VOA标准英语2009年-Thailand Explores Greater Autonomy for Largely

A Thai government policy review of the largely Muslim southern provinces is considering granting greater local autonomy with reforms including introduction of Sharia Law through Islamic courts. The strategy is part of efforts to bring to an end a fi

VOA标准英语2009年-US Senate Confirms Trade Representative

The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted 92 to 5 to confirm Ron Kirk as U.S. Trade Representative. Kirk, who becomes the first African American to hold the post, has vowed to pursue new trade deals but also work to ensure that U.S. trading partners are not v

VOA标准英语2009年-New Madagascar Leader Prepares for Installation

The head of Madagascar's new transitional authority is preparing to take the oath of office despite criticism from the international community and its suspension from the African Union. Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina greets the crowd a

VOA标准英语2009年-US Looking for Reciprocal Iranian Gesture After

The State Department said Friday U.S. officials are looking for a reciprocal gesture from Iran after President Barack Obama's conciliatory holiday message to the Iranian people and government Thursday. Mr. Obama said in a broadcast for the Iranian n

VOA标准英语2009年-Russian Military Rearmament Plan Pits Politics

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev this week announced a large-scale military rearmament program, which he says will require considerable resources despite difficulties associated with the current global economic crisis. There are political and econo

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Strategy Makes Long-Term Commitment

The strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that President Obama announced Friday changes some of the Bush Administration's goals, but also recommits the United States to an extensive and long-term military and civilian effort to establish security an

VOA标准英语2009年-Massive Obama Federal Budget Spurs Debate

A battle is brewing in Washington over President Barack Obama's proposed federal spending blueprint, widely viewed as the most sweeping plan to boost the U.S. government's role in society in more than a generation. The budget the president unveiled

VOA标准英语2009年-Jobless Figures Add to US Economic Gloom

The U.S. economic gloom deepened Friday with word that the jobless rate soared to 8.1 percent last month, the highest level in 25 years. Crowds wait to apply for jobs outside the New York Department of Labor in the Bronx in New York, 06 Mar 2009 The

VOA标准英语2009年-Nigeria, Pfizer in Settlement Talks Over Drug T

The Nigerian prosecutor in multi-billion dollar lawsuits against Pfizer says reaching an out-of-court settlement depends on Pfizer's acceptance of the government's final terms to end charges against the U.S. pharmaceutical giant. According to the la

VOA标准英语2009年-Stem Cell Research Could Cure Diabetes

President Obama has lifted restrictions on the use of federal money for research using embryonic stem cells. Some researchers are already making progress using stem cells from umbilical cord blood, which entails no controversy since there is no dest

VOA标准英语2009年-US Secretary of State Clinton to Visit Turkey S

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton visits Turkey Saturday, the final stop on a trip that has included stops in the Middle East and Europe. US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton arrives for a meeting of the EU-US Troika in Brussels, 06 Mar 2009 Secret

VOA标准英语2009年-Iraqi Shoe-Thrower Sentenced to Three Years in

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former U.S. President George W. Bush during a farewell visit to Baghdad has been sentenced by an Iraqi court to three years in prison. Muntader al-Zaidi (File) The trial of Iraqi journalist Muntader al-Zai

VOA标准英语2009年-US Jobless Total Rises by 651,000 in February

The deep downturn in the US economy gathered strength in February as another 651,000 workers lost their jobs. Crowds wait to apply for jobs outside the New York Department of Labor in the Bronx in New York, 06 Mar 2009 It was the third straight mont

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Says April Afghan Elections Nearly Impossibl

A senior United Nations official said it will be very difficult for Afghanistan to hold credible elections earlier than July. Peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy's comment on Monday echoed concerns raised by NATO, the United States, and Afghanistan's po

VOA标准英语2009年-South Africans Living Abroad Gain Voting Right

The South African Constitution Court has ruled citizens who are registered voters and reside abroad are entitled to vote. The decision overturns sections of the country's electoral law. In a unanimous decision the Constitutional Court, the country's

VOA标准英语2009年-New Wave of Violence Grips Northern Ireland

Tensions are rising in Northern Ireland as a policeman becomes the third murder victim in the province in the past 48 hours. Just like the two British soldiers killed on Saturday, the officer was gunned down. While politicians are united in their co

VOA标准英语2009年-Gates: Impossible to Set Date for Afghan Withdr

Secretary Gates said that as much as he would like to see foreign troops leave Afghanistan, it is impossible to foresee when that might happen. US Sec. of Defense Gates(L) listens as his French counterpart Morin(R) comments to the media at the Penta

VOA标准英语2009年-Court Ruling Could Sink Bangladesh Shipbreaking

Environmentalists are hailing a Bangladesh High Court decision to order the closure, in two weeks, of all ship-salvaging yards which do not have environmental clearances. The judges also have banned toxic ships from entering Bangladeshi waters. The

VOA标准英语2009年-Hopes High, Violence Low, But Problems Remain a

This week marks the sixth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that deposed Saddam Hussein and established a fledgling democracy, but also unleashed political, ethnic and sectarian tensions that caused years of devastating violence. As the a

VOA标准英语2009年-Lagos Plans To Solve Traffic, Overpopulation Pr

Lagos, Nigeria is already struggling with overpopulation problems. There is widespread poverty, poor sanitation, pollution and perhaps the worst traffic in the world. And the worst may be yet to come. The United Nations projects that by the year 201