The US on Monday imposed further sanctions in connection with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, against Russia-linked company Transadria and its vessel, the Marin.
The State Department submitted a report to US Congress listing two vessels and an entity, Transadria, involved in the pipeline, Mr Blinken said. The vessel will be labelled as blocked property.
"With today’s action, the administration has now sanctioned eight persons and identified 17 of their vessels as blocked property … in connection with Nord Stream 2," the State Department said.
Washington opposes the $11 billion pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea to bypass Ukraine and carry gas from Russia's Arctic region to Germany.
Nord Stream 2 has also faced stiff opposition from some European states, which say it will make Europe too reliant on Russian gas.
But other European governments say the link is crucial to secure energy supplies, with gas prices surging in recent weeks and the threat of power cuts looming this winter.
The US administration of President Joe Biden has waived sanctions on the pipeline's operator and reached an agreement with Germany in July over the pipeline.
Germany agreed to take action if Russia uses energy as a weapon in its relations with Ukraine, but the pact did not provide criteria for how that would be judged.
Last week, Germany's energy regulator temporarily halted the certification process for the new pipeline, hampering the contentious project and driving up regional gas prices.
"Even as the administration continues to oppose the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, including via our sanctions, we continue to work with Germany and other allies and partners to reduce the risks posed by the pipeline to Ukraine and frontline Nato and EU countries, and to push back against harmful Russian activities, including in the energy sphere," Mr Blinken said.
Ukraine will lose revenue if the pipeline from Russia bypasses it. Kiev accuses Moscow of using energy as a weapon to threaten Europe's security.
Reuters contributed to this report
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
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Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
