Following an in-depth investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority said the deal combined two of only three major suppliers of offshore catering and facilities management services in the UK Continental Shelf
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s competition watchdog on Thursday ordered U.S.-based food services provider Aramark to sell offshore catering firm Entier, ruling the acquisition had harmed competition for services to North Sea oil and gas platforms.
Following an in-depth investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority said the deal combined two of only three major suppliers of offshore catering and facilities management services in the UK Continental Shelf.
It said the tie-up completed in January 2025 would leave customers with limited choice and potentially inflate prices and reduce service quality.
Aramark, which acquired a 90% stake in Entier, opted not to offer a remedy and withdrew an initial proposal, the CMA said, prompting the regulator to decide that only a full sale of Entier to an approved buyer would restore competition.
“We are disappointed in the CMA decision and intend to appeal,” Aramark said in a statement to Reuters.
The food services and facilities provider added that it viewed the merger with Entier as a “good investment” to grow its footprint in the United Kingdom and benefit clients across the North Sea.
The CMA now has 12 weeks to either accept final undertakings from Aramark or issue a final order requiring the company to sell Aberdeen-based Entier.
Reporting by Yamini Kalia and Rishab Shaju in Bengaluru. Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Mark Potter
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the United States will take Greenland because unless it does so then Russia and China will – and that the United States does not want them as neighbours
International News via Reuters:
Russia said on Thursday that its was unacceptable for the West to keep claiming that Russia and China threatened Greenland, and said the crisis over the territory showed the double-standards of Western powers which claimed moral superiority.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the United States will take Greenland because unless it does so then Russia and China will – and that the United States does not want them as neighbours.
Since Trump’s threats, Western European leaders have repeatedly said, without citing specific evidence, that Russia and China have designs on Greenland – and used that to argue that NATO needs to defend the Arctic against Moscow and Beijing.
“First they came up with the idea that there were some aggressors, and then that they were ready to protect someone from these aggressors,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said of the West’s actions on Greenland.
“Neither Russia nor China has announced any such plans,” she said, adding that no facts had been presented to support the claim that Russia and China threatened Greenland.
When asked directly by Reuters if Russia had designs on Greenland, Zakharova said: “Why don’t you ask Trump?”
“There are no facts indicating the aggressive plans of Russia and China, nor can there be any,” Zakharova said.
China on Monday urged the United States not to use other countries as an excuse to pursue its own interests, and said China’s activities in the Arctic aim to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.
The current situation, Zakharova said, “demonstrates with particular acuteness the inconsistency of the so-called ‘rules-based world order’ being built by the West,” Zakharova said.
“Take a bite of what you have prepared – but just don’t choke,” Zakharova said with a smile.
Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge
The Socialists struck a bilateral deal with Catalonia at the behest of separatist party ERC that guarantees the region will receive the same amount in services as it pays in taxes
International News via Reuters:
A new fiscal model proposed by Spain’s finance minister for its regional governments has faced a heavy backlash from regional leaders, who accuse the central government of toying with public finances to win political favours as it struggles to hold its fragile coalition together.
The Socialists, who head a minority coalition government, struck a bilateral deal with Catalonia at the behest of separatist party ERC that guarantees the region will receive the same amount in services as it pays in taxes, while other governments receive varying amounts.
That has infuriated the country’s other regions, with some threatening to take the state to court for, they claim, contravening the constitutional principle that no territory should be given a financial advantage over another by the central government.
Economists and ratings agencies have also expressed concern over an additional 21 billion euros promised in the model by the state to regional governments, worsening Spain’s fiscal position when it is already buckling under the strain of higher pensions and pressure to boost defence spending.
Nuria Bosch, economics professor at Barcelona University, said the deal was on paper better for all the regions.
“But it bears the stamp of having been put forward by the separatists, which creates resentment in many autonomous communities.”
MONTERO DECRIES OPPOSITION’S ‘INFANTILE POLITICS’
The standoff comes as disputes with splinter parties across the political spectrum from hard-left Sumar to separatist Junts have crippled the Socialists’ ability to pass policy, leaving Congress in a deadlock with a year to go until scheduled national elections.
Spain’s central budget is still being rolled over this year from its 2023 version after it failed last November to secure backing from the conservative opposition People’s Party, hard-right Vox and hard-left Podemos for a new proposal.
Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero admonished the opposition for critiquing the model without presenting an alternative, accusing its leaders of playing “infantile politics” and lying about the benefits of the new system.
Still, all but one of the country’s 17 autonomous communities, including those run by the same Socialist party leading the central government, remained staunchly opposed after lengthy talks with Montero on Wednesday. She will now begin a round of bilateral talks with each government in a bid to change their minds.
Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, editing by Aislinn Laing and Hugh Lawson
Bermudian sprinter Sanaa Morris continued her senior indoor campaign for Howard University this weekend, navigating a competitive field at the 2026 Penn Select meet.
Competing at the Jane and David Ott Center in Philadelphia, Morris featured in both the short sprint and middle-distance events as the “Bison” tested themselves against elite regional programs from across the East Coast.
Morris opened her day in the first heat of the Women’s 60 meters, crossing the line in seventh place with a time of 8.04 seconds. The performance saw her finish 29th overall in a crowded field of sprinters.
Morris saw a significantly stronger showing as she stepped up to the 400 meters later in the afternoon.
Running in the second heat, Morris battled for the lead throughout the two laps, eventually securing second place in her section. Her time of 58.22 seconds earned her 14th place in the overall standings, providing a solid foundation as Howard moves toward the heart of their conference schedule.
The meet serves as a vital barometer for Director of Track and Field David Oliver, as Howard looks to build the depth required to challenge for the podium at the upcoming MEAC Championships.
Morris and her teammates are scheduled to return to action next week at the HBCU Showcase in New York as they continue their journey toward the indoor postseason.
Bermudian fly-half Jamin Hodgkins has been named in the Pacific Pride Academy squad for the remainder of the 2026 season, following a prolific opening half of the campaign in the Canadian high-performance system.
Hodgkins, who is eligible to represent Canada, has emerged as a tactical anchor for the Pride in the British Columbia Men’s Premier League. The academy serves as the primary development pathway for the Canadian national team, pitting young talent against elite clubs across BC and Washington state.
Hodgkins has been in standout form with the boot, dictating play with a maturity honed in the UK. His impact was immediate in the season opener, where he accounted for a personal haul of 16 points—including a try—against the University of Victoria.
His consistency remained a hallmark throughout the autumn:
Sept 20: Kicked four conversions (8 points) in a win over Trinity Western.
Oct 16: Added three conversions in a dominant 76-0 exhibition victory.
Nov 16: Accounted for all of his team’s points in a gritty away trip to Ravens Rugby.
Hodgkins’ rise in North America follows significant experience in the English and Welsh pyramids. He previously featured for Luctonians First XV in National 2 West and represented Bridgend in the Welsh Indigo Premiership last term.
That “old world” tactical awareness has translated into a vital asset for the Pride, where he is utilized as a playmaker capable of shifting between fly-half and fullback.
The Pacific Pride now turn their attention to a pivotal mid-season clash at home to the Privateers on February 14th. With senior national team selectors watching closely, the next few months represent a definitive window for Hodgkins to stake his claim for a maiden international call-up.
For international investors a UK leadership change is “not really on the radar,” Sam Cartwright told Reuters, but he expects any new prime minister to appoint a markets-friendly finance minister
International News via Reuters:
A new British leader would not have scope to significantly lift government borrowing if Keir Starmer is replaced as prime minister later this year, Societe Generale’s UK economist told Reuters, describing the bank’s base case scenario.
For international investors a UK leadership change is “not really on the radar,” Sam Cartwright told Reuters, but he expects any new prime minister to appoint a markets-friendly finance minister.
SocGen is among the first of the big banks to tell clients Starmer’s departure is likely. Online prediction market platform Polymarket gives a 29% chance of Starmer being replaced by end-June – after mid-term elections – and a 53% chance by year-end.
Starmer, facing low opinion poll numbers and speculation about a possible leadership challenge, said earlier this month he would still be in power in year’s time.
His Labour Party trails the populist Reform UK in polls after winning a landslide victory in the 2024 national election.
“The Labour Party is almost certain to suffer heavy losses in the May 2026 local elections, at which point we believe a leadership challenge is likely,” Cartwright said.
“Nonetheless, with government borrowing at 4.5% of GDP, the UK still facing the highest bond yields in the G7, and lingering market jitters over UK debt following the Liz Truss debacle, gilt markets, not the fiscal rules, remain the real constraint on increased borrowing,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Truss left office in 2022 when bond prices slid in reaction to her budget plans.
Britain’s 10-year government bond yield is trading at around 4.36%, near its lowest levels since late 2024. However, it remains the highest in the G7 group of industrialized economies.
“Therefore, any prospective new leader would have limited scope to loosen the purse strings beyond current plans,” Cartwright added.
Starmer and finance minister Rachel Reeves have u-turned on welfare reforms in the past year in the face of pressure from Labour politicians. Analysts say some possible alternatives to Starmer within the Labour Party would wish to increase government spending, maybe through borrowing.
Since November’s budget and a focus on the United States and geopolitical events elsewhere in the world, British political risk has dropped down investors’ watchlist.
Big investors broadly welcomed British finance minister Rachel Reeves’ tax-raising November budget that gave her more leeway to meet her fiscal targets.
Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe and Alun John, editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Toby Chopra
Museveni told reporters after casting his ballot in western Uganda that he expected to win 80% of the vote “if there’s no cheating”, dismissing the prospect of an upset victory by popular singer Bobi Wine
International News via Reuters:
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni voiced confidence about extending his rule into a fifth decade during a tense national election on Thursday held under an internet blackout following a campaign marred by violence.
Museveni told reporters after casting his ballot in western Uganda that he expected to win 80% of the vote “if there’s no cheating”, dismissing the prospect of an upset victory by popular singer Bobi Wine.
The election is widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old leader’s political strength and ability to avoid the kind of unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya, as speculation mounts about his eventual succession.
Museveni, who has positioned Uganda as a security partner to Western nations since coming to power in 1986, campaigned on a slogan of “protecting the gains”, vowing to maintain peace and lift the country into middle-income status.
The 43-year-old Wine, nicknamed the “Ghetto President” for his humble origins, has appealed to young people angry about scarce economic opportunities in a country where the average age is just over 16.
In a social media post in the afternoon, Wine said “massive ballot stuffing” had been reported and called on Ugandans to “RISE TO THE OCCASION AND REJECT THE CRIMINAL REGIME”.
Museveni has warned that security forces would deal firmly with any election day protests. There were no reports of protests as polling stations began to close after 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) and ballot counting began. Results are expected within 48 hours.
HEAVY SECURITY PRESENCE
The voting took place amid a heavy police and military presence. The authorities cut internet access across the country on Tuesday to curb what they called misinformation about the election. Many Ugandans turned to an offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
During the campaign, security forces repeatedly opened fire at Wine’s events, killing at least one person and arresting hundreds of his supporters.
Museveni’s government has said those actions were a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.
The United States denounced Museveni’s last election victory in 2021 – when he defeated Wine with 58% of the vote – as neither free nor fair. Similar criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is unlikely after U.S. diplomats were instructed last July not to comment on the integrity of foreign elections.
On Thursday, many polling stations did not open on time because biometric voter verification machines were not working, leading the electoral commission to extend the close of voting by an hour.
Casting his ballot in the Kasangati township, Ronald Tenywa, a 45-year-old university researcher, complained that political leaders “cling on for a long time”.
“If we vote for someone who cares, things will be better for Uganda,” he said.
SUCCESSION QUESTIONS SHADOW VOTE
Besides Wine, six other opposition candidates were challenging Museveni – Africa’s third-longest-ruling head of state. Voters also chose members of parliament.
Museveni has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits and his control of state institutions means he is all but assured of victory, political analysts say.
As president, he has sent troops to regional hotspots such as Somalia and taken in millions of refugees, winning gratitude from Western governments even as they have voiced concerns about his human rights record.
Economic growth, traditionally reliant on agriculture and tourism, is expected to surge into double digits when crude oil production from fields run by France’s TotalEnergies and China’s CNOOC begins this year.
Museveni is widely believed to favour his son, military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as his successor, but the president has denied grooming him for the role and his status as heir apparent is opposed by some within the ruling party, analysts say.
Juliet Zawedde, an 18-year-old first-time voter in Kampala, said any succession should happen democratically.
“In Africa, too many people in government promote their family members,” she said. “They need to give chances to others.”
Reporting by Ammu Kannampilly in Kampala, Writing by Vincent Mumo Nzilani, Editing by Aaron Ross, Philippa Fletcher, Michael Perry and Timothy Heritage
Junction of Dundonald Street and Court Street cordoned off
Update: Normal traffic flow has resumed in the Court Street, Dundonald Street, City of Hamilton area.
However, inquiries are ongoing and the appeal for witnesses continues.
An update regarding the medical condition of the injured motorcyclist is anticipated in due course.
A collision involving a police vehicle and a motorcycle occurred around 12:30pm Thursday, 15th January 2026, at the junction of Dundonald Street and Court Street, City of Hamilton.
The injured male motorcyclist has been taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance for treatment.
The collision site has been cordoned off and is being processed, with traffic diverted away from the scene.
Any witnesses are encouraged to contact Sergeant Shawnta’ Edmonson by calling 717-2251 or e-mailing sedmonson@bps.bm, at the earliest opportunity.
Alternatively, information regarding this collision can be submitted via the Bermuda Police Service community reporting portal, https://portal.police.bm.
Swimming standout Taylor White continued her impressive senior campaign as the Bentley University women’s swimming and diving team secured a 2-1 record in a high-intensity Tri-Meet at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
Bentley delivered two commanding dual-meet wins, overpowering Adelphi University 200-87 and comfortably defeating Felician University 171-106. However, the hosts WPI proved a tougher challenge, with Bentley falling 158-121 to the Engineers.
White was once again the spearhead for the Bentley distance unit. She claimed a clinical victory in the Women’s 1000 Yard Freestyle, stopping the clock at 10:50.27 to secure maximum points for the Falcons.
White nearly made it a double on the day, finishing a close second in the Women’s 200 Yard Backstroke. Her time of 2:11.55 was enough to secure the runner-up spot in a competitive field.
The afternoon was capped off by a collaborative triumph in the Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Swimming the leadoff leg, White provided the Falcons with a strong start, allowing the quartet—which included Samantha Jackson, Bella Montanari, and Fotini Anastasiadou—to post a winning time of 3:45.82.
The eSafety Commissioner said platforms had so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by under-16s to comply with a law that went live on December 10
International News via Reuters:
Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under‑16s took effect, the country’s internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and sweeping impact.
The eSafety Commissioner said platforms had so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by under-16s to comply with a law that went live on December 10. Some platforms had said they would start closing affected accounts in the weeks before the deadline.
The figures represent the first government data on compliance and suggest platforms are taking significant steps to adhere to a law that could see them fined up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) for non-compliance, but does not hold children or their parents liable.
The tally is far higher than estimates circulated before the law and equates to more than two accounts for every Australian aged 10 to 16, based on population data. Meta previously said it took down some 550,000 underage accounts from its Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
The minimum age rule also applies to Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter. Reddit has said it is complying but is suing the government seeking to overturn the ban. The government says it will defend itself.
“It is clear that eSafety’s regulatory guidance and engagement with platforms is already delivering significant outcomes,” Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement.
Some underage accounts remain active and it was too early to declare full compliance, she added. All companies that were initially covered by the ban said they would comply.
Inman Grant said effective age checks would take time to bed down but feedback from age-assurance providers – typically third-party software vendors hired by the platforms – indicated Australia’s rollout had been smooth, aided by public education ahead of the ban.
Some smaller social media applications reported a surge of downloads in Australia in the run-up to the December rollout, and eSafety said it would monitor what it called migration trends. But it said the initial download spikes had not translated into sustained usage.
A study with mental health experts will track the ban’s long-term impact for several years.
The two offshore wind projects – Mona and Morgan – with a potential total capacity of 3 gigawatts did not qualify for government support via so-called contracts for difference in this week’s record auction
International News via Reuters:
German utility EnBW said on Thursday it was taking a 1.2 billion euro ($1.4 billion) impairment charge after pulling out of two wind projects in Britain, a direct consequence of losing out in a landmark UK offshore tender.
The two offshore wind projects – Mona and Morgan – with a potential total capacity of 3 gigawatts did not qualify for government support via so-called contracts for difference in this week’s record auction, EnBW said.
The two projects were being jointly developed with JERA Nex bp, a 50-50 joint venture between British oil major BP and Japan’s JERA Co.
EnBW said the decision to pull the plug on its participation in the projects was also based on other factors “including a significant increase in costs across the supply chain, lower electricity market prices and higher interest rates”.
EnBW, which is mostly owned by the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and related municipalities, also referred to unspecified project implementation risks, adding that the charges were non-operational and would therefore not affect cash flows.
JERA Nex bp, in an emailed statement, said it believed there “are still good pathways to delivery in our UK portfolio and we are assessing our options for taking the projects forward.”
BP and EnBW had won the two sites in partnership in 2021 in what Bernstein analysts then called a “highly contested race”.
At the time, the companies said they would each pay around 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) in fees for the project before the final investment decision, in four annual payments of 231 million pounds for each of the two leases.
EnBW, which confirmed its 2025 outlook, said it has so far paid 840 million pounds in total fees for the projects and that no further payments would be made.
($1 = 0.8598 euros)
($1 = 0.7455 pounds)
Reporting by Christoph Steitz, Susanna Twidale and Shadia NasrallaEditing by Madeline Chambers and Joe Bavier
Humpbacks have been spotted this early in the year before, but we could be witnessing a new phenomenon; whales recolonizing Bermuda as a calving ground
A frenzy of excitement erupted over social media channels this morning after whales were spotted off the cruise ship pier in Dockyard.
According to local researcher and filmmaker, Andrew Stevenson, the whales are likely to be comprised of a calf accompanied by its mother and an escort.
The humpbacks usually arrive in numbers in March and although today’s sightings seem unusual to many, Mr. Stevenson confirmed that this is the seventh year Bermuda has seen a small calf at this time of year – December or early January.
Today’s sightings, however, might be far more significant.
“It’s too early for the calf to have migrated here so there’s a good possibility it was born here,” Mr. Stevenson said. “At first, I thought these were premature births, but it now seems likely that these whales could be recolonizing Bermuda as a calving ground.”
Mr. Stevenson said this is probably due to a healthy North Atlantic humpback whale population that is increasing in numbers.
While the sighting has caused excitement among avid whale watchers, Mr. Stevenson stressed the importance of respectful observation.
“A small newborn calf also needs to be left in peace and not stressed out by boat traffic especially in shallow waters where it is more exposed to potential boat or propeller strike,” explained Mr. Stevenson.
Community members reported sightings of the small pod around 11 am in the Facebook group, WhalesBermuda Sightings, founded by Mr. Stevenson.
By 12:30 pm, a resident told Bermuda Broadcasting that the whales were heading towards Western Blue Cut on the North Shore.
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