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NATO Mocks “Broken” Russian Submarine Spotted off French Coast
A Russian submarine that surfaced off the coast of France last week has become the subject of ridicule after NATO chief Mark Rutte described it as “broken” and “limping home,” highlighting Moscow’s waning naval influence in European waters.
The submarine, identified as the Novorossiysk, was sighted near France before being escorted by the Dutch navy through the North Sea on Saturday, according to the Dutch Defence Ministry. Reports suggested the vessel suffered a fuel leak, though Russia has denied any mechanical failure.
The incident occurred as the Novorossiysk made its way from the Mediterranean Sea, reportedly after completing operations in the region. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet said in a statement that the submarine was “conducting a scheduled inter-fleet transit” and had surfaced in compliance with international navigation rules while passing through the English Channel.
Speaking in Slovenia on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte dismissed Russia’s explanation and used the episode to underscore the decline of Moscow’s naval capabilities. “Now, in effect, there is hardly any Russian naval presence left in the Mediterranean,” he said. “There’s a lone and broken Russian submarine limping home from patrol. What a change from the 1984 Tom Clancy novel The Hunt for Red October. Today, it seems more like the hunt for the nearest mechanic.”
NATO’s Maritime Command confirmed last Thursday that the French navy had been monitoring the submarine as part of the alliance’s regular maritime surveillance. “NATO stands ready to defend our Alliance with constant vigilance and maritime awareness across the Atlantic,” the command said in a post on X.
The sighting comes amid a rise in encounters with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a network of aging commercial vessels reportedly used to transport oil and goods under obscure ownership to evade Western sanctions.
Earlier this month, French authorities launched an investigation into the Boracay, an oil tanker flagged to Benin, which was anchored off Saint-Nazaire in western France. Many of these ships operate without Western-regulated insurance, raising concerns about safety and potential environmental hazards.
The Novorossiysk incident has reignited similar worries, with maritime experts warning that if reports of a fuel leak are accurate, the risks of environmental contamination in heavily trafficked European waters could be significant.
For NATO, however, the episode has also become a symbol of Russia’s diminished reach. Once a major presence in the Mediterranean, Moscow’s navy has reportedly scaled back operations following losses in the Black Sea and growing logistical challenges brought on by the war in Ukraine.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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