VOA标准英语2012--Between the Kremlin and the Protesters: A Church Mediator?

Between the Kremlin and the Protesters: A Church Mediator? The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church has a residence inside the Kremlin. The church depends heavily on government funding. When mass protests broke out this winter, few people expecte

VOA标准英语2012--New App Helps ID Altered Fingerprints

New App Helps ID Altered Fingerprints Altered state Biting the pads off fingertips or surgically replacing the fingerprints with toe prints might seem like drastic measures but Anil Jain, a biometrics expert and professor at Michigan State University

VOA标准英语2012--Occupy Movement Turns Anger Towards Individual Corporations

Occupy Movement Turns Anger Towards Individual Corporations Pfizer, the worlds biggest pharmaceutical company, is among the activists' targets. Protesters rallied at Pfizer world headquarters in New York this week, alleging it sometimes charges $50 f

VOA标准英语2012--Gene Therapy Halts Vision Loss in Dogs

Gene Therapy Halts Vision Loss in Dogs Researchers have stopped vision decline in dogs with an inherited disease that causes blindness. The gene therapy technique they used may someday stop vision loss in humans. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an eye d

VOA标准英语2012--Mental Stimulation Might Cut Dementia Risk

Mental Stimulation Might Cut Dementia Risk People who engage in mentally-stimulating activities over a lifetime have lower levels of a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds. That supports other research which sug

VOA标准英语2012--Rise in Tropical Diseases Blamed on Turmoil in Mideast, N. Africa

Rise in Tropical Diseases Blamed on Turmoil in Mideast, N. Africa A family of illnesses called Neglected Tropical Diseases [NTDs] adds to the troubles in the Middle East and North Africa. These diseases traditionally affect poor countries, but the ne

VOA标准英语2012--US Called On to Lead Global Health Fund Replenishment

US Called On to Lead Global Health Fund Replenishment The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is marking its 10th anniversary. But celebrations have been subdued because of a lack of donations needed for future projects. The United St

VOA标准英语2012--Syria Human Rights Investigation Mired in Politics

Syria Human Rights Investigation Mired in Politics After a week of heavy shelling, there is still no end to the violence in the Syrian city of Homs. The death toll continues to rise, and some human rights activists accuse President Bashar al-Assad's

VOA标准英语2012--Technology Rescues Dying Languages

Technology Rescues Dying Languages In our interconnected world, global languages like English, Spanish and Chinese are increasingly dominant. But there are some 7,000 other languages spoken around the world and linguists say up to half of them are at

VOA标准英语2012--Maryland Is Eighth US State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Maryland Is Eighth US State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage The way forward is always found through greater respect for the equal rights of all, said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley as he signed the bill into law. Maryland joins seven other states an

VOA标准英语2012--Orchids Bloom in Washington Exhibit

Orchids Bloom in Washington Exhibit Hundreds of orchids rare and common are on display in the U.S. capital with a nod to Japan. They set the stage for the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival, this year a centennial celebration of Japan's gift. We blende

VOA标准英语2012--Syrian Forces Shell Homs, Block Aid to Rebel Stronghold

Syrian Forces Shell Homs, Block Aid to Rebel Stronghold A Syrian government military offensive continued across parts of the country Saturday, including the sporadic shelling of parts of the beleaguered city of Homs. An elite government brigade captu

VOA标准英语2012--Crushed Cars as Art

Crushed Cars as Art A sculpture at the entrance to the museum is made of old car bumpers. Inside are dozens of other automobile abstractions by sculptor John Chamberlain. He passed away in December at the age of 84. While the Guggenheim is not a park

VOA标准英语2012--Somalia City a 'Disaster Zone' After Extremists Flee

Somalia City a 'Disaster Zone' After Extremists Flee Flying to Baidoa in a vintage Ethiopian Airlines plane is an adventure in itself. The pilot negotiates a corkscrew landing to avoid possible mortar fire. The airport is heavily guarded. Much of col

VOA标准英语2012--Undecided Voters Key to 'Super Tuesday' Vote in Ohio

Undecided Voters Key to 'Super Tuesday' Vote in Ohio This is an incredible opportunity we have to exercise the rights that God has given us, but also our civic responsibility and our spiritual responsibility, said Pastor Matt Keller, Sunday morning a

VOA标准英语2012--Danger to West Increases From Al-Qaida Threat in Yemen

Danger to West Increases From Al-Qaida Threat in Yemen Video obtained from al-Qaida-linked militants in Yemen shows missile launchers, automatic weapons, heavy ammunition and vehicles with machine guns. All, they say, were captured from the Yemeni Ar

VOA标准英语2012--Despite Burmese Reforms, Conflict Continues in Karen State

Despite Burmese Reforms, Conflict Continues in Karen State There is a buzz in the air in Burma's Karen state as folks gather for the annual Karen Revolution Day in late January. Unlike the new freedom on display in the nation's capital, people here a

VOA标准英语2012--Sudanese Activist Artist Breaks Down Borders

Sudanese Activist Artist Breaks Down Borders In an audio montage of memories from refugees, the sounds of gunfire and explosions mix with crying babies. Narrator Michelle Orecchio describes how to reverse war's grip on so much of humanity. All it tak

VOA标准英语2012--Studies Link Bee Decline to Insecticide

Studies Link Bee Decline to Insecticide Billion-dollar bees Bees pollinate the flowers that become fruits, nuts and vegetables. The work these insects do is worth about $18 billion a year to U.S. farmers. But honeybee colonies in the United States ha

VOA标准英语2012--Urban Farm Takes Root Amid Strip Malls

Urban Farm Takes Root Amid Strip Malls EcoCity Farms grows vegetables in winter. The Edmonston, Maryland, farm near Washington is an unlikely place to harvest produce in any season. Its four climate-controlled greenhouses stand out in an otherwise bl