The 2025 CRSA China Open got underway in spectacular fashion this morning, and it was the United States’ Ajani Robinson who stole the spotlight during a high-octane opening day of competition. The Bermudian athlete, representing the Stars and Stripes, delivered a clinical performance that solidified his status as one of the premier world-class competitors in the sport of competitive jump rope.
Competing against an elite international field, Robinson’s Day 1 highlights were defined by a blend of raw athletic power and technical precision. Robinson, who has previously made headlines for his performances during high-profile events like the UNC-Duke basketball half-time shows, brought that same showmanship to the Chinese stage. He navigated the opening rounds with the poise of a veteran, maintaining a blistering pace in the speed disciplines that left several of his closest rivals trailing in his wake.
The afternoon sessions saw Robinson transition into the freestyle categories, where his innovative routine and flawless execution garnered high marks from the judges. Having recently dominated regional competitions in the U.S. with a string of first-place finishes, his transition to the global circuit appears seamless. His goal remains a podium finish to secure his path to the upcoming World Championships, and if this opening day in Shanghai is any indication, he is well on his way to that milestone. As the competition heads into Day 2, all eyes remain on Robinson to see if he can maintain this golden momentum.
The silence of a nature reserve was shattered by the thunderous return of motocross to its spiritual home, as thousands of spectators “tilted” Coney Island for the first leg of the Pink Sand Scramble 2.0.
Despite a “blast of Canadian air” that brought a distinctly wintry feel to the island, the atmosphere remained white-hot as local heroes and international professionals braved the breezy conditions to tackle the technical dirt circuit.
Organized by 27-year-old Bermudian professional Jyire Mitchell, the event marked a triumphant follow-up to last year’s historic return to the park.
The challenging course, designed to utilize the natural environment rather than a man-made track, drew high praise from a trio of American professionals who made the trip to compete for the $10,000 purse.
With riders ranging in age from youth divisions to seasoned veterans like Kenneth Matthie, the event lived up to its billing as a community-driven spectacle that bridged generations of racing fans.
As the breeze whipped off the North Shore, the resilience of the crowd reflected the enduring appeal of a sport that hasn’t seen regular action at this venue in over two decades.
While the festive weekend’s weather has remained “chilly and cloudy,” the energy at Coney Island provided a much-needed jolt of adrenaline. The engines are set to roar again this coming Sunday, January 4, for the final leg of the series, where champions will be crowned across all divisions.
Brent crude futures rose $1.27, or 2.1%, to $61.91 a barrel by 1200 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.29, or 2.3%, at $58.03
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices rose by more than $1 on Monday as investors weighed talks between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents on a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine against potential oil supply disruption in the Middle East.
Brent crude futures rose $1.27, or 2.1%, to $61.91 a barrel by 1200 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.29, or 2.3%, at $58.03.
Both benchmarks fell by more than 2% on Friday.
“Energy markets moved higher as geopolitical developments lent support to crude prices, with Brent edging up on renewed Middle East tensions and shifting Ukraine peace talks,” said IG analyst Axel Rudolph, adding that thin liquidity could amplify volatility into the start of next year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that significant progress had been made in talks with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump and agreed that U.S. and Ukrainian teams would meet next week to finalise issues aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy added that a meeting with Russia would be possible only after Trump and European leaders agree on a Ukraine-proposed framework for peace.
“The Middle East has also been unsettled recently, with Saudi air strikes in Yemen … this may be what’s driving market concerns about potential supply disruptions,” said Yang An, a China-based analyst at Haitong Futures.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is expected to lower the February price for its flagship Arab Light crude for Asian buyers for a third month, mirroring declines in the spot market owing to abundant supplies, six Asia-based refining sources said in a Reuters survey.
Investors are also awaiting U.S. stockpiles data for the week to December 19, with an extended Reuters poll showing that U.S. crude oil inventories were expected to have fallen last week, while distillate and gasoline inventories are likely to have risen. [EIA/S]
The report was delayed from its usual Wednesday release because of the Christmas holiday.
Strong Chinese waterborne crude imports were also keeping markets tighter elsewhere, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. He added that $60 a barrel was the soft floor for Brent, with prices expected to recover slightly in 2026 because non-OPEC+ supply growth is likely to stall in the middle of 2026.
Reporting by Seher Dareen in London and Sam Li and Ryan Woo in BeijingEditing by David Goodman
BLMC says the January 5–26 shutdown will allow for maintenance, deep cleaning, and store upgrades
Images and media release supplied by the Bermuda Land Management Corporation.
The Bermuda Land Management Corporation (BLMC) would like to announce that the Clocktower Mall will be closed for a scheduled three-week period from Monday, January 5th, reopening on Monday, January 26th.
This temporary closure provides an important opportunity for the Mall to perform routine maintenance, conduct deep cleaning, and allow stores to carry out improvements. These efforts are part of BLMC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for all visitors.
The Mall businesses and BLMC are committed to accommodating cruise visitors during their stay in Dockyard. The Clocktower Mall will reopen to serve any cruise calls during this period, though as of now, there are no calls scheduled.
BLMC encourages visitors to plan their trips accordingly and take advantage of the Mall’s reopening later in the month. For further updates on this closure and other happenings in the west end, please visit www.dockyard.bm.
More than 70 police and fire service members received holiday meals as part of the hotel’s annual community initiative
Hamilton Princess Christmas Dinner Delivery at the Bermuda Police Service – [named left to right] Acting Chief Inspector Cerepha Bridgeman, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s Director of Food & Beverage Shawn Lekki, Police Commissioner Darin Simmons, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s Hotel Manager Roydell Neverson, General Manager Tim Morrison, Chief Inspector Mark Tomlinson, Maintenance Manager Rajendra Bala, PS Gregory Talbot, PS Adam Thompson pictured at the Hamilton Police Station. Image supplied.
Yesterday, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club delivered Christmas dinner to the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) and the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) on Thursday, December 25. General Manager Tim Morrison, Hotel Manager Roydell Neverson, Maintenance Manager Rajendra Bala, and Director of Food & Beverage Shawn Lekki, extended Christmas greetings while delivering dinner to more than 70 personnel working on the holiday. The initiative is part of Hamilton Princess’ annual festive-season community outreach efforts
Hamilton Princess Christmas Dinner Delivery at the Hamilton Fire Station – [left to right] Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s Maintenance Manager Rajendra Bala, Firefighter Nesbitt, Firefighter Saggar, Firefighter Basden, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s General Manager Tim Morrison, Hotel Manager Roydell Neverson, Director of Food & Beverage Shawn Lekki, Sargent Maxwell, and Firefighter Henderson on Christmas Day at the Hamilton Fire Station. Image supplied.
The Southeast Asian neighbours on Saturday ended weeks of fierce fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million with their second ceasefire since late October
International News via Reuters:
Thailand and Cambodia plan to rebuild mutual trust and gradually consolidate a ceasefire after weeks of border clashes, Beijing said in a communique with the two countries following talks in southwestern China.
The Southeast Asian neighbours on Saturday ended weeks of fierce fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million with their second ceasefire since late October.
Thailand and Cambodia’s top diplomats travelled to the Chinese province of Yunnan for trilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss the border situation on Sunday and Monday.
In a meeting with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, Wang called the ceasefire “hard-won,” and urged the two nations not to abandon it halfway or allow fighting to resume.
“An important consensus was reached,” Wang said, according to a statement released by his ministry.
Thailand and Cambodia will “rebuild political mutual trust, achieve a turnaround in relations, and maintain regional peace,” according to a joint communique released by the Chinese ministry.
‘STEP BY STEP’
Thailand’s foreign ministry said after the talks that it saw “the need to gradually build mutual trust and confidence between the two governments and peoples”.
“Thailand reiterated that adjustment on relations should be done on a step by step basis,” a statement from the ministry said.
It also said Thailand would “consider the release of 18 soldiers after the 72-hour ceasefire observation period and request that Cambodia facilitate the return of Thais along the border.”
Thai and Cambodian defence officials joined the talks in China, with diplomats and defence officials from the two countries holding a number of bilateral meetings.
Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn told local media after the talks in China that there would be “open communication” between foreign and defence ministers “to rebuild trust”.
“We are open communications to avoid small issues from getting bigger, so that the relationship between the militaries can be handled smoothly,” he said.
LAND MINES
The latest round of clashes began early this month after a breakdown in a ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim helped broker in July to halt a previous round of fighting.
In a sign of the possible fragility of the ceasefire, the Thai army reported earlier on Monday a landmine incident in the border province of Sisaket. A member of its mine clearance team lost his left leg and injured his left eye, it said.
Landmine incidents had been a catalyst for clashes between Thailand and Cambodia since July.
The Thai army said “evidence of anti-personnel mine deployment consistently shows Cambodian forces continue to use such weapons,” calling it “a grave violation of international humanitarian principles and is unacceptable to the global community.”
China said it was willing to offer demining support.
A statement from Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Border Affairs said a border demarcation meeting would be held during the first week of January in Siem Reap.
The Thai side has not yet confirmed such a meeting.
Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo in Beijing, and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Kate Mayberry and Aidan Lewis
Nine Bermudians graduate from top-rated training center for Overhead Lineman in the United States
Image and media release supplied by BELCO.
Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) today celebrated nine apprentices and one Electrical Fitter who recently successfully completed their education in the USA.
The apprentices—Jalani Richardson, Josiah Smith, Jai Bean, Jai-zel Smith-Deshields, Cornell Young, E’Treu Adonai, Jomeko Mallory, Anahzjae Wade-Davy and Marcus Wade—and Electrical Fitter Jason Pitcher all attended Southeast Lineman Training Center (SLTC) in Dade County, Georgia, which is the top-rated training center for Overhead Lineman in the United States.
Upon completion of the programme, apprentice E’Treu Adonai achieved the highest GPA among all 370 students with a remarkable 99.46%.
SLTC’s Overhead Lineman training programme meets the requirements of BELCO’s Overhead Lineman trade. The 15-week training programme included electrical theory, practical training, and the construction and maintenance of BELCO’s distribution network. The programme coordinator and head trainer came to Bermuda in August 2025 to review and familiarize themselves with BELCO’s transmission and distribution construction standards, ensuring their programme catered to the needs of the local environment.
While on the SLTC course, the apprentices participated in team building while also learning leadership skills in a highly competitive environment, culminating in an end-of-programme Lineman Rodeo where they demonstrated the skills learned throughout their training programme.
LaKeitha Cunningham, Director, Human Resources and Culture said: “BELCO has a long and proud history of supporting young Bermudians who are interested in a career at our Company. Through scholarships, internships and the Apprenticeship Programme, many of our staff have been supported in achieving their professional designations with guidance from our teams at BELCO. On behalf of our entire Company, I’m proud to congratulate our apprentices on successfully completing the SLTC programme and look forward to supporting them on their journey to become valued members of our team.”
Shelly Leman, Managing Director, Transmission, Distribution and Retail (TD&R) said: “The lineworkers are the backbone of ensuring that we can provide safe, reliable power to our customers. Most of our lineworkers are Bermudians who have participated in training and apprenticeships provided by BELCO. I look forward to our latest cohort of apprentices, who have returned to the island with new knowledge and skills, joining our team and continuing their training to become fully qualified lineworkers.”
The U.S. slashed its aid spending this year, and leading Western donors such as Germany also pared back assistance as they pivoted to increased defense spending
International News via Reuters:
The United States has made a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid, a U.S. State Department official said on Monday, following major foreign aid cuts by the Trump administration in 2025.
The U.S. slashed its aid spending this year, and leading Western donors such as Germany also pared back assistance as they pivoted to increased defense spending, triggering a severe funding crunch for the United Nations.
The U.S. is pledging to commit $2 billion in funding to the U.N. for humanitarian aid, the U.S. State Department official said. No further details were provided on how the money would be allocated or if additional pledges would follow.
U.N. data shows total U.S. humanitarian contributions to the U.N. fell to about $3.38 billion in 2025, equating to about 14.8% of the global sum. This was down sharply from $14.1 billion the prior year, and a peak of $17.2 billion in 2022.
Earlier in December, the United Nations launched a 2026 aid appeal for $23 billion to reach 87 million people at risk – half the $47 billion sought for 2025, reflecting plunging donor support despite record global needs.
U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher has said the U.N.’s humanitarian response is overstretched and underfunded, meaning “brutal choices” had to be made to prioritise those most in need.
Reporting by Olivia Le PoidevinEditing by Dave Graham
Now, Asia’s oldest tram network is on the brink of disappearing as authorities consider pulling the plug on a mode of transport that has become more nostalgia than necessity
International News via Reuters:
For more than a century, trams have rumbled past Kolkata’s crumbling colonial facades, with their chiming bells contributing to the city’s soundtrack as they ferried generations of commuters.
Now, Asia’s oldest tram network is on the brink of disappearing as authorities consider pulling the plug on a mode of transport that has become more nostalgia than necessity.
The West Bengal government plans to shut down the 152-year-old system, keeping only a short heritage route. The decision has sparked a court battle as residents and heritage advocates fight to keep the trams rolling.
“As children, we would take the trams for fun, but as I grew older it became a necessity,” said Abha Maity, 44, recalling rides to school and college. “I can’t imagine Kolkata without them.”
Once a highlight of the city’s streets, the wobbly trams now struggle for space amid traffic jams – competing with buses and yellow taxis – as Kolkata builds modern infrastructure and seeks faster transport.
Kolkata introduced horse-drawn trams in 1873 and electrified them in 1902. At its peak, the network boasted more than 340 trams and covered the entire city. Today, only two routes remain, with a fleet of about 10.
“When I joined, more than 340 trams were running. Now it’s down to seven or eight,” said Bacchu Sidda, a conductor for 36 years who still checks his duty roster pinned on a board at the last functioning depot in Gariahat.
The government began selling depots and scrapping cars years ago, prompting a citizens’ group called Calcutta Tram Users Association (CTUA) to take the fight to court. CTUA has campaigned since 2016 to save what remains of the system.
“I love my trams more than myself,” said Deep Das, 19, a journalism student and CTUA member. “If they disappear, it will be like a part of my body has left me.”
Despite resistance, authorities are pouring billions into upgrading Kolkata’s infrastructure, focusing on metro expansion, wider roads and new highways to ease congestion.
For now, the fate of Kolkata’s aging trams awaits a court review, as they continue carrying some passengers who view them as living memories of the city’s past.
Reporting by Sahiba Chawdhary; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus
Hundreds of people surrounded the site at Muan International Airport where the Boeing 737-800 crash-landed without wheels deployed, slammed into the barrier and exploded into a fireball on December 29, 2024
International News via Reuters:
A year after the worst air disaster on South Korean soil, families of the 179 people who died gathered around the battered concrete embankment where Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed, demanding answers and a thorough investigation.
Hundreds of people surrounded the site at Muan International Airport where the Boeing 737-800 crash-landed without wheels deployed, slammed into the barrier and exploded into a fireball on December 29, 2024.
Relatives – who have said they are outraged by the lack of progress in finding out what went wrong – sobbed on Monday as they lit candles on a cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ for the 16 victims who were born in December.
PRESIDENT PROMISES REAL CHANGE
“We will not stop until the truth is finally revealed and those responsible are held accountable so that the lives of the 179 were not lost for nothing,” Kim Yu-jin, representing the families, said at a memorial service in the airport.
Addressing mourners, government officials and the Parliament speaker, Kim accused the government of focusing its energies on clearing up the aftermath of the crash rather than carrying out a proper investigation.
Relatives laid flowers on a memorial altar and looked on as the names of the dead were read out and displayed on a screen, written on cards in the shape of boarding tickets.
“I hope the investigation will be conducted thoroughly, so that those who deserve to be punished … are punished,” Ryu Kum-Ji, who lost both her parents in the crash, told Reuters.
President Lee Jae Myung – who came to office six months after the disaster – apologised to the families in a statement earlier on Monday and said it was his duty to make sure there was no repeat of the tragedy.
“The disaster clearly revealed the systematic problems and limitations of our society,” Lee said.
“What’s needed now is not perfunctory promises or empty words but rather real change and action.”
The government-led Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has failed to meet a one-year deadline to release a report into the accident.
It said in a preliminary report in January that both of the plane’s engines sustained bird strikes in an earlier approach to the airport.
In July, investigators said the left engine, which sustained less damage than the right one following the bird strikes, was shut down before the crash landing.
Few other details have emerged since then, with questions remaining about the design of the runway including the heavy embankment, and what actions the pilots may have taken in the last few minutes of the flight.
Representatives of the families have raised questions about the board’s independence and expertise and said investigators appear to be blaming the pilots rather than looking into other factors.
Parliament has been reviewing a plan to overhaul the board.
Reporting by Dogyun Kim and Yunji Ha in Muan, Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Andrew Heavens
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine
International News via Reuters:
London’s FTSE 100 edged lower on Monday, as prospects of a potential Russia-Ukraine ceasefire weighed on defence stocks in the final trading week of the year.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, prompting a selloff in defence stocks in UK and Europe. [.EU]
Babcock International dropped 3%, Chemring Group shed 1.5%, while BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce fell 1.3% and 1.1%, respectively. The FTSE index of aerospace and defence slipped 1.2%.
The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 was at 9,874.96 points at 1023 GMT, while the domestically focussed midcap FTSE 250 index edged up 0.1% in quiet trading after a long weekend.
Volumes are expected to remain subdued in another holiday-shortened week, with UK markets set to close early on Wednesday and stay shut on Thursday for the New Year break.
Geopolitical tensions fuelled a rally in defence stocks, which, together with miners and banks, emerged as the key drivers behind the FTSE 100’s 20.7% surge this year, leaving it on track for its fifth straight annual advance and outstripping the pan-European STOXX 600’s 15.8% and Wall Street benchmark S&P 500’s 17.8% year-to-date rise.
Industrial metal miners were up 0.9% after copper set a record as last week’s sharp rally in Shanghai spilled into a Christmas holiday-curtailed global market.
Among individual stocks, British lender International Personal Finance rose 5.4% after it agreed to a 543 million-pound ($732.5 million) takeover by a company associated with BasePoint Capital.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala
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