Q: He had also said an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank , which meets Thursday , would be welcome .

He had also said on the eve of Monday 's talks that an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank , which meets on Thursday , would be welcome .

Please tell me if the sentences above mean the same.
OPTIONS:
- no
- yes
A: yes
Q: Both rebels and government forces have been accused of pillaging villages in Liberia 's countryside despite the peace agreement .

Both rebels and government forces , including those loyald to Taylor , have been accused of pillaging villages in Liberia 's countryside despite a peace deal .

Please tell me if the sentences above mean the same.
OPTIONS:
- no
- yes
A: yes
Q: This morning , at UM 's New York office , Coen revised his expectations downward , saying that spending would instead rise 4.6 percent to $ 247 billion .

Speaking to reporters at a New York news conference , Universal McCann 's Coen projected that total U.S. ad spending will rise 4.6 percent to $ 247.7 billion this year .

Please tell me if the sentences above mean the same.
OPTIONS:
- no
- yes
A:
yes