Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
The United States and other countries have raised alarms regarding the current situation in Belarus under the regime of its authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. As a measure, US President Joe Biden has now imposed sanctions against the Belarusian government.
Biden announced Monday that the US would be imposing sanctions against Lukashenko’s regime. The announcement also coincides with the day marking a year since Lukashenko was elected into office. The Belarusian election was met with concerns over irregularities, according to other countries, including its own citizens.
“It is the responsibility of all those who care about human rights, free and fair elections, and freedom of expression to stand against this oppression,” said Biden in the statement. “The United States will continue to stand up for human rights and free expression while holding the Lukashenko regime accountable in concert with our allies and partners.”
In its announcement of the imposition of sanctions, the White House also cited the instance where Lukashenko forced a European airline to land to arrest one dissident journalist that was on board.
The Treasury Department included in its sanctions the Belaruskali OAO -- one of the country’s biggest state-owned companies and a source of wealth for its government. The department also included the Belarusian National Olympic Committee and 15 other companies that have ties to Lukashenko’s regime. The Belarusian bank AbsolutBank is also included in the list of entities being sanctioned by the Treasury.
The Belarusian Olympic Committee is facing accusations of money laundering, evading sanctions, and the circumvention of visa bans. It was also warned by the International Olympic Committee for its failure to protect Belarusian athletes from political repression and discrimination.
In other news, Biden is still determined to withdraw US military presence from Afghanistan despite the resurfacing of the Taliban and its takeover of a number of cities in the nation. Biden has urged the Afghan government to continue to fight despite the Taliban’s increasingly aggressive resurfacing. As of now, the Taliban are in control of 65 percent of the country and nine out of 34 provincial capitals.
This includes Faizabad, the capital of the northern Badakhshan province, which fell overnight to the insurgent group.
