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News Spotlight
POLITICS
In a 1)rambling hour-long radio interview, Russian presidential candidate Ivan Rybkin suggested on Wednesday that for at least part of his five-day absence in Ukraine, he was hiding out from 2)shadowy operatives, but at the same time he lashed out at authorities for not being able to inform Russians about his whereabouts. Rybkin also announced a week-long time-out to decide whether or not to 3)scrap his candidacy in the March 14th election—which Russian president Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win. Rybkin, a long shot presidential candidate and fierce Kremlin critic, resurfaced in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Tuesday. He flew back into Moscow on Wednesday, returning to a 4)torrent of questions about what happened since he was last seen by his bodyguard and driver outside his Moscow home Thursday night. Initially Rybkin suggested his absence was just a much needed rest from the 5)swirl of activity around his campaign, but after arriving back in Moscow he hinted at a more 6)sinister reason. Rybkin gave odd accounts of people he came across in Kiev who might have been involved in 7)intrigues against him. However he never specified exactly what he meant. Rybkin said that he presented his passport at the Ukrainian border as required and dealt with numerous customs and other officials. Rybkin’s disappearance came the day before he was scheduled to speak at a news conference and two days before the central election commission validated his candidacy, raising the concern that he had fallen victim to some kind of attack. In terms of attracting votes, Rybkin presents little or no challenge to Putin.
TECHNOLOGY
The debate over human cloning is suddenly back in the headlines. That’s because South Korean researchers announced today they successfully cloned human 8)embryos, more than two-dozen of them. The researchers say their goal is not to produce human clones, but to extract 9)stem cells from the embryos to fight diseases. Either way this is a whole new world, and it’s 10)triggering a world of debate.
The cloning breakthrough made by South Korean scientists is critical on two fronts. First, other efforts to clone human embryos have failed, but this, according to 11)rigorous reviews by others in the field, is the real deal. And second, successfully cloned human embryos could produce unlimited supplies of embryonic stem cells, cells that can grow into any body part, advancing the field of cloning to treat and cure disease. That’s different from cloning to create human life.
The South Koreans used a process similar to the one used back in 1997 to create Dolly the sheep. Most significant is the fact that the stem cells were grown from the adult’s own 12)genetic material. If that was ever to be used in that same person to treat a disease, the risk of rejection could be eliminated. Still, some are calling the advance a mixed blessing. A potential 13)jackpot for medical research, but one that brings the birth of a human clone that much closer. But researchers today were 14)adamant in saying that their success should only be applied to cloning as a form of medicine and not as a way to make babies and even then any practical application still appears to be years away.
SPORTS
One of Italy’s top football teams is for sale after an accounting scandal at its owners, the multinational food giant Parmalat. Parma’s shareholders have been told a rescue bid depends on selling two top players straight away whilst the rest try to 15)concentrate on their game. Matteo Perrari said that this is our job; the other questions don’t concern us. But finding a buyer won’t be easy; three local firms have already denied any interest in saving the club.
ENTERTAINMENT
It’s that time of the year again, the music industry’s most 16)coveted awards, the Grammys. This year’s big winners were R&B diva Beyonc and soul legend Luther Vandross. Although the aftereffects of Janet Jackson’s infamous breast-bearing wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl halftime show were still being felt at the Grammys.
It’s the 46th Grammy awards where the outfits get 17)skimpier and the speeches get 18)raunchier. This year was no different except for one notable absentee, Janet Jackson, who opted not to attend this year after her now infamous wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl halftime show a week ago when her breast was bared for millions to see. Even Justin Timberlake, Jackson’s partner in the incident couldn’t escape being the butt of all jokes when he received the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
And when pop star Christina Aguilera strode up to accept a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance dressed in a revealing gown, she cheekily kept looking down to make sure she was covered.
Christina Aguilera: OK, I’m never good at this kind of thing. I don’t want to have the same thing happen that, Janet had done.
R&B diva Beyonc Knowles, who opened the show with a performance alongside Prince, managed to take home the most Grammys, five. Soul legend Luther Vandross took away four Grammys although he was unable to attend because of ill health. Acclaimed band Coldplay flew the British flag winning a Grammy for Record of the Year and 19)flamboyant hip hop trio Outkast won three awards, including Album of the Year, the first time a hip hop release has 20)nabbed the award.
注释：
1) rambling [5rAmbliN] a. 不连贯的，漫无边际的
2) shadowy [5FAdEui] a. 难以捉摸的
3) scrap [skrAp] v. 放弃
4) torrent [5tCrEnt] n. 一连串的
5) swirl [swE:l] n. 纷乱，骚动
6) sinister [5sinistE] a. 险恶的
7) intrigue [in5tri:^] n. 阴谋
8) embryo [5embriEu] n. 胚胎
9) stem cell 干细胞
10) trigger [5tri^E] v. 引发
11) rigorous [5ri^ErEs] a. 严格的
12) genetic [dVi5netik] a. 遗传的
13) jackpot [5dVAkpCt] n. 意外成功
14) adamant [5AdEmEnt] a. 坚定的，肯定的
15) concentrate [5kCnsentreit] v. 集中
16) covet [5kQvit] v. 垂涎，觊觎
17) skimpy [skimp] a. 不够的，本文指衣着暴露的
18) raunchy [5rC:ntFi] a. 粗俗的
19) flamboyant [flAm5bCiEnt] a. 人气旺盛的
20) nab [nAb] v. <口>捉住，逮捕，抢夺
新闻聚光灯
政治
星期三，在一个小时不着边际的电台采访中，俄罗斯总统候选人伊万·雷布金透露了他的失踪真相: 在乌克兰的五天里，有相当一部分时间他都在躲避无处不在的特工的跟踪，同时，他还猛烈抨击俄政府没有向国人通报他的行踪。雷布金还宣布他将利用一周的休息时间决定是否退出竞选，而人们普遍预测现任总统普京在3月14日总统大选中将毫无悬念地胜出。雷布金一直专与俄政府唱对台戏，估计他获胜的机会微乎其微。星期二他在乌克兰首都基辅重新露面，并于星期三飞返莫斯科，正面回应人们对他失踪所作的种种猜测——自从上星期四晚上他的保镖和司机在他莫斯科的家外见过他后，他的行踪就成了个谜。起初雷布金说，他只是从频繁的竞选活动中争取休息的机会；但返回莫斯科后，他暗示这背后有更大的阴谋。雷布金提及在基辅遇到的人时，言语之间透着古怪，似乎是指这些人涉嫌阴谋针对他，但他没有透露更多的细节。雷布金说在乌克兰边境时，他按要求出示了护照，并配合所有冗繁的手续。雷布金的失踪距离他预定在一个新闻发布会上发表演讲仅有一天，离俄中央选举委员会宣布他的竞选资格也只有两天，不禁让人怀疑他已遇害。从民众的支持率看，普京具有压倒性的优势。
科技
在韩国科学家今天宣布他们成功地克隆了二十多个人类胚胎后，围绕人类克隆问题的争论重新出现在新闻头条。研究人员表示，他们的目标并不是克隆人类，而是从这些胚胎中提取用于治病的干细胞。无论如何，这是个重大的突破，也注定要在世界范围内引起轩然大波。
韩国科学家取得的这个突破有两方面的重要意义：第一，一直以来，克隆人类胚胎的努力均没能取得成功。这次经过其他同行的严格审核，韩国这次的确是取得了实质性的突破进展；第二，成功克隆人类胚胎后，人类便可以从中提取无数的胚胎干细胞，胚胎干细胞可发育成人体的任何一个器官，从而把克隆领域大大向前推进一步，可以造福无数患者。这是有别于克隆人类本身的。
韩国科学家这次采取了与1997年克隆多利羊类似的方法。意义最为重大的是，这次干细胞是利用成人自身的遗传物质培养的。如果干细胞移植到同一人体内进行治疗，产生排斥反应的风险将大大降低。然而，有人将这个重大突破视作一把双刃剑。它也许能为患者带来福音，但同时这无疑距离克隆人类又靠近了一步。但科学家今天明确表示，研究成果只用于医学用途，绝不会克隆人类。他们说，即便是投入到实际应用，也依然有很长的路要走。
体育
跨国食品巨头帕玛拉特的财务丑闻曝光后，意甲豪门之一帕尔玛队正在寻找新的东家。帕尔玛俱乐部会立即出售队中两名顶尖球员以解燃眉之急，余下的队员会专心比赛。球队负责人玛蒂奥·帕拉里说他们只关心比赛，其他的事一概不管。要找到新的赞助商绝非易事，三家当地的企业已经明确表示，他们对拯救这支球队并不感兴趣。
娱乐
美国唱片行业一年一度的最高奖项——格莱美奖在众人的翘首期待中如期而至了。今年的大赢家是节奏蓝调女歌手碧昂丝和灵魂音乐歌手路瑟•范德鲁斯。珍妮特•杰克逊在美式足球超级碗大赛的中场休息表演时的露乳事件引发的轩然大波仍然余音未了。
在格莱美奖颁奖典礼上，明星们历来是越穿越少，言辞也越发不堪入耳，今年也不例外。但有一个人的缺席引人注目。一周之前，在超级碗大赛半场休息的表演中，珍妮特•杰克逊在众目睽睽之下因服装出现问题而胸部走光。如今，她没有出席颁奖典礼。在此次事件中，她的演出搭档贾斯汀•廷布莱克在领取最佳流行男歌手奖时，仍难逃尴尬下场。
最佳流行女歌手得主克里斯蒂娜·阿奎莱拉当天穿着袒胸露背的裙子上台领奖，她不时滑稽地低头看看，提防走光。
克里斯蒂娜·阿奎莱拉： 那种事情不是我的强项。我可不想重蹈珍妮特那样的覆辙。
节奏蓝调女歌手碧昂丝·诺维斯与王子的同台表演拉开了当晚典礼的序幕。碧昂丝是当晚的最大赢家，将五个奖项收入囊中; 因健康原因未能亲临颁奖现场的灵魂歌手路瑟·范德鲁斯也收获颇丰，夺走四项大奖。广受欢迎的酷玩乐队获得格莱美年度唱片奖，为英国乐坛争了光。极具人气的说唱组合Outkast也有三个大奖的进帐，其中包括年度专辑奖，这也是说唱音乐第一次获此殊荣。
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