No clarity on US-China trade as North Korea summit looms

Deal may be in limbo until after Trump-Kim meeting.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross went to Beijing over the weekend to talk trade, and the result was left to interpretation. Most headlines suggested that a cold warning from China on tariffs, and the lack of any joint statement, meant a trade war is imminent

By the White House’s account, released on Monday, nothing has been decided, but a deal on reducing the bilateral trade deficit is still in the works.

“The meetings focused on reducing the United States’ trade deficit by facilitating the supply of agricultural and energy products to meet China’s growing consumption needs, which will help support growth and employment in the United States,” the bland statement posted to the White House website read.

“The delegations will now report back to receive guidance on the path forward.”

Apparently, the US president hasn’t had time for a briefing on the fate of the world’s most important bilateral trade relationship yet.

That last statement can be read in the context of an announcement last week that tariffs on US$50 billion in Chinese goods will be proposed on June 15. The duties will be implemented “shortly thereafter,” the statement said.

The timing of the tariff proposals puts it immediately following Trump’s June 12 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Analysts – along with the Trump administration – have linked the US-China trade relationship with Beijing’s cooperation in applying pressure on the Kim regime and achieving denuclearization. Trump has himself suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping had influenced a statement from North Korea following Kim’s second visit to China.

http:// www.atimes.com/article/after-round-3-of-trade-talks-no-one-has-any-idea-where-trump-stands/

EU takes a stand against China’s ‘technology violations’

The 28-nation bloc follows the US in taking action against the world’s second-largest economy at the WTO.

Since the dawn of time, there has always been a battle raging about technology. Sometimes silent. Sometimes vocal. Today, it has become deafening.

Last week, the European Union joined the chorus line of the disgruntled when it launched legal proceedings against China at the World Trade Organization about “intellectual property” violations.

This was the second time Beijing has come under fire over the issue after the United States threatened to roll out tariffs on US$50 billion worth of Chinese imports, mainly from the technology sector.

President Donald Trump’s administration has called for a halt to state subsidies for Beijing-backed high-tech industries and the “forced transfer of technology” as part of the deal of doing business in China under the joint venture program.

“Technological innovation … keeps our companies competitive in the global market and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across Europe,” Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Commissioner for Trade, said. “If the main players don’t stick to the rulebook, the whole system might collapse.”

In response, Beijing admitted it “regrets” the complaints to the WTO and stressed it attached “great importance” to the protection of intellectual property rights.

“The Chinese government has always adopted strong measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and foreign intellectual property rights holders,” the Ministry of Commerce revealed in a statement, released on Sunday night.

Still, in the space of a week, Beijing is now embroiled in two disputes revolving around technology with the EU and the US at the WTO.

http:// www.atimes.com/article/eu-takes-a-stand-against-chinas-technology-violations/

Apple's new operating systems to block web tracking by Facebook, other sites

SAN JOSE (AFP) - Apple on Monday (June 4) unveiled new operating systems for its iPhones and computers with features designed to thwart secret trackers, such as those used by Facebook, to monitor people's online activities.

The announcement by Apple comes amid a growing focus on protecting privacy following a Facebook data scandal and new rules being enforced by the European Union for online services.

Apple, kicking off its annual developers conference, appeared to be setting itself apart from Facebook, which has drawn the ire of privacy activists, and even showed how its software could prevent the social network from tracking users on Apple devices.

The upcoming versions of software powering iPhone and Mac computers will block the use of so-called "cookies" from Facebook "like" buttons that can follow people from one website to another, Apple said.

"Turns out 'like' buttons and 'comment' fields can be used to track you, so this year we are shutting that down," Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi told a standing-room crowd of some 6,000 developers at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in the heart of Silicon Valley.

New MacOS Mojave and iOS 12 software to be released later this year will also make it harder to use trackers to create "unique fingerprints" by gleaning data about devices being used, according to Federighi.

"It will become dramatically more difficult for data companies to identify your device and track you," Federighi said.

Enhanced privacy was part of a slew of improvements touted by Apple to developers, whose creations are key to the popularity of iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.

The conference kickoff came the same day the New York Times reported Facebook gave special access to device makers, including Apple, to personal data on social network users and their friends.

Facebook said it "disagreed" with the report and that the agreements with device makers were far different from those with third-party developers including one which shared data with the political firm Cambridge Analytica.

Apple's software upgrades also include features that help users understand how much time they are spending on their devices, amid concerns of growing smartphone "addiction."

Features being added to "limit distraction" from iPhones included being able to turn-off lock screen notifications at bedtimes to avoid "getting spun up" by prompts when perhaps one just wants to check the time.

"I think we are all going to be using Do-Not-Disturb a whole lot more," Federighi said.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/apples-new-operating-systems-to-block-web-tracking-by-facebook-other-sites

US appeals against ruling that President Donald Trump could not block Twitter followers

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The US Justice Department said on Monday (June 4) it would appeal against a federal judge's ruling that President Donald Trump may not legally block Twitter users from his account on the social media platform based on their political views, according to a court filing.

Jameel Jaffer, a lawyer for the seven plaintiffs who sued, said the @realDonaldTrump account had unblocked the seven plaintiffs on Monday.

"We're pleased that the White House unblocked our clients from the President's Twitter account but disappointed that the government intends to appeal the district court's thoughtful and well-supported ruling," Jaffer said in an e-mail.

The White House did not comment immediately. A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed the plaintiffs had been unblocked.

Trump has made his Twitter account - with more than 52 million followers - an integral and controversial part of his presidency, using it to promote his agenda, announce policy and attack critics. He has blocked many critics from his account, which prevents them from directly responding to his tweets.

US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan ruled on May 23 that comments on the president's account, and those of other government officials, were public forums and that blocking Twitter users for their views violated their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Buchwald's ruling was in response to a First Amendment lawsuit filed against Trump in July 2017 by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and several Twitter users.

The plaintiffs include Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland, and Brandon Neely, a Texas police officer.

Cohen, who was blocked from Trump's account a year ago, wrote on Twitter late Monday: "We whined. We complained. We sued. We won our First Amendment lawsuit in federal court. And now @realDonaldTrump has unblocked me. Wow!"

Neely tweeted at Trump after he was unblocked late Monday:"@realDonaldTrump 368 days and a win in court and now I AM BACK!!!"

Novelists Stephen King and Anne Rice, comedian Rosie O'Donnell, model Chrissy Teigen, actress Marina Sirtis and the military veterans political action committee VoteVets.org are among others who have said on Twitter that Trump blocked them.

Buchwald rejected the argument by Justice Department lawyers that Trump's own First Amendment rights allowed him to block people with whom he did not wish to interact.

Trump could "mute" users, meaning he would not see their tweets while they could still respond to his, she said, without violating their free speech rights.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-appeals-against-ruling-that-president-donald-trump-could-not-block-twitter

Manafort attempted to tamper with potential witnesses: US special counsel

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, who has been indicted by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, attempted to tamper with potential witnesses, Mueller said in a court filing on Monday (June 4).

Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, asked the judge overseeing the case in US District Court for the District of Columbia to revoke or revise an order releasing Manafort ahead of his trial.

Manafort was released to home confinement after his arraignment in October 2017.

Mueller has indicted Manafort in federal courts in Virginia and Washington, DC, with an array of allegations from money-laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent, to bank and tax fraud. Manafort has pleaded not guilty.

FBI Special Agent Brock Domin, in a declaration filed with Mueller's motion, said Manafort had attempted to call, text and send encrypted messages in February to two people from "The Hapsburg Group," a firm he worked with to promote the interests of Ukraine.

The FBI has documents and statements from the two people, as well as telephone records and documents recovered through a search of Manafort's iCloud account showing that Trump's former campaign manager attempted communication while he was out on bail, according to Domin.

The communications were "in an effort to influence their testimony and to otherwise conceal evidence," Domin wrote. "The investigation into this matter is ongoing."

Manafort is the most senior member of Trump's campaign to be indicted, though the charges do not relate to campaign activities.

Trump has denied collusion with Russia and called Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt."

https:// www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/manafort-attempted-to-tamper-with-potential-witnesses-us-special-counsel

Washington state sues Facebook, Google over election ad disclosure

SAN FRANCISCO (REUTERS) - The state of Washington said on Monday (June 4) it had sued Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google for allegedly violating state campaign finance law by failing to maintain information about who buys election ads.

The state's attorney general, Bob Ferguson, who posted copies of the lawsuits on his website, said he was seeking penalties against the companies and an injunction for failing to disclose ad spending in state elections since 2013.

Facebook said it looked forward to resolving the lawsuit quickly after it recently introduced tools for people to see who is buying political ads on its social network.

A representative for Google could not immediately be reached for comment. Like Facebook, Google has pledged to create an online archive of ads that run on its service.

Facebook and Google have faced criticism from lawmakers, users and advocates for campaign finance regulation for their role in selling political ads after Russians allegedly used fake names to buy ads to sway American voters around the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Unlike most US jurisdictions, both Washington state and the city of Seattle have laws dating to the 1970s that require companies that sell advertising, such as radio stations, to disclose who buys political ads. Other states put the burden of disclosure on the buyers themselves.

A Seattle official said in February that he thought Facebook was in violation of the city's law, though Seattle has not sued the company.

Ferguson said his office received a citizen complaint in April alleging that Facebook and Google had not provided legally required information on political ads.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/washington-state-sues-facebook-google-over-election-ad-disclosure

Trump-Kim summit: Shangri-La Hotel's vicinity declared 'special event area'

SINGAPORE - The Government has declared the area surrounding the Shangri-La Hotel a "special event area" for the period of June 10 to 14, for the upcoming summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

While some observers say this has raised the likelihood of the hotel being the venue of the historic summit, others think the Shangri-La could be where one of the two men will be staying, or a “decoy” altogether.

The choice of summit venue has been shrouded in secrecy so far, leading to all kinds of speculation.

The gazetted area is bordered by Dunearn, Paterson, Grange and Cluny roads. Observers point out that it covers other high-end hotels such as the St. Regis Singapore and Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.

The Capella Hotel on Sentosa and The Fullerton Hotel near Fullerton Road have also been mentioned as either where Mr Trump and Mr Kim will stay, or meet.

An order made on Sunday (June 3) in the Government Gazette under the Public Order Act said the “special event area” will take effect from June 10 and run to June 14.

The order, signed by Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Pang Kin Keong, said the summit may consist of meetings between representatives of the two countries, and includes “any lead-in activities and social events connected with the summit”.

It added that private land in the gazetted area will not be part of the special event area.

https:// www.straitstimes.com/singapore/trump-kim-summit-shangri-la-hotels-vicinity-declared-special-event-area

>>1636641

I am wondering if the choice was his, thinking Singapore decided based on security measures and what capacity they have to handle the event.

>>1636684

I followed this yesterday and somewhat today, I check corresponding news sites in the area and found nothing that fit the narrative that was being pushed for this. Most fitting for this situation is this Q drop.

>>1636750

With you on that Anon.

Anti-nuclear Nobel prize recipient ICAN offers to pay for Trump-Kim summit

SINGAPORE (REUTERS) - Nobel Prize recipient anti-nuclear campaign group ICAN has offered to pay for the cost of the historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and United States President Donald Trump, including the hotel bill for the impoverished state's leader.

The offer comes after a media report that the cash-strapped North may have trouble bearing the cost of its leader's stay in Singapore and the large delegation of security and support staff for the meeting scheduled for June 12.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said it was willing to use its prize money to pay for any accommodation or meeting space needed to make the summit a success.

"The Nobel Peace Prize included a cash prize and we are offering funds from the prize to cover the costs for the summit, in order to support peace in the Korean Peninsula and a nuclear-weapon-free world," ICAN official Akira Kawasaki said.

"This is a historic meeting, and once in a generation opportunity" to help establish a world free of the threat of nuclear weapons, Kawasaki told Reuters by telephone from Tokyo.

Kawasaki heads the Tokyo-based Peace Boat, one of ICAN's 10 international steering groups.

The intention to spend the prize money is in line with the work the group has done to lobby for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by 122 nations but not any of the nuclear weapons states or North Korea.

"It's not about paying for luxury rooms for the leader of the DPRK or anyone, that's not our intention," Kawasaki said. DPRK is short for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea.

Kim Chang Son, the de facto chief of staff for the North Korean government, was seen at The Fullerton five-star hotel in Singapore last week during a visit to meet US officials to work out the logistics for the summit.

The Fullerton was North Korea's lodging of choice, the Washington Post has reported. The presidential suite may set the government back by at least S$8,000 a night, it said.

Kim's trip to Singapore, which would be the farthest he will have travelled as leader, poses logistical challenges such as the likely use of Soviet-era aircraft to carry him and his limousine, as well as dozens of security and other staff.

Singapore, a small but wealthy South-east Asian city-state, has said it would bear the cost of the summit to do its part to ensure a successful meeting.

The Nobel Prize award differs from year to year, and in 2017, the prestigious prize was set at nine million Swedish crown (S$1.3 million).

https:// www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/anti-nuclear-nobel-prize-winner-ican-offers-to-pay-for-trump-kim-summit

Huckabee Sanders to Reporter: You ‘Choose to Write About Things the American People Don’t Care About’

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to a question about President Donald Trump's tweets Monday, suggesting members of the media should focus on concerns more important than the president's controversial tweets.

Playboy White House correspondent Brian Karem asked Sanders whether White House staff wishes Trump tweeted less, suggesting staff might be annoyed because they had to respond to the president's tweets rather than being able to focus on excellent unemployment numbers.

"In terms of Twitter, the president uses Twitter to communicate directly to the American people," Sanders said.

"You have the ability to choose what you want to write about, and you guys choose to write about things the American people don't care about, day in and day out," she said. "That's a decision you make, and frankly I think it's the wrong one."

Karem also asked during the exchange if the president would come out to the briefing room to take questions from the media.

Sanders said he would let the press know if he planned to come to the briefing room, but she also indicated the president communicates with the media in other forums.

"You guys would be the first to know if the president comes out here, but thankfully he does address the press in a number of ways and in a number of venues. We'll see if it happens here, and we'll certainly let you know," she said.

As Sanders moved on to another reporter, Karem attempted to get in another question, indicating he was still concerned about the tweets and wished to ask the president directly about them.

"Can we at least get an opportunity to ask him a question about tweets?" Karem said.

http:// freebeacon.com/politics/sarah-sanders-reporter-choose-write-american-people-care/

>>1636926

Surprised me too, I would have never thought that in a million years. kek

>>1636941

Absolutely, I think they are looking for their next clown playground.