News
Norway Releases Russian-Crewed Ship After Investigation into Baltic Cable Damage
Norwegian authorities have released the Silver Dania, a Norwegian-owned, Russian-crewed vessel that was initially suspected of damaging an underwater fiber-optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland island.
Following an investigation prompted by a request from Latvian authorities, Norwegian police found no evidence linking the ship to the incident.
“Tromsø police district has now conducted a number of investigative steps and secured what we see as necessary considering the request from Latvia. The investigation will continue, but we see no reason for the ship to remain in Tromsø any longer,” police attorney Ronny Jorgensen stated on Friday.
Investigation and Inspection
The Silver Dania was detained on Thursday evening while sailing between the Russian ports of St. Petersburg and Murmansk. It was escorted to Tromsø by the Norwegian Coast Guard for inspection. Authorities conducted searches and interviews with the crew but did not find any evidence linking the vessel to the cable damage.
The ship’s owner, SilverSea CEO Tormod Fossmark, denied any involvement in the incident. “We have no involvement in this whatsoever,” Fossmark told The Associated Press. “We did not have any anchors out or do anything, so that will be confirmed today,” he added, referencing the investigation. Fossmark also noted that the ship’s tracking data showed no irregularities, and the vessel, which was not carrying cargo at the time, was expected to continue its journey later that day.
Suspected Cable Damage in the Baltic Sea
The damaged data transmission cable, which runs from Ventspils, Latvia, to Gotland, Sweden, was discovered on Sunday. Swedish prosecutors have since launched a preliminary investigation into suspected sabotage.
Another vessel, the Malta-flagged Vezhen, was also detained in connection with the damage. The ship’s Bulgarian owner admitted that the vessel may have accidentally caused a cable to break but denied any deliberate sabotage.
Authorities in Sweden, Latvia, and Norway continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the damage to the fiber-optic cable, as concerns grow over the security of critical underwater infrastructure in the region.
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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