Both women reported suffering sexual assault and workplace harassment while working for the singer
International News via Reuters:
A Spanish High Court prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday it was investigating allegations in Spanish and U.S. media outlets that singer Julio Iglesias sexually assaulted two former female employees.
There was no immediate response to emails seeking comment, sent by Reuters to representatives of Iglesias, 82. The star’s record label, Sony, declined to comment.
The women, said to have worked in Iglesias’ Caribbean residences in the Dominican Republic and Bahamas over a 10-month period in 2021, were cited in a three-year investigation by U.S. broadcaster Univision and Spanish outlet elDiario.es published on Tuesday.
Both women reported suffering sexual assault and workplace harassment while working for the singer, the outlets reported. The reports said Iglesias pressured them into sexual encounters and subjected them to additional physical and verbal abuse.
The prosecutor’s office said it had opened preliminary proceedings after a claim was filed on January 5. Details of the case were covered by secrecy rules that prevented it from providing further information.
Iglesias is one of the world’s best-selling Latin artists, with more than 300 million records sold in 14 languages. A former aspiring soccer player, he turned to music after a 1963 car accident ended his sports career.
The allegations sparked a noisy reaction in Spain, where he is considered a national treasure.
Ana Redondo, the Socialist-led government’s Equality Minister, said in a statement she respected Iglesias’ presumption of innocence but that she believed the women’s testimony.
“He’s a great singer but people can have a dark side,” she said, praising the women for raising their complaints.
Leftist party Mas Madrid suggested the right-wing government of Madrid region should strip Iglesias of the keys to the city he was awarded as the capital’s most famous son. Iglesias has backed conservative political candidates in the past.
Regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso issued a furious response on X, saying: “The Community of Madrid will never contribute to attacks on the prestige of artists, not least the most universal singer of all: Julio Iglesias.”
Reporting by Emma PinedoEditing by Aislinn Laing and Peter Graff
Today we sat down with actor, comedian and host Nadanja to discuss his event, Night of Games, which will take place on Tuesday, January 20th at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. He promises an exciting evening of competition and entertainment, and a total of $15,000 in cash prizes.
During our interview, Nadanja shared details about the inspiration behind the event, what attendees can expect, and how Night of Games aims to bring the gaming community together.
The company is focusing on strategic therapeutic areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular and renal medicine
International News via Reuters:
Novartis will continue to do bolt-on deals and its capital allocation priorities remain unchanged, CEO Vasant Narasimhan said at a major industry conference that kicked off on Monday in San Francisco.
“We are always looking for opportunities that fit our core therapeutic areas,” Narasimhan said at the J.P. Morgan healthcare conference. “We want to do deals that make sense, and we have the capital to be able to do that.”
The company is focusing on strategic therapeutic areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular and renal medicine.
Novartis has been proactively striking deals to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.
Last year, Novartis agreed to acquire U.S. biotech firm Avidity Biosciences for about $12 billion in cash, as it looks to bolster its portfolio of treatments for rare muscle disorders.
The company also acquired Regulus Therapeutics for up to $1.7 billion, giving the Swiss drugmaker access to an experimental drug to treat a life-threatening kidney disease.
“Going forward, the core principles remain the same, which is the four therapeutic areas that we have an interest in, where we look for bolt on external innovation that creates value will remain,” Shreeram Aradhye, president, development and chief medical officer, told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the conference.
The company’s momentum for deal making will remain, he added.
Aradhye also said the company will have significant focus on oncology and would look for additional opportunities in radioligand therapies.
Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru and Maggie Fick in San Francisco; Editing by Leroy Leo
At a time when many households are facing real cost-of-living pressures, it is important that healthcare costs are not made more difficult or unpredictable through unclear and/or improper billing practices. The Bermuda Health Council is issuing this public notice to clarify existing legal protections, promote consistent billing practices, and ensure individuals know what to reasonably expect when accessing care in Bermuda.
FOR INSURED INDIVIDUALS
Hospital Services Provided by Hospital Staff
The list of all hospital services provided by hospital staff can be found on the Bermuda Hospitals Board (Hospital Fees) Regulations 2018 (link). Services listed on schedules 1, 2, 3, and 4a are already covered by local health insurance policies therefore insured patients should not receive a bill for these services.
Hospital Services Provided by Non-Hospital Providers
Some services delivered in the hospital are provided by clinicians who are not employed by the hospital. The provider’s charges and the insurance reimbursement for this care are regulated and there are penalties in place for non-compliant providers or insurers.
For clarity:
· The regulated charges, called the Medical and Dental Charges are publicly available on the Health Council’s website (link).
· It is illegal for providers to bill anything above the published charges for services delivered in the hospital.
· Where a patient’s insurance policy includes coverage for the applicable service, it is illegal for an insurer to reimburse less than 100% of the published rate.
· Discrepancies between what a provider bills an insurer and what an insurer pays are not to be passed on to the patient. It is illegal to balance bill, charge a copay or pass any additional costs on to insured patients for covered hospital-based care.
Patient Protections Are Legislated
All of the protections described above are set out in the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act 1970 (Act) (link). Any practice that involves over-billing, under-reimbursing, balance billing, charging copays or other associated fees, or improper unbundling of services constitutes a contravention of legislation and may be subject to penalties under the Act.
Insurance Is About Protecting Against the Unexpected
Insurance exists to protect against an uncertain future. Personal health status, family history, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance should all inform the type of coverage an individual chooses.
Individuals are strongly encouraged to:
· Confirm their insurance status at least annually or when significant changes occur such as employment status, marital status (where coverage was through a spouse’s employer), or health status.
· Never assume levels of coverage even where there is the perception of “major medical” coverage.
Overseas Care
Insurance coverage for overseas care is not an entitlement. Insurance coverage depends on the specific policy and benefit tier selected by the individual or for employment-based coverage, selected by the employer. Where overseas care is included, the level of coverage can vary by policy and provider networks are selected by the individual insurers.
In many cases, when someone requires overseas care following a hospital admission, it is not a planned or predictable event. Attempting to time insurance coverage or obtain insurance after the fact is both unrealistic and risky.
FOR UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS
These protections do not apply to individuals who are uninsured at the time services are delivered. Persons who are uninsured—whether due to voluntary decisions, employer non-compliance, or other circumstances—should expect to receive bills from the hospital and from health service providers for all procedures performed.
Financial Assistance Is Available
The Health Council recognizes that not everyone is in the same financial position, and that unexpected healthcare needs can create stress and uncertainty.
If you are experiencing financial hardship:
· Financial assistance options do exist, including hospital-based financial counselling and government support mechanisms.
· Individuals are encouraged to ask about these options in advance rather than avoiding care or assuming no help is available.
FOR ALL PATIENTS
Global Periods
Many procedures are governed by rules regarding bundled billing for care related to a primary procedure. In other words, where a procedure is performed, there are rules on billing for that procedure and any before- or after-care related to that procedure.
Global periods vary by procedure but generally, this required bundled billing means that the published fee already includes the individual allowable charges for:
· The procedure itself (the primary procedure),
· Routine pre-procedure assessment, and
· Routine post-procedure follow-up care over the defined global period.
It is illegal for a health service provider to:
· Ignore published global billing rules (link), or
· Bill separately in an office or other setting for services that are already included within the global fee, even if the primary procedure and/or pre- and post-procedure care were provided in a mixture of settings. For example, if pre-procedure and post-procedure consults were provided in office but the procedure itself was performed in the hospital, the global period for that hospital procedure must be honoured.
For patients, this means that routine follow-ups and related care covered by the global period should not generate additional bills. Unbundling these services and charging them separately is unlawful.
LOOKING AHEAD
Universal Health Coverage
The Health Council is providing technical and policy support to the Government’s work in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC is a long-term solution which will ensure that everyone has access to a base layer of patient-centred protection, regardless of income or ability to pay.
UHC is intended to strengthen access to essential services while reducing reliance solely on market-based insurance and individual financial capacity.
Questions and Support
Members of the public with questions about insurance coverage, employer obligations, or patient billing rights are encouraged to contact the Bermuda Health Council at contactus@healthcouncil.bm or complete the Feedback Form (link) on our website.
The Council remains committed to fairness and transparency, and to ensuring that healthcare billing is not unnecessarily cumbersome for individuals and families across Bermuda.
Premier’s Concert marks 40 years of supporting Bermudian talent
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Department of Culture presented the 40th Annual Premier’s Concert, marking forty years of supporting Bermuda’s young artists and creative development. The concert was hosted by Gianluca Gibbons and Patrina “PowerGirl” O’Connor-Paynter. The evening opened with a musical procession by the Junior Regiment Band, featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary selections.
Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, the Hon. Owen Darrell, JP, MP, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the arts, stating, “The Department of Culture remains committed to nurturing Bermuda’s creative industries, and this year’s Premier’s Concert once again demonstrated the depth of talent and passion that exists within our community.”
The programme included performances across multiple disciplines. The Bermuda School of Music featured piano performances by Odin and Dylan Flanagan, followed later by the Intermezzo Orchestra, conducted by Dan Turcanu. DanceSations presented contemporary and hip-hop works, while the Northlands School Choir, under the direction of Terry Henry, performed a choral medley. Spoken word artist Alay Burgess-Rocker and singer-songwriter Serilina Fisher also appeared.
The concert concluded with a performance by TROIKA, choreographed by Sacha Dill, highlighting music and movement from the 1980s to the 2000s. Premier of Bermuda, The Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, noted the concert’s continued role in providing a platform for young performers. The 40th Annual Premier’s Concert will be broadcast on CITV and the Department of Culture’s YouTube channel.
Under the European Union’s crypto rules, MiCA, crypto companies must receive licences from national regulators in order to be able to operate across the bloc
International News via Reuters:
Nearly a third of crypto companies without an EU licence in France are still to tell the regulator whether they intend to get the licence required under new EU rules or will cease operating by July, the country’s markets regulator warned on Tuesday.
Under the European Union’s crypto rules, MiCA, crypto companies must receive licences from national regulators in order to be able to operate across the bloc.
Those rules, a landmark regulatory package, came into force last year to bring crypto assets under formal regulation.
Stephane Pontoizeau, executive director of the market intermediaries and market infrastructures supervision directorate at the AMF, told journalists in Paris that the regulator had written to companies in November to remind them that the country’s transition period ends on June 30 this year.
Of about 90 registered crypto companies in France that are not MiCA-licenced, 30% have already applied for a licence and 40% were not seeking one.
A remaining 30% had not told the regulator their plans nor responded to the November letter, Pontoizeau said, adding that he was concerned by this group.
‘ORDERLY WIND-DOWN PLANS’
The European Securities and Markets Authority said in December it expects crypto companies without MiCA authorisation to have either implemented “orderly wind-down plans” or have such plans in place by the end of the transition period, which varies for different EU countries.
MiCA licences have been granted to crypto companies including U.S. exchange Coinbase, stablecoin issuer Circle, and British fintech Revolut.
Last year, France threatened to challenge the “passporting” of licences granted by different member states, saying it was concerned companies were seeking out jurisdictions with more lenient licensing standards.
In December, the European Commission proposed that ESMA should supervise crypto companies at a centralised EU level, a move which is opposed by some countries.
Setting out the regulator’s 2026 plans, AMF President Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani also reiterated France’s support for boosting European capital markets, and for giving more powers to ESMA.
Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Jan Harvey
Bermudian all-rounder Katherine Bean-Rosario is set to pull on the Leeward Islands colours once again for a pivotal double-header of regional women’s cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been named in the squad for both the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup and the CWI T20 Blaze. The tournaments serve as a vital springboard for the West Indies’ busy 2026 calendar, which includes this summer’s tri-nation series and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The T20 Blaze kicks off this week at the Arnos Vale Ground, featuring daily triple-headers played under a round-robin format. Matches start as early as 9:30 a.m., with the marquee evening slots played under lights ahead of the finals on January 23rd.
The focus then shifts to the Super50 tournament on 27 January, held across Sion Hill, Park Hill, and Cumberland. In a condensed format where every delivery counts, each team will play three matches to determine who succeeds reigning 50-over champions Trinidad & Tobago.
For Bean-Rosario, who debuted for the Under-19 side in 2024, her senior call-up underscores the growing pathway for Bermudian talent into the elite Caribbean game.
Court documents published late on Monday showed the broadcaster would argue that the court in Florida lacked personal jurisdiction in the case because it did not broadcast the programme in Florida
International News via Reuters:
The BBC will file a motion to dismiss U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over its editing of a speech that made it appear he had directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol.
Court documents published late on Monday showed the broadcaster would argue that the court in Florida lacked personal jurisdiction in the case because it did not broadcast the programme in Florida, and that the president could not prove damages because he was re-elected after it aired.
Trump said Britain’s publicly owned broadcaster defamed him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021, speech, including one section where he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another where he said “fight like hell.” It omitted a section in which he called for peaceful protest.
Trump’s lawsuit alleges the BBC violated a Florida law that bars deceptive and unfair trade practices. He is seeking at least $5 billion in damages for each of the lawsuit’s two counts.
BBC ASKS COURT TO STAY THE DISCOVERY PHASE
The BBC has apologised for the editing which appeared on its Panorama documentary programme but said it would defend the case.
The court document said that by a March 17 deadline, the broadcaster would move to dismiss the complaint. The document said the BBC would argue that Trump could not plausibly allege that the documentary was published with “actual malice.”
The BBC, which is funded by a mandatory licence fee on all television-watching households, also said the documentary was not available in the U.S. on the streaming service BritBox, as claimed in Trump’s lawsuit.
It asked the court to stay the merits-based discovery phase, when both sides can obtain evidence from other parties in the lawsuit.
The BBC said engaging in unbounded merits-based discovery while the motion to dismiss was pending would subject the defendants to “considerable burdens and costs” that will be unnecessary if the motion is granted.
“As Plaintiff failed to plead actual damages, claiming only vague ‘harm to his professional and occupational interests,’ his claim fails,” the BBC document stated.
Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Bernadette Baum
The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile service providers to shut down public internet connections from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday
International News via Reuters:
Ugandan authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country on Tuesday, two days before an election in which President Yoweri Museveni will stand for a contentious seventh term after four decades in power.
The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile service providers to shut down public internet connections from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday in order to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Security forces have detained hundreds of opposition supporters in the run-up to the election and repeatedly fired live bullets and tear gas at campaign events in support of Museveni’s leading challenger, pop star Bobi Wine.
“The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive may impose and appreciates your full cooperation in upholding national stability during this sensitive period,” the UCC said in the letter dated Tuesday and addressed to Licensed Mobile Operators and Internet Service Providers.
The 81-year-old Museveni, who came to power in 1986 after leading a five-year rebellion, is Africa’s third-longest ruling head of state.
He has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, and his dominance of Ugandan institutions means there is little prospect of an election upset in the East African country of 46 million people, political analysts say.
WATCHDOGS HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Uganda’s internet went out at 6 p.m. local time, a Reuters witness confirmed.
The government also early on Tuesday ordered two local rights groups to cease operations before Thursday’s election, which the United Nations Human Rights Office says is taking place in an atmosphere of repression and intimidation.
The two groups had denounced the alleged arbitrary detention and torture of opposition supporters and journalists.
The state-run National Bureau for NGOs said in a letter to one of the groups, Chapter Four Uganda, that it was found to be involved in activities “prejudicial” to Uganda’s security and “should cease operations … with immediate effect”.
Robert Ssempala, who heads the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), told Reuters he had received the same letter ordering his organisation to stop operating.
Stephen Okello, head of the state NGO bureau, confirmed to Reuters that he had written the letters.
REPORTS OF ARBITRARY ARRESTS
The U.N. Human Rights Office said in a report on Friday that Uganda’s police and military had used live ammunition to disperse peaceful rallies, carried out arbitrary detentions and abducted opposition supporters ahead of the vote.
A Ugandan government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the report.
Museveni’s government has defended the security forces’ actions as a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.
Writing by Vincent Mumo Nzilani; editing by Alexander Winning, Bernadette Baum and Mark Heinrich
The R&A and the USGA have officially confirmed that the 11th Latin America Amateur Championship will be contested at the historic Lima Golf Club in Peru from 15-18 January 2026.
Founded in 2014, the championship has become the premier development platform for amateur talent across South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The stakes are predictably high: the winner earns a life-changing invitation to The Masters, along with exemptions into The Open and the U.S. Open.
Representing Bermuda in the elite field are Eric West and Oliver Betschart.
For West, this marks a debut appearance. He arrives in Peru following a strong 2025 campaign as runner-up in the Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championships. A former professional, West has become a regular fixture at the top of local leaderboards since regaining his amateur status.
Teenage sensation Betschart returns for his second consecutive appearance. The 17-year-old made his debut in Buenos Aires last year, carding an opening-round 74 that included a spectacular eagle. Having recently secured a 14th-place finish at the Junior Pan American Games, he brings valuable international momentum to the tee.
The Lima Golf Club, which celebrated its centennial in 2024, offers a strategic parkland test. The par-70 layout is defined by tight, tree-lined fairways and treacherous lake hazards, promising a rigorous 72-hole challenge for the region’s rising stars.
The World Bank’s semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report shows that global output growth will slow slightly to 2.6% this year from 2.7% in 2025 before edging back to 2.7% in 2027
International News via Reuters:
The global economy is proving more resilient than expected, with 2026 GDP growth expected to improve slightly over forecasts from last June, the World Bank said on Tuesday while warning that growth is too concentrated in advanced countries and overall too weak to reduce extreme poverty.
The World Bank’s semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report shows that global output growth will slow slightly to 2.6% this year from 2.7% in 2025 before edging back to 2.7% in 2027.
The 2026 GDP forecast is up two-tenths of a percentage point from the last predictions released in June, while 2025 growth will exceed the prior forecast by four-tenths of a percentage point.
The World Bank said about two-thirds of the upward revision reflects better-than-expected growth in the U.S. despite tariff-driven trade disruptions. It predicts U.S. GDP growth will reach 2.2% in 2026, compared to 2.1% in 2025 – up two-tenths and half a percentage point from the June forecasts, respectively.
After an import surge to beat tariffs early in 2025 held back U.S. growth for that year, bigger tax incentives will aid growth in 2026, offset by the drag of tariffs on investment and consumption, the World Bank said.
But if the current forecasts hold, the 2020s are on track to be the weakest decade for global growth since the 1960s and too low to avert stagnation and joblessness in emerging market and developing countries, the global lender said.
“With each passing year, the global economy has become less capable of generating growth and seemingly more resilient to policy uncertainty,” Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s chief economist, said in a statement. “But economic dynamism and resilience cannot diverge for long without fracturing public finance and credit markets.”
Gill added that global GDP per person in 2025 was 10% higher than on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic – marking the fastest recovery from a major crisis in the past 60 years. But he said many developing countries are being left behind, with a quarter of them saddled with lower per-capita incomes than in 2019, particularly the poorest countries.
CHINA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH EXPECTED TO SLOW
Growth in emerging market and developing economies will slow to 4.0% in 2026 from 4.2% in 2025, up two-tenths and three-tenths of a percentage point from the June forecasts, respectively. But excluding China, the 2026 growth rate for this group will be 3.7%, unchanged from 2025, the World Bank said.
China’s growth will slow to 4.4% in 2026 from 4.9%, but the forecasts are both up four-tenths of a percentage point from June due to fiscal stimulus and increased exports to non-U.S. markets.
Growth in the euro zone is set to slow to 0.9% in 2026 from 1.4% in 2025 due to the drag from U.S. tariffs but recover to 1.2% in 2027 due to increases in European defense spending, the World Bank said.
Japan’s outlook is much the same for 2026, with growth slowing to 0.8% after a rise of 1.3% in 2025, a year aided by the front-loading of exports to the U.S. to beat President Donald Trump’s tariffs. But slower consumption and investment in Japan will keep GDP growth unchanged at 0.8% for 2027, the World Bank said.
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