VOA慢速英语2013 Iranian Presidential Candidates Hold First Debate
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2013年VOA慢速英语(六)月
Iranian Presidential Candidates Hold First Debate
From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.
Iranian voters are considering which candidate to support in the presidential election on June 14th. The eight approved candidates met Friday in the first of three planned debates. They took turns answering questions about Iran’s economy. Recent government reports say inflation is rising at a rate of over 12 percent a year. The unemployment rate is over 13 percent.
The two leading candidates appear to be Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief security official, and the mayor of Tehran, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf. Some observers say Mr. Jalili is the likely favorite. He has worked in the office of the country’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is also lead negotiator in nuclear talks with western nations. The United Nations Security Council has passed resolutions against Iran for failing to obey limits on its nuclear program. Iranian oil exports have dropped by almost 50 percent as a result of foreign opposition 1 to the nuclear activities.
Mayor Ghalibaf has been a popular leader. He was able to complete major transportation projects in a weak economy by joining with Chinese companies. He formerly 2 served in the Iran-Iraq war and as national police chief. Earlier this month, rights groups released a recording 3 of his comments about dissidents. He is heard claiming that he ordered police to fire on students during demonstrations 4.
Last week, the Guardian 5 Council barred more than 600 other declared candidates for president from the ballot 6. The Council is made up of religious and legal experts. Six of its 12 members are appointed by the Supreme 7 Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
The group blocked former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and all thirty women candidates from appearing on the 2013 presidential ballot. Last week, American Secretary of State John Kerry criticized the restrictions 8.
“That is hardly an election by standards which most people in most countries judge free, fair, open, accessible, accountable elections.”
On Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned 9 what it called efforts to deny Iranian citizens information before the elections. The following day, United Nations special representative Maina Kiai urged Iran to release more than 40 reporters from jail. His comments came as the Iranian news agency Mehr reported that Iran’s culture minister plans more restrictions on foreign reporters.
Separately, UN officials said that barring all women candidates violated the International Covenant 10 on Civil and Political Rights.
Last weekend, exiled Iranians met at Sweden’s parliament building in Stockholm. The opposition group condemned an election process the exiles called “an insult to Iranians.” The gathering 11 was organized by the coalition 12 called United for Democracy in Iran or UDI. Iran’s state-operated media described the UDI call for free elections as an excuse for military intervention 13 in Iran.
And that’s In The News. I’m Steve Ember.
- The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
- The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
- We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
- This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
- How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
- I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
- Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
- The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。
- The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
- The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
- The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
- The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- They refused to covenant with my father for the property.他们不愿与我父亲订立财产契约。
- The money was given to us by deed of covenant.这笔钱是根据契约书付给我们的。
- He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
- He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
- The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
- Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
- The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
- Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。