The Daily Populous

Monday December 16th, 2024 day edition

image for WSJ: Russia orchestrated Chinese ship’s Baltic cable sabotage

The Wall Street Journal has reported that a Chinese ship suspected of damaging telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea acted under orders from Russian intelligence.

Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said Russia has long been waging not a covert but an open war against NATO countries.

An OSCE report has revealed that since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has carried out approximately 150 attacks on NATO countries.

The report also highlights hacking, sabotage, and threats to military facilities and underwater infrastructure.

The telecommunications cable was damaged on 18 November 2024 after the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3 passed over it.

Launched in 2016, the cable is the only direct underwater communication line to Central Europe.

The report notes NATO is facing challenges in responding to the Baltic Sea incident, with authorities avoiding direct accusations against Russia to prevent public alarm. »

Defense fund established by supporters of suspected CEO killer Luigi Mangione tops $100K

Authored by abcnews.go.com

As New York City prosecutors work to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr.

The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday.

In a later interview on CNN, Dickey said he is leaning toward not accepting any money from his client's supporters for his defense. »

Romney admits the Trump MAGA agenda he stood up to now dominates Republican Party

Authored by independent.co.uk

GOP Senator Mitt Romney said on Sunday that MAGA Republicanism now wholly dominates the Republican Party, echoing the skepticism of those who have been waiting for some kind of “post-Trump” Republican Party to emerge.

“MAGA is the Republican Party and Donald Trump is the Republican Party today,” Romney said, before going on to predict that the next election cycle would see that trend continue under whom he saw as the presumptive 2028 GOP nominee: JD Vance.

“MAGA is the Republican Party and Donald Trump is the Republican Party today. »

Mount Vernon, New York, police force strip searched nearly everyone it arrested, DOJ says

Authored by amp.cnn.com

The Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department routinely violated residents’ civil rights, according to a new US Department of Justice report.

A suburban New York police department routinely violated residents’ civil rights, including making illegal arrests and using unnecessary strip and cavity searches, according to a new US Department of Justice report.

The statement noted that three police officers and two civilian employees had been fired following an investigation in 2021. »