TOP NEWS

Nord Stream sabotage
Nord Stream suspects reportedly identified: “Politically sensitive”

German investigators now believe they have identified all seven people suspected of involvement in the sabotage against Nord Stream, several German media outlets report in a major investigative report.

“The case is becoming more and more politically sensitive with every name,” writes Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Last week, a Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy, suspected of being part of a group that placed explosive devices on gas pipelines.

Now, German arrest warrants are reportedly out for five more Ukrainian citizens. A seventh is believed to have died in connection with the explosions.

The approach is most reminiscent of a spy novel or James Bond film, writes TT. The group – including an experienced sailor, four divers and an explosives expert – is said to have rented a sailboat under false names in Germany, and all had double false passports.

The suspicions that they received help from the Ukrainian state have reportedly been strengthened.

Trump's USA  Crime Policy
The government takes control of the train station in DC

The Trump administration is expanding control over Washington DC by taking over the operation of Union Station, the city's central station, from the federal railway company Amtrak. This was announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy according to the AP.

According to the minister, the station, which is within walking distance of the Capitol, has "fallen into disrepair" under Amtrak's management.

- By taking over the operation of the station, we will make the city safe and beautiful for a fraction of the cost, he says.

Duffy has previously pressed Amtrak to increase efforts to combat crime at the train station.

Earlier in August, Trump deployed the National Guard in the capital to combat an alleged crime wave that is not supported by crime statistics.

Climate Threat Global Challenges
Trump is Trying to Stop the World’s Climate Work

Donald Trump is not only trying to stop the green transition in the United States – he is also putting increasing pressure on the world, reports the New York Times.

Two weeks ago, the administration threatened economic penalties for countries that sign a global agreement to cut emissions in the shipping sector.

In the trade agreement with the EU, the Union agreed to ease tariffs in exchange for buying $750 billion worth of American oil and natural gas over the coming years.

The president’s antipathy towards wind power – a major industry in Europe, China and Brazil – is particularly strong.

“I try to teach people about wind power very quickly, and I think I’ve done a good job, but not good enough because some countries are still trying,” he said on Tuesday.

Other countries are “destroying themselves” with wind power, he says, adding that he hopes they will return to fossil fuels.

Sanctions
EU considers sanctions against countries with Russian trade

The EU is considering introducing so-called secondary sanctions against countries that help Russia circumvent the Union's sanctions, sources told Bloomberg.

This would be done with a mechanism that was introduced in 2023 but has not yet been used, and which makes it possible to stop the export of certain goods to third-party countries that are considered to help Russia circumvent the sanctions.

The EU has previously had a reluctant attitude to secondary sanctions, but with the 19th sanctions package expected within a few weeks, the Union has reached the end of the road in terms of direct sanctions against Russia, according to the sources.

The new package is expected to be primarily aimed at Russian kidnappers of Ukrainian children.

Russian influence in Africa
Young women from Africa build drones in Russia

Russia is recruiting young women from South Africa to build drones in factories in the republic of Tatarstan. This is shown by a report by the Ukrainian authority against disinformation, according to the Kyiv Post.

An advertising campaign in Asia and Africa, promising high salaries and career opportunities, has become so popular that the South African government has issued information about the dangers of ending up in Russian drone factories.

The recruitment is being carried out with the help of the international cooperation organization Brics, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

“In other words, the Kremlin is using an international organization – which they constantly try to highlight as a tool for economic growth and peaceful cooperation – for their military goals,” the report says.

Greenland's future
Analysis: Hybrid war is easier than an invasion

The information about the US influence operation in Greenland is like something out of a spy novel – but it is not at all unreasonable, writes Aftonbladet's Wolfgang Hansson.

"It is even reminiscent of the type of hybrid warfare and influence operations that Russia engages in towards Sweden and other European countries."

Trump realized that it would be expensive, risky and look very bad to take over Greenland militarily – but hybrid warfare is cheap and easy to deny, Hansson continues.

The relationship between Denmark and the US has become a minefield – and the new information does not help, says DR's correspondent Steffen Kretz.

- The Danish government is almost paralyzed in its dialogue with the US government, since everything can be seen in the light of the smoldering conflict that Trump has created with his attempts to take control of Greenland.

SVT's foreign correspondent Regina Svedberg Ågren is not surprised by the news either.

Several things have pointed in that direction, including a leaked report from the White House on how to influence Greenlandic public opinion to become more pro-US, she says.