Sweden will step up insurance checks on foreign ships as worries about Russia rise
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden said Saturday it will step up insurance checks on foreign ships in a move aimed at tightening controls on Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet ' of aging ships.
The government in Stockholm said that, starting July 1, the coast guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration will be tasked with collecting insurance information not just from ships that call at Swedish ports, but also those that pass through the country's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
'This underlines Sweden's clear presence in the Baltic Sea, which in itself has a deterrent effect,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement. 'It also provides Sweden and our allies with important information about vessels that can be used as a basis for sanctions listings of more vessels in the shadow fleet.'
Russia uses its shadow fleet to transport oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The European Union has now targeted almost 350 of the ships in total in sanctions packages, most recently on May 20.
Monday Mornings
The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.
Kristersson said that 'we are seeing more and more problematic events in the Baltic Sea and this requires us not only to hope for the best, but also to plan for the worst.'
The average age of the vessels is around 18 years, meaning they're near the end of their lifespan and are more vulnerable to accidents, especially if they're not well-maintained.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
FBI, law enforcement respond to terror attack in Boulder, Colorado
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Several people were injured and some may have been set on fire at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, police said. Police said a man was taken into custody in the attack that the FBI immediately described as a 'targeted terror attack.' Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn told reporters Sunday evening that it was too early to discuss a motive but that witnesses were being interviewed. 'It would be irresponsible for me to speculate on motive this early on,' he said. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The attack took place at a pedestrian mall where demonstrators had gathered to call for the release of hostages who remain in Gaza. 'Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available,' FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media. Boulder police said there were 'several victims' in the attack. The injuries authorities found were consistent with reports of individuals being set on fire, Redfearn said. Several blocks of the typically popular pedestrian mall area were evacuated, police said. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was 'closely monitoring' the situation, adding that 'hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.' The Boulder attack occurred as law enforcement authorities in the U.S. grapple with a sharp spike in antisemitic violence and just over a week after a man was arrested on charges in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers and shouted 'Free Palestine' as he was being led away by police.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
List of ‘sanctuary jurisdictions' removed from US government website
WASHINGTON (AP) — A list of more than 500 ' sanctuary jurisdictions' no longer appears on the Department of Homeland Security's website after receiving criticism for including localities that have actively supported the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies. The department last week published the list of the jurisdictions. It said each one would receive formal notification the government deemed them uncooperative with federal immigration enforcement and whether they're believed to be in violation of any federal criminal statutes. The list was published Thursday on the department's website but on Sunday there was a 'Page Not Found' error message in its place. The list was part of the Trump administration's efforts to target communities, states and jurisdictions that it says aren't doing enough to help its immigration enforcement agenda and the promises the president made to deport more than 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal authorization. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' that there had been anger from some officials about the list. However, she didn't address why it was removed. 'Some of the cities have pushed back,' Noem said. 'They think because they don't have one law or another on the books that they don't qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals.' The list, which was riddled with misspellings, received pushback from officials in communities spanning from urban to rural and blue to red who said the list doesn't appear to make sense. In California, the city of Huntington Beach made the list even though it had filed a lawsuit challenging the state's immigration sanctuary law and passed a resolution this year declaring the community a 'non-sanctuary city.' Jim Davel, administrator for Shawano County, Wisconsin, said the inclusion of his community must have been a clerical error. Davel voted for Trump as did 67% of Shawano County. Davel thinks the administration may have confused the county's vote in 2021 to become a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary County' that prohibits gun control measures with it being a safe haven for immigrants. He said the county has approved no immigration sanctuary policies.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Union Berlin forward Benedict Hollerbach is switching to Bundesliga rival Mainz
BERLIN (AP) — Union Berlin is losing its main attacking threat for next season after selling Benedict Hollerbach to Bundesliga rival Mainz. Hollerbach is leaving after playing 65 competitive games for Union, the Köpenick-based team said Sunday. Kicker magazine reported that Mainz was playing a fee of 10 million euros ($11.4 million) for the 23-year-old forward. Hollerbach was getting a four-year contract, Mainz said, to become the club's second signing of the offseason after young Austrian defender Konstantin Schopp joined from Sturm Graz the day before. Hollerbach scored 14 goals in 62 league games for Union, with nine of them coming last season to help the team stay in the Bundesliga for another year. The team's top scorer also set up four goals for teammates who mostly struggled to create openings without him on the field. 'Benedict continuously developed during his time with us and always gave his all for the club,' Union sporting director Horst Heldt said. Hollerbach joined Stuttgart in 2019 after five years with Bayern Munich, then joined third-division Wehen Wiesbaden, helping it to promotion in 2023. Union was reportedly on the verge of reinvesting some of the transfer fee to make Serbian forward Andrej Ilić's loan move from Lille permanent – Ilić scored seven goals in 16 Bundesliga appearances for Union last season – and hoping to conclude 20-year-old forward Ilyas Ansah's signing from second-division Paderborn next week. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
