标签： Europe

LONDON — In a groundbreaking public disclosure, Queen Camilla has revealed her personal encounter with sexual assault for the first time, utilizing her royal platform to address the pervasive issue of violence against women. The Queen Consort shared her harrowing experience during a BBC interview on Wednesday, detailing how she fought off an attacker while traveling by train as a teenager in the 1960s.

Camilla recounted the traumatic incident: “I was immersed in my book when suddenly this man assaulted me. I instinctively fought back with everything I had,” she told the BBC. The aftermath revealed visible signs of the struggle, with her mother immediately noticing disheveled hair and a missing coat button upon her arrival home.

Despite the fury the attack provoked, Camilla maintained silence for decades until hearing similar stories from other women. This collective sharing inspired her to break her own silence, particularly given domestic violence’s longstanding status as a taboo subject that obscures the severity of the crisis.

“I realized that if I possess even a modest platform, I should use it to amplify this crucial message,” Camilla stated. “While my capabilities are limited, I can facilitate conversations and bring people together to address this epidemic.”

The Queen made these revelations during a meeting with the surviving family members of Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61—all murdered by Louise’s former partner near London in July 2024. Camilla specifically praised John Hunt, a former racing commentator, and his daughter Amy for their advocacy work against domestic violence.

While this marks Camilla’s first public discussion of her assault, the incident was previously documented in Valentine Low’s recent publication “Power and the Palace.” According to Low’s account, which originated from Camilla’s conversation with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Queen successfully defended herself by striking her attacker with her shoe before reporting the incident to authorities at Paddington Station, leading to the man’s arrest.

In a groundbreaking shift from tradition, Greece and Cyprus are revolutionizing their New Year’s celebrations by embracing silent fireworks and drone technology. Starting in 2026, the capital cities of Athens and Nicosia will replace conventional explosive displays with innovative low-noise pyrotechnics and sophisticated light shows, marking a significant departure from centuries-old practices.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas characterizes this transition as signaling ‘a new era in New Year celebrations,’ emphasizing the commitment to spectacular visual experiences without auditory disturbance. The initiative specifically addresses concerns for vulnerable populations including elderly residents, infants, individuals with autism, and those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, while also prioritizing animal welfare given pets’ heightened auditory sensitivity.

Nicosia has implemented even more comprehensive changes, completely eliminating traditional fireworks from municipal events after evaluating their negative impacts. Municipal authorities describe this as part of a broader modernization effort aligning with European sustainability trends and environmental objectives.

Technologically, these quiet fireworks utilize reduced black powder charges to minimize explosive reports while maintaining vibrant visual effects through specialized pellet dispersion systems. Though not entirely novel—having been incorporated into landmark displays like the Eiffel Tower and London Eye—their municipal adoption represents a significant cultural shift.

Cris Matthews of Quietworks, a UK-based pyrotechnics specialist, notes that low-noise alternatives require enhanced creativity and planning, particularly excelling in smaller-scale events like weddings and private gatherings.

The transition faces cultural challenges in regions where private firework usage and celebratory gunfire remain entrenched traditions, especially during Orthodox Easter celebrations. While most Athenian suburbs will maintain conventional displays temporarily, the capital’s center will feature Acropolis-focused visual spectacles combining lighting effects and drone formations.

Nicosia has fully embraced drone technology, citing its creative versatility, minimal noise output, zero chemical emissions, and eliminated fire risks. This technological shift coincides strategically with Cyprus assuming the European Union’s rotating presidency on January 1, with plans to incorporate EU symbolism throughout the year’s celebrations.

The municipality’s official statement emphasizes their ‘overarching objective to set an example by prioritizing safer, greener, and more sustainable alternatives,’ definitively moving away from traditional fireworks whenever possible.

Thousands of Eurostar passengers faced severe travel disruptions on New Year’s Eve following a major power outage in the Channel Tunnel that crippled cross-channel transportation services. The incident, occurring on Tuesday, resulted in extensive cancellations and delays that continued into Wednesday, leaving travelers stranded during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The crisis began when overhead power supply issues combined with a broken-down LeShuttle train, effectively blocking all routes through the tunnel. Eurostar services between the UK, France, Belgium, and Netherlands were severely impacted, with at least a dozen trains cancelled by midday Tuesday. Social media platforms were flooded with images of massive crowds stranded at London’s St Pancras International station as the transportation network ground to a halt.

Passengers endured harrowing experiences aboard immobilized trains, with some reporting being stuck for over six hours without power or clear communication. Dennis van der Steen, a Dutch passenger attempting to return home for New Year’s celebrations, described spending six hours trapped onboard before movement resumed around 03:00 GMT. ‘We’re stuck,’ he told the BBC, noting that while some passengers slept, others were ‘very worried.’

Another traveler aboard the 19:01 service to Paris remained stationary at the tunnel entrance until the early hours, with staff informing him of a ‘50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London.’ The Parisian passenger lamented, ‘I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now.’

Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, worked through the night to address the power issues, eventually restoring partial service with only one of the tunnel’s two rail lines operational. By Wednesday morning, Eurostar announced plans to run all services but warned of ongoing ‘knock-on impacts’ including possible last-minute cancellations and delays.

The disruption extended beyond rail passengers, with cars backed up for hours near the LeShuttle Terminal in Folkestone. Tim Brown, returning to the UK after Christmas in Germany, reported being stuck in his car on a LeShuttle train for over three hours with ‘no access to food or water.’

Eurostar has offered affected passengers free rebooking options, refunds, or e-vouchers, while urging travelers to avoid stations if their trains had been cancelled. The company continues to advise customers to check live updates regarding their specific travel arrangements as the situation evolves.

In a meticulously orchestrated criminal operation reminiscent of a Hollywood screenplay, thieves have executed one of Germany’s most audacious bank heists, making off with an estimated €30 million (£26 million) in cash and valuables from a Sparkasse savings bank branch in Gelsenkirchen.

Authorities confirmed that the perpetrators exploited the quiet Christmas holiday period to breach the bank’s high-security vault, gaining clandestine access through an adjacent parking garage structure. Utilizing industrial-grade drilling equipment, the criminals successfully compromised over 3,000 individual safe deposit boxes containing precious metals, jewelry, and currency.

The sophisticated operation came to light only when a triggered fire alarm alerted emergency services in the early hours of Monday morning. Subsequent investigation revealed a carefully drilled entry point into the underground vault chamber, demonstrating what police spokespersons described as ‘extraordinary technical precision and professional execution.’

Gelsenkirchen Police Department released details suggesting multiple suspects were involved, with witness accounts describing several individuals transporting large bags through the parking garage stairwell between Saturday and Sunday. Surveillance footage captured a black Audi RS 6 luxury vehicle departing the De-La-Chevallerie-Strasse garage vicinity early Monday, currently under intensive investigation.

With no arrests made and perpetrators remaining at large, Sparkasse management has established a dedicated customer hotline while keeping the Buer district branch closed indefinitely. The institution confirmed approximately 95% of safety deposit boxes were forcibly accessed, advising clients to review their insurance coverage options beyond the standard €10,300 compartment coverage.

The criminal investigation continues with forensic experts examining the elaborate breach method, while affected customers gathered outside the secured bank premises seeking information about their potentially stolen assets.

In a meticulously executed operation during the holiday quiet period, criminal perpetrators breached a high-security bank vault in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, making off with property valued potentially up to €90 million ($105.7 million). The targeted Sparkasse bank branch has confirmed that approximately 2,700 customers have been impacted by this sophisticated theft, which authorities are investigating as potentially one of the largest bank heists in German history.

Law enforcement officials revealed that the burglary was discovered when emergency responders answered a fire alarm activation at approximately 4 a.m. on Monday. Upon arrival, police and firefighters encountered a carefully drilled entry point through the vault’s basement wall and found the security boxes systematically ransacked. Investigators have determined that industrial-grade drilling equipment was employed to penetrate the reinforced structure.

Critical evidence has emerged from witness accounts and surveillance footage obtained from an adjacent parking facility. Multiple witnesses reported observing several individuals transporting substantial bags throughout the weekend. Corresponding video evidence captured masked figures operating what has been identified as a stolen vehicle in the early hours of Monday.

The bank premises remained sealed throughout Tuesday as forensic experts conducted their investigation, while approximately 200 distressed customers gathered outside seeking access to their security deposits. The Sparkasse bank has initiated crisis response protocols and is coordinating with affected clients.

Gelsenkirchen, situated approximately 192 kilometers northwest of Frankfurt, now stands at the center of an intensive criminal investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The deliberate timing during holiday closures and the technical precision demonstrated suggest the work of highly organized criminal professionals with advanced knowledge of security systems and structural engineering.