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Rum & Cigars Thursday January 17, 2019 T: 582-7800 | F: 582-7044 www.arubatoday.com Page 13 AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr Wrecks seen as wildfire areas brace for big California storm SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — tain regions this week, but Days of rain and snow the latest storm could be across California have the strongest that North- snarled rush-hour com- ern California has seen so mutes and triggered dead- far this year. "A powerful ly wrecks on slick roads Pacific storm will hammer even before the most in- the West Coast into Friday tense storm hits Wednes- with strong winds, heavy day, with wildfire-ravished rain and heavy mountain communities bracing for snow," the National Weath- dangerous mudslides and er Service said. "Heavy rain mountain residents facing will bring a threat of flash a "potentially life-threaten- flooding along recent burn ing" blizzard. scars while blizzard condi- A Caltrans worker covers spilled fuel and liquids with absorbent while cleaning up after a multi- A series of storms dropped tions are expected" in the car collision along a foggy Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass near Hesperia Calif., Wednesday Jan. rain up and down the Sierra Nevada. 16, 2019. state and snow in moun- Continued on Page 3 Associated Press A2 UP FRONT Thursday 17 January 2019 Syria attack kills 4 Americans, complicates withdrawal plan By LOLITA BALDOR and been defeated and he to adjust the timeline, and BASSEM MROUE was pulling out U.S. forces. U.S. officials have suggest- WASHINGTON (AP) — A sui- The attack in the strategic ed it will likely take several cide bombing claimed by northeastern town of Man- months to safely withdraw the Islamic State killed at bij highlighted the threat American forces from Syria. least 16 people, including posed by the Islamic State Not long after the attack two U.S. service members group despite Trump's on Wednesday, Vice Presi- Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan speaks at the and two American civil- claims. It could also compli- dent Mike Pence repeated beginning of a meeting with Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi ians, in northern Syria on cate what had already be- claims of the Islamic State's Iwaya at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, about U.S. Wednesday, just a month come a messy withdrawal defeat. Speaking at the troops killed in an explosion while conducting a routine patrol after President Donald plan, with the president's State Department, Pence in Syria. Trump declared that IS had senior advisers disagreeing said the "caliphate has Associated Press with the decision and then crumbled" and the militant offering an evolving time- network "has been defeat- table for the removal of the ed." Later in the day he approximately 2,000 U.S. released a statement con- troops. demning the attack but The attack, which also affirming the withdrawal wounded three U.S. troops, plan. was the deadliest assault "As we begin to bring our on U.S. troops in Syria since troops home, the Ameri- American forces went into can people can be as- the country in 2015. sured, for the sake of our The dead included a num- soldiers, their families, and ber of fighters with the Syr- our nation, we will never al- ian Democratic Forces, low the remnants of ISIS to who have fought alongside re-establish their evil and the Americans against the murderous caliphate - not Islamic State, according to now, not ever." officials and the U.K.-based Others, however, immedi- Syrian Observatory for Hu- ately pointed to the attack man Rights. as a reason to reverse or U.S. Central Command adjust the withdrawal plan. said one of the civilians Sen. Lindsey Graham, a killed was a Defense De- Trump backer and promi- partment employee and nent voice on foreign af- the other was a contractor. fairs on Capitol Hill, said The attack prompted new during a committee hear- complaints about the with- ing Wednesday he is con- drawal and underscored cerned that Trump's with- Pentagon assertions that IS drawal announcement is still a threat and capable had emboldened the Is- of deadly attacks. lamic State and creating In a Dec. 19 tweet an- dangerous uncertainty for nouncing the withdrawal, American allies. Trump said, "We have de- "I know people are frustrat- feated ISIS in Syria, my only ed, but we're never going reason for being there dur- to be safe here unless we ing the Trump Presidency." are willing to help people He said the troops would over there who will stand begin coming home "now." up against this radical ide- That plan triggered imme- ology," he said. diate pushback from mili- Manbij is the main town on tary leaders, including the the westernmost edge of resignation of the defense Syrian territory held by the secretary. Over the past U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, month, however, Trump running along the border and others have appeared with Turkey. q U.S. NEWS A3 Thursday 17 January 2019 CALIFORNIA STORM ifornia roadways. of neighboring Ventura Continued from Front Three people, including County. Both were affect- Authorities in areas re- an infant, were killed Tues- ed by a November fire that cently scarred by wildfires day night when their car destroyed more than 1,500 fear small rivers and creeks spun out on a freeway in homes and killed four peo- flooding their banks and Placerville, about 130 miles ple. causing massive mudslides, (202 kilometers) east of San Paul Manion was busy filling further damaging commu- Francisco. The California sandbags in the commu- nities struggling to recover Highway Patrol blamed the nity of Bell Canyon. from a historically bad fire wreck on high speed and "It's something we have season. rain-slickened roads. to do. I mean, if the water The blazes stripped hillsides Fog on a mountain high- comes, it comes," Manion of trees and other vegeta- way in Southern Califor- told KABC-TV. "Everything tion that stabilize soil and nia triggered a 19-vehicle around our house burned. prevent mudslides, put- crash Wednesday. Thirty- All the houses around our Heavy tow trucks arrive to remove trucks following a multi-car ting at risk thousands of five people were evaluat- house burned. But it's the collision along foggy Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass near Hespe- people living in foothill and ed for injuries after the pile- hillsides that we're worried ria Calif., Wednesday Jan. 16, 2019. canyon areas devastated up on Interstate 15 in Cajon about." Associated Press by wildfires. That includes Pass, but most declined to Others refused to leave af- the Northern California re- be taken to hospitals, the ter authorities went door to Beaver Valenzuela said was more immediate. gion where a November San Bernardino County Fire door at the high-risk Para- he's survived fiercer storms "I'm not going anywhere," fire killed 86 people and Department said. dise Cove mobile home and wouldn't leave until he he told the Los Angeles destroyed nearly 15,000 A mudslide on a major park in Malibu. was convinced the danger news station.q homes. Northern California free- "If flooding occurs, this can way just north of the Gold- quickly become a danger- en Gate Bridge snarled the ous and life-threatening morning commute. The situation," the Butte County slide closed southbound Sheriff's Office said. Highway 101 across the Authorities told residents of bridge for about an hour, Pulga to prepare to flee shutting off the only direct their canyon community access to San Francisco for that neighbors the town of drivers north of the city. Paradise, which was virtu- In the mountainous com- ally incinerated two months munity of Truckee where it ago by the Camp Fire. snowed Tuesday, residents A blizzard warning covered were preparing for another the Sierra Nevada and storm by clearing drive- Lake Tahoe regions, where ways and buying wood as much as 5 feet (1.5 me- and food in case they have ters) of snow was expect- to stay inside. ed. "It took my husband an The San Francisco Bay Area hour to get to Safeway was forecast to see heavy last week because there rain, and residents were were so many people and warned to watch for flash no one could get home," floods through the end of Whitby Bierwolf told the the week. Sacramento television sta- The Sacramento area tion KCRA. "You just need faced flood and high wind to have an alternate plan watches, with gusts that and have enough stuff in could lead to power out- your car because acci- ages, downed trees and dents happen." tough driving conditions. In the south, some evacu- Even before the worst of ation orders were in place this week's storms hit, con- in the Malibu area west ditions deteriorated on Cal- of Los Angeles and parts A4 U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 Democrats hit Trump EPA nominee on coal lobbying, rollbacks By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Wheeler accompanied Associated Press Murray to a March 2017 WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- meeting to pitch Murray's dent Donald Trump's nomi- list of desired rule rollbacks nee to lead the Environ- and other breaks for coal mental Protection Agency to Energy Secretary Rick on Wednesday called cli- Perry. mate change "a huge is- Wheeler told senators that sue" but not the "greatest his main work for Murray crisis" and drew fire from had been on health ben- Democrats at his confirma- efits and pensions. tion hearing over the regu- "I did not work on the plan. latory rollbacks he's made I do not have a copy of it. I in six months as the agen- saw it briefly," Wheeler said, cy's acting administrator. referring to Murray's wish Republicans on the GOP- list. majority Senate Environ- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, ment and Public Works D-R.I., displayed a blown- Committee mostly had up version of a photo taken praise for Andrew Wheel- of the meeting with Perry, er, who has served as the showing Wheeler at Mur- agency's acting head since ray's side. Scott Pruitt's resignation in A second photo showed July amid ethics scandals. Murray's rollback plan in Andrew Wheeler arrives to testify at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing The committee chairman, Wheeler's hands. to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Murray had sought some Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. called Wheeler "very well- Associated Press of the coal breaks that the qualified" to take the job. EPA under Wheeler has But Democrats pressed did not identify, had con- globally." changing fossil fuel emis- since acted on. Wheeler about his work as cluded that those rollbacks Wheeler told lawmakers sions. That included Wheeler a lobbyist helping an influ- would ultimately lead to that he had yet to read a Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and signing a rule easing fed- ential coal magnate meet health gains. Environmen- massive government cli- other Republican lawmak- eral regulation of toxic coal with Trump administration tal groups and formal as- mate change report re- ers, by contrast, praised ash, redoing an Obama officials before his nomi- sessments from the EPA leased late last year that Wheeler for a move to re- rule that pushed electric- nation to the EPA and his and other agencies have emphasized man-made move federal protections ity providers to move away moves on deregulation contested that, saying the climate change was al- for millions of miles of wet- from dirtier-burning coal and on what they said was changes would increase ready underway. lands and waterways and plants and targeting an his inattention to the grow- pollution and increase Wheeler said he had re- other proposals. Repub- Obama rule limiting emis- ing dangers of climate harm to people and the cli- ceived one staff briefing so lican lawmakers said the sions of toxic mercury from change. mate. far on the climate change protections had burdened coal plants. "You seem to be consistent- Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., report. The work of the EPA farmers and others. A watchdog group, Citi- ly doing things that under- said the rollbacks in car and other government The grandson of a coal zens for Responsibility and mine the health and safety mileage standards and tox- agencies, the report stress- miner, Wheeler worked for Ethics in Washington, filed of this nation," Sen. Ed Mar- ic mercury emissions under es the massive economic the EPA in the 1990s and an ethics complaint Tues- key, D-Mass., told Wheeler. Wheeler were examples of toll expected from increas- later as a longtime Republi- day with the EPA's Office Markey asked him why he unsafe deregulation and ingly severe wildfires, hur- can Senate staffer. of the Inspector General al- was pulling back on regu- went beyond what indus- ricanes and other extreme Democrats pressed Wheel- leging that Wheeler's over- lations that proponents say tries themselves wanted. weather under climate er about his lobbying be- sight of those and other protect human health and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., change. fore joining the EPA, saying rollback proposals at EPA the environment. noted Wheeler had failed Wheeler said the news me- his work for coal compa- may have violated his gov- "I believe we are moving to mention climate change dia had seized upon "worst- nies should disqualify him ernment ethics pledge to forward" on protections, in his initial remarks to law- case scenarios" of the cli- from leading an agency abstain from regulatory de- Wheeler responded. makers. mate report. that regulates coal. cisions affecting his former Wheeler cited changes he "Do you agree that climate "You are a former coal in- Wheeler's lobbying clients lobbying client for at least had initiated to roll back fu- change is a global crisis?" dustry lobbyist that is sitting included coal magnate two years. ture mileage standards for Sanders asked, shouting at here," Markey responded. Bob Murray, who pushed EPA spokesman John cars and autos and to ease times. "That's the worst-case sce- hard on the Trump adminis- Konkus called the accusa- Obama-era clampdowns "I would not call it the great- nario, what you are pro- tration after the 2016 elec- tion "baseless" and "wrong" on dirtier-burning coal-fired est crisis," Wheeler said. "I posing here" for easing tions to grant a series of and said Wheeler works power plants. would call it a huge issue Obama-era rules meant to breaks for the sagging do- with EPA ethics officials and He said EPA staff, whom he that has to be addressed clamp down on climate- mestic coal industry. follows their guidance.q U.S. NEWS A5 Thursday 17 January 2019 3 months after deadly N.Y. crash, NTSB has yet to inspect limo By MARY ESCH ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — More than three months after 20 people died in a stretch lim- ousine crash in rural upstate New York, federal safety in- vestigators have yet to get their hands on the most crucial piece of evidence: the wrecked vehicle itself. The National Transporta- tion Safety Board says it has been blocked from getting within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the limo involved in the nation's deadliest transpor- tation accident in nearly a decade because local prosecutors say they have priority as part of their crimi- nal case against the limo company's operator. Most major NTSB probes would have produced a This Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, shows the wreckage of a limousine, partially hidden in the woods, fol- preliminary report by this lowing a fatal crash in Schoharie, N.Y. point, potentially resulting Associated Press in key safety recommenda- tions. But for now, the bat- cause they're not robust Mallery, who has declined necessary to fulfill its obli- tered white limo involved enough to stop the vehicle numerous requests for gations." To break the im- in the Oct. 6 crash in Scho- fully loaded." comment, told Silbaugh in passe, he suggested NTSB harie County sits beneath The 2001 Ford Excursion that a Dec. 19 letter that "your propose language to be a state police tent near Al- was modified into a stretch investigators have been added to the search war- bany while the NTSB seeks a limo blew through a stop given at least three lengthy rant, and gave defense judge's intervention to gain sign at a T-intersection and opportunities to view the counsel and the district at- access. crashed beside a country limousine." She said state torney until Wednesday to In increasingly exasperated store, killing the driver, 17 police and her office were submit any opposition. exchanges, NTSB lawyer passengers on a birthday obliged to maintain the Such friction between a Kathleen Silbaugh com- outing, and two pedestri- chain of custody and the criminal prosecutor and plained that the local pros- ans. The vehicle had failed integrity of evidence. federal safety investiga- ecutor has refused to even a state inspection that ex- In a Jan. 7 letter request- tors is unusual, said Jim Hall, discuss the federal board's amined such things as the ing the intervention of who was NTSB chairman jurisdiction in this matter chassis, suspension and Schoharie County Judge under during the Clinton and even hung up on a re- brakes. George Bartlett III, Silbaugh administration. While the cent phone call when the Prosecutors allege the said federal inspectors had criminal investigation does issue came up. Silbaugh limousine company's op- been allowed to view the have precedence, he said, also expressed concern erator, Nauman Hussain, vehicle from no closer than it's in the public interest that that the prolonged delay allowed an improperly li- 15 feet (4.5 meters). She the federal safety investi- may have already caused censed driver to operate urged the judge to deny gation move forward with- "safety-critical" evidence to an "unserviceable" vehicle Mallery's request for a sup- out delay. be lost. and have charged him plemental search warrant "There are a number of The NTSB said in a state- with criminally negligent allowing removal of the these specially modified ment that if a deal can be homicide. He has pleaded vehicle's transmission and vehicles operating. Having worked out, it will immedi- not guilty to the charge torque converter, saying to an opportunity to have a ately send two investiga- and remains free on bail. do so before the NTSB com- national focus on this ac- tors for a limited time to do His lawyer has said investi- pletes its initial inspection cident is extremely impor- "targeted work permissible" gators rushed to judgment . "will impact our ability to tant," Hall said. under the partial govern- Silbaugh wrote in a letter to determine the vehicle's role On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew ment shutdown. Schoharie County District in the probable cause of Cuomo proposed ban- "It's unfortunate," said Pe- Attorney Susan Mallery in the crash and to propose ning vehicles remanufac- ter Goelz, a former NTSB December that because safety recommendations." tured into stretch limousines managing director who of the delay federal inves- On Jan. 9, Bartlett wrote from operating in New York now works for a Washing- tigators may no longer be that NTSB's work doesn't re- state. The Democrat also ton, D.C., consulting firm. able to evaluate corrosion, quire court permission on proposed reforms, includ- "They might have made a which is critical when look- a search warrant and that ing prohibiting U-turns for recommendation, like re- ing at the brakes, or the "until the recent kerfuffle, larger vehicles and elimi- place the braking systems status of the vehicle's elec- this court had no reason nating the seatbelt exemp- in vehicles that have been trical system at the time of to believe that the NTSB tion for limos, buses and modified in this manner be- the crash. was not given the access taxis.q A6 U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 American anchor for Iranian TV is arrested on visit to U.S. By JANET McCONNAUGHEY relies on it when they need it is holding U.S. Navy vet- Associated Press a reason to arrest some- eran Michael R. White at NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A body but they don't have a prison, making him the prominent American an- one." first American known to be chorwoman on Iranian No matter the reason for detained under President state television has been Marzieh Hashemi's deten- Donald Trump's administra- arrested by the FBI during a tion, she should have been tion. visit to the U.S., the broad- granted a court appear- Iranian Foreign Minis- caster reported Wednes- ance by now, Bascuas said. try spokesman Bahram day, and her son said she She apparently was unable Ghasemi told state TV that was being held in a prison, to call her daughter until Hashemi's arrest indicates apparently as a material Tuesday night. The family the "apartheid and racist witness.Marzieh Hashemi, is trying to hire an attorney, policy" of the Trump admin- who worked for the net- but it has been difficult be- istration. work's English-language cause she has not been "We hope that the inno- service, was detained in charged with a crime, her cent person will be re- St. Louis, where she had son said. leased without any condi- filmed a Black Lives Matter Iran's state broadcaster tion," Ghasemi said. documentary after visiting held a news conference At least four other Ameri- relatives in the New Orleans and launched a hashtag can citizens are being held area. She was then taken campaign for Hashemi, us- in Iran, including Iranian- to Washington, according ing the same techniques American Siamak Namazi to her elder son, Hossein families with loved ones and his 82-year-old fa- Hashemi. held in the Islamic Republic ther, Baquer, both serv- The FBI said in an email that use to highlight their cases. ing 10-year sentences on it had no comment on the "We will not spare any le- espionage charges. Ira- arrest of the woman who gal action" to help her, nian-American art dealer was born Melanie Franklin said Paiman Jebeli, depu- Karan Vafadari and his In this undated photo provided by Iranian state television's Eng- in New Orleans and has ty chief of Iran's state IRIB Iranian wife, Afarin Neys- lish-language service, Press TV, American-born news anchor worked for Iran's state tele- broadcaster. Iran's Press sari, received 27-year and Marzieh Hashemi, right, smiles as she stands with her son in Teh- vision network for 25 years. TV aired footage of her 16-year prison sentences, ran, Iran. Hossein Hashemi said his Associated Press anchoring news programs respectively. mother lives in Tehran and and discussing the war in Chinese-American gradu- comes back to this country ers. had been involved in any Syria, set to dramatic mu- ate student Xiyue Wang about once a year to see Federal law allows judges criminal activity or knew sic. was sentenced to 10 year her family, usually sched- to order witnesses to be ar- anyone who might be im- There were no references in prison. uling documentary work rested and detained if the plicated in a crime, Hash- to any case against Hash- Also in an Iranian prison is somewhere in the U.S. as government can prove emi said, "We don't have emi in U.S. federal courts, Nizar Zakka, a permanent well. their testimony has extraor- any information along nor in Missouri. U.S. resident from Lebanon "We still have no idea what's dinary value for a criminal those lines." Hashemi describes her- who advocated for inter- going on," said Hashemi, a case and that they would Hashemi said his mother self online as having stud- net freedom and has done research fellow at the Uni- be a flight risk and unlikely was arrested as she was ied journalism at Louisiana work for the U.S. govern- versity of Colorado who to respond to a subpoena. about to board a flight State University in Baton ment. He was sentenced was interviewed by phone The statute generally re- from St. Louis to Denver. Rouge. She converted to to 10 years on espionage- from Washington. He also quires those witnesses to A spokesman for St. Louis Islam in 1982 at age 22 af- related charges. said he and his siblings had be promptly released once Lambert International Air- ter meeting Iranian activist Former FBI agent Robert been subpoenaed to ap- they are deposed. port declined to comment students in Denver. Levinson, who vanished pear before a grand jury. Marzieh Hashemi, an Amer- and referred questions to She married a man she met in Iran in 2007 while on an The incident comes as Iran ican citizen, had not been the FBI. while in journalism school. unauthorized CIA mission, faces increasing criticism of contacted by the FBI be- The constitutionality of the They had two sons and a remains missing as well. Iran its own arrests of dual citi- fore she was detained and material witness law has daughter. Her husband says that Levinson is not zens and other people with would "absolutely" have "never been meaningfully is dead, said Hashemi's in the country and that it Western ties. Those cases been willing to cooperate tested," said Ricardo J. Bas- brother, Milton Leroy Frank- has no further information have previously been used with the agency, her son cuas, a professor at the Uni- lin of the New Orleans sub- about him. His family holds as bargaining chips in ne- said. versity of Miami School of urb of Metairie. Tehran responsible for his gotiations with world pow- Asked whether his mother Law. "The government only Last week, Iran confirmed disappearance.q U.S. NEWS A7 Thursday 17 January 2019 Rallies call for release of detained immigration activist By PHILIP MARCELO He had been a prominent Associated Press voice at immigration ral- BOSTON (AP) — Rallies at lies and marches in Mas- federal immigration offices sachusetts in recent years, across the country Wednes- sharing his experience as day called for the release a college student without of Eduardo Samaniego, an proper legal documents. immigration activist from Last year, Samaniego Massachusetts facing de- marched 250 miles (402 ki- portation. lometers) from New York to In New York City, Los Angles, Washington, D.C., with 10 Boston, Springfield, Mas- others to call for passage sachusetts, and Hartford, of the DREAM Act, federal Connecticut, small crowds legislation that would have of supporters held signs protected certain young saying "Free Eduardo Now" immigrants living in the and chanted and banged country illegally from de- drums as they delivered portation. petitions to officials at the During his arrest in October, federal offices. A prayer Samaniego told police he'd vigil is planned Thursday in gone for a long run without Atlanta outside the immi- his phone or wallet and gration court where the 26- had hopped in the cab be- year old native of Mexico's cause he didn't know how Supporters of immigrant rights Eduardo Samaniego gathered to present a petition with 9,000 sig- fate may be decided. to get home, according to natures asking for his release to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Wednes- "Eduardo gave all his heart the police report. He told day, Jan. 16, 2019, in Springfield, Mass. and all his effort fighting for officers he'd moved from Associated Press the rights of immigrants, so Massachusetts about five it's important that he gets weeks prior. positive solution we can ex- jected to harassment and spond to emails seeking the same support that he Prosecutors ultimately de- pect," she said. "His options abuse during his detention. comment. gave to others," his moth- clined to pursue charges under our current immigra- His mother said the experi- In court Thursday, Ghalib er, Maricela Samaniego, after Samaniego paid the tion laws are extremely lim- ence has exacerbated the says she'll seek a special said by phone prior to the fare, according to court re- ited." post-traumatic stress, de- hearing to consider her events. "It gives him hope cords. Supporters, led by the Pio- pression and anxiety he's client's competency. He and gives me hope." But Samaniego still faces neer Valley Workers Cen- struggled with since a 2015 is being transferred to a Samaniego has been in deportation because he ter, complain Samaniego natural gas explosion left psychiatric hospital in Co- federal custody since Oc- overstayed a six-month is being targeted because him badly burned. lombia, South Carolina, this tober, when he was ar- tourist visa granted in 2009, of his advocacy. They Officials at the Irwin Coun- week, she said. rested for failing to pay a said his lawyer, Hiba Ghal- say his deportation is be- ty Detention Facility in A judge last month denied $27 taxi fare in a suburb of ib. ing "fast-tracked" and that Ocilla, Georgia, where Sa- Samaniego's request to be Atlanta and found to have "This is a difficult situation he's been placed in soli- maniego has been held released until his immigra- overstayed his visa. because there is no real tary confinement and sub- in recent weeks, didn't re- tion case is decided.q Pennsylvania sued over limits on state coverage of abortion HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — That court upheld Pennsyl- on the use of federal Med- carry an unwanted preg- to mount a legal defense The operators of 15 abor- vania's ban on the use of icaid dollars. nancy to term. Carrying of Pennsylvania's law. tion clinics sued Pennsylva- state dollars for abortion, Sixteen other states allow to term against a woman's In 1985, as now, the state nia on Wednesday in a bid except in cases of rape, public dollars to cover will could worsen her pre- Supreme Court had a to persuade state courts to incest or to save the life of abortions beyond those existing health conditions Democratic majority. How- reverse a decades-old de- the mother. exceptions, according to or interfere with her job ever, at that time, the en- cision upholding limits on "What's different is the law's the Guttmacher Institute, prospects or education, tire seven-member high the use of state Medicaid evolved," said Susan Fri- a policy and research or- the lawsuit argues. court was all men. Now, it dollars to cover abortions. etsche, the senior staff at- ganization that supports Gov. Tom Wolf's office de- has three women on it. The lawsuit, filed in Com- torney at the Women's Law abortion rights. clined comment. Wolf, a The court's 1985 ruling monwealth Court, seeks Project, a Pennsylvania- Some other states' courts Democrat whose adminis- found that the state had a an order requiring the based public interest law have ruled that denying tration oversees Pennsylva- legitimate "interest in pre- state's Medicaid program center. "Other states have Medicaid coverage for nia's $31 billion Medicaid serving potential life" by to begin covering abor- gone a different way that abortions is a form of sex program, supports abor- limiting Medicaid's cover- tions, without restriction, makes more sense and we discrimination, Frietsche tion rights. age of abortions and was and contends that Penn- have now got some em- said, while the court's inter- Leaders of the Legisla- not interfering with a wom- sylvania's 1982 law violates pirical evidence that we pretation of Pennsylvania's ture's Republican majori- an's right to an abortion. the constitutional equal didn't have in 1985. People protections against sex dis- ties stayed silent about the It also rejected the argu- protection rights of low-in- have studied what hap- crimination has evolved. lawsuit Wednesday. The ment that the limits vio- come women. pens to low-income wom- The lawsuit filed Wednes- state Legislature has voted lated a constitution provi- The abortion clinics cite en who are deprived of day contends that deny- solidly in favor of anti-abor- sion protecting equal rights the same state constitu- access to abortion and it ing Medicaid coverage tion legislation in recent on the basis of sex, saying tional provisions as the law- is devastating to their lives." of an abortion forces low- years and, given Wolf's that "there are certain laws suit decided by the state Pennsylvania's law is nearly income women to put off support for abortion rights, which necessarily will only Supreme Court in 1985. identical to federal limits basic needs to pay for it or it may be up to lawmakers affect one sex."q A8 WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 World Economic Forum warns of impact of global tensions By PAN PYLAS The report, which is based LONDON (AP) — Interna- on the views of around tional tensions and na- 1,000 experts and deci- tionalist politics can fur- sion-makers from around ther weigh on the global the world, found that 88 economy this year and percent of respondents hinder efforts to deal with expect a "further erosion" big issues such as climate of global trading rules and change, the organizers of agreements that will hold next week's Davos forum back growth. warned Wednesday. The U.S.-China relations will In its annual Global Risks be one of the main talking Report, the World Eco- points at next week's gath- nomic Forum said the world ering in Davos, with a num- is evolving into "a period ber of high level represen- of divergence following a tatives from each side due period of globalization." to attend, including U.S. A "darkening" economic Treasury Secretary Steven outlook, in part fostered Mnuchin and China's vice by geopolitical tensions president, Wang Qishan. between the United States Britain's upcoming exit from and China, "looks set to fur- the European Union will be ther reduce the potential another key issue after Brit- The congress centre, venue for the World Economic Forum, is covered with snow in Davos, Swit- for international coopera- ish lawmakers overwhelm- zerland, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. tion in 2019," it said. Associated Press ingly rejected the Brexit "With global trade and deal Prime Minister Theresa economic growth at risk in rum, which hosts an annual current dynamics might Much of that has been May had negotiated with 2019, there is a more urgent gathering of business and lead us towards." blamed on the standoff the EU. need than ever to renew political leaders in the Swiss In 2018, the global econo- between the U.S. and Chi- The 2016 vote to leave the the architecture of inter- ski resort of Davos. my slowed more than most na over trade that has led EU had been driven in large national cooperation," said "We simply do not have the experts had predicted and to both sides imposing tar- part by a belief that Brexit Borge Brende, President of gunpowder to deal with stock markets posted their iffs on hundreds of billions would restore decision- the World Economic Fo- the kind of slowdown that worst year in a decade. worth of goods. making powers to Britain. q Greek PM survives confidence vote after coalition collapse By DEREK GATOPOULOS ras and Macedonian Prime NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Minister Zoran Zaev agreed ATHENS, Greece (AP) — to in June. Russia remains Greece's left-wing prime strongly opposed to the minister narrowly won a prospect of Macedonia's confidence vote in parlia- NATO membership. ment late Wednesday days Tsipras has strongly defend- after the governing coali- ed his efforts to end the tion he leads collapsed 27-year dispute with Mace- over an agreement to end donia over that country's a long-running dispute over name, which Greece long neighboring Macedonia's argued implied designs on name. its own Macedonia and on Lawmakers voted 151- Greek cultural heritage. 148 on a motion called by Tsipras had said he would Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, seek to get the Greek par- giving his government the liament's approval of the minimum it needed in the name-change deal soon 300-seat legislature to sur- after the confidence vote. vive. During a heated de- Hardliners in both countries bate earlier in the day, Tsip- claim the deal conceded ras argued the Macedonia too much to the other side. deal would bolster stability But Greek government offi- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, delivers his speech during a parliamentary session in Athens, in Europe's Balkan region. cials say they are optimistic on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. "At the critical times, we all Associated Press the agreement will be rati- must have a clear position," fied in Athens even though he said before the vote, Kammenos, quit as de- Greece lifting its objections and opposition dissenters, most opposition parties re- which coincided with the fense minister in Tsipras' to its young northern neigh- they gave the 44-year-old ject it. one British leader Theresa government last weekend bor joining NATO and the Tsipras six votes from out- In Greece, sentiment is par- May won over her Brexit over the proposed agree- European Union. side his party, allowing him ticularly high in the north- deal with the European ment with Macedonia. The Several members of Kam- to remain in power. His term ern Macedonia province, Union. deal calls for the country to menos' party voted to ends in October. where opponents say their The leader of a small Greek be renamed North Mace- support the government. Greece's western allies also regional identity and heri- nationalist party, Panos donia in exchange for Along with independents strongly back the deal Tsip- tage is being signed away. WORLD NEWS A9 Thursday 17 January 2019 ICC judges say Gbagbo should be released following acquittal By MIKE CORDER ters, Marie Laurence Gbag- Associated Press bo, was among those cel- THE HAGUE, Netherlands ebrating. "We are really (AP) — International Crimi- proud," she said. "Justice nal Court judges said prevailed, the truth came Wednesday that former out and he's coming out Ivory Coast President Lau- the right way." rent Gbagbo and a former Judges first ordered the government minister should men's release Tuesday af- be released immediately ter acquitting them on following their acquittal on charges of crimes against charges of involvement in humanity including murder, deadly post-election vio- rape and persecution. lence in 2010. Prosecutors can appeal Prosecutors have said they Wednesday's decision, will appeal the acquittals potentially holding up the once judges issue their writ- men's release. ten majority decision clear- Tarfusser said the process ing Gbagbo and Charles of working out the logistics Ble Goude. Prosecutors of freeing Gbagbo and Ble asked judges not to release Goude should give pros- the men or to release them ecutors time to ask the only under strict conditions court's appeals chamber designed to ensure they do to issue a stay of the re- Supporters of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo celebrate outside the International not flee justice. lease order. Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. But Presiding Judge Cuno Associated Press Ivory Coast government Tarfusser said a majority spokesman Sidi Tiemoko of the three-judge panel nized the court's jurisdic- stone in efforts to bring to his rival and current Ivory Toure said the acquittals rejected the prosecution tion and have undertaken justice the highest-ranking Coast President Alassane triggered "demonstrations request, clearing the way to return to the court if and leaders accused of atroci- Ouattara. of both joy and disapprov- for the men to be released when their presence is re- ties. A small group of support- al" in Abidjan and called once logistical and diplo- quired," Tarfusser said. More than 3,000 people ers of the two men drank for calm. The administra- matic formalities are com- Gbagbo was the first for- were killed in late 2010 and Champagne and flashed tion was thinking of the vic- pleted. mer president to go on trial early 2011 in violence that victory signs outside the tims "and assures them of "Both Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. at the global court and his erupted after Gbagbo re- court after the ruling. its support," Toure said in a Ble Goude have recog- case was seen as a mile- fused to accept defeat by One of Gbagbo's daugh- statement.q Sweden nears end of political deadlock; Lofven may stay PM By JAN M. OLSEN welcoming to migrants Associated Press and refugees for decades. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Many Swedes have long (AP) — Caretaker Prime cherished humanitarian Minister Stefan Lofven of values as a centerpiece of Sweden moved a step their national identity. closer to forming a center- In 2015, Sweden took in a left governing coalition af- record 163,000 migrants ter a small left-wing party — the highest per capita on Wednesday cleared the of any European country. path for him to serve a sec- Since then, the country ond term. has sharply restricted immi- The move could end a four- gration, but many Swedes month deadlock to form a complain that society can- coalition in Sweden. not cope with integrating Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven attends a press conference after his meeting with the Two center-right parties al- so many newcomers, many Speaker of the parliament Andreas Norlen, in Stockholm, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. ready have agreed to ab- Associated Press of them Muslims from Africa stain from voting against and the Middle East. Lofven in Friday's ballot in ocrats party majority is 175 seats. ate with the Sweden's third- The center-right opposition parliament on whether he In Sweden, a prime minis- Parliament Speaker An- largest party, which made was left fuming by Wednes- should be Sweden's next ter can govern as long as dreas Norlen on Wednes- great strides in the Sept. 9 day's move. prime minister, leading a there is no majority against day nominated Lofven for national election. "It seems Sweden will get Social Democrat-led minor- him or her. Friday's vote, after which The emergence of Swe- a new left-leaning govern- ity government likely with Wednesday's develop- Lofven likely will present his den Democrats, which has ment," said Ulf Kristersson, the left-leaning Greens. ment means three parties government. worked to moderate its im- leader of the country's sec- Jonas Sjostedt of the small will abstain from voting Swedish politicians are try- age in past years, reflects ond-largest party, the Mod- Left Party said it also would against Lofven and two — ing to form a government how deeply Sweden is be- erates, which now would abstain, saying the alter- his own Social Democrats without the Sweden Demo- ing transformed by migra- be in opposition. "It is an native would have been and the Greens — will vote crats, which has neo-Nazi tion. absurd coalition, because a center-right government for him. This gives Lofven roots. Both the center-left The largest of the Scandi- the Center Party and the backed by the right-wing, 195 lawmakers in the 349- and the center-right blocs navian countries, with 10 Liberals have been tricked anti-migrant Sweden Dem- seat Riksdagen, where a have refused to cooper- million people, has been into a government."q A10 WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 US military says service members killed in Syria blast BEIRUT (AP) — A number of began pulling out equip- U.S. troops were killed in an ment from the northeast explosion while conduct- into neighboring Iraq. No ing a routine patrol in Syria troops are known to have on Wednesday, the U.S. withdrawn yet. military said, an attack that Manbij is highly strategic: came less than a month It is the main town on the after U.S. President Donald westernmost edge of Syr- Trump announced his in- ian territory held by the tention to withdraw troops U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, from the war torn country. running along the border The Islamic State group with Turkey. Mixed Kurdish- claimed responsibility for Arab Syrian forces liber- the morning attack, which ated Manbij from the rule local groups said killed 16 of the Islamic State group people in the U.S.-patrolled in 2016 with help from the town of Manbij. U.S.-led coalition. But Kurd- The claim calls into ques- ish control of the town infu- tion Trump's claim that IS riated Turkey, which views This frame grab from video provided by Hawar News, ANHA, the news agency for the semi-au- has been defeated in Syria the main U.S. Kurdish ally, tonomous Kurdish areas in Syria, shows a damaged restaurant where an explosion occurred, in — his stated reason for pull- Manbij, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. the YPG militia, as "terrorists" ing 2,000 American troops Associated Press linked to Kurdish insurgents out of the country. on its own soil. "We have defeated ISIS after the U.S. military an- and others running for cov- fuel even more violence. It The town has been at the in Syria, my only reason nounced that American er as the blast went off. also led to the resignation center of tensions in north- for being there during the soldiers were among those Trump's shifting timeta- of Secretary of Defense Jim ern Syria, with the militaries Trump Presidency," Trump killed in Manbij. ble for pulling U.S. troops Mattis. of two NATO members, the tweeted in December in Video released by local ac- out of Syria, a country he Since then, U.S. officials U.S. and Turkey, on oppos- announcing his intention tivists and news agencies described as "sand and and Trump himself have ing sides. to bring back U.S. troops showed a restaurant that death," has left allies and suggested the withdrawal The two sides began joint "NOW." suffered extensive damage other players in the region would be slower than ini- patrols around Manbij in Vice President Mike Pence and a street covered with confused and jockeying for tially believed. White House November as part of an repeated the claim debris and blood. Several influence over a withdraw- national security adviser agreement for easing ten- Wednesday, saying the cars were also damaged. al strategy that appeared John Bolton said two condi- sions between the two al- Islamic State "caliphate Another video showed a to be a work in progress. tions would have to be met, lies. has crumbled" and the helicopter flying over the Critics have said a pullout including the protection of The crowded terrain has militant network "has been area. was premature, that IS was America's local Kurdish al- become more combus- defeated." His comments A security camera showed still not defeated and a lies in northern Syria, and tible as Turkey threatens to in a speech at the State a busy street, and then a withdrawal could lead to a the total defeat of IS. attack Kurdish-run towns Department came shortly ball of fire engulfing people power vacuum that would Last week, the U.S. military further east.q Weather front brings sandstorms, hail, rain to Middle East Associated Press links Beirut with Damascus. in the region in late win- CAIRO (AP) — A harsh Schools were closed all ter and early spring and weather front brought over the country Wednes- Egypt's Meteorological sandstorms, hail and rain day because of the storm, Commission urged caution to parts of the Middle East the second heavy storm but did not advise anyone on Wednesday, with vis- to hit the Mediterranean to change their daily rou- ibility down in the Egyptian country this month. tines. Jerusalem braced for capital as an orange cloud The first storm had a devas- its first snow storm in years, of dust blocked out the sky tating effect on thousands with police preparing to and pedestrians covered of refugees living in tents in shut down major highways their faces from the wind eastern Lebanon's Bekaa and many local schools gusts. valley and areas in the and universities said they The winter's first snow fell on country's north, displacing would close early. the Syrian capital Damas- many whose shelters were High desert winds swept cus by evening, after a day either flooded or destroyed through Israel, the West of heavy rain and strong by snow. Bank and Gaza, carrying Vehicles drive during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, winds. All ports on the Syr- In Cairo, winds reached sand and dust, while snow Jan. 16, 2019 as a thick sandstorm cloaked parts of the Middle ian coast were closed due over 50 kilometers per hour was already falling in Is- East. to the prevailing weather Associated Press (30 mph), bending palm rael's mountainous north, conditions. trees along the Nile River, where torrential rain and The state-run news agency the Damascus countryside snow was expected later in while in Libya rain, wind hail stranded some cars said high waves in Tartous closed. the day in Jerusalem. and cold weather was driv- and turned streets into riv- caused damage to the Dusty winds whipped Lebanon was also bat- ing increased demand for ers of mud. coastal city's seaside cor- through Israel and the West tered by a storm packing electricity that overloaded In Gaza, fishermen returned niche. Damascus University Bank as well, with hail fall- rain and snow that cut off the electricity grids and led to port and docked their postponed mid-term ex- ing near Tel Aviv and mete- major mountain roads, in- to power outages. boats to protect against ams and some schools in orologists announcing that cluding the highway that Sandstorms are common the stormy sea.q

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Rum & Cigars Thursday January 17, 2019 T: 582-7800 | F: 582-7044 www.arubatoday.com Page 13 AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr Wrecks seen as wildfire areas brace for big California storm SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — tain regions this week, but Days of rain and snow the latest storm could be across California have the strongest that North- snarled rush-hour com- ern California has seen so mutes and triggered dead- far this year. "A powerful ly wrecks on slick roads Pacific storm will hammer even before the most in- the West Coast into Friday tense storm hits Wednes- with strong winds, heavy day, with wildfire-ravished rain and heavy mountain communities bracing for snow," the National Weath- dangerous mudslides and er Service said. "Heavy rain mountain residents facing will bring a threat of flash a "potentially life-threaten- flooding along recent burn ing" blizzard. scars while blizzard condi- A Caltrans worker covers spilled fuel and liquids with absorbent while cleaning up after a multi- A series of storms dropped tions are expected" in the car collision along a foggy Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass near Hesperia Calif., Wednesday Jan. rain up and down the Sierra Nevada. 16, 2019. state and snow in moun- Continued on Page 3 Associated Press A2 UP FRONT Thursday 17 January 2019 Syria attack kills 4 Americans, complicates withdrawal plan By LOLITA BALDOR and been defeated and he to adjust the timeline, and BASSEM MROUE was pulling out U.S. forces. U.S. officials have suggest- WASHINGTON (AP) — A sui- The attack in the strategic ed it will likely take several cide bombing claimed by northeastern town of Man- months to safely withdraw the Islamic State killed at bij highlighted the threat American forces from Syria. least 16 people, including posed by the Islamic State Not long after the attack two U.S. service members group despite Trump's on Wednesday, Vice Presi- Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan speaks at the and two American civil- claims. It could also compli- dent Mike Pence repeated beginning of a meeting with Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi ians, in northern Syria on cate what had already be- claims of the Islamic State's Iwaya at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, about U.S. Wednesday, just a month come a messy withdrawal defeat. Speaking at the troops killed in an explosion while conducting a routine patrol after President Donald plan, with the president's State Department, Pence in Syria. Trump declared that IS had senior advisers disagreeing said the "caliphate has Associated Press with the decision and then crumbled" and the militant offering an evolving time- network "has been defeat- table for the removal of the ed." Later in the day he approximately 2,000 U.S. released a statement con- troops. demning the attack but The attack, which also affirming the withdrawal wounded three U.S. troops, plan. was the deadliest assault "As we begin to bring our on U.S. troops in Syria since troops home, the Ameri- American forces went into can people can be as- the country in 2015. sured, for the sake of our The dead included a num- soldiers, their families, and ber of fighters with the Syr- our nation, we will never al- ian Democratic Forces, low the remnants of ISIS to who have fought alongside re-establish their evil and the Americans against the murderous caliphate - not Islamic State, according to now, not ever." officials and the U.K.-based Others, however, immedi- Syrian Observatory for Hu- ately pointed to the attack man Rights. as a reason to reverse or U.S. Central Command adjust the withdrawal plan. said one of the civilians Sen. Lindsey Graham, a killed was a Defense De- Trump backer and promi- partment employee and nent voice on foreign af- the other was a contractor. fairs on Capitol Hill, said The attack prompted new during a committee hear- complaints about the with- ing Wednesday he is con- drawal and underscored cerned that Trump's with- Pentagon assertions that IS drawal announcement is still a threat and capable had emboldened the Is- of deadly attacks. lamic State and creating In a Dec. 19 tweet an- dangerous uncertainty for nouncing the withdrawal, American allies. Trump said, "We have de- "I know people are frustrat- feated ISIS in Syria, my only ed, but we're never going reason for being there dur- to be safe here unless we ing the Trump Presidency." are willing to help people He said the troops would over there who will stand begin coming home "now." up against this radical ide- That plan triggered imme- ology," he said. diate pushback from mili- Manbij is the main town on tary leaders, including the the westernmost edge of resignation of the defense Syrian territory held by the secretary. Over the past U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, month, however, Trump running along the border and others have appeared with Turkey. q U.S. NEWS A3 Thursday 17 January 2019 CALIFORNIA STORM ifornia roadways. of neighboring Ventura Continued from Front Three people, including County. Both were affect- Authorities in areas re- an infant, were killed Tues- ed by a November fire that cently scarred by wildfires day night when their car destroyed more than 1,500 fear small rivers and creeks spun out on a freeway in homes and killed four peo- flooding their banks and Placerville, about 130 miles ple. causing massive mudslides, (202 kilometers) east of San Paul Manion was busy filling further damaging commu- Francisco. The California sandbags in the commu- nities struggling to recover Highway Patrol blamed the nity of Bell Canyon. from a historically bad fire wreck on high speed and "It's something we have season. rain-slickened roads. to do. I mean, if the water The blazes stripped hillsides Fog on a mountain high- comes, it comes," Manion of trees and other vegeta- way in Southern Califor- told KABC-TV. "Everything tion that stabilize soil and nia triggered a 19-vehicle around our house burned. prevent mudslides, put- crash Wednesday. Thirty- All the houses around our Heavy tow trucks arrive to remove trucks following a multi-car ting at risk thousands of five people were evaluat- house burned. But it's the collision along foggy Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass near Hespe- people living in foothill and ed for injuries after the pile- hillsides that we're worried ria Calif., Wednesday Jan. 16, 2019. canyon areas devastated up on Interstate 15 in Cajon about." Associated Press by wildfires. That includes Pass, but most declined to Others refused to leave af- the Northern California re- be taken to hospitals, the ter authorities went door to Beaver Valenzuela said was more immediate. gion where a November San Bernardino County Fire door at the high-risk Para- he's survived fiercer storms "I'm not going anywhere," fire killed 86 people and Department said. dise Cove mobile home and wouldn't leave until he he told the Los Angeles destroyed nearly 15,000 A mudslide on a major park in Malibu. was convinced the danger news station.q homes. Northern California free- "If flooding occurs, this can way just north of the Gold- quickly become a danger- en Gate Bridge snarled the ous and life-threatening morning commute. The situation," the Butte County slide closed southbound Sheriff's Office said. Highway 101 across the Authorities told residents of bridge for about an hour, Pulga to prepare to flee shutting off the only direct their canyon community access to San Francisco for that neighbors the town of drivers north of the city. Paradise, which was virtu- In the mountainous com- ally incinerated two months munity of Truckee where it ago by the Camp Fire. snowed Tuesday, residents A blizzard warning covered were preparing for another the Sierra Nevada and storm by clearing drive- Lake Tahoe regions, where ways and buying wood as much as 5 feet (1.5 me- and food in case they have ters) of snow was expect- to stay inside. ed. "It took my husband an The San Francisco Bay Area hour to get to Safeway was forecast to see heavy last week because there rain, and residents were were so many people and warned to watch for flash no one could get home," floods through the end of Whitby Bierwolf told the the week. Sacramento television sta- The Sacramento area tion KCRA. "You just need faced flood and high wind to have an alternate plan watches, with gusts that and have enough stuff in could lead to power out- your car because acci- ages, downed trees and dents happen." tough driving conditions. In the south, some evacu- Even before the worst of ation orders were in place this week's storms hit, con- in the Malibu area west ditions deteriorated on Cal- of Los Angeles and parts A4 U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 Democrats hit Trump EPA nominee on coal lobbying, rollbacks By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Wheeler accompanied Associated Press Murray to a March 2017 WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- meeting to pitch Murray's dent Donald Trump's nomi- list of desired rule rollbacks nee to lead the Environ- and other breaks for coal mental Protection Agency to Energy Secretary Rick on Wednesday called cli- Perry. mate change "a huge is- Wheeler told senators that sue" but not the "greatest his main work for Murray crisis" and drew fire from had been on health ben- Democrats at his confirma- efits and pensions. tion hearing over the regu- "I did not work on the plan. latory rollbacks he's made I do not have a copy of it. I in six months as the agen- saw it briefly," Wheeler said, cy's acting administrator. referring to Murray's wish Republicans on the GOP- list. majority Senate Environ- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, ment and Public Works D-R.I., displayed a blown- Committee mostly had up version of a photo taken praise for Andrew Wheel- of the meeting with Perry, er, who has served as the showing Wheeler at Mur- agency's acting head since ray's side. Scott Pruitt's resignation in A second photo showed July amid ethics scandals. Murray's rollback plan in Andrew Wheeler arrives to testify at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing The committee chairman, Wheeler's hands. to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Murray had sought some Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. called Wheeler "very well- Associated Press of the coal breaks that the qualified" to take the job. EPA under Wheeler has But Democrats pressed did not identify, had con- globally." changing fossil fuel emis- since acted on. Wheeler about his work as cluded that those rollbacks Wheeler told lawmakers sions. That included Wheeler a lobbyist helping an influ- would ultimately lead to that he had yet to read a Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and signing a rule easing fed- ential coal magnate meet health gains. Environmen- massive government cli- other Republican lawmak- eral regulation of toxic coal with Trump administration tal groups and formal as- mate change report re- ers, by contrast, praised ash, redoing an Obama officials before his nomi- sessments from the EPA leased late last year that Wheeler for a move to re- rule that pushed electric- nation to the EPA and his and other agencies have emphasized man-made move federal protections ity providers to move away moves on deregulation contested that, saying the climate change was al- for millions of miles of wet- from dirtier-burning coal and on what they said was changes would increase ready underway. lands and waterways and plants and targeting an his inattention to the grow- pollution and increase Wheeler said he had re- other proposals. Repub- Obama rule limiting emis- ing dangers of climate harm to people and the cli- ceived one staff briefing so lican lawmakers said the sions of toxic mercury from change. mate. far on the climate change protections had burdened coal plants. "You seem to be consistent- Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., report. The work of the EPA farmers and others. A watchdog group, Citi- ly doing things that under- said the rollbacks in car and other government The grandson of a coal zens for Responsibility and mine the health and safety mileage standards and tox- agencies, the report stress- miner, Wheeler worked for Ethics in Washington, filed of this nation," Sen. Ed Mar- ic mercury emissions under es the massive economic the EPA in the 1990s and an ethics complaint Tues- key, D-Mass., told Wheeler. Wheeler were examples of toll expected from increas- later as a longtime Republi- day with the EPA's Office Markey asked him why he unsafe deregulation and ingly severe wildfires, hur- can Senate staffer. of the Inspector General al- was pulling back on regu- went beyond what indus- ricanes and other extreme Democrats pressed Wheel- leging that Wheeler's over- lations that proponents say tries themselves wanted. weather under climate er about his lobbying be- sight of those and other protect human health and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., change. fore joining the EPA, saying rollback proposals at EPA the environment. noted Wheeler had failed Wheeler said the news me- his work for coal compa- may have violated his gov- "I believe we are moving to mention climate change dia had seized upon "worst- nies should disqualify him ernment ethics pledge to forward" on protections, in his initial remarks to law- case scenarios" of the cli- from leading an agency abstain from regulatory de- Wheeler responded. makers. mate report. that regulates coal. cisions affecting his former Wheeler cited changes he "Do you agree that climate "You are a former coal in- Wheeler's lobbying clients lobbying client for at least had initiated to roll back fu- change is a global crisis?" dustry lobbyist that is sitting included coal magnate two years. ture mileage standards for Sanders asked, shouting at here," Markey responded. Bob Murray, who pushed EPA spokesman John cars and autos and to ease times. "That's the worst-case sce- hard on the Trump adminis- Konkus called the accusa- Obama-era clampdowns "I would not call it the great- nario, what you are pro- tration after the 2016 elec- tion "baseless" and "wrong" on dirtier-burning coal-fired est crisis," Wheeler said. "I posing here" for easing tions to grant a series of and said Wheeler works power plants. would call it a huge issue Obama-era rules meant to breaks for the sagging do- with EPA ethics officials and He said EPA staff, whom he that has to be addressed clamp down on climate- mestic coal industry. follows their guidance.q U.S. NEWS A5 Thursday 17 January 2019 3 months after deadly N.Y. crash, NTSB has yet to inspect limo By MARY ESCH ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — More than three months after 20 people died in a stretch lim- ousine crash in rural upstate New York, federal safety in- vestigators have yet to get their hands on the most crucial piece of evidence: the wrecked vehicle itself. The National Transporta- tion Safety Board says it has been blocked from getting within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the limo involved in the nation's deadliest transpor- tation accident in nearly a decade because local prosecutors say they have priority as part of their crimi- nal case against the limo company's operator. Most major NTSB probes would have produced a This Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, shows the wreckage of a limousine, partially hidden in the woods, fol- preliminary report by this lowing a fatal crash in Schoharie, N.Y. point, potentially resulting Associated Press in key safety recommenda- tions. But for now, the bat- cause they're not robust Mallery, who has declined necessary to fulfill its obli- tered white limo involved enough to stop the vehicle numerous requests for gations." To break the im- in the Oct. 6 crash in Scho- fully loaded." comment, told Silbaugh in passe, he suggested NTSB harie County sits beneath The 2001 Ford Excursion that a Dec. 19 letter that "your propose language to be a state police tent near Al- was modified into a stretch investigators have been added to the search war- bany while the NTSB seeks a limo blew through a stop given at least three lengthy rant, and gave defense judge's intervention to gain sign at a T-intersection and opportunities to view the counsel and the district at- access. crashed beside a country limousine." She said state torney until Wednesday to In increasingly exasperated store, killing the driver, 17 police and her office were submit any opposition. exchanges, NTSB lawyer passengers on a birthday obliged to maintain the Such friction between a Kathleen Silbaugh com- outing, and two pedestri- chain of custody and the criminal prosecutor and plained that the local pros- ans. The vehicle had failed integrity of evidence. federal safety investiga- ecutor has refused to even a state inspection that ex- In a Jan. 7 letter request- tors is unusual, said Jim Hall, discuss the federal board's amined such things as the ing the intervention of who was NTSB chairman jurisdiction in this matter chassis, suspension and Schoharie County Judge under during the Clinton and even hung up on a re- brakes. George Bartlett III, Silbaugh administration. While the cent phone call when the Prosecutors allege the said federal inspectors had criminal investigation does issue came up. Silbaugh limousine company's op- been allowed to view the have precedence, he said, also expressed concern erator, Nauman Hussain, vehicle from no closer than it's in the public interest that that the prolonged delay allowed an improperly li- 15 feet (4.5 meters). She the federal safety investi- may have already caused censed driver to operate urged the judge to deny gation move forward with- "safety-critical" evidence to an "unserviceable" vehicle Mallery's request for a sup- out delay. be lost. and have charged him plemental search warrant "There are a number of The NTSB said in a state- with criminally negligent allowing removal of the these specially modified ment that if a deal can be homicide. He has pleaded vehicle's transmission and vehicles operating. Having worked out, it will immedi- not guilty to the charge torque converter, saying to an opportunity to have a ately send two investiga- and remains free on bail. do so before the NTSB com- national focus on this ac- tors for a limited time to do His lawyer has said investi- pletes its initial inspection cident is extremely impor- "targeted work permissible" gators rushed to judgment . "will impact our ability to tant," Hall said. under the partial govern- Silbaugh wrote in a letter to determine the vehicle's role On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew ment shutdown. Schoharie County District in the probable cause of Cuomo proposed ban- "It's unfortunate," said Pe- Attorney Susan Mallery in the crash and to propose ning vehicles remanufac- ter Goelz, a former NTSB December that because safety recommendations." tured into stretch limousines managing director who of the delay federal inves- On Jan. 9, Bartlett wrote from operating in New York now works for a Washing- tigators may no longer be that NTSB's work doesn't re- state. The Democrat also ton, D.C., consulting firm. able to evaluate corrosion, quire court permission on proposed reforms, includ- "They might have made a which is critical when look- a search warrant and that ing prohibiting U-turns for recommendation, like re- ing at the brakes, or the "until the recent kerfuffle, larger vehicles and elimi- place the braking systems status of the vehicle's elec- this court had no reason nating the seatbelt exemp- in vehicles that have been trical system at the time of to believe that the NTSB tion for limos, buses and modified in this manner be- the crash. was not given the access taxis.q A6 U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 American anchor for Iranian TV is arrested on visit to U.S. By JANET McCONNAUGHEY relies on it when they need it is holding U.S. Navy vet- Associated Press a reason to arrest some- eran Michael R. White at NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A body but they don't have a prison, making him the prominent American an- one." first American known to be chorwoman on Iranian No matter the reason for detained under President state television has been Marzieh Hashemi's deten- Donald Trump's administra- arrested by the FBI during a tion, she should have been tion. visit to the U.S., the broad- granted a court appear- Iranian Foreign Minis- caster reported Wednes- ance by now, Bascuas said. try spokesman Bahram day, and her son said she She apparently was unable Ghasemi told state TV that was being held in a prison, to call her daughter until Hashemi's arrest indicates apparently as a material Tuesday night. The family the "apartheid and racist witness.Marzieh Hashemi, is trying to hire an attorney, policy" of the Trump admin- who worked for the net- but it has been difficult be- istration. work's English-language cause she has not been "We hope that the inno- service, was detained in charged with a crime, her cent person will be re- St. Louis, where she had son said. leased without any condi- filmed a Black Lives Matter Iran's state broadcaster tion," Ghasemi said. documentary after visiting held a news conference At least four other Ameri- relatives in the New Orleans and launched a hashtag can citizens are being held area. She was then taken campaign for Hashemi, us- in Iran, including Iranian- to Washington, according ing the same techniques American Siamak Namazi to her elder son, Hossein families with loved ones and his 82-year-old fa- Hashemi. held in the Islamic Republic ther, Baquer, both serv- The FBI said in an email that use to highlight their cases. ing 10-year sentences on it had no comment on the "We will not spare any le- espionage charges. Ira- arrest of the woman who gal action" to help her, nian-American art dealer was born Melanie Franklin said Paiman Jebeli, depu- Karan Vafadari and his In this undated photo provided by Iranian state television's Eng- in New Orleans and has ty chief of Iran's state IRIB Iranian wife, Afarin Neys- lish-language service, Press TV, American-born news anchor worked for Iran's state tele- broadcaster. Iran's Press sari, received 27-year and Marzieh Hashemi, right, smiles as she stands with her son in Teh- vision network for 25 years. TV aired footage of her 16-year prison sentences, ran, Iran. Hossein Hashemi said his Associated Press anchoring news programs respectively. mother lives in Tehran and and discussing the war in Chinese-American gradu- comes back to this country ers. had been involved in any Syria, set to dramatic mu- ate student Xiyue Wang about once a year to see Federal law allows judges criminal activity or knew sic. was sentenced to 10 year her family, usually sched- to order witnesses to be ar- anyone who might be im- There were no references in prison. uling documentary work rested and detained if the plicated in a crime, Hash- to any case against Hash- Also in an Iranian prison is somewhere in the U.S. as government can prove emi said, "We don't have emi in U.S. federal courts, Nizar Zakka, a permanent well. their testimony has extraor- any information along nor in Missouri. U.S. resident from Lebanon "We still have no idea what's dinary value for a criminal those lines." Hashemi describes her- who advocated for inter- going on," said Hashemi, a case and that they would Hashemi said his mother self online as having stud- net freedom and has done research fellow at the Uni- be a flight risk and unlikely was arrested as she was ied journalism at Louisiana work for the U.S. govern- versity of Colorado who to respond to a subpoena. about to board a flight State University in Baton ment. He was sentenced was interviewed by phone The statute generally re- from St. Louis to Denver. Rouge. She converted to to 10 years on espionage- from Washington. He also quires those witnesses to A spokesman for St. Louis Islam in 1982 at age 22 af- related charges. said he and his siblings had be promptly released once Lambert International Air- ter meeting Iranian activist Former FBI agent Robert been subpoenaed to ap- they are deposed. port declined to comment students in Denver. Levinson, who vanished pear before a grand jury. Marzieh Hashemi, an Amer- and referred questions to She married a man she met in Iran in 2007 while on an The incident comes as Iran ican citizen, had not been the FBI. while in journalism school. unauthorized CIA mission, faces increasing criticism of contacted by the FBI be- The constitutionality of the They had two sons and a remains missing as well. Iran its own arrests of dual citi- fore she was detained and material witness law has daughter. Her husband says that Levinson is not zens and other people with would "absolutely" have "never been meaningfully is dead, said Hashemi's in the country and that it Western ties. Those cases been willing to cooperate tested," said Ricardo J. Bas- brother, Milton Leroy Frank- has no further information have previously been used with the agency, her son cuas, a professor at the Uni- lin of the New Orleans sub- about him. His family holds as bargaining chips in ne- said. versity of Miami School of urb of Metairie. Tehran responsible for his gotiations with world pow- Asked whether his mother Law. "The government only Last week, Iran confirmed disappearance.q U.S. NEWS A7 Thursday 17 January 2019 Rallies call for release of detained immigration activist By PHILIP MARCELO He had been a prominent Associated Press voice at immigration ral- BOSTON (AP) — Rallies at lies and marches in Mas- federal immigration offices sachusetts in recent years, across the country Wednes- sharing his experience as day called for the release a college student without of Eduardo Samaniego, an proper legal documents. immigration activist from Last year, Samaniego Massachusetts facing de- marched 250 miles (402 ki- portation. lometers) from New York to In New York City, Los Angles, Washington, D.C., with 10 Boston, Springfield, Mas- others to call for passage sachusetts, and Hartford, of the DREAM Act, federal Connecticut, small crowds legislation that would have of supporters held signs protected certain young saying "Free Eduardo Now" immigrants living in the and chanted and banged country illegally from de- drums as they delivered portation. petitions to officials at the During his arrest in October, federal offices. A prayer Samaniego told police he'd vigil is planned Thursday in gone for a long run without Atlanta outside the immi- his phone or wallet and gration court where the 26- had hopped in the cab be- year old native of Mexico's cause he didn't know how Supporters of immigrant rights Eduardo Samaniego gathered to present a petition with 9,000 sig- fate may be decided. to get home, according to natures asking for his release to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office Wednes- "Eduardo gave all his heart the police report. He told day, Jan. 16, 2019, in Springfield, Mass. and all his effort fighting for officers he'd moved from Associated Press the rights of immigrants, so Massachusetts about five it's important that he gets weeks prior. positive solution we can ex- jected to harassment and spond to emails seeking the same support that he Prosecutors ultimately de- pect," she said. "His options abuse during his detention. comment. gave to others," his moth- clined to pursue charges under our current immigra- His mother said the experi- In court Thursday, Ghalib er, Maricela Samaniego, after Samaniego paid the tion laws are extremely lim- ence has exacerbated the says she'll seek a special said by phone prior to the fare, according to court re- ited." post-traumatic stress, de- hearing to consider her events. "It gives him hope cords. Supporters, led by the Pio- pression and anxiety he's client's competency. He and gives me hope." But Samaniego still faces neer Valley Workers Cen- struggled with since a 2015 is being transferred to a Samaniego has been in deportation because he ter, complain Samaniego natural gas explosion left psychiatric hospital in Co- federal custody since Oc- overstayed a six-month is being targeted because him badly burned. lombia, South Carolina, this tober, when he was ar- tourist visa granted in 2009, of his advocacy. They Officials at the Irwin Coun- week, she said. rested for failing to pay a said his lawyer, Hiba Ghal- say his deportation is be- ty Detention Facility in A judge last month denied $27 taxi fare in a suburb of ib. ing "fast-tracked" and that Ocilla, Georgia, where Sa- Samaniego's request to be Atlanta and found to have "This is a difficult situation he's been placed in soli- maniego has been held released until his immigra- overstayed his visa. because there is no real tary confinement and sub- in recent weeks, didn't re- tion case is decided.q Pennsylvania sued over limits on state coverage of abortion HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — That court upheld Pennsyl- on the use of federal Med- carry an unwanted preg- to mount a legal defense The operators of 15 abor- vania's ban on the use of icaid dollars. nancy to term. Carrying of Pennsylvania's law. tion clinics sued Pennsylva- state dollars for abortion, Sixteen other states allow to term against a woman's In 1985, as now, the state nia on Wednesday in a bid except in cases of rape, public dollars to cover will could worsen her pre- Supreme Court had a to persuade state courts to incest or to save the life of abortions beyond those existing health conditions Democratic majority. How- reverse a decades-old de- the mother. exceptions, according to or interfere with her job ever, at that time, the en- cision upholding limits on "What's different is the law's the Guttmacher Institute, prospects or education, tire seven-member high the use of state Medicaid evolved," said Susan Fri- a policy and research or- the lawsuit argues. court was all men. Now, it dollars to cover abortions. etsche, the senior staff at- ganization that supports Gov. Tom Wolf's office de- has three women on it. The lawsuit, filed in Com- torney at the Women's Law abortion rights. clined comment. Wolf, a The court's 1985 ruling monwealth Court, seeks Project, a Pennsylvania- Some other states' courts Democrat whose adminis- found that the state had a an order requiring the based public interest law have ruled that denying tration oversees Pennsylva- legitimate "interest in pre- state's Medicaid program center. "Other states have Medicaid coverage for nia's $31 billion Medicaid serving potential life" by to begin covering abor- gone a different way that abortions is a form of sex program, supports abor- limiting Medicaid's cover- tions, without restriction, makes more sense and we discrimination, Frietsche tion rights. age of abortions and was and contends that Penn- have now got some em- said, while the court's inter- Leaders of the Legisla- not interfering with a wom- sylvania's 1982 law violates pirical evidence that we pretation of Pennsylvania's ture's Republican majori- an's right to an abortion. the constitutional equal didn't have in 1985. People protections against sex dis- ties stayed silent about the It also rejected the argu- protection rights of low-in- have studied what hap- crimination has evolved. lawsuit Wednesday. The ment that the limits vio- come women. pens to low-income wom- The lawsuit filed Wednes- state Legislature has voted lated a constitution provi- The abortion clinics cite en who are deprived of day contends that deny- solidly in favor of anti-abor- sion protecting equal rights the same state constitu- access to abortion and it ing Medicaid coverage tion legislation in recent on the basis of sex, saying tional provisions as the law- is devastating to their lives." of an abortion forces low- years and, given Wolf's that "there are certain laws suit decided by the state Pennsylvania's law is nearly income women to put off support for abortion rights, which necessarily will only Supreme Court in 1985. identical to federal limits basic needs to pay for it or it may be up to lawmakers affect one sex."q A8 WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 World Economic Forum warns of impact of global tensions By PAN PYLAS The report, which is based LONDON (AP) — Interna- on the views of around tional tensions and na- 1,000 experts and deci- tionalist politics can fur- sion-makers from around ther weigh on the global the world, found that 88 economy this year and percent of respondents hinder efforts to deal with expect a "further erosion" big issues such as climate of global trading rules and change, the organizers of agreements that will hold next week's Davos forum back growth. warned Wednesday. The U.S.-China relations will In its annual Global Risks be one of the main talking Report, the World Eco- points at next week's gath- nomic Forum said the world ering in Davos, with a num- is evolving into "a period ber of high level represen- of divergence following a tatives from each side due period of globalization." to attend, including U.S. A "darkening" economic Treasury Secretary Steven outlook, in part fostered Mnuchin and China's vice by geopolitical tensions president, Wang Qishan. between the United States Britain's upcoming exit from and China, "looks set to fur- the European Union will be ther reduce the potential another key issue after Brit- The congress centre, venue for the World Economic Forum, is covered with snow in Davos, Swit- for international coopera- ish lawmakers overwhelm- zerland, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. tion in 2019," it said. Associated Press ingly rejected the Brexit "With global trade and deal Prime Minister Theresa economic growth at risk in rum, which hosts an annual current dynamics might Much of that has been May had negotiated with 2019, there is a more urgent gathering of business and lead us towards." blamed on the standoff the EU. need than ever to renew political leaders in the Swiss In 2018, the global econo- between the U.S. and Chi- The 2016 vote to leave the the architecture of inter- ski resort of Davos. my slowed more than most na over trade that has led EU had been driven in large national cooperation," said "We simply do not have the experts had predicted and to both sides imposing tar- part by a belief that Brexit Borge Brende, President of gunpowder to deal with stock markets posted their iffs on hundreds of billions would restore decision- the World Economic Fo- the kind of slowdown that worst year in a decade. worth of goods. making powers to Britain. q Greek PM survives confidence vote after coalition collapse By DEREK GATOPOULOS ras and Macedonian Prime NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Minister Zoran Zaev agreed ATHENS, Greece (AP) — to in June. Russia remains Greece's left-wing prime strongly opposed to the minister narrowly won a prospect of Macedonia's confidence vote in parlia- NATO membership. ment late Wednesday days Tsipras has strongly defend- after the governing coali- ed his efforts to end the tion he leads collapsed 27-year dispute with Mace- over an agreement to end donia over that country's a long-running dispute over name, which Greece long neighboring Macedonia's argued implied designs on name. its own Macedonia and on Lawmakers voted 151- Greek cultural heritage. 148 on a motion called by Tsipras had said he would Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, seek to get the Greek par- giving his government the liament's approval of the minimum it needed in the name-change deal soon 300-seat legislature to sur- after the confidence vote. vive. During a heated de- Hardliners in both countries bate earlier in the day, Tsip- claim the deal conceded ras argued the Macedonia too much to the other side. deal would bolster stability But Greek government offi- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, delivers his speech during a parliamentary session in Athens, in Europe's Balkan region. cials say they are optimistic on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. "At the critical times, we all Associated Press the agreement will be rati- must have a clear position," fied in Athens even though he said before the vote, Kammenos, quit as de- Greece lifting its objections and opposition dissenters, most opposition parties re- which coincided with the fense minister in Tsipras' to its young northern neigh- they gave the 44-year-old ject it. one British leader Theresa government last weekend bor joining NATO and the Tsipras six votes from out- In Greece, sentiment is par- May won over her Brexit over the proposed agree- European Union. side his party, allowing him ticularly high in the north- deal with the European ment with Macedonia. The Several members of Kam- to remain in power. His term ern Macedonia province, Union. deal calls for the country to menos' party voted to ends in October. where opponents say their The leader of a small Greek be renamed North Mace- support the government. Greece's western allies also regional identity and heri- nationalist party, Panos donia in exchange for Along with independents strongly back the deal Tsip- tage is being signed away. WORLD NEWS A9 Thursday 17 January 2019 ICC judges say Gbagbo should be released following acquittal By MIKE CORDER ters, Marie Laurence Gbag- Associated Press bo, was among those cel- THE HAGUE, Netherlands ebrating. "We are really (AP) — International Crimi- proud," she said. "Justice nal Court judges said prevailed, the truth came Wednesday that former out and he's coming out Ivory Coast President Lau- the right way." rent Gbagbo and a former Judges first ordered the government minister should men's release Tuesday af- be released immediately ter acquitting them on following their acquittal on charges of crimes against charges of involvement in humanity including murder, deadly post-election vio- rape and persecution. lence in 2010. Prosecutors can appeal Prosecutors have said they Wednesday's decision, will appeal the acquittals potentially holding up the once judges issue their writ- men's release. ten majority decision clear- Tarfusser said the process ing Gbagbo and Charles of working out the logistics Ble Goude. Prosecutors of freeing Gbagbo and Ble asked judges not to release Goude should give pros- the men or to release them ecutors time to ask the only under strict conditions court's appeals chamber designed to ensure they do to issue a stay of the re- Supporters of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo celebrate outside the International not flee justice. lease order. Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. But Presiding Judge Cuno Associated Press Ivory Coast government Tarfusser said a majority spokesman Sidi Tiemoko of the three-judge panel nized the court's jurisdic- stone in efforts to bring to his rival and current Ivory Toure said the acquittals rejected the prosecution tion and have undertaken justice the highest-ranking Coast President Alassane triggered "demonstrations request, clearing the way to return to the court if and leaders accused of atroci- Ouattara. of both joy and disapprov- for the men to be released when their presence is re- ties. A small group of support- al" in Abidjan and called once logistical and diplo- quired," Tarfusser said. More than 3,000 people ers of the two men drank for calm. The administra- matic formalities are com- Gbagbo was the first for- were killed in late 2010 and Champagne and flashed tion was thinking of the vic- pleted. mer president to go on trial early 2011 in violence that victory signs outside the tims "and assures them of "Both Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. at the global court and his erupted after Gbagbo re- court after the ruling. its support," Toure said in a Ble Goude have recog- case was seen as a mile- fused to accept defeat by One of Gbagbo's daugh- statement.q Sweden nears end of political deadlock; Lofven may stay PM By JAN M. OLSEN welcoming to migrants Associated Press and refugees for decades. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Many Swedes have long (AP) — Caretaker Prime cherished humanitarian Minister Stefan Lofven of values as a centerpiece of Sweden moved a step their national identity. closer to forming a center- In 2015, Sweden took in a left governing coalition af- record 163,000 migrants ter a small left-wing party — the highest per capita on Wednesday cleared the of any European country. path for him to serve a sec- Since then, the country ond term. has sharply restricted immi- The move could end a four- gration, but many Swedes month deadlock to form a complain that society can- coalition in Sweden. not cope with integrating Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven attends a press conference after his meeting with the Two center-right parties al- so many newcomers, many Speaker of the parliament Andreas Norlen, in Stockholm, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. ready have agreed to ab- Associated Press of them Muslims from Africa stain from voting against and the Middle East. Lofven in Friday's ballot in ocrats party majority is 175 seats. ate with the Sweden's third- The center-right opposition parliament on whether he In Sweden, a prime minis- Parliament Speaker An- largest party, which made was left fuming by Wednes- should be Sweden's next ter can govern as long as dreas Norlen on Wednes- great strides in the Sept. 9 day's move. prime minister, leading a there is no majority against day nominated Lofven for national election. "It seems Sweden will get Social Democrat-led minor- him or her. Friday's vote, after which The emergence of Swe- a new left-leaning govern- ity government likely with Wednesday's develop- Lofven likely will present his den Democrats, which has ment," said Ulf Kristersson, the left-leaning Greens. ment means three parties government. worked to moderate its im- leader of the country's sec- Jonas Sjostedt of the small will abstain from voting Swedish politicians are try- age in past years, reflects ond-largest party, the Mod- Left Party said it also would against Lofven and two — ing to form a government how deeply Sweden is be- erates, which now would abstain, saying the alter- his own Social Democrats without the Sweden Demo- ing transformed by migra- be in opposition. "It is an native would have been and the Greens — will vote crats, which has neo-Nazi tion. absurd coalition, because a center-right government for him. This gives Lofven roots. Both the center-left The largest of the Scandi- the Center Party and the backed by the right-wing, 195 lawmakers in the 349- and the center-right blocs navian countries, with 10 Liberals have been tricked anti-migrant Sweden Dem- seat Riksdagen, where a have refused to cooper- million people, has been into a government."q A10 WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 January 2019 US military says service members killed in Syria blast BEIRUT (AP) — A number of began pulling out equip- U.S. troops were killed in an ment from the northeast explosion while conduct- into neighboring Iraq. No ing a routine patrol in Syria troops are known to have on Wednesday, the U.S. withdrawn yet. military said, an attack that Manbij is highly strategic: came less than a month It is the main town on the after U.S. President Donald westernmost edge of Syr- Trump announced his in- ian territory held by the tention to withdraw troops U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, from the war torn country. running along the border The Islamic State group with Turkey. Mixed Kurdish- claimed responsibility for Arab Syrian forces liber- the morning attack, which ated Manbij from the rule local groups said killed 16 of the Islamic State group people in the U.S.-patrolled in 2016 with help from the town of Manbij. U.S.-led coalition. But Kurd- The claim calls into ques- ish control of the town infu- tion Trump's claim that IS riated Turkey, which views This frame grab from video provided by Hawar News, ANHA, the news agency for the semi-au- has been defeated in Syria the main U.S. Kurdish ally, tonomous Kurdish areas in Syria, shows a damaged restaurant where an explosion occurred, in — his stated reason for pull- Manbij, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. the YPG militia, as "terrorists" ing 2,000 American troops Associated Press linked to Kurdish insurgents out of the country. on its own soil. "We have defeated ISIS after the U.S. military an- and others running for cov- fuel even more violence. It The town has been at the in Syria, my only reason nounced that American er as the blast went off. also led to the resignation center of tensions in north- for being there during the soldiers were among those Trump's shifting timeta- of Secretary of Defense Jim ern Syria, with the militaries Trump Presidency," Trump killed in Manbij. ble for pulling U.S. troops Mattis. of two NATO members, the tweeted in December in Video released by local ac- out of Syria, a country he Since then, U.S. officials U.S. and Turkey, on oppos- announcing his intention tivists and news agencies described as "sand and and Trump himself have ing sides. to bring back U.S. troops showed a restaurant that death," has left allies and suggested the withdrawal The two sides began joint "NOW." suffered extensive damage other players in the region would be slower than ini- patrols around Manbij in Vice President Mike Pence and a street covered with confused and jockeying for tially believed. White House November as part of an repeated the claim debris and blood. Several influence over a withdraw- national security adviser agreement for easing ten- Wednesday, saying the cars were also damaged. al strategy that appeared John Bolton said two condi- sions between the two al- Islamic State "caliphate Another video showed a to be a work in progress. tions would have to be met, lies. has crumbled" and the helicopter flying over the Critics have said a pullout including the protection of The crowded terrain has militant network "has been area. was premature, that IS was America's local Kurdish al- become more combus- defeated." His comments A security camera showed still not defeated and a lies in northern Syria, and tible as Turkey threatens to in a speech at the State a busy street, and then a withdrawal could lead to a the total defeat of IS. attack Kurdish-run towns Department came shortly ball of fire engulfing people power vacuum that would Last week, the U.S. military further east.q Weather front brings sandstorms, hail, rain to Middle East Associated Press links Beirut with Damascus. in the region in late win- CAIRO (AP) — A harsh Schools were closed all ter and early spring and weather front brought over the country Wednes- Egypt's Meteorological sandstorms, hail and rain day because of the storm, Commission urged caution to parts of the Middle East the second heavy storm but did not advise anyone on Wednesday, with vis- to hit the Mediterranean to change their daily rou- ibility down in the Egyptian country this month. tines. Jerusalem braced for capital as an orange cloud The first storm had a devas- its first snow storm in years, of dust blocked out the sky tating effect on thousands with police preparing to and pedestrians covered of refugees living in tents in shut down major highways their faces from the wind eastern Lebanon's Bekaa and many local schools gusts. valley and areas in the and universities said they The winter's first snow fell on country's north, displacing would close early. the Syrian capital Damas- many whose shelters were High desert winds swept cus by evening, after a day either flooded or destroyed through Israel, the West of heavy rain and strong by snow. Bank and Gaza, carrying Vehicles drive during a sandstorm in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, winds. All ports on the Syr- In Cairo, winds reached sand and dust, while snow Jan. 16, 2019 as a thick sandstorm cloaked parts of the Middle ian coast were closed due over 50 kilometers per hour was already falling in Is- East. to the prevailing weather Associated Press (30 mph), bending palm rael's mountainous north, conditions. trees along the Nile River, where torrential rain and The state-run news agency the Damascus countryside snow was expected later in while in Libya rain, wind hail stranded some cars said high waves in Tartous closed. the day in Jerusalem. and cold weather was driv- and turned streets into riv- caused damage to the Dusty winds whipped Lebanon was also bat- ing increased demand for ers of mud. coastal city's seaside cor- through Israel and the West tered by a storm packing electricity that overloaded In Gaza, fishermen returned niche. Damascus University Bank as well, with hail fall- rain and snow that cut off the electricity grids and led to port and docked their postponed mid-term ex- ing near Tel Aviv and mete- major mountain roads, in- to power outages. boats to protect against ams and some schools in orologists announcing that cluding the highway that Sandstorms are common the stormy sea.q

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