Belarus fills top posts, inspects troops’ combat readiness

Russia’s close ally Belarus has named a new foreign minister and air force chief while announcing a snap military inspection, the latest in a burst of exercises that have prompted concern from neighbouring Ukraine.

Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko named Sergei Aleinik to head the foreign ministry on Tuesday, replacing Vladimir Makei, who died suddenly at the age of 64 last month. Officials have still not stated the cause of Makei’s death.