(单词翻译:单击)
中英文本
Clinging to power amid violent protests, Nicaragua’s President faces a crisis point
面临暴力抗议，把持政权的尼加拉瓜总统面临危机
AS PROTESTERS CONTINUE TO CALL FOR his ouster, Nicaragua’s embattled President Daniel Ortega is digging in his heels.
抗议者坚持要求尼加拉瓜总统丹尼尔·奥尔特加下台，尽管腹背受敌，该总统依然拒绝妥协。
At least 146 people have been killed since April in clashes there.
自4月份以来，已有至少146人在冲突中丧生。
Some worry that the Central American country is heading down the same path as Venezuela,
一些人担心该中美洲国家会重蹈委内瑞拉的覆辙——
where a dictator refuses to bend as his country is battered by an economic and humanitarian crisis.
委内瑞拉受到经济危机和人道主义危机重创时，其独裁者就拒绝妥协。
A NICARAGUAN SPRING
尼加拉瓜之春
The crisis started on April 18 when pro-government gangs violently crushed a small student-led demonstration against planned reforms to the pension system.
这场危机始于4月18日，当时，亲政府团伙暴力镇压了一场由学生领导的，抗议政府养老金制度改革新方案的小规模示威活动。
The government responded with force, and the protests escalated; dozens were killed over the next few days.
政府的武力回应进一步激化了抗议；接下来的几天，一连有数十人被杀。
Ortega, 72, has since dropped his original plan for pensions,
之后，72岁的奥尔特加取消了他最初提议的养老金计划，
but opponents are now calling for his resignation, as well as for democratic reforms and justice for victims of the crackdown.
但反对者现在要求他辞职，还要求政府进行民主改革，为前次镇压的受害者伸张正义。
CONFRONTATION
对抗
Opposition figures say Ortega—who had previously governed from 1979 to 1990 after helping topple Nicaragua’s last dictator, Anastasio Somoza—
反对派人士说，自2006年再次当选以来，奥尔特加——他曾助力推翻尼加拉瓜最后一位独裁者阿纳斯塔西奥·索摩扎，
has become increasingly corrupt and authoritarian since he was re-elected in 2006.
并因此上台执政，执政时间是1979年到1990年——他变得日益腐败和独裁。
In January 2017, his wife Rosario Murillo, a mystic poet, became Vice President.
2017年1月，他的妻子、神秘主义诗人罗萨里奥·穆里洛当选副总统。
Many suspect Ortega is preparing her to be his successor.
许多人怀疑奥尔特加正筹备让她继位。
For his part, Ortega has blamed “opposition political groups with specific political agendas” for the violence
奥尔特加则将此次暴力镇压事件归咎于“有特定政治企图的反对派政治团体”，
and even suggested that protesters had killed one another to undermine him.
他甚至暗示，抗议者是在自相残杀，为的是抹黑他的形象。
PROOF OF STRIFE
冲突的证据
With roads blocked, universities occupied and many businesses open only a few hours a day, Nicaragua has ground to a halt.
如今，抗议者们封锁了多条道路，还占领了多所大学，许多店铺每天都只营业几个小时，尼加拉瓜已经陷入停滞。
Economists say the crisis has cost the extremely poor country upwards of $600 million.
经济学家纷纷表示，这场危机给这个极度贫困的国家造成了高达6亿多美元的损失。
Some are calling on the U.N. to step up its response, while others have suggested a national strike.
一些人呼吁联合国对此予以重视，另一些人则建议举行全国性的大罢工。
But talks between the two sides have broken down, leaving Ortega with a choice:
然而，双方的谈判已经破裂，奥尔特加只有一个选择：
risk his position by holding early elections—which the Catholic Church and business leaders have called for—or refuse, and confirm his opponents’ worst fears.
要么冒着下台的风险提前大选——天主教会和商界领袖已经做出过相应的呼吁——要么拒绝让步，酿成反对人士最担心的局面。
译文由可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载。
重点讲解
1.dig in one's heels 坚持己见；决不妥协
The student dug her heels in and refused to obey the instructions.
这个学生坚持己见，拒绝服从命令。
2.battered by 备受……打击
But the worry is whether America's exporters, battered by years of foreign competition, would be able to do so quickly.
然而，令人担忧的是，多年来备受外国竞争打击的美国出口商能否迅速打开出口市场的大门。
3.ground to a halt 陷入停滞
Transport ground to a halt as heavy fog enveloped parts of China Wednesday, forcing airports and expressways to close to traffic.
周三，因为大雾笼罩，导致中国部分地区的交通陷入停滞，机场和高速公路纷纷被封闭。
4.step up 加大力度；加紧
He said he would pursue ongoing restructuring and step up efforts to develop "smash-hit" products.
他表示将继续致力于重组工作，并加紧开发“轰动市场”的产品。
