Latest news for 2 March 2026

KYRGYZSTAN

Take it to court.

Kyrgyzstan is warning it’ll take the EU to court if the bloc goes ahead with proposed sanctions that would curb the post-Soviet state’s access to certain dual-use goods. Brussels is accusing Kyrgyzstan of helping Russia skirt sanctions. (TVP World)

Comment: Kyrgyzstan’s imports of European high-priority items have surged 800% since Putin’s invasion, and no, that’s not a coincidence.

PAKISTAN

Consulate protest.

At least 22 are dead and another 120 injured after pro-Iran protesters tried to storm the US consulate in Karachi yesterday (Sunday). (NYT $)

Comment: Pro-Iran sentiment is more common in Pakistan’s Shia minority (15-20%). For its part, Islamabad has its hands full with its Afghanistan war, partly explaining why its response to neighbouring Iran has been to both a) condemn the US/Israeli strikes as unlawful, while also b) condemning Iran’s retaliatory hits across the Gulf.

BELGIUM

The other war.

Belgium, with support from France, has seized a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the North Sea and escorted it to Zeebrugge. (Euractiv)

Comment: This helps the Belgians push back on claims they were Putin-sympathetic when blocking EU moves to use seized Russian assets. It also exposes the limits of Putin’s threats — he’s responded the same way as last time (by doing nothing).

VIETNAM

We’ll have what they’re having.

Vietnam has enacted the region’s first comprehensive AI law. It’s modelled after the EU's own AI Act, which mandates human oversight of generative AI and the labelling of AI-generated content. (The Straits Times)

Comment: This was always part of the strategy behind the EU’s sovereignty-via-standards approach — ie flex its regulatory muscle and hope others would follow.

BOLIVIA

Flight risk.

A Bolivian air force C-130 carrying newly printed currency has crashed after veering off the runway near La Paz, leaving at least 15 dead and scattering banknotes across the area. Authorities are investigating the cause. (AP)

GHANA

Entrenched.

On a trip to Kyiv, Ghana’s foreign minister has revealed at least 55 Ghanaians have been killed after being recruited into Russia’s war on Ukraine — it’s the most casualties officially confirmed by any single African country during this war. (BBC)