VOA标准英语2009-Chad, Sudan Trade Accusations of Backing Rival R

Chad is threatening to sever diplomatic relations with Sudan after the military says it beat back an assault by rebels based in Sudan. Khartoum denies it is behind that rebellion and says Sudan is ready to fight rebels it says are backed by Chad. Id

VOA标准英语2009-Czech Government Facing Challenge After Failed E

The current European Union president, the Czech Republic, is under pressure to overcome failed talks with key former Soviet states on an energy deal. Negotiations on reducing Europe's dependency on Russian natural gas are one of several key challeng

VOA标准英语2009-Turkey Wedding Massacre Prompts Calls to Disband

The recent massacre of a wedding party in southeast Turkey has cast the spotlight on the region's local militia known as Village Guards. Some of the weapons used in the wedding attack are believed to belong to the militia. The militia was created by

VOA标准英语2009-Obama: Figures 'Somewhat Encouraging', But Still

U.S. President Barack Obama said the half-million jobs the U.S. lost in April are sobering. But he said it is somewhat encouraging that the losses are beginning to shrink. The president used the occasion to promote his education and job training pro

VOA标准英语2009-Gates Encouraged by Afghan Visit, But Wants More

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates came away from a 40-hour visit to Afghanistan Friday encouraged that the U.S. troop increase and cooperation from Afghans will turn the tide of the eight-year conflict. But he says the Afghan government needs to d

VOA标准英语2009-Clinton, Lavrov Stress Nuclear Arms Reduction Ef

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday the two governments will not let differences over Georgia and other regional issues get in the way of efforts to reach a new strategic arms control deal. The

VOA标准英语2009-US House Committee Approves Iraq, Afghanistan Wa

U.S. strategies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, continuing support for Iraq, and Middle East peace efforts figured highly in debate Thursday in a key House of Representatives committee. Debate on these issues occurred as the House Appropriations Commit

VOA标准英语2009-Obama Proposes $17 Billion in Budget Cuts

U.S. President Barack Obama is proposing modest cuts in government spending to help offset major investments in health-care, education and energy initiatives. President Obama and Budget Director Peter Orszag (l), 07 May 2009 The president says all t

VOA标准英语2009-Gates: Probe Into Afghan Civilian Deaths Not Com

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the joint U.S.-Afghan investigation into civilian casualties Sunday in Farah Province is not complete, and while he regrets any loss of civilian lives he is not ready to say who killed these particular people

VOA标准英语2009-EU Seeking Energy Independence From Russia

The European Union has signed an agreement with four nations to move ahead on creating new gas pipelines to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. Czech Republic's outgoing PM Mirek Topolanek, left, welcomes the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, i

VOA标准英语2009-Russian-Georgian Talks Salvaged

International mediators say the latest round of Russian-Georgian security talks took place in a constructive spirit, despite initial difficulties. The talks were on the point of collapse Monday after the Russian delegation walked out in solidarity w

VOA标准英语2009-UN Security Council Reflects On A Tragic Failure

The U.N. Security Council has visited a memorial to victims of the Rwanda genocide and pledged support to efforts to end the fighting that has haunted Africa's Great Lakes region for more than a decade. Rwanda Genocide Memorial The 15 Security Counc

VOA标准英语2009-Clinton Announces US Aid for Pakistan

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States will send $110 million in emergency aid to Pakistan. Clinton detailed the U.S. effort to help an estimated 2 million displaced Pakistanis. Secretary of State Clinton announces humanitarian ai

VOA标准英语2009-Pentagon Has Video of Afghan Civilian Casualty I

The Pentagon says it has video of the incident in Afghanistan's Farah Province two weeks ago, in which a U.S. air strike apparently killed some Afghan civilians. But U.S. officials dispute the Afghan government claim that as many as 140 civilians we

VOA标准英语2009-Sri Lankan President Officially Declares Civil W

Sri Lanka is seeking to close a bloody era of civil war by declaring total victory over rebels who split the island nation along an ethnic and geographical divide. Just after the country's President pledged to achieve equal rights for all, the natio

VOA标准英语2009-UN Secretary-General To Visit War-Torn Sri Lanka

The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he will leave Friday for a two-day visit to Sri Lanka to see first-hand the damage done by the fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. Mr. Ban, who spoke to reporters at the U.N. Europea

VOA标准英语2009-Kremlin Works to Prevent Falsification of Histor

The Kremlin has posted a decree that aims to prevent what are described as efforts to falsify history and harm the interests of Russia. The government move to set up a commission to deal with the issue, comes after the party of Prime Minister Vladim

VOA标准英语2009-Parliamentary Group Clears British Intelligence

Britain's Intelligence and Security Committee has released its findings into what the country's domestic intelligence service knew about the suicide bombers before they struck in London on the 7th of July 2005, killing 52 people. Many families of wh

VOA标准英语2009-Australia Moves to Protect the Coral Sea

Australia has agreed to protect one million square kilometers of ocean off its northeast coast. The Coral Sea Conservation Zone will help safeguard an area described by conservationists as a spectacular marine jewel while the region is assessed for

VOA标准英语2009-South Korea Steers Toward Electric Auto Future

Former U.S. President Clinton and mayors from around the world are gathering in Seoul this week for a summit on reducing greenhouse gases in the world's cities. London Mayor Boris Johnson says the leaders hope to agree on ways to end the world's end