Amazon thinks AI will help solve its counterfeits problem

On Thursday, the company unveiled Project Zero, which it says will allow brands to take down counterfeit items on their own without Amazon's help.

Amazon (AMZN) — which has long struggled with counterfeit products on its site — will also automatically monitor for fake items. The project uses a type of AI called machine learning that constantly scans Amazon's stores and removes suspected fakes. Companies give Amazon their logos, trademarks and other important information about their brands, and Amazon scans product listings every day looking for bogus items before they are purchased.

Previously, brands had to report counterfeit items to Amazon. Now, Amazon is offering a "self-service counterfeit removal tool" which lets brands take down these items themselves.

Amazon's new product serialization service also offers a unique code for every item, which brands place on products during the manufacturing process. When products with these special serial numbers are ordered on Amazon, the e-commerce giant scans and verifies the authenticity of the purchase and can stop fake products from being bought.

Brendan Witcher, vice president at research firm Forrester, sees the project as a positive step to protect brands and tackle the issue of counterfeiting.

"This is in no way going to create more burden on the side of brands. This essentially helps them quite a bit," he said. "While there was some work that Amazon was doing up to this point, brands had to keep a close eye on what was going on with the website."

Amazon has been testing the new project with several brands, including Vera Bradley, Thunderworks and ChomChom Roller, and says its systems on average detect 100 times more suspected fakes than its previous process of relying on what brands report to the company.

In its annual report released earlier this month, Amazon included a warning about counterfeit products. It also acknowledged that the fraudulent or unlawful activities of its third-party sellers could harm Amazon's business and reputation.

"We also may be unable to prevent sellers in our stores or through other stores from selling unlawful, counterfeit, pirated, or stolen goods, selling goods in an unlawful or unethical manner, violating the proprietary rights of others, or otherwise violating our policies," Amazon wrote in the report.

Right now, brands can participate in Project Zero only if they are invited. Amazon says it's working to add more brands.

"This gives retailers and brands one less thing to put that much time and attention toward when they're struggling today to create their own relationships with customers," Witcher said.

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What's moving markets today

Two weeks after killing a deal to build a new campus in New York City, Amazon is expressing lots of love for the company's remaining second headquarters site -- Arlington, Virginia. 

"We want to locate in a community where not only our company but our employees are welcome, and we feel that in Arlington," said Amazon's worldwide head of economic development, Holly Sullivan, speaking before a crowd of local real estate types at an event sponsored by the news website Bisnow. 

Sullivan said the company sent a representative around to bars and coffeeshops while they were vetting sites in Crystal City, the dull collection of office buildings just across the river from Washington, DC, chatting up residents to see what they thought of Amazon coming to the area.

In contrast, Amazon had faced fierce opposition from local politicians in Queens as well as some activist groups, although polls showed that the majority of New York residents supported their plan to put 25,000 workers in Long Island City. 

 "We think we could’ve gotten New York done, but you always have to say, what are the costs?" Sullivan said. "We think we made a very prudent decision that gives us an opportunity to hyper-focus on Virginia." 

The path to getting a nearly $3 billion package of tax incentives negotiated in New York by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio had been complicated by a shift in power in New York's state senate. In Virginia, however, the $750 million incentive package sailed through the legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam in early February. 

Yet a handful of protesters interrupted Thursday’s event for several minutes, chanting a demand for public hearings on the Amazon deal. They were met with boos from the sold-out audience, before being shepherded out. 

New York officials, while mourning Amazon's decision to scratch plans for New York, have also said that Amazon's public relations strategy was partly to blame for local opposition, along with "misinformation" about the nature of tax incentives. 

"I think they were not prepared in the way they reacted," said New York City Economic Development Corporation director James Patchett in a speech hosted by Crain's New York Business last week. "They didn’t perform particularly well during their public hearings. They never hired a single New Yorker. They never really connected with people in the city."

Amazon only informed officials that it had chosen Long Island City 24 hours before planning to make a public announcement, Patchett said, which left them scrambling to organize the rollout. 

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Decline in HIV infections stalls as Trump administration aims to end epidemic

Between 2010 and 2013, HIV incidence in the United States significantly decreased, but between 2013 and 2016, incidence remained steady -- with about 38,700 new infections nationwide in 2016, according to the report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday.

The report comes as new efforts are underway to eliminate HIV transmissions nationwide. In President Donald Trump's State of the Union address this month, he announced an initiative aimed at reducing new HIV infections in the United States by 75% in the next five years and by 90% in the next 10 years.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if left untreated.

"In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach," Trump said in the address.

"My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America."

The latest trends in America's HIV epidemic

The new CDC report includes data from the 50 states and the District of Columbia between 2010 and 2016, the year with the most recently available data.

The data suggests that the annual number of HIV infections in 2016, compared with 2010, was higher among adults age 25 to 34 but decreased among people 13 to 24 and those 45 to 54. The annual number of infections in 2016, compared with 2010, was stable among adults 35 to 44 and 55 or older, according to the report.

The data also suggests that the annual number of HIV infections in 2016 decreased from 2010 among women but remained stable among men. In 2016, the rate of HIV infection for men was 4.7 times the rate for women, according to the report.

In 2016, the highest percentages of HIV infections -- 68.2% overall -- were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, the report said. Between 2010 and 2016, among men who have sex with men, HIV infections decreased in white men, remained stable among black men, and increased in Latino men, according to the report.

Regionally, the annual number of HIV infections in 2016 dropped from 2010 levels in the Northeast but remained stable in the Midwest, South and West.

In 2016, rates of HIV infection were 19.3 per 100,000 people in the South; 12.8 per 100,000 in the Northeast; 12.8 per 100,000 in the West; and 8.2 per 100,00 in the Midwest, according to the report.

Overall in 2016, an estimated 1,140,400 people age 13 and older were living with HIV infection in the United States, including 162,500, or 14.2%, whose infection had not been diagnosed, according to the report.

What's needed to end the epidemic

"The new data confirms that progress in reducing HIV infections in the United States has stalled," said Heather Bradley, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Georgia State University's School of Public Health, who was not involved in the report but who has conducted research on HIV surveillance.

To reduce infections, more people living with HIV need to be diagnosed, and those diagnosed need to be in care and treated with viral suppression medications, according to a paper published last week in the journal AIDS and Behavior.

The paper involved using CDC data from 2010 to 2015 to project trends in the HIV epidemic that could occur between 2019 and 2030 under three scenarios: No changes happen; or 95% of those targets for diagnosis, care and viral suppression are met by 2025; or 95% of those targets are met by 2030.

"What we found is that, if we could achieve those targets by 2025 -- so that's just six years from now -- plus avert an additional 20% of infections by targeted interventions for people at risk for HIV -- for example, increasing pre-exposure prophylaxis coverage -- we may be able to achieve up to a 67% decrease in new HIV infections in the next 10 years," said Bradley, who was first author of that paper.

Although that could be achieved, she added that it would require a lot of government resources.

"The administration's goal for 2030 is a 90% reduction in incidence; our paper suggests, at most, a 67% reduction can be achieved with currently available HIV prevention tools scaled up to levels never before seen in the US HIV epidemic," Bradley said.

"We are greatly in need of a national strategy with achievable goals for reducing new infections, but a strategy doesn't work without substantial resources and political commitment behind it," she said. "To achieve meaningful reductions in HIV diagnoses, we've got to see an injection of resources that are commensurate with the goals we have."

Trump's plan to end America's HIV epidemic will fund programs in geographic hot spots of HIV infections, data to identify and track the spread of HIV, and the creation of local efforts in targeted areas to expand HIV prevention and treatment. However, the exact costs of the program have not been confirmed.

"Now is the time for our Nation to take bold action," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in a statement Wednesday.

"We strongly support President Trump's plan to end the HIV epidemic in America," he said. "We must move beyond the status quo to end the HIV epidemic in America."

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US trade secrets case against Huawei set for 2020 trial

The Chinese phone and telecom company was arraigned in Seattle federal court, where a judge set a trial for March 2, 2020. The US Justice Department made the charges public last month.

The case is just one flank of a broader pressure campaign against the company by the US government, which claims Huawei's technology poses a national security threat.

The Trump administration has been trying to persuade its allies to shut out Huawei products from next-generation 5G wireless networks.

The company also faces charges in New York for allegedly working to skirt US sanctions on Iran.

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou has been charged in that case. She was arrested in Vancouver in December at the request of the United States, and now faces a court battle in Canada that could result in her extradition.

Meng's arrest has had international ramifications and forced a diplomatic standoff between China and Canada.

China has angrily called for the Canadian government to return Meng, and multiple Canadians in China were subsequently detained. Canada has said it's just following the letter of its extradition agreement with the United States.

How the cases figure into ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China remains an open question.

President Donald Trump has suggested that he could consider the cases against Huawei as part of ongoing trade talks with China.

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Sidney Poitier Fast Facts

Personal:
Birth date: February 20, 1927

Birth place: Miami, Florida

Birth name: Sidney Poitier

Father: Reginald Poitier, tomato farmer

Mother: Evelyn (Outten) Poitier

Marriages: Joanna Shimkus (January 23, 1976-present); Juanita Marie Hardy (April 29, 1950-July 9, 1965, divorced)

Children: with Joanna Shimkus: Sydney and Anika; with Juanita Marie Hardy: Gina, Sherri, Pamela and Beverly

Other Facts:
Nominated for two Academy Awards. Winner of one competitive and one honorary award.

Nominated for and winner of one Grammy Award.

Nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Grew up on Cat Island in the Bahamas. The family later moved to Nassau. His parents sent him to live with relatives in Miami at age 14. After an encounter with the Ku Klux Klan, he left Miami at age 16 and moved to New York.

Lying about his age, he joined the Army at age 16. He feigned insanity to obtain a discharge after nine months, and later admitted the ruse in his autobiography, "Measure of a Man."

A heavy Bahamian accent and limited reading ability cost him an acting job at Harlem's American Negro Theater. He overcame the accent by imitating radio announcers and improved his reading skills by studying newspapers.

Has dual citizenship in the United States and the Bahamas.

Timeline:
1946 - First audition after losing his accent earns him the role of understudy to Harry Belafonte in "Days of Our Youth."

1950 - Film debut in "No Way Out."

1959 - First African-American to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor - "The Defiant Ones."

August 28, 1963 - One of many Hollywood celebrities in attendance at the March on Washington.

1964 - Wins Academy Award for Best Actor for "Lilies of the Field." He is the first African-American to win for Best Actor and only the second to ever win an Academy Award. Hattie McDaniel was the first; she won Best Supporting Actress for "Gone with the Wind."

1967 - Stars in three of the highest-grossing films of the year, "In the Heat of the Night," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and "To Sir, with Love."

August 14, 1967 - Keynote speaker at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta.

1980 - Publishes his autobiography, "This Life."

1983 - Nineteen-year-old David Hampton pretends to be "the son of Sidney Poitier" and convinces wealthy New Yorkers to provide him with food, clothing, money and a place to stay. Hampton is charged with grand larceny when his lies are discovered. "Six Degrees of Separation," a stage play in 1990 and a movie in 1993, is based on the story.

1992 - Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

1995 - Receives the Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award.

1997-2007 - Bahamian ambassador to Japan.

2000 - Publishes second autobiography, "Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography."

2000 - Wins the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for "The Measure Of A Man."

2002 - Receives an honorary Academy Award "in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being."

2006 - Receives the Marian Anderson Award in recognition of his humanitarian and diplomatic work and the Cunard Britannia Award for Lifetime Contribution to International film from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

2008 - Publishes new book "Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter."

July 30, 2009 - Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

May 7, 2013 - His sci-fi book, "Montaro Caine," is published.

February 14, 2016 - Poitier receives the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship, its highest honor.

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Oscar-winning composer André Previn dead at 89

His management company, IMG Artists, confirmed the news.

Previn's manager, Linda Petrikova told CNN that he died Thursday morning in his Manhattan home after a short illness.

During his seven decade career, Previn earned four Oscars, 10 Grammy Awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was also named honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Previn was born in Berlin in 1929. His family immigrated to the United States, and he was raised in Los Angeles. In 1967, he became the music director for the Houston Symphony Orchestra and in 1968 took on the role of principal conducted for the London Symphony Orchestra.

He worked as the composer on "The Fortune Cookie" in 1966 and composed music for films like "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 1967 as well as 1970's "The Music Lovers."

Previn was married five times. His third wife was actress Mia Farrow, to whom he was married from 1970-1979.

Previn and Farrow had six children together.

Farrow paid tribute to her ex-husband on social media on Thursday, writing, "See you in the Morning beloved Friend. May you rest in glorious symphonies."

CNN's Melanie Schuman and Evan Simko-Bednarski contributed to this report.

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Trump's top economic adviser: 'The Green New Deal will literally destroy the economy'

Speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow slammed the progressive proposal that was recently introduced by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

Kudlow said the deal "will knock out energy, transportation, airlines, jobs, businesses. We'll probably lose 10 to 15% of our GDP. It's remarkable."

The package of legislation is aimed at, among other things, addressing climate change. It would phase out fossil fuel use, and calls for the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and construction.

The deal describes a 10-year "economic mobilization" that would overhaul the nation's infrastructure and build new layers into the existing social safety net. It calls for the creation of millions of new high-wage jobs to help wipe out poverty.

The resolution, co-sponsored by several Democrats running for President in 2020, has been heavily criticized by those on the right. Kudlow likened the deal to socialism and called for the American people to "put socialism on trial and convict it."

The resolution proposes, "providing all people of the United States with — (i) high-quality health care; (ii) affordable, safe, and adequate housing; (iii) economic security; and (iv) access to clean water, clean air, healthy and affordable food, and nature."

The deal proposes "guaranteeing a job with a family-sustaining wage, adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security to all people of the United States."

Kudlow said universal health care and ending private insurance were also "crazy ideas," citing high costs. He said, "guaranteed jobs, free to those who don't want to work, probably cost $45 trillion."

Earlier this week Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser and the President's daughter, was asked about the Green New Deal proposal and what she would say to people who are enticed by the proposal's job guarantee. In response, Ivanka Trump said, "I don't think most Americans in their heart want to be given something," adding, "People want to work for what they get, so I think this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want."

Ocasio-Cortez fired back on Twitter and said, "A living wage isn't a gift, it's a right. Workers are often paid far less than the value they create."

CNN's Lydia DePillis contributed to this report.

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Rick Perry Fast Facts

Personal:
Birth date: March 4, 1950

Birth place: Paint Creek, Texas

Birth name: James Richard Perry

Father: Joseph Ray Perry, a farmer

Mother: Amelia (Holt) Perry

Marriage: Anita (Thigpen) Perry (November 6, 1982-present)

Children: Sydney and Griffin

Education: Texas A&M University, B.S., 1972

Military Service: US Air Force, 1972-1977, Captain

Religion: Methodist

Other Facts:
Is an Eagle Scout.

Met his wife, Anita, in elementary school.

Is the longest serving governor in Texas history.

Timeline:
1972-1977 - Serves in the US Air Force flying transport planes.

1977 - Returns to Texas to live and work on his father's farm.

1978 - Forms JR Perry Farms with his father.

1985-1991 - Member of the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from the 64th District.

1989 - Switches to the Republican Party.

1991-1999 - Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

1999-2000 - Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

December 21, 2000 - Perry is sworn in as governor after George W. Bush resigns to become president of the United States.

November 5, 2002 - Perry is elected to a four-year term.

November 7, 2006 - Is re-elected governor.

2008 - Perry's book "On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For" is published.

November 2, 2010 - Perry is elected for a third term in office.

August 13, 2011 - Declares his candidacy for president during a speech in South Carolina.

January 19, 2012 - Suspends his presidential campaign and endorses Newt Gingrich.

July 8, 2013 - Announces that he will not run for re-election as Texas governor in 2014.

August 15, 2014 - A grand jury indicts Rick Perry on charges of coercion of a public servant and abuse of his official capacity. He allegedly threatened to veto funding for a statewide public integrity unit run by Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg unless she resigned following her arrest on a drunk driving charge. She stayed in office, and he later vetoed the funding.

August 19, 2014 - Perry voluntarily appears at the Travis County Court house to be booked and fingerprinted and to have his mug shot taken. He pleads not guilty to charges of coercion of a public servant and abuse of official capacity. The next day he makes the first of six campaign style stops across New Hampshire.

November 18, 2014 - A state district judge in Texas denies a defense motion to have two felony charges dismissed against Perry.

January 15, 2015 - Delivers his farewell address as governor.

June 4, 2015 - Announces he is running for president at a rally in Addison, Texas.

July 24, 2015 - A Texas appeals court dismisses one of two criminal charges against Perry. The court agrees with the argument from Perry's legal team that a Texas law concerning "coercion of a public servant" violates Perry's First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The court is allowing a charge related to abuse of power to move forward.

September 11, 2015 - Suspends his campaign for the presidency.

January 25, 2016 - Perry endorses Ted Cruz.

February 24, 2016 - The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals drops charges against Perry alleging he abused his power while in office.

August 30, 2016 - Perry is revealed as one of the members of the upcoming 23rd season of reality television dance competition "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.

September 27, 2016 - Is eliminated from "Dancing With The Stars."

November 22, 2016 - Returns to "Dancing With The Stars" for the season finale. Perry dances with Vanilla Ice during a live performance of "Ice Ice Baby."

December 13, 2016 - President-elect Donald Trump announces he has selected Perry to be his nominee for energy secretary.

January 19, 2017 - Perry says that he regrets recommending the elimination of the Department of Energy during a presidential debate in 2012.

March 2, 2017 - Perry is confirmed as energy secretary with a 62-37 vote in the Senate.

July 26, 2017 - Perry's office acknowledges that he was the target of a prank call on July 19. During the 20-minute call from Russian pranksters, real names Vladimir Krasnov and Aleksey Stolyarov, respectively, one pretends to be Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

February 5, 2019 - Is named the designated survivor for Trump's second State of the Union address. As the one member of the Cabinet remaining outside the House chamber during the speech in case disaster strikes, Perry will remain in an undisclosed location.

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Amazon's new waste-reduction strategy: Deliver only once a week

Starting Tuesday, all Prime members in the United States will be able to select a particular day to receive a week's worth of Amazon deliveries. After a Prime member enrolls in the "Amazon Day" service, Amazon will hold everything they order throughout the week, and it will deliver the items together on the customer's selected day.

Amazon's (AMZN) new feature could persuade customers who place multiple orders a week to receive them all together. The company said that could reduce the amount of shipping materials. It may also reduce the number of stops Amazon deliveries need to make.

The new option is the latest in a series of ongoing efforts by the online retailer meant to make the delivery process smoother, said Jefferies analyst Brent Thill. He also pointed to the Amazon Key, which was released more than a year ago and came with a security camera and door lock.

"We believe this reflects the need to offset the increased competition for free and fast shipping," Thill said.

By 2030, Amazon wants half of its shipments to be carbon neutral. The company says Amazon Day will help it achieve that goal: The delivery option has already eliminated tens of thousands of boxes since testing the feature in November, according to Maria Renz, Amazon's vice president of delivery experience.

Amazon also recently introduced frustration free packaging designed to produce less waste and has invested in solar and wind farms.

Greenpeace has previously criticized Amazon for having a shallow commitment to its sustainability goals, saying that the energy usage of its Amazon Web Services data centers has outpaced its investments in renewable energy in Virginia.

Amazon Day will appear as a delivery option for Prime customers on Amazon's online store. If customers enroll, they can still select another delivery option for individual packages, including two-day or same-day delivery. Additional items can be added to Amazon Day shipments up to two days before a customer's shipment date.

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Why 1 simple lie by Michael Cohen could invalidate his entire testimony

Lindsey Graham warns US will end North Korea nuclear threat 'one way or the other'

The South Carolina Republican said he is "encouraged there are plans to continue talking" with North Korea after Trump failed to secure a formal pledge of any kind during the summit with Kim in Hanoi, Vietnam, but Graham but also warned that the clock is ticking for negotiators to convince Pyongyang to peacefully surrender its entire nuclear arsenal.

"There is only one good deal: the complete denuclearization of North Korea in return for security guarantees and economic assistance," Graham tweeted.

"We must not go back to the status quo," he added. "If negotiations fail, it would be time to end the nuclear threat from North Korea -- one way or the other."

'Dangerous consequences'

That all or nothing view has sparked backlash from some nuclear weapons experts, who believe Graham's suggestions could yield dangerous consequences if Trump chooses to follow his advice.

"Sen. Graham is clinging to a dangerous world that fortunately doesn't exist," according to Adam Mount, senior fellow and director, Defense Posture Project, Federation of American Scientists.

"In this fantasy, Trump hasn't praised and flattered a despot, sanctions pressure is dramatically more effective than it has been and the risks of a nuclear war are tolerable. We should all be very thankful that Sen. Graham is working in a fantasy world rather than the administration," he said.

Still, Graham has emerged as an influential foreign policy adviser to the President and a staunch ally of the administration on a broad swath of issues.

That said, he has also not shied away from publicly criticizing Trump over matters on which they disagree, including the President's more diplomatic rhetoric toward Kim leading up to the second summit.

"This love crap needs to stop," Graham said in October about Trump's effusive praise for the North Korean dictator.

Trump's performance in Hanoi appears to have done little to change Graham's view that the US must take a hard line on North Korea, even if that means considering the use of preventative military force should Kim refuse to peacefully dismantle his entire nuclear weapons program.

Despite repeatedly saying he hopes military options are never employed, Graham again made it very clear Thursday that he believes the US must be ready to pre-emptively use force against North Korea if necessary.

In 2017, when tensions between the US and North Korea were arguably at their highest, Graham predicted that there was a 30% chance Trump would order a first strike on North Korea to prevent the rogue nation from acquiring a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States.

Asked at the time whether he was referring to a pre-emptive strike, Graham said: "Sanctions will never work completely without the threat of credible military force. How do you change a man's behavior who's willing to kill his own family, torture his own people to stay in power?"

"The only way he'll change his behavior, if he believes Donald Trump would use military force to destroy his regime," he added, noting that his prediction on the chance of a war with North Korea was "based on a lot of time with President Trump."

Graham remained steadfast in his view that Trump should take a hard line on North Korea, even as tensions began to de-escalate, openly criticizing the President for his public praise of Kim as recently as late last year.

Questions about Trump's approach

Graham's harsh words did little to temper Trump's enthusiasm leading up to the summit but the President's failure to secure any formal agreement related to nuclear weapons in Hanoi has once again raised questions about the administration's diplomatic approach.

"It is the clearest indication in a year that the two sides are talking past each other. Further progress will require a fundamental reassessment of US negotiating policy," according to Mount.

While the two sides have offered differing accounts of what transpired during the summit, it seems the two countries were not even able to establish a shared definition of denuclearization, something Trump's top envoy on North Korea, Steve Biegun, said last month was a goal for negotiators.

While Biegun did not give a timeline for when that definition would be needed, he indicated at the time that it was a pivotal piece to the puzzle.

"There was no detailed definition or shared agreement of what denuclearization entails," Biegun said during a speech at Stanford University.

"So we do not have a specific and agreed definition of what final, fully verified denuclearization or comprehensive, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization -- whatever your preferred term of art -- is. We do need to have a shared understanding of what the outcome is going to be, and within the space that that creates, we should be able to also agree on the steps necessary to achieve a mutually accepted outcome."

"The US version of events would represent a considerable departure from what we know of North Korea's negotiating position to date. If in fact a permanent nuclear and missile test freeze was offered and passed by, it is a missed opportunity. An all or nothing bet on complete disarmament will leave you with nothing," Mount said.

"Unfortunately, we may never have a reliable account of the events of the summit, given the Trump administration's track record of concealing and distorting diplomatic readouts. It is a possibility that will complicate US policy toward North Korea for years to come," he added.

Despite leaving Hanoi without any concrete agreement or even a clear road map for future talks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after the summit that the US negotiating team did "really good" work despite having little time to prepare.

Yet Pompeo also acknowledged that the potential for real progress was ultimately in the hands of Trump and Kim.

"You don't know which ones you are actually going to get until the two leaders actually have a chance to get together," he said. "There was a lot of preparatory work. We were prepared for the potentiality of this outcome as well. And tomorrow we will get right back at it."

Pompeo said he believes Biegun and his counterpart will get together "before too long." But nothing is set in stone.

"We'll see," said Pompeo, explaining that both sides need to regroup and there would need to be a reason to meet.

"Look, there has to be a reason for the conversations. There has to be a theory of the case about how to move forward. I'm confident that there is one," he said.

Pompeo acknowledged that the nuclear threat North Korea poses is still very real.

CNN's Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

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Parents, please stop freaking out over the Momo Challenge

But the Momo Challenge, the experts will tell you, is probably not something to worry about.

The challenge is the latest viral concern /social media fad/urban legend going around Facebook parenting groups and schools. It's described as a "suicide game" which combines shock imagery and hidden messaging, and it supposedly encourages kids to attempt dangerous stunts, including suicide.

Earlier this week, "Momo" was the top new trending search team on Google for the US, Australia, Canada and the UK.

However, to the best of everyone's knowledge, there's almost no evidence to prove it's actually a real thing.

Let's break it down, so you can get back to worrying about other things.

The challenge is hard to pin down ...

The Momo Challenge is hard to describe, because there's not a lot of proof it actually exists. According to concerned Facebook posts, people are placing scary imagery and language into YouTube videos that are supposed to be child-friendly, like cartoons and toy reviews. The "challenge" has also been reported on WhatsApp, where it may come in the form of disturbing images and text messages sent from unknown contacts.

The image is usually of a (pretty terrifying) doll with long hair and bulging eyes. The creepy scultpture is actually the work of a Japanese special effects company called Link Factory, and it, along with the artist and the company, have nothing to do with the so-called "challenge."

The messages accompanying the image are said to encourage children to do destructive things, like harm their loved ones, place themselves in dangerous situations or even kill themselves. So far, in addition to social media posts, several schools in the UK have issued warnings to parents about the Momo Challenge. A UK safety organization claims hundreds of worried parents have contacted them with questions. In the US, several sheriff's departments have put out notes informing parents about it.

... and the threat is anecdotal at best

Actual verified accounts of kids coming across these Momo videos or messages are scant. According to Snopes, the fact-checking site, the 2018 suicide deaths of two boys in India were linked in news reports to the the Momo Challenge. Other people cited in the report claimed to have gotten invitations to the game in the messaging program WhatsApp.

In late February, a woman in Sacramento claimed her 12-year-old daughter turned on a gas stove after watching videos that contained surprise clips of the Momo figure. There have also been reports in the UK that children as young as five have, according to their parents, threatened violence on behalf of the Momo character.

This seems like cause for concern. But here's the thing: Anyone can post pretty much anything to YouTube at any time, so it's impossible to say there aren't creepy videos floating around that display harmful content. Is it a problem worthy of special attention? Experts don't think so.

"Is there a prevalent, global phenomenon of Momo popping up in kids' WhatsApp accounts and YouTube videos and urging them to harm themselves or others? That claim appears to be fear-driven exaggeration lacking in supportive evidence," David Mikkelson, the founder of Snopes.com, tells CNN (Snopes has covered the phenomenon with skepticism).

But the publicity may give trolls ideas

While there appears to be little evidence that the Momo Challege is something special to worry about, Mikkelson notes the attention surrounding the challenge may ironically lead people to create videos featuring the Momo content.

"Now that the Momo Challenge legend is out there, have some people used the Momo character to scare and taunt youngsters via WhatsApp or by slipping it into video clips? Possibly some scattered incidents of this have happened," he says.

Jill Murphy, vice president and editor-in-chief of Common Sense Media, tells CNN the Momo Challenge preys on parents' (often justified) fears about how social media platforms regulate content.

"So this has been around for a while. And the reason that it's probably getting the kind of scrutiny and attention that it's getting is because of its appearance in younger kids' content," she says. "And because of that, and because of the accessibility, coupled with the frustration for parents, I think it's just a fever pitch of, 'Here's one more thing that YouTube is exposing kids to and not taking any accountability around.'"

So parents should take control ...

As Murphy says, concern around the Momo Challenge may have less to do with the challenge itself and more about the overwhelming apprehension parents feel when staring down the barrel of millions of unregulated YouTube videos and confusing, ever-changing social media apps. So the solution, according to both Murphy and Mikkelson, is clear: Know what your kids are watching, and how they're watching it.

"We encourage everyone to dissect the messages they're getting and not be too alarmist," says Murphy. "But since it calls to mind and brings to the surface the challenges of the YouTube platform for parents -- not knowing whether or not they can trust the content -- I think that's what's coming up the most."

Mikkelson encourages parents "to be familiar with what uses your children make of social media, and ensure they understand they should let you know if they encounter anything online that seems harmful or threatening."

... and know these hoaxes aren't new

If you're feeling a case of deja vu, it's because "suicide challenges," online urban myths and other internet horror stories crop up all the time.

You may recall the Blue Whale Suicide Game from a few years ago, which made the rounds on social media but had little evidence to back up its dangers. More lighthearted challenges, like the great Tide Pod eating phenomenon of 2018, seemed to draw more jokes and parody than actual incidents.

Perhaps the most significant real-life consequence from these online legends manifested in 2014, when two Wisconsin girls repeatedly stabbed their friend and claimed Slenderman, a fictional character born on internet message boards, made them do it. One teen was sentenced to 25 years to life in a psychiatric institution, and the other was sentenced to 40 years in a mental health facility.

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Luke Perry hospitalized

A representative for the actor told CNN on Thursday that "Mr. Perry is currently under observation at the hospital."

The spokesperson would not elaborate about what led to his hospitalization.

Perry rose to fame in the '90s for his role on Fox's hit series "Beverly Hills, 90210," from 1990 to 2000. He currently stars as Fred Andrews on CW's "Riverdale."

A number of Perry's former "90210" co-stars took to social media to extend their support and wishes for a quick recovery.

Ian Ziering wrote on Instagram, "No words can express what my heart feels hearing today's shocking news. Let us all say a prayer for his speedy recovery."

Shannen Doherty also took to Instagram to say, "My friend. Holding you tight and giving you my strength. You got this."

The news of Perry's hospitalization comes a day after Fox announced it is doing a "90210" reboot that will star all the original stars of the show with the exception of Doherty and Perry.

CNN's Cheri Mossburg contributed to the report.

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PG&E says it's 'probable' its equipment will be found responsible for the deadly Camp Fire

PG&E, California's largest public utility, said in its latest earnings report that while the cause of the Camp Fire remains under investigation, "the company believes it is probable that its equipment will be determined to be an ignition point of the 2018 Camp Fire."

As a result of the blaze, which claimed at least 86 lives and destroyed 14,000 homes, the company said it recorded a $10.5 billion charge ahead of anticipated claims.

PG&E's total losses for 2018 amounted to $6.9 billion, the earnings report said.

The utility previously said it anticipated being found responsible for damages from the Camp Fire and other California wildfires. The expectation of huge losses led to the company filing for bankruptcy last month.

PG&E, which provides electricity to some 16 million Californians, has been under intense scrutiny for how it maintains its infrastructure as officials investigate the Camp Fire's cause.

PG&E pointed out in the report that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has identified the blaze's starting point and said it began at about 6:33 a.m. on November 8, not far from a PG&E transmission tower.

Approximately 15 minutes earlier, the company said, the PG&E transmission line nearby "deenergized." Later that day, utility workers discovered that a part had separated from the PG&E tower.

Subsequent inspections of this transmission line identified equipment that should have been repaired or replaced, the company said.

PG&E said Thursday it was inspecting its equipment in areas that have a higher risk of wildfires to prevent further incidents.

"The company is taking action right away to address any issues that pose an immediate risk to public safety, in advance of this year's wildfire season," it said.

CNN's Chris Isidore, Madeleine Ayer and Scott Glover contributed to this report.

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Elon Musk teases Tesla announcement

He said the news will come Thursday at 2 pm PT (5 pm ET).

Musk caused a stir on Wednesday when he posted a cryptic message about the impending news, and Tesla's (TSLA) stock initially jumped about 5%. The company's shares were relatively flat ahead of the planned announcement on Thursday.

It's not clear whether Musk will announce something newsworthy. Musk made a couple of changes to his Twitter bio, which could be clues about the announcement: He changed his Twitter name to "Elon Tusk" and added an elephant emoji. He also changed his photo to a picture of Mars with the word "Revive" on it.

Some suggest the Tesla news may involve the company's upcoming Model Y SUV, updates to its autonomous driving software, or news about its network of Tesla Supercharger stations.

It's not clear whether Tesla reviewed Musk's latest tweets about the announcement. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Musk is in hot water with the SEC about his tweeting habits.

Regulators on Monday had asked a federal judge to hold Musk in contempt for violating a settlement deal reached last year that involved criticism of Musk's Twitter use. Musk and Tesla settled their dispute with the SEC in October. They agreed to pay $40 million in fines and to start policing Musk's social media posts after he caused a stock surge with a tweet that regulators said over-hyped Tesla's value.

But Musk drew regulators' ire again with a February 19 tweet that overstated how many cars Tesla plans to deliver in 2019. The SEC claims Musk did not receive pre-approval for that tweet.

If the judge sides with the SEC, it could expose Musk to serious new consequences.

Musk has lashed out at the SEC, which he called "embarrassing" in a tweet earlier this week. He has also previously referred to the agency as the "Shortseller Enrichment Commission."

CNN Business' Paul La Monica contributed.

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These bills could make life harder for transgender people, civil rights groups say

But civil rights groups say they are still watching other states for bills that pose threats to transgender people.

With HB 1225, South Dakota lawmakers attempted to override a current policy in the state that lets students participate in sports "in a manner consistent with their gender identity." The bill's sponsor, Rep. Lee Qualm, said its goal was to ensure students don't try to gain an unfair competitive advantage by lying about their gender.

HB 1225 was one of four bills concerning transgender youth that South Dakota lawmakers introduced this legislative session. None of them passed.

Other states are considering bills that advocates say would negatively impact transgender people just as the South Dakota proposals would have.

Here's what they are:

Restrictions on single-sex facilities such as restrooms

Since the repeal of North Carolina's HB 2 -- the first law to forbid transgender people from using restrooms based on their gender identity -- civil rights groups say lawmakers are attempting new ways to restrict public accommodations access.

Two bills introduced in Tennessee would amend the definition of indecent exposure.

Right now, Tennessee's definition of indecent exposure does not include offenses in public restrooms, locker rooms or other single-sex facilities designated for multiperson use.

In fact, a section of the existing law says a public place does not include "enclosed single sex public restrooms, enclosed single sex functional showers, locker or dressing room facilities" to guard against false accusations that could arise in an environment where people's genitals tend to be visible.

House Bill 1151 and Senate Bill 1297 would expand the current law to include incidents in such public facilities if the offender "is a member of the opposite sex than the sex designated for use."

Moreover, the bills would amend the criminal code to say that a diagnosis of "gender dysphoria, gender confusion, or similar conditions ... does not serve as a defense to the offense of indecent exposure."

Rep. John Ragan, sponsor of HB 1151, said the proposed law simply expands the places where indecent exposure can occur. It also ensures that gender dysphoria does not have equal footing as an insanity defense for the purpose of defending oneself, he said.

"This is not anti-transgender unless the transgender person is committing indecent exposure," he said.

Critics of the proposals say they could criminalize transgender people who use public restrooms.

"If a transgender man goes into a men's room, he could be charged with indecent exposure and would not be able to use the fact that he's transgender as a defense." said Reg Calcagno, a state advocacy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union's Out For Freedom Team.

"It's a new way of doing single-sex restrictions around facilities," Calcagno said.

Another proposal in Washington state would update its indecent exposure law in a similar way.

House Bill 2088 would make a person guilty of indecent exposure if a person is a "biological" male or female and "intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his person in a restroom facility that is designated for use by the opposite sex.

Religious exemptions

Support is building in several states for religious exemptions that would let businesses, government employees or contractors refuse to provide services that conflict with their religious beliefs.

Opponents of the exemptions say they impact anyone who does not subscribe to a particular group's religious beliefs, not just transgender people. A recent case in South Carolina involved a faith-based child welfare agency that turned away a Jewish woman who wanted to mentor children in foster care.

At least one religious exemption bill in Texas directly impacts transgender people.

One bill introduced would prevent a government entity from punishing a religious organization for declining to provide treatment, counseling or surgery related to "sex reassignment" or "gender identity transitioning."

Child custody cases

Another bill in Texas concerns the gender identity of children in custody cases.

House Bill 1910 would allow the court to disregard whether a parent or guardian acknowledges -- or declines to acknowledge -- a child's gender identity in decisions regarding custody.

The bill would also preclude the court from terminating the parent-child relationship based on evidence the parent acknowledges or declines to acknowledge the child 's gender identity or expression.

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10 of the best Da Nang hotels on the beach

(CNN) — Want to soak up some sun in some of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam?

Just a one-hour flight south of Hanoi, Da Nang -- sometimes spelled Danang as well -- offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Hoi An Ancient Town, addictive banh mi and those aforementioned beaches.

We're talking calm waves, powdery white sand and dozens of seafront resorts from which to choose.

So where should you stay in paradise? Here are 10 of the top Da Nang hotels on the beach:

The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is one of the newest resorts to be built in this beautiful part of Vietnam.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Set in the midst of the Son Tra Peninsula Nature Reserve, northeast of the city, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is one of the most exclusive properties in the region.

Designed by prolific resort architect Bill Bensley, the hotel's 201 pavilion-like hotel rooms and villas are scattered throughout the forested hillsides of "Monkey Mountain."

It's far from a misnomer. You're highly likely to run into troops of curious red-shanked douc langurs, known for their vibrant brick-red faces and whiskery white beards.

Wildlife and all, this is the kind of hotel that's hard to leave. There's haute French cuisine from acclaimed chef Pierre Gagnaire at La Maison 1888, early morning tai chi sessions, guided forest walks and an inviting infinity pool.

Then there's the riverside HARNN Heritage Spa where you can try a PEDI:MANI:CURE treatment by Bastien Gonzalez (a podiatry-influenced treatment that promotes foot health and natural nails).

At the base of Monkey Mountain, there's a 700-meter (2,300-foot) private beach and the alfresco Barefoot bar -- accessible via a glass-enclosed funicular that chugs up and down the slope.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An

This beautiful Four Seasons property offers access to both stunning beaches and UNESCO sites.

Four Seasons

Another front-runner is Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An. It plays host to 100 spacious villas, 40 of which have private pools.

The hotel, about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) south of Da Nang, emerged from a revamp in 2016. So you can count on freshly landscaped grounds and locally inspired interior design, as well as architecture that pays tribute to the UNESCO-listed Tu Duc royal tombs in Hué.

The Four Seasons property ensures relaxation with thoughtful touches, from tea and refreshing hand towels upon arrival to open-air terraces and 86 acres of tropical gardens.

For explorers of all ages, the hotel organizes custom excursions, such as a trip to nearby Phuoc Hai village where you can fish with local residents and learn to paddle around in a traditional Vietnamese bamboo basket boat.

And if you simply want to unplug at the resorts, there's plenty to do: three infinity pools, a 1-kilometer-long white sand beach, an on-site cooking school, four tennis courts, a basketball court and a particularly notable spa.

Inspired by Zen teachings, the Heart of the Earth Spa is home to eight pavilions that appear to float about a lotus pond.

Fusion Maia

Fusion Maia sits on the southern end of beautiful My Khe Beach and features an infinity pool.

Fusion Maia Danang

A wellness traveler's dream hotel, Fusion Maia Da Nang revolves around healthy dining, holistic rejuvenation and sheer relaxation.

The hotel sits on the southern end of beautiful My Khe Beach, but most guests come for the appealing "all-spa inclusive" concept.

It's exactly what it sounds like: Guests can book as many spa treatments as they please at no extra cost.

To give you an idea of the possibilities, the spa menu features stretch release massages, sleep therapies, holistic head therapies, aromatherapy facials, mani-pedis, lotus root scrubs, aloe wraps, bamboo massages -- it would take weeks to try every treatment.

Better yet, complimentary wellness sessions are also included in room rates. That means you can join as many daily beach yoga, meditation tai chi and "warrior workout" sessions as you like.

As for accommodations, they're about as luxe as you'd imagine. Sporting a subdued white and soft pink color palette, every villa has its own private pool and complimentary "breakfast anywhere, anytime" service.

Yep, that includes bedside, poolside, beachfront -- you name it.

Fusion Maia; Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, Vietnam; +84 236 3967 999

Naman Retreat

Da Nang's Naman Retreat stretches across a beachfront plot flanked by two golf courses, but the hotel is best known for its eco-conscious design.

Dramatic bamboo architecture is found at every turn. At the entrance, a vaulted lobby greets guests with high ceilings and intricate woven bamboo details, while the open-air restaurants and bars showcase sculptural bamboo decor.

A beachfront villa is the room to book if you're hoping to start the day with sand between your toes.

In addition to three well-designed rooms, the villa includes lots of perks, such as a private concierge, complimentary transfers, welcome wine and special dining.

After a day out exploring the ancient city of Hoi An, the Pure Spa is a particularly pleasant place to unwind.

The setting immerses guests in nature -- picture hanging garlands that tumble into a garden courtyard and jungle views from every treatment room.

Naman Retreat; Truong Sa Road, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, Vietnam; +84 236 3959 888

Pullman Danang Beach Resort

Pullman Danang Beach Resort offers an extensive range of water and family-friendly activities.

Pullman Danang Beach Resort

Another crowd-pleaser is the Pullman Danang Beach Resort.

This freshly renovated property sits on a private stretch of Bac My An Beach, offering lifeguard services, a kids' beachfront playground and plenty of water-oriented activities: surfing, body boarding, kayaking and Jet Skis, just to name a few.

Inside, guests will encounter lots of wood and local accents, such as Vietnamese textiles, art and ceramics.

If you're set on a sea-facing room, we'd recommend booking a deluxe room or one of the suites as entry-level rooms overlook the hotel's gardens.

The top choices for families are one or two-bedroom cottages, which sit in a little beachfront village away from the main resort. These cottages provide a more residential-style experience with private gardens, outdoor decks, living rooms and al fresco showers.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa offers 375 villas and rooms.

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa

For those seeking every service under the sun and then some, the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa makes for a convenient home base.

The family-friendly hotel has no less than five pools, a kids' camp, outdoor yoga pavilion, tennis courts, multiple restaurants, laundry services, fitness center, full-service spa, direct beach access and more.

All with sea views, the 375 rooms and villas feel spacious and relatively minimalistic -- think white linens, timber floors, and Vietnamese-inspired bamboo lanterns.

For a quieter atmosphere, it's worth upgrading to a Regency Club room to take advantage of the private pool, dedicated concierge and complimentary cocktail hour.

Grandvrio Ocean Resort Danang

The experience at Grandvrio Ocean Resort Danang is luxurious and affordable.

Grandvrio Ocean Resort

Designed to feel like a village, Grandvrio Ocean Resort Danang channels the Japanese concept of omotenashi -- namely anticipatory, seamless service that makes every guest feel like royalty.

The setting's not bad either. Featuring cheery orange-tiled roofs and rows of green palm trees, the resort sits in between Da Nang and Hoi An on a clean, soft stretch of sand.

But the real beauty of Grandvrio is its versatility. The experience is as affordable or as luxe as you make it, thanks to a range of room types that hit every price point.

Standard rooms are perfectly pleasant while villas pile on the luxuries with private pools, gardens and outdoor dining rooms.

Grandvrio is a good choice for families, offering a host of immersive kids' activities, a beach volleyball court, pool tables, as well as countless water activities for nonstop action.

Premier Village Danang Resort

An upscale option that's great for groups and larger families, Premier Village Danang Resort sits on the edge of My An Beach surrounded by a lush, tropical forest.

The all-villa resort provides a mix of garden, ocean access and beachfront cottages. All of them come with a private kitchen, pool and colorful contemporary decor.

The hotel has it all: spa, fitness center, bikes for hire, board games and a kids' club to entertain the little ones.

One of the highlights is Nautica Beach Club, an elevated beachfront deck overlooking the sea that comes with sleek daybeds, casual bites and a full bar for sundowners.

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort owns a fleet of sidecars to take guests on tours around Hoi An.

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa weaves together two epochs with its mix of Old World colonial aesthetics and modern Vietnamese accents.

The effect is beautiful, particularly in the lobby and lounges where carved wooden doors and deep red hues add a sense of drama to the atmosphere.

Walls in the rooms echo the moody red shade, offset by lattice wood details and regal purple accents.

Elsewhere around the grounds, there's a palm-fringed infinity pool and an all-day Vietnamese restaurant.

You can enjoy three bars: There's thatched-roof Faifo Bar, which ensures pool-goers stay hydrated; Elephant Bar, the place to go for a round of pool; and Cham Bar, which turns up the energy with a live band come evening.

Keen to explore the area? The hotel offers private sidecar tours of Hoi An and the surrounding region, so you can visit nearby villages and rice paddies with ease.

Vinpearl Premium Da Nang

Vinpearl Premium Da Nang's rooms were inspired by 20th century France.

Vin Pearl

Instead of breezy color palettes and casual coastal interiors, the resort goes the regal route with a more formal, 20th-century French design.

The rooms will effectively transport you back 100 years with their wooden headboards and classic furniture, crimson accents and standalone tubs.

Most impressive are the four-bedroom garden villas, which would feel at home in Europe. Visualize classic wood furniture, four-poster beds, pastoral artwork, private pools and panoramic sea views.

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