Aruba Today (January 9, 2019)

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Wednesday
January 9, 2019
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Page 13
AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr
A boy looks at the border wall, topped with razor wire and bathed in floodlights from the U.S. side, as he walks on the beach Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Tijuana, Mexico.
Associated Press.
Page 3
A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 9 January 2019
8PM
Fate of detained IS fighters uncertain as US exits Syria
By DEB RIECHMANN and Donald Trump’s Dec. 19 or- tee of safety for the Kurdish
SUSANNAH GEORGE, Asso- der to withdraw the 2,000 fighters who have fought
ciated Press American troops from Syr- alongside U.S. troops
WASHINGTON (AP) — What ia, where they have been against the Islamic State.
to do with hundreds of for- working alongside the U.S.- There are fears that the
eign Islamic State fighters backed Syrian Defense U.S. withdrawal will leave
captured in Syria has be- Forces to fight the Islamic a door open for Turkey to
come a critical and grow- State group since 2015. assault the U.S.-allied SDF
ing problem for the Trump But there are no easy an- fighters. Turkey views them
administration as it pre- swers. The official, speaking as part of a terrorist group
pares to pull troops out of on condition of anonymity, linked to an insurgency
the country. said releasing the fighters, within its own borders. SDF
A senior administration of- among them Europeans commanders have warned
ficial said Tuesday that re- and some U.S. citizens, that they will be unable
solving the fate of these would be “unacceptable” to hold the 700 prisoners if
prisoners is a top prior- since they could simply re- Turkish forces invade Syria
ity as the government lays join the remnants of Islam- following a U.S. withdrawal.
the groundwork with allies ic State fighters in Syria or Administration officials so
In this July 21, 2017, file photo, Kurdish soldiers from the Anti-
to comply with President elsewhere. far do not have a plan for
Terrorism Units, carry a blindfolded an Indonesian man suspect-
ed of Islamic State membership, at a security center, in Kobani, what to do with the prison-
Syria. ers, according to a sepa-
Associated Press. rate U.S. official, who said
“This matters because SDF joined or tried to join ISIS. that few countries have
holds hundreds of IS fighters, And sometimes it’s still an- been willing to accept
including many European other thing for the govern- any of their captured citi-
citizens, and they might go ment to be able to mount zens. Both officials spoke
free if no solution is found,” confidently a criminal on condition of anonymity
said Bobby Chesney, a na- prosecution against that because they weren’t au-
tional security law expert at individual,” said Joshua thorized to disclose the in-
the University of Texas. Geltzer, a senior counter- formation publicly.
European nations have terrorism official under Pres- In a recent case of an
been reluctant to take ident Barack Obama. American suspected of IS
back citizens with ties to Meanwhile, the prisoner membership, U.S. officials
the Islamic State, not want- problem is only growing wrestled for more than a
ing the legal challenge of worse. year, never charged him
prosecuting them or the On Sunday, the Syrian De- and then ultimately re-
potential security risk if they fense Forces announced leased him in Bahrain.
are released. the capture of five fight- The problem has been fur-
And moving former fighters ers, including two U.S. citi- ther complicated by con-
to the United States poses zens, one of whom has flicting reports of Trump’s
some of the same chal- been identified as a former timeline for recalling the
lenges the U.S. has faced school teacher from Hous- 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria.
with men detained at the ton. When he made his surprise
military base at Guanta- Secretary of State Mike announcement of the with-
namo Bay, Cuba, includ- Pompeo just began a drawal three weeks ago,
ing whether it’s feasible to tour of eight Middle East- Trump said he wanted to
prosecute militants cap- ern nations to discuss the complete it quickly. His
tured on the battlefields of withdrawal of the Ameri- abrupt decision led to the
northern Syria, according can troops. National se- resignations of Defense
to experts. curity adviser John Bolton Secretary Jim Mattis and
“It’s one thing for the gov- returned Tuesday from a Brett McGurk, special presi-
ernment to be very con- meeting in Turkey, where dential envoy for the glob-
fident that an individual he was seeking a guaran- al coalition to defeat IS.q
U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Trump seeks an edge in shutdown fight with TV address
From Front off. His Tuesday evening re- laration would represent blasts, Trump is embracing mands for $5.7 billion in wall
marks were to be followed a dramatic escalation of the ceremonial trappings funding, and Democrats
By CATHERINE LUCEY, LISA by a televised rebuttal the dispute and would im- of his office as he tries to have not moved from their
MASCARO and JILL COL- from House Speaker Nancy mediately draw legal chal- exit a political quagmire of opposition, while many Re-
VIN, Associated Press Pelosi and Senate Minor- lenges. It could potentially his own making. For weeks publicans watch anxiously
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fight- ity Leader Chuck Schumer, unlock military dollars for he has dug in on a signa- from the sidelines.
ing for advantage in the who strongly oppose the building the wall but would ture campaign promise to Sen John Thune of South
government shutdown bat- wall and have repeatedly require the administra- his base voters, the pledge Dakota, the GOP whip,
tle, President Donald Trump called on Trump to reopen tion to make the case that to build an impregnable said he doesn’t think the
aimed to use a prime-time shuttered portions of the the border situation was “beautiful” wall along the emergency declaration is
address Tuesday to con- government while border indeed a national crisis . U.S.-Mexico border. But the right move and “I pre-
vince Americans he needs negotiations continue. While Trump has previously now his self-proclaimed fer that we get this resolved
billions of dollars from Con- Trump has been discussing described the situation on deal-making skills are being the old-fashioned way.”
gress for his long-promised the idea of declaring a na- the border that way — in- put to the test. In recent days, Trump, who
border wall to resolve secu- tional emergency to allow cluding when he directed The partial government has long railed against il-
rity and humanitarian prob- him to move forward with active duty troops there shutdown reached its 18th legal immigration at the
lems he contends have the wall without getting ahead of the midterm elec- day, making the closure border, has also seized on
reached a crisis pitch. He congressional approval for tions— he has never signed the second-longest in his- humanitarian concerns to
was sure to face intense the $5.7 billion he’s request- an official proclamation. tory. Hundreds of thou- argue there is a broader cri-
pushback from Democrats. ed. But the president was He will meet with Republi- sands of federal workers sis that can only be solved
Following up his first Oval not expected to make that can lawmakers at the Cap- are going without pay, and with a wall. Critics say the
Office speech, Trump plans declaration Tuesday night, itol on Wednesday. government disruptions are security risks are overblown
a personal visit to the Mexi- said two people familiar With his use of a formal hitting home with every- and the administration is at
can border on Thursday as with the White House plans, White House speech in- day Americans. But Trump least partly to blame for the
he tries to put pressure on although it was possible he stead of his favored Twitter has not budged on his de- humanitarian situation.q
newly empowered Demo- could change course.
crats in the shutdown stand- Such an emergency dec-
Networks to air Pelosi,
Schumer rebuttal to Trump
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Me- more extreme approach
dia Writer of pointing out through
NEW YORK (AP) — Television chyrons, or text displayed
networks are facing un- on the air, in the event of a
usual pressure surrounding verifiable false statement.
their responsibility to point NBC said it would fact-
out false or misleading check livestreams of both
statements after granting speeches through pinned
President Donald Trump’s comments on its Facebook
request to air his Oval Of- page and through com-
fice speech on the pro- ments on the NBC and MS-
posed border wall and par- NBC Twitter accounts. Fact
tial government shutdown. checks will also be fea-
The four largest broadcast tured prominently on the
networks and top cable NBC News home page, the
news networks agreed to network said.
carry Trump’s speech and New York University jour-
the Democratic response, nalism professor Jay Rosen
which will be offered by said on social media Tues-
House Speaker Nancy Pe- day that network officials
losi and Senate Majority should be asking them-
Leader Chuck Schumer. selves how likely it is that
It’s rare, but not unprec- the speech will inform
edented, for networks to viewers, and how they can
say no to a presidential re- prevent the president from
quest for airtime. Some of misinforming viewers.
the president’s opponents Late-night hosts were even
had argued that Trump getting in on the criticism,
shouldn’t get the airtime with CBS’ Stephen Colbert
because he couldn’t be noting on Twitter that “my
trusted to tell the truth. network will be carrying
Television executives were Trump’s wall speech live.
talking internally about So at 9 p.m. Tuesday, tune
ways to fact-check Trump, in to CBS to see B.S.” NBC’s
such as dedicating staff Seth Meyers aired a lengthy
to parse statements the segment early Tuesday
way it is often done after a suggesting Trump’s speech
presidential address, to the not be televised. q
A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 9 January 2019
AP Exclusive: NC election fraud probed long before 2018 race
By MICHAEL BIESECKER and law that formed it as un-
EMERY P. DALESIO, Associ- constitutional. A revamped
ated Press board is due to be seated
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Long Jan. 31.
before accusations of ab- Democratic leaders in the
sentee ballot fraud in a U.S. House have said they
small North Carolina county won’t allow Harris to take
cast doubt on the results of office because of the on-
a heated 2018 congressio- going investigation. The
nal race, a state elections U.S. Constitution makes
investigator spent weeks the House the judge and
probing whether the man final arbiter of its members’
at the center of the cur- election contests.
rent scandal was among a Tutor, the former elections
group buying votes. investigator, said he sus-
That 2010 investigation was pected in 2010 that po-
one of at least a half dozen litical candidates or their
instances over the last nine supporters were funneling
years that prosecutors and undisclosed cash to Dow-
elections officials received less to fund efforts to influ-
complaints of serious elec- ence votes.
tions irregularities in Bladen “Dowless deals in cash,” Tu-
County, a rural locale of tor said. “He doesn’t care
35,000 people that has long about party affiliation. You
had a statewide reputa- show him the money, and
tion for political chicanery he’ll get the votes.”
by both Republicans and Years later, evidence sur-
In this Dec. 5, 2018 photo, Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr. poses for a portrait outside of his home in
Democrats. The state’s on- Bladenboro, N.C. , faced that at least some
going criminal investigation Associated Press political cash had been
into 2018 voting irregulari- he was unable to build Dowless and others, warn- 6 vote where Republican steered to Dowless that
ties has focused on Leslie a strong enough case ing in a January 2017 letter Mark Harris leads Demo- was never disclosed in
McCrae Dowless Jr., a lo- against Dowless to support that those involved in ille- crat Dan McCready by 905 campaign finance reports,
cal political operative and criminal charges. gally harvesting absentee votes, according to unoffi- as required by state law.
convicted felon. “Dowless was throwing ballots in Bladen would like- cial results. State investiga- Jeffrey S. Smith, a Bladen
Marshall Tutor, who retired a lot of money around,” ly do it again if they weren’t tors are also probing Dow- County sweepstakes par-
in March after 15 years as said Tutor, 70, recount- prosecuted. Investigators less’ work for Harris for the lor operator, says he gave
an investigator for the N.C. ing the 2010 investigation. are now probing whether May 2018 Republican pri- Dowless off-the-books cash
Board of Elections, told “There was no paper trail. Dowless ran a sophisticat- mary, in which he narrowly in 2014. Smith testified as
The Associated Press his Witnesses refused to give ed operation over multiple defeated incumbent U.S. part of a lawsuit that he
office first fielded accusa- sworn statements or testify election cycles to collect Rep. Robert Pittenger. gave Dowless three cash
tions nearly a decade ago in court. No one was going absentee ballots from vot- Harris has admitted making payments totaling $5,800
that Dowless, now 62, was to admit they were paid $5 ers, potentially altering the the decision to hire Dowless on behalf of current Bladen
among a group giving vot- to vote. But where there’s selections or not turning after hearing about him County Sheriff Jim McVick-
ers cash to fill out ballots the that much smoke, there them in to be counted. Un- from Bladen GOP officials, er, a Republican.
way he directed. was fire.” der state law, it is illegal for paying for the absentee “Everybody will tell you
Emails obtained by AP Dowless did not respond anyone other than a voter ballot operation through that McCrae takes cash
through a public records Tuesday to a message or their immediate family to a political consulting firm. for work,” Smith told AP in
request detail the elections seeking comment. His at- handle an absentee bal- Harris, a Baptist minister, an interview last month, re-
board’s 2010 investigation torney, Cynthia Adams Sin- lot before it is sealed and has denied knowledge of counting the payments.
in Bladen, which began gletary, issued a statement mailed. any wrongdoing. He filed North Carolina’s legislature
after a Democratic candi- last month asserting that Also at issue is whether a lawsuit last week asking has repeatedly voted to
date for county commis- Dowless hasn’t broken any Dowless was working part a state judge to order his outlaw so-called sweep-
sioner reported seeing po- campaign laws. of a larger local political certification as the winner stakes games, which typi-
litical operatives handing The AP first reported last machine, including wheth- of the November election. cally resemble video slot
voters what he suspected month that North Caro- er he could have had im- North Carolina’s appointed machines. But many of
to be cash outside an early lina’s top elections official proper help from current elections board was dis- the operations have man-
voting site. issued an urgent plea near- or former Bladen County solved earlier this month aged to stay open with
Tutor traveled to Bladen ly two years ago for the officials. The state Board by a panel of three state court challenges, software
multiple times, but said Trump administration to file of Elections refused to cer- judges who in October tweaks and frequent politi-
in an interview Monday criminal charges against tify the results of the Nov. struck down the GOP-back cal donations.q
U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 9 January 2019
2nd suspect charged in shooting death of Jazmine Barnes
By JUAN A. LOZANO, the family’s initial descrip-
Associated Press tion was sincere and the
HOUSTON (AP) — Authori- man in the red truck was
ties announced Tuesday likely a bystander who left
that a second black man the scene of the shooting.
has been charged in the Woodruffe was charged
fatal drive-by shooting of as Jazmine’s funeral took
a 7-year-old Houston black place Tuesday afternoon,
girl, whose death her fam- attended by hundreds
ily had initially believed was of people at a Houston
racially motivated. church.
The Harris County Sherriff’s Woodruffe and Black were
Office said 24-year-old Lar- both taken into custody on
ry D. Woodruffe has been Saturday. The sheriff’s office
charged with capital mur- said they identified Wood-
der in the Dec. 30 slaying of ruffe and Black as suspects
Jazmine Barnes. based on a tip from social
Authorities previously said activist and writer Shaun
that they believe Wood- King that was corroborated
ruffe was the person in by their investigation.
an SUV who fired upon While Black was charged
Jazmine and her family as on Sunday with capital
they drove to a grocery murder, Woodruffe was be-
store. The driver of the SUV, The casket of Jazmine Barnes is removed from the funeral hearse to be taken inside the Commu- ing held in the county jail
20-year-old Eric Black Jr. nity of Faith Church for a memorial service, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Houston. on a drug charge while au-
has also been charged Associated Press. thorities prepared a capi-
with capital murder. ing people they’d previ- The family had described them and activists that her tal murder charge against
Authorities say Wood- ously fought at a club hours the shooter as a white man death was a hate crime. him.
ruffe and Black mistakenly earlier when they shot at driving a red pickup truck, Harris County Sheriff Ed Court records did not list an
thought they were attack- Jazmine and her family. prompting concerns by Gonzalez said he believes attorney for Woodruffe.q
Filing: Manafort gave 2016 polling data to Russian associate
By MICHAEL BALSAMO, Although the filing does in special counsel Robert
ERIC TUCKER and CHAD not say whether the poll- Mueller’s investigation and
DAY, Associated Press ing information was public has been among the cen-
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- or what was done with it, tral characters in the case,
mer Trump campaign it raises the possibility that having led the campaign
chairman Paul Manafort Russia might have used during the Republican con-
shared polling data during inside information from vention and as, U.S intel-
the 2016 presidential cam- Trump’s Republican cam- ligence officials say, Russia
paign with a business as- paign as part of its effort to was working to sway the
sociate accused of having interfere with the election election in Trump’s favor.
ties to Russian intelligence, on Trump’s behalf. Manafort has pleaded
and prosecutors say he lied The information was acci- guilty to conspiracy charg-
to them about it, accord- dentally revealed in a de- es in Washington and faces
ing to a court filing Tuesday. fense filing that was meant sentencing in a separate
The allegation marks the to be redacted. case in Virginia.
first time prosecutors have The Associated Press was “These circumstances
accused Trump’s chief able to review the material weighed heavily on Mr.
campaign aide of sharing because it wasn’t properly Manafort’s state of mind
In this May 23, 2018, file photo, Paul Manafort, President Donald
information related to the blacked out. and on his memory as he
Trump’s former campaign chairman, leaves the Federal District
election with his Russian Manafort was among the was questioned at length,”
Court after a hearing in Washington.
contacts. first Americans charged the lawyers wrote. q
Associated Press
A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 9 January 2019
What air travelers should know about the government shutdown
By DAVID KOENIG, AP Air- other government employ-
lines Writer ees, making them more
DALLAS (AP) — The partial vulnerable if they don’t get
government shutdown is paid.
starting to affect air travel. TSA spokesman Jim Grego-
Over the weekend, some ry said officials are manag-
airports had long lines at ing. “If we don’t have ap-
checkpoints, apparently propriations by midweek or
caused by a rising number so, (officers) will miss their
of security officers calling in first paycheck. That’s ob-
sick as they face the pros- viously where it becomes
pect of missing their first more difficult,” he said.
paycheck this week. Gregory said the agency
Safety inspectors aren’t has a team of officers who
even on the job. can go to airports facing a
A Federal Aviation Admin- shortage, a tactic devel-
istration spokesman said oped in case natural disas-
Monday that inspectors ters prevented screeners
are being called back to from getting to work.
work on a case-by-case ___
basis, with a priority put on WHAT ABOUT TRAFFIC CON-
inspecting airline fleets. TROLLERS?
So far, the most visible signs About 1,900 air traffic con-
of the shutdown — in its trollers — nearly one in ev-
18th day yesterday — in- ery five — are eligible to
In this March 16, 2017, file photo, air traffic controllers work in the tower at John F. Kennedy
clude the closure of some International Airport in New York. retire right now.
government buildings and Associated Press. “I don’t know how long
national parks and trash down’s impact on airports ministration, about 51,000 have always been paid af- they’re going to stay on
overflowing bins on the Na- and travel, along with the Transportation Security Ad- ter past shutdowns ended, the job if they are not get-
tional Mall in front of the answers: ministration officers, and and that is the widespread ting a paycheck,” said Paul
Capitol. ___ an undisclosed number of expectation this time too. Rinaldi, president of the Na-
By increasingly affecting air WHO IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP federal air marshals have ___ tional Air Traffic Controllers
travel, however, the pain WORKING? been told to keep report- ARE THEY SHOWING UP? Association.
will be felt more widely. About 10,000 air traffic ing to work because they TSA acknowledges that There is an even larger
Here are some common controllers who work for are deemed essential. more screeners are calling group of recently hired
questions about the shut- the Federal Aviation Ad- Government employees in sick at some airports, in- trainees and apprentices,
cluding Dallas-Fort Worth and Rinaldi said a long shut-
International. down could cause some of
It gave few numbers but them to take other jobs.
issued a statement Friday ___
saying that more have WILL THE SHUTDOWN LEAD
been missing work since the TO FLIGHT DELAYS?
Christmas and New Year’s Rinaldi said safety is not be-
holidays. The TSA said the ing compromised but that
effect was “minimal.” capacity to manage traf-
Then over the weekend, fic could be reduced if the
travelers reported longer shutdown worsens an exist-
checkpoint lines at some ing shortage of controllers.
airports, including LaGuar- That could lead to flight de-
dia in New York. lays, he said. Others are not
On Monday, TSA tweeted so sure.
that agents screened 2.22 “It would have to get pret-
million passengers nation- ty bad before the govern-
wide on Sunday, which it ment said (to airlines), ‘Hey,
called a “historically busy start scaling back your
day due to holiday travel.” plans for service,’” said
TSA said only about 220,000 Richard Aboulafia, an avi-
travelers waited at least ation analyst. “You could
15 minutes at checkpoints, see that in a worst-case
while 0.2 percent — fewer scenario.”
than 5,000 — waited at An early test of the air traffic
least 30 minutes. system could come around
___ the Feb. 3 Super Bowl in
HOW WILL TSA RESPOND TO Atlanta, when an influx of
NO-SHOWS? corporate jets and private
Airport screeners start planes will further crowd
around $24,000 and most the sky above the nation’s
earn between $26,000 and busiest airport.
$35,000 a year, according Planning for handling that
to TSA. traffic has been put on
That is far less than many hold, Rinaldi said.q
U.S. NEWS A7
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Asylum seekers find it’s catch and can’t release fast enough
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associ- seeking families are being
ated Press released in the U.S. before
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Presi- even they are ready. ICE
dent Donald Trump says dropped off hundreds of
he has ended “catch-and- people daily at a bus sta-
release” for asylum seekers, tion in El Paso, Texas, over
but in cities on the U.S. bor- the holidays. In Tucson, Ari-
der with Mexico it is catch zona, charities have rented
and can’t release fast motel rooms when shelters
enough. are full.
Since late October, the U.S. “After decades of inac-
has been releasing asylum- tion by Congress, the gov-
seeking families so quickly ernment remains severely
they don’t even have time constrained in its ability to
to make travel arrange- detain and promptly re-
ments, which it blames on move families with no legal
lack of detention space. basis to remain in the U.S.,”
Families are often giv- said ICE spokeswoman
en court dates without Sarah Rodriguez. “As a re-
even having to pass initial sult, family units continue
screenings by asylum of- to cross the border at high
ficers. They end up in shel- volumes and are likely to
In this Dec. 11, 2018, photo the parents of Yariza Flores, 11, show where the girl cut her torso as
ters run by charities, or are continue to do so, as they
she landed on barbed wire while crossing the border illegally, after arriving from an immigration
dropped off at bus stations face no consequence for
detention center to a shelter in San Diego.
in border cities. their actions.”q
Associated Press.
For one Salvadoran fam-
lies until they can arrange
ily that dizzying series of
transportation to relatives
events began when their
across the U.S. The San Di-
7-year-old daughter, Yariza
ego Rapid Response Net-
Flores, landed on barbed
work , an advocacy coali-
wire after being hoisted
tion that runs the shelter
over a border fence dur-
that housed Yariza and her
ing their illegal crossing last
family, has served more
month. She was rushed to a
than 4,000 people since
San Diego hospital to stop
opening in a church in late
profuse bleeding.
October, moving five times
Just four days later, U.S. au-
since then because it ran
thorities dropped her off at
out of space.
a San Diego shelter with
U.S. Immigration and Cus-
her parents and 3-year-
toms Enforcement often
old brother. They had no
coordinates with these
money, the clothes on their
shelters. On the December
backs and an order given
night that Yariza arrived,
to them during their stint in
ICE brought 125 people
U.S. custody to appear in
in buses that came every
immigration court in Hous-
half-hour. One night during
ton, where they planned
Christmas week, the facility
to live with Yariza’s grand-
received 180 people, forc-
mother and two aunts.
ing it to use a church for
They didn’t even have time
the overflow.
to arrange for relatives to
The situation belies Trump’s
buy bus tickets before they
assertion, in a November
were released.
tweet, that “Catch and Re-
“I feel happy because
lease is an obsolete term. It
we’re finally here, we’re fi-
is now Catch and Detain.”
nally going to see my fam-
The Trump administration
ily,” the girl’s mother, Tania
announced Dec. 20 that it
Escobar, said in the shelter
would make asylum seek-
dining hall after a meal of
ers who enter the U.S. on
shredded chicken, rice
its southern border wait in
and beans. Her daughter
Mexico while their claims
sat nearby, all smiles, wear-
wind through clogged im-
ing a silver crown that a
migration courts, which
Border Patrol agent gave
can take years. But that
her and holding a stuffed
“catch and return” policy
animal from a doctor who
has yet to take effect while
treated the severe cuts on
the two countries work on
her lower back.
mechanics; a legal chal-
From California to Arizona
lenge appears likely.
to Texas, volunteers are
So, for now, many asylum-
scrambling to help fami-
A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Winter storm blasts Europe; 13 dead amid heavy snow, gusts
By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER tions. Flight cancellations
Associated Press were also reported in Slo-
BERLIN (AP) — Deadly win- vakia.
ter weather blasted Europe Low-lying Dutch coastal
for yet another day Tues- regions were being hit by
day, trapping hundreds of strong winds and wild seas,
people in Alpine regions, and local water authorities
whipping up high winds were checking dikes hold-
that caused flight cancel- ing back all that water to
lations and increasing the make sure they were not
risks of more deadly ava- damaged.
lanches. The Noorderzijlvest water
In Norway, attempts to authority said it was moni-
find the bodies of four ski- toring dikes because of
ers were again put on hold debris floating in the sea af-
due to poor visibility and ter 281 shipping containers
heavy snowfall. A 29-year tumbled off a cargo ship
Swedish woman and three in a storm last week. Many
Finns, aged 29, 32 and 36, of the containers are still at
were presumed dead af- sea and some have broken
ter a 300-meter (990-foot) open. “A fridge or contain-
wide avalanche hit a val- er that is rammed against a
ley near the northern city of dike can cause damage,”
A passenger train crosses the Cuha Valley in the heavy snowfall near Vinye, some 140 km west of
Tromsoe last week. Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. the authority said.
Romanian police on Tues- Associated Press Heavy snowfall and strong
day found the frozen body after snow-laden trees took On Monday night, 11 Ger- In the northern coastal Ger- winds were reported Tues-
of a 67-year-old man in a down power lines. man hikers had to be res- man city of Hamburg, resi- day over central Scandi-
parking lot in the southern Schools in some Austrian cued by mountaineers dents were preparing for navia, hampering efforts
city of Slatina after his wife regions remained closed from a cabin near Salzburg, a storm flood caused by a to restore electricity that
reported he hadn’t re- for a second day and ho- after having been snowed winter gale, the German had gone out after anoth-
turned from work. Temper- meowners were advised in without electricity and news agency dpa report- er storm swept through on
atures in Romania plunged to remove snow from their little food since Friday. ed. Jan. 2.
to a low of minus 24 Celsius roofs after several buildings Other people have also In the Netherlands, Am- In Greece, schools in Ath-
(minus 11.2 Fahrenheit). collapsed. One 78-year- been killed by avalanches sterdam’s busy Schiphol ens and many surround-
In Austria, hundreds of resi- old man was severely in- in Switzerland, Austria and Airport saw nearly 25 per- ing areas remained closed
dents were stuck in their jured when he fell off his Germany, and authorities cent of its flights cancelled after snow blanketed
homes due to blocked roof in Turrach while shov- warned that continuing Tuesday. Dutch carrier KLM the capital. Some rural
roads and some regions ex- eling snow, Austrian public snowfall is increasing the canceled 159 flights to and mountain roads were also
perienced power outages broadcaster ORF reported. risk of more avalanches. from European destina- closed.q
France’s Macron faces tough challenges at home and in Europe
By SYLVIE CORBET lion), includes a 100-euro relatively generous unem-
Associated Press ($114) monthly increase to ployment benefits.
PARIS (AP) — French Presi- the minimum salary. The The government wants to
dent Emmanuel Macron big challenge now is con- apply the same rules to all
is facing a mountain of taining the protest violence new pensioners in order to
challenges in the new year that’s hitting Paris tourist replace the dozens of dif-
— starting with yellow vest quarters. In his New Year’s ferent systems specific to
protesters who are back in speech, Macron adopted certain jobs. Macron prom-
the streets to show their an- a tougher stance against ised the legal retirement
ger against high taxes and any violence, denouncing age will remain at 62 but
his pro-business policies “heinous crowds” and urg- the changes might reduce
that they see as favoring ing a restoration of order. some other advantages.
the wealthy rather than the Hoping to calm tensions, The government also plans
working class. the government called on to apply stricter rules to ob-
Once Europe’s rising star, the French to express their tain unemployment bene-
In this Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 file photo, French President
Macron is now fighting views during a “national fits. Other measures would
Emmanuel Macron gestures as he poses for a photograph after
to save his image and the recording of his New Year’s speech at the Elysee Palace, in debate” organized in the allow job cuts among civil
his vision for transforming Paris, France. coming weeks in all regions. servants.
France’s welfare state and Associated Press REFORMS AHEAD The government appears
economic model. Here’s a pass the high cost of living named after the fluores- Despite the protests, Ma- politically weakened by
look at three major issues have led to violent clashes cent protective garments cron has vowed to keep the yellow vest movement
he will need to tackle in with police in Paris and oth- the protesters wear. He reforming the country this but can still pass new bills
2019: er cities — including most abandoned the tax hike year to fulfill some of his at parliament, where Ma-
YELLOW VEST CRISIS recently on Saturday. and announced last month electoral promises. Planned cron’s centrist party holds
Since November, demon- Macron made multiple a series of measures to changes concern highly in- a strong majority. Macron
strations initially triggered concessions that failed to boost purchasing power. flammatory topics: an over- and his parliamentary ma-
by a tax hike on diesel fuel extinguish the anger of the The package, estimated haul of the indebted pen- jority don’t face new elec-
and expanded to encom- yellow vest movement, at 10 billion euros ($11.5 bil- sion system and of France’s tions until 2022. q
WORLD NEWS A9
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Far-right German lawmaker is severely beaten in Bremen
By GEIR MOULSON no evidence so far that
FRANK JORDANS Magnitz was struck with a
Associated Press weapon.
BERLIN (AP) — A lawmaker Authorities appealed for
from the far-right Alterna- witnesses to the attack,
tive for Germany party saying they’re investigat-
was attacked and seriously ing whether Magnitz was
wounded by several men attacked because of his
in the northwestern city of political work, but haven’t
Bremen in what police said ruled out other possibilities.
Tuesday may have been “It was clearly an attempt
a politically motivated as- to murder Mr. Magnitz,”
sault. The beating of Frank AfD co-leader Alexander
Magnitz, a lawmaker in the Gauland told reporters in
national parliament who Berlin. “This is the result of
leads the party’s branch in the ostracism and agitation
Bremen, drew condemna- AfD faces,” he said, sug-
tion from across the politi- gesting other German po-
cal spectrum. litical parties were partly re-
“There’s zero tolerance for sponsible for the attack be-
violence, whoever is af- cause they had compared
fected and wherever the AfD to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi
violence comes from,” party because of its na-
German Interior Minister tionalist rhetoric and cam-
Horst Seehofer told The As- paigns against migrants.
sociated Press. Magnitz told dpa that while
Picture shows the entrance to a theatre where AfD politician Frank Magnitz was attacked Monday
Police said the 66-year-old evening on Tuesday, Jan.8, 2019. he had received threats,
Magnitz was beaten by Associated Press he hadn’t considered any
three people in dark cloth- approaching Magnitz from Magnitz was hospitalized, distributed a photo of him of them concrete.
ing and hoods or hats, who behind, followed closely by and he told the dpa news lying on a gurney, with a The party claims there
then fled. Two workers load- a third person, the authori- agency that doctors want bloody, gaping wound on have been “hundreds” of
ing a car nearby found him ties said. One of them hit him to remain there until his head and his right eye attacks against its officers
on the ground and called the lawmaker from behind, the weekend. He said he bruised and swollen. and members since its
an ambulance. the video showed, and he had little memory of the at- The AfD said Magnitz was founding in 2013.
Surveillance video of the in- fell and suffered a badly tack. His party, known by ambushed after leaving a Last week, an explosion
cident showed two people bleeding head wound. its German acronym AfD, newspaper’s New Year re- outside one of its offices in
ception and beaten with the eastern town of Doe-
a piece of wood. Police, beln damaged windows
German rescue groups say migrants’ however, said there was and doors.q
health worsening on ships
Associated Press before a solution is found?” a deal spelling out how the
BERLIN (AP) — Two German Sea-Watch member Erik 49 passengers and another
nonprofit groups appealed Marquardt asked. A Sea- 249 the island nation says
to European Union coun- Watch crew rescued 32 its took in from recent sea
tries Tuesday to take in 49 migrants from a smugglers’ rescues will be split up and
migrants waiting on rescue boat on Dec. 22 within sight relocated. Germany’s inte-
ships in the Mediterranean of Malta. Seventeen other rior minister said his country
Sea, warning of the passen- people were picked up in would be prepared to take
gers’ deteriorating health. the Mediterranean by a in 50 people, but wants
Sea-Watch and Sea-Eye Sea-Eye crew on Dec. 29. other EU nations to step up,
representatives told report- Neither vessel has been too. “This doesn’t mean 27
ers in Berlin that drinking granted authorization to EU member states need to
water was being rationed dock and disembark the participate,” Interior Minis-
on their ships and some mi- people on board. The Mal- ter Horst Seehofer told re-
grants were having trouble tese government has said porters. “But a presentable
eating due to illnesses. that before the two ships will number of EU states should
“Do people need to die be allowed to port, it wants join in.”q
A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Turkey slams US request for assurances on Syrian Kurds
By ZEKE MILLER tions in Iraq and Syria, the
Associated Press other on the Kurdish militias’
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — “criminal activities and hu-
Turkish President Recep man rights violations.”
Tayyip Erdogan accused A Bolton spokesman, Gar-
the U.S. national security rett Marquis, said in a state-
adviser of making “a very ment that Bolton and Turk-
serious mistake” Tuesday ish officials “had a produc-
by demanding that An- tive discussion of the Presi-
kara guarantee the safety dent’s decision to withdraw
of Kurdish fighters in north- at a proper pace from
eastern Syria before the Northeast Syria.”
U.S. withdraws its troops But Erdogan, for his part,
from the war-torn country. said Bolton had “made a
A strained morning of ne- very serious mistake. Who-
gotiation in Turkey end- ever thinks this way is also
ed without assurances mistaken. We cannot make
of protection for forces any concession in this re-
that fought alongside U.S. gard and those involved
troops against the Islamic in a terror corridor” in Syria
State group, and indeed would “receive the neces-
brought them fresh new sary punishment.”
threats from Turkey. The Trump’s shifting timetable
diplomatic setback raised for pulling U.S. troops out
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he delivers a speech to MPs of his ruling
fresh questions about how Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. of Syria has left allies and
the U.S. would protect its Associated Press other players in the region
allies in the fight against IS speaking on the condition State.An official at the assuring allies it would not confused and jockeying for
and about the pace of the of anonymity because the meeting said Bolton told be done precipitously. influence over a withdraw-
drawdown of U.S. forces official wasn’t authorized Kalin that Erdogan’s op-ed But Kalin told reporters after al strategy that appeared
in Syria. “John Bolton has to speak on the record. was “wrong and offensive.” talks with Bolton there is no to be a work in progress.
made a very serious mis- An official at Tuesday’s The official added that the slowdown in the timetable Trump faced widespread
take. We cannot make meeting between Bolton U.S. stuck by Trump’s re- for U.S. withdrawal from criticism that he was aban-
any concessions in this re- and senior Turkish officials quest that the Kurds who Syria. He said U.S. officials doning the Kurds in the
gard,” Erdogan said Tues- said presidential spokes- fought with the U.S. not have said during their dis- face of Turkish threats. Of-
day, just before Bolton left man Ibrahim Kalin stated be mistreated, and the cussions that the withdraw- ficials said at the time that
the country with tensions that Erdogan committed Turks stuck by their position al could take place within although many details of
between the NATO allies that Turkey would not take that the Kurds “are terrorist “120 days.” the withdrawal had not
at new highs. He added offensive action while U.S. groups and they’re free to Kalin said talks with Bolton yet been finalized, they ex-
that Ankara’s preparations forces were there. go after them.” focused on how the U.S. pected American forces to
for a new military offensive Bolton departed Turkey Trump abruptly announced would collect the weapons be out by mid-January.
against what the Turkish without meeting with Erdo- last month he intended to that were given to Kurdish After Bolton announced
leader describes as terror gan in an apparent snub withdraw U.S. troops from militia fighting Islamic States this week the U.S. pullout
groups in Syria are “to a by the Turks — the meet- Syria, and the U.S. has sent as well as the future of U.S. would not be as immediate
large extent” complete. ing had been expected mixed signals over how bases in Syria. He said he as Trump had initially de-
Bolton had insisted that Tur- for days. A spokesman for soon that would be ac- handed over two dossiers clared, U.S. allies were still
key refrain from conduct- Bolton said U.S. officials complished. Bolton’s trip to to Bolton — one on Turk- seeking clarification from
ing any operation unless it were told Erdogan cited the Mideast was aimed at ish help to Kurdish popula- American diplomats. q
was approved by and co- the local election season
ordinated with the U.S. Tur- and a speech to parlia-
key’s presidential spokes- ment for not meeting with Storm packing snow and rain
man fired back publicly him.
that Turkey would not seek In the more than two-hour
paralyzes parts of Lebanon
permission from its allies to meeting with Kalin, Bolton
conduct a military offen- outlined five U.S. principles
sive against Syrian Kurdish for the Syria drawdown, Associated Press tents. for school to be closed
fighters, but was willing to including that “the United BEIRUT (AP) — A winter Authorities closed the high- even on the coast for a
coordinate operations. States opposes any mis- storm packing heavy rain way linking Beirut with the second day Wednesday.
A senior administration of- treatment of opposition and snow on Tuesday Syrian capital Damascus On Monday, a woman
ficial said Erdogan’s com- forces who fought with us turned streets in Lebanon after parts of it that cut gave birth in an ambu-
ments did not reflect Presi- against ISIS.” into rivers of water and through high mountains be- lance as it took a long time
dent Donald Trump’s un- In the high-stakes session in mud and paralyzed parts came covered with snow. to reach a hospital be-
derstanding of his Dec. 23 Ankara’s presidential com- of the country. In the coastal town of cause of snow. The woman
conversation with the Turk- plex, Bolton also rebuked Among those affected Dbayeh, just north of Beirut, and the baby later arrived
ish leader, days after the Erdogan’s column in The were tens of thousands of part of the highway was at the nearby hospital and
U.S. president announced New York Times, in which Syrian refugees, many of closed after it was filled with both are in good health,
his intent to withdraw Amer- the Turkish leader restated whom live in tent settle- water. Rescuers later used according to state-run Na-
ican troops from northeast- his position that the Syrian ments. In the eastern Bekaa small boats to help people tional News Agency.
ern Syria. Trump “thought Defense Forces were mem- Valley, many Syrian refu- stranded in their cars. The storm dubbed “Nor-
he got a commitment bers of terrorist groups and gees stayed indoors next to Most schools were closed ma” began Saturday and
from Erdogan” to protect criticized the U.S. air cam- diesel or wood heaters as Tuesday and the Lebanese is expected to reach its
the Kurds, the official said, paign against the Islamic snow covered their flimsy education minister called peak Tuesday night.q