Television Star Leads Honduras Presidential Vote

Early results in the Honduran presidential election show that a television host has a surprise lead over the country’s current leader. But both candidates are claiming victory after Sunday’s voting. With 58 percent of the votes counted, Salvador Nasralla had 45.17 percent of the vote and President Juan Orlando Hernandez had 40.21 percent. “I am the new president-elect of Honduras,” Nasralla wrote on Twitter after the results were announced. Hernandez said in a brief statement that he had won. He asked supporters to wait for vote counts to come in from rural areas, where he has greater support. The country’s election court said it will wait until all the votes are counted to release the results later in the week. A close result could lead to further tensions in Honduras, which has suffered years of severe gang crime and drug wars. Hernandez has been credited with lowering a high murder rate, increasing economic growth and cutting the deficit since he took office in 2014. But he has also been accused of connections to illegal financing. His opponents also claim that he is plotting a power grab. Hernandez’s attempt to win a second presidential term was divisive in Honduras. The country is still dealing with the effects from a 2009 coup. Former President Jose Manuel Zelaya was ousted after proposing a vote on lifting term limits. Zelaya was at Nasralla’s side on Monday morning. Many people believe that the former president may be a major beneficiary if Nasralla wins. A U.S. official said he did not think Hernandez would now be able to catch Nasralla in the vote count. He called this “a real stress test for Honduras’ democratic institutions and the leadership and character of its political figures.” The United States views Hernandez as a reliable ally in handling drug trafficking, gangs and migration. The U.S. has longstanding military ties to Honduras and few among current Central American leaders. Nasralla has not suggested he would reduce security cooperation with the United States. But U.S. officials do not trust his links to Zelaya. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Gabriel Stargardter and Gustavo Palencia wrote this story for Reuters. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   beneficiary – n. a person, organization, etc., that is helped by something; someone or something that benefits from something  

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Asian Countries Improve Economic Ties While Ignoring Other Issues

  Asian nations are ignoring human rights issues to focus on trade and investment, some experts say. They say this is causing problems for Western countries that want to increase trade but also protect human rights. The fastest-growing economies are in Asia. About 4.5 billion people live on the continent. Asian leaders rarely criticize other Asian governments for situations within their own borders. Such situations include the campaign against illegal drugs in the Philippines and the conflict between Myanmar’s leaders and ethnic Rohingya. Recently in Manila, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met with representatives of eight governments, including the United States and China. The delegates did not talk about domestic problems in any of the countries. Human rights groups had urged the delegates for such discussion. Daniel Chua is the deputy head of graduate studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He says he thinks Asian countries do not mix economic projects with domestic issues or human rights. Such non-interference permits governments to focus on trade alone. But, citizens of Western countries often pressure their leaders to link human rights, labor problems or environmental issues with trade. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and President Donald Trump met at the ASEAN meeting. A Duterte spokesman says Trump did not talk about reports that Philippine police have killed thousands of people in the campaign against illegal drugs. Duterte has criticized world leaders who have talked about the campaign, including former President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Jayant Menon is chief economist at the Asian Development Bank. He says Asian countries do not need “deep” free-trade agreements, or FTAs, that would deal with labor and pollution issues. He says a World Trade Organization study shows that, in his words, “Asian FTAs in general are a bit more shallow than other FTAs...because they (Asian countries) are not as big as Europe or North America. To sustain themselves, they need to look outside their borders for most of their trade and investment.” When Asian leaders make trade deals with one another, such as investment in infrastructure projects, they do not include pro-labor or environmental agreements. Western governments often require such agreements as part of trade deals. At the ASEAN meetings, a joint statement was released on a planned ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to be signed next year. The trade agreement would involve 16 countries including China and India and half of the world’s population. The statement discusses trade and economic issues but not labor, the environment or human rights. ASEAN represents 630 million people and four countries whose economies are predicted to grow more than 6 percent this year. It has trade agreements with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. In Manila, ASEAN and the United States said they would increase cooperation. I’m Caty Weaver.   Correspondent Ralph Jennings reported this story from Taipei. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story focus - v. to direct your attention or effort at something shallow - adj. smaller sustain - v. to provide what is needed    

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UN: Yemen Is 'Worst Place on Earth to Be a Child'

Ships carrying food aid arrived in Yemen last weekend. The Reuters news agency reported that a ship carrying about 6,000 tons of flour was given permission to stop at the Yemeni port of Hodeida. The United Nations’ World Food Program said about 27,000 tons of wheat arrived on Sunday at the Red Sea port of Saleef. The port is under the control of forces opposed to Yemen’s government. The aid shipments arrived after Saudi Arabia and its allies eased a nearly three-week long blockade. Yet aid agencies say millions of people, including many children, are at risk of death from starvation in Yemen. Many at risk of death Geert Cappelaere is with the UN Children's Fund,or UNICEF. He says Yemen is one of the worst places on Earth to be a child. He is urging all sides involved in the conflict to not block the shipment of humanitarian aid. Cappelaere is UNICEF’s Middle East director. He said that more than 11 million Yemeni children are in need of humanitarian assistance. He said that number includes almost every single boy and girl in the country. He estimated that every 10 minutes, a Yemeni child is dying from a preventable disease.   "I reiterate my plea to everyone with a heart for children, indeed not to prevent us from delivering what is urgently needed and massively needed." Cappelaere noted that aircraft carrying 1.9 million doses of vaccines landed Saturday at Sana’a International Airport. Those vaccines are designed to protect from the diseases diphtheria, tuberculosis and meningitis. The UNICEF official told reporters on Sunday that far more supplies are needed. "Yesterday was just a very small step. It is a very tiny step, it may sound huge - 1.9 million doses of vaccine, but there are many more millions of vaccines needed, if we want to prevent that there will be a break in the routine immunization in the country, there are many more supplies needed." Aid prevented by the blockade About seven million people are at risk of starvation in Yemen. Their survival depends on international assistance. But a Saudi-led coalition blocked off land, sea and air travel to Yemen on November 6 after a missile attack on Riyadh. The Saudis stopped the missile attack. The government blames Iran for the attack and for arming the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran’s government denies the accusations.  Last week, the Saudi-led coalition promised to ease the blockade on the Sana’a airport and Hodeida. A U.N. official said close to 5,000 children have been killed or injured since the start of a Saudi-led campaign in support of the Yemeni government in 2015. Two and a half million people have fled the violence. Mohammed Khadeesh is one of about 120 people living in a camp in Yemen’s south.  "The Houthis were firing from the north of our place and the resistance from the south, shooting towards us and flying over us.  We fled and arrived here with our children two months ago. And for the past two months, we haven't received anything: no mattresses, no aid, nothing." The displacement and the blockade have worsened the crisis. Urgent humanitarian need includes water pumps to help control the spread of cholera and fuel needed to transport supplies. Zlatica Hoke and Kenneth Schwartz reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted theirs for Learning English. ­­­George Grow was the editor. How do you think aid should be delivered to countries in conflict? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time immunization - n. a vaccine to prevent infection by a disease  

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The Autistic Child: 'Different, Not Less'

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. One in every 160 children worldwide has some form for autism spectrum disorder, also called ASD. This estimate comes from the United Nations’ World Health Organization. The National Institutes of Health in the United States says the term ASD is the name “for a group of developmental disorders.” It includes a wide mix of symptoms, skills and levels of disability. People with ASD often have: social problems that include difficulty communicating and interacting with other people; repetitive behaviors, as well as limited interests or activities; symptoms that are often recognized in the first two years of life; symptoms that hurt the individual’s ability to deal with others socially, at school or work, or in other areas of life. Experts at the National Institutes of Health also explain that ASD begins in childhood and usually continues into adulthood. In order to make the best decisions for an autistic child, parents must sort through a large amount of clinical research. Even with all that information, there are many unanswered questions about the causes of ASD and how to treat it. Betsy Fields is a mother of two sons with autism. She plans each day with them down to the minute. Even a short walk is a rare chance to think and gather strength to continue raising two boys considered "special" or "different" by society.  Fields says her boys may be different from other people, but they are no less important. This is the idea behind a book called “Different, Not Less.” The writer is a woman who has autism. "Different, Not Less" is a saying from a really famous autistic woman, Temple Grandin. She became famous because of autism and that’s one of her sayings in her book – "different, not less.” In both of her sons, Fields discovered they had autism when they were two years old. For her first child, Hunter, doctors gave her hope. They thought a delay in his ability to speak resulted from the fact that Hunter was learning two languages -- English and Spanish -- at the same time. "He had some signs of autism but not all of them. Like, he didn’t line up things; his eye contact was good; he was happy. It didn’t seem like it was autism. It seemed like more of a delay. And then with my other son, I kind of knew what to look for. Even though you know it’s there, you are like, ‘Oh my gosh, how are you going to deal with it?’" In the United States, millions of parents face the same question. Researchers estimate that in the U.S. one in 68 children has autism. Boys are more likely than girls to have ASD. Many states employ therapeutic and inclusion experts in public school systems. They work with children with ASD, and help them to become part of the school community. Kryss Lacovaro is one such expert. She says that the symptoms of autism can differ greatly from person to person. Lacovaro notes that many people with autism have difficulty communicating with others.   “The communication is difficult. Socialization is difficult. So, those are the most typical things about individuals with autism, but again the characteristics can really range. You and I right now are hearing each other. An individual with autism might hear this light that’s on. They might hear the rotating of that camera and the fan that’s on, and me shaking my foot sometimes and someone walking out there -- all at the same noise level. That’s got to be very overwhelming." Betsy Fields says she does not want her children to attend too many after school therapy programs. She told VOA they get all the development classes they need within the school.   "Just because they're autistic, I do not think that we should stop living. We go swimming. I try to get them involved with that...do typical things of what other kids do." Today in the United States, most children with autism study in schools with other children. Depending on their abilities, an autistic child attends special needs classes or traditional classes with other children.   Betsy Fields says she is happy with the quality of education. Her sons study with other neighborhood children at the local public school. John Donvan wrote the book, “In a Different Key: The Story of Autism.” He says there is no simple solution for treating autism and the causes of the disorder remain unclear. He adds that for many parents, the most important thing is to not try to change a child. It is important to accept the child as he or she is. “Parents I know who have had children with autism for a long time have usually reached a point where they have accepted who their child is as that child is. When the children are younger a lot of them -- it's not that they don't recognize it, although some don't want to go for a diagnosis, they're scared to. It’s more that they say 'I'm going to save my child from this.' It really does change a parents' life. Not every parent wants their life to be changed right away. But in time, I've seen many come to accept it." Fields calls these years the most difficult in her life. But her rule as a parent of autistic sons is to never compare them to others. She says she accepts them as they are. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anush Avetisyan reported this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. George Grow edited it.  ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   symptom – n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present interact – v. to act upon one another repetitive – adj. happening again and again : repeated many times therapeutic – adj. of or relating to the treatment of illness typical – adj. normal for a person, thing, or group : average or usual range – n. a sequence, series, or scale between limits diagnosis – n. the act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms

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Pope Meets Myanmar’s Military Chief

Pope Francis met Monday with Myanmar’s military chief before the official start of his visit to the Southeast Asian country. The Vatican did not provide many details of the Pope’s 15-minute “courtesy visit” with General Min Aung Hlaing. The general oversees security in Rakhine state, where the military has conducted so-called “clearance operations” against Rohingya Muslims. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the Pope and the general “spoke of the great responsibility of the authorities of the country in this moment of transition.” The meeting took place in the residence of Cardinal Charles Bo, the archbishop of Yangon. He has resisted international pressure to condemn Myanmar’s military operations against the Rohingya as “ethnic cleansing.” After the meeting, the general's office said in a statement on Facebook “Myanmar has no religious discrimination at all.” It also said the military “performs for the peace and stability of the country.” The meeting was originally planned for Wednesday, after the Pope’s scheduled meeting with the country’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The Vatican did not say why the meeting took place earlier than planned. Myanmar’s Catholic Church has publicly urged the Pope to avoid using the term “Rohingya” because the group is not a recognized minority in the country. The Pope’s spokesman did not say if the Pope used the term in his meeting with the general. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, however, has previously prayed for the Rohingya Muslims, calling them his "brothers and sisters.” He has also spoken out against violence in Rakhine state. Pope Francis’s visit was planned before the latest wave of violence in August, in which a group of Rohingya militants attacked security positions in Rakhine. Myanmar’s military responded with brutal attacks that resulted in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh. More than 620,000 Rohingya have since fled to Bangladesh, the next stop on the Pope’s Asian trip. The Pope’s schedule does not include a visit to a refugee camp. But he is expected to meet with a small group of Rohingya in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA and AP news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   courtesy - adj. done to be polite clearance - n. the act or process of removing (people)  

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South Korea Looks to Compete with China in the Philippines

  Development projects in the Philippines may increase competition between South Korea and China. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking partners to develop his country which is in need of improved roads, ports and railways to attract investment. South Korean President Moon Jae-in appealed to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this month at its meeting in Manila. He told members, including The Philippines, that his country was “the best partner to share the experience” of economic growth. South Korea is offering to help with technology projects, railways, clean energy development and water management. The Philippines wants to attract development assistance. Since Duterte took office last year, the country has increasingly turned to China. China promised $24 billion in aid in October of 2016. Earlier this month, China and the Philippines signed 14 economic cooperation agreements including one on railways. In October, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced $8.8 billion in economic support. South Korea does not want to lose ground in the Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 million people. Herman Kraft is with the University of the Philippines Diliman. He says that the United States, Japan and South Korea traditionally have worked together in the region. “I think one of the things that Korea might actually be concerned about right now is of course, in a similar groove with Japan, they’d like to make sure that the Philippines doesn’t just turn around in terms of its relationship with the United States.” Duterte improved relations with China last year. He eased tensions with China after about four years of disputes related to territory in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory. The Philippines claims many land formations and islands in the eastern part of the sea. At the same time, Duterte appeared to seek less American support of his country’s armed forces. Korea extends aid to The Philippines This month, local media reported that South Korea offered $1.7 billion in credit and financial aid to help the Philippines. The money, the report said, was aimed at developing transportation and energy projects.   Duterte is seeking $167 billion to build public infrastructure, such as roads, rail lines, ports and power centers. But The Philippines needs foreign investment. Manila’s seaport, for example, is crowded. Electricity costs in the country are high for the region. Also, the Philippines has few railways to link cities on its larger islands. The Philippine National Economic and Development Authority keeps records of development aid in the country. The agency says that South Korea provided more than $600 million dollars in aid to the Philippines in 2013. Song Seng Wun is an economist specializing in Southeast Asia with the internet banking group CIMB in Singapore. He said South Korea wants its aid efforts to lift its national “brand.” Chinese brands could become competitors in the Philippine market where South Korean electronic household machines and other products are popular. Consumer spending is an increasingly important part of the Philippine economy which grew 6.9 percent in 2016. The total value of trade between South Korea and the Philippines increased from $10 billion in 2011 to $13.4 billion in 2014. South Korean leaders hope to increase ties with Southeast Asian countries to avoid investing too much in China. Problems with over-investing in China became clear earlier this year. South Korean companies faced boycotts and other problems in China and the number of Chinese travelers dropped sharply. The trade difficulties took place as South Korea permitted the U.S. to deploy the missile defense system known as THAAD. South Korea and the U.S. have said the system is to guard against missile attacks from North Korea. But China, strongly opposes deployment of the system on the Korean Peninsula. Jonathan Ravelas is a market expert with Banco de Oro UniBank in Manila. He says The Philippines probably welcomes the help from South Korea as a way to diversify economic support without angering anyone. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   region –n. a large, separate area of the world or a country groove –n. a ways of doing things or a way of thought brand –n. something, like a product, that is easily recognizable and causes people to seek it out diversify –v. to make something more diverse, to increase the number of possibilities available We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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November 27, 2017

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

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Prince Harry to Marry American Actress Meghan Markle

  This is What’s Trending Today… Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle are getting married. Harry's father, Prince Charles, made the announcement in a statement Monday. It read: "His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle." The statement said the wedding will take place next spring. It added that Harry, who is 33, and Markle, who is 36, became engaged in London earlier this month. Markle is best-known for her work in the television show Suits. She is also a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada, which campaigns for better education, food and health care for children around the world. Along with her humanitarian work, she is known for campaigning for gender equality. Markle was married to film producer Trevor Engleson from 2011 to 2013. Markle's parents released a statement, saying "We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents." Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate welcomed Markle to the royal family. They said in a statement, “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.” Prince Harry will become the first member of the British royal family to marry an American actor. The prince and Markle briefly appeared before photographers Monday at Kensington Palace. Harry said he was “thrilled” and said details about how he asked Markle to marry him will come out later. When asked if the proposal was romantic, he answered, “of course it was!” Markle said she was “so happy” and wore her new engagement ring for the first time in public. ​ The ring includes two diamonds that belonged to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997. Royal officials say Prince Harry designed the ring himself. The diamonds from his late mother’s collection sit on either side of a diamond from Botswana. The prince has visited the African country many times, and has spent time there with Markle. And that's What's Trending Today.  VOA News and the Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wedding - n. a ceremony at which two people are married to each other engaged - adj. promised to be married incredibly- adv. extremely good, great, or large joy  - n.  a feeling of great happiness royal - adj.  of or relating to a king or queen thrilled- adj.  very excited and happy romantic - adj.  making someone think of love  

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Prince Harry to Marry American Actress Meghan Markle

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Jimmy Carter: Outsider

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Jimmy Carter. His given name was James, but he liked to be called Jimmy. Carter was elected president in 1976. Until he campaigned for the office, few Americans knew who he was. But Carter said his lack of experience with the federal government made him the best candidate. After witnessing years of problems in the White House, many voters appeared to agree with him. However, Carter’s inexperience also became a problem. Some of the issues he faced were complex and, at times, they seemed overwhelming. After only one term, Carter failed to get re-elected. But in time, his public image improved. His years after leaving the White House are generally considered more successful than his time in office. Early life Jimmy Carter was born in the southern state of Georgia. He was the oldest of four children. His father was a businessman. His mother was a nurse. The family owned a store, as well as a peanut farm and warehouse. Although the businesses did well, Jimmy Carter grew up very modestly. His family’s house did not have electricity or running water. But he was hardworking and wanted to be successful. As a boy, he saved enough money to buy four houses. He earned more money by renting them to other people. He also decided to attend college at the United States Naval Academy. And in time, he did so. Carter was an excellent student. And he became a fine Naval officer. As a midshipman, Carter worked on one of the country’s first nuclear submarines. He later taught nuclear engineering to other crewmembers.  But Carter’s promising career in the Navy ended after only seven years. His father was dying. And the family farm was in trouble. Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and their three sons, decided to return to Georgia and try to save it. The first years back on the farm were difficult. But in time, the business became successful again. Carter began to turn his attention to other issues. He became involved in his church, local school, hospitals and libraries. When he had a chance to compete for a position in the state senate, he took it. As a politician, Carter developed an image as an independent thinker who tried to save the government money. He also acted and spoke strongly against racial discrimination. In Georgia at the time, many voters did not agree with Carter’s support of racial equality. In 1966, even his own Democratic Party did not choose him to be its candidate to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. So Carter began campaigning for the office of state governor instead. In 1970, he was elected. As Georgia's governor, Carter was known as a social and political reformer. However, historian Robert Strong notes that Carter did not always work well with others in his party. Strong teaches at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He writes that some Georgia lawmakers believed Carter was “arrogant.” He could appear to think he was morally right, and they were morally wrong.  Carter’s difficulty in getting along with other officials proved to be one of the problems he would later face. But in the presidential election of 1976, many Americans seemed to like this quality. The little-known governor from Georgia defeated the sitting president, Gerald Ford. Carter won, in part, by saying that he was different than other politicians. He was, he said, a Washington outsider. Then suddenly, Carter was the biggest insider of all: the American president. Presidency One of the things Carter wanted to do was change the image of the president. Earlier leaders, such as Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson, had increased the power of the presidency. Nixon had also been shown to be dishonest, and resigned from office. Carter promised never to lie to the American people. And on the day of his swearing-in as president, he purposefully tried to keep things simple. He walked to the White House from the U.S. Capitol building instead of riding in the back of an automobile. His wife, Rosalynn, wore clothes that she had worn in public before. The National First Ladies’ Library notes that her choice of clothing sent a message of "an old American value of thrift – or respecting money, and not spending it needlessly.” What she wore was meaningful because the country was going through difficult economic times. The Carters wanted to show that the new government would work to cut costs. They also wanted to show that they were there to help the American people, not enjoy the powers of the White House. But in the end, the Carter administration received poor ratings in surveys of public opinion. President Carter had trouble dealing with U.S. lawmakers, even when his party was in control of Congress. One result was that Carter could not advance many of his ideas for legislation. He appeared ineffective. Many historians point out that, in fact, Carter had a number of successes. He helped reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. He took steps to make the federal government more efficient, and to improve the environment. He appointed a number of women and racial minorities to top government jobs -- an important move at a time when many were pressing for women’s rights and civil rights. And, in many cases, Carter supported human rights causes, both in the United States and around the world.   But the public generally did not see Carter for his successes. Instead, many Americans blamed him for the country’s economic problems. Some also disliked the way he spoke to them. In one speech, Carter blamed the country’s troubles on what he called a crisis of confidence. Some listeners were offended. He also decided that the U.S. would not attend the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. The move was meant to punish the Soviet Union for its involvement in Afghanistan. But many Americans believed the move mostly hurt young American Olympians.  The administration also faced other problems. The president was never accused of wrongdoing. But other high-level officials were. So was the president’s brother, Billy. As a result, Jimmy Carter’s public image for honesty suffered.  Then came the Iran hostage crisis. Iran hostage crisis The conflict between the United States and Iran had a long history. One part involved the Shah of Iran. The U.S. government had supported his rise to power, partly because American interests wanted to control Iran’s oil. But the Shah severely abused his power. Many Iranians resisted. Some wanted a leader who would more closely obey Islamic teachings. In 1979, under pressure from those Iranians and others, the Shah fled the country. By now, he was suffering from cancer. So, as a humanitarian act, President Carter permitted the Shah to come to the United States for medical treatment. The move made many Iranians angry. In protest, a group of students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran. They took 90 people, including 66 Americans, hostage. Carter worked hard to get the hostages released. He tried diplomatic negotiations and economic restrictions. But his efforts did not work. Finally, he tried a secret military operation. He sent eight helicopters and a team of special forces to enter the embassy and rescue the hostages. But that operation failed, too. The weather was bad. Three of the helicopters crashed. Eight Americans were killed. And the public’s approval of Jimmy Carter dropped even more. After 444 days, the remaining hostages were released. In exchange, the U.S. government agreed to end some of its economic sanctions against Iran and promised not to interfere in the country’s affairs. None of the hostages had been seriously hurt. But the crisis was the final blow to Carter’s presidency. A few months before they were released, his effort to seek re-election failed. Legacy As president, Carter did not meet the high expectations he had set for himself. And he faced some unusually difficult situations. His presidency also suffered from his problems communicating effectively with Congress, the media, and the American people. But his four years as president did leave several marks on the office. For one, he showed that the U.S. president could help other nations and sides resolve their disputes. Carter’s best-known success as president was his help negotiating the Camp David Accords. The accords were a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Carter led the talks at Camp David in Maryland. Carter’s efforts to protect human rights overseas also influenced the foreign policy of later presidents. In time, his work as a defender of human rights has become his most important legacy. Several years after leaving the presidency, he founded the Carter Presidential Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The center “seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.”  In addition to his work there, Carter has helped build houses for people who need them, written books, and negotiated with world leaders to take steps toward peace. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ​ ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story overwhelming - adj. something that is so confusing or difficult that you feel unable to do it nurse - n. a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people rent - v. to allow someone to use (something) in return for payment advance - v.  to move forward confidence - n. a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something

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Afghanistan's Local Police Provide Security, But Also Create Problems

  Bilal Bacha leads a group of men who have long hair, wear non-traditional military clothing, and drive white trucks around eastern Afghanistan. The men look just like the militants they have promised to fight. Bacha is the commander of the Afghan Local Police, or ALP, in the district of Achin. The area was once a base of operations for the self-declared Islamic State group, also known as IS. Most of Achin has been cleared of IS fighters. But the day Bacha spoke to VOA, military airplanes were dropping bombs on the surrounding mountains. It was clear that the conflict was continuing. People living in Achin described Bacha and his men as some of the fiercest fighters against IS militants. They have good reason to be: their families were among the victims of IS attacks. “We’ve picked up these guns to protect our women and children,” Bacha said. “We are not doing this for money. The $100 or $150 we get per month is nothing. We can earn that doing anything else.” Bacha’s ALP force in Achin is part of a project started in 2010 with American money and support from U.S. Special Operations Forces. The plan was to create, train and arm local units that could defend their own communities against the Taliban and other militant groups. The idea was these units would be especially useful in areas where the Afghan government’s security efforts were weak. Many people, including the then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai, resisted the idea at first. They argued that local military units without the authority of the central government would be similar to the militias of the past. These militias helped start Afghanistan’s civil wars of the 1990s. But in the end, Karzai accepted the proposal to create a 10,000 member temporary force. Under the plan, the force would either break up or join with traditional Afghan security forces in a few years. Since then, the ALP has grown three times its original size. And it now operates in 31 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The U.S. Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction described the strengths of the ALP in one of his reports. The report noted that one strength was the ability to know the difference between local residents and resistance fighters. Also, it said, the ALP’s members have greater knowledge of villages, and local residents consider them to be more trustworthy than outside forces. However, what makes the ALP strong in some communities is exactly what makes them a problem in others. Having local contacts made the men more invested in the security of the local communities. But it also made them more likely to react to pressure from local influences, including powerful leaders. In several cases, local leaders have used the ALP as a way to employ their followers. This has helped those leaders extend their control over the population. The Afghanistan Analysts Network is an independent group of researchers. They reported evidence of abusive behavior from the ALP, and the capture of units by local strongmen and the older militias, known as “tanzims.” The group also noted that, “political connections between ALP and figures in central government often [makes] control of abusive forces impossible.” The rights group Human Rights Watch released a statement on the ALP in September. It noted that, “In many localities, these forces have been responsible for … abuses against civilians, as well as … executions of captured combatants and other violations of international humanitarian law.” The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission is the country’s own human rights organization. It reported that the ALP does not always follow the rules when recruiting members. Criminals, members of illegal armed groups, even the Taliban in some cases, have been able to find their way in. The Afghan government has reacted to these criticisms. It said its Afghan Local Police Directorate would require the ALP to better explain its actions. The United States has also said it would only continue to support the ALP if it made reforms to its system. Currently, all of the money for the force comes from the U.S. government. Even with the reported problems, almost everyone seems to agree that breaking up the ALP quickly is not a good idea. There is general agreement that this would weaken security and likely help the Taliban. That is why many observers suggest carefully combining the ALP with the traditional security forces, or returning the men to civilian life. While the government considers these ideas, Bilal Bacha’s men care for the trees they have planted near their shelter. The men are hoping to watch the trees grow and someday enjoy their fruit. I’m Susan Shand. And I'm Pete Musto.   Ayesha Tanzeem reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How should the Afghan and American governments deal with the ALP? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   district – n. an area or section of a country, city, or town authority – n. the power or right to direct or control someone or something original – adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning province(s) – n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into resident(s) – n. someone who lives in a particular place figure(s) – n. a person who has a specified status or who is regarded in a specified way combatant(s) – n. a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle humanitarian – adj. concerned with or seeking to promote human life and happiness recruit(ing) – v. to find people and get them to join a company, an organization, or the armed forces

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