U.S., EU expels Russian diplomats over UK nerve agent attack

Now for a look at stories making headlines around the world and we start with the latest on the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK. The U.S. has joined a host of other nations in expelling Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the nerve agent attack. For more on this and other international news we turn to our Ro Aram…Aram… Western nations have been pointing their fingers at Moscow for the attack, and now they joined forces in punishing Russia…. That's right Semin… The U.S. has banded together with several EU nations, as well as Canada and Ukraine, timing their announcements within a few hours on Monday for maximum effect. Washington is expelling 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officers, which is President Trump's strongest action against Russia since coming to office.Trump has always avoided directly challenging his Russian counterpart, but it seems he is bowing to pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to take a tougher stance against the Kremlin. The 60 Russian diplomats are part of more than a hundred of their colleagues from 20 other nations that have been told to leave their respective countries. It marks the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the show of solidarity, saying it sent the "strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law." Moscow called the expulsions a "provocative gesture", threatening to kick out an equal number of foreign diplomats.Russia's Embassy in Washington also responded to a consulate closure in Seattle by asking its Twitter followers to vote which U.S. consulate in Russia it should close. The Kremlin also said President Putin would soon be making a final decision about Russia's response. The UK and the EU have said it is highly likely that Moscow was behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury earlier this month. Moscow continues to deny involvement.