经济学人:一周政治要闻20

 　　The world this week-Politics 本周政治

　　Israel carried out air strikes on Gaza in response to a barrage¹ of rocket attacks from Hamas militants².  以色列向加沙发动空袭，以回应哈马斯恐怖组织密集的弹炮轰击。

　　The air assault killed scores of Palestinians, including many civilians³.  这一袭击使得大量巴基斯坦人丧生，其中包括许多平民。

　　The Israeli cabinet authorised the call-up of 40,000 army reservists in preparation for any potential ground offensive.  以色列内阁授权，召集40000名后备军人待命，以备潜在的地面攻击。

　　This latest conflict between Israel and Hamas was sparked by the murder of three Israeli teenagers, which Israel blames on Hamas,  这场以哈冲突的导火索是三名以色列青少年被杀害，以方认为哈姆斯组织应该负责，

　　and the alleged⁴ murder in revenge of a Palestinian youth, to which three Israelis have confessed. 凶手是为一个巴基斯坦少年复仇而杀害了三名以色列人。

　　Shia Houthi rebels took control of Amran, a city in Yemen just 45 miles north of the capital, Sana'a.  什叶派胡塞叛军控制了也门的一个城市—阿姆兰，距离首都萨纳北部仅有45米。

　　Their victory brought a rebellion that has simmered for a decade close to the heart of power in the country. 他们的胜利将一场预谋了十年的叛乱带到也门的心脏地区。

　　Andargachew Tsige, an Ethiopian opposition⁵ leader, was arrested in Yemen and extradited to Addis Ababa, where he is facing the death penalty.  埃塞俄比亚反对派领袖阿加盖·塞基在也门被捕，进而被引渡到亚德斯亚贝巴，目前正面临处决的惩罚。

　　A British citizen, he has been living in exile since 2005.  自从2005年起这个英国公民就生活在流亡中。

　　Islamist members of the Shabab militia⁶ attacked the presidential palace in Somalia, where they claimed to have killed 14 soldiers 青年党自卫队的伊斯兰教成员袭击了索马里总统府，他们声称在那儿杀害了14名士兵，

　　but not the president, who was not there.  而没有伤害到当时不在场的总统。

　　The country's police and intelligence chiefs were sacked. 国家的司法和情报机关部长被解雇。

　　In Nigeria 63 women and children kidnapped last month by Boko Haram, an Islamist group causing mayhem in the north-east of the country,  博科圣地组织上个月绑架了63名尼日利亚妇女儿童，这个伊斯兰教团体在尼日利亚东北部造成重大损失，

　　escaped from their captors by walking for 24 hours from where they were being held.  他们从被关押的地方徒步行走了24小时，从缉拿方的追捕中逃脱了出来。

　　This followed a heightened offensive against Boko Haram in which 50 of its fighters were killed, according to the army. 博科圣地此次行动时由于军队加强了攻势，使得50民博科圣地士兵死亡。

　　Caught off guard 猝不及防

　　Barack Obama asked for 3.7 billion from Congress to tackle an influx⁷ across the border of Central American migrants, in particular unaccompanied children.  巴拉克·奥巴马从国会申请了37亿美元来处理大量中美移民涌入。

　　The White House has taken a tough line, promising⁸ to deport⁹ the migrants,  白宫采取了强硬措施，承诺要将移民驱逐出境，

　　which has upset immigrant-rights groups who not so long ago were cheering the president's push for immigration reform. 这引起了移民权组织的骚动，就在不久前，这些移民权组织还赞成总统为移民改革做出的奋力争取。

　　The effort by Illinois to tackle its 100 billion public-pensions deficit¹⁰ was thrown into confusion when the state Supreme¹¹ Court ruled that  当伊利诺伊州最高法院规定上班族的医疗保险金受到州宪法的保护时，

　　health-insurance subsidies¹² for workers are protected by the state constitution.  之前想要借此解决1000亿的养老金赤字的努力付诸东流了。

　　Legal challenges to curbs¹³ on pension benefits argue that these, too, are unconstitutional. 伊利诺伊州原本想要控制退休金的计划是不合宪法的。

　　The Republicans chose Cleveland as the host city for their presidential convention in 2016.  美国共和党选择克利夫兰作为2016年总统公约的主办城市。

　　Oddly, despite Ohio's importance as a swing state, it will be the first national party convention to be held there since 1936. 奇怪的是，尽管俄亥俄州的重要性可以和摇摆州。这会是1936年以来第一个在那儿举办的全国性党代表大会.

　　Ray Nagin, who was the mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, was sentenced to ten years in prison for corruption¹⁴.  自从2005年卡特里娜飓风来袭时就在职的新奥尔良市长奈根因为贪污腐败被判10年监禁。

　　The case relates to bribes¹⁵ paid by city contractors¹⁶ looking for work, including much of the rebuilding after Katrina. 这一案件与城市承包商贿赂有关，其中也包括飓风后的城市重建。

　　Voting for a new leader 投票选举新领袖

　　Though both candidates in Indonesia'spresidential election claimed victory, Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, the governor of Jakarta,  尽管印度尼西亚的两个候选人都声称赢得了大选，雅加达领袖左科伟，

　　looked to have won over a former general, Prabowo Subianto.  似乎打败了前将军普拉博奥。

　　The official result is expected to be announced on July 22nd. 官方结果将会在7月22日公布。

　　Abdullah said he had won last month's presidential election in Afghanistan, despite the tally¹⁷ so far giving a lead to his rival, Ashraf Ghani.  阿卜杜拉说他已经赢得了上月阿富汗的总统大选，尽管统计结果显示他的竞争对手阿什拉夫·加尼领先，

　　Mr Abdullah contends that the election was marred¹⁸ by fraud.  阿卜杜拉争辩道，欺诈毁掉了这场选举。

　　The final result is due soon. Meanwhile, a bomb near Kabul killed 16 people.  最终结果将很快公布，与此同时，临近喀布尔的地区发生炸弹爆炸倒是16人死亡。

　　The new government led by Narendra Modi in India unveiled its first budget.  由纳伦德拉·莫迪所领导的新政府公布了他们第一个财政预算。

　　Arun Jaitley, the finance minister, was less radical¹⁹ than some had hoped,  财政部长阿兰·贾特里并没有想象中的那么激进，

　　but he nevertheless maintained a commitment to reduce the deficit and was more friendly in tone towards foreign investors²⁰ than his predecessors²¹.  但是他仍然保持着致力于减少财政赤字的初衷，以及表现出了相较于前任对外资更为友善的态度。

　　John Kerry, America's secretary of state, went to China for annual talks known as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue.  美国国务卿约翰克里到访中国参加一年一度的战略与经济对话,

　　Xi Jinping, China's president, opened the talks by saying that a confrontation²² between China and America would be a disaster.  中国国家主席习近平在年度对话的开幕式上提到中美之间的对抗将会导致灾难性的后果，

　　Mr Kerry reiterated²³ that America is not trying to contain China.  而克里野重申美国没有限制中国的意图。

　　As Mr Kerry was visiting China a prominent Tibetan writer was put under house arrest.  正值克里访问中国期间，著名的西藏作家茨仁唯色遭到软禁，

　　Tsering Woeser had been invited to a function at the American embassy in Beijing.  此前，她受邀参加了在美国驻北京领事馆举办的活动。

　　It is not known whether she was expected to meet Mr Kerry.  目前还不清楚她是否会与克里见面。

　　She was a winner last year of the State Department's women of courage awards.  她还是去年美国政府妇女勇气奖的得主。

　　Running for cover  代替运行

　　Having lost control of several cities in eastern Ukraine,pro-Russia separatists regrouped in Donetsk, a city of more than 1m people.  自从失去了对乌克兰东部几个城市的控制之后，亲俄的分裂分子在人口超过一百万的顿涅茨克重新集结。

　　Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's president, raised the possibility of a new truce²⁴ to stop the fighting.  与此同时，乌克兰总统佩特罗·波罗申科的表态大大增加了新的停战协议达成的可能性。

　　After the breakdown²⁵ of the first truce, he had insisted that he would not talk to the rebels until they disarmed²⁶.  由于他坚持反政府军必须解除武装，他才考虑谈判，导致了第一份停战协议流产。

　　Prosecutors²⁷ in Germany searched the home of an employee in the defence ministry²⁸ suspected of spying.  德国的检察官涉嫌从事间谍活动的一位国防部雇员的家。

　　Days earlier an employee of the BND, a German intelligence agency, was arrested for allegedly passing dozens of secret documents to the Americans.  数日前，德国情报机构的一位雇员因为非法向美国传播数分秘密文件遭到逮捕。

　　The American ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Berlin.  柏林的德国外交部为此事召唤了向美国外交官。

　　Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank,  欧洲央行行长马里奥·德拉基，

　　called for the creation of a strong supranational body in the euro zone to co-ordinate the economic convergence of its member countries.  呼吁在欧元区建立强大的超国家机构协来调成员国的经济。

　　Mr Draghi noted²⁹ the differences in global competitive rankings between Finland and Greece,  德拉基先生还提出，在全球竞争力方面，芬兰和希腊还是存在差距的。

　　and said that No firm or individual should be penalised by its country of residence.  同时还说到任何公司或者个人应受到其所在居住地的法律管辖。

　　Public-sector workers in Greece protested against cuts by holding a strike to coincide with a visit from representatives from international creditors³⁰.  希腊公共部门的员工通过在国际债券人的代表访问时举行罢工来抗议削减开支，

　　In Britain a million union workers downed tools to protest about pay.  在英国上百万的工会员工因不满薪水待遇而罢工。

　　The day the music died 音乐终结日

　　Brazil lost a football match, and with it a chunk³¹ of its national identity.  巴西不仅仅只是输掉了一场足球赛，也输掉了一大部分他的国家特性。

　　A 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup semi-final left the Brazilian team, who had been favourites to win the tournament, looking like amateurs.  在世界杯半决赛里面，德国7比1血洗了巴西足球队，这只巴西队原本是寄希望赢得世界杯的，不过这场比赛他们踢得像只业余球队。

　　President Dilma Rousseff, eyes on an election in October, urged her countrymen to bounce back.  而着眼与今年十月份选举的总统迪尔玛·罗塞夫也敦促他的同胞要振作起来。

　　Nicaragua unveiled the route of a proposed 40 billion canal connecting its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, to be built by a Hong Kong-based firm.  尼加拉瓜公布了他们一向计划投资400亿美元的运河计划，该运河打通了该国大西洋和太平洋的海岸，由一个香港公司承建。

　　Environmentalists don't like the idea of a canal; sceptics don't believe it will happen. But it keeps edging forward.  环保主义者不喜欢这项运河建议，而对此项计划持怀疑态度的人则不相信它可以建成。但是，无论如何，这项工作还是在不断的进展之中。

1 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• 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。

6 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

7 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 deport   

vt.驱逐出境

参考例句：

• We deport aliens who slip across our borders.我们把偷渡入境的外国人驱逐出境。
• More than 240 England football fans are being deported from Italy following riots last night.昨晚的骚乱发生后有240多名英格兰球迷被驱逐出意大利。

10 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

11 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• 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。

12 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

14 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

15 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

16 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。

18 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

19 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

20 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

21 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

23 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

24 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

25 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

26 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

28 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

29 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

30 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。