TOP NEWS

Sanctions

Report: G7 wants to tighten sanctions on Russian oil

The G7 countries are close to an agreement to significantly increase sanctions on Russian oil. This is according to a draft obtained by Bloomberg.

"We agree on the need to act together and believe that now is the time for a significant, coordinated escalation of measures to strengthen Ukraine's resilience and seriously hinder Russia's ability to wage war against Ukraine," the statement says.

The G7 finance ministers are expected to give speeches on Wednesday, and the statement could still be changed before it is finally adopted and all seven countries, including the United States, sign, the sources further state.

The budget crisis in the United States

Government websites are put on hold after the shutdown

The websites of several US agencies are down after parts of the government were shut down overnight Wednesday Swedish time, NBC reports. Anyone who accesses the National Archives website is greeted with a message that reads:

“Due to the federal government shutdown, National Archives facilities are closed, websites and social media are not being updated or monitored, and activities have been suspended.”

A similar message is encountered by anyone who wants to read on the Census Bureau website.

Republicans and Democrats’ attempts to reach an agreement on the budget have failed, and after the deadline expired, some government-funded activities have been put on hold.

The drone alarm in Denmark

French military boards Russian-linked ship – may be linked to the drones

French military has boarded a ship suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, writes AFP, whose reporters flew over the ship. It happened outside the city of Saint-Nazaire on Tuesday, which is confirmed by a military source.

The ship, the oil tanker Boracay, which sails under the flag of Benin, is suspected of being involved in the drone flights in Denmark.

The Boracay is on the EU's list of ships that are part of the so-called shadow fleet, which consists of ships accused of transporting Russian oil under false flags.