VOA [Voice of America] Global English : January 25, 2019 01:00AM-02:00AM EST

Closed captions transcript: 00:00:14 Good morning Africa Welcome to DAYBREAK Africa from the Voice of America James but 00:00:18 take in Washington today is Friday January twenty fifth and here are some of the 00:00:23 stories we're covering Nigeria's main opposition P.D.P. 00:00:26 Candidate challenges President Mohamed do blaring to 00:00:29 a debate before the February sixteenth elections our carbon. Carbon. 00:00:36 Market cool. Good. 00:00:43 One. Is the 00:00:49 spokesman for Nigeria's opposition People's Democratic Party there is 00:00:53 a noticeable lack of female candidates in Senegal February presidential election 00:00:58 following weeks of protests some said this is a Zimbabwean resembles 00:01:02 a war zone and Sudan braces for more anti-government protests today Friday more 00:01:08 than one person is going to come to our blog because the things were buried mostly 00:01:13 provided to the demonstration of the. Who's a showing Gras is 00:01:18 a member of the National Front for Change Party and we'll tell you why some world 00:01:23 leaders stay away from this year's World Economic Forum those the response times 00:01:28 the amount is posted on list now the Day coming up on DAYBREAK Africa. 00:01:41 Nigeria's main opposition People's Democratic Party the P.D.P. 00:01:44 Says its candidate for vice president. Is the challenge an incumbent president 00:01:50 Mohammed who will hurry to 00:01:51 a debate before the February sixteenth elections the party says the debate would 00:01:56 help prospective Nigerian voters make up their minds about which candidate has de 00:02:01 policy to address the country's ongoing security and economic challenges. As well 00:02:06 as create jobs for the youth President Blair is kept in the recent debate due to 00:02:11 what officials said was a conflict in the president's schedule the P.D.P. 00:02:16 Remarks came after civil society groups called for another televised national 00:02:20 presidential debate for the major candidates cola. Is P.D.P. 00:02:26 Spokesman. Of course you shop is not our credibility that people lose. 00:02:32 Alhazmi to cool 00:02:34 a Bill Baka if prepared to deplete the common bad press for the rest of the global 00:02:40 group while the need everywhere including the banquet hall 00:02:47 of us to the law school. A lack of 00:02:51 a kid the president. Well some office 00:02:57 a POTUS are saying you seem to be making in politics again our home is on fortunate 00:03:03 medical condition which are significantly improved and that this is just politics 00:03:08 as usual to score cheap political points are good I agree with most of what our 00:03:13 present while but why I said clearly that if you are before. 00:03:20 You move the prepare to back to very very dear ones who have gone with the trust 00:03:27 that they really pull to you almost four years ago it will have 00:03:31 a situation where you are filled with what really is the most critical positive. 00:03:38 In the affairs of others you can vote blue in the open she shops for telling you 00:03:44 that they are prepared to buy debt or the bank I love till today while they are 00:03:48 prepared to use visual to our little you'd like I am prepared to find optional wood 00:03:54 to lead that you need to. Go push each other don't go prepared to fly. 00:04:01 It oughta be pluggable have 00:04:03 a cup of what is called that we have left all to Billy T.'s to wall does Governor 00:04:08 of that are comfortable today or that this is off its heels that this was a P.D.P. 00:04:15 Have thought Carly did as President did they buy their friends to read you believe 00:04:21 you that is why bridges. I live with that had to do the people's car did. 00:04:29 The government has said Boko Haram has been defeated technically and that the areas 00:04:36 that they used to control they don't control anymore they're rendered before I mean 00:04:40 effective the president continued to implement policies to jumpstart the economy to 00:04:46 help alleviate the suffering of Nigerians So Nigerians are with the president and 00:04:51 the governor after that point in time. Because of pride Boko Haram. 00:04:58 Salute. I says who because they've got a low. Whether 00:05:04 a book or on Friday the prophet who was also 00:05:08 a look at it too often on the plough quoters. Life as a boy about 00:05:14 a bloody few weeks bark cries. The privilege of 00:05:19 a torrent of President security. And I also quickly 00:05:26 want to rebuy do you know whether it'd if you did because you will get out of our 00:05:31 issue of this particular order shyly issue oh that got you 00:05:38 I'm largely borders but I was pleased to do so does. 00:05:46 Print put it out where I was pretty too greedy but retreat I'm going to let it 00:05:52 credit for their daughters are. Really Sure clearly to the show's 00:05:59 done. A series. Elopement the spokesman for 00:06:06 nine years Me opposition People's Democratic Party he spoke with us Peter Clottey 00:06:11 from the capital Abuja Synod on he's prepared to vote in presidential elections 00:06:16 next month there is no discipline like 00:06:19 a female county does all of the candidates in this year's election men. Senegal 00:06:25 a country officer for the Open Society. Initiative tolls Ricky Shrike that the mill 00:06:30 County does not address the women's rights issues these are thought to be 00:06:35 a shame because I think I think for the boss to work with I'm sure actions we have 00:06:39 had women candidates even even beyond those two if there is no problem of the 00:06:43 ladies let's leave it out of the things they shouldn't because we have 00:06:46 a particular thanks to each other we have. Women not 00:06:51 a presentation at the National Assembly then being from our cook for kids who are 00:06:55 forty three percent black folks in my view the issue needs to be deported out of 00:07:01 poverty and I went to the presentation regret of the boys and tried to go potty we 00:07:07 didn't have the budget to go I know for sure that we wouldn't have. This number of 00:07:12 for many of them and so which means that the demand of the other two going to 00:07:18 steamroll could do to empower women who came here and that programs and then could 00:07:25 use them more the more the degree that he had 00:07:28 a motive for him to continue but what are the real impacts that lack of women at 00:07:33 the leadership level in political parties has on people in Senegal he think that's 00:07:38 a great meeting their way that. You don't have very strong 00:07:45 leadership that women. Can shame some of the deeds when she look at the National 00:07:51 Assembly today their ratings with the people works even though you have 00:07:55 a good friend a good number for women. If you don't have 00:07:59 a strong woman more men or 00:08:02 a parliamentary movement that try to push soem again for advancing woman tries or 00:08:09 do instead we want some potion issues do you think there is 00:08:13 a candidate in the current field although there are no female candidates who best 00:08:17 represents a push for women's rights to have the as 00:08:21 a concern that we have as you might have more. Flags I haven't might. Heard any 00:08:28 candidate and states if you can we should walk. In produce ID 00:08:35 want to have anywhere to go we see a woman will go into place 00:08:40 a form in the best of good how do we want to have something that the exact detail 00:08:46 and turns off right for the woman and so far for the cliff to drop have disappeared 00:08:51 I mean for girls and women you don't see it's like when my 00:08:58 mother physically attacked 00:09:00 a girl we that they would address in the way that it's certain that on some 00:09:06 excellent speech if you've got it if you want to put in they want to do huge sum up 00:09:10 some We've got cops all for discriminating rooms on system or office 00:09:17 maybe things could be men care Gergen and given them so you can find some obvious 00:09:22 harm for we feel you were so much you have to keep in general. That was 00:09:28 Senegal country office of the Open Society Initiative she was speaking to Ricky's 00:09:33 triad from dot com You're listening to daybreak Africa and the Voice of America I'm 00:09:38 James but in Washington today is Friday January twenty fifth please send your 00:09:42 comments and opinions to daybreak Africa at the ole News dot com daybreak Africa 00:09:47 time is coming up at fifteen minutes past the hour Sudan is bracing for more 00:09:52 anti-government protests today Friday follow what organizers call the largest 00:09:57 nationwide protests yesterday Thursday the Associated Press reported that 00:10:01 a twenty four year old man died of wounds he sustained bringing the total number of 00:10:06 dead demonstrators to twenty nine since the top of the protest the protests began 00:10:11 in mid December over high commodity prices but then they protest began to the 00:10:16 protesters began to demand the resignation of President Omar al Bashir in power for 00:10:22 thirty years but President Bashir says there can be no change of leadership in 00:10:27 Sudan except through the ballot box who say she is 00:10:31 a member of the opposition National Front for change political party. This morning 00:10:36 a protest one o'clock four seventeen different location and it's been the biggest 00:10:42 one it's have been seen in this protest is. Seventy places in the capital of 00:10:49 Khartoum and also. Two hundred different cities are not villages they did the same 00:10:56 thing big demonstrations were there any casualties in terms of anyone being killed 00:11:01 yes actually there are two people one of them is the students of the University of 00:11:06 for and it's been killed by the torture of the security what do you expect for 00:11:13 today Friday we expect to also another demonstration it's going to comes out of the 00:11:18 mosque because this is where the area mostly decided to start the demonstration 00:11:23 after the prayers of courts are President Bashir. The call for him to step down the 00:11:29 president is that he's not going to do it that you all should go to an election if 00:11:34 you want to change 00:11:35 a yes that's actually what he's. Talking about his party also talking about the 00:11:41 election in twenty twenty but nobody is trusting their invitation because what is 00:11:47 happening like different before not 00:11:50 a fair elections in two thousand and fifteen and before two thousand and ten or 00:11:55 a lot of you know achieving in the elections and I think people now because now 00:12:01 they're asking for the hard again to step down so as schools in session doing these 00:12:06 protests as students coming to school are going to school in some incidents go to 00:12:11 school but like most of the people in the you know kids not to go to school 00:12:16 actually attendance is probably less than fifty percent but the government is just 00:12:21 you know the student to go to school because they want to show that everything is 00:12:25 normal and yesterday also there's 00:12:28 a big happening for Sudan which is the by the Red Sea and there was 00:12:34 a fight between the military and the security and seem to be like under the 00:12:41 casualties from the security one person got killed yesterday by the army because 00:12:46 it's fighting each other president but I think he had gone to Qana back in the 00:12:51 country and what did he bring back I think he came empty handed from Qatar What do 00:12:56 you me I mean that's nothing you know there's no promise for the Qatari government 00:13:01 for supporting the economy of Sudan even not 00:13:04 a promise for. Money or you know we. HUSSEIN She cries member 00:13:10 of the opposition National Front for change political party in Sudan you are 00:13:14 speaking with me from the capital Hartill ma some citizens in Zimbabwe who claim 00:13:19 they were assaulted by AMI by the army I say the country resembles 00:13:24 a war zone they want 00:13:26 a president. To Raney military forces which reportedly continue our Saltonstall 00:13:33 a week after the country's protests over 00:13:36 a fuel price hike. Reports from Harare. 00:13:44 Our law it appears as if you scroll back to business in the cutoff. After last 00:13:51 week's violent protests some Zimbabweans do not sing song they say the army 00:13:57 pointedly was assaulting them one of the victims is this forty one year old woman 00:14:03 who says she was assaulted Sunday him as she was walking with their husband and 00:14:08 their two kids a gun but it was used and she broke here I.D.L. 00:14:12 Bomb here husband can't walk because she was struck in the back. Of anyone dreamed 00:14:19 anything about I mean that's what it is in individual situation but they're 00:14:24 fighting with people one word. By the Army and I wish they'd told 00:14:30 people says find out soon many people have been injured and defeated to what you 00:14:37 need to cation their movement against to five pm We know. If they meet you 00:14:44 after six pm That's nice to see it's their US old shoe but if you are lucky to even 00:14:50 out around two AM they can come from indoors we are living sleepless nights she 00:14:58 is not with Human Rights Commission Sayed has he ended this and the use of live I 00:15:03 mean ition by media to the forces of the protests if it is out heading into deads. 00:15:09 What created that heads would roll among security forces for any brutality 00:15:16 but little wins did he spokesman George came to the defense of Zimbabwe's security 00:15:22 forces for the auctions during last week's protests were. If I trotted on the 00:15:28 mission this is 00:15:30 a fundamental question to ask him when I saw him down gently condone violence that 00:15:36 we saw actually just leave his head when he says I can't do that when that happens 00:15:41 this Saturday thirty two of the state is in question and I can assure you if the 00:15:45 point of the state isn't racialist it is an obligation to demonstrate that it 00:15:49 exists to ensure that and would that and that's exactly what happened but the forty 00:15:53 one year old woman who says she no confirmed for you had two children since their 00:15:59 right hand is broken as 00:16:01 a message from now was also. Commander in Chief. 00:16:08 Sam was a person with 00:16:10 a gun at him I'm appealing to him to tell the army not to beat up people because we 00:16:15 know fear to stay even in our homes because anytime soldiers can come. Through 00:16:22 windows if people do not open doors even innocents are being affected we now live 00:16:29 in fear of being assaulted for lorries in. This southern Africa director 00:16:36 at Human Rights Watch sitting around at the totally miss the point Columbus enough 00:16:42 for you when you lose. This year's World Economic Forum summit team Davos 00:16:48 Switzerland which concludes today Friday has some notable absentees including U.S. 00:16:53 President Donald Trump with backlash against 00:16:56 a perceived ruling elite gaining ground in many countries some leaders are steering 00:17:01 clear of a gathering often seen as an in 00:17:04 a sensible club for the world's super rich but others say it is vital that they get 00:17:10 together to discuss urgent issues like climate change and ritual reports on the 00:17:16 surface it's business as usual at Davos on 00:17:20 a sealed off snowbound mountain top world leaders rub shoulders with Global 00:17:25 executives lobbyists and. Groups 00:17:28 a vital gathering of global decision makers says Leslie of policy group Chatham 00:17:34 House they're there to do business they're there to engage in an exchange of ideas 00:17:38 and I think it's it's all tremendously important but this year there's no American 00:17:43 delegation President Trump has stayed away amid the U.S. 00:17:47 Government shutdown China's president Xi Jinping isn't here neither is Britain's to 00:17:52 resume 00:17:53 a normal France's President Emanuel Mark wrong they're tremendously preoccupied 00:17:59 with the troubles that they face at home which is 00:18:01 a good sign for globalism the criticism and the critique that surrounds Davos as 00:18:07 extraordinary people say you know it's where it's where all those people go to sort 00:18:11 of have dinner at with each other has nothing to do with the rest of us and of 00:18:16 course it's about a lot more than laugh at the optics are tremendous 00:18:20 a tremendously negative at this point in time while Davos is sealed off by high 00:18:25 security delegates are well aware of 00:18:27 a growing global backlash David Gergen of the Harvard Kennedy School echoed the 00:18:33 concerns of many 00:18:34 a divorce during one debate this week we've had good economic times comes or going 00:18:40 up 00:18:40 a number of countries and you have the discontent is deep and is threatening our democracy 00:18:45 is the absence of many big players means others have stolen the limelight 00:18:50 Ethiopia's prime minister made early has been widely praised for making peace with 00:18:56 Eritrea he said African countries must deepen their ties we believe integration 00:19:02 must be viewed not just as an economic project but also ask you sure to 00:19:08 securing peace and reconciliation in the Horn of Africa other issues to have risen 00:19:14 up the devil so gender notably climate change New Zealand's prime minister just in 00:19:20 there are Dern urged action this is about being on the right side of history and do 00:19:25 you want to be 00:19:25 a leader that you look back in time. And say that you were on the wrong side of the 00:19:30 argument when the world was crying out for 00:19:32 a solution and it's as simple as that I think. Twenty nineteen will likely be 00:19:39 remembered for the lack of global leadership says analyst that space has been 00:19:44 vacated nobody necessarily even wants to take things forward at the level of 00:19:49 providing a vision and 00:19:51 a set of tangible policy proposals for how to actually implement 00:19:57 a vision that can carry us through a really troubling time the lack of such 00:20:02 a vision at a time of profound global change has sent 00:20:06 a chill far beyond the confines of this winter resort and viewing News London. 00:20:24 Daybreak Africa's poster here or something. Nigeria 00:20:28 a very good Friday morning to you some say Good Friday morning to you James we 00:20:33 begin the sports with the draws for the calf Confederations Cup which took place 00:20:37 earlier this week in Cairo Egypt a group has 00:20:41 a dinner of more. Of Congo as a kind of more of 00:20:47 a blank of miracle get out for the top sports from that group Group B. 00:20:51 Have a told to say hello Tunisia ranges of Nigeria Sally tens of C.S. 00:20:57 Flexi and of Tunisia while a group see the likes of United of Zambia 00:21:02 a lot of Sudan Santy of Ghana can out of Zambia will battle for the quarterfinal 00:21:09 sports why Group D. Would see go my hear of Kenya and him who sing day of J. 00:21:14 We have 00:21:15 a political fun goal or something like of Egypt to for the top sports from the 00:21:20 group reacting to draw some prospects of the teens is a football on 00:21:24 a list of freight sarky I must confess this year's jump to conclusions actually 00:21:31 could go for the tough because basically we have 00:21:34 a parody of the car for Champions League. Of additions called all the groups are 00:21:40 interesting because I see the North African teams we have so many of them I see 00:21:44 them in almost all the groups I expect that basically did not African teams will 00:21:48 come out in the meantime Cameroonian side could transport go Rua have reports again 00:21:52 young club Shanta cortical to the Confederation of African football over what they 00:21:57 described as era gravity of. Two after the two legged encounter and 00:22:02 a play of faith of the Confederations Cup The Cameroonian side want to get up to be 00:22:07 true out of the Confederations Cup group stages after claiming that documents 00:22:12 tended to during their marches with 00:22:13 a guinea and plop carrot. New bones to sneak in just the number eight while the 00:22:18 documents of the reverse fixture have 00:22:20 a simply ask name affiliated to do number three juicy which is 00:22:24 a valley sion of practical six point five of the competition's rules at Mt Unca 00:22:30 a member of 00:22:31 a Santa court of course management asked dismissed the allegations. Have always 00:22:38 existed because. This is the place the news agency. And almighty just. 00:22:47 By name. Went on by just about why why why. 00:22:55 This and finally in athletics news Walding come on what five thousand metres 00:23:00 champion. Will be cheese in her fourth title at this year's king and Defense Forces 00:23:06 Cross Country Championships set for today at the how 00:23:10 a guy risen Helen Newbury who is also the Africa five thousand metres champion said 00:23:14 how ultimate dream is to represent Kenya for the first time at the Ward cross 00:23:19 country slated for March thirtieth this year. In Denmark and that seat Africa's 00:23:26 sports I am Sampson or my leg in Nigeria it's back to you James in 00:23:32 Washington thank you Samson have 00:23:34 a good week and we look forward to your report again on Monday morning and that's 00:23:38 it for this Friday January twenty fifth edition of DAYBREAK Africa we thank you for 00:23:42 spending this week with us for the DAYBREAK Africa team produce 00:23:46 a nickel back for reporters Peter Clottey and reiki struck as well as sports editor 00:23:51 something along with our engineers are 00:23:53 a day I'm joined but in Washington wishing all of you in Africa 00:23:58 a very very good weekend. When 00:24:04 news breaks V.O.A. 00:24:06 Africa is there. On weekends tune into Nightline Africa at sixteen 00:24:13 hundred and one thousand nine hundred U.T.C. 00:24:16 And our five minute newscast comes you at the top of each hour we'll weigh Africa 00:24:22 your trusted source of information. 00:24:35 Hello Douglas in Bogota host of Deal as 00:24:38 a reporter as one table join us live inside the day as we've discussed until 00:24:43 a time after time talk to an event I'll have 00:24:46 a panel of up on journalist and expect guests to discuss the topic the times we 00:24:51 stayed at the Apollo I think for time to have the news talk that support I was 00:24:56 wrong to waver thaws there at seventy five to U.T.C. Ratio on the B.O.H. 00:25:01 Africa. 00:25:12 Hello there today is Friday January twenty fifth and this is V.O.A. 00:25:16 As international edition I'm Lori London in Washington coming up growing concerns 00:25:21 over national security an air safety as the U.S. 00:25:24 Government shutdown continues. Now with relying on the eighty three people to help 00:25:30 them out and make sure that they think they are in that whole point look I was in 00:25:33 during the. Democratic Republic of Congo inaugurate 00:25:37 a new president and an American rock legend who celebrity lives on even though she 00:25:42 only lived to be twenty seven it's all on today's international edition. 00:25:55 Well Venezuela's opposition party continues to push to isolate the country's 00:25:59 disputed presidential Nicolas Maduro as an increasing number of countries declare 00:26:05 their support for interim leader Juan lotto Thursday wado the president of 00:26:10 Venezuela's national assembly declared himself interim president during 00:26:13 a day of mass demonstrations on Wednesday. Tell gets 00:26:18 a better understanding of the situation with our White House senior correspondent 00:26:22 Patsy would 00:26:22 a coup Swara. Well yesterday President Trump tweeted that the citizens of Venezuela 00:26:29 have suffered for too long at the hands of the illegitimate mind to it all to Asia 00:26:34 so in that tweet he essentially recognizes one Why no the president of the 00:26:38 Venezuelan National Assembly as the interim president of Venezuela the White House 00:26:43 then followed with 00:26:44 a formal statement and not long after that we saw other countries doing the same 00:26:49 thing including Canada Colombia Brazil Panama and Argentina we can also see 00:26:56 from the day before when Vice President Mike Pence in 00:26:59 a video the Clare support of the United States for the Venezuelan people especially 00:27:04 for the planned mass protests against my little and we also know that since my 00:27:09 daughter was inauguration on January tenth the U.S. 00:27:11 And the other countries in the Organization of American States Prime and council 00:27:15 have voted not to recognize my daughter's neuters So there is 00:27:18 a gradual ramping up and it escalated yesterday into this big diplomatic crisis 00:27:25 that we are in now well Maduro has ordered all personnel at the U.S. 00:27:29 Embassy to leave the country within seventy two hours as the U.S. 00:27:33 Has said he doesn't have the authority to do that so how likely is 00:27:36 a confrontation between the U.S. 00:27:38 And Venezuela Well right now we are in 00:27:41 a very fast moving diplomatic crisis it's very fluid whether or not it would 00:27:46 devolve into a military confrontation obviously depends on 00:27:49 a lot of factors and I can't say for sure but we know that yesterday when President 00:27:54 Trump was asked if he was considering military force he said we're not considering 00:27:59 anything but all options are always on the table and he said that several times all 00:28:03 options are always on the table and I feel that this was somewhat of an escalation 00:28:07 from last week when I spoke with 00:28:09 a senior administration officials who said that all options are on the table except 00:28:14 military at that time they are still just considering the economic and diplomatic 00:28:18 toolbox including you know more sanctions or all embargo and what they're doing. 00:28:24 Now he's certainly putting more pressure model because now governments and 00:28:28 companies and international organizations will channel aid through the National 00:28:33 Assembly which will mean 00:28:35 a very big blow to the model they seem because international aid as you know is one 00:28:39 of its major source of income when I whatever steps the U.S. 00:28:43 Takes will not take place in 00:28:44 a vacuum you've got Russia and China who are supporters of Madeira How have they 00:28:49 reacted to Washington's moves Well Russia has warned for Washington not to 00:28:54 intervene militarily in Venezuela saying that it would trigger 00:28:58 a catastrophe in Moscow is saying that it would stand with them and so allowed to 00:29:02 protect its sovereignty China is also calling out the U.S. 00:29:05 To stay out saying it opposes all outside intervention in Venezuela and as you know 00:29:09 both both of these countries have given the model to him candles and billions of 00:29:14 billions of dollars and they have both invested heavily in Venezuela so this is 00:29:18 a huge political gamble and you political gamble for Beijing and Moscow and 00:29:23 analysts have warned that this could be the next hot spot for the world's big 00:29:26 players and their quest to expire and there is fear of influence right that's White 00:29:31 House senior correspondent Patsy would a coup Swara the U.S. 00:29:35 Government shutdown continues after the Senate Thursday rejected two bills that 00:29:39 would have ended 00:29:39 a partial government shutdown A.P.'s at Donahue reports one of the Bills had the 00:29:46 money President Trump wanted for border security the other did not the results of 00:29:50 the motion is not the agreed to Democrat Patrick Leahy says he knows what 00:29:54 furloughed workers are feeling her angry they're confused about why their paychecks 00:29:59 are being held hostage Maine Republican Susan Collins says this can be worked out 00:30:04 compromise it's not a dirty bird she says compromise is 00:30:08 a sign of strength left as compromise to reopen the government address border 00:30:14 security and gather with that business of this country press secretary Sarah 00:30:20 Sanders says President from would consider signing 00:30:23 a short term bill. Only if it includes 00:30:25 a down payment on the wall and Donohue Washington President Trump did later speak 00:30:30 to reporters at the White House Thursday saying he would accept 00:30:33 a deal to at least temporarily reopen the federal government if it contained 00:30:37 a quote prorated down payment on the US Mexico border wall he has sought for two 00:30:42 years we have 00:30:44 a lot of alternatives honestly have everybody for the most part people agree when I 00:30:50 say everybody I would say almost everybody agree we have to have border security we 00:30:55 have to have 00:30:56 a wall in order to have border security you cannot have border security without 00:31:00 some so the country has no choice but to build a wall to keep out what he says is 00:31:04 a virtual invasion by criminals human traffickers and drugs Meanwhile 00:31:08 a number of former national security officials both Republican and Democrat have 00:31:12 written a letter to the White House and Congress morning that the shutdown is 00:31:15 a danger to national security and warning the government must be reopened 00:31:20 immediately joining us to talk about that part of the story is Robert bytes 00:31:25 professor of governmental affairs at George Mason University How serious of 00:31:29 a concern is national security becoming with every new day of the shutdown I think 00:31:35 it's very serious it's not so what's the funding per se what it is is that people 00:31:40 are not working and when they're working they're doing significant things for 00:31:44 example if things with Russia get really serious what kind of military planning are 00:31:50 we doing if things get serious with China what kinds of things are we doing in 00:31:54 anticipation I would be really surprised if we do not begin see actions by 00:32:01 China or Russia to sort of nibble around the edges to see what our reactions are 00:32:06 going to be and so I think it's very serious and I think what's particularly 00:32:10 serious is I'm not expecting us he could tackle in the like that but training takes 00:32:14 place and that's not being done research and development on weaponry and defensive 00:32:20 weaponry is not being done we're not just talking about the federal. Employees who 00:32:25 are working we're also talking about all the contractors that's very serious and in 00:32:30 addition this sort of thing is demoralizing for workers and I read articles I'm 00:32:35 sure you have as well about federal workers and now who are beginning to look at 00:32:40 the private sector and so I think the combination of these factors is very 00:32:45 dangerous and seven weeks that's 00:32:46 a lot of time in mind and you know all of us in various jobs from time to time have 00:32:52 been required to work really long hours but that's not 00:32:55 a day after day after day after day and you know you recognize I'm going through 00:32:59 this high stress level and but that'll be done in 00:33:02 a week or so yes this is been going on now for five weeks and you cannot expect 00:33:07 people to work anywhere near their normal levels of quality and so yeah I don't 00:33:12 think credibly dangers but again this is one twelfth of the year you just can't 00:33:18 lose one twelfth of 00:33:19 a year without noticing it this whole thing started because the president is trying 00:33:24 to make a case that in order to have national security we need 00:33:27 a border wall but at the same time this shutdown seems to be posing an even greater 00:33:33 national security risk most people that look at the border issue don't believe that 00:33:39 it's an emergency or even 00:33:41 a serious security concern most analysts think that the bulk of illegal drugs 00:33:47 illegal weapons and so on coming through airports you know come through controlled 00:33:52 places not being snuck across the border between Mexico and the United States but 00:33:58 then you point back to the air and we've got the T.S.A. 00:34:01 Security agencies that are in charge of screening that are calling in sick in 00:34:06 record numbers and upset and angry and can't pay their bills and you know I've 00:34:11 heard stories of people getting through the lines with things and getting on planes 00:34:15 with things they shouldn't be getting on Certainly it's troubling on the merits but 00:34:19 personalities have entered it in this dispute in 00:34:21 a very large and whole someway. The president deciding first that he's going to 00:34:26 hold the state of the Union someplace and then deciding not so clearly there is and 00:34:32 the most between him and Speaker Pelosi and I don't think that's likely to help 00:34:38 this problem get solved how much longer do you think something like this can go on 00:34:44 with out doing really serious damage to our security or our 00:34:51 economy that clip have an impact for years to calm it is 00:34:56 a great question and I read an article that was in Mr Mulvaney was talking about 00:35:02 agencies making plans for shutdown Wessling into March I find that really 00:35:09 really threatening to our national security and as you say to our economy I don't 00:35:14 know what the total number of people who are not getting paid as I know the 00:35:18 government figures about eight hundred thousand but then there are the so-called 00:35:21 beltway bandits the various consulting firms around Washington but then in addition 00:35:26 to that are all the merchants who are not getting paid as much as they would if 00:35:30 there were not the shutdown and at some point that becomes 00:35:33 a serious amount of money once Robert guides professor of governmental affairs at 00:35:37 George Mason University thanks for being with us well meanwhile the shutdown is 00:35:41 causing air travel concerns on Wednesday leaders of the Air Traffic Controllers 00:35:45 Association warns that they can't accurately calculate the safety risk at this 00:35:50 point they're urging the president and Congress to reopen the government this is 00:35:54 workers are going without pay or furloughed energy along with an already stressful 00:36:00 job and having to drive or wait tables and other things to make ends meet Joining 00:36:07 us to talk about that part of the story New Mexico based aviation attorney will 00:36:11 Angela. You know it could be difficult to assess the rot so to say 00:36:18 but air traffic controllers especially around large cities stay very very busy and 00:36:23 have stressful jobs as it is and if you start losing 00:36:26 a few of them because they don't show up for work or you know they have to find 00:36:30 other jobs because they can't make ends meet then you know you're down 00:36:34 a bunch of people men and women that do this every day and that makes it less safe 00:36:37 but also even if they show up to work and they're distracted by the fact that you 00:36:43 know they may not make their next mortgage payment or they can't make 00:36:45 a car payment or they can't make braces clément or you know just the things that 00:36:49 ordinary people have to deal with you don't want an air traffic controller 00:36:52 distracted by those things when he's trying to keep planes moving safely through 00:36:56 the air that is 00:36:57 a scary proposition to think that the people in charge of keeping the airways safe 00:37:02 and making sure these planes don't drop from the sky are distracted or tired from 00:37:07 a second job or like you said worried and stressed and distracted exactly as the 00:37:12 financial problems they also mentioned that this is impacting you know mechanical 00:37:19 issues getting fixed and things like that that's another pretty scary thought well 00:37:24 it is you know the F.A.A. 00:37:26 Has a lot of people who are furloughed right now and they inspect you know 00:37:32 a lot of the airlines work that they do the mechanical work when they have major 00:37:36 maintenance on a plane only to an F.A.A. 00:37:38 Representative to come sign off on that and if those guys are not on the job or or 00:37:45 . Not able to come out timely because of this whole crisis then yes you're 00:37:49 affecting safety there and also with regard to just you know general aviation 00:37:55 safety the F.A.A. 00:37:56 Is constantly got its fingers in looking into issues and things like that and 00:38:01 issuing warnings where they see them but if they're not on the job or they're 00:38:05 distracted for some other reason then they're going to miss those things as well I 00:38:09 know the N.T.S.B. 00:38:11 Which is different organization in the. A lot of those guys are furloughed and 00:38:14 they're not doing aircraft crash investigations right now or at least as much as 00:38:19 they normally do because they just don't have the manpower and the money I guess 00:38:22 you can't really gauge whether or not we are really people are at risk if they 00:38:26 decide to fly well if anecdotally I mean I have flown several times in the in the 00:38:31 past few days you know it seems to be fine right now I think it's like I say this 00:38:36 is an issue that if it doesn't get fixed soon I think will become dangerous it 00:38:42 appears that right now the you know the number of workers that they need that they 00:38:47 have and these people are working without pay so far and it seems to be 00:38:52 a Band-Aid that it's working you know just over the last couple of weeks if it goes 00:38:57 longer than the whole thing's going to rot out and then you are going to have some 00:39:02 serious issues some serious problems I think you'll have to shut down some airports 00:39:07 and not be able to operate if it goes on for sixty more days or something because 00:39:10 they're just not going to have anybody there to do the work do you think pilots are 00:39:13 concerned that they're not getting what they need from air traffic control given 00:39:18 what's going on I would be I would be if I were an airline pilot because they can't 00:39:23 see airliners or big but you're not able to see them if they're far enough and so 00:39:29 you've got to have somebody with 00:39:30 a powerful radar sitting in an air traffic control tower telling you you know if 00:39:35 you've got traffic moving in or you guys are on some kind of collision course I 00:39:39 mean they really heavily rely on A.T.C. 00:39:42 Now they have 00:39:42 a flight plan that they fly and they're If you stick to that you should be good but 00:39:47 a lot of times the real world scenarios will come up where they have to adjust 00:39:50 certain things and pilots rely on the A.T.C. 00:39:54 People to help them out and make sure that they stay safe in that whole point for 00:39:58 the passengers they say New Mexico based aviation attorney will Angele U.S. 00:40:03 Authorities expect to soon hand down 00:40:06 a sentence in the case of Maria but you know the thirty year old Russian woman now 00:40:10 held in a U.S. Jail after pleading. T. 00:40:12 Of conspiring to influence American politics she is accused of conspiracy and 00:40:17 acting as 00:40:18 a foreign agent view as Ricardo Mark Kenya Montagnier traveled to the Siberian city 00:40:25 of bar Knol to speak with his family about the case that's being watched around the 00:40:30 world Igor see Khan. Narrates. Ten thousand kilometers from 00:40:37 the prison in Virginia where Mario has been jailed since last June in the frigid 00:40:42 city of barn owl in Western Siberia her parents and sister gather at the family 00:40:46 home here no one doubts Mary is innocent her father like others believes she was 00:40:52 just trying to build ties with America. We find that 00:40:59 quite unnatural to accuse 00:41:00 a person because of her willingness to see the relations between the two countries 00:41:04 as good ones more friendly that would be correct taking into account not quite good 00:41:09 relations are presently exist between our countries has always been willing to see 00:41:15 relations of our two countries as friendly ones. But with has been often 00:41:22 this time I mean the legal bills are adding up and the family is having trouble the 00:41:26 political support that they appear to be getting from the Kremlin they say does not 00:41:30 come with financial help. My family was quite alarmed by these events and presently 00:41:37 we regularly appeal to the mass media with the request to help us since the legal 00:41:41 support on behalf of the American side I mean the lawyers is quite expensive. 00:41:48 In this city and it was here that she launched her political career at the school 00:41:52 of real politics that trains young people on how to lobby local politicians. 00:41:57 Persecutors say they have evidence showing Maria had contact with Russian 00:42:02 intelligence officials but to her mentor and to Russian public opinion Maria is 00:42:07 a victim of Washington's domestic battles. Are 00:42:12 a huge. Number I do not think this is an issue of Russia and America From my 00:42:18 perspective getting deeper into the real politics I mean this is an internal 00:42:23 American issue and other words trump to put it this way his entourage and the 00:42:28 Democrats are very near you Monk rather in Moscow is betrayed. As 00:42:35 yet more aggression from the West against Russia in bar no will the tensions 00:42:39 between Moscow and Washington have Mari abortionists family in limbo they can only 00:42:44 hope to have their daughter home soon. We so much look forward to it I 00:42:51 do not even know how this first moment will be we just certainly embrace each other 00:42:55 and probably will cry 00:42:56 a bit but that will be tears of joy that is for sure. The memory of what you know 00:43:02 has pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to influence American politics and 00:43:06 her sentence likely to partition he's banding the battle that her case has 00:43:11 unleashed between Moscow and Washington has sent 00:43:13 a chill through some in this frigid and faraway Siberian city for 00:43:17 a garden marquee in barn old Russia. 00:43:27 Care some of the stories are following in viewing News dot com US Syrian pullout 00:43:31 pushes Syrian Kurds toward Damascus nuclear and climate threats keep the Doomsday 00:43:37 Clock close to Apocalypse Britain France back protests against Venezuela's 00:43:44 majority and Senate committee subpoenas ex Trump lawyer Michael Collins find 00:43:50 expanded coverage of these stories and more V.O.A. News dot com and on our V.O.A. 00:43:55 Mobile lab this is international edition. 00:44:06 After a contentious chaotic election the Democratic Republic of Congo inaugurated 00:44:10 a new president Thursday Felix. Inauguration while disputed and controversy 00:44:17 a list of first peaceful transfer of power that independent Congo has ever seen but 00:44:22 is it really a new start analysts say no V.O.A. 00:44:27 ZINAIDA Powell reports from Johannesburg South Africa all eyes were on Felix his 00:44:32 security as he was sworn in as new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo he 00:44:37 may have felt the pressure taking 00:44:38 a shuttle break to leave the stage because he felt as he said exhausted by the long 00:44:43 lection campaign and the emotion of the occasion but his swearing in on Thursday 00:44:48 represents the first peaceful transition of power in six decades 00:44:52 a historic occasion for 00:44:53 a nation long beset by conflict instability and brutal politics on Wednesday 00:44:58 outgoing President Joseph Kabila who has held power for eighteen years urged the 00:45:02 nation to accept their leader. His election comes with great controversy he was 00:45:08 declared the winner over objections by opposition candidate Martin for you Lou who 00:45:12 says he actually won the December poll the influential Catholic Church back that 00:45:16 claim supporters protested earlier this week after his bid for 00:45:20 a recount was rejected by the nation's. Court now is just ahead he takes the helm 00:45:26 his critics say they want to see the new president step up pro-democracy activists 00:45:30 and watch the proceedings from the sidelines in Johannesburg as his activism has 00:45:35 put him in self-imposed exile for nearly four years he said that while he's not 00:45:40 entirely satisfied with how the poll played out he has high hopes for security I 00:45:44 think we're going to turn to express and said I think to Shaw is showing up in the 00:45:48 past not the event because fish will only think through the bars as they call it if 00:45:53 that is they are always going to run the country I think he would have to be able 00:45:57 to not only listen to as many people as possible because people try and control him 00:46:02 but I think you need to be able to show us that there is 00:46:04 a president who can take decisions and I and I and stand by them but to be left who 00:46:08 will continue in politics as president of the Senate may not be far behind he will 00:46:13 be sure to get his biggest challenge says analyst Jeffrey Walters of the Institute 00:46:17 for Security Studies doesn't have to see a whole lot of power he will become 00:46:21 a senator so he will be influential in the Senate he will still be the president of 00:46:25 the largest coalition political coalition in the country with 00:46:29 a parliamentary majority and 00:46:32 a group on the provincial assemblies the twenty six provincial assemblies and on 00:46:36 those governors so second agrees we know about the elephant in the room he's got 00:46:41 beat up I mean I was going left and as long as copulate still in the country and in 00:46:47 the deal you sort of be controlling everything and that's how we open you think 00:46:51 about the country right about this is just beneath his presidency he has work to do 00:46:56 today to be a little backseat and with 00:46:58 a new president in office at least some Congolese were in the mood to celebrate and 00:47:04 apology when News Johannesburg well after A You're listening to international 00:47:10 edition on V.O.A. 00:47:12 . The two thousand one thousand boys American calendars are in. 00:47:20 This year's calendar features 00:47:21 a variety of scenic but it is that captured beautiful byways of the United States. 00:47:29 Including magnificent That is the California coast highway West Virginia's 00:47:34 Highlands. And even the American in me. To the border crossings 00:47:41 and called her quest every calendar. Needed little straight to work want to make 00:47:47 sense of the world around you ask the question what others have to say. 00:47:55 As 00:47:55 a variety of. Lifestyle politics. We have it all 00:48:02 tuned into a discussion shows on the radio and T.V. 00:48:06 All the Internet they examine 00:48:08 a wide variety of issues and not always covered by other media V.O.A. 00:48:13 . 00:48:20 Feel as international edition continues well for hundreds of years Kai on women in 00:48:25 me and Maher have borne coiled bronze rings around their necks 00:48:29 a traditional and customary symbol of beauty but now 00:48:33 a new generation of women from one of Asia's most distinctive ethnic minorities are 00:48:38 choosing not to follow in the fashion footsteps of their long necked ancestors the 00:48:43 away as Julie Tabeau tells us more. Than. Forty eight year old new kid 00:48:50 is 00:48:50 a coyote woman from the crayon region of me and mine for generations women here have 00:48:56 worn bronze rings around their necks and other parts of their bodies who too is one 00:49:01 of the few women who knows how to make the heavy embellishments and put them on the 00:49:05 ground to choose to make the shorter sets are easier to make everyone has their own 00:49:10 preference so if someone doesn't like what you have. Don you have to take it off 00:49:15 and start over. And the eighty three year old Maria Ken has been wearing the poor 00:49:21 old rings on her neck wrists and knees since childhood and. I 00:49:28 started to wear the Rings when I was eight my dad told me I looked like 00:49:31 a boy he said so I'll buy you a gun Hunter's 00:49:34 a man but I said every girl is wearing the ring so I want to wear the rings to say 00:49:40 THANK YOU THANK YOU I do karate Maria has never removed the right even when cooking 00:49:46 eating or working as hard as it is comfortable at first it was hard but now it's 00:49:52 like I eat and food goes down while wearing necklines was once expected of all 00:49:57 Keang women more and more have started to shun the practice among them as Maria's 00:50:02 granddaughter twenty year olds who. Are heavy and uncomfortable Also I don't know 00:50:09 much about them that's why I don't wear them as this is the only in the day and 00:50:14 what is known is that besides extending their necks the practice crushes 00:50:18 collarbones and causes discomfort when swallowing even moved to admits that safety 00:50:24 is 00:50:24 a concern for you if you don't make the Rings correctly someone can show whether safety 00:50:30 or changing fashion many young young women are turning their backs on tradition 00:50:35 even as the old ways bring tourists and curiosity seekers. To hear. 00:50:43 The True Story of the people in here. People. 00:50:51 Like you may. Feel. Like 00:50:54 a. Cultural analysts estimate that there are now fewer than 00:51:01 one hundred long necked women across the whole of me and Mar down from about three 00:51:06 to four hundred several decades ago some wonder of the tourists will still come to 00:51:11 buy their wares on the long necked women. Are Gone. Julie tab of the L.A. 00:51:17 News. Hello this is dim but even the editor of The View is they 00:51:24 bring the show films Monday to Friday at old Greek old or old fire and old from 00:51:30 brick I was in D.C. 00:51:32 Brinkley didn't need to establish the new features and will. Be 00:51:36 a part of the brigade because throughout Milford doesn't the comments of the break 00:51:41 up are good old dot com That's daybreak governor. Of the only. 00:51:56 Thing. For sure 00:51:59 a. Finally today on this day in rock N roll history January twenty 00:52:06 fifth nine hundred seventy one the single Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin was 00:52:12 released posthumously it would be the only big hit the rock song on blues singer 00:52:19 songwriter ever had. Was one of the most successful and widely known female rockers 00:52:25 of her era after releasing three albums she died of 00:52:30 a heroin dose at the age of twenty seven. 00:52:53 Listening to international edition that does it for today but find us any time at 00:52:57 the only news dot com Thank you for joining us and thanks to our director Tracy 00:53:03 Carter and our engineer. Laurie London in Washington 00:53:10 have 00:53:11 a great day. This 00:55:07 is the way new Tommy after Congress rejected it to build what a real. When the U.S. 00:55:14 Government did President Trump told reporters that he would accept 00:55:17 a deal to at least temporarily reopen the federal government if it contained 00:55:21 a prorated down payment on the US Mexico border wall he has sought for two years 00:55:27 the leaders of the Senate and House criticize one another for the stalemate over 00:55:32 border wall funding and the shutdown Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 00:55:36 reference House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that all the Speaker of the house is on 00:55:39 reasonable on the subject with her own numbers and her own house majority leader 00:55:44 although unlike contradicting our own national television and policy took 00:55:49 a swipe at the president's entire caucus publicans in the Congress had been 00:55:53 accomplices to the president's irresponsibility and just 00:55:59 ignoring. The consequences of his action name while the shutdown has impacted eight 00:56:06 hundred thousand federal workers and their loved ones those workers are either 00:56:10 furloughed or working without pain Pakistan launched 00:56:13 a short range ballistic missile Thursday formally equipping the military with 00:56:17 a nuclear capable rocket that officials said would deter 00:56:21 a surprise conventional attack against the country by rival experts explain the 00:56:26 weapon system has the ability to launch several missiles at once and would allow 00:56:31 Pakistan's military to had many targets at the same time. Felix sister Katie has 00:56:37 won and has been sworn in as the Democratic Republic of Congo's new president 00:56:42 marking the first peaceful transfer of power in that country's history he succeeds 00:56:46 President Joseph Kabila who led Congo for eighteen years to be remained in office 00:56:52 more than two years past the end of his mandate as the Electoral Commission 00:56:56 struggled to organize new elections he said he felt ill during his inaugural speech 00:57:01 and briefly left the stage business when Martin Fire Ulu who many thought would win 00:57:06 challenge the official results but lost this is V.O.A. 00:57:09 News. The US State Department ordered nonessential personnel to leave Venezuela but 00:57:16 has not.