VOA标准英语2009年-Kansas Student, 13, Wins US National Spell

In a crowded ballroom Kavya Shivashankar beat out 10 other finalists to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee on national television. Kavya correctly spelled the word laodicean, meaning lukewarm or indifferent in politics or religion. Kavya who had

VOA标准英语2009年-Japan's Opposition Wins Election in Landsl

Japanese voters have resoundingly rejected the party that has set the country's policy agendas for more than half a century. The rise of a center-left party promising to soothe the pain of globalization is being seen as a major break with business a

VOA标准英语2009年-Accused Al-Qaida Sleeper Agent Sentenced t

By Kane Farabaugh Peoria, Illinois 30 October 2009 Ali Al-Marri at the Charleston Naval Brig in Charleston, South Carolina (File) Accused al-Qaida sleeper agent Ali al-Marri has been sentenced to more than eight years in a civilian prison. The Qatar

VOA标准英语2009年-Former Israeli PM Olmert Indicted on Corru

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been indicted on corruption allegations that forced him to resign last year. The charges include fraud, breach of trust and failure to report income. Ehud Olmert, 07 Sep 2008 Mr. Olmert is accused of acc

VOA标准英语2009年-World Climate Conference to Focus on Adapt

More than 1,000 decision makers and scientists, including dozens of heads of state and ministers from more than 150 countries are expected to attend the Third World Climate Conference, which opens in Geneva on Monday. The week-long meeting, organize

VOA标准英语2009年-Exit Polls Predict Big Defeat for Japan's

Polls have closed in Japan's nationwide election for its lower house of parliament. Media exit polling is predicting a big defeat for the party that has ruled Japan for more than half a century. Just minutes after voting concluded Sunday in Japan, m

VOA标准英语2009年-Polls Open in Gabon

Voters in Gabon are choosing a new president to succeed long-time ruler Omar Bongo. Mr. Bongo died in June after 42 years in power. Supporters of Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of former dictator Omar Bongo, leave his final presidential campaign rally in Li

VOA标准英语2009年-International Community Needs to Prepare f

By Alan Boswell Nairobi 29 September 2009 The author of a recently released report says that the international community needs to do more to prepare itself for the likely scenario of a return to conflict in Sudan. Senior U.S. officials are meeting T

VOA标准英语2009年-US Prepared to Give Further Aid to Somali

The State Department's top Africa envoy said Thursday the Obama administration is prepared to provide more military help to Somalia's embattled Transitional Federal Government, the TFG. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a seven-nation Africa

VOA标准英语2009年-Nigerian Authorities say Islamist Sect Fle

Nigerian government forces say they are in hot pursuit of a fundamentalist Islamic sect in the northern city of Maiduguri. A building that allegedly housed Islamic extremists is reportedly burnt by military in Maiduguri, 30 Jul 2009 Sounds of heavy

VOA标准英语2009年-US Supreme Court Confirmation Battle Could

Liberal and conservative political groups are bracing for what could be a divisive battle over the confirmation for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The Senate will take up Judge Sotomayor's nomination sometime

VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Hopes US Mediation Efforts Will

By Luis Ramirez Jerusalem 30 October 2009 Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu meeting with US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell in Jerusalem, 30 Oct 2009 (picture released by the Israeli Government Press office) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan

VOA标准英语2009年-India to Send Intelligence Officers to Chi

By Steve Herman New Delhi 30 October 2009 India's government confirms it is cooperating with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning a foiled terror plot allegedly involving two Chicago residents. Meanwhile, India is denying that a famou

VOA标准英语2009年-Jacques Chirac to Stand Trial on Embezzlem

By Lisa Bryant Paris 30 October 2009 Jacques Chirac (File) A French magistrate has ordered former President Jacques Chirac to stand trial on embezzlement charges dating back to the 1990s, when he was mayor of Paris. The order is unprecedented, and f

VOA标准英语2009-Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Effort Faces Thr

Indonesia ranks in the bottom of the corruption perception index in Asia, and its citizen often name graft as the main problem in their country. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is running for a new term in next month's presidential election

VOA标准英语2009年-Italian PM Visits Libya to Mark Friendship

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will visit Libya for a few hours on Sunday to celebrate the anniversary of a friendship pact signed last year. He is not planning to stay to attend the events marking the 40th anniversary of the military coup

VOA标准英语2009-Dubai Debt, Dollar Slide Fuel Market Slump i

State-owned investment company Dubai World, which manages much of the city-state's massive development projects, is asking creditors for a delay in repaying about $60 billion in debt. Kurt Achin | Seoul 27 November 2009 A men walk past a securities

VOA标准英语2009-South Africa, Zimbabwe Sign Investment Agree

Zimbabwe, South Africa sign long delayed trade deal after last minute attempt by South African farmers to stop the agreement from being signed was settled Peta Thornycroft | Harare 27 November 2009 Negotiations started in 2004 and it has now taken t

VOA标准英语2009年-Experts Say Childhood Vaccinations at

More infants are being immunized than ever before, according to a joint report by UN agencies and the World Bank. But experts say much more needs to be done to protect the world's poorest children from needless suffering. Vidushi Sinha | Washington 2

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: 'Systemic Failure' Permitted Fo

Photo: AP President Barack Obama speaks at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, 29 Dec 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that a systemic failure in security allowed the attempted Christmas Day attack on a Northwest Airline