Russian plane lands in US to remove diplomats expelled for alleged espionage
-
Indians living in Japan on stand-by to house Asian Games athletes
-
We don't want Games host Japan losing money, says Asian Olympic official
-
Trump signs bill authorizing sweeping Russia sanctions
-
Ed Sheeran returns to stage after Palestinian controversy
-
Protesters form human chain at Kennedy Center after Trump threat
-
Asian Games to open in Japan after troubled build-up
-
Death toll from attack at police HQ in Pakistan rises to 31
-
Drone owners rush to offload devices ahead of Beijing ban
-
Trump says Denmark to give US 'permanent control' over Greenland security
-
Trump's beef policies irk Texas ranchers, testing their loyalty
-
Kennedy Center: future unclear for iconic Washington arts hub
-
Nvidia, OpenAI CEOs to attend Xi dinner at White House
-
Trump claims 'infinite' Greenland security deal with Denmark
-
Anthropic picks Accenture for in-house AI safety evaluation
-
Helicopters battle wildfire threatening Ecuador's capital
-
Balogun returns as Monaco beat Lens to continue strong Ligue 1 start
-
Brentford batter Chelsea to undo Alonso's promising start
-
'Pause' on overt repression in Venezuela, but reforms still needed: HRW
-
Kane hits Bundesliga century as Bayern rout Union
-
Global stocks mixed as yen falls despite Bank of Japan rate hike
-
Trump says CNN, MS NOW, Politico banned from White House
-
Cuba hit with seventh major blackout of the year
-
Hushing and hedging: US companies retreat on climate
-
Murray out with concussion so Wentz will start for Vikings
-
Springboks to face Fiji before 2027 Rugby World Cup
-
UN chief 'deeply regrets' US visa refusal to Abbas for annual meeting
-
Nigeria miners struggled to breathe in cell before 37 died: survivors
-
England quick Carse to face no charges over alleged nightclub assault
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship as Reed withdraws
-
Mancini brings nine newcomers into the first squad of his Italy comeback
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship
-
Czechs level Davis Cup tie against USA as South Korea eye Finals
-
Crisis-wracked Volkswagen warns of 10-bn-euro hit to profits
-
New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad
-
Costa Rica's Grynspan tops third informal poll for UN chief: diplomat
-
California governor signs order to explore AI 'kill switch'
-
Stock markets retreat after central bank rate hikes
-
Head leads run spree as Australia win Zimbabwe ODI series
-
Russia labels director of Cannes Grand Prix winner a 'foreign agent'
-
In-form Raphinha wants to finish career at Barcelona
-
Macron warns of Russian 'hybrid' threat after meeting presidential hopefuls
-
Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman
-
UN holds third informal poll for new chief
-
Carrick confident Man Utd can 'work through' tough time
-
Kulusevski return can spark Spurs: De Zerbi
-
Mbappe ends Nike partnership to join Swiss brand On
-
Shakira to cap off world tour with Madrid 12-gig run
-
Liverpool boss Iraola puts Bournemouth love affair on hold
-
Isolated Syrian-Druze city blames Damascus for shortages
-
'A disaster' if Man City do not win says Maresca after flawless start
Russian plane lands in US to remove diplomats expelled for alleged espionage
A Russian plane landed at Washington's international airport Saturday to pick up about a dozen diplomats from Moscow's UN mission who are accused by Washington of espionage, authorities said.
The United States closed its airspace to all Russian aircraft after Moscow invaded Ukraine.
The Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft was allowed, however, to land at Dulles International Airport. The landing was confirmed by the FlightAware website, which tracks all air movement.
"The US government approved a flight chartered by the Russian government to facilitate the departure of Russian UN Mission personnel who were expelled for abuse of their privileges of residence," a State Department spokesman told AFP.
"This special exception was done... to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed," the spokesman added, speaking on background.
The United States had called on Monday for the expulsion of 12 members of Russia's UN mission by March 7.
A day later, again citing alleged espionage, the US ordered the expulsion of a Russian national working for the UN secretariat.
"This is a hostile move against our country," Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoli Antonov said in a Facebook message, adding that Moscow "totally rejected" the US claims.
The Russian mission employs about 100 people, according to a Russian diplomatic source.
E.Borba--PC
