Each December, the editors and news directors of the Associated Press vote for the top ten news stories of the year.

VOA: special.2009.01.03

In all,seven of the ten top countries sent more students last year, just as the economic downturn was worsening.

VOA: special.2009.11.26

The same ten cities stay at the top of the list from year to year, although their order may change slightly.

VOA: special.2009.03.27

Last year,the top news story was the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States.

VOA: special.2010.01.02

The Institute of International Education in New York says last year's top five were India, China, South Korea, Japan and Canada.

VOA: special.2009.01.08

She won a four-year college scholarship, the top prize nationally in a public speaking contest on the Constitution.

VOA: special.2010.04.24

Last month, thirteen- year-old Jordan Romero became the youngest person to reach the top of the mountain.

VOA: special.2010.06.30

The financial crisis will be the top issue at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

VOA: special.2009.01.23

This year,more than one hundred thirty thousand people gathered on the National Mall to hear top writers and poets talk about their work.

VOA: special.2009.10.12

The battle between Republicans and Democrats over health care reform was voted the third top story Reform of the country's of the year.

VOA: special.2010.01.02

The world's top golfer met with reporters Monday before the first major tournament of the year.

VOA: special.2010.04.10

Last year's results show Minneapolis,Minnesota and Seattle,Washington tied in the top position for most literate city.

VOA: special.2009.03.27

Researchers questioned authors of nine hundred articles published last year in six top medical journals.

VOA: special.2009.10.08

The American economic crisis was second on the list of top stories last year.

VOA: special.2009.01.03

He was the top new player, or rookie of the year, in nineteen ninety-eight.

VOA: special.2010.06.02

The price of oil was voted the third top story of the year.

VOA: special.2009.01.03

China passed Germany to become the world's top exporting country last year.

VOA: special.2010.07.09

At the end of each year, editors and news directors of the Associated Press in the United States vote for the top ten news stories of the year.

VOA: special.2010.01.02

This year,Mister Obama's inauguration was voted the second top story.

VOA: special.2010.01.02

"We must stop the shark-finning which is resulting in the death of thirty to seventy million sharks each year because that has so upset ocean ecology by the removal of these often apex, top-level predators."

VOA: special.2011.03.15

The science fiction epic Avatar won best drama and top director for filmmaker James Cameron at this year's Golden Globe awards.

VOA: standard.2010.02.21

In 2009,South By Southwest injected more than $99 million into the local economy, and predictions for this year top $100 million.

VOA: standard.2010.04.07

In addition to naming the top male athlete of the year, Laureus will also be crowning the best sportswoman.

VOA: standard.2010.02.11

His 2009 Number One hit "Big Green Tractor" is Number 10 on the year's Top Country Songs list.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

The top-three teams in the six-nation group advance to next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

VOA: standard.2009.06.07

A year later, he notched his first Top 10 single as a solo artist, "Just Another Day."

VOA: standard.2010.04.02

Campaigners have slammed the verdict, calling the two-year prison term for the former top managers "too light."

VOA: standard.2010.06.10

Information Minister Akunyili described the 70-year-old former government minister and top banker as a responsible and respected Nigerian with a true Nigerian spirit.

VOA: standard.2009.12.28

Immigration reform failed in Congress in 2006 and 2007 and President Obama promised to make the issue a top priority during his first year in office.

VOA: standard.2010.03.21