In closing the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt last Friday, FIFA President Sepp Blatter sounded less than assured in wishing the best to Nigeria as host of the Under-17 event, in what he described as the African year of football.

VOA: standard.2009.10.22

Since the closing of the Bank of the United States, the government had kept its money in a number of state banks.

VOA: special.2009.01.01

In a striking closing scene, the ocean expert Sylvia Earle talks about the importance of protecting the beautiful world that lives under the sea.

VOA: special.2009.03.25

However,he says, many plants are not closing their pores in order to hold in more water.

VOA: special.2010.01.26

"So it's closing the door on innovation by locking in a national,uniform bureaucratic system.

VOA: special.2011.06.09

The United Nations says it is closing its offices in Pakistan temporarily, while it assesses the security situation.

VOA: standard.2009.10.05

Mr.Besson says the French government will be closing more migrant camps, along the coast, in the coming weeks.

VOA: standard.2009.09.22

And he knows, and all of us know, that he is participating in the closing borders and is participating in the siege."

VOA: standard.2010.06.01

Both automakers, which are facing bankruptcy, received more than $17 billion in government aid during the closing days of the Bush administration.

VOA: standard.2009.03.30

Some polling stations stayed open late Friday on the first day of the balloting because voters were still in line at closing time.

VOA: standard.2009.11.28

closing an air field in a populated area and building a new one on an existing U.S.base in the northern part of the island.

VOA: standard.2009.10.20

A US state department report has called on Sri Lanka to investigate alleged rights abuses in the closing stages of the conflict, and punish those responsible.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

In the closing event, Shelly-Ann Fraser jumped out of the starting blocks and never trailed as she crossed the finish line in a world-leading time of 10.73 seconds.

VOA: standard.2009.08.18

As if winning medals and proposing were not enough, Demong - a four-time Olympian - was also named by his teammates to carry the U.S.flag in Sunday's Closing Ceremonies.

VOA: standard.2010.02.27

Kai Eide said a cleaner election and a credible government will go a long way toward closing what he called the "gap" between the Afghan people and officials in Kabul.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

The State Department says if the Sri Lankan government really is interested, as it says it is, in post-war reconciliation, it should investigate alleged abuses in the closing months of the conflict and bring to justice those responsible.

VOA: standard.2009.10.22

The administration has found that it is easy to receive applause in Europe for closing Guantanamo, but it is tricky to come up with an alternative that will serve the interests of justice and America's national security,"

VOA: standard.2009.05.21