News
Swedish Police Board Chinese Vessel in Baltic Sea Cable Investigation
Swedish authorities have boarded the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, a vessel under investigation for its potential involvement in the breaches of two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea last month. The operation was carried out with the cooperation of Chinese authorities, Swedish police announced on Thursday.
The Yi Peng 3 has been stationary in the Kattegat strait, between Denmark and Sweden, for over a month while diplomatic discussions between Stockholm and Beijing unfolded. Swedish investigators suspect the vessel’s involvement in the November cable breaches, which occurred in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.
MarineTraffic data analyzed by Reuters indicates the ship’s coordinates matched the time and location of the incidents. The vessel had departed the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15, just days before the damage occurred on November 17 and 18.
Swedish Police Act as Observers
Swedish police clarified that their participation on board the Yi Peng 3 was observational while Chinese authorities led the investigation. “The preliminary investigation into sabotage in connection with two cable breaks in the Baltic Sea is continuing in parallel,” Swedish police said in a statement. They emphasized that the actions taken on Thursday were not directly part of their Swedish-led investigation.
Danish authorities facilitated the visit to the bulk carrier, which remains anchored in the Kattegat strait.
Cable Breaches Prompt Sabotage Concerns
The damaged cables are critical infrastructure, with one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania. The breaches prompted concerns across the region, with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating that sabotage was the likely cause. Swedish prosecutors are leading the investigation into the suspected sabotage.
Western intelligence officials have reportedly pointed to the Yi Peng 3 as the cause of the cable cuts. However, opinions differ on whether the breaches were accidental or intentional. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has urged the vessel to return to Sweden to support the ongoing investigation.
Chinese Authorities Silent
As of Thursday, there was no immediate comment from China’s foreign ministry regarding the situation. The incident has added strain to Sweden-China relations, with the case drawing significant international attention due to its implications for regional security.
Investigations continue as authorities seek to determine the circumstances surrounding the cable breaches and whether sabotage was indeed at play.
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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