VOA标准英语2011-Oxfam: Somali Drought Could Be as Serious

Below average rainfall in Somalia has pushed nearly 500,000 people to the brink of starvation. International aid-group Oxfam is warning that more will be affected unless immediate action is taken. Somalia is in desperate need of aid, says British-bas

VOA标准英语2011-Burma’s Path to Privatization Keeps Arm

Burma's military is pressing on with the privatization of state assets as part of economic reforms. Many critics say the program simply transfers assets to the military government's allies and maintains its economic control. Burma's is one of Asia's

VOA标准英语2011-Putin Vows Retribution for Moscow Airport

Russia's leaders are promising to crack down on terrorists, after a deadly bomb attack appeared to target foreigners Monday in a Moscow airport. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed that retribution is inevitable for the suicide bombing that k

VOA标准英语2011-Deadly Dangers of Texting Exposed

Those three words were the last text message Mariah West read before the violent car crash that took her life. It was the day before my daughter's graduation from high school. She was on her way to a ball game and was getting directions, says Merry D

VOA标准英语2011--Pro-Gadhafi Forces Said to Be Weak on Ma

Fighting in Libya between forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and rebels hoping to overthrow his government continues. Our correspondent Phil Ittner has been reporting about the conflict from opposition-held Benghazi. Today, he traveled by car from Bengh

VOA标准英语2011--Buffett Eyes India for Investment Opport

American investor Warren Buffett says he is looking at investment opportunities in India. The world's third richest man, who has given away most of his fortune, has also expressed optimism that philanthropy will increase in India. Warren Buffet's fir

Day-Old Mice Grow Back New Heart Tissue After Injury

When humans have a heart attack, heart muscles die after being cut off from their blood supply. But what if the heart could grow new muscle to replace the dead tissue? Some amphibians can regrow body parts, even entire limbs. But humans and other hig

VOA标准英语2011--World Marks 100th Women’s Day

Women are joining together all over the world to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8. Women poured through London's streets on Tuesday singing loudly for women's rights. The banners they carried trained a spotlight on t

Correspondent Debriefer: Libya Rebels Continue to Pin Hopes

Libyan rebels and government forces have staged several offensives in the battle for control of the country. To get a clearer picture of the situation on the ground, VOA's Susan Yackee spoke to our correspondent Phil Ittner who is currently in the op

VOA标准英语2011--Foreign Powers Press for Sudan Talks

The United States, Norway and Britain have called for talks to resume in Sudan so that plans can move ahead for the south's independence later this year. The southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) called off talks with the Khartoum-based

World Leaders Offer Sympathy, Assistance to Quake-Ravaged Ja

Many world leaders are expressing shock and sympathy following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and are offering to assist the country as it struggles to recover from the disaster. U.S. President Barack Obama pledged assistance for wh

VOA标准英语2011--Homeless Students Pushed to Succeed

At least one million children in the United States experience homelessness each year, putting them at increased risk for problems with their health, safety and education. Without a fixed address and with their family facing financial problems, homele

VOA标准英语2011--Accused Russian Arms Dealer Appears in N

Viktor Bout, a former Soviet military officer accused by the United States of offering to sell weapons to terrorist groups, appeared in federal court in New York on Thursday. Bout's lawyer asked the government to provide his client with better prison

VOA标准英语2011--Students Earn Debt-Free College Degree

The Friday afternoon computer science class at Berea College looks much like similar classes on campuses all over America. But there's one big difference. While a four-year undergraduate degree at Berea costs nearly $100,000, these students will neve

VOA标准英语2011--Do You Keep a Horse in a Bathtub?

If you're planning a trip to the United States, be very careful. You could easily break one of our laws and not know it. We're not talking about obvious illegal behavior, like punching your taxi driver or throwing a chair through your hotel window. N

VOA标准英语2011--'Rubber Soulive' Pays Tribute to The Bea

Paying tribute to The Beatles is a time-honored tradition for many of today's pop and rock artists. But one recent tribute comes from a band which specializes in jazz and funk. New York trio Soulive, featuring Neal Evans on Hammond B-3 organ, his bro

Obama Speech Buoys Residents in Rebel-Held Eastern Libya

Residents of eastern Libya under the control of opponents of leader Moammar Gadhafi are reacting with approval to President Barack Obama's remarks Monday night on the international coalition's role in their country's conflict. But many say they wish

VOA标准英语2011--US Girl Helps Other Children in Need

Helping others is probably not a top priority for most American 12 year olds. But that's not the case with Ashlee Smith of Reno, Nevada, who's been making a difference in the lives of other children since she was just eight. Several years ago, when f

Uganda AIDS Programs at Risk from Proposed US Budget Cuts

Uganda was one of the first sub-Saharan African countries to address the HIV/AIDS crisis early on. Over the years, it's come to rely heavily on U.S. support for its prevention and treatment programs. But Congress is considering cutting hundreds of mi

VOA标准英语2011--Libyan Rebels Move on Gadhafi's Hometown

Libyan opposition forces are fighting for control of Sirte, the hometown of their avowed enemy, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The rebels have taken swift advantage of a U.N.-backed military campaign that is now under NATO command. Government forces