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Austria expels four Russian diplomats under suspicion of espionage

2Feb

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Intelligence, Austria, Diplomacy, Military Magazine

Austria expels four Russian diplomats under suspicion of espionage

Austria is expelling four Russian diplomats for behaving in a manner inconsistent with international agreements, a reason often invoked in spying cases, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday without giving specifics. The move brings to nine the number of Russian diplomats Austria has expelled since 2020, though any connection between the three separate decisions is unclear. Austria has generally been more reluctant than many other western European countries to expel Russian envoys. Two of the four diplomats declared personae non gratae on Thursday and ordered to leave the country by February 8 are stationed at the Russian Embassy to Austria while the other two work at the Russian mission to the United Nations in Vienna, the ministry said in a statement. “Two diplomats at ...

Chinese leader Xi Jinping meets Saudi royals on Mideast trip

8Dec

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Diplomacy, China, Saudi Arabia

Chinese leader Xi Jinping meets Saudi royals on Mideast trip

Gulf states trying to recalibrate their foreign policy as the US turns its attention elsewhere in the world; for Xi, the visit is a chance to restore global profile. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s king and the crown prince while on a visit to the kingdom, solidifying ties with a region crucial to his country’s energy supplies as sanctions intensify on Russia over its war on Ukraine. Xi arrived at Al Yamama Palace in Riyadh and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king’s assertive son who stands ready to rule the oil-rich kingdom in the decades to come. Xi shook hands with the prince as an honor guard on horseback carried Saudi and Chinese flags. It wasn’t immediately clear what the two focused on in thei...

Azerbaijan decides to open embassy in Israel

26Nov

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Diplomacy, Azerbaijan, Israel

Azerbaijan decides to open embassy in Israel

The Israeli government welcomed on Friday the "historic" decision by the Azerbaijani parliament to open an embassy in Tel Aviv, as Azerbaijan is set to become the first Shiite Muslim-majority country to send a top-rank diplomatic mission to Israel. "I welcome the decision by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan to open an embassy in Israel. Azerbaijan is an important partner of Israel and home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the Muslim world," Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement. The decision reflects the depth of the relationship between the two countries and "is the result of the Israeli government's efforts to build strong diplomatic bridges with the Muslim world," the statement noted. Israel has an embassy in Baku, Azerbaijani capital. In June 2021, th...

G20 summit: US President Biden meets Chinese counterpart Xi in Bali

14Nov

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Diplomacy, China, United States

G20 summit: US President Biden meets Chinese counterpart Xi in Bali

The two leaders greeted each other warmly as they met for the first time in person since Mr Biden became president nearly two years ago. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden shook hands as they met for long-awaited talks amid increasing economic and security tensions between the two superpowers as they compete for global influence. The two leaders held their first in-person talks on Monday since Mr Biden became president nearly two years ago, meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali ahead of a G20 summit on Tuesday that is set to be fraught with tension over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Biden and Mr Xi have held five phone or video calls since since the American president took office in January 2021, but last met in person during the Obama administration when Mr Bi...

Russian FM Lavrov taken to hospital ‘with heart condition’ on arrival at G20

14Nov

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Russia

Russian FM Lavrov taken to hospital ‘with heart condition’ on arrival at G20

Moscow’s top envoy taken for medical treatment after reaching Indonesian resort island of Bali for high-level summit. NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been taken to the hospital after suffering a health problem following his arrival for the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesian authorities said Monday. Three Indonesian government and medical officials told The Associated Press that the Russian diplomat was being treated on the resort island. All declined to be identified as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Two of the people said Lavrov was being treated for a heart condition. The officials said he was taken to Sanglah Hospital in the provincial capital, Denpasar. The hospital did not immediately comment. Officials at the...