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President Quits Turbulent Tunisia 穾尼西亚总统逃离动荡祖国

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President Quits Turbulent Tunisia      穾尼西亚总统逃离动荡祖国  

Growing unrest in Tunisia came to a head on December 17th, 2010, after an unemployed youth set fire to himself in an act of protest against the lack of jobs in the north African country. The man later died in the hospital. Sympathetic to his plight, protestors took to the streets and clashed with police. As anti-government sentiment swelled, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali resigned from power and fled the country. The hardline ruler has been in power since 1987. Riots continued, and tens of people are thought to have died in the violence. Tunisia has long been regarded as a stable nation, and it is a popular holiday destination with European tourists. But as unemployment rose, Tunisia’s citizens grew more unhappy with the strict policies of Ben Ali. As Tunisia prepares to elect a new president, observers fear citizens of other Arab countries in the region, dissatisfied with their own domestic and political situation, may also demonstrate their discontent.

在一名失业年轻人引火自焚以抗议北非工作难觅后，突尼西亚国内节节升高的不满情绪于2010年12月17日爆发。那名男子不久后于医院过世，同情其困境的抗议者走上街头并与警察爆发冲突。当反政府情绪升高后，突尼西亚总统扎因．阿比丁．宾．阿里下台并逃往国外。这位实施铁腕统治的统治者自1987年接任总统。暴动持续，并已有数十人在暴动中丧生。突尼西亚被认为是政局稳定国家，且是欧洲观光客的最爱。但当失业人数不断增加，突尼西亚人民对实施严厉政策的宾．阿里越感不满。正当突尼西亚准备选出新总统之际，观察家忧心，其他同样对于国内情势与政治景况不满的阿拉伯国家人民可能也会表达不满。

Ma Moves to Amend Controversial Rate Policy   公务人员优惠利率争议 上限将予修改

Taiwan’s ruling party, the Kuomintang, is thought to be reaching an agreement to set a NT$2 million cap on retired government officials’ bank deposits which are eligible for preferential interest rates of 18 percent. The previous cap was NT$3.3 million. These rates would be paid in addition to the monthly retiree’s pension. The discussions are a result of President Ma Ying-jeou’s promise to reassess rules that entitle retired officials to receive the 18 percent interest rate. Many see the policy as unfair, allowing often affluent former government workers to claim interest at rates far higher than the average citizen. Average interest rates in Taiwan are between one and two percent. Ma insisted that the revisions will make the system fairer. KMT lawmakers claimed to support the proposals. Opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Tsai Ing-wen, however, accused the government of acting without sincerity in order to placate public opinion.

台湾的执政党国民党对于公务人员的存款能享有18%优惠利率，达成一项共识，将优惠存款金额上限从三百三十万元调降至两百万元。退休公务人员除了领取退休金外，还能享18%的优惠利率。对于退休公务人员享有18%优惠利率的制度，上述共识即为马总统允诺重新评估制度后的结果。许多人认为18%不合理，因为一般大众只能领取1%至2%的利率，但生活优渥的退休公教人员领取的利率却较高。马总统强调改革方案将使制度更为公平。国民党立法委员宣称支持此项修改提议。然而，对于此项政策修改，反对党主席蔡英文指称为马政府为了安抚民心的作秀之举。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

unrest [ʌnˋrɛst] n.不安；动荡

sympathetic [͵sɪmpəˋθɛtɪk] adj. 1, 同情的；有同情心的; 2,支持的，赞扬的

plight [plaɪt] n. 困境; 苦境 a condition of extreme hardship, danger, etc.

clash [klæʃ] v. 发生冲突

sentiment [ˋsɛntəmənt] n. 情绪

hardline [͵hɑrdˋlaɪn] adj. 强硬的

riot [ˋraɪət] n. 暴乱；骚乱

discontent [dɪskənˋtɛnt] n. 不满；不满足

cap [kæp] n.（经费等的）最高限度 an upper limit

deposit [dɪˋpɑzɪt] n. 存款

eligible [ˋɛlɪdʒəb!] adj. 法律上合格的

preferential [͵prɛfəˋrɛnʃəl] adj. 优待的; 优惠的

retiree [rɪ͵taɪəˋri] n. 退休人员

pension [ˋpɛnʃən] n. 退休金

entitle [ɪnˋtaɪt!] v. 给予〔某人获得某物或做某事的〕权利

affluent [ˋæflʊənt] adj. 富裕的

claim [klem] v.（根据权利）要求；认领；索取

sincerity [sɪnˋsɛrətɪ] n. 真挚的感情；真诚的行为

placate [ˋpleket] v. 抚慰；和解；怀柔

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片语发音

come to a head  达到紧要关头 to reach a critical or crucial stage

take to the streets 走上街头[游行]等  protest; cause an uproar

Tunisia Riots