VOA标准英语2009-US Mideast Peace Envoy Visits Egypt, Jordan

US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell met with top Egyptian officials, Thursday, to discuss prospects for resuming Arab-Israeli peace talks. Mitchell conferred with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as Arab League Secretary-

VOA标准英语2009-Annan Gives Kenya Deadline for Election Viol

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who mediated a power-sharing agreement between Kenya's main political parties last year following disputed elections, says the country's leaders have until August to set up a tribunal to try those responsibl

VOA标准英语2009-Pakistan Military Denies New War Front in Wa

Pakistan's military said clashes in areas bordering North and South Waziristan do not yet represent the opening of a new war front against Taliban militants. But the military says such an offensive may come soon, and that in the meantime it is worki

VOA标准英语2009-Ethiopian Scientist to Receive 2009 World Fo

Ethiopian scientist was named on Thursday as the winner of the 2009 World Food Prize in an event at the U.S. State Department. Ejeta, a faculty member at Purdue University in the Midwestern U.S. state of Indiana, was honored for his work on drought

VOA标准英语2009-Sudan Denies Some Expelled NGOs Returning

Sudan is denying United Nations claims that some aid groups that were expelled from the country in March are being allowed to return by making slight organizational name changes. The groups were kicked out following the International Criminal Court'

VOA标准英语2009-Hong Kong Closes Schools After Surge in Swin

Hong Kong has closed schools Thursday after the discovery of the city's first cluster of swine flu infections. This comes as the World Health Organization holds an emergency meeting in Geneva to discuss the latest development on the spread of the H1

VOA标准英语2009-Trans-Asian Railway Would Improve Transport,

Asian nations have agreed to form a network of railroads that aims to connect 28 countries in the region to each other and Europe. The Trans-Asian Railway holds out the promise of improved trade, transport, and integration. But, forming the massive

VOA标准英语2009-Medical Centers Target Chronic Diseases in D

The National Institutes of Health, America's federally-funded medical research organization, is spearheading efforts to establish chronic disease centers in 11 developing countries, where illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease have bec

VOA标准英语2009-WHO Expected to Declare Swine Flu Pandemic

The World Health Organization is expected to declare the H1N1 Swine Flu a pandemic, following an emergency meeting of health officials from around the world. This will be the first declaration of a global flu pandemic in more than 40 years. WHO esti

VOA标准英语2009-NATO Defense Ministers Approve Troop Cut in

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization says it plans to withdraw about a third of its force in Kosovo by next year because the security situation has improved. The announcement came during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. U.S. Secret

VOA标准英语2009-US Leaves Decision on Restarting Peace Dialo

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other key members of his new Cabinet have concluded meetings with a high-ranking American envoy. The topic of Pakistan was discussed repeatedly during the two days of talks. U.S. Undersecretary of State Willi

VOA标准英语2009-Improved Signs on US Job Losses, Retail Sale

U.S. markets posted early gains after modestly encouraging signs concerning employment and retail sales. People line up at the Anaheim Orange County Job Fair and Expo in Anaheim, CA, 03 Jun 2009 The U.S. Labor Department says 24,000 fewer Americans

VOA标准英语2009-North Korea Demands Huge Pay, Rent Increases

North Korea has presented South Korea with sharply elevated rent and wage demands for running a joint industrial facility just inside the North Korean border. At the same time, Pyongyang is refusing to release a detained executive it has held with n

VOA标准英语2009-Battle Against Pakistan's Top Taliban Leader

The Pakistani government is hoping to capitalize on public support for its military offensive against Taliban militants in the northwest as it prepares to hunt down top Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan. The rugged terrain of Wazir

VOA标准英语2009-Israeli PM: Iranian Authorities "Unmasked&q

Israel's prime minister says repressive actions taken by Iranian authorities against demonstrators protesting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed election victory have revealed the true nature of the government, and underscore the need to preve

VOA标准英语2009-Iran TV: At Least 10 Killed in Clashes with

Iran's capital, Tehran, was tense Sunday, following a week of sometimes violent opposition protests against a disputed election victory by incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad June 12. In this photograph posted on the internet, a man holds up his

VOA标准英语2009-Carbon Trading Seen as Key to Borneo's Prese

Scientists and environmentalists have stepped up efforts to save what is left of Borneo's rain forests and wilderness areas. New research suggests carbon trading could offer the next solution. Experts calls on Indonesia, Malaysia protect the natural

VOA标准英语2009-Demonstrators Question Iran Election Results

Demonstrators are holding peaceful rallies in cities across the world to express their concern over the disputed results of last Friday's presidential election in Iran, in which the government declared incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the victor. A ral

VOA标准英语2009-New Model Predicts Mammal Extinction

Researchers have developed a new computer model that they say helps determine which mammals are headed for extinction as a result of human activity. Earth is undergoing its sixth mass extinction, threatening about a quarter of all mammal species, ac

VOA标准英语2009-World Bank Raises Economic Forecast for Chin

The World Bank says China's economy will grow faster than expected this year, but cautions it is too soon to say a sustained recovery is imminent. The World Bank raised its estimate of China's gross domestic product growth this year to 7.2 percent,