03 May 2010 This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. American officials have suspended all fishing in parts of the Gulf of Mexico for at least ten days because of the huge oil spill. The restrictions will give scientists time to study the...

Steve Herman | Kathmandu 02 May 2010 A Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) supporter dances during an indefinite nationwide general strike by Maoist in Kathmandu on 2 May 2010 Nepal on Monday faces a third consecutive day of disruption of civic...

Michael Bowman | Washington 02 May 2010 President Barack Obama is briefed by National Incident Commander U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen in Venice, La., as he visits the Gulf Coast region affected by the BP (British Petroleum) oil well sp...

Naomi Seck | Washington, DC 28 April 2010 Researchers studied the prevalence of heart disease and stroke in four ethnic groups: whites, Chinese, South Asians and blacks all living in Ontario province, Canada. Cardiovascular disease kills some 17 mill...

Carol Pearson | Washington 25 April 2010 A new report by an industry analyst says global sugar consumption will reach 176 million tons by 2015. That's about 20 percent more than the estimated sugar consumption for 2010. Given the link between sugar a...

23 April 2010 This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. In recent days, Americans have lost two civil rights leaders of the twentieth century, Dorothy Height and Benjamin Hooks. Dorothy Height died Tuesday at the age of ninety-eight. She witnessed...

Scott Bobb | Johannesburg 23 April 2010 Humanitarian groups have joined with African football players and major corporations to launch a new initiative aimed at combating malaria. The United Against Malaria Campaign made the announcement in Johannesb...

20 April 2010 There are different measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of infections after surgery This is the VOA Special English Health Report. Hospitals not only treat infections -- they can also cause them. In the United States alone, th...

Matt Sepic | St. Louis, Missouri 20 April 2010 Helen Schlarman, 89, has multiple sclerosis and says ham radio lets her connect with friends she's not able to see in person. With millions of people posting up-to-the-minute photos on Facebook, checking...

By Jerilyn Watson 2009-11-30 This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Rice hulls, or husks, are the protective coverings on grains of rice. Rice with just its hull removed is brown rice. Rice without its hull or bran is white rice. Once ri...