A plume of escaped gas bubbling from the Baltic Sea as seen from a Swedish coastguard aircraft. AFP
A plume of escaped gas bubbling from the Baltic Sea as seen from a Swedish coastguard aircraft. AFP
A plume of escaped gas bubbling from the Baltic Sea as seen from a Swedish coastguard aircraft. AFP
A plume of escaped gas bubbling from the Baltic Sea as seen from a Swedish coastguard aircraft. AFP

Fourth leak found on Nord Stream as Nato vows united response to 'sabotage'


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Sweden on Thursday reported a fourth gas leak in the Baltic Sea, widening the scope of the suspected sabotage.

It came as Nato members vowed a "united and determined response" to any deliberate attack against their energy infrastructure.

Germany called on Nato to step in and protect pipelines after the apparent undersea explosions, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz said had closed the door on any imports from Russia for the foreseeable future.

Gas was bubbling to the Baltic surface for a fourth day and was expected to keep pouring out until the two Nord Stream pipelines were empty, which could take more than a week.

Swedish coastguards patrolling the turbulent waters announced on Thursday that a second leak had been found in Sweden’s maritime zone, to add to the two in Danish waters.

The parallel, Russian-controlled Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines each have two known leaks after the latest damage was discovered, Swedish media said.

Nato's 30 members said current information "indicates that this is the result of deliberate, reckless and irresponsible acts of sabotage".

"We, as allies, have committed to prepare for, deter and defend against the coercive use of energy and other hybrid tactics by state and non-state actors. Any deliberate attack against allies’ critical infrastructure would be met with a united and determined response," a joint statement said.

Amid speculation of Russian involvement, German diplomat Miguel Berger said a non-state actor could not have caused the apparent blasts. However, he said investigators would have to wait until the gas has stopped leaking.

“We have to wait until all the gas is out because currently it’s too dangerous to investigate, so that means maybe in another 10 days we will know a little bit more,” Mr Berger, Germany’s ambassador to Britain, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I think we need to discuss what has happened within Nato and take conclusions for our critical infrastructure. What about our critical infrastructure, undersea cables, pipelines, telephone networks? All of that, I think, needs now additional surveillance.”

Seismographs in Germany, Denmark and Sweden all reported two separate spikes on Monday near where the leaks were discovered. Danish scientists said the tremors did not appear to be natural earthquakes.

Norway, the biggest gas exporter to Europe since Russia supplies dried up, announced it was increasing security on its continental shelf after the Nord Stream leaks and reports of increased drone activity.

A former Polish foreign minister added to the calls for Nato involvement on Wednesday by saying warships, submarines or military aircraft could be sent to guard the Baltic.

While Russia argued it had no interest in blowing up its own pipelines, some interpreted the blast as a warning from Moscow that it could step up its meddling with Europe’s energy supplies.

"We have to be able to deal with, as the last 24 hours have shown, events happening around us that Russia may be behind, that are hybrid in nature, are not to do with overt military conflict but are testing the alliance and indeed the European Union in different ways," said Angus Lapsley, an assistant secretary general of Nato.

Exports through Nord Stream 1 were drastically reduced over the summer and stopped altogether in September, deepening the European energy crisis. Nord Stream 2 was suspended by Germany in February.

Nato member Norway has said it would increase security at its oil and gas terminals. AFP
Nato member Norway has said it would increase security at its oil and gas terminals. AFP

Mr Berger said it was not yet known whether the pipelines could ever be repaired and potentially go back into operation.

Russian officials sought to deflect the suspicion by hinting at American involvement, after the US heavily lobbied its European allies not to go ahead with Nord Stream 2.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the suggestion of Russian involvement and said "many more aircraft and vessels belonging to Nato countries have been spotted in the area".

Russia-friendly accounts recalled a statement by US President Joe Biden in February that Washington would “bring an end” to Nord Stream 2 if Russia invaded Ukraine.

The State Department in Washington described the counter-narrative as Russian disinformation and dismissed the suggestion of US involvement.

“The idea that the United States was in any way involved in the apparent sabotage of these pipelines is preposterous,” said department spokesman Ned Price.

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

Getting%20there%20
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Ftravel%2F2023%2F01%2F12%2Fwhat-does-it-take-to-be-cabin-crew-at-one-of-the-worlds-best-airlines-in-2023%2F%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EEtihad%20Airways%20%3C%2Fa%3Eflies%20daily%20to%20the%20Maldives%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%20The%20journey%20takes%20four%20hours%20and%20return%20fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C995.%20Opt%20for%20the%203am%20flight%20and%20you%E2%80%99ll%20land%20at%206am%2C%20giving%20you%20the%20entire%20day%20to%20adjust%20to%20island%20time.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERound%20trip%20speedboat%20transfers%20to%20the%20resort%20are%20bookable%20via%20Anantara%20and%20cost%20%24265%20per%20person.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: September 30, 2022, 5:50 PM`