Colombia's Congress Approves FARC Peace Deal

Colombia's Congress Approves FARC Peace Deal
Colombia's Congress on Wednesday approved a peace deal between the government and the rebel group known as FARC to end more than 50 years of war.
The lower house voted 130-0 in favor of the agreement, a day after members of the Senate backed it by a margin of 75-0.
Members of former President Alvaro Uribe's party walked out in protest in both chambers. He has criticized the peace deal as being too lenient on FARC members, particularly the group's leadership, as well as the sole authority given to lawmakers to approve this version instead of putting approval to a national referendum.
A previous version failed a referendum last month, prompting more than 50 changes to the document.
Congressional approval sets off a six-month process during which the more than 7,000 FARC rebels will hand over their weapons.
"Tomorrow a new era begins," said President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his efforts to negotiate the truce. Peace negotiations have stretched on for four years in the effort to end the conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions.

margin: the amount by which one thing is different from another: 
lenient: not as severe or strong in punishment or judgment as would be expected: 
prompt: to make something happen: 
set off: to start on a trip: 
truce: a short interruption in a war or argument, or an agreement to stop fighting or arguing for a period of time: 

Trump Launches 'Thank You' Tour
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is embarking on what he is calling a "thank you tour" Thursday with a campaign-style rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, hours after he appears in Indiana to tout an agreement with air conditioner maker Carrier to keep about 1,000 jobs there.
Ohio was one of the key swing states that helped deliver Trump an election victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump has not detailed where else his tour will go.
Carrier said earlier this year it was relocating the Indiana operations as a cost-cutting move. The company said in a statement Wednesday that factors in its decision to stay included financial incentives from Indiana and a promise from the incoming Trump administration to "create an improved, more competitive U.S. business climate."
The deal is a win for Trump, who made frequent promises during his campaign for president that he would prevent companies from moving jobs outside the country, and bring back jobs that already have been lost.

embark on/upon sth: to start something new or important: 
relocate: to (cause a person or company to) move to a new place: 
incentive:  something that encourages a person to do something: 
incoming: 2 soon to start something such as a job because recently chosen or elected: