标签： Europe

A suspect has been apprehended following the circulation of a viral video that allegedly captures an attempted rape on a train near Paris, according to local media reports. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, involved Jhordana Dias, a 26-year-old Brazilian national. Dias recounted to Le Parisien newspaper that the man boarded the train, physically assaulted her, and attempted to remove her underwear. The situation escalated when another passenger, alerted by Dias’s screams, began recording the incident on her phone. The footage shows the suspect fleeing as the train arrives at a station.

The arrest was made on Friday evening by transport police in Mantes-la-Jolie, located northwest of Paris. Investigators traced the suspect to this location, though the exact method remains unclear. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was not carrying any identification but claimed to be a 26-year-old Egyptian national. He is currently in custody.

The alleged attack took place on October 15 between the Choisy-le-Roi and Villeneuve-le-Roi train stations, southeast of Paris. The video depicts a man dressed in a black tracksuit and cap on the train. Amidst the sound of a woman’s cries, the individual recording the incident can be heard instructing the man to ‘stay there’ as he appears to approach her. The train then arrives at a station, and the man exits, fleeing down the platform.

The woman who filmed the incident, identified only as Marguerite in French media, has been widely praised for potentially preventing a more severe assault on Dias. Dias, who does not speak French, reportedly filed a police complaint in Choisy-le-Roi with the assistance of her brother, who translated her testimony.

The video has been extensively shared across news outlets and social media, prompting numerous women to recount their own experiences of harassment on public transport in France. Additionally, two other women have come forward to Le Parisian, alleging that they were also victims of the same man.

This incident has reignited discussions about women’s safety in France, highlighting the ongoing issue of sexual violence in public spaces.

Every October, a peculiar phenomenon disrupts the schedules of individuals and organizations across the Atlantic. For one week, Europe and the United States fall out of sync as they transition from daylight saving time (DST) to standard time. This annual shift, rooted in historical and legislative differences, creates a temporary one-hour reduction in the usual time difference between regions like London and New York, leading to confusion and logistical challenges for international meetings and communications.

In a significant move that has reignited hope among traditionalist Catholics, Cardinal Raymond Burke celebrated a traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, with explicit permission from Pope Leo XIV. The event, attended by thousands of pilgrims, marked a stark contrast to the restrictions imposed by Pope Francis in 2021, which had left many traditionalists feeling marginalized. The Mass, rich in hymn, incense, and ritual, lasted over two hours and was presided over by Cardinal Burke, a prominent conservative figure in the Catholic Church. The ceremony, held in the heart of Vatican City, was seen as a tangible sign of Pope Leo’s potential openness to dialogue with traditionalist factions. This development comes after years of tension over the Latin Mass, which has been a point of contention since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Pope Benedict XVI had relaxed restrictions on the ancient liturgy in 2007, but Francis reversed this decision, citing concerns over division within the Church. However, leaked Vatican documents in July 2025 suggested that most bishops had expressed satisfaction with the old Latin Mass, undermining Francis’ justification for the restrictions. Pope Leo, the first American pope, has emphasized unity and reconciliation since his election, raising hopes among traditionalists for a more inclusive approach. The event in St. Peter’s Basilica, attended by young families and pilgrims from around the world, underscored the enduring appeal of the ancient liturgy and its role in the spiritual lives of many Catholics.

A tragic incident unfolded in Rome as a 69-year-old Japanese tourist, Morimasa Hibino, lost his life after falling from the perimeter wall of the historic Pantheon. The accident occurred at approximately 21:50 local time (19:50 GMT) on Friday evening. According to reports from local newspaper la Repubblica, Hibino fell from a height of around seven meters (22.9 feet) after losing his balance while sitting on the edge of the wall. A passing priest immediately alerted the authorities upon discovering the man lying motionless in a nearby ditch. Emergency responders and firefighters were forced to break open a gate to access the site, where they confirmed Hibino’s death. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with surveillance footage from the area being reviewed to determine the exact circumstances of the fall. The Pantheon, a renowned ancient Roman temple and one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, attracts millions of visitors annually. This unfortunate event has raised concerns about safety measures at popular tourist sites.

Becky Gilmour, a 26-year-old from Banbridge, is nearing the completion of her extraordinary skateboarding journey along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Embarking on this 2,500-kilometer (1,553-mile) coastal route in June, Becky aims to finish by December, before the winter weather worsens. Her mission is deeply personal: to raise awareness about suicide, a cause she was inspired to champion after losing a friend during the Covid-19 pandemic. Becky hopes her journey will encourage open conversations about mental health and demonstrate that outdoor adventures are accessible to everyone, regardless of perceived barriers like cost or athletic ability. Despite not considering herself an athlete, Becky has skated between 20 to 60 kilometers (12 to 37 miles) daily, relying on her trusty longboard, which has required minimal maintenance. Her journey has taken her through picturesque counties like Mayo, where she praised the smooth road surfaces, though she admitted to enduring a few challenging falls. Along the way, Becky has engaged with local communities, visited schools, and even taken to the sea on a paddleboard with her friend Adam, exploring islands like Aran, Inishbofin, and Clare. She has also left behind murals in each county she visits, funded by donations, to spread hope and support for those struggling with mental health issues. Becky’s journey will culminate in Portrush, County Antrim, where she purchased her first longboard with her late friend. Her story has resonated with many, inspiring others to embrace adventure and advocate for mental health awareness.

For over two decades, Russia has grappled with a deepening demographic crisis characterized by a shrinking and aging population. Since President Vladimir Putin assumed power in 2000, the country has faced persistent challenges in reversing this trend. In 1999, Russia recorded its lowest number of births, a figure that has continued to haunt the nation despite temporary improvements. By 2015, births peaked at 1.94 million, but economic instability, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and an exodus of young men have since reversed these gains. In 2023, Russia recorded only 1.22 million births, barely surpassing the 1999 low. The population has also aged significantly, with 30% now over 55, compared to 21.1% in 1990. Putin has implemented various measures to encourage larger families, including financial incentives, free school meals, and Soviet-style ‘hero-mother’ medals for women with 10 or more children. However, critics argue that these efforts, coupled with restrictive laws on abortion and LGBTQ+ activism, are unlikely to solve the crisis. The war in Ukraine has further exacerbated the problem, with hundreds of thousands of young men either killed or fleeing the country. Immigration, a potential solution, remains unpopular due to rising anti-migrant sentiment. As Russia’s fertility rate stagnates at 1.4, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, the demographic crisis continues to pose a significant threat to the nation’s future.

In the sun-drenched plains of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, Osam Abdulmumen, a 25-year-old migrant from Sudan, herds 400 sheep on a centuries-old farm in the village of Los Cortijos. This pastoral scene, reminiscent of the region’s literary fame in “Don Quixote,” masks a deeper crisis: rural depopulation has left traditional shepherding jobs unfilled, a role Spaniards increasingly shun. To address this, a government program is training migrants like Abdulmumen—many from Africa, Venezuela, and Afghanistan—to sustain the region’s prized sheep’s milk cheese industry.

Abdulmumen, who fled violence in Sudan, now lives in a modest apartment in Los Cortijos, dreaming of sending money home to his family. His journey to Spain was arduous, spanning Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and finally Ceuta, a Spanish enclave, where he sought asylum. Today, he finds solace in the tranquility of rural life, earning €1,300 monthly, slightly above Spain’s minimum wage.

The program, funded by the regional government, has trained 460 migrants since 2022, with 51 now employed as shepherds. Sharifa Issah, a 27-year-old from Ghana, is among them, drawn to the work due to her experience with animals back home. The training, held near Toledo, covers the basics of shepherding over five days, preparing migrants for roles on farms, slaughterhouses, and olive groves.

Álvaro Esteban, a fifth-generation farmer, returned to Los Cortijos after years away, modernizing his family’s farm with drones and cheese production. He acknowledges that without migrant labor, many farms would face closure within a decade. “Most businesses won’t have successors,” he laments, highlighting the sector’s neglect.

Abdulmumen’s story is emblematic of a broader trend: migrants filling critical gaps in Spain’s rural economy, ensuring the survival of traditions and livelihoods in a region grappling with an aging population and urban migration.