Russia expels U.S.'s second highest official at embassy in Moscow
February 17, 2022, 4:24 pm

Russia expels U.S.'s second highest official at embassy in Moscow

Spasskaya tower and St Basil's cathedral in Moscow, Russia (File photo: Pixabay)

The Swiss Info reported, citing Reuters, a US State Department spokesperson said on Thursday, Russia has expelled the U.S. deputy chief of mission to Russia, Bart Gorman, warning of a U.S. response amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The spokesperson said: "Russia’s action against our DCM was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response."   

Accordign to the report, it was not immediately clear what justification Moscow gave for the expulsion, but it comes during a months-long standoff over a Russian buildup of more than 150,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.

U.S. officials warned the risk of a Russian invasion remained high and that Russia may attempt to fabricate a pretext for a conflict, despite Moscow saying it was moving some of its troops away from the border.

Flag of America-United States (File photo: Pixabay)

Alongside the border tensions, the United States and Russia have been engaged in a tussle over their respective diplomatic presences in each others' capitals and Moscow said in December that U.S. Embassy staff who have been in the post for more than three years should return home.

Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine accuse government forces of mortar attacks

Vladimir Putin says US and Western allies ignored Russia's security demands

The spokesperson said Gorman, the second most senior U.S. official at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, had a valid visa and had been in Russia for less than three years.

The State Department spokesperson said: "We call on Russia to end its baseless expulsions of U.S. diplomats and staff and to work productively to rebuild our missions." adding that "Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments. "  

Source: swissinfo

Turkey dismissed Abu Amsha to polish up the image of the opposition and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army Germany braces for storm Ylenia with Hurricane-force gusts

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”