Belarus
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EU-regulated CI Ratings assigns BBB international rating to EDB with stable outlook
Highlights strong capital position, robust asset quality, comfortable liquidity profile and low refinancing risk.
Ukraine's drone campaign bites into Russian fuel supply as refinery damage forces emergency imports from Belarus
Russia's purchases of Belarusian gasoline on the St Petersburg commodity exchange exceeded 17,000 tonnes in early May — roughly 58-times the volume bought in the same period last year.
Macron calls Lukashenko as US withdraws from Ukraine ceasefire talks
French President Emmanuel Macron took the unusual step of calling Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko on May 24, which is now housing Russian nuclear weapons.
Russia moves nuclear weapons to Belarus for joint exercise
Drills taking place amid heightened tensions between Russia and Nato members, with regional security concerns rising following recent incidents involving drones in the Baltic region.
Lithuania’s PM apologises for communication failures during drone alerts
Nato air policing was activated, airspace above Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed, and train traffic in Vilnius County was halted after reports of an incoming drone.
Top Lithuanian officials take shelter after air alert after suspected drone approaches from Belarus
Defence ministry declared a “Red” alert in Vilnius county, ordering residents to take shelter.
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Lukashenko praises US as Belarus receives two-thirds of humanitarian aid from Washington
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has praised the United States as a leading source of humanitarian assistance for his country, saying Washington supplied two-thirds of the humanitarian aid received by Belarus over the past year.
Russia would not accept military presence of outside powers in Central Asia, says defence minister
Andrei Belousov tells SCO meeting Moscow is “closely monitoring” moves made by “non-regional states”.
Emerging Europe weathers Iran war shock, but risks mount, wiiw says
Higher energy prices, weaker trade and geopolitical uncertainty weigh on the region’s outlook, according to new forecasts from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies.
EU’s 20th Russia sanction package introduces full crypto ban
The European Union has approved its 20th sanctions package against Russia, targeting more than 120 individuals and entities, including oil companies, refineries, ports, tankers, banks, crypto platforms and a number of public figures.
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Belarus's Lukashenka calls on citizens to mobilise for economic survival
Belarus's Lukashenka has called on citizens to mobilise and prioritise the economy, warning of an unpredictable global situation and saying the state will no longer put public comfort ahead of economic performance.
COMMENT: Lukashenko is wooing Trump, but time is running out
A tentative thaw between Washington and Minsk is gathering pace. The US has lifted some sanctions after Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko release hundreds of political prisoners. But time for deal-making is running out.
Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un sign friendship treaty in Pyongyang on first-ever visit
Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un have signed a friendship treaty in Pyongyang, deepening ties between two of Putin's closest allies as both nations face western sanctions over their support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Trump suspends Iran power plant strikes for five days, citing 'productive' direct talks with Tehran
Trump suspends planned strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, revealing the US and Iran have been in direct talks over a "complete and total resolution" of the Middle East conflict.
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Belarus's Lukashenko offers to mediate between US and Iran, outflanking Moscow
Belarus's Lukashenko offers to mediate between the US and Iran after meeting a Trump envoy.
Belarus frees another 250 political prisoners as US eases sanctions
Belarus has released another 250 political prisoners, the largest single release to date, after cutting a new sanctions relief deal with the US, Associated Press reported on March 19.
Which countries face the broadest international sanctions? Statista
As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports.
Democratic decline deepens in Eastern Europe as global slide to autocracy accelerates
Democratic governance is under unprecedented strain worldwide, with Eastern Europe now a hotspot for backsliding, says V-Dem Institute Democracy Report.