VOA标准英语2011--Uncertainty Lingers Over Bahrain Economy
时间:2019-01-14 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2011年(四月)
Uncertainty 1 Lingers Over Bahrain Economy
Fragile stability appears to be returning to Bahrain following anti-government protests that recently brought the Persian Gulf 2 kingdom to a standstill. However, analysts 3 say economic uncertainty is likely to linger on.
The streets of the capital Manama's business district are bustling 4 once again, less than a month after opposition 5 activists 6 set up barricades 7 in the area and Gulf military forces were brought in to help restore order.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Khalifa bin 8 Salman al-Khalifa announced that life in the country was getting back to normal.
But while many Bahraini residents seem to be carrying on with their day-to-day activities, the general consensus 9 among financial experts is that the nation's economy will have a much more difficult time shrugging off the effects of civil unrest.
The international rating agency Capital Intelligence lowered Bahrain's credit ratings on Wednesday, describing the outlook as "negative".
The nation is also widely expected to see slower growth than was previously 10 predicted.
A British expatriate who works in the capital and wished to remain anonymous 11, said the economic effects of the unrest are clearly visible.
"There have been a lot of repercussions 12. I know a lot of people that have lost jobs. I know people that have had pay cuts unfortunately. The economy really suffered from this in such a short period of time and it's amazing because it's such a small country that the ripple 13 effect of something like this can hit very, very quickly. But, Bahrain is a very strong country and I think it will get back together again," he said.
Bahrain's government is also remaining optimistic.
Jamal Fakhro, the vice 14 chairman of the nation's parliament, the Shura Council, believes the financial impacts of the crisis will be short-term.
"I would say the coming few months will tell us really how quickly we'll be able to recover, but definitely, I don't see big issues," said Fakhro.
Bahrain has one of the most diversified 15 economies in the Gulf region, with financial services contributing to about 20 percent of GDP, eclipsing the contribution of the oil sector 16.
Since Bahrain's recent troubles began, it has been reported that a number of banks have been discussing the possibility of permanently 17 relocating their operations to nearby Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha, but Farkho has played down the speculation 18.
"Nobody has spoken about shifting their headquarters," he said. "What we have heard, and this is normal, is that certain banks and financial institutions have moved few of their people out of Bahrain. And banks have started to bring back their people and institutions started to have business as normal. But there is absolutely no single financial institution that has announced that they want to withdraw their operations from Bahrain."
While existing companies may be staying put, many experts, like Jane Kinninmont from London-based Chatham House, say drawing new business to Bahrain is bound become much more difficult.
"Unfortunately, the recent events will have damaged Bahrain's ability to attract new investment and attract new talent to work in the financial services sector given that it does face stiff competition from Dubai, which hasn't faced anything like the unrest," said Kinninmont.
Anti-government demonstrations 19 began in Bahrain in mid-February, with protesters, mostly the nation's majority Shi'ite Muslims, demanding more equalities and a more representative government from their Sunni rulers.
Human rights activists say an ensuing crackdown by authorities has left at least 27 people dead, on both sides, with nightly raids in Shi'ite neighborhoods still being reported.
Reuters
Saudi Arabian troops cross the causeway leading to Bahrain in this still image taken from video, March 14, 2011
Bahrain has thanked its Gulf allies for sending in troops to help quell 20 the protests and restore order. But despite a lull 21 in opposition activity, Kinninmont says it is premature 22 for the government to declare the country's crisis over.
"They would be keen to say that the country is going back to normal and that that's what the GCC troops are helping 23 them to do, but unfortunately it's really a case where a lot of discontent is being suppressed, but not being resolved. I think there is a need to restart the process of dialogue with a view to meaningful, political reforms, which are going to require some painful compromises from both sides. I don't think the current security crackdown is a long-term solution in any way," said Kinninmont.
Last month, Gulf States agreed to provide Bahrain with $10 billion over the next ten years to help with the financial implications of the unrest.
- Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
- After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
- The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
- There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
- The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
- This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。
- 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。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
- Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。
- He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
- He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
- Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗?
- What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么?
- The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
- Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
- Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
- The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
- The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry. 这家公司的垮台将会给整个行业造成间接的负面影响。
- Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
- The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来,碎在沙滩上。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
- The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲,多种经营,全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
- The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
- The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
- The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
- Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
- There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
- 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。
- Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
- The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。
- The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
- Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后,地面战又突然爆发了。
- It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
- The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。