New reports indicate that additional undersea cable lines were severed in the Baltic Sea. The reports come on the heels of alleged sabotage of different cables in November 2024.
Finnish authorities said they are investigating more telecommunication line disruptions with a Russian “shadow fleet” reportedly facing a probe related to the Christmas Day outages.
Finland’s prime minister announced on Wednesday, Dec. 25, a “disruption” in the Estlink-2 cable and said the country is looking into the incident.
Officials noted, the disruption would not impact “electricity supplies in Finland” and there is also enough capacity to meet electricity needs in Estonia.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, Finnish telecommunication officials say that they are investigating the disruptions of two submarine cables between Finland and Estonia.
Currently, investigators are unsure what caused the outages and are still trying to determine where the cable lines were disrupted, although Estonian authorities say they believe the disruption is on the Finnish side.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, European nations have been on high alert ever since two critical communication cables were severed in the Baltic Sea in November 2024.
European officials called it an act of “sabotage” and implicated Russia in the incident.
Danish authorities later detained a Chinese vessel that they say dragged an anchor more than 100 miles as it left a Russian port.
The Chinese ship is believed to be responsible for cutting cables linking Germany and Lithuania and severing another set of cables connecting Germany and Finland.
Investigators are probing whether the crew worked with Russia in what Western countries consider “hybrid warfare.”
European officials said that China is not suspected of the sabotage but are investigating whether Russia worked with the crew.
Western allies are also upping security in the region as NATO is expected to deploy new technology to protect underwater cables next year.
The international alliance announced earlier this month that it will launch sea drones in summer 2025 to monitor global cables in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
Chinese ship dragged anchor for over 100 miles cutting comm lines: Report
Officials have released new details in the probe into a Chinese ship detained by Danish authorities earlier this month. The ship is believed to be responsible for severing critical communication lines in the Baltic Sea.
Investigators told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Nov. 27, they suspect the crew of the Chinese-owned bulk carrier vessel filled with Russian fertilizer purposely let the ship’s anchor drag for more than 100 miles to cut the cable lines between European allies.
Now, the investigation is reportedly focusing on whether the ship, which left a Russian port, worked with Moscow intelligence to commit the alleged sabotage.
A senior European investigator told The Wall Street Journal that it’s “extremely unlikely” that the captain of the ship failed to notice his vessel had dropped and dragged its anchor. Investigators noted the ship lost “speed for hours” as a result.
The ship’s owner is reportedly cooperating with the investigation, but the company declined to comment on the ongoing probe.
Investigators revealed they found data that showed the vessel dropped its anchor in Swedish territory and kept dragging the anchor as it cut the first cable lines between Sweden and Lithuania.
Authorities say around 3 a.m. the following day, the ship cut a second communication line between Germany and Finland after more than 100 miles of travel.
Shortly after the incident, investigators note, the ship raised its anchor and continued until the Danish navy intercepted the vessel and detained it.
A review of the ship’s anchor reportedly revealed damage officials say is consistent with dragging.
The crew is captained by a Chinese national and it includes a Russian sailor. However, they’ve yet to be questioned as part of the investigation.
Western intelligence officials acknowledged they don’t think China is behind the incident but suspect Russian intelligence agencies may be behind the sabotage of the communication lines between NATO allies.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told The Wall Street Journal, “I would like to reiterate China’s consistent support working with all countries to maintain the security of international submarine cables and other infrastructure in accordance with international law.”
Montana man to be sentenced for creating then cloning giant hybrid sheep
A Montana man is set to be sentenced Monday, Sept. 30, for illegally creating hybrid sheep for captive trophy hunting. Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, 81, pleaded guilty in March to felony charges of wildlife trafficking and conspiracy to traffic wildlife.
Authorities said he used tissue and testicles from large, endangered sheep, the Marco Polo sheep, hunted in parts of Asia, to create the hybrids, which he dubbed the “Montana Mountain King,” then successfully cloned it.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, however, court records show prosecutors are not seeking prison time. Furthermore, the sentencing memorandum congratulates Schubarth on doing “something else no one else could, or has ever done.”
“On a ranch, in a barn in Montana, he created Montana Mountain King,” the memo said. “MMK is an extraordinary animal, born of science, and from a man who, if he could re-write history, would have left the challenge of cloning a Marco Polo only to the imagination of Michael Crichton.”
Michael Crichton wrote “Jurassic Park.”
Schubarth owns a ranch that buys, sells and breeds “alternative livestock” such as mountain sheep and mountain goats – mostly for private hunting preserves where people shoot captive trophy game animals for a fee. Charging documents showed Schubarth had reached an agreement to sell one of his Montana Mountain Kings to two people in Texas for $10,000.
His lawyer is asking for a one-year probationary sentence, saying breeding the cloned sheep already ruined Schubarth’s “life, reputation and family.”
Driving from New York to LA using nothing but the power of the sun
A team of engineers from Michigan have set a new record for the fastest solar-powered journey across the United States. The group completed the 3,000-mile trek from New York to Los Angeles in just 13 days, 15 hours and 19 minutes, using only the power of the sun.
The Cannonball Run, a decades-old cross-country challenge, has been attempted by numerous motorists over the years, but solar-powered attempts have been rare. The only previous solar-powered journey across the U.S. took place in 2023 and took 57 days to complete.
“I think already it’s definitely raised sort of good awareness for the capabilities of solar technology, like showcasing just how accessible it is,” Will Jones, one of the team members, told Straight Arrow News. “If five folks from Okemos, Michigan, can design and build a solar car and drive it across the country, it shows the potential of what can be achieved.”
Dubbed the Cannonball Sun team, the group of Michigan engineers used a vehicle named the Sun Strider. The car combines the features of an electric vehicle (EV) with an off-grid solar system. The vehicle uses a battery with about 3% of the storage capacity seen in a Tesla model.
In most EVs, that would only give a vehicle about nine miles worth of range, but the much lighter-weight Sun Strider can get 100 miles worth of range out of this battery, with a cruising speed of around 40 miles per hour. Additionally, unlike traditional electric vehicles that require stops to recharge, the Sun Strider uses its solar array to power its battery and motors on the go.
“So you’re sitting at a stoplight, and you’ll just be charging the battery,” Jones said. “Or if you’re driving down the road, the energy will flow effectively directly from the solar array into your motors and kind of convert that solar potential energy into kinetic energy to propel the vehicle down the road. So, you’re always operating on some sort of hybrid of battery and solar and as long as the sun is visible.”
The journey was not without its challenges. The group faced motor problems, flat tires and a broken charge controller along the way. However, according to the Cannonball Sun team, the warm reception it received from people across the country made the obstacles worth overcoming.
“Sometimes people would pass us, pull over, take a video of us driving by, and then pass us again and pull over again and take another video,” Danny Ezzo, another team member, said. “It was just really cool seeing people’s reactions and seeing people were really excited about the project.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to showcase the Sun Strider at car shows while they wait to see if anyone else will attempt to break their recently set record. Cannonball Sun team member Kyle Samluk said that “if someone does try to beat it, I think we might start working on a better car.”
Loneliness epidemic hitting workplaces across the US
Americans are lonely, so much so that the surgeon general has declared loneliness an epidemic. A new study by research firm BSG, TheLi.st and Berlin Cameron showed that 86% of white collar workers between the ages of 18 and 34 said they’ve felt lonely or isolated as a result of their job role, and 76% of those 35 and older said they felt that way.
People considered white collar are workers in office settings, like clerical, administrative, managerial and executive roles, and tend to earn an annual salary. For comparison, blue-collar workers often have to do manual labor and get paid by the hour or by job.
While the rise in remote and hybrid work models can play a role in loneliness, experts said the trend of white-collar workers feeling lonelier has more to do with technology and lack of proper support from their employer. In fact, the study found 65% of white-collar workers believe their employers have a responsibility to address loneliness in the workplace.
The report shows lonely staffers are four times more likely to be dissatisfied with their current careers and three times more likely to feel they cannot be their authentic selves at work. Employees struggling with loneliness are also only half as likely to feel positive about their career prospects compared to workers who say they do not feel lonely.
That study also found younger people reported feeling loneliness more, with 22% of those under the age of 54 saying they experience loneliness daily, compared to 19% of those over 35.
It’s worse for women
Women are even more impacted when it comes to feeling isolated and lonely at work, and studies show that only gets worse as they work their way up.
A similar study conducted by the same researchers in 2023 found 53% of women in the workplace experienced loneliness because of their job. Nearly 60% of those surveyed said their feelings of loneliness and isolation only got worse as their careers progressed.
Additionally, more than half the women climbing the corporate ladder said they declined a job or promotion or even quit because of the negative impact on their personal life. The study found senior-level men are significantly more likely than senior-level women to say their loneliness or isolation decreased the further they have gone in their careers.
How employers can help
Americans spend up to one-third of their week at work, so researchers said it is not surprising their jobs impact their feelings of connection.
The researchers who put the study together say there are ways to employers can help combat loneliness in the workplace, including giving employees more opportunities to interact in person, being transparent, training managers to lead with empathy and respect and creating a collaborative and supportive culture.
Philly workers furious over mayor’s order that they return to their offices
Philadelphia city workers said they are “pissed off” about being forced back into the office, running into what they say is a shortage of space and resources. On July 15, Mayor Cherelle Parker’s return-to-office mandate went into effect, mandating municipal workers be in-person five days a week.
City officials said about 80% of its workforce — including firefighters, police officers and Water Department workers — was already working on-site before the mandate took effect.
“I know when I made my decision regarding the return-to-office, the change to location of where work would take place, that there were some people who were not going to be happy about the decision that I made.” Parker said at a news conference July 10.
One worker told PBS News he was concerned about his jam-packed train commute and the lack of office space in city buildings. He claimed that before the mandate, hybrid workers would usually share desks on different days. Now, some are assigned to work in different conference rooms with nearly a dozen others or they don’t have access to computer monitors or outlets to charge their electronics.
To try to make the change more palatable, the Parker administration offered French fries from a local chicken place, which some workers told PBS was an insulting move.
Others said they felt their commutes weren’t worth the office time. Only contract workers receive SEPTA train passes, so most city workers are back to paying for their commutes out of pocket.
Dissatisfied city workers could pose big problems for Philly’s already years-long understaffing crisis. In April, it was reported that Philadelphia had 6,200 open positions.
Earlier in July, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported a judge said he will hold Philly’s prison system in contempt of court over its understaffing crisis as the city has a shortage of more than 800 corrections officers.
The city’s chief administrative officer said the administration will continue creating an enjoyable work experience for city workers.
Virginia governor announces state will exit California emissions standards
In a recent policy shift, Virginia is planning to abandon the California emissions standards on vehicles that it first adopted in 2021. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, announced the decision, stating that government mandates on the types of cars people can purchase are “fundamentally wrong.”
“Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses,” Youngkin said in a statement. “The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
Under California’s emissions regulations, Virginia would have required 22% of new vehicles sold in the commonwealth to be electric or hybrid by 2025, increasing to 35% in 2026, and 100% come 2035.
The standards were initially implemented when the state’s government was controlled entirely by Democratic leadership. Now, Youngkin, a Republican, is charting a new course.
“To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles,” the governor said. “I am very supportive of Virginians buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.”
Virginia’s Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell released a statement accusing Youngkin of “reckless, illegal and unconstitutional actions” regarding the move.
Surovell added that “even Vladimir Putin does not claim to have this much power.” The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) also criticized Youngkin’s decision, calling it “illegal, shortsighted and bad public policy.”
However, public opinion in Virginia appears to generally favor Youngkin’s position.
A 2023 poll found that only 9% of Virginians strongly supported adopting California’s standards. About 56% of respondents strongly agreed that Virginia should establish its own regulations independently of California.
Poll: Many Americans still shying away from EVs despite presidential push
Electric vehicles (EVs) might be the transportation of the future — but not necessarily the near future. A newly released AP-NORC/EPIC poll shows many Americans still are not sold on the idea of going electric, even with the Biden administration offering incentives to ditch fossil fuel-reliant vehicles.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say they would be at least somewhat likely to buy an EV the next time they buy a car, according to the poll. However, 46% say they are not too likely or not at all likely to buy one.
The results show President Joe Biden’s election-year plan to dramatically raise EV sales is running into resistance from American drivers. Only 13% of U.S. adults say they or someone in their household already owns or leases a gas-hybrid car. Just 9% of drivers own or lease an electric vehicle.
EVs are a key part of the Biden administration’s climate agenda. A new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that about 56% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2032, along with at least 13% plug-in hybrids or other partially electric cars.
Auto companies are investing billions in factories and battery technology to speed up the switch to EVs to meet the deadline.
So, what is holding Americans back from buying electric?
The AP-NORC/EPIC poll shows range anxiety is a big factor. That’s the concern that EVs cannot go far enough on a single charge and may leave a driver stranded.
According to the poll, about half of U.S. adults cite worries about range as a major reason not to buy an EV. About 4 in 10 say a major strike against EVs is that they take too long to charge or they don’t know of any public charging stations nearby.
Another concern is the cost. As of February 2024, the average price for a new EV was $52,314, according to Kelley Blue Book. While that’s down 12.8% from 2023, it’s still higher than the average price for all new vehicles, around $47,244.
However, on Monday, June 3, The New York Times published a report about electric vehicles quickly becoming more affordable. The Times cites increased competition, lower raw-material costs and more efficient manufacturing as reasons for the price drop.
The report also says federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for new electric cars are often augmented by thousands of dollars in state incentives. The incentives should, in turn, help push prices even lower.
Still, even with the cost of electric vehicles on the decline, polling indicates it’ll be a while before most Americans are ready to make the change.
Toyota selling 4Runner SUV with hybrid engine for first time
Toyota is revamping its 4Runner SUV in nearly 15 years and introducing a hybrid engine option for the first time. The 2025 model’s hybrid option reflects the growing popularity of hybrids, with their market share nearly doubling to almost 10% at the end of 2023, according to Edmunds.com.
Toyota announced last week that U.S. auto sales surged 20% in the first quarter of 2024, with sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids and EVs, jumping about 74%. The automaker has sold over 3 million 4Runners over the SUV’s 40-year history.
“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release. “This sixth-generation model offers a cool new look and incredible features, yet retains the rugged style and capability our customers love about this icon of adventure.”
The 2025 4Runner will be built in Toyota Motor Corporation’s Tahara plant in Japan and will arrive in the U.S. in the fall of 2024.
“Designing the legendary 4Runner began with identifying its unique and memorable aspects linked to fun, outdoor recreation,” says Calty President, Kevin Hunter. “Inspired by Baja desert racing, the high lift, lean body, big tire, rugged athleticism defines the core of 4Runner’s go anywhere purpose”.
Pricing for the 2025 Four-Runner will be revealed closer to its market launch later this year. Starting prices for the 2024 model range from about $41,000 to more than $55,000.
Arizona Supreme Court rules 1864 near-total abortion ban can be enforced
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions can be enforced. Toyota announced a major change to its 4Runner SUV. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
Arizona Supreme Court rules near-total abortion ban is enforceable
The ruling subjects doctors or anyone assisting in an abortion to two to five years in prison, with additional sanctions possible for abortions performed after 15 weeks. Notably, the law lacks exceptions for rape or incest.
The Arizona Supreme Court has delayed the decision’s implementation for 14 days to allow a lower court to address “additional constitutional challenges.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, including Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, who vowed not to enforce the law, and President Joe Biden, who labeled the ban “cruel.” Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Arizona on Friday, April 12. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 election, reiterated Trump’s stance that abortion decisions should be left to the states.
Brian Dorsey, dubbed a “model inmate” by prison staff, was Missouri’s first execution this year, despite the Supreme Court rejecting his appeals. Concerns about Dorsey’s health potentially complicating the execution led to a settlement to mitigate severe pain, though specifics weren’t disclosed.
Around 85 protesters rallied outside the prison in support of Dorsey. A Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed the execution proceeded smoothly without the need for a cutdown procedure.
Biden calls Netanyahu’s approach to war in Gaza a ‘mistake’
Biden described the attack on humanitarian vehicles as “outrageous” and advocated for a ceasefire to allow unhindered access to food and medicine for Gaza residents. Biden has previously described Israel’s actions as “over the top” and hinted at a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Israel if Israel does not minimize civilian harm in Gaza.
Following an internal review of the strike that killed aid workers, Israel acknowledged serious military errors, leading to the dismissal of two senior officers. World Central Kitchen has demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
Biden, Kishida hold summit to boost cross country alliance
Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to announce an expanded defense and intelligence partnership this week, marking a significant step in military cooperation between the two nations.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Japanese counterpart will detail the enhanced alliance in the upcoming months, with Japan anticipated to play a larger role in military and defense manufacturing.
The plan includes modernizing military bases in Japan for improved collaborative operations. Currently, Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops, with the Japanese Self Defense Force moving toward a unified command for its services by March 2025.
Toyota selling 4Runner SUV with hybrid engine for first time
Toyota is revamping its 4Runner SUV for the first time in nearly 15 years and introducing a hybrid engine option for the first time ever. The 2025 model’s hybrid option reflects the growing popularity of hybrids, with their market share nearly doubling to almost 10% at the end of 2023, according to Edmunds.com.
Toyota’s U.S. auto sales surged 20% in the first quarter, with sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids and EVs, jumping about 74%. The automaker has sold over 3 million 4Runners over the SUV’s 40-year history. Pricing for the 2025 4Runner will be revealed closer to its market launch later this year.
“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release.
Starting prices for the 2024 model range from about $41,000 to more than $55,000.
As the college basketball season concludes, so does the career of a sports legend. Stanford’s head coach Tara VanDerveer is retiring after 45 years, including 38 at the helm of Stanford. VanDerveer, the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach, boasts 1,216 victories.
Her illustrious tenure at Stanford includes three national championships and 14 Final Four appearances. VanDerveer’s retirement follows a historic women’s tournament, with the championship game attracting more viewers than the men’s title game for the first time, averaging 18.9 million viewers.