Bermuda’s Men’s Under-19 national team have arrived in Querétaro, Mexico, ahead of the 2026 Rugby Americas North (RAN) XVs Championship at FC Total.
The 19-player squad, captained by Dylan Sangster alongside vice-captains Nyindae Smith and Dante Noel-Simmons, face a punishing opening day on Wednesday against top-seeded United States before meeting host nation Mexico.
With nine players making their tournament debut, co-head coach Chris Naylor acknowledged the steep task ahead in a round-robin schedule that also includes matches against Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
“We have an extremely tough start against the USA, and it does not get any easier with Mexico immediately afterwards,” said Naylor. “Our senior players will need to lead from the front, but the boys have trained well and are ready to express themselves.”
Bermuda Rugby President Gemma Godfrey praised the player-development pathway, noting the achievement of competing against far larger nations on the regional stage.
The tournament will also mark the first implementation of RAN’s 2026 Tackle Height Law Variation. In open-field play, tacklers are required to make contact below the base of the ball-carrier’s sternum in a directive designed to reduce head-contact risks.
The Department of Statistics is encouraging households that have not completed the 2026 Population and Housing Census to take advantage of the extended online submission deadline and Fill the Gap.
Residents now have until Sunday, August 16, 2026, to complete their household’s Census questionnaire online at census.gov.bm. Take this final opportunity to be counted before the next phase of Census data collection begins.
The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, encourages Bermudians and non-Bermudian residents to participate, stating, “Extending the deadline gives every household one more opportunity to be counted online before our Census interviewers begin visiting homes. We encourage anyone who has not yet completed their Census questionnaire to take a few minutes to complete their household’s questionnaire. Every completed Census questionnaire helps fill information gaps. Accurate and complete Census data provide Government, businesses, community organisations, and other decision-makers with the information needed to plan for Bermuda’s future, from housing and healthcare to education, employment, and community services.”
Completing the Census online questionnaire remains the quickest and most convenient way to participate and will eliminate the need for an interviewer to visit your household in person.
The Department is urging households that have not yet responded to complete the Census online questionnaire by the extended deadline. In accordance with the Statistics Act 2002, all residents are required by law to complete their census questionnaire.
Residents who do not have their Census letter or require assistance accessing the online questionnaire should contact the Department of Statistics Helpline by emailing census@gov.bm, visiting our office at the Cedar Park Centre, 48 Cedar Avenue, Hamilton weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or calling 297-7761:
Weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., excluding public holidays; and
Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The Department also reminds residents that all Census information is kept strictly confidential. Individual responses are never published and are used only in aggregate for statistical purposes to support informed planning and decision-making while protecting personal privacy.
Do not delay; complete your online Census at census.gov.bm by Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Following the closure of online submissions on August 16, trained Census interviewers will begin visiting households that have not yet completed their Census questionnaire. In support of this, we encourage anyone interested in becoming a Census interviewer to complete the online application at interview.census.bm. Interviewers help the Department visit households and support Census completion.
Bermudian cyclists Nicholas Narraway and Kaden Hopkins crossed the line side-by-side on Stage 4 of the 75th Tour Cycliste International de la Guadeloupe following a demanding 155.1-kilometre route from Deshaies to Lamentin.
Germany’s Tobias Nolde took the stage victory, breaking clear to stop the clock in 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 14 seconds—five minutes and five seconds ahead of the Bermudian pair.
Hopkins, riding for Atom 6 Bikes – Cycleur de Luxe – Auto Stroo, was placed 32nd across the line, finishing in 3:38:19.
Competitive Edge Racing’s Narraway recorded the identical time to take 70th position within a fractured peloton as the field splintered over the closing climbs.
Narraway’s consistent performance keeps him inside the top 35 of the overall standings as the 10-day tour reaches its mid-stage phase. He holds 31st place overall with a cumulative time of 11:05:35, while Hopkins sits 55th in 11:09:51.
Bermudian martial artist Geraldine Sidders delivered an impressive performance at the Canadian Wushu National Championships in Waterloo, Ontario, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.
Competing against top international talent, Sidders earned a fourth-place finish in the Jianshu (straight sword) discipline with a score of 8.223. She backed up that performance with a sixth-place result in the Changquan (longfist) event, scoring 7.300.
Sidders’ notable fourth-place finish in the straight sword category came following an intensive month-long training camp with Orleans Wushu Centre coach Daria Kanel in Ottawa, where her routine was finalized just prior to the event.
The tournament, staged as a collaborative venture between the Ontario Summer Games and the National Wushu Festival, featured elite North American teams alongside a visiting squad from India across Taolu and Sanda divisions.
Sidders was guided on the floor by Bermuda taolu coaches Kaelin Cox and Jecoa Burrows. Both coaches remain in Canada to continue their own training ahead of October’s Pan American Wushu Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Meanwhile, Bermuda team manager and international san da judge Nolette Webb officiated at the championships, refereeing 125 san da bouts over three days of competition.
Bermuda College has added two critical incident training courses to its fall 2026 schedule, providing practical instruction for professionals and volunteers who support people following high-stress events.
The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation courses are led by certified ICISF instructor Dr Mira Ingemann.
Training combines applied learning and group exercises covering when crisis interventions should be used, how they should be delivered and the considerations that guide best practice.
Assisting Individuals in Crisis is a two-day intensive focused on immediate psychological support, described as “emotional first aid” rather than psychotherapy. Participants will study psychological first aid, common crisis reactions and the SAFER-R model for individual crisis intervention.
Group Crisis Intervention covers the fundamentals of Critical Incident Stress Management and several approaches. It also addresses follow-up services and referrals when required.
The courses are intended for people working in education, emergency services, public safety, law enforcement, disaster response, healthcare, mental health, employee assistance, spiritual care, peer support and business.
They will be led by Dr Mira Ingemann, a Registered Clinical Psychologist and ICISF-certified instructor with more than 30 years of experience across higher education, occupational health and public safety.
She developed the Bermuda Police Service’s Critical Incident Stress Management programme and has delivered crisis-intervention support and training locally and internationally.
As founder of Moksha Therapeutics, she currently provides trauma-informed clinical services and CISM training across public-safety, healthcare, military and community settings.
“When something devastating happens, people naturally want to offer support, but many feel helpless or worry about saying or doing the wrong thing,” she said.
“Preparation can transform that concern into a calm, informed and supportive presence, whether responding to a personal tragedy, road fatality, workplace crisis, large-scale emergency or natural disaster.
“Through Bermuda College, I hope to make this standardised training accessible to more people while enabling existing CISM-trained members to deepen their skills and progress towards specialist certification.
“Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen Bermuda’s network of prepared, compassionate responders.”
The courses form part of the wider fall programme offered through the Athora Division of Professional & Career Education, which provides professional, career and continuing education programmes through Bermuda College in daytime and evening courses as well as flexible online courses.
Other options range from AI Foundations, Advanced Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Industry Applications to Healthcare, Childcare and Horticulture.
Tawana Flood, Director of APACE, said: “We are focused on helping people upskill, reskill and move forward with confidence.
“The fall schedule has a plethora of courses that can help people in a myriad of ways, whether it is pursuing an interest or getting the skills to go to the next level of employment.”
Financial aid is not limited to degree programmes. Bermudians pursuing APACE professional and career education may apply for needs-based funding support.
Eligible students may receive up to 80 per cent of tuition and laboratory fees. The fall 2026 funding-support application period closes on October 15.
Course dates, availability and requirements vary, and prospective students should review the full schedule before registering.
Financial aid is available and for more details email financialsupportservices@college.bm. For more information on courses, email apace@college.bm
The Bermuda Golf Association (BGA) has announced a 10-member squad to make a landmark debut at the prestigious Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship (CAGC) in Nassau, Bahamas.
Running from 4th–7th of August at The Royal Blue Golf Course, the 54-hole combined team and individual stroke-play tournament marks Bermuda’s first appearance at the region’s premier amateur event following their admission as full members of the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA).
A total of six men and four women have been selected to represent the island:
Men’s Team: Eric West, Will Haddrell, Oliver Betschart, Dylan Muso, Mikus Ming, and Arman Newton.
Women’s Team: Tracy Burgess, Seinna Mosquera, Darina Betschart, and Morgan Lightbourne.
Support Staff: Richard Marriott and Craig Brown.
“Our entry in the CAGC is a major moment for golf in Bermuda, as it represents our full member status in the CGA. It is a huge step forward for our Association and every golfer on the island, ” said Craig Brown, BGA President.
On May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization declared Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Ebola is a serious illness that spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of someone who is infected, or through contaminated surfaces.
While the risk to Bermuda remains low, the Ministry of Health is taking precautionary steps to ensure early detection and rapid response should any risk emerge.
As part of Bermuda’s public health surveillance, travellers arriving in Bermuda from Uganda, South Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are subject to public health monitoring upon entry. This measure aligns with international best practices and supports early identification of any potential health concerns.
The Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has implemented enhanced health surveillance for travellers from these countries. This includes:
Entry screening and review of travel history
Active health monitoring for 21 days after arrival
Clear guidance on symptoms to watch for
Direct access to public health support if needed
There are currently no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola in Bermuda, and the Ministry will continue to assess global developments and adjust Bermuda’s public health response as needed.
Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP, stated: “We are taking sensible, proactive measures to safeguard our community. Enhanced monitoring of travellers from affected regions is a standard public health practice and ensures Bermuda remains prepared and protected.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shaun Ramroop, added: “Our teams are maintaining close oversight of global developments and applying evidence‑based measures here at home. Monitoring travellers from affected regions allows us to detect any potential risk early and respond swiftly. These actions are precautionary and reflect our commitment to protecting the health of everyone in Bermuda.”
People who are planning to travel to affected areas should review the latest travel health advice before leaving Bermuda. Updates will be shared through www.gov.bm/health-information, the Government and Ministry of Health’s social media channels, and local media.
The Ministry encourages the public to rely on official updates for accurate information and to remain aware of general public health guidance.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Lee ordered officials to take necessary measures to protect the daily lives of people and inspect power systems as demand for air conditioning surges
International News via Reuters:
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged on Tuesday authorities to step up support for people affected by a record heatwave in the country, calling it a national disaster after scorching conditions were blamed for 19 deaths.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Lee ordered officials to take necessary measures to protect the daily lives of people and inspect power systems as demand for air conditioning surges.
“An even greater concern is that abnormal weather conditions make it highly likely that extreme weather will continue for a considerable period,” said Lee, who wants a major redesign of the disaster response system to cope with the hazardous conditions.
The nation’s weather agency said Yangsan, a southeastern inland city sitting in a basin, recorded a temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday, the highest temperature measured in 122 years of weather observations.
The Korea Meteorological Administration also issued its first-ever heatwave warning for parts of Seoul and neighbouring Gyeonggi on Monday, extending this to all of the capital on Tuesday.
A heatwave alert advises people to suspend outdoor activities such as farming, sports and work on construction sites.
“I have never felt heat like this so far here,” said Cho Sang-yeon, who has lived for nearly 20 years in a jjokbang village, an area of cheaper single-room housing in western Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo district.
Some residents have been moved to government-provided temporary housing equipped with air conditioning, though many homeless people also live in the area.
“I feel sorry to see homeless people who are suffering from the heat on the street,” said resident Son Ki-young.
Firefighters and other officials had been spraying water on roads in the area and checking on vulnerable residents for heat-related illnesses, said Jun Hong-cheol, an official at Yeongdeungpo Fire Station.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Tuesday that the death toll from the heatwave has risen to 19, including 13 people aged 80 or above.
Since May 15, 2,025 people have suffered heat-related illnesses nationwide, according to data from the weather agency.
Two baseball games scheduled for Tuesday in Seoul and Gwangju were cancelled because of the extreme heat, according to the Korea Baseball Organization’s website.
Reporting by Heejin Kim, Daewoung Kim, Soohyun Jung, Joyce Lee and Hyeyoon ChoEditing by Ed Davies
Such new products helped offset broader constraints in consumer budgets due to the surge in energy prices driven by the Iran war
International News via Reuters:
Domino’s Pizza Group reported a 3.6% rise in first-half profit on Tuesday, helped by solid demand for its pizzas during the soccer World Cup and new products like Chick ‘N’ Dip.
Such new products helped offset broader constraints in consumer budgets due to the surge in energy prices driven by the Iran war.
“We have carried positive momentum into July and, with our major cost lines hedged through 2026 and into next year, remain confident in delivering our full-year expectations,” CEO Nicola Frampton said a statement.
The group operates under the umbrella of U.S.-based Domino’s Pizza in the UK and Ireland.
Official data last week showed British retail sales were boosted in June by the soccer World Cup, thanks to England’s good run in the tournament, as fans spent on food and other things despite concerns over the cost of living.
“The earnings profile laid out looks much brighter and secure than at any time in the last five years,” Panmure Liberum analyst Wayne Brown said.
Domino’s shares, which have gained nearly 18% so far this year, were up about 1.8% at 207.8 pence as of 0802 GMT.
The group posted underlying EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of £66.2 million ($88.86 million) for the 26 weeks ended June, above the £63.9 million reported a year earlier.
Total system sales – a term used in the franchising industry to represent sales of all outlets that use a brand name – came to £825.3 million in the first half, up over 6% year-on-year.
($1 = 0.7450 pounds)
Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Susan Fenton
State television journalist Lazaro Manuel Alonso said a new disconnection of the National Electric System, or SEN, occurred on Monday afternoon despite progress made earlier in restoring service
International News via Reuters:
Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed again on Monday as authorities struggled to restore power following a nationwide blackout late Sunday, state-run media reported, marking a fresh setback in the country’s deepening energy crisis.
The second collapse in less than a day underscored the fragility of Cuba’s power system, which has become a potent symbol of the island’s broader economic woes as fuel shortages, aging infrastructure and chronic underinvestment leave millions vulnerable to increasingly frequent blackouts.
State television journalist Lazaro Manuel Alonso said a new disconnection of the National Electric System, or SEN, occurred on Monday afternoon despite progress made earlier in restoring service.
“A fluctuation caused the collapse,” Alonso reported.
The UNE power utility later said adverse weather conditions affected the transmission network during restoration efforts, directly impacting generating units that had already returned to service.
“During the process of restoring the SEN, existing weather conditions caused disruptions to the grid, directly affecting generating units that were online,” UNE said in a statement carried by state media.
By early evening, authorities reported some progress, saying four generating units at Energas Jaruco were operating and several transmission substations around Havana had been re-energized.
The latest outage comes after three nationwide grid failures over a nine-day period in July and another collapse late Sunday, shortly before 11 p.m. (0300 GMT on Monday).
Repeated blackouts have disrupted homes, businesses and public services across the Caribbean island of roughly 10 million people, adding to pressure on a government already battling shortages of food, fuel and medicine and a years-long economic downturn.
The electricity crisis has also taken on a diplomatic dimension. Cuba blames decades of U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions for limiting access to fuel, financing and spare parts needed to maintain its power system, while Washington says the outages reflect failures of the country’s state-run economic model.
Cuba’s thermal generating fleet, much of it decades old, has suffered recurring breakdowns as fuel shortages and maintenance problems strain the grid, making the system increasingly vulnerable to disruptions and complicating efforts to restore power after major outages.
Reporting by Ayose Naranjo and Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Kylie Madry and Stephen Coates
Oil majors have benefited this year from market volatility caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has disrupted energy flows and tightened global supplies
International News via Reuters:
BP reported second-quarter profit more than doubled to $5.73 billion, beating forecasts thanks to higher energy prices, trading and refining margins, as CEO Meg O’Neill outlined the group’s priorities.
Oil majors have benefited this year from market volatility caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has disrupted energy flows and tightened global supplies.
BP’s second-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, its version of net income, beat expectations of $5.11 billion in a company-provided poll of analysts and rose from $2.35 billion a year earlier. The group said it would increase its dividend by 4% to 8.66 cents per ordinary share for the second quarter.
BP also on Tuesday said it had launched processes to sell its U.S. biogas business Archaea as it continues to reduce its renewables investments to focus on oil and gas.
It bought Archaea in 2022 for $4.1 billion as part of an aggressive expansion in renewables – a strategy it abandoned in 2025. BP has written down over $4 billion in recent months, mainly related to Archaea, its solar unit Lightsource BP and other low-carbon ventures.
In recent weeks, BP has also completed the sale of its Gelsenkirchen refinery, agreed to sell its retail business in Austria and announced its intention to sell its UK North Sea business.
BP’s shares rose 0.4% in early trading, compared with a 0.9% uptick for a broader index of European energy firms.
‘WE HAVE NOT DELIVERED CONSISTENTLY’
O’Neill, who took over as CEO in April, outlined on Tuesday five priorities for BP: further strengthening the balance sheet, simplifying the portfolio, tightening investment discipline, improving operational performance, and creating structures that enable faster decision-making and greater accountability.
“We are not making the most of our potential,” O’Neill said. “Our performance over the past few years has not met our own expectations, let alone those of our shareholders. We have not delivered consistently; we have written off too much value; and our costs and liabilities are not resilient enough in a low price environment.”
BP’s priorities ultimately will be judged on execution, RBC analysts said in a note.
“Ownership of BP’s historical failings is a good step forward for the investment case, and we look to the call for more clarity on the financial framework and tangible plans ahead,” they said.
NET PROFIT AT HIGHEST SINCE 2022
BP expects capital expenditure in 2026 to be $13.5 billion to $14 billion, reflecting a decision to delay asset farm-downs and capture better value. Previous guidance was $13 billion to $13.5 billion.
BP recorded its highest quarterly net profit since the third quarter of 2022, and second-quarter profits across all units beat expectations. Pre-tax profit at its customers and products unit, which includes BP’s huge oil trading desk, was $4.95 billion, above the average estimate in a BP-provided analyst poll of $4.46 billion and $1.53 billion a year ago.
The group said upstream plant reliability fell to 92.4% in the second quarter from 95.7% in the previous quarter, while production declined to 2.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and its refineries processed less crude, partly due to planned maintenance and disruption from the conflict in the Middle East.
Brent crude prices averaged about $97 a barrel in the second quarter, up from $78 in the first quarter and $67 a year earlier, while European gas prices rose to €46 ($52.96) per megawatt-hour from €40 in the first quarter and €36 a year earlier.
($1 = 0.8686 euros)
Reporting by Stephanie Kelly and Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Louise Heavens and Susan Fenton
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