VOA标准英语2010年-Burkina Cloth Reveals Paradoxes in Cou

March 8 is International Women's Day, a national holiday in Burkina Faso. One way of celebrating is by making new clothes from Women's Day cloth that is designed with a new pattern every year. Burkina Faso is Africa's largest cotton producer, but the

VOA标准英语2010年-US FDA Examining Failures of LASIK Eye

LASIK eye surgery is used to correct people's vision and end their need for glasses or contact lenses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure 15 years ago. But now, a former government regulator is publicly expressing concerns a

VOA标准英语2010年-President Obama Marks International Wo

In an event at the White House on Monday, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle marked International Women's Day. The president and first lady were joined by Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, as they note

VOA标准英语2010年-Israel Expects Peace Talks with Palest

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel hopes to begin peace negotiations with the Palestinians next week, during a visit by U.S. envoy George Mitchell. Mr. Netanyahu spoke to his Cabinet a day after the Arab League endorsed indirect peace talk

VOA标准英语2010年-Grounded Mosquitoes Could Halt Spread

The dengue virus is spread through the bite of an infected female Aedes egypti mosquito. The disease causes flu-like symptoms, including high fever, muscle aches and sometimes death. Each year, the disease strikes between 50 and 100 million people li

VOA标准英语2010年-US Returns Ancient Sarcophagus to Egyp

The empty 3,000-year-old sarcophagus was at the center of a transfer ceremony as U.S. officials handed over the apparently smuggled artifact to Egypt's chief of antiquities. John Morton is the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigra

VOA标准英语2010年-Iran's Nuclear Chief says IAEA Head 'B

It was another day of bullhorn diplomacy by Iran's top nuclear officials, who appear to be struggling to halt momentum for a new round of international sanctions. The head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, began the day by calling IAE

VOA标准英语2010年-Study: Acupuncture Helps Fight Depress

Researchers at Stanford University in California say acupuncture can be an effective weapon against depression in pregnant women. Depression can pose serious health risks to mother and baby, according to Rachel Manber, a Stanford University psychiatr

VOA标准英语2010年-Early Voting in Iraq Marred by Suicide

Suicide bombers have attacked two polling stations in Baghdad, killing at least seven soldiers, while an explosion near another voting place not yet in use took the lives of seven civilians. The blasts occurred as early voting got under way for Sunda

VOA标准英语2010年-British Fairtrade Foundation Works to

The British-based Fairtrade Foundation works to improve the lives of farmers in developing countries, by guaranteeing fair prices for their products and investing in social infrastructure. The organization also tries to convince British shoppers to s

VOA标准英语2010年-US Marines: Taliban Insurgents Mostly

Three weeks after U.S. Marines and Afghan Army soldiers launched the largest military offensive in Afghanistan since 2001, a top American commander said Thursday that most of the insurgents have been cleared from the Taliban enclave of Marja. On Febr

VOA标准英语2010年-Rising Girl Rapper Reaches for the Sta

Filmmaker Gabriel Noble first saw Priscilla Star Diaz perform at age nine in a New York City nightclub. When Priscilla Star Diaz told her father she wanted to be a performer, he did all he could to help achieve not only his child's dream, but also hi

VOA标准英语2010年-Rwanda Formally Welcomed Into Commonwe

Rwandan President Paul Kagame joined celebrations in England as Rwanda was formally welcomed into the Commonwealth Club of Nations. Rwandan performers opened the Commonwealth Day ceremony with a traditional dance and Rwandan President Paul Kagame add

VOA标准英语2010年-Have a Smoke at Your Child's Expense

These kids are at higher risk for the development of plaque in their arteries as time goes by. - Donald LaVan, MD A new study has found that teenagers who are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke are more likely to have changes to their blood vessels

VOA标准英语2010年-Vote Counting Underway in Iraq

Iraqi officials are counting votes from Sunday's parliamentary election. Despite a series of attacks that left more than 30 people dead, the vote is being hailed as a general success. Officials started the task of tallying the ballots shortly after t

VOA标准英语2010年-So Long Sushi, US Sides With Bluefin T

In the 1970s, Carl Safina fished off the U.S. Atlantic coast for bluefin tuna, a majestic warm-blooded predator that travels at highway speeds and can weigh as much as 650 kilograms. I've seen acres and acres of bluefin tuna at the surface, exploding

VOA标准英语2010年-Ethiopian Jews Push Israel on Immigrat

The final remnants of a community of Ethiopian Jews are asking Israel to make good on a promise to allow them to immigrate. The so-called Falash Mura Jews accuse Israeli authorities of turning a deaf ear to their immigration requests. Their synagogue

VOA标准英语2010年-Who's the Brainiest of Them All?

The world's brainiest people were in China for the 34th annual Battle of the Brains, the oldest, most prestigious computer programming contest in the world. Earlier this month, the world's brainiest people were in Harbin, China, for the 34th annual B

VOA标准英语2010年-Decline in Toyota Sales Gives Rivals B

U.S. sales of Toyota vehicles declined nearly 9 percent in February, the first full month since the Japanese automaker suspended sales and recalled 8.5 million cars for accelerator problems. Although the concerns about the safety of Toyota's vehicles

VOA标准英语2010年-US Loosens Export Restrictions on Inte

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced it will issue licenses to companies that export instant messaging and other personal Internet services to Iran, Sudan and Cuba. The move follows comments made earlier this year by U.S. Secretary of State Hil