Tag: Russia

Jon Huntsman confirmed as US ambassador to Russia

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Senate on Thursday confirmed businessman, veteran diplomat and former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia, filling a crucial post as a probe of Moscow’s influence on the American election widens. The 57-year-old Huntsman, who served as governor of Utah, has worked in numerous US administrations, notably as ambassador to China under Democrat Barack Obama, before running unsuccessfully for president as a Republican in 2012. Huntsman, who […]

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Tens of thousands evacuated from Ukraine arms depot ‘sabotage’ blasts

by Andriy Perun Agence France-Presse KALYNIVKA, Ukraine – Ukrainian authorities evacuated more than 30,000 people Wednesday from the central Vinnytsia region after a huge arms depot storing missiles caught fire and exploded in what prosecutors said was a possible act of “sabotage.” It was the second major incident affecting a large Ukrainian weapons storage site this year. Kiev had blamed a deadly March munitions blast on Moscow and its Russian-backed insurgents fighting Ukrainian forces in the war-wracked east. […]

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Russia-proposed UN Ukraine force must not deepen division: US

KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) – The US special envoy to Ukraine on Saturday called the Russian proposal for a UN peacekeeping force there “a step forward” but warned the terms of the mandate must not “deepen the division” of the conflict-torn country. Kurt Volker was reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent comments in favour of a UN force to protect international observers monitoring the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. “It’s very interesting that Russia proposed a UN protection mission… […]

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PHL Embassy in Moscow urges Filipinos in Russia to take extra precautions following hoax bomb threats in some areas

  (Eagle News) — The Philippine Embassy in Moscow is urging Filipinos in Russia to take extra precautions following reports of bomb threats in some areas there. In a recent statement, Ambassador Carlo Sorreta said these were necessary even if no explosion took place in any of the places where a bomb threat was reported. These places include Krasnoyark, Vladivostok, Chelyabinsk, Magadan, Yekaterinburg, Stavropol, Ufa, Omsk, Bryansk, Novosibirsk, Ryazan and YuznoSakhalinsk. Sorreta said Filipinos should […]

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Three astronauts blast off for five-month ISS mission

by Kirill Kudryavtsev  Agence France Presse BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AFP) — Two US astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut blasted off for the International Space Station in a nighttime launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early Wednesday, heading for a five-month mission. The Soyuz MS-06 rocket carrying Alexander Misurkin of the Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, NASA first-time flyer Mark Vande Hei and his veteran colleague Joe Acaba launched as scheduled at 3:17 am (2117 GMT), according […]

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Tennis: Sharapova knocked out while Venus advances at US Open

  by Jim Slater Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Maria Sharapova’s Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban ended in defeat Sunday at the US Open but the former world number one considered it a major step in her comeback. Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova rallied to eliminate the five-time Grand Slam champion 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking a quarter-final against American Sloane Stephens, who ousted Germany’s […]

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US agents close Russian trade mission, Moscow protests

  by Dave Clark / with Max Delany in Moscow Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) US federal agents inspected a Russian trade mission in Washington to confirm its closure on Saturday, despite a furious diplomatic protest from Moscow. The United States and Russia are in the grip of a diplomatic dispute, and the trade representative’s office is part of a group of properties Washington has ordered closed. Russian officials were forewarned of the […]

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Russia says US plans to search its San Francisco consulate

by Max Delany Agence France Presse    MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia said on Friday the FBI planned to carry out a search of its San Francisco consulate, which Washington has ordered closed along with two other facilities as part of a diplomatic slugging match between the two powers. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the search was set for Saturday and accused the US authorities of threatening the “security” of Russian citizens and violating diplomats’ immunity. Mysterious black smoke was seen rising […]

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Russia, France warn of explosive Korea situation

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin warned Friday of a “major conflict” looming on the Korean Peninsula, calling for crisis talks as France’s foreign minister warned of a possible threat to Europe. Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan into the Pacific, escalating tensions over its atomic program which have led to bellicose exchanges between Washington and Pyongyang. Putin warned that the region was “on the brink of a major conflict”. “The problems […]

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Russia voices ‘regret’ at US order to shut San Francisco consulate

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday expressed “regret at the escalation of tensions” after the United States told Moscow to shut its consulate in San Francisco. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Lavrov as Washington announced it was ordering Moscow to shut the consulate, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. “In response the minister expressed regret at the escalation of tensions in bilateral relations,” it said. “Moscow […]

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Russia ‘extremely worried’ about N. Korea situation

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Tuesday said it was “extremely worried” about the situation in North Korea, hitting out at a “tendency towards an escalation” after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile over Japan. “We see a tendency towards an escalation … and we are extremely concerned by the general developments,” Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti state news agency. Tokyo also said the missile overflew Hokkaido, […]

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UPDATED: US says N. Korea fired three ‘short-range’ ballistic missiles

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles Saturday, the United States military said, following weeks of heightened tensions between Washington and Pyongyang. The missile launches come as tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops take part in joint military drills in the South, which Pyongyang views as a highly provocative rehearsal for an invasion of its own territory. Two of the missiles failed in flight and the third blew […]

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