(单词翻译:单击)
路透社:麦当劳上季度利润下跌21%
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McDonald's profit drops 21 percent
麦当劳利润下跌21%
McDonald's didn't get any break in the latest quarter. Fewer people visited its restaurants, driving profit down 21 percent. Comparable store sales fell around the world. Younger consumers are opting for healthier alternatives at places like Chipotle, and McDonald's is also coming under attack from privately held burger chains like Five Guys and In-N-Out. And it is still suffering from the supplier scandal in China that has slammed sales in Japan as well. Operating income in Asia slid 44 percent. CEO Don Thompson said, "Our business continues to face meaningful headwinds." The company says results will remain pressured, especially in the first half of the year. McDonald's says it will cut capital spending and open fewer restaurants in its most challenged markets. It's working on cutting items from its huge menu and customizing tastes for local audiences, serving cheese quiches in Brazil and red bean pies in Hong Kong. McDonald's revenue and profit widely missed analysts estimates. But the drop in same store sales was less than expected. Its stock, which has fallen 4 percent over the past 12 months, rose in early trading.
最近的一个季度，麦当劳并未获得任何突破。光顾麦当劳餐厅的顾客数量减少，导致收益下降21%。世界各地的门店销量都出现下降。较年轻的消费者倾向于更健康的选择，比如Chipotle快餐。麦当劳也遭遇了私营汉堡连锁店的冲击，比如Five Guys和In-N-Out。麦当劳仍然遭受中国供应商丑闻的影响，同时也影响了日本的销量。亚洲地区的营业收入下降了44%。首席执行官唐·汤普森(Don Thompson)表示，“我们的业务仍然面临逆境。”该公司表示，它们仍将面临压力，尤其是上半年。麦当劳表示，它们将削减资本投入，在竞争激烈的市场减少餐厅数量。它们正试图从菜单中削减一些产品，并努力迎合当地消费者的口味，在巴西供应芝士蛋饼，在香港供应红豆饼。麦当劳的收入和利润严重低于分析人员评估。但是其同一家门店的销量下跌低于预期。过去12个月下跌了4%的股价在早期交易中出现上升。
Greeks prepare to head to polls
希腊举行选举 民众前往投票站
After four difficult years of austerity, a monumental political shift could be coming in Greece... Left-wing party Syriza -- led by Alexis Tsirpas -- leads the polls in a snap election scheduled Sunday -- running on a message of canceling budget cuts and writing off the country's debt.
经过为期四年艰难的紧缩政策之后，希腊将迎来重大的历史变革。阿莱克西斯·齐普拉斯领导的左翼政党Syriza在周日举行的临时选举民意测验中暂时领先。他们传达了取消预算削减，清除国家债务的信息。
(SOUNDBITE) (English) LEADER OF SYRIZA PARTY ALEXIS TSIPRAS, SAYING: "I think that tomorrow is a very important day, not only for Greek people but for European people. I'm very optimistic for a new beginning for Europe in order to regain democracy and social cohesion. And the victory of Syriza will be the victory of European people."
左翼政党Syriza领导人阿莱克西斯·齐普拉斯：“我认为明天是非常重要的一天，不仅对希腊人民来说，对欧洲人民来说也是如此。我非常乐观，欧洲一定会迎来新的开端，能够实现民主和社会团结。Syriza党的胜利也将是欧洲人民的胜利。”
Still, not all Greeks knew how they were going to vote.
然而，并不是所有希腊人都知道如何投票。
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HISTORY PROFESSOR, 31, GEORGE THEOTOKIS, SAYING: "I still haven't decided. I'm not 100 percent sure to be honest and it's less than 24 hours before the elections."
31岁的历史教授GEORGE THEOTOKIS：“我仍然没有决定。坦白地说我不是百分之百地确定，距离选举已经不足24小时了。”
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said undecided voters could sway the vote.
希腊总理萨马拉斯(Antonis Samaras)表示，未决定的投票者可能会影响投票结果。
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK PRIME MINISTER, ANTONIS SAMARAS, SAYING: "There are more than 14 percent undecided one day before the elections,and I believe that these people will decide for Europe, will decide for Greece, will decide for growth, will decide for stability, and this is why we are very hopeful."
希腊总理萨马拉斯(Antonis Samaras)：“选举前一天仍然有超过14%的人没有决定，我相信这些人会为欧洲，为希腊，为发展，为稳定做出决定，这就是我们满怀希望的原因。”
But many Greeks do not share that appraisal -- feeling exhausted by the years of austerity.
但是许多希腊人并不这样认为——他们已经对多年的紧缩政策感到厌倦。
(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PENSIONER, RENA, SAYING: "I can tell you that I will vote for those who make me feel safe in various ways - economically, emotionally, financially and socially protected."
养老金领取者RENA：“我可以告诉你，我将投票支持能让我从各方面感到安全的人——经济，情感，经济和社会方面都受到保护。”
Syriza needs just over 40 percent of the vote to be guaranteed a majority -- otherwise, it would have to form a coalition with smaller parties.
Syriza需要超过40%的选票才能保证在选举中赢得大多数优势——否则，它必须与较小的党派组建联合政府。
Obama reveals nuclear breakthrough on landmark India trip
奥巴马访问印度期间披露核突破
U.S. president Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi breathes new life into a stalled nuclear pact between the United States and India. On day one of a three-day visit, Obama and his Indian host, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unveiled a new deal that would boost civilian nuclear trade between the two countries.
美国总统奥巴马访问新德里为美国和印度之间停滞不前的核协议注入了新的活力。在为期三天的访问的第一天，奥巴马和印度总理莫迪披露了一份新的协议，将促进两国之间的民事用途核交易。
（SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA, SAYING: "Today we achieved a break through understanding on two issues that were holding up our ability to advance our civil nuclear cooperation and we are committed to moving towards full implementation and this is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship."
美国总统奥巴马：“今天我们就促进民事用途核合作的两项事宜取得了突破，我们将努力全面实施该协议，这是重大的进展，展示了我们可以一道努力改善两国之间的关系。”
Two issues had brought a 2008 nuclear deal to a standstill ... the liability of suppliers to India in case of a nuclear accident, and tracking the whereabouts of American-supplied fuel. More than 7 years later - this new deal resolves those differences - and unlocks billions of dollars in nuclear trade between the world's two largest democracies.
两个问题导致2008年的核协议进入停滞状态，一旦发生核事故供应商承担的义务，以及追踪美国提供的燃料的去处。七年多以后，这份新的协议解决了这些分歧，释放了世界上两个最大的民主国家之间数十亿美元的核交易。
路透社经济:希腊就终止紧缩措施投票
Greece votes on whether to dump austerity, take on lenders
希腊就终止紧缩措施投票
In Greece, it's time to make a decision -- one that could affect all of Europe. All signs are pointing to a huge win for radical left party Syriza -- and its pledge to end years of painful austerity measures imposed during years of economic crisis. Party leader Alexis Tsirpas cast his vote and called for a turning of the page. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEADER OF SYRIZA PARTY ALEXIS TSIPRAS, SAYING: "Greek people will regain social cohesion and dignity. And the message is that our common future in Europe is not the future of austerity. It is the future of democracy, solidarity and cooperation." A S yriza win would represent a turning point for Europe, as it aims to form the first euro zone government openly committed to cancelling an EU and IMF-backed bailout programme. Current Prime Minister Antonis Samaras also voted -- and made a plea for staying the course. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) GREEK PRIME MINISTER ANTONIS SAMARAS, SAYING: "Today we decide if we go forward with strength, security and confidence, or if we enter into adventures. In these elections there is an unprecedented number of citizens who are still undecided. They will decide the result. I'm optimistic because I believe that no-one wants to risk the European course of our country. We will win!" Leaders of a handful of smaller parties also cast their votes. While Syriza is widely expected to get the most votes, it may not get enough to govern alone -- meaning some them could have a vital role to play. Most voters seemed eager for a change... (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) VOTER, BYRON FASOULAS, SAYING: "As a country, we have reached the bottom of the barrel, I will vote so that things can improve in Greece. Our children's future is the most important of all because our future is already lost." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) VASILIKI ROUKOULA,SAYING: "I hope for the best for the country and my criteria are that we need things to change." Europe and the world watches as today's results decide what form that change takes -- and what it means for the future.
CCTV9视频:农民工讨薪难题何时解
Migrant workers in China demand wage owed in arrears
农民工讨薪难题何时解
Spring festival will come in a month, and migrant workers in large cities are due to return home. Many will also take back with them the money they had earned in the year. But for some, getting their hard-earned money may well be improbable.
Yang Minghong a construction contractor, is in trouble.
In 2012, Yang and his some 40 workers took a project in Central China's Henan Province, to build cow sheds for a local company. The construction work went smoothly as planned, but Yang never got paid. For over two years now, the workers have been chasing Yang for their wages, but Yang is unable to deliver anything for them.
"Yang said he would pay us soon at that time. But up to now, all we have got are empty promises," says a migrant worker.
"If I can get my construction payment, I will immediately pay my workers. But without that, I can do nothing," Yang says.
With options running out, and in desperation, Yang sued the hiring company at a local court. He demanded for the project payment and interests, which totalled 3.2 million Yuan, all together. The court later ruled in Yang's favor.
However, as the hiring company's legal person went on the run, the court order become essentially ineffectual.
"All we can do now is to find another company which can buy the leftover assets, and hopefully use that money to pay for Yang's contract fees," says Wang Xilu, court officer of Zhumadian, Henan Province.
For Yang, it seems all he can do is to wait. But with workers coming into his home asking for money every day, its taken a toll on his mental health.
"I cannot sleep well. I wake up over eight times every night. There were only nightmares. I dreamed about people asking me for money all the time. I even thought about committing suicide," Yang says.
But in a way, Yang Minghong was not one of the worst cases. Other cases of wage earners demanding pay owed to them ended in tragedy.
Last December, in North China's Shanxi Province, a woman was beaten to death in a local police station for demanding her wage. And in January this year, after a failed attempt to recover the wages her father and other workers, a 14 year old girl jumped to her death from the 16th floor of a building still under-construction in Hebei province.
As more cases are revealed, the media has called for a mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of the laws and regulations, to protect the vulnerable group's rights and interests. Something which put in to effect will prevent more similar tragedies, and perhaps a happier spring festival back in hometowns for many.
