Síntesis informativa - 16 de octubre 2018

THE NEW YORK TIMES

China Breaks Silence on Muslim Detention Camps, Calling Them ‘Humane’



BEIJING — Under mounting international criticism, China has given its most extensive defense yet of its sweeping campaign to detain and indoctrinate Muslims, with a senior official on Tuesday describing its network of camps in the far west as humane job-training centers.



Rights groups, American lawmakers and a United Nations panel have assailed the “transformation through education” camps holding Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups in China’s far northwestern Xinjiang region. Hundreds of thousands have been held in the camps — one estimate says a million — and former inmates who have fled abroad have described them as virtual prisons that engage in harsh brainwashing.



But the chairman of Xinjiang’s government, Shohrat Zakir, himself an ethnic Uighur, called the camps a “humane” and lawful shield against terrorism in an interview published by China’s official Xinhua news agency. He said the facilities gave Uighurs and other Muslims courses in the Chinese language and taught them to be law-abiding citizens. They also receive training in job skills such as making clothes, e-commerce, hairdressing and cosmetology, Mr. Zakir said.



Mr. Zakir said that “students” in the facilities were provided with free meals, air-conditioned dormitories, movie screenings and access to computer rooms.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/asia/china-muslim-camps-xinjiang-uighurs.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld



Australian Leader Considers Moving Embassy to Jerusalem From Tel Aviv



SYDNEY, Australia — Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday raised the possibility of moving the Australian Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, an idea that drew criticism as a bald political gambit meant only to win a crucial local election.



Moving the embassy to Jerusalem would represent a break in Australia’s longstanding position on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and could have global consequences by encouraging others to follow suit.



Mr. Morrison made the announcement on Tuesday, saying he was “open-minded” about moving the embassy while insisting that he remains committed to a two-state solution.



“But frankly, it hasn’t been going that well,” Mr. Morrison said of efforts toward a two-state solution. “Not a lot of progress has been made. And you don’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.”



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/australia/scott-morrison-israeli-embassy-jerusalem.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld



Jim Mattis Says He and Trump ‘Never Talked About Me Leaving’



HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis played down suggestions that he was in danger of losing his job, as he made a case for leaving the American military out of politics and asserting that the country’s sharp divisions have no place among either the men and women who serve or the officers who lead them.



One day after President Trump suggested that Mr. Mattis is a Democrat — an accusation that in past Republican administrations wouldn’t mean much but in this one is close to treason — the retired four-star Marine general brandished bipartisan support for the American military in Congress as a point of pride, not shame.



“When I was 18, I joined the Marine Corps, and in the U.S. military we are proudly apolitical,” Mr. Mattis told reporters aboard a 20-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from Washington. “By that, I mean that in our duties, we were brought up to obey the elected commander in chief, whoever that is.”



He said that he had not registered as either a Democrat or a Republican and sought to dismiss reports that his relationship with Mr. Trump has soured in recent months.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/asia/jim-mattis-trump-vietnam.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld



Saudis May Admit Khashoggi Was Killed in Interrogation by Mistake



WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia was preparing an alternative explanation of the fate of a dissident journalist on Monday, saying he died at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago in an interrogation gone wrong, according to a person familiar with the kingdom’s plans. In Washington, President Trump echoed the possibility that Jamal Khashoggi was the victim of “rogue killers.”



The shifting story line defied earlier details that have emerged in the case, including signs that he was murdered and dismembered. Among other things, Turkish officials have said, an autopsy specialist carrying a bone saw was among 15 Saudi operatives who flew in and out of Istanbul the day Mr. Khashoggi disappeared.



The new explanation, whatever its truth, seemed intended to ease the political crisis that Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance has created for Saudi Arabia. The new story could also defuse some criticism of the Trump administration, which has refused to back down from billions of dollars in weapons sales to the kingdom and as of Monday was still planning to attend a glittering Saudi investment forum next week.



And it could help Turkey, where a shaky economy would benefit from a financial infusion that low-interest loans from Riyadh could provide



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/politics/trump-saudi-king-journalist-khashoggi.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld



Talks Begin on Disarming Korean Border Village



SEOUL, South Korea — Officials from North and South Korea and the United Nations began talks on Tuesday to turn a border village into an unarmed neutral enclave where military guards and tourists from both sides would move freely across the demarcation line.



The village of Panmunjom, also known as the Joint Security Area, lies inside the Demilitarized Zone, a buffer zone one and a half miles wide that has divided the Korean Peninsula since the Korean War was halted in a truce in 1953. Panmunjom was originally created as a neutral area. But since North Korean soldiers wielding axes killed two American Army officers there in 1976, it has been divided by a demarcation line like the rest of the DMZ, with armed guards from both sides engaged in a tense, daily standoff.



When President Moon Jae-in of South Korea and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, met last month in Pyongyang, the North’s capital, both sides agreed to disarm Panmunjom to turn it into what South Korea hopes will become a “symbol of peace” on the divided peninsula.



Under the terms of the Korean War armistice, the American-led United Nations Command, which fought the war on the South’s behalf, administers the southern half of the DMZ. In the next month, the command and representatives from both Koreas will discuss erasing the demarcation line at Panmunjom, disarming their military guards there and moving their sentry posts to the perimeters of the zone, officials said.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/asia/korea-border-dmz-disarm.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld


THE GUARDIAN

Jamal Khashoggi: US secretary of state meets Saudi king for crisis talks

Pompeo landed in Riyadh on Tuesday morning and met the king immediately to discuss the crisis surrounding Khashoggi, who vanished two weeks ago during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The US’s top diplomat “reiterated US concern over Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance”, according to State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/16/jamal-khashoggi-disappearance-mike-pompeo-saudi-arabia-salman

Ecuador tells Assange to avoid political activity online – and feed the cat

“It’s virtually a prison regime,” Carlos Poveda, Assange’s lawyer in Quito told the Guardian. “This new regime goes against his basic human dignity as an asylee,” he said. 

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/16/ecuador-embassy-tells-assange-clean-bathroom-feed-the-cat-do-laundry

The Warrior Society rises: how a mercury spill in Canada inspired a movement

Between 1962 and 1970, the Reed Paper company dumped more than 9,000kg of mercury into the Wabigoon and English river systems here. Slowly, that mercury poisoned the waters, and made the walleye – the cornerstone of the local fishing-based economy and the staple food of the local First Nations people – unsafe to eat.

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/oct/16/canada-first-nations-ojibway-warrior-society

Last stand in the swamp: activists fight final stretch of Dakota pipeline

In a last-ditch effort, one group of activists is staging an unprecedented and divisive physical protest campaign. They have locked themselves to construction equipment, forced construction stoppages by kayaking up to worksites and dangling from trees on makeshift platforms to delay clear-cutting.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/16/dakota-access-pipeline-bayou-bridge-protest-activism

Moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem a 'fatal mistake', Middle Eastern envoys warn

Representatives from 13 Middle Eastern and North African embassies in Australia have condemned Scott Morrison’s signal that the Australian embassy could be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, declaring it a “fatal mistake” that could lead to a breakdown in economic relations with Arab and Muslim nations.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/16/moving-australias-embassy-to-jerusalem-a-fatal-mistake-middle-eastern-envoys-warn

How zero tolerance forces undocumented victims into the shadows

Michael Bars, a spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), confirmed the policy change, noting that Trump’s 2017 executive order on “enhancing public safety” mandated that no category of immigrant was exempt from removal proceedings. Previous administrations allowed discretion for immigrants seeking humanitarian relief.

The threat of deportation now hangs over crime victims considering their options.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/16/zero-tolerance-u-visa-victims-crime-women-undocumented

Invasion of the ‘frankenbees’: the danger of building a better bee

Another, more controversial, response to the slump in bee populations is in the works. This is the plan to create a more resilient strain of honeybee – a genetically modified superbee. The technology for creating GM honeybees is in its infancy, and still confined to the laboratory. But, if successful, it could lead to a hardier species, one that is resistant to natural and manmade hazards: viruses, varroa mites, pesticides and so on. If we can’t change modern farming practices, the thinking goes, maybe we should change the bees.

The prospect horrifies many bee people – from commercial beekeepers such as Haefeker to passionate amateurs – who see a lab-made superbee as a direct threat to the smaller, struggling bee species. Traditional beekeepers have a name for them that expresses their fear and suspicion: Frankenbees.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/16/frankenbees-genetically-modified-pollinators-danger-of-building-a-better-bee


DEUTSCHE WELLE

Pompeo llega a Riad para tratar el caso Khashoggi

El secretario de Estado estadounidense llegó a Riad para abordar con el rey de Arabia Saudita el caso del periodista saudí Jamal Khashoggi, que desapareció el 2 de octubre tras entrar en el consulado saudí en Estambul.

La portavoz del Departamento de Estado, Heather Nauert, tuiteó hoy la llegada de Mike Pompeo a Riad.

Según informaron en la víspera medios de comunicación estadounidenses, Arabia Saudí planea reconocer que Khashoggi murió bajo su custodia en un interrogatorio que se les fue de las manos a las autoridades en el consulado saudí en Estambul.

https://www.dw.com/es/pompeo-llega-a-riad-para-tratar-el-caso-khashoggi/a-45903079

China defends Xinjiang Uighur detention camp policies

China has issued the most detailed defense yet of its policies in the Xinjiang region. Beijing says the region’s Uighur are being taught how to assimiliate, while some see echoes of earlier re-education programs.

In the face of increased international criticism, a senior government figure in a rare interview on Tuesday defended Beijing's detention policies in the troubled western province of Xinjiang.

Beijing has clamped down in the region with heightened police powers it says are needed to root out Islamic extremism and separatism and clamp down on the periodic unrest between Uighurs and members of the ethnic Han Chinese majority.

https://www.dw.com/en/china-defends-xinjiang-uighur-detention-camp-policies/a-45904948


XINHUA

Seúl y Washington conversan sobre los costos de tropas estadounidenses desplegadas en la República de Corea

SEUL, 16 oct (Xinhua) -- La República de Corea y Estados Unidos comenzaron hoy las conversaciones para compartir los costos de defensa de las tropas estadounidenses desplegadas en el país asiático, informó el Ministerio de Exteriores surcoreano.

Las negociaciones de dos días se realizaron en el centro de Seúl para alcanzar un nuevo tratado sobre la contribución financiera surcoreana a las Fuerzas de Estados Unidos en la República de Corea (USFK por sus siglas en inglés).

Seúl ha pagado cerca de 850 millones de dólares este año para compartir los costos de las tropas estadounidenses desplegadas en el país, pero la parte norteamericana pidió aumentar la cuota a unos 1.300 millones de dólares, según informó la prensa local.

Alrededor de 28.500 soldados estadounidenses están desplegados en la República de Corea como un legado de la Guerra de Corea (1950-1953), la cual finalizó con un armisticio.

http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2018-10/16/c_137536421.htm

China y Pakistán prometen estrechar relaciones y construir juntos el CPEC

ISLAMABAD, 15 oct (Xinhua) -- China y Pakistán acordaron hoy construir lazos más estrechos y facilitar la construcción del Corredor Económico China-Pakistán (CPEC).

La promesa fue hecha durante la reunión del primer ministro pakistaní Imran Khan con Song Tao, jefe del Departamento Internacional del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de China (PCCh).

http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2018-10/16/c_137534848.htm

Política de apertura de China en sector manufacturero es aplicable a todos, dice premier chino

LA HAYA, 15 oct (Xinhua) -- La nueva política de China para abrir más su sector de manufactura básica por medio de la eliminación de restricciones a la propiedad extranjera es aplicable a todos, enfatizó hoy el primer ministro chino, Li Keqiang.

Li hizo las declaraciones cuando ofreció en La Haya, junto a su homólogo holandés, Mark Rutte, una conferencia de prensa durante su visita oficial a Holanda, la cual empezó el domingo.

"La política no es sólo para algunas compañías específicas de algunos países específicos", dijo Li en respuesta a una pregunta sobre un acuerdo reciente entre China y Alemania a través del cual el gigante químico alemán BASF invertirá 10.000 millones de dólares para construir un complejo químico integrado Verbund en territorio chino.

http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2018-10/16/c_137534788.htm


AL JAZEERA

China defends internment camps for Uighur Muslims

Amid global outcry over mass incarceration of Uighurs, official dubs internment camps as 'vocational education' centres.

China has issued an ardent defence of its alleged mass internment of Uighur minorities in far west Xinjiang region amid a global outcry, with a regional official insisting that authorities are preventing "terrorism" through "vocational education" centres.

In a rare interview with China's official Xinhua news service published on Tuesday, the chairman of Xinjiang's government, Shohrat Zakir, defended the use of the centres, saying that the region was now "safe and stable".

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/china-defends-internment-camps-uighur-muslims-181016072549867.html

Google says it 'internally tested' censored China search engine

New search engine dubbed Project Dragonfly has been criticised as it will censor results critical of Chinese government.

The comments are the first time Google has officially confirmed it is working on the search engine, dubbed Project Dragonfly, which has been criticised heavily by human rights organisations.

(Things which are censored) This includes any mention of democracy, events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, the Falun Gong spiritual movement and images making fun of China's leader Xi Jinping.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/google-internally-tested-censored-china-search-engine-181016073348960.html

Cambodia's high-rises, slavery and climate change

A legion of Cambodians are trapped as debt slaves in the brick-making industry as skylines and climate change expand.

Marta Kasztelan & Kanika Chhit

In 2017 alone, Cambodia's imports of construction materials rose 36 percent, while the authorities approved more than 3,000 construction projects, marking an increase of 22 percent compared with the year prior.

According to a study published on Tuesday by researchers from UK's Royal Holloway University, Cambodia's brick- making industry relies upon a multi-generational workforce of adults and children trapped in the most prevalent form of modern-day slavery, namely, debt bondage.

…urban development is propelled by unsustainable levels of debt taken out by farmers to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change when their crop fails.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/cambodia-high-rises-slavery-climate-change-181016060513601.html


AL MAYADEEN

Turquía registra Consulado saudí y CNN informa que Arabia Saudí reconocerá muerte de Khashoggi durante su interrogatorio

Presionado por la amenaza de invocar la Ley Magnicidio contra un país aliado, el presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, endureció el tono contra Riad en las últimas horas, si bien sugirió la posibilidad de que el asesinato del articulista fuese un trabajo del "hampa" o (delincuentes o gente mala) del entorno de Riad. La respuesta de Arabia Saudí ha sido fría en un primer momento, y furibunda a medida que el ruido en torno al caso aumentaba.

Este domingo, el reino wahabita del desierto afirmó su "rechazo total a cualquier amenaza" e intento de socavamiento de su autoridad" a través del amago de imponer sanciones económicas, el uso de presiones políticas o la repetición de falsas acusaciones que no debilitaran al reino ni sus posiciones firmes".

http://espanol.almayadeen.net/news/Consulado%20saud%C3%AD/277389/turqu%C3%ADa-registra-consulado-saud%C3%AD-y-cnn-informa-que-arabia-sa/

Grupo terrorista Hay'at Tahrir al Sham rechaza deponer las armas

Conocida con anterioridad como Frente Al Nusra, el grupo añadió que no se inclinaría ante Rusia o el Estado sirio y amenazó con recorrer el camino hacia Damasco.

Su objetivo explícito es convertir a Siria en un emirato islámico dirigido por Al-Qaeda.

http://espanol.almayadeen.net/news/Syria/277380/grupo-terrorista-hay-at-tahrir-al-sham-rechaza-deponer-las-a/


AMÉRICA LATINA

‘Una intervención de EE. UU. en Nicaragua es improbable’

Ante las reiteradas acusaciones del gobierno del presidente de NicaraguaDaniel Ortega, según las cuales EE. UU. financia una intervención golpista en su país, expertos afirman que es improbable que esto suceda y que Washington solo participa diplomáticamente para buscar una solución pacífica a la crisis social y política que viven los nicaragüenses desde abril pasado.

https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/estados-unidos-va-a-intervenir-en-nicaragua-274316

EU cortará ayuda a Honduras si no frena caravana migrante: Trump

El presidente Donald Trump amenazó este martes con retirar el financiamiento y las ayudas de su país a Honduras si no detiene una caravana de personas que se dirige a Estados Unidos.

"Estados Unidos ha informado tajantemente al presidente de Honduras que si la enorme caravana de personas que se dirige a Estados Unidos no es detenida y enviada de regreso a Honduras, no habrá más dinero o ayudas a Honduras, con efecto inmediato!", dijo Trump en Twitter.

http://www.jornada.com.mx/ultimas/2018/10/16/trump-cortara-ayuda-a-honduras-si-no-frena-caravana-migrante-6863.html

La UE mantiene que no suavizará su posición respecto a Venezuela

Los ministros de Exteriores de la UE debatieron este lunes sobre la iniciativa española de tratar de reactivar un diálogo político en Venezuela. La jefa de diplomacia europea, Federica Mogherini, anunció que se estudiará la viabilidad de sentar a dialogar al régimen con la oposición, aunque advirtió de que eso no implica suavizar la postura comunitaria hacia el país latinoamericano, ni renunciar a la política de sanciones ni derogar las ya existentes. “Todavía no hemos decidido constituir nada”, dijo Mogherini. “Solo explorar esa posibilidad porque tememos que, en ausencia de un proceso político, las tensiones solo pueden empeorar”.

https://elpais.com/politica/2018/10/15/actualidad/1539619611_423521.html

“Los evangelistas en Brasil ocuparon el espacio del Estado”

La investigadora franco-marroquí habla de cómo funciona la lógica de la “teología de la prosperidad” en el vecino país. Los evangelistas están en todas las esferas de poder: en el aparato judicial, en la política, en la policía.

https://www.pagina12.com.ar/149017-los-evangelistas-en-brasil-ocuparon-el-espacio-del-estado

 

Tipo de contenido geopolítica