Síntesis informativa - 8 de marzo 2019

THE NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Peace Talks With Taliban Trip Over a Big Question: What Is Terrorism?



DOHA, Qatar - Nearly 11 days after peace negotiations between the United States and the Taliban began with high hopes, it has become clear that any resolution to the 18-year war could be frustratingly slow.

One of the most prominent issues thwarting progress is a disagreement over a fundamental question: What is terrorism, and who is a terrorist?

The answer is so important because the two sides had already agreed in principle on a framework for two crucial issues: the withdrawal of American troops, and a commitment that Afghan soil would not again be used to launch terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies, as Al Qaeda did with its strikes on Sept. 11, 2001. That attack led the Americans to invade Afghanistan in an effort to hunt down Al Qaeda’s mastermind, Osama bin Laden.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/world/asia/taliban-peace-talks-afghanistan.html

Afghan War Casualty Report: March 1-7

At least 119 pro-government forces and 26 civilians were killed in Afghanistan during the past week, in a surge of violent attacks amid ongoing peace negotiations between American diplomats and the Taliban in Qatar. The deadliest attack took place in Helmand Province, where insurgents penetrated a military compound and killed at least 40 Afghan soldiers over 36 hours of fighting. The site was once a major base for United States forces, and an adjoining part of the compound still houses American troops. There were no American casualties.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/magazine/afghan-war-casualty-report.html

Space Launch Would Violate North Korean Commitments to U.S., Official Warns

WASHINGTON — President Trump declared himself a “little disappointed” on Thursday by new evidence that North Korea was restoring a space-missile launch site, as a senior American official warned that a satellite launch would violate Kim Jong-un’s commitments to suspend missile and nuclear testing.

A week after a fruitless meeting in Vietnam with Mr. Kim, the North Korean leader, Mr. Trump attempted to avoid sounding very concerned about satellite evidence that Pyongyang was reactivating the launch site. Analysts believe that restoring the site is one of several steps Mr. Kim is taking to gain leverage as Mr. Trump demands a complete dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

In brief comments in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump told reporters that “we’ll let you know in about a year” whether his diplomacy in North Korea has been successful.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/world/asia/trump-north-korea.html

---

THE GUARDIAN

International Women's Day 2019: celebrations and protests take place around the globe - live

Follow all the news and developments as people mark International Women’s Day around the world

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/mar/08/international-womens-day-2019-celebrations-and-protests-kick-off-around-the-globe-live

China warns US of 'all necessary measures' to protect Huawei

Beijing’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, said in response to a question about the company suing the US: “It is not difficult to see that the recent actions against specific Chinese enterprises and individuals are not just judicial cases, but deliberate political suppression.

“We have and will continue to take all necessary measures to resolutely defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens,” he said, adding that Beijing supported “related companies” in defending themselves and refusing to be “silent lambs”.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/mar/08/china-warns-us-of-all-necessary-measures-to-protect-huawei

North Korea must give up all nuclear weapons before any sanctions relief, says US

The US is demanding North Korea destroys all its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons before receiving any sanctions relief, as positions harden on both sides in the aftermath of last week’s failed Hanoi summit.

The US state department said it was seeking clarification from Pyongyang on the purpose of the reconstruction work, but made it clear that any launch at the site, even to put a civilian satellite into orbit, would be a violation of Kim’s commitments to Trump.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/07/trump-kim-jong-un-summit-bolton-launch-site-activity

---

RUSSIA TODAY

Venezuela blames sabotage & ‘US electricity war’ after major power outage

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of waging an “electricity war” against the country, as Caracas and other cities were plunged into darkness Thursday night. The government says the incident is likely sabotage.

Thousands of commuters in Caracas had to walk home as a power outage shut down the capital’s subway, resulting in massive traffic jams.The lights also went out in the largest airport of Caracas.

https://www.rt.com/news/453310-venezuela-outage-sabotage-us/

US spy drone base ‘fully operational’ in Poland, but NATO bemoans ‘Russian’ military build-up

The US has upped its ability to spy over vast swathes of eastern Europe after a squadron of MQ-9 Reaper drones commenced “full” operations from an air base in Poland. This, as NATO cries foul over the so-called ‘Russian threat’.

Based out of Miroslawiec Air Base, the US Air Force (USAF) silently began using the facility for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions last May. However, it was not until March 4 that the 52nd Fighter Wing Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG), which operate drones, reached its “full operational capability” at the base, according to a USAF statement.

Facilities at the base, which include a secure processing center, communications infrastructure, and a large aircraft maintenance hangar, will allow the unit and contractors to control all aspects of the Reaper’s missions, from take-off to recovery of the aircraft. The USAF statement didn’t divulge the number of Reaper drones that would be stationed at the base.

https://www.rt.com/news/453330-us-reaper-drones-poland/

India to lease Russian nuclear-powered sub in $3bn deal – local media

An upgraded Akula-class nuclear-powered submarine is said to join the Indian Navy’s underwater fleet in less than six years under a $3-billion lease deal with Russia, local media reported.

Adding to an array of sizeable arms deals made this year, India and Russia came to terms on the lease of one Akula-class sub, Indian media reported citing defense sources. The vessel, which now has to be refurbished at Russian shipyards, will be commissioned to the Indian Navy by 2025.

Dubbed Chakra III, it is coming to replace INS Chakra I, another Akula-class underwater ship currently operated by India. Chakra’s existing lease will be extended until at least 2025 through a separate deal “until the new submarine, which will be bigger and more advanced than it, becomes operational,” one of the sources said.

https://www.rt.com/news/453347-india-nuclear-submarine-russia/

'We won't allow militant groups in our country': Pakistani PM vows to eliminate 'outside terrorism'

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said no militant group would be allowed to function in the country, as it cracks down on terrorist groups following a border flare-up with India.

“This government will not allow Pakistan's land to be used for any kind of outside terrorism,” Khan said at a public rally on Friday. “We will not allow any militant group to function in our country now.”



Pakistan has recently cracked down on Islamist militants on its soil, arresting close relatives of the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the group that has been carrying out cross-border attacks in India. One such recent attack, a car bombing that killed over 40 Indian police officers, provoked a military response from New Delhi, which launched an airstrike into the Pakistani-controlled part of the Kashmir region.

https://www.rt.com/news/453339-imran-khan-outside-terrorism/

US government spies on journalists! (Who track migrant caravans, so this time it's news)

Journalists, activists, lawyers and “organizers” involved with last year’s Central American migrant caravans were tracked by US government agencies, leaked documents reveal – but Homeland Security has been doing this for a while.

At least 59 media professionals and others linked to the migrant caravans were monitored under 'Operation Secure Line' by a coalition of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s San Diego branch, according to the documents, which a Homeland Security source leaked to NBC. Many of the activists were linked to migrant groups like Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which organizes the caravans, and to Border Angels.

“We are a criminal investigation agency, we’re not an intelligence agency. We can’t create dossiers on people and they’re creating dossiers,” the source told NBC, suggesting his reasons for leaking. “This is an abuse of the Border Search Authority.” The dossiers included photos – taken from social media accounts, in some cases – birthdates, home countries, and alleged role with the migrant caravan, as well as information on whether they had been arrested, detained, interviewed, or otherwise apprehended.

https://www.rt.com/usa/453307-homeland-security-spying-journalists-migrants/