News Words: Trend

China’s Ministry of Transport reports that the two-year bike sharing trend has put more than 16 million bikes in China.

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December 28, 2017

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

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The 2017 Solar Eclipse

The 2017 total solar eclipse was visible across a wide area of the United States. Hundreds of thousand were able to see the moon totally hide the sun. Millions more were able to see the event as a partial eclipse. Not until 2045 will a similar eclipse be visible in the U.S.

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December 27, 2017

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

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Top Technology Stories of 2017

  2017 was another big year for technology, with many new products launched to make our phones, homes and cars “smarter.” But the news also included stories about technology companies seeking to earn back the public trust. Facebook and ‘fake news’ Social media giant Facebook was criticized for not doing more to prevent fake news stories from appearing and being shared. The criticism came after many false stories were posted on Facebook during the 2016 presidential campaign. Some blamed such stories for affecting the outcome of the 2016 election. In response, the company announced several new policies aimed at preventing users from spreading misinformation and fake news. Later, Facebook said it found that a Russian-based operation had spent $100,000 to buy advertisements promoting political and social issues in the U.S. The company said it was investigating possible ways Russian sources may have influenced the election. Facebook also came under criticism after several people posted videos of murders or suicides that remained for hours. CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg called the videos “heartbreaking.” In early May, Facebook said it was hiring an additional 3,000 people to help identify and remove violent and hateful content. iPhone X launch Apple celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone with the launch of its iPhone X. Like many other new phone models, it has a bigger screen area that covers the face from edge to edge. The iPhone X has no home button, supports wireless charging and includes new photo and lighting effects.   iPhone X was heavily publicized for its price of $999 and the new Face ID recognition system. Face ID replaces previous fingerprint recognition technology. Apple said its testing showed there is only a one-in-a-million chance of another person being able to unlock someone else’s device with Face ID. Apple also admitted to slowing some older iPhones. The company explained it only took the action last year to prevent battery-related shutdowns. Apple’s action – and the company’s decision to keep it secret - led to widespread criticism from industry analysts and lawsuits from iPhone users. Worldwide push for electric vehicles Volvo announced that beginning in 2019, all its new vehicles will have electric motors. The Chinese-owned company was the first major manufacturer to set such a date. Volvo says it will offer five fully electric vehicles between 2019 and 2021. In France, officials said the country plans to ban the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars across the country by 2040. German carmakers BMW, Audi and Volkswagen also have several new electric car and sport utility vehicles (SUV) in the works. In the U.S., Ford said it would launch a new electric SUV by 2020, while General Motors began selling its popular Chevrolet Bolt in all U.S. states. U.S.-based Tesla announced it would begin selling the much-awaited Model 3. Then last month, founder and CEO Elon Musk showed off the company’s new electric-powered truck, called Tesla Semi. He said the truck will be able to travel 800 kilometers on a single charge while pulling a full load of 36,000 kilograms. Production is set to begin in 2019, with no price yet announced. Truly self-driving tests approved California announced it had approved testing of truly driverless cars. Previously, self-driving vehicle testing was only allowed with a driver to take over the car if something went wrong. Officials said the change opened the door for self-driving cars to be widely sold and used throughout the state. Truly driverless vehicles could begin selling in California sometime in 2018. Uber and Google scandals Ride-sharing company Uber had a year of ups and downs that saw several major management changes. In a highly-publicized incident, CEO Travis Kalanick was caught on video arguing with an Uber driver. Several women also accused the company of allowing widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. In addition, Uber faced legal action from Google, which claimed a former executive stole secrets about its self-driving technology. Kalanick ended up resigning his position and several other officials also left the company.    At Google, a male engineer wrote a memo suggesting there are biological differences preventing women from progressing the same as men in technology. The document – which also criticized Google’s diversity efforts – was published online. Google CEO Sundar Pichai apologized to employees for the memo, which he said had advanced “harmful gender stereotypes.” The engineer was dismissed from his position. The rise of bitcoin We heard more about bitcoin in 2017 than ever before. This virtual currency shocked many in the financial world by rising from $1,000 in January 2017 to more than $19,000 in early December. Japanese investors are believed to account for a large percentage of bitcoin trading, causing the cryptocurrency to reach record value. In Venezuela, as the national currency loses value, people have turned to bitcoin for daily uses. Even North Korea hackers joined in to steal millions of dollars to get around economic sanctions. Bitcoin will continue to be watched in the coming year as more people buy it and the trading system further develops. End of net neutrality The U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or FCC voted to end the internet policy known as “net neutrality.” The rules had prevented internet service providers from interfering with traffic from some websites while providing faster service to others. Under the new rules, internet providers will be free to block competing applications. Service providers would also be able to slow down competing services or offer faster speeds to companies that pay more. The government said the decision was based on its belief that net neutrality regulation was not necessary. Opponents said they feared lifting the rules would give businesses control over what users see and do online. Robots to help and serve One of technology’s most active areas is robotics, and 2017 saw some exciting new developments. We reported on robots designed to help doctors perform surgery, and help children or disabled people. Another smart machine was used to explore Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. Another robot led an orchestra performance, while several others carried food and other items to people. In Dubai, officials launched a police robot to guard the streets and offer help. Saudi Arabia even claimed to be the first country in the world to give citizenship to a robot. The female robot, named Sophia, was presented as an example of how robot technology and artificial intelligence will make machines more human-like in the future. The robot was even interviewed in front of a crowd. I'm Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English from earlier reports and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. What technology stories did you find most interesting in 2017? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fake – adj. false, not real harassment – n. the act of annoying, bothering or attacking someone memo – n. a brief message written within a company diversity – n. having people who are different sexes or races in a group or organization stereotype – n. fixed idea people have about a particular type of person or group virtual – n. something that can be done or seen using computers or the Internet instead of going to a place cryptocurrency – n. digital currency that uses digital security measures to prevent it from being copied or misused  

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UNESCO Recognizes Panama's Hats

  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized the artisans of Panama for their woven hats. Cultural authorities have added the pintao, or painted hat, to UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. “The pintao hat has become an integral part of regional outfits throughout the country worn during traditional dances and community festivities,” UNESCO's statement said. The pintao is different than the widely known “Panama hat.” The Panama hat has a wide brim. It is traditionally made in Ecuador from the straw of the toquilla palm plant. It is thought to have earned a misleading name during the Gold Rush in the 19th century. Many were sold in nearby Panama to people traveling to California in search of gold. Artisans make the pintao by hand. They use five different plants and even a small amount of dirt to create it. The hat industry's center is in La Pintada, a district about 170 kilometers west of Panama City. Reinaldo Quiros is a well-known artisan and designer who sells hats out of his home. “They don’t have anything (artificial), no machinery; no factory as such exists here in La Pintada," he said. “Each artisan in his own home makes the hats maintaining the techniques taught by his ancestors.” Artisans of the truly Panamanian pintao hat start with the fibers of several plants. They cure and then weave the fiber into braids. Then, they wrap the braids around a wooden form and sew it together from the crown of the hat down. Depending on the quality of the work, some pintao hats can cost hundreds of dollars. Authorities estimate that 4,000 of La Pintada’s 25,000 residents work creating or selling the hats. Pedro Mendoza, a 50-year-old hat maker, hopes that the UNESCO recognition will help take the pintao hat beyond the country’s borders. “It’s really good what’s happened,” he said. “The hat for us is a way of life.” I'm John Russell.   Juan Zamorano reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   artisan – n. a person who is skilled at making things by hand woven – adj. something (such as cloth) that is made by crossing threads or other long pieces of material over and under each other integral – adj. very important and necessary technique – n.  a way of doing something by using special knowledge or skill brim –n. the part of a hat that sticks out around the lower edge  fiber – n. a thin thread of natural or artificial material that can be used to make cloth, paper, etc. weave – v.  to make something (such as cloth) by crossing threads or other long pieces of material over and under each other  

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Brexit Talks Could Help Turkey, Ukraine Deepen Links with Europe

  The European Union and Britain have reached an agreement that may help serve as a model for other countries seeking closer ties with the EU. Germany’s foreign minister has said countries such as Ukraine and Turkey could see good results from the agreement. Britain is currently negotiating how it will go about withdrawing from the block of nations. Britain says it wants a closer relationship with the EU than any other country because it will be a former member of the block. Britain’s withdrawal, known as Brexit, has not happened yet. But Britain and EU officials are trying to reach agreements so complex negotiations can go forward. Minister sees path for two of Europe’s large neighbors German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the Brexit deal could provide answers to how the EU can manage relations with some non-member countries. “I can’t imagine Turkey or Ukraine becoming EU members in the next few years,” he said. “If we get a smart agreement with Britain regulating relations with Europe after Brexit, that could be a model for other countries – Ukraine and also Turkey,” he told Funke newspaper. His comments were published on Tuesday. Turkey has been a candidate for membership in the EU for many years. It has a customs union with the EU, an agreement that permits trade of most goods without tariffs. Gabriel said EU ties with Turkey could be increased by a “new, closer form of the customs union.” However, the German minister said any changes would have to wait until Turkey’s political situation eased. Thousands of people have been detained in Turkey as part of a government campaign following the failed attempt by parts of the military to seize power in 2016. Some of those detained are German citizens. Germany has voiced concerns about Turkey’s human rights record as political developments continue. Ukraine also has sought closer ties with the EU. The issue was one of the causes of the popular movement that ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. Ukraine currently has some agreements with the EU which is its largest trading partner. There are plans to cut tariffs between the two and to reform Ukraine’s trade rules to more closely match those of the EU. However, Russia’s loss of influence in Ukraine in 2014 led it to seize Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Russia also supports pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country. Ukraine was a former Soviet republic. Its political situation remains unsettled by separatist divisions. Gabriel is a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The party is positioning itself for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s more conservative Christian Democratic Union. The sides are seeking agreement on governing together for another four years. Germany is Europe’s largest economy. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English from a Reuters story with additional materials. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Block –n. a group of nations with strong ties Manage –v. to guide and make decision about a going concern Regulate –v. to make rules and oversee some activity, field or industry Tariffs–n. taxes on imported goods and services We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Paper Company Creates New Land Conflicts with Villagers

  One of the world's largest paper companies has gone against its promise to end several land disputes in Indonesia. The company, Asia Pulp & Paper, makes many kinds of paper products that people all over the world use, including photocopy paper, cigarette boxes, bottle labels, food wrappers and noodle cups. It wants to use a wood supplier company that has been at the center of land conflicts. Through that supplier, Asia Pulp & Paper is going forward with plans to take 66,000 hectares of state land in the group of islands called Bangka Belitung, near Sumatra. Such a move would affect some 100,000 people. Forty villages oppose it. It differs from Asia Pulp & Paper’s promise less than five years ago to gain the “free, prior and informed consent” of local communities when developing new plantations. Free, Prior and Informed Consent, also known as FPIC, is an international law protecting the rights of indigenous people. It requires companies to include local communities in decisions about their land and any other decisions that may affect them. Bangka and another major island in the area have already been harmed and polluted by illegal tin mining. Villagers are also distrustful of industrial plantations, after palm oil companies broke promises about their land. Roadside signs say, “We reject industrial forestry plantations” and “No BRS.” The letters B-R-S stand for Bangun Rimba Sejahtera, the supplier company that is a front for Asia Pulp & Paper’s expansion in the area. The company says BRS is close to being approved as a wood supplier. “If this land is taken by BRS, where shall we go?” said Yunus, the religious leader of Tambang Enam village. “This land supports our society and economy," he said. “We are ready to go to war. It’s better than dying slowly. It’s better for us to die at once.” Asia Pulp & Paper is the name for a group of mills and forestry companies. Together, they are part of the international company Sinarmas, which is run by an Indonesian family. A representative from Asia Pulp & Paper told the Associated Press, or AP in July that BRS and a second possible supplier have no ties with Asia Pulp & Paper or with Sinarmas. However, AP reporters recently looked into the ownership of 27 companies that supply Sinaramas. They found that Sinaramas has a powerful influence over most of the companies. Documents show that BRS was a Sinarmas-owned company for much of the past 10 years. In the documents, BRS' ties to Sinarmas appear to end in 2013. That is when it received its license to the state land on Bangka. In West Bangka, thousands of villagers have been protesting against the company outside local government offices. “No matter how hard they try to force us, we will not give even one scrap of land to any company,” said Sartojoyo, the head of Simpang Tiga village. Villagers make a living by growing palm oil, Muntok peppercorns and other crops such as rubber and rice. They also grow medicinal crops and wild honey, as well as a profitable type of mushroom from forests that make up about 15 percent of the land the state gave to BRS. In May, more than half of the 40 affected villages described their opposition in a letter to the local government. They also sent the letter to Indonesia’s ministry of forestry and environment. Some village officials say BRS offered what it called a "partnership." The deal would permit villagers to use a small part of the land, but only to grow rubber. Kasdani, the leader of Air Menduyung village, said the company contacted him in May and offered to set up a meeting with Sinarmas. But he refused; he said no one in his village wants to surrender land. “It’s our livelihood,” Kasdani said. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Alice Bryant.   The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prior – adj. existing earlier in time    indigenous – adj. living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment tin – n. a soft, shiny, bluish-white metal that has many uses plantation – n. a large area of land especially in a hot part of the world where crops are grown palm oil – n. oil taken from the fruit of some palm trees and used in cooking and in making soap and other products front – n. someone or something that hides or protects an illegal activity mill – n. a building in which a particular product is made scrap – n. a very small amount – usually used in negative statements livelihood – n. a way of earning money in order to live

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Technology Brings 3-D Images to Food Menus

It is not always easy to know what food to order at restaurants. But a new company in New York is hoping to help. The company offers menu items in augmented reality. The technology places computer-generated images into the user's view of the real world. At Vino Levantino wine bar in New York City, the desserts are tasty but many visitors may have never heard of them. “We have a few desserts that are not usual ... or people (are) not familiar with them. Like we have the kadaif, I mean, not everyone knows what’s kadaif.” Instead of explaining the traditional Middle Eastern sweet to restaurant visitors, owner Haim Amit shows them. The Kabaq augmented reality application displays models of the desserts in 3-D on an iPad. Customers at each table use an iPad to explore the desserts. How it works Alper Guler is the founder of Kabaq. “Humans are visual creatures, and we are creating really realistic 3-D food models." The technology company is helping diners decide what to eat and making traditional menus more modern. Guler and his team visit restaurants to capture 3-D images of dishes. They place dishes on a turning table inside a photo box and the camera scans the dishes from all sides. “We have special equipment that stands here, shooting a bunch of pictures at the same time. So, the turntable turns, our system takes all the pictures along the way. And we go back to our office and basically start processing all of these images." For their services, Kabaq charges $99-$199 per month. Sales, fun increase Amit says the technology is not only increasing profits at his restaurant but offering customers a special experience. "It's not just the sale, the sales grow like about 22 percent overall on average, but the experience with customers is different – they don't expect it and they really like it." Amit says he has noticed how excited his customers are about it. “They’re surprised that we come with something digital, it’s almost like a toy,” Amit said. "It's so funny; it's like you have the whole plate in front of you. It's amazing." Mike Cadoux is Kabaq's head of sales and partnerships. He said that seeing the different foods can greatly influence a customer. “If I was going to get the $17 pasta, but I see the $28 steak and it looks amazing, (and) I go for the $28 steak," he said. "That’s a huge value to so many restaurants up and down the street.” Foodies love the technology 3-D scanning technology is becoming a good option for people excited about food, often called foodies. Artist Romain Rouffet used 3-D scanning to create a 3-D recipe for banoffee pie. Users can change the view sizes on all sides. The resulting video may signal the kinds of augmented reality developments soon to come. I'm Alice Bryant.   Tina Trinh reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   menu – n. a list of foods that may be ordered at a restaurant dessert – n. sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal familiar - adj. frequently seen, heard, or experienced 3-D – adj. made in a way that causes an image to appear to be three-dimensional customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business diner – n. a person who eats at a restaurant scan – v. to use a special machine to read or copy into a computer bunch – n. a group of things of the same kind that are held or tied together toy – n. something that a child plays with

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Programs Let Inmates Earn University Degree While in Prison

  In 2012, Rena Sard was sentenced to five years in prison at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women. She was 47 years old. “I didn’t have five years of my life to waste…So, every chance that I had to do something that was productive, something that was going to help me become a better person, I grabbed it.” Sard enrolled in the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP). GPEP is a program with Goucher College, a private university located north of the city of Baltimore. With GPEP, and programs like it, inmates can use their time in prison to make progress towards their first college degrees. But the work is not easy. For five years, Sard woke up at 4:30 each morning. She ate breakfast, did her job at the prison's mental health clinic, and then went to her college classes. Last January, Sard finished her sentence, and next spring she will finish her first Associate's degree. Officers tell her that she is a completely different person than the one who entered prison. Sard credits her time with GPEP for that change. She believes it helped give her the strength to be a better person, and the motivation to do something with her life. “It helped me take a very bad situation and make it into the best that I could possibly do while I was there.” Turning time into degrees Along with the women's prison where Sard was, GPEP has partnered with the Maryland Correctional Institute Jessup, a prison for men. During the program’s five-year existence, it has grown from 15 students to around 100, says Jennifer Munt, assistant director for College Operation.  To be admitted to the program, inmates go through an admission process similar to an on-campus program. The program also requires students to have a GED or high school degree. They then complete a paper application, sit for a placement exam, and have an individual interview. The program offers only one degree, American Studies. But students have many choices of classes, including sociology, history and philosophy.  What is most important, Munt says, is that students are free to follow academic studies that interest them. “We do ask of all faculty and volunteers with GPEP that they not look up students’ histories, because we think that is information that the students should be in control of... we want students to have the freedom to be students." Munt also said that students are not required to write or talk about their time in prison or why they were incarcerated. She added that, sometimes, students may choose to explore these topics in class on their own, however. After starting the program, students take courses taught by professors from Goucher College and other nearby universities. The professors are all experts in their fields. Munt says it is important that they also have “a history of good teaching.” Programs like these are not common in the United States. In 1994, a crime bill ended prisoners’ ability to apply for federal student assistance. Since then, it has been difficult for inmates to take college-level courses while in prison. Programs like GPEP have existed, but had to rely on private donations.  However, last year the U.S. Department of Education started a program called the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program to bring back student aid for prisoners. They selected Goucher College as one of the recipients of the program. ​Turning something bad into something good For GPEP students like Sard, the chance to spend a prison sentence as a student can be life-changing. “Before I went in, I had no self-esteem, no self-confidence, no self-worth.  I suffered from a very horrible childhood. The best word to describe myself would have been I was ‘broken’…. I was a shell” For Sard, learning she could succeed at school helped her realize her own worth. After she started to receive good grades in her classes, she gained self-confidence. She realized that she had the ability to be more productive in her life. “I really, truly believe the more that you can stay busy and occupied doing something that’s productive, the better you're doing your time. To sit around and just do nothing… that stuff will drive you batty.” Sard did not have the chance to finish her degree while at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. But after finishing her sentence in January, she immediately started classes at Chesapeake College to complete her Associate's degree in Human Services. She will then go to Salisbury University to finish her Bachelor’s degree.  Next, Sard says, she would like to work as a social worker, helping women who have been abused, or are suffering from addiction. ​Supporting inmates’ education There are other programs like GPEP that support inmates’ education.  In New York State, an organization called the Prisoner Reentry Institute (PRI) has partnered with Otisville Correctional Facility to provide college-level classes for inmates. However, PRI students do not earn their degrees in prison, but after.  “That was intentional,” says Bianca Vanheydoorn, Director of Educational Initiatives for PRI. “We wanted them to use the time while inside to earn the credits, but we also wanted them to have the campus experience.” The program also supports inmates after they finish their sentences and are applying to colleges. It provides academic counselors, as well as connections with students in the community. For PRI, the support and communication outside the prison is as important as the work that happens inside. “We are safely in contact with about 90 percent of the students. Of those who have come home, half have enrolled in school,” she said. Vanheydoorn says about 300 students in their program have earned degrees since 2002.  'Like being in Niagara Falls...on a toothpick' While programs like these have been successful, the biggest difficulty is meeting the large need of the institutions they serve. “We’ve gotten hundreds of letters from people on the inside looking to get in,” says Munt. “It’s like being in Niagara Falls, and they raft we are on is a toothpick”. Vanheydoorn adds that PRI’s first goal is making sure they are giving the best service they can to students with their current partnerships. However, PRI would like to experiment with different ways to support students during and after their time in prison.  Both Vanheydoorn and Munt agree that programs like these are important to helping prisoners adjust to life outside of prison. Sard agrees. “When you come home, it’s scary...GPEP gives you the education…and the knowledge that will help you to come home and to stay home.” I’m Alice Bryant. And I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Do you think prisoners should have access to education programs while in prison?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   academic - adj. of or relating to schools and education​ addiction - n. a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)​ apply - v. to ask formally for something (such as a job, admission to a school, a loan, etc.) usually in writing​ batty - adj. foolish or silly​ confidence - n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something inmate - n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital​ incarcerate - v. to put (someone) in prison​ productive - adj. doing or achieving a lot​ motivation - n. the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something​ self-esteem - n. a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities​ toothpick - n. a short, pointed stick used for removing small pieces of food from between your teeth​

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Peru's Fujimori Asks for Forgiveness After Pardoning

  Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori asked for forgiveness on Tuesday for mistakes during his authoritarian rule of the country. His statement came amid protests that began after Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori on December 24. Fujimori, 79, ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000. He is remembered both for improving the economy and defeating the leftist rebels Shining Path. He was convicted in 2007 of abuse of power and bribery and sentenced to six years in jail. In 2009, he was sentenced to another 25 years for human rights abuses. The pardon cleared Fujimori of those crimes. Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets Monday to protest the pardon. Many call it part of a deal reached to protect the current president from impeachment on corruption charges. On Monday night, Kuczynski called for reconciliation, asking Peruvians who opposed the pardon to “turn the page.” He also defended his decision on the basis of Fujimori’s worsening health. He added that Fujimori’s government helped Peru make progress. On Tuesday, in a video published on Facebook, Fujimori promised that as a free man, he would support Kuczynski’s calls for reconciliation. The statement suggested he would not return to politics. Fujimori read the statement from a hospital bed. “I’m aware the results of my government were well received by some, but I acknowledge that I also disappointed other compatriots,” he said. “And to them, I ask for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart.” The remarks were Fujimori’s first direct apology to the nation. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Reuters reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   reconciliation - n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement turn the page - idiom. to make a fresh start; to move on.  acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something) ​ compatriot - n. a person from the same country as someone else

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