5 Things posted Jun 20, 2022 @ 08:00am by Iain Burns

5 things you need to know this morning: June 20, 2022

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. EU says Russian blockade of Ukraine a 'real war crime'

The European Union has said Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports is a "real war crime" because it is preventing the export of much-needed grain. Russia, meanwhile, has blamed the EU for world food shortages.

Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports is a war crime - EU's top diplomat https://t.co/xYTuQ6hhIc pic.twitter.com/wOrTzLfDEE

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 20, 2022

2. Workers form first Apple union in US

Workers at an Apple store in the US have voted to unionize, creating the tech giant's first retail union. The workers, in the state of Maryland, voted 65-33 in favour of the union.

Apple workers in Towson, Maryland, have voted to form the first-ever labor union at one of the tech giant's US stores. https://t.co/DEYNNV2Thx
— CNN (@CNN) June 20, 2022

3. Same-sex marriage ban constitutional, Japanese court rules

A district court in Osaka has ruled that Japan's ban on gay marriage does not violate the country's constitution. Japan's constitution defines marriage as a union between "both sexes."

The ruling by an Osaka court deals a blow to activists in the only Group of Seven nation that doesn't allow people of the same gender to marry. https://t.co/jaZYwBNWBs
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) June 20, 2022

4. Dozens dead, millions stranded amid disaster in Bangladesh and India

Dozens of people have died in India and Bangladesh after severe monsoon storms triggered deadly landslides and lightning strikes. Officials said 59 people have been killed, while millions have been left stranded.

Widespread flooding in parts of Bangladesh and north-eastern India has left at least 59 people dead and millions stranded.
@AyshahTull spoke to the head of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association to learn more.https://t.co/xxxtH65uET
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 19, 2022

5. Russia now China's biggest supplier of oil

Russia has now become China's biggest supplier of oil. Russia has recently been selling discounted produce to its powerful ally amid Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.

Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China’s largest source of petroleum in May, as Chinese companies stepped in to buy oil that has fallen under widening Western sanctions. https://t.co/OgYJHjPxsE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 20, 2022

And lastly...

In lighter news, a photographer is winning praise for capturing rare shots of the International Space Station transiting the sun. Jamie Cooper used a telescope and a high speed camera to photograph the moment, which was over in less than a second.