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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

SCO

Opinion | The SCO is caught between regional weight and global ambitions

As the SCO marks its 25th anniversary, internal rifts as well as limited financial integration and security cooperation are holding it back.

11 Aug 2026 - 10:29AMvideocam

US-China relations

China’s Xi Jinping sets new precedent with July 4 message for Trump and US

6 Jul 2026 - 6:40PMvideocam

US-China relations

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, June 2026

1 Jul 2026 - 11:36AM

France

Macron urges more opposition to the death penalty as global executions rise

At a global summit in Paris, the French president defends human dignity amid a surge in state killings.

1 Jul 2026 - 10:16AM

French President Emmanuel Macron delivering his speech on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Venezuela

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Belarus’ Lukashenko courts Moscow and Beijing as Ukraine tensions simmer

China and Belarus must maintain strategic dialogue and continue to develop bilateral relations at a high level, President Xi said on Monday.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:04AM

Ukraine war

Zelensky gives Belarus 1 week to remove equipment used in Russian attacks

‘If he doesn’t do ‌it, we’ll do it,’ the president threatened, saying that a week should be enough time for Belarus leader Lukashenko.

20 Jun 2026 - 2:41AM

A Ukraine serviceman launches an UAV for a patrol flight along the Ukraine-Belarus border on June 1. Photo: TNS

Russia

Murder of Russian artist critical of Putin likely ‘political’: Poland’s Tusk

The case risks rekindling tensions between Poland and Russia, exacerbated by drone crashes on Polish territory last autumn.

18 Jun 2026 - 12:03AM

Ukraine war

Belarusian leader tells Russia, Ukraine to make ‘compromises’ and end war

Lukashenko said it was clear that victory on the battlefield was unrealistic for both sides in the conflict, despite Russian advances.

16 Jun 2026 - 2:35PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

26 May 2026 - 2:16PM

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv. Photo: Reuters

China trade

Chinese traders in Iran keep business afloat as war capsizes naval shipping

Extended disruption caused by conflict has prompted Chinese merchants to turn to railway and land transport routes to trade goods.

24 May 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

A China-Europe freight train prepares to depart from the China Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Jiangsu province. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ukraine war

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

19 May 2026 - 1:11PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday.

8 May 2026 - 4:26PM

China food security

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

5 May 2026 - 8:29AM

China-North Korea relations

Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy

Rare cooperation plan with Moscow could accelerate Pyongyang’s military modernisation on multiple fronts, analysts say.

3 May 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

31 Mar 2026 - 9:11AMvideocam

North Korea

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

27 Mar 2026 - 10:08AM

North Korea

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

26 Mar 2026 - 3:49PM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Belarusian presidential press service

Russia

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

20 Mar 2026 - 11:05AM

China-Russia relations

China, Russia look to boost transport links amid Middle East disruption

Increased use of Arctic shipping route among topics covered at inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum.

17 Mar 2026 - 10:00PM

Hong Kong transport

Hongkong Post’s airmail services to 24 countries affected by strikes in Middle East

Public postal service suspends airmail to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, affecting ‘services transiting through these locations’.

1 Mar 2026 - 11:50PM

Residents mail parcels at the General Post Office in Central in May 2025. Photo: Elson Li

Ukraine war

Opinion | Don’t expect Russia’s war on Ukraine to end in its fifth year

Barring Moscow or Kyiv reaching breaking points in their war efforts, neither side will make any steps to end or ‘freeze’ the conflict.

26 Feb 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Ukrainian soldiers fire a multiple rocket launch system towards Russian troops near the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk, Ukraine, on October 23, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

China ‘reminds’ its male citizens in Russia about Moscow’s military service law

Men applying for long-term Russian residency must agree to serve a year in the armed forces, consulate says in an unusual notice.

26 Feb 2026 - 8:03PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

20 Jan 2026 - 12:29PM

Russia

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

30 Dec 2025 - 8:14PM

Russia

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

27 Dec 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear his intention to ‍place intermediate-range Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. Photo: TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa

European Union

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

23 Dec 2025 - 9:34PM

Ukraine war

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:57AMvideocam

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Belarus

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | The SCO is caught between regional weight and global ambitions

As the SCO marks its 25th anniversary, internal rifts as well as limited financial integration and security cooperation are holding it back.

China’s Xi Jinping sets new precedent with July 4 message for Trump and US

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, June 2026

Macron urges more opposition to the death penalty as global executions rise

At a global summit in Paris, the French president defends human dignity amid a surge in state killings.

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

Belarus’ Lukashenko courts Moscow and Beijing as Ukraine tensions simmer

China and Belarus must maintain strategic dialogue and continue to develop bilateral relations at a high level, President Xi said on Monday.

Zelensky gives Belarus 1 week to remove equipment used in Russian attacks

‘If he doesn’t do ‌it, we’ll do it,’ the president threatened, saying that a week should be enough time for Belarus leader Lukashenko.

Murder of Russian artist critical of Putin likely ‘political’: Poland’s Tusk

The case risks rekindling tensions between Poland and Russia, exacerbated by drone crashes on Polish territory last autumn.

Belarusian leader tells Russia, Ukraine to make ‘compromises’ and end war

Lukashenko said it was clear that victory on the battlefield was unrealistic for both sides in the conflict, despite Russian advances.

Exiled Belarus opposition leader visits Ukraine as Kyiv warns of escalation

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya meets foreign minister during working trip as Kyiv reels from heavy Russian strikes.

Chinese traders in Iran keep business afloat as war capsizes naval shipping

Extended disruption caused by conflict has prompted Chinese merchants to turn to railway and land transport routes to trade goods.

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday.

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy

Rare cooperation plan with Moscow could accelerate Pyongyang’s military modernisation on multiple fronts, analysts say.

North Korea tests powerful missile engine. Will an ICBM launch follow?

The engine may be used in the Hwasong-20, which analysts say is capable of hitting targets around the globe.

North Korea and Belarus sign friendship treaty on Lukashenko’s first visit

Kim Jong-un and Alexander Lukashenko formalise ties in Pyongyang, agree to cooperate in an array of fields.

Kim welcomes Belarus’ Lukashenko to North Korea with a 21-gun salute

The two countries also signed a ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty to deepen ties.

Belarus frees 250 political prisoners as US removes more sanctions

It was the latest step in the Belarusian leader’s effort to improve ties with Washington.

China, Russia look to boost transport links amid Middle East disruption

Increased use of Arctic shipping route among topics covered at inaugural China-Russia Logistics Business Forum.

Hongkong Post’s airmail services to 24 countries affected by strikes in Middle East

Public postal service suspends airmail to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, affecting ‘services transiting through these locations’.

Opinion | Don’t expect Russia’s war on Ukraine to end in its fifth year

Barring Moscow or Kyiv reaching breaking points in their war efforts, neither side will make any steps to end or ‘freeze’ the conflict.

China ‘reminds’ its male citizens in Russia about Moscow’s military service law

Men applying for long-term Russian residency must agree to serve a year in the armed forces, consulate says in an unusual notice.

Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invites

Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

Russia’s nuclear-capable missiles enter service, heightening Ukraine tensions

After Trump-Zelensky talks, Putin projects power by deploying nuclear-ready Oreshnik missiles to Belarus as a warning to the West.

Russia likely moving new nuclear missiles that are hard to intercept to Belarus

Experts say deployment of the Oreshnik a strategic shift to deter Nato and extend Moscow’s missile range in Europe.

Opinion | Can Belarus balance relations with Russia, China and the US?

Minsk aims to rebalance its foreign policy towards Beijing and Washington but geopolitical realities prevent a full break from Russia.

Russia deploys nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to Belarus amid Ukraine talks

Russian state media says it would take the weapon only 17 minutes to reach Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Opinion | The SCO is caught between regional weight and global ambitions