VOA标准英语2011-As Drought Intensifies, Kenya Fears Famin

Food shortages are looming in Kenya as last season's lighter-than-normal rains begin to affect harvests in the arid north. As Kenya begins its annual dry season, there are mounting fears of crop failure and a shortages of food for residents in the dr

VOA标准英语2011-'Born Free' Reflects Organic Blues-Based

Kid Rock describes his latest album, Born Free, as organic blues-based rock and roll. Born Free is Kid Rock's first new album in more than three years. He left the comforts of his home studio in Detroit, Michigan to record the collection in Los Angel

VOA标准英语2011-India Plans to Cut Troops in Kashmir

The Indian government says it could cut troops in Indian-administered Kashmir by one quarter. The region, which witnessed a violent separatist insurgency for nearly two decades, is one of the most heavily militarized in the world. Home Secretary G.K.

VOA标准英语2011-New Website Gives Senegalese Easier Acces

Legal scholars in Senegal have a new website that makes the country's laws more accessible and gives Senegalese lawyers an opportunity to contribute their own research. The website is the brainchild of a U.S. law professor. Tracy Bach, a professor at

VOA标准英语2011-Taking Downsizing to a Whole New Level

The home foreclosure crisis highlighted how many Americans were in homes that were too big for them and their budget. That may be a reason that interest is growing in smaller - even tiny - homes. When Jay Shafer was a boy, he hated his 370-square-met

VOA标准英语2011-Lithuania Commemorates 20th Anniversary O

Lithuania is commemorating the 20th anniversary of a deadly clash with Soviet troops that preceded its independence in 1991. The Baltic nation's president, Dalia Grybauskaite, has urged Lithuanians never to forget the freedom battle, which killed 14

VOA标准英语2011-South Africa Delays Deportation of Zimbab

The South African government says it is extending its deadline for deporting irregular Zimbabwean migrants until July 31. The Geneva-based International Organization for Migration says it welcomes this extension and is ready to assist Zimbabweans who

VOA标准英语2011-South Sudan Aid Agencies Continue Food Ai

As voting in southern Sudan's independence referendum enters its final days, relief officials say at least 1 million people will continue to need food assistance despite an improvement in food security over the past year. It is midday at a large spor

VOA标准英语2011-Hezbollah Tribunal Move Is Transparent Ef

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday said the effort by Hezbollah to undermine the U.N.-backed tribunal in Lebanon is a transparent effort to subvert justice that is destined to fail. Clinton discussed the Lebanese government crisis with

VOA标准英语2011-Experts Say Violence Not Necessarily Link

When violent incidents such as the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others occur, many people wonder what caused the violence. Some leading researchers say mental illness is not necessarily connected to violence. It is often t

VOA标准英语2011-Global Risks Report 2011: Global Governan

The global financial crisis has drained the world's capacity to deal with further shocks, according to the World Economic Forum's new Global Risks Report. The Forum says 20th century systems are failing to manage 21st century risks. In this year's Gl

VOA标准英语2011-Kenya's War on Graft Continues

The War on Graft has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan Parliament in recent months, with several ministers being targeted in high-profile investigations. But Kenya's anti-corruption body says more are on the way. In recent months, Kenya's notoriousl

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