US Justice Department Covers Up for President; North Korea Prepares to Launch New Submarine?

US House Intelligence Accuses Justice Department of Covering Up President Trump

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Reuters reported that US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff on September 19 accused the Justice Department of preventing intelligence officials from submitting to Congress a whistleblower complaint allegedly related to conversations between President Donald Trump and a foreign leader. The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said the country involved was Ukraine.

Schiff accused the Trump administration of obstructing a congressional investigation after hearing a private report from the inspector general of the intelligence agencies. A source familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named, said the whistleblower complaint alleged “multiple actions” by Trump, not just a phone call with a foreign leader.

UK pushes for post-Brexit trade deal with Japan

British Trade Secretary Liz Truss after attending a cabinet meeting in London, July 25, 2019. Photo: THX/ VNA

In an effort to push for a trade deal with Japan, the British government on September 20 called on businesses and citizens to express their opinions on the government's priorities for the process after leaving the European Union (Brexit). This is considered an effort by the UK to minimize the impact of Brexit on the economy.

In a statement during her visit to Tokyo, UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss affirmed that businesses can be assured that both governments are ready to support the early opening of bilateral trade negotiations. In preparation for negotiating a free trade agreement with Japan, the UK Government has launched a survey to mobilize contributions from the community on this agreement from now until November 4.

North Korea may be preparing to launch new submarine

North Korean submarine. Photo: Reuters

Japan's NHK television station quoted experts from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the US-based satellite operator Planet Labs Inc. as saying that North Korea may be preparing to launch a new submarine.

Experts at the Middlebury Institute analyzed satellite imagery taken by Planet Labs Inc. and said the appearance of 12 pillars on the shore of Sinpo Port, where the North Korean shipyard is located, followed by a 100-meter-long structure, suggests that North Korea is preparing to launch a new submarine. According to sources, it is likely that North Korea's new submarine could carry ballistic missiles.

Russian Foreign Ministry: US policy in the Middle East has collapsed

Smoke rises from the Aramco oil refinery in Abqaiq, eastern Saudi Arabia after an attack on September 14, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Sputnik reported that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on September 20 that the US air defense network failed to repel a drone attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, as evidence that Washington's actions in the Middle East are collapsing on all fronts.

“Much of what the US is doing in the region no longer seems to be political, but a complete collapse… in all respects,” Ms. Zakharova said. “Two years ago, American missiles did not hit their targets, and now their air defense systems failed to repel an attack. All of this is related.”

China explains why it arrested FedEx pilot

FedEx express delivery company plane in Memphis, USA. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

AFP reported that Beijing announced on September 20 that a pilot for the US express delivery company FedEx had been arrested in Guangzhou province, southern China, on suspicion of smuggling weapons and ammunition.

Speaking at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the American pilot was carrying 681 air gun bullets when he was searched at the airport on September 12 before his flight to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. According to Geng Shuang, the pilot has been released on bail. He was the co-pilot of a FedEx cargo plane on September 11 and entered Guangzhou on September 12.