VOA标准英语2012--Car Index Indicates Growth Potential High in Developing Nations

Car Index Indicates Growth Potential High in Developing Nations Despite forecasts for a slowdown in the global economy, a little known economic indicator is starting to gain traction. The so called car index is an attempt to measure the world's middl

VOA标准英语2012--Men Face Higher Death Risk, But Why?

Men Face Higher Death Risk, But Why? HIV-infected men in South Africa are nearly one-third more like to die than women, even though both receive similar treatment. But researchers say they dont know why. University of Cape Towns Morna Cornell led a t

VOA标准英语2012--To Avoid Humans, Tigers Take Night Shift

To Avoid Humans, Tigers Take Night Shift Tigers dont have a reputation for being very accommodating, but a new study challenges the long-held conservation belief that these large carnivores need lots of people-free space. This new understanding is es

VOA标准英语2012--Vietnam Could Become World's Biggest Rice Exporter

Vietnam Could Become World's Biggest Rice Exporter Long ranked second in terms of rice exporters, Vietnam is expected to export around seven million tons of rice this year. Estimates put Thailand at around 6.5 million tons. Nguyen Van Don, general di

VOA标准英语2012--US Firms Prospering in Asia, Russia

US Firms Prospering in Asia, Russia U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predicted Russia's entry last month into the World Trade Organization will be a boost for American companies. It pays to join the rules-based trading system, she told APEC de

VOA标准英语2012--US Democrats Convene Amid High Unemployment

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--Ethiopia Looks to a Future Without Meles Zenawi

Ethiopia Looks to a Future Without Meles Zenawi Life is returning to normal in Ethiopia's capital after more than two weeks of mourning for longtime ruler, Meles Zenawi. Abi Hailemichael works in a barbershop in the Bole neighborhood of Addis Ababa.

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