Síntesis informativa - 16 de enero 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Bolsonaro Signs Decree Making It Easier for Brazilians to Buy Guns
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil signed a decree on Tuesday making it easier to buy guns and signaling he will follow through on his campaign promise to tackle the country’s epidemic of violence by arming the “good guys” and crushing violent drug gangs.
Mr. Bolsonaro was sworn in on Jan. 1 after a decisive electoral victory last year that was bolstered by his vows to combat crime with an iron fist and reduce Brazil’s record-high murder rate. Simulating guns with his fingers at campaign rallies, he pledged to make it easier for the police to shoot suspects and to relax the country’s restrictive firearms law.
Two weeks into his term, he took what he called a “first step” to those ends, to be followed by further congressional measures.
U.S. Troops Among Dead in Islamic State Bombing in Syria
WASHINGTON — American troops were among 15 people killed on Wednesday in a suicide bombing in northern Syria that was claimed by the Islamic State, just weeks after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of United States forces with what he declared the extremist group’s defeat.
The attack targeted a restaurant in the northern city of Manbij where American soldiers would sometimes stop to eat during their patrols of the area, residents said. After the blast, a number of Americans were evacuated by helicopter, they said. It was not immediately clear how many had been in the area at the time of the blast.
A statement by the Baghdad-based American headquarters for the fight against the Islamic State said the attack happened while the troops were on a patrol.
After Defeat on Brexit Plan, Theresa May Faces No-Confidence Vote
LONDON — After suffering the worst parliamentary defeat in modern times over her plans for leaving the European Union, Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, endured another day of turmoil on Wednesday, when she is to face a vote of no confidence in her battered government.
On Tuesday Mrs. May lost by a crushing margin, 432 to 202, when Parliament voted on her plan for European Union withdrawal, or Brexit, as the clock ticks toward March 29 when Britain is scheduled to leave.
Lawmakers spent much of Wednesday debating whether Mrs. May’s government should continue in power before voting at around 7 p.m. on a motion that could, in theory, lead to a general election.
Venezuela Opposition Declares Maduro Illegitimate, and Urges Defections
CARACAS, Venezuela — Leaders of Venezuela’s opposition on Tuesday set in motion a plan to try to oust President Nicolás Maduro and create a caretaker government until new elections can be held.
The National Assembly, the opposition-controlled legislative body, declared Mr. Maduro illegitimate, hoping to trigger a constitutional mechanism that would allow the head of the assembly to take over the leadership.
It was not immediately clear what effect the move would have or how Mr. Maduro’s government would react.
Iran State Television Says U.S. Is Holding One of Its Journalists
TEHRAN — A prominent American-born journalist working for an Iranian state-run satellite television channel has been arrested in the United States, the broadcaster said Wednesday.
American officials have not confirmed the arrest of the journalist, Marzieh Hashemi, who has lived in Iran since 2009 and is an anchor at Press TV.
Press TV said that Ms. Hashemi, 59, was arrested at the St. Louis airport on Sunday and was then transferred by the F.B.I. to Washington, where she remains in custody. No charges have been filed against her, the channel said.
The report of Ms. Hashemi’s detention comes a week after Iran confirmed that it had detained a United States Navy veteran, Michael White. Mr. White’s family said that he was arrested in July while visiting his Iranian girlfriend, that he has been in custody on unknown charges since then.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/world/middleeast/iran-us-journalist-arrest.html
THE GUARDIAN
China has some of world's most advanced weapon systems, Pentagon warns
An unclassified report by the Defense Intelligence Agency says Beijing has made enormous military strides in recent years, thanks partly to domestic laws forcing foreign partners to divulge technical secrets in exchange for access to China’s vast market.
As a result of “acquiring technology by any means available,” China now is at the leading edge on a range of technologies, including with its naval designs, with medium- and intermediate-range missiles, and with hypersonic weapons – where missiles can fly at many times the speed of sound and dodge missile-defense systems
China’s increasing military might means it has advanced capabilities in the air, at sea, in space and in cyberspace that will “enable China to impose its will in the region,” the report notes.
Theresa May suffers historic defeat in vote as Tories turn against her
On a day of extraordinary drama at Westminster, the House of Commons delivered a devastating verdict on the prime minister’s deal, voting against it by 432 to 202.
The scale of defeat, by a majority of 230, was greater than any seen in the past century, with ardent Brexiters such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson walking through a packed division lobby cheek-by-jowl alongside passionate remainers.
Downing Street said May would approach the talks wanting to find a solution to deliver a Brexit deal that would honour the result of the referendum – suggesting she would not countenance talks with those pushing for a second referendum, or even a full customs union, which Labour has backed.
She would then make a statement on Monday, setting out how she intended to proceed. MPs would get the chance to amend the statement, and were likely to take the opportunity to try to demonstrate support for their own favoured alternatives – including a Norway-style soft Brexit, and a second referendum.
Yemen ceasefire: UN urgently tries to prevent collapse of agreement
The UN is to try to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire agreement in Yemenby endorsing a fresh security council resolution urgently increasing the number of monitors overseeing the deal in Hodeidah, the strategic port that lies at the heart of the three-year civil war.
The absence of an adequate number of UN monitors has also made it more difficult for the UN to ascribe responsibility for breaches, and so prevent their repetition.
The British and the Americans have accused the Iranian backed Houthi rebels of breaching the spirit of the ceasefire after drones were used to attack a Yemeni government military parade, killing six people including the head of Yemeni intelligence.
Putin says US wants to 'assert dominance' in Balkans as Macedonia changes name
“The policy of the United States and some other western nations in the Balkans, who seek to assert their dominance in the region, has been a serious destabilising factor,” he was quoting as telling Serbia’s Večernje Novosti and Politika newspapers, according to remarks released by the Kremlin. “This will eventually increase mistrust and tension in Europe, rather than improve stability.”
Last week, Macedonian MPs endorsed a landmark accord that will see the strategic Balkan nation being rechristened the Republic of North Macedoniain a move that now opens the way to Nato membership.
Trump replacement for Obama climate plan worse than doing nothing – study
Planet-warming emissions would “rebound” under the Trump policy, researchers found, as it delays the retirement of coal-fired power plants. Carbon dioxide emissions would be 8.7% higher in 18 states and Washington DC by 2030, compared with having no policy at all.
enlace al estudio: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aafe25
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/15/trump-replacement-obama-climate-plan
El Chapo paid $100m bribe to former Mexican president Peña Nieto, witness says
A witness at the US trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has testified that he told US authorities the accused Mexican drug lord once paid a $100m bribe to the former Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto.
Alex Cifuentes, who has said he was a close associate of the Sinaloa cartel chief for years, discussed the alleged bribe under cross-examination by one of Guzman’s lawyers in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday. Asked if he told authorities in 2016 that Guzmán arranged the bribe, he answered: “That’s right.”
DEUTSCHE WELLE
Rusia respalda a Maduro y condena la injerencia en los asuntos de Venezuela
Moscú acusó a EE. UU. de dar alas a la "parte intransigente" de la oposición venezolana.
Rusia reiteró este miércoles (16.01.2019) su respaldo al presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, condenó la intromisión en los asuntos internos del país sudamericano y acusó a Estados Unidos de potenciar la intransigencia de la oposición venezolana.
"Nuestra postura consiste en que es necesario evitar todo tipo de injerencia en los asuntos internos de los estados soberanos", dijo sobre la situación en Venezuela el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de Rusia, Serguéi Lavrov, en su tradicional rueda de prensa anual.
XINHUA
China se ubica como mayor comprador de crudo de Omán en diciembre
MASCATE, 15 ene (Xinhua) -- China siguió siendo el mayor comprador del petróleo crudo de Omán en diciembre de 2018 a pesar de la disminución con respecto al mes previo, dice un informe mensual del Ministerio del Petróleo y Gas de Omán publicado hoy martes.
La producción de petróleo crudo y condensado de Omán en diciembre de 2018 ascendió a unos 30,76 millones de barriles, con un promedio diario de 992.192 barriles, de acuerdo con el informe.
Las exportaciones totales de crudo alcanzaron los 20,02 millones de barriles en el mismo mes, indica el informe.
Pompeo anuncia visita a Kuwait dentro de días
DUBAI, 16 ene (Xinhua) -- El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Mike Pompeo, habló por teléfono con su homólogo kuwaití para confirmar su visita a Kuwai "dentro de unos días", según informó hoy miércoles Al Arabiya.
Pompeo ha visitado varios países árabes, incluidos Arabia Saudita, Egipto, Bahrein e Irak.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/16/c_137749134.htm
Abbas condena terrorismo "en todas sus formas y manifestaciones"
NACIONES UNIDAS, 15 ene (Xinhua) -- El presidente palestino Mahmoud Abbas dijo hoy que condena el terrorismo en todas sus formas y manifestaciones.
Abbas hizo la declaración durante la ceremonia de entrega de la presidencia del Grupo de los 77 más China de Egipto a Palestina para el año 2019 en la sede de Naciones Unidas en Nueva York.
Abbas también hizo un llamado a todas las naciones a combatir el terrorismo después de escuchar la noticia durante, la ceremonia, de que hombres armados irrumpieron hoy en un hotel y un complejo de oficinas en la capital de Kenia.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/16/c_137746528.htm
Cumbre RPDC-EEUU y visita de Kim a Seúl ayudarían a desnuclearización, dice canciller surcoreana
SEUL, 16 ene (Xinhua) -- La ministra de Asuntos Exteriores surcoreana, Kang Kyung-wha, dijo este miércoles que una segunda cumbre entre la República Popular Democrática de Corea (RPDC) y Estados Unidos y una visita del máximo líder de la RPDC a Seúl serían de gran ayuda para avanzar en las relaciones intercoreanas y lograr la paz permanente.
En su rueda de prensa de Año Nuevo, la jefa de la diplomacia surcoreana afirmó que su país empeñará todos los esfuerzos diplomáticos posibles para que 2019 sea un año de progreso hacia la desnuclearización completa de la península y un acuerdo definitivo de paz, informó la prensa local.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/16/c_137748920.htm
AL JAZEERA
Cornered Theresa May faces no-confidence vote over Brexit
British prime minister's EU divorce plan in tatters as parliamentarians prepare to vote on her leadership's future.
The Conservative leader is likely to survive the vote, as those within her own party who rejected her signature policy say they will support her to prevent what would almost certainly lead to a new general election.
Tuesday's 202 to 432 vote government defeat was the worst in modern history.
May will likely head back to Brussels to plead with EU leaders to offer her more favourable terms.
The EU, however, has refused to offer concessions and French President Emmanuel Macron said he considers May's failure to reach an agreement an "internal UK politics problem".
Polls show that while a majority of Britons would prefer to stay in the EU, the margins are small and have shifted little since the original 2016 referendum.
Syrian Kurds reject Turkey-controlled security zone
Senior political leader says any 'security' role for Turkey will upset the balance in the region as attack fears rise.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday the Syrian government must take control of the country's north.
Ex-Mexico president was 'bribed' by drug lord Guzman: Witness
Guzman associate alleges captured fugitive drug lord paid former leader Enrique Pena Nieto $100m.
Accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman once paid a $100m bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, an ex-Guzman associate testified, adding that he previously let the United States authorities know about it.
Bank of China offers $300m loan to Sri Lanka
Offer comes as Colombo faces economic crisis triggered by political uncertainty in the South Asian island nation.
Bank of China, one of the country's biggest lenders, has offered a loan of $300m to Sri Lanka's government, with the option of increasing the amount to one billion dollars.
By the end of 2018, nearly a quarter of Sri Lanka's total foreign debt was owed to China, which has lent some eight billion dollars while building ports and highways and planning other major investments in the island state as part of its drive to build a 21st-century "Silk Road" across nations and shipping lanes.
China is already one of the biggest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. But there has been criticism, both locally and internationally, and growing concerns that China has lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/bank-china-offers-300m-loan-sri-lanka-190116064011066.html
RT
US-led coalition says American soldiers killed in Syria after blast in Kurdish-held Manbij (VIDEOS)
An apparent suicide bombing hit the Kurdish-controlled northern Syrian city of Manbij during a “routine” US-led coalition patrol, killing several US troops and civilians. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The blast happened near a restaurant and market. Preliminary reports say at least six people were killed and 19 others injured by the explosion. Various sources on the ground claim that between two and five US soldiers are among the casualties, but this has yet to be confirmed.
https://www.rt.com/news/448935-manbij-blast-us-patrol-reports/
'One of the biggest black eyes in DEA history': Star agent made millions from drug traffickers
A top Drug Enforcement Agency agent laundered millions in drug money and hosted wild parties with prostitutes, according to law enforcement officials who fear he may have permanently compromised the DEA's undercover Colombian ops.
Jose Irizarry, once praised for his high-profile drug busts, laundered over $7 million in cocaine cash, collaborating with a long-time DEA informant to skim plenty for himself off the top, five current and former law enforcement officials not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation told the AP.
https://www.rt.com/usa/448905-dea-agent-money-laundering/
AL MAYADEEN
Milicias iraquíes rechazan operación de inteligencia de tropas estadounidenses en la frontera siria
Las Fuerzas de Movilización Popular de Irak (PMF, por su sigla en inglés) impidieron a militares estadounidenses realizar una operación de reconocimiento en la frontera con Siria.
Túnez en huelga general en el octavo aniversario de la revolución
La Unión confirmó la continuación de su huelga general, que tendrá lugar el jueves 17 de enero, coincidiendo con el octavo aniversario de la revolución tunecina, en protesta contra las políticas del gobierno.
