Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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EU states back record South America trade deal after 25 years

With Donald Trump determined to shake up global trade, the European Commission and countries such as Germany and Spain argue the deal will help offset business lost from U.S. tariffs

International News via Reuters:

EU states gave a provisional go-ahead on Friday for the bloc to sign its largest ever free trade accord with South American group Mercosur, more than 25 years since talks began and after months of wrangling to secure enough backers.

With Donald Trump determined to shake up global trade, the European Commission and countries such as Germany and Spain argue the deal will help offset business lost from U.S. tariffs, and reduce reliance on China by securing access to critical minerals.

Opponents led by France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, say the agreement will jack up imports of cheap food products, including beef, poultry and sugar, undercutting domestic farmers.

FARMERS MARCH, BLOCK HIGHWAYS

Farmers have launched protests across the EU, blocking French and Belgian highways and marching in Poland on Friday.

France voted against the deal – but at least 15 countries representing 65% of the bloc’s total population voted in favour, enough for approval, EU sources and diplomats said.

An EU diplomat and Poland’s agriculture minister said that 21 countries supported the agreement, with Austria, France, Hungary, Ireland and Poland against and Belgium abstaining.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hailed Friday’s vote as a “milestone” and said the deal would be good for Germany and for Europe.

“But 25 years of negotiations is too long. It’s vital that the next free trade agreements are concluded swiftly,” he said in a statement. 

EU capitals have been given until 5 p.m. Brussels time (1600 GMT) to provide written confirmation of their votes.

This would clear the way for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to sign the agreement with Mercosur partners – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – in Asuncion, possibly next week.

The European Commission concluded negotiations on the deal a year ago. The European Parliament will also need to approve the accord before it can enter force. 

FRANCE SAYS THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER

The free trade agreement would be the European Union’s biggest in terms of tariff reduction, removing 4 billion euros ($4.66 billion) of duties on its exports. The Mercosur countries have high tariffs, such as 35% on car parts, 28% on dairy products and 27% on wines.

The EU and Mercosur will hope to expand evenly split goods trade worth 111 billion euros  in 2024. EU exports are dominated by machinery, chemicals and transport equipment, and Mercosur’s are focused on agricultural products, minerals, pulp and paper.

To win over deal sceptics, the European Commission has put in place safeguards that can suspend imports of sensitive farm produce. It has strengthened import controls, notably regarding pesticide residues, established a crisis fund, accelerated support for farmers, and has pledged to cut import duties on fertilisers.

The concessions were not enough to win over Poland or France, but Italy shifted from a ‘no’ in December to a ‘yes’ on Friday.

“It seems to me the balance that has been found is sustainable,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told a press conference.

Mathilde Panot, lower house chief of the far-left France Unbowed party, said on X that France had been “humiliated” by Brussels and on the world stage.

French far-right and far-left parties are set to launch no-confidence motions in the government over the likely approval. 

French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has said the battle is not over and has pledged to fight for a rejection by the EU assembly, where the vote could be tight. European environmental groups also oppose the accord, saying commodities shipped to Europe will often come from deforested land.

“The simple truth is that this unpopular deal is a disaster for the Amazon rainforest and no progressive MEP that is committed to forest protection should ever support it,” Greenpeace EU campaigner Lis Cunha said.

German Social Democrat Bernd Lange, the chair of parliament’s trade committee, expressed confidence that the deal would be passed, with a final vote most likely in April or May.

($1 = 0.8587 euros)

Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, additional reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Kuba Stezycki and Alan Charlish, Giselda VagnoniEditing by Gareth Jones, Toby Chopra and Andrew Heavens

Musk’s AI bot Grok limits some image generation on X after backlash

Users had been able to ask Grok directly on X to edit photos of people, including removing items of clothing and putting them in sexualized poses – often without their consent

International News via Reuters:

Elon Musk’s startup xAI has put some restrictions on the image generation function of its Grok chatbot on social media platform X, after the tool’s use of AI to create and publish sexualized images sparked a widespread backlash.

Users had been able to ask Grok directly on X to edit photos of people, including removing items of clothing and putting them in sexualized poses – often without their consent. Grok then published these images in replies on the social media platform.

Grok told X users on Friday that image generation and editing features were now available only to paying subscribers.

The move appeared to have stopped Grok from generating and automatically publishing such images in response to a user post or comment on the social media site.

But X users were still able to create sexualized images using the Grok tab, where people interact directly with the chatbot within the social media platform, and then post the images to X themselves.

The standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, was also still allowing users to generate images without a subscription.

xAI replied to emailed requests by Reuters for comment with what seemed to be an automated response, “Legacy Media Lies”. X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Musk said last week that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as for uploading such material directly.

On Friday, a Reuters reporter asked Grok on X to convert a picture of himself into one wearing a bikini, echoing what has become a common request over the last week by users. The bot did not do so and posted in reply that the tool was only available to paying subscribers of the social media platform.

The European Commission, which has called images of undressed women and children shared across X unlawful and appalling, said the restrictions did not address its concerns.

“Limiting the image generation and editing to paying subscribers, this doesn’t change our fundamental issue, paid subscription or non-paid subscription, we don’t want to see such images,” a Commission spokesperson said.

Other governments and regulators have also condemned and some have opened inquiries into explicit content generated by Grok on X, putting pressure on the platform to show what it is doing to prevent and remove illegal content.

German media minister Wolfram Weimer this week described the torrent of semi-nude images as the “industrialisation of sexual harassment”.

Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm and Adam Jourdan in London; Editing by Catherine Evans

Poland worried about tensions in NATO over Greenland, says Tusk

Poland views the United States and NATO as crucial to its security in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia, and policymakers in Warsaw fear divisions in the alliance could embolden Moscow

International News via Reuters:

Poland’s prime minister is worried about the strain the United States’ threat to take over Greenland is putting on NATO, he said on Friday, adding that as a loyal ally Warsaw should be honest with Washington about its concerns.

Poland views the United States and NATO as crucial to its security in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia, and policymakers in Warsaw fear divisions in the alliance could embolden Moscow.

A U.S. military seizure of Greenland from a longtime ally, Denmark, would send shockwaves through the NATO alliance and deepen the divide between Trump and European leaders.

“I’m very concerned about the Greenland issue, and I’m also very concerned about events in the United States, and everything that’s building such ideological and political tension within NATO and the United States itself,” Tusk told a press conference.

“But because we’re allies, friends, and Poland is an exceptionally loyal ally of the United States, I also believe that when you’re in such a position, you don’t do anything on your knees; you just say what you think. Among friends, you should speak honestly about what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Reporting by Barbara Erling, Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Alex Richardson

New Urgent Care Centre X-ray equipment to be installed

The BHB said the new equipment will be fitted and ready for use by March 2026. 

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) today announced that it will start replacing old x-ray equipment in the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre on Monday 12 January.

This is part of the BHB’s replacement and upgrade project of its older diagnostic equipment, which was announced in March last year. New CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and x-ray equipment has already been installed at KEMH since the announcement.

Manager of Imaging Services Terricca Smith says: “The x-ray equipment at the UCC is over 15 years old. We’re really pleased that its being replaced by new equipment from GE as the old equipment is suffering from some serious maintenance issues. It will be taken out from Monday. Once extensive renovations of the room are complete, the new x-ray machine will be installed. We expect it to be open by March 2026.

“This diagnostic service can be very helpful in the urgent care setting,” Mrs Smith adds, “especially for minor injuries and sprains to check for any fractures or broken bones. While the x-ray equipment is being replaced at the UCC, we will direct people to KEMH if x-rays are required.”

The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre is open every weekend from 9am to 9pm.

Grassroots Energy as Bermuda Netball Prepares for Memorial Showpiece

The Bernard Park netball courts were a hive of activity this week as the next generation of Bermudian talent took to the hardwood for a series of skills and drills sessions. Primary school students from across the island gathered to sharpen their fundamentals, focusing on the core pillars of the game: precision passing, agile footwork, and clinical shooting.

This surge of grassroots energy serves as the perfect curtain-raiser for a high-stakes weekend of competitive action. Netball Bermuda has officially released the schedule for two of the most anticipated events on the local calendar: the Juniors Merle Parfitt Hustle Tournament and the Seniors Sylvia Eastley Memorial Tournament, both set to take place this Saturday, January 10th.

The Merle Parfitt Hustle Tournament will showcase the island’s rising stars across three age brackets. Teams in the 10 and under, 13 and under, and 16 and under divisions will compete in a fast-paced round-robin format. To maintain the high intensity that the “Hustle” brand is known for, matches will consist of five-minute halves, demanding immediate impact and tactical discipline from the opening whistle.

Following the youth festivities, the focus will shift to the veteran ranks for the Sylvia Eastley Memorial Tournament. This senior competition also follows a round-robin structure but allows for a slightly longer tactical battle, with matches contested over seven-minute halves. The tournament remains a poignant fixture in the season, honouring the legacy of a titan of the sport while providing a platform for the island’s elite senior clubs—including the likes of Phoenix Heat and Lindo’s Tigers—to test their mid-season form.

With the newly renovated courts at Bernard Park providing a world-class surface, the Bermuda Netball Association is expecting a significant turnout. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to support the development of the youth players before the senior powerhouses take center stage in the afternoon.

Local Legends Ready to Rock Front Street as Elite Fields Confirmed

The atmosphere is reaching fever pitch in Hamilton as the elite fields for the Butterfield Front Street Mile are officially set for next Friday, January 16th. While international heavyweights return to defend their titles, a formidable group of Bermudian athletes is primed to challenge the status quo on the iconic harbourfront course.

In the Men’s Elite race, Britain’s Ben Claridge returns to the bricks as the defending champion. Claridge, who produced a tactical masterclass last year to win in 4:10.76, leads a competitive field of 15. He will be hounded by American standouts Danny Cosgrove and Andrew Wacker, but the local crowd will have their eyes firmly fixed on a trio of Bermuda’s finest.

The local charge is headlined by Sean Trott, the reigning Bermuda Day Half Marathon champion, who brings his trademark veteran strength to the mile. He is joined by Ryan Outerbridge, the man who pushed him to the limit on May 24th, and the rapidly improving Kallan Richardson. Together, they represent a serious threat to the overseas podium hopefuls under the Friday night lights.

The women’s field is equally stacked, with 19 elite runners confirmed. American Anna Vess is the heavy favourite to retain her crown after a dominant 4:52.92 performance last year. She faces international pressure from Britain’s Ellie Stevens and Gina McNamara, as well as the returning Gayle Lindsay, a former resident and Bermuda Day winner.

Bermudian Meghan Diel leads the local contingent, looking to translate her exceptional recent form in domestic road races into an elite result. She will be joined by the legendary Rose-Anna Hoey, a multiple-time Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby champion whose experience on the Front Street course is second to none.

The evening serves as the explosive curtain-raiser for the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge, a three-day festival that continues Saturday with the 10K and 5K, before culminating in Sunday’s Half and Full Marathons.

White Leads Bentley to Dominant Victory in Second Half Opener

Swimmer Taylor White produced a clinical display of speed and endurance as she helped the Bentley University women’s swimming and diving team secure a convincing 189-101 victory over St. Michael’s College on Thursday.

The Falcons were in irresistible form at the Ross Sports Center in Vermont, with White playing a pivotal role across both individual and relay events to help her side cruise to their latest dual-meet win following the winter break.

White’s standout individual moment came in the Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle. Showcasing her range as a distance specialist, the senior from Warwick touched the wall first in a time of 5:20.28, securing maximum points for the Falcons and finishing well clear of the chasing pack.

Beyond her individual triumph, White was instrumental in Bentley’s relay dominance. She spearheaded the 200 Yard Medley Relay ‘A’ team, swimming a sharp leadoff backstroke leg to set the foundation for a winning time of 1:56.87.

She returned to the pool for the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, swimming the second leg for the ‘A’ team. Her consistent split helped the Falcons clock a combined 3:48.14 to claim another victory and put the result beyond doubt.

The win continues a stellar senior season for White, who has already been named the Northeast-10 Women’s Swimmer of the Week earlier this term. Her leadership remains central to Bentley’s aspirations as they head toward the NE10 Championships in February

Wearn Wins Seventh Title as Patton Proves World-Class in Hobart

The River Derwent provided a punishing test for the 191-strong fleet this week as the 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship concluded in Hobart.

While double Olympic gold medalist Matt Wearn secured his seventh Australian title, Bermuda’s Olympic hopeful Campbell Patton proved he can mix it with the world’s elite. Patton finished 11th overall in a stacked 40-boat ILCA 7 fleet, navigating six days of “short, sharp waves” and shifting tides that saw many veteran sailors struggle for consistency.

Training out of Sydney, Patton finished with 86 net points across the 12-race series. His performance was defined by remarkable consistency in the top tier of the field:

  • Top 10 Finishes: Patton placed 10th or better in seven of the 12 races.
  • Standout Moment: His championship highlight came in Race 5, where he crossed the line in 2nd place, splitting the dominant Australian Sailing Team contingent.
  • Gritty Finale: Despite the physical toll of the six-day regatta, Patton remained in the hunt for a top-ten spot until the final day, eventually finishing just outside the single digits.

Patton’s performance in Hobart continues a strong run of form following his recent victory at the NSW & ACT State Championships, signaling his intent as he ramps up his international World Cup schedule later this year.

Restaurant Weeks celebrates its ‘sweet sixteen’

The BTA initiative will feature more than 50 participating restaurants island-wide

Bermuda Restaurant Weeks (RW2026), led by the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA), returns for its 16th year from January 16 through February 16, 2026, inviting residents and visitors to experience the island’s vibrant and evolving culinary scene through a month-long celebration of flavour, culture and community. 

A cornerstone of Bermuda’s winter calendar, Bermuda Restaurant Weeks 2026 will feature more than 50 participating restaurants island-wide, offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners priced between $35 and $69. Participating chefs will present menus inspired by Bermuda’s flavours, traditions and culinary heritage, complemented by refreshed cocktail programmes, immersive signature dining experiences and a dynamic live entertainment schedule. 

Throughout the month, diners can enjoy their Bermuda Restaurant Weeks meals alongside any of the 15 scheduled live performances hosted across participating restaurants, adding music and atmosphere to the dining experience. 

“Bermuda Restaurant Weeks continues to elevate visitor experiences by offering accessible pricing, immersive dining and live entertainment across the island,” said Jasmine Furbert, Director of Visitor Experience at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “It invites both residents and visitors to explore Bermuda’s food culture in new ways while enjoying exceptional value during the winter season.” 

Signature Dining Experiences 

Bermuda Restaurant Weeks 2026 will feature six signature events, offering elevated, immersive dining moments throughout the month. 

January 17, 2026 – World Culinary Series | A Night at Frantzén 
Inspired by Stockholm’s three-Michelin-star Frantzén, Executive Chef James Wambui presents a seven-course tasting journey blending Nordic purity with refined global technique. 

January 24, 2026 – A Night of Fire at Little Venice 
A dramatic three-course dining experience with each dish fired and finished tableside, celebrating bold flavours, heat and culinary theatre. 

January 29, 2026 – An Authentic Hot Pot Experience at L’Oriental 
Beginning with shared appetizers and an Asian-inspired cocktail, guests gather for a communal hot pot experience designed for groups of 8 to 12. 

January 29, 2026 – Boodle Feast at L’Oriental 
A traditional Filipino feast served atop banana leaves, encouraging guests to dine by hand and share in a vibrant communal experience, ideal for groups of four or more. 

February 6, 2026 – Twilight Table at Huckleberry 
A candlelit dining experience set in near darkness, heightening the senses through a secret four-course tasting menu marked by bold seasonings and creative surprise. 

February 13, 2026 – Dinner and Show with Grammy-Recognised Charu Suri 
A Valentine’s-themed evening pairing live music with fine dining, featuring pianist Charu Suri and a thoughtfully crafted four-course menu inspired by her global influences. 

Supporting Year-Round Tourism 

Bermuda Restaurant Weeks supports the objectives of Bermuda’s National Tourism Plan by encouraging year-round visitation and spotlighting cultural and culinary experiences beyond the peak summer season. The programme aligns with Spa Month, which runs throughout February and offers up to 50% off spa services, along with reduced accommodation rates and airfare, positioning winter as a high-value time to visit the island. 

As Bermuda Restaurant Weeks celebrates its “Sweet 16,” the 2026 edition continues to honour the chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals whose creativity and innovation have shaped the programme into a signature Bermudian experience. Butterfield x Mastercard, Restaurant Week’s 2026 promotional partner, will be providing special add-ons to RW2026 diners at select venues.   

For more information including participating restaurants, reservation information, live menus and the full entertainment calendar, visit gotobermuda.com/restaurant-weeks. 

Jewellery maker Pandora says weak consumer sentiment hits growth

Pandora said in a preliminary reading of 2025 results that it expected an operating profit margin of around 24%, in line with its previous guidance

International News via Reuters:

Danish jewellery group Pandora warned on Friday its full-year organic sales growth for 2025 would land at 6%, below its previous guidance of 7-8%, sending its shares down.

Pandora said in a preliminary reading of 2025 results that it expected an operating profit margin of around 24%, in line with its previous guidance.

“The top-line performance reflects a year marked by a generally weak consumer sentiment, with North America being particularly impacted in the fourth quarter,” it said in a statement.

“The bottom-line performance demonstrates strong gross margins and cost discipline which partially offset significant external headwinds from commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, and tariffs.”

Shares in the company, which is due to publish its full fourth-quarter earnings report on February 5, were down 5% at 1106 GMT.

Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik

Before fatal ICE shooting, Minnesota had become Trump target

The agent who shot Renee Nicole Good, 37 and a U.S. citizen, was among 2,000 federal officers flagged for deployment to the Minneapolis

International News via Reuters:

Months before a U.S. immigration agent fatally shot a motorist in Minnesota on Wednesday, President Donald Trump had fixated on the state, repeatedly criticizing its Democratic leaders and the large Somali-American community there.

The president called Somali immigrants “garbage,” railed against a sprawling welfare-fraud scandal and ridiculed Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat who ran on the party’s ticket in the 2024 presidential election against Trump. Minneapolis also was one of several Democratic-led cities subject to major immigration crackdowns.

The agent who shot Renee Nicole Good, 37 and a U.S. citizen, was among 2,000 federal officers flagged for deployment to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security has called the operation its most expansive ever. The agent’s name has not been released by DHS.

The shooting, which inflamed the already charged political climate and sparked protests, unfolded against a backdrop of what political analysts describe as mounting animus toward a state led by Walz, whose conflict with the president traces to the unrest that followed George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

“There’s no secret that the president of the United States does not like Governor Walz and has paid particular attention to the fraud that occurred here,” said Marc Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis.

Osler said Minnesota seems to “trigger” Trump in several ways, pointing to his repeated attacks on Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American Democrat representing a Minneapolis district, and his losses in all three presidential elections there.

The White House has defended the shooting of Good as self-defense by a law enforcement officer merely doing his job and says the recent surge in federal resources to Minnesota was aimed at rooting out fraud.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said President Trump’s “only motivation is doing what’s best for the American people.”

Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a news conference on Thursday that DHS would “continue to operate on the ground in Minnesota, not only to remove criminal illegal aliens, but also to continue conducting door-to-door investigations of the rampant fraud that has taken place in the state.”

Launched in December, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the Minneapolis area follows similarly controversial deportation efforts in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans – all Democratic strongholds.

While California and Illinois governors Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker emerged from their battles with Trump with larger national profiles, Walz this week said he would end his bid for a third term to focus on welfare fraud allegations that have become a rallying point for Trump and his Republican allies.

SPOTLIGHT ON FRAUD SCANDAL 

Nearly 100 people have been charged with felonies for what federal prosecutors say was an abuse by some nonprofit groups of Minnesota’s social service programs. Most of the people prosecuted are from the area’s Somali community.

Mike Griffin, a community organizer in Minneapolis, said he believes Trump and his allies are putting a new spotlight on a fraud scandal that dates to the Biden administration to paint the city as corrupt and justify his immigration crackdown.

“We can make sure that we end waste, fraud and abuse, but also make sure that we’re supporting our immigrant communities and supporting civilians,” Griffin told Reuters. “We can focus on those two things, but those are two separate conversations.”

Griffin was one of the thousands of protesters who gathered in the streets of Minneapolis on Wednesday night calling for a prosecution of the agent who killed Good.

In a press conference on Thursday, Walz said he would push for the state to be part of the federal investigation into the shooting and that Minnesotans would not accept an investigation where U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is the “judge, jury and executioner.”

“This is a brazen use of force. They want us to bend the knee. They want us to capitulate,” Walz said.

Dan Myers, an associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, said the showdown between the federal government and the state reflects a second Trump term marked by a more aggressive use of executive power.

Trump, Myers said, has pushed “well past the boundaries of executive authority,” using the machinery of the federal government to target political adversaries, even as some states have so far managed to push back.

Francesca Taylor, who lives near where Good was shot, told Reuters she believed the Trump administration was targeting her city and state because of their openness to immigrants and other marginalized groups.

“I think it’s easy for the Trump administration to target a state that’s politically opposed to them,” she said, adding, “Trump hates Tim Walz.”

Dan Hofrenning, a political science professor at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, said it remains to be seen if the administration can retain enough political support to continue its surge of federal resources to Minnesota after the shooting.

“The political question of the hour is: how is it playing out for Donald Trump?” Hofrenning said. “There seems to be growing opposition to the aggressive ICE tactics.”

Reporting by Nathan Layne in New York, Renee Hickman and Rich Matthews in Minneapolis and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Craig Timberg and Diane Craft