The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 closed down 0.2%, moving sideways since hitting a five-week high last week following the Bank of England’s 25-basis-point rate cut
International News via Reuters:
The FTSE 100 closed lower in quiet trading on Wednesday, as investors wound down some positions in pharma heavyweights AstraZeneca and GSK in a truncated Christmas Eve session.
The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 closed down 0.2%, moving sideways since hitting a five-week high last week following the Bank of England’s 25-basis-point rate cut.
AstraZeneca and GSK dropped about 0.5% each.
The domestically focussed midcap FTSE 250 index was down 0.07%, but still managed to notch its second straight weekly gain.
Trading volumes remained thin heading into the holidays, as many markets are either shut or operating on reduced hours on Christmas Eve.
London’s stock market will remain closed on Thursday and Friday for Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.
Oil major BP agreed to sell a 65% stake in its Castrol lubricants business to U.S. investment firm Stonepeak for about $6 billion, a significant step in the oil major’s $20 billion divestment plan aimed at cutting debt and boosting returns. Its shares were down 0.4%.
The FTSE 100 index is set to close out a fifth straight year of gains, with a 20.7% advance that has outperformed European and U.S. benchmarks, fuelled by miners, financials and defence shares.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Sahal Muhammed
Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,468.96 per ounce at 10:04 a.m. ET (1504 GMT), after marking a record high of $4,525.18 earlier in the session
International News via Reuters:
Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday, taking a breather after surging past the key $4,500-an-ounce mark earlier in the session, while silver and platinum trimmed some gains following their record-breaking rally.
Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,468.96 per ounce at 10:04 a.m. ET (1504 GMT), after marking a record high of $4,525.18 earlier in the session.
U.S. gold futures for February delivery fell 0.2% to $4,497.90.
The gold market is seeing some chart consolidation and mild profit-taking after record highs, said senior analyst at Kitco Metals Jim Wyckoff.
Gold tends to do well in a low-interest-rate environment and thrives during periods of uncertainty.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants the next Federal Reserve chair to lower interest rates if markets are doing well. The U.S. central bank has cut rates three times this year and currently traders are pricing two rate cuts next year.
On the geopolitical front, the U.S. Coast Guard is waiting for additional forces to arrive before potentially attempting to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it has been pursuing since Sunday, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Silver hit an all-time high of $72.70 but was last down 0.8% at $70.86 an ounce.
“The next upside target for gold market is $4,600/oz and for silver is $75/oz by the end of the year. The technicals remain bullish,” Wyckoff added.
Silver prices have surged 147% year-to-date on strong fundamentals, outpacing bullion’s gain of over 70% during the same period.
Platinum peaked at $2,377.50 before paring gains to stand 3.3% lower at $2,198.30. Palladium was down 9% at $1,692.43 an ounce, retreating after touching its highest in three years earlier.
Platinum and palladium, primarily used in automotive catalytic converters to reduce emissions, are up about 160% and more than 100%, respectively, year-to-date, on tight mine supply, tariff uncertainty, and a rotation from gold investment demand.
Reporting by Sarah Qureshi in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker
The highlight of the Bermudian sporting calendar arrives this Friday as Boxing Day offers a feast of action spanning from the West End to the East End. Whether you are heading to the football, the dirt track, or the equestrian center, the island is set for a high-octane conclusion to the year.
The football world descends on the West for a massive double-header in the BFA Shield and Friendship Trophy semi-finals. The action kicks off at 12 noon with a First Division showdown in the Shield, as Somerset Eagles take on Wolves for a place in the New Year’s Day final.
The main event follows at 2:00 PM, as defending Friendship Trophy champions Dandy Town Hornets launch their title defense against the Devonshire Cougars. It is a repeat of last year’s festive drama, with the Hornets looking to maintain their grip on the trophy at a venue where they have historically thrived.
For those seeking high-speed thrills, the Bermuda Motocross Association will host its annual Boxing Day showcase at the Southside Motor Sports Park in St. David’s. Racing begins at 12 noon, featuring a full slate of classes ranging from the youth 50cc riders to the Expert and Over-30 divisions. The event has become a staple of the holiday tradition, drawing thousands to the East End for some of the most competitive riding of the season.
Centrally located at the National Equestrian Center, the Driving Horse & Pony Club presents its traditional Boxing Day program with a 1:00 PM post time. The meet will feature the highly anticipated Veterans Invitational, where some of the island’s most experienced drivers will return to the sulky. After a season defined by blistering speeds and multiple photo finishes, fans can expect more tight competition on the Vesey Street track.
Cardiff City goalkeeper Nathan Trott is expected to miss his second consecutive match as the League One leaders prepare for their Boxing Day encounter against Exeter City.
The Bermudian international, who has been a mainstay in the Bluebirds’ promotion charge this season, remains sidelined with a hand injury sustained during last week’s Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat against Chelsea.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Cardiff City Head Coach Brian Barry-Murphy confirmed that the 27-year-old has yet to return to full training.
“Nathan Trott hasn’t trained yet,” Barry-Murphy said. “He is still nursing a hand injury suffered in the match against Chelsea. He damaged his hand in a challenge during the second half of that game and as such, he wasn’t available for last weekend’s trip to Lincoln.”
Trott’s absence was felt on Saturday as Cardiff suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Lincoln City, bringing an end to their five-match winning streak. Despite the setback, the Welsh club remains at the summit of League One, holding a three-point lead over second-placed Lincoln with a game in hand.
Matt Turner is likely to continue in goal for the Boxing Day fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium, where a crowd of over 30,000 is expected for the visit of the Grecians. Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell has acknowledged the challenge of facing the league leaders, noting that while his side won their previous meeting in the Vertu Trophy, Cardiff will present a “totally different” and more formidable test this Friday.
Bermudian middle-distance standout Shayla Cann and her Elon University teammates are preparing for a landmark 2026 campaign following the announcement of the Phoenix’s indoor and outdoor schedules.
The upcoming season is highlighted by a historic first: Elon will host the CAA Outdoor Championships at the Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track and Field Complex on May 15th and 16th. For Cann—who claimed a bronze medal and set a personal best of 2:09.78 at the 2025 indoor championships—the move offers a prime opportunity to secure a conference title on home soil.
The Phoenix will open their indoor season at the Liberty Open in Virginia on January 23rd. The slate also features two high-profile trips to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and the CAA Indoor Championships.
Strategic planning defines the outdoor season, with Elon remaining in North Carolina for the entirety of the regular schedule to maximize home-state advantage. This domestic-heavy run includes key stops at the Raleigh Relays and Duke Invitational before the squad transitions to the national stage for the NCAA East Preliminaries in Kentucky.
Having won four of the last five CAA Outdoor titles, Elon enters 2026 as the team to beat, with Cann expected to lead their pursuit of further silverware.
Christmas message by Marc Bean, Leader of the Free Democratic Movement
Christmas arrives not only as a celebration, but as a moment of reflection. Across Bermuda, as homes fill with light and families gather, this season invites us to remember what could—and should—truly bind us together as a people.
The Christmas story reminds us that lasting change is not born from power or excess, but from humility, care, and responsibility to one another. It teaches us that strength is found in service, and that even the smallest acts, when shared, can steady an entire community.
Many Bermudians continue to face real pressures—from rising costs to social uncertainty. These issues will not disappear because of Christmas. Yet we know that our Island’s true character shows itself in how we respond. It appears in neighbours supporting neighbours, in families extending themselves for one another, and in communities stepping forward when help is needed. I encourage this mindset to be a continued act from Boxing Day right through to Christmas Eve the following year.
Our Christmas traditions reflect these values. Gatherings around the table, shared meals, music, and moments of laughter are not just seasonal customs; they are reminders of our shared culture and the legacy we pass to generations to come. Let us also not forget that Christmas is a time when many of us are burdened with heavy hearts, remembering loved ones who have passed over the course of the year.
This season also challenges us to look ahead. The future of Bermuda will not be secured through division or short-term thinking. We know that progress comes through local cooperation translating into international competitiveness, and a commitment to peace and prosperity.
The Free Democratic Movement (FDM) remains grounded in knowing that leadership must be rooted in our guided principles, which is the Golden Rule: “Knowing the Lord with all thine heart, mind, and soul, and in so doing, loving thine neighbour as thyself.” Christmas offers an
opportunity to recommit to listening more carefully, acting more thoughtfully, and treating one another with respect and dignity.
From my family and the FDM family to yours, I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a purposeful New Year.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday slammed a decision by the United States to impose visa bans on former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton and other anti-disinformation campaigners
International News via Reuters:
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday slammed a decision by the United States to impose visa bans on former European Union commissioner Thierry Breton and other anti-disinformation campaigners.
“France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures. These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty,” Macron said on social media platform X.
“Together with the European Commission and our European partners, we will continue to defend our digital sovereignty and our regulatory autonomy,” he added.
Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing Charotte Van Campenhout
From China and the U.S. to Europe and the Middle East, companies are moving from pilots and safety-driver trials toward limited commercial rollouts, often in partnership with local authorities and fleet operators
International News via Reuters:
Ride-hailing firms and technology companies around the world are racing to deploy driverless taxis, betting that robotaxis will reshape urban transport and unlock new growth as regulation gradually opens up.
From China and the U.S. to Europe and the Middle East, companies are moving from pilots and safety-driver trials toward limited commercial rollouts, often in partnership with local authorities and fleet operators.
The eventual goal is to make urban transport safer and more affordable by cutting human error, reducing labour costs and enabling round-the-clock operations.
Here are some of the major robotaxi tests, trials and operations globally:
UBER, LYFT AND BAIDU
Uber and Lyft partnered with Chinese tech company Baidu in December to test its Apollo Go RT6 vehicles for self-driving taxi trials in the UK next year.
WAYVE
Wayve, a British self-driving tech firm backed by SoftBank and Nvidia, partnered with Uber in August 2024 to bring AI to start advanced trials in the UK with plans to begin driverless tests in 2026.
WERIDE
WeRide and Uber launched Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi in November, and a month later started robotaxi passenger rides on Uber’s platform in Dubai. A fully driverless commercial rollout in Dubai is expected in early 2026.
The company said it has started testing its robotaxis in Singapore, while its AV ride service, Ai.R is in trials ahead of an early-2026 public rollout.
The Chinese firm also secured a driverless robotaxi permit in Switzerland in November, and started services on Uber’s platform in Riyadh in October. Earlier this year, it expanded robotaxi services in parts of Guangzhou and Beijing.
ZOOX
Amazon’s self-driving arm Zoox began offering free rides to select early users in parts of San Francisco, the company said in November.
It also launched its autonomous ride-hailing service on and around the Las Vegas Strip in September, offering rides to the public for free while waiting for state approval to collect fares.
BAIDU
Baidu’s Apollo Go partnered UAE-based autonomous mobility company Autogo in November to test self-driving vehicles in Abu Dhabi with the city’s Integrated Transport Centre, with plans to expand and start commercial operations by 2026.
In China, Baidu had secured the first permits to commercially offer fully driverless robotaxi services in August 2022, allowing Apollo Go to operate without safety drivers in Chongqing and Wuhan. Since then, it has expanded to Shenzhen and Beijing.
The company also secured a permit to test its Apollo Go robotaxi in Hong Kong in November 2024.
It also partnered with Swiss Post’s PostBus in October to launch the AmiGo robotaxi service in eastern Switzerland, with full operations targeted for early 2027.
WAYMO
Alphabet’s self-driving unit, Waymo, said in October it will launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in London in 2026.
The company rolled out services in Phoenix in October 2020, San Francisco in June 2024, and Los Angeles in November 2024.
In Tokyo, it partnered with Japanese taxi and limousine operator Nihon Kotsu in April to test autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, with drivers manually operating the cars during the initial phase in seven Tokyo wards.
PONY.AI
Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai launched paid robotaxi services in Guangzhou in February, in Shanghai in August, and received Shenzhen’s first city-wide permit in October.
It also began testing its seventh-generation robotaxis in Beijing in July.
In January, the company said it planned to provide robotaxi operations in Hong Kong, initially serving airport staff within Hong Kong International Airport.
TESLA
Tesla began a limited paid robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas, in June, using Model Y SUVs within a restricted city area, requiring a safety monitor onboard. The Elon Musk-led company is testing its vehicles without safety monitors.
The company also operates a ride-hailing service in the San Francisco Bay Area, and received a permit in November to operate in Arizona.
MOMENTA
Momenta partnered with Singapore-based Grab in December, in a deal that also included an undisclosed investment from Grab.
The company also teamed up with Mercedes-Benz and UAE taxi operator Lumo to launch a luxury robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi in December. Operations are slated to begin in 2026, with plans to expand to other global markets.
Reporting by Arnav Mishra and Anhata Rooprai and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Leroy Leo
The talks come two days after a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur of Southeast Asian foreign ministers convened to try to salvage a truce first brokered by ASEAN chair Malaysia and U.S. President Donald Trump
International News via Reuters:
Military officials from Thailand and Cambodia began talks on Wednesday, both countries said, days after the neighbours agreed to discuss resumption of a ceasefire after 16 days of fierce border clashes that have killed at least 86 people.
The talks come two days after a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur of Southeast Asian foreign ministers convened to try to salvage a truce first brokered by ASEAN chair Malaysia and U.S. President Donald Trump after a previous round of clashes in July
Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said Wednesday’s meeting of the General Border Committee would last three days and could pave the way for an agreement.
The talks were held at a border checkpoint towards the southern end of their 817-km (508 mile) frontier.
“If the secretariat meeting goes smoothly and leads to an agreement, then there will be a meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries on December 27,” Surasant told reporters.
Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said the talks began at 4.30 pm local time (0930 GMT), led by generals from both sides.
The meeting is the most significant step since fighting re-erupted and follows separate, unsuccessful efforts by Malaysia, China and the United States to bring the two countries to the table.
CONTINUED FIGHTING
Cambodia and Thailand have each accused the other of aggression and violations of an enhanced ceasefire reached in October in Malaysia in Trump’s presence, during which they committed to demining and withdrawing troops and heavy weapons from areas over which sovereignty has been contested bitterly for decades.
In the run-up to Wednesday’s talks, Thailand and Cambodia have continued clashing, with both sides fighting at multiple points since early December, stretching from forested regions near Laos to the coastal provinces of the Gulf of Thailand.
At least 21 civilians have been in killed in Cambodia since the fighting, and more than half a million people displaced, according to national authorities. In Thailand, at least 65 people have lost their lives, with over 150,000 evacuated from their homes.
Cambodia’s defence ministry on Wednesday accused Thailand of using fighter jets to drop bombs in its border province of Banteay Meanchey, describing the actions as “brutal” and indiscriminate.
Thailand, on the other hand, said its neighbour continued to fire heavy weapons into civilian areas in Sa Kaeo province on Wednesday, prompting Thai troops to retaliate.
Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty
The Dassault Falcon 50 jet, which took off from Ankara Esenboga Airport at 1717 GMT on Tuesday for Tripoli, informed air traffic control at 1733 GMT of an emergency caused by an electrical malfunction
International News via Reuters:
A private jet that crashed overnight, killing Libya’s army chief of staff and seven others on board, had reported an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing shortly before contact was lost, a Turkish official said on Wednesday.
The Dassault Falcon 50 jet, which took off from Ankara Esenboga Airport at 1717 GMT on Tuesday for Tripoli, informed air traffic control at 1733 GMT of an emergency caused by an electrical malfunction, said communications directorate head Burhanettin Duran.
Search teams found the black box of the plane early on Wednesday, Turkey’s interior minister said.
‘A GREAT LOSS FOR THE NATION,’ PRIME MINISTER SAYS
Libya’s internationally recognised government said the dead included army chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, and four members of his entourage. Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah called it a “great loss for the nation.”
Three crew members were also killed, Turkish officials said.
In Libya, divided between administrations in the west and east, authorities on both sides announced a three-day period of mourning and lowered flags to half mast.
Mohammed Al-Menfi, head of the Tripoli-based Presidential Council, said the deputy chief of staff would assume Haddad’s duties until a new chief is appointed.
“We want to emphasize the continuity of operations as a military institution,” Menfi told Istanbul-based TV channel Libya Alahrar.
Haddad, from the coastal city of Misrata some 200 km (124 miles) east of Tripoli, was appointed chief of staff in 2020.
JET VANISHED FROM RADAR WHILE DESCENDING FOR LANDING
Air traffic control had redirected the aircraft back toward Esenboga Airport and emergency measures were initiated, but the jet disappeared from radar at 1736 GMT while descending for landing and contact was lost, Duran said.
“The aircraft’s voice recorder was found at 0245 and the flight data recorder at 0320. Examination and analysis of these devices have begun,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the crash site near Ankara’s Haymana district.
Yerlikaya earlier said the aircraft had requested an emergency landing while flying over Haymana, adding that its wreckage was found near Kesikkavak village.
Duran said investigations into the cause of the crash were continuing by all relevant authorities.
Libyan officials have said the jet was leased and registered in Malta, and that its ownership and technical history would be examined as part of the investigation.
Reporting by Ece Toksabay in Ankara and Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Bernadette Baum
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