Positive signals from Eastern Ukraine; Trump changes tone, praises allies at G20

President Trump smiled and told President Putin: don't interfere in the election

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on June 28. Photo: Reuters

At a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan, a reporter asked whether the White House owner would warn Russia not to interfere in the 2020 US presidential election. US President Donald Trump smiled, wittily pointed at Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked Moscow not to interfere in the elections. "Yes, of course I will. Mr. President, don't interfere in the election," the President said with a smile and waved to the Kremlin owner at the meeting in Osaka, Japan, according to AFP. President Putin said nothing and responded with a smile.

The two leaders held talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka (June 28-29). This was their first official meeting since the controversial summit in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018.

Israel allows fuel shipments into Gaza Strip

Vehicles transporting fuel from Israel move through the Kerem Shalom border gate to the Gaza Strip on August 15, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

Israel on June 28 authorized the transport of fuel to supply the only power station in the Gaza Strip and expand the fishing area off the Palestinian coastal enclave, which is under the control of the militant Islamic movement Hamas. Speaking to reporters, Gaza Electricity Company Director Zeyad Thabet said Israel had authorized the transport of fuel to supply the only power station in Gaza. The fuel was transported through the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Israel.

According to Mr. Thabet, in the past few days, due to lack of fuel, only two generators at the power station in Gaza were working, the third one was out of operation. After receiving fuel, the company has put the third generator back into operation. Meanwhile, the head of the Fishermen's Committee in Gaza, Zakareya Bakker, said that Israel has expanded the fishing area after narrowing it last week.

Positive signals from Eastern Ukraine after Putin's move

After the Russian President partially lifted sanctions on Ukraine, there was a series of good news for the new government in Kiev. Accordingly, the two separatist republics in Eastern Ukraine - the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics - recently expressed goodwill to the Kiev government by agreeing to release 4 Ukrainian prisoners (3 of them soldiers) in exchange with the new government in this country.

The release of prisoners in the latest developments is said to have been negotiated by Viktor Medvedchuk, a prominent Ukrainian politician with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2017, Medvedchuk urged Putin about his intentions to get the separatist leaders to agree to a prisoner exchange, The Moscow Times commented. The reaction of the two Donbass leaders came after a positive move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to gradually lift sanctions against Ukraine.

Mexico steps up raids, arrests of illegal migrants

Migrants on their journey to the US in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, June 12, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On June 27, about 100 Mexican soldiers and immigration agents raided a cargo train in the southern state of Chiapas and detained dozens of Central American migrants. Mexico's National Migration Institute said the train was carrying about 400 illegal migrants who were trying to cross into Mexico on their way to the United States, and 40 of them were detained.

Among the soldiers involved in the raid were members of Mexico’s newly created National Guard, which is supporting the government’s efforts to stem the flow of migrants. Such raids have been rare since 2014. However, under increasing pressure from the Trump administration, the Mexican government has stepped up measures to stem the flow of Central American migrants heading toward the US border.

Mine collapse in Democratic Republic of Congo, dozens killed

An illegal copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Bloomberg

At least 43 people were killed in a landslide at a copper and cobalt mine in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on June 28. The death toll is expected to rise as many more people remain unaccounted for.

The accident occurred on June 27 at the KOV mine in the Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) mining area, near the southern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo with Zambia. The accident occurred when workers were working illegally at the mine without a license to operate. The labor union representing KCC employees said they discovered a crack in the tunnel leading to the mine on June 26. KCC had issued a red alert but the miners ignored the warning.

Trump changes tone, praises allies at G20