World

Finnish police on Wednesday seized a vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia. The cargo vessel called Fitburg was spotted with its anchor lowered near the site in Estonia's exclusive economic zone where telecom provider Elisa detected a fault early Wednesday. A Finnish border guard vessel and helicopter located the ship and ordered it to stop, raise its anchor, and move into Finnish territorial waters. "Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary," President Alexander Stubb wrote on X. Undersea 'sabotage' has countries ‍on high alert Finnish police said they were investigating the incident as "aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated inter...

Finnish police on Wednesday seized a vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia. The cargo vessel called Fitburg was spotted with its anchor lowered near the site in Estonia's exclusive economic zone where telecom provider Elisa detected a fault early Wednesday. A Finnish border guard vessel and helicopter located the ship and ordered it to stop, raise its anchor, and move into Finnish territorial waters. "Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary," President Alexander Stubb wrote on X. Undersea 'sabotage' has countries ‍on high alert Finnish police said they were investigating the incident as "aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated inter...

"Gen Z is a generation of convenience," Harshita V. said, referring to her cohort's political activism, as she sipped her strawberry-flavored kombucha.   When India's Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs from the streets of New Delhiin August, she said, a friend of hers organized a protest. Scores signed up online. But when the protest took place the next day, only four or five people showed up. "They rally online," Harshita said. "But, when it comes to finishing something they have started, the enthusiasm fizzles out." This anecdote set the tone for the conversation on Gen Z youths in India and their politics on a cold afternoon in late December among a small group of young people in the capital, New Delhi. A melting pot of political opinions India has the world's largest ...

A wave of protests is sweeping across Iran, which is mired in a deep economic crisis marked by an unprecedented drop in the value of the rial and surging inflation. But the demonstrations, which began with a merchants' strike in Tehran on December 28 and have grown as students joined the movement, go beyond the country's economic woes. Experts say the protests — the most significant challenge to the Islamic regime since the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement of 2022 — are a reflection of widespread and growing political discontent and anger at the government. Iran's severe economic crisis has sparked rising anger at the Islamic regimeImage: UGC 'Public trust in the government has eroded' Videos circulating on social media show Iranian police forces using tear gas and plastic bullets agai...

After Australia's world-first social-media ban for minors, France has drafted a similar law to block under-15s from major platforms, which could take effect from September.

Three years ago, Germanhigh-end domestic appliances maker Miele began selling refurbished washing machines in the Netherlands alongside its regular products. This involves collecting Miele washing machines that have been returned, including those with scratches or easily repairable faults, fixing them up and reselling them online. The German company chose the Netherlands because Miele products have proven popular in the country and because consumers there are comparatively open to refurbished products. The firm hopes the project will reach new customer groups. Max Wagner, who heads Miele's sustainability team, say the sale of refurbished appliances has not cannibalized his company's sale of new models, as was initially feared. "We have been able to expand our customer base to include you...

Security forces in Syria imposed a curfew on Latakia city, a bastion of the country's Alawite community on its coastline in the west, state media reported on Tuesday. The move follows two days after four people were killed in nighttime protests that spiralled into sectarian violence.  State media also reported that 21 people allegedly linked to the ousted government of former President Bashar Assad. A television report described those arrested as "former regime remnants who are involved in criminal acts, sectarian incitement and targeting internal security forces." Curfew from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m.  Syrian media reported that the curfew would be in force from 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday (1400 UTC/GMT) until 6 a.m. the following morning.  This followed protests on Monday evening during the...