12-06-06

救援努力在越南南部和菲律賓展開 (Rescue Efforts Underway in Southern Vietnam, Philippines)

強颱風星期三在越南南部和菲律賓部份地區造成嚴重破壞，救援工作目前正在進行當中。菲律賓上星期遭受颱風榴蓮襲擊，大約20萬人流離失所，國際援助機構正設法向災民運送救援物資。

颱風引發的大規模泥石流埋沒了阿爾拜省的很多村莊，造成至少一千人喪生。這是今年9月下旬以來菲律賓遭受的第四次強大風暴。

與此同時，颱風榴蓮在越南南部沿海地區造成約50人失蹤，搜救人員一直在尋找他們的下落。有關官員說，還有至少50人喪生。榴蓮已經降級為熱帶風暴，正穿過泰國灣向西移動。

Rescue efforts are underway in southern Vietnam and parts of the Philippines Wednesday, after a powerful typhoon devastated both areas. International relief agencies are working to get supplies to 200-thousand people left homeless when Typhoon Durian lashed the Philippines last week.

At least one thousand people died after the storm triggered a massive mud flow that buried entire villages in Albay province. It was the fourth major storm to hit the nation since late September.

Meanwhile, rescuers in southern Vietnam are searching for around 50 people missing since Typhoon Durian swept the country's coastal region. Officials say at least 50 people were killed. Durian has been downgraded to a tropical storm and is heading west across the Gulf of Thailand.

澳議會解除克隆人類胚胎從事幹細胞研究禁令 (Australia Lifts Ban on Cloning Human Embryos for Stem Cell Research)

儘管受到總理霍華德的反對，但是澳大利亞議會仍然解除了對為從事幹細胞而克隆人類胚胎的禁令。眾議院星期三經過一下午的激烈辯論，批准了這項法案。參議院已經在11月通過了這項法案。

澳大利亞的議員這次罕見地被鼓勵按照自己的意願投票，而不是遵循黨派立場。投票結果推翻了2002年的一項禁令。這項禁令只允許對體外受精項目剩餘的胚胎進行研究。

剛剛通過的法案使研究人員能夠進行治療性克隆。治療性克隆是利用皮膚細胞和卵子一起培養幹細胞。這些細胞能夠形成人體組織。科學家希望這些細胞能夠有助於治療諸如帕金森症、癡呆症和脊髓損傷等疾病。反對者說，這種方法不道德。

Australia's parliament has lifted a ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research despite opposition from Prime Minister John Howard. The House of Representatives approved the legislation Wednesday after an afternoon of emotional debate. The Senate passed the bill last month.

In a rare move, Australian lawmakers were encouraged to vote according to their consciences, rather than the stance of their party. The vote overturns a ban imposed in 2002 that only allowed research on embryos left over from in vitro fertilization programs.

The bill enables researchers to conduct therapeutic cloning, a procedure that combines skin cells with eggs to produce stem cells. These cells are capable of forming human tissues, and scientists hope they will help to find cures for debilitating diseases such as Parkinson's, dementia and spinal cord injuries. Opponents have called the process immoral.