National

Grace Meng, the wife of the former Interpol president who suddenly resigned and was detained in China last fall, has applied for asylum in France, the New York Times reports.

Details: Meng told the newspaper Libération that she's afraid she'll be kidnapped if she goes back to China, where "such strange things happen" and "fundamental rights are not respected." According to the Times, Meng said she has not had contact with her husband since his arrest, which she believes was "for a political reason." 

Go deeper: The new age of hostage diplomacy

Wife of detained Interpol president applies for asylum in France

Grace Meng said she's afraid she'll be kidnapped if she goes back to China.

Former Interpol President Meng Hongwei. Photo: Mikhail Metzel/AFP/Getty Images

World

Political asylum

Grace Meng, the wife of the former Interpol president who suddenly resigned and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was detained in China" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/interpol-chief-investigation-china-8cf3851a-21f4-4320-a342-37f7cb70893d.html" data-vars-content-id="01a8fab8-53d3-441f-99cd-cf30cc47a6dc" data-vars-headline="Wife of detained Interpol president applies for asylum in France" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/interpol-chief-investigation-china-8cf3851a-21f4-4320-a342-37f7cb70893d.html" target="_self">was detained in China</a> last fall, has applied for asylum in France, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/world/europe/wife-of-former-interpol-chief-seeks-asylum-in-france.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&amp;smtyp=cur" data-vars-content-id="01a8fab8-53d3-441f-99cd-cf30cc47a6dc" data-vars-headline="Wife of detained Interpol president applies for asylum in France" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/world/europe/wife-of-former-interpol-chief-seeks-asylum-in-france.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&amp;smtyp=cur" target="_blank">New York Times report</a>s.Details: Meng told the newspaper Libération that she&#x27;s afraid she&#x27;ll be kidnapped if she goes back to China, where &quot;such strange things happen&quot; and &quot;fundamental rights are not respected.&quot; According to the Times, Meng said she has not had contact with her husband since his arrest, which she believes was &quot;for a political reason.&quot; Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The new age of hostage diplomacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/international-arrests-poland-china-hostage-diplomacy-e1f249f0-6a45-430d-88e2-aed7ce4ecfc3.html" data-vars-content-id="01a8fab8-53d3-441f-99cd-cf30cc47a6dc" data-vars-headline="Wife of detained Interpol president applies for asylum in France" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/international-arrests-poland-china-hostage-diplomacy-e1f249f0-6a45-430d-88e2-aed7ce4ecfc3.html" target="_self">The new age of hostage diplomacy</a>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

Four women from the No More Deaths advocacy group were convicted on misdemeanor charges Friday for entering a national wildlife refuge without permits to provide life-saving aid to migrants crossing the Arizona border with Mexico, AP reports.

The big picture: Judge Bernardo Velasco's decision was the first conviction of humanitarian volunteers in a decade, according AP. The women — Natalie Hoffman, Zaachila Orozco-McCormick, Oona Holcomb and Madeline Huse — were attempting to leave water and food for migrants traveling through the Cabeza Prieta refuge.

4 women convicted of entering refuge to leave water for migrants

It's the first conviction of humanitarian volunteers in a decade

The Cabeza Prieta refuge in Arizona. Photo: Caitlin O'Hara/Getty Images

Politics

Migrants

Latin America and Latinos

Four women from the No More Deaths advocacy group were convicted on misdemeanor charges Friday for entering a national wildlife refuge without permits to provide life-saving aid to migrants crossing the Arizona border with Mexico, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AP reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.apnews.com/071af4193b3949acb8363b3ea03fc629" data-vars-content-id="62e103ec-b994-4424-83ac-0030b05cc722" data-vars-headline="4 women convicted of entering refuge to leave water for migrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apnews.com/071af4193b3949acb8363b3ea03fc629" target="_blank">AP reports</a>.The big picture: Judge Bernardo Velasco&#x27;s decision was the first conviction of humanitarian volunteers in a decade, according AP. The women — Natalie Hoffman, Zaachila Orozco-McCormick, Oona Holcomb and Madeline Huse — were attempting to leave water and food for migrants traveling through the Cabeza Prieta refuge.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

More than 100 African migrants, including two toddlers and a pregnant woman, were killed this week after setting off from the coast of Libya "in a rickety, inflatable dinghy" that sank, the New York Times reports. 

Details: The migrants are believed to have been from Sudan and countries in West Africa, and departed from Garabulli, Libya, on Thursday, according to the Times. Within 10 hours, the dinghy "started deflating and taking on water." Humanitarian workers said it was the deadliest incident for migrants traveling to Europe in the last several months.

Go deeper: How Western nations are closing the door on refugees and migrants

117 African migrants die in wreck off coast of Libya

It was the deadliest incident for migrants in several months.

Migrants off the coast of Libya in December. Photo: Olmo Calvo/AFP via Getty Images

More than 100 African migrants, including two toddlers and a pregnant woman, were killed this week after setting off from the coast of Libya &quot;in a rickety, inflatable dinghy&quot; that sank, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/world/africa/migrants-died-sea-wreck-libya.html?smtyp=cur&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld" data-vars-content-id="63a494a8-d6f0-49d2-9bc7-2e6b7841b998" data-vars-headline="117 African migrants die in wreck off coast of Libya" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/world/africa/migrants-died-sea-wreck-libya.html?smtyp=cur&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld" target="_blank">New York Times reports</a>. Details: The migrants are believed to have been from Sudan and countries in West Africa, and departed from Garabulli, Libya, on Thursday, according to the Times. Within 10 hours, the dinghy &quot;started deflating and taking on water.&quot; Humanitarian workers said it was the deadliest incident for migrants traveling to Europe in the last several months.Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="How Western nations are closing the door on refugees and migrants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/how-western-nations-are-closing-the-door-on-refugee-and-migrants-2b7f434f-6339-4d7e-b776-3a2c1b314d1d.html" data-vars-content-id="63a494a8-d6f0-49d2-9bc7-2e6b7841b998" data-vars-headline="117 African migrants die in wreck off coast of Libya" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/how-western-nations-are-closing-the-door-on-refugee-and-migrants-2b7f434f-6339-4d7e-b776-3a2c1b314d1d.html" target="_self">How Western nations are closing the door on refugees and migrants</a>

U.S. air travel is under "enormous strain" as a result of the government shutdown, with many lawmakers speculating that total dysfunction could be the breaking point that leads to President Trump and Democrats eventually striking a deal, Politico reports.

The big picture: The shutdown, which is about to enter its fifth week, has disrupted pilot training, is preventing companies from adding new planes, and is "delaying purchases of bag-scanning equipment," according to Politico. Airports are bracing for a bump in air travel over MLK weekend, with TSA expecting 8 million people to fly this weekend — 10% more than last year. This comes as 6.4% of TSA's baggage screeners called out absent from work on Thursday, citing sickness and — increasingly — financial strain.

The safety board that investigates transportation incidents has insufficient personnel, which has made it impossible to thoroughly investigate 14 recent accidents — 10 of which have resulted in the death of 16 people. 

Training is being canceled, which is postponing equipment purchases. All of this will have to be made up eventually, per Politico.

Outside of airports, flight schools are also being hit. The National Air Transportation Association told Politico that training providers may not be able to get the qualifications needed to train pilots, which "may prevent aircraft from having the necessary crews to operate." 

Training for air traffic controllers is also being paused. 

The bottom line: Unions representing aviation workers have said that it would be illegal for them to go on strike. But nothing's stopping them from quitting altogether.

Go deeper: All the ways Americans are feeling the effects of the shutdown

Government shutdown strains U.S. aviation system

“If TSA agents don’t go to work, the shutdown is over tomorrow.”

Denver airport. Photo: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Government shutdown

U.S. air travel is under &quot;enormous strain&quot; as a result of the government shutdown, with many lawmakers speculating that total dysfunction could be the breaking point that leads to President Trump and Democrats eventually striking a deal, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Politico reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/19/shutdown-air-travel-1097416" data-vars-content-id="6ad4d66d-6f07-4904-bf51-8c7a9e7850a7" data-vars-headline="Government shutdown strains U.S. aviation system" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/19/shutdown-air-travel-1097416" target="_blank">Politico reports</a>.The big picture: The shutdown, which is about to enter its fifth week, has disrupted pilot training, is preventing companies from adding new planes, and is &quot;delaying purchases of bag-scanning equipment,&quot; according to Politico. Airports are bracing for a bump in air travel over MLK weekend, with TSA expecting 8 million people to fly this weekend — 10% more than last year. This comes as 6.4% of TSA&#x27;s baggage screeners called out absent from work on Thursday, citing sickness and — increasingly — financial strain.

At least 66 people are dead and dozens left injured after an oil pipeline exploded in Mexico on Friday, BBC reports.

Details: The pipeline is believed to have been "ruptured by suspected oil thieves," a rampant and illegal practice that cost Mexico about $3 billion last year, according to BBC. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who traveled to the site of the blast in Tlahuelilpan on Saturday, told reporters that the incident "strengthened" his fight against theft, and that the "most important thing now is to look after the injured, to save lives." 

At least 66 dead after pipeline explosion in Mexico

The pipeline is believed to have been "ruptured by suspected oil thieves."

After the pipeline explosion in Mexico. Photo: Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Mexico

At least 66 people are dead and dozens left injured after an oil pipeline exploded in Mexico on Friday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BBC reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46929950" data-vars-content-id="cd9bc3a8-94eb-46d2-98a0-128ae3d634b2" data-vars-headline="At least 66 dead after pipeline explosion in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46929950" target="_blank">BBC reports</a>.Details: The pipeline is believed to have been &quot;ruptured by suspected oil thieves,&quot; a rampant and illegal practice that cost Mexico about $3 billion last year, according to BBC. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who traveled to the site of the blast in Tlahuelilpan on Saturday, told reporters that the incident &quot;strengthened&quot; his fight against theft, and that the &quot;most important thing now is to look after the injured, to save lives.&quot;

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Haley Britzky

Stories

Government shutdown strains U.S. aviation system

4 women convicted of entering refuge to leave water for migrants

Wife of detained Interpol president applies for asylum in France

117 African migrants die in wreck off coast of Libya

At least 66 dead after pipeline explosion in Mexico