From VOA Learning English,this is In the News.Iranian voters are consideringwhich candidate to supportin the presidential election on June 14th.The eight approved candidates met Fridayin the first of three planned debates.They took turns answering questionsabout Iran's economy.Recent government reports say inflation is risingat a rate of over 12 percent a year.The unemployment rate is over 13 percent.The two leading candidates appear to be Saeed Jalili,Iran's chief security official,and the mayor of Tehran, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.Some observers say Mr. Jalili is the likely favorite.He has worked in the office of the country's top leader,Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.He is also lead negotiatorin nuclear talks with western nations.The United Nations Security Councilhas passed resolutions against Iran for failingto obey limits on its nuclear program.Iranian oil exports have droppedby almost 50 percent as a result of foreign oppositionto the nuclear activities.Mayor Ghalibaf has been a popular leader.He was able to complete major transportation projectsin a weak economy by joining with Chinese companies.He formerly served in the Iran-Iraq warand as national police chief.Earlier this month, rights groupsreleased a recording of his comments about dissidents.He is heard claiming that he ordered policeto fire on students during demonstrations.Last week, the Guardian Council barredmore than 600 other declared candidatesfor president from the ballot.The Council is made up of religious and legal experts.Six of its 12 members are appointedby the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.The group blocked former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjaniand all thirty women candidates from appearingon the 2013 presidential ballot.Last week, American Secretary of StateJohn Kerry criticized the restrictions."That is hardly an election by standardswhich most people in most countries judge free,fair, open, accessible, accountable elections."On Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists condemnedwhat it called efforts to deny Iranian citizens informationbefore the elections.The following day, United Nations special representativeMaina Kiai urged Iran to release more than 40 reporters from jail.His comments came as the Iranian news agency Mehr reportedthat Iran's culture minister plans more restrictionson foreign reporters.Separately, UN officials said that barring all women candidatesviolated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.Last weekend, exiled Iraniansmet at Sweden's parliament building in Stockholm.The opposition group condemned an election process the exilescalled "an insult to Iranians."The gathering was organized by the coalitioncalled United for Democracy in Iran or UDI.Iran's state-operated media described the UDIcall for free elections as an excusefor military intervention in Iran.And that's In The News.