The government said the evacuation followed talks with South African authorities over security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians
International News via Reuters:
Nigeria has completed the voluntary evacuation of 1,490 citizens from South Africa following a series of xenophobic attacks, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, with the latest flight bringing 305 returnees home from Johannesburg.
• Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said a fifth evacuation flight carrying 305 returnees and two government officials arrived in Lagos on July 15.
• The government said the evacuation followed talks with South African authorities over security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
• Nigeria has condemned violence against its citizens in South Africa, including the deaths of at least two nationals allegedly assaulted by security officials.
• Despite strong bilateral ties with South Africa, Nigeria’s position remains clear: xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against its citizens are unacceptable, Kimiebi said.
Reporting by Tife Owolabi in Yenagoa; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Joe Bavier
The draft plan, which the Commission is due to publish on Friday, is part of the EU’s response to the fallout of the Iran war
International News via Reuters:
The European Union is eyeing a target for electricity to account for 46% of energy consumption across the bloc by 2040, doubling the rate today, a draft European Commission proposal seen by Reuters showed.
The draft plan, which the Commission is due to publish on Friday, is part of the EU’s response to the fallout of the Iran war, which sent oil and gas prices soaring and spurred Brussels to prepare new measures to cut Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas.
The target was still being negotiated inside the European Commission on Thursday, and could change before it is published. A Commission spokesperson declined to comment.
LESS THAN A QUARTER OF ENERGY USE CURRENTLY ELECTRICITY
Just 23% of the EU’s final energy consumption is met by electricity today, a share that has been stagnant for a decade. The rest of the economy runs mostly on fossil fuels.
Raising that share to 46% would require a massive increase in electric vehicles, more widespread replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps in homes, and electrifying industrial processes — as well as extensive upgrades of Europe’s ageing power grids.
That will require hundreds of billions of euros in investments.
Industries have said the plan’s success will depend on whether policymakers can bring down Europe’s high electricity prices, which some firms say mean it is not economically feasible to electrify their operations.
PLAN COULD CUT FOSSIL FUEL IMPORT BILL
Other parts of the EU plan, reported last week by Reuters, include policies and funding to incentivise this shift.
The draft plan said achieving a 46% electrification target could reduce the EU’s fossil fuel import bill by up to €260 billion per year by 2040. The EU imports more than 80% of the gas it consumes, and more than 90% of its oil.
The draft proposal said the Commission would set out the plan on Friday, and propose legislation in the fourth quarter to fix the target into law.
Bermuda’s junior squash players experienced a day of contrasting fortunes in the team format at the 2026 Junior Caribbean Squash Championships in Tortola, recovering to sweep aside hosts British Virgin Islands before being edged out by St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The boys’ team showed superb character on Day Two at the Tortola Sports Club, rebounding from a winless opening day to defeat the home team 8-4. Under-11 bronze medalist Remy Horsefall set the tone with a ruthless 11-1, 11-2, 11-6 win over Toby Freeman.
While newly crowned Caribbean Under-13 champion Mason Smith suffered a surprise setback to Jakob Noblett, individual silver medalist Benjamin Sherratt steadied the ship by dismissing Devon Mellor. Dominant victories from Michael Schrah and William Frith sealed the overall match points for Bermuda.
Relegation Heartbreak: While the boys fought hard, the girls’ team saw their main-draw medal hopes officially slip away, finding themselves relegated to the 7th-9th place playoff bracket.
However, the boys’ morning momentum was halted in the afternoon session as a sharp St. Vincent side matched them physically to claim an 8-4 victory.
Once again, Bermuda’s under-13 and under-15 ranks provided the bright spots. Under-13 star Sherratt dug deep to beat Savante Padmore 12-10 in a tense third-game tiebreak, while Mason Smith produced a masterclass to dismantle Ethan Webster 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
Ultimately, St. Vincent proved too strong in the senior brackets. Despite a brave, four-game battle from Under-19 individual silver medalist Eli Carpol against Jaydon Williams, the Vincentians took the final matches to secure the tie.
Bermuda’s Trey Mallory put on a masterclass in Florida, securing two dominant victories in a single day to charge into the semi-finals of the Battle of Boca Wildcard event.
The third seed began his demanding clay-court double-header by showing great mental resilience to edge a high-pressure opening set tiebreak against American Heath Waters, eventually sealing a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 victory. With almost no time to rest, Mallory returned to dismantle Enzo Carvalho 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals, dominating from the baseline to keep his South American professional ambitions firmly on track.
The winner of the tournament will earn a coveted, direct wildcard spot in the main draw of the prestigious ITF M15K ATC Open in Asunción, Paraguay.
There was disappointment, however, for fellow Bermudian Tariq Simons. After a grueling opening day, Simons saw his singles campaign halted in the Round of 16 by a clinical Tristan Ryerson, falling in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.
Mallory now stands just two wins away from securing a career-defining opportunity in Paraguay as he carries Bermuda’s sole hopes into the semi-finals.
Challengers Bailey’s Bay have named a formidable, star-studded squad as they aim to wrest the Eastern County Cup from holders Cleveland County this Saturday.
Widely regarded as one of the most intense and historic spectacles in Bermudian cricket, the iconic competition returns to Lord’s in St. David’s, with the action scheduled to get underway at 10:00 AM on July 18th.
National team captain Terryn Fray will lead the Bay from the front, bringing crucial stability to the top of the batting order. He will be ably supported by veteran all-rounder and vice-captain Rodney Trott, whose extensive experience in high-pressure County environments will be key to dismantling Cleveland’s defense.
With a powerful XI that features explosive talent like Delray Rawlins and Derrick Brangman, the challengers have made their intentions clear: they are primed to dethrone the champions in their own backyard.
Squad Bailey’s Bay XI: Terryn Fray (Capt), Rodney Trott (Vice-Capt), Tre Manders, Derrick Brangman, Delray Rawlins, Sinclair Smith, Kyle Hodsoll, Dennico Hollis, Coolidge Durham, Macquille Walker, Michael Agard.
Reigning champions Cleveland County Cricket Club have named their eleven to defend the Eastern County Cup against fierce rivals Bailey’s Bay this Saturday.
The highly anticipated 2026 season opener will take place on Saturday, July 18th at the iconic Lord’s ground in St. David’s, with the action getting underway at 10:00 AM.
The cup holders will be led out by seam-bowler Mackih McGowan, with explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Steven Bremar Jr. named as vice-captain. Their leadership sets up a monumental battle of wits against Bailey’s Bay’s experienced pairing of Terryn Fray and Rodney Trott.
With a packed, passionate crowd expected, the champions face a massive test of their credentials.
Squad Cleveland County XI: Mackih McGowan (Capt), Steven Bremar Jr. (Vice-Capt), Jason Anderson, Jabari Darrell, Treadwell Gibbons Jr., Allan Douglas Jr., Clay Darrell, Makai Young, Zeri Tomlinson, Shakai Darrell, Damali Bell.
Reserves: Q’Shai Darrell, Isaiah Creighton, Amari Davis, Kristian Singh.
The effective date is 60 days from publication in the federal register, subject to congressional review
International News via Reuters:
The Trump administration moved on Thursday to tighten the duration of visas for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors and journalists.
The new final rule from the Department of Homeland Security creates a fixed time period for F visas for international students, J visas that allow visitors on cultural exchange programs to work in the U.S., and I visas for members of the media. Those visas are currently available for the duration of the program or employment in the U.S.
The effective date is 60 days from publication in the federal register, subject to congressional review.
President Donald Trump, a Republican, kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January 2025. His administration has increased scrutiny of legal immigration, revoking student visas and green cards of university students over their ideological views and stripping legal status from hundreds of thousands of migrants.
The latest action would create new hurdles for international students, exchange workers and foreign journalists.
Under the new regulations, the student and exchange visa periods would be no longer than four years. The visa for journalists – which currently can last years – would be up to 240 days or, in the case of Chinese nationals, 90 days.
The visa holders could apply for extensions, it said.
In August, China’s foreign ministry opposed the proposed new rule for Chinese journalists as being discriminatory. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday.
STUDENT STIPULATIONS
The regulations prohibit graduate students from changing their “educational objectives” at any point or from transferring to another school without authorization. They halve the amount of time students have to leave the United States after completing their degree or training from 60 to 30 days.
“Most Americans understand the value of welcoming international students and getting rid of needless red tape,” said Doug Rand, a former DHS official. “This rule would do the opposite.”
David J. Bier, immigration studies director at the Cato Institute, said there was no legal basis for the study and transfer restrictions in the new regulations.
“International students, many of whom will have spent years in the USA, will now have just 30 days to find an employer to sponsor them or immediately be turned into illegal immigrants. Have these people no understanding of how life works?” he added.
The department cited a dramatic rise in such visas in the posting. It said there were more than 1.8 million student visa admissions in 2024, a more than 11% increase over the previous year.
The U.S. granted visas to more than 500,000 exchange visitors and 37,300 members of the media in fiscal year 2024, which began on October 1, 2023, it said.
The significant increase in the volume of such visitors “poses a challenge to DHS’s ability to monitor and oversee these non-immigrants while they are in the United States,” DHS said.
DHS said it has many examples of students and exchange visitors staying for decades on their visas.
Visa holders who want to stay in the United States beyond their fixed period of admission will need to apply to DHS for an extension or gain readmission by traveling abroad and then re-entering the United States, DHS said.
Reporting by Donna Chiacu; editing by David Ljunggren, Chizu Nomiyama and Nick Zieminski
The acquisition advances the U.S. ride-hailing firm’s efforts to build a global food-delivery business that can better compete with Just Eat, owned by Dutch group Prosus, and U.S. rival DoorDash, which has been expanding aggressively
International News via Reuters:
Uber agreed on Thursday to buy Germany’s Delivery Hero at an equity value of $14.8 billion to create the largest food-delivery group outside China and stave off intensifying competition from U.S. and European rivals.
The acquisition advances the U.S. ride-hailing firm’s efforts to build a global food-delivery business that can better compete with Just Eat, owned by Dutch group Prosus, and U.S. rival DoorDash, which has been expanding aggressively.
It is likely to face a complex regulatory process as the combination would create a platform spanning 99 countries with a combined pro-forma gross merchandise value (GMV) of $236 billion in 2025, according to a statement by Delivery Hero.
“Together, we’ll nearly double the number of markets where we offer both mobility and delivery services,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in the joint statement.
‘LONG SLOW MARCH’ TO APPROVAL EXPECTED
Uber, already Delivery Hero’s top shareholder, has made the acquisition conditional on a minimum acceptance threshold of 50% plus one share.
The transaction, supported by Delivery Hero’s management and supervisory board, is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.
The €41.50 per-share offer represents a roughly 34% premium to Delivery Hero’s three-month volume-weighted average share price, it said. It was 9% above Wednesday’s close, but nearer 40% above the “undisturbed” price before any deal talk started.
Shares of Delivery Hero were up 0.2% at 1436 GMT, while those of Uber rose 2%.
The deal would expand Uber Eats across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, but is expected to face antitrust scrutiny due to overlapping operations.
To ease those concerns, Delivery Hero will sell operations in 14 markets to U.S. investment firm SSW Partners for about €1.4 billion. Major shareholder Prosus has also agreed to sell its nearly 17% stake, leaving little room for a rival bid.
Jefferies analysts, however, said the expected timing of the deal’s completion signalled a “long slow march” ahead.
“The use of a financial investor to get ahead of the antitrust questions could prove successful, though the long timeline to completion (2H27) suggests it won’t be a straightforward review,” the analysts wrote.
Uber’s bid was enabled in part by commitments Prosus made to the European Commission to secure approval for its acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway, which required the Dutch technology investor to cut its 26.5% stake in Delivery Hero, people familiar with the deal said.
One person familiar with the matter described Prosus as a “false seller,” saying it sold to meet regulatory requirements rather than by choice.
The remedy effectively clears the way for a U.S. company to seek control of one of Europe’s largest food-delivery groups, despite the bloc’s stated ambition to foster European tech champions.
YEARS OF CONSOLIDATION
Food delivery outside China has evolved from a fragmented, pandemic-era battleground of regional players into a highly concentrated market dominated by a handful of global operators.
Behind the consolidation is a slowdown in orders from the pandemic peaks as well as pressure to improve margins amid growing regulatory scrutiny over the treatment of gig workers.
That has in recent years spurred Uber to buy Postmates; DoorDash to snap up Wolt and Deliveroo; Just Eat to merge with Takeaway.com and buy Grubhub; and Delivery Hero to expand through deals including Glovo and foodpanda.
The latest deal leaves Uber and DoorDash as the dominant players.
Excluding the overlapping markets, the move expands Uber’s food-delivery network to 99 markets from 50. It also hands it a business with about $42 billion in gross bookings last year.
Delivery Hero, which also owns Talabat and PedidosYa, had rejected an earlier Uber approach disclosed in late May that valued it at about €10 billion, or €33 a share.
Anticipation of an improved bid sent its shares to near €36 in the following weeks. Overall, the stock is up 62% this year.
JOINING FORCES IS ‘THE RIGHT MOVE’
“Joining forces with a strong partner now is the right move for Delivery Hero to best secure its future competitiveness,” said Delivery Hero’s supervisory board chair, Kristin Skogen Lund, pointing to the importance of scale in a “competitive” sector.
Founded in Berlin in 2011, Delivery Hero grew through rapid acquisitions into one of the world’s largest food-delivery companies, though it has retreated from some markets to focus on profit.
Founded in Berlin in 2011, rapid acquisitions made Delivery Hero one of the world’s largest food-delivery companies, though it has retreated from some markets to focus on profits.
Uber on Thursday committed to invest €2 billion in Germany through 2031 and agreed to retain Delivery Hero’s Berlin headquarters and workforce until at least 2029.
Uber gains access to roughly 60 million monthly active users, primarily in markets where it has had a limited presence, said Adam Ballantyne, analyst at Cambiar Investors, which owns shares in the ride-hailing firm.
“These new countries create years of additional organic growth for Uber as they penetrate rides and eats bundling and extend Uber One subscription growth.”
($1 = 0.8722 euros)
Reporting by Hakan Ersan and Miranda Murray and Akash Sriram in BengaluruEditing by Mark Potter, Adam Jourdan, Tomasz Janowski, Sriraj Kalluvila, Susan Fenton and Anil D’Silva
The fire is now contained but Macron warned it would take several weeks for it to be completely extinguished
International News via Reuters:
French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to replant the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris on Thursday after wildfires scorched at least 10% of the 20,000-hectare domain and forced 1,000 residents to flee.
• The fire is now contained but Macron warned it would take several weeks for it to be completely extinguished.
• “Your forest is our forest because it is a treasure,” Macron said in Fontainebleau as he announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to replant the forest. “It is a treasure for welcoming people and for biodiversity.”
• The fundraising campaign is led by the Fontainebleau municipality, the National Forest Office (ONF) and the Fondation du Patrimoine, Macron said.
• The Fontainebleau forest is a former royal hunting ground that later became a celebrated subject for Impressionist painters and attracts hikers, nature lovers and climbers to its famous boulders.
• In 2019 Macron made a similar pledge to rebuild Notre-Dame cathedral after a blaze devastated large parts of the gothic gem. Notre-Dame reopened in 2024 after individual, corporate and private donors pledged nearly €900 million in donations.
Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Makini Brice
Representatives from the 29 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, as well as 10 African and 12 Asian countries, signed the agreement as founding members
International News via Reuters:
Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement to establish the World AI Cooperation Organization, an intergovernmental body China says aims to promote international cooperation and global governance in artificial intelligence.
• Representatives from the 29 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, as well as 10 African and 12 Asian countries, signed the agreement as founding members.
• The organization’s headquarters will be located in Shanghai, Chinese state agency Xinhua said.
• The signing ceremony was held in Shanghai on the eve of the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to outline an ambitious vision for Beijing’s role in global AI governance.
• China proposed the creation of a World AI Cooperation Organization at last year’s conference but no countries had formally announced membership until now.
Reporting by Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen and Laurie Chen; Editing by Sharon Singleton
KBB Encourages the Public to Address Abandoned Vessels as it begins a new Island-Wide Survey
Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is preparing to launch the next phase of Bermuda’s abandoned and derelict vessel initiative with a new survey of the island’s waters. The survey will identify vessels that may be abandoned and support the process of notifying owners, assessing vessel status and arranging the removal of vessels that pose environmental, navigational or safety concerns. Boat owners are encouraged to ensure their vessels are properly registered and maintained and to arrange for the responsible disposal of vessels that are no longer in use.
“Abandoned vessels can have a lasting impact on Bermuda’s marine environment, from creating navigational hazards to damaging sensitive marine habitats and releasing pollutants into the water,” said Angel Smith, Executive Director of Keep Bermuda Beautiful. “This survey is an important step in identifying vessels before they become more serious environmental and public safety concerns and gives owners an opportunity to address vessels that may have fallen into disrepair before they become a greater environmental or navigational concern.”
The Hon. Jaché Adams, JP, MP, Minister of Public Works and Environment, said: “This initiative reflects the value of collaboration between Government, the charitable sector and the wider community in protecting Bermuda’s waterways. By identifying and addressing abandoned vessels early, we can reduce the risk of costly recoveries following storms and help preserve the safe and responsible use of our marine environment for residents and visitors alike.”
Following the survey work, vessels identified as potentially abandoned may be included in a Government Notice and published in the Official Gazette. Once gazetted, a 30-day period is provided for owners or authorised parties to remove or otherwise regularise the vessel in accordance with boat registration and mooring requirements.
Owners of vessels that may be considered abandoned are encouraged to act promptly. In addition to responding during the 30-day gazette period, boat owners may choose to voluntarily surrender a vessel to Government to dispose of it at no cost and without penalty by completing a removal & disposal of abandoned vessel consent form. This option is intended to help boat owners resolve end-of-life vessels responsibly and avoid the risks that come with leaving a boat to deteriorate in the marine environment. Boat owners are also encouraged to contact a boat yard or marine contractor for assistance in removal and disposal of unwanted vessels.
Project Progress and Funding
Since the project started in 2022, KBB has removed 102 abandoned vessels at a cost of more than $250,000. Each removal varies in complexity and cost depending on the vessel’s size, condition and location, with removal costs ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per vessel. This removal work is funded solely by individual and corporate donors.
“Removing abandoned and derelict vessels can be a complex process that requires careful planning, specialist equipment and resources to ensure removals are carried out safely and with minimal environmental impact,” said Amy Shillingford, KBB’s project lead for the initiative. “This public-private-charity partnership is critical in helping us to take action against this environmental problem and to nurture responsible boat owners of the future.”
Boat and Mooring Registration
Keeping boat and mooring registrations current is one of the simplest steps boat owners can take to avoid vessels becoming abandoned. KBB encourages boat owners to contact the Boats and Moorings Section of the Department of Marine and Ports Services to ensure their registrations remain current and compliant with regulatory requirements. Email boatsandmoorings@gov.bm or call 444-1221 / 246-8222.
Report an Abandoned Boat
Members of the public may report vessels that are sunk, grounded, wrecked or otherwise appear abandoned by emailing cleanup@kbb.bm.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for Bermuda.” That was a common refrain when islanders were asked to respond to the news that Olympic gold medallist Flora Duffy has retired.
Kendal Trott asked people to share a message for Dame Flora as she steps away from professional competition.
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