La Policía finlandesa investiga a un buque como sospechoso de la rotura de un cable submarino de telecomunicaciones que conecta Finlandia y Estonia a través del mar Báltico, en lo que podría ser un nuevo episodio de sabotaje de infraestructuras críticas en la zona.

En colaboración con otras autoridades, la policía inició la investigación después de que la teleoperadora finlandesa Elisa notificara este miércoles que había detectado una avería en uno de sus cables submarinos dentro de la zona económica exclusiva de Estonia.

La Guardia de Fronteras identificó al buque sospechoso de provocar la avería y más tarde envió a la zona una lancha patrullera y un helicóptero, que lo retuvieron tras constatar que navegaba con una de sus anclas sumergidas en el mar.

Según un comunicado de la Policía, la guardia fronteriza ordenó al buque que izara el ancla y se trasladara a un fondeadero en aguas territoriales finlandesas.

«Las autoridades finlandesas han tomado el control del barco como parte de una operación conjunta», informó la policía, negándose a nombrar el barco o su nacionalidad, o dar más detalles sobre el barco y su tripulación.

Discussed with @PetteriOrpo the damage to the communications cable between Estonia and Finland.

We remain in close contact. Our authorities are working together, and Finland is investigating a vessel linked to the incident.

Thank you to everyone who is dedicated to this work…

— Kristen Michal (@KristenMichalPM) December 31, 2025

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La Fiscalía General ya presentó una acusación formal contra el buque, al que considera sospechoso de un delito grave de sabotaje y otro de interferencia agravada en las comunicaciones.

Además de la Policía y la Guardia de Fronteras, también participan en las labores de investigación las Fuerzas Armadas finlandesas, la agencia de Aduanas, la Agencia de Transporte y Comunicaciones (Traficom) y el operador de la red eléctrica finlandesa, Fingrid.

Asimismo, las autoridades finlandesas están colaborando con las de otros países, sobre todo con Estonia, para intercambiar información.

«Las autoridades finlandesas han investigado a un barco sospechoso de causar daños en un cable en el Golfo de Finlandia», indicó el presidente de Finlandia, Alexander Stubb en un mensaje en su cuenta de X.

«Finlandia está preparada para desafíos de seguridad de varios tipos, y respondemos ante ellos del modo necesario», agregó el jefe de Estado finlandés, que citó en su mensaje a la Policía, la Guardia Fronteriza y otras autoridades vinculadas a la investigación del caso, a las que el presidente agradeció su labor.

«Seguimos la situación en cooperación con el Gobierno», señaló Stubb, al tiempo que el primer ministro finlandés, Petteri Orpo, escribió en X que mantuvo una conversación con su homólogo estonio, Kristen Michal. «Nuestras autoridades están trabajando con buena cooperación», indicó Orpo.

Finnish authorities have inspected a vessel suspected of causing cable damage in the Gulf of Finland.

Thank you for efficient work and communication @rajavartijat, @SuomenPoliisi, @Puolustusvoimat, @TraficomFinland, @SuomenTulli, @Tukesinfo and @fingrid_oyj. We are monitoring…

— Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) December 31, 2025

Ocho países de la OTAN bordean el mar Báltico, que también limita con Rusia. Estos países han estado en alerta máxima tras una serie de cortes en los cables eléctricos, las conexiones de telecomunicaciones y los gasoductos que recorren el lecho marino relativamente poco profundo desde que Rusia invadió Ucrania en 2022.

Finlandia ha sido víctima en los últimos años de varios incidentes en los que resultaron dañadas en extrañas circunstancias infraestructuas submarinas críticas, entre ellas el gasoducto Balticconnector y varios cables de telecomunicaciones y de alta tensión.

La mayoría de estas averías se produjeron después del inicio de la invasión rusa de Ucrania, por lo que las autoridades finlandesas sospechan que se trata de sabotajes orquestados por el Kremlin.

En diciembre de 2024, Finlandia abordó el petrolero Eagle S, vinculado a Rusia, que, según los investigadores, dañó un cable eléctrico y varias conexiones de telecomunicaciones en el mar Báltico al arrastrar su ancla.

En octubre, un tribunal finlandés desestimó la causa penal contra el capitán del Eagle S y otros tripulantes, dictaminando que la fiscalía no logró demostrar la intencionalidad y que cualquier presunta negligencia debía ser investigada por el estado de abanderamiento del buque o los países de origen de la tripulación.

President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday how soon an Arc de Triomphe-style monument will be constructed in the nation’s capital to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Trump on Wednesday said the construction of the monument, nicknamed the «Arc de Trump,» will begin «sometime in the next two months,» according to a report from Politico.

«It hasn’t started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It’ll be great. Everyone loves it,» Trump reportedly told the outlet during a phone call from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. «They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch.»

The newest monument, which resembles Paris’ historic Arc de Triomphe, will be bankrolled privately, with funds left over from the new White House ballroom project, Fox News Digital previously reported.

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The exact location of the new landmark has not yet been confirmed, though the report notes it may be situated near the Lincoln Monument.

Details about the amount of time it will take to build, the cost of construction, the funding amount and who is heading the project have not yet been released by the White House.

Trump signed Public Law 116-217 in December 2020 authorizing the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built on federal land in Washington, D.C., leading to the subsequent signing of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act during former President Joe Biden’s final week in office.

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A model of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary is seen on the Resolute Desk on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation (WSNMF) announced Dec. 4 it received final and unanimous approval from the National Capital Planning Commission for a permanent two and a half acre site on the National Mall in Constitution Gardens, according to the foundation’s website.

Foundation leaders noted the women’s suffrage monument went through a «multi-step, rigorous review process,» including gaining approval from the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.

The foundation also completed a public comment period with the National Park Service as part of the public scoping process, according to its website.

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It is unclear if Trump’s newest proposed monument received similar approval.

The Women’s Suffrage National Monument will be located at the intersection of 19th St. and Constitution Avenue NW, and the next project phase will focus on creative development and design.

The new monument is rumored to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency)

«The enthusiasm behind this project has been inspiring,» WSNMF President and CEO Anna Laymon wrote in a Dec. 4 statement announcing final approval. «We are so grateful for the dedicated support from so many who made this possible, including President Trump; President Biden; our honorary chairs Mrs. Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden, Mrs. Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, and Secretary Hillary Clinton; our bipartisan and bicameral Congressional sponsors, Senator Blackburn, Senator Baldwin, Congresswoman Lesko, Congressman Neguse and their dedicated staffs; our incredible Board of Directors; and all our partners and supporters.»

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The most recent major monument built on the National Mall was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which was completed in 2011.

The granite memorial was inspired by a line from King’s «I Have a Dream» speech, delivered nearby on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the «March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom» in 1963.

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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s address to deliver a blunt message to the West and to his own troops: Russia is not backing down in Ukraine.

As 2026 arrived in Russia’s far eastern regions, Putin vowed victory in the nearly four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing the conflict as a fight for the nation’s survival — even as the United States ramps up diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.

«We believe in you and our victory,» Putin said in remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin on Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated «all our soldiers and commanders» and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its «special military operation.»

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Putin cast the war as a struggle for Russia’s homeland, «truth and justice,» signaling determination to press ahead despite mounting losses and international pressure.

In a separate message, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s security council deputy — said of victory in Ukraine: «I sincerely believe that it is near.» Echoing Putin, he spoke of «our great and invincible Russia.»

The defiant tone comes as the war approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will surpass the 1,418 days the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, the conflict will enter its fourth year. Western estimates place the number of killed and wounded at more than 1 million — a figure the Kremlin disputes.

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The mother of a Russian soldier who was killed in a military action in Ukraine, kneels near a planted tree in memory of her son at the Alley of Heroes in Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo)

Putin’s rhetoric stood in sharp contrast to renewed diplomatic activity led by Washington.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, as the White House explores possible paths to end Europe’s largest land war since World War II.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a news conference following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 28, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were «closer than ever» to peace, while acknowledging that major obstacles — particularly territorial disputes — remain unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed potential U.S. troop involvement as part of broader security guarantees, though no decisions were announced.

Reuters contributed to this report.