World's Oldest Known Zoo Gorilla Dies

  This is What’s Trending Today… The world’s oldest known zoo gorilla has died. Colo was born in 1956 at the Columbus Zoo in the American state of Ohio. She was the first-ever gorilla to be born in captivity. She died in her sleep on January 17, zoo officials say. Colo lived more than 20 years beyond the average life expectancy for female gorillas in human care. Researchers studied her to better understand how to help animals live longer in zoos. "Colo touched the hearts of generations of people," said Columbus Zoo and Aquarium officials. "She was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat." When she was born, most zookeepers believed gorillas born in captivity could not survive. Coco became a beloved animal across America. On her 60th birthday in December, hundreds of zoo visitors celebrated the event. They watched her open presents and eat a special cake, reportedly made with apples and tomatoes. On Wednesday, thousands of people remembered Colo on social media. The Columbus Zoo’s Facebook post about Colo’s passing has been shared more than 27,000 times. More than 3,000 people left comments and shared memories of visiting Colo at the zoo. One woman posted a photo of Colo and her young daughter looking at each other while touching their hands to the glass window. The woman wrote that “Colo and my daughter shared the most wonderful and profound moment. We will never forget her.” Another woman wrote about meeting Colo when the gorilla was still a baby. The woman, now 70 years old, wrote that Colo “made quite an impression on me and helped foster my life-long love of animals.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story captivity - n. the state of being kept in a place (such as a prison or a cage) and not being able to leave or be free inspire - v.  to make (someone) want to do something  motivate - v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows foster - v. to help (something) grow or develop

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Melody Bales: 'The Lady From Haiti'

  There is a colorful Caribbean Art Gallery and gift boutique located downtown in Naples, Florida. The store is small and offers a large collection of beautiful Haitian paintings and other art that you cannot find anywhere else. The store is named ‘The Lady From Haiti.’ Behind its funky name is a story of love. Melody Bales owns the store. Bales took an interest in the Caribbean early in life, partly because of its art. “It was the paintings originally that attracted me to Haiti. I had seen one in a studio in a gallery on St. John's Island, one of the American Virgin Islands. And I speak French. I was fascinated by the sound of the language and my parents had gotten me a book when I was a young kid called ‘The Slave Who Freed Haiti.’ And it was the story of Toussaint Louverture, the slave that led the revolt against Napoleon. So I think the fact that that was somehow embedded in my consciousness and the sound of the French language and my love for the Caribbean. So that made me want to go to and live in Haiti.” So, that is what she did. In the mid 1980s, Melody Bales moved to Haiti where she taught second grade students. “I landed there and I was in shock that I couldn't use my French too much because the official language is French, but the people speak Creole. But I adjusted really well to my class. It was a second grade class. I had wonderful children from diplomats from all over the world because Port au Prince is a capital city and I had the children of American businessmen before the embargo had ruined their businesses and the Haitian elite sent their children to our school. It was an American curriculum and that's what they wanted." Bales also taught swimming after school and in the summertime. She fell in love with Haiti, especially its people. “I think the people of Haiti are wonderful. They're very, very sweet. They're humble, they're accepting of their plight, a lot of times. They work very hard if they get a chance. "They're modest they're kind, they're sharing, all the different things that people that aren't in a big rush to get somewhere fast and achieve and to grab more and more for themselves. A lot of the things that we don't experience so much in our country anymore are still present in Haiti.”     Bales says she wishes that Americans knew more about the Caribbean island’s rich culture as well. “I would love people in this country to understand that Haiti has so much more to offer, even though it's not an educated society, for the most part. They have so much more to offer creatively, musically, artistically. The poetry, the literature, they come from a rich background…" Bales stayed in Haiti for six years, much longer than expected. She says each time she planned to return to the U.S., something held her back. And, then came the chance of a lifetime: a Haitian baby girl in need of a mother. “I had wanted to have a child…I had done an unsuccessful in vitro and then I told a doctor friend of mine, a Haitian doctor friend of mine, that it didn't work. And he said, ‘So, are you ready for a Haitian baby?’ I said, 'I just want a baby.'" Soon, Bales was connected with a pregnant woman who could not afford to care for the coming baby. But, there was little time left to act. “I met this mother, she was going to have the baby within two weeks. So, in that period of time I took her to the doctor, another friend of my doctor friends, and had a sonogram…and I was thrilled to see that it was a healthy developed girl.” Melody Bales says it was a match made in heaven. She named her daughter Rachel. “I tell my daughter Rachel I've known her longer than she's known me. I saw her first.” Bales returned to the United States with her daughter Rachel to begin their lives together. Rachel was the inspiration for “The Lady from Haiti” store. Bales says she wanted her daughter to grow up surrounded by the Haitian native culture with its beautiful colors, creativity and spirit. “The art in Haiti is one of the strongest features about the Haitian culture. There are basically five schools. Different schools of art in Haiti. The ones that a lot of people think of [are] the market scenes or the peaceable kingdom scene, the jungle animals. And those are very charming. “And then there's a school of the voodoo art, which is --- it's pretty strong…Voodoo is a pantheistic religion that came from Africa and the Haitian people brought a lot of those beliefs with them.” Another popular Haitian art form found at “The Lady from Haiti” is made from recycled material. "It's called fer découpé which means cut metal, and it's literally 55 gallon drums that have been cut with a cold chisel and a ball peen hammer.” Bales explains that a design is drawn on the metal before the artist begins to make the cuts. “And they're fashioned into the most beautiful creations, sometimes they're exotic animals or religious icons or country scenes. But each time I see one, it's just… it's really satisfying because I realize it's hard work, sweat, a wonderful imagination and I love them because they have so much detail.” Bales also loves the papier mache art made in Haiti. "I think the Papier Mache is cute just because it's so whimsical. It's made from recycled cement bags. They use a heavy- duty craft paper in Haiti, which is so heavy that it actually cracks when you fold it. And they use a ground up root, I believe it's called manioc, as the paste and they make really charming little animals.” Melody Bales is grateful for the wonderful things Haiti has given her, especially daughter Rachel. “The Lady From Haiti” gallery will continue to give back to the island as it shares Haitian art, color and spirit with the rest of the world. I’m Marsha James. Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Next time on People in America, meet Henry Reese, Co-founder of City of Asylum Pittsburgh. Listening Quiz See how well you understand this story by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then answer the question. ___________________________________________________________     Words In This Story     boutique – n. a small store that sells stylish clothing or other usually expensive things funky – – n. adj. stylish or appealing in an unusual way gallery – n. a room or building in which people look at painting, sculptures, etc. embedded – v. to place or set something firmly in something else consciousness - n. the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you diplomat – n. a person who represents his or her country’s government in a foreign country elite – n. the people who have the most wealth and status in a society curriculum – n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc. in vitro – adj. fertilization of an egg outside the mother’s body sonogram – n. a picture that is taken of the inside of a person’s body by using a special machine voodoo – n. a religion that is practiced chiefly in Haiti pantheism – n. a doctrine that identifies God with the universe papier mache – n. a material that is made of paper mixed with water, glue, and other substances and that hardens as it dries grateful – adj. feeling or showing thanks

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Memorable Moments in US Inauguration History

Washington, 1789 The first U.S. president, George Washington, was inaugurated in New York City. At the time, New York was the temporary capital of the country. Because Americans had never had a president before, George Washington had to wait a week before lawmakers could agree on what an inauguration ceremony should look like. Finally, on April 30, the president- and vice president-to-be, along with other lawmakers, gathered at the senate building. They walked to the balcony and waved at the crowd. Then, a judge asked Washington to swear to “faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States.” Those are the words the U.S. Constitution requires. The judge wanted Washington to swear on a Bible. But at the last minute, the judge realized he did not have one. A messenger had to find and borrow one quickly. After the oath, Washington read a speech to the senators. One of those senators described the scene in his diary. William Maclay wrote that Washington appeared nervous and uncomfortable. Washington trembled and had difficulty reading his speech. The ceremony was short, sweet, and – according to Maclay – awkward. Jefferson, 1801 Thomas Jefferson, the third president, had an inauguration that was reportedly even simpler. He walked to the ceremony instead being driven in a carriage, as the first two presidents had done. When Jefferson arrived at the Capitol, a large crowd met him. The president-elect had prepared a speech. But when Jefferson gave it, his voice was so soft that few people heard him. Today, Jefferson’s first inaugural speech is well-known among Americans. It is famous for trying to ease the ugly dispute between political parties during the campaign. But apparently the bitter taste of the election remained. Jefferson’s rival in the election – former president John Adams – did not attend the inauguration. In the dark hours just before the ceremony, Adams packed his bags, quit the White House, and took a coach back to Boston. William Henry Harrison, 1841   No history of presidential inaugurations would be complete without noting William Henry Harrison, the country’s ninth president. At 68, Harrison was the oldest person to take office at the time. On his Inauguration Day, he reportedly wanted to show that he was strong enough to serve as president by delivering a very, very long speech. It was a cold day, and Harrison did not wear a coat or hat. One month later, Harrison died – the first president to die in office. His doctor recorded that Harrison died of pneumonia. The usual story is that his long speech killed him. But researchers reviewed Harrison’s case and in 2014 proposed a different reason for his death. Jane McHugh and Philip Mackowiak say Harrison did not get sick until three weeks after his inauguration. And he complained of being tired and anxious, not of pain in his lungs. The researchers point out that, at the time, Washington, DC did not have a good sewer system. Human waste “simply flowed onto public grounds a short distance from the White House,” they wrote in the New York Times. Some of the bacteria probably entered the president’s pipes – so to speak. The researchers conclude that Harrison probably died from drinking dirty water. Calvin Coolidge, 1923 Not all presidents have memorable inaugurations. But the inauguration of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, is notable for being the least memorable. In August of 1923, Coolidge was the vice president. He did not have many duties and went on vacation at his family’s house in Vermont. In the middle of the night, his father woke him up with a telegram. It said that the president, Warren Harding, had died. Coolidge was now president. Coolidge wrote in his diary that his first act was to stop and pray. Then he found the text of the inaugural oath from the Constitution. He gave it to his father. Mr. Coolidge Senior administered the oath in the family’s living room, by the light of a kerosene lamp. Within half an hour, the new president was back in bed. Lyndon Johnson, 1963 In contrast, most American’s can call to mind the dramatic, emotional inauguration of Lyndon Johnson, the 36th president, an hour and a half after John F. Kennedy’s death. The event is captured in an iconic image of Johnson on the president’s plane, Air Force One. Johnson is raising his hand as he takes the oath of office. His wife is on one side. Jackie Kennedy, the former president’s widow, stands at his other. The judge administering the oath is also a woman – she is the first and only female judge to swear in a U.S. president. The image is famous because it shows the shock on Mrs. Kennedy’s face. She still has on the suit she was wearing when her husband was shot. The image also provided proof to the American people that a new president had been sworn in. It promised that even in moments of chaos, the U.S. government continued. And, finally, inaugurations gone wrong   But that is not to say that the U.S. government always operates smoothly. Many inaugurations go wrong. After Andrew Jackson’s inauguration in 1829, supporters at the White House were so eager to shake the new president’s hand that they almost crushed him against a wall. Jackson had to leave his own party by escaping out a window. In 1865, another Andrew, Andrew Johnson, delivered his vice presidential speech drunk. In his defense, he was sick; he had been using whiskey as medicine. Ulysses S. Grant in 1873 wanted live birds at his inaugural ball. Unfortunately, the day was very cold. The birds froze to death. Similarly, in 1973, Richard Nixon aimed to clear pigeons from the path of the inaugural parade by spraying chemicals. He succeeded … sort of. On Inauguration Day, the crowd had to step over the bodies of the dead birds all along Pennsylvania Avenue. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. And I'm Anne Ball. _______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   diary - n. a book in which you write down your personal experiences and thoughts each day bitter - adj. felt or experienced in a strong and unpleasant way pneumonia - n. a serious disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe sewer - n. a pipe that is usually underground and that is used to carry off water and sewage kerosene - n. a type of oil that is burned as a fuel — often used before another noun iconic - adj. a widely known symbol

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Siri vs. Google Assistant – Which Assistant Is Best for You?

  Android and Apple fans have always argued about which phone is better. Now they can debate which digital assistant is better. Using your voice to give commands to a computer once seemed like science fiction. Now we expect our phones to provide such assistants. Siri from Apple and Google Assistant from Google both try to answer users’ questions. The two companies each hope that by offering the best digital assistants, they will sell more of their products and services. Siri Siri first came to the iPhone in October of 2011 with the iPhone 4s. Now Siri is available on many other Apple products, such as iPad, AppleTV, Mac computers, and more. You can use Siri to: Control Apple Music Open apps Set a timer Check your email Get directions Add an appointment to your calendar Send a text message Start a video call Check your calendar for your next appointment Search the Internet Set a reminder Find photos Get scores from sporting events Tell you a joke Check the weather and  Ask Siri what it can do One thing you should not do is ask Siri to divide zero by zero! Beginning with iOS 10, Siri can now be used with apps from companies other than Apple. You can now ask Siri to: Make reservations at a restaurant using OpenTable Get a ride with Uber Send tweets using Twitter Discover the best local places on Yelp Start a run with Nike Run Club Make a call on Skype or Whats App Post to Facebook Tell you what song is playing using Shazam Google Assistant Google Assistant is a new digital assistant, having recently arrived on the Pixel and Pixel XL phones and the Google Home smart speaker. Google Assistant works with other Google services such as Gmail, Google Flights, Google Photos and Google Maps. The more you use Google, the more useful Google Assistant becomes. You can use Google Assistant to: Get a Daily Briefing of news Find out your travel schedule Set reminders Send videos to your Chromecast streaming TV device Get the weather Find out the travel time to work Check your calendar Find photos on Google Photos Ask Google Assistant what it can do Google Assistant vs. Siri -- Infographic Wondering how Google Assistant and Siri compare? An infographic shows the advantages and disadvantages of both:                                                                                                                                                                           Which Assistant Is Best for You? Both Siri and Google Assistant can be very useful in many situations. But their usefulness depends on how much you use their compatible products. If you use Apple products, Siri is the assistant that will work best for you. If you use Google products, then Google Assistant will work better for you. The choice between an iPhone that has Siri and an Android phone that has Google Assistant should not be made based on the assistant it uses. Assistants can be improved through updates that add new powers. Choose the phone that works best for you and learn what its assistant can do to help you the most. Infographic courtesy of 50waystohelp.com. I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you use a digital assistant? If so, which one? Which features are most important to you in a digital assistant? Would you choose a phone based on which digital assistant came with it? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   digital assistant - n. an application program that can understand natural language and complete electronic tasks for the user. infographic - n. a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data compatible - adj. able to be used together update - n. a change or addition to computer software  

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Under Trump, Foreign Aid Programs May Change

  With a new U.S. president coming Friday, changes in foreign policies and aid will likely follow. What those changes will be are not yet fully known. But overseas aid will come under question from a president and a secretary of state known to follow the bottom line as businessmen. In business, the bottom line is a company’s profit, or loss. Rex Tillerson is the Secretary of State nominee. In his confirmation hearing, U.S. Senators asked the former head of Exxon-Mobil how to prevent U.S. assistance from being stolen by corrupt foreign countries. He said: "If we're going to deliver aid into a country where we know this is a risk, what can we do in the execution of the delivery of that aid?" It is likely that President-elect Donald Trump and his administration will be giving foreign aid to countries to improve property rights, the rule of law, and to fight corruption. James Roberts is with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. "Too much of the foreign aid given by the Western countries -- U.S., OECD countries --  has ended up only securing in power corrupt regimes."    Republicans now control the White House and both houses of Congress. This means that some programs opposed by religious conservatives could face review, and maybe be cut, or completely ended. Amanda Glassman is with the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. "Certainly there are worries, especially in areas of family planning and reproductive health, especially in the areas of HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment."   The United States is the biggest global donor. And John Kerry, the outgoing secretary of state, says the U.S. needs to do even more than the current spending of $34 billion for this year. Kerry is calling for a new “Marshall Plan” like the one that helped rebuild Europe after World War Two. He wants the plan to make sure there is education for young people at risk of becoming followers of Muslim fundamentalists. "There are about a billion and a half children in the world under the age of 15. Somewhere upwards of 400 million of them will not go to school, and that is a problem for all of us." Throughout American history, diplomacy, development and foreign aid have had strong support from both political parties. U.S. diplomats hope that the Trump administration will also see overseas assistance as important for America’s security and economic interests. I’m Anne Ball. Steve Herman wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rule of law – n. government by law family planning – n.  use of birth control to determine the number of children there will be in a family and when they will be born reproductive health – n. related to the reproductive processes, function and reproduction system

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Melody Bales: Lover of Haiti's Art and People

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Henry Reese, Co-founder of City of Asylum Pittsburgh

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Theresa May Says Britain Will Leave the Single Market

  British Prime Minister Theresa May says Britain will leave the European Union’s single market. May spoke to government employees and diplomats at Lancaster House in London on Tuesday. She had been under pressure to provide a plan following Britain’s vote last June to leave the European Union. May also said Britain will break with the European Court of Justice. She said the U.K. must regain control of its laws and borders, and will seek a new trade agreement with the E.U.  May said that the final plan would be presented to parliament for a vote. Good news for the pound The speech appeared to lend support to the British pound, which has fallen around 19 percent against the U.S. dollar since the vote. Shortly after May described her vision of free trade and strong economic ties, the pound rose in value. Leaving the single market The E.U. single market makes it easy for EU nations to trade with one another. It permits free movement of goods, workers, and services around the E.U. without tariffs. Some non-E.U. countries, such as Norway, have made agreements with the E.U. that permit them to be part of the single market if they meet conditions.  The possibility of losing access to the single market has worried many people in Britain’s large financial services industry. In her speech, May said she wants to create a new relationship with the E.U. based on free trade. “This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the E.U.'s member states. It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets, and let European businesses do the same in Britain,” May said.  The E.U. has created separate customs union agreements with countries that vary in their rules and what goods are covered.   New immigration rules May also spoke about immigration: "The message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver." The exact model for such control has not yet been confirmed. The British government has said that all possibilities are being considered. However, May tried to calm fears that the Brexit will mean a more inward-looking Britain. She said she wants the country to be "stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before." I’m Phil Dierking This story was originally written for VOAnews.com by.  Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning English using other media. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you think Brexit will help or hurt the United Kingdom’s economy?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story access – n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone Brexit - n. a term for the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union. tariff– n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country. vision - n. something that you imagine.

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Police Arrest Suspect in New Year's Eve Attack in Turkey

  Turkish security forces say they have arrested the main suspect in the attack on a nightclub in Istanbul on December 31. The attack killed 39 people and injured several others. The Hurriyet Daily News said Abdulkadir Masharipov was detained Monday in Istanbul's Esenyurt area. He is said to be an Uzbek national. Turkish television and other news agencies said police seized the suspect in a raid on a house. Five others in the house also were detained. They included one person from Iraq and women from Egypt, Senegal and Somalia.      Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister congratulated police in a Twitter post Tuesday. He also said that Turkey's "war with terror and the powers behind it will continue to the end." The hunt for Masharipov had been going on for days once police identified him as the main suspect. Istanbul’s governor said the arrest was part of a well-organized operation. The search for the suspect involved more than 2,000 police officers.     More than 40 other foreign nationals were detained as police searched for suspects. The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. The New Year's Eve attack was the third in Turkey in the past two years linked to militants from Central Asia who admitted links to the Islamic State group. Islamic State jihadists from Central Asia were said to have carried out two earlier attacks, including one on Istanbul's Ataturk airport in June. That attacked killed 44 people and wounded more than 230 others. The Turkish government said the three suicide bombers responsible for that attack were from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. A suicide bomber from Russia's republic of Dagestan was identified after she exploded a bomb outside an Istanbul police station in January 2015. Eighteen police officers were killed in that blast. Intelligence agencies have described Turkey as a crossing point for hundreds of Central Asian extremists. They have been moving into Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State group in its aim to establish a caliphate in Syria and parts of northern Iraq. I’m John Russell.   Lou Lorscheider and Chris Hannas wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nightclub - n. a place that is open at night, has music, dancing, or a show, and usually serves alcoholic drinks and food jihadist - n. a person who fights to defend or spread Muslim beliefs caliphate - n. the rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler

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China’s President Supports Free Trade at World Economic Meeting

  Chinese President Xi Jinping urged world leaders to reject protectionism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His speech in support of free trade came during the first day of the yearly meeting of political, business leaders, activists and artists. The Chinese leader also spoke days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. Trump, a Republican, won the presidency after campaigning against free trade agreements that, he said, have cost Americans jobs. Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese goods unless China changes policies that he has called unfair. Trump also has promised to withdraw the United States form the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration. Speaking in Davos, the Chinese leader warned against trade disputes. Without saying Trump’s name, Xi said no country would win a trade war. “Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room,” Xi told the World Economic Forum. “While wind and rain may be kept outside, so are light and air.” Xi’s visit to the annual World Economic Forum is the first by a Chinese president. It takes place as Xi tries to position his country as a world leader as other countries increasingly look inward. Last year, China created the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Establishing the bank was part of China’s effort to increase its influence in world finance. China’s money, the yuan, also joined the dollar, pound, euro and the yen as one of the world’s major exchange currencies. Adviser: Trump Supports 'Free, Fair Trade' An adviser to the President-elect is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. Anthony Scaramucci is giving up his U.S. financial business to work with the new Trump administration. He told the Associated Press that Trump supports foreign trade, but “free, fair trade.” Others have said Trump may be more interested in making trade deals with individual countries, or bilateral deals. President Xi’s speech in support of free trade came as his cabinet in Beijing Tuesday reduced limits on foreign investment in Chinese banks and its financial industry. However, no further details were offered. In his speech, Xi said the world’s economy needs better governance to find ways to reduce the growing divide between rich and poor. “This is the biggest challenge in the world today,” he said. Xi called for a “new growth model” that deals directly with climate change, aging populations and increased automation. Automation can reduce costs and speed production of products, but it also reduces factory jobs. Senior Chinese government figures joined Xi in traveling to Davos. In past years, the Chinese government sent lower-level officials. Asia is Big Topic A large number of meetings at the World Economic Forum deal with Asia this year, including one called, “Asia Takes the Lead.” Klaus Schwab is the founder of the World Economic Forum and its chairman. He said the world is increasingly looking to China for leadership. Schwab helped start the Forum in 1971. It has become one of the world’s largest gatherings of government and business leaders to discuss major international issues. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt reacted to Xi’s speech on social media: “There is a vacuum when it comes to global economic leadership, and Xi Jinping is clearly aiming to fill it. With some success,” Bildt wrote on Twitter. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tariff - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country pursue - v. to move ahead with a policy or course of action lock - v. to become fixed in one position challenge - n. a difficult task or problem automation - n. to run or operate something such as a factory by using machines, computers or robots instead of people to do the work volatility - adv. likely to change in a very sudden or extreme way vacuum - n. an empty space

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January 17, 2017

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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