The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.5% to 10,820.66 points by 1000 a.m. GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 slipped 0.04%
International News via Reuters:
London’s FTSE 100 fell on Thursday as gains in technology shares, driven by AI bellwether Nvidia’s upbeat results, failed to offset weakness in other sectors.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.5% to 10,820.66 points by 1000 a.m. GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 slipped 0.04%.
• Nvidia on Wednesday forecast a 70% jump in revenue next fiscal year, underscoring unabated demand for AI computing.
• Technology shares led gains sectorally, up 1%.
• On other hand, beverages, chemicals and REITs were the biggest decliner, falling between 1% and 1.6%.
• “Nvidia’s resounding optimism gave a boost to UK tech-related stocks…It wasn’t enough to lift the FTSE 100 out of the doldrums,” said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.
• Qatar’s prime minister visits Tehran on Thursday in a bid to relaunch diplomacy after the U.S. and Iran exchanged recriminations over Washington’s promise to increase economic pressure on Tehran by targeting its trade partners for sanctions.
• Oil prices fell more than $1, extending a streak of losses, on expectations that talks between Iran and Qatar might open the Strait of Hormuz and reduce supply disruptions from the war in the Middle East. [O/R]
• Elsewhere, investors did not fully price in a quarter-point Bank of England rate hike until February 2027, with bond yields extending their gradual decline after a brief interruption in the previous session.
• Attention is also on Warsh’s speech at Jackson Hole on Friday after hotter-than-expected inflation data prompted investors to modestly increase bets on a rate hike next month.
• Among individual stocks, Britain’s Halfords jumped 12.6% to the top of the FTSE Midcap index after forecasting annual profit above market expectations.
• Computacenter rose 4.7% to the top of the FTSE 100 after Peel Hunt upgraded the stock to “buy” from “add” and raised its price target to 6,000 pence from 4,400 pence.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
The British pound dipped 0.1% to $1.3578 on Thursday, retreating from last week’s six-month high
International News via Reuters:
Sterling eased to a one-week low against the dollar and the euro as investors pared expectations for an interest rate hike by the Bank of England this year and shifted their focus to the annual symposium on monetary policy at Jackson Hole in the U.S.
The British pound dipped 0.1% to $1.3578 on Thursday, retreating from last week’s six-month high. It was off nearly 0.1% at 85.75 pence versus the euro.
LSEG data showed that traders now expected the central bank to hike interest rates by 24.7 basis points by December, meaning they no longer expect a 25-bp hike by the BoE this year.
This reflected that markets were slowly coming into alignment with most economists, who have long said in Reuters polls that the BoE is likely to hold rates steady this year.
Two-year gilt yields, which move in lockstep with rate expectations, were also a touch softer at 4.36% as Brent crude prices hovered near a two-week low, with investors watching mediation efforts to end the Mideast conflict.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Markets, said he was sceptical that the BoE would increase borrowing costs in 2026.
“It would probably make life unnecessarily tricky for the UK economy and certainly for the government as well. The approach will be cross your fingers and hope that oil continues to stay at least contained at these levels.”
Sterling rallied earlier this year and is among the best-performing developed market currencies on the back of expectations that the BoE would raise rates to combat energy-induced inflation pressures, and also reflecting stronger-than-expected UK economic data.
Later on Thursday the focus will turn to the start of the Jackson Hole economic symposium in the U.S., where markets will scrutinize Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s remarks on Friday for any hints on monetary policy outlook.
Attention next week will shift to parliament resuming session and markets will look for clues on how the Andy Burnham administration is likely to fund some ambitious policies, ahead of the October budget.
The UK’s elevated budget debt levels are a major concern for investors.
“People expect a government that will look to find new ways to raise taxes and to try and fulfil what it wants to do,” Beauchamp said.
“It’s going to be a hard sell for this government to sort of maintain this credibility angle that they were so big on just a few weeks ago.”
Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexandra Hudson
Commissioner Simons confirms dismissal after Special Case Hearing
Inspector David Bhagwan has been dismissed from the Bermuda Police Service with immediate effect.
Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the disciplinary action on Wednesday evening.
‘Following a Special Case Hearing held earlier today, Inspector 2042 David Bhagwan has been dismissed from the Bermuda Police Service,’ Commissioner Simons said.
‘As there is an ongoing court prosecution connected with this matter, no further comment can be made at this time,” he added.
The 37-page report reveals previously undisclosed aspects of the recent hacking spree powered by OpenAI’s most advanced models
International News via Reuters:
AI agents spun up by OpenAI broke into its own networks during tests gone wrong, the company said in a report published Wednesday.
The 37-page report reveals previously undisclosed aspects of the recent hacking spree powered by OpenAI’s most advanced models.
Some of the rogue behavior, which culminated in the highly publicized breach of the open source repository Hugging Face last month, has been disclosed or alluded to previously.
But many details are being revealed by the company for the first time. Some of them raised concern from at least one AI safety researcher, who said they pointed to potentially deeper problems with the technology at OpenAI and maybe beyond.
Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama
The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) is proud to introduce the five players who will represent Bermuda in the Davis Cup World Group II Tie: Bermuda vs. Mexico, taking place at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium on September 19 and 20, 2026.
Led by Coach Ricky Mallory, Team Bermuda features Tariq Simons, Trey Mallory, Daniel Phillips, Wayne Montgomery and Zach McGuire — a squad combining international experience, Division I collegiate tennis and some of Bermuda’s strongest emerging talent.
The team has proven its ability to compete internationally, recording significant victories over high-level opposition, including players ranked as high as No. 231 in the world.
Wayne Montgomery reached No. 7 in the World Tennis junior rankings and competed at the University of Georgia, while Daniel Phillips competes at Tulane University and reached No. 204 as an World Tennis junior. Trey Mallory, a UNC Wilmington alum, reached No. 492 in the junior rankings, while Tariq Simons is currently Bermuda’s No. 1- ranked player. At 18, Zach McGuire, who competes for Sacred Heart University, represents the next generation of Bermuda tennis.
The team’s place in World Group II follows its historic 3–2 victory over Georgia, one of the most significant results in Bermuda tennis history. Preparation for Mexico is well underway. Members of the team have been training and competing in tournaments in Florida, while two players also competed in the Dominican Republic at the CAC Games. Each player is following a strict training and competition programme ahead of September.
Coach Ricky Mallory said: “Georgia showed what this team is capable of, but the work hasn’t stopped. The guys have been training hard, competing and getting the matches they need. Everyone understands the level we’re stepping into and what it means to represent Bermuda at home. Our focus is on being ready for September”
BLTA President Michael Wolfe said: “Bermuda may be small, but we are mighty. These five players have earned the opportunity to represent our country on this stage and have shown that Bermuda can compete with tennis nations from around the world. Now we get to see our stars compete at home. I invite everyone across Bermuda to come out, fill the stadium and get behind Team Bermuda. This is a moment for our entire island.
The BLTA extends its appreciation to HSBC, the Tie Sponsor, the Government of Bermuda, and the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) for their support in helping make this historic occasion possible. The Davis Cup is the world’s premier men’s international team tennis competition, often described as the “World Cup of Tennis.” Bermuda’s participation in World
Group II marks a new chapter for tennis on the island. As September approaches, the BLTA will continue its Meet Team Bermuda campaign, sharing the players’ stories and building support across the island ahead of the Davis Cup World Group II Tie: Bermuda vs. Mexico.
Sponsorship and donation opportunities are still available, and corporate boxes are almost sold out. To support Team Bermuda or secure a corporate box, contact the BLTA at daviscup@blta.bm. To catch Team Bermuda in action – purchase your tickets here: BdaTix
Her charitable efforts were informed by an upbringing in profound poverty in rural Tennessee, which later became as central to her public legacy as the songs that made her famous
International News via Reuters:
Dolly Parton, the trailblazing country music icon, songwriter and actress who died on Tuesday at age 80, was so much more to millions around the world.
She was a symbol of generosity, whose philanthropic work spanned literacy, disaster relief, medical research and support for marginalized communities and racial justice, transcending the political and cultural divides that reshaped the world around her.
Her charitable efforts were informed by an upbringing in profound poverty in rural Tennessee, which later became as central to her public legacy as the songs that made her famous.
LITERACY CHAMPION
Parton’s philanthropic work included the Dollywood Foundation, established in 1988, to provide scholarships for students in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee.
In 1995, she launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a literacy program that grew from a local initiative in East Tennessee into an international effort providing free books to children from birth to age 5.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams,” Parton wrote on the program’s website.
The literacy initiative became one of the most visible expressions of Parton’s charitable legacy. The program has gifted more than 304 million books to children in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia, according to the program’s website.
Her philanthropy also included donations to COVID-19 research, the American Red Cross, wildfire and hurricane relief efforts, hospitals and animal welfare causes.
LGBTQ+ RIGHTS
Beyond her music, Parton was a cultural figure embraced by generations of LGBTQ+ fans and communities, earning a reputation for inclusiveness and acceptance. She supported same-sex marriage, criticized restrictions on transgender rights and brought those themes into her work, including the Academy Award-nominated song “Travelin’ Thru” for the 2005 film “Transamerica.”
“Parton’s warm spirit, kindheartedness and joie de vivre deeply resonated with the LGBTQ community,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a Tuesday statement.
RACIAL JUSTICE
Throughout her career, Parton rarely waded publicly into politics or social issues.
But in 2018, Parton removed “Dixie” from the name of her Civil War-themed dinner attraction, renaming it Dolly Parton’s Stampede, after receiving criticism for its association with the Confederacy.
“As soon as you realize that something is a problem, you should fix it,” Parton told Billboard in 2020.
During the 2020 global protests over the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans, Parton notably voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement, joining the ranks of towering music figures willing to engage publicly on the topic.
“Of course Black lives matter,” she told Billboard. “Do we think our little white asses are the only ones that matter? No!”
Parton said on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live” program in 2021 that she had used some of the royalties from Whitney Houston’s recording of “I Will Always Love You” to purchase a strip mall in a predominantly Black Nashville neighborhood, describing it as a tribute to Houston’s legacy.
Among her final major collaborations, Parton worked with Beyoncé on the Grammy-winning 2024 album “Cowboy Carter”, which highlighted the rich legacy of Black musicians in country music and touched on race and identity in America.
Beyoncé’s reinterpretation of Parton’s hit “Jolene” sparked both praise and criticism. Parton, who appeared on the album’s interlude “Dolly P” and the song “Tyrant,” endorsed the version, saying Beyoncé was “giving that girl (Jolene) some trouble and she deserves it!”
Beyoncé paid tribute to Parton on Tuesday, saying she was “the barometer” and “The North Star.”
“You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself,” she wrote on her website. “I’m honored I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever.”
Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Kat Stafford and Bill Berkrot
Diallo Rabain says the ‘pause’ to transitioning from three-tier to two-tier public education was only supposed to last a year, and he wants to know what is holding it back
The success of Signature School Programmes is evident, according to Diallo Rabain.
The Education Minister concedes, however, that parents have become skeptical about the planned transition to a two-tier public school system.
Reflecting on the first four years of Signature Senior Schools, Minister Rabain cites feedback from a former teacher who, to coin a phrase, became a believer at a recent high school graduation.
Nevertheless, he says the ‘pause’ to transitioning from three-tier to two-tier public education was only supposed to last a year, and he wants to know what is holding it back.
Manpreet Kohli, a 45-year-old Indian national, was the leader of Saitama, a company that promoted a token on the ethereum blockchain, which at one point had a market value of $7.5 billion
International News via Reuters:
The British-based chief executive of a cryptocurrency company who is wanted in the United States on charges of wire fraud and market manipulation faces being sent to the U.S. to stand trial after he lost his fight against extradition last week.
Manpreet Kohli, a 45-year-old Indian national, was the leader of Saitama, a company that promoted a token on the ethereum blockchain, which at one point had a market value of $7.5 billion.
He was arrested in London in 2024 after U.S. prosecutors accused him and more than a dozen others of engaging in widespread fraud, following an investigation in which the FBI for the first time set up a digital token to ferret out crime.
Prosecutors alleged Kohli and his co-conspirators claimed to be holding and purchasing Saitama tokens, while privately selling them for millions of dollars in profit. Kohli is said to have made around $20 million.
Kohli fought against extradition, including on the grounds that in the U.S. there would be inadequate measures to prevent him taking his own life in custody.
But Judge Samuel Goozee rejected Kohli’s challenge on August 19 and sent his case to British ministers to decide whether to order his extradition, a step which is usually a formality.
“I find there are clearly appropriate arrangements in place both during transit and within the prison system in the U.S. to be able to cope with (Kohli’s) mental health and reduce the risk of suicide to an acceptable level,” Goozee said in his ruling.
Kohli remains free on £200,000 ($272,420) bail and can appeal against the ruling. He could not be contacted for comment.
Earlier this month, a federal judge in Boston rejected his bid to have the indictment against him dismissed on the grounds that the Saitama token cannot legally be considered a security subject to regulation under U.S. securities law.
Kohli’s U.S. lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
($1 = 0.7342 pounds)
Reporting by Sam Tobin in London and Nate Raymond in Boston;Editing by Tomasz Janowski
The first foldable iPhone is expected to be a crucial landmark for Apple, with analysts saying that the high-end devices would be the main driver of higher selling prices and margin growth for the company
International News via Reuters:
Apple is set to host its next launch event on September 9, where the company is expected to unveil its newest iPhone series and potentially its long-awaited foldable phone.
The first foldable iPhone is expected to be a crucial landmark for Apple, with analysts saying that the high-end devices would be the main driver of higher selling prices and margin growth for the company.
The launch would also mark incoming Apple CEO John Ternus’s first major event. Ternus, Apple’s longtime hardware chief, is set to take the helm at the company on September 1, as Tim Cook transitions to the role of executive chairman.
Ternus’s appointment, announced in April, was widely regarded as a sign of Apple’s renewed push to building on its core strength in devices.
Currently, Samsung Electronics dominates the niche but growing foldable smartphone market, which companies are betting would soon become mainstream despite their premium price tags.
Foldable phones are expected to be a bright spot for consumer electronics companies that have faced a setback due to a severe shortage of memory and storage chips that resulted in price hikes and dampened overall consumer demand.
Apple has also lifted prices across its Mac and iPad line-ups to offset the soaring costs. Still, the company said in July it was facing “very significant” supply chain shortages and predicted the snags would dampen sales in the current quarter.
Analysts expect Apple to launch a foldable iPhone with a screen similar in size to an iPad mini. Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled a new passport-sized foldable phone as the South Korean tech giant seeks to defend its foothold against Apple.
Apple is expected to ship more than 17 million foldable iPhones by 2027, according to research firm IDC.
Its entry into the market is also key to driving growth, with IDC predicting a 12.6% jump in foldable phone shipments this year. In comparison, global smartphone shipments are expected to see a record 16.7% decline.
Last year, at its launch event, Apple unveiled a slimmer iPhone Air and loaded its iPhone 17 base models with several better features. The iPhone 17 line-up helped drive a strong upgrade cycle among consumers.
Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli
12th August 2026, marked the one-year anniversary of the double murder on Court Street, City of Hamilton, where two young men were fatally shot, around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, 12th August 2025.
Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit continue to actively investigate the double murder and remain committed to bringing those responsible to justice.
To date, two persons have been arrested in connection with this matter; however, no charges have been laid. Investigators are therefore renewing their appeal for any relevant information that may assist the inquiry and have re-circulated images of the suspects.
The suspects are described as two males on a dark coloured motorcycle, both wearing helmets with dark coloured visors.
The rider was wearing a blue top, black gloves, grey pants, and white sneakers.
The passenger was wearing a beige jacket and dark coloured pants, with red and white sneakers.
The pair are believed to have travelled from Ewing Street, heading south along Court Street, before turning right onto Dundonald Street and fleeing the area.
Community involvement remains crucial. Every detail—no matter how small—could help bring justice and closure to the families and to the wider community. All information shared will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Anyone who can assist is encouraged to contact Acting Detective Inspector Anneka Donawa of the Serious Crime Unit at 717-2250, 247-1739, or via email at adonawa@bps.bm.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline at 800-8477, or online at www.crimestoppers.bm.
Crime Stoppers Bermuda is offering up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charge of the suspects.
Information can additionally be shared through the Bermuda Police Service reporting portal at https://portal.police.bm, or with any police officer you know.
The main reason for the trip will be for the royals to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which is being held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1-4 this year
International News via Reuters:
King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will carry out a week-long tour of Caribbean nations later this year, visiting Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas and Guyana, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.
The main reason for the trip will be for the royals to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which is being held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1-4 this year.
Charles, who is king of Antigua and Barbuda, is also the head of the Commonwealth, a club of more than 50 countries that evolved from the British Empire.
Prior to the CHOGM meeting, Charles will travel to the Bahamas, another nation where he is the monarch, and will also pay a state visit to Guyana.
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