VOA标准英语2009年-Tajikistan Considers Russian Language Ban

Tajikistan is considering a bill that would prohibit the use of Russian by government agencies in the former Soviet republic. Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon is urging lawmakers in the Central Asian country to speed passage of the measure, which som

VOA标准英语2009年-Indonesian Airlines Welcome Access to Euro

The European Commission has partially lifted a ban on Indonesian airlines entering European air space. The ban was issued two years ago after the International Civil Aviation Authority identified 121 safety problems with Indonesian airlines. Police

VOA标准英语2009年-Lawless Atmosphere Cited in Death of Russi

Russian activists are blaming Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for maintaining a climate that resulted in Wednesday's murder in the Caucasus of journalist Natalya Estemirova. Her colleagues from the Memorial human rights organization and other groups t

VOA标准英语2009年-Fear Supports Russian Culture of Impunity

Russia's Memorial human rights organization has suspended its activities in Chechnya following last week's murder of its local representative, journalist Natalya Estemirova. Human rights activists have blamed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Presid

VOA标准英语2009年-Honduran Economy in Peril From Political C

The forced removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya by his country's military on June 28 has left the Central American nation in a state of political turmoil. Already one of the poorest nations in the world, Honduras is now facing an even greater

VOA标准英语2009年-Election Underscores Splits Among Iranian

The disputed Iranian presidential election has highlighted the divide in Iran's clerical establishment. Conservative religious scholars welcomed the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, while reformist religious figures have criticized the

VOA标准英语2009年-Demonstrations, Counter Protests Expected

Both the interim government of Honduras and supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya plan demonstrations for Tuesday in the Central American nation's capital, Tegucigalpa. This follows a shooting incident on Sunday in which at least one person d

VOA标准英语2009年-Implementing 'Smart Power' in Afghanistan

By David Axe Wardak Province, Afghanistan 16 September 2009 Analysts and policy makers call it smart power -- a seamless blend of investment, good deeds and military force that is intended to win friends while targeting enemies in war. In 2007, the

VOA标准英语2009年-Emboldened Al-Shabab Warns Djibouti Not to

By Alan Boswell Nairobi 18 September 2009 Black smoke rises from inside AMISOM base in Mogadishu after two powerful explosions rip through AU peacekeepers force commander building in Somalia, 17 Sep 2009 A day after a brazen suicide attack in the Af

VOA标准英语2009年-Debate Over Media Freedoms Emerges in Russ

By Peter Fedynsky Moscow 18 September 2009 Russian President Dmitri Medvedev (f) and Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (b) Two recent high-profile articles are making news in Russia this month; one is a frank and widely distributed assessment t

VOA标准英语2009年-In Mombasa, A Unique Program Helps People

By Cathy Majtenyi Nairobi 17 September 2009 Low-income Kenyans living with HIV/AIDS face a range of challenges. In the Catholic Diocese of Mombasa on Kenya's coast, people affected by AIDS have formed groups that enable members to increase their inc

VOA标准英语2009年-Zimbabwe Accord Anniversary Marked

Tuesday is the first anniversary of the deal that brought about Zimbabwe's national unity government, known as the Global Political Agreement. Most Zimbabweans, who believed it would end years of political strife and suffering caused by a collapsing

VOA标准英语2009年-African Parliamentarians in Niger to Asses

Members of the Pan-African Parliament are in Niger for separate talks with President Mamdou Tandja and his political opponents concerning the referendum that has extended the president's time in office. African parliamentarians are in Niger to asses

VOA标准英语2009年-Flooding Displaces Hundreds of Thousands i

Nearly 600,000 West Africans are affected by floods, following three months of rain. The unusually heavy rainy season is expected to continue through the end of September. The latest United Nations assessment of West African flooding says more than

VOA标准英语2009年-Senegalese Refugees Speak Out Amid Increas

Southern Senegal is experiencing some of the worst fighting in years, as violence between separatist rebels and army loyalists flares. The fighting has left one small town in rural Senegal deserted, as farmers are forced to leave their crops to lang

VOA标准英语2009年-EU says Europe Emerging from Recession

The European Union says it is emerging from a recession driven by the global economic downturn, but the recovery will be shaky and slow. The EU economic outlook for 2009 is far from upbeat. Overall, the bloc's economy will shrink by four percent in

VOA标准英语2009年-Landmine Survivors Still not Getting Help

A new report finds survivors of landmines and other explosive remnants of war continue to suffer discrimination and general neglect from the governments that promised to assist them. The so-called Voices from the Ground report is issued by Handicap

VOA标准英语2009年-More Than One Billion People Going Hungry

By Lisa Schlein Geneva 14 October 2009 United Nations food agencies report more than one billion people, or one sixth of the world's population, are going hungry. This report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program is

VOA标准英语2009年-Hondurans Deeply Divided Over Ouster of Pr

Thousands of supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya marched through the streets of the nation's capital, Tegucigalpa, Sunday and jammed the roads around the international airport awaiting his return. Supporters of ousted Honduran Pres

VOA标准英语2009年-Niger President Facing Opposition to Exten

Political opponents of Niger's President Mamadou Tandja say they are determined to block a referendum to extend his rule. The White House says it is concerned about President Tandja ruling by decree after dissolving a constitutional court that said