Síntesis informativa - 20 de febrero 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Amid Trouble With the West, Saudi Arabia Looks East
CAIRO — In his swing through Asia this week, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia vowed to invest billions of dollars in Pakistan and pushed to sell more oil to India. He will also explore deepening economic ties with China.
The trip, by the de facto ruler of a wealthy Arab kingdom that has long considered the United States its most important ally, highlights the extent to which Saudi Arabia is increasingly looking to Asia for political and technological support that it cannot always count on from the West, analysts said.
Saudi Arabia’s need to diversify its alliances has grown more acute amid the Western backlash over the killing of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul in October. Congress has pursued measures to blame Prince Mohammed for the killing and limit military aid to the kingdom, while American tech companies that the prince heavily courted for projects in the kingdom have stepped back for fear of damaging their reputations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-pakistan-india-china.html
Russian Hackers Targeted European Research Groups, Microsoft Says
SEATTLE — A group of hackers associated with Russian intelligence targeted civil society groups across Europe ahead of May elections there, Microsoft said on Tuesday.
The attacks, disclosed by Microsoft in a blog post, demonstrate the continuing spread of a broad online campaign aimed at disrupting real and potential political opponents of Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin. The company said it had found that hackers targeted more than 100 email accounts at think tanks and nongovernmental organizations that work on issues including election security, nuclear policy and foreign relations.
Microsoft didn’t address what country the attacks came from, but it blamed a group of hackers sometimes called Fancy Bear. Online security companies have identified Fancy Bear as a Russian group, and it is widely believed to be tied to Russian intelligence.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/technology/russia-hack-microsoft.html
Russia Votes to Ban Smartphone Use by Military, Trying to Hide Digital Traces
MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to prohibit the country’s troops from using smartphones or recording devices, or posting anything online about their military service, after journalists used soldiers’ digital traces to reveal actions the Kremlin wanted to keep secret.
In recent years, pictures, videos and social media posts put online by Russian servicemen contradicted the government’s claim that its troops were not fighting in eastern Ukraine and undercut the official line that Russia’s role in the Syrian civil war was limited.
The bill’s explanatory note specifically mentions Syria, saying that the analysis of Russian actions there revealed that “military servicemen are of special interest to special services of several states, to terrorist and extremist organizations.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/world/europe/russia-military-social-media-ban.html
Would You Die for Europe? A Binational Battalion Offers an Answer
LOHHEIDE, Germany — On a former Cold War base, German and Dutch soldiers, serving together in one tank battalion, stood to attention one recent morning and shouted their battle cry in both languages.
But the battalion — Europe’s first made up of soldiers from two countries — is an important baby step toward deeper European military cooperation. First floated after World War II, the idea of a European army is as old as the European Union itself, but has yet to become a reality.
Now, though, the idea has taken on new urgency because of the Trump administration’s threat to withdraw the Continent’s security guarantee if it does not spend more on its defense. At a high-level security conference last weekend, the breach between the United States and Europe burst into the open, leaving many European officials feeling increasingly on their own.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/europe/germany-defense-spending-european-army.html
THE GUARDIAN
Jeremy Hunt urges Germany to rethink Saudi arms sales ban
Germany announced in November that it would provide no further arms export licences to Saudi Arabia over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It has not formally banned previously approved deals but has urged industry to refrain from such shipments for now.
Der Spiegel reported Hunt writing to Maas to say: “I am very concerned about the impact of the German government’s decision on the British and European defence industry and the consequences for Europe’s ability to fulfil its Nato commitments.”
In his letter Hunt – who is in Germany to discuss the terms of Brexit – said British defence firms would not be able to fulfil several contracts with Riyadh, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Tornado fighter jet, both of which are made with parts affected by the German halt in deliveries to Saudi Arabia.
Russia moves to mask its soldiers' digital trail with smartphone ban
Russia’s parliament has voted to ban its soldiers from using smartphones and social networks after a series of open-source investigations revealed their secret participation in foreign conflicts.
They will also be forbidden from carrying smartphones or other smart devices that can connect to the internet and can save data such as photos. Older mobile phones will not be banned.
Russians often post photographs and details about their military service on the social networks Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki as a way to stay in touch with fellow soldiers.
But the data has also allowed open source investigators to follow the activities of Russian forces fighting secretly in Ukraine and in Syria, sometimes in real time.
In particular, social media data has allowed journalists to track military units active in south-east Ukraine, where Russia said its forces were not present.
Israel to launch first privately funded moon mission
Named Beresheet, the Hebrew word for Genesis, the 585kg (1,290lb) robotic lander will blast off from Florida at 01.45 GMT on Friday, propelled by one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. Once it touches down, in several weeks, it will measure the magnetic field of the moon to help understand how it formed.
While it is not a government-led initiative, the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) corporation joined as a partner. If the mission is successful, Israel will become the fourth country, after Russia, the US and China, to reach the moon.
SpaceIL was established in 2011 with the goal of winning the Google Lunar XPrize, which put up a $30m (£23m) reward for a privately funded team to land an automated spacecraft on the moon, “hop” 500 metres and transmit images back to Earth.
Although the contest closed without a winner, SpaceIL decided to continue and gather funds elsewhere. Morris Kahn, a South African-born Israeli billionaire, is the main backer but SpaceIL said US Republican party and pro-Israel funder Miriam Adelson and her casino-owning husband, Sheldon, gave $24m.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/feb/20/israel-to-launch-first-privately-funded-moon-mission
Glencore to limit coal production after pressure from investors
The commodities trader Glencore has bowed to pressure from shareholders, including the Church of England, to limit coal production for environmental reasons – days after reporting that it produced nearly 130m tonnes of the fossil fuel last year.
The Switzerland-based firm, whose oil-trading operation is based in London, laid out plans to improve its environmental record, including a review of its membership of trade bodies it fears may be undermining the international Paris climate agreement.
An annual production report issued earlier this month showed that Glencore extracted 129.4m tonnes of coal in 2018, a 7% increase on the previous year.
Vista previa del video de YouTube The New Space Race | Google Lunar XPRIZE
AL JAZEERA
Putin warns US with new missiles aimed at Western capitals
Moscow will retaliate in kind if US deploys new missiles in Europe, Russian president says as he addresses the nation.
Putin said the first batch of Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles will be deployed this year.
He added the tests of the new Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone have been progressing successfully.
The first submarine equipped to carry the Poseidon will be commissioned later this year, Putin reported.
He also announced the coming deployment of the new Zircon hypersonic missile for the Russian navy, saying it's capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and will have a range of 1,000km.
India, Saudi Arabia sign investment agreements as MBS meets Modi
New Delhi and Riyadh sign five agreements on infrastructure, investment, tourism, housing and broadcasting.
India and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements on infrastructure, investment, tourism, housing, broadcasting and for the setting up of a "strategic partnership council".
Algeria: Anger after opposition leader barred from holding rally
Thousands turned up to protest after city mayor announced presidential hopeful will not be allowed to hold rally.
An impromptu protest broke out in northeastern Algeria on Tuesday after local authorities sought to prevent an opposition candidate from holding a rally as the north African country prepares to hold a presidential vote in two months.
Activists have staged protests elsewhere in Algeria against Bouteflika's bid for re-election, prompting the interior minister to warn that authorities will not allow the vote to be sabotaged.
Algeria's diverse political opposition is meeting on Wednesday to try and secure a joint candidate to face incumbent Bouteflika in the April 18 presidential election.
RT
DARPA aims to develop next-generation of mind-controlled tech for US soldiers
The Pentagon has been recruiting teams to develop neural interfaces which will allow humans to control machines with their minds, in a combination of telekinesis and artificial intelligence.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has requested proposals for “next-generation neurotechnology” to help bolster its pre-existing neural interface research.
Existing neural interfaces have been used to allow humans to control prosthetic limbs, reproduce thoughts as text and even fly drones with their minds. By combining these types of technologies, DARPA is hoping to augment and improve their capabilities, making the systems more efficient and effective.
https://www.rt.com/usa/451977-darpa-telepathic-soldiers-artificial-intelligence/
Putin: If mid-range missiles deployed in Europe, Russia will station arms to strike decision centers
If the US deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Moscow will respond by stationing weapons aimed not only against missiles themselves, but also at command and control centers, from which a launch order would come.
The warning came from President Vladimir Putin, who announced Russia’s planned actions after the US withdraws from the INF Treaty – a Cold War-era agreement between Washington and Moscow which banned both sides form having ground-based cruise and ballistic missiles and developing relevant technology.
https://www.rt.com/news/451960-russia-deployment-missiles-europe/
Building Avangard hypersonic glider was like launching world’s 1st artificial satellite – Putin
Vladimir Putin has likened development of Russia’s cutting-edge Avangard hypersonic glider to the 1957 launch of Sputnik-1, the world’s first artificial satellite built by the Soviet Union.
The secretive top-notch weapon has demonstrated Russia’s technological capabilities, Putin said in his annual address to the Federal Assembly. “It seemed until recently that Russia can’t make a breakthrough in defense technologies, but we made it,” the president noted.
Little is verifiably known about the glider that was successfully test-launched by the Russian military earlier this year. Top Russian officials threw some light on the secretive project, telling the media that the latest test proved it can travel a whopping 27 Mach, which is equal to over 30,000 km/h or 20,000 mph.
https://www.rt.com/news/451957-avangard-hypersonic-sputnik-breakthrough/
Putin's annual address to Russia's Federal Assembly as it happened
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been addressing the Federal Assembly in Moscow. He spoke about domestic affairs and foreign policy to MPs, members of the government, as well as other officials and public figures.
https://www.rt.com/news/451889-putin-federal-assembly-address/
Trump signs directive to create not-so-‘equal’ Space Force as part of Air Force
US President Donald Trump has signed a policy directive officially establishing a Space Force, a sixth branch of the already-sprawling US military that will launch as a subsidiary of the Air Force – as long as funding is approved.
Trump has signed the futuristic-sounding Space Policy Directive-4, which orders the Pentagon to draft legislation establishing the Space Force within the Air Force. The administration still has to submit a legislative proposal to Congress, which would approve the funds and authority required to officially establish the new military branch.
“America must be fully equipped to defend our vital interests,” Trump said at a White House press conference. “Our adversaries are training forces and developing technology to undermine our security in space, and they’re working very hard at that.”
https://www.rt.com/usa/451875-trump-signs-space-force-pentagon/
1st ever VIDEO of Russian Poseidon underwater nuke drone ‘field-test’ released by MoD
The Russian Defense Ministry has released the first video ever showing an underwater 'field-test' of the Poseidon, a huge robotic nuclear-capable mini-submarine with a miniature nuclear reactor.
The strategic uber-torpedo was hauled inside a transport container, which mimics the storage compartment of an actual submarine playing mothership to the Poseidon. The weapon is then deployed out of the container underwater. The Poseidon, previously known by its code name Status-6, is part of Russia’s future strategic nuclear deterrence capability. The drone is meant to be carried by a regular manned submarine and deployed when necessary.
https://www.rt.com/russia/451986-poseidon-underwater-test-video/
New Russian light machine gun born from iconic Kalashnikov heads for tests
The Russian military has embarked on testing a new iteration of the iconic Kalashnikov light machine gun, the RPK-16. The new gun boasts a whole set of improvements, compared to its predecessor.
Testing will be performed at Moscow Higher Military Command School, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier this week. Soldiers will train to use the new weapons, providing feedback over their reliability, ergonomics and other parameters.
RPK-16 was first shown to the general public during the ARMY-2017 forum. The new gun is chambered for the intermediate 5.45×39 cartridge, used by AK-74 family. RPK-16, however, features a whole set of improvements, giving it more flexibility – and a fresher modern look.
https://www.rt.com/russia/451836-new-russian-machine-gun/
AL MAYADEEN
Venezuela cierra fronteras aéreas y marítimas con Curazao, Aruba y Bonaire
El gobierno de Venezuela ordenó este martes cerrar por tiempo indefinido las fronteras aéreas y marítimas con las islas de Curazao, Aruba y Bonaire.
El segundo comandante de la Zona Operativa de Defensa Integral del ejército de Venezuela, Miguel Morales Miranda, confirmó también el cierre de las fronteras, según la Agencia Venezolana de Noticias (AVN).
La FANB jamás aceptará órdenes de ningún gobierno o potencia extranjera, “no lo van a poder lograr. Van a tener que pasar por estos cadáveres pues”, advirtió en un comunicado la jefatura militar de Venezuela leído por el ministro de Defensa, Vladimir Padrino, en respuesta a las insinuaciones de Trump.
EE.UU. destruye base normativa de la seguridad internacional, afirma Vladimir Putin
En su discurso, el mandatario ruso anunció los planes de destinar apoyo financiero y bajar los impuestos para las familias numerosas y aumentar subsidios gubernamentales para los niños con discapacidad.
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