From Washington, this is VOA News.
I’m Steve Karesh reporting.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, one of Africa's longest-ruling leaders, said Friday he will quit politics in 2018 following the end of his current term.
However, his term ends in September 2017. He did not explain why he would leave the year after, nor his reason for retiring.
The 73-year-old Dos Santos has led Angola since 1979. He is Africa's second longest ruling leader.
Critics accuse dos Santos of using the country's oil wealth to amass huge fortunes for himself, his allies and his family.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says decisive and bold action" is necessary to end sexual abuse and exploitation by U.N. peacekeepers.
Speaking to the Security Council Thursday, Mr. Ban said that the allegations this past year erode(s) trust in the UN.
"It undermines the trust between the United Nations and its beneficiaries, betrays the values and principles that the UN purports to advance, and tarnishes the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping operations and the United Nations as a whole."
The Secretary-General has proposed new initiatives to strengthen the U.N.'s response, including assisting victims and improving accountability for perpetrators.
In Myanmar, retired bureaucrat Htin Kyaw is predicted to win parliamentary election to become President.
He was confirmed Friday as the nominee of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (the NLD), and is a close aide to party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and is expected to govern on her behalf.
A relative unknown outside of politics, Aung San Suu Kyi's proxy for the presidency, is well known in the NLD inner circle.
This is VOA News.
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Words in This Newscast
quit – v. to stop working; to leave (office)
nor – conj. and not
amass – v. to gather or collect
fortune – n. a very large amount of money; riches
decisive – adj. able to make choices quickly
bold – adj. not afraid of danger; showing lack of fear
exploitation – n. an act of using something that helps you unfairly
peacekeeper – n. people who enforce and supervise a truce
allegation – n. claims or charges
erode – v. to slowly destroy; to break down
undermine – v. to make weaker or less effective
obtained – v. to get control of
beneficiary – n. someone who is helped by something
principle – n. a moral rule or belief
purport – v. to claim to be or do something when this claim may not be true
advance – v. to move forward; to make progress
tarnish – v. to damage or wreck the quality of something
credibility – n. the quality of being accepted or believed as real or honest
initiative – n. a plan or program that is meant to fix problem
response – n. something that is done as a reaction to something else
accountability – n. a willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions
perpetrator – n. someone who has done something wrong
aide – n. assistant
behalf – n. a person’s interest or support
proxy – n. someone who is given the power to act for someone else
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