Russia demands evidence as US accuses of secret nuclear tests; Hong Kong indefinitely postpones extradition bill

The 38 North website, which monitors the North Korean situation at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said Pyongyang appears to be accelerating the construction of another Sinpo-class submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles.

US experts say North Korean engineers appear to have installed 12 cranes spaced evenly along the berth between April 11 and May 5. The cranes will be used to move lightweight components and equipment into the submarine or onto barges. North Korean workers are also believed to have moved a 2,000-ton submarine to another location while they installed the cranes at the shipyard, according to 38 North.

Russia demands evidence as US accuses of secret nuclear testing

The US believes Russia is conducting nuclear tests. Photo: Reuters.

The Washington Post recently reported that Russia is secretly testing nuclear weapons. At the same time, the newspaper also cited the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) statement about Russia's "ultra-low-energy nuclear explosions." However, The Washington Post noted that the DIA statement did not mention the test parameters or other details. The publication also did not publish any documents that could confirm this conclusion of the US Defense Intelligence Agency.

Responding to the above information, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov stated that Moscow rejected Washington's accusation of violating the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Meanwhile, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mr. Mikhail Ulyanov, said that this was a baseless accusation and asked Washington to provide specific evidence showing that Russia was conducting nuclear tests.

Hong Kong indefinitely suspends extradition bill

Protesters in front of the Hong Kong Government Office on June 13. Photo: AFP

The Hong Kong government has decided to indefinitely suspend the debate on a controversial extradition bill following a wave of fierce protests from the people of this territory. Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the announcement at a press conference on the afternoon of June 15, according to the BBC. She also did not announce when the government would bring the bill up for discussion again.

“The bill has caused a lot of division in society,” Nga said, referring to “doubt and misunderstanding.” She said she had heard calls for the government to “pause and think carefully” about the extradition bill. “I have to admit that the government has been lacking in its explanation and communication. We have to take into account the greatest interests of Hong Kong,” Nga stressed, referring to “restoring peace and restoring order.”

India to increase import duties on US goods from June 16

Goods are loaded at the port in Mudra, 400 km from Ahmedabad, India. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The Economic Times on June 15 quoted an Indian official as saying that there would be no further delay in imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US, with the new tariffs coming into effect from June 16. Meanwhile, the Press Trust of India news agency said that the Indian Finance Ministry would make an official announcement soon, although the country had already informed the US of its decision.

Earlier, in June 2018, the Indian government announced that it would increase import duties on a range of US goods, including almonds and apples. The move was seen as a response to Washington's refusal to exempt New Delhi from higher tariffs on steel and aluminum products.

Mexico releases President Trump's secret deal on migration

Migrants from the Mexican border into the US. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Mexico on June 14 released a document that US President Donald Trump has been quick to tout to the press this week as evidence that he has made sweeping new concessions on migration from its neighbor. Trump brandished the one-page document in front of reporters on June 11, ostentatiously fending off criticism that his use of tariff threats to force Mexico into a deal to curb migration had in fact been made subject to new commitments from Mexico. Photographers managed to capture a few sentences of the document, but the full text was not released in advance.

The document is a “consent agreement” to the agreement the United States and Mexico signed on June 7 and outlines additional measures the two sides have agreed to take. According to the document, the two sides “will immediately begin establishing the final terms of a binding bilateral agreement to more aggressively address burden sharing and responsibility for processing asylum claims.”