Siblings Joseph and Gabriella Cechini produced a pair of stellar front-running displays on home turf, each claiming individual second-place finishes at the Mercersburg Family Weekend Cross Country Invitational in Pennsylvania.
Tackling the 5,000-metre course, the duo spearheaded an impressive day of racing for Mercersburg Academy across both divisions.
In the boys’ race, Joseph Cechini delivered a composed, tactical run at the sharp end of the field, crossing the line in 18 minutes 37.44 seconds to take individual runner-up honours. His performance anchored Mercersburg to the boys’ team title, lifting the trophy with an aggregate time of 1:35:17.2.
Gabriella Cechini mirrored her brother’s success in the girls’ event, navigating the rolling campus terrain in 19:25.75 to secure second place overall. Her determined run propelled the Mercersburg girls to second in the team standings, sealing a memorable family milestone on an exceptional afternoon for the hosts.
Bermudian cyclists Nicholas Narraway and Kaden Hopkins saw their World Championship ambitions cut short as a punishing men’s road race route in Montreal decimated the peloton.
Lining up among 184 of the world’s elite, the pair faced a brutal 273.4km course featuring repeated, punishing ascents of Mount Royal. The unrelenting tempo proved unforgiving from early on, turning the 13.4km finishing circuit into a war of attrition.
Hopkins lost contact when an early breakaway triggered a ruthless injection of speed on the second lap, leaving him isolated in a small group off the back.
The relentless pace took an even heavier toll as the race hit its final 100km. Narraway was forced to abandon during a major culling that claimed several top WorldTour riders, including Slovenia’s Matej Mohorič and Jan Tratnik.
While neither Bermudian saw the chequered flag, lining up on cycling’s grandest one-day stage marked another proud milestone for the island against the sport’s finest.
Bermudian offshore powerboat racing celebrated a landmark afternoon on Florida’s Gulf Coast as Luis Martins and Nick Imprescia powered to victory at the Clearwater Offshore Nationals, while Steven Bridges and David Selley were crowned Super Stock National champions.
Piloting the S-12 Nuff Said, driver Martins and throttleman Imprescia delivered an imperious, lights-to-flag performance. Seizing control from the drop of the green flag, the pair handled choppy open-water conditions with ease, commanding the fleet throughout to take a wire-to-wire triumph.
Behind them, the S-25 Team Bermuda duo of Steven Bridges and David Selley produced a measured, tactical drive to claim third place.
Having arrived in Florida leading the overall standings, the podium finish was more than enough to secure the championship crown. It capped an extraordinary season of relentless consistency and blistering pace, officially confirming Bridges and Selley at the very pinnacle of offshore racing.
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the formation of the BMDS Charitable Trust, which was created in 2001 in memory of Kate Huntington; a young and active member of BMDS who passed away in 2000. At the request of her family, all funds donated in memory of Kate are used specifically to promote theatre amongst Bermuda’s youth.
The trustees are pleased to announce that the Trust has been able to provide six Bursaries of $5,000 each to the following well-deserving recipients:
Ailie Waddington, who is starting a Bachelors Performing Arts at Dalhousie University,
Stephanie Hardy, who is continuing at Westminster University pursuing a degree in Film BA Honours,
Gianna Lupparelli, who will be attending The University of Ottawa seeking a Master of Fine Arts – Directing,
Ava-Joy Moreno, who is working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance at Marymount Manhattan College,
Zion Mills, who is attending Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, pursuing a degree in Acting (Musical Theatre) and;
Skye Minors, who is working on a Masters – Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett University.
In addition to these awards the Trust was able to continue to support the Bermuda School of Music Bursary programme with a contribution of $4,500.
The primary source of income for the BMDS Charitable Trust has been the annual Famous for 15 Minutes Playwriting Festival which celebrated its 20th this year. The 2027 Festival will take place from April 8th to the 17th, 2027.
Bermuda were crowned North American Cup champions after defending a revised target to seal a dramatic victory over hosts Cayman Islands in a rain-shortened final at the Jimmy Powell Oval.
After the hosts elected to field, a heavy downpour immediately trimmed the contest to 15 overs per side. Bermuda found the going tough against an incisive spell from seamer Romario Edwards, who ripped through the middle order with figures of 3-6.
However, Isaiah O’Brien provided the vital counter-punch, top-scoring with an indispensable 43 to guide Bermuda to 101-9 and establish a competitive, rain-adjusted total.
Cayman Islands’ pursuit never found its footing against relentless Bermuda pressure. Kwasi James dismantled the host batting line-up, taking 3-17 to stifle any threat of a comeback.
With only Vaickesh Dhaniram (14) mounting resistance, Cayman were ultimately bundled out for 59, sealing a memorable triumph on foreign soil for the tourists.
Much of the trash found along Bermuda’s coastline doesn’t originate here — instead, it travels thousands of miles across the ocean before eventually washing up on our shores.
As Keep Bermuda Beautiful prepares for its annual Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup, the organization is highlighting why removing that debris remains an important and ongoing effort.
Qian Dickinson spoke with KBB Education and Communication Coordinator Alandra Swan and EY Partner Mike Penrose about the scale of the problem and why keeping Bermuda’s coastline clean requires continued community action.
And now to how you can get involved.
This year’s Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup runs from Friday, September 25th through Sunday, October 4th, bringing volunteers together for 10 days of action along Bermuda’s beaches, shorelines and coastal areas.
Under the theme “Sea the Change, Bermuda!”, residents are encouraged to gather their friends, families, co-workers or classmates, form a cleanup team and choose a coastal location.
KBB will help registered teams coordinate locations and provide the supplies and guidance they need to take part.
British officials said they were still investigating any possible motive for the incident near RAF Fairford, a British base that houses US bombers which fly missions against Iran
Armed police officers work on a road outside the perimiter of the RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base after several men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 27, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard
International News via Reuters:
Five suspects arrested by British police on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after white vans drove towards an airbase used by US forces were all British nationals from London in their early 20s, police said on Monday.
British officials said they were still investigating any possible motive for the incident near RAF Fairford, a British base that houses US bombers which fly missions against Iran.
A source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, although a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at as possibilities.
Britain’s Sky News cited a statement from the Iranian embassy denying involvement in the incident.
Officers seized the men in the early hours of Sunday after a tip-off from a local farmer that three large white vans were heading to the military airfield in western England. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said the base was a legitimate target.
Police said in a statement on Monday they had multiple new lines of inquiry after they examined the scene overnight. Counterterrorism officers were interviewing the five men, all aged between 23 and 25.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans said she was aware of speculation about the motive and geopolitical questions that were being raised, but asked that police be given “the space to work carefully and clearly”.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the suspects had been looking to do “big damage”.
Trump said the suspects had been under investigation by British and US authorities, but there was doubt raised in British media about the degree to which they had been under surveillance, given how close they had come to the base.
The source familiar with the investigation said the arrests were not “intelligence-led”, although security had been heightened at the base suggesting authorities were aware of an increased threat.
The farmer, who alerted the police after seeing a group of “hooded and masked men” running into the fields, told BBC radio she believed that it was only her phone call to the 999 emergency hotline that “foiled whatever plans they had”.
Defence Minister Wes Streeting told the BBC the farmer, who has not been identified, had only a “partial picture” of the investigation, without providing further clarification.
He said he would not speculate about motives during a live investigation, but noted that Britain faced a general threat from Iran: “We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm. We know that they hate our democracy, and we know that we regularly have to thwart Iranian attempts to threaten either our interests or indeed our allies.”
TERRORISM THREAT SEVERE
Britain in April raised its national terrorism threat level to “severe” from “substantial” after a series of antisemitic incidents in north London, indicating a terrorist attack within six months is considered highly likely.
Police said they were investigating Iran links to many of the incidents in which properties connected to the Jewish community or Iranian dissidents were targeted.
In May, Britain imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran, accusing them of involvement in hostile activity including plotting attacks and providing financial services to groups seeking to destabilise the UK and other countries. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in the UK and elsewhere.
Responding to the Fairford arrests, the US Embassy issued a security alert saying US citizens should “exercise caution” and be “mindful of personal security”.
“US-associated facilities, gatherings, and organisations may be at heightened risk,” the statement said. Security was also stepped up at other US air bases in Britain.
The British government had given authorisation to the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The government has said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being regularly updated on the incident and he dropped out of several events at his Labour Party’s annual conference on Sunday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had warned Britain in July not to allow US bombers to fly from Fairford, saying any base used to launch attacks would be a legitimate target.
In Fairford, police have imposed a 400-metre cordon around the base and evacuated residents from 85 homes.
A bomb disposal robot could be seen on Sunday operating around the three white vans, while security was stepped up around the base. Armed police stood guard at the main entrance while large machinery was used to block other access points.
An image on social media purported to show some of the suspects, seated shirtless with hands behind their backs, after their arrest. Reuters was unable to independently locate and verify the source of the photograph.
Additional reporting by Sarah Young and Sam Tabahriti; Writing by Kate Holton and Michael Holden; Editing by Peter Graff, Andrew Cawthorne, Alexandra Hudson
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” attempts to connect Iran to the arrests and said such speculation would only serve to “fuel Iranophobia propaganda” in Britain
A police officer blocks a road near the RAF Fairford airbase, which hosts United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 27, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard
International News via Reuters:
Iran’s embassy in London on Monday rejected what it described as “unfounded and malicious speculations” linking Tehran to five British nationals who were arrested over the weekend near Britain’s RAF Fairford airbase.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” attempts to connect Iran to the arrests and said such speculation would only serve to “fuel Iranophobia propaganda” in Britain.
British police have not linked Iran to the arrests, and an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing was underway. RAF Fairford is a British base that houses US bombers which fly missions against Iran.
Reporting by Sarah Young and Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James and Kate Holton
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.28% to 10,724.86 points by 0941 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed 0.72%
FILE PHOTO: The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
International News via Reuters:
London shares advanced on a rally in homebuilders on Monday after the British government announced an incentive scheme for first-time homebuyers, while weaker metal prices capped overall gains.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 0.28% to 10,724.86 points by 0941 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 climbed 0.72%.
• The household goods & home construction index surged 11.2% to a six-month high, after the government confirmed plans to include a loan programme in next month’s budget to boost home sales and revive a sector that has struggled in recent years.
• “The UK government’s new equity loan scheme could be the catalyst the UK homebuilding sector has been waiting for. While the finer (print) will matter, anything that lowers the deposit barrier for first-time buyers should translate into stronger demand”, said Jack Fletcher-Price, equity analyst at Morningstar.
• Barratt Redrow jumped 12.9% and led the blue-chip FTSE 100, while Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Bellway and Vistry added between 10% and 15%, boosting the domestically focused FTSE 250.
• Building material suppliers also rallied. Ibstock and Marshalls gained 22.3% and 13.8%, respectively.
• Industrial and precious metals declined 2.3% and 6%, respectively, after copper and gold prices fell against a stronger dollar. [MET/L] [GOL/]
• Miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Fresnillo fell between 1.8% and 6.5%, leading declines on the FTSE 100.
• Oil rebounded more than 3% after US rejected an Iran peace plan, reinforcing inflation fears and rate tightening worldwide. [MKTS/GLOB]
• Ladbrokes owner Entain slid 2.8% after warning that its 2026 online net gaming revenue growth would take a hit if Brazil’s ban on online sports betting and gaming is upheld for the rest of the year.
• Traders are also expecting comments from Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden later in the day.
Reporting by Anand Gopal and Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair
Sterling was last up 0.1% against the dollar at $1.3259, rising from a three-month low of $1.3204 hit last week
International News via Reuters:
The pound rebounded from multi-month lows against both the dollar and the euro on Monday as investors priced in tighter monetary policy from the Bank of England as inflation pressures build.
Sterling was last up 0.1% against the dollar at $1.3259, rising from a three-month low of $1.3204 hit last week. It was still on track for a fall of over 2% this month as the dollar has rallied sharply on expectations for tighter policy from the Federal Reserve.
Against the euro, the pound was up 0.2% at 85.75 pence after touching its weakest level against the single currency since July 1 on Friday.
BOE EXPECTED TO TIGHTEN
The BoE has so far refrained from tightening policy while other central banks, including the Fed and the European Central Bank, have responded to energy-induced inflation pressures by raising interest rates.
Oil prices rose more than 3% on Monday, while benchmark British natural gas prices rose by a similar amount after US President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war in the Middle East.
Rising energy prices and a generally more hawkish outlook from BoE rate-setters have pushed investors to price in tighter policy from next month.
BoE Governor Andrew Bailey said on Friday that persistently high energy prices would make it harder for the central bank to leave interest rates on hold. Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said on Monday that if upside inflation pressures continue building, there could be a case for increasing interest rates.
Money market futures are pricing in an 85% chance of a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at the November meeting to 4%, with four hikes priced in by the middle of next year.
“For sterling, a rate hike could provide near-term support, especially if accompanied by stabilisation in UK rates,” said Roberto Cobo, head of G10 FX strategy at BBVA.
FISCAL POLICY
Focus in Britain is slowly turning to the government finances ahead of the Autumn Budget on October 28.
Finance minister John Healey is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Labour Party’s annual conference on Monday, where he is expected to signal that the route to boosting growth and reducing unemployment and cutting the welfare bill will stem from new jobs created by investments in sectors like defence.
Shares in Britain’s homebuilders rallied sharply on Monday after the government said its new equity loan scheme called “Your First Home”, a revival of the previous “Help to Buy” scheme, would be confirmed in next month’s budget.
That could also be helping the pound on Monday, according to ING FX analyst Francesco Pesole, who said the jump in homebuilder stocks could be attracting unusually large foreign flows.
Reporting by Samuel Indyk; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, 27 September 2026, police and other first responders were dispatched to a report of a serious single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle at the junction of Crow Lane and Lane Hill, Pembroke.
Details are limited at this time. However, it is believed that the male motorcycle rider struck a wall and sustained a head injury.
The scene is currently being forensically examined and traffic is being diverted around the area.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area where possible and use alternative routes.
Lane closure near Jennings Road to take effect from Tuesday morning through Thursday evening
Media Release:
The Ministry of Public Works and Environment advises the public that an emergency lane closure will take place on North Shore Road near Jennings Road, Flatts, to facilitate BELCO cable repairs.
The lane closure will be in effect from Tuesday, 29 September through Thursday, 1 October 2026, between 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Traffic will be managed by Intelligent Excavation representatives using stop-and-go signs and, where possible, traffic lights.
Motorists are asked to exercise caution when travelling through the area and to follow all traffic-control instructions. The Ministry thanks the public for its cooperation and apologises for any inconvenience caused.
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