Síntesis informativa - 23 de abril 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Philippine Communist Rebels Kill 6 Soldiers, Military Says
MANILA — Six soldiers were killed on Tuesday in the first major attack by Communist rebels in the Philippines since the 50th anniversary of their guerrilla movement last month, the military said.
The soldiers were checking on reports of guerrilla activity before dawn in the central island province of Samar when they struck an improvised land mine planted by rebels, said Col. Noel Detoyato, a spokesman for the army. He said an hourlong gun battle followed, during which soldiers believe some of the rebels were wounded.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/world/asia/philippines-communist-rebels.html
Sri Lanka Bombings Live Updates: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attacks
The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the Easter Sunday bombings at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 300 people. The group’s Amaq news agency called the bombers “Islamic State fighters.”
A government official said the bombings were retaliation for the killing of 50 people last month at mosques in New Zealand, but he did not offer any evidence for the claim. He said they were carried out by two Islamist extremist groups.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/world/asia/sri-lanka-bombing.html
THE GUARDIAN
US threatens to veto UN resolution on rape as weapon of war, officials say
The US is threatening to veto
United Nations resolution on combatting the use of rape as a weapon of war because of its language on reproductive and sexual health, according to a senior UN official and European diplomats.
The German mission hopes the resolution will be adopted at a special UN security council session on Tuesday on sexual violence in conflict.
But the draft resolution has already been stripped of one of its most important elements, the establishment of a formal mechanism to monitor and report atrocities, because of opposition from the US, Russia and China, which opposed creating a new monitoring body.
Even after the formal monitoring mechanism was stripped from the resolution, the US was still threatening to veto the watered-down version, because it includes language on victims’ support from family planning clinics. In recent months, the Trump administration has taken a hard line, refusing to agree to any UN documents that refer to sexual or reproductive health, on grounds that such language implies support for abortions. It has also opposed the use of the word “gender”, seeing it as a cover for liberal promotion of transgender rights.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/22/us-un-resolution-rape-weapon-of-war-veto
Immigration detention centers nearly empty as Trump claims border crisis
There were nearly 2,000 empty beds in two detention centers last week, with a facility in Dilley, Texas, at 26% capacity and a facility in Berks county, Pennsylvania, at 19% capacity. On 1 April, the third family shelter was temporarily changed into a facility for adult women only.
This, combined with reports of aid agencies at the border overwhelmed by the food, shelter and medicine needs of migrants, has advocates warning that the government could be manufacturing a crisis to justify its hardline immigration policies.
Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lanka bombings
The terrorist group gave no evidence for its claim, and has made a series of false claims in recent years.
However experts have said that the suicide bombings of three churches and three luxury hotels bear the hallmarks of the group.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene said the attacks were a response to the recent mass shooting of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand.
DEUTSCHE WELLE
China parades new warship as navy celebrates 70th anniversary
China is modernizing its navy to project more of its military power around the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country will "unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development."
China's navy on Tuesday celebrated 70 years since its creation with a large naval parade in the western port of Qingdao, showing off new military hardware that it hopes will bolster its global reach.
The parade featured 39 aircraft and 32 ships, including the Liaoning aircraft carrier and the Nanchang, the first of a new generation of Chinese-made guided missile destroyers. The first domestically produced aircraft carrier, known only as "Type 001A," was absent as it underwent sea trials.
https://www.dw.com/en/china-parades-new-warship-as-navy-celebrates-70th-anniversary/a-48444025
Alemania reduce sus exportaciones de armas por tercer año consecutivo
El principal país receptor de armamento alemán es Estados Unidos, seguido del Reino Unido, Australia y Marruecos.
Alemania redujo las licencias de exportación de su industria armamentística, por tercer año consecutivo y a raíz de las restricciones impuestas a los suministros hacia Arabia Saudí y países en conflicto.
Según datos del Gobierno alemán, en respuesta a una demanda del diputado verde Omid Nouripur, en el primer trimestre del año se autorizaron exportaciones de armas por un volumen de 1.120 millones de euros, lo que supone unos 100 millones menos a escala interanual.
Con ello se condolida la tendencia a la baja de tres últimos años, apunta el semanario "Der Spiegel", que recuerda la política restrictiva que aplica el Ejecutivo, especialmente a países no integrados en la OTAN ni en la Unión Europea (UE).
A escala anual, las licencias de exportaciones de armas descendieron en 2018 en casi un 25%, al situarse en un volumen de 4.820 millones de euros. La última vez en que se registró un aumento fue en 2015, recuerda ese medio, en que el volumen total de exportaciones de situó en los 7.860 millones de euros.
Ministro: atentado en Sri Lanka fue en respuesta al ataque de Christchurch
El Estado Islámico reivindicó los atentados en los que murieron al menos 310 personas murieron en pleno Domingo de Pascua, pero no aportó prueba alguna al respecto.
Los primeros elementos de la investigación sobre los atentados que causaron más de 300 muertos en Sri Lanka el Domingo de Pascua muestran que fueron en represalia por la reciente masacre en dos mezquitas de Nueva Zelanda, anunció el martes (23.04.2019) el ministro esrilanqués de Defensa.
"Las investigaciones preliminares revelaron que lo que ocurrió en Sri Lanka fue en represalia por el ataque contra los musulmanes de Christchurch", declaró ante el Parlamento Ruwan Wijewardene, en referencia al ataque que causó 50 muertos el 15 de marzo en dos mezquitas de la gran ciudad del sur de Nueva Zelanda.
Wijewardene dijo que las investigaciones revelan que el grupo llamado National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) estuvo detrás de los ataques, y que está vinculado a un poco conocido movimiento islamista radical en India, el JMI (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India). Se sabe poco del JMI, salvo algunas informaciones divulgadas el año pasado y que está afiliado a un grupo de nombre similar en Bangladés.
XINHUA
Kim Jong Un visitará Rusia para conversar con Putin
PYONGYANG, 23 abr (Xinhua) -- El máximo líder de la República Popular Democrática de Corea (RPDC), Kim Jong Un, realizará pronto una visita a Rusia, informó hoy la Agencia Central de Noticias de Corea.
Kim atenderá la invitación hecha por el presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, para dialogar sobre temas bilaterales de interés común, indicó.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/23/c_138000722.htm
Rusia dirige sus ataques aéreos contra posiciones rebeldes en Idlib, Siria
DAMASCO, 23 abr (Xinhua) -- Aviones militares rusos realizaron este martes 12 ataques aéreos contra posiciones rebeldes en la provincia noroccidental siria de Idlib tras la medianoche, informó un grupo de observadores.
Los ataques aéreos se dirigieron contra los alrededores de la prisión central de Idlib y las ciudades de Falioun, Korin y Bakflon, en las afueras occidentales de Idlib, afirmó el Observatorio Sirio para los Derechos Humanos.
El grupo de vigilancia con sede en Reino Unido precisó que los ataques aéreos provocaron grandes daños sin dar detalles sobre bajas.
La misma fuente reveló que los ataques rusos se llevaron a cabo en coordinación con la parte turca, que está colaborando con algunos grupos rebeldes en Idlib.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/23/c_138001973.htm
Sube precio de petróleo tras decisión de EEUU de poner fin a exención de sanciones
NUEVA YORK, 22 abr (Xinhua) -- El precio del petróleo subió hoy luego de que la administración estadounidense dijo que ya no habrá exenciones en relación con las compras de crudo iraní.
El presidente de Estados Unidos Donald Trump decidió no volver a permitir las exenciones concedidas a países importadores para que sigan comprando petróleo iraní después de que las actuales exenciones expiren el 2 de mayo, dijo la Casa Blanca.
El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Mike Pompeo, dijo más tarde a los reporteros que las sanciones estadounidenses serán impuestas de nuevo a todos los países que importen petróleo iraní a partir del 2 de mayo.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/23/c_137999469.htm
Jefes de agencias de ONU visitarán campamentos de refugiados en Bangladesh
NACIONES UNIDAS, 22 abr (Xinhua) -- Los jefes de tres agencias de la ONU que ayudan a cerca de un millón de refugiados rohingyas de Myanmar en Bangladesh viajarán esta semana a Dacca para reunirse con importantes funcionarios y después visitarán el abarrotado Bazar de Cox para reunirse con refugiados, dijo hoy un vocero de la ONU.
En la capital bengalí, los funcionarios conversarán con importantes representantes del gobierno, incluyendo la primera ministra Sheikh Hasina y el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores A. K. Abdul Momen "para explorar formas en las que la comunidad internacional puede brindar más apoyo a Bangladesh para albergar a los rohingyas", dijo Stephane Dujarric, vocero del secretario general de la ONU António Guterres.
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2019-04/23/c_137999905.htm
RUSSIA TODAY
Putin & Kim set to meet in Vladivostok, Russia on April 25
Vladimir Putin and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un will meet in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, on April 25. It will be the first meeting of the two heads of state. The leaders will hold talks on Thursday, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed. He called Kim’s visit to Russia “the key event” in the recent history of Moscow-Pyongyang relations.
https://www.rt.com/news/457316-putin-kim-meet-25-april/
Israeli Army not prepared for war – Hezbollah leader Nasrallah
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has ruled out a summer of war with Israel, denying reports his Lebanese Shiite organization was planning for military conflict. He said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are not prepared for battle.
Responding to the information by Kuwait’s al-Rai newspaper about a simmering stand-off in the coming months, the leader of Hezbollah said the newspaper was “mistaken.” Nasrallah mocked Israel’s military defense capabilities, highlighting their response to two rounds of rocket fire launched by his group. The rockets, one of which landed in Tel Aviv and the other just north of the city in mid-March, were not intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system
https://www.rt.com/news/457302-hezbollah-israel-no-war/
Taliban tell police to leave S. Waziristan ahead of Pakistan PM’s visit
The Taliban in South Waziristan have reportedly warned police to leave the area within three days, and ordered locals to cut communication with authorities and stay away from an upcoming visit by Pakistan’s prime minister. The message was delivered via Urdu-language pamphlets distributed in Wana, the district headquarters of South Waziristan, on Sunday night ahead of a planned visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. He is scheduled to make a public address at a local football ground on Wednesday.
https://www.rt.com/news/457323-taliban-threatens-police-south-waziristan/
VIDEO shows China’s 1st home-built aircraft carrier in action during sea trials
A new video released by Chinese state TV shows fighter jets taking off from its first domestic-built aircraft carrier. The 77,000-ton Type 001A vessel is expected to be put into service as early as this year. The 30-second footage shows the carrier undergoing the fifth and latest of its trials, conducted from February 27 to March 5, the South China Morning Post reported.
The video shows a row of technicians attending to the panels as the carrier is gliding though waters at a high speed. A radar integrated with a mast and a weapon system mounted on the deck and capable of fending off artillery and rocket fire can be seen in the clip. The ship is fitted with a ski-jump flight deck which has enough space for up to 32 J-15 fighter jets, six more than its predecessor.
https://www.rt.com/news/457274-china-aircraft-carrier-trial/
AL JAZEERA
Iran's parliament approves bill labeling US army as 'terrorist'
Move comes after US said that no country would any longer be exempt from sanctions if it continues to buy Iranian oil.
Iranian legislators on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that labels all US military forces as "terrorist", a day after Washington ratcheted up pressure on Tehran by announcing that no country would any longer be exempt from US sanctions if it continues to buy Iranian oil.
Hours before Trump's announcement, Iran reiterated its long-running threat to close the Strait of Hormuz if it is prevented from using the crucial waterway in the Gulf, through which about a third of all oil traded at sea passes.
Asian countries assess impact of US sanctions against Iran
US move to end waiver on sanctions against importers of Iranian oil could hurt regional economies, analysts say.
On Monday, the US government told five countries - Japan, South Korea, Turkey, China and India - that they will no longer be exempt from US sanctions if they continue to import oil from Iran after their waivers end on May 2.
“Definitely, we will see some of that backlash from higher oil prices,” said Prakash Sakpal, Asia economist at ING, an investment bank.
“The impact will spread out to other commodity prices and (lead to) inflation pressure in the regional economies, and we should start seeing more of that in India, where inflation has already started picking up.”
UN raises Libya aid alarm as Tripoli clashes intensify
Around 32,000 people displaced, as UN deputy envoy warns hostilities likely to continue 'for some time'.
Al Jazeera's Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said forces loyal to the UN-recognised government "started a new move this [Monday] morning towards the locations of Haftar's forces in and around the inactive Tripoli international airport on the southwestern part of the capital".
Since launching his push, which many see as a power grab for Tripoli, Haftar's forces have captured the districts of Gharyan and Qasr Bani Ghashir along with several smaller towns. They also seized the capital's shuttered old airport.
AL MAYADEEN
Gobierno de Sri Lanka declara Emergencia y Día Nacional del Luto
La decisión de emergencia se tomó durante una reunión del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional. La situación de seguridad sigue siendo tensa, pues una camioneta con explosivos fue detectada cerca de la iglesia de Colombo, que sufrió uno de los ataques terroristas.
Anteriormente, trascendió que un grupo religioso local, National Tawheed Jamaath, está detrás de los ataques. En conferencia de prensa, el ministro de gabinete y portavoz del gobierno, Rajitha Senaratne, dijo que el apoyo internacional detrás de estos hechos es investigado y se trata de determinar cómo se prepararon los terroristas.
