VOA标准英语2011-Nigerian Ruling-Party Delegates Gather to

Delegates from Nigeria's ruling party are gathering in the capital for a convention to choose their presidential nominee. Politicians will decide the fate of regional power-sharing in Nigeria. Nigeria's ruling party has won the last three presidentia

VOA标准英语2011-Woman Saddles Up in a Man's World

Nancy Martiny has made it in a man's world. She started making western saddles as a hobby but there's now a three-year waiting list of people lined up to buy her designs. Martiny builds her saddles from the ground up, eventually carving and stamping

VOA标准英语2011-Ban Ki-Moon Calls for ‘Clean Energy Rev

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is pushing for an overhaul of current energy consumption trends and for more investment in green technology. Speaking at the fourth annual World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Ban said renewable energy could hel

VOA标准英语2011-Freed Opposition Politician: Russia is Be

A freed opposition politician is accusing Russian authorities of using dictatorial tactics against opposition figures. Boris Nemtsov was arrested during a government-sanctioned protest on New Year's Eve and sentenced to two weeks of imprisonment. For

VOA标准英语2011-Tunisia Protests Call for Ruling Party to

More protests rocked the North African country of Tunisia as the prime minister prepared to name an interim government. Even before the names of the interim government were announced, Tunisians were on the streets calling for its ouster. The proteste

VOA标准英语2011-Cyber Attacks Will Be Weapon in Future Wa

A new OECD Cyber Security study by British professors says cyber weaponry will be used routinely in future wars. The study says computer attacks on their own will not necessarily constitute a threat, but a coordinated attack - or in combination with

VOA标准英语2011-Tunisia Announces New Unity Government

Tunisia's prime minister has announced a transitional government that includes members of the opposition. He also eased restrictions on the press and human-rights groups. But the old regime holds the top posts and hundreds of people demonstrated agai

VOA标准英语2011-Asia Experiences Huge Birth-Rate Decline

Approximately 6.6 billion people populate the earth today, with an estimated 3.7 billion living in Asia. But over the past 50 years, economic and social modernization in the region has been accompanied by a remarkable drop in birth rates. Sociologist

VOA标准英语2011-Sporadic Fighting Continues as Tunisia Tr

Gun battles broke out around Tunisia's capital late Sunday as politicians worked at cobbling together an interim coalition government. The day in the capital ended pretty much the way as the previous one - with sounds of gunfire and helicopters circl

VOA标准英语2011-Tunisian Human Rights Lawyer

For years, human-rights activists in Tunisia have been imprisoned and harassed by the hardline government of former president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Now, they face new challenges as Tunisia faces an uncertain future. Lisa Bryant interviewed one of

VOA标准英语2011-Tunisia Constitutional Council Appoints

Tunisia's highest constitutional body has appointed the head of the lower house of parliament as temporary head of the North African country, after massive protests drove longstanding leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country. A day after massi

VOA标准英语2011-Russian Nationalists Gather Remember

Hundreds of youths gathered in North Moscow to commemorate the 40th day since the death of a Russian football fan. Yegor Sviridov was murdered in December, allegedly by natives of the North Caucasus. Shortly afterwards Russian nationalists took to th

VOA标准英语2011-'Lady' Pays Tribute to Billie Holiday

More than 50 years after the death of Billie Holiday, singers and musicians continue to pay tribute to the singer known the world over as Lady Day. The latest Holiday celebration comes from jazz vocalist Lynne Fiddmont on her new album, Lady. In the

VOA标准英语2011-Arab League Calls Lebanese Crisis ‘Seri

The resignations of 11 Hezbollah cabinet members in Lebanon has plunged the country into its worst political crisis since 2008, when sectarian street clashes claimed dozens of lives and brought Lebanon to the brink of another civil war. The so-called

VOA标准英语2011-AU Recognizes Tunisia's Speaker as Interi

Africa's highest security body has recognized the speaker of Tunisia's national assembly as interim leader until fresh elections are held. The African Union Peace and Security Council condemned the excessive use of force against demonstrators in Tuni

VOA标准英语2011-India's Economy Rebounds in 2010

The rebound in India's economy in 2010 brought good news for the nation's middle class, which had experienced a boom prior to the global financial crisis. The world's second fastest-growing economy was also lauded by a stream of world leaders who vis

VOA标准英语2011-New Year, Old Battles for US Leaders

As millions of Americans welcome in 2011 with celebrations and fireworks, U.S. politicians are greeting the new decade with some familiar promises. Far removed from raucous New Year celebrations like the one in New York City's Times Square, U.S, Pres

VOA标准英语2011-Zimbabweans Rush to Meet Deadline to Beco

On New Year's Eve, Zimbabweans were still lining up outside South African government offices, attempting to become legal citizens in South Africa before the deadline on Friday. The South Africans have relaxed many immigration laws to allow as many Zi

VOA标准英语2011-Oscar-Winning Actress Explores Loss, Grie

The harrowing experience of losing a child is at the heart of a powerful new film drama adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman stars and could be a contender again for her performance as the grieving mother opposite Aa

VOA标准英语2011-Holy Land Enjoys Record Year of Tourism i

The Holy Land enjoyed a flood of visitors last year, which benefited Israelis and Palestinians alike. It was a record year for tourism in Israel thanks to a lull in violence. There were 3.45 million visitors in 2010, 14 percent more than the previous