Russia to replace US as Human Rights Council member; Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza Strip overnight

The US has just withdrawn, Russia immediately ran for membership in the UN Human Rights Council

View of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters

After the US withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council, Russia ran for membership of this body for the 2021-2023 term.

On June 20, the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations confirmed this information. First Secretary of the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Fedor Strzhizhovskiy stated: “Russia will continue to work effectively in the UN Human Rights Council to maintain balanced dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights. For this purpose, Russia has applied for membership of the Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 term.”

The Permanent Mission of Russia stressed that although there is still room for improvement in the UN Human Rights Council, it is a key international platform for cooperation in the field of human rights.

Ukraine: Opposition leader Tymoshenko to run for president

Ms. Yulia Tymoshenko. Source: Reuters

On June 20, opposition leader and veteran Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko announced that she will run for president in elections scheduled to be held next year.

Tymoshenko topped a poll conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kiev-based Razumkov Institute in May, which gave the Ukrainian opposition leader the support of 13 percent of voters. Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko came in fourth.

Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes after the Philippine military launched a major offensive against the pro-IS Maute Islamist rebels.

According toAl JazeeraFighting broke out on June 17 in seven towns south of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province, which had been held by Maute and Abu Sayyaf rebels for months last year. By April 20, Philippine government troops had captured Tubaran.

Philippine authorities said about 2,200 families with more than 11,000 civilians had to flee their homes.

Israel airstrikes Gaza Strip overnight

Israeli warplanes attacked a Hamas military base in Rafah, a town in the western Gaza Strip, on the night of June 19. The airstrikes injured at least two people. Many residents of the town were evacuated.

Immediately after the Israeli airstrike, Hamas militants responded to Israel with a barrage of mortar fire.

According to Israeli military sources, Israeli fighter jets targeted Hamas military facilities in retaliation for incendiary balloons and kites launched into Israeli territory.

Russia imposes retaliatory import tariffs on US steel and aluminum tariffs

The move comes after many Russian businesses affected by US steel and aluminum tariffs asked the government for help to overcome the difficult period.

Moscow will impose import duties on some goods from the United States, in response to the aluminum and steel tariffs imposed by Washington in March. That was the assertion of Russian Economy Minister Maxim Oreshkin when he spoke during a visit to the capital Minsk, Belarus with a group of government officials led by President Vladimir Putin.

According to Mr. Oreshkin, Russia will target goods that can be produced domestically and this move will not affect Russia's macro-economy.

Chinese captain sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating South Korean territorial waters

A Chinese fishing boat was detained by the South Korean Coast Guard after crossing the Northern Limit Line. Photo: yonhapnews.co.kr

On June 20, the Incheon City Court sentenced the captain of a Chinese fishing boat to one year and six months in prison for operating illegally in South Korea’s western territorial waters last April. The defendant was also fined 20 million won (about $18,100).

Prosecutors said the man's fishing boat crossed the Northern Limit Line - the de facto inter-Korean maritime border - and entered waters 22 km east of Yeonpyeong Island on April 21. The South Korean Coast Guard seized the boat after the captain ignored orders to stop and attempted to flee toward North Korea.

Germany arrests terrorist plotter with biological bomb containing ricin poison

Germany has arrested a Tunisian man in possession of the deadly poison ricin and bomb-making materials, plotting to carry out a biological weapons attack. Photo: afp.com

German security forces have arrested a Tunisian man, identified as Sief Allah H., in possession of the deadly poison ricin and bomb-making materials, plotting to carry out a biological weapon attack.

Speaking on June 20 on ARD national radio, the head of the German Federal Police, Mr. Holger Muench, affirmed that the subject "had made careful preparations for the first biological bomb attack in Germany". The authorities had information about this 29-year-old immigrant a few months ago and then had evidence showing that the subject was related to the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (IS) organization. On June 12, German special forces raided Sief Allah H.'s apartment in Cologne, discovering a large amount of castor beans, which can be extracted from the poison ricin, along with many tools to make explosive devices.

Mine collapse in Zambia, dozens of casualties

Photo is for illustration purposes only. Source: lusakavoice.com

At least 10 miners were killed and seven injured in a mine collapse on June 20 in Lusaka, Zambia's second largest city.

Local police said the rescue operation was in full swing. Rescue workers were trying to pull the injured out of the mine and search for those who might be trapped inside. This was an illegal private mine, so safety conditions were not taken into account.