October 9, 2017 nº 1,912 - Vol. 14
"Lean and mean. Everything you need, nothing you don't."
Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at la.migalhas.com
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Catalonia will apply referendum law calling for independence declaration
Catalonia will apply a referendum law, which calls for a declaration of independence if a referendum shows a majority in favor, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says. "The declaration of independence, that we don't call a 'unilateral' declaration of independence, is foreseen in the referendum law as an application of the results. We will apply what the law says," he said. The Catalan government says more than 90 percent of people who voted in an Oct. 1 referendum voted in favor of independence from Spain. The referendum was declared illegal by Spanish authorities and turnout was only 43 percent. The Catalan law paving the way for the referendum said the parliament of Catalonia would declare the region's independence within 48 hours of a "yes" vote being proclaimed by the Catalan electoral office. (Click here)
1 - Uber suspends unlicensed service in Norway in change of tack. (Click here)
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1.34 million officials have been punished for graft since 2013
China's anti-graft watchdog said roughly 1.34 million lower-ranking officials have been punished since 2013 under President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive.
The rising stars of China's Communist Party
China's Communist Party will unveil its next generation of elite leaders when it meets starting on 18 October for a congress that is held every five years. Except for President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, five of the seven members of the party's top body, the Politburo Standing Committee, are set to retire later this year. Given the opaque nature of Chinese politics, it is tricky to say who will fill the vacancies - though it is certain that they will likely be those close to Xi.
China's millennials don't have jobs or avocados
While America scorns its entitled, avocado-obsessed trophy-demanding millennials, China has its own think piece-ready generation that is likewise well-informed, well-educated, optimistic—yet unemployable, unable to afford rents in expensive urban areas, but moving to big cities anyway, living in cramped conditions, hoping to find opportunity. The "ant tribe" isn't solely a generational phenomenon. Most ants come from small towns or farms, and while they were able to attend college and move to a big city, they may not have any connections once they get there. Guanxi, the Chinese equivalent to networking, is crucial to starting a career, and people from small towns, even well-educated ones, are often shut out.
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Parties file Supreme Court briefs on whether travel ban cases are moot
The parties involved in challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban order filed letter briefs with the US Supreme Court Thursday addressing whether the issue is moot in light of Trump's September 24 proclamation that created new restrictions on entry to the US for citizens of eight countries. The US government filed a brief arguing that Trump's proclamation rendered the pending cases, Trump v. Hawaii and Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project, moot. Attorneys for Hawaii and the International Refugee Assistance Project argued in their briefs that the Supreme Court should proceed with the cases. The justices will likely take up the issue at their Friday conference. (Click here)
Huge Spain unity rally held in Barcelona
At least 350,000 people protest against secession amid speculation Catalan leaders may declare independence.
Brazilians in the south asked to vote on secession
Voters in the south of Brazil have been asked in an informal vote whether they want to be part of a new country. The referendum was organised a week after a similar vote in Catalonia by a secessionist movement called "The South Is My Country". The movement said it set up polls in more than 1,000 municipalities across the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná. The group's leader, Celso Deucher, says he hopes to gather three million votes. At polling stations in the Paraná state city, Londrina, voters told local media they were disillusioned with the federal government and a giant corruption scandal that has seen dozens of politicians and members of the business elite jailed or indicted. Acacio Fernandes Tozzini said: "Our nation has reached a dramatic level of political disorder that is impossible to mend. We want to get rid of Brasilia, Brazil has reached the apex of corruption."
Treasury releases report suggesting financial market reforms
The US Department of Treasury released a report Friday suggesting regulations and changes to current laws which affect the US Financial System. This report is in response to President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13772, which established "Core Principles" for the federal government to strive to within the financial market. The February 2017 order established a report to the president within 120 days of the release of the order as well as periodic reports. The goal is to "identify any laws, treaties, regulations, guidance, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and other Government policies that inhibit Federal regulation of the United States financial system in a manner consistent with the Core Principles."
Canada lawmakers approve bill banning visas for rights abusers
Canada's House of Commons on Wednesday passed bill S-226, the "Magnitsky Act," which would allow for the Canadian government to take "restrictive measures in respect of foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." These actions include sanctioning, freezing assets, or denying entry of foreign citizens of countries with human rights violations or corruption. The law also would make amendments to previous laws which afforded special protections to foreign nationals within Canada. (Click here)
Further tariff of 80% imposed on import of C-Series plane
The US Department of Commerce has again ruled against aerospace firm Bombardier in its dispute with rival Boeing. A further tariff of 80% has been imposed on the import of Bombardier's C-Series jet to the US for alleged below-cost selling. This is on top of an earlier tariff of 220% which related to subsidies Bombardier got from Canada and the UK. A spokesperson for Bombardier said: "We strongly disagree with the commerce department's preliminary decision." The firm said the ruling represented an "egregious overreach and misapplication of U.S. trade laws". "The commerce department's approach throughout this investigation has completely ignored aerospace industry realities," it said. The US Department of Commerce rulings, which could more than triple the cost of a C-Series aircraft sold into the US, could jeopardize a major order placed last year from US airline Delta. A final ruling in the case is due early next year.
Trump to argue Obama's clean power plan violates U.S. law
The Trump administration will formally propose repealing former President Barack Obama's sweeping plan for curbing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by arguing it went beyond the bounds of federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency won't prescribe an immediate replacement to the plan, and instead will soon ask the public to comment on whether -- and how -- to curb carbon-dioxide emissions from coal and natural gas power plants.
Turkey and US suspend most visa services
Turkey and the US have become embroiled in a consular row, mutually suspending most visa services. The Turkish embassy in Washington said it needed to "reassess" the US government's commitment to the security of the mission and personnel. A very similar statement was earlier made by the US embassy in Ankara. This comes after a US consulate worker in Istanbul was held last week on suspicion of links to a cleric blamed for last year's failed coup in Turkey. Washington condemned the move as baseless and damaging to bilateral relations. (Click here)
Treasury report calls for sweeping changes to financial rules
The Trump administration released its second report on market regulations, recommending fewer disclosures and more investor access.
AMF concludes ICOs have no legal status under French law
Robert Ophele, the President of the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers, has revealed that the AMF does not believe initial coin offerings fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of existing legislation. The AMF president also expressed concerns about the efficacy of the existing juridical apparatus through which the applicable regulations pertaining to an ICO is determined. The AMF president stated that there are "various issues" relating to cryptocurrency, including "tax evasion, money laundering or the financing of terrorism." Ophele, however, emphasized that the technology "meets more legitimate needs for cash transfers in a fast and cost-free way in the world", adding that "the financial industry is paying close attention."
Fox News says its top lawyer is taking a voluntary leave
Fox News general counsel Dianne Brandi has been with the network since its launch in 1996 and was named among the defendants in several discrimination and harassment lawsuits against the network.
Attorney finds herself on a different side in Weinstein case
Celebrity attorney Lisa Bloom has built a career representing victims of sexual harassment and assault. Now she says she's trying to "make a difference here on the other side" by defending movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Time
The Fight Over Gun Control Isn’t Really About Guns
Newsweek
Jolie, Pitt And The Plot To Catch Warlord Kony
Business Week
The Lawyer Who Beat Big Tobacco Takes On the Opioid Industry
The Economist
Asset prices: The bull market in everything
Der Spiegel
Die unheimliche Macht (Bildstoerung)
L'Espresso
Quel che è Stato è stato
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