voa news item 1

1、Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his counterpartsfrom the Association of Southeast Asian Nationssealed the agreement in Bangkok Thursday.They met on the sidelinesof the annual ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting.Th

2、e agreement creates one of Asia's biggest trading areasand integrates India's fast growing economywith 10 of its neighbors.Trade between India and ASEAN amounts to$40 billion each year.Under the pact, India and A

3、SEAN will eliminatetariffs on various goods by 2016.Britain's political life has been dominatedfor the past three decades by two parties- the Conservatives, now led by David Cameron,and Labor headed by current Prime

4、Minister Gordon Brown.But a third party, the Liberal Democrats,are turning this election into a three-horse race.Their campaign was given a major boostby Britain's first ever televised debate last week;Liberal Democr

5、at leader Nick Clegg emerged as the clear winner.Viewer polls taken after this second debate,which focused on foreign policy,showed there was no runaway victor.The last time Britain had a hung parliament was in 1974.A fi

6、nal televised debate is to take place next Thursday,followed by the election on May 6.On the second day of debate all signs continued topoint toward an easy confirmation win for Sotomayor,the 55-year-old federal court ju

7、dgenominated by President Barack Obama earlier this year.Although most of the 40 Senate Republicans are likely to vote against her,the decision Wednesday of Missouri Senator Kit Bondadded to the number of Republicans who

8、 have committed to voting for her.Senator Bond, who is one of several Republicansretiring from the Senate next year,said while he respects and agrees with the legal reasoningothers in his party used to oppose Sotomayor,j

9、ust how three leaders of the anti-government protestsmanaged to escape when police tried to surround their hotel Friday.One of the leaders climbed down three floors using a rope,and was rushed away by supporters throngin

10、g the building.Officials earlier Friday said the government is preparing to arrestpeople linked to clashes with security forces last Saturdaythat left 24 soldiers and protesters dead.The government says armed men infiltr

11、ated protester ranksand fired on troops trying to disperse a rally.The anti-government movement,led by the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship or UDD,demands that the Government call fresh elections.UDD supporte

12、rs have held protests in Bangkok for more than a month.Thailand is facing its most severe political crisis in almost 20 years.Some parties in the governing coalitionwant to set a clear time frame for elections

13、 to ease tensions.But the government says it will only call electionsonce the political situation has cooled.Kyrgyzstan's five-day-old provisional government is vowingto use the country's military to launch a spe

14、cial operationto neutralize President Kurmanbek Bakiyevif he does not resign.Interim Kyrgyz leader Roza Otunbayevasays her government is willing to negotiate his departure from the countryand wants to resolve the standof

15、fwithout any more harm to innocent civilians.The president was effectively oustedafter last Wednesday's clashes between government forces and protesters.Authorities say about 80 people have diedand more than 1,600 we

16、re wounded.On the eve of Israel's 62nd Independence Day,Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nationmust not rely on the help of foreigners.Commentators say it is a clear referenceto Israeli ties with the United