EU Warns of ‘Strong Response’ If Energy Infrastructure Sabotaged

By Meg Kelly | The Washington Post

Although investigations into the simultaneous leaks in Nord Stream pipelines are in their early stages, European leaders, NATO and EU officials Wednesday are firmly pointing to sabotage as the cause for the blasts.

More from WPR: The EU Is Playing a Pretty Strong Hand on Europe’s Energy Crisis

North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles on Eve of Harris Trip

AFP (free)

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles Wednesday, Seoul’s military said, just days after Pyongyang’s last test and ahead of a visit to South Korea by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

More from WPR: North Korea’s Muscle-Flexing Is Driving Seismic Shifts in East Asia

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Named Prime Minister

AFP (free)

Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been named prime minister, a post traditionally held by the king, in a government shuffle announced Tuesday.

VP Harris Seeks Computer Chip Partners in Japan Meetings

By Chris Megerian & Yuri Kageyama | Associated Press (free)

Armed with a new law that boosts U.S. support for computer chip manufacturing, Vice President Kamala Harris said the administration was looking for new investments and partnerships as she sat down with Japanese technology executives Wednesday.

U.S. Seeks Allies as Split Emerges Over Global Plastics Pollution Treaty

By John Geddie & Valerie Volcovici | Reuters

The United States is seeking to form a coalition of countries to drive negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty, weeks after a similar group involving several other G-7 nations was launched, according to a document seen by Reuters.