VOA标准英语2012--APEC Leaders to Discuss Rival South China Sea Claims

APEC Leaders to Discuss Rival South China Sea Claims Chinese patrols in contested waters, and a new Chinese garrison on a disputed island put rival claims to the South China Sea front and center at this week's forum of the Asia-Pacific Economic Coope

VOA标准英语2012--Expanding Health Insurance in Developing Countries

Expanding Health Insurance in Developing Countries Rwanda will host a regional conference next week (9-11/13), with a focus on health insurance. Rwanda has been praised for moving toward universal coverage for its population. But many say its a compl

VOA标准英语2012--'Silent Spring' Turns Fifty

'Silent Spring' Turns Fifty In the 1950s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was spraying more than a quarter-million kilograms of pesticides each year. Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, revealed that pesticides like DDT were lethal not only for insec

VOA标准英语2012--DNC Protests Target Charlotte-based Companies in ‘Wall Street South’

DNC Protests Target Charlotte-based Companies in Wall Street South In Charlotte North Carolina, the protests are bigger and livelier than similar events at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, because protesters say this is where President Ob

VOA标准英语2012--Ban Calls for Renewed Effort to Wipe Out Polio

Ban Calls for Renewed Effort to Wipe Out Polio Creating a polio-free world - that is what international leaders gathered in New York said they hope to do. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon expressed his delight at the new promises by member states t

VOA标准英语2012--UN Envoy Has High Hopes for Somalia

UN Envoy Has High Hopes for Somalia The U.N. Special Representative for Somalia says the backbone of the al-Shababs militant group has been broken. However, Augustine Mahiga says isolated terrorist attacks in the country may continue for a time. Spea

VOA标准英语2012--New Heart Stents Better Than Old Ones, Study Says

New Heart Stents Better Than Old Ones, Study Says A heart stent is a mesh tube made of metal that, when inserted into an artery, keeps it open. Stents can be metal only or they can contain medicine released once the stent is in place. These are calle

VOA标准英语2012--Glaucoma, A Stealth Disease And Major Cause of Blindness

Glaucoma, A Stealth Disease And Major Cause of Blindness If you think you are not at risk for glaucoma, think again. Glaucoma is a disease that steals the sight of people around the world -- and they typically don't even know they have the disease un

VOA标准英语2012--American Car Makers Bet Billions on Russia’s Car Boom

American Car Makers Bet Billions on Russias Car Boom This week, Moscows International Motor Show is supplying plenty of glitz. But behind the hoopla, the real excitement is that Russia is on its way to become one of the worlds top five car markets. W

VOA标准英语2012--Donors Set Health Priorities

Donors Set Health Priorities A new article in PLOS Medicine says large donors have a major influence on which health issues get funded. The author says its an attempt by governments and others to exert more control over international agencies. Oxford

VOA标准英语2012--Sirleaf: Liberia Will not Destabilize its Neighbors

Sirleaf: Liberia Will not Destabilize its Neighbors Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says she will never allow her country to be used to destabilize neighboring countries. Speaking Wednesday at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in N

VOA标准英语2012--Kenny Chesney's Latest Album Builds on Success

Kenny Chesney's Latest Album Builds on Success Feel Like A Rock Star was the first single released from Chesneys new album. The recent Top 10 hit is a duet with his longtime friend Tim McGraw. As of late July, their co-headlining Brothers of the Sun

VOA标准英语2012--Oil Giants Eye Arctic Reserves

Oil Giants Eye Arctic Reserves Last winter in the Arctic, the Russian tanker Renda carved its way to the remote Alaskan port of Nome. Not long ago this voyage - made in December and January - would have been impossible. The warming climate means thin

VOA标准英语2012--Syria Rebuffs Egypt's Bid for Negotiated End to Conflict

Syria Rebuffs Egypt's Bid for Negotiated End to Conflict As fighting continues, the Syrian government says it welcomes another attempt to bring an end to the conflict - this time by new United Nations-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. But Syria's In

VOA标准英语2012--2012 Americana Music Award Nominees Announced

2012 Americana Music Award Nominees Announced Jason Isbell and the 400 Units Here We Rest earned the onetime member of the Drive-By Truckers an Artist of the Year nomination, along with nods for Album of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year and Song of th

VOA标准英语2012--India Charity Offers Amputees Escape From Poverty Trap

India Charity Offers Amputees Escape From Poverty Trap Losing a limb is traumatic in any circumstances, but it can become a poverty trap for those without access to advanced medical care. The Indian state of Rajasthan is home to one of the world's la

VOA标准英语2012--Arab League to Hold Review Session on Syria Observers' Work

Arab League to Hold Review Session on Syria Observers' Work Amid mounting criticism over the effectiveness of its observer mission to Syria, the Arab League has called an urgent meeting Saturday to discuss the future role of its team. France's foreig

VOA标准英语2012--Study: More Education Increases IQ Score

Study: More Education Increases IQ Score 挪威研究表明额外教育有助于智商增加 Staying in school really can make you smarter. A new study from Norway finds that students who remain in school longer than their counterparts have higher IQ

VOA标准英语2012--US Tourists Treated to True Taste of Tuscany

US Tourists Treated to True Taste of Tuscany Antoinette Mazzaglia knows where to find all of the best food in her adopted city of Florence, Italy, and she's helping fellow Americans find it. After hearing repeated tourist complaints about the local c

VOA标准英语2012--Tattoo Removal Gains Popularity

Tattoo Removal Gains Popularity Tattoos have become popular in the United States among younger age groups, and having one on your body no longer marks you as a rebel. In fact, so many people have been getting tattoos in the U.S. that a reverse trend