The Pickleball Association of Bermuda leading by example with a small solution designed to have a big impact
Sports don’t just leave a mark on the scoreboard — they leave one on the environment. too. From global travel and massive stadiums to water-hungry courses and energy-intensive facilities, some sports carry a heavy pollution footprint. And pickleball is no exception. Its rapid rise in popularity is now forcing a closer look at sustainability on and off the court. The Pickleball Association of Bermuda is, however, leading by example with a small solution designed to have a big impact. Julie Matthews-Borchardt reports.
He also advised that imagery of Mr Mallory had been subsequently shared.
“There were several WhatsApp messages”, DCI Smith said, “that were circulating within our community, that was depicting one, the scene, and secondly – unfortunately – the victim that was inside of that particular residence.”
“We totally discourage any sharing of any information of any crime scene – you could be committing an offense.”
“…as a result of that imagery being shown over the weekend, the police have arrested a 29-year-old man for improper use of public electronic communications, and a file is being prepared for review by the Department of Public Prosecutions.”
WATCH the clip from the police press conference below…
The automaker said the deal effectively ends its legal issues in the United States over dieselgate – the emissions scandal first uncovered at Volkswagen in September 2015
International News via Reuters:
Mercedes-Benz has reached a $149.6 million settlement with U.S. states to resolve a long-running investigation into allegations of diesel emissions cheating by the German automaker, New York Attorney General Letitia James said Monday.
The automaker said the deal effectively ends its legal issues in the United States over dieselgate – the emissions scandal first uncovered at Volkswagen in September 2015.
Under the settlement with 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, Mercedes will pay $149.6 million and provide $2,000 payments to eligible owners and lessees whose vehicles received required emissions repairs. Mercedes also agreed to adopt a series of actions to prevent future misconduct and comply with oversight requirements, the states said.
The states said Mercedes installed undisclosed unlawful software in diesel vehicles that hid the true levels of pollution and improperly lowered emissions during government testing, but in normal driving conditions, the vehicles emitted up to 30 or 40 times the legal limit.
MERCEDES SAYS GROUP’S BOTTOM-LINE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said the settlement extends to the estimated 39,565 U.S. vehicles that had not been repaired or permanently removed from the road by August 2023.
Mercedes must pay the costs for installing approved emission modification software on each of the affected vehicles and provide participating consumers with an extended warranty and pay consumers $2,000 per vehicle.
A Mercedes spokesperson said the group’s bottom-line earnings would not be affected and that “a sufficient provision has been made for the costs of the overall settlement”.
The settlements are subject to final court approval, the company said in a statement.
In 2020, Mercedes-Benz agreed to pay $2.2 billion to resolve a U.S. government diesel emissions cheating investigation and claims from 250,000 U.S. vehicle owners.
As part of the settlement with the states announced on Monday, the automaker must immediately pay $120 million to the states. A further $29.6 million is suspended and will be reduced by $750 for each affected vehicle Mercedes repairs, takes off the market, or buys back.
The states launched an investigation into Mercedes-Benz in 2020 following Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal that cost VW more than $20 billion in fines, penalties and settlements after it admitted in 2015 it had cheated emissions tests by installing “defeat devices” and sophisticated software in nearly 11 million vehicles worldwide.
Some of the world’s biggest automakers continue to face legal action over the scandal.
Mercedes faces further potential payouts, for example in England, where it is one of several companies alongside Ford, Nissan and Renault facing a mass lawsuit launched in October.
Reporting by David Shepardson and Valerie Volcovici in Washington, and Rachel More in Berlin; editing by Barbara Lewis
Some bank bosses had anticipated European Union governments and companies would sideline American investment banks in favour of their home lenders when Trump on April 2 announced his “liberation day” tariffs
International News via Reuters:
Wall Street banks strengthened their lead in European investment banking in 2025, as clients stayed loyal despite global market turmoil and President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
Some bank bosses had anticipated European Union governments and companies would sideline American investment banks in favour of their home lenders when Trump on April 2 announced his “liberation day” tariffs.
JPMorgan’s CEO Jamie Dixon said the lender lost some overseas clients in the immediate aftermath.
But, while European bank share prices have risen in 2025, driven by income from higher interest rates, the region’s investment bankers failed to gain ground from Wall Street rivals, an analysis of fee data from LSEG and interviews with executives showed. In some products, such as equity offerings, they even ceded market share in Europe.
US MARKET SHARE CLIMBS NEAR ALL-TIME HIGH
U.S. banks have claimed a 37% market share in investment banking fees in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region so far this year.
That share was flat on the year before and near the all-time peak of 40%. They held firm in all products and won market share in equity offerings and mergers.
ENCROACHMENT SINCE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
U.S. banks have steadily stolen market share from European lenders, including Deutsche Bank, Barclays and Societe Generale since the 2008 global financial crisis. European players laboured under years of restructuring and retrenchment while American rivals quickly righted themselves and built further scale. U.S. lenders’ share climbed from 31% in 2008 to the current 37%.
LEVERAGING HOME ADVANTAGE
Goldman Sachs was the leading investment bank in Europe, Middle East and Africa with a 6.8% share of overall available fees, followed by JPMorgan and France’s BNP Paribas. Citi and Morgan Stanley were fourth and fifth respectively. BNP and Deutsche Bank showed gains of 0.1% each on 2024, while Barclays and HSBC lost ground.
U.S. banks can leverage the scale and profitability of their home market to win globally. They dominated big-ticket deals worth $1 billion or more, especially in the technology, media and telecoms sector, said Amrit Shahani, partner at research firm BCG Expand.
The American banks’ gains in EMEA have been most pronounced in M&A, where they made $2.4 billion in fees to the end of the third quarter, with their market share up 2.3% from the same period in 2024 while European banks’ share slipped 2.3%, according to data from BCG Expand.
The one area where European banks outshone was in share price performance, although that in part reflects how badly European lender stocks have fared since the financial crisis.
Reporting by Lawrence White; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Barbara Lewis
The guarantee, disclosed in a filing on Monday, seeks to allay the Warner Bros board’s doubts about Paramount’s financing and the lack of full Ellison family backing
International News via Reuters:
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has stepped in to personally guarantee $40.4 billion in Paramount Skydance’s latest effort to pry Warner Bros Discovery away from selling its prized Hollywood assets to streaming giant Netflix.
The guarantee, disclosed in a filing on Monday, seeks to allay the Warner Bros board’s doubts about Paramount’s financing and the lack of full Ellison family backing, which had pushed it toward the competing cash-and-stock offer from Netflix.
Warner Bros shares rose about 3%, while Paramount added over 7%. Warner Bros and Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Paramount said the amended terms do not change the $30-per-share all-cash offer even as the fight for Hollywood’s sought-after assets heats up, with control of Warner Bros’ vast library offering a decisive edge in the streaming wars.
“I doubt many Warner Bros shareholders that are on the fence or planning to vote no were holding out due to issues the revised bid addresses such as a guarantee from Larry Ellison on the funding front,” said Seth Shafer, principal analyst at S&P Global.
As part of the revised terms, Ellison also agreed not to revoke the family trust or transfer its assets during the pendency of the transaction, the filing showed.
Paramount said it has raised its regulatory reverse termination fee to $5.8 billion from $5 billion to match the competing transaction and extended the expiration date of its tender offer to January 21, 2026.
The bid follows Warner Bros asking its shareholders to reject the $108.4 billion offer from Paramount for the whole company, including cable TV assets, on doubts over its financing and the lack of a full guarantee from the Ellison family.
But Warner Bros investors, including the fifth largest shareholder Harris Associates, have said they would be open to revised offers from Paramount if it presents a superior bid and addresses issues with deal terms.
Under the Netflix agreement, Warner Bros would owe Netflix $2.8 billion as breakup fee if it walks away from that deal.
REGULATORY SCRUTINY
For either suitor, winning shareholder support is only the first hurdle, as both deals would face intense antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe.
Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about consolidation in the media industry, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said he plans to weigh in on the transactions.
A Paramount-Warner Bros combination would create a studio larger than industry leader Disney and combine two major television operators, a move some Democratic senators say would give one company control over “almost everything Americans watch on TV.”
A Netflix-Warner Bros tie-up would cement Netflix’s dominance in streaming, creating a group with a combined 428 million subscribers. Netflix has said it would honor Warner Bros’ theatrical commitments and argued the deal would benefit consumers by lowering costs through bundled offerings.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has said he is confident the deal would win regulatory approval, arguing it would avoid job cuts in an industry already struggling with uneven box-office returns.
Reporting by Akash Sriram, Aditya Soni and Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur
Manilow included the new schedule for his concerts in his post, and said he expects to be feeling better by February since his treatment does not require radiation or chemotherapy
International News via Reuters:
U.S singer-songwriter Barry Manilow announced on Monday through Instagram that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer, prompting him to pause his scheduled concerts while he undergoes surgery.
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” the 82-year-old Grammy-winner wrote in the Instagram statement.
“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed,” he said.
Manilow included the new schedule for his concerts in his post, and said he expects to be feeling better by February since his treatment does not require radiation or chemotherapy.
“Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns,” Manilow wrote, referring to a classic U.S. sitcom.
The singer ended his post by urging people to get tested if they have any health concerns.
Manilow, whose hits include songs “Mandy”, “Copacabana” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” has a career spanning over 60 years.
He attended the New York College of Music and the Juilliard School, where he studied musical theatre.
Apart from being a songwriter, Manilow has also worked on numerous films, Broadway shows and television productions.
His acting included roles in the film “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” and the television shows “Family Guy” and “Will and Grace.”
Manilow married his high-school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, in 1964, but the marriage was short-lived.
In 2017, he spoke for the first time about being gay and his previously secret, almost 40-year romance with husband Garry Kief, saying he feared he would disappoint his mostly female fan base had he come out decades ago.
Manilow and his manager Kief, whom he met in 1978, had been together for years before marrying quietly in Palm Springs, California, in 2014.
Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Barbara Lewis
Police say the driver suffered minor injuries in single-vehicle crash
Image: Bermuda Police Service
The Bermuda Police Service shared the following update via its social media.
Police are currently at the scene of a single vehicle collision on South Road, near the junction with Middle Road, Southampton. The incident involves a truck that has gone over an embankment.
Information is limited at this time, but the driver is believed to have been the sole occupant and suffered minor injuries.
Traffic is currently being managed using a single lane system. Motorists are advised to expect delays in the area.
HAMILTON, Bermuda (22 December 2025) – Dr Carika Weldon, Founder and CEO of CariGenetics, has returned from Cape Town, South Africa, where she made history as the first Bermudian selected to present at the prestigious International Women’s Forum (IWF) Cornerstone Conference. Held from 6 – 8 November 2025, under the theme “Ubuntu” the conference gathered global women leaders to explore transformative concepts shaping the future.
Representing not only Bermuda but the wider Caribbean region, Dr Weldon joined a distinguished roster of international thought innovators in the 10th “Ideas Remaking the World” Session. Her participation underscored the critical need for inclusive genomic research and highlighted the Caribbean’s emerging role in the global biotechnology sector.
Beyond her address, Dr Weldon and the IWF Bermuda Forum successfully executed a tangible call to action of her “Ideas Remaking the World” talk by conducting on-site DNA wellness testing for conference delegates utilising the new CariGenetics wellness app. Testing metrics reveals high engagement from global leaders regarding their biological health:
Global Reach: The testing engaged delegates from 18 diverse nations, including South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Panama, UAE, Kenya, Poland, Turkey, Barbados, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda.
Digital Adoption: The initiative drove significant digital engagement, with 195 mobile application downloads in 2 hours during the activation. The free face scan feature that shows skin health and how old you look was a huge hit among those tested.
High Engagement: A total of 168 DNA & epigenetics wellness saliva tests were conducted, with all looking forward to their “genetic age”, how old their body is versus how old they are on the calendar.
Spanning Generations: The testing cohort had an average age of 57 with participants ranging from 24 to 82 years, demonstrating that interest in genetic health insights spans all generations.
“To be the first Bermudian to present at the IWF Cornerstone Conference is a profound honor, but to stand there representing the scientific potential of the entire Caribbean is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” said Dr. Carika Weldon. “Our experience from Cape Town shows that women leaders globally are ready to embrace the story their DNA tells. By engaging nearly 200 delegates from 18 countries, we proved that Caribbean-led innovation belongs on the world stage. We are not just consumers of biotechnology; we are pioneers of it.
This successful international initiative aligns with CariGenetics’ strategic focus on demonstrating the tangible impact of its research and increasing access to health insights via its new mobile application. The strong adoption rate of the CariGenetics app among international delegates serves as a proof-of-concept for the company’s ability to scale its digital health tools globally.
CariGenetics continues to drive its mission to study Caribbean genetics to improve health outcomes for all. The insights gathered in South Africa bolster the company’s strategic expansion as it prepares for an active 2026.
The CariGenetics app is now available globally both on Apple and Android and the new MyBioAge test is available in select countries in the Caribbean and the US for purchase via the CariGenetics website here
Bermudian Olympian Madelyn Moore made a successful return to the pool this weekend, claiming a commanding victory in the Women’s 15 & Over 50m Backstroke at the BASA Long Course Qualification Meet.
Moore touched the wall in 30.52 at the National Sports Centre, marking her first long-course competition since April. The 25-year-old expressed her delight at being back in competitive action, noting that the meet served as a vital gauging point for her current fitness levels.
The victory comes at a time of significant transition for the standout sprinter. Having recently returned home to Bermuda to rediscover her love for the sport, Moore is now balancing intensive training with her career in the Bermuda Police Service.
“I’m really enjoying it,” Moore said of her return to training. “It’s definitely a trial-and-error situation at the minute, especially now doing shift work, but I’m looking forward to seeing where this is going to take me in the new year.”
Under the guidance of her new coach, Moore has been focusing on technical refinements and “little details” that she previously felt were missing from her repertoire. The progress was evident at the National Sports Centre, where she comfortably held off a competitive field, including Violet Smith, who secured second place with a personal best of 33.15.
Moore’s primary focus remains on the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the CAC Games. Her performance this weekend underscores her status as one of Bermuda’s most resilient and talented aquatic athletes.
Judge Ana Barao said the poster “attacks an ethnic minority,” and she gave Andre Ventura 24 hours to remove them or face a daily fine of 2,500 euros ($2,940) per poster
International News via Reuters:
The leader of Portugal’s far-right Chega party was ordered to remove street posters for his presidential campaign attacking the Roma community, after a Lisbon court ruled they were discriminatory and could incite hatred.
Judge Ana Barao said the poster “attacks an ethnic minority,” and she gave Andre Ventura 24 hours to remove them or face a daily fine of 2,500 euros ($2,940) per poster.
The anti-immigration, anti-establishment Chega emerged just six years ago and in May became the second-largest parliamentary force after the ruling centre-right alliance.
“(The posters) aggravate the stigma and prejudice that Roma communities already face in Portuguese society in general, thus fostering intolerance, segregation, discrimination and, ultimately, hatred,” Barao wrote in her ruling.
Ventura has called the court case an “attack on freedom of expression”, but last week promised to comply with whatever the court decided. A Chega spokesperson said Ventura would respond later.
Ricardo Sa Fernandes, the lawyer representing the Roma associations that filed the complaint, said the decision would help make Portugal “more just and decent”, calling it “a victory for the resistance” of the Roma.
In May, Portuguese prosecutors opened an investigation into discriminatory remarks against Roma made by Ventura.
Recent opinion polls place Ventura, who campaigns on a promise to fight corruption, among the frontrunners in the first round of Portugal’s presidential election on Jan. 18.
Polls also indicate he would lose to any of his three main rivals in a runoff vote.
($1 = 0.8501 euros)
Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Andrei Khalip, Alexandra Hudson
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