Síntesis informativa - 31 de octubre 2019
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Live Vote Count: Rules for the Trump Impeachment Inquiry
The U.S. House is expected to vote on Thursday morning to lay out the rules for the impeachment inquiry into President Donald J. Trump, as it heads into a more public phase. The Times will be in the House chamber and presenting every representative’s vote live.
Thursday’s vote will be the first time since the Democrats began their inquiry last month that the entire House will be asked to go on the record about the impeachment process.
The vote is expected to be deeply partisan, and few Republicans are expected to break ranks with Mr. Trump and vote in support of the resolution.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/31/us/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry-house-vote.html
Denmark Approves Route for a Controversial Russia-German Pipeline
BRUSSELS — Denmark gave permission on Wednesday for a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to pass through waters in its exclusive economic zone, meaning that the project, Nord Stream 2, can be completed despite sharp criticism from the United States, Ukraine and Poland.
With nearly all of its 2,400 kilometers of pipe already laid, Nord Stream 2, wholly owned by Russia’s Gazprom, should be completed roughly on schedule early next year. It is actually a pair of pipelines, complementing a previous pair, Nord Stream 1, and will double capacity to 110 billion cubic meters, or about 3.9 trillion cubic feet.
The pipelines are sensitive geopolitically, because they increase German and European dependence on Russian natural gas while bypassing Ukraine and Poland, cutting off some transit fees for those two economies. Some critics believe that Russia is trying to harm Ukraine’s economy in particular, especially after the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the continuing warfare in eastern Ukraine.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/world/europe/nord-stream-pipeline-denmark.html
How the New Syria Took Shape
In just a few weeks, the American withdrawal from northern Syria dramatically reordered power in the country after eight years of civil war. Here’s how Syria looked three weeks ago: American-backed Kurds controlled the northeast, while the Syrian government controlled most of the rest.
Turkish forces were already in northwest Syria, but Turkey had long wanted to establish a roughly 20-mile-deep buffer along the whole border. It sees the Kurdish-led forces there as terrorists.
But those same Kurdish-led forces were fighting alongside the United States against ISIS. Roughly 1,000 American troops were positioned across bases and outposts in northern Syria — including two bases near the Turkish border. Abandoned by the United States, the Kurds had few options. In a dramatic shift, they made a deal with an American enemy — the Syrian government. The partnership opened the door for President Bashar al-Assad to try to regain control of the whole country.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/30/world/middleeast/syria-turkey-maps.html
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THE GUARDIAN
CIA-linked unit accused of atrocities in Afghanistan
In the last two years, as the battle for Afghanistan has intensified and a regional Isis affiliate has joined the civil war, there has been a sharp rise in abusive night-time raids by these forces, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.
Thousands of men strong, the units have been implicated in multiple, serious human rights abuses including summary executions, forcibly disappearing detainees, and attacking medical facilities.
The Nato combat operation in Afghanistan officially ended in 2014, and now only supports Afghan security forces. But the US has a separate counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan, which has continued fighting aggressively, and includes the covert CIA-backed forces.
Quarter of world's pig population 'to die of African swine fever'
Global pork prices are rising spurred by growing demand from China, where as many as 100 million pigs have died since ASF broke out there last year. In recent months, China has been granting export approval to foreign meat plants and signing deals around the world at a dizzying rate. US pork sales to China have doubled, while European pork prices have now reached a six-year high.
The virus has now been identified in 50 countries, including Poland, Russia, South Korea and the Philippines. So far, the furthest west the disease has been found is in Belgium among the wild boar population. A cull is now planned in the country.
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XINHUA
Impeachment investigators ask Bolton to testify, key resolution advanced ahead of full House vote
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- House Democrats have asked U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton to testify in their impeachment probe on Nov. 7, media outlets reported on Wednesday. Bolton's lawyer, Charles Cooper, told NBC News that his client is "not willing to appear voluntarily. "I stand ready at all times to accept service of a subpoena on his behalf," Cooper added.
The impeachment inquiry into Trump was initiated last month by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after an anonymous whistleblower raised concerns about the Trump administration's interactions with Ukraine, including a July 25 phone call between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump was alleged to have abused power by using military aid to pressure Zelensky into investigating former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, so as to help his re-election campaign. The White House also allegedly tried to cover it up.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/31/c_138517732.htm
Chile's president cancels APEC, climate summits amid social upheaval
SANTIAGO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced Wednesday that his country will no longer host two major international summits due to an ongoing social crisis. The South American government had been preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25) in November and December, respectively.
"Our government, deeply pained ... has decided not to hold the APEC summit planned for November, nor the COP25 summit planned for December," Pinera said in an address from the presidential palace in Santiago. "We deeply regret the problems and inconvenience this decision will cause for both APEC and the COP," he added.
Protests have been raging throughout Santiago and other major cities for nearly two weeks, sparked by a hike in subway fares. The president said his main concern right now is trying to reestablish public order and calm for the safety of the citizens. The latest death toll stands at 20.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/31/c_138517170.htm
Lebanon says shoots down Israeli drone
BEIRUT, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone was brought down over southern Lebanon, NBN local TV channel reported on Thursday.Meanwhile, Israeli sources said that an anti-aircraft missile was launched at an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon, claiming that the drone was not hit, according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. The incident took place in parallel with continuous Israeli violations of Lebanon's airspace in the south. Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned last month that his fighters will bring down any Israeli drone that violates Lebanese airspace.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/31/c_138518979.htm
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AL JAZEERA
Fierce clashes erupt between Syrian army, Turkish-led forces
Syrian troops battle Turkish-backed fighters near the border town of Ras al-Ain, threatening Russia-backed ceasefire.
Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters - known as the Syrian National Army (SNA) - launched an offensive and took over areas previously under control of Kurdish fighters south of Ras al-Ain, he said.
On Thursday, American forces patrolled part of Syria's border with Turkey in the first such move since Washington withdrew troops from the area earlier this month, news reports said.
Five armoured vehicles bearing US flags patrolled a strip of the frontier north of the town of Qahtaniyah, an area they used to operate in before the United States announced its pullout.
The violence underscores the risk of full-scale fighting in northeast Syria resuming after Ankara struck separate deals with Washington and Moscow to push the Syrian Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG) at least 30km (19 miles) south of the border.
US releases footage, provides more detail on al-Baghdadi raid
General who oversaw operation explains weekend raid targeting ISIL leader as Pentagon releases short snippets of video.
Once the mission was completed, the US moved to destroy the compound in northwestern Syria so that it could not stand as a shrine to al-Baghdadi.
Baghdadi was identified by comparing his DNA to a sample collected in 2004 when he was captured by US forces in Iraq.
The raid had also enabled the US to collect "substantial" amounts of documentation and electronics, McKenzie said, but would not elaborate.
Although the operation was a success, McKenzie said it would be a mistake to conclude that ISIL had been defeated.
Earlier on Wednesday, the acting Department of Homeland Security secretary, Kevin McAleenan, told a congressional hearing that US security agencies have been reminded of the potential for al-Baghdadi's death to inspire his followers to launch an attack "in the immediate aftermath."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/releases-footage-detail-al-baghdadi-raid-191031010956094.html
CIA-backed Afghan forces possibly committing war crimes: HRW
In a damning report, Human Rights Watch says night raids and aerial strikes have led to mounting civilian casualties.
Ali M Latifi
CIA-backed Afghan strike forces are once again under fire in Afghanistan, this time for tactics - night-time raids into homes in remote villages, forced disappearances, attacks on healthcare facilities and summary executions - that Human Rights Watch says amount to "atrocities" and possible "war crimes".
For years, civilians in some of Afghanistan's most volatile provinces have been complaining about the practice of night raids - which see Afghan and foreign forces entering rural households in the dead of night - and the over-reliance on aerial attacks, which they say continue to target civilians.
According to the Pentagon's own figures, there were at least 24 air attacks conducted in Nangarhar in the September. One particular source of worry is a 2017 authorisation by US Forces that allows for Afghan Special Forces to call in air strikes even in areas where there are no US ground forces to verify the target.
Night raids have long been a controversial practice in Afghanistan. According to an Open Society Foundation report, between December 2010 and February 2011, US Special Forces, along with the Afghan military, conducted an average of 19 night raids each night.
In 2013, after complaints of human rights abuses then-President Hamid Karzai ordered US Special Forces out of the province of Wardak and eventually an end to all night raids.
North Korea fires unidentified projectiles as nuke talks stalled
The North's latest launch follows statements of displeasure over the slow pace of nuclear negotiations with the US.
Japan's coast guard said the projectiles appeared to be missiles and landed outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends 200 nautical miles (370km) from land.
The North's latest launch follows statements of displeasure over the slow pace of nuclear negotiations with the United States and demands the Trump administration ease sanctions on Pyongyang.
Earlier this month, North Korea test-fired an underwater-launched ballistic missile for the first time in three years.
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AL MAYADEEN
El Líbano: Del comienzo al después
Después del choque entre grupos diferentes de ciudadanos, la renuncia del primer ministro Saad Hariri, y las reacciones populares, muchos manifestantes en Beirut regresaron a las plazas de los Mártires y de Riad Al Solh, de donde se habían dispersado y volvieron nuevamente a montar sus carpas llamando a mantener sus plantones.
Los grupos del movimiento de protesta que forman parte de la llamada Coordinadora de la Revolución consideraron que lo ocurrido en el décimo tercer día y el haber logrado la primera demanda: la dimisión de Hariri, abre la puerta hacia el resto de las exigencias populares.
Una serie de reuniones se están efectuando entre Hizbullah y el Movimiento Amal y la Corriente Patriótica Libre, mientras los canales permanecieron activos entre los presidentes Aoun y Berri, y el líder de Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah, entre otros políticos para lograr un acuerdo sobre la percepción de la etapa que se acaba de iniciar en el país.
http://espanol.almayadeen.net/articles/main/1355771/el-l%C3%ADbano--del-comienzo-al-despu%C3%A9s
Chile: Gran marcha frente al Palacio de La Moneda en jornada de Paro Nacional
La manifestación fue convocada como parte de un Paro Nacional para este miércoles, apoyado por la plataforma Unidad Social, que congrega a más de 70 organizaciones sindicales y sociales, entre ellas la Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), la Agrupación Nacional de Empleados Fiscales, el Colegio de Profesores, Coordinadora No más AFP y organizaciones sindicales de distintos sectores.
Los participantes en estas movilizaciones exigen al gobierno, entre otras medidas, legislar de manera inmediata a favor de un incremento sustancial del salario mínimo para todos los trabajadores y de las pensiones, el reconocimiento a la plena libertad sindical, respeto del derecho a huelga y la garantía de servicios básicos protegidos y tarifas justas del transporte público.
En lo político sobresale la exigencia de crear una nueva Constitución de la República mediante una Asamblea Constituyente, que sustituya a la actual carta magna, que data de la época de la dictadura de Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).
Proponen en Colombia crear instancia para frenar asesinatos de exguerrilleros
En dicho contexto, los copresidentes de la Comisión, Roy Barreras, Iván Cepeda y Antonio Sanguino, propusieron la creación de la mencionada instancia para que se encargue de alertar sobre situaciones de riesgo contra los excombatientes, de estimular las investigaciones penales para identificar y sancionar a los autores de esta clase de hechos.
Invitaron a que formen parte de dicha iniciativa integrantes de las Comisiones de Paz del Congreso, los delegados que designe el Gobierno, el fiscal general, el procurador general, el defensor del pueblo, delegados del ahora partido FARC y representantes de la Misión de Verificación de la ONU en ese país.
