It is twenty-three hours thirty Universal Time and here is the news in Special English. ▼ American military helicopters landed near the home of Haiti's president Tuesday to deploy troops and supplies in the capital, Port-au-Prince. One group of soldiers was sent to secure the city's main hospital. Medical workers there have been working to treat the many people who were injured in last week's earthquake. Officials estimate that the earthquake killed about two hundred thousand people. Also Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council agreed to add two thousand troops and one thousand five hundred more police to the U.N. forces already in Haiti. The U.N. 's peacekeeping chief said the extra troops will be used to protect vehicles transporting humanitarian supplies. Fifty-three parentless children from Haiti have arrived in the United States for medical care and adoption. Volunteers carried many of the children in their arms as they got off a military plane in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The children were immediately taken to a hospital for medical care. Many of the orphans are in the process of being adopted by American families. This process usually takes months. An emergency humanitarian program announced by American immigration officials Monday has reduced the processing time.
The vice-president of Nigeria has ordered troops to deploy in the city of Jos. Goodluck Jonathan acted after deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians. National Security Adviser, Surki Mukthar, said Tuesday that Nigeria's military and police have moved together to return the situation in Jos to normal. He said that the vice-president is effectively operating the government. President Umaru Yar'Adua entered a hospital in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment almost two months ago. In Iraq, the government says it has offered employment to about fifty thousand former Sunni resistance fighters. An Iraqi official said all ninety-six thousand former rebels are expected to get government jobs by the middle of the year. The official, Mohammed Salman al-Saadi, leads a committee seeking to increase unity in the nation. The fighters belong to groups known as the Sons of Iraq. They worked with American-led forces to help stop violence in local communities.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered a reconsideration of security in Kabul, Tuesday, one day after a deadly Taliban attack. Security has been increased in the Afghan capital with officers searching vehicles as they enter the city. Deputy Police Chief Mohammad Khalil Dastyar said that more troops are guarding the city on foot and from vehicles. The President also ordered government officials to give aid to families of those killed or wounded in the attack and to shop owners with property damage. The Taliban attack on Monday killed at least five people and wounded more than seventy others.
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Britain says it supports financial restrictions against Iran over its nuclear program. British Foreign Secretary David Milliband told Parliament Tuesday that financial restrictions have an important role in putting pressure on the Iranian government. But, he said the restrictions should be designed so as not to hurt the Iranian people. On Saturday, diplomats from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany met in New York City. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the next move in the nuclear dispute with Iran. But, the meeting failed to produce an agreement on new restrictions.
The trial of a Pakistani scientist accused of trying to kill Americans in Afghanistan has begun in New York City. Aafia Siddiqui is facing attempted murder charges. She is accused of seizing an American soldier's gun and shooting at federal agents while she was detained for questioning in Afghanistan in two thousand eight. Ms. Siddiqui was removed from the court room Tuesday after shouting that a witness was lying. Last week, Ms. Siddiqui was also removed from the court for interfering with the trial process. American government lawyers say she was detained in the Afghan town of Ghazni. They say she was carrying documents on how to make explosives and the use of chemical weapons.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he hopes the winner of Ukraine's presidential election will try to improve relations with Russia. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych are the leading candidates after the first part of voting in Ukraine. They have both an interest in friendlier relations with Russia. Relations between the two countries grew tense during the administration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko. He pushed for closer relations with NATO and the European Union. The two countries also disagreed over the price of Russian natural gas exports. A second vote in Ukraine between the top two presidential candidates is to take place in February.
President Obama has called for renewing and strengthening the relationship between the United States and Japan. In a statement marking the fiftieth anniversary of a security agreement between the two countries, Mr. Obama described America's support of Japanese security as unshakeable. He said the co-operation between the two countries to meet common difficulties is an important part of American policy with the world. The American State Department's diplomat for Asia, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, is to travel to Japan next month to continue discussions about the future of an American military base on the Japanese island of Okinawa. ▲ And now briefly, here again is the major news of the hour read in VOA Special English.
American military helicopters landed near the home of Haiti's president Tuesday to deploy troops and supplies in Port-au-Prince. Nigerian Vice-president Goodluck Jonathan has ordered troops to deploy in the city of Jos. He acted after deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians. And, the Iraqi government says it has offered employment to about fifty thousand former Sunni resistance fighters.
And, that's the news in VOA Special English from Washington. Source: VOA Special English January 19, 2010 2330UTC
