The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 1% to 10,787.30 points as of 1103 GMT after being largely unchanged over the past two sessions, while the domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 gained 0.4%
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s FTSE 100 touched a fresh peak on Wednesday after lender HSBC lifted a key earnings target, while easing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence models on established businesses supported global sentiment.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 1% to 10,787.30 points as of 1103 GMT after being largely unchanged over the past two sessions, while the domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 gained 0.4%.
Global risk appetite improved after U.S.-based AI startup Anthropic partnered with several companies and launched new AI plug-ins, signalling that traditional businesses are adapting to AI advances rather than facing immediate disruption.
HSBC climbed 5.8% after the bank lifted its target for a key profitability metric after its annual profit beat expectations.
“The bank has slimmed down to focus on fewer regions, and to pay greater attention to wealthier individuals. This strategy appears to be working as it reported a strong performance from its wealth division,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Precious metal miners and industrial metal miners rallied as copper and gold prices climbed against a softer dollar. [GOL/] [MET/L] Miners have been among the top drivers of the FTSE 100 over the past year following an unprecedented rally in commodity prices.
Among other shares, spirits maker Diageo fell 6.1% after new CEO Dave Lewis cut the annual forecast and dividend, underscoring the scale of the turnaround ahead.
Hiscox rose 6.2% to the top of the blue-chip index after the insurer announced a $300 million share buyback plan and reported a 5.9% rise in annual insurance contract written premium.
Aston Martin fell 1.8% after the luxury carmaker said it will cut its workforce by up to 20%, as it strives to recover from the impact of U.S. import tariffs and weak demand in China.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed
OpenAI’s decision not to report Van Rootselaar to police prompted Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon to summon company officials to Ottawa this week to explain their safety protocols
International News via Reuters:
OpenAI’s admission it banned the ChatGPT account of mass shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar months before the 18-year-old killed eight people and herself is drawing more scrutiny to her past online activity and raising questions about whether opportunities were missed to prevent one of Canada’s worst-ever mass killings.
OpenAI’s decision not to report Van Rootselaar to police prompted Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon to summon company officials to Ottawa this week to explain their safety protocols.
The shooting in the small British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge is the latest tragedy in which critics have argued interactions with chat bots may have forewarned of or even encouraged violence.
Crime experts noted that while greater scrutiny of AI platforms and social media is necessary, police or other authorities may have missed chances to avert the tragedy. Police had previously removed guns from Van Rootselaar’s home, though they were later returned. Police also said they were aware of her history of mental health issues.
Van Rootselaar began the attack by killing her mother and sibling at home, before shooting dead an educator and five students, while two others were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the investigation is still active and some questions are subject to relevant legislation or court processes.
“This was clearly a household where there were many problems,” said Patrick Watson, a criminology professor at the University of Toronto unconnected to the case. “But we also need far more scrutiny of the companies who are creating these new platforms, which are essentially becoming a new public sphere with very little accountability.”
In a since-deleted Reddit post, Van Rootselaar said she had been diagnosed with numerous mental health issues, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and was on the autism spectrum.
“I went crazy and burnt my house down my second time trying shrooms but still have a desire to try alternatives,” Van Rootselaar wrote.
Van Rootselaar also previously created a game using the Roblox Studio app, involving shooting other characters at a mall.
Roblox told Reuters that Van Rootselaar’s account and its content were removed from the Roblox Studio app the day after the Tumbler Ridge massacre, and that the game had only seven visits.
Open AI said in a statement it had banned Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account last June after identifying “misuses of our models in furtherance of violent activities” and considered whether to refer her to law enforcement.
The company ultimately decided “the account activity did not meet the higher threshold required for referral,” mainly because OpenAI was not able to identify credible or imminent planning. The company said intervening in these situations can be distressing for young people and their families and may also raise privacy concerns.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Tracy Vaillancourt, a professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in youth mental health and violence prevention, said OpenAI’s failure to refer Van Rootselaar to police was “a missed opportunity,” but acknowledged there were challenges in protecting users’ privacy.
“People using ChatGPT may worry that it’s going to spy on them, but AI is so powerful there should be a way to improve how technology and we as a society, are able to reduce credible threats,” Vaillancourt said.
Cynthia Khoo, a technology and human rights lawyer, warned “it would be a mistake to start down a path where AI companies might become deputized as a private surveillance wing of law enforcement,” saying that invasions of privacy would disproportionately hit already marginalized groups.
Van Rootselaar was born male but identified as a female and began transitioning six years ago, police said. A 2023 report from the U.S. government showed that more than 95% of mass shooters are male and that transgender people account for about 2%.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said the Tumbler Ridge shooting could have been avoided if OpenAI had warned authorities about Van Rootselaar’s violent online activity and called for more transparency from the tech giant.
“It looks like OpenAI had the opportunity to prevent this tragedy, to prevent this horrific loss of life, to prevent there from being dead children in British Columbia,” he said Monday.
OpenAI said in its statement the shooting was “a devastating tragedy” and that it was doing all it could to support the ongoing investigation.
“We reached out to law enforcement immediately after the identity of the shooter was made public and we are engaged with the (police) to support their ongoing work,” the company said.
Reporting by Maria Cheng, Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Lincoln Feast.
The pound tends to behave as a risk-sensitive currency, with a strong correlation to global equities
International News via Reuters:
Sterling edged up against the dollar and the euro on Wednesday, with investors keeping a close eye on interest-rate divergence and market sentiment.
Investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of Nvidia results due later in the session, while an uncertain UK political backdrop and the prospect of further Bank of England rate cuts left the near-term outlook for the pound unfavourable.
The pound tends to behave as a risk-sensitive currency, with a strong correlation to global equities.
BoE Governor Andrew Bailey said on Tuesday that a March rate cut was possible, although he noted that services price inflation had not eased as much as hoped in recent data.
The BoE turned more dovish in early February, when it held policy steady in a surprisingly tight 5–4 vote and said rates would likely fall if a decline in inflation continues.
Sterling was up 0.10% versus the euro at 87.17 pence. It hit 87.52 last week, its lowest since December 19.
It was up 0.18% at $1.3511.
Gilt yields are under scrutiny ahead of next week’s bond issuance plans from the UK Debt Management Office, which will follow finance minister Rachel Reeves’ updated growth and borrowing forecasts to parliament.
British 10-year yields rose two basis points on Wednesday after falling to their lowest since December 2024 at 4.29% on Tuesday.
Dani Stoilova, UK and Europe economist at BNP Paribas, expects the Office for Budget Responsibility to confirm indirectly that the government remains compliant with fiscal rules.
“Risks around the fiscal trajectory have not dissipated though, particularly given the backdrop of elevated political uncertainty, and will need to be addressed in future budgets,” she added.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced calls to step down over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the U.S., faces further scrutiny after parliament ordered the release of documents relating to the vetting of Mandelson, who was later fired for his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
reporting by Stefano Rebaudo. Editing by Mark Potter
Aston Martin said the job cuts from a total workforce of around 3,000 should deliver annualised savings of around 40 million pounds ($54 million)
International News via Reuters:
British luxury car maker Aston Martin will cut its workforce by up to 20%, it said on Wednesday, as it strives to recover from the impact of U.S. import tariffs and weak demand in China.
Aston Martin said the job cuts from a total workforce of around 3,000 should deliver annualised savings of around 40 million pounds ($54 million). It did not specify when the job cuts would be implemented, but said most of the savings would be this year. The cuts include a 5% reduction announced last year.
It also trimmed its five-year capital spending plan to 1.7 billion pounds from 2 billion pounds by delaying investment in electric vehicle technology.
In early trade, Aston Martin shares rose by nearly 5% after declines for nine successive sessions.
LACK OF CASH AND HIGH LEVELS OF DEBT
Best known as the car brand driven by James Bond, the company has struggled to generate cash and manage its debt of 1.38 billion pounds, although it has received injections of capital from Canadian billionaire and Chairman Lawrence Stroll and through deals.
It said U.S. tariffs had been “extremely disruptive” and demand had also been “extremely subdued” in China, the world’s biggest auto market.
Aston Martin said it expected further cash outflows in 2026, but also predicted “material improvement” in its financial performance.
It has a target for gross margins in the high 30% range and adjusted earnings before interest and taxes near breakeven, helped by around 500 deliveries of its new Valhalla hybrid supercar.
The company made an operating loss of 259.2 million pounds in 2025.
As part of its efforts to improve its finances, it struck a 50-million-pound deal to sell the perpetual branding rights to its Formula One team last week.
($1 = 0.7395 pounds)
Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy, Mrigank Dhaniwala and Barbara Lewis
No injuries reported after vehicle collides with two parked cars in Hamilton
Image: Bermuda Police Service
A car overturned on Front Street last evening.
The incident occurred near the restaurant and bar The Front Yard in the City of Hamilton.
Shortly before 10 pm, a Bermuda Police Service spokesman said: “Early information is that one of the cars was proceeding along Front Street, when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle which collided with two parked cars before it overturned and landed on its hood.”
Police confirmed there were no reported injuries.
Traffic in the area was restricted to one lane while the scene was dealt with.
Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre to present findings as international experts convene on island for Bermuda Principles anniversary
For more than 20 years, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre has quietly invested in one powerful idea: that knowledge can save families.
This year, the Centre marks more than two decades of sustained commitment to cancer genetics and announces findings from Bermuda’s first longitudinal hereditary cancer programme. The data, built over 20 years of clinical care, will be shared with international leaders at the upcoming Bermuda Principles 30th Anniversary Conference.
But long before it became data, it was personal.
Since formal genetic testing began in 2006, more than 500 Bermudians have chosen to learn whether they carry inherited cancer risk. Ninety-nine dominant pathogenic variants across 17 cancer susceptibility genes have been identified, most commonly in BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Behind each result is a Bermudian family making informed decisions about screening, prevention, and the health of the next generation.
This programme represents Bermuda’s first population-based longitudinal data regarding hereditary cancer risk, not a single moment of testing, but a long-term commitment to walking alongside families over time.
A Two-Clinic Model Focused on Prevention and Protection
The Centre’s genetics programme operates through two integrated clinics:
Cancer Genetics & Risk Assessment Clinic Identifies individuals at increased hereditary cancer risk and provides guideline-based genetic testing and counselling.
Hereditary Cancer Clinic Provides ongoing management for individuals found to carry inherited mutations, including personalised surveillance plans, coordinated screening, and cascade testing for family members.
Genetic testing does not end with a result. At Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, it begins a structured, supported care pathway designed to reduce risk and detect cancer earlier, when it is most treatable.
A Longstanding Partnership in Genomic Medicine
The programme has been guided in collaboration with Dr Kevin Hughes, whose longstanding partnership with the Centre has ensured that Bermuda’s approach remains aligned with international best practice.
“Genetic testing is only the beginning,” said Dr Kevin Hughes. “What matters most is how those results are used, to guide surveillance, inform families, and reduce cancer risk over time. Bermuda has built a durable clinical framework that protects families for generations.”
Over two decades, the Centre has evolved from single-gene BRCA testing to comprehensive multi-gene panels encompassing more than 90 genes, adapting alongside advances in genomic science while maintaining patient-centred clinical care.
Bermuda’s Unique Population Story
The Centre’s longitudinal data has documented founder mutations within Bermuda’s population, with ancestral origins traceable to the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, the Azores, and the Middle East. These findings reflect Bermuda’s distinct population history, and underscore the importance of having local data, local expertise, and local access to care.
Bermuda on the Global Stage
Later this week, global leaders in genomics, data sharing, and ethical implementation will gather in Bermuda for the 30th Anniversary of the Bermuda Principles, the framework that shaped modern genomic collaboration worldwide.
The Centre’s 20-year hereditary cancer data will be shared with conference attendees, positioning Bermuda not only as host, but as a contributor to the global conversation on responsible and equitable genomic medicine.
“Our work in cancer genetics over the past two decades has focused on delivering evidence-based care to our community,” said Dr Chris Fosker, CEO, Medical Director and Oncologist at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. “Presenting this retrospective analysis reflects the Centre’s leadership in hereditary cancer management.”
Dr Kevin Hughes will be on island during the conference and is available for media interviews. He can be reached at marketing@chc.bm.
As genomic medicine continues to evolve, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre remains committed to ensuring that scientific progress translates into accessible, structured, and compassionate cancer prevention and care for the Bermudian community.
For more information about the Centre’s Cancer Genetics & Risk Assessment Clinics, visit cancer.bm.
52-year-old Wilton Woolridge dies weeks after Devonshire motorcycle collision; police investigation continues
Sadly, the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) can now confirm Bermuda’s fourth road fatality of 2026, 52-year-old Wilton Woolridge.
The reported single vehicle motorcycle collision that claimed his life occurred around 3:35am Saturday, 31st January 2026, near the roundabout at the junction of Barkers Hill, North Shore Road and Palmetto Road, Devonshire.
A BPS media release, with details available at the time and a witness appeal, was issued later that morning.
Mr. Woolridge received initial treatment at the collision scene by emergency medical personnel and was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance, where he was provided further medical treatment in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
However, he was ultimately pronounced dead Wednesday, 18th February.
The BPS extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Woolridge.
A BPS Family Liaison Officer continues to assist his loved ones, while the investigation regarding the circumstances of this fatal collision is ongoing.
Any witnesses who have not already come forward, or persons with relevant information, are now encouraged to contact Constable Victor Fishington of the BPS Roads Policing Unit by calling 717-0836, or e-mailing vfishington@bps.bm, as soon as possible.
The intense bidding war for the studio behind Batman and Harry Potter has reached a fever pitch, with the board signaling that Netflix may lose its place as the preferred suitor
International News via Reuters:
Warner Bros Discovery opened the door on Tuesday to Paramount Skydance after the rival bidder raised its offer to $31 per share.
The intense bidding war for the studio behind Batman and Harry Potter has reached a fever pitch, with the board signaling that Netflix may lose its place as the preferred suitor.
Paramount enticed Warner’s board back to the bargaining table last week by raising the possibility of an improved cash offer for Warner shareholders. In its revised bid, Paramount raised the termination fee it would pay should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval, to $7 billion — up from $5.8 billion. It also agreed to pay Warner shareholders 25 cents per share per quarter, for every quarter beyond September 30 that the deal does not close.
The rival bidder also agreed to contribute more equity, should banks raise concerns about Paramount’s ability to finance the deal when it closes.
Warner’s board said it has not determined whether the revised Paramount proposal is superior to the merger with Netflix, but that directors will engage further. Should a superior deal emerge, Netflix has four business days to revise its offer.
Netflix declined to comment. Paramount did not respond to requests for comment.
The fight over Warner Bros is complicated by the fact that Netflix and Paramount are bidding for different sets of assets. Paramount’s bid, now at $31 per share in cash, is for the whole company. Netflix has offered $27.75 per share in cash, a total of $82.7 billion including net debt, for the movie and television studios, its catalog and HBO Max streaming service. Warner Bros plans to spin off its television division into a separately traded company, Discovery Global.
The value of Netflix’s bid depends partly on the debt level of Discovery Global and its equity value once it starts trading.
Warner’s board estimates Discovery Global could fetch between $1.33 and $6.86 a share, potentially lifting the total return to shareholders above Paramount’s earlier $30 a share offer.
“We expect shareholder lawsuits if Netflix is the ultimate winner, and because the deals are not apples to apples—with the suitors not vying for identical assets and other details surrounding the respective bids requiring discretion—determination of which deal is better will always be subjective,” wrote Matthew Dolgin, senior equity analyst at Morningstar.
Warner Bros will publish quarterly results this week, potentially giving a better picture of the cable television assets’ value. Paramount reports results Wednesday.
Shares of both potential buyers have fallen during the saga. “Given how much the market cap for Netflix and Paramount have fallen since this bidding war has started, it is reasonable to question if an increased bid from either company is actually driven by business interests rather than ego,” said Ross Benes, senior analyst at eMarketer.
HIGH-STAKES BATTLE FOR HOLLYWOOD’S CROWN JEWEL
Either deal will reshape the power structure of Hollywood by handing the suitor one of the industry’s most coveted studios and an extensive content library, as well as lucrative entertainment franchises such as “Game of Thrones” and DC Comics.
Netflix has ample cash and could bump up its offer for the HBO Max owner.
Paramount, though, has argued it has a clearer path to U.S. regulatory approval than Netflix, and it earlier indicated that if Warner Bros rejects the new bid, it would be ready to launch a board challenge at this year’s annual meeting. One of its possible director candidates could be one of Warner Bros’ biggest shareholders, Pentwater Capital Management’s chief executive Matthew Halbower.
Separately, activist investor Ancora Holdings, which owns a small stake in Warner Bros, has stepped up pressure on the HBO owner by saying the company did not adequately engage with Paramount.
Warner Bros has previously said that its board has a track record of acting in the best interests of the company and shareholders.
The company earlier this month said it would hold a shareholder vote on the Netflix deal on March 20.
Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston, Sneha S K, Aditya Soni and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme requires all visitors who do not need a visa to enter Britain to purchase a pre-travel permit online at a cost of 16 pounds ($21.57)
International News via Reuters:
Starting on Wednesday, visitors to Britain from 85 countries must obtain an electronic permit in advance of their trip or they will be barred from travelling, the UK interior ministry said.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme requires all visitors who do not need a visa to enter Britain to purchase a pre-travel permit online at a cost of 16 pounds ($21.57).
It was introduced in 2023 and extended to European visitors in April last year, but has not been strictly enforced.
However, from February 25, it will be mandatory for visitors to the UK to have obtained an ETA to travel.
This means that airlines will prevent passengers from boarding if they do not have an ETA, eVisa or other valid documentation, the interior ministry said.
British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, as well those with the right to live in the UK, are exempt from needing an ETA.
“The ETA scheme is a vital part of our work to strengthen the UK’s border security, helping to deliver a more efficient and modern service that works for both visitors and the British public,” migration minister Mike Tapp said.
In October last year, the European Union (EU) began rolling-out its much delayed post-Brexit border security checks for UK nationals entering the bloc. Britain formally left the EU in 2020.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) removes the requirement to manually stamp passports at the EU’s external borders and instead creates digital records.
However, travellers have complained the new system’s introduction has caused delays at some airports, and industry leaders have expressed concern that full implementation at Easter could cause widespread disruption.
($1 = 0.7417 pounds)
Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Catarina Demony
The state fire department confirmed 18 deaths in the city of Juiz de Fora and seven in Uba, about 110 km (68 miles) away
International News via Reuters:
At least 25 people died after heavy rains hit Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais, local authorities said on Tuesday, while 43 people were missing.
The state fire department confirmed 18 deaths in the city of Juiz de Fora and seven in Uba, about 110 km (68 miles) away.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered his condolences in a post on X. “Our focus is to ensure humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, support for displaced people, and aid for reconstruction,” he wrote.
About 440 people have been displaced in Juiz de Fora, the city hall said, as the rain triggered flooding and landslides and forced the suspension of classes in municipal schools.
Specialized teams have mobilized to respond to incidents and search for missing people, it added. The state fire department said 141 officials – including 113 in Juiz de Fora and 28 in Uba – were deployed.
The department reported that 40 people were missing in Juiz de Fora, with another three people missing in Uba.
“It’s a precarious situation; many people are missing. But by helping each other, we’ll eventually find everyone,” Gabriel Vitor, a 24-year-old state firefighter deployed to Juiz de Fora, said.
PUBLIC CALAMITY
Brazil’s government has recognized a state of calamity in Juiz de Fora, speeding up relief and humanitarian aid, it said in a statement.
Much of Brazil enters the peak of its rainy season during summer, from December to March, bringing frequent intense downpours, thunderstorms, flooding and mudslides.
“It was terrible; words can’t describe how sad it is. Just ask God to find those who survived and to perform a miracle,” said Jaqueline Teixeira, a 45-year-old Juiz de Fora resident.
The Juiz de Fora city hall said this has been the rainiest February in the city’s history, with rainfall already more than double the amount expected for the month.
Mayor Margarida Salomao said in a statement on social media that the situation was “critical.”
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology on Tuesday issued heavy‑rain alerts for parts of 14 states, including the entire area of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.
Reporting by Sergio Queiroz in Juiz de Fora, Isabel Teles and Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo, Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Gabriel Araujo, Rod Nickel and Alistair Bell
Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on Thursday was part of a police investigation into his ties with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
International News via Reuters:
British police said on Tuesday that searches at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home in southeast England had concluded after the former prince was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on Thursday was part of a police investigation into his ties with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Officers have now left the location we have been searching in Berkshire. This concludes the search activity that commenced following our arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on Thursday,” Thames Valley Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement.
Documents in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department last month appeared to show that King Charles’ younger brother had sent confidential government documents to the disgraced financier while working as a trade envoy.
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regretted their friendship.
Separately, London’s police said on Friday they were contacting former protection officers who worked for Mountbatten-Windsor, urging anyone with allegations of sex offences relating to Epstein to come forward.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Chris Thomas; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
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