diplomacy
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In a recent session at the United Nations Security Council, tensions ran high as diplomats engaged in a passionate debate regarding the provision of arms to Ukraine in the midst of its prolonged conflict with Russia. The eleventh meeting on this critical matter since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 sparked sharp criticisms from multiple speakers,…
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America’s chief diplomat is engaged on a frantic bout of shuttle diplomacy across the Middle East with currently little to show for it. Antony Blinken has taken in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Amman, Baghdad and Ankara, but diplomatically speaking seems still to be on the road to nowhere. He has three tasks in hand – none of…
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Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva had her pre-trial detention extended to 5 December earlier this morning. She is accused of violating Russia’s law on foreign agents. As we outlined in this blog last week, Ms Kurmasheva is a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is funded by the US Congress and designated by…
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An explosion at the al Ahli hospital in Gaza on Tuesday killed many – officials linked to Hamas said up to 471 were killed. This latest round of fighting has inflamed anger and violence well beyond the confines of the Israel/Hamas conflict. The Israelis insist they have evidence which suggests that the damage was not…
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Algeria said on Monday that Denmark’s foreign minister apologized for a recent string of Quran burnings by far-right extremists in front of the diplomatic missions of several Muslim nations, including Algiers’. During a phone call with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf, Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed his regret over the burnings of the Muslim holy book…
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President Vladimir Putin on Monday said Russia is open to deepen cooperation with all countries that defend their national interests. “Russia is open to deepening equal technological partnership and military-technical cooperation with other countries, with everyone who defends their national interests, their independent path of development,” Putin said in a video address to the international…
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Latest developments as at Thursday 24 March, 2022. ►Ukrainian deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk says Ukraine and Russia exchanged a total of 50 military and civilian prisoners Thursday. ►Bulgaria is recalling its ambassador to Moscow for consultations in response to “undiplomatic, sharp and rude” statements made by Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova. Mitrofanova said Monday that…
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President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the US will ban Russian energy imports as part of sanctions responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The embargo will include oil, liquefied natural gas and coal. “That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at US ports, and the American people will deal another blow to the…
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Ukrainian technicians have started repairing damaged power lines in an attempt to restore external electricity supplies to the site of the Russian-controlled Chernobyl nuclear power plant that were entirely cut earlier in the week, according to International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Ukraine’s regulatory authority said work began Thursday and technicians had…
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The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on more Russian oligarchs and elites, increasing pressure on those close to Russian President Vladimir Putin in punishment over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Those hit with sanctions on Friday include 10 people comprising VTB Bank’s board, 12 members of the Duma and the family of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry…
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China said that the UK and some of its politicians should refrain from engaging in anti-China manipulation or interfering in China’s internal affairs on the Taiwan question. The warning comes after the Grand Committee of the House of Lords of the UK held a debate on “support for democracy in Taiwan” on March 3, during…
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Britain set out ways it would crack down on “dirty money” on Monday, introducing new legislation to “hobble” Russian President Vladimir Putin by making it more difficult for those close to him to use London as their playground. The much-delayed Economic Crime Bill comes as lawmakers from across the political spectrum call on the government…
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Ukrainian actor Pasha Lee was killed on Sunday in Irpin, under shelling by Russian forces occupying the city located west of Kyiv, according to local reports. The TSN television news service and the Odesa International Film Festival said the actor (who is also referred to as Pavlo Li and Pasha Li) was 33. Lee is said to have…
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NATO allies on Friday evening rejected Ukraine’s appeal for no-fly zones, saying they were increasing support to Kyiv but that intervening directly could escalate tensions. “We have a responsibility … to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering,” said…
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The Kremlin will respond to what Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov described on Saturday as Western “economic banditry” over the Ukraine conflict, but he stressed that Russia was far too big to be excluded from the world economy. “This does not mean Russia is isolated,” Peskov told reporters. “The world is too big for…
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An evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol had been postponed after city authorities said Russian forces were not respecting an agreed ceasefire. Russia announced a partial halt to the fighting near Mariupol and Volnovakha on Saturday to allow safe passage for civilians fleeing fighting as it continues a broader offensive in Ukraine. …
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