in VOA Special English.The conflict in Libyaand the nuclear crisis in Japanwere the two big stories this week.President Obama discussedthe situation in Libyawith congressional leaders again Friday.Some in Congress sayhe should have soughtcongressional approvalfor American military action.Critics include membersof his own Democratic Party.But a spokesman saysthe president was "well within"his constitutional rightsto order missile attackson Libyan military bases.The strikes began last Saturday.On Thursday, NATO -- the NorthAtlantic Treaty Organization-- agreed to take commandof a "no-fly zone" over Libya.A Canadian general will headthe alliance's operation there.The United Nations Security Councilapproved the flight ban last weekto protect civilians,including those in Benghazi.That eastern city is the centerof a rebellion againstLibyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.Planes from an international coalitioncarried out new strikes Fridayagainst Libyan militarytargets south of Benghazi.Earlier, the United Arab Emiratesagreed to send twelve planesto help enforce the no-fly zone.Many experts say air power alonewill not protect civilians.Some wonder whether the objectiveshould be to oust Colonel Gadhafi.But the United States says"regime change" is notthe goal of the coalition.There are diplomatic effortsto settle the crisis.Colonel Gadhafi sent a delegationto meet with African officialsin Ethiopia on Friday.But the rebels did notsend a representative.Anti-government protests continuedin other Arab countries,including Syria, Yemen and Jordan.There were reports from southern Syriaon Friday that security forceskilled fifteen or more protesters.The protesters were tryingto reach Daraa, near the Jordanian border.Similar violence was reportedthere earlier in the week.Protesters demanding freedomheld demonstrations Fridayin several locations across Syria,including the capital.In Damascus, after Friday prayers,at least two hundred people demonstratedin support of the people of Daraa.Reuters news agency reportedlarge numbers of arrests.The United States has condemnedwhat it called "brutal repressionof demonstrations" in Syria.On Thursday the Syrian government saidit will consider reforms includingan end to years of emergency law.In Japan, the nuclear emergency continued.The nation is dealingwith new concerns that damageto the Fukushima nuclear power stationcould release more radiation.(SOUND)On Friday Prime Minister Naoto Kandescribed the situationas "very grave and serious."People living between twentyand thirty kilometers of Fukushimahave now been advised to leave the area.Police in Japan say more thanten thousand people are now knownto have died in the March eleventhquake and tsunami.More than seventeen thousandare still missing.And about three hundred thousandare living in temporary shelters.And that's IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.