On Thursday, health ministers and senior officials from East Asia agreed to step up monitoring and prevention efforts against swine flu.

VOA: standard.2009.05.08

"That is why we are going to need your help," "We'll need young people like you to step up.

VOA: standard.2009.05.14

More important than that, it is a chance for China to step up its interaction with the rest of the world."

VOA: standard.2010.05.02

The United States wants South Africa to step up its leadership role in Africa, particularly in the area of trade.

VOA: standard.2009.08.08

In response, the insurgents have promised to step up attacks on diplomats, members of the Afghan government, lawmakers,NATO forces and foreign contractors.

VOA: standard.2010.05.19

Step it up! Look alive out there. The good thing about Vietnam is there was alwayssomeplace to go.

VOA: standard.other

We are going to keep on working to get this done,with Democrats, I hope with Republicans, anybody who is willing to step up,".

VOA: standard.2010.01.22

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official spokesman and advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, however,said Palestinian leaders want Mr.Obama to step up the pressure on Israel.

VOA: standard.2009.04.09

The Palestinians say they are hoping for an announcement that Washington will step up the pressure on Israel to halt construction in the settlements.

VOA: standard.2009.09.07

But Asian markets Monday were up, following word Sunday that the United Arab Emirates' Central Bank in Abu Dhabi would step in to help Dubai World.

VOA: standard.2009.11.30

President Umaru Yar'Adua has come under pressure to step up his anti-graft drive in one of the world's most tainted countries since he came to power in 2007.

VOA: standard.2009.04.18

As new U.S.and U.N.economic sanctions are a response step up the pressure on Iran's economy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is urging his countrymen to change their habits.

VOA: standard.2010.07.23

(OMITTED) Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl of Arizona announced a plan to step up border security, including a request for 3,000 National Guard troops along the Arizona-Mexico border.

VOA: standard.2010.04.21

Wrapping up his defense testimony, Mr.Taylor said he agreed to step down as Liberian president in 2003 in the interest of peace but was tricked by the international community.

VOA: standard.2009.11.10

"I think it is time now for the ASEAN Secretariat to step up, perhaps a shuttle diplomacy toward this unsettling issue, and that Hun Sen should reconsider to reduce this antagonistic approach toward Thailand,".

VOA: standard.2009.11.11

"Having passed reform bills in both the House and the Senate we now to have to take up the last and most important step and reach an agreement on a final reform bill that I can sign into law,".

VOA: standard.2009.12.25

In separate action, the House of Representatives debated a resolution urging Iran to step up cooperation with the U.S.and intermediaries on the case of Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared in 2007 while visiting Iran.

VOA: standard.2009.04.28

At the White House, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the threatened North Korea moves were "a serious step in the wrong direction" and urged Pyongyang to end what he termed its "provocative threats" and live up to its international obligations.

VOA: standard.2009.04.14

U.S.President Barack Obama has already outlined Washington's new strategy, to deal strategically with Afghanistan and Pakistan together, to focus on both military and civilian development efforts and to step up diplomacy by bringing in neighboring countries as part of the solution.

VOA: standard.2009.04.03