Bermudian rider claims equitation victory at National Horse Show
Bermudian junior rider Blaire Crews delivered an exceptional showing on the American circuit, claiming an outright victory in the 14–15 Equitation Flat class at the National Horse Show in Tryon, North Carolina.
Partnered with her grey gelding Vino Blanco, Crews caught the judges’ eyes across a fiercely competitive field at the Tryon International Equestrian Center to take the blue ribbon.
The highlight of the weekend saw the young rider step onto the red carpet for the formal presentation, collecting the champion’s trophy following a clinic in ring presence and technical precision.
Crews showcased polished horsemanship throughout the age-group divisions:
14–15 Equitation Flat: Outright winner, producing seamless transitions and immaculate rider position on the flat aboard Vino Blanco to secure top spot. 14–15 Equitation Over Fences: Maintained her fine form over a demanding jumping track, navigating the fences cleanly to record a solid fifth-place finish.
The results mark another significant milestone on the international stage for the promising Bermudian, who continues to establish her credentials against top North American competition.
Bermudian swimmer secures 200m butterfly victory in Calgary
Bermudian swimmer Elijah Daley continued his sensational early-season form in Canada, striking gold in the 200m butterfly to help the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s team seal an authoritative two-day sweep at the Dinos Invitational.
Facing stiff competition from hosts Calgary Dinos and Lethbridge Pronghorns, the 20-year-old proved the class of the field in Alberta, backing up an opening-day double with another commanding display.
Daley took control of the 200m short course butterfly from the opening turn, dictating the tempo through the middle 100 metres and holding his stroke with supreme discipline down the stretch. He touched the wall in 1 minute 59.66 seconds—the solitary competitor in the field to break the two-minute barrier.
The Bermudian returned to the water shortly after on the butterfly leg of Toronto’s ‘B’ quartet in the 400m medley relay. Teaming up with Ben Winterborn, Elliott Angkriwan, and Paul Yang, Daley produced an incisive third split to help the team clock 3:41.88 for third place, putting the finishing touches on a dominant weekend for the Varsity Blues.
Bermudian star targets deep championship run after straight-sets victory
Bermudian standout Daniel Phillips launched his singles campaign in commanding fashion for Tulane University, advancing to the third round of the 2026 Individual Tennis Championship Central.
The second seed produced a disciplined display to overcome Wichita State’s Rodrigo Cruz in straight sets, though his opening day featured mixed fortunes following a narrow first-round doubles exit alongside Alec Gaudin.
Phillips quickly stamped his authority on the singles rubber, dictating the tempo from the baseline with heavy groundstrokes to claim the opening set 6-3. Cruz mounted a stern response in a tightly contested second, but the Bermudian held his nerve in the key moments, securing a crucial late break to close out a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Earlier in the day, Phillips and Gaudin were edged out 8-6 in an 8-game pro-set doubles encounter by Florida Atlantic pairing Jose David Segovia and Lucca Pignaton.
With his doubles commitments concluded, Phillips shifts his full focus to the singles bracket as he targets a deep championship run for the Green Wave.
Under-15 squad falls to Namibia and Poland in Baku
Bermuda’s young prospects endured a punishing double-header on day three of the FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup & Festival in Baku, falling to consecutive defeats against Namibia and Poland.
Hopes were high heading into Monday’s action in Azerbaijan, but a bruising day delivered a stern test of resilience for the Gombey Warriors at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
The opening match on Pitch 4B saw Bermuda pushed to the limit by a physically sharp Namibia side in a tightly contested affair. Despite a spirited showing, the youngsters were edged out 2-1, with Stephen Astwood providing the solitary bright spot courtesy of a neat finish to pull one back.
Any optimism of an immediate response, however, was swiftly extinguished hours later across the complex on Pitch 5B.
Squaring off against a clinical Poland team, Bermuda found themselves thoroughly outmatched. The Europeans dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, carving through the lines to condemn the islanders to a comprehensive 5-0 loss.
The twin defeats cap a chastening 24 hours for the squad, who face a steep learning curve before tournament play resumes in Baku.
Reuters reported earlier this month that France and Germany were discussing a compromise that could allow Britain to be treated as a trusted partner under the scheme
International News via Reuters:
British business minister Jonathan Reynolds said on Tuesday Britain and the European Union were “finding a way through” concerns over the bloc’s proposed “Made in Europe” rules, a source of uncertainty for UK manufacturers and investors.
Reynolds said “a lot of work” was under way between the two sides as businesses sought greater clarity over the proposals, which would favour European-made goods in public procurement, auctions and subsidy schemes covering sectors including electric vehicles, batteries and other clean technologies.
The proposed rules, which pose a particular threat to Britain’s car industry, form part of the EU’s efforts to reduce reliance on cheap imports, particularly from China.
“I think we’re finding a way through that,” Reynolds told Sky News. “A lot of work is going on in government between ourselves and the EU to find a way through that”.
Reuters reported earlier this month that France and Germany were discussing a compromise that could allow Britain to be treated as a trusted partner under the scheme, if it agrees to align with the bloc on tariffs on China.
Any final proposal would require approval from EU governments and the European Parliament.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Kate Holton
HSBC fell 6.9%, after Europe’s largest bank’s revenue came in below estimates, in part due to slower growth at its wealth business
International News via Reuters:
European shares fell on Tuesday after disappointing earnings from HSBC weighed on banking shares, while ongoing tensions in France added to investor caution.
HSBC fell 6.9%, after Europe’s largest bank’s revenue came in below estimates, in part due to slower growth at its wealth business.
The losses dragged the bank index that dropped 1.3%. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.2% at 639.64 points by 0805 GMT, after climbing nearly 0.8% on Monday.
Investor sentiment remained fragile as French student leaders vowed to go on protesting despite government concessions on education, raising concerns as the movement spreads to unions and other activists, stokes unrest and deepens the economic damage.
French equities fell more than 2% last week as protests shook investor confidence in the euro zone’s second-largest economy.
Novartis raised its full-year core operating income guidance, sending the shares of the Swiss drugmaker up 3.1%.
Reporting by Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala
Brent crude futures was up 40 cents, or 0.4%, at $116.24 a barrel by 0718 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 30 cents, or 0.3%, at $102.07
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices turned positive on Tuesday after a fall of about 1%, earlier in the session, as the chance of talks in Tehran eased fears of a broader Middle East supply shock, while renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia highlighted persistent risks.
Brent crude futures was up 40 cents, or 0.4%, at $116.24 a barrel by 0718 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 30 cents, or 0.3%, at $102.07. Both fell 1% earlier in the session.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan held talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday aimed at easing tension in the Middle East.
The four countries agreed to continue talks with a view to strengthening cooperation in peace and security, Iranian state media said.
“Prices remain elevated amid persistent geopolitical uncertainties,” said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm, adding that some profit taking earlier in the session was fuelled by hopes of a breakthrough in talks between the US and Iran, she said.
Last week, Brent prices surged to more than $117 a barrel, the highest since April, after a wave of Iranian attacks on tankers around the Strait of Hormuz. Brent prices touched $117 on Monday as well.
Scope for peace looked fragile, however, with renewed attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on key producer Saudi Arabia.
October has been the worst month for attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waterways, data from a Washington-based think tank shows, among worldwide maritime security incidents it has tracked since 2017.
The war rippling across the Middle East has brought into focus the narrow waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about a fifth of global energy supplies before the conflict erupted in February.
The oil market is vulnerable with stress across areas such as supply, logistics, inventories and refining, ANZ Research said in a note.
Gulf crude exports fell for a fourth straight week and flows through the Strait of Hormuz were just about 60% of their normal level, while global distillate inventories held nearly 5% below their five-year average, it added.
Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez
While Buckingham Palace has said the monarch would not shy away from Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade during his tour, he would not formally apologise for it as some have wanted
International News via Reuters:
King Charles heads to the Caribbean this week on a tour which comes against the backdrop of increasingly vocal demands from the region that Britain pays reparations for its role in the slave trade.
Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will first visit the Bahamas and Guyana, before heading to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the biennial get-together of the international organisation which he heads. The tour runs from October 27 to November 4.
At a previous meeting in 2022 of the leaders of the Commonwealth — a group of 56 nations which were mainly former British colonies — Charles expressed deep personal sorrow over slavery, and the issue is certain to be prominent once again.
Last month, CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, a group of 23 member and associate member states which includes the Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica, said it would push for reparations to be on the CHOGM agenda.
“The Caribbean has consistently asserted that reparations is fundamentally about justice,” CARICOM’s Secretary-General Carla Barnett said in a speech last month.
“It is about recognition, accountability and transformation, and about building a just and equitable future for the descendants of those who, as the chattel of colonial owners, endured untold suffering, loss of life and freedom.”
While Buckingham Palace has said the monarch would not shy away from Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade during his tour, he would not formally apologise for it as some have wanted, in keeping with British government policy which also excludes making any financial reparations.
“It is important to note here the work his majesty himself has done over many years both to acknowledge the wrongs of the past and to find creative ways to right inequalities that endure,” a palace spokesperson said.
Shirley Botchwey, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, which encompasses some 2.7 billion people, said last week the time had come for discussions about reparations, be they financial or in some other form such as the return of artefacts.
As for an apology from the king, who remains the head of state of a number of Caribbean nations including both the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, she told Sky News: “It wouldn’t hurt to have that.”
From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery by European merchants, with Britain responsible for transporting an estimated 3.2 million people, making it the second most active European nation after Portugal.
Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Xevi Fontdegloria
The social media giant said it was increasing the common stock offering it announced on Monday from $22.5 billion to $25 billion, priced at $625.00 per share
A 3D-printed Meta logo and word “AI” are seen in this illustration taken July 20, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
International News via Reuters:
Meta Platforms said on Tuesday it increased its largest-ever equity fundraising to $97.5 billion as the social media giant aggressively expands its AI infrastructure.
The social media giant said it was increasing the common stock offering it announced on Monday from $22.5 billion to $25 billion, priced at $625.00 per share.
Meta also priced its 250 million depositary shares at $50 per share.
The Facebook parent has launched public offerings worth about $35 billion in common and preferred stock, and said it also plans to launch a separate at-the-market share sale program, under which a company sells shares gradually at prevailing market prices, worth up to $60 billion.
The company will launch the larger share sale program after its new non-voting Class C shares begin trading, expected in the first quarter of 2027, but it has not yet finalized the sale’s timing and terms.
Meta’s fundraising plan, among the biggest by an AI company, has also drawn interest of up to $5 billion in total from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom for Class A shares.
In a separate statement, Nvidia said it would invest $3 billion in Meta’s equity offering.
Their funding interest adds to concerns about an increasingly circular flow of capital in the AI industry, as chip suppliers help finance the expansion of one of their biggest customers. Meta has been pouring money into chips and data centers to compete better with OpenAI and Anthropic.
“We expect investors to continue to question the financing and potential for future capital raises,” William Blair analysts said in a note.
“Overall, we believe the financing reinforces both Meta’s confidence in the long-term returns from AI investment and the increasingly capital-intensive nature of pursuing that opportunity.”
The company’s shares fell about 1.4% in morning trading.
The latest fundraising further underscores a shift among big technology companies increasingly tapping debt markets and raising equity to bolster their AI infrastructure, after previously relying on cash to fund their investments.
In June, Google’s parent company Alphabet increased its equity offerings to $84.75 billion.
Separately on Monday, SpaceX said an affiliate of Apollo Global Management will buy AI chips and server hardware and lease them to the rockets-to-AI firm, in a deal with total principal payments of about $40 billion.
META’S AI SPENDING IS BURNING CASH
Meta has committed to spending about $825 billion in the future, driven primarily by growing investments in data centers, AI-related infrastructure, and cloud computing power.
But the aggressive expansion has eroded its historically strong free cash flow.
The company reported a $2.12 billion cash burn in the third quarter, its first negative free cash flow in over a decade, compared with a positive cash flow of $10.63 billion a year ago.
Still, the early popularity of its consumer-focused AI agent Muse and release of a competitive new series of AI models have helped partly justify Meta’s aggressive investments.
“We believe that Meta will ultimately produce a profitable AI business and its returns longer-term should help the company diversify, although the path may not be linear,” William Blair analysts said.
The company had $82.45 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and $80.92 billion in long-term debt as of September 30, according to its latest quarterly filing.
Last week, Meta raised the lower end of its annual capital expenditure forecast to $135 billion to $145 billion.
The company said it would issue Class C common stock in January 2027, effectively creating a two-for-one split, to fund acquisitions and retain top talent while maintaining CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s control.
Meta agreed to grant Zuckerberg Class C shares he can sell to help pay a potential California billionaire wealth tax, in exchange for his commitment to remain in California.
Reporting by Jaspreet Singh and Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Rashmi Aich
Britain’s National Living Wage, which applies to those aged 21 and older, is expected to rise to about £13.20 ($17.63) an hour from £12.71 — an increase of 3.9%, the newspaper reported, without naming sources
Skyscrapers of the City of London financial district are reflected in a puddle following heavy rain, in London, Britain, September 8, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
International News via Reuters:
British finance minister John Healey will announce on Wednesday plans to increase the minimum wage by nearly 4%, the Times reported on Monday.
Britain’s National Living Wage, which applies to those aged 21 and older, is expected to rise to about £13.20 ($17.63) an hour from £12.71 — an increase of 3.9%, the newspaper reported, without naming sources.
The report added that the National Minimum Wage, which applies to those aged 18, 19 and 20, will rise broadly in line with the rate for older workers — to around £11.27 an hour from £10.85.
The finance ministry declined to comment on the report.
If confirmed in Wednesday’s budget announcement, those increases would take effect in 2027 and end a trend seen in recent years in which the minimum rate for younger workers has increased by more than that for older workers.
Britain’s minimum wage is one of the highest among advanced economies as a share of median earnings, following efforts by successive governments to lift it to two-thirds of median hourly pay.
Some analysts and employers have previously pointed to the rate payable to younger workers as a cause of increasing youth unemployment.
In April, the Low Pay Commission, which advises the government on minimum wage rises, said the National Living Wage would probably need to increase by around 3.7% in 2027 to £13.18 an hour to keep up with how it expected average pay to rise.
In March, the government tweaked the commission’s remit to give it more scope to take labour market conditions into account when setting the minimum wage for 18- to 20-year-olds.
($1 = 0.7487 pounds)
Reporting by William James and David Milliken; Editing by David Goodman and Hugh Lawson
Doellner appeared alongside Trump at the rally in Perry, near Macon in central Georgia, to announce plans to build a $4 billion plant, the luxury carmaker’s first in the US, which would produce 200,000 SUVs annually
Gernot Dollner, CEO of Audi AG, speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a rally at Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia, US, October 24, 2026. REUTERS/Edgar Su
International News via Reuters:
Audi chief Gernot Doellner drew heavy criticism on Monday for appearing alongside US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in the battleground state of Georgia, with the head of Germany’s top union saying it violated the automaker’s company guidelines.
Doellner appeared alongside Trump at the rally in Perry, near Macon in central Georgia, to announce plans to build a $4 billion plant, the luxury carmaker’s first in the US, which would produce 200,000 SUVs annually.
TOP VW COMMITTEE MUST DECIDE ON US PLANT
The announcement of the plan, which needs approval by the supervisory board of parent Volkswagen, including German labour representatives, follows lengthy considerations over launching US production to escape import tariffs that cost Audi around €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) last year.
“Doellner is also in flagrant breach of his own company’s rules, which expressly require political neutrality in the run-up to elections,” said Christiane Benner, head of Germany’s IG Metall union and deputy chair of Volkswagen’s supervisory board.
The US state of Georgia will support Audi’s investment with $1.4 billion, German news outlet Focus reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Audi said a delegation had travelled to Georgia to advance negotiations over the planned plant and accepted an invitation to present the project alongside Trump.
“We accepted this invitation solely with Audi’s best interests in mind,” the company said in a statement. It also said it was taking very seriously the notion that Doellner’s appearance was being interpreted as a sign of political support.
A person familiar with the matter said Audi’s management board had cleared an exception to the company’s code of conduct before Doellner’s appearance. Under the code, the board can allow deviations from the rules except in cases involving criminal offences, the source said.
The automaker’s top stakeholders discussed the matter during a meeting attended by Benner and another labour representative Daniela Cavallo, with the latter expressing reservations about the appearance without formally opposing it, the person said.
“From a pure business perspective, localising Audi’s production in the US may make sense,” Cavallo said in comments shared internally and seen by Reuters. However, with his appearance, Doellner “allowed himself to be turned into a puppet in the propaganda show” of Trump, she said.
A second person confirmed that Volkswagen’s supervisory board committee — which is already fraught with tension over the company’s sweeping restructuring — had discussed the issue on Friday.
Trump has voiced his support in the past for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, raising concerns among Germany’s political and corporate mainstream.
German automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer referred to Doellner as a “mini Elon Musk”, comparing him to the Tesla boss who has appeared on stage with Trump.
A spokesperson for Audi said Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume had been informed about Doellner’s appearance in advance.
Volkswagen declined to comment.
Audi’s code of conduct stipulates that no “public engagements with political parties or politicians standing for election, nor any sponsorship of such events” may take place in the three months leading up to an election.
TRUMP KEEN TO PROMOTE IMPACT OF TARIFFS
Trump is in the midst of a nationwide campaign blitz to bolster his Republicans, who are trailing the Democrats in opinion polls ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. One of his campaign messages is that his tariffs are creating more US manufacturing jobs.
Olaf Lies, state premier of the German state of Lower Saxony, Volkswagen’s second-largest shareholder, said it was inappropriate that Doellner had become part of a political spectacle.
“A campaign rally cannot be the right place to announce an investment of this magnitude,” he said. “This appearance has caused consternation among employees who are worried about their jobs here, and far beyond. I can fully understand that — I feel the same way.”
The US investment plan coincides with Volkswagen’s push to cut around 100,000 jobs and cut excess production as it grapples with heavy losses in China while absorbing steep tariffs and the costly transition to electric vehicles.
The group’s German production sites have been under particular pressure to reduce costs, with Audi’s factory in Neckarsulm one of four plants threatened with closure from early next decade.
“The optics are not great, jobs are being created in the US while Audi is reducing the capacity globally,” Metzler analysts said of the US plan. “Still, we would argue the decision to produce in the US is right.”
($1 = 0.8925 euros)
Reporting by Christina Amann and Rachel More; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz; Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Ludwig Burger, David Holmes and Tomasz Janowski
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