Marco Rubio Announces Presidential Campaign 2015-04-14

United States Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told his supporters Monday he is running for president in 2016. He said that he feels "uniquely qualified" to represent the Republican Party.

Mr. Rubio, 43, is the son of Cuban immigrants. He made an official public announcement Monday in Miami. The announcement took place at the site where officials first registered Cubans fleeing the government of Fidel Castro in the 1960s.

Mr. Rubio is a first-term senator. If elected, he would become the United States' first Hispanic leader.

He joins Republican Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz in seeking the party's presidential nomination. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush are also expected to seek the Republican nomination.

Iran suspends pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia

Iranian officials said Monday they will stop sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Islamic pilgrimage, Umra. Iran says Saudi officials mistreated two Iranian pilgrims last month at Jeddah airport.

Iranian Culture Minister Ali Jannati told Iranian TV that Saudi Arabia must punish border guards who reportedly mistreated the pilgrims last month.

Russia lifts ban, may supply Iran with missiles

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cancelled a ban on supplying Iran with S-300 surface to air missiles.

The ban was put in place in September 2010. The policy change comes less than a week after Iran and six nations reached a deal on Iran's nuclear program.

The United States expressed concern Monday of Russia's possible sale of the missiles to Iran.

Nobel-winning German writer dies at 87

Gunter Grass, the Nobel-winning German writer, has died. A spokesman for his publisher confirmed that Mr. Grass died on Monday in a hospital in Germany. He was 87 years old.

Mr. Grass's books described growing up under the Nazi-led government in Germany. He briefly served as a Nazi soldier while a teenager. He was captured by American forces and held in a war camp.

Many have praised his part in reviving German literature after World War II. Mr. Grass also helped give voice and support to democracy in Germany after the war.

He earned the Nobel Prize for literature in 1999 for his most famous novel, "The Tin Drum," published in 1959.

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Words in the News

unique adj. unlike anyone or anything else (adverb form: uniquely)

qualified adj. having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job or activity

site n. a place where something important has happened

pilgrim n. someone who travels to a holy place

pilgrimage n. a journey to a holy place

revive v. to make (someone or something) strong, healthy, or active again