Síntesis informativa - 27 de mayo 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Takeaways From the European Elections
BRUSSELS — The most prominent takeaways from the results of the elections for the European Parliament are fragmentation and polarization.
Fragmentation, because traditional mainstream parties of the center-right and center-left lost seats to smaller, more passionate parties like the Greens and a variety of populist groups.
And polarization, because populists and euroskeptic parties increased their share of seats to 25 percent, up from about 20 percent five years. The feared populist wave was more of a large ripple, but populists did very well in major countries where they are in power, like Italy, Hungary and Poland.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/world/europe/eu-election-takeaways.html
Evidence Links Colombia Army Chief to Civilian Slayings
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — New evidence has emerged linking the embattled head of Colombia’s army to the alleged cover-up of civilian killings more than a decade ago.
The documents, provided to The Associated Press by a person familiar with an investigation into the extrajudicial killings, come as Gen. Nicacio Martínez Espinel faces mounting pressure to resign over orders he gave troops this year to step up attacks in what some fear could pave the way for a return to human rights abuses.
Colombia’s military has been blamed for as many as 5,000 extrajudicial killings at the height of the country’s armed conflict in the mid-2000s as troops under pressure from top commanders inflated body counts, in some cases dressing up civilians as guerrillas in exchange for extra pay and perks.
In Baltimore and Beyond, a Stolen N.S.A. Tool Wreaks Havoc
For nearly three weeks, Baltimore has struggled with a cyberattack by digital extortionists that has frozen thousands of computers, shut down email and disrupted real estate sales, water bills, health alerts and many other services.
But here is what frustrated city employees and residents do not know: A key component of the malware that cybercriminals used in the attack was developed at taxpayer expense a short drive down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway at the National Security Agency, according to security experts briefed on the case.
Since 2017, when the N.S.A. lost control of the tool, EternalBlue, it has been picked up by state hackers in North Korea, Russia and, more recently, China, to cut a path of destruction around the world, leaving billions of dollars in damage. But over the past year, the cyberweapon has boomeranged back and is now showing up in the N.S.A.’s own backyard.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/nsa-hacking-tool-baltimore.html
Militants Attack Soldiers in Southern Philippines, Leaving 2 Children Dead
MANILA — Militants linked to the Islamic State attacked a group of soldiers on the southern Philippine island of Jolo, setting off a clash that left two children dead, the military said on Sunday.
Six militants from the insurgent group, known as Abu Sayyaf, were also killed in the gun battle on Saturday in a remote village near the town of Patikul, in Sulu Province, the military said. Five soldiers and two civilians were wounded.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/world/asia/philippines-abu-sayyaf-jolo.html
Clash Between Protesters and Soldiers Turns Deadly in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani troops clashed with protesters on Sunday near the border with Afghanistan, leaving at least three people dead and scores wounded, officials said.
The violence broke out as several hundred people, including two Parliament members, were protesting for the rights of Pakistan’s Pashtuns in the North Waziristan region. They fought with security officials at a military check post.
A military spokesman described the violence as an assault by members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, or P.T.M., but the protesters disputed that. That movement has galvanized many Pashtuns in recent years with its protests against extrajudicial killings, disappearances and displacements of members of the community in the wake of military operations against the Taliban and other militants.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/world/asia/pakistan-protest-pashtun.html
THE GUARDIAN
EU election results 2019: across Europe
Latest estimated, provisional and official results from the European Parliament as they come in from the 28 member states
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2019/may/26/eu-election-results-2019-across-europe
Fiat Chrysler proposes merger with Renault to reshape car industry
The merged company would produce 8.7m vehicles annually and save €5bn ($5.6bn or £4.4bn) each year by sharing research, purchasing and other activities, according to a statement released by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). It said the deal would involve no plant closures but did not address potential job cuts.
The joint company would be 50% owned by Fiat Chrysler shareholders and 50% by Renault shareholders.
Bolsonaro supporters take to Brazil’s streets as approval ratings drop
Pro-Bolsonaro rallies were reported in more than 300 towns and cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, and Juiz de Fora, where Bolsonaro was stabbed on the eve of his election, although many of the demonstrations appeared small.
Five months into Bolsonaro’s four-year term his approval ratings have plummeted with Brazil’s economy stuttering, political infighting raging and the president facing uncomfortable questions over his family’s ties to organized crime and a corruption scandal involving one of his sons.
Bolsonaro has also faced international repudiation as a result of his extremist views, recently cancelling a visit to New York because of protests against him there.
In an editorial on Sunday the conservative Estado de São Paulo newspaper said support for Bolsonaro “was melting away before our eyes”, with about 36% of voters now considering his administration bad or awful, compared to just 17% in February.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/26/jair-bolsonaro-supporters-rally-brazil
Donald Trump welcomes Japan's offer of mediation with Iran
Speaking at a press conference on the penultimate day of his state visit to Japan, Trump also gave his backing to Abe’s attempts to set up a first summit, without preconditions, with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, hours after the regime described the US president’s national security adviser, John Bolton, as a warmonger.
Tehran says it has no interest in talking to the US administration, which has imposed tough sanctions on the country over its nuclear programme and last week sent 1,500 troops to the region.
AL JAZEERA
Trump says US not seeking 'regime change' in Iran
On Tokyo visit, US President Trump tells Prime Minister Abe he backs Japan's efforts for talks with Iran amid standoff.
"We're not looking for regime change, we're looking for no nuclear weapons," Trump said at a joint press conference in Tokyo on Monday, adding that he believed "we'll make a deal" withIran.
Earlier, Trump became the first foreign leader to meet Japan's newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito, on a state visit overshadowed by tensions over trade and policy on North Korea.
At a joint press conference following talks between the two leaders, both Abe and Trump were eager to emphasise the strength of the alliance between the US and Japan despite policy disagreements over trade and North Korea.
Saudi king invites Qatar's emir to GCC summit in Mecca
Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has been invited by the Saudi king to an emergency summit on May 30.
Earlier this month, King Salman had proposed holding two summits in Mecca at the end of May to discuss recent "aggressions and their consequences" in the region, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Washington says the latest reinforcements were in response to a "campaign" of recent attacks including a rocket launched into the Green Zone in Baghdad, the explosive devices that damaged four tankers near the entrance to the Gulf, and the drone attacks by Yemeni rebels on the Saudi oil pipeline.
AL MAYADEEN
Continuarán en Oslo conversaciones entre Gobierno de Venezuela y oposición
Este lunes viajan a Oslo por el Gobierno de Venezuela el ministro de Comunicación, Jorge Rodríguez, y por la oposición Stanlin González, segundo vicepresidente de la Asamblea Nacional, según confirmó a Sputnik una fuente cercana a las conversaciones de Oslo, sin revelar más detalles.
La semana pasada las delegaciones del Gobierno y la oposición celebraron la primera reunión exploratoria allí en un un primer acercamiento entre las partes desde la escalada en la crisis política, tras la juramentación en enero del mandatario Nicolás Maduro para el período 2019-2025 y posteriorente la atuproclamación del diputado opositor Juan Guaidó como "presidente encargado".
The Washington Post: Trump puede eludir al Congreso en el acuerdo de armas a Arabia Saudita
De acuerdo con un informe publicado en The Washington Post, el secretario de Estado norteamericano, Mike Pompeo, notificó a los legisladores que el presidente Trump invoca su autoridad de emergencia para eludir el Congreso y completar 22 acuerdos de armas que beneficiarían a Arabia Saudita, Emiratos Árabes Unidos y otros países, a pesar de las objeciones.
Según la fuente, las cartas de notificación de Pompeo le dan luz verde a la administración Trump para concluir la venta y transferencia de bombas, sistemas de misiles, rifles semiautomáticos, aviones no tripulados y servicios de reparación y mantenimiento para ayudar a la flota aérea saudita, y municiones de precisión que los legisladores temen que Arabia Saudita pueda Uso contra civiles en la guerra civil de Yemen.
