VOA标准英语2013--World Press Freedom Declines

World Press Freedom Declines Just one out of six people across the globe enjoyed a free press last year. Freedom House President David Kramer says the global decline in press freedom is a huge concern. A free press is critical to any country's democr

VOA标准英语2013--Domestic Politics Limits Obama's Options on Syria

Domestic Politics Limits Obama's Options on Syria As civil war continues to rage in Syria, the Obama administration is trying to confirm its belief that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people. President Obama has repea

VOA标准英语2013--South Africa Service Uses Text Messaging to Help Expectant Mothers

South Africa Service Uses Text Messaging to Help Expectant Mothers By 2014, there will be more phones on this planet than there are people, according to the United Nations telecoms agency. That startling comparison gave birth to an idea: Why not use

VOA标准英语2013--Egyptians Wonder When, If, Mubarak Case Will End

Egyptians Wonder When, If, Mubarak Case Will End Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is set to appear in court again June 8, as the case against him grinds slowly on. His retrial on charges he was complicit in the murder of protesters during the

VOA标准英语2013--Report: Tax Havens Cost Africa $38 Billion a Year

Report: Tax Havens Cost Africa $38 Billion a Year Melanie Ward is spokesperson for the 'Enough For Everyone If' campaign. I think a lot of people here in the U.K. and around the world are fed up with tax dodging, said Ward. They are fed up with a sys

VOA标准英语2013--Some US Nurses Struggle to Find Work

Some US Nurses Struggle to Find Work Ive applied for 35 different jobs and, despite having a 4.0 GPA [very high grades], I have not received any jobs, so its really concerning, said University of Maryland student Alexandra Bauernschub. She is finishi

VOA标准英语2013--Cleveland Women's Escape From Long Captivity Unprecedented

Cleveland Women's Escape From Long Captivity Unprecedented The news that Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were alive and free - after being kidnapped a decade ago - sparked celebrations in their home town. Robert Lowery, with the Nation

VOA标准英语2013--'Reluctant Fundamentalist' Explores Cultural Misconceptions

'Reluctant Fundamentalist' Explores Cultural Misconceptions Changez, a son of an intellectual Pakistani family and a brilliant financial advisor, has everything going for him: a great job on Wall Street, a beautiful American girlfriend, connections.

VOA标准英语2013--Traffic Safety at the Heart of Walks, Rallies Around the World

Traffic Safety at the Heart of Walks, Rallies Around the World Cars and people -- trying to get along on one of the world's busiest roads. Biking and walking and crossing -- in Cambodia. India, and Tanzania. Competing with driving, sometimes risky, s

VOA标准英语2013--Youth Orchestra Bridges Worlds of Music

Youth Orchestra Bridges Worlds of Music There are high school students in the group as young as 15, and young professionals up to age 25, and conductor Roger Kalia says they all bring passion to their music. There is a certain amount of energy and ex

VOA标准英语2013--Wind Power Firms Push to Extend Tax Credit

Wind Power Firms Push to Extend Tax Credit ELLSWORTH, ILLINOIS Kansas cattleman Pete Ferrell almost lost his ranch in the recent drought that ravaged much of the United States, but he credits a series of 100-meter tall wind turbines situated on his p

VOA标准英语2013--Pakistan Voters Head to Polls in Landmark Elections

Pakistan Voters Head to Polls in Landmark Elections The nationwide poll for a new national assembly and government leadership follows the bloodiest election campaign in Pakistans history. For weeks, militants and extremists bombed, shot at, killed, k

VOA标准英语2013--India Leads World in Most First-Day Newborn Deaths

India Leads World in Most First-Day Newborn Deaths Afsana Begum lost her second son to jaundice, just a month after he was born in a neighboring slum. Now pregnant again, she is determined that her baby enter the world in a safer environment. If you

VOA标准英语2013--Global Immunization: Despite Successes, Much More To Do

Global Immunization: Despite Successes, Much More To Do Measles is one of the leading causes of childhood deaths worldwide. Not only does measles kill, but it can leave children blind, deaf or developmentally disabled, even while they are still in th

VOA标准英语2013--US Diplomat: Military Help Sought During Benghazi Attack

US Diplomat: Military Help Sought During Benghazi Attack The attack, and the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, shocked the nation and sparked calls for an investigation. Eight months later, the controversy and the allegations continue. The for

VOA标准英语2013--South Africa’s Black Middle Class on the Rise

South Africas Black Middle Class on the Rise The Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing says the black middle class is now 4.2 million people strong, up from 1.7 million in 2004. And many say their status is hard-won. I just started to work hard,

VOA标准英语2013--US Working Mothers Struggle Daily to Balance Family, Career

US Working Mothers Struggle Daily to Balance Family, Career Alison Barnes is getting her kids fed and ready for school as she gets ready to leave for her job. This busy mother of three says she has been trying hard to juggle the needs of her family w

VOA标准英语2013--Obama, Burmese President to Discuss Reform Progress, Challenges

Obama, Burmese President to Discuss Reform Progress, Challenges November 2012. Barack Obama becomes the first serving U.S. president to visit Burma. He meets with President Thein Sein, who has led a bold but cautious reform process since 2011 after d

VOA标准英语2013--US Military Officials Call Sex Abuse In Ranks Serious Problem

US Military Officials Call Sex Abuse In Ranks Serious Problem Sexual misconduct in the ranks remains a problem despite recently enacted preventive measures, making it clear that the military alone cannot solve it. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said a

VOA标准英语2013--Midwest Tea Party Activists Not Surprised by IRS Scrutiny

Midwest Tea Party Activists Not Surprised by IRS Scrutiny Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh, a Republican, has heard a lot about the IRS from his conservative supporters, and not just in the last several weeks. I had, during my two years in Congr