Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Images The US Central Intelligence Agency had warned Germany weeks ago of possible attacks on gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, German magazine Spiegel reported after reports of gas leaks in Russian pipelines to Germany. The German government received the CIA tip over the summer, Spiegel reported, citing unnamed sources, adding that Berlin was undertaking a targeted attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. A German government spokesman declined to comment, Spiegel added. — Reuters
Superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian businessman fetches $37.5 million at auction
The Axioma superyacht owned by Russian oligarch Dmitrievich Pumpyansky, who is on the EU’s list of sanctioned Russians, is seen docked in a port amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Gibraltar, March 21, 2022. Jon Nazca | Reuters A superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian businessman fetched $37.5 million at auction in Gibraltar last month after it was sold at the behest of creditor JP Morgan, a court confirmed, in the first sale of its kind since the invasion of Russia in Ukraine. The 72.5m Axioma was seized by Gibraltar authorities in March after the US bank said its alleged owner, a company owned by Dmitry Pubyansky, had reneged on the terms of a 20.5m euro (19.6 million dollars). Pumpyansky, 58, was until March the owner and chairman of steel pipe maker OAO TMK, a supplier to Russian energy company Gazprom. — Reuters
NATO chief talks to Zelensky and confirms alliance support
“I just spoke with President Zelensky and made it clear that NATO allies are unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-defense,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted. “The mock referendums being held by Russia have no legitimacy and are a flagrant violation of international law. These territories are Ukraine,” he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the call in a separate tweet and said he thanked the NATO chief for “condemning Russia’s illegal referendums.” “We discussed the current developments on the battlefield and further support of the alliance member states to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Zelenksi added. — Amanda Macias
Gas leaks from Russian pipelines to Europe spark fears of sabotage
BORNHOLM, DENMARK – SEPTEMBER 27: Danish Defense shows the gas leak in Nord Stream 2 as seen by the Danish F-16 interceptor in Bornholm, Denmark on September 27, 2022. Danish defense/ | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Europe is investigating leaks at two Russian gas pipelines that exited the Baltic Sea, raising concerns from Copenhagen to Moscow about sabotage of infrastructure at the heart of an energy standoff. But it was unclear who might be behind any foul play, if proven, in the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European partners have spent billions of dollars building. Poland’s prime minister blamed sabotage for the leaks, without giving details, while Denmark’s prime minister said it could not be ruled out. Russia, which has cut gas supplies to Europe after Western sanctions were imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, said sabotage was possible and that the incident undermined the continent’s energy security. A senior Ukrainian official called it a Russian attack to destabilize Europe, without providing evidence. The Nord Stream pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow that has hit major Western economies, sent gas prices soaring and sparked a hunt for alternative energy sources. — Reuters
The UN is calling for the immediate release of those detained in Russia protesting Putin’s mobilization order
Russian police officers detain a protester protesting against the mobilization in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. AP Photo The UN has called on the Kremlin to release people detained in Russia for protesting President Vladimir Putin’s mobilization order. “As of September 26, according to credible reports, some 2,377 protesters had been arrested since last Wednesday in various locations across the country. It is unclear how many people remain in detention,” wrote Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. . “We stress that arresting people solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” Shamdasani said, adding that the UN is calling for the immediate release of all those detained in this manner. — Amanda Macias
NATO air forces conduct training exercises over the Baltic Sea
Two Swedish Air Force aircraft fly over their homeland in 2021. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images NATO members Hungary, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania took part in the training exercises called “Ramstein Alloy”. “The series of exercises integrates more than two dozen NATO fighter and support aircraft and airborne early warning aircraft with NATO and national command and control centers,” the alliance wrote in a statement. “Realistic exercises train allied forces to deter and, if necessary, defend against any aggression.” — Amanda Macias
Russian reservists called up in Putin’s mobilization attend departure ceremony
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that he was mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Russians to bolster Moscow’s military in Ukraine, sparking protests and a flight of men abroad. Reservists who have been called up to active duty attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea. Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Reservists who enlisted during the partial mobilization attend a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 27, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images
Wheat rises on concern over Russian crops
Wheat is loaded onto a cargo ship at the international port of Rostov-on-Don for shipment to Turkey, July 26, 2022. Stringer | AFP | Getty Images Wheat futures in Chicago rose, supported by concern over Russian supplies as some farmers are drafted into the military, while corn and soybeans rose from near two-week lows in the previous session on a slower-than-expected harvest in USA. Wheat prices rose 1.5% and were set to snap a two-session losing streak. “Agricultural markets have come under pressure in recent sessions due to global recession concerns,” said a Singapore-based trader. “But we have a little strength today as the US harvest is slow.” The most active Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) corn contract was up 0.4% at $6.69 a bushel by 11:30 GMT, and soybeans added 0.7% to 14.21-1/2 dollars a bushel. Wheat gained 1.5% to $8.70-1/2 a bushel. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the corn harvest was 12 percent complete as of Sunday, behind the average analyst estimate of 13 percent and the five-year average of 14 percent. The soybean harvest was 8 percent complete, missing analysts’ average estimate of 11 percent and the five-year average of 13 percent, the agency said after the market closed on Monday. — Reuters
Nord Stream is leaking “a serious safety and environmental risk”, say analysts
Workers are seen at the construction site of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline near the town of Kingisepp, Leningrad Region, Russia, June 5, 2019. Anton Vaganov | Reuters Suspected leaks reported on the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Germany represent a “serious safety and environmental risk”, according to Eurasia Group experts. Nord Stream operator Nord Stream AG said on Tuesday that both Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines had suffered “unprecedented” damage through three known leaks, adding that it was impossible to estimate when the gas network system would be able to operate. Danish and Swedish authorities declared a no-ship zone around the site of the suspected leak in their maritime zones, while Denmark raised its energy and gas security alert level. Henning Gloystein, director of energy, climate and resources, and Jason Bush, senior analyst, both at Eurasia Group, said in a note Tuesday that while German and Danish authorities said the cause of the leaks was unknown, “unplanned leaks in undersea pipelines are rare as they are designed to prevent accidental damage.’ “Several EU sources said sabotage appeared likely. Neither pipeline was delivering commercial gas at the time of the leaks, however given that both lines were still under pressure and each has the capacity to flow around 165 million cubic meters of heavy methane gas per day.” they said, adding: “Leaks of this magnitude pose a serious security and environmental risk, especially if Russia does not stop pumping gas into the system.” Nord Stream 1 and 2 have been largely focused on the breakdown of relations between Europe and Russia due to the war in Ukraine. The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline had not even opened when the German government refused to certify it for commercial operations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the operational Nord Stream 1 pipeline is currently not being used to deliver Russian gas to Europe after Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, said there was a technical fault in a turbine that could not be repaired due to Western sanctions. THE…
