The CorporateDispatch.Com Week - A Week of News in Review

The Week 2 6 t h

PUBLISHED BY

O c t o b e r

2 0 1 9

www.ciconsulta.com

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover Story \\ #ELECTIONWATCH

COVER STORY \\

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks towards a polling station during the Brexit referendum in North London, Britain, 23 June 2016. Johnson said he will be calling an election for December 12th. EPA-EFE/STR UK AND IRELAND

THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Jesmond Saliba

As expected, a lot of attention of the global news agencies and outlets was paid to the UK in view of the debate which followed the Brexit deal reached the previous one in Brussels.

Boris Johnson managed to get the deal approved in the Commons, but that's all he got as MPs rejected to the procedure motion which would have seen the subject over and done by Thursday.Johnson was forced to request an extension and later in the week he said that he would be asking Parliament to approve his motion to call a snap election on December 12th.

In his last session, where he was reporting on the Council outcome, EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker described BREXIT as a waste of energy and time which distracted his Commission's plan. Denise Grech, from Brussels gives us her views on how Juncker's tenure will be remembered.

Ci Consulta GeoPolitical Advisory head Matthew Bugeja provides insight on the geopolitical dimension of the latest developments in Syria and how its defining the global order and power race.

CorporateDispatch.Com editor Tonio Galea provides an insightful article on the messages of the North Koreanleader’s latest photo. Have a good viewing and reading our week in review.

The Story \\ #PROTEST

riot policemen remove anti-government protesters blocking the main highway on the tenth T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Lebanese day of protest in Beirut, Lebanon, 26 October 2019. Thousands continued to protest on the second week of demonstrations against proposals of tax hikes and state corruption, and calling for the resignation of the government. EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

The Story \\ #PAUSE

in London, Britain, 23 October 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has paused his T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Parliament Brexit deal after losing a crucial vote in Parliament on 22 October. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

The Story \\ #HUMANTRAFFICKING

and forensic officers investigate at the scene in Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Police Britain, 23 October 2019. A total of 39 bodies were discovered inside a lorry container in the early hours of this morning, and pronounced dead at the scene. EPA-EFE/VICKIE FLORES

The Story \\ #SYMBOLISM

T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â An undated photo shows Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, riding a white horse through the first snow of Paektu Mountain, in Ryanggang, North Korea. EPA-EFE/KCNA

The Story \\ #UNSTOPPABLE

amputee protester takes part during the clashes after the weekly Friday protests near T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â AthePalestinian border between Israel and Gaza Strip, 25 October 2019. More than 75 Palestinian protesters wounded during the clashes along the border between Israel and eastern Gaza Strip. EPAEFE/MOHAMMED SABER

The Story \\ #SAFEANDLIGHT

Spectators watch the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse being moved on rails in Jutland, Denmark, 22

T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â October 2019. The 120-year-old lighthouse has been put on wheels and rails to attempt to move it

some 80 meters away from the North Sea, as it is endangered by coastal erosion and shifting sands.

BMS Krangaarden mounted the 'roller skates' on the rails to move the lighthouse's foundation to the new location. EPA-EFE/Hans Ravn

The Story \\ #RESCUE of a six week old otter apparently abandoned in the Antioquia department and transfered to T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â View the Cali Zoo in Cali, Colombia, 22 October 2019 to receive veterinary attention. The otter will not return to its natural habitat and will remain at the zoo as it was separated from its mother too soon.

EPA-EFE/ERNESTO GUZMAN JR

The Story \\ #CHAMPIONS Cristiano Ronaldo (2R) and Lokomotiv goalkeeper Guilherme in action during the UEFA T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Juventus Champions League group D soccer match Juventus FC vs Lokomotiv Moscow at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, 22 October 2019. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO

The Story \\ #AFTERBURN

extinguish a house set on fire by the Tick Fire in a neighborhood near Santa Clarita, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Firefighters California, USA, 25 October 2019. According to latest news report 4300 acres have burnt, along with some houses and facilities. EPA-EFE/ETIENNE LAURENT

The Story \\ #DEATHDAY

child looks through the Calaverandia theme park, installed for the Day of the Dead celebrations in T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â AGuadalajara, Mexico, 22 October 2019. The Day of the Dead in Mexico is one of the most important festivities and is considered by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. EPAEFE/FRANCISCO GUASCO

The Story \\ #EDUCATION and staff of public universities participate in a march, to protest against a change to the T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Students educational budget, towards the Presidential House in San Jose, Costa Rica, 22 October 2019.

Hundreds of students and staff of the public universities of Costa Rica marched to the Presidential House to protest against a change to the educational budget that they say will affect the operation of the universities. EPA-EFE/Jeffrey Arguedas

YOUR DAILY NEWSFEED www.corporatedispatch.com

The Story \\ #SICILYFLOODS

THE STORY \\Â

Damage after a storm in the southern area of the province, between Pachino, Noto and Rosolini, near Siracusa (Italy), Sicily Island, Italy, 26 October 2019. One man, a prison police officer, has died after his car was swept away by a stream. Sixteen people were rescued by the fire department. EPAEFE/FRANCESCO RUTA

The Story \\ #CONSOLATION

Zealand's Sam Cane (front C) reacts after losing the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi final match T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â New between New Zealand and England at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan, 26 October 2019. EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON

The Story \\ #CATALONIA

THE STORY \\Â

Hundreds of people throw garbage to the Girona's Regional Government Subdelegation during a demonstration in Girona, Catalonia, Spain, 23 October 2019. Catalonia region in Spain is witnessing massive demonstrations and riots against the Supreme Court ruling of prison terms against the Catalan political leaders accused of organizing the Catalan illegal referendum held in October 2017.

EPA-EFE/David Borrat

The Story \\ #JINX

Matsumoto (L) and Wakana Nagahara (R) of Japan in action during their Women's quarter final T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Mayu match against Liu Xuan Xuan and Xia Yu Ting of China at the Yonex Badminton French Open tournament in Paris, France, 25 October 2019. EPA-EFE/YOAN VALAT

The Story \\ #HAPPYDAY

Robinson (L) of New Zealand celebrates next to third placed next to Tessa Worley (R) of France T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Alice in the finish area after winning the women's Giant Slalom race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup season opener on the Rettenbach glacier in Soelden, Austria, 26 October 2019. EPA-EFE/GIAN EHRENZELLER

The Story \\ #SKYHIGH

a hundred of hot air balloons of over 60 countries participate in the European Hot Air Balloon T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Over Championships in Manacor, Balearic Islands, Spain, 24 October 2019. EPA-EFE/EZEQUIEL IVAN ESPINAR RIUTORT

YOUR DAILY NEWSFEED www.corporatedispatch.com

The Story \\ #ELECTIONWATCH

of Frente de Todos party, attend the campaign closure of candidate Alberto Fernandez in T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Supporters Mar del Plata, Argentina, 24 October 2019. Argentina will hold its general election on 27 October 2019. EPA-EFE/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

The Story \\ #ROYALGENERAL

Trump, daughter and senior advisor to US President Donald J. Trump, arrives to participate in T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Ivanka the World Bank Group's 'Unleashing the Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Through Finance and Markets' discussion during the IMF World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, USA, 18 October 2019. The meetings continue through 19 October 2019. EPA-EFE/ERIK S. LESSER

The Story \\ #WILDLIFE

tiger sits in the water inside an enclosure at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center in Ba Ti District, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â ATakeo province, Cambodia, 23 October 2019. EPA-EFE/KITH SEREY

The Story \\ #SOLO

Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves the stage after her speech in the annual meeting of the T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â German German Brands Association, in Berlin, Germany, 23 October 2019. With almost 400 members the Brands Association represents the interests of brand-oriented businesses in Germany. EPAEFE/FELIPE TRUEBA

The Story \\ #DANCING

dancers perform the traditional Dervish dance at the Umayyad Mosque in the old city of T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Syrian Damascus, Syria, 24 October 2019, as part of the 'Under the sky of Damascus' festival for popular arts. EPA-EFE/YOUSSEF BADAWI

The Story \\ #TIRING

President Vladimir Putin attends a joint news conference with Turkish President Erdogan T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Russian (not pictured) following Russian-Turkish talks in the Black sea resort of Sochi, Russia, 22 October 2019. Turkish President is on a working visit to Russia. EPA-EFE/SERGEI CHIRIKOV/POOL

The Story \\ #GOODBYES

Juncker, President of the European Commission, delivers his speech at the Review of T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Jean-Claude the Juncker Commission at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 22 October 2019. EPAEFE/PATRICK SEEGER

DIPLOMATIQUE. EXPERT

CorporateDispatch PRO

YOUR WEEKLY INSIGHTS www.corporatedispatch.pro

DIPLOMATIQUE. EXPERT www.corporatedispatch.pro

SYRIA AND THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER

Matthew Bugeja - Senior GeoPolitics Analyst CiConsulta

In my view, the war in Syria has been to global politics what the fall of the Berlin wall was to the Cold War - a landmark event which serves as an earthquake to the global order. Admittedly, some historical purists may see this statement as mere hyperbole, and I will be the first to admit that there are some imperfections in this type of comparison.

That being said, the war in Syria has illustrated one thing very plainly - the United States, by a combination of a juvenile mix of complacency and poor choices, a lack of a long term strategy and the rise of more serious rivals, has seen its global power and influence wane at an unprecedented rate. When the U.S. entered the war in Syria under the Obama administration, it was originally intended to support Kurdish fighters against ISIS, who at the time controlled large swathes of territory in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. plan then slowly morphed, and sought to also engage Syrian government forces, who themselves were supported by Iran and Russia.

SYRIA AND THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER At one point, the Syrian government was close to collapse, holding only a few major cities and ports along the country’s eastern coastal regions. Syrian Arab rebels and Kurds were close to victory.

If the US redoubled its efforts in support of its allies in the country, backed by airstrikes and special forces, the Syrian regime was likely to collapse. The US did not do so, and Russia would send large amounts of men, vehicles and weapons to prop up the Assad regime,

with

further

reinforcements

arriving

from

Iran’s

Revolutionary Guard through Iraq. The scale was now irrevocably tipped towards the Syrian government, with the US unwilling to make any effort to counteract Russia and Iran’s influence in the country, or the decline of its Syrian rebel allies.

For all intents and purposes, the US had left them to their own devices, and there could be only one real outcome when faced with such overwhelming odds - the rebels were ousted from most of the important metropolitan centres, and thrown back to the smaller towns in the east of the country.

Whilst one could understand the angst of the Syrian and Kurdish rebels, and chide the US for their lack of support, America was also faced with a difficult decision.

SYRIA AND THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER Besides Russia and Iran, Turkey are also heavily involved (as recent developments in the country have amply shown), as are Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and a number of EU & Western allies to varying degrees. The war in Syria has become a geopolitical proxy war arena, in which various players supported forces on the ground in order to achieve their desired ends. The US was wary of getting too caught up in the conflict, lest it be dragged into another "forever war," as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been described.

As a result of those two interventions, Washington is now wary of military

intervention,

as

it

showed

under

the

Obama

Administration (both in the cases of Syria and Libya) and now under the Trump Administration (with the gradual withdrawal of US troops from Syria and drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan).

Whilst the reluctance of the US to engage in military adventures abroad is seen by many as being a positive thing, that does not preclude others from doing exactly that in America’s absence and that is what has happened in the past three years or so. America’s influence is waning considerably. Syria has been the most complex battlefield in at least a generation, and given its track record in the Middle East over the past two decades, the US feared being dragged into a third conflict that would drain resources, put lives at risk, and without serving a definitive strategic purpose.

SYRIA AND THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER )But in its absence, Russia, Iran and Turkey have emerged as the kingmakers in the country. The US had meekly entered the conflict with one foot in, unprepared in any sense of the word to remain in the conflict zone to achieve any objectives, which were initially related to the ouster of ISIS, and then shifted focus to a halfhearted attempt to remove the Syrian government of Bashar alAssad. This was unsuccessful.

To add insult to injury, the US has now permitted its Turkish NATO ally to conduct an incursion into northern Syria in order to evict Kurdish fighters from the region, who Ankara views as the Syrian proxies of a Kurdish militant group that operates within its borders.

This has affected America’s standing in the region, with its previously staunch Kurdish allies pelting US military vehicles with potatoes as they were leaving Syria, en route to Iraq.

After the fall of the Berlin wall, the United States stood alone as the world’s preeminent superpower, able to influence geopolitics along with economics and finance nearly at will. Thirty years later, it has seen the rise of regional powers all across the world, who are now challenging its supremacy. You have China, Japan, India and South Korea seeking to influence their respective corners of Asia.

SYRIA AND THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER The EU is becoming increasingly distant from Washington’s policies, particularly under the Trump Administration. In South and Central America, Mexico and Brazil are going down a more nationalistic path, which takes them further away from the US sphere of influence than ever. Turkey is seeking to reestablish the old Ottoman sphere of influence across the region, while Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia seek to carve out their own small alliance structures to balance out their opponents. America has not just weakened due to a lack of long-term strategy and foreign policy errors - but some powers are now just about strong enough to challenge the US in their own respective regions.

China is the only country currently capable, in the medium term, of challenging the US at a global level. However, that is a story for another time. If there is one thing that the war in Syria has shown us from a geopolitical standpoint, it is that the American Empire is not on the decline due to one folly or another - but rather, it has been a death by a thousand cuts. Soon enough, the US will no longer be a global juggernaut, and it will face challenges across the globe from a number of actors seeking to shape their corner of the world as they see fit. Syria was simply a harbinger of things to come, and that will make the world we live in a more dangerous place.

DE CODI NG NORT H

A

KORE AN

P HOT O

OP

Tonio Galea - Editor CorporateDispatch.Com

Symbolism has always been part and parcel of politics., both for the local or international audience. It's not just about the speeches: symbolism plays an important role. If a political leader decides to appear in public without a tie or wearing a certain colour, in 9 cases out of 10 there will be a message that one wants to deliver. Even more so if this is done for an international audience.And hence the recent display of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un riding a white horse along snow-covered Mount Paektu.

The mountain, the highest point on the Korean Peninsula, is sacred to North Koreans, and both it and the white horse are symbols associated with the Kim family's dynastic rule. It was announced that the photos were taken after the mountain’s first snowfall of the year.It was a carefully choreographed display with precise intentions in every aspect of it aimed at both local and international audiences North Korea has always been at the forefront of such symbolic displays: from the launching of various missiles to what is said and shown on Pyongyang's news bulletin. In North Korea, the world's most isolated country, nothing happens without a reason no matter how insignificant it might seem at first glance.

DECODING A NORTH KOREAN PHOTO OP

A message is being delivered to someone somewhere. This was not the first time the world caught a glimpse of Kim on Mount Paektu. In fact, it was his third.Kim previously visited Mount Paektu before executing his uncle, considered his right-hand man, in 2013 and again before entering into diplomacy with South Korea and the U.S. in 2018..

These latest photos were issued days after North Korea's first nuclear talks with the U.S. in more than seven months fell apart.The lavish imagery in the report is likely meant to both evoke nostalgia and exude power.A white horse in North Korea is an important propaganda symbol that has been used before by Kim, his sister and his father before them. Even before them, Kim Il Sung,

the

founder

of

the

North

Korean

state

and

Kim's

grandfather, according to the North's official narrative, rode a white horse while fighting Japanese colonial rulers. In Kim Il Sung official memoirs there is a whole chapter dedicated to a white horse and horseback riding plays an important role in the Kim dynasty, as can be witnessed by the various paintings and statues in the country depicting the horse as a symbol of strength and progress.

DECODING A NORTH KOREAN PHOTO OP

Mount Paektu carries a lot of weight in the mythical lore surrounding Kim's bloodline.Mount Paektu was the place where Kim Il-sung had an anti-Japan guerrilla base during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. The official biography of the current leader’s father, Kim Jong-il, says he was born on Paektu when a double rainbow filled the skies.

Last year, Kim took South Korean president Moon Jae-in to the top of the mountain as part of a historic summit. It was unclear what the operation might involve though most analysts agree that it was staged to precede a major announcement or event and symbolic of defiance. What exactly this is going to be, is anybody's guess, but it will most definitely be connected to the current state of affairs with the country's nuclear and missile program and the economy.

In fact, KCNA reported that immediately after Mount Paektu, the North Korean leader visited the nearby city of Samjiyon, currently one of the country’s most high-profile construction projects.

EUROPE EXPLAINED www.corporatedispatch.eu

B RUS S E L S

VI E W

P OI NT

HOW WILL EUROPE REMEMBER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER? Denise Grech

Politicians being moved to tears is a rare sight in uptight Brusselsbut European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker could not help getting emotional at his last summit earlier this month.Speaking to journalists at his final press conference, the 64year-old Luxembourg politician was almost reduced to tears as he thanked the press and European Council President Donald Tusk.

As he came to the end of his speech, he struggled to deliver his last line. “I will always be proud, until the end of my life, to have served Europe,” Juncker said .But what will history make of Jean-Claude Juncker? How is he viewed across the Continent? That very much depends on who you’re asking. Hungary’s Victor Orban, unsurprisingly, is not Juncker’s biggest fan.

He even went on to say that the United Kingdom would not have voted to leave the EU had Juncker not been Commission President at the time of the vote.

HOW WILL EUROPE REMEMBER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER? Towards the end of his tenure, Europe saw a more nuanced and honest Juncker- partly because the Brexit vote meant that we might be obsessed with Europe and its leaders now more than ever. Remainers quite liked his eccentricities and even UK Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage told Euronews that he quite liked the guy, even though he disagreed with his viewpoint.

"There is no one more committed to building the United States of Europe and getting rid of nation state democracies and putting the power here than him, and I think Brexit in a way diverted him from that task," Farage said.

Arguably, his personality has developed an almost iconic status even outside the Brussels bubble and not a week goes by without him being mentioned in German media.

Juncker was also associated with the old-style, European

federalist way of thinking: exactly the kind of person that the likes of Nigel Farage would use as a poster child for their campaign.

He’s presided over Brexit, but other than that, critics have said it’s hard to point out achievements or hallmarks of his presidency.

HOW WILL EUROPE REMEMBER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER?

"I think he's an important playmaker in the European Union, and I think we will need his help in future," He will still be at the helm of the European Commission for a while since his successor Urusla von Der Leyen ran into some trouble to assemble her new team.

But some believe this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Juncker."I think he's an important playmaker in the European Union, and I think we will need his help in future," Italian EPP MEP Antonio Tajani said.

YOUR DAILY NEWSFEED www.corporatedispatch.com

www.ciconsulta.com

The Week PUBLISHED BY

DESIGNED BY