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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
It's Paul James with you on this Friday, February 13, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
A new peace agreement has been reached to hopefully bring the fighting in eastern Ukraine to an end this weekend.
The UN Security Council has adopted a new resolution targeting those who would help fund the Islamic State.
New reports are suggesting fake gold coins have been flooding the Chinese market ahead of Spring Festival.
In Sports... the final piece of the CBA playoff puzzle has been put in-place.
In entertainment.... the embattled son of Jackie Chan set to be sprung from jail today.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather...
Weather
Beijing will be sunny today with a high of 10, tonight clear with a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius4.
Shanghai is cloudy to sunny with a high of 12 and a low of 6 degrees Celsius.
Elsewhere in Asia.
Islamabad, sunny, with a high of 34.
Kabul, cloudy with a high of 17.
Over to North America.
New York, sunny with a high of minus 5 degree Celsius.
Washington, sunny with a high of minus 2 degrees Celsius.
Honolulu will see shower, with a high of 27.
Toronto, windy to showy with a high of minus 11.
Finally, in South America,
Buenos Aires will have shower, 35.
And Rio de Janeiro, cloudy, with a high of 38 degrees Celsius.
Top News
Anchor:
Leaders from Ukraine, Russia, German and France have reached a ceasefire agreement meant to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The details from CRI's Qizhi.
Reporter:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the announcement after marathon talks in the Belarussian capital, Minsk.
"First, we agreed on the end of firing from midnight on the 15th of February. Second, the position that I consider to be extremely important, is the removal of heavy weapons from the line of confrontation7 for the Ukrainian forces, and from the line, from today's confrontation line for the Ukrainian forces, and from the line named on September 19 last year in the Minsk agreements for the rebels of Donbass."
Under the agreement, Kiev will exchange prisoners with the rebels.
Ukranian authorities have also agreed to bring in constitutional reforms to give more autonomy to rebel-held regions by the end of this year.
If this is accomplished8, Ukrainian authorities will be allowed to control the country's border with Russia.
Rebel forces have been maintaining control of areas along the Russian border since the fighting broke out last year.
This has led to allegations the Russian side has been inserting heavy weapons and troops into the fight.
Moscow has consistently denied this.
Despite the new concensus reached in Minsk, there are still divisions.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"Despite firm insistence9 from Russia we didn't agree any status of autonomy for eastern Ukraine. We'll do this through constitutional reforms of decentralization that will concern the whole country. We didn't agree on federalization as well."
Another sticking point not dealt with in the agreement is the status of the transportation hub of Debaltseve, where intense fighting continues.
The latest round of talks in Minsk was brokered by German Chancellor10 Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Despite the deal being reached, officials with the European Union have still decided12 to add 19 new names to its sanction list starting from Monday.
And at the same time, the United States, while welcoming the new agreement, is still not ruling out fresh sanctions on Russia.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.
"We maintain the ability and the resources in place should the situation on the ground warrant it."
The Chinese government has issued its response to the new accord, saying a political resolution is "the only way out" of the conflict in Ukraine.
For CRI, this is Qizhi.
IMF agrees 17.5 bln in extended fund facility with Ukraine
The International Monetary13 Fund has agreed to loan Ukraine 17.5-billion US dollars to help support economic reforms in the country.
As part of the deal, Kiev is going to have to implement a series of structural14 reforms in its energy, financial, banking15 and administrative16 sectors18.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk says they're hopeful the aid will allow the Ukranian economy to grow next year.
"Ukraine - during the next four years - will hold those reforms that are needed for the economic and financial stabilization19 of the country. I want to stress that this program of reforms is not for the IMF. This is the program of reforms for Ukraine."
At the same time, the World Bank has also announced its going to earmark as much as 2-billion U.S. dollars in loans to Ukraine this year.
Kiev has been trying to secure around 40-billion US dollars in financial aid from the international community for the next 4-years.
The lingering civil war in the country's east, the annexation20 of Crimea and the country's dispute over Russian natural gas transfers has seen the Ukrainian economy collapse21 over the past 2-years.
Security Council approves resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIS
Anchor
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a new resolution targeting sources of financing for extremist groups, including the Islamic State.
CRI's UN correspondent Su Yi has more.
Reporter
The new resolution bans all trade in antiquities22 from Syria.
A similar measure was adopted for Iraq 10-years ago.
The UN resolution also threatens sanctions on anyone buying oil from the Islamic State or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
Both groups have control of numerous oil fields in northern Iraq and eastern Syria, and have been selling oil on the black market to help fund their campaigns.
The resolution, adopted by all 15 members on the Security Council, calls on countries to stop making ransom23 payments to kidnappers24.
The United Nations estimates the Islamic State is raising around 100-thosuand dollars a day through ransom payments.
However, it doesn't allow for the use of military force.
China's UN representative is Liu Jieyi.
"China welcomes the unanimous adoption27 of resolution 2199 by the Security Council. The resolution is of great importance for the coordination28 of the international anti-terrorist campaign and certain countries' efforts to fight against terrorism."
Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, says the resolution should be particularly effective in blocking the Islamic State's cash flow from the oil industry.
"We believe this is the type of case which clearly shows the need for the collective efforts to resolve the issues we are facing. Having adopted the resolution 2199, we took yet another very important step in suppressing the funding of terrorists – first and foremost from the illegal trafficking of oil."
The United Nations estimates the Islamic State has been generating between 800-thousand to 1.6 million US dollars a day through the sale of oil on the black market.
However, observers have been suggesting oil is no longer the main source of revenue for the group, given the depressed29 prices on the global market, as well as airstrikes which have wiped out a number of the oil installations the Islamic State controls.
Syria's UN ambassador, Bashar al-Ja'afari, says his side is very happy to see the resolution be adopted.
"So we are very pleased to see the Council has moved finally in the right direction towards establishing a wider framework to combat terrorism and to guarantee full commitment from all member states to achieve this very important goal."
The lingering civil war in Syria became the breeding-ground for the Islamic State insurgency30, as many of the foreign fighters who flocked to fight against the Syrian government later got together to form a united front.
This culminated31 with a massive offensive last summer which say the group take control of large swaths of eastern Syria and northern Iraq.
Its fighters nearly made it to Baghdad before being stopped.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi in New York.
IS claims holding Israeli spy
The Islamic State claims it is holding an Israeli Arab who had been posing as a foreign fighter to spy for Mossad, Israel's spy agency.
19-year old Muhammad Musallam can be seen confessing in an interview posted on-line by the militant32 group.
He's been recorded saying he joined the Islamic State in Syria so he could report to the Israelis about the group's weapons caches, bases and Palestinian recruits.
Both the Israeli government and Musallam's family deny the claim.
Musallam reportedly became involved with the Islamic State in October.
Yemen Is 'Disintegrating33': UN Chief
The comments come amid word al-Qaeda-linked fighters have taken control of a large army base in southern Yemen.
"Yemen is collapsing35 before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch. The country is facing multiple challenges. We must do everything possible to help Yemen step back from the brink36 and get the political process back on track."
Al-Qaeda and other Sunni militants37 have been stepping up their attacks since rival, Iranian-backed, Shiite Houthi fighters seized the capital, Sana'a, in September and started expanding across the country.
The Houthi insurgency has forced Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his government to resign.
The United States, along with Britain and France, have closed their embassies in Yemen, citing security concerns.
China is not following suit.
"The Chinese embassy in Yemen currently has no plan to close or withdraw. The Chinese diplomats39 are still staying on their posts and providing any possible and necessary assistance to Chinese organizations and people in Yemen."
Al-Qaeda has maintained a significant presence in Yemen for well over a decade.
The group and its supporters control a number of areas in the southern part of the country.
Egyptian court orders release of Al Jazeera journalists
An Egyptian court has ordered a pair of al-Jazeera journalists be released on bail40 as they await their re-trial on terrorism-related charges.
Justice Hassan Farid is with the Cairo Criminal Court.
"The court orders the release of defendant42 Mohamed Mahmoud Fadel Fahmy if the defendant pays 25,000 Egyptian pounds, or he will remain in custody43 pending44 retrial. The court has also ordered the release of all remaining defendants45."
Canadian journalist Fahmy has already given up his Egyptian citizenship46.
However, a third Al-Jazeera employee, Baher Mohammed, has no foreign passport.
The decision by the court in Cairo comes less than two weeks after their Australian colleague, Peter Greste, was released from prison and deported.
Greste was freed under a new law allowing Egypt's president to deport47 foreign defendants or convicts.
The journalists were tried and convicted of aiding terrorists in the fall-out of the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Al-Jazeera, based in Qatar, has been accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood49, which was Morsi's power-base in Egypt.
China refutes British think tank's report regarding military spending
The Chinese government is rebuffing suggestions its military spending is outstripping50 its neighbors.
The suggestion has been made in a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which is a London-based think-tank.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.
"China's defense51 spending last year accounted for less than 1.5 percent of China's overall GDP, which is lower than not only most industrialized countries, but also the global average of 2.6-percent. China's defense spending per-capita is even lower, only one-22nd of the United States and one-fifth of Japan's."
The Chinese side is also rejecting suggestions in the report that its military spending is opaque52, noting the annual defense budget goes under review by the National People's Congress on an annual basis.
The European Union's lead representative to China is warning there's still a lot to do before the two sides can finish up a Free Trade Agreement.
Hans Schweisgut is the EU Ambassador to China.
"This was identified as a longer tern perspective, and therefore our position at the time was and still is we should now focus our energy on making progress on ambitious investment agreement, which will not only cover environmental protection, but also market access issues and work towards an early conclusion. And on that basis, I think we would then look forward the next step."
A new round of bilateral54 investment treaty talks between China and the EU is set to be held next month in Beijing.
Schweisgut says one of the things Europe is interested in looking at is the Chinese government's plan to make high-speed rail one of its key exports.
"I think what we are seeing at the moment is a number of very interesting infrastructure55 projects, especially rail links. And I think what we see and what we know is that obviously the bulk of trade is still going by sea. Rail transportation can make a very interesting addition to that, growing more important over time. We should sit down and define the different projects more concretely. This is what I refer to when I said in the framework of connectivity platform."
The European Union is China's largest trading partner.
South Korean authorities are tightening57 the rules surrounding plastic surgeries.
The move is in response to a growing number of medical incidents.
A 50-year-old Chinese woman has been declared brain dead after undergoing a face-lift operation this past month.
Oh Gyeong-im is the director of the Gangnam Medical Tour Center.
"The government is creating protocols58 and stricter regulations regarding plastic surgery to ensure people's safety. Patients need to double-check that the clinic they're going to is a certified59 and reputable establishment."
Close to three-quarters of foreigners who go 'under the knife' in South Korea for plastic surgery are from China.
The number of Chinese nationals undergoing cosmetic enhancements in South Korea has increased 20-fold over the past 5-years.
Gold Fake Gold Coins Flood Chinese Market
Anchor:
Reports are suggesting fake gold and silver commemorative coins have been flooding the Chinese market ahead of the "Year of Goat."
CRI's Yu Yang has the details.
Reporter:
"Year of Goat" gold coins were officially issued at the end of last year by the People's Bank of China.
However, the official coins sold out very quickly.
But given the obvious popularity of them, a number of groups have been issuing plated coins, but have been marketing61 them as 'the real thing.'
Zhang Hanqiao is the executive manager of China Gold Coin, one of two commemorative coin issuers approved by China's central bank.
"Last year we received many complaints. Most of them are from the seniors. In some cases, families have been brought to ruin by purchasing fake coins. The fake coin manufacturers and retailers63 use misleading ads on TV, websites and magazines which specifically target seniors."
Zhang Hanqiao recommends anyone who wants to purchase a commemorative coin first research its authenticity65.
"The People's Bank of China has information published on its website about the times, size and types of commemorative coins its put out. This is the first thing you should confirm. Second, people looking for legitimate66 gold coins should go to PBOC branch offices or companies qualified to sell coins to buy the authentic64 products"
Gold and silver commemorative coins tend to maintain their value.
The smaller the size of the issue, the more valuable they tend to become.
"In terms of investment, I suggest people buy gold bars, which are more profitable. But if you're looking for a collector's piece, decorative69 items such as gold jewelry are better."
While gold sales here in China did slump70 through this past year with the downturn of the economy, China did surpass India in 2013 as the world's largest consumer of gold products.
For CRI, I'm Yu Yang.
Biz Reports
Stocks
Anchor:
First, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, Luo Wen.
Reporter:
U.S. markets ended higher on Thursday, with a rally in technology stocks leading the Nasdaq to a 15-year high.
In investors have also been encouraged by the ceasefire agreement to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Cisco Systems has led the technology sector17 higher after reporting better-than-expected earnings71.
Shares of the network equipment maker72 climbed 9.4 percent in its biggest one-day jump since May 2013.
TripAdvisor shares soared 22.5 percent a day after its revenues topped forecasts.
Fellow online travel company Expedia shares jumped 14.5 percent following it's agreement to buy Orbitz Worldwide for 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.
Tesla shares dropped 4.7 percent after it missed fourth-quarter sales targets and analysts73' profit expectations.
American Express shares plunged74 6.4 percent after it was announced Costco Wholesale75 will stop accepting its cards in the United States in April.
At close,
The Dow Jones leapt around three fifths of a percent.
Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished up around one percent.
Over in Europe,
Markets there also rose on Thursday, boosted by the Ukraine peace agreement, Swedish economic stimulus76 measures and continued hope of a Greek debt deal.
At the closing bell,
The UK's FTSE 100 ticked up a fraction of a percent.
Germany's DAX added about one and a half of a percent.
And finally France's CAC 40 gained one percent.
Chinese authorities are dismissing online suggestions that an imminent78 merger between two of the country's leading telecom operators is in the works.
Similar online reports are also suggesting China Mobile is poised79 to absorb the Shaanxi Broadcast and TV Network.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as well as all the companies involved, have denied the reports.
The reports sent Shanghai-listed China Unicom up over 8-percent in Thursday trading.
It's unclear at this point if securities regulators will become involved in any forthcoming investigation80.
Anchor:
Let's check out some of the main events taking place on the corporate front in China this week.
Joining me on the line now is Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Shanghai FTZ Relaxes Overseas Financing
Authorities in Shanghai are allowing banks and securities brokers82 in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to secure overseas financing.
This means banks and securities firms operating in the FTZ can now borrow overseas without prior consent from the authorities.
These same companies are also no longer going to be limited to borrowing in the Chinese currency.
Under the new rules, banks and securities firms in the FTZ are also going to be able to borrow twice what the companies have as holdings.
It's expected this is going to greatly-reduce borrowing costs.
China Plans Quality Growth, Anti-graft Drive in 2015
Leading Chinese policy makers83 say they've reached a consensus84 on how to improve economic quality this year and adapt to the slower rate of growth.
The statement follows a politburo meeting chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
While no specifics have been unveiled, the Chinese leadership says its going to push forward reforms in investment, fund-raising, pricing, taxes and finance.
The Chinese leadership is also fine-tune and use targeted regulatory measures more frequently.
At the same time, Chinese policy makers are vowing86 not to let-up in their drive to end corruption87.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is planning to create so-called 'model zones' where importers of Chinese goods can be assured Chinese exporters are meeting WTO rules.
The announcement is in response to allegations by the US government that Chinese firms are being unfairly subsidized in 'demonstration89 bases.'
The office of the US trade representative is accusing the Chinese government of offering unfairly-subsidized services to seven different small-scale industries.
The Chinese side has denied the allegation, saying it will deal with the claims through WTO procedures.
Headline News
UN welcomes Ukraine ceasefire deal
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon is welcoming a ceasefire agreement designed to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The UN chief also says they're going to continue to keep an eye on the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine, while at the same time, continue to deliver humanitarian90 support to the areas.
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have announced a new peace deal following marathon talks in Belarus.
It includes a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and the rebels, which is to begin on Sunday.
It will be followed by the withdrawal91 of heavy weapons from the front lines and constitutional reforms to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.
Security Council approves resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIS
The UN Security Council has adopted a new resolution targeting sources of financing for extremist groups, including the Islamic State.
The new resolution bans all trade in antiquities from Syria.
It also threatens sanctions on anyone buying oil from the Islamic State or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
The resolution, adopted by all 15 members on the Security Council, also calls on countries to stop making ransom payments to kidnappers.
U.S. Senate confirms Ashton Carter as Pentagon chief
The US Senate has confirmed Ashton Carter as the country's new Defense Secretary.
The 60-year old Carter takes over for Chuck Hagel, who resigned last year after a long-running defense policy battle with the White House.
Carter will be Obama's fourth defense secretary in 6-years.
He has a significant background in the Pentagon, having served as Deputy Defense Secretary from 2011 to 2013.
Before that, he was the Defense Department's head of procurement92.
He's credited with restructuring the troubled F-35 fighter jet program.
Ashton Carter takes over at a time when the US is dealing93 with a large number of national security challenges around the world, including the Islamic State.
The Chinese and Pakistani governments have been meeting to coordinate94 talking-points ahead of an impending95 visit to Pakistan by Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has been meeting with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain in Islamabad.
A date for Xi Jinping's trip to Pakistan has yet to be set.
It's widely expected Chinese infrastructure investment in the country will be high on the agenda as part of Xi Jinping's trip.
A car has crashed into the outer fence of the US Consulate in Shanghai, injuring a Chinese armed police guard.
Authorities say the man from Fujian was speaking incoherently after the crash, claiming he feared for his life and needed to provoke an incident to draw people's attention.
Police do not believe the act is in anyway related to terrorism.
They've also ruled out drugs or alcohol.
Newspaper Picks
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Pledge to foreigners
Summary
Chinese Premier98 Li Keqiang says measures are being taken to streamline99 access to China for foreign talent.
He says this will include the lowering of the threshold for foreigners to come to the country, as well as a streamlining of the procedures for them to invest and start businesses here.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Beijing drinks 'southern water'
Summary
About five million people living in Beijing are now drinking water from a tributary101 of the Yangtze River.
Beijing has received more than 50 million cubic meters of water from the south since the South-North water diversion project opened in December.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Smartphone hub opens
Summary
A smartphone production base for Chinese firm ZTE has officially opened in Xi'an.
The base is the largest in western China.
ZTE expects the facility is going to pump-out 15 million smartphones a year to start with.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Northern Smog
Summary
Forecasters are warning northern China is going to be blanketed by smog for the next two days.
The National Meteorological Center is forecasting medium to severe smog in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Hebei and Shandong.
A lack of wind is being cited as the main reason.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Food producers urged to video
Summary
Shanghai's food safety watchdog is suggesting companies involved in the processing of baby formula, meat or dairy products install surveillance cameras in their factories.
The suggestion comes in the wake of last year's scandal in Shanghai which saw a meat-processing company repack meat products it later sold to a number of fast-food outlets102.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Guizhou-Israel links
Summary
An Israel-Guizhou agriculture seminar has been held in the provincial103 capital, Guiyang.
As part of the session, the Israeli government and the Guizhou Agriculture Commission have announced plans to create a 66 hectares agricultural demonstration zone.
Special Reports
French photographer Witnesses three decades in China
Anchor:
French photographer Yann Layma has spent the past three decades recording104 China's changes through the lens of his camera.
CRI's Xu Fei caught up with him to discuss his experiences in China the past 30-years.
Reporter:
Layma began his photography career in China in 1985 when he was 22 years old. Thirty years passed and among all the changes that have taken place, Layma says it is the people that have changed the most.
"Now Chinese people are very open to foreigners, very open to new world. Chinese people are right to be proud of globalization, to be part of global culture. I think it's a very nice thing. I think the evolving of China is a very nice thing and very important to global balance."
Chinese readers can easily find their collective memories in Layma's latest photo album, China in Yesterday, hitting bookshelves in the country.
Apart from the city life, Layma constantly recorded the life of minority groups. He went to the villages of the Dong people in the southwest four times during the course of one year.
Layma says he tried his best to record life in a faithful and universal manner.
His friend, art manager Na Risong echoes this view, saying when it comes to photography, Layma's nationality is almost irrelevant106.
"It does not mean he sees China differently from Chinese people. Seriously, I cannot see anything like that. He is just so good at it. That is it."
But it is hard to argue that this is the case for every photographer. Like many other art forms, photography is engraved107 with the values and experiences of its creator.
"It's better to be objective, but a lot of photographers say if you are too close it's not good if you are too far, it's not good. You have to find the right distance with your story."
Layma says amid the rise of the Internet, photography publications are becoming something of the past. But it is safe to say with his faithful and insightful records of China, his works will never lose their glow.
Sports
Basketball: Guangdong Through to Semi-Finals After Dumping Dongguan
Guangdong clinched109 the last semifinal spot after beating Dongguan 102-89 and finishing the best-of-five series 3-1 in the Chinese Basketball Association league playoffs on Thursday.
Former NBA player Yi Jianlian led Guangdong with a double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds110; the foreign duo Will Bynum and Jeff Adrien combined for 37 points and 16 boards; and Dong Hanlin and Wang Shipeng finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Guangdong will meet defending champions Beijing, while Liaoning take on Qingdao in the semifinals, which begin on February 25.
Basketball: NBA Preview, Carmelo Anthony "Likely" Out With Knee Injury
Over in the National Basketball Association;
The top spot of the Central Division is up for grabs when the Chicago Bulls face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago is half a game up at 33-20 over Cleveland's 33-21 record. Outside of a surprise surge by third-place Milwaukee, it's looking like either the Cavs or the Bulls will take the central division for the fifth time in seven years.
In off-court news;
New York Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony is "likely" out for the rest of the season.
Melo told ESPN that trouble with his left knee has been getting worse, and after the All-Star game he will "likely shut it down."
The Knicks top scorer aggravated112 his knee injury on Monday, when New York lost to Miami, and sat out his team's loss on Wednesday to the Orlando Magic.
Cricket: World Cup Opening Ceremony Kicks off In New Zealand, Australia
The ICC World Cup opening ceremony took place in Christchurch, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia on Thursday.
Thousands of fans crammed113 leafy Hagley Park to see the launch of the first World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in 23 years.
The World Cup is the largest event Christchurch has hosted since an earthquake in February 2011 devastated114 the city's centre - only a few hundred yards from where Thursday's festivities took place, claiming the lives of 185 people.
Countries competing in the World Cup: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Scotland, Bangladesh, South Africa, Enlgand, Sri Lanka, India, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and co-hosts Australia and New Zealand.
England captain Brendon McCullum says, at this level of competition, the tournament is wide open:
"I think it is a really wide open World Cup. I think the nature of the wickets that we are going to see in both Australia and New Zealand are pure wickets and that brings in match winners and I think if you look around the top eight to ten Test nations every team possess match winners and some of those guys can turn a game within ten or fifteen overs. Therefore I think that leaves a World Cup wide open. It is there for someone, someone has got to win it and someone will take that opportunity and it will be nice if we are there towards the end of the tournament."
Competition begins on Saturday when New Zealand faces Sri Lanka, and Australia takes on archrivals England.
Tennis: Murray in Final 8 at Rotterdam, Eugenie Bouchard Out at Antwerp
Top-seed Andy Murray continued his fine start to the year as he made it to the last eight of the Rotterdam Open on Thursday.
The world number four beat Vasek Pospisil 6-3, 7-5, but had to work hard for his win after letting the Canadian back into the match.
Murray broke for a 3-2 lead in the second set, but lost his serve twice to allow the world number 57 a 5-3 lead.
But the Scot dug deep to come up with two breaks of his own before serving out the match.
He will meet Frenchman Gilles Simon in the quarter finals after the Frenchman beat compatriot Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-3.
Tomas Berdych also tasted victory, but needed three sets to get past Andreas Seppi.
In women's action down at the Diamond Games in Antwerp;
Second-seed Agnelique Kerber is out as well after losing 6-1, 6-1 to Italy's Franchesca (sp) Schiavone.
Czech Republic's Barbora Zalavova-Strycova, Lucie Safarova, and Karolina Pliskova are all through after straight-set victories.
As is sixth-seed Slovakian, Dominika Cibulkova.
Football: EPL Preview
Over in football:
English Premier League action coming up this weekend will see--
West Brom take on West Ham;
Stoke will battle the Blackburn Rovers;
Derby County will face Reading;
and Crystal Palace will meet Liverpool.
On Sunday;
Sunderland take on Bradford City;
Golf: Michael Hoey Leads Day 1 of Thailand Classic
Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey shoots an opening round 64 to seize the first round lead at the European Tour's True Thailand Classic at the Black Mountain Golf Club on Thursday.
Michael Hoey shot an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to set a course record and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Thailand Classic.
The former British Amateur champion from Northern Ireland had eight birdies at the Black Mountain Golf Club to lead three others by one shot.
David Lipsky of the United States, Hung Chien-yao of Taiwan and Carlos Pigem of Spain were tied for second at the European-Asian Tour event, after the trio signed for opening rounds of 65 in hot and humid conditions.
Entertainment
Jaycee Chan released from prison, Press-con expected
Jaycee Chan, son of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan, has been released from jail earlier today after serving a 6-month sentence on drug offenses118.
He's reportedly preparing to hold a news conference later.
Reports have been circulating Jaycee Chan is going to have a role in producing his father's new album.
However, Jackie Chan has gone on-record saying he's planning to continue working on his movie career, suggesting an album from the elder Chan is not in the works for the time-being.
32-year-old Jaycee Chan, an actor and singer himself, was detained in August along with Taiwan movie star Kai Ko for drug offences.
He's been the most high-profile of a string of celebrities119 who have been caught up in drug use in Beijing over the past year.
Yin Xiangjie prosecuted120 for illegal drug possession
Chinese singer Yin Xiangjie has become the latest celebrity121 to stand before the courts in connection with drugs.
He has stood trial in Beijing on Thursday.
A verdict hasn't been delivered.
Police in Beijing arrested the 45-year-old in late December.
He was caught with 14 grams of crystal meth and over a gram of marijuana.
In China, possession of more than 10 grams of crystal meth carries a penalty of up to 3-years in jail.
Yin Xiangjie, a Beijing native, became famous after singing "Boat Tracker's Love," a duet with female singer Yu Wenhua, in the 1990s.
"Somewhere only we know" eyes on the Valentine's Day Box Office in China
Chinese actress and director Xu Jinglei's romantic film "Somewhere only we know" has hit the Chinese theatres.
Total box office revenues have hit 38-million yuan on its first day on-screen.
Released just ahead of Valentine's Day, the film has already seen several couples to propose in movie theatres around the country.
The film tells a story of a girl who goes to Prague after her boyfriend breaks-off their engagement.
Then a new man appears in her life, setting the scene for a new love story.
Former EXO member Kris Wu and mainland actress Wang Likun play the leading roles in the film.
More screenings of the film have already been ordered amid an expected rush this coming Valentine's weekend.
"Fifty Shades of Grey" about to hit the cinemas
The big-screen adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey" is about to hit select theatres today in different parts of the world.
The film is widely-expected to be the biggest Valentine's Day weekend release in Hollywood history.
Based on the steamy novel by author E.L. James, the film stars Dakota Johnson as a college girl who falls for a billionaire named Mr. Grey.
Grey is played by Irish actor Jamie Dornan.
The film carries an "R" rating.
It made its premier at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany.
Veteran Correspondent Bob Simon dies in New York car crash
Veteran CBS "60 Minutes" correspondent Bob Simon has been killed in a car crash in New York.
Investigators123 later say speed may have played a role in the crash, which took place in Manhattan.
The 73-year-old covered numerous high-profile stories during his five-decade career, including the wars in Vietnam and the former Yugoslavia.
Simon also won multiple awards, including 27 Emmys.
His last piece, a report about the Oscar-nominated civil rights drama "Selma" aired on "60 minutes" over the weekend.
Simon's death comes amid an eventful week in US broadcasting, including "Daily Show" host John Stewart's announcement he's quitting, on top of the 6-month suspension of NBC news anchor Brian Williams.
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1
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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2
merge
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| v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体 | |
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3
merger
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| n.企业合并，并吞 | |
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4
Celsius
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| adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的 | |
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5
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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6
brokered
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| adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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7
confrontation
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| n.对抗，对峙，冲突 | |
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8
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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9
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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10
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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11
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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12
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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13
monetary
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| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
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14
structural
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| adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的 | |
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15
banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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16
administrative
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| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
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17
sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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18
sectors
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| n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形 | |
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19
Stabilization
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| 稳定化 | |
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annexation
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| n.吞并，合并 | |
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21
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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22
antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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23
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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24
kidnappers
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| n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
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25
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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26
mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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27
adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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28
coordination
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| n.协调，协作 | |
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29
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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30
insurgency
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| n.起义；暴动；叛变 | |
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31
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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33
disintegrating
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| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的现在分词 ) | |
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34
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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35
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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36
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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37
militants
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| 激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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38
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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39
diplomats
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| n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人 | |
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40
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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41
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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42
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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43
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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44
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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45
defendants
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| 被告( defendant的名词复数 ) | |
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46
citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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47
deport
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| vt.驱逐出境 | |
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48
deported
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| v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止 | |
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49
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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50
outstripping
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的现在分词 ) | |
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51
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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52
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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53
envoy
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| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
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54
bilateral
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| adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的 | |
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55
infrastructure
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| n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施 | |
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56
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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57
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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58
protocols
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| n.礼仪( protocol的名词复数 )；（外交条约的）草案；（数据传递的）协议；科学实验报告（或计划） | |
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59
certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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60
cosmetic
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| n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的 | |
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61
marketing
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| n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西 | |
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62
retailer
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| n.零售商(人) | |
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63
retailers
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| 零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 ) | |
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64
authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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65
authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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66
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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67
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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investors
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| n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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69
decorative
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| adj.装饰的，可作装饰的 | |
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70
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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71
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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72
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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73
analysts
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| 分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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74
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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75
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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76
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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77
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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78
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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79
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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80
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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81
corporate
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| adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的 | |
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82
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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83
makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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84
consensus
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| n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识 | |
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85
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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86
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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87
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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88
abides
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| 容忍( abide的第三人称单数 )； 等候； 逗留； 停留 | |
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89
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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90
humanitarian
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| n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者 | |
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91
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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92
procurement
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| n.采购；获得 | |
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93
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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94
coordinate
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| adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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96
consulate
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| n.领事馆 | |
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97
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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98
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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99
streamline
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| vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化 | |
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100
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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101
tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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102
outlets
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| n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店 | |
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103
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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104
recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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105
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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106
irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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107
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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108
paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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109
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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110
rebounds
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| 反弹球( rebound的名词复数 )； 回弹球； 抢断篮板球； 复兴 | |
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111
looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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112
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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113
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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114
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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115
crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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116
ousted
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| 驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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117
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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118
offenses
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| n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势 | |
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119
celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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120
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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121
celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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122
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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123
investigators
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| n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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124
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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