The Wayne Wonder show originally scheduled for this evening has been postponed until Saturday, August 1st, due to bad weather.
Existing tickets remain valid for the show, which will take place at Snorkel Park Beach.
PM Burnham says difficult decisions needed to fix England’s ‘unfair’ adult care system
Successive governments have failed to reform adult social care, for which families can pay hundreds of thousands of pounds, after previous proposals were defeated by opposition parties who dubbed them a “dementia tax” or “death tax”
International News via Reuters:
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged on Wednesday to take difficult decisions to overhaul England’s adult social care system, saying he wanted to work with other parties to end unfair high costs for users that he likened to U.S. healthcare.
Successive governments have failed to reform adult social care, for which families can pay hundreds of thousands of pounds, after previous proposals were defeated by opposition parties who dubbed them a “dementia tax” or “death tax”.
Burnham did not rule out tax rises to fund a new scheme and said that “scare stories” from newspaper headlines would not deter him from tackling a situation that will only get worse as the population ages.
“It’s a major dereliction of public duty that parliament has not faced up to this,” he told an audience at a care home in north London.
Asked if he could transform social care without raising taxes, he said that more was possible within existing resources, but some of the plans “will require difficult decisions.”
“We will be honest with people about those,” he said, adding that he would stick to a manifesto commitment not to raise certain personal taxes.
BURNHAM’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE INSPIRES DRIVE FOR OVERHAUL
Burnham, who has seen a bounce in the governing Labour Party’s poll ratings since he became prime minister last week, cited his father’s experience of Alzheimer’s as one reason why he was determined to fix the system and correct the “shameful” political record on care.
“I think social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare,” he said. “The vulnerable pay with everything and it can completely leave them with nothing.”
To tackle the issue, he said he would expedite a review into the sector, develop a care workforce plan and engage with the opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties to discuss the issue in the hope of reaching a national consensus.
Burnham said he was willing to stake political capital to overhaul the care system. He first tried, and failed, to reform social care funding as health minister in 2010, and said he had learned lessons from that episode.
Unlike the National Health Service, which is free at the point of use, care homes are run by a range of providers, from large chains owned by international private equity groups to smaller family-owned businesses, charities and local government.
He said a national care service which was integrated into the health service in England would alleviate the pressures on both. Health and social care policy is devolved to the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
He also suggested he would tackle profiteering in the care sector, aided by unnecessary and dangerous cost-cutting, which he said was “fundamentally unacceptable”.
Depending on the level of medical need and location, residents pay about £1,400 ($1,900) a week privately, while local authorities are charged around £1,000 for similar care. How much the resident pays, and how much the state contributes, is determined by a person’s level of wealth.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund health think-tank, said one in seven older people were now expected to pay more than £100,000 in lifetime care costs and there had been “a decades-long failure to act, with attempts to fix the system now resting in Westminster’s graveyard of good intentions.”
“This is the moment to seize the opportunity and show what social care can do to improve people’s lives, whilst also relieving the burden of this broken system on the NHS,” she said.
($1 = 0.7518 pounds)
Reporting by Alistair Smout, Muvija M and David Milliken; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrei Khalip and Hugh Lawson
FTSE 100 touches fresh record on oil lift; eyes on Fed, BoE
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.34% at 10,908.41 points
International News via Reuters:
London’s FTSE 100 touched an intraday record high on Wednesday, driven by a surge in oil stocks following renewed conflict in the Middle East, while investors awaited interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.34% at 10,908.41 points. It made a new peak of 10,951.06 points earlier in the session.
The midcap FTSE 250 inched down 0.03% to 23,996.81 points.
• Energy stocks jumped 2.9% as oil prices rose nearly 7% as major airstrikes resumed in the Middle East and dashed hopes for an imminent end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. [O/R]
• The Federal Reserve is seen as more likely to leave interest rates steady at 1800 GMT on Wednesday, though a growing number of its policymakers fret openly about inflation and the outcome is uncertain because of the no-guidance regime adopted by U.S. central bank chief Kevin Warsh.
• The Bank of England is due to announce its decision on Thursday, when it is widely expected to keep interest rates steady.
• In a busy earnings day, Standard Chartered climbed 2.8% after the bank posted a forecast-beating first-half profit and lifted its full-year income target.
• Glencore climbed 2.8% after the miner reported a 15% increase in first-half copper production, while Rio Tinto gained 1.6% after reporting a 43% jump in half-year underlying earnings.
• Greggs rallied 18.5% to the top of the midcap index after Britain’s biggest fast-food chain reported a 20% rise in first-half profit.
• Aberdeen Group fell 4.5%, making it the worst performer in the blue-chip index, after the asset manager reported first-half net outflows of £3 billion ($4 billion).
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Alison Williams
European bank rally rolls on as Deutsche Bank, UBS report profit jump
In a busy day for bank results, Standard Chartered also delivered forecast-surpassing numbers and lifted its full-year income target on the back of surging revenue in wealth and global banking
International News via Reuters:
Deutsche Bank and UBS beat forecasts again with second-quarter earnings on Wednesday, buoyed by a surge in trading activity and strong retail business as Europe’s lenders extend a more than two-year-long recovery.
In a busy day for bank results, Standard Chartered also delivered forecast-surpassing numbers and lifted its full-year income target on the back of surging revenue in wealth and global banking.
European banks have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in the past 2-1/2 years after more than a decade of rock-bottom interest rates and concerns about euro zone government debt, which soured investor sentiment towards their stocks.
The sector is now one of the best performing in Europe, with the STOXX Europe Banks index at its highest since late 2007 and up 143% since early 2024, as higher rates boost interest income and loan demand swells despite continued weakness of the region’s economy.
Germany’s biggest bank reported a 10% jump in second-quarter profit, defying expectations for a drop, as strength at Deutsche’s global investment banking division offset a rise in expenses.
Some of its competitors reported stronger gains thanks to a trading boom in the wake of the Iran war and blockbuster initial public offerings.
Still, Wednesday’s results extend a nearly uninterrupted return to quarterly profit over recent years, as CEO Christian Sewing stabilised one of the world’s most significant banks. Revenue growth during the second quarter at Deutsche’s fixed income and currencies division even surpassed Wall Street rivals. JPMorgan analysts called the results “strong across the board”, and shares rose 2%.
UBS booked a 17% jump in second-quarter profit that also beat expectations, and said it planned to buy back shares worth $3 billion by the middle of next year.
Switzerland’s biggest bank, which is waiting for clarity on new capital rules that could shape its future, said that amid robust broad-based growth its trading division delivered record second-quarter revenue.
“While the year is not over, we are close to achieving the same level of profitability UBS had prior to the acquisition,” CEO Sergio Ermotti said, referring to UBS’ 2023 emergency takeover of local rival Credit Suisse.
EXPECTATIONS HIGH, VALUATIONS STILL LOW
In some cases, investors look beyond headline figures.
Britain’s Barclays reported a 17% rise in first-half profit on Tuesday, better than expected, but shares dropped as analysts said its equities performance undershot market expectations while costs came in higher.
France’s BNP Paribas last week also beat forecasts with a 33% year-on-year profit rise in the second quarter.
Domestically focused retail lenders, such as Britain’s NatWest, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo and Spain’s CaixaBank have also seen their shares recover dramatically.
Despite their sustained rally, European lenders are worth a fraction of their Wall Street rivals. JPMorgan is closing in on a $1 trillion valuation, while the most valuable European lenders today are HSBC and Santander, worth £266 billion ($353 billion) and €180 billion ($205 billion) respectively. European banks remain valued far below U.S. lenders, based on a price-to-book value — a common measure of valuing banks.
The region’s lenders are also constrained by regulation and political resistance to cross-border consolidation, analysts say. While some central bankers say such deals are needed for European banks to compete globally, UniCredit’s nearly two-year pursuit of Commerzbank demonstrates the difficulty.
The euro zone economy’s subdued growth and its vulnerability to the fallout from conflict in the Middle East remain concerns for European lenders, despite little sign of rising bad loans or provisioning yet.
Marina Zavolock, chief European equity strategist at Morgan Stanley, said that higher inflation on the back of rising energy prices could benefit European banks, through higher interest rates.
The appeal for investors is also partly the low base from which European banks have recovered. Lombard Odier analysts said in a note this month that although European banks were benefiting less from capital market activity than U.S. rivals, the outlook remained favourable with a stable economic backdrop and rates rising again.
“We think that improving returns on equity are not yet reflected in valuations for European banks,” they said.
($1 = 0.8779 euros)
($1 = 0.7527 pounds)
Reporting by Tom Sims, Ariane Luthi, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; Additional reporting by Lawrence White and Jesus AguadoEditing by Tomasz Janowski
Pink Route ferry service shut down once again for urgent repairs
The Department of Marine & Ports Services advises the public and all users of the Pink Route ferry service that service on this route will be suspended until further notice due to urgent repairs being carried out on the ferry.
The Department apologizes for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause and appreciates the public’s understanding and patience while these necessary repairs are completed.
Cup Match is more than cricket: Preserving the story of emancipation
While Cup Match is widely celebrated for its cricket, camaraderie and cultural traditions, the holiday’s deeper historical significance can sometimes be overlooked. Prior to this year’s Cup Match, reporter Qian Dickinson spoke with Dennis Lister of the Friends of Sandys about the Emancipation Cup Match Walkabout, an event that invited the community to explore the origins of Cup Match, reflect on Bermuda’s emancipation history, and better understand the legacy behind one of the island’s most cherished traditions.
More than cricket: Ellen-Kate Horton on the heart of Cup Match
Before the first ball is bowled, Cup Match is about much more than cricket. It’s a celebration of Bermuda’s history, culture and community that has been passed down through generations. Qian Dickinson spoke with self-proclaimed Somerset Cricket Club’s biggest fan, Ellen-Kate Horton, to reflect on what Cup Match was like back in the day, how the holiday has changed over the years, and why she believes it’s vital for young Bermudians to carry forward the traditions, cultural significance, and rich history that make Cup Match so special.
Drones to be used for surveillance over Cup Match
Police and Regiment will partner to keep the public safe during Cup Match; New drones will be utilised for watching the waters
Expect to see both the police and the Royal Bermuda Regiment throughout the Cup Match holiday.
Acting Police Commissioner Na’imah Astwood and the Regiment’s Major Thomas Wood highlighted their partnership to keep residents safe on land and water during the festivities…
Responding to questions, Acting Police Commissioner Astwood said she was pleased with the growing relationship between the BPS and the Royal Bermuda Regiment, which augments their enforcement capabilities.
Maj. Wood added that surveillance drones, recently purchased with funding from the UK, will be utilised over the coming days.
BFA pays tribute to legendary ‘keeper Granville ‘Cat’ Nusum
The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) wishes to express its deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the families, teammates, and friends on the recent passing of BFA Legend Granville “Sam”, “The Cat”
Nusum.
In Bermuda, Sam started his football career as a goalkeeper at North Village and finished with Hotels International. In between his domestic career in Bermuda, he excelled in the professional ranks, playing for Montreal Olympique, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and the New York Cosmos. His career included representing Bermuda in World Cup, Olympic, and Pan American Games qualifiers. In 2008, he was named a BFA Legend, and Anwar Telford was awarded a scholarship in his honor.
As a symbol of our deepest respect and in honor of his indelible contributions to Bermudian football, the Bermuda Football Association will be changing its official logo to black across all social media platforms until he is laid to rest.
BELCO warns of fraudulent e-mail
BELCO’s Director of Communications & Corp. Strategy Krista Barnes said “Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) has advised that a fraudulent e-mail is being distributed and should be deleted.
The e-mail, supposedly sent from BELCO’s Customer Service Team, asks recipients to download a “BELCO Supervision APP”. The e-mail has not been sent by BELCO. BELCO is advising the public not to click on any links and to delete the email.
If customers have any concerns they can contact BELCO’s Customer Experience team on 295-5111.
Friendly Societies expand sportsmanship award to colts
Photo: Cleon Scotland / Airhorn Media
The Bermuda Friendly Societies Association (BFSA) is proud to announce a significant expansion of its Annual Cup Match Sportsmanship Award. For the first time in the award’s history, a player from each junior side contesting the Annual Colts Cup Match will be recognised alongside the recipient from the Annual Cup Match Classic.
The two inaugural Colts honourees are Logan Jones of St George’s Cricket Club and Callum MacFarlane of Somerset Cricket Club, selected by their respective coaches following this year’s Colts Cup Match, played on Sunday, July 26, at Somerset Cricket Club.
All three recipients — the two Colts selections and the player chosen from the Annual Cup Match Classic — will be honoured at the 23rd Annual Cup Match Sportsmanship Awards on Thursday, August 20, at Alexandrina Lodge Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Logan Jones
St George’s Cricket Club · Selected by coach Ryan Steede
“Logan showed good sportsmanship when things were tough. Always ready and available when called on. He showed leadership not only on the field but off the field. His preparation was good leading up to the Colts Cup Match. There were many positives regarding him that led to this choice.”
In Sunday’s match, Jones anchored the St George’s run chase with a composed 79 from 97 balls, including ten fours, sharing a decisive 98-run third-wicket partnership with Shane Robinson to carry the holders to a six-wicket victory.
Photo: Cleon Scotland / Airhorn Media
Callum MacFarlane
Somerset Cricket Club · Selected by coach Coefield Robinson
“Callum stayed cool, calm, and collected, and he respects the game.”
Opening the innings for the home side, MacFarlane top-scored with 63, putting on 97 for the first wicket with Patrick Dill and entertaining the crowd with some exquisite stroke play.
The Sportsmanship Award was established by the BFSA to recognise and perpetuate the link between the Oddfellows and the origins of the Cup Match Classic. Under the original criteria, the award goes to the player who displays the best sportsmanship from either club across the two days of the Classic, with the Shield and Cup held by the recipient’s club for one year and a certificate presented to the player for his own keeping.
Extending that standard to the Colts Cup Match reflects the Association’s belief that character is learned early, and that the values carried by Bermuda’s Friendly Societies — mutual respect, service, and dignity — belong in the hands of the next generation.
“These are the values our Societies were built on. Logan and Callum were chosen for how they carried themselves — steady when the pressure came, respectful of their opponents, and dependable to their teammates. That is the standard we want every young Bermudian cricketer to aim for.”
Norbert Simmons, Acting President, Bermuda Friendly Societies Association
The BFSA thanks Coach Ryan Steede and Coach Coefield Robinson for their thoughtful selections, and commends both St George’s Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Club for the spirit in which this year’s Colts Cup Match was played.
23rd ANNUAL CUP MATCH SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
Thursday, August 20, 2026 · 6:30 p.m. · Alexandrina Lodge Hall
Three players will be recognised: Logan Jones (St George’s Colts) and Callum MacFarlane (Somerset Colts), from the Colts Cup Match played Sunday, July 26 at Somerset Cricket Club, together with the recipient selected from the Annual Cup Match Classic, contested July 30–31 at Somerset Cricket Club. Members of the media, club officials, families, and the public are warmly invited to attend.
ABOUT THE BERMUDA FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION
The Bermuda Friendly Societies Association represents Bermuda’s Friendly Societies, mutual-aid organisations whose work in the decades following Emancipation helped build the island’s traditions of self-help, burial support, education, and community care. The Association’s Sportsmanship Award honours the historic connection between the Friendly Societies and the founding of the Cup Match Classic.
Deadline for $20k bursary award is Friday
The Ministry of Home Affairs is reminding eligible Bermudian students to apply for the Department of Energy’s Bursary Programme before the deadline of Friday, July 31, 2026.
The public will recall the Ministry launched a second Energy Award valued at $20,000, aimed at supporting Bermudian students pursuing studies in energy related and technical disciplines.
This latest scholarship builds on the Ministry’s inaugural $25,000 Energy Bursary programme, for which recipients were recently announced.
Interested persons can learn more and apply here: Energy Bursary $20,000.
This continued investment in Bermuda’s young people reflects the Government’s commitment to developing local talent and strengthening Bermuda’s capacity in the evolving energy sector.
The Energy Bursary is a key initiative outlined in the Throne Speech, underscoring the importance of cultivating a skilled workforce to support Bermuda’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
Eligible Bermudian students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to further their education while contributing to Bermuda’s energy future.
