Obama Announces Deal to Raise Debt Ceiling

VOANews: Obama Announces Deal to Raise Debt Ceiling

President says agreement with House and Senate leaders includes $1 trillion in cuts over 10 years

Major Study Aims to Evaluate Environment, Genetic Factors Involving Child Health

VOAVideo: Major Study Aims to Evaluate Environment, Genetic Factors Involving Child Health

U.S. health officials have embarked on one of the most comprehensive evaluations of child health ever undertaken in the United States. Researchers will be collecting data on a host of environmental and genetic factors that impact children's health and the health of the adults they will become. As VOA's Carol Pearson reports, doctors hope the results will shed new light on risk factors for autism, obesity and a host of other childhood health problems. (read more)

US Debt Crisis

VOAVideo: US Debt Talks

** 1:54-2:04 How the debt cris can affect Senior Citizens
** 2:04-2:41 How the debt cris can affect China and the world economy

Also see VOANews: Obama Encourages Bipartisan Solution to Avoid Debt Default

wh.gov: US Debt Graphic

President Obama: "There are plenty of ways out of this mess. But we are almost out of time. We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time, as we always have -- bills that include monthly Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits and the government contracts we’ve signed with thousands of businesses. Keep in mind, if we don’t do that, if we don’t come to an agreement, we could lose our country’s AAA credit rating, not because we didn’t have the capacity to pay our bills -- we do -- but because we didn’t have a AAA political system to match our AAA credit rating.

And make no mistake -– for those who say they oppose tax increases on anyone, a lower credit rating would result potentially in a tax increase on everyone in the form of higher interest rates on their mortgages, their car loans, their credit cards. And that’s inexcusable.

There are a lot of crises in the world that we can’t always predict or avoid -– hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorist attacks. This isn’t one of those crises. The power to solve this is in our hands. And on a day when we’ve been reminded how fragile the economy already is, this is one burden we can lift ourselves. We can end it with a simple vote –- a vote that Democrats and Republicans have been taking for decades, a vote that the leaders in Congress have taken for decades."

Researchers See Trend of People Moving Between Texas, California

VOAVideo: Researchers See Trend of People Moving Between Texas, California

The recession and collapse of the housing industry in the United States is causing many Americans to move in search of jobs and a cheaper place to live. But a researcher at the University of California says there has been an unexpected decline in overall state to state migration since the recession. He calls it the "staying home phenomenon." Of those who did move, many are moving between California and Texas. (read more)

Chinese Basketball Superstar Yao Ming Retires

VOAVideo: Chinese Basketball Superstar Yao Ming Retires

China's towering basketball star Yao Ming has announced his decision to retire from the National Basketball Association after a series of injuries made it impossible for him to continue to compete for the Houston Rockets. Yao Ming says he's not leaving basketball, however, and will continue to work for his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, as well as with his charity group the Yao Foundation. VOA's William Ide has more from Beijing.

ESL Podcast 705 – An Exclusive Guest List

ESL Podcast 705 – An Exclusive Guest List

Did you get invited to our exclusive party? If not, find out why on this episode. Download Podcast

Average American Struggles to Control Spending

VOAVideo: Average American Struggles to Control Spending

A self-described "debtor" says he fought hard to bring his habit under control

ESL Podcast 704 – Reselling Products for Profit

ESL Podcast 704 – Reselling Products for Profit

If you have to have the latest electronic device, you may have to pay extra for it. Find out why in this episode. Download Podcast

Drive Idioms - BBC Learning English (The Teacher)

BBCLearningEnglish: Drive Idioms - BBC Learning English (The Teacher)

In this episode The Teacher introduces you to three idioms connected with driving:

1. In the driver's seat

2. A backseat driver

3. A Sunday driver

Japan Wins Women’s Soccer World Cup (18th July, 2011)

News English Lessons: Japan wins women's soccer world cup

• The 11-page classroom handout


• Listen to the MP3


• Online quiz


• Online gap fill


• The giant gap fill


• Definition activity


• Online crossword


• Play hangman


• Vocab. flash cards


• Word matching

E-Waste

VOAVideo: E-Waste

As much as 80 percent of discarded electronics end up in the trash rather than being recycled in a responsible manner. Even worse, some environmentalists say, they are dumped in developing countries where low paid workers take apart computers, televisions, cell phones and other electronic equipment in ways that are neither safe for the worker nor the environment. U.S. lawmakers recently initiated a bill that would make the practice illegal.

Japan Wins Women's World Cup

VOANews: Japan Wins Women's World Cup

They beat the US in a penalty shootout following extra time

Final Harry Potter Ends With Emotional Bang

VOAVideo: Final Harry Potter Ends With Emotional Bang

The global release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," brings the famous movie franchise to an end. Thousands of fans are gathering at movie theaters the world over to say goodbye to "the boy who lived," and to the magical world of Hogwarts created by British author J.K. Rowling.

ESL Podcast 703 – Attending an Auction

ESL Podcast 703 – Attending an Auction

Want to experience an exciting way to shop? Go to an auction in this episode and learn the English you’ll need to buy that Monet you’ve always wanted. Download Podcast

Dalai Lama Feels 'Freer' Since Giving up Political Role

VOAVideo: Dalai Lama Feels 'Freer' Since Giving up Political Role

ESL Podcast 702 – Finding Other Singles

ESL Podcast 702 – Finding Other Singles

If you’re looking for the love of your life, get some advice on this episode, and soon you will no longer be single. Tags: Relationships Download Podcast

Express English: Proposals

BBCLearningEnglish: Express English: Proposals

We asked people in London: "What would be your ideal marriage proposal?"

Words and Their Stories: Mouth Expressions

VOAVideo: Words and Their Stories: Mouth Expressions

People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions using the word mouth. But some of them are not so nice...(read more)

What You Can Do to Help Bees

What You Can Do to Help Bees
From http://voaspecialenglish.com http://facebook.com/voalearningenglish

ESL Podcast 701 – Improving Your Looks

Before..

ESL Podcast 701 – Improving Your Looks

They say real beauty is on the inside. Find out what to do when that isn’t good enough in this episode. Download Podcast

After...

Hopes for First Female Prime Minister in Thailand's Male Dominated Politics

VOAVideo: Hopes for First Female Prime Minister in Thailand's Male Dominated Politics

Thailand is set to have its first female Prime Minister in Yingluck Shinawatra, younger sister of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Her victory as leader of the opposition Pheu Thai party has raised hopes that women can play a larger role in the country's male-dominated politics. But many question if she can emerge from her brother's shadow, let alone challenge Thai society's cultural and social barriers for women. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports from Bangkok.

San Jose Rose, White, and Blue Parade 2011

San Jose Rose, White, and Blue Parade 2011

The San Jose Rose, White, and Blue Parade 2011 along The Alameda, in the Rose Garden District. Cameo appearances by Judy Connell, Marshal Connell, Kansen Chu, and SJ Mayor Chuck Reed.

English Express: Photographs

BBC English Express: Photographs
We asked people in London: "What is your most treasured photograph
and why?" Listen to what they told us and join the conversation at http://bbc.in/mEttPR

A Crowd of Superheroes at the Movie Theater

VOALearning English:A Crowd of Superheroes at the Movie Theater

New releases include "Green Lantern and “X-Men,” but also family films like “Kung Fu Panda 2” THIS IS AMERICA (download mp3)

Urban Farm Prospers in Downtown Area

VOAVideo: Urban Farm Prospers in Downtown Area

Ninety year old Charlie Koiner cares for a small plot of land just a few blocks from a busy downtown near Washington DC. He has been growing fruits and vegetables here since this suburb was mostly undeveloped rural land, and selling his produce in local farmers markets.