February 13, 2017 nº 1,838 - Vol. 14
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."
Charles Darwin
Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at www.migalhas.com/latinoamerica
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Trump's Twitter outbursts can't drown out the law, Denmark says
From across the Atlantic, a small Scandinavian nation often mentioned during the US election campaign is now trying to make sense of the signals coming from the former reality TV star who unexpectedly made it into the White House. Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen. Says the confusion sparked by the signals coming from Trump feed a sense that "virtually everything has been flipped upside down." Like other European nations, the main concerns in Denmark following some of Trump's remarks are to do with the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as free trade. “They're the two biggest headaches," Samuelsen said. But behind all the bluster, the Danish foreign minister says a pattern appears to be emerging that suggests the "Twitter diplomacy" that Trump has used isn't necessarily what the world should assume will ultimately become policy. "The fact of the matter is that no Twitter update will change legislation," Samuelsen said. "There's always fundamental work that needs to be done, and we need to compare what's said on Twitter with the actual policy." Samuelsen was among politicians to openly condemn Trump's travel ban, turning to Twitter to slam the measure as "NOT fair."
Shopping becomes a political act in the Trump era
A couple of weeks ago, people boycotted Nordstrom for one reason: The department store sold Ivanka Trump products. Now people are boycotting Nordstrom for another reason: The store said it would not sell her products. These days, a shirt is not always just a shirt, and a store is not always just a store. Handbags, dresses and other ordinary items — and where they are bought — have become politicized, turning shopping decisions into acts of protest for the millions of people in pro- and anti-President Trump camps. Under Armour, L.L. Bean, T.J. Maxx and many other companies have already been pulled into a sort of ideological tug of war. The sharp reaction before and after Nordstrom’s decision — made quietly, with no announcement — highlights the tightrope companies must walk in this hyper-politicized environment. Consumer companies, more broadly, have long faced campaigns against their products for political, social or environmental reasons. There have been boycotts over the use of sweatshop labor, dangerous chemicals and even microbeads. But now, companies are dealing with even more intense pressure, as they have become targets in a politically charged environment fueled by social media.
1 - Heineken takes battle to AB InBev in Brazil with $1 billion Kirin deal - click here.
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Trump agrees to honor 'One China' policy in call with Xi Jinping
The White House says Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, and "agreed, at the request of President Xi, to honor our 'One China' policy." (Click here)
Alibaba alleges false accusations over fake goods
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding accused companies of lodging what it said were spurious complaints about fake goods and other intellectual-property violations on its online shopping platforms.
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Trump policy adviser attacks US federal appeals court
A top White House adviser has attacked the US federal appeals court for upholding a ruling suspending Trump's travel ban order. Stephen Miller told US media the court ruling was a "judicial usurpation of power" and that "the president's powers here are beyond question".
The court rejected Trump's attempt to reinstate the ban on Thursday. His executive order barred citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries from entering the US. Several lawsuits have been filed against the ban, and a federal judge has issued a temporary nationwide block on the travel ban. Trump has said he may fight the case in the courts, but could also consider issuing a new executive order.
Mexican migrants signal they prefer detention to deportation
All but one of about 50 undocumented Mexican migrants at a meeting Saturday indicated they would rather risk detention and long court battles in the U.S. than return to Mexico voluntarily. Protesters want Mexico's government to endorse a tough and perhaps risky strategy to battle an expected increase in deportations of their undocumented compatriots in the U.S. by underwriting the migrants' legal struggle in the U.S. court system. By overwhelming already heavily burdened immigration courts, they hope the legal system would break down, bringing deportations to a halt. Mexico's government hasn't endorsed the strategy, but President Enrique Peña Nieto recently budgeted about $50 million to the country's 50 consulates to help pay the costs of defending migrants who are in the U.S. illegally and facing deportation.
Steinmeier chosen as German President by lawmakers
Former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been elected president by a parliamentary assembly. The Social Democrat, 61, is one of Germany's most popular politicians. The post is largely ceremonial, but the president represents Germany abroad and is seen as carrying moral weight. During the US election campaign, the usually circumspect ex-lawyer described Donald Trump as a "hate preacher" and predicted more challenging relations with Washington. He has also criticized those who "make politics with fear", and spoken out against right-wing populism. (Click here)
Immigration raids are reported around the country
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a new wave of raids and other actions in several states over the past five days aimed at sweeping up people who are in this country illegally. It says it was targeting people with criminal records. Trump has promised to deport 2 to 3 million immigrants with criminal records, but immigration experts say that while the Department of Homeland Security estimates there are 1.9 million "removable criminal aliens" in the United States, only about 690,000 are in this country illegally and have been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor. Immigrant advocates charged the administration with creating a climate of fear.
International community condemns North Korea missile test
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump, appearing in a joint press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, strongly condemned a North Korea ballistic missile test. North Korea tested a ballistic missile on Sunday which flew East for about 300 miles until it landed in the Sea of Japan. UN resolutions bar North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile tests. Despite numerous UN sanctions, North Korea tested over 20 missiles last year,
Peru asks Trump to consider deporting ex-President Alejandro Toledo
Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to consider deporting fugitive former Peruvian leader Alejandro Toledo. He is believed to be in San Francisco, and he is accused of taking $20m in bribes. He denies wrongdoing. So far efforts to arrest Toledo have been stifled by legal complications. Authorities in Peru, who requested Toledo's arrest last week on charges of corruption, fear that he could try to fly to Israel. The US has said that it is unable to arrest the ex-leader until further information on the case against him has been shared. Kuczynski asked Trump to "evaluate" the situation.
Federal judge rules Microsoft can challenge constitutionality of government gag orders
A judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled Wednesday that Microsoft can pursue its legal challenge that government gag orders are unconstitutional. Microsoft sued in April of last year alleging that sections 2705(b) and 2703 of the Stored Communications Act, which governs the government's access to electronic information stored in third party computers, are unconstitutional under the First and Fourth Amendments.
Israel's president reportedly says outpost law makes country look like 'apartheid state'
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin reportedly said that a new law that retroactively legalizes settler homes built on private Palestinian land could make Israel look like an "apartheid state." Rivlin made the comments during a closed door meeting last week, two days after the "regulation law" was passed by the Knesset. "Israel has adopted international law. It does not allow a country acting according to it to apply and enforce its laws on territories that are not under its sovereignty. If it does so, it is a legal cacophony. It will cause Israel to be seen as an apartheid state, which it is not," Rivlin said. "There is no question here. The government of Israel is simply not allowed to apply the laws of the Knesset on territories that are not under the state’s sovereignty." The regulation law, which the Knesset passed in a raucous late-night session on Feb. 6, allows the state to seize private Palestinian land on which settlements or outposts were built, as long as the settlers were not aware of the status of the land. In cases where the landowners are known, they are entitled to compensation.
Swiss voters reject reform to multinationals' tax bills
Swiss voters have rejected a plan to reform the country's corporate tax system, sending the government back to the drawing board. Business and political circles in Switzerland had supported the plan, which was designed to prevent taxes rising sharply for foreign investors. However 59% of voters opposed the plan in Sunday's referendum vote. Currently Switzerland grants special status to foreign firms which allows cantons, or districts, to offer them lower rates of tax than domestic firms, making Switzerland an attractive destination for foreign investors. But international organizations such as the OECD have deemed the system unacceptable and Switzerland has made a commitment to reform it by 2019. (Click here)
Switzerland votes to relax its citizenship rules
People in Switzerland have voted to relax the country's strict citizenship rules, making it easier for third-generation immigrants to become Swiss. Being born in Switzerland does not guarantee citizenship. Non-Swiss residents must typically wait 12 years before applying. Tests and government interviews are also required, which can be expensive. Initial projections suggest that 59% of Swiss voters said yes to simplifying the rules. The new proposal will exempt third-generation immigrants, who are born in Switzerland and whose parents and grandparents lived permanently in Switzerland, from interviews and tests in the naturalization process. Supporters of the plan to simplify the process argue that it is ridiculous to ask people who were born and have lived all their lives in Switzerland to prove that they are integrated.
Panama charges two Mossack Fonseca partners over Brazil link
Papers scandal in which thousands of documents related to offshore accounts were leaked. The arrests are linked to corruption and bribery allegations involving Brazil's construction giant, Odebrecht. The two men, Ramon Fonseca Mora and Jurgen Mossack, were detained after two days of questioning. The Mossack Fonseca partners now face charges of money-laundering. There is information which "allegedly identifies the Panamanian firm as a criminal organisation that is dedicated to hiding assets or money from suspicious origins," said Panama's Attorney General Kenia Porcell, announcing the arrests. The pair will be held in detention because they are considered a flight risk. (Click here)
Trump adviser repeats baseless claims of voter fraud in New Hampshire
No evidence supports the Trump administration's claim that the presidential election was marred by massive voter fraud. But White House adviser Stephen Miller doubled down on the allegations Sunday.
Mexicans in the US are sending home more money than ever
A new report finds that remittances by migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean topped $69 billion last year — the highest amount on record.
May 1 Law Day
May 1 is a United States holiday known as Law Day. Declared in 1958 and formally established in 1961, it was the brainchild of an advisor to President Eisenhower, who designed it to counteract the Soviet Union’s celebration of Worker’s Day. Not elevated to the same level as Memorial or Martin Luther King Jr. Day, May 1 nonetheless enjoys fanfare among lawyers. In Washington, it is often the occasion of American Bar Association talks, presentations and panel discussions.
Time
Inside Chuck Schumer's Plan to Take on President Trump
Newsweek
Who Is Ted Malloch, Tipped To Be Trump's Eu Ambassador?
Business Week
Trump's Labor Pick Loves Burgers, Bikinis, and Free Markets
The Economist
Russia and America: Courting Russia. Donald Trump seeks a grand bargain with Vladimir Putin
Der Spiegel
Merkeldaemmerung. Kippt Sie?
L'Espresso
Derivati
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