Belarus leader heads to Moscow for talks on closer ties

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to host his Belarusian counterpart for talks on closer integration between the two ex-Soviet neighbors. The meeting scheduled for Thursday follows allegations of a failed plot to assassinate Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko, allegedly involving a blockade of the country’s capital, power cuts and cyberattacks. Belarusian and Russian security agencies have arrested the alleged coup plotters in Moscow earlier this month.