Aruba Today (January 22, 2020)

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The Kitchen
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January 22, 2020
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AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr
Washington man
is 1st in U.S. to catch
new virus from China
By CARLA K. JOHNSON and sidered a threat to medical
MIKE STOBBE staff or the public, health
SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. on officials said.
Tuesday reported its first U.S. officials stressed that
case of a new and poten- they believe the virus' over-
tially deadly virus circulat- all risk to the American
ing in China, saying a Wash- public remained low.
ington state resident who “This is not a moment of
returned last week from the high anxiety,” Gov. Jay
outbreak's epicenter was Inslee said. The newly dis-
hospitalized near Seattle. covered virus has infected
The man, identified as a about 300 people, all of
Snohomish County resident whom had been in China,
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett where a man with the first case of coronavirus in the
is in his 30s, was in good and killed six.
United States is being treated on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in Everett, Wash.
condition and wasn't con- Continued on Page 2
Associated Press
A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Continued from Front it would add Chicago's
The virus can cause cough- O'Hare airport and Atlan-
ing, fever, breathing diffi- ta's airport to the mix later
culty and pneumonia. The this week.
U.S. joins a growing list of What's more, officials also
places outside mainland will begin forcing all pas-
China reporting cases, fol- sengers from Wuhan to go
lowing Thailand, Japan, to one of those five airports
South Korea and Taiwan. if they wish to enter the U.S.
Airports around the world The hospitalized U.S. resi-
have stepped up monitor- dent had no symptoms
ing, checking passengers when he arrived at the
from China for signs of ill- Seattle-Tacoma airport last
ness in hopes of containing Wednesday, but he started
the virus during the busy feeling ill on Thursday and
Lunar New Year travel sea- went to a doctor on Sunday
son. with a fever and a cough,
Late last week, U.S. health officials said. Lab testing on
officials began screening Monday confirmed he had
passengers from Wuhan the virus.
in central China, where "The gentleman right now
the outbreak began. The is very healthy," Dr. Nancy
screening had been under- Messonnier of the CDC said
way at three U.S. airports Tuesday.
— New York City's Kennedy The hospital, Providence
airport and the Los Angeles Regional Medical Center
and San Francisco airports. in Everett, said in a state-
On Tuesday, the U.S. Cen- ment that it expected the
ters for Disease Control and man would remain in isola-
Prevention announced tion and under monitoring
People wear face masks as they ride an escalator at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong
Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020.
Associated Press
there at least until Thursday. deaths — all in China, most and MERS — Middle East
CDC officials said they sent of them age 60 or older, in- respiratory syndrome — as
a team to Washington to cluding at least some who well as influenza, bird flu,
try to track down people had a previous medical adenovirus and other com-
who might have come in condition. mon lung-infecting germs.
contact with the man. The Officials have said the vi- The new virus so far does not
hospital also said it was rus probably spread from appear to be as deadly as
contacting "the small num- animals to people, but this SARS and MERS, but viruses
ber of staff and patients" week Chinese officials said can sometimes mutate to
who may have been with they've concluded it also become more dangerous.
the man at a clinic. can spread from person to University of Washington
The man is originally from person. Health authorities coronavirus researcher Da-
central China, lives alone this month identified the vid Veesler said the public
in the U.S. and made the germ behind the outbreak "should not be panicking
trip solo, officials said. There as a new type of corona- right now."
were relatively few people virus. Coronaviruses are a The response has been
who came in contact with large family of viruses, some "very efficient," Veesler
him since he got back, of which cause the com- said. "In a couple of weeks,
health officials said. mon cold; others found China was able to iden-
Last month, doctors in Wu- in bats, camels and other tify the virus, isolate it, se-
han began seeing the new animals have evolved into quence it and share that
virus in people who got sick more severe illnesses. information."
after spending time at a SARS, or severe acute respi- Veesler added: "We don't
wholesale seafood market. ratory syndrome, belongs have enough data to
More than 275 cases of the to the coronavirus family, judge how severe the dis-
newly identified virus have but Chinese state media ease is."
been confirmed in China, say the illness in Wuhan is The CDC's Messonnier said
most of them in Wuhan, ac- different from coronavirus- health officials expected to
cording to the World Health es that have been identi- see more cases in the U.S.
Organization. fied in the past. Earlier lab- and around the world in
The count includes six oratory tests ruled out SARS the coming days.q
U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Reports: Flooding risks could devalue Florida real estate
Associated Press canes amount to $2 billion pected to roughly double, risk posed by moderate dynamic is not yet under-
MIAMI (AP) — Flooding due today, but that projection leading to shortages in af- flooding is common to oth- stood, nor is it implemented
to climate change-related could increase to about $3 fordable insurance cover- er geographies in the U.S. into the decision-making of
sea level rising, the ero- billion to $4.5 billion by 2050, age and real estate market and around the world," said financial institutions."
sion of natural barriers and the McKinsey report said. instability, according to the Rich Sorkin, CEO of Jupiter The short-term impacts of
long-periods of rain pose "Flooding in Florida could Jupiter Intelligence report. in a statement. "Almost flooding will be felt within
substantial economic risks not only damage housing "Ignoring, or underestimat- none of this risk is reflect- the next decade, accord-
to Florida, particularly to but also raise insurance ing, the actual economic ed in prices. Most of this ing to the Jupiter report.q
In this June 19, 2019 file photo, a postal worker returns to their
truck parked on a flooded street in Miami caused by high tides.
Associated Press
the value of South Florida costs, affect property val-
real estate, according to ues of exposed homes, and
two new reports released in turn reduce property tax
last week. revenues for communities,"
For years, Florida lawmak- the McKinsey report said.
ers mostly ignored climate Furthermore, the impact
change under then-Gov. of a 100-year-storm event
Rick Scott, who is now a could be even more dev-
U.S. Senator. But GOP Gov. astating over time, going
Ron DeSantis has taken a from $35 billion today to
more aggressive stance at between $50 billion and
tackling the issue, although $75 billion by 2050, the
environmentalists want him McKinsey report said.
to do more. A separate report from the
Based on past trends, loss- climate-risk analytics firm
es from flooding in Florida Jupiter Intelligence said the
could devalue vulnerable percentage of vulnerable
homes by $30 billion to $80 oceanfront properties af-
billion, or about 15% to 35%, fected by extreme flood-
by 2050, according to a re- ing will rise in Miami-Dade
port from McKinsey Global County from 5% in 2019 to
Institute. 98% by 2050.
Average annual losses for By 2050, annual flooding
residential real estate due damage county-wide in
to storm surge from hurri- Miami-Dade County is ex-
A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 January 2020
McConnell abruptly eases impeachment limits
By LISA MASCARO, ERIC Senators were stunned the House impeachment
TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER by McConnell's shift, and inquiry.
Associated Press aides offered no immedi- The rare impeachment
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- ate answers. trial, unfolding in an elec-
ate Majority Leader Mitch But a spokeswoman for Re- tion year, is testing wheth-
McConnell abruptly eased publican Sen. Susan Collins er Trump's actions toward
his restrictive proposed said that she and others Ukraine warrant removal at
rules for President Donald had raised concerns. The the same time that voters
Trump's impeachment trial , Maine senator sees the are forming their own ver-
backing off the condensed changes as significant im- dict on his White House.
two-day schedule to add provements, said spokes- Just weeks before the first
a third for opening argu- woman Annie Clark. Democratic primary con-
ments after protests from The turnaround was a swift tests, four senators who
senators, including Repub- lesson as the White House's are also presidential can-
licans. wishes run into the reality In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- didates were off the cam-
nell, R-Ky., calls to table an amendment offered by Senate Mi-
The trial quickly burst into a of the Senate. The White paign trail, seated as jurors.
nority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., during the impeachment
partisan fight at the Capi- House wanted a session "My focus is going to be on
trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S.
tol as the president's law- crammed into a shorter impeachment," Sen. Ber-
Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020.
yers opened arguments period to both expedite Associated Press nie Sanders, the Vermont
Tuesday in support of Mc- the trial and shift more of independent running for
Connell's plan. Democrats the proceedings into late to testify. Schiff noted the question is, will it come out the Democratic nomina-
objected loudly to Mc- night, according to a per- sudden change in pro- in time? " tion, told reporters. He said
Connell's initially proposed son familiar with the matter posed rules, made mo- McConnell said, "The presi- his supporters would keep
rules, and some Republi- but unauthorized to discuss ments before he spoke. dent's lawyers will finally working "to defeat the
cans made their concerns it in public. "The facts will come out in receive a level playing most dangerous president
known in private at a GOP "READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!" the end," Schiff said. "The field," contrasting it with in American history." q
lunch. the president tweeted
Without comment, the Re- from miles away, as he
publican leader quietly returned to his hotel at a
submitted an amended global leaders conference
proposal after meeting in Davos, Switzerland. That's
behind closed doors with the transcript of his phone
his senators as the trial call in which he asked new
opened. The handwritten Ukrainian President Volody-
changes would a dd the myr Zelenskiya for "a favor."
extra day and allow House The Democrats cite that
evidence to be included transcript as solid evidence
in the record. There is still against Trump, though he
deep disagreement about repeatedly describes it as
calling additional witness- "perfect."
es. Democrats had warned
"It's time to start with this tri- that the rules package
al," said White House Coun- from Trump's ally, the Sen-
sel Pat Cipollone, the presi- ate GOP leader, could
dent's lead lawyer in brief force midnight sessions that
remarks as the proceed- would keep most Ameri-
ings opened in public. cans in the dark and cre-
"It's a fair process," he said. ate a sham proceeding.
"There is absolutely no "This is not a process for a fair
case." trial, this is the process for
Chief Justice John Roberts a rigged trial" Rep. Adam
gaveled open the session, Schiff, D-Ca., the chairman
senators having taken an of the House Intelligence
oath last week to do "impar- Committee leading the
tial justice" as jurors. House prosecution, told reporters.
House prosecutors were on He called it a "cover-up."
one side, Trump's team on Schiff opened his argu-
the other, in the well of the ments before the Senate
Senatem as senators sat si- playing a video of Trump
lent at their desks. calling for more witnesses
U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Police: Mother says she killed 3 kids found in Phoenix home
By ANITA SNOW A relative who lives at the were pronounced dead. her hands cuffed behind
The Associated Press house called police late Police were interviewing her.
PHOENIX (AP) — A Phoenix Monday, and officers the children's 30-year-old There was no information
woman has been arrested found a 7-month-old girl, father and a 49-year-old on whether she had an at-
on suspicion of killing her 2-year-old girl and 3-year- relative who lives in the torney who could speak on
three children, who were old boy in a living room with home, authorities said. The her behalf.
found dead inside the fam- no obvious trauma. family had recently moved The Arizona Department
ily's home after firefighters The Phoenix Fire Depart- from Oklahoma. of Child Safety didn't have
got a call about a drown- ment also received a call Television footage showed any earlier contacts or This Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020
ing, authorities said Tues- from the home reporting two officers escorting Hen- abuse reports involving the booking photo released by
day. a drowning involving three ry into a Phoenix jail, where family, spokesman Darren the Maricopa County Sheriff's
The 22-year-old mother, children, Capt. Rob Mc- she was booked on three DaRonco said. Office, shows Rachel Henry,
22, who has been arrested on
Rachel Henry, "has admit- Dade said. counts of first-degree mur- A makeshift memorial of
suspicion of killing her three
ted to harming her three Relatives initially believed der, police said. She was three white candles was
children.
children," which led to their illness may have been a clad in a white gown with seen near the house. q Associated Press
deaths, police Sgt. Mer- factor, but Fortune said
cedes Fortune told report- police "are comfortable in
ers outside the home on a saying now that the mother
block with several weath- is responsible for the death
ered wooden houses and of the children."
an old mobile home in a Officers administered CPR
once rural area of southern and fire officials provided
Phoenix. first aid, but the children
Virginia Senate
advances bill to scrap
Lee-Jackson holiday
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Day, established over 100
The Virginia Senate on years ago, is observed
Tuesday advanced legis- annually on the Friday
lation to scrap the state's preceding the third Mon-
Lee-Jackson holiday cel- day in January. It honors
ebrating two Confeder- Confederate generals
ate generals. Robert E. Lee and Thom-
The Democratic-led Sen- as "Stonewall" Jackson,
ate voted largely along both native Virginians.
party lines to pass legis- Critics of the Lee-Jack-
lation that would make son holiday view it as a
Election Day a state holi- celebration of the state's
day instead of Lee-Jack- slave-holding history
son Day. that's offensive to African
The legislation now goes Americans. Many cities
to the House for con- and counties have opt-
sideration. Lee-Jackson ed not to observe it.q
A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Feds to let states tap opioid funds for meth, cocaine surge
By RICARDO ALONSO- breaks out in an election
ZALDIVAR year. The nation has been
WASHINGTON (AP) — starting to see progress on
Alarmed by a deadly new opioids, with deaths declin-
twist in the nation's drug ing slightly.
addiction crisis, the govern- Last week the House Ener-
ment will allow states to use gy and Commerce Com-
federal money earmarked mittee sent letters to fed-
for the opioid epidemic eral agencies requesting
to help growing numbers detailed information on
of people struggling with evolving patterns of co-
meth and cocaine. caine and meth use.
The little-noticed change is "We are concerned that
buried in a massive spend- while the nation, rightly so,
ing bill passed by Congress is devoting so much of its
late last year. Pressed by attention and resources
constituents and state of- to the opioid epidemic,
ficials, lawmakers of both another epidemic — this
parties and the Trump one involving cocaine and
administration agreed to methamphetamine — is on
broaden the scope of a the rise," wrote committee
$1.5 billion grant program leaders Chairman Frank
previously restricted to the Pallone, D-N.J. and ranking
In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, members of the Coast Guard stand near seized cocaine in Los
opioid crisis. Starting this Republican Greg Walden
Angeles.
year states can also use Associated Press of Oregon.
those federal dollars to Meth, which was once
counter addiction to "stim- a drug class that includes year that the drug-addic- Trump administration was cooked in makeshift labs in
ulants," a term the govern- fentanyl, heroin, certain tion scourge is gradually also hearing calls for more the U.S., is now produced
ment uses for metham- prescription painkillers, and changing. flexibility from state offi- by Mexican cartels and
phetamine and cocaine. various chemical combina- "They were seeing much cials, and supported the smuggled across the bor-
"Meth and cocaine are tions concocted for street more impact from meth change. der. The price of the drug
making a comeback and sales. But the national num- and from cocaine, sub- "I know the term 'opioid has dropped even as its
they are more potent than bers also hide dramatic dif- stances they couldn't ad- crisis' is used a lot, and it's purity has risen.
they were during the last ferences in the deadliest dress because of specific not my preferred way of The increased prevalence
wave," said Mark Stringer, drugs across the land. language in the law," said describing what we're up of cocaine is being driven
director of Missouri's De- In most states west of the Shaheen, referring to previ- against," said Carroll. "I say by greater supply, as cul-
partment of Mental Health. Mississippi meth is the big- ous restrictions in the fed- what we really have is an tivation of the coca plant
He oversees the state's gest killer, according to eral grant program aimed addiction crisis." has become more wide-
efforts to prevent addic- government data for 2017. at opioids. Other senators pushing to spread in Colombia. Co-
tion, get drug-dependent Meanwhile, the highly le- As a member of the Sen- broaden the grant program caine can also be laced
people into treatment, and thal opioid fentanyl main- ate Appropriations Com- included Republicans Rob with fentanyl, contributing
support them in recovery. tains its grip on the East and mittee, which writes spend- Portman of Ohio and Shel- to overdose deaths. As with
"Where meth is much more Midwest. Cocaine ranks ing bills, Shaheen said she ley Moore Capito of West meth, government data
prevalent than opioids, this third overall nationally in worked with Republican Virginia, also a member of show the price of cocaine
will be a game-changer." drug-involved deaths. and Democratic leaders to the Appropriations Com- has dropped while its purity
About 68,000 people died Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D- add "stimulants" — not only mittee. Their states have has risen.
of drug overdoses in the N.H., whose state has been opioids — to the language been ravaged by opioids. Treating people addicted
U.S. in 2018, with opioids in- hard-hit by the opioid epi- of the 2020 spending bill. Federal lawmakers don't to meth or cocaine is dif-
volved in about two-thirds demic, said she was hear- White House drug czar want to be caught flat- ferent from treating opioid
of the cases. Opioids are ing from all quarters last James W. Carroll said the footed if another drug crisis dependence.q
Maryland GOP governor wants more visas for foreign workers
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — rural Maryland and in par- eral government allowed "This year, we are continu- age Maryland's sustain-
Maryland's Republican ticular our Eastern Shore," an additional 30,000 visas ing to urge the Administra- able seafood industry,
governor on Tuesday Hogan wrote. "In addition through the program, after tion to release additional causing these iconic fam-
urged federal officials to to lifting the cap, I ask that a 2018 decision to limit the visas quickly and will do ily and small businesses to
allow more H-2B visas for you partner with Congress number. everything in our power close or constrict, which
foreign workers to help the and Maryland's congres- U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, to support our local busi- would have a devastat-
state's $355 million seafood sional delegation to finally a Democrat, said Mary- nesses and industry," Van ing impact on commerce
industry and seasonal em- find a long-term solution to land's federal delegation Hollen said. and jobs, particularly in
ployers. this issue." has repeatedly pushed Hogan wrote that without economically disadvan-
Gov. Larry Hogan made In a typical year, 500 H-2B President Donald Trump's an end to the "arbitrary lot- taged areas of the state,"
the request in a letter to seasonal workers are administration to release tery system," local seafood Hogan wrote. Maryland's
Acting Homeland Security needed for Maryland's more H-2B visas. Van Hol- processors will be unable blue crab harvest season
Secretary Chad Wolf and 20 licensed crab picking len said he has visited crab to open for business or be starts on April 1. Hogan
Labor Secretary Eugene houses, the governor said. houses on Maryland's East- forced to "significantly re- invited Scalia and Wolf to
Scalia. Hogan also called The number of H-2B visas is ern Shore and seen first- duce their operations." personally visit a Chesa-
for a long-term solution. now capped at 66,000 na- hand "the dire need for "Another year of hardship peake Bay crab house or
"These workers are vital to tionally. Last year, the fed- these employees." could permanently dam- processor.q
U.S. NEWS A7
Wednesday 22 January 2020
At 90, Alaska Native woman will be 1st counted in U.S. Census
By MARK THIESSEN mail service is spotty in ru- strong Catholic faith, and
TOKSOOK BAY, Alaska ral Alaska and the internet told her son that she saved
(AP) — Lizzie Chimiugak connectivity unreliable, his life by praying over him
has lived for 90 years in the which makes door-to-door after he contracted polio.
windswept western wilds of surveying important. For her own hobbies, she
Alaska, born to a nomadic The rest of the nation, in- weaved baskets from grass
family who lived in mud cluding more urban areas and remains a member of
homes and followed where of Alaska, begin the census the Alaska Native dance
the good hunting and fish- in mid-March. group that will perform
ing led. On Tuesday, Steven Dilling- Tuesday, she dancing in
Her home now is an out- ham, director of the census her wheelchair.
post on the Bering Sea, Tok- bureau, will conduct the She taught children man-
sook Bay, and she is about first interview. Because of ners and responsibility and
to become the first person federal privacy laws, the continued the oral tradition
counted in the U.S. Cen- bureau won't even con- of telling them stories with a
sus, taken every 10 years to firm Chimiugak will be the storyknife.
apportion representation first person counted, even Chimiugak used a knife in
In this Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 image, Lizzie Chimiugak, right,
in Congress and federal though it's the worst kept the mud to illustrate her sto-
looks on at her home in Toksook Bay, Alaska.
money. secret in her hometown. Associated Press ries to school children. She
"Elders that were before me, After the count, a celebra- drew figures for people or
if they didn't die too early, tion is planned at Nelson fish and animals. She plans residents of nearby Night- homes. At the end of the
I wouldn't have been the Island School, and will in- to talk about it with others mute. There are five surviv- story, she'd use the knife
first person counted," Lizzie clude local Alaska Native at the celebration. ing children. to wipe away the pictures
Chimiugak said, speaking dancers and traditional "She's sad about the future," He worked maintenance at and start the next story with
Yup'ik language of Yugtun, food, which could include he eldest son Paul said. the airport and she did jani- a clean slate of mud.
with family members serv- seal, walrus, musk ox and Chimiugak was born just torial work at the old medi- "She's a great teacher, you
ing as interpreters. "Right moose. after the start of the Great cal clinic and babysat. know giving us reminders of
now, they're considering Robert Pitka, tribal adminis- Depression in the middle Like other wives, she how we're supposed to be,
me as an elder, and they're trator for Nunakauyak Tra- of nowhere in western cleaned fish, tanned hides taking care of subsistence
asking me questions I'm try- ditional Council, hopes the Alaska, her daughter Katie and even rendered seal oil and taking care of our fam-
ing my best to give answers takeaway message for the Schwartz of Springfield, Mis- after her husband came ily and respecting our par-
to, or to talk about what it rest of the nation is of Yup'ik souri, said. Lizzie was one of home from fishing or hunt- ents," her granddaughter
means to be an elder." pride. 10 siblings born to her par- ing. Her husband died Alice Tulik said. "That's how
The decennial U.S. census "We are Yup'ik people and ents, who lived a nomadic about 30 years ago. she would give us advice."
has started in rural Alaska, that the world will see that lifestyle and traveled with She is also a woman of q
out of tradition and neces- we are very strong in our two or three other families
sity, ever since the U.S. pur- culture and our traditions that would migrate togeth-
chased the territory from and that our Yup'ik lan- er, her son said.
Russia in 1867. The ground guage is very strong." Lizzie and her 101-year-old
is still frozen, which allows For Chimiugak, she has sister from Nightmute, Alas-
easier access before the concerns about climate ka, survive.
spring melt makes many change and what it might In 1947 Lizzie married
areas inaccessible to do to future generations George Chimiugak, and
travel and residents scat- of subsistence hunters and they eventually settled in
ter to subsistence hunting fishers in the community, Toksook Bay after the town
and fishing grounds. The and what it will do to the was founded in 1964 by
A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 22 January 2020
German court may
reject appeal to
remove anti-Semitic relic
By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER about anti-Semitism in Ger-
and KERSTIN SOPKE many. In May, a court ruled
NAUMBURG, Germany (AP) against plaintiff Michael
— A court in eastern Ger- Duellmann, who wants the
many indicated Tuesday relief to be taken off the
that it will likely reject a church and put in the near-
Jewish man's bid to force by Luther House museum.
the removal of an ugly Judges in Dessau rejected
remnant of centuries of an- arguments that he has a
ti-Semitism from a church right to have the sculpture
where Martin Luther once removed because it for-
preached. mally constitutes slander
The Naumburg court's sen- and the parish is legally re-
ate said, at a hearing, that sponsible.
"it will maybe reject the The relief "is a terrible fal-
appeal," court spokesman sification of Judaism ... a
Henning Haberland told re- defamation of and insult
porters. to the Jewish people," Du-
"The senate could not fol- ellmann says, arguing that
low the plaintiff's opinion it has "a terrible effect up to
In this Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 photo the so-called “Judensau,” or “Jew pig,” sculpture is displayed
that the defamatory sculp- this day."
on the facade of the Stadtkirche (Town Church) in Wittenberg, Germany.
ture can be seen as an When the church was ren-
Associated Press
expression of disregard in ovated in the early 1980s,
its current presentation," the parish decided to leave
Haberland said. the sandstone sculpture in
The verdict will be an- place, and it was also re-
nounced on February 4. stored. In 1988, a memorial
The so-called "Judensau," was built on the ground un-
or "Jew pig," sculpture on derneath it, referring to the
the Town Church in Witten- persecution of Jews and
berg dates back to around the killing of 6 million in the
1300. It is perhaps the Nazi Holocaust.
best-known of more than Pastor Johannes Block from
20 such anti-Semitic relics the Town Church says the
from the Middle Ages that church also considers the
still adorn churches across sculpture unacceptably in-
Germany and elsewhere in sulting. However, he argues
Europe. it "no longer speaks for itself
Located 4 meters (13 feet) as a solitary piece, but is
above the ground on a embedded in a culture of
corner of the church, it remembrance" thanks to
depicts Jews suckling on the memorial.
the teats of a sow, while a "We don't want to hide or
rabbi lifts the animal's tail. abolish history, but take the
In 1570, after the Protestant path of reconciliation with
Reformation, an inscription and through history," he
referring to an anti-Jewish says.
tract by Luther was added. In Berlin, the federal com-
Judaism considers pigs im- missioner for Jewish life in
pure and no one disputes Germany told reporters he
that the sculpture is deliber- favored putting the relief
ately offensive. But there is down into a museum.
strong disagreement about "This would be a good con-
what to do with the relief. tribution by the church to
Tuesday's hearing was the overcome anti-Semitism,"
second round in the legal Felix Klein told report-
dispute, which comes at a ers ahead of the court
time of mounting concern hearing.q
WORLD NEWS A9
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Changing tack, French strikers
turn off power to press govt
By JOHN LEICESTER
Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — Opening an-
other front in their battle
against the French govern-
ment, protesting workers
cut power to thousands
of Parisians on Tuesday,
plunging homes into dark-
A woman photographs the Mediterranean sea as the waves hit
ness and shutting down
the breakwater during a storm in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday,
trains to one of the capital's
Jan. 21, 2020.
main airports.
Associated Press
The deliberate outage last-
ed around two hours. It hit
Winter storm lashes
users in the southern sub-
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech as he
urbs of Paris, which include
visits a plant of British-Swedish pharmaceutical group Astra-
Spanish coast, leaves the Orly international air-
zeneca in Dunkirk, northern France, Monday, Monday, Jan. 20,
port and the massive Rungis
2020.
market that supplies food Associated Press
4 dead, power cuts
to the Paris region. Franck
Jouanno, a local leader of other methods to keep up the cut affected 35,000 of
the leftist CGT union, said the pressure on President its customers. At the Rungis
MADRID (AP) — A win- La Vanguardia newspaper
power grid workers target- Emmanuel Macron and his food market, generators
ter storm lashed much said.
ed the area because it is centrist government. took over and maintained
of Spain for a third day Another video showed the
one of "the economic lungs Jouanno described the power during the outage.
Tuesday, leaving 200,000 swollen Onyar River in the
of Europe." Paris households that lost Julien Denormandie, a
people without electricity, northeastern city of Gero-
"It's symbolic," Jouanno said power when families were deputy minister, con-
schools closed and roads na gushing past buildings
of the power cut, speaking starting their day as "collat- demned the union action
blocked by snow as it killed and almost touching the
in a telephone interview. eral damage." as "scandalous, irrespon-
four people. bottom of some bridges.
"It made a buzz and that's "It bothers me, but unfor- sible."
Massive waves and gale- Authorities warned there
what everyone wants." tunately there is always an Macron, who is trying to
force winds smashed into was a risk it could break its
The CGT is pushing for a impact and a power cut blend scores of separate
seafront towns, damaging banks.
complete withdrawal of isn't the end of the world," pension systems and rules
many shops and restau- Much of Gerona province
the French government's he told broadcaster BFM- into a universal French pen-
rants and flooding some was without electricity for
plans to overhaul the coun- TV sion, says his plan will be
streets. several hours Tuesday be-
try's pension system. The Power was cut to the au- fairer to all French workers
One video showed a pow- cause of a fault in the pow-
planned reforms have trig- tomated shuttle train that and will be sustainable as
erful wave crashing over er connection with France,
gered six weeks of protests serves Orly airport. The shut- the country ages.
a seafront wall and send- emergency services said
and crippling transport tle's operator, the RATP, But workers in sectors who
ing water cascading to- on Twitter.
strikes. said thousands of users can now sometimes re-
ward the street and nearby Many schools remained
But with many striking trans- were impacted and that tire earlier than the official
buildings in Cala Ratjada closed in the northeastern
port workers now returning it "firmly condemns this act age of 62 don't want to
on the Mediterranean is- region of Catalonia as well
to work, and train services of malice." Buses were used lose their special privileges.
land of Mallorca. as the Valencia region fur-
largely restored in Paris to transport passengers in- Some power grid workers
Ports on the nearby island ther south and the inland
and nationwide, hardcore stead. can retire as young as 57,
of Menorca have been region of Aragon, Spanish
protesters are looking for Power supplier Enedis said Jouanno said.q
closed for two days, the media said.q
A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 22 January 2020
China sentences ex-boss of Interpol to 13 years for bribes
in The Hague, Netherlands. Meng has already been
In a statement sent to The fired from his positions and
Associated Press, she said expelled from the Commu-
Interpol "breached its ob- nist Party. The relatively light
ligations owed to my fam- sentence was likely a result
ily" and "is complicit in the of what the court called his
internationally wrongful cooperative attitude and
acts of its member country, willingness to admit to and
China." shore remorse for his crimes.
A statement Tuesday from While serving at Interpol,
the No. 1 Intermediary Meng retained his title as
Court in the northern city China's vice minister of
of Tianjin said Meng ac- public security. It wasn't
cepted the verdict and clear when or how he had
would not appeal. In addi- crossed Xi, who has lever-
tion to his prison sentence, aged a wide-ranging cam-
he was fined 2 million yuan paign against corruption at
($290.000) . It said Meng, all levels to eliminate or in-
66, admitted he abused timidate political rivals.
his position to accept 14.4 As a long-serving vice minis-
million yuan ($2.1 million) in ter of public security, Meng
bribes while serving in vari- served for a time under
In this July 4, 2017, file photo, Interpol President Meng Hongwei delivers his opening address at the
ous offices, including as a Zhou Yongkang, the former
Interpol World Congress, in Singapore.
Associated Press vice minister of public se- security chief who was sen-
curity and maritime police tenced to life in prison, be-
BEIJING (AP) — China has after traveling to China dren, has accused Chinese chief, often in exchange coming the most powerful
sentenced the former presi- from France in late 2018. authorities of lying and for favors and using his in- figure to fall in Xi's anti-graft
dent of Interpol, Meng Hon- Interpol was not informed questioned whether her fluence with other officials. campaign.q
gwei, to 13 years and six and was forced to make a husband was still alive.
months in prison on charg- formal request to China for Grace Meng is now suing
es of accepting more than information about Meng's Interpol, accusing it of fail-
UN rights panel finds
$2 million in bribes. whereabouts amid suspi- ing to protect him from ar-
Meng was elected presi- cion he had fallen out of rest in China and failing to
climate change can
dent of the international political favor with Chinese look after his family. Meng's
police organization in 2016, President Xi Jinping. lawyers last year filed a le-
but his four-year term was Meng's wife, who remains gal complaint in the Per-
be cause for asylum
cut short when he vanished in France with their two chil- manent Court of Arbitration
BERLIN (AP) — A U.N. hu- level rise.
man rights panel has ruled The plaintiff in the case, Io-
for the first time that people ane Teitiota, had argued
fleeing the effects of cli- that he and his family were
mate change may be en- threatened by the lack
titled to claim asylum, even of fresh water and violent
as it dismissed an individual land disputes as the ocean
plaintiff's case against his encroaches on Kiribati.
deportation from New Zea- The panel concluded that
land. he had failed to provide
The U.N. Human Rights sufficient evidence for his
Committee published its claims and that while Kiri-
ruling Tuesday in the case bati is likely to become
of a man from Kiribati who uninhabitable, there is still
was sent back to the Pa- a chance the island's gov-
cific island nation after be- ernment might avert this.
ing denied asylum by New Still, the committee's 18
Zealand in 2015. independent experts ac-
The Geneva-based pan- knowledged that "envi-
el, which monitors states' ronmental degradation,
compliance with the 1966 climate change and un-
International Covenant on sustainable development
Civil and Political Rights, constitute some of the most
concluded that although pressing and serious threats
the deportation was legal, to the ability of present and
similar cases might in future future generations to enjoy
justify asylum claims. the right to life."
The ruling has no immedi- "This ruling sets forth new
ate legal impact, but it is standards that could facili-
likely to be cited by people tate the success of future
who say their rights are en- climate change-related
dangered by the impacts asylum claims," commit-
of climate change — such tee member Yuval Shany
as violent storms and sea said.q