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Belarus

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Belarus. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Minsk

Head of State

President Alexander Lukashenko

Head of Government

Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli arrives in Beijing on Tuesday. He is among more than a dozen state leaders who took a high-speed train to Beijing this week to attend Wednesday’s Victory Day parade. Photo: Xinhua

SCO

Foreign leaders ride the rapid rails of China’s tech prowess after SCO summit

Blazing from Tianjin to Beijing on China’s signature high-speed railway, several state leaders are given a glimpse of rapid and lucrative modernisation efforts.

5 Sep 2025 - 11:35AMvideocam

SCO

SCO summit 2025: showcase of how far bloc has come in nearly a quarter century

2 Sep 2025 - 3:40PMvideocam

SCO

6 takeaways from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening

1 Sep 2025 - 8:31PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Europe drawing up ‘precise plans’ to send troops to Ukraine: EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan for post-conflict security guarantees has the backing of the US president.

1 Sep 2025 - 3:56PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a visit to the Polish-Belarus border, in Krynki, Poland, on Sunday. Photo: AP

SCO

Opinion | Beijing expands its influence in Eurasia as Trump triggers geopolitical shifts

While US policies are pushing China, Russia and India closer to each other, Eurasia is still marked by differences and contradictions.

26 Aug 2025 - 6:30AM

China's military weapons

China says it will highlight joint combat groups in next month’s military parade

Victory Day event to feature ‘combat-oriented joint formations’ and ‘star’ weaponry, official adds.

20 Aug 2025 - 6:04PM

China’s military drills

Central Beijing blocked off for China’s WWII anniversary parade rehearsal

Thousands take part in preparations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Japanese forces.

10 Aug 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

Police officers talk to motorists at a barricaded road near Changan Avenue in Beijing on Saturday, with preparations under way for a military parade in September. Photo: AP

Donald Trump

Armenia and Azerbaijan sign ‘Trump Route’ peace deal at White House

The leaders of the two nations also suggested sending a joint appeal for the US president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:51PMvideocam

Vladimir Putin

Putin ally Lukashenko says he won’t seek another term as Belarus president

The leader was interviewed by a US media outlet, in a sign of thawing relations with the United States under Trump.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:06AMvideocam

Diplomacy

My Take | Those enabling genocide rub it in by attending Nagasaki memorial

But by inviting Israel and others to peace ceremony, mayor is making moral statement for sake of humanity despite pressure from West.

1 Aug 2025 - 10:15PM

The Memorial Cenotaph at the Peace Memorial Park, in Hiroshima, Japan. This August marks the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific theatre of World War II. Photo: AFP

European Union

Lithuania’s PM quits amid protests, investigations into business deals

His entire cabinet is also expected to quit, leaving Lithuania without an effective government weeks before Russia’s military exercise with Belarus.

31 Jul 2025 - 4:56PM

Lithuania Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas was a newly established leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, who ascended to the role late last year after a three-party coalition formed following parliamentary elections in October. Photo: AP

Russia

Russia’s Aeroflot cancels flights over crippling cyberattack

A statement purporting to be from hacking group Silent Crow says it carried out the attack with a Belarusian team, and linked it to the Ukraine war.

28 Jul 2025 - 8:45PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russian troops returned by Ukraine for medical care ahead of talks

Soldiers taken to Belarus as Ukraine and Russia prepare for new talks in Turkey on Wednesday.

23 Jul 2025 - 12:47PM

Ukraine war

Zelensky signs decree for Ukraine’s withdrawal from anti-personnel mines treaty

Driven by Russia’s widespread use of mines, the decision aims to restore Ukraine’s right to defend its territory.

30 Jun 2025 - 2:27PM

A Ukrainian sapper on demining operations in the Kharkiv area, northeastern Ukraine. File photo: EPA-EFE

China's military weapons

China to mark 80th WWII anniversary with military parade in September

Russian president among those expected to attend commemorations in the Chinese capital.

24 Jun 2025 - 1:23PMvideocam

President Xi Jinping reviews troops in Tiananmen Square during the Victory Day parade in 2015. It was the last time China held a military parade to mark the day Japan officially accepted the terms of surrender imposed by the Allied Forces in the Pacific conflict. Photo: EPA

Nato

Beijing’s ‘massive’ build-up raises threat of Taiwan Strait conflict: Nato chief

Its enlarged military presence could draw in Russia and thus European forces into the fray, secretary general warns ahead of summit.

24 Jun 2025 - 2:06AMvideocam

Donald Trump

US diplomacy helps secure freedom for Belarus opposition leader’s husband

Siarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other prisoners were released after a meeting between President Lukashenko and US special envoy Keith Kellogg.

22 Jun 2025 - 1:34PM

China's military weapons

China’s Victory Day rehearsal leaks show stealth jets, massive air formations

Clips seen as providing early glimpse of scale and symbolism expected when China marks its 80th World War II Victory Day on September 3.

19 Jun 2025 - 11:10AMvideocam

A clip posted to RedNote purportedly shows PLA helicopters flying in formation, some of them carrying red flags. Photo: Handout

Russia

Thanks to Trump, Russians see Germany, not US, as most hostile country: poll

Belarus topped the list of friendliest countries, followed by China, Kazakhstan, India and North Korea.

8 Jun 2025 - 4:53AMvideocam

Ukraine war

US and Russia row as Moscow masses 50,000 troops near Ukrainian region

Ukraine-Russian war intensifying as Trump warns Putin he is ‘playing with fire’.

28 May 2025 - 7:58PM

Ukraine war

Russian drones and missiles hit Ukraine hours after first major prisoner swap

Each country released 390 prisoners on Friday and said they would free more in the coming days.

24 May 2025 - 9:49AM

Firefighters extinguish a fire in a residential building damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv on Saturday. Photo: AP

Belarus president sworn in for seventh term, tells critics ‘you have no future’

Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994, asserts that Belarus has more democracy than the West.

26 Mar 2025 - 10:38AM

Belarusian service members pledge allegiance to Alexander Lukashenko, who was sworn in as president for the seventh term. Photo: BelTA via Reuters

European Union

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

19 Mar 2025 - 1:28AMvideocam

Japan

Belarus sentences Japanese man to 7 years in prison for spying

Japanese national Nakanishi Masatoshi was convicted of conducting espionage activities from 2018 to 2024.

18 Mar 2025 - 4:25PM

Russia

‘Europe’s last dictator’ Lukashenko extends 3-decade rule in Belarus

Alexander Lukashenko wins Belarus’ election by a landslide, garnering nearly 87 per cent of the vote.

27 Jan 2025 - 1:59PM

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko speaks at a press conference after casting his vote. Photo: Belarusian Presidency via dpa

European Union

Belarus strongman set to win 7th term in ‘farce’ election

President Lukashenko is expected to cruise to victory unchallenged for a seventh term, prolonging his three-decade authoritarian rule.

26 Jan 2025 - 5:00PM

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Photo: AP

Russia

Belarus election poised to extend 30-year rule of ‘Europe’s last dictator’

With opponents jailed or exiled, Alexander Lukashenko has also brought polling forward, with protests considered less likely in frigid weather.

24 Jan 2025 - 10:59PMvideocam

Russia

Growing risk of nuclear powers armed clash, Russia security official says

Sergei Shoigu spoke out on Friday, saying Nato is increasing activities on its eastern flank, but Nato says it is Russia that is raising tensions.

24 Jan 2025 - 6:55PMvideocam

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