VOA慢速英語:也門尋求外界幫助對抗南下胡塞叛軍

Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s president fought off Houthi rebels early Monday. Militia and security officials said the rebels had been sent toward the southern city of Aden where President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi had taken refuge.

效忠于也門總統(tǒng)的士兵戰(zhàn)士周一早些時候擊退了胡塞叛軍。民兵團體和安全官員說叛軍被派往了也門總統(tǒng)哈迪避難的南部城市。

The majority of Yemenis are Sunni Muslims. The Houthis are Shi’ites, and get support from Iran. The rebels had agreed to share power with President Hadi after they seized the capital, Sana’a, last September.

也門人大部分為遜尼派穆斯林人。胡塞人是什葉派人，并且得到了來自伊朗方面的支持。叛軍在去年九月份占領首都薩那之后同意與總統(tǒng)哈迪分享權力。

Anti-Houthi protesters carry an injured fellow protester during clashes with Houthi fighters in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz, March 22, 2015. (REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub)

Speaking from Aden, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Riyadh Yasin asked the Gulf Cooperation Council for help with troops to control the Houthi’s expansion.

在亞丁的講話中，也門外交部長Riyadh Yasin向海灣合作委員會尋求幫助來共同對抗胡塞組織的擴張。

Meanwhile, the British government withdrew the last of its special forces from Yemen, according to Reuters. This came after the U.S. pulled out all remaining personnel over the weekend.

同時據(jù)路透社報道英國政府從也門撤出了最后一支特種部隊。此舉發(fā)生在美國方面上周撤離所有軍事人員之后。

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the relocation was due to “the deteriorating security situation in Yemen.”

美國國務院在一份聲明中說撤軍這一選擇是也門日益動蕩的局勢所迫。

Afghan leaders want slower withdrawal of US forces

阿富汗領導人希望美國方面延遲撤軍計劃

Afghanistan’s leaders are in the United States this week. Observers say they expect President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to ask American officials to slow the withdrawal of U.S. forces from their country.

阿富汗領導人這周對美國進行了訪問。觀察人士說其預想阿富汗總統(tǒng)Ashraf Ghani和首席執(zhí)行官Abdullah Abdullah會要求美國方面延遲從阿富汗撤軍的計劃。

The Afghan leaders are to meet Tuesday with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Obama administration has said extremists in Afghanistan are a threat to American interests.

阿富汗領導人在周二的時候會見了美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬和副總統(tǒng)拜登。奧巴馬政府已經表示阿富汗極端分子對美國利益存在威脅。

On Wednesday, Mr. Ghani will speak to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

周三時候Ghani將會在美國國會上講話。

Republican Senator Ted Cruz to run for president

共和黨參議員特德克魯茲決定參與總統(tǒng)競選

Also in the United States, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has announced he is a candidate for president. Senator Cruz launched his campaign for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination early Monday. He made it official in a message and video on Twitter.

德克薩斯州參議員特德克魯茲已經證實自己為總統(tǒng)候選人?？唆斊澲芤辉缧r候推出了共和黨總統(tǒng)提名競選活動。他在推特上發(fā)布了官方消息和視頻。

Mr. Cruz is 44 years old. He joined the Senate in 2013. Several other Republicans are expected to announce their candidacies in the next few weeks.

克魯茲今年44歲，在2013年加入參議員。其他幾位共和黨人預計在接下來的幾周宣布競選。

Okinawa governor stops work on new US military base

沖繩縣知事下令停止美國軍事基地工作

The governor of the Japanese island of Okinawa has ordered work suspended at the planned home of a new United States military base. Governor Takeshi Onaga said a concrete block thrown into the sea for testing had damaged a coral reef.

日本沖繩縣知事已經下令暫停建立新的美軍基地的計劃。Takeshi Onaga縣長說投進海里用來測試的混凝土土塊對珊瑚礁有危害。

In Tokyo, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary told reporters that the work on the base cannot be suspended because officials in Okinawa already agreed to it.

Japan and the United States want to move the Futenma air base from a heavily populated area to the coast because of problems with noise, pollution and high crime.

在東京，日本內閣秘書長告訴記者軍事基地建設工作不會暫停。日本和美國方面考慮到噪音，污染和高犯罪率，希望將普天間空軍基地從一個人口稠密地區(qū)轉移到沿海地區(qū)。

Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore, has died

新加坡前總理李光耀去世

Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore, died on Monday. He was 91 years old.

李光耀是現(xiàn)代新加坡的創(chuàng)始人，于周一去世，享年91歲。

Mr. Lee led the country from 1959 to 1990. He was admitted to Singapore General Hospital in early February with severe pneumonia. He was later placed on life support equipment.

李光耀從1959年到1990年期間掌權，并正式在二月份早些時候因為重癥肺炎在新加坡總醫(yī)院住院治療。后來依靠醫(yī)療設備維持生命。

The government has declared a state of mourning until his funeral next Sunday.

政府已經宣布國家哀悼日將持續(xù)到下周日，并于周日舉行國葬。

I’m Anne Ball.

This newscast was based on reports from VOA’s News Division. Christopher Cruise wrote it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

militia – n. an army of citizens instead of professional soldiers; an armed force or private army

control – v. to direct; to have power over

interest(s) – n. what is important to someone; a share in owning a business

campaign – n. competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; a connected series of military actions during a war