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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — The leaders of Russia and Belarus met Monday to discuss ways to further expand their close alliance that has seen the deployment of some of Russia's nuclear weapons on the territory of its neighbor. President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia and Belarus have developed a “strategic partnership” as part of their 25-year union agreement. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesLast year, Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus, closer to Ukraine and onto NATO’s doorstep. Their declared deployment was widely seen as part of Moscow's efforts to discourage the West from increasing military support to Kyiv. Lukashenko said last month that the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons was finalized in October.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko Locations: PETERSBURG, Russia, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Belarusian, Soviet, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka defends women’s title, defeating Zheng Qinwen in dominant fashion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her Australian Open women’s title on Saturday, dismantling China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in the final in Melbourne and completing a dominant tournament in which she did not drop a single set. And she clinched her second grand slam title in similar fashion, becoming the first woman to win two consecutive Australian Open titles since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka achieved the feat more in 2012-13. China's Zheng Qinwen hits a return against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during the women's Australian Open final. Aryna Sabalenka serves against Zheng Qinwen in the final. And by sealing victory with such a dominant display, she became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2007 to win the Australian Open final without dropping a single service game.

Persons: Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen, Victoria Azarenka, “ It’s, “, I’m, Zheng, China's Zheng Qinwen, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Sabalenka, David Gray, Serena Williams Organizations: CNN, Belarus, Getty Locations: Melbourne, Belarusian, AFP, Zheng’s

☆ Australian Open women’s final: China’s Zheng Qinwen bidding for first grand slam title against relentless Aryna Sabalenka
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —China’s Zheng Qinwen will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot and idol Li Na, who was crowned Australian Open champion a decade ago, when she faces Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. Just go for it.’ That’s enough, I think,” Zheng laughed. So that can’t be more special than here in Australian Open. Beating Gauff was a significant victory for Sabalenka, who lost to the American from a set up in the US Open final at the end of 2023. “As I said before, yeah, I’m defending champion, but worst case … I’m going to lose this tournament and it’s less points to defend next year.

Persons: CNN — China’s Zheng Qinwen, Li Na, Aryna, Zheng, Dayana Yastremska, Li, ” Zheng, ”, Sabalenka, Eloisa Lopez, Lesia, Coco Gauff, Gauff Organizations: CNN, Reuters Locations: Australian, Melbourne, China, Belarusian, ”

☆ Coco Gauff knocked out of Australian Open by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Coco Gauff’s pursuit of back-to-back grand slam titles came to an end on Thursday as she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Defending champion Sabalenka triumphed 7-6(7-2) 6-4 in Rod Laver Arena for her 13th consecutive win at Melbourne Park. In a tight rematch of last year’s US Open final, during which the 19-year-old Gauff won her first major title, the world No. 2 took control of the contest with a break at 4-4 in the second set before serving out for the match. Another finely-balanced second set followed, although this time neither player could find the all-important break.

Persons: Coco Gauff’s, Aryna Sabalenka, Sabalenka, Rod Laver, Gauff, Zheng Qinwen, Eloisa Lopez, Reuters Sabalenka, old’s, Serena Williams, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Gauff, Reuters, ESPN Locations: Saturday’s, Melbourne

CNN —Belarus has conducted mass raids, interrogations and arrests of dozens of friends and relatives of political prisoners, a Belarusian human rights group said, in the regime’s latest crackdown on dissent. The Belarusian KGB reportedly came to the homes and workplaces of the friends and family of political prisoners, interrogating around 100 people and arresting at least 26 others. Maryna Adamovich, the wife of political prisoner and former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, was sentenced to 15 days in prison for “petty hooliganism,” the human rights group said. Norway’s Foreign Ministry said it was “deeply concerned by yesterday’s arrest of Maryna Adamovich, other human rights defenders and their family members.” It called for all political prisoners to be released immediately. “Over the past year, Belarusian authorities doubled down to create an information vacuum around raging repressions by cutting political prisoners off from the outside world and bullying their lawyers and families into silence,” the group said.

Persons: ”, Viasna, ” Viasna, Maryna Adamovich, Mikalai Statkevich, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, ” Tsikhanouskaya, Alexander Lukashenko, “, Maryna Organizations: CNN, Belarusian State Security Committee, Belarusian KGB, Human Rights, Belarusian State Security, Ministry, Dutch Foreign Ministry, Rights Watch Locations: Belarus, Belarusian

☆ Ukrainian teenage tennis player ‘too emotional and confused’ when shaking hands with Russian opponent, says Dayana Yastremska
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska said that her teenage compatriot Yelyzaveta Kotliar was likely to have been “too emotional and confused” when shaking hands with a Russian opponent. The 16-year-old Kotliar was competing in the first round of the Australian Open junior girls’ singles competition when she shook hands with Russian player Vlada Mincheva at the net. Ukrainian Tennis Federation/FacebookSince the start of the war, Russian and Belarusian tennis players have continued to play at tournaments and grand slams but must do so as neutrals without their flag or country displayed. ‘Nice to make history’On Wednesday, meanwhile, the 23-year-old Yastremska continued her stunning run at the Australian Open by defeating the Czech Republic’s Linda Nosková 6-3 6-4. I was a little bit nervous, but at the same time tired.”Yastremska will face China’s Zheng Qinwen in the Australian Open final four on Thursday.

Persons: Dayana Yastremska, Yelyzaveta Kotliar, Kotliar, Vlada Mincheva, Yastremska, “, Kostiantyn, Liza, ”, ” Yelyzaveta Kotliar, Linda Nosková, I’m, Zheng Qinwen Organizations: CNN, Australian Open, Ukrainian Tennis Federation, Facebook, ‘ Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Melbourne, Belarusian, Czech

☆ Australian Open: ‘Part of … war machine hurting my country and my people’ says Ukrainian of Russian and Belarusian opponents
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For Ukrainian tennis players Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko, focusing on tennis continues to be challenging. Kostyuk and Tsurenko have continued to avoid the usual post-match handshakes with opponents from either Russia or Belarus, which is being used as a staging ground for the invasion. “My mother sends me videos when there are missiles flying over their house,” Kostyuk told reporters. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and said playing against players from Russia or Belarus is still “tough.”“They’re part of that … war machine hurting my country and my people,” Tsurenko said. “She said: ‘Great play,’” Sabalenka told reporters.

Persons: Marta Kostyuk, Lesia, Tsurenko, Kostyuk, Russia’s Elina Avanesyan, “, ” Kostyuk, it’s, ”, “ It’s, It’s, Sabalenka, ” Tsurenko, Lesia Tsurenko, Phil Walter, what’s, ’ ” Sabalenka, Maria Timofeeva Organizations: CNN, “, ” CNN, Getty, Kostyuk Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Melbourne, Russian

☆ Belarus adopts new military doctrine involving nuclear weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mariya Knight | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Belarus on Friday adopted a new military doctrine that – if approved – would be the first step toward deploying nuclear weapons across the country. The Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty sets up a legal basis for a wide-ranging alliance between the two countries. Baltic states reinforce bordersThe move by Belarus came as neighboring Baltic states signed an agreement to reinforce their borders with Belarus and Russia. During an interview with state news agency Belta in August last year, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said his country did not “bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone.”“Nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.

Persons: Viktor Khrenin, ”, Khrenin, “, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Hanno Pevkur Organizations: CNN, ” Belarusian, Belarus ’, Collective Security, Organization, Union State, NATO, The Union, The Union State of, Russia Treaty, Belarusian People’s Assembly, Novosti, UN, OSCE, ” Minsk, Estonian Defense Ministry, Estonian Minister of Defense, Belta Locations: Belarus, Republic of Belarus, Russian, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, The Union State, The Union State of Belarus, Ukraine, NATO, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Baltic, Estonia, Estonian

For those Ukrainian players competing at the Australian Open in Melbourne, it’s a gesture that has more meaning than ever. I think it’s important to remember about it and do everything.”Kostyuk said journalists need to keep the news alive. “They want the drama, they wanted news, they wanted all this heating between players and everything,” she said. I still don’t understand what all these (Russian and Belarusian) players are doing here.”When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the plight of Ukrainian players was uppermost in everyone’s minds, with Wimbledon banning Russian and Belarusian players from competing that year and numerous fund-raising events held around the tennis world. Since the war began, Ukrainian players have made a point of not shaking the hands of Russians and Belarusians, sometimes to the confusion of crowds, who have blamed the loser.

Persons: Lesia Tsurenko, Aryna Sabalenka, Tsurenko, Marta Kostyuk, Elina Avanesyan, Dayana Yastremska, ” Kostyuk, ”, “, Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, it’s, Yastremska, Svitolina, Varvara Gracheva Organizations: Wimbledon, ATP, WTA Tours, U.S, Melbourne Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Belarusian, Melbourne, Belarus, “, Ukraine, Sabalenka, Russia, Brisbane, Yastremska

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Lesia Tsurenko. “Last year, Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals, to try to get closer to her,” Sabalenka joked. The pair did not shake hands — as is the convention for Ukrainian players against opponents from Russia or Belarus — but Tsurenko congratulated Sabalenka verbally. Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova, who continued her comeback with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Paula Badosa. 4 Jannik Sinner moved into the fourth round without losing a set, thanks to a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sebastian Baez.

Persons: Aryna Sabalenka, Rod Laver, ” Sabalenka, “, Tsurenko, Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Paula Badosa, Anisimova, I’m, Men’s, Sebastian Baez, Karen Khachanov, Tomas Machac, Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli Organizations: —, Ukrainian Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Russia, Belarus, Alycia Parks, Italy

☆ China willing to continue strengthening cooperation with Belarus -state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko review the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 1, 2023. cnsphoto via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Dec 4 (Reuters) - China is willing to continue strengthening its strategic cooperation with Belarus, President Xi Jinping was cited as saying after meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday. Xi also said China is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with Belarus in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the official news agency Xinhua said. Xi told Lukashenko that both countries should improve cross-border transport facilitation and promote economic and trade ties as well as people-to-people exchanges, according to Xinhua. The Chinese leader also said Beijing and the Eastern European country should implement projects such as the China-Belarus industrial park and promote industrial cooperation. Reporting by Ella Cao and Liz Lee; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Alexander Lukashenko, Xi, Lukashenko, Ella Cao, Liz Lee, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed Organizations: of, People, cnsphoto, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Xinhua, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Belarus, Xinhua

☆ Belarus President Lukashenko heading to China second time this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a national statement at the World Climate Action Summit during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was heading to Beijing on Sunday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Belarusian state media reported, the second trip of the close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China this year. "Negotiations between the head of the Belarusian state and president of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing," BelTA said, citing Lukashenko's press service. Lukashenko, the president of Belarus since 1994 who has been shunned by the West, backed Russia's invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its territory to launch the war. After their March 1 meeting, both Lukashenko and Xi called for the "soonest possible" peace deal for Ukraine.

Persons: Alexander Lukashenko, Amr Alfiky, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko, People's Republic of China Xi, BelTA, Xi, Lidia Kelly, William Mallard, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Beijing, Belarusian, China, People's Republic of China, Belarus, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Melbourne

☆ Belarus President Lukashenko Heading to China Second Time This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was heading to Beijing on Sunday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Belarusian state media reported, the second trip of the close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China this year. Lukashenko, who according to Chinese state media was welcomed with a gun salute and military honours during his official Feb. 28 - March 2 visit, was this time heading for "a working visit," BelTA state news agency reported. "Negotiations between the head of the Belarusian state and president of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping will take place in Beijing," BelTA said, citing Lukashenko's press service. Lukashenko, the president of Belarus since 1994 who has been shunned by the West, backed Russia's invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its territory to launch the war. After their March 1 meeting, both Lukashenko and Xi called for the "soonest possible" peace deal for Ukraine.

Persons: Alexander Lukashenko, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko, People's Republic of China Xi, BelTA, Xi, Lidia Kelly, William Mallard, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Reuters, Sunday Locations: Beijing, Belarusian, China, People's Republic of China, Belarus, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Melbourne

☆ NATO's newest member says its shutting down its border with Russia, accusing Moscow of cruelly working to create a migrant crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Finnish officials accused Russia of purposefully sending hundreds of asylum seekers to the Finland. AdvertisementAs waves of asylum seekers surge toward Finland amid freezing temperatures, the country has decided to shut down its border with Russia. The crisis that has been emerging, Finnish officials say, is one that was artificially created by Russia intentionally sending migrants to the Finnish border. "Russia is enabling the instrumentalisation of people and guiding them to the Finnish border in harsh winter conditions. NATO's newest member has highlighted Moscow's involvement, accusing Russian border guards of escorting migrants to the border themselves.

Persons: —, Dmitri Peskov, Petteri Orpo, Mari Rantanen, JUSSI NUKARI, Alexander Lukashenko Organizations: Belarus, Service, NATO, Helsinki, Institute for, European Union, Rights Watch Locations: Finland, Russia, Poland, Moscow, Belarus, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Salla, Finnish Lapland, Washington, DC, Russia's

☆ Sabalenka, Rybakina to open new season in Brisbane
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - WTA Finals - Cancun, Mexico - November 5, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organisers said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park. "Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release. "I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans." Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.

Persons: Poland's Iga Swiatek, Henry Romero, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS, Rights, Brisbane International, WTA, United, Victoria Azarenka, Brisbane, Melbourne, Queensland tennis, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Belarus, Perth, Sydney, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Kazakh

☆ Polish truckers start round-the-clock blockade of fourth Ukrainian border crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO:Ukrainian trucks are parked near the Poland-Ukraine border, near the village of Korczowa, Poland November 19, 2023. Polish truckers have already been blocking access to three other border crossings since Nov. 6, demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and military supplies. The current waiting time for trucks to cross at Medyka, one of eight road border crossings with Ukraine, is 127 hours according to data from the Polish border guard. In Medyka truckers are joining a protest organised by farmers who are demanding that government support to help them deal with low grain prices be continued. Two trucks per hour are being let through at Medyka, the protesters say, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and war supplies.

Persons: Yan, Tomasz Borkowski, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Transport Employers, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry, Thomson Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Korczowa, Polish, European, Russia, Russian, Medyka

☆ Polish Truckers Start Round-The-Clock Blockade of Fourth Ukrainian Border Crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish truckers and farmers started a round-the-clock blockade of access on Monday to Medyka, one of the busiest border crossings with Ukraine, extending a protest that has left thousand of lorries stranded for days in queues that stretch for miles. Polish truckers have already been blocking access to three other border crossings since Nov. 6, demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and military supplies. The current waiting time for trucks to cross at Medyka, one of eight road border crossings with Ukraine, is 127 hours according to data from the Polish border guard. In Medyka truckers are joining a protest organised by farmers who are demanding that government support to help them deal with low grain prices be continued. Two trucks per hour are being let through at Medyka, the protesters say, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and war supplies.

Persons: Tomasz Borkowski, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Susan Fenton Organizations: European Union, Transport Employers, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry Locations: WARSAW, Ukraine, Polish, European, Russia, Russian, Poland, Medyka

☆ Russia is pushing migrants to create a crisis at a NATO neighbor's border, and it's not the first time they've done it
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia is sending asylum seekers to Finland, creating a migrant crisis on the border, Finnish authorities say. Finland has already closed several border checkpoints and is considering shutting down its entire Russian border. AdvertisementRussia is creating a migrant crisis at Finland's borders, apparently sending hundreds of asylum seekers to the country. Finland has blamed Russia for artificially creating the migrant crisis, with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo saying last week that Russian border guards were escorting migrants to the border themselves. Finnish border guards escort migrants with bicycles at the international border crossing with Russia at Salla, Finnish Lapland on November 21, 2023.

Persons: —, Dmitri Peskov, Petteri Orpo, JUSSI NUKARI, it's, Alexander Lukashenko Organizations: Service, NATO, Twitter, Business, Finnish, Russian, Getty, Kremlin, The Institute, Washington DC, European Union, Watch Locations: Russia, Finland, Belarus, Poland, Finland's, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Russian, Salla, Finnish Lapland, AFP, Washington, Russia's, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland's

[1/5] Bohdan Yermokhin, a Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia from the occupied city of Mariupol, shakes hands after arriving in Ukraine from Belarus at the border crossing in Kortelisy, amid Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine, November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Acquire Licensing RightsKORTELISY, Ukraine, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian teenager who was taken to Russia from the occupied city of Mariupol during the war and prevented from leaving the country earlier this year returned to Ukraine on Sunday. In March, he tried to leave Russia for Ukraine via Belarus, but was stopped and sent back. "I believed I would be in Ukraine, but not on this day," Yermokhin told Reuters while eating at a petrol station after crossing into Ukraine. Asked if he was glad to be back in Ukraine, Yermokhin said "yes."

Persons: Bohdan Yermokhin, Thomas Peter Acquire, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yermokhin, Zelenskiy, Yermokhin's, Bohdan, he's, Andriy Yermak, Mariam Lambert, Kateryna Bobrovska, Russia's, Maria Lvova, Belova, Vladimir Putin, Pavel Polityuk, Tom Balmforth, Jane Merriman, Ron Popeski, Bill Berkrot, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Sunday, Children's Fund, UNICEF, Russia, FOSTER CARE, Foundation, Reuters, Criminal Court, ICC, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Mariupol, Ukraine, Belarus, Kortelisy, Qatar, MOSCOW, Moscow, Dutch, Minsk, Belarusian, The Hague

☆ Russia is relocating Ukrainian children to Belarus where they are subjected to military training and reeducation, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Sebastian Cahill | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In Belarus, some children have been re-educated by nationalists and given military training. AdvertisementA recent report from Yale University sheds new light on the plight of Ukrainian children who have been deported by Russia, many of whom the report says are being subjected to military training and reeducation. Belarusian troops have subjected Ukrainian children to military training that includes handling firearms, wearing body armor, and watching military parades, lectures, and combat demonstrations, according to the report. The total number of deported Ukrainian children is unknown. Some Ukrainian children say they have been put in Russian foster and adoptive families while others are being repatriated to the country.

Persons: —, Russia's, Maria Lvova, Belova, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Yale University, Yale School of Public, Research, Yale, Internal Troops, CNN, Criminal Court, International Locations: Belarus, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Belarus -Yale research
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Anthony Deutsch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

More than 2,000 children Yale identified were transported to the Dubrava children's centre in Belarus' Minsk region between September 2022 and May 2023, it said, while 392 children were taken to 12 other facilities. "Russia's federal government and Belarus' regime have been working together to coordinate and fund the movement of children from Russia-occupied Ukraine through Russia to Belarus." Transports to Belarus through Russia were "ultimately coordinated" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, it added. Lukashenko approved the use of state organizations to transport children from Ukraine to Belarus and finance their transportation, the Yale report said. Once in Belarus, children have been subjected to military training and re-education, it said.

Persons: Alexander Lukashenko, Pavel Bednyakov, Vladimir Putin, Russia's Putin, Maria Lvova, Lukashenko, David Ljunggren, Mike Collett, White, Alexandra Hudson, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS, Sputnik, Rights, Yale University, Humanitarian, Yale School of Public Health, State Department, Reuters, U.S . State Department, Ukraine, Yale, Transports, Criminal, Thomson Locations: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Russian, United States, Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Minsk, The Hague

CNN —More than 20,000 trucks from Poland and Ukraine are blocked at three major border crossings as striking Polish drivers protest an EU deal that allows Ukrainian trucks unlimited access to the bloc. On Monday, Polish carriers began blocking the movement of trucks along the three largest border crossing points between the two countries: Korczowa-Krakowiec, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska and Dorohusk-Yahodyn, Ukrainian state media Ukrinform reported. Truck drivers from Ukraine have been exempt from seeking permits to cross the Polish border since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Polish drivers claim that Russian and Belarusian entities have been setting up Polish outfits, according to Reuters. According to the Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne, the organizers of the protest said they plan to let one truck per hour to go through the border.

Persons: Rava, Ukrinform, Serhii, ”, Poland Vasyl Zvarych, Suspilne Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Ministry of Restoration, Reuters, NATO, International Transport Association of, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry, EU, Ukraine’s, Ukrainian, Suspilne Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Polish, Russia, Europe, International Transport Association of Ukraine

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A prominent Belarusian dissident author who lives abroad said Thursday that his father was arrested on unclear grounds after police broke into his parents' apartment. The seven police officers, armed with automatic weapons, also took electronics and data files from the Minsk apartment, said Sasha Filipenko. His father was taken away for detention, but no charges were immediately stated. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesFilipenko, a popular novelist, became one of Lukashenko's most prominent critics. Others have been jailed, such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the human rights group Viasna.

Persons: Sasha Filipenko, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Ales Bialiatski Locations: TALLINN, Estonia, Belarusian, Minsk

☆ As the West courts Russia's neighbors, Putin shows he won't give up its backyard without a fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eurasian Economic Summit on Nov. 9, 2022, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at a joint news conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Feb. 10, 2022. "Central Asia obviously has to keep a fine balance and tread that line," Hess said. Analysts note that while an economically isolated Russia wants and needs to keep Central Asia on side, it is gradually losing its grip on the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrive for a working breakfast of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2023.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Keen, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Ilham Aliyev, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, Emomali Rahmon, Alexander Lukashenko, Sergei Lavrov, —, it's, Max Hess, Hess, Kassym, Mikhail Klimentyev, Xi Jinping, Florence Lo, they've, Temur Umarov, Tokayev, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Vladimir Smirnov Organizations: Economic, Getty, Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Russian, Central Asia —, Central Asian, Kazakh, CIS, West, Georgia, Foreign Policy Research Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Reuters Central, Central, Central Asia Summit, Afp, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Commonwealth of Independent, Sputnik Locations: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, Moscow, Russian, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakh, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China, Soviet, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Baltic States, Soviet Union, Moldova, Ukraine, U.S, Afghanistan, Asia, Xian, Shaanxi

☆ Coco Gauff advances to the semifinals of the WTA Finals despite conceding 17 double faults in match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Coco Gauff advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals with a hard-fought victory over Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová on Friday, despite conceding 17 double faults during the match. “I felt like I needed to hit through the court,” Gauff said afterwards, according to Sky Sports. When you play her pace and let her move you side to side, it’s tough. If the Belarusian defeats Iga Świątek in their semifinal, she will secure the year-end world No. Świątek secured her semifinal spot by defeating Ons Jabeur 6-1 6-2 while Pegula won all three of her matches in the round-robin group stages to set up a showdown against Gauff.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Markéta Vondroušová, Vondrousova, Caroline Wozniacki, Jessica Pegula, Gauff, “, ” Gauff, it’s, ”, Venus Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Świątek, Pegula Organizations: CNN, WTA, Wimbledon, Sky Sports, Gauff Locations: Czech, Cancún, Mexico

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