Síntesis informativa - 9 de octubre 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kurds in Syria Brace for War as Turkey Says Incursion Is Imminent
BEIRUT, Lebanon — A Syrian militia long backed by the United States mobilized its forces and warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” on Wednesday as Turkey massed troops near the countries’ border for an incursion it said would begin “shortly.”
Scattered reports that Turkish troops were already entering Syria early Wednesday were quickly shot down by Turkey, which released a statement saying that accounts “in some media outlets stating that the operation has begun do not reflect the reality.”
U.S. Disputes Finding That Airstrikes on Afghan Drug Labs Killed 30 Civilians
KABUL, Afghanistan — At least 30 civilians were killed by American airstrikes that targeted drug labs in western Afghanistan this spring, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday, a figure that the United States-led mission in the country quickly disputed.
A statement from the American-led mission in Afghanistan disagreed with nearly all of the report, citing its “reliance on sources with conflicted motives” and the decision to call those killed in the bombings civilians instead of insurgents.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/world/asia/afghanistan-airstrikes-civilians.html
White House Declares War on Impeachment Inquiry, Claiming Effort to Undo Trump’s Election
WASHINGTON — The White House declared war on the House impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, announcing that it would not cooperate with what it called an illegitimate effort “to overturn the results of the 2016 election” and setting the stage for a constitutional clash with far-reaching consequences.
In a letter to House Democratic leaders, the White House said the inquiry had violated precedent and denied President Trump’s due process rights in such an egregious way that neither he nor the executive branch would willingly provide testimony or documents.
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THE GUARDIAN
Revealed: the 20 firms behind a third of all carbon emissions
New data from world-renowned researchers reveals how this cohort of state-owned and multinational firms are driving the climate emergency that threatens the future of humanity, and details how they have continued to expand their operations despite being aware of the industry’s devastating impact on the planet.
The top 20 companies on the list have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide, totalling 480bn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) since 1965.
Chevron topped the list of the eight investor-owned corporations, followed closely by Exxon, BP and Shell. Together these four global businesses are behind more than 10% of the world’s carbon emissions since 1965.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/09/revealed-20-firms-third-carbon-emissions
Turkey launches military operation in northern Syria
The move was triggered by Donald Trump’s announcement at the weekend that US troops would withdraw from the area, where thousands of captured Isis fighters and their families are held by Kurdish forces, and threatens to open a bloody new front in the Syrian war.
“The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Syrian National Army, just launched #OperationPeaceSpring against PKK/YPG and Daesh [Isis] terrorists in northern Syria. Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area,” Erdoğan tweeted on Wednesday.
'Protecting rioters': China warns Apple over app that tracks Hong Kong police
The condemnation, by the People’s Daily, a Chinese Communist party mouthpiece, appears to be China’s latest move to pressure foreign companies to toe the line after its state TV and Chinese companies cancelled collaboration with the US National Basketball Association over comments by a team official in support of Hong Kong’s protests.
The app HKmap.live, which crowdsources the location of police and anti-government protesters, was approved by Apple on 4 October and went on its App Store a day later, after the company reversed an earlier decision to reject the submission, according to an anonymous developer cited in the South China Morning Post. The app displays hotspots on a map of the city that is continuously updated as users report incidents, hence allowing protesters to avoid police.
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XINHUA
U.S. senators request briefing on troops withdrawal from northern Syria
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. senators from both parties on Tuesday demanded a senators-only briefing from the Trump administration over its decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria. A senior official of the Trump administration said on Monday that about 50 U.S. military personnel stationed in the border area in northern Syria would be redeployed in the face of Turkish incursion to the region.
In a letter to Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Christopher Coons criticized the decision, saying it would have "severe consequence for our strategic national interests." The two senators are also concerned that the decision, which "dramatically increases the threat to our Kurdish allies," was made amid reported opposition by military and diplomatic advisers.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/09/c_138458158.htm
Petrobras says Brazilian beaches polluted by Venezuelan oil
RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's state-controlled oil and gas giant Petrobras has concluded that the oil polluting over 100 beaches in Brazil's northeastern coast originates from Venezuela, said local media on Tuesday. After a one-month analysis of samples from the oil, Petrobras found that the oil is not of any type produced, transported or sold in Brazil, but a blend of Venezuelan oil.
Petrobras CEO Roberto Castello Branco called the oil spill "something extraordinary," ruling out a tanker cleaning operation as the possible cause due to the amount of crude collected. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday that there is a country "in the government's radar" as the probable origin of the oil, but did not specify the name of the country.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/09/c_138458328.htm
Ecuador seeks UN help as fuel hike protests intensify
QUITO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Ecuadorian government Tuesday said it has asked the United Nations to help restore social peace as demonstrations over a fuel price hike intensified. "The Ecuadorian government has communicated to the United Nations' representative in Quito its willingness to receive the support of the UN conducive to restoring social peace and understanding in the country," the Ecuadorean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to local media, protesters damaged Ecuador's congressional building and broke into the Comptroller General Pablo Celi's office early Tuesday. "The Comptroller's office was the target of an attack by an organized gang that clearly intended to extract and destroy documents that sustain civil and criminal responsibilities," Celi said.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/09/c_138458113.htm
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AL JAZEERA
Turkey-Syria border: All the latest updates
SDF appeals for no-fly zone after Turkey launches long-threatened move into Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria.
Turkey has launched a long-threatened military operation in northeast Syria to remove Kurdish-led forces from the border area and create a "safe zone" to resettle millions of Syrian refugees.
The move came after the United States announced it was withdrawing its troops from the region, effectively abandoning the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), its main ally in the battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) armed group.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/turkey-syria-border-latest-updates-191008131745495.html
UK court delays key Brexit ruling until after EU summit
Boris Johnson has until October 19 to get a Brexit deal done; the courts will step in on October 22.
Under legislation known as the Benn Act, passed with the assistance of a "rebel alliance" of Conservative MPs - who were subsequently sacked from the governing party - the prime minister is obliged to request a delay if no withdrawal deal is agreed between the UK and the EU by October 19.
Media reports overnight on Tuesday suggested the EU was preparing to make significant concessions over a northern Irish "consent mechanism" in Johnson's latest plan.
Johnson's idea is pinned on the UK's suggestion to have two borders around Northern Ireland - turning the existing (invisible) border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, into a formal customs border (albeit with physical checks and infrastructure some distance from the border itself), with a regulatory border in the Irish Sea, allowing Northern Ireland to remain in the EU's "single market".
But EU officials quashed those reports on Wednesday morning, saying there was "no bold new offer" coming from their side, with diplomats dismissing the reports as "spin".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/court-delays-key-brexit-ruling-eu-summit-191009101753012.html
Kashmir under lockdown: All the latest updates
Days before he meets India's Modi, Xi says he supports Pakistan in issues related to its core interests, reports Xinhua.
A presidential decree issued on August 5 revoked Article 370 of India's constitution that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state, including the right to its own constitution and autonomy to make laws on all matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.
India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but rule it in part. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory. A rebellion in Indian-administered Kashmir has been ongoing for 30 years.
Ecuador unrest: Protests erupt for 6th day over fuel subsidy cuts
Protesters briefly bust through security lines and enter the National Assembly as anger over labour, tax reforms grows.
Kimberly Brown
aralysing protests in Ecuador continued on Tuesday over a series of labour and tax reforms and President Lenin Moreno's decision to scrap decades-old fuel subsidies.
Thousands of indigenous people who had been marching towards the capital, Quito, descended on the city on Tuesday. Protesters were reportedly able to briefly cross security lines into the National Assembly, before being moved out by police. Late on Tuesday, Moreno issued a decree that restricted movement from 8pm to 5am local time around government buildings.
Tuesday's demonstrations came less than 24 hours after President Moreno moved his administration out of Quito following nearly a week of anti-austerity protests that paralysed public transportation and brought hundreds of arrests.
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AL MAYADEEN
Entran en vigor nuevas medidas de EE.UU. contra Cuba
A partir de lo adelantado por ese funcionario, el 6 de septiembre el Departamento del Tesoro dio a conocer que su Oficina de Control de Activos Extranjeros (OFAC) enmendó el Reglamentos de Control de Activos Cubanos para modificar la política de remesas y eliminar la autorización para las U-turn.
De ese modo, la OFAC estableció que una persona radicada en Estados Unidos solo podrá enviar un máximo de mil dólares cada tres meses por concepto de remesas familiares a un nacional cubano.
Asimismo, eliminó una autorización que permitía las remesas en forma de donaciones, pero mantuvo la posibilidad de 'remesas ilimitadas a ciertas personas y organizaciones no gubernamentales', las cuales se ampliarán a trabajadores del sector privado.
También se puso fin para Cuba a las transacciones U-turn, transferencias de fondos que pasan a través de bancos estadounidenses, pero que no empiezan ni terminan en este país, y en las que ni el emisor ni el receptor están bajo jurisdicción norteamericana.
Expresidente Rafael Correa pide elecciones anticipadas como única salida a conmoción social en Ecuador
El líder de la Revolución Ciudadana denunció que Moreno traicionó desde el principio el programa económico de ese proceso transformador, para tratar de imponer el neoliberalismo y contentar así a los grupos de poder que respaldan al actual presidente.
Entretanto, organizaciones sociales e indígenas que participan en las protestas contra las reformas económicas anunciadas por el presidente Lenín Moreno instalaron el "Parlamento de los Pueblos", tras ingresar a la sede de la Asamblea Nacional.
Aunque el jefe de Estado reiteró el respeto al derecho a la movilización, agentes militares y policiales reprimen al pueblo en el centro de Quito, además, el pasado domingo se registró la muerte del manifestante Raúl Chilpe en Azuay y hay más de 700 detenidos.
La represión del Ejército se agudizó después de que indígenas del Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de Ecuador (Conaie), la cual integra unas 200 mil personas estén próximos a tomar la capital junto a demás movimientos populares que rechazan las medidas económicas.
Kurdos sirios llaman a la movilización general ante la amenaza militar turca
La autoproclamada administración kurda en el noreste de Siria declaró una movilización general por tres días ante la eventual amenaza de una operación militar del Ejército turco, reportó Sputnik.
La nota llama a todas las instituciones kurdas en Siria a dirigirse a la frontera con Turquía "para cumplir con su deber moral y resistir en este momento histórico".
El texto también insta a todos los kurdos en el mundo a celebrar protestas contra la posible ofensiva turca.
Por su parte, las Fuerzas Democráticas Sirias –brazo militar de los kurdos en la región– llamaron a la coalición internacional y a la comunidad mundial a declarar una zona de exclusión aérea para proteger a los residentes del noreste de Siria ante la inminente crisis humanitaria.
