VOA标准英语2009年-US Calls on Sri Lanka to Investigate Alleg

By David Gollust Washington 22 October 2009 The first aerial view of the coastal strip, a former war zone where the Tamil rebels made their last stand, videotaped by VOA The United States is calling on the Sri Lankan government to thoroughly investi

VOA标准英语2009年-Under-17 World Cup to Kick Off in Nigeria

By Brent Latham Abuja 22 October 2009 The FIFA Under-17 World Cup is set to begin in Nigeria on Saturday, after months of speculation over whether the country would be ready in time to host the biennial youth football (soccer) tournament. The second

VOA标准英语2009年-US TV Correspondent Crusades for Brain Inj

By Bernard Shusman Rye, New York 20 October 2009 Bob Woodruff in Iraq In 2006, ABC News correspondent and television anchorman Bob Woodruff was wounded while covering the war in Iraq. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and was not expected to surv

VOA标准英语2009年-Rise in Somali Piracy Contributes to Incre

By Alan Boswell Nairobi 22 October 2009 The rise in piracy off the Somali coast has resulted in more global piracy cases in 2009 than in all of 2008, according to a maritime watchdog group. Despite the rise in attacks, the number of successful hijac

VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: Suu Kyi Sentencing 'Unjust,' Urges

President Barack Obama said Tuesday the Burmese decision to extend democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for another 18 months is unjust and called for her immediate, unconditional release. Officials say the trial outcome will have a nega

VOA标准英语2009年-UN Official Asks for Patience, Calm on Afg

A day ahead of the expected release of partial results from last Thursday's election in Afghanistan, the top United Nations official is asking for patience from the electorate, the candidates and the media. Our correspondent reports from Kabul. U.N.

VOA标准英语2009年-Satellites Predict Severe Water Shortages

New satellite data reveal that groundwater in Northwest India is being depleted faster than it is being replenished by rainwater. Experts say the problem is being caused by farmers' excessive use of groundwater to irrigate their crops, and they warn

VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Says US Supports Sirleaf

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has given a big boost of support to embattled Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf whose Truth and Reconciliation Commission has recommended that she be barred from holding further public office. Liberia's

VOA标准英语2009年-Clashes Between Houthi Rebels, Yemeni Gove

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and a Shi'ite rebel group in the north of the country appears to have intensified, with reports of casualties on both sides. Image taken from video released by the office of rebel leader Abdel Malik al-Hawth

VOA标准英语2009年-Switzerland Loses Status as 'Tax Paradise'

An agreement to settle a long-standing tax evasion suit between Swiss banking giant UBS and the U.S. Justice Department has received mixed reviews in Switzerland. Swiss media disagree on the potential consequences of the deal. But all agree that Swi

VOA标准英语2009年-Ghana Debates Viability of Biofuels

Africa is central to the worldwide growth in biofuels, with Dutch, American, Swedish, Japanese, German, and British firms all competing for farmland to grow the next generation of energy producing crops. Some farmers in Ghana are concerned about wha

VOA标准英语2009年-Administration Concerned About US Public S

The Obama administration is keeping a close watch on developments in Afghanistan amidst rising violence and growing tensions surrounding last week's national elections. Meanwhile, U.S. military officials admit they are concerned about signs of slipp

VOA标准英语2009年-US Africa Command Chief Vows Support for S

The top general from the U.S. military's Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, said on Friday that the rise of radical Islamist militant group al-Shabab in Somalia makes East Africa a central focus of the U.S. military on the continent. Gen. William War

VOA标准英语2009年-Humanitarian Situation in War-torn Yemen W

U.N. aid agencies say they are very concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen because of increased fighting between al-Houthi rebels and government forces in the mountains of northern Yemen. The U.N. refugee agency reports ab

VOA标准英语2009年-London Condemns Reception Lockerbie Bomber

The British government has condemned the hero's welcome Libya gave to the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says it was deeply upsetting for the loved ones of the 270 victims of the Pan Am

VOA标准英语2009年-Children Acutely Malnourished in Central A

The U.N. Children's Fund says thousands of children in the Central African Republic are acutely malnourished. UNICEF is urgently appealing for $1.5 million to provide life-saving therapeutic foods, drugs and other supplies to these vulnerable childr

VOA标准英语2009年-Fragile Four-Year Peace Prevails in Indone

August 15 marks the fourth anniversary of peace in Aceh province in Indonesia. The tsunami that decimated the region in 2004, killing nearly 170,000 people, and the immense international relief effort that followed helped end a 30-year separatist wa

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-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-Italy Consumed by Lottery Fever

Lottery fever is gripping Italy, as millions of people dream their ticket will be the winner of Europe's record-breaking jackpot. Italy's SuperEnalotto top prize has climbed to $194-million and Italians and foreigners alike are making sure they have