Síntesis informativa 21 de febrero - 2020
NEW YORK TIMES
Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump
WASHINGTON — Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him.
The day after the Feb. 13 briefing to lawmakers, the president berated Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, for allowing it to take place, people familiar with the exchange said. Mr. Trump was particularly irritated that Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the leader of the impeachment proceedings, was at the briefing.
During the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Trump's allies challenged the conclusions, arguing that he had been tough on Russia and that he had strengthened European security.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/us/politics/russian-interference-trump-democrats.html
An Afghan Truce Test Is to Begin Amid a Political Crisis
KABUL, Afghanistan — A weeklong reduction in violence across Afghanistan, a major condition for the United States to formally sign its initial peace deal with the Taliban, goes into effect early Saturday, right after midnight, Afghan officials said Friday.
The measure, in which all sides are expected to end most attacks in an arrangement that comes close to a cease-fire, is the first step in the rollout of a conditions-based peace deal that lays out a timeline for the withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan. Officials hope the process will immediately bring the Afghan government and Taliban together to then negotiate a political settlement that would end the insurgency.
"The United States calls on all Afghans to seize this moment," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said the initial agreement would be signed on Feb. 29 if the reduction in violence held.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/world/asia/afghanistan-cease-fire-peace-talks.html
Women Will Be Hit Hard by U.K.'s New Immigration Rules, Experts Warn
The British government's plan for a post-Brexit immigration overhaul was designed to wean the economy off its reliance on cheap foreign labor. But in the process, women's groups warned on Thursday, women will suffer disproportionately.
The new points-based system will give precedence to occupations in which women are underrepresented, favor male migrants over female and deepen gender inequality, according to the Women's Budget Group, an independent network that promotes gender equality.
"The new immigration system roundly fails to understand the lived experience of women, many of whom are prevented from accessing paid work by the weight of unpaid work — caring for children, older people and those with disabilities — that successive governments rely upon them to do," said Sophie Walker, the chief executive of the Young Women's Trust, a British feminist organization.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/world/europe/uk-immigration-women.html
The Week in Tech: Coronavirus Hits Apple's Financial Forecast
Coronavirus is starting to affect tech production lines and demand for products. Apple cut its sales expectations for the quarter, citing the virus's impact on factories and stores. The warning was a clear indication of how big the company has bet on China and how the impact of the outbreak might ripple out into the global economy, explored in an article by Daisuke Wakabayashi.
Amazon executives are also preparing for coronavirus disruptions. An article by Karen Weise and Michael Corkery outlined the measures the company is taking to hedge against the potential that the impact of the virus gets worse. The Everything Store is "making larger and more frequent orders of Chinese-made products that had already been shipped to the United States," they wrote.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/technology/apple-coronavirus.html
_____________________________________________________________________
RUSSIA TODAY
Erdogan says Turkey will not withdraw from Syria's Idlib until attacks by Damascus stop
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed not to remove Turkish troops from Syria's Idlib region and said that his upcoming phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin will help Ankara determine its policies.
A phone call between the two leaders to discuss Idlib is expected to take place on Friday evening. "The result of this conversation will determine our attitude" in the area, Erdogan said. The Turkish leader stated that Ankara will not pull its forces out of Idlib while operations by the Syrian government continue there.
https://www.rt.com/news/481391-erdogan-not-withdraw-syria-idlib/
Kremlin: Claims of Russian backing for Trump in US election 'untrue' & down to 'paranoia'
Vladimir Putin's spokesman says statements suggesting Russia plans to interfere in this year's US Presidential election "don't have anything in common with the truth."
Dmitry Peskov slammed the idea that Moscow will attempt to help President Donald Trump achieve re-election as being of "paranoid character."
He was responding to US media reports which claimed US intelligence has warned politicians that Moscow is already laying the groundwork to get behind the Republican Party incumbent.
https://www.rt.com/russia/481381-trump-us-russia-paranoia-elections/
Libya ceasefire talks 'back on track' in Geneva – UN
The UN said on Friday ceasefire talks were back on track between the forces fighting over Libya's capital. The statement comes days after the internationally-recognized government pulled out of the talks as its foes shelled Tripoli's port.
However, there was no immediate comment from the Government of National Accord (GNA), which withdrew from the talks on Tuesday, Reuters said.
The rival Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar was quoted by Russia's RIA Novosti as saying a ceasefire would only be possible if Turkish and Syrian fighters stopped supporting the GNA. Turkey has backed the GNA to fend off the LNA, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
https://www.rt.com/newsline/481382-libya-ceasefire-talks-un/
_______________________________________________________________________
THE GUARDIAN
How the American dream died on the world's busiest border
As the migration crisis on the US-Mexican border becomes a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe and the centrepiece of Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, one thing is clear to those who have supported migrants over decades: the world has converged here. Such are the historical and geopolitical layers of migration to the busiest border in the world, gateway to the globally ubiquitous American dream – a dream now twisting into a nightmare.
Ten years ago, most people trying to cross into the US from these various places were Mexicans, in flight from poverty or violence.More recently, though, there had been a lull, with Mexicans nowhere to be seen at some crossing points. But 2019 figures show a renewed rise in Mexican asylum seekers, as the narcotraffic cycle of violence returns to record levels. Roughly half the asylum-seekers on the border are now Mexican.
UN warns of rise of 'cybertorture' to bypass physical ban
Nils Melzer, professor of international law at the University of Glasgow and the UN’s special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, is cautioning that the internet could be used systematically to target individuals remotely – through “intimidation, harassment, surveillance, public shaming and defamation”.
A trenchant critic of the UK government’s failure to hold an inquiry into the rendition of jihadi suspects post-9/11, Melzer has also voiced concerns over Britain’s treatment of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in Belmarsh prison.
“Cybertechnology can also be used to inflict, or contribute to, severe mental suffering while avoiding the conduit of the physical body, most notably through intimidation, harassment, surveillance, public shaming and defamation, as well as appropriation, deletion or manipulation of information.
“Already harassment in comparatively limited environments can expose targeted individuals to extremely elevated and prolonged levels of anxiety, stress, social isolation and depression, and significantly increases the risk of suicide.
“Arguably, therefore, much more systematic, government-sponsored threats and harassment delivered through cybertechnologies not only entail a situation of effective powerlessness, but may well inflict levels of anxiety, stress, shame and guilt amounting to ‘severe mental suffering’ as required for a finding of torture.”
Pompeo: US has reached 'understanding' with Taliban over violence in Afghanistan
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said on Friday that the US had “come to an understanding with the Taliban” over violence reduction in Afghanistan as officials said an agreement would be signed at the end of the month.
A seven-day “reduction of violence” deal promised by the Taliban will begin on Friday night, a senior US state department official said, without specifying the exact time.
US intelligence warned House members Russia is working to get Trump re-elected – reports
US intelligence officials are reported to have warned members of Congress last week that Russia was trying to interfere in the 2020 election campaign in favour of Donald Trump, in a briefing that led to the abrupt removal of the acting director of national intelligence.
When Trump heard about the briefing, he railed at the acting DNI, Joseph Maguire, in the Oval Office, over what the president saw as disloyalty, the Washington Post reported. Until then, Maguire had been a leading candidate to become permanent DNI and is understood to have told colleagues he expected to stay on in the position.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/20/russian-interference-2020-house-warned
Revealed: quarter of all tweets about climate crisis produced by bots
An analysis of millions of tweets from around the period when Donald Trump announced the US would withdraw from the Paris climate agreement found that bots tended to applaud the president for his actions and spread misinformation about the science.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/21/climate-tweets-twitter-bots-analysis
___________________________________________________________________________-
AL JAZEERA
Iranians vote to elect new parliament amid uncertainty
Tehran, Iran - Iranians are voting in their country's eleventh parliamentary election, seen as a test for the popularity of President Hassan Rouhani's reformist-moderate camp, as hardliners are expected to make gains.
Elections for Iran's 290-member Parliament are set amid escalating political tensions, economic struggles and concerns of low participation. The spectre of the coronavirus infection that has killed two people also adds another layer of uncertainty to the electoral process.
Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei cast his vote in the capital, Tehran, minutes after the polls opened on Friday at 8am local time (04:30 GMT).
In a speech after he cast his vote, Khamenei reiterated calls for a higher voter turnout, telling Iranians to participate in the elections "if they were interested in the country's national interests".
Voters on Friday will also choose replacements for seven deceased members of the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader.
A total of 55,000 polling stations have been set up at mosques throughout the country. More than 7,000 candidates, including 666 women, are competing.
Pact with Taliban on 'reducing violence' to start on Saturday
A week-long "reduction in violence" between the Taliban, the United States and Afghan security forces will begin at midnight on Friday, officials confirm.
The agreement struck during negotiations between US and Taliban representatives, if maintained, could secure a peace deal that would lead to a withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that upon successful implementation of this agreement, the US would move to sign a peace deal with the Taliban on February 29.
Soon after Pompeo's announcement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the development and said both sides will invite senior representatives to take part in the peace deal "signing ceremony".
The Taliban's statement also said the signing of the peace deal would be followed by intra-Afghan talks with various political parties in the country.
The Afghan armed group, which was removed from power in a US-led invasion in 2001, has previously refused to speak directly to the Kabul government, which it denounces as a "US puppet".
Afghan forces will keep up normal military operations against other armed groups, such ISIL (ISIS), during the RIV period, Faisal said, adding that Afghan forces will also retaliate to the violation of the understanding.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted missiles fired from Yemen
Saudi Arabia says it has intercepted and destroyed several ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels towards Saudi cities, in the latest cross-border attack.
The missiles were fired from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and were aimed at cities and civilians, the Saudi-UAE-led coalition fighting the Yemeni group said, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Thursday.
"They were launched in a systematic, deliberate manner to target cities and civilians, which is a flagrant defiance of international humanitarian law," coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said, according to the SPA.
"The capital (Sanaa) has become a Houthi militia assembly, installation and launching-hub for ballistic missiles that target the kingdom," he added.
Houthis, who have controlled vast swaths of the impoverished country since 2014, have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying sophisticated weapons to the Houthis, a charge Tehran denies.
Bolivia court disqualifies Morales from running for Senate
Bolivia's supreme electoral tribunal has disqualified exiled former President Evo Morales from running for a Senate seat in May's general election, saying he did not meet residency requirements.
Morales is currently living in exile in Argentina having fled Bolivia in November after resigning as president following three weeks of protests at his controversial re-election in October.
The supreme electoral tribunal (TSE) said Morales's candidacy for the senate lacked the necessary documentation, but it said that his Movement for Socialism (MAS) party's presidential candidate, Luis Arce, met the qualification requirements.
"This is a blow to democracy," Morales tweeted from Buenos Aires about Thursday's decision."The members of the TSE (electoral tribunal) know I meet the requirements to be a candidate."
The country is preparing for a new presidential and government election on May 3.
______________________________________________________________________________
LE MONDE
Primaires démocrates : Joe Biden espère se relancer dans le Nevada
Après avoir perdu dans les deux premiers Etats, l'ancien vice-président américain mise sur les minorités pour sauver sa candidature.
Corine Lesnes
Après deux défaites sévères dans l'Iowa et le New Hampshire, l'ancien vice-président espère rebondir dans le Nevada. Une question de survie. Moins d'un mois après le premier vote, il en est à se rappeler au bon souvenir des commentateurs. Dans les débats, ses concurrents ne l'attaquent même plus. Mercredi, il avait l'air stupéfait qu'on oublie de l'interroger : « Mais c'est moi qui ai fait adopter l'interdiction des fusils d'assaut ! (...) C'est moi qui ai passé le vote décisif pour l'Obamacare ! »
Joe Biden compte surtout sur les minorités. « Nous n'avons pas encore entendu l'avis de 99,9 % des Afro-Américains, nous n'avons pas encore entendu l'avis de 99 % des Latinos ou des Asiatiques. L'idée que nous allons décider de la nomination avant d'avoir entendu tout le monde est absolument ridicule », assène-t-il. Symbole de la transition démographique des Etats de l'Ouest, le Nevada est le cinquième Etat du pays où les Blancs ne représentent plus la majorité absolue. Les Latinos forment 29 % de la population, les Noirs environ 10 %, comme les Asiatiques.
Au Mexique, les Indiens menacent de continuer d'armer leurs enfants contre les « narcos »
Par Frédéric Saliba et Rémi Vorano
A Alcozacan, la guerre est déclarée entre les « narcos » et les Indiens du Guerrero. Les dix musiciens tués étaient originaires de ce village pauvre aux rues poussiéreuses et aux toits de tôles. C'est l'un des seize hameaux indigènes qui forment la municipalité de José Joaquin de Herrera. Les habitants ont pris les armes pour se défendre des attaques des Ardillos. Ces communautés se sont appuyées sur leur propre police, en vertu de la loi des « us et coutumes ». Ces corps armés, légaux depuis 2011 dans l'Etat du Guerrero, sont rassemblés au sein du Conseil régional des autorités communautaires (CRAC), créé vingt-cinq ans plus tôt en respect de l'autonomie des peuples originels du Mexique. Longtemps consacrés à la gestion quotidienne des communautés, les efforts du CRAC se focalisent aujourd'hui sur le problème de la sécurité.
Le coup médiatique des enfants-soldats a fait mouche, en suscitant la polémique. « C'est un acte désespéré pour attirer l'attention de l'Etat », a réagi le réseau pour les droits de l'enfance au Mexique (Redim), s'alarmant que les mineurs soient pris en otage dans ce bain de sang. Selon le Redim, 35 000 enfants et adolescents sont recrutés chaque année par le crime organisé ; 460 000 mineurs ont rejoint les rangs des cartels ; plus de trois sont assassinés en moyenne par jour.
Le blocage du réseau ferroviaire canadien paralyse l'économie du pays
Les autochtones réclament l'arrêt de la construction d'un gazoduc qui doit traverser leur territoire en Colombie-britannique.
Hélène Jouan
Depuis le 6 février, la contestation d'un tracé de gazoduc, qui prévoit de traverser le territoire autochtone des Wet'suwet'en en Colombie-britannique, a provoqué un blocage ferroviaire en passe de paralyser l'économie du pays. Les chefs héréditaires de cette Première Nation, qui s'estiment seuls souverains sur leurs territoires ancestraux, ne reconnaissent pas la légitimité de l'accord conclu entre l'entreprise Coastal GasLink et leurs chefs élus. Ils ont reçu le soutien actif des autres communautés autochtones.
Une vingtaine de grosses entreprises manufacturières (les aliments Maple Leaf, le conglomérat JD Irving, Nova Chemicals...), suivies quelques heures plus tard par les représentants de plus de 11 000 PME ont envoyé des courriers en début de semaine au premier ministre, Justin Trudeau, lui réclamant de « trouver une solution rapide pour mettre fin aux perturbations ». Ces représentants de l'industrie estiment que chaque jour de blocage retarde la livraison de produits d'une valeur de 425 millions de dollars canadiens (297 millions d'euros).
En Syrie, face-à-face à haut risque entre forces turques et russes
Idlib est le théâtre d'affrontements entre les forces d'Assad, soutenues par l'aviation russe, et la rébellion syrienne, épaulée par l'armée turque.
Marie Jégo
Les échauffourées de jeudi attestent d'une escalade supplémentaire entre la Turquie et la Syrie qui met en péril la relation russo-turque. La frappe a eu lieu après que les rebelles syriens, soutenus par l'armée turque, ont bombardé les positions des forces gouvernementales syriennes et sont entrés dans le village d'Al-Nerab, non loin de la ville de Saraqeb, que les forces d'Assad avaient prise début février.
Le long de l'autoroute M5, qui relie le sud du pays à la ville d'Alep, au nord, et vient tout juste d'être reprise à la rébellion, plus un village n'est intact. Tous les habitants ont fui. Depuis décembre 2019, près d'un tiers de la population d'Idlib a été déplacée. Pour échapper aux violences, 900 000 civils se sont massés le long de la frontière turque, fermée par un mur, car la Turquie est réticente à ajouter aux 3,6 millions de réfugiés syriens qu'elle accueille déjà.
Ankara vient ainsi de demander à Washington de déployer des batteries de défense antimissile Patriot à la frontière turco-syrienne, en guise de protection contre d'éventuelles attaques de Damas. Transmise la semaine dernière à James Jeffrey, l'envoyé américain pour l'engagement en Syrie, la demande n'a pas encore reçu de réponse.
Le Hirak conteste l'« Algérie nouvelle » vantée par le régime
Le président, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, mal élu en décembre 2019, tente de jouer l'apaisement, mais sans convaincre des manifestants mobilisés depuis un an.
Madjid Zerrouky
Devenu depuis un an une « tradition » respectée avec plus ou moins d'assiduité par les étudiants, militants et inconditionnels du Hirak, le mouvement populaire, le défilé du mardi s'élance de la place des Martyrs en direction de la Grande Poste et de la fac centrale. Mais pas question d'aller plus loin. Sauf quand, sous la pression d'une foule trop dense, la police laisse faire. Pas cette fois. « Ce n'est pas le moment ! », explique à une passante un officier, radio en main.
Le Hirak algérien va-t-il souffler sa première bougie avec le goût amer des victoires inachevées ? Non, tempère l'universitaire Cherif Driss. « La situation ne sera plus jamais comme avant. Une digue est tombée : la digue de la peur. Les Algériens se sont réconciliés avec la politique et il y a une réappropriation de facto de l'espace public. » Toutes choses inimaginables voilà un peu plus d'un an.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Al Mayadeen
Comienzan en Irán elecciones legislativas
El onceno período de las elecciones del Consejo Shura iraní comenzó en la mañana de este viernes en paralelo con las elecciones del Consejo de los Expertos en Liderazgo en su quinto mandato.
El líder iraní, el ayatollah Ali Khamenei, emitió su voto al comienzo de la jornada.
"El día de las elecciones se considera un feriado nacional", dijo el líder iraní y llamó a participar en la gestión del país.
Más de 7 mil candidatos se postulan para ganar los 290 escaños en el Parlamento, incluidos cinco para las minorías.
En las elecciones participan 57 millones 918 mil votantes elegibles para las elecciones, 2 millones 931 mil votantes ejercen el derecho a votar por primera vez. Los comicios se llevarán a cabo en 208 distritos electorales, de acuerdo con lo que dijo el ministro del Interior iraní, Abdel-Ridha Rahmani Fadli.
http://espanol.almayadeen.net/news/politics/1381605/comienzan-en-ir%C3%A1n-elecciones-legislativas/
Pompeo visita base militar de EE.UU. en Arabia Saudita
El secretario norteamericano de Estado, Mike Pompeo, visitó una base del Pentágono en Arabia Saudita, tras un encuentro con el príncipe heredero Mohammad bin Salman.
Ambos analizaron las relaciones bilaterales, la cooperación y las oportunidades de mejoras, así como sobre los más recientes acontecimientos en la región, señaló la prensa saudita.
A la reunión también asistieron el viceministro saudita de Defensa, Khalid bin Salman, y el embajador de Estados Unidos en Riad, John Abizaid.
Con anterioridad, el rey Salman bin Abdulaziz recibió al diplomático estadounidense, quien cumple una visita oficial de tres días al reino.
Antes de su partida desde Washington, Pompeo dijo que esperaba plantear preocupaciones sobre el historial de derechos humanos en la nación árabe.
El jefe de la diplomacia norteamericana aludía al encarcelamiento de personas con doble nacionalidad (saudita-estadounidense) como parte de una ofensiva contra críticos del príncipe heredero bin Salman.
Putin destaca necesidad de tomar medidas efectivas para neutralizar amenaza terrorista en Siria
El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, subrayó la necesidad de tomar medidas efectivas para neutralizar la amenaza terrorista en Siria.
Según un comunicado del Kremlin, durante la conversación telefónica mantenida entre Putin, su homólogo francés, Emmanuel Macron, y la canciller alemana, Ángela Merkel, se hizo hincapié en la soberanía y la integridad territorial de Siria.
Merkel y Macron expresaron su disposición a reunirse con los presidentes ruso y turco para encontrar una solución política a la crisis en Siria.
Mientras tanto, el ministro de Defensa turco, Khulusi Akar, dijo que Estados Unidos puede enviar a Turquía el sistema de defensa "Patriota" para usarlo en Idleb, y que Ankara activará el sistema ruso "S-400".
Según el canal turco "CNN Turk", Akar dijo que las partes turca y rusa están en conversaciones sobre el uso del espacio aéreo sirio en Idleb, considerando que el problema puede resolverse si Rusia se aleja a un lado.
Akar confirmó el rechazo de Ankara de cualquier propuesta para reubicar sus sitios de monitoreo en la región.
La defensa turca anunció la muerte de 2 de sus soldados y la lesión de otros 5 en un ataque aéreo, sin mencionar detalles adicionales.
Rusia pide a Turquía garantizar salida segura de los refugiados de Idleb
"El Centro Ruso para la Reconciliación pide a la parte turca que tome todas las medidas necesarias para garantizar la salida voluntaria y segura de los residentes de las regiones este y sur de la gobernación de Idleb a través de puestos de control abiertos en áreas controladas por el gobierno sirio", expresó Oleg Zhuravlev, jefe del Centro ruso para la Reconciliación en Siria.
El titular ruso negó la información contenida en los informes sobre el intento de cientos de miles de refugiados sirios de abandonar el noroeste de Siria y llegar a Turquía.
Según un comunicado emitido por el Ministerio de Defensa de Rusia, "no hay materiales pictóricos ni evidencia verificable que respalde las declaraciones sobre la transferencia de un millón de supuestos refugiados de Idleb a la frontera sirio-turca".
Agregó que los terroristas usan a la población local como escudos humanos, y obstruyen todos los caminos para que los sirios crucen los corredores humanitarios a los puntos de control en las gobernaciones de Alepo, Idleb y Hama.
Zhuravlev señaló que Turquía ha enviado una gran cantidad de equipos militares y municiones a Idleb en las últimas semanas.
_____________________________________-______________________
Deutsche Welle Daily
Trump visits India amid burgeoning defense ties, trade tensions. By Srinivas Mazumdaru
US President Donald Trump's first official visit to India comes at a time when both nations share an ever-closer defense partnership, but also have sharp differences over trade and investment barriers.
The trip will likely be one of the biggest media events of this year in India, with non-stop coverage expected in both print and broadcast media.
New Delhi expects Trump's visit to facilitate greater synergies between India and the US when dealing with security issues, terrorism and trade, Smruti Pattanaik, a foreign policy research fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi, told DW.
Driven by a growing convergence in their strategic interests, relations between India and the US have been growing steadily over the past few years.
Washington views New Delhi as a key player in the US' strategy in the so-called "Indo Pacific" — a mega region that the US military conceives of as spanning the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from the west coast of the United States to the western shores of India
Experts describe the current state of US-India relations as being strong on the defense side and struggling on the commercial side.
Trade between the United States and India has grown steadily over the past two decades, with bilateral commerce in both goods and services soaring from $16 billion (€14.82 billion) in 1999 to $142 billion in 2018. Despite this stellar growth, a raft of irritants has marred the bilateral commercial relationship.
Link: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-visits-india-amid-burgeoning-defense-ties-trade-tensions/a-52461210
Germany and right-wing extremism: The new dimension of terror. By Marcel Fürstenau, Peter Hille
Officials have said a deadly shooting was the result of deep-seated racism, which the suspected perpetrator had posted about online. The attack came hours after the German government approved an online hate speech bill.
Ahead of the attack, he is suspected of having spread racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic hate speech and conspiracy theories online. Federal prosecutors are now investigating whether he had any contact with other far-right terrorists.
According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic security agency, some 12,700 far-right extremists are "oriented toward violence." With more and more communication taking place online, radicalization is happening at a faster pace.
Just last week, German police conducted raids on 13 apartments across the country and dismantled a terror cell that was allegedly planning to plunge Germany into a "state of civil war" by committing "as yet undefined" attacks on politicians, asylum-seekers and Muslims. Four suspected would-be attackers were arrested, as well as another eight individuals suspected of supporting them.
on Wednesday, the government approved a bill that aims to crack down on hate speech. If it is signed into law, as is expected, death and rape threats made online could be punished with up to three years' imprisonment. The maximum punishment is currently one year. Even harsher sentence of up to five years could be applied in cases targeting local politicians with slander and hostility.
Link: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-and-right-wing-extremism-the-new-dimension-of-terror/a-52442936
US troops arrive in Germany for 'Defender Europe 20' military maneuvers. By Wesley Rahn
A massive trans-Atlantic military exercise has gotten underway with over 40,000 US troops and military vehicles expected to arrive in Europe. It is the largest US troop movement across the Atlantic in 25 years.
In total, over 20,000 troops and 20,000 pieces of equipment are being shipped across the Atlantic, arriving at six European seaports. They will then transfer to staging areas and on to military maneuvers with European partners, the US Army said.
A significant part of the troops and equipment are expected to be deployed to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The mass movement of US troops across the Atlantic into Germany and Eastern Europe is intended as a test of transatlantic military cooperation and capability. It comes as NATO's Eastern European members are wary of Russia's more aggressive posture in the region.
The US army said that the Defender Europe 20 "demonstrates the US military's ability to deploy a large force to support NATO and respond to any crisis."
Claudia Major, an expert in security and defense policy at the German Institute for Security and International Affairs (SWP), told DW that Russia's Crimea annexation was a "wake up call" for Europe.
"The exercise is essentially about the transit and transportation of troops," said Major, adding that NATO's eastern European partners in Poland and the Baltic states need to test their infrastructure and capacities.
Tesla wins court approval to build Gigafactory by clearing forest in Germany
A high court in Berlin has allowed Tesla to continue clearing a 92 hectare forest for its massive Gigafactory. The court rejected pleas from environment activists and said that its decision was final.
Local activists from two organizations - the Green League of Brandenburg and the Association for Landscape Management and Species Protection in Bavaria - had argued that the Gigafactory, which will produce electric batteries and cars, would affect local wildlife and water supply. Elon Musk, the founder and chief executive officer of Tesla, argued that the Gigafactory 4 (GF4) would use far less water on a typical day than they claimed. He added that the forest being cleared was "not a natural forest — it was planted for use as cardboard and only a small part will be used for GF4".
Tesla plans to clear 92 hectares of forest for its Gigafactory, which is set to open in 2021. The factory is set to employ over 10,000 people and produce at least 500,000 electric cars each year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
El País
El Tribunal Electoral de Bolivia impide la candidatura de Evo Morales al Senado
El Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) de Bolivia ha decidido no autorizar la candidatura de Evo Morales al Senado en las elecciones que se celebrarán del 3 de mayo. El argumento principal es que el expresidente no cumple con el requisito de tener una "residencia permanente" en Cochabamba, la región de Bolivia que pretendía representar.
La autoridad electoral boliviana, sin embargo, permitirá la candidatura de Luis Arce, el candidato del MAS, para aspirar a la presidencia. De acuerdo con Salvador Romero, presidente del Tribunal Electoral, Arce, exministro de Economía "cumple con todos los requisitos" para postularse. El TSE comunicó su decisión la noche de este jueves, día en que se celebra el carnaval, una fiesta muy importante en Bolivia. Si el MAS se había declarado "en emergencia" anticipando que la resolución le sería adversa, el Comité Cívico Pro Santa Cruz había amenazado con declarar una huelga indefinida si los jueces electorales hubiesen permitido que Morales fuese candidato.
Según la resolución del TSE en referencia a Evo Morales, esta institución "se ha enfocado en definir el concepto de 'residencia permanente' en materia electoral (...) La residencia permanente se entiende como la suma de tres factores principales. Primero, considera el domicilio o residencia habitual registrada y declarada por el ciudadano en el padrón electoral; luego, ese lugar debe ser donde el candidato desarrolla su 'proyecto de vida'. Por último, en su aplicación de principio de 'verdad material', se requiere una residencia efectiva en ese distrito".
El presidente del Tribunal Electoral de Bolivia, Salvador Romero, no quiso especificar qué parte de esta definición se aplicaba específicamente a Morales y a los otros candidatos en situación similar, entre ellos el excanciller de este último, Diego Pary, quien pretendía ser senador por Potosí, y Mario Cossío, un político de derecha que estuvo exiliado en Paraguay y, por tanto, no vivió los últimos años en Tarija, su región natal.
La primera encuesta de intención de voto que se realizó después de la inscripción oficial de candidatos mostraba al MAS como la primera fuerza política del país, con 31%, seguido por Mesa, con 17 % y la presidenta interina Jeanine Áñez, con 16%. El exdirigente cívico Luis Fernando Camacho aparecía en cuarto lugar, con 9%. Estos resultados sumieron en la preocupación a los sectores derechistas de la política boliviana.
Link: https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/02/21/america/1582244547_443011.html
Los servicios de inteligencia de EE UU advierten que Rusia interfiere para favorecer la reelección de Trump. Por Pablo Guimon
El reciente relevo en la cúpula de la inteligencia estadounidense vino precedido, según fuentes citadas por The Washington Post, de un explosivo enfado del presidente Trump con quien venía ocupando el puesto de manera interina. El miércoles, el presidente anunciaba que Joseph Maguire, al frente de las 17 agencias de inteligencia y espionaje del país, sería sustituido por Richard Grenell, hasta ahora embajador en Berlín y fiel aliado de Trump.
Un aliado republicano contó al presidente que una funcionario del equipo de Maguire, Shelby Pierson, encargada de la seguridad de las elecciones, había ofrecido el 13 de febrero una sesión informativa clasificada al Comité de Inteligencia de la Cámara de Representantes sobre la amenaza de una nueva injerencia rusa en las presidenciales de este año. Al presidente le enfureció que hubiera proporcionado al Comité, controlado por los demócratas y presidido por Adam Schiff, azote de Trump durante el impeachment, información que consideraba que podría ayudar al Partido Demócrata en las elecciones. Trump cargó contra Maguire por lo que consideraba una deslealtad de Shelby.
Link: https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/02/20/estados_unidos/1582238437_440686.html
EE UU amenaza a España y la UE con no compartir datos de seguridad si no excluyen a Huawei del 5G. Por Alicia González
Strayer ha insistido en que si los países deciden usar "tecnología no fiable" en sus redes 5G, eso "pondrá en peligro" la capacidad de Washington de compartir información "en el más alto nivel", incluida la relacionada con la defensa y la OTAN.
"Sabemos que hay proveedores seguros y de confianza con tecnología a la altura de Huawei, que son Ericsson, Nokia y Samsung. En Estados Unidos estamos usando a esas empresas para desplegar el 5G en docenas de ciudades", ha afirmado Strayer este jueves en la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Madrid.
La UE ha avisado de que cada país tomará sus propias decisiones con respecto a Huawei y que no hay a priori un veto al gigante tecnológico, lo que no ha gustado a Washington.
Link: https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/02/20/actualidad/1582221192_840731.html
El rumbo incierto de la protesta en Argelia. Por Francisco Peregil
Las manifestaciones perdieron afluencia desde el pasado diciembre, cuando el régimen logró convocar unas elecciones presidenciales en las que resultó elegido Abdelmayid Tebún, aunque con una abstención récord del 60%. Pero este 21 de febrero, después de más de 50 viernes de protestas, el Hirak (Hirak. Palabra árabe que significa movimiento) intentará inundar las calles de las principales ciudades del país, como en sus mejores días.
Durante un año, el Hirak ha conseguido sacar a las calles a miles de personas cada semana, ya fuera el sol del verano, bajo los días de lluvia, en Ramadán o durante las vacaciones universitarias. Y siempre, de forma pacífica.
Muchas cosas han cambiado en Argelia gracias al Hirak. Buteflika fue obligado a presentar su dimisión y pidió perdón al pueblo argelino. Ahora, no se sabe en qué condiciones vive, quién lo cuida, si puede hablar o no. Pero esas preguntas que asediaron a los argelinos desde que Buteflika sufrió un infarto cerebral en 2013 ya no están en boca de nadie.
Tebún (Presidente interno) declaró esta semana al diario francés Le Figaro, que las principales reivindicaciones del Hirak han sido satisfechas: "En la calle las cosas empiezan a calmarse. (...) Los miembros más destacados del antiguo régimen ya han dejado el poder, y se ha iniciado la lucha contra los que han puesto la economía de rodillas. Quedan aún las reformas políticas. Esa es mi prioridad y estoy decidido a ir lejos en el cambio radical para romper con las malas prácticas, moralizar la vida política y cambiar la forma de gobernar (...) "No se puede reformar, reparar y restaurar en dos meses todo lo que ha sido destruido durante una década".
Hay analistas que consideran que ahora mismo el principal desafío para el poder argelino ya no es e Hirak sino el estado de la economía. La caída de los precios del petróleo desde 2014 está causando estragos en un país donde las exportaciones de hidrocarburos representan el 90% de los ingresos procedentes del exterior.
Link: https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/02/20/actualidad/1582190199_429376.html
