German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has described the severing of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea as potential acts of sabotage or “hybrid action,” amid heightened tensions with Russia. A 1,170km telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Germany was severed on Monday, and a 218km internet link between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island failed on Sunday. Authorities from Germany, Finland, and Sweden have expressed concerns, noting that such incidents are unlikely to occur accidentally, with Finnish telecom firm Cinia suggesting “an outside force” was involved.

The cables, vital for telecommunications and internet connectivity, intersect in the Baltic Sea, but the damages are believed to have occurred in separate locations. The Finnish cable’s damage, near Sweden’s Oland Island, may take up to 15 days to repair, while Arelion, the operator of the Lithuanian link, estimates a two-week repair period. While some disruptions to internet capacity were reported, alternative routes have mitigated major impacts. Experts, however, remain cautious about ruling out accidental causes, such as fishing vessels or ships, even as the timing raises suspicions.

These incidents follow a series of suspected sabotage events in the Baltic, including the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion in 2022 and the October 2023 damage to a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Pistorius and other European leaders have linked the threats to broader security risks stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing the need for vigilance against hybrid warfare by malicious actors. Investigations into the cable damage are ongoing.

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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has come under fire for comments he made about teachers during a Fine Gael party gathering, stirring debate on the opening weekend of Ireland’s general election campaign. O’Leary suggested that teachers were not ideally suited for leadership roles in the Dáil (the lower house of parliament), sparking criticism from teaching unions and politicians. He remarked, “The Dáil is full of teachers. Nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldn’t generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.”

Irish politicians quickly responded, with Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris distancing himself from O’Leary’s remarks. He praised teachers as “the backbone of Irish society” and suggested that many would find classroom work challenging. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrats condemned O’Leary’s remarks as inappropriate, with McDonald emphasizing the essential work teachers perform daily for children.

O’Leary defended his stance, arguing that the Dáil needed more private-sector representatives to address pressing issues such as housing and infrastructure. He criticized former teacher and outgoing Tourism and Culture Minister Catherine Martin, citing her handling of tourism caps at Dublin Airport and difficulties managing issues at RTÉ as examples of ineffective leadership from former educators.

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The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, expressed deep concern following violent attacks targeting Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, insisting that Jewish people must feel safe throughout the Netherlands. Speaking after the assaults on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, the king stressed that “antisemitic behaviour” could not be ignored, recalling the lessons of history. Amsterdam’s Mayor, Femke Halsema, voiced her sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the attacks as deeply shameful for the city.

The attacks occurred after a Europa League match, with groups of young men on scooters reportedly executing “hit-and-run” assaults on Maccabi fans, resulting in multiple injuries and at least 62 arrests. Disturbing videos surfaced on social media showing fans being attacked, some involving pro-Palestinian slogans, while police cordoned Israeli fans’ buses for protection. The Netherlands’ national anti-Semitism co-ordinator condemned the readiness to commit such violence, while Prime Minister Dick Schoof vowed that perpetrators would be apprehended.

Responses to the violence came from global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who described the incident as a “pogrom.” The attack drew particular horror due to its timing, coinciding with Kristallnacht commemorations, a dark anniversary of Nazi-era anti-Jewish violence.

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Heavy rains triggered severe flash flooding in Cadaqués, a town in the Girona region of northeastern Spain, early Friday. Torrential waters swept around 30 cars down streets and under a bridge, according to local reports. Emergency responders confirmed no casualties, and no one was reported trapped or injured in the incident.

Videos shared by local journalists captured dramatic scenes as powerful torrents surged through streets, piling vehicles atop one another. The flooding follows last week’s devastating storms in Valencia, which claimed over 200 lives, sparking public outrage over the lack of timely emergency alerts from authorities.

The Catalonian meteorological agency has warned of more intense rainfall overnight, with forecasts predicting rain rates of over 20 mm within half an hour in Alt Emporda, where Cadaqués is situated. Spain’s weather agency, Aemet, reported that rainfall in early November was 72% above average, with climate change cited as a factor intensifying the recent deluges across the country.

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