VOA标准英语2009年-World Bank Predicts Up to 50 Percent Decline in

The World Bank is predicting growth rates in Africa in 2009 could fall to half what they have been in the past few years. World Bank Vice President for Africa Obi Ezekwesili, attending the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa,

VOA标准英语2009年-Yemen to Release About 170 al-Qaida Suspects

Yemeni officials say they are releasing about 170 detainees with suspected ties to al-Qaida, two weeks after al-Qaida said it would use Yemen as its base of operations for the Arabian peninsula. One Yemeni official, who asked to remain anonymous, to

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Takes Responsibility for Fixing Economy

President Barack Obama says he will be held accountable for turning around the nation's ailing economy, and making sure that federal funds used to rescue financial institutions and spur growth are well spent. President Barack Obama talks to reporter

VOA标准英语2009年-British Cultural Body Suspends Operations in Ir

The British Council, the United Kingdom's worldwide cultural body, said it is suspending operations in Iran after its staff members were unable to gain entry visas. The organization also said its local employees have been singled out for intimidatio

VOA标准英语2009年-American UN Official Kidnapped in Southwest Pak

Gunmen in southwest Pakistan have kidnapped an American working for the U.N. refugee agency and killed his Pakistani driver. The kidnapping occurred in Quetta, the regional capital of Pakistan's Balochistan province. American John Solecki and his Pa

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Faces Test on Trade

President Barack Obama is facing an early decision on trade policy, one that could anger key members of his Democratic Party, or spark a trade war with some of America's closest allies. In a few weeks Mr. Obama is to travel to Canada, where official

VOA标准英语2009年-British Leader Condemns Strikes Against Foreign

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned the strikes spreading across Britain protesting the employment of foreign European workers, while unemployment soars in the country. Britain's PM Gordon Brown speaks on Britain and the Global economy (File)

VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Bombs Gaza Targets

Israel aircraft have bombed a Palestinian target in Gaza, following Palestinian militant rocket attacks on Israel on Sunday. The Hamas militant group that runs Gaza says Israeli aircraft hit a Palestinian police position. On Sunday, Palestinian mili

VOA标准英语2009年-Wildfires and Deaths as Southeast Australia Bak

Southeastern Australia has endured some of the hottest temperatures in a century, which have fanned fires that have destroyed homes and strained emergency power and transport services. At least 20 people may have died from heat stroke as temperature

VOA标准英语2009年-Palestinian Rocket Attack Tests Shaky Gaza Ceas

Palestinian rocket fire at Israel is testing a shaky ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a rocket at Israel that landed near the coastal city of Ashkelon. There were no injuries or damage, but the attack rais

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Urges Quick Senate Passage of Economic St

U.S. President Barack Obama is urging the Senate to follow the House of Representatives in passing his $800 billion plan to stimulate the economy. The president is calling the proposal good news, after the bad economic news of the past week. Preside

VOA标准英语2009年-UNHCR: Congolese Fleeing South Kivu Province

The United Nations refugee agency says thousands of people reportedly are fleeing their homes in Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province. This follows last week's start of a joint Congolese-Rwandan military operation against the Democrati

VOA标准英语2009年-Zimbabwe's MDC Legislator Roy Bennett Faces Wea

Zimbabwe's unity government's designated deputy agriculture minister Roy Bennett has been charged with possessing weaponry, banditry, and attempting to commit terrorism, in a court in Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe. Roy Bennett is also being charged wit

VOA标准英语2009年-World Markets Lower Amid Further Signs of US Ec

World markets were mostly lower on Wednesday amid more dire U.S. economic news and a move by Germany to facilitate bank nationalization. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up one-tenth of a percent, while other U.S. indexes were just slightly lowe

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Security Council Welcomes Darfur Goodwill Ag

The United Nations Security Council has welcomed the signing of an agreement between Sudan's government and the country's main rebel group to pursue a negotiated settlement to the Darfur conflict. But the agreement, signed on Tuesday in Qatar, is no

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Probes Extrajudicial Killings In Kenya

A United Nations official is in Kenya to investigate reports of unlawful executions. Human rights groups in the country have accused the police force, as well as the military, of numerous extrajudicial killings in the past two years, many in respons

VOA标准英语2009年-Signs Show Possible Thaw in US-Syrian Relations

The new Obama administration appears to be taking tentative steps towards resuming dialogue with Syria, while the key step of sending a new U.S. ambassador to Damascus for the first time in three years remains up in the air. A visit by Senate Foreig

VOA标准英语2009年-Algiers to Host 2nd Pan-African Culture Festiva

Algeria is preparing to host the second Pan-African Culture Festival, and the first in 40 years. The event hopes to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Algiers this July to celebrate Africa's artistic renaissance. Khalida Toumi was a young girl

VOA标准英语2009年-WFP Starts Food Vouchers in Burkina Faso

The United Nations is giving food vouchers to poor families in Burkina Faso who have access to private sector markets, but can not afford higher food prices there. The innovative program is alsp helping local shopkeepers. This is the first time the

VOA标准英语2009年-Darfur Rivals Sign Deal in Doha

Sudan and Darfur's most active rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement, has signed a declaration of good intentions in Doha. Qatar has been mediating talks between Khartoum and the rebel group since last Tuesday. Sudanese rebel group JEM lead