U.S. Intelligence Suggests Unnamed ‘Pro-Ukrainian Group’ Carried Out Sabotage On Nord Stream Pipelines

U.S. intelligence officials suggest an unnamed “pro-Ukranian group” carried out last September’s attack on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which link natural gas from Russia to Western Europe. Sweden and Denmark reported severe damage to the pipelines in September as natural gas spewed toward the surface of the Baltic Sea.

According to a New York Times report, officials said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or the national government were not involved in the attack and declined to disclose additional information surrounding the new intelligence obtained. The anonymous officials cited by the Times offered no specifics on the shadowy group they said blew up the pipeline, but insisted the attack did not involve the U.S. or United Kingdom.

Last month, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in an extensive report on Substack, alleged that U.S. Navy divers planted remotely triggered explosives on the pipeline under cover of training exercises over the summer. The White House and the CIA denied Hersh’s report.

The Daily Mail reported National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby refused to comment on The Times piece in a briefing call to reporters on Tuesday, saying the investigations into the “sabotage” of the pipeline by Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are ongoing.

“There are three investigations going on right now,” Kirby said. “And they aren’t done,” adding the information from those reports has not been released to the public.

The twin Nord Stream pipelines have been at the center of geopolitical strife since before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago. Months into the conflict, Russia nixed shipments through Nord Stream 1 as a retaliatory measure against Western Europe, while Germany blocked the adjacent Nord Stream 2 from initiating shipments days before the war started.

Just before the war began, President Joe Biden warned “there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2” if Russia crossed the Ukrainian border and insisted to a journalist that “we will be able” to bring an “end” to the system.

The commander-in-chief initially waived sanctions against the Russian-owned company behind Nord Stream 2, although he reimposed sanctions shortly before the invasion started.

After the Nord Stream 2 was destroyed, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the phenomenon a “tremendous opportunity” to end European reliance on Russian energy supplies. Even though the pipelines were not pumping natural gas, protesters in Germany had been calling for the energy flow to resume as electricity prices increased more than twentyfold. Crippling the pipelines eliminated the possibility of Germany lifting sanctions in time to import natural gas for the winter.

Ben Zeisloft contributed to this report.

Katy Perry Accused Of ‘Bullying’ American Idol Contestant

Katy Perry has been accused of being a “mean girl” and “bullying” American Idol contestant Sara Beth Liebe during a recent episode.

During the hit ABC reality TV talent competition on Sunday, fans said the 38-year-old “American Idol” judge was rude to the 25-year-old mother of three after Liebe’s revealed her singing expertise was basically the “church choir,” the New York Post reported.

“Is this your dream?” Perry asked the contestant, who appeared rattled and simply replied, “Um.”

“If it’s not your dream, you might need to leave because there’s a lot of dreams behind you,” Perry added.

Liebe admitted she was “still processing” being away from her kids before she finally started with her first song, “You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse.

ABC viewers hit out at American Idol judge Katy Perry following her behaviour when contestant Sara Beth entered the studio https://t.co/gxWFvRePyC

— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 6, 2023

However, Perry seemed unimpressed and prodded her, “Come on, we need more. That’s not enough. Try ‘Bennie and the Jets.'”

“Show us what your voice can do,” she added. “Take it to the limit. No looking back. Sing it like it’s your new dream. More of that! Hold it out.”

The singer then named Liebe the “Accidental American Idol.”

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“Look, if it’s not your dream, it’s not gonna go far because I also respect everyone that’s walking through that door who will lay down their life for this golden ticket [to Hollywood],” Perry explained.

Perry and fellow judge Luke Bryan ultimately did vote for the mom to move on to the next round, while Lionel Richie had to go “with his gut” and didn’t.

Fans were not impressed with Katy’s comments to the 25-year-old singing hopeful and took to Twitter to express their displeasure.

“Katy. Come back down to reality,” one account posted.

“Katy Perry being a mean girl to Sara Beth,” another user added.

While another asked, “Why was Katy bullying that girl?”

One account tweeted, “Boo to Katy Perry for mom shaming Sara Beth. Insinuating that she has been ‘laying on the table too much’ to have 3 kids by age 25. A young mother following a dream while raising her children should be raised up not put down. #AmericanIdol.”

“I just wish Katy wouldn’t have been so nasty to her,” another added. “She was rude and kept on and on about it until Sara left! She is a little too much at times.”

Another account accused Perry of having “some major attitude.”

The “American Idol” judge previously faced a “#MeToo” accusation after she kissed 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze on the mouth. Glaze said he had been saving that for his “first relationship.”

“I was a tad bit uncomfortable,” Glaze, who had never been kissed before, shared. “I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.”

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow Warns Katy Perry That Kids Can Be Difficult On A Marriage; Perry Pushes Back

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