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

VOA标准英语2009年-Gates Says Kyrgyz Base Expulsion Not Final

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday's vote by the Kyrgyz parliament to terminate the U.S. lease on a key air base used for supplying the Afghanistan war is not the last word on the subject, and the United States will continue to try to

VOA标准英语2009年-Violence in Mexican Border Towns Impedes Missin

Mexican President Felipe Calderon's fight against drug trafficking cartels in his country has produced an unprecedented wave of violence, especially in Mexican border cities like Juarez, where more than 1,600 people were murdered last year. There ar

VOA标准英语2009年-India's Broadcasters Adopt New Reporting Guidel

Stung by criticism that their coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks was sensationalistic and endangered rescue operations, India's broadcasters have implemented voluntary guidelines to steer coverage of any future such events. India's broadcasters h

VOA标准英语2009年-Afghanistan: Lessons from Soviet Withdrawal

Twenty years have passed since the Soviet Union ended its disastrous military venture in Afghanistan. Some Soviet veterans were traumatized by the war and refuse to talk about it, others reflect on the experience and draw lessons they say apply to N

VOA标准英语2009年-World Markets Depressed Despite US Stimulus and

Despite Senate passage of its massive stimulus package and the U.S. banking bailout plan announced by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, overseas markets did not react with enthusiasm. A screen showing stock prices at a local bank in Hong Kong, 11

VOA标准英语2009年-US Bank Executives Challenged on Lending, Pledg

Executives of major U.S. banks faced tough questions Wednesday from U.S. lawmakers frustrated by the slow pace of lending by institutions that received federal bail out money. Lawmakers also vented their anger over high salaries and bonuses in the f

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Promotes US Infrastructure Spending

U.S. President Barack Obama has made his third trip this week to build public support for his plan to stimulate the nation's economy. Mr. Obama visited a road construction project near Washington to make his case for spending more federal funds to r