VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Announces $75 Billion Mortgage Relief Pla

The U.S. housing industry, where experts believe the economic crisis began, is the target of President Barack Obama's latest initiative to strengthen the economy. Mr. Obama has unveiled a $75 billion plan to prevent as many as nine million Americans

VOA标准英语2009年-Sufi Clerics in Somalia Support Unity Governmen

Sufi clerics in Somalia have declared their support for the new unity government led by a moderate Islamist. The declaration is raising the possibility of a wider sectarian war between adherents of the Sufi order and the powerful al-Shabab group in

VOA标准英语2009年-Zimbabwe Opposition Leader to Remain in Custody

Deputy agriculture minister-designate Roy Bennett has been ordered by a Zimbabwean court to remain in custody until March 4 on charges of attempting to commit terrorism, banditry, and sabotage. The Mutare riot squad was out in force ahead of the rul

VOA标准英语2009年-Iran Claims to Build Long-Distance Unmanned Air

A top Iranian defense official says Tehran has built an unmanned surveillance aircraft with a range of more than 950 kilometers. The claim, if true, would put the drone within range of Israel. Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi has told the

VOA标准英语2009年-US Car Companies Seek Additional Government Mon

Two US automakers say they need billions more of government money in order to survive. GM sign sits in front of a long line of unsold 2009 Escalades at a Cadillac dealership in Denver, Colo. 10 Feb 2009 General Motors and Chrysler say they need bill

VOA标准英语2009年-Texas Experts Help Afghan Herders Enter Modern

For the past 2.5 years, two agriculture experts from the U.S. state of Texas have been working in remote areas of Afghanistan to help nomadic herders better manage their sheep, goats and cattle, and to better deal with ever-changing environmental co

VOA标准英语2009年-Desalination Schemes Stir Debate in Parched Aus

Authorities in Western Australia say they can show the world how to conquer a water crisis that had threatened to decimate the state capital, Perth, amid a long-standing drought and declining rainfall. Desalination is at the heart of Western Austral

VOA标准英语2009年-AU Envoy Says Somalia's National Unity Governme

The African Union special envoy to Somalia said Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has assured him the national unity government now being formed will be secular. The head of the AU peacekeeping mission AMISOM is hailing Sheikh Sharif's ris

VOA标准英语2009年-Al-Qaida Says It's Holding 6 Western Hostages i

Al-Qaida's North Africa branch says it is holding captive two Canadian diplomats and four Western tourists kidnapped in Niger. Robert Fowler (file photo) The group calling itself al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb says it is holding Canadian diplomat R

VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Says No Cease-Fire Until Hamas Releases

Israel has decided not to lift its blockade on border crossings into the Gaza Strip until the militant group Hamas hands over a captive Israeli soldier. The decision to set the soldier's release as a top condition is expected to complicate prospects

VOA标准英语2009年-British PM Urges Quick Global Action Before Apr

In his monthly news conference, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown laid out the groundwork he feels must be done before the important Group of 20 economic summit April 2 in London. Mr. Brown said global cooperation is key to speed the recovery from

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Sets First High-Level Talks, Travel as

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to meet with her British and German counterparts on Tuesday in her first meetings with senior foreign officials in her new post. Plans are also being made for her first overseas trip as Secretary

VOA标准英语2009年-Republicans Choose First African-American as Pa

U.S. Republicans have elected the first African-American to head their party's national committee. Top Republicans from around the country chose former Maryland Lieutenant-Governor Michael Steele to be the next chairman of the Republican National Co

VOA标准英语2009年-World Markets End Rough Week on Down Note

World markets were all off sharply at the end of the week after a drop on Wall Street Thursday that saw the Dow index hit a six-year low. Grim corporate news in Asia and Europe kept the negative pressure on. In Sweden, carmaker Saab has filed for ba

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton: Kyrgyzstan Decision to End US Access t

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says an announced decision by Kyrgyzstan to end U.S. access to an airbase serving NATO troops in Afghanistan is regrettable, but not a major setback for the Obama administration. Clinton discussed the Afghan confli

VOA标准英语2009年-US Cites Pakistani 'Assurances' on Released Nuc

A senior State Department official says Pakistan has given the United States assurances that nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan - released from five years of house arrest last week for selling nuclear secrets - will no longer pose a proliferation risk. U.S

VOA标准英语2009年-Afghanistan's Karzai Offers Peace to 'Friendly

At a high-level security conference in Munich, Germany Afghan President Hamid Karzai defended his country's progress toward peace Sunday and urged reconciliation with members of the Taliban that were not part of al-Qaida. President Hamid Karzai spea

VOA标准英语2009年-Panic Follows Fraud Charges Against US Billiona

Havoc and panic stemming from fraud charges against U.S. billionaire Allen Stanford have spread to Latin America, prompting several governments to swing into action. Venezuelan policemen pass in front of a closed Stanford Bank office in Caracas, 19

VOA标准英语2009年-Holder Speech Sparks Debate on Race

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder sparked a debate over race relations this week with a speech in which he said the United States was a nation of cowards because most Americans prefer to avoid candid talk about race. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder makes

VOA标准英语2009年-New Poll Shows Lack of Confidence in Kenya's Go

One year after the signing of a power-sharing agreement in Kenya, a new survey indicates a sharp decline in public confidence in the country's coalition government. The poll comes as corruption scandals and a proposed electoral commission widen the