VOA慢速英语:美国参议员兰德保罗参与总统竞选

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.

肯塔基的兰德保罗参议员已经成为了第二个共和党强有力总统候选人。保罗在周二的时候在路易斯维尔对外公布候选人身份。

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.

保罗是在2010年被选为参议员，这是他第一届任期。他在2013年在参议院发表过一番反对美国利用无人机瞄准恐怖分子的行为，之后他的影响力大增。这次长达13个小时的演讲可以说是冗长辩论，延迟了关于奥巴马总统就任命CIA局长的投票时间。

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.

土耳其总统埃尔多安目前正在伊朗进行访问。周二的时候与伊朗总统鲁哈尼和最高领袖Ayatollah AliKhamenei进行了会晤。

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.

土耳其和伊朗之间有很强的经济往来联系。但是叙利亚和也门的冲突问题引发了两国关系的紧张。一些伊朗议员们曾因埃尔多安之前公开支持也门境内沙特领导的空军联盟对抗伊朗支持的胡塞什叶派叛军而要求取消埃尔多安对伊朗的访问行程。

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.

土耳其也推翻叙利亚总统阿萨德政权反对派的重要支持者。而伊朗是叙利亚区域的主要支持者。

Kenya mourns students lost in Garissa University College killings

肯尼亚对加里萨大学遇难学生进行哀悼

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

肯尼亚群众在周二的时候聚集到内罗毕对上周加里萨大学袭击事件中遇难的学生表示沉痛哀悼。

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.

示威者聚集到该城市一个公园相互诉说着148名学生遭袭击遇难事件。他们还召集了国家安全部队。组织者要求哀悼者身穿黑色衣服，携带鲜花纪念遇难学生。

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.

武装组织青年党宣布对上周四的袭击事件负责。该组织称发动袭击是为了报复肯尼亚参与非洲联盟对抗索马里武装分子行为。

Many buildings, including White House, lose power in Washington

华盛顿出现大规模断电，白宫也受到影响

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.

周二时候华盛顿城外一家电厂爆炸导致华盛顿地区大规模断电。停电范围包括几个联邦机构，白宫也在内。

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.

大约在当地时间下午12点45分时候开始停电，该城市大多数建筑都受影响，包括美国之音大楼。

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.

电力公司Pepco仍处于断电状态。当地警方告诉VOA记者美国首都地区建筑用电已经恢复。

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

美国国土安全局表示没有明显迹象表明此次断电与恐怖主义有关。

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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