VOA标准英语2009-US House Approves Iraq-Afghanistan Funding

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a nearly $97 billion spending measure that funds the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides counter-insurgency funding for Pakistan. The Senate is expected to vote next wee

VOA标准英语2009-Fundamentalists Call for Kuwaiti Women to Boycot

Kuwaiti voters go to the polls for their parliamentary elections Saturday. Some Kuwaiti Islamic fundamentalists are urging women candidates and voters not to participate in politics, saying it is anti-Islamic. But others are dismissing this claim, s

VOA标准英语2009-North Korea Cancels Contracts at Joint Industria

An industrial venture once celebrated as a symbol of reconciliation between the two Koreas may be endangered by a sharpening dispute between the two sides. North Korea is essentially tearing up the agreements that make the zone run. North Korea's of

VOA标准英语2009-UN: Kenya Agrees to Plan for Maritime Pirate Pol

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Kenya has agreed to help launch a new strategy for combatting piracy off the coast of Somalia. The proposal calls for police from the Horn of Africa to deploy on international warships to arrest Soma

VOA标准英语2009-UN Official Hints at War Crimes in Sri Lanka

The U.N. human rights office says war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed during the conflict in Sri Lanka, possibly by both the government and Tamil Tiger rebels. A Sri Lankan Defense Ministry photo shows army soldiers patrol

VOA标准英语2009-International Pressure Mounts on Burma Over Dete

International pressure for the release of Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from prison is mounting. But Burma's pro-democracy activists and opposition politicians say the international response, including from the United Nations, needs t

VOA标准英语2009-Guantanamo Military Tribunals to Resume

The Obama administration will restart military-run trials for some terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The tribunals will include new legal protections for the detainees. US President Barack Obama (file photo) President Barack Obama issued

VOA标准英语2009-Aung San Suu Kyi Charged With Violating House Ar

Lawyers for detained Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she is being charged with violating the terms of her house arrest and will soon face trial. The charges appear related to an American man who also faces charges for sneaking into he

VOA标准英语2009-Huge Struggle Ahead if Britain's Brown is to Kee

Celebrated internationally just six months ago for his call to spend our way out of the global downturn, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's political fortunes have soured dramatically on the domestic stage. Under the backdrop of a deep recession

VOA标准英语2009-Grassroots Effort Emerges to Fight Russian Corru

A group of private Russian citizens is seeking to establish a network of corruption victims as a means of advancing President Dmitri Medvedev's plans to battle the country's oppressive bureaucracy and courts. Participants at an organizational meetin

VOA标准英语2009-Building New Mosques Encounters Resistance in Eu

Islam is Europe's second largest religion. But in recent years, some members of Europe's 20 million strong Muslim community have met strong resistance as they seek to build mosques and minarets, the basic tangible foundation of their faith. A French

VOA标准英语2009-US Says No Deadline on Nuclear Diplomacy With Ir

The Obama administration said Thursday it has set no deadline for its diplomatic outreach to Iran to show results, but that U.S. patience on the issue of Tehran's nuclear program is not infinite. The new administration has said it will be a full par

VOA标准英语2009-European Space Agency Seeks Secrets of Universe

The European Space Agency has launched into orbit, two space observatories that will help scientists understand the information of the universe. A visitor watches an Ariane rocket in an exhibition at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, western Germany, 01

VOA标准英语2009-International Appeals for LTTE Surrender, Army C

Both sides in Sri Lanka's civil war are brushing off a non-binding statement of the U.N. Security Council demanding they protect the lives of tens of thousands of civilians trapped by the fighting. Medical and humanitarian workers say shelling in th

VOA标准英语2009-Report Says Same Companies Deliver Aid and Arms

A new report says that the same cargo companies that fly weapons into African conflict zones are often contracted by international agencies to supply humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. The report says the problem has been particularly troubli

VOA标准英语2009-Scientists: Rising Seas Pose Serious Threat for

Small island nations and coastal states are on the frontlines of global warming: as temperatures and sea levels rise, some countries could be lost entirely. Scientists and politicians have gathered in the Indonesian city of Manado for the World Ocea

VOA标准英语2009-Economists Say Immigration is Key to Ending New

Some economists warn that New Zealand will suffer if it cuts immigration because of the recession. As unemployment rises, there is growing pressure on the government to reduce its intake of skilled workers, imitating decisions made across the Tasman

VOA标准英语2009-British and Pakistani Leaders Discuss Anti-Talib

The conflict between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters in the North-West Frontier Province topped the agenda as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at 10 Downing Street. Britain's Prime Minist

VOA标准英语2009-US Officials Expect More Swine Flu Cases, Deaths

The number of U.S. cases of swine flu has risen to 3,000 - an increase of 400 from Monday's released figures. Three deaths have been reported. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says more cases and fatalities are likely. US outbreak d

VOA标准英语2009-Insurgents in Somalia Attack Presidential Compou

Somalia's government said it has repulsed a military attack by foreign-backed insurgents trying to overrun the presidential compound in Mogadishu and oust President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. News agencies report at least 110 people, mostly civilia