VOA标准英语2013--US Advocates Political Solution in Mali

US Advocates Political Solution in Mali The Obama administration says it shares French military goals in the fight against Islamist militants in northern Mali and will help the Economic Community of West African States -- or ECOWAS -- send their own

VOA标准英语2013--National Day of Service Honors Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.

National Day of Service Honors Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. Stephanie Garlick is fighting hunger. She's volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, doing what she can to help the less fortunate. There is so much depression

VOA标准英语2013--More Land Being Used for Organic Farming

More Land Being Used for Organic Farming More land around the world is being dedicated to organic farming. The Worldwatch Institute says since 1999 theres been a more than three-fold increase to 37 million hectares. Organic farming is farming without

VOA标准英语2013--Snack Maker's Business Model Aids Hunger Relief

Snack Maker's Business Model Aids Hunger Relief At an age when most Americans begin thinking about retirement, Lauren Walters founded a company aimed at feeding the world's hungry children. The idea came to the lifelong political activist and entrepr

VOA标准英语2013--Personality Influences Life After Presidency

Personality Influences Life After Presidency George W. Bush's quiet service When former president George W. Bush left the White House in 2009, he largely left the spotlight. But last year he worked alongside volunteers in Zambia to renovate a clinic

VOA标准英语2013--World Economy Remains Fragile

World Economy Remains Fragile The World Bank says four years after the start of the financial crisis, the global economy remains fragile. Growth in high-income countries remains weak. The bank recommends that developing countries not wait for rich na

VOA标准英语2013--Study: Bilingual Seniors Have Mental Edge

Study: Bilingual Seniors Have Mental Edge Previous studies have shown bilingualism seems to favor the development of heightened mental skills. The new research, published in Neuroscience, provides evidence of that cognitive advantage among older, bil

VOA标准英语2013--African Americans Reflect on Obama 2nd Inauguration

African Americans Reflect on Obama 2nd Inauguration Some Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters are celebrating the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. Francine and Cynthia Blake from Ohio see great significance in the president's second term.

VOA标准英语2013--Service Dogs to Walk in Inaugural Parade

Service Dogs to Walk in Inaugural Parade Caroline Elgin in The Plains, Virginia, got her service dog Sajen when she was almost 10 years old. Elgin has cerebral palsy, which has affected her speech and motor skills, but not her intelligence. Now 19, s

VOA标准英语2013--New Standards Approved for Extractive Industries

'Cash Mob' Phenomenon Supports Local Business What do you get when you mix a store's need for more business with enthusiastic local consumers? A cash mob. Organized through social media, the phenomenon is based on the concept of a flash mob, where la

VOA标准英语2013--Automakers Capitalizing on Chinese Appetite for Larger, Luxury Cars

Automakers Capitalizing on Chinese Appetite for Larger, Luxury Cars Bring an auto show to Shanghai, China, and people are sure to come -- tens of thousands of potential car buyers from the world's largest auto market. Ford Motors' Dave Schoch is coun

VOA标准英语2013--Plants, Humans Share Sensory Awareness

Plants, Humans Share Sensory Awareness The Botanical Garden is a blooming paradise, about four hectares filled with a rich array of some 3,800 species drawn from Israels diverse landscape and from around the world. Danny Chamovitz, director of the Ma

VOA标准英语2013--Rights Group Accuses Nigerian Military of 'Cover-Up'

Rights Group Accuses Nigerian Military of 'Cover-Up' The rights group said satellite images following last month's violence in the northern Nigerian town of Baga show more than 2,000 buildings destroyed. Nigeria's military says only several dozen hom

VOA标准英语2013--Bernanke Offers Mixed Economic Outlook For US

Bernanke Offers Mixed Economic Outlook For US Despite a strong pickup in manufacturing and a much-improved housing market, the outlook for the US economy remains mixed. The Federal Reserve said U.S. growth is unlikely to exceed 2.8 percent in 2013. O

VOA标准英语2013--Japan Joins Asia-Americas Trade Talks

Japan Joins Asia-Americas Trade Talks Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a framework for future prosperity in the Asia Pacific. Our participation is not just for the benefit of Japan's economy, but rather,

VOA标准英语2013--Rock Musicians 'Carry On' in Pakistan

Rock Musicians 'Carry On' in Pakistan Rock and roll never really died in Pakistan. But it did fade away. Pop and rock bands used to play in clubs across Pakistan in the more liberal 1980s, but have largely receded from the public eye. One band is sti

VOA标准英语2013--Chemical Weapons in Syria Fit Pattern of Escalation

Chemical Weapons in Syria Fit Pattern of Escalation U.S. intelligence agencies believe it is likely the Syrian government has used the lethal nerve agent sarin. But President Obama says the evidence is not strong enough for the U.S. to take action. W

VOA标准英语2013--Kerry in Ethiopia for Security Talks

Kerry in Ethiopia for Security Talks Soldiers from the European Union are helping train Malian troops to fight insurgents linked to al-Qaida terrorists. The deployment of a regional intervention force to replace French and Chadian troops in Mali is a

VOA标准英语2013--Demand Grows for Global Ban on 'Killer Robots'

Demand Grows for Global Ban on 'Killer Robots' A human-sized robot joined campaigners outside the British Parliament last month to highlight what they say are the imminent dangers of automated weapons systems - or killer robots. Among them was Americ

VOA标准英语2013--Most US Retailers Choose Not to Sign Bangladesh Factory Accord

Most US Retailers Choose Not to Sign Bangladesh Factory Accord The factory fell just days after it was considered unsafe, but employees were told to come to work anyway. U.S. Congressman George Miller, a long-time advocate for garment workers rights,