logo
Russia expels two British diplomats

Russia expels two British diplomats

Roya News10-03-2025
Russia said Monday it was expelling two British "diplomats" on suspicion of carrying out espionage activities.
Announcing the expulsion of the embassy's second secretary and husband of the first secretary, Russia's FSB security service said "counterintelligence work had revealed an undeclared British intelligence presence under the cover of the national embassy."
It said the two "deliberately provided false information when obtaining a permit to enter our country, thus violating Russian legislation."
The UK did not immediately respond to the allegation.
The Russian foreign ministry has revoked their accreditations and ordered them to leave Russia within two weeks, the FSB said.
The ministry also summoned an embassy representative in connection with the allegations, it said in a post on Telegram.
Relations between Moscow and London have been strained by intelligence scandals throughout Russian President Vladimir Putin's quarter-century in power.
The UK accused Moscow of being behind the 2006 assassination of former Russian agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in a London poisoning attack.
And in 2018, Britain and its allies expelled dozens of Russian embassy officials they said were spies over the attempted poisoning of former double agent, Sergei Skripal, with Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ukraine's drone attack sparks fire at oil depot in Russia's Sochi - Jordan News
Ukraine's drone attack sparks fire at oil depot in Russia's Sochi - Jordan News

Jordan News

time6 hours ago

  • Jordan News

Ukraine's drone attack sparks fire at oil depot in Russia's Sochi - Jordan News

Ukraine's drone attack sparks fire at oil depot in Russia's Sochi More than 120 firefighters were trying to extinguish a blaze at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi that was sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said early on Sunday on the Telegram messaging app. اضافة اعلان In the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea where Sochi is located, a fuel tank with a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet) was on fire, Russia's RIA news agency reported, citing emergency officials. The Russian defence ministry said in its daily morning report on Telegram that its air defence units destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one over the Krasnodar region and 60 over the waters of the Black Sea. Reuters

Russia's Most Wanted: Who Is Armin Papperger, Ukraine's Top Weapons Supplier? - Jordan News
Russia's Most Wanted: Who Is Armin Papperger, Ukraine's Top Weapons Supplier? - Jordan News

Jordan News

time6 hours ago

  • Jordan News

Russia's Most Wanted: Who Is Armin Papperger, Ukraine's Top Weapons Supplier? - Jordan News

According to multiple reports, Russia is actively seeking to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall AG, Germany's largest defense company and the leading arms supplier to Ukraine. His company's extensive support for Kyiv has turned him into a key figure in Europe's defense efforts—and a top target for Moscow. Despite several assassination attempts, Papperger has survived thus far. اضافة اعلان At 62 years old, Papperger has built a massive fortune in the weapons industry, now estimated at $12 billion, according to Bloomberg. In April 2024, he survived an arson attack targeting his home in the quiet German village of Hermannsburg. While Papperger wasn't home at the time, the fire—set deliberately—was intended to kill him. The attack came after Rheinmetall provided Ukraine with armored vehicles, military trucks, and ammunition, and announced plans to build four weapons production facilities inside Ukraine. Soon after the attack, a left-wing online platform published an anonymous post claiming responsibility for the arson. The message harshly criticized Rheinmetall for profiting from the war in Ukraine and warned that Papperger 'is no longer safe.' A High-Profile Target A few months later, CNN revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had warned Germany earlier in the year that Russia was planning to assassinate Papperger. The plot was described as one of the most sophisticated among a series of Russian operations targeting defense executives across Europe. In January, James Appathurai, NATO's former hybrid warfare chief, confirmed during a European Parliament session that Russia had concrete plans to kill Papperger. 'All signs indicate that the Russians are far more willing to risk the lives of our citizens,' he said. 'Our response must be equally strong.' Driving Europe's Re-Arming Campaign Bloomberg describes Papperger as 'the most prominent target of the new era', due to his central role in arming Ukraine and benefiting from Europe's largest defense investment in decades. While rival CEOs remained behind closed doors, Papperger took the lead in Europe's rearmament campaign—buying out competitors, expanding production, and even welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Germany's recent announcement of a massive defense spending increase fueled investor enthusiasm. Rheinmetall's stock has surged more than 18x since the war began, making it the most valuable defense company in Europe, with a market cap of around €81 billion. Papperger has voiced frustration over how investors once overlooked the defense sector. 'Now we're major players in the global defense cycle,' he told Businessweek. 'We were always ready—and now it's paying off.' Billions in Investment and Expansion Over the past two years, Rheinmetall has invested more than €8 billion in new production lines and acquisitions. Papperger stated the company is now building or expanding 10 major factories, positioning itself as Europe's ammunition powerhouse. He sees himself as a defender of the rules-based international order. 'It has always been clear to us that free societies must be able to defend themselves,' he said. 'Peace and freedom are not free.' From Engineer to Defense Powerhouse Five years ago, Rheinmetall was viewed as an outdated company operating in fading sectors. 'No one was advising investment in ammunition—it was seen as obsolete,' said Defense Analysis editor Francis Tusa. Papperger joined Rheinmetall in 1990 as a quality control engineer, climbing the ranks steadily. By 2010, he had joined the defense division's board, and in 2013, he became CEO, restructuring the company to strengthen his control. Insiders say Papperger runs Rheinmetall like a family business, making both major and minor decisions with a four-member executive board. A Hands-On, No-Nonsense Leader Papperger is known for his casual dress code—jeans and a button-down shirt—and for personally touring Rheinmetall's factories to speak with workers and welders. He's famously direct and can lose his temper when meetings waste his time. Described as a workaholic, Papperger is known to send emails as early as 4 a.m., requesting urgent updates or decisions. He regularly asks employees at all levels, 'If this were your money, would you invest it here?'

UK tightens gun laws to bar violent, abusive individuals
UK tightens gun laws to bar violent, abusive individuals

Roya News

time7 hours ago

  • Roya News

UK tightens gun laws to bar violent, abusive individuals

British authorities announced new rules on Tuesday, tightening the possession and use of firearms, aiming to prevent individuals with violent records or histories of domestic abuse from owning guns. According to the British news agency PA Media, the updated guidelines come in response to concerns raised by forensic experts and activists following recent shootings in Woodman's Cottage and Keyham, England. Under the new rules, police officers will interview partners or other family members of applicants seeking firearm licenses to identify signs of domestic abuse or other disqualifying factors.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store