Coming after a week of almost-universally upbeat economic data that buoyed U.S.markets, Wednesday's more-somber news is a reality-check, according to Alan Brown of Schroders, an asset management company.

VOA: standard.2009.08.05

"Just imagine,a severe pandemic coming at such a fragile time in a world where there are many people suffering from chronic diseases like heart disease, lung disease,including asthma, cancers,with many more people suffering from HIV, obesity and the list goes on,".

VOA: standard.2009.12.29

For example, a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary.

VOA: special.2010.05.30

Coming up with a plan to fix the banks and the financial system is now the job for Tim Geithner.

VOA: special.2009.01.30

Helen looked straight up at the sky as if a lost memory or thought of some kind was coming back to her.

VOA: special.2009.11.08

When we left John Carter, a green adult creature carrying a long sharp spear was coming toward him.

VOA: special.2010.07.17

He says he will work with world leaders to reach a legally binding treaty in the coming months.

VOA: special.2009.12.26

The white workers asked Congress for a law to stop Chinese workers from coming to the United States.

VOA: special.2010.03.11

Six weeks before, her husband told her in a letter that he would be coming home soon.

VOA: special.2009.12.12

She often had visions of a magical goddess covered in flowers coming to her in a garden.

VOA: special.2010.04.14

In the Smithsonian, there is a blown glass heart with a flame coming out of the top.

VOA: special.2009.09.16

"I just came for a few minutes to ask when she is coming home," he explained.

VOA: special.2009.07.04

The seventy-one year old cried tears of joy as she told the crowd the award was "a long time coming" but worth the wait.

VOA: special.2011.02.18

This led him to write and record songs for his own album, "A Long Time Coming."

VOA: special.2009.03.27