RT.com
25 Nov 2021, 14:50 GMT+10
The head of America's CIA has warned Russia of ?consequences? if it is discovered to be involved in a series of incidents involving US diplomats around the world, now dubbed ?Havana Syndrome?, The Washington Post has reported.
Citing anonymous 'sources', the newspaper revealed that CIA Director William Burns brought the issue up earlier this month during meetings in Moscow with Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council, and Sergey Naryshkin, the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
Havana Syndrome is an unexplained illness that has been reported by multiple US government officials and military personnel stationed abroad. The symptoms include hearing loud noises, pain in the ears, and cognitive difficulties. While the first case was detected in Cuba, others have been reported in many other countries around the world, including China and Germany. Burns has publicly described the incidents as "attacks" and suspects a foreign adversary is responsible.
According to The Washington Post, Burns told Russian officials that inflicting serious brain damage on Americans was beyond the scope of what is permissible for a "professional intelligence service." He did not, however, directly accuse Russia of being involved.
This isn't the first suggestion that Moscow is behind Havana Syndrome. In August, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Alexander Bikantov denied any Russian link to the incidents after it was implicated in a story published in The New Yorker.
"We believe it to be low and morally wrong to initiate anti-Russian speculation by pointing at someone's bad health," Bikantov said. "It is clear that the Western tabloids' love for conspiracy theories is ineradicable."
Earlier this month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Burns spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting they discussed "bilateral relations" and engaged in "an exchange of opinions on regional conflicts." Peskov did not mention Havana Syndrome.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of China National News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.
More InformationNEW DELHI - India is preparing to scrap import taxes on U.S. ethane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as part of ongoing trade negotiations...
TOKYO, Japan: Facing the pressure of new U.S. tariffs, Honda is weighing a shift in its production strategy that could see more of...
BEIJING, China: China will raise battery safety standards for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, aiming to tackle fire and explosion...
HANOI, Vietnam: During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Hanoi this week, China and Vietnam agreed to take the first steps toward...
FORT WORTH, Texas: American Airlines will begin offering free high-speed Wi-Fi to passengers in January 2026, joining a growing list...
LONDON, UK: Electric vehicle sales surged globally in March, with strong growth in China and Europe offsetting slower momentum in North...
TOKYO, Japan: Facing the pressure of new U.S. tariffs, Honda is weighing a shift in its production strategy that could see more of...
HONG KONG - Mail services between Hong Kong and the United States are the latest casualty in an escalating trade dispute, with Hong...
BEIJING, China: China will raise battery safety standards for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, aiming to tackle fire and explosion...
HANOI, Vietnam: During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Hanoi this week, China and Vietnam agreed to take the first steps toward...
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are appealing to the public for assistance in locating Michael Connors, a 25-year-old Irish national...
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/TOKYO: U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his opposition to a foreign takeover of U.S. Steel, casting renewed...