VOA标准英语2009-Swine Flu Continues its March Through Austra

As the number of the H1N1 cases in Australia surges past 1,200, Singapore is warning its citizens to avoid travel to the badly affected southern state, Victoria. With more than 1,000 cases, Victoria has the world's highest per capita rates of infect

VOA标准英语2009-Assassinations Roil Russia's Caucasus Region

The deputy head of Ingushetia's Supreme Court has been shot dead in the latest incident of violence to hit Russia's troubled Caucasus region. The assassination of Justice Aza Gazgireeva follows a recent high profile killing in neighboring Dagestan,

VOA标准英语2009-Gabon Inaugurates Interim President

Senate President Rose Francine Rogombe is Gabon's new interim head of state, following Monday's death of long-time leader Omar Bongo. She is expected to organize new elections by the end of July. Gabon's Senate speaker Rose Francine Rogombe, 66, swo

VOA标准英语2009-Liberians Mourn Michael Jackson

Around the world, fans of pop star Michael Jackson are mourning his unexpected death on Thursday. It is a shocking day for everyone in Liberia where Jackson's music and style were much loved. U.S. rock star Michael Jackson opens the South African le

VOA标准英语2009-Somalia Fighting Forces More to Flee Capital

The United Nations refugee agency says nearly 170,000 people have now been displaced from their homes in Somalia's capital since Islamist insurgents launched a renewed offensive in early May. A Somali woman and her child sit in front of a makeshift

VOA标准英语2009-Mullen Welcomes Kyrgyz Base Decision, Talks

The top U.S. military officer has welcomed progress toward reversing the Kyrgyz government decision to end U.S. use of a key base for supplying the allied mission in Afghanistan. Admiral Michael Mullen, head of US Joint Chiefs of Staff and Gen. Niko

VOA标准英语2009-Football Aims to Help Heal Rwanda's Post-Gen

Several of the world's top footballers came to Rwanda this week to play a charity match in support of the country's genocide survivors. The VOA correspondent reports from Kigali on the unifying power of sports in a country still healing from the div

VOA标准英语2009-Poverty Confronts Presidential Candidates in

Voters in Guinea-Bissau go to the polls Sunday to choose a new president. Economic growth and security dominate politics in one of the world's poorest countries. Gabu's schools are rundown In the eastern city, Gabu, an old man pushes a wheelbarrow o

VOA标准英语2009-Zimbabweans Launch Process for New Constitut

Hundreds of Zimbabweans from political parties, civil rights organizations, churches and ordinary citizens gathered Wednesday for the first public hearings towards a new constitution organized by the transitional four-month-old government of nationa

VOA标准英语2009-Sri Lankan Media Groups Ask Government Not t

In Sri Lanka, media groups have asked the government to scrap moves to re-establish a media panel which could jail journalists. The reactivation of the Press Council is being seen as a means to control the media in a country where concerns have been

VOA标准英语2009-Hard Times for Australia's Once Dominant Win

Australia's once dominant wine industry is facing its biggest challenge, as competition increases from lower-cost rivals and consumer tastes change. Producers are being encouraged to target exports to Asia to revive the industry. Penfolds 1962 vinta

VOA标准英语2009-Thailand Struggles to Control Southern Viole

Thailand is struggling to end a Muslim insurgency in the south that since 2004 has claimed more than 3,400 lives. The Thai government plans to tackle the violence with more security and development assistance. But, political analysts say the focus s

VOA标准英语2009-India's Military Concerned About Emerging Ta

A meeting of India's top military brass is under way - the first since last November's terror attack on Mumbai, in which more than 160 people died. The country's defense chief is telling his commanders they must be prepared to meet emerging threats

VOA标准英语2009-Top US Military Officer Arrives in Moscow fo

The top U.S. military officer is in Moscow for talks on missile defense, arms control and other issues in advance of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to the Russian capital in 10 days. Admiral Mike Mullen, (file photo) The Chairman of the Joint C

VOA标准英语2009-Somali Insurgents Amputate Suspected Thieves

In Somalia's capital, the radical Islamist al-Shabab militia amputated a hand and a foot each from four young men accused of stealing guns and mobile phones. The militia has imposed a harsh brand of Islamic law in areas of Somalia under its control.

VOA标准英语2009-International Experts Study Ways to Fight Wi

Fire authorities from around the world have been meeting in Australia to learn from the devastating bush fires in the southern state of Victoria earlier this year. Firefighters using mobile tanker trucks work to keep fire under control at containmen

VOA标准英语2009-Indonesia Reports First Case of Swine Flu

Indonesia reported its first two confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus. One of the cases is an Australian tourist, who was visiting the island of Bali. Indonesia's Minister of Health says more must be done at Bali's international airport to pr

VOA标准英语2009-Russian, Ukrainian Tug of War Over History

Russian historians widely recognize June 27, 1709 as the date their country became a great power. Russia that day defeated an invading Swedish army at Poltava in Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces allied with Sweden were also vanquished. The Battle of

VOA标准英语2009-Libya's Gadhafi Lashes Out at US

Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi has lashed out at the United States by likening the 1986 U.S. Strikes on Libya to Osama bin Laden's terror attacks on the United States in 2001. He was speaking Thursday in Rome, where he is on a three-day official visi

VOA标准英语2009-WHO Raises Swine Flu Alert to Highest Level

The World Health Organization declared swine flu as the first international pandemic of the century on Thursday and urged nations to step up the fight against the virus. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan speaks during a press conference at WHO head