Estonia Accuses China of Non-Response in Subsea Cable Probe; Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Combat

Estonia has accused China of failing to respond to a six-month-old request for assistance in investigating the damage to two subsea telecom cables linking Estonia with Sweden and Finland. The cables were damaged between October 7 and 8, and an Estonia-Finland gas pipeline was also affected, which Finnish investigators suspect may have been sabotage.

Why this matters: The investigation into the damaged subsea cables has significant implications for international cooperation in cybersecurity and maritime safety. If China is found to be responsible, it could lead to increased tensions between China and European nations, and potentially impact global trade and security.

The Estonian and Finnish investigations have identified the Hong Kong-registered container vessel, NewNew Polar Bear, to be the key suspect. Triinu Olev, the Estonian state prosecutor, stated that more evidence needs to be collected to determine whether the damage was intentional or accidental.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that Chinese authorities are 'examining and handling the case in accordance with domestic law' and are ready to work with Estonia to cooperate on the investigation. However, Estonia's state prosecutor claims that China has yet to respond to their legal aid request, which was sent on November 10.

According to ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic, the Chinese vessel was spotted at all three sites around the time of damage, sailing on its way to a port close to St. Petersburg in Russia. A large anchor, believed to belong to the Chinese vessel, was discovered close to the pipeline, and investigators believe that the pipe and telecoms cables were likely broken while the anchor was being dragged across the sea bed.

In response to these incidents, NATO has strengthened its patrols in the Baltic Sea region. Norway's Navy shadowed the NewNew Polar Bear as it sailed over the country's most important gas pipelines.

In separate news, three Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza. The soldiers died in a blast inside a building in Rafah, a city that has seen heavy fighting and significant displacement of its residents.

The conflict in Gaza has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over a million people displaced according to the United Nations. Israeli forces have been fighting in Rafah, and heavy fighting has been reported in different parts of the city, including the city center and on the outskirts of Tel al Sultan.

In the Australian housing market, home prices are expected to rise by 5.3% this year, with further increases of 5.0% predicted for both 2025 and 2026. This is despite the fading expectations of interest rate cuts. The market has seen robust demand and inadequate supply from homebuilders, limiting options for new buyers.

The average asking price of an Australian property in April was A$779,817 ($520,293.90), nearly eight times the average annual income. In Sydney, prices are forecast to rise by 4.5% this year and 5.5% next.

Michael Yardney of Metropole highlighted the challenges for first-time buyers as costs outpace income growth. To address the housing crisis, the government, led by Anthony Albanese, has pledged to build 1.2 million homes by 2030. Analysts unanimously agreed that government intervention is necessary to improve housing affordability.

Estonia's ongoing probe into the subsea cables incident highlights the complexities of international cooperation in cybersecurity and maritime safety. Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza and rising Australian home prices highlight the diverse challenges faced globally.

Key Takeaways

• Estonia accuses China of ignoring 6-month-old probe request into damaged subsea telecom cables.
• Investigation suspects Hong Kong-registered vessel NewNew Polar Bear of sabotage.
• NATO strengthens Baltic Sea patrols in response to incident.
• Australian home prices to rise 5.3% in 2024, 5.0% in 2025 and 2026 due to demand and supply imbalance.
• Conflict in Gaza leads to humanitarian crisis, with over 1 million people displaced.