Thieves drill into German bank vault and make off with millions
The perpetrators drilled through a thick concrete wall at a branch of Sparkasse bank in the western city of Gelsenkirchen and then broke into several thousand safe deposit boxes
International News via Reuters:
Thieves used the quiet Christmas period to drill their way into the vault of a German retail bank and make off with at least 10 million euros’ worth of money and valuables from customers’ deposit boxes, police said on Tuesday.
The perpetrators drilled through a thick concrete wall at a branch of Sparkasse bank in the western city of Gelsenkirchen and then broke into several thousand safe deposit boxes and stole a sum estimated in the double-digit millions of euros, the police said in a statement.
Most shops and banks close in Germany over the Christmas period starting from the evening of December 24, and police only discovered the hole after a fire alarm went off in the early hours of Monday, December 29.
Dozens of angry customers gathered in front of the bank on Tuesday loudly chanting “Let us in!”.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. We’re getting no information,” one man told the Welt broadcaster as he waited outside the branch, adding that he had been using the safe for 25 years and that it contained his savings for old age.
Another man said he used his deposit box to store cash and jewellery for his family.
A spokesperson for the Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Police said witnesses have reported that they saw several men on Saturday night carrying large bags in the stairwell of an adjacent parking garage.
There were also reports of a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early on Monday morning with masked men inside. The vehicle’s licence plate was that of a car stolen in Hanover, more than 200 kilometres to the northeast of Gelsenkirchen, police said.
Reporting by Rachel More; Editing by Hugh Lawson
Par for the Planet – Teeing up a greener game
PGA: Inside Butterfield Bermuda Championship’s drive for sustainable golf
Golf may be played on the greens — but environmentally, it’s often well over par.
From water use to waste, golf is one of the most environmentally-demanding sports on the planet. Over the last few years, the Butterfield Bermuda Championship has been working to clean up the sport’s scorecard — efforts that have earned the tournament international recognition. Julie Matthews-Borchardt reports.
Mostly safe Christmas, but Police warn against impaired driving
24 arrests were made over the holiday period, including six for drink driving
Image: Bermuda Police Service
The Bermuda Police Service shared the following update via its social media.
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) wishes to thank the public for cooperating with us and working to ensure there were no significant disruptions to the Christmas celebrations. The vast majority of people followed the advice of Police Commissioner, Darrin Simons, and enjoyed themselves responsibly.
To help ensure that was the case, during the period from 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 24 through to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, December 29, we maintained stepped up policing initiatives across the island.
This included the operation of roadside sobriety checkpoints, stop and search, speed checks and high visibility policing in all communities.
However, there were those who chose to “elf around” and found themselves spending time at the Hamilton Police Station, also known as Hotel Delta, instead of with family or loved ones.
A total of 24 persons were arrested for various offences over the period highlighted.
Of that number, six people were arrested for driving whilst impaired (DWI).
Three of them, at collision scenes.
Bearing in mind that the legal blood/alcohol limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the highest blood/alcohol reading recorded was 211/100. The lowest, 199.6/200.
Arthur Glasford, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, stated, “While we are thankful that none these DWI related incidents resulted in a fatality, the fact that anyone of them could have, should be cause for concern for all residents. We continue to publicise our heightened presence on the roads. We advertise roadside sobriety testing, as required by law, yet, individuals still make the decision to drive while impaired and put theirs as well as other people’s lives at risk.”
Mr. Glasford added, “Unfortunately, we cannot police our way out of this situation. It comes down to individuals making better decisions and the right decisions. That notwithstanding, we will continue to do our part to help change this culture, but it won’t happen without your help. If you see someone who is impaired, whether by alcohol or drugs, about to operate any vehicle, please try to dissuade them from doing so. If you are unable to do that, then, please call the main police number, 295-0011 and alert us. Of course, we continue to urge you not to drive any vehicle if you know you have been using any impairment causing substance.”
There were also one hundred and twenty tickets issued for speeding offences over the period. The highest recorded speed was 85 KMph. Nine tickets were issued to persons operating unlicensed and uninsured vehicles. One for driving while disqualified and four for individuals having no driver’s license.
As a reminder, roadside sobriety checkpoints continue across all parishes until January 5. The BPS will continue with our high visibility policing efforts into and beyond the upcoming new-year holiday. We once again encourage you to have a good time, but please do so responsibly.
Arrests Breakdown:
- Warrants – (10)
- D.U.I – (6)
- ABH – (2)
- Intruding on the privacy of a female – (1)
- Bladed Article – (1)
- Prowling – (1)
- Breach of protection order – (1)
- Driving whilst disqualified – (1)
- Robbery – (1)
Guinea coup leader Doumbouya wins presidential election, results show
The former special forces commander, thought to be in his early 40s, seized power in 2021, toppling then-President Alpha Conde, who had been in office since 2010
International News via Reuters:
Guinea coup leader Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president, according to provisional results announced on Tuesday, completing the return to civilian rule in the bauxite- and iron ore-rich West African nation.
The former special forces commander, thought to be in his early 40s, seized power in 2021, toppling then-President Alpha Conde, who had been in office since 2010. It was one in a series of nine coups that have reshaped politics in West and Central Africa since 2020.
The provisional results announced on Tuesday showed Doumbouya winning 86.72% of the December 28 vote, an absolute majority that allows him to avoid a runoff.
The Supreme Court has eight days to validate the results in the event of any challenge.
Doumbouya’s victory, which gives him a seven-year mandate, was widely expected. Conde and Cellou Dalein Diallo, Guinea’s longtime opposition leader, are in exile, which left Doumbouya to face a fragmented field of eight challengers.
DOUMBOUYA REVERSED PLEDGE NOT TO RUN
The original post-coup charter in Guinea barred junta members from running in elections, but a constitution dropping those restrictions was passed in a September referendum.
Djenabou Toure, the country’s top election official who announced the results on Tuesday night, said turnout was 80,95%. However voter participation appeared tepid in the capital Conakry, and opposition politicians rejected a similarly high turnout figure for the September referendum.
Guinea holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves and the richest untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou, officially launched last month after years of delay.
Doumbouya has claimed credit for pushing the project forward and ensuring Guinea benefits from its output.
His government this year also revoked the licence of Emirates Global Aluminium’s subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation following a refinery dispute, transferring the unit’s assets to a state-owned firm.
The turn toward resource nationalism – echoed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – has boosted his popularity, as has his relative youth in a country where the median age is about 19.
POLITICAL SPACE RESTRICTED, U.N. SAYS
Political debate has been muted under Doumbouya. Civil society groups accuse his government of banning protests, curbing press freedom and restricting opposition activity.
The campaign period was “severely restricted, marked by intimidation of opposition actors, apparently politically motivated enforced disappearances, and constraints on media freedom,” U.N. rights chief Volker Turk said last week.
On Monday, opposition candidate Faya Lansana Millimono told a press conference the election was marred by “systematic fraudulent practices” and that observers were prevented from monitoring the voting and counting processes.
The government did not respond to a request for comment.
Reporting by Guinea newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Stephen Coates
Dollar dismal, yen muted in 2025 but euro shines
Those themes are likely to remain in 2026, suggesting the dollar’s dire performance could extend and underpin the behaviour of some of its peers, including the euro and sterling, which have made significant gains this year
International News via Reuters:
The U.S. dollar inched higher on Wednesday but was still heading for its biggest annual drop since 2017 as interest rate cuts, fiscal worries and erratic U.S. trade policy under President Donald Trump drove currency markets in 2025.
Those themes are likely to remain in 2026, suggesting the dollar’s dire performance could extend and underpin the behaviour of some of its peers, including the euro and sterling, which have made significant gains this year.
Adding to the dollar’s woes, concerns about the Federal Reserve’s independence under the Trump administration remain in focus. Trump said he plans to announce his pick for the next Fed chair sometime in January, replacing Jerome Powell whose term ends in May and who has faced constant criticism from the president.
That backdrop has kept the “sell-dollar” trade firmly in place with positioning remaining net-short since April, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission data.
The euro was down 0.1% at $1.1736 and the pound last bought $1.3434 on the last trading day of the year. Both are poised for their biggest yearly gains in eight years against the U.S. currency.
The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency versus six other major units, was at 98.35, adding to its Tuesday gains. The index has declined 9.4% in 2025 while the euro surged 13.4% and the pound gained 7.5%.
Other European currencies have also rallied in 2025. Switzerland’s franc is up 14% while Sweden’s crown is up 20%.
Prashant Newnaha, senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities, said the bearish dollar thesis for 2026 remains a well-subscribed view with “short dollars vs EUR and the AUD expected to perform”.
The greenback got a bit of a boost in the previous session after minutes of the Fed’s December meeting showed deep divisions among policymakers as they cut rates earlier this month.
Barclays economists noted that some policymakers suggested it would be appropriate to keep rates unchanged for “some time”.
“While this certainly does not prevent the committee from cutting rates in January, it does suggest limited support for cutting again, absent further deterioration in labor market conditions,” they said in a note.
Traders are pricing in two cuts for 2026, although the central bank itself has projected just one more next year.
The dollar’s weakness in 2025 has helped push many of the major currencies as well as emerging markets to strong gains for the year.
China’s yuan broke through the key psychological level of seven to the dollar on Tuesday for the first time in 2-1/2 years, defying weaker central bank guidance. The currency rose 4.4% in the year, its sharpest gain since 2020.
FRAGILE YEN IS THE OUTLIER
The Japanese yen is one of the few currencies that failed to take advantage of the soft dollar in 2025, remaining broadly flat even as the Bank of Japan raised rates twice during the year, once in January and then earlier this month.
On Wednesday, the yen was a touch weaker at 156.61 per U.S. dollar, remaining close to levels that brought intervention worries and severe jawboning from officials in Tokyo.
Investors have been disappointed with the slow and cautious pace of monetary tightening, with the significant long yen position in April completely reversing by the end of the year.
As 2026 unfolds, said MUFG strategists, the conditions for a retracement back lower in dollar-yen should materialise, adding: “The lower U.S. yields go, the greater the chance that the yen could see its safe-haven status revived.”
The risk-sensitive Australian dollar last fetched $0.66965, poised for a more than 8% surge over the year, its best annual performance since 2020. The New Zealand dollar eased slightly to $0.57875 but was set for a 3.4% rise in the year, snapping a four-year losing streak.
In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was set to end the year lower by 5.5%, its first annual decrease since 2022. It was last at $88,583, down 30% from a record high of $126,223 seen in October.
Reporting by Samuel Indyk and Ankur Banerjee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gareth Jones
Heavy snow in Poland leaves drivers stranded in tailbacks of up to 20 km
While the situation left hundreds of people trapped in their cars in freezing conditions, by the early hours of Wednesday morning traffic was moving again, according to police
International News via Reuters:
Heavy snowfall in Poland caused tailbacks stretching as far as 20 km (12.43 miles) on a motorway between the capital Warsaw and the Baltic port city of Gdansk during the night, police said on Wednesday.
While the situation left hundreds of people trapped in their cars in freezing conditions, by the early hours of Wednesday morning traffic was moving again, according to police.
“The difficult situation began yesterday after 4 p.m., when the first trucks on the S7 route… began having trouble approaching the slopes,” said Tomasz Markowski, a spokesperson for police in the northern city of Olsztyn.
“This led to a traffic jam stretching approximately 20 kilometres overnight.”
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Stanislaw Bukowiec told a press conference that nobody had been hurt as a result of the difficult situation on the roads.
Anna Karczewska, a spokesperson for police in Ostroda, said officers had tried to help drivers who found themselves stuck. Ostroda lies on the highway about 40 km west of Olsztyn.
“We helped as much as we could, and we had coffee and hot tea for the drivers, which the Ostroda City Hall had prepared for us,” she said.
State news agency PAP reported that there had also been some disruption to railways and airports, but that services were returning to normal.
Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Kate Mayberry
Queen Camilla describes being assaulted by man as a teenager
She said she did not know the man who attacked her
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s Queen Camilla has described for the first time fighting off an attack by a man on a train when she was a teenager, speaking in an interview with the BBC in which she recounted how furious the assault had left her.
“When I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train … I remember at the time being so angry,” she said during a discussion broadcast on Wednesday about violence against women.
“I was reading my book and you know this boy – man – attacked me, and I did fight back.”
She said she did not know the man who attacked her.
Camilla, 78, has for many years championed charities and causes that seek to end sexual and domestic violence and to support victims.
The assault was first reported in September when a book about the royal family was serialised in the Times newspaper, but had not previously been confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
“I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying ‘Why is your hair standing on end and why is the button missing from your coat?'” she told the BBC.
“I was so furious about it and it’s sort of lurked for many years.”
The book said the incident happened on a train to Paddington Station in London when Camilla was about 16 or 17 years old, and she responded by taking off her shoe and using it to hit him in the genitals.
When she arrived at Paddington, she pointed the attacker out to an official and he was arrested, the book said.
Camilla did not confirm those details in the interview.
The queen is the second wife of King Charles, who ascended the throne in 2022.
Reporting by William JamesEditing by Frances Kerry
Germany’s Merz tells Europe to assert itself to safeguard peace, prosperity
Since taking office in May, Merz has helped spearhead European efforts to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion
International News via Reuters:
Europe must assert its interests more strongly to ensure peace and prosperity in 2026 amid challenges from Russian aggression, global protectionism and changing ties with the U.S., German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in his annual address.
Since taking office in May, Merz has helped spearhead European efforts to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. Berlin has also ramped up defence spending since 2023 in a bid to show it is ready to assume more responsibility.
In his New Year’s speech, Merz pulled no punches, saying the “terrible” war raging on Europe’s doorstep posed a direct threat to continental freedom and security.
“We are seeing more and more clearly that Russia’s aggression was and is part of a plan targeted against the whole of Europe,” said Merz, adding that Germany faced sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks on a daily basis.
He said a further challenge came from protectionism in the global economy, and that Europe’s dependence on imported raw materials was increasingly being wielded as a political lever against it.
Struggling to revive its export-oriented economy, Germany is trying to reduce reliance on China as it also grapples with global trade tensions and the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariff policies.
Europe’s biggest economy has also been hit by what many economists say has been a lack of domestic reform and investment in recent years, and is expected to grow only modestly this year after two years of contraction.
Merz also addressed a more difficult partnership with the United States, long the reliable guarantor of German and European security, since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
“For us Europeans, this means that we must defend and assert our interests much more strongly by ourselves,” said Merz.
However, he said Europe must be guided by confidence, not fear, and must take matters into its own hands.
“This can be a decisive year for our country and for Europe. It can be a year in which Germany and Europe, with new strength, reconnect with decades of peace, freedom and prosperity.”
Reporting by Madeline Chambers; editing by Mark Heinrich
UK calls for restraint over China’s military drills around Taiwan
“China’s military exercises around Taiwan this week increase cross-strait tensions and the risk of escalation,” a foreign office spokesperson said in a statement
International News via Reuters:
Britain said on Tuesday that China’s military exercises around Taiwan increased the risk of escalation, and reiterated a call for restraint.
“China’s military exercises around Taiwan this week increase cross-strait tensions and the risk of escalation,” a foreign office spokesperson said in a statement.
“We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo or any activity that risks destabilising it.”
“We continue to call for restraint and the avoidance of any further actions that risk undermining peace and stability.”
The Chinese embassy in Britain said the foreign office remarks were “a misrepresentation of the facts, a manipulation of the truth.”
Reporting by William James; additional reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal; Editing by Alison Williams and Stephen Coates
Pound set for biggest yearly rise against dollar since 2017, down vs. euro
For the year, the pound is up 7.5%, its biggest annual jump since a 9.5% rise in 2017
International News via Reuters:
The British pound was a touch softer against the dollar on Wednesday but was still heading for its biggest annual rise in eight years.
However, the pound has fallen against the euro in 2025 and is set to end the year as the worst-performing major European currency.
Sterling was last down 0.2% against the dollar at $1.3436. For the year, the pound is up 7.5%, its biggest annual jump since a 9.5% rise in 2017.
The euro, Swiss franc, Norwegian and Swedish crowns have gained between 13% and 19% against the dollar this year.
Against the euro, the pound was down 0.1% on Wednesday. It has fallen over 5% to 87.24 pence in 2025, its biggest annual drop against the single currency since 2020.
FISCAL WORRIES CAP GAINS
While the pound has had a strong 2025 against a dismal dollar, the backdrop for sterling in the second half of the year was of domestic political worries, concerns about Britain’s public finances and stagnant growth.
The big focus for currency traders was the Autumn budget but November’s fiscal event passed without too much fuss, alleviating some of the pressure that had been building for the pound in the second half.
The pound’s performance in 2026 will likely depend on the Bank of England’s monetary policy actions.
The central bank lowered borrowing costs four times in 2025, including in December, although the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee remains divided and policymakers signalled that the already gradual pace of rate cuts could slow further.
Money market traders are not fully pricing in another rate cut until June. Around 40 basis points of easing is priced by year end, implying around a 60% chance of a second rate cut.
Kevin Thozet, a member of the investment committee at Carmignac, said that with the budget in the rearview mirror, a slowing economy, weakening labour market and elevated bond yields will allow the BoE to further lower interest rates.
“The conundrum for the policymakers has eased at least for the short term,” he said.
Reporting by Samuel IndykEditing by Frances Kerry
Festive period ‘overshadowed by avoidable tragedy’
Road Safety Council calls on all road users to resolve to improve driving habits
The Bermuda Road Safety Council extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have recently lost their lives in road traffic collisions. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this period of profound loss.
The Bermuda Road Safety Council is extremely concerned by the recent press release reporting a number of driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and an increase in road traffic collisions over the Christmas holiday period. This season is intended to be a time of rest, reflection and togetherness with loved ones, yet it has been overshadowed by avoidable tragedy.
The Bermuda Road Safety Council fully supports the appeals made by the Minister of National Security, the Minister of Health, and Sergeant Helen McHugh of the Bermuda Police Service, all of whom have called on the public to exercise caution and responsibility while using the road network. Their statements reinforce the importance of individual accountability in improving road safety outcomes.
The Council strongly encourages all road users to make responsible and informed decisions when travelling. Motorists who intend to consume alcohol are urged to plan ahead and make appropriate arrangements to return home safely, rather than driving while impaired.
In addition, all motorists are reminded to reduce their speeds, remain vigilant and ensure their full attention is devoted to driving at all times. Reckless, distracted and impaired driving continues to pose a serious threat to public safety.
Road safety is a collective responsibility. Every road user has a role to play in preventing collisions and saving lives. As the New Year’s holiday approaches, the Bermuda Road Safety Council urges all motorists to make a firm resolution to improve their driving behaviours and to prioritise safety on our roads.
Through responsible choices and a shared commitment to road safety, we can work together to reduce collisions and protect our community.
