VOA慢速英語:美國參議員蘭德保羅參與總統(tǒng)競選

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has become the second major candidate to seek the Republican Party presidential nomination. The senator announced his candidacy Tuesday in Louisville.

肯塔基的蘭德保羅參議員已經(jīng)成為了第二個共和黨強有力總統(tǒng)候選人。保羅在周二的時候在路易斯維爾對外公布候選人身份。

Mr. Paul is a first-term senator who was elected in 2010. His popularity grew in 2013 after he spoke in the Senate about his opposition to the U.S. use of drones to target terrorists. The 13-hour talk, called a filibuster, delayed a vote on President Obama’s choice for director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

保羅是在2010年被選為參議員，這是他第一屆任期。他在2013年在參議院發(fā)表過一番反對美國利用無人機瞄準恐怖分子的行為，之后他的影響力大增。這次長達13個小時的演講可以說是冗長辯論，延遲了關(guān)于奧巴馬總統(tǒng)就任命CIA局長的投票時間。

Turkish President in Iran despite regional tensions

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Iran. He met Tuesday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the Supreme leader, Ayatollah AliKhamenei.

土耳其總統(tǒng)埃爾多安目前正在伊朗進行訪問。周二的時候與伊朗總統(tǒng)魯哈尼和最高領(lǐng)袖Ayatollah AliKhamenei進行了會晤。

Turkey and Iran have strong economic ties. But conflicts in Syria and Yemen have caused tensions between the two countries. Some Iranian lawmakers had called for Mr. Erdogan’s visit to be canceled after he publicly supported the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen against Iran-supported Houthi Shi'ite rebels.

土耳其和伊朗之間有很強的經(jīng)濟往來聯(lián)系。但是敘利亞和也門的沖突問題引發(fā)了兩國關(guān)系的緊張。一些伊朗議員們曾因埃爾多安之前公開支持也門境內(nèi)沙特領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的空軍聯(lián)盟對抗伊朗支持的胡塞什葉派叛軍而要求取消埃爾多安對伊朗的訪問行程。

Turkey is also a main supporter of rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Iran is Syria's main supporter in the area.

土耳其也推翻敘利亞總統(tǒng)阿薩德政權(quán)反對派的重要支持者。而伊朗是敘利亞區(qū)域的主要支持者。

Kenya mourns students lost in Garissa University College killings

肯尼亞對加里薩大學(xué)遇難學(xué)生進行哀悼

Kenyans gathered in Nairobi Tuesday to mourn those killed in last week’s attack at Garissa University College.

肯尼亞群眾在周二的時候聚集到內(nèi)羅畢對上周加里薩大學(xué)襲擊事件中遇難的學(xué)生表示沉痛哀悼。

The demonstrators gathered at a public park in the city to share stories of the 148 students killed. They also called for greater national security. Organizers asked mourners to dress in black and bring flowers and notes to honor the dead.

示威者聚集到該城市一個公園相互訴說著148名學(xué)生遭襲擊遇難事件。他們還召集了國家安全部隊。組織者要求哀悼者身穿黑色衣服，攜帶鮮花紀念遇難學(xué)生。

The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for last Thursday’s attacks. It said it attacked in opposition to Kenya’s involvement in the African Union force fighting militants in Somalia.

武裝組織青年黨宣布對上周四的襲擊事件負責(zé)。該組織稱發(fā)動襲擊是為了報復(fù)肯尼亞參與非洲聯(lián)盟對抗索馬里武裝分子行為。

Many buildings, including White House, lose power in Washington

華盛頓出現(xiàn)大規(guī)模斷電，白宮也受到影響

An explosion at a power factory outside Washington Tuesday may have caused widespread power outages in the city. Electricity was cut to several federal agencies, including the White House.

周二時候華盛頓城外一家電廠爆炸導(dǎo)致華盛頓地區(qū)大規(guī)模斷電。停電范圍包括幾個聯(lián)邦機構(gòu)，白宮也在內(nèi)。

The blackout began around 12:45 p.m. local time and spread to many buildings around the city, including that housing the Voice of America.

大約在當?shù)貢r間下午12點45分時候開始停電，該城市大多數(shù)建筑都受影響，包括美國之音大樓。

The power company Pepco is reporting continued outages. Local police told the Voice of America that power had been restored to the U.S. Capitol building.

電力公司Pepco仍處于斷電狀態(tài)。當?shù)鼐礁嬖VVOA記者美國首都地區(qū)建筑用電已經(jīng)恢復(fù)。

The U.S. Homeland Security Department said there is "no indication” that the power outages were linked to terrorism.

美國國土安全局表示沒有明顯跡象表明此次斷電與恐怖主義有關(guān)。

__________________________________________________________

Words in the News

mourn – v. to feel or show great sadness because someone has died

widespread – adj. common over a wide area or among many people

restore – v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it

indication – n. something (such as a sign or signal) that points out or shows something