Síntesis informativa - 3 de abril 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
With Trump, NATO Chief Tries to Navigate Spending Minefields
WASHINGTON — He flew across the ocean to celebrate NATO’s 70th anniversary with the largest and most important member of the military alliance. So to outsiders it appeared to be an awkward moment on Tuesday for Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, as he sat stiffly by while President Trump criticized German defense spending and predicted that the United States would get along with Russia.
“I accept there are differences, but when it comes to defense spending we all agree,” Mr. Stoltenberg said in an interview after his meeting with Mr. Trump, putting a positive spin on the situation.
He said the president had helped push member states to budget an additional $100 billion in defense spending and credited Mr. Trump with “having a real impact.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/world/europe/trump-nato-military-spending.html
Trump Wants to Cut Aid to Central America. Here Are Some of the Dozens of U.S.-Funded Programs.
President Trump, in his most recent rebuke of Central American nations for what he says is their failure to address the issue of migration, announced plans to cut off aid to three nations — Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — known as the Northern Triangle.
Critics of the cuts say they will target programs aimed at preventing violence, curbing extreme poverty and hunger, and strengthening the justice system — the very problems residents of those countries give for leaving home and pursuing a more stable future elsewhere.
Though the administration has offered little in the way of details about what precisely could be cut, the State Department notified Congress on Friday night that it would divert about $450 million in aid from the region. President Trump also threatened to seal off the southern border of the United States with Mexico if that country “doesn’t get with it.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/world/americas/trump-funding-central-america.html
DEUTSCHE WELLE
Condena contra exdirectivos de Sig Sauer por venta de armas a Colombia
Las casi 40.000 pistolas se vendieron durante 2 años a través de empresas intermediarias en Estados Unidos. Las penas incluyen entre 10 y 18 meses de cárcel, que no deberán ser cumplidas, y multas de hasta 600.000 euros.
Tres exdirectivos del fabricante de armas alemán Sig Sauer fueron condenados este miércoles (03.04.2019) por un tribunal de Kiel a penas de cárcel en suspenso por haber vendido armas a Colombia a través de Estados Unidos. Las condenas incluyen penas de entre 10 y 18 meses de cárcel en suspenso y unas fuertes multas, que van desde los 600.000 hasta los 60.000 euros, tras haber negociado una reducción de pena a cambio de reconocer su culpabilidad.
XINHUA
Trump sigue presionando a miembros de la OTAN sobre gasto de defensa
WASHINGTON, 2 abr (Xinhua) -- El presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, mantuvo este martes conversaciones con el secretario general de la OTAN, Jens Stoltenberg, en la Casa Blanca, durante las cuales siguió presionando a los aliados europeos para que aumenten el gasto militar.
Afirmando que EEUU está pagando una "parte desproporcionada" y "muy grande", Trump dijo a los reporteros durante la reunión que otros miembros de la OTAN están pagando más en gasto de defensa, pero no suficiente.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/03/c_137946037.htm
Enviado chino pide resultados pragmáticos de conferencia de revisión sobre TNP 2020
NACIONES UNIDAS, 2 abr (Xinhua) -- Un enviado chino ante las Naciones Unidas indicó este martes que la comunidad internacional debe conducir conjuntamente la Conferencia de Revisión del Tratado sobre la No Proliferación de Armas Nucleares (TNP) 2020 hacia resultados pragmáticos.
El representante permanente de China ante la ONU, Ma Zhaoxu, realizó estos comentarios en una reunión del Consejo de Seguridad sobre el apoyo al TNP antes de la conferencia.
Ma pidió que se abandone la mentalidad de Guerra Fría, se defienda el régimen multilateral de control de armas y se fortalezcan el diálogo, las consultas y la salvaguardia del régimen del tratado.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/03/c_137946108.htm
AL JAZEERA
Pakistan expresses 'grave concern' over Indian space weapons test
Country echoes concerns of NASA that debris from test could damage the International Space Station.
Asad Hashim
"This [anti-satellite weapon] test should be a matter of grave concern for the international community, not only in terms of generation of space debris but also because of its ramifications for long-term sustainability of peaceful space activities," the Pakistani foreign ministry statement released on Tuesday said.
NASA has calculated that the debris from India's ASAT test has increased the probability of debris hitting the ISS by at least 44 percent over 10 days, with 24 of the 60 pieces it is tracking currently travelling above the apogee of the ISS.
India's government, meanwhile, hailed the test as a proclamation of the country's scientific and military prowess. So far, the US, Russia and China are the only other countries to conduct ASAT missile tests successfully.
Guatemala's top presidential contenders face expulsion from race
Country's electoral tribunal bars former Attorney General Thelma Aldana as legal battles continue.
Sandra Cuffe.- Many aspects of the current election process are atypical, said Hernandez Batres. The campaign period is extra short. The top presidential contenders are women. They all face court proceedings that could take them out of the running. There is a new election law with more restrictions on campaign financing.
Jorge Santos, the director of UDEFEGUA, a national human rights organisation, is also concerned that a stage is being set to control the process and results. Santos views the massive uncertainty as to who will be able to participate as candidates this late in the game as telling.
UK army investigates Corbyn target practice video from Kabul
Soldiers based in Kabul appear to be using poster of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for target practice.
Corbyn has not been a popular figure for some army circles due to his views on the UK's involvement in the war in Iraq and army practices in Northern Ireland during the Troubles - a violent period when more than 3,500 people were killed in sectarian violence.
RUSSIA TODAY
US senators press energy chief to reveal details of nuclear cooperation with Saudis
The US lawmakers have demanded answers from the Energy Secretary Rick Perry who allowed a number of US firms to share sensitive nuclear energy information with Saudi Arabia, under the public radar.
Secretary Perry had issued seven so-called ‘Part 810 authorizations’ to US companies, allowing them to export “unclassified civil nuclear technology” to Saudi Arabia. The details of the deals, however, have not been made public out of fear that they might reveal “proprietary business information.”
While the Department of Energy stressed that “no enrichment or reprocessing technology” was shared with the Gulf kingdom, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have written a letter to Perry, giving him until April 10 to provide them with details of the authorizations, Reuters and The Washington Post have learned.
https://www.rt.com/usa/455409-us-saudi-nuclear-deals/
Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly strips opposition leader Guaido of immunity
Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly has backed a Supreme Court request to strip Juan Guaido of his immunity, paving the way for possible legal proceedings against the US-backed opposition leader calling for regime change.
The decision to revoke Guaido's immunity –which he has held as the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly– came a day after Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) urged the ANC lawmakers to take action against the self-proclaimed ‘interim’ president, as he stands accused of inciting violence and engaging in an illicit financial activity.
https://www.rt.com/news/455402-venezuela-guaido-immunity-stripped/
Chinese, US researchers create monkeys with human-like brain development
A group of monkeys were found to have “human-like” brain development, including faster reactions and better memories, after a joint Sino-American team of researchers spliced a human gene into their genetic makeup.
Researchers from the Kunming Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the University of North Carolina in the United States modified the genes of 11 monkeys (eight first-generation and three second-generation) with the addition of copies of the human gene MCPH1. Microcephalin (MCPH1) is a key factor in our brain development and, in particular, eventual brain size. Mutations in the gene can lead to the developmental disorder microcephaly, which is characterized by a tiny brain.
https://www.rt.com/news/455423-transgenic-monkeys-brain-development/
‘Unconstitutional censorship’: US intelligence veterans sue to end arbitrary review of their books
A group of ex-spooks is suing the Defense Department and spy agencies for the right to publish books on their careers without being subjected to arbitrary censorship that favors tales depicting the government in a favorable light.
Claiming that the “prepublication review” system inflicted on all employees with security clearances is overly broad, arbitrary and capricious, and flagrantly unconstitutional, amounting to a “far-reaching system of prior restraint,” the American Civil Liberties Union and the Knight First Amendment Institute are suing the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Defense Department on behalf of five former federal employees who argue the byzantine, confusing system has hurt them professionally.
https://www.rt.com/usa/455408-former-spies-sue-intelligence-agencies/
AL MAYADEEN
Cancillería iraní: EE.UU. bloquea envío de ayuda humanitaria para los damnificados por las inundaciones
Señaló que en los últimos días, las instituciones de ayuda humanitaria como la Cruz Roja Internacional o la Media Luna Roja han declarado que no pueden cursar sus ayudas a la Media Luna Roja de la República Islámica porque al parecer EE.UU. pretende impedir el envío de esas ayudas a los afectados por las inundaciones.
Amplias manifestaciones populares en Siria contra proclamación de Trump sobre Altos del Golán
Frente a la oficina de la ONU en la capital Damasco, miles de profesores, docentes y estudiantes de la Universidad de Damasco se concentraron para expresar su firme rechazo y enérgica condena al reconocimiento estadounidense a la soberanía sionista en el Golán.
Asimismo, la Unión de Agricultores de Latakia organizó este martes un acto de protesta contra la decisión arrogante de Trump sobre el Golán sirio.
