Russian Diplomat Squats on Vetoed Embassy Site in Australia, Sparks Standoff.

A suspected Russian diplomat is occupying the site of Moscow's proposed embassy in Canberra, Australia, after the Australian government vetoed the plan on security grounds. The Russian embassy refused to comment on media reports that the man seen smoking cigarettes outside his accommodation was a Russian diplomat. The Australian government passed emergency legislation last week blocking Russia’s lease on the largely empty block because the new embassy would have been too close to Parliament House. Russia later informed the government it intended to challenge the extinguishment of the lease in the High Court on constitutional grounds.