**Japanese Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Belarus**
A Japanese man was sentenced to seven years in prison by a court in Minsk, Belarus. Masatoshi Nakanishi was convicted of espionage activity for taking photos of civilian and military infrastructure.
The authorities accused Nakanishi of taking over 9,000 photos of military facilities and railway infrastructure. They also claimed he traveled to the Ukrainian border. Nakanishi has been in custody since July.
**Background on Belarus’ Human Rights Situation**
Belarus is known for imprisoning hundreds of people under the guise of anti-state activity. There are currently 1,213 political prisoners in the country. The Japanese Embassy was not allowed to attend the court proceedings, and human rights groups are calling for Nakanishi’s immediate release.
**Ukraine Conflict Update**
The situation in Ukraine remains tense. A proposed ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine is on the table. Disruptions to satellite providers have been reported, which affect television, radio, and aviation navigation systems.