Puppet MastersS


Bullseye

Macron wants WTO 'reform' before US metal tariffs hit


EURACTIV
Thu, 31 May 2018 01:05 UTC
Macron
© EPA-EFE/Philippe Wojazer/KJN
French President Emmanuel Macron called Wednesday (30 May) for talks on overhauling the World Trade Organisation, as European companies braced for the prospect of punishing US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which could come as early as Thursday (31 May).

"Now is the time to deal with this matter," Macron told officials at the annual forum of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. "Threats of a trade war won't fix anything," Macron added. "A trade war is always one where everyone loses: Our industries, our farmers, our consumers."

His comments come after weeks of intense EU lobbying to remain exempted from the metal tariffs announced by President Donald Trump in early March. But officials have indicated they see little chance that Trump will continue exempting EU companies from the duties of 25% on imported steel and 10% on aluminium.

The exemptions run out on Friday but The Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the matter saying a last minute deal appeared unlikely, and the tariff announcement could come as early as Thursday (31 May).

Comment: Trump has sufficiently shaken up the status quo, prompting the complacent into action. Whatever Trump does or doesn't do regarding the tariff threat, the EU is on target to respond with its own safeguard measures.

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Gift 2

North Korea's opening up continues: Lavrov meets Kim in Pyongyang


RT
Thu, 31 May 2018 08:25 UTC
LavrovKim
© Russian Foreign MinistryRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov • North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already exchanged several firm handshakes with Kim Jong-un during his visit to Pyongyang on Thursday. Photos show the two engaged in pleasant diplomatic protocol.

In one of the photos, Lavrov has a relaxed, good-natured expression, while Kim apparently took a more formal approach to the photo-op. The Russian diplomat has travelled to the North Korean capital to hold talks with senior officials aimed at supporting intra-Korean negotiations and de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula.



Comment: Russia is the parent in the room.

More from RT:
"In regards to sanctions, it is absolutely obvious that starting the whole conversation about the solution of the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula, we proceed from the fact that it cannot be complete until the sanctions are abolished," Lavrov said following the talks.
Stressing that it is "impossible" to ensure denuclearization in one move, the Russian foreign minister urged North Korean and US diplomats to use the "art of diplomacy" to achieve the desired outcome step-by-step.

Lavrov said that Russia welcomes the results of recent intra-Korean negotiations and the thawing of relations between North Korea and the US, as the countries prepare to hold a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his counterpart, Kim Jong-un.
"We welcome those contacts which have been developing between North and South Korea, North Korea and the United States," Lavrov said. "We welcome the summits between Pyongyang and Seoul which have already taken place and the planned meetings at the highest level between the leadership of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the US."
Russia is prepared to support any "concrete agreements" that might result from negotiations in the UN, provided they "meet the interests of all parties involved, including the DPRK," Lavrov stated.

In the meantime, Moscow believes it should distance itself from the negotiation process and let North Korea conduct its own diplomacy with the United States.
"I don't think we should explore North Korea's talking points that it plans to bring to the negotiations with the US. Expert consultations are underway in preparation for the talks, and we don't feel like we are in a position to interfere with this process," the foreign minister said.


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No Entry

Turkey threatens to deny US access to Incirlik Air Base, ongoing F-35 deal tensions


Alwaght
Thu, 31 May 2018 17:34 UTC
Incirlik
© unknown
Turkey threatened to deny the US access Incirlik Air Base in the country's south amid reports that the United States blocks the sale of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday Incirlik Air Base, which is primarily used by American and Turkish forces, would be shut down if ties with the US reached a breaking point.

A US Senate committee last week passed its version of a $716 billion defense policy bill, including a measure to prevent Turkey from buying the Lockheed jets.
"As regards the F-35 jets, I have no concerns, this contract is legally binding, it cannot be easily terminated. But if these jets are not supplied to Turkey, we will satisfy our needs somewhere else," Cavusoglu said, as quoted by the NTV broadcaster.
NATO member Turkey has caused unease in Washington with its decision to buy S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia and drawn criticism over its detention of a US Christian pastor, Andrew Brunson, on terrorism charges.
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Post-It Note

Trump expects letter from Kim Jong-un, may resume summit on June 12


RT
Thu, 31 May 2018 13:50 UTC
TrumpKim
© BBC.comPresident Donald Trump • Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un
President Donald Trump has said that a North Korean delegation currently in New York will give him a letter from leader Kim Jong-un. He added that he hopes to meet Kim on June 12, but that more talks must take place first.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said that the North Korean delegates would be coming to Washington on Friday, bringing with them a personal letter from Kim to Trump. The president tweeted afterwards that meetings with the delegates had been going well so far.

A North Korean delegation is currently in the US as both countries scramble to restart plans for a historic summit between Trump and Kim. The summit had originally been planned for June 12 in Singapore, but was abruptly cancelled by Trump last week, in response to "tremendous anger and open hostility" from the Kim regime.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with North Korea's Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol to discuss reviving the summit. The pair met for dinner in New York, ahead of a full day of meetings on Thursday.

Comment: See also:

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Snakes in Suits

Pompeo speaks with Russian counterpart for first time since becoming Secretary of State


RFE/RL
Wed, 30 May 2018 20:03 UTC
PompeoLavrov
© NPR/African Ripples MagazineUS Sec. of State Pompeo • Russian FM Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have spoken by telephone for the first time since Pompeo was sworn into office on April 26.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the two discussed "issues and concerns" related to U.S.-Russian relations. Nauert also said the two discussed the wars in Ukraine and Syria.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said the talks on Ukraine and Syria focused on efforts to settle the conflicts and "overcome the conflict in Ukraine on the basis of the Minsk Agreements" of 2015.

Nauert said Pompeo reiterated to Lavrov that Washington wants improved relations with Russia. But she said Pompeo told Lavrov that achieving better relations "will require Russia to demonstrate that it is prepared to take concrete actions to address our concerns," including Russian interference in "U.S. domestic matters."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said Pompeo and Lavrov:
"agreed that it is necessary to work on accomplishing the objectives set in a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. It said the goal should be to settle "the existing disagreements through a professional dialogue in order to normalize the environment of Russia-U.S. interaction."

Comment: Brash and repulsive, Pompeo is no master of detente. Wise and diplomatic, Lavrov is no push-over.

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Bad Guys

Spanish senator claims to have uncovered Soros' influence network throughout Europe


Sputnik
Thu, 31 May 2018 18:07 UTC
soros
© AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
A Spanish senator who faces corruption charges claims that he uncovered an NGO and lobbyist network in PACE that helps further the interests of George Soros. Non-government groups with unclear functions, human rights, claims of corruption and crisis in Catalonia - Sputnik delves into a possible European scandal.

Pedro Agramunt, a member of the Spanish People's Party, said that there's a whole lobbyist system working within the PACE, which caters to the interests of George Soros.

According to the senator's lawyers, one of the groups that brought up corruption accusations against Agramunt, the European Stability Initiative (ESI), is not just an NGO but also a lobbyist organization which is "listed in the lobbyist register of the European Commission and European Parliament."

Also, ESI head Gerald Knaus allegedly maintains ties with Nicholas Whyte, head of an organization called Independent Diplomacy which was previously contacted by Catalan authorities and asked to help the latter "internationalize the movement for Catalan independence."
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Light Sabers

US trade war with China meant to devalue yuan and discourage countries from using it as global reserve currency

Peter Koenig and Press TV
Global Research
Thu, 31 May 2018 17:42 UTC
trump xi trade war
Background

Far-reaching trade policies and sanctions against China are envisaged. According to Reuters:
The United States said on Tuesday that it will continue pursuing action on trade with China, days after Washington and Beijing announced a tentative solution to their dispute and suggested that tensions had cooled.

By June 15, Washington will release a list of some $50 billion worth of Chinese goods that will be subject to a 25 percent tariff, the White House said in a statement. The United States will also continue to pursue litigation against China at the World Trade Organization.

In addition, by the end of June, the United States will announce investment restrictions and "enhanced export controls" for Chinese individuals and entities "related to the acquisition of industrially significant technology," it said.

In mid-May, China agreed to increase purchases of U.S. Commerce Department told lawmakers it had reached a deal to put Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE Corp back in business.

While the announcements eased worries about the possibility of a trade war between world's two largest economies, U.S. President Donald Trump also said last week that any deal between Washington and Beijing would need "a different structure," fueling uncertainty over the talks.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion of Chinese goods to combat what he has labeled unfair trade practices on the part of Beijing. Meanwhile, China has warned of equal retaliation, including duties on some of its most significant U.S. imports, like aircraft, soybeans and vehicles.
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Gear

Russian and Israeli defense ministers meet in Moscow as Israel continues sending threats to Iran over Syria


South Front
Thu, 31 May 2018 18:53 UTC
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman is meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on May 31 in Moscow to discuss Iranian military presence in Syria, The Times of Israel reported.

Before Lieberman set off to Moscow, he had twitted that "the primary focus of the defense establishment is preventing the entrenchment of Iran and its proxies in Syria."


Comment: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the situation around the Syrian-Jordanian border.
Shoigu noted that the ministers had a number of questions to discuss, including "the issues regarding the border, the south de-escalation zone on which we have an agreement with Jordan and the USA."

At the moment, the control of the border area close to Jordan and Israel is shared between Syrian government forces and different militant groups.


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Arrow Down

US violates trade deal truce, imposes $50 bln in tariffs on China

Frank Sellers
The Duran
Thu, 31 May 2018 16:29 UTC
trump Xi Jinping
The US has broken yet another agreement - this time its agreement not to impose trade tariffs on China.

The decision to employ further tariffs right after abating the escalating situation that was brewing between the US isn't the most tactful and wise decision to make.

It inevitably means a response by China, to be perceived as a violation of America's agreement together with countermeasure tariffs imposed by China on US exports.
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Bad Guys

US declares it will continue provoking China with patrols in South China Sea

Frank Sellers
The Duran
Thu, 31 May 2018 16:00 UTC
South China Sea
In another action which could serve as yet another issue with the North Korea peace talks apparently arranged for the 12th of June in Singapore, the US NAVY is conducting 'Freedom of Navigation' patrols in the South China Sea within the territorial waters around the Parcels, which, over the weekend, led to China to mobilizing jets and ships to ward off the US military's presence. However, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has declared that these patrols will continue, whether China likes it not.
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