Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that it had summoned the German Ambassador's representative to inform them that it had declared a staff member at the German Embassy persona non grata. The ministry linked the move to a decision by the German government to expel an employee of the Russian Embassy in Berlin last month on espionage allegations which Russia rejects. It called Thursday's move a 'symmetrical response' and said that Germany bore 'full responsibility for the new escalation in bilateral relations.'
President Emmanuel Macron announced the release of Laurent Vinatier, who had been jailed for allegedly violating Russia's so-called foreign agent laws, saying that the researcher was free and back in France. list of 3 itemsend of list I share the relief of his family and loved ones. My gratitude to our diplomatic agents for their mobilisation, Macron said on Thursday.
Oleg Artemyev is said to have been accused of photographing classified documents and rocket equipment at a SpaceX facility in Hawthorne, California, and then 'smuggling' that information out of the building on his phone in late November. The 54-year-old was scheduled to be part of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, led by NASA, heading to the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2026.
"I've been involved with China for a long time. "I've called out China's human rights abuses, I was one of those who put forward amendments to make sure Chinese government companies weren't involved in our infrastructure projects, as a result of which I'm a subject of interest to them."
Hungary's EU commissioner has denied any knowledge of alleged attempted spying by the Hungarian government during his time as the country's top diplomat in Brussels, a commission spokesperson said. Oliver Varhelyi sat down with European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday to discuss the allegations reported by a consortium of investigative journalists last week. On Monday, the commission's chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho, said:
The two men were accused of gathering and providing information prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023. But on Monday at the Old Bailey, the court heard that the CPS had determined the evidence it had gathered did not meet the threshold to go to trial. The pair were due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court from 6 October.
Belarusian state media reported on Friday that agents from the state security service had detained the man and found documents on him related to joint military exercises planned by Belarus and its ally, Russia. Poland has called the move a provocation and promised a response. list of 3 itemsend of list The priest, identified as Grzegorz Gawel, was arrested the previous day in the city of Lepel, east of the capital, Minsk.
