VOA标准英语2009年-Somalis Gather to Discuss Racism, Alienati

Young Somali immigrants say they face racism and feel unwanted in Australia. Their problems have drawn more attention since four men from Somali backgrounds were charged with planning a suicide attack on an army base in Sydney. Community groups say

VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Freezes New Settlement Projects in

Israel has made a concession to the United States in a bid to ease a simmering dispute over Jewish settlements. Housing units are seen in an outpost near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Itamar, near Nablus, 18 Aug 2009 Israel has announced that s

VOA标准英语2009年-Pakistan Arrests Top Taliban Aide

Authorities in Pakistan say they have captured the chief spokesman for Taliban insurgents along with two companions in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The arrest comes nearly two weeks after a suspected U.S missile strike is believed to have

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama, Mubarak Optimistic About Mideast Pe

U.S. President Barack Obama and his visiting Egyptian counterpart, Hosni Mubarak, have expressed optimism over the possibility of moving forward on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Mr. Mubarak has made his first visit to the White House in mor

VOA标准英语2009年-Nobel Laureate Former S. Korean President

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has died in Seoul at the age of 85. He had been hospitalized since last month for pneumonia. Mr. Kim was credited with ushering a new era of reconciliation with wartime enemy North Korea. His own life story

VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Arrests 8 Suspected Cargo Ship Hija

Russia says it has arrested eight people suspected of the mysterious hijacking of a cargo ship. The vessel disappeared after being boarded by hijackers off the coast of Sweden and then turned up off the coast of West Africa. There are still a number

VOA标准英语2009年-Some Undocumented Migrants Undeterred by W

With the American economy failing to produce jobs in the wake of the recession, and the dangers for undocumented workers along the route to the United States increasing, the rewards of making the long trip north from Central America are lower than e

VOA标准英语2009年-N. Korean Envoys Visit South to Pay Respec

For the first time, North Korea has sent a delegation to present formal condolences to the family of a deceased South Korean president. The visit is a tribute to Kim Dae-jung's efforts at North-South reconciliation. But North Koreans who fled to the

VOA标准英语2009年-More Than 20 Killed in Fighting in Somali

Islamist militants in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, launched a pre-dawn raid on African Union peacekeepers Friday, triggering fierce fighting that killed more than 20 people. Meanwhile, government-led military efforts to take control of insurgent-h

VOA标准英语2009年-Afghanistan Tries to Assure Voters About A

Afghanistan's government is trying to assure voters that adequate security is in place for Thursday's national election. The Taliban vow to disrupt the process by attacking polling stations and retaliating against those who dare to vote. In Kabul, t

VOA标准英语2009年-Thai Military Says It Makes Progress in En

The military commander overseeing Thailand's largely Muslim southern provinces says security is improving as the army steps up efforts to win hearts and minds and end insurgent attacks. But as political analysts say the drop in violence may be tempo

VOA标准英语2009年-Australia Plans New Approach to Save Fragi

Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett warns that efforts to save some endangered plants and animals may be abandoned due to a lack of money. Garrett says the government plans to concentrate on protecting fragile ecosystems rather than indivi

VOA标准英语2009年-Indian Trade Pacts Will Contribute to Econ

Two trade pacts signed recently between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India and South Korea are expected to promote economic integration of one of the world's fastest growing regions. The pacts also signal that India is ke

VOA标准英语2009年-'Homeland Tours' Bring Chinese Adoptees Ba

In the early 1990s China made it easier for families from abroad to adopt Chinese orphans, most of whom were girls. Today about 60,000 adopted Chinese children live in North America, and about 15,000 live in Europe. Many families take special tours

VOA标准英语2009年-Swiss Bank to Turn Over Account Data to US

A major Swiss bank has agreed to turn over information on thousands of accounts targeted by the United States for possible tax evasion. US government official says Swiss banking giant UBS will give the IRS the details of more than 4,000 client accou

VOA标准英语2009年-Mixed Reaction to Israeli Announcement of

There has been mixed reaction to Israel's announcement of a partial freeze on settlement expansion. Jewish settlers and their allies say it is a catastrophe, while Palestinians describe it as a publicity stunt. Housing units are seen in an outpost n

VOA标准英语2009年-South Korea Postpones First Rocket Launch

With just minutes to go before liftoff, South Korean engineers postponed the launch of the country's first space-bound rocket. The delay comes as a disappointment to many who looked forward to the launch as a milestone of national pride. Excitement

VOA标准英语2009年-Baghdad Blasts Kill 95

Multiple explosions in the Iraqi capital have killed 95 people and wounded at least 310 others, in the worst day of violence in Baghdad since U.S. forces left urban areas in June. Fire fighters respond as smoke billows over Iraqi Foreign Ministry, a

VOA标准英语2009年-Returning IDPs Lack Basic Services in Kord

A new report by the International Organization for Migration finds an overwhelming majority of the nearly two million Internally Displaced People and refugees who have returned to Southern Kordofan, a state in Sudan, and to Southern Sudan continue t

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Launches Multi-Million Dollar Gaza Rama

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, is launching a Gaza Ramadan Appeal for $181 million to provide food, jobs and other assistance for one million Palestinian refugees. Seven months after the Israeli Operation in Gaza, UNRWA says very