Austria expels 2 diplomats from Russia’s Embassy in Vienna. An official says it’s related to spying

VIENNA — Austria said on Wednesday it has ordered two diplomats from Russia’s Embassy in Vienna to leave the country. An Austrian official said the expulsions were related to spying activities. The Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that the two Russian diplomats had “engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status” and have … Read more

Vatican diplomats seek to defuse pope’s kerfuffle over Ukraine ‘white flag’ comments

ROME — The Vatican secretary of state is trying to defuse Pope Francis’ latest diplomatic kerfuffle, insisting in media interviews that a primary condition for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is an end to Russia’s aggression and that any peace must be a “just peace.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s chief diplomat, made … Read more

Top diplomats from US, China hold ‘constructive’ talks on issues dividing them

MUNICH — Top diplomats from the U.S. and China on Friday held a “candid and constructive” discussion on issues vexing their strained relations over Taiwan, the situation in the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine and synthetic opioids, the State Department said. The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign … Read more

Latest Israel-Hamas war news and Gaza updates: U.S., European diplomats in Middle East

Israel-Gaza war Secretary of State Antony Blinken left late Thursday to the Middle East for the fourth time since Israel launched its war in Gaza. The trip comes on the heels of a U.S. strike that killed an Iran-linked militia commander in Baghdad and a suspected Israeli killing of a Hamas leader in Lebanon that … Read more

Trump to install loyalists to reshape U.S. foreign policy. Diplomats gird for “doomsday”

By Gram Slattery, Simon Lewis, Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Donald Trump in a second term would likely install loyalists in key positions in the Pentagon, State Department and CIA whose primary allegiance would be to him, allowing him more freedom than in his first presidency to enact isolationist policies and whims, … Read more

Top diplomats from Japan and China meet in South Korea ahead of 3-way regional talks

TOKYO — Top diplomats from Japan and China met for bilateral talks Saturday to try to resolve disputes including China’s ban on Japanese seafood, which has hit Japanese exporters. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, met in South Korea’s southern port city of Busan. They will join their host, Park … Read more

Top US and Indian diplomats and defense chiefs discuss Indo-Pacific issues and Israel-Hamas war

NEW DELHI — The diplomats and defense chiefs of India and the United States met Friday focusing on security issues involving the Indo-Pacific, China and the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and India have a strong partnership and they would discuss matters with implications for the future. “The future … Read more

Lebanese PM visits troops at border with Israel while Saudi Arabia evacuates families of diplomats

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister Tuesday visited troops deployed near the border with Israel and U.N. peacekeepers, as Saudi Arabia evacuated the families of diplomatic staff because of ongoing clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops. The Saudi move comes amid rising tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, where Hezbollah members have been exchanging fire … Read more

US and UK back Canada in dispute with India over diplomats

By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and Britain on Friday urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June … Read more

Canada pulls out diplomats from India as Sikh killing tensions escalate

Heavy security deployed at High Commission of Canada on September 19, 2023 in New Delhi, India. Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images Canada has pulled 41 diplomats and their families from India, after New Delhi threatened to have their diplomatic immunities revoked if Ottawa did not comply with demands for parity in diplomatic … Read more