VOA标准英语2014--Big Apple Weighs Fees on Single-use Plastic Bags

Big Apple Weighs Fees on Single-use Plastic Bags NEW YORK The world consumes hundreds of billions of single-use plastic bags each year. Environmental activists say they are difficult to recycle, wasteful and damage the biosphere. They want to ban pla

VOA常速英语204--Iran Nuclear Talks Will Resume in May With ‘Significant Gaps' 五月伊朗核问题会谈各方分歧巨大

Iran Nuclear Talks Will Resume in May With Significant Gaps' 五月伊朗核问题会谈各方分歧巨大 LONDON Negotiators from Iran and the so-called P5+1 - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France, plus Germany - wrapped up a round

VOA常速英语2014--Four Million Sudanese Face Food Insecurity 四百万苏丹人面临粮食是不足问题

Four Million Sudanese Face Food Insecurity 四百万苏丹人面临粮食是不足问题 Food insecurity in Sudan could affect as many as four million people in the coming months. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization blames conflict, displaceme

VOA标准英语2014--South Africa Divided as Election Looms 南非国内在选举问题上的分歧

South Africa Divided as Election Looms 南非国内在选举问题上的分歧 JOHANNESBURG, LIMPOPO PROVINCE South Africa's urbanites are increasingly vocal about their opposition to the ruling African National Congress, which they blame for a numbe

VOA标准英语2014--UN Approves New CAR Peacekeeping Force

UN Approves New CAR Peacekeeping Force UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed Thursday to authorize a nearly 12,000 strong U.N. peacekeeping force for the violence-plagued Central African Republic. The force, which will

VOA标准英语2014--Fans Buy Hollywood History at Celebrity Auction 粉丝们在名人拍卖中购买好莱坞历史纪念品

Fans Buy Hollywood History at Celebrity Auction 粉丝们在名人拍卖中购买好莱坞历史纪念品 BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA Hollywood history is on sale at a celebrity auction April 11-12 that draws buyers from around the world. The items spa

VOA常速英语2014--Solar Plane Set to Circumnavigate the World 太阳能飞机环航世界

Solar Plane Set to Circumnavigate the World 太阳能飞机环航世界 After successfully flying their solar-powered plane from Spain to Morocco in 2012, and across the U.S. in 2013, Swiss aeronautical enthusiasts are now getting ready to attempt a

VOA标准英语2014--Top 5 Songs for Week Ending April 12 截至4月5日本周歌曲前五

Top 5 Songs for Week Ending April 12 截至4月5日本周歌曲前五 Were counting down the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending April 12, 2014. The poet John Milton once wrote, They also serve who

VOA常速英语2014--Obama Praises Predecessor Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Legacy 奥巴马赞扬美前总统约翰逊民权贡献

Obama Praises Predecessor Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Legacy 奥巴马赞扬美前总统约翰逊民权贡献 President Barack Obama applauded his predecessor Lyndon Johnson for a civil rights legacy that eventually led to the election of the first

VOA常速英语2014--Foreign Students Adapt to Rigors of US Naval Academy 美国海军学院的外国留学生

Foreign Students Adapt to Rigors of US Naval Academy 美国海军学院的外国留学生 ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND Throughout its long history, the U.S. Naval Academy has produced prominent leaders, like former President Jimmy Carter and Senator John McCa

VOA常速英语2014--Spinal Implant Helps Paraplegics Regain Some Functions 脊椎植入装置改变瘫痪者生活

Spinal Implant Helps Paraplegics Regain Some Functions 脊椎植入装置改变瘫痪者生活 Severe spinal cord injuries usually lead to total loss of control of lower extremities, as well as bladder, bowel and sexual functions. But scientists at t

VOA标准英语2014--Obamacare Costs Still Too High for Many Americans 对许多美国人来讲奥巴马医改仍然花费太高

Obamacare Costs Still Too High for Many Americans 对许多美国人来讲奥巴马医改仍然花费太高 FREDERICK, MARYLAND Now that more than seven million Americans have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, known as Oba

VOA标准英语2014--In Picturesque Thailand, Coal Plant Draws Protests 泰国火力发电厂引发抗议

In Picturesque Thailand, Coal Plant Draws Protests 泰国火力发电厂引发抗议 KRABI, THAILAND Environmental activists in Thailand are protesting plans to reopen an 800-megawatt coal plant in a coastal region, Krabi, that is popular with eco-to

VOA标准英语2014--Drama, Tears as Pistorius Testifies in Murder Trial

Drama, Tears as Pistorius Testifies in Murder Trial PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA It has been an intense week at the Oscar Pistorius trial here in Pretoria. The South African athlete took the witness box on Monday as the defense launched its case - in a tri

VOA标准英语2014--Putin's Energy Threats Come with Cost to Russia

Putin's Energy Threats Come with Cost to Russia LONDON Russia is again using its role as Europes dominant natural gas supplier to pressure Ukraine and the West. Europe gets about 30 percent of its gas from Russia, and half of that passes through Ukra

VOA标准英语2014--Documentary Revisits Anita Hill Sexual Harassment Testimony 纪录片重温第一单性骚扰的证词

Documentary Revisits Anita Hill Sexual Harassment Testimony 纪录片重温第一单性骚扰的证词 WASHINGTON Sexual harassment was a taboo subject in 1991, when a young woman spoke out about her employers unwanted sexual advances during a Senate

VOA标准英语2014--Students Honor African-American Singer Marian Anderson 学生们怀念非裔美国歌手玛丽安·安德森

Students Honor African-American Singer Marian Anderson 学生们怀念非裔美国歌手玛丽安安德森 WASHINGTON The life of one of the most celebrated African-American singers of the 20th century is being remembered in Washington. This month ma

VOA标准英语2014--Immigrant-Friendly NYC Mayor Pushes Official IDs for All

Immigrant-Friendly NYC Mayor Pushes Official IDs for All NEW YORK Immigration advocates in the United States continue to press for sweeping reforms that will clear a path to citizenship for all immigrants, including those without valid visas, and gra

VOA常速英语2014--US Warns Russia Anew on Eastern Ukraine 就乌克兰东部问题美国再次警告俄罗斯

US Warns Russia Anew on Eastern Ukraine 就乌克兰东部问题美国再次警告俄罗斯 WASHINGTON The United States says Russia appears to be employing the same tactics in eastern Ukraine that were used to seize and annex Crimea earlier this yea

VOA常速英语2014--US Gas Could Help Europe, But Not Yet 美国天然气现在还不能帮助欧洲

US Gas Could Help Europe, But Not Yet 美国天然气现在还不能帮助欧洲 As Russia continues to raise its natural gas prices to Ukraine, some people are looking to American gas as a way to ease Europe's energy dependence on Russia. But it's a