in Honduras is rejecting international pressure to allow the return of President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted by military forces on Sunday. Mr. Zelaya is meeting with Latin American heads of state in Nicaragua to demand that the n