Don’t expect a ceasefire in Ukraine
Don’t expect a ceasefire in Ukraine,despite the buzz now rippling through European capitals and Washington. The reason is simple: there is no incentive for Russia to stop the war.
Asian news from Belarus
Autocracy Inc: the authoritarian club plotting to defeat the West
Three decades ago, many liberals proclaimed victory for democracy and a “rules-based international order.” But today, the majority of the world’s population lives in countries that are only partially free or are under one form or another of autocratic rule.
Japanese man arrested in Belarus on charges of acting as special services agent
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Japanese man has been arrested in Belarus and is facing charges of working for Japan’s special services by photographing military and civilian infrastructure near the border with Ukraine.
How Belarus is seeking to balance Russia ties with stronger China relations
In 2016, while Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko still had relatively good relations with the West, Minsk and Beijing established a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2017, the Belarusian government offered 22 state-owned enterprises for privatisation exclusively to Chinese businesses, but none have attracted any interest.
Diplomatic wrangling hotting up around Ukraine
Ukraine’s three-week incursion has been countered recently by an intensifying Russian drone campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian troops have also made steady gains in the battle for the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
Hasina’s last stand leans on India and pro-Hindu misinformation
Bangladesh’s recently ousted leader, Sheikh Hasina, has sought refuge in India, her closest foreign ally. Reports indicate that her efforts to win asylum in the UK, Canada, and the US failed, meaning she will likely stay in India for the foreseeable future.
Pro-Israel G7 ambos boycott Japan A-bomb ceremony
Ambassadors to Japan from the other G7 nations – the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France and Italy – refused to attend Friday’s (August 9) peace ceremony in Nagasaki because the Israeli ambassador had not been invited. The only other countries not invited were Russia and Belarus.
U.S. Ambassador to Skip Peace Ceremony in Japan Over Israel’s Omission
The U.S. and British ambassadors to Japan said on Wednesday they would not attend Nagasaki’s annual peace memorial ceremony this week, which marks the day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city, because Israel had not been invited.