Síntesis informativa - 31 de enero 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
To Slow U.S. Exit, Afghanistan Leader Offers Trump a Cost Reduction
KABUL, Afghanistan — Unnerved by fears of a rushed American deal with Taliban insurgents, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan sent a letter on Tuesday to President Trump offering him reduced costs for keeping United States troops in the country.
The letter, confirmed by three officials and described by one who had seen its contents, is among the strongest signs yet that Mr. Ghani is worried about the consequences of an abrupt American withdrawal from an intractable war that has lasted nearly two decades.
Mr. Ghani has made no secret of his concern about a hasty American exit by an increasingly impatient Mr. Trump, fearing it could unravel the fragile Afghan state and lead to a renaissance in power by the Taliban, which have been steadily gaining territory.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/world/asia/afghan-ghani-trump-letter.html
Afghan Government Control Over Country Falters, U.S. Report Says
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government’s control of its country declined late last year, in terms of both territory and population, according to a United States government report released Thursday.
The report, by the agency of the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, or Sigar, said that as of Oct. 31, the Afghan government controlled territory on which 63.5 percent of its population lived, a decrease of 1.7 percent from the previous quarter, while gains by the Taliban insurgency gave it control over territory that is home to 10.8 percent of the population.
The agency’s statistics are based on data provided by the American military under a mandate to report to Congress quarterly.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-territory-control.html
6 Men Convicted in 1982 Murder of Chilean Leader
SANTIAGO, Chile — A judge convicted six men on Wednesday in the 1982 murder of former President Eduardo Frei Montalva of Chile, then the leader of the moderate opposition against the dictator Augusto Pinochet.
In an 811-page ruling, Judge Alejandro Madrid found that the men — a former security agent, four doctors and Mr. Frei’s driver — conspired to slowly poison Mr. Frei after he had surgery in a private clinic in Santiago, the capital, and then worked to conceal the autopsy report.
Mr. Frei, of the centrist Christian Democratic Party, served as president of Chile from 1964 to 1970. His government began a land reform program and took majority control of the copper industry, then in the hands of foreign corporations.
After initially supporting the 1973 military coup against his successor, Salvador Allende, Mr. Frei and his party soon became vocal opponents of the military junta because of widespread human rights violations. At the time of his death on Jan. 22, 1982, Mr. Frei was leading efforts to unite the moderate political opposition to oust General Pinochet.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/world/americas/eduardo-frei-murder-conviction-chile.html
Canada Slashes Diplomatic Staff in Cuba After Another Mystery Illness
The Canadian government said on Wednesday that it would withdraw up to half of its diplomatic staff in Havana, as it disclosed that another employee had fallen ill with the mysterious symptoms that have affected dozens of Americans and Canadians stationed in Cuba.
Since early 2017, American and Canadian government employees in Cuba have suffered strange symptoms such as dizziness, insomnia, hearing loss and nausea when using a computer. Canada’s government said that, in all, 14 Canadian employees, spouses and dependents have been affected.
Global Affairs Canada, the nation’s foreign ministry, said that after the last confirmed case of unusual symptoms, in November 2018, Canadian staff members in Havana undertook additional medical testing. Those tests confirmed “an additional employee has symptoms consistent with those of previously affected employees,” the ministry’s statement said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/world/americas/cuba-diplomats-canada-embassy.html
THE GUARDIAN
How the religious right gained unprecedented access to Trump
The American right has gained unprecedented access to the White House, as defining Trump statements have emboldened the antisemitic far right and Trump administration policies put the brakes on Muslim immigration.
This summer, Trump successfully appointed the conservative Catholic Brett Kavanaugh to the US supreme court. The former attorney general Jeff Sessions announced a religious liberty taskforce, but the names of its members are not public. In the summer of 2017, Trump unexpectedly announced a ban on transgender people serving in the military.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/30/donald-trump-administration-religious-right-access
French MPs condemn 'authoritarian' plans to curtail gilets jaunes protests
The most controversial measure in the bill – which angered some rebels in the French president’s party – means that individuals deemed to represent a “particularly serious” threat to public order will be prevented from taking part in street protests. Their names will be added to a special police file. Any person presumed to have been involved in violence in previous demonstrations can be banned from street protests, but they don’t need to have been previously convicted. Regional prefects, rather than judges, will have new powers to impose the ban.
There will also be a new crime of covering your face during a street demonstration – whether with a helmet, mask or scarf – punishable by a fine of €15,000 (£13,117) or a prison sentence.
DEUTSCHE WELLE
Rusia alerta de que persiste el riesgo de un conflicto armado en Venezuela
Rusia advirtió hoy de que persiste el riesgo de un "conflicto armado de envergadura" en Venezuela y expresó su disposición a participar en un mecanismo de mediación para superar la crisis en ese país.
Al mismo tiempo, negó que Rusia se plantee la evacuación de sus diplomáticos o de sus familias, y en general del personal que trabaja en representaciones o compañías rusas en Venezuela.
Rusia, agregó la diplomática, "está dispuesta a sumarse a mecanismos de mediación o consultas que sean aceptables para las partes venezolanas".
Las principales potencias nucleares se comprometen con la no proliferación
Las principales potencias nucleares del mundo -China, Francia, Rusia, Reino Unido y Estados Unidos- acordaron "hacer cumplir el Tratado de No Proliferación de Armas Nucleares (TNP) en su totalidad" en reunión en Pekín.
Así lo informaron este jueves (31.01.2019) las autoridades chinas. El portavoz del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores chino Geng Shuang explicó que los cinco países -conocidos como grupo P5- llegaron a este acuerdo para "conseguir de forma gradual nuestro objetivo de un mundo libre de armas nucleares".
Uruguay y México convocan a conferencia de “países neutrales” sobre Venezuela
Uruguay y México convocaron para el 7 de febrero una conferencia internacional de “países neutrales”, tras tensiones generadas luego de que Juan Guaidó, líder del Parlamento, se autoproclamara presidente encargado.
La ciudad de Montevideo acogerá esta conferencia con el objetivo de discutir una salida diplomática para la crisis en Venezuela, en la que participarán representantes de más de 10 países y organismos internacionales, según un comunicado de la Cancillería uruguaya. México y Uruguay "han adoptado una posición de no intervención, a la vez que han externado su preocupación por la situación de los derechos humanos en Venezuela. Por ello, han decidido convocar a un diálogo inclusivo y creíble que solucione de una vez por todas la delicada situación por la que atraviesan nuestros hermanos venezolanos", se señaló en la nota oficial.
Venezuela y Turquía: ¿una nueva alianza?
En medio de la crisis en Venezuela parece perfilarse un acercamiento con Turquía, en el que también aspectos económicos, como el comercio del oro, juegan un papel importante. ¿Qué hay detrás de esto?
Luego de que Juan Guaidó se autoproclamara presidente interino de Venezuela el 23 de enero pasado, el presidente turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, fue uno de los pocos jefes de Estado que manifestaron de inmediato por teléfono su apoyo al presidente Nicolás Maduro. En cierta forma, Erdogan agradeció así a Maduro la solidaridad expresada por este a su gobierno tras el fallido golpe de Estado del 15.07.2016. "¡Mi hermano Maduro! Mantente fuerte, estamos a tu lado", habría dicho el presidente de Turquía en una conversación telefónica al venezolano. Pero el apoyo que recibió Maduro de Turquía no solo se limitó a eso. Muchos le expresaron su respaldo a través de las redes sociales.
https://www.dw.com/es/venezuela-y-turqu%C3%ADa-una-nueva-alianza/a-47298858
XINHUA
Pompeo dice que la segunda reunión entre Trump y Kim ocurrirá en "algún lugar de Asia"
WASHINGTON, 30 ene (Xinhua) -- El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Mike Pompeo, dijo hoy miércoles que la segunda reunión entre los líderes de Washington y Pyongyang tendrá lugar "en algún lugar de Asia".
El principal diplomático de EEUU agregó que estaba "enviando un equipo" que está "encaminado hacia una dirección, sentar las bases, un paso adicional y sustancial hacia un camino no solo para la desnuclearización de la península, sino para un futuro mejor para el pueblo norcoreano y la seguridad en la península".
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/31/c_137789463.htm
Rusia cumple acuerdo para reducir producción petrolera, dice ministro
MOSCU, 30 ene (Xinhua) -- Rusia está reduciendo la producción petrolera en cumplimiento de su acuerdo con la Organización de Países Exportadores de Petróleo (OPEP) y otros productores petroleros, indicó el ministro ruso de Energía, Alexander Novak.
"La cifra exacta se dará a conocer mañana. Sin embargo, datos preliminares señalan que alcanzaremos una reducción mensual promedio de 50.000 barriles diarios respecto al nivel de octubre de 2018, como se esperaba", dijo Novak a los reporteros.
El ministro señaló que espera que la producción promedio de crudo en Rusia en enero disminuya en alrededor de 100.000 barriles diarios respecto al volumen de octubre.
En diciembre, la OPEP y productores no miembros de la OPEP acordaron reducir la producción de petróleo crudo en un total de 1,2 millones de barriles diarios a partir de enero de 2019 por un período inicial de seis meses para acabar con la saturación global de oferta.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/31/c_137787897.htm
Reunión sobre asuntos fronterizos China-India en Nueva Delhi
NUEVA DELHI, 30 ene (Xinhua) -- La 13ª reunión del Mecanismo de Trabajo para Consultas y Coordinación sobre Asuntos Fronterizos China-India se celebró el martes y el miércoles en esta capital.
La delegación china estuvo encabezada por Yi Xianliang, director general del departamento de asuntos fronterizos y oceánicos del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de China, y la india por Pranay Verma, secretario conjunto (Asia Oriental) del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores indio.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/30/c_137787433.htm
Demanda global de oro sube en 2018
BEIJING, 31 ene (Xinhua) -- La demanda global del oro se incrementó en 2018 gracias a un récord en varias décadas en la adquisición de los bancos centrales y la inversión acelerada en lingotes y monedas de oro en la segunda mitad del año pasado, según un informe publicado hoy jueves por el Consejo Mundial del Oro (WGC, por sus siglas en inglés).
La subida global de la demanda fue del 4 por ciento interanual, hasta 4.345 toneladas el año pasado, según el documento.
La adquisición neta de oro por parte de los bancos centrales experimentó un crecimiento interanual del 74 por ciento, hasta alcanzar 651,5 toneladas en 2018, el segundo nivel anual más alto, de acuerdo con la misma fuente.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/31/c_137790013.htm
China encabeza consumo de oro a nivel mundial por sexto año consecutivo
BEIJING, 31 ene (Xinhua) -- El consumo de oro de China aumentó un 5,73 por ciento interanual a 1.151,43 toneladas en 2018 gracias a la robusta demanda interna, manteniendo al país como el mayor consumidor del mundo por sexto año consecutivo, según datos publicados hoy jueves por la Asociación de Oro de China.
El consumo para uso industrial y otros creció un 17,48 por ciento a 105,94 toneladas.
El año pasado, la producción de oro del país bajó un 5,87 por ciento a 401,12 toneladas, pero aún así mantuvo su posición como el mayor productor del mundo por 12º año consecutivo.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-01/31/c_137789989.htm
AL JAZEERA
Sudan's army says it will 'not allow state to fall' amid protests
Army chief Kamal Abdul Maarouf says those leading demonstrations are hostile to Sudan and hurt the country's image.
Addressing soldiers this month, Bashir, a 75-year-old former paratrooper who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1989, said he would only move aside for another army officer, or at the ballot box.
During Bashir's visit to Cairo on Sunday, where he met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Sudanese leader said the unrest in his country was "an attempt to copy the so-called Arab Spring for Sudan".
Sisi said he was eager to maintain the close historical ties between the two countries, while Bashir said the protests against him were not as bad as they seemed, accusing outside groups of trying to undermine his rule in what he compared with Egypt's own experience during its 2011 uprising.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/sudan-army-state-fall-protests-190131065510146.html
US, China lead race for artificial intelligence patents: UN
The UN said patents for AI-based inventions have exploded in recent years, with half in history filed since 2013.
The research found tech giant IBM had by far the biggest AI patent portfolio with 8,920 patents, ahead of Microsoft with 5,930, and a group of mainly Japanese tech conglomerates.
China accounted for 17 of the top 20 academic institutions involved in patenting AI and was particularly strong in the fast-growing area of "deep learning" - a machine-learning technique that includes speech recognition systems.
The single most popular AI application was computer vision, used in self-driving cars, and mentioned in 49 percent of all AI-related patents.
The WIPO study found companies were far more active than universities and other public research institutions in filing AI-related patents, accounting for 26 out of the 30 top applicants in the field.
Major Australian mining firms back indigenous voice in parliament
Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto call for constitutional guarantee of indigenous representation in parliament.
Out of 150, only five members of the Australian parliament are Aboriginal.
The opposition Australian Labor Party has promised a referendum on the issue if it wins power in the May election.
RT
WATCH Russian Su-27 fend off F-15 in a daring maneuver mid-air
A Russian Su-27 jet fighter was filmed confronting an F-15 as it fended off the US-made aircraft by executing a risky maneuver mid-air, while both warplanes flew dangerously close to each other.
A 40-second clip, which began circulating on Russian social media on Thursday, shows what appears to be an F-15 jet fighter flying in close proximity to an unnamed aircraft. The Russian Su-27 warplane can be seen approaching the American-made jet from the side. As the two planes get extremely close to each other, the Su-27 makes a breathtaking maneuver, forcing the F-15 to turn away, fly further from the plane and ultimately disappear from sight.
https://www.rt.com/news/450221-su27-f15-maneuver-midair/
Japanese govt to hack citizens in the name of cyber security
The Japanese government is about to hack all citizens with internet-connected devices in homes or offices via a nationwide ‘survey’ aimed at improving cyber security.
The first-of-its-kind survey was recently approved by the government and will be carried out by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology starting mid-February. It will attempt to access about 200 million devices using the most common IDs and passwords like “abcd,” “1234” or“admin.” Any owners of devices that were successfully breached would then be notified that they need to improve their security measures
https://www.rt.com/news/450253-japan-survey-hack-cyber/
US Energy Dept. blindsides Nevada with secret delivery of half a ton of weapons-grade plutonium
The US Department of Energy secretly shipped half a metric ton of weapons-grade plutonium to Nevada despite the state’s strong opposition to receiving the nuclear material. The state government fears more deliveries may follow.
The Energy Department infuriated Nevada’s government with the admission that it had shipped weapons-grade plutonium from South Carolina to a nuclear security site 113km north of Las Vegas before November, when state authorities asked for a court order blocking such a move. They didn’t specify when the cross-country journey had occurred – merely that enough time had elapsed since then to disclose it without compromising national security.
https://www.rt.com/usa/450203-energy-department-plutonium-nevada/
BBC found in violation of Russian laws – watchdog
A Russian media watchdog has found ‘certain violations’ in activities of the BBC World News broadcaster in Russia. The probe into the broadcaster’s actions was launched in response to the British regulator’s ruling against RT.
British Television, a company broadcasting BBC World News in Russia, has been found in breach of Russian legislation, Roskomnadzor (RKN), the Russian media watchdog, said following an “unscheduled inspection.” It did not elaborate on the nature of the revealed violations but said that it “is assessing” their severity.
https://www.rt.com/russia/450242-bbc-violation-russia-laws-roskomnadzor/
AL MAYADEEN
Ex comandante israelí: No hay fuerza militar capaz de sacar a Irán de Siria
“No hay una fuerza militar capaz de sacarlos de Siria. Solo Rusia podría sacar a Irán de Siria”, dijo Eshel, citado por Haaretz.
Asimismo, sugirió que los sirios y los rusos no tienen ninguna intención de hacer que Irán se vaya.
Sondeo: La gran mayoría de los venezolanos se oponen a la intervención militar y a las sanciones de EE.UU.
Según un estudio realizado a principios de enero de 2019 por la firma local de encuestas Hinterlaces, el 86 por ciento de los venezolanos no estaría de acuerdo con la intervención militar internacional. Y el 81 por ciento se opone a las sanciones estadounidenses que han dañado gravemente la economía de la nación sudamericana.
Esta encuesta se realizó antes de que el gobierno de Donald Trump lanzara un golpe político en Venezuela el 23 de enero, intentando reemplazar a su gobierno con una oposición de derecha que dejó en claro que busca imponer políticas económicas capitalistas neoliberales.
