Category: ESTA News

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on the 13th that “there will be a well-coordinated response at the trilateral level” in relation to North Korea’s response to the seventh nuclear test.

At a briefing held on the flight from Cambodia to Indonesia, aide Sullivan said, “The three heads of state have coordinated a joint response in case North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test.”

When asked about specific countermeasures at the three-way level in the event of North Korea’s nuclear test, he said, “The heads of the three countries have instructed working-level officials to work on specific countermeasures,” but he said, “I will not comment on the measures in advance.”

“If North Korea conducts its 7th nuclear test, countermeasures including security, economy, and diplomacy are being discussed intensively among the three countries, but it is important to leave space for working-level officials to coordinate various responses,” he said.

“We have made it clear that North Korea’s nuclear test is a blatant violation of many UN Security Council resolutions and a threat to peace and security,” he said.

Regarding the joint statement at the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit, Sullivan said, “The joint statement released after the summit is unprecedented in terms of depth and scope of issues. Issues of peace and stability in the strait and the need to deepen economic and technological cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region were also discussed, he said.

“President Biden had an opportunity to discuss tomorrow’s meeting with the leaders of both countries and with Chinese President Xi Jinping, respectively,” said Sullivan, referring to the summit between the US and Japan, which took place before the summit. “The president explained to the leaders of both countries what he was planning to do in Bali and made sure they were working well with their closest allies,” he said.

President Biden is scheduled to hold his first face-to-face summit with the President of the Republic of Korea on the 14th in Bali, where the G20 summit will be held.

Regarding the agenda and content of the U.S.-China summit, Sullivan said, “President Biden said that while the United States is prepared to compete fiercely with China, it does not seek conflict and will manage competition responsibly, and that all countries, including the United States and China, will will make it clear that we must act according to established rules, including freedom of navigation, and refrain from using threats or coercion.”

“President Biden will make it clear that he is genuinely willing to cooperate in areas where the interests of the United States and China are aligned, including climate change and public health,” he said.

“President Biden and President Xi will continue to engage in frank and direct dialogue to broaden their understanding and come up with ways to responsibly manage competition between the two countries,” he said.

When asked whether the Biden administration was ‘resetting’ the US-China relationship, he replied, “The Biden administration does not use that phrase.” He reiterated his public diplomacy principle of ‘cooperation in the field of responsible competition management and alignment of interests’.

Sullivan said the US-China summit could be more than two hours long.

With the theft of vehicle ‘catalytic converters’ on the rise across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, federal investigative authorities have been accused of stealing and illegally selling catalytic converters worth hundreds of millions of dollars in nine states, including New York. A large-scale criminal organization was discovered, and 21 people were arrested and prosecuted.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents are working on major catalytic converters in nine states: New York, New Jersey, Virginia, California, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Minnesota, Nevada, and North Carolina. On the 2nd, 21 suspects were arrested in a raid on theft organization. Asians were among the suspects.

Among the suspects, brothers Tu Bang, 31, and Andrew Bang, 27, of presumed Vietnamese descent living in Sacramento, run an unauthorized auto parts business at home, and have purchased a catalytic converter from thieves at DG Auto, New Jersey.)’ and earned $38 million worth of unfair profits.

DG Otto made $545 million by selling the metal powder extracted from the catalytic converter to a metal refinery.

Since the implementation of US sanctions, mainly under the mandate of Donald Trump, Huawei’s turnover has decreased significantly. After years of uninterrupted growth, Huawei’s revenue collapsed by nearly 30% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

This trajectory is explained by geopolitical factors, starting with the consequences of measures to restrict Huawei’s 5G mobile network throughout the United States. These decisions, which have persisted despite the changes of administration, are part of the consensus shared within the American establishment.

Huawei constitutes a risk for the national security of the country. The company is on the list of 20 Chinese companies believed to be controlled by the People’s Liberation Army1. The US government therefore banned Huawei from buying a range of imported components, including chips from Qualcomm Inc., and urged its allies to do the same, claiming that the Chinese company’s equipment and its 5G network could be used for espionage.

New York State Food Stamp (SNAP) beneficiaries will be able to receive the maximum amount this month.

According to New York State, $234 million in federal aid will make it possible for all SNAP beneficiaries to receive the maximum amount in October.

Beneficiaries who are already receiving the maximum ($939 for a family of four) will receive an additional minimum of $95.

New York State SNAP recipients will be able to see the increased SNAP amount starting on the 21st, and New York City from the 24-28th. It is deposited directly into the recipient’s existing electronic account and can be used as an electronic food stamp EBT card.

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has been in place since April 2020, supplying additional assistance and emergency help to SNAP beneficiaries who are receiving less than the maximum monthly payment.

According to OTDA, an additional $2.5 billion was provided last year alone. As of July, this year, more than 1.6 million households, with more than 2.8 million, received SNAP benefits.

Meanwhile, citizens or permanent residents can apply for SNAP if the income is 130% of the federal poverty line, the monthly income per individual is $1,610, and the monthly income is $3,313 for a family of four.

Texas sued Google for illegally collecting biometric data without user consent.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that he had filed a lawsuit against Google for “unauthorized collection of biometric data, including voices and faces, of millions of Texas residents.”

Texas uses Google Photos to search for photos of a specific person, Google’s Nest to alert you with facial recognition when a visitor arrives at your home, and Google’s voice-based “assistant” Google Assistant. Assistant) and others all claimed to have collected biometric data without permission.

For example, the Google Photos app analyzes the facial features of people uploaded to the website and groups them.

“These products infringe upon the rights of both users and non-users by having their faces and voices scanned or processed without the understanding or consent of both users and non-users,” said Secretary of State Texton. not,” he said.

Texas introduced a biometric privacy law in 2009, requiring the state to file lawsuits against businesses on behalf of consumers.

If found to be in violation of the law, they could face fines of up to $25,000 each.

Google did not immediately comment on this, the Wall Street Journal reported.

On the US-Mexico border, the Biden administration has resumed construction of the ‘border wall’ that was being built by the US Donald Trump administration, the British weekly The Economist reported on the 4th.

The Economist published an article on the Internet on the same day titled “The Biden Administration is Quietly Closing Part of Donald Trump’s Wall,” adding, “The southern border [with Mexico] poses a political problem for Democrats.” It’s becoming because it’s actually a problem.”

According to The Economist, in the summer and fall 2020 presidential campaigns, Biden promised not to “build an extra foot of the wall (which Trump began to build)” when he became president, but some sections after taking office last year. wall construction work continues.

This is because the number of people trying to enter the United States through the US-Mexico border is at a record high, and Biden’s lack of highlighting his decision to reopen the wall is because he feared losing supporters’ votes for making it public.

In tight-knit areas sensitive to the influx of illegal and smugglers across the southern border, Democrat politicians have been actively promoting Biden’s measures to resume construction of the wall to voters.

Arizona Democrat Rep. Mark Kelly, who is running for re-election, is telling voters that he has credit for “encouraging the Biden administration to fill gaps on the border.”

Congressman Kelly has co-initiated a bill in the Senate that is pushing Democrats and Republicans on a bipartisan basis to increase the number of border patrol officers and raise their salaries.

In response to the fact that Kelly is promoting the reopening of the wall, but Biden is not highlighting it, the economist said, “Kelly’s defensive stance is working.” He said he was ahead of the Masters by about 6%.

In the case of Kelly, he is ahead of his competitors by a significant gap, but the economist points out that many of the Democratic candidates have a ‘weak attitude on border issues’ and are a factor in the reduction of votes.

A recent poll by NBC News found that registered voters were 36 percent more likely to perceive Republicans to take a stronger stance on border security than Democrats, a disparity across all issues, including the economy. is the biggest issue

The Economist pointed out that illegal immigration and border issues are drawing attention in the midterm elections in November this year because “the number of people coming in (via the Mexican border) is so high that the White House has not come up with a convincing federal response.”

The magazine analyzed, “(This year) the midterm election in November is not the first election where illegal immigration or border issues will be dealt with heavily. However, in 2022, this issue will not be limited to just a channel to convey partisan sentiment.” did.

Texas Democrat Henry Keyjar, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005 and is running for a second term in this election, said the Biden administration’s response to the border issue was lukewarm, saying, “We’ll just wait, saying things will get better.” did.

In particular, the economist points out that illegal immigration is an important election issue in several states that border Mexico, such as Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The exception is California, where Democrats dominate.

The situation at the U.S.-Mexico border will worsen, the Economist said. “The relatively strong U.S. economy is bound to attract people living with poverty, violence and inflation, and the recent hurricane exacerbates the food crisis in the Caribbean. This will further encourage migration.”

From October last year to the end of August this year, border checkpoint staff encountered about 2.2 million entry attempts through the southern border, about 25 percent more than a year ago and more than double the number in fiscal 2019.

Since Biden took office in January 2021, an estimated 1.5 million people have been released from custody and entered the United States, including asylum seekers, those unable to be repatriated to their home countries, and minors who cannot be kept in custody for long. The American Immigration Council, a non-profit think tank, explains.

It has been reported that the former US President, Donald Trump is suing CNN for defamation in a long-running conflict.

According to Reuters and other foreign media on the 3rd, President Trump’s lawyers filed a complaint against CNN in the Fort Rutherdale Court in Florida on the same day.

They pointed out that CNN has discredited Trump by comparing him to Hitler, as well as calling him a ‘racist’, a ‘Russian servant’ and an ‘instigator of a riot.’

CNN’s remarks were intended to adversely affect former President Trump’s 2024 presidential run, the lawyers argued.

Former President Donald Trump also filed a claim with CNN for damages of $475 million.

Even before his inauguration, Trump has been at odds with traditional media, including CNN.

Above all, the criticism of the media has reached its peak over the words and actions of former President Trump, who incited far-right supporters through intrusion into Congress after disobeying the 2020 presidential election.

In this regard, Bloomberg reported that the metaphor of Hitler has been made extensively in the process of Trump’s incitement to disapproval of the election and in fact instigating a mob, and that Trump’s criticism of immigrants has been criticized for being racist.

Former President Trump has not hesitated to sue his political rivals.

He also sued former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a 2016 presidential contender, but a court recently dismissed the case.

Los Angeles County announced on the 21st additional measures to ease quarantine as the COVID-19 pandemic stabilizes.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health announced today that residents will be able to autonomously decide whether or not to wear an indoor mask in Los Angeles County starting on Friday, the 23rd. Previously, the LA County Department of Health had “strongly recommended” wearing a mask indoors, although not mandatory.

The LA County Department of Health’s action follows a similar guideline issued by the California state government, and across California, starting on the 23rd, residents will be able to autonomously decide whether to wear indoor masks.

However, the Los Angeles County Department of Health said that it is still mandatory to wear a mask indoors in medical facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.

As the Los Angeles County Health Authority has taken measures to liberalize indoor mask wearing as the COVID-19 pandemic has stabilized, the mandatory mask requirement has been lifted at major public transportation and related facilities, including airports.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health announced it will lift the mandatory wearing of masks at airports and terminals, including inside public transportation such as buses, trains, and subways, starting on the 23rd. In the meantime, the mandatory mask on public transportation has already been lifted in California, but LA County is the only one in Los Angeles that has maintained the mandatory measure and lifted it this time.

LA County has also begun enforcement on the 23rd by allowing residents to autonomously decide whether or not to wear a mask indoors. The LA County Department of Health’s move follows a similar directive issued by the state of California.

However, the Los Angeles County Department of Health said that it is still mandatory to wear a mask indoors in medical facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.

Amazon.com has faced an antitrust lawsuit from the California state government for forcing sellers to set the lowest price, Bloomberg reported on the 14th.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an antitrust lawsuit on Tuesday, saying Amazon.com had prevented sellers from offering lower prices than the online retailer on other sites and imposed severe penalties for not doing so.

Bonta said the deal cut Amazon.com from competing with other online retailers, while charging inflated fees for sellers and forcing consumers to pay higher prices.

If sellers cut prices from competitors such as Walmart, Target or eBay, there is a risk that they will be invisible on Amazon.com or even fail to sell on the site, Bonta said.

The lawsuit comes three years after it was reported that Amazon.com’s pricing policy was forcing rival sites like Walmart to raise prices, Bloomberg added.

This isn’t the first time Amazon.com has been sued for such a pricing policy. Last year, the Washington DC Department of Justice faced a similar lawsuit.

Amazon.com won in the first trial, but the Washington, DC Department of Justice filed an appeal, claiming that the court misapplied the antitrust law.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 10th that rice production this year is expected to decline by more than 30% compared to the previous year as drought continues in California and other western regions.

According to USDA data, it was estimated that 285,000 acres (1,153 square kilometers) of cropland in California were planted for rice this year.

This is a 30% decrease from last year and the lowest figure since the 1950s.

Daniel Summer, a professor of agronomy at the University of California, said: “This year’s rice production in California is the steepest decline of any other crop.”

California’s rice production accounts for one-fifth of all U.S. rice production.

However, due to a decrease in rice production, exports are expected to fall by 16% and imports are expected to reach an all-time high.

A decrease in the income of farmers became inevitable. California farmers grossed $1 billion in rice production last year.

A series of businesses, including tractors, selling seeds and shipping or exporting crops, have been hit, as well as farmers, the WSJ reported.

This year’s decline in rice production is due to the continued drought and reduced water supply for cultivation.

Although California has suffered a series of droughts for the past 20 years, it has still provided water for rice production until last year.

Because rice is the main crop, even if the amount of rain is small, it has priority over other crops in distributing the water stored by the state government.

But last winter’s record drought also reduced the water supply for rice. The drought continues this year.

Rice fields in Colusa County, north of Sacramento, have only received about 18% of the water they could get this year.

The WSJ said the farmers are not too dependent on other crops because they want to produce rice again at any time.

But experts say climate change is predicting that the drought will continue, or even get worse.