VOA标准英语 Somali Pirates Seize 4 Ships in 24 Hours

Somali pirates have stepped up the seizure of ships along the coast of the lawless country. A Greek-owned vessel with 22 crew members was hijacked early Tuesday and there is word that a Togo-flagged vessel has also been seized. Monday, two Egyptian

VOA标准英语 Obama: Signs of Economic Progress

U.S. President Barack Obama says the first signs of an economic recovery are beginning to emerge. But at the same time he warns the process is only beginning and much hard work lies ahead. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the economy, Tues

VOA标准英语 Thai Protesters Disperse Under Military Pressure, Le

Thai protesters are dispersing after the military surrounded their main demonstration camp and four protest leaders turned themselves in to police. Music played Tuesday across the main protest site outside government house. But, the mood was anythin

VOA标准英语 Italy Quake Victims Mark Somber Easter Holiday

Thousands of people made homeless by Italy's deadliest earthquake in 30 years celebrated a somber Easter on Sunday. Six days after the quake struck and with the death toll now standing at 294, masses were held in makeshift chapels set up in tent cit

VOA标准英语 Obama Eases Cuba Travel, Money Restrictions

U.S. President Barack Obama is making it easier for Cuban-Americans to travel and send remittances to relatives in Cuba. Monday's announcement came just days before a summit of hemispheric leaders in Trinidad and Tobago. Fidel Castro (file photo) Th

VOA标准英语 Obama Vows To Combat Somali Pirates

U.S. President Barack Obama says he is determined to halt piracy in the shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia. Mr. Obama spoke one day after the dramatic rescue of an American cargo ship captain who had been held hostage by the pirates since last

VOA标准英语 Thai Military Move to Confront Protesters After Day

Thai soldiers are moving towards anti-government protesters in the Thai capital who have been demonstrating outside the main government compound. Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters clashed with soldiers, setting fire to buses and hurling st

VOA标准英语 Fiji President Scraps Constitution, Assumes Control

There is more political turmoil in Fiji after President Ratu Josefa Iloilo annulled the constitution, fired the judiciary and assumed all governing power in the South Pacific nation. Ratu Josefa Iloilo (2008 File) The elderly leader's motives are, h

VOA标准英语 Algeria's Bouteflika Re-Elected to 3rd Term

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been re-elected in a vote boycotted by some opposition parties who were upset by changes to the electoral law allowing him to run for a third consecutive term. Algerian Pres. Abdelaziz Bouteflika waves as

VOA标准英语 Prisoners Freed as Rebels Clash With Troops in Easte

As the U.N. Security Council prepared to discuss the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, gunmen attacked the town of Uvira, near the border with Burundi, and a human rights group criticized the Congolese military's actions in its camp

VOA标准英语 Indonesians Vote in Parliamentary Elections

Indonesians voted Thursday in legislative elections across the vast nation of islands. Results are not yet in, but opinion polls show President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party may be the big winner. Indonesian woman casts ballot at polli

VOA标准英语 Political Tensions Rise in Thailand as Protests Esca

Political tensions in Thailand have risen sharply after supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stepped up protests in the Thai capital and shut down key roads. The protesters threaten more drastic action if the government does not re

VOA标准英语 Britain's Anti-Terror Chief Resigns Over Security Bl

Britain's top anti-terrorism chief has been forced to resign after he inadvertently released details of an operation that then had to be initiated earlier than expected. In that operation, a dozen men in northwest England have been arrested and are

VOA标准英语 Egyptian Security Forces Scour The Sinai For Hezboll

Egyptian police searched a mountainous part of the Sinai peninsula, Monday, trying to find 13 men thought to belong to a Hezbollah cell planning attacks against Israeli tourists. The search was launched after authorities interrogated 49 suspects now

VOA标准英语 Iranian President Welcomes 'Honest' Talks With US

Iran's hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said his country would welcome talks with the United States if President Barack Obama proves to be honest in extending a hand towards Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad greets supporters in Isf

VOA标准英语 Global Economic Outlook Worsens Despite Signs of US

Forecasters say the world economy is in the midst of its deepest downturn in 60 years with global growth projected to be negative for this year. Two months ago the International Monetary Fund said the world economy would grow by a meager one half of

VOA标准英语 Romania Denies Involvement in Moldova's Riots

Romania is denying Moldovan accusations that it was involved in violent anti-government protests in Moldova, which left at least one woman dead and injured some 100 others. The denial came after Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin ordered the expuls

VOA标准英语 Indonesia Elections Highlight Challenges, Maturing D

Indonesia, which has has the world's largest Muslim population, holds legislative elections Thursday, amid concerns about vote buying, fraud and some regional violence in the country. But the elections mark a transition for the young democracy. Elec

VOA标准英语 US to Join Big-Power Nuclear Talks With Iran

The United States, in a policy shift, says it will play a full role in future big-power talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Diplomats of the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany, the so-called P5+1, meeting in Lond

VOA标准英语 Somali Piracy Exposes Weakness in UN Law of the Sea

The explosion of piracy off the coast of Somalia in recent years has exposed a weakness in the United Nations maritime law that makes high seas piracy illegal throughout the world. An undated image made available in London, 08 Apr 2009 by Maersk Lin