Bermudian youth squash standout Mason Smith has seen his campaign at the 2025 United States Junior Open Squash Championships come to an end following a resilient showing in Philadelphia. Competing in the Boys Under 13 First Consolation Division, Smith’s run was halted in the Round of 32 at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
Smith entered the consolation draw after a marathon five-set opening-round defeat earlier in the tournament, where he displayed immense grit to rally from two games down. In his final match, he faced a stern challenge in the shape of the United States’ Justin Lui. On home soil, Lui proved to be a clinical opponent, securing a straight-sets victory. Smith fought valiantly, pushing the second game into a tense tie-break, but ultimately fell 11-5, 12-10, 11-7.
Despite the exit in Philadelphia, 2025 has been a historic year for the young Bermudian. Earlier this summer, Smith was crowned the Boys Under 13 Caribbean Champion at the CASA Championships in the Cayman Islands. He defeated Guyana’s Ethan Bulkan in straight sets to claim his third consecutive regional title, underscoring his dominance in the age group.
His overall performance in Philadelphia, which included a flawless straight-sets win over Canada’s George Qureshi to reach the Round of 16 in a previous consolation stage, further cements his status as one of Bermuda’s brightest sporting prospects.
Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda Third Sector Spotlight: The Eliza DoLittle Society
Images supplied.
By Clare Mello-Robinson, Executive Director, The Eliza DoLittle Society
The Hidden Crisis: Food Insecurity in Bermuda
Every week in Bermuda, hundreds of families quietly line up—not at grocery stores, but at The Eliza DoLittle food pantry. They arrive with dignity and leave with something far more powerful than food: hope.
Food insecurity has become a visible and growing crisis, impacting working parents, seniors, and children across our island. The Eliza DoLittle Society (TEDS) is committed to reducing the cost of living for families by providing a bag of groceries once a week, adjusted to the size of each household. The pantry currently serves approximately 350 households every week. Last year, 790 families made nearly 16,000 visits for groceries. Despite these efforts, more than 40 households remain on our waiting list. These individuals may be your friends, neighbors, or even family.
A Moral Emergency
This situation is more than just a statistic—it is a moral emergency. Rising living costs, stagnant wages, and fixed incomes are making it increasingly difficult for families to afford basic groceries. For many, our pantry is their only reliable source of food. One single mother of three shared, “I used to skip meals so my kids could eat. Now, I don’t have to.” A senior added, “I never imagined needing help at this stage of life. TEDS gave me dignity, not just food.”
Our Approach: Compassion, Efficiency, and Community Support
With a small team of three, and a dedicated group of volunteers, TEDS operates efficiently, ensuring low overhead and directing as much funding as possible to program services. Founded on the belief that food is a human right, TEDS is driven by compassion, efficiency, and community support. However, compassion alone cannot meet the increasing demand.
What We Need
TEDS needs infrastructure, food, and financial investment. To address this urgent need, we are launching a campaign in January 2026 to raise $100,000—critical funds that will directly support pantry operations and food procurement. These funds will help reduce the waiting list, maintain our weekly service to hundreds of families, and secure a steady supply of essential groceries.
Join Us in Fighting Hunger We welcome individuals, businesses, schools, and faith communities to stand with us:
Donate: Every dollar makes a difference—help us nourish more families in need.
Give Goods: Support our food drive by contributing essential nonperishable items.
Partner: Corporate collaboration expands our reach and deepens our impact.
Share the Message: Your voice raises awareness—and awareness drives change.
The Eliza DoLittle Society is more than a food pantry – it’s a cornerstone of hope and resilience in Bermuda. And with the community’s continued support, we can ensure that every family has access to healthy food and the dignity that comes with it.
To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit www.theelizadolittlesociety.bm.
Battery electric registrations, a proxy for sales, reached a market share of 21% in the European Union, 26% in the United Kingdom and 98% in Norway
International News via Reuters:
New car sales in Europe rose year-on-year in November for a fifth consecutive month, helped by an increase in EV registrations in markets including Germany, Italy and Spain, data from the European auto lobby ACEA showed on Tuesday.
Battery electric registrations, a proxy for sales, reached a market share of 21% in the European Union, 26% in the United Kingdom and 98% in Norway.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Europe’s car industry faces challenges, including competition from China, U.S. import tariffs and difficulties in profitably meeting domestic regulations for EV adoption.
The European Commission last week made public a plan to abandon an effective 2035 ban on combustion engine cars after pressure from the region’s auto sector, marking the bloc’s biggest retreat from its green policies in recent years.
But analysts said for the longer term, EVs are the future.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sales in the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association rose 2.4% to 1.1 million cars in November, ACEA data showed.
Registrations at Volkswagen and Renault rose 4.1% and 3% year-on-year, respectively, while they fell 2.7% at Stellantis, a drop after three months of growth.
Tesla registrations fell by 11.8%, as record sales in Norway mitigated losses in other markets. They were up 221.8% at its Chinese competitor BYD. Tesla’s market share in the month was 2.1%, while BYD’s 2%.
Total EU car sales rose 2.1% to almost 900,000 vehicles. Registrations of battery electric, hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid cars were up 44.1%, 38.4% and 4.2%, respectively, to account collectively for 65.6% of the bloc’s registrations, up from 56% in August 2024.
KEY QUOTE
“Despite the recent positive momentum, overall volumes remain well below pre-pandemic levels,” the ACEA said in a statement.
Reporting by Alessandro Parodi; editing by Barbara Lewis
The approval positions Novo Nordisk ahead in the race for a potent oral weight-loss medication as it works to recover market share lost to Eli Lilly
International News via Reuters:
Novo Nordisk shares rose 7.5% in early trading on Tuesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its weight-loss pill, giving the Danish drugmaker a competitive edge in the fast-evolving obesity treatment market.
The approval positions Novo Nordisk ahead in the race for a potent oral weight-loss medication as it works to recover market share lost to Eli Lilly.
The company, which faced massive supply challenges with the 2021 launch of its injectable drug Wegovy, has said it is better prepared this time. CEO Mike Doustdar said in November that the company has “more than enough pills this time” and would go “all in” on the launch.
Novo Nordisk’s share price has been declining as it has lost market share to compound manufacturers and Lilly, BMO Capital analyst Evan Seigerman said in a note.
The company will now benefit from first-mover advantage and capture patients with a preference for the convenience and comfort provided by an oral drug, Seigerman said, though that advantage could be short-lived with Lilly’s oral drug orforglipron expected to be approved in 2026.
Novo Nordisk had a first-to-market advantage with injectable weight-loss drugs but initially struggled to meet the explosive demand. Eli Lilly took advantage to forge ahead with rival Zepbound, which now leads the way in weekly U.S. prescriptions.
Paul Major, portfolio manager at Bellevue Asset Management, said the oral weight-loss drugs could expand the market rather than cannibalise injectables, adding that “10% or more adults are hesitant to self-inject”. However, he questioned their transformative potential, as pills are less efficacious than injections.
Sydbank analyst Soren Lontoft Hansen forecast strong demand for the Wegovy pill, estimating global peak annual sales of around 24 billion Danish crowns ($3.79 billion). He underscored the importance of the launch in offsetting headwinds anticipated in 2026, including potential declines in GLP-1 pricing.
Novo Nordisk’s shares, which have dropped more than 50% this year, were the biggest gainers in Europe. Lilly’s Frankfurt-listed shares fell 0.4%.
($1 = 6.3391 Danish crowns)
Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Stine Jacobsen, Bhanvi Satija and Maggie FickEditing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan
Five hotels opened on Saturday and Sunday in North Korea’s Samjiyon tourist zone, in the northeast part of the Korean peninsula near the border with China, state media KCNA said on Tuesday
International News via Reuters:
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening ceremonies of hotels in a tourist zone of the country with his daughter Ju Ae, as he sought to highlight the country’s economic progress before a key party congress due to take place early next year.
Five hotels opened on Saturday and Sunday in North Korea’s Samjiyon tourist zone, in the northeast part of the Korean peninsula near the border with China, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.
Kim, who attended the ceremonies on Saturday, toured the upmarket hotels with Ju Ae, state media photographs showed.
Some analysts view Kim’s teenage daughter as the frontrunner to become the country’s next leader.
Kim said the hotels were “clear proof of the rising status of our people and the development potential of our country,” according to KCNA.
The North Korean leader has attended multiple opening ceremonies of facilities in the past month, including three regional factory openings last week alone.
North Korea is expected to hold its first party congress in five years in early 2026, where a new development plan for the next five years is expected to be unveiled. State media such as Rodong Sinmun, have been urging an all-out public effort to complete major projects ahead of the gathering.
Lam is viewed as the leading contender to keep the country’s most powerful post
International News via Reuters:
Senior officials of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party concluded a two-day plenum in Hanoi on Tuesday, finalising decisions on candidates for the country’s next top leadership, party chief To Lam said, but no names were released.
Lam is viewed as the leading contender to keep the country’s most powerful post, but in line with standard practices in the secretive country, announcements are expected only at the five-yearly party congress scheduled for January 19-25.
Lam said delegates “voted with a high level of support” for nominees to key positions, according to his closing speech published on the party’s website.
He also appeared to thank delegates for nominating him to a leadership position ahead of the congress in a somewhat ambiguous statement.
Lam added that officials agreed to continue public administration reforms and accelerate infrastructure expansion — policies he championed during his initial, brief term as party chief.
The announcement, alongside speculation about Lam’s confirmation, propelled Vietnam’s stock market close to a new high on Tuesday morning, as investors cheered political stability.
LAM SEEKS NEW TERM
Since succeeding the late Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024 after heading for years the powerful security ministry, Lam has led sweeping administrative and economic changes that have drawn both strong support and criticism.
While outcomes remain uncertain, the rapid pace has underscored his assertive style, and signalled to internal rivals and foreign investors that he intended to push ahead with an ambitious agenda.
His reappointment was taken for granted at the start of this year, with many officials speculating he may also try to merge his post with the state presidency, following in the footsteps of China’s Xi Jinping.
However, lacklustre results from trade talks with the United States, which imposed 20% tariffs on Vietnam in August despite multiple earlier concessions from Hanoi, may have tempered that ambition – for now.
SCRAMBLE FOR TOP JOBS
Speculation intensified in Hanoi on Tuesday as officials, diplomats, and citizens debated potential leadership combinations, often citing social media chatter.
The posts in play span the so‑called five pillars: general secretary, president, prime minister, parliament chair, and the newly upgraded standing member of the party’s secretariat.
Although age limits exist, exemptions have been granted before.
Two main factions are seen dominating: one aligned with Lam and the public security ministry; the other tied to the military and its corporate network, including telecom and defence giant Viettel.
A list that excludes defence figures from top roles would be a surprise.
Army General Luong Cuong is the current president and could remain, or be replaced by defence minister Phan Van Giang, according to several officials. Decisions, however, rest with a small circle of senior leaders, and even current contenders could be dropped at the congress.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, a former security officer known as a skilled operator, has weathered multiple reshuffles and may do so again, though rivals are circling.
Names floated for the prime minister job include former central bank chief Le Minh Hung, police general Luong Tam Quang, and deputy prime minister Nguyen Hoa Binh.
Final allocations may also weigh candidates’ home provinces to preserve a veneer of geographic balance, though leaders from the north have historically outnumbered those from the south.
Reporting by Khanh Vu, Phuong Nguyen; writing by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Martin Petty and Saad Sayeed
European shares nudged higher in early trade, while U.S. stock futures were little changed on the day and gold touched a record high just shy of breaching the $4,500 per-ounce threshold
International News via Reuters:
World stocks headed towards recent record highs as an upbeat mood gripped markets ahead of key U.S. economic growth data later on Tuesday, and the yen rallied after the sternest warning yet from Tokyo on its readiness to support the battered currency.
European shares nudged higher in early trade, while U.S. stock futures were little changed on the day and gold touched a record high just shy of breaching the $4,500 per-ounce threshold.
U.S. economic releases, delayed by a record government shutdown were the main focus in a holiday-shortened week for much of the world.
U.S. third-quarter growth figures are forecast to show the U.S. economy continued to grow at a strong 3.3% clip. Still, that would be a slight pullback from the previous quarter due in part to a sharp retreat in imports after a run-up earlier in the year ahead of the introduction of tariffs.
“It does feel like we can relax a bit and the holiday risk premium has gone down,” said James Rossiter, head of global macro strategy at TD Securities in London.
“On GDP, we are looking for upside risks with a number of 3.5%, with consumer demand growing at a decent clip. So, it should be a good news report day.”
MSCI’s world stock index was last up 0.2% and nearing record highs hit earlier this month, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.4%, and Tokyo’s Nikkei ended flat.
Overnight, shares of Nvidia rose after Reuters reported that the company told Chinese clients it aims to start shipping its second-most powerful AI chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.
Novo Nordisk’s Frankfurt-listed shares opened nearly 10% higher in early trading on Tuesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its weight-loss pill.
The move gives the Danish drugmaker an edge in the race to market a potent oral medication for shedding pounds as it seeks to regain ground lost to rival Eli Lilly.
“Risk-on sentiment is dominating Wall Street to begin the week of Christmas, with investors raising equity and commodity exposures as we approach year-end,” said Jose Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.
“For now, traders are taking their cue from the general sense amongst participants that there’s little standing in the way for a Santa Claus rally to manifest.”
China’s CSI300 blue-chip index rose 0.2%.
China will step up urban renewal and deepen efforts to stabilise its property market in 2026 as it prepares to launch its latest Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), according to a readout of a housing policy work conference released on Tuesday.
INTERVENTION RISK KEEPS YEN IN CHECK
The yen rallied as investors weighed the odds of an imminent intervention from Japanese authorities to shore up the currency.
Japan has a free hand in dealing with excessive moves in the yen, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Tuesday, issuing the strongest warning to date on Tokyo’s readiness to intervene in the currency market to arrest sharp declines in the currency.
The yen was last up 0.7% against the dollar at 155.88. It also made broad gains against other peers like the euro and the Swiss franc.
While the BOJ raised rates at the conclusion of its December policy meeting on Friday, the move was widely expected and Governor Kazuo Ueda offered few hints on the extent of future rate hikes.
“Their message is so underwhelming… you hike, but you need to hike with conviction. They didn’t hike with conviction,” said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis.
The dollar slipped against other major currencies, with the euro up 0.2% at $1.1782 and sterling 0.3% higher at $1.3505.
Elsewhere, gold and spot silver vaulted to all-time highs, driven in part by safe-haven demand from escalating geopolitical tensions after news on Sunday that the U.S. was pursuing another tanker carrying Venezuelan oil. [GOL/]
Oil prices were broadly unchanged with Brent crude futures hovering around $62 a barrel and U.S. crude trading at around $58 per barrel. [O/R]
Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe in London and Rae Wee in Singapore; Editing by Frances Kerry
The regulator said the airline allegedly blocked or made it more difficult – economically or technically – for travel agencies to offer Ryanair flights in combination with other airlines or other services
International News via Reuters:
Italy’s competition authority said on Tuesday it had fined Europe’s largest budget airline Ryanair 255 million euros ($300.19 million) for abuse of a dominant position in its dealings with travel agents.
The regulator said the airline allegedly blocked or made it more difficult – economically or technically – for travel agencies to offer Ryanair flights in combination with other airlines or other services.
Ryanair did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The authority said it took issue with the airline initially introducing facial recognition procedures, then blocking payments from online travel agencies (OTAs) and, finally, imposing partnership agreements with travel agents limiting their ability to offer Ryanair in travel packages.
“Its dominant position stems not only from its significant market share, which is continuing to grow, but also from numerous other indicators… (which) contribute to giving Ryanair (a) significant market power and the ability to act independently of competitors and consumers,” the watchdog said in a statement.
The alleged abuse of a dominant position took place from April 2023 to at least April of this year, the regulator added.
($1 = 0.8495 euros)
Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Alvise Armellini
The STOXX construction sector index is ending the year up 21% at record levels, but there are questions over whether momentum can continue or if price consolidation looms
International News via Reuters:
European construction shares have been among 2025’s standout gainers, lifted by enthusiasm for thematic trades around Germany’s infrastructure stimulus, hopes of Ukraine’s rebuild and the AI-related boom.
The STOXX construction sector index is ending the year up 21% at record levels, but there are questions over whether momentum can continue or if price consolidation looms.
Building materials firms Holcim and Heidelberg have led the charge, on optimism over cement pricing and infrastructure spending.
Signs of a housing market recovery, lower interest rates and Germany’s 500 billion euro ($580 billion) infrastructure plan gaining traction next year offer reasons for optimism.
The sector could also earn extra income from defence-linked orders as governments boost spending to meet NATO targets, though large-scale projects remain years away.
“We are seeing green lights for a construction restart,” said Damien Mariette, senior fund manager at CPR Asset Management, a subsidiary of Amundi.
“The German plan is a positive catalyst and defence spending is the cherry on the cake.”
CONSTRUCTION VALUATIONS BUILD ON LEAD
Peace in Ukraine could unlock major reconstruction and cut energy costs. Recovery needs may reach $524 billion over a decade, according to estimates cited by Kepler Cheuvreux.
However, timing remains uncertain and some investors caution that optimism is largely priced in, with questions over whether European firms – rather than U.S. rivals – will secure the biggest deals.
“Much of the good news seems to be priced in. Without a broad-based recovery and real contract wins, further outperformance could be hard to justify,” said Andras Vig, multi-asset strategist at Invesco, adding that the sector looked “quite overvalued”.
“Hope has largely driven the rally, but now we may need contracts to materialise.”
Europe’s construction sector now trades at about 17 times earnings, putting its premium over the STOXX at roughly 15%, up from 6% in January, LSEG Datastream shows.
RESIDENTIAL MARKET RECOVERY IN SIGHT
Morgan Stanley expects big German infrastructure awards only in the second half of next year with volume gains unlikely before 2027, which leaves “heavy-side” structural-material firms like Holcim at risk of pullbacks.
The bank now favours companies that could benefit from a recovery in Europe’s housing market. Saint-Gobain is its top pick, replacing CRH, which it still sees benefiting from themes like cement pricing and Ukraine reconstruction.
Tom O’Hara, European equities director at GAM, said stocks more exposed to residential markets now traded at a discount to “heavy-side” names for the first time in years. “If we get good news on residential recovery, this could be an interesting catch-up opportunity,” he said.
Despite uncertainties, it is hard to be outright bearish.
Kepler upgraded the sector to overweight this month: “A potential end to the conflict in Ukraine could be one of the sector’s next major catalysts on top of falling interest rates.”
($1 = 0.8532 euros)
Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Kirsten Donovan
Annual report also reveals harsh financial realities; the average non-profit has just four weeks of cash available
Centennial Bermuda Foundation today released its 2024-25 Year End Report, marking an important milestone in understanding Bermuda’s nonprofit sector through data. The report shows both the strong impact of Bermuda’s non-profit organisations in meeting community needs, and the reality of the financial pressures they’re facing.
Centennial’s Grant Management System has made it possible, for the first time, to see a fuller picture of Bermuda’s Third Sector. The findings show both strengths and challenges: while organisations are deeply connected to the communities they serve, the average non-profit partner has just four weeks of cash available – a reality that affects their ability to plan long-term and keep talented staff.
2024/25 Impact at a Glance
● $4.3 million invested in Bermuda’s Third Sector
● 53 grants awarded across five strategic focus areas
● 33,500+ people reached through funded programmes
● 31 collaborative initiatives supported
● $1 million invested in supporting 27 scholarship recipients, spanning pathways from trade certifications through post-doctoral degrees
An Evolution Years in the Making
The report documents Centennial’s journey towards transformative philanthropy, an approach that tackles root causes of problems while also providing immediate support. This evolution, shaped by
extensive work with community partners and a commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA), has led to more intentional funding.
This is reflected in Centennial’s refreshed Identity Statement, Vision, Mission, and Values, also included in this Year-End Report. It is the framework that guides every funding decision, reflecting Centennial’s commitment to an equitable Bermuda where everyone, including Bermuda’s most marginalized, can thrive.
“This 2024/25 report reflects the work we’ve done together as a sector, and it tells us where we need to go,” said Vivien Carter, Director of Philanthropy at Centennial Bermuda Foundation. “We see a sector doing extraordinary work under real constraints. Our role is to stand alongside our community partners, encouraging and resourcing sustainability, supporting collaboration, and providing flexibility that allows meaningful work to continue and thrive. Every data point represents real conversations with real partners about real challenges, and those conversations will continue to shape how we invest in Bermuda’s future.”
Report Highlights Available
The full report is available for download at www.centennial.bm/work.
Centennial welcomes feedback on the report’s findings. Community members and sector stakeholders are invited to share their perspectives with Vivien Carter at info@centennial.bm.
About Centennial Bermuda Foundation
Centennial Bermuda Foundation funds scholarships, organisations, programmes, and initiatives that respond to and resolve community and social needs. Guided by values of collaboration, community-centred practice, commitment, and credibility, Centennial works towards an equitable Bermuda where everyone, including Bermuda’s most marginalised, can thrive.
Centennial is an independent philanthropic foundation, a private company limited by guarantee with assets acquired from private charitable trusts and has operated as such since 2004.
Exploring the evolving landscape of Bermuda’s hospitality and tourism industry
In this episode of Think Pink, host Jasmine Patterson interviews Madeline Robinson, who leads luxury experiences at Hawkins Island, a private island in Bermuda. They discuss the evolution of Hawkins Island, its unique offerings, and the impact of COVID-19 on tourism. Miss Robinson shares insights on the island’s appeal to modern travelers, the importance of local exploration, and future expansion plans. The conversation also delves into the hospitality industry, personal experiences, and the fulfillment derived from working in such a beautiful environment.
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