A major undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia has experienced an outage, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced Wednesday, initiating an investigation into the cause.
The Estlink-2 cable’s power transmission interruption was confirmed by Orpo on social media platform X, where he assured that Finland’s electricity supply would remain stable despite the disruption.
Estonian network operator Elering reported through public broadcaster ERR that Estonia’s power demands could be met through alternative capacity sources, minimizing the impact on the country’s electricity supply.
This incident occurs amid heightened regional concern over Baltic Sea infrastructure security. In November, two separate undersea data cables were damaged—one connecting Finland to Germany and another linking Lithuania with Sweden.
Germany’s defense minister addressed the November incidents in a speech about hybrid warfare threats from Russia, suggesting “sabotage” as a likely cause, though no evidence was presented and no specific perpetrators were identified.
The situation recalls the September 2022 underwater explosions that damaged the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines between Russia and Germany, an incident that authorities classified as sabotage and remains under criminal investigation.
According to ERR reports, the Estlink-2 cable had already faced operational challenges for much of the year due to short circuit damage, potentially caused by the cable’s complex underwater positioning.
The latest outage adds to a series of infrastructure incidents in the Baltic Sea region, prompting increased attention to undersea infrastructure security and reliability.
About the author
Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza, Finding Widespread Destruction
Thousands of displaced Palestinians walked back to northern Gaza this week, discovering their homes and communities largely reduced to rubble following the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. At the Jabalia refugee camp, 32-year-old Asma Qaoud observed the extensive damage. "Everything has been devastated—our homes and our hearts," she said while sitting near a collapsed building. Upon returning, she learned of her brother's death and noted her husband remains in Israeli custody. The ceasefire, which began Sunday, halted Israel's 15-month military operation in Gaza. The truce has facilitated both the release of Hamas-held hostages and Palestinians in Israeli custody. According to UN data, approximately 1.9 million people—90% of Gaza's population—were displaced during the conflict, with an estimated 60% of the region's infrastructure destroyed. The Gaza Civil Defense reported recovering 66 bodies from the rubble on Monday. Local health officials […]
Hotel Fire Claims 10 Lives at Turkish Ski Resort
A devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, Turkey, has resulted in 10 fatalities and 32 injuries, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. Reports indicate that two victims died after jumping from windows to escape the blaze. The fire began at 3:27 AM local time in the hotel's fourth-floor restaurant area before spreading through the 12-story building. At the time, 234 guests stayed at the property during a busy school holiday. Emergency response faced significant challenges, with fire engines taking over an hour to reach the scene due to the hotel's remote location in Kartalkaya and freezing weather conditions, according to Bolu Governor Abdulaziz Aydin. Witnesses observed guests using bed linens to attempt escape from windows. A ski instructor, Necmi Kepcetutan, told NTV that his familiarity with the building helped him escape, while others struggled with the intense smoke. […]
Border Camp Incident Unfolds During Mexican Government Operation
A confrontation occurred early Saturday at a migrant camp in northern Mexico's Chihuahua state when residents set fire to bedding materials during a government operation to clear the location. Approximately 250 Mexican officials, including National Guard military police equipped with riot gear, surrounded the encampment at midnight. Migrants responded by igniting mattresses and blankets in protest, with some families attempting to leave the area with their children and possessions, according to a Reuters witness at the scene. The fire was contained within an hour, and no injuries were reported. The camp, situated approximately 220 miles from Ciudad Juarez near the El Paso, Texas, border, housed around 150 migrants, predominantly Venezuelan families seeking entry to the United States. A migration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the operation's purpose was to transport migrants to Mexico's southern border for repatriation […]
South Korean Court Incident Follows Presidential Detention Extension
A confrontation unfolded at Seoul Western District Court early Sunday when supporters of detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol breached the building following his extended detention order. The incident occurred after a judge granted a 20-day detention extension for Yoon, who was arrested Wednesday on potential insurrection charges related to his December 3 martial law declaration. The court cited concerns about evidence preservation in its decision. Around 3 a.m. local time, protesters overwhelmed riot police, entering the building after deploying fire extinguishers against security forces. The intrusion resulted in damage to office equipment and furniture, with some participants broadcasting their actions on YouTube. Law enforcement restored order within hours, arresting 46 protesters. Nine police officers sustained injuries, while approximately 40 people received treatment for minor injuries near the court, according to emergency responders. Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned the […]
Families Wait in Agony as Gaza Ceasefire Deal Stalls Last Minute
The planned ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faced an unexpected delay on Sunday morning in Gaza as negotiations stalled over the list of hostages to be released. The pause in fighting was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time. Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directed the ceasefire would not take effect until Hamas provided the required hostage information. Hamas responded by stating their continued commitment to the agreement, attributing the delay to "technical reasons in the field." The proposed exchange agreement includes the release of 33 hostages from Gaza in return for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The initial phase would see three female hostages freed on Sunday, with each civilian hostage's release triggering the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners, or 50 if the hostage is a military […]
BREAKING: TikTok Goes Dark in America as Trump Promises Revival
TikTok ceased operations in the United States just hours before a legislated ban was scheduled to take effect. Users accessing the platform were notified that recently enacted legislation prevented TikTok usage. The message referenced President-elect Trump's potential intervention, stating, "We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office." The platform's shutdown followed its earlier warning of going offline unless the outgoing Biden administration provided assurances against ban enforcement. Trump, set to assume office Monday, indicated he would "most likely" grant TikTok a 90-day extension from the ban. Users reported TikTok's removal from U.S. Apple and Google app stores, while TikTok.com stopped displaying video content. The White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stated the incoming administration would be responsible for further action. The Supreme Court […]
Related
LinkedIn Sued Over Secret AI Data Training Scheme
A lawsuit filed in California federal court alleges that LinkedIn secretly used Premium users' private data to train artificial intelligence models without explicit consent. The lawsuit claims that in August, LinkedIn introduced a privacy setting automatically enrolling users in a program allowing third-party AI training using personal information. The platform reportedly changed its privacy policy a month later to acknowledge potential data disclosure for AI purposes. According to the filing, LinkedIn modified its FAQ section to suggest users could opt out of data sharing, but such actions would not reverse already completed AI training. The lawsuit characterizes these actions as an attempt to "cover its tracks" and minimize public scrutiny. The legal action seeks $1,000 per user for alleged violations of the Stored Communications Act, along with additional damages for breach of contract and unfair competition. LinkedIn has denied the […]
Real Madrid Becomes First Club to Earn Billion-Euro Revenue
Real Madrid has become the first football club to generate over a billion euros in revenue during a single season, according to Deloitte's annual Football Money League report. The club's $216 million revenue lead over second-place Manchester City is the largest gap Deloitte has ever recorded. Madrid's financial success stems primarily from its dramatically renovated Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which doubled matchday revenues to $258 million. Since 2018, Madrid has invested over $1 billion in stadium improvements, creating a state-of-the-art venue with an undulating metal roof, expanded VIP areas, and a retractable pitch. The stadium now hosts diverse events, including performances by Taylor Swift and an upcoming NFL game. Commercial revenues continue to dominate, accounting for 44 percent of total revenue among top clubs. English teams remain strong, occupying six of the top 10 spots, driven by Premier League television revenues. […]
Massive Wildfire Erupts Near Los Angeles Forcing Mass Evacuation
The Hughes fire ignited Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake, 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, rapidly growing to over 10,000 acres. Strong winds and dry brush fueled the blaze, prompting mandatory evacuations for approximately 31,000 residents and warnings for an additional 23,000 people. Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone reported the fire was 14% contained, noting improved conditions compared to previous devastating fires. Unlike the recent Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed over 10,000 properties and killed 28 people, current lower wind speeds are helping firefighting efforts. The area remains under a red flag warning, indicating high fire risk due to strong winds and dry conditions. Climate scientists attribute the increased fire vulnerability to "whiplash" climate patterns creating extensive dry vegetation. Two additional smaller fires near San Diego have been mostly contained. The Lilac fire burned 85 acres, while […]
Japanese TV Star Quits After Sexual Assault Scandal Erupts
Masahiro Nakai, a prominent Japanese television host and former boy band leader, announced his retirement on Thursday following a sexual assault allegation that has significantly impacted the entertainment industry. Nakai, who works for Fuji Television, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party. While he denied using violence and claimed to have settled the matter with the woman, public outrage continued to mount. In his social media statement, Nakai expressed deep apologies, saying he was "truly sorry for causing trouble and losses to so many people." His resignation follows revelations by Fuji Television president Koichi Minato that the company was aware of the scandal for approximately six months before media reporting. The incident triggered substantial corporate response. Major companies including Nissan, Toyota, and Seven & I Holdings (7-Eleven's parent company) withdrew their advertising from Fuji Television. […]
Netflix Shocks Fans With Price Hike After Record Breaking Growth
Netflix has announced price increases across multiple countries following a substantial growth of nearly 19 million subscribers in late 2024. The streaming service plans to implement higher subscription costs in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Portugal, while remaining silent about potential UK price changes. In the US market, the standard ad-free subscription will increase to $17.99 monthly from $15.49, while the ad-supported tier will rise by one dollar to $7.99. The company's last US price adjustment occurred in October 2023, which coincided with UK price modifications for certain plans. The streaming giant justified the price increases, stating, "We will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix." The subscriber growth, which significantly exceeded expectations of 9.6 million new members between October and December, brought Netflix's total subscriber base above […]
Female Speaker Makes History As Irish Parliament Welcomes New Leader
Ireland's 35th Dáil (parliament) is set to reconvene Wednesday with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin returning as taoiseach (prime minister). The transition will see current leader Simon Harris of Fine Gael move to the role of tánaiste (deputy prime minister). Following November's election, Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party with 48 seats and has formed a government through a coalition with Fine Gael (38 seats) and several independent regional TDs (members of parliament). Sinn Féin, despite winning 39 seats, remains in opposition after being ruled out as a coalition partner by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael—a decision that Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized as "bad practice." The new government formation comes after approximately five weeks of negotiations, with both Martin and Harris recently confirming a draft programme for government that received endorsement from their respective parties. […]
Be the first to leave a comment