VOA标准英语2009年-Former US Fed Chief Volcker Calls for Stronger

The retired former chief of the U.S. central bank, Paul Volcker, told a congressional committee Thursday that to avoid further financial crises there needs to be greater regulation of financial institutions. Paul Volcker testifies before Joint Econo

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Submits First Budget to Congress

U.S. President Barack Obama has unveiled his first federal budget - outlining his spending priorities for the 2010 fiscal year. The proposal totals more than $3.5 trillion. The White House predicts the United States will enter the new fiscal year wi

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama to Unveil Iraq Plan Friday

President Barack Obama is expected on Friday to unveil his proposal for gradually reducing U.S. troop strength in Iraq. Mr. Obama will make the announcement at Camp Lejeune, a Marine base in North Carolina. President Barack Obama, 25 Feb 2009 Thousa

VOA标准英语2009年-Cross-Border Trade Thrives Amidst Zimbabwe Cris

The Zimbabwean economy is reeling under an economic disaster characterized by hyper-inflation, 80 percent unemployment and shortages of food, fuel and other basic goods. But despite the virtual collapse of the formal economy, business is booming in

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Meets Pakistani Foreign Minister on Reg

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi late Tuesday as part of the Obama administration's policy review of the Afghan conflict and related unrest in Pakistan. Qureshi said his government is determined

VOA标准英语2009年-Bangladesh Launches Negotiations to Quell Borde

Bangladesh's government is negotiating with mutinous border guards who have clashed with their Army superiors in Dhaka. Heavy gunfire and the booms from mortar shells caused chaos in the densely populated streets of the Bangladeshi capital. A ricksh

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Reassures Public on Economic Revival

U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States will emerge from uncertain economic times stronger than before. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, the president made the case for his economic policies. It was a night of pure poli

VOA标准英语2009年-US Lawmakers React to Obama Speech

Republicans and Democrats in Congress are reacting to President Barack Obama's speech, in which he warned Americans that the economy faces a dire day of reckoning, but one the country can recover from. President Barack Obama addresses a joint sessio

VOA标准英语2009年-Some US Lawmakers Call for 'Truth Commission' t

Influential Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy has proposed that an independent truth commission be established to investigate alleged abuses of power under the Bush administration. President Barack Obama has reacted cautiously to the suggestion, sayi

VOA标准英语2009年-Japan's Exports Plunge in January

The Japanese economy continues to be rocked by the global recession. Last month exports plunged and the nation's trade deficit hit a record high. Japan's government says exports dropped by nearly 46 percent in January compared with the same period l

VOA标准英语2009年-Child-Friendly Anti-Malarial Drug Introduced Ac

A new, child-friendly version of an anti-malarial drug has been launched across fourteen countries in Africa. Health officials hope the launch will help cut the number of infant deaths from malaria, by making treatment easier and more effective. The

VOA标准英语2009年-Tamil Tigers Bomb Sri Lankan Capital

Sri Lankan military officials say Tamil rebels carried out an aerial bombing raid in the capital of Colombo late Friday. A military spokesman said that shortly after the bombing, Sri Lanka's air force chased two rebel light aircraft and shot down on

VOA标准英语2009年-Kenya Religious Leaders Criticize Reform Progre

Religious leaders in Kenya have sharply criticized the country's coalition government for failing to tame corruption and to undertake reforms outlined in a power-sharing agreement signed last year to end months of post-election violence. The comment

VOA标准英语2009年-Gates Says NATO Help in Afghanistan May Be Larg

The day after President Obama approved the deployment of 17,000 additional U.S. troops for Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he will ask NATO allies to also send more troops to help provide security for the country's presidential and

VOA标准英语2009年-US Says Closure of Kyrgyzstan Air Base Will Not

The State Department said Thursday that the eviction of U.S. forces from the Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan will not adversely affect American and NATO military operations in Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz parliament has voted to end U.S. access to the base,

VOA标准英语2009年-US Commander Predicts 'Tough Year' Ahead in Afg

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan has welcomed President Barack Obama's approval of 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, saying the development will markedly improve deteriorating security conditions in the southern part of the coun

VOA标准英语2009年-NATO Defense Ministers to Broach Dialogue with

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he expects NATO defense ministers to discuss how to resume their formal dialogue with Russia when he meets with them Thursday and Friday in Krakow, Poland. The NATO-Russia dialogue was suspended after Russia

VOA标准英语2009年-Thai Auto Sector Banks on Government Assistance

Auto industry executives in Thailand are calling on the government to support the industry, in the face of sharply falling exports and local sales. Layoffs are starting to mount, but analysts are upbeat about the longer term future with more investm

VOA标准英语2009年-Former Insurgents Take Control of Mogadishu Che

Troops from the Islamic Courts Union, a former insurgent group that now backs Somalia's new president, have taken over control of checkpoints in the capital Mogadishu from government soldiers. The development comes as Ethiopian troops, who patrolled

VOA标准英语2009年-Netanyahu Wins Key Backing in Israeli PM Contes

Israeli President Shimon Peres is wrapping up consultations with political parties before he announces his decision on who will be Israel's next Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu and his hawkish Likud Party got a boost in his bid to be the new Prim