Words in the News state-owned firm based in Shanghai, shut down some dirty old mills in early 2016. staunchly résolument After Syriza's electoral win in early 2015, the first by a staunchly leftist party in the post-crisis years, European politicians said they would oppose any serious write-down in Greece's outstanding debt. stave off contrer, conjurer Economists say China's urban housing overcapacity is due to the lending-and-spending spree it went on eight years ago to stave off the effects of the global financial crisis. stem endiguer In a bid to stem the flow of asylum seekers, Hungary closed its border with Serbia in September 2015, then sealed its border with Croatia the following month. stem from provenir de Market analysts say the housing glut in China's less developed cities stems from its earlier moves to boost the construction industry and provide investment opportunities for the wealthy. stepping stone tremplin Political pundits generally agreed that the Front National viewed the December 2015 regional elections as a stepping stone to France's presidential election in 2017. 130