The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) has officially unveiled the schedule and venues for this weekend’s Shield and Friendship Trophy quarter-finals, setting the stage for a high-octane run of knockout football.
In a social media announcement, the governing body confirmed a series of double-headers across the island as teams battle for a place in the semi-finals. The action kicks off under the lights on Friday, December 19th, at the Devonshire Recreation Club, before moving to White Hill Field and Bernard Park on Saturday.
The weekend concludes on Sunday at Lord’s in St. David’s with a final showdown for a spot in the final four.
Shield & Friendship Quarter-Final Schedule
Friday, December 19th – Devonshire Recreation Club
7:00 PM: Somerset Trojans vs St. David’s
9:00 PM: Devonshire Cougars vs Young Men Social Club
The LSU Tigers reaffirmed their postseason credentials with a commanding 89-77 victory over SMU at the Compete 4 Cause Classic in New Orleans. Guided by Associate Head Coach David Patrick, the Tigers showcased a clinical offensive rhythm inside the Smoothie King Center to improve their season record to 9-1.
The result is a significant milestone for the program, serving as LSU’s first Quad 1 win of the 2025-26 campaign and providing the perfect response to a humbling defeat against Texas Tech just a week prior.
LSU’s dominance was driven by a four-man engine room that accounted for a staggering 75 of the team’s 89 points. The quartet of Marquel Sutton, Max Mackinnon, Dedan Thomas Jr., and Pablo Tamba combined for 26 rebounds and 16 assists in a performance that overwhelmed the Mustangs.
The individual statistics told the story of a balanced and ruthless attack:
Marquel Sutton spearheaded the frontline, posting a powerful double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Max Mackinnon proved lethal from the perimeter, missing just one of his seven three-point attempts to finish with 22 points.
Dedan Thomas Jr. acted as the primary orchestrator, pairing 16 points with a career-high 12 assists.
Pablo Tamba anchored the paint with tireless energy, securing his own double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
With SMU falling to 9-2, LSU’s clinical display in the Crescent City suggests a team finding its peak form just as the schedule intensifies.
For Black Pony Gallery, this attention is significant, especially because SCOPE Art Show is a premier showcase for contemporary art, convening the most dynamic emerging galleries and artists from around the world for more than two decades.
Jason A Bennett’s artwork recently installed in an acclaimed interior designer’s home.
At SCOPE, Black Pony Gallery presented Charles Zuill (b. 1935, Bermuda) and Jason Bennett (b. 1974, The Bahamas), two artists from different generations challenging stereotypical ‘island imagery’ in their abstract expressions. In partnership with the FUZE Art Fair Blue Floor Project, Black Pony Gallery also presented Dede Brown (b. 1984, The Bahamas) who received a glowing review from Vibe Culture Daily too.
“The booth did very well. Sales were good, networking was epic, and new projects are unfolding! Collectors, curators, creatives and academics, were captivated by Bennett’s use of color, texture, and graphic elements, while others were intrigued by Zuill’s meditative drawings. People were generally wowed by Zuill’s age and the fact that we are from Bermuda. And there was a general love for the art book I published on Zuill’s journey. Mani Munroe’s Vibe Culture Daily article elevated our experience at SCOPE. It feels good to be acknowledged for our collective efforts,” says Lisa Howie, founding director of Black Pony Gallery.
SCOPE panel discussion with Antonius Roberts, Lisa Howie, John Cox.
To close the fair, Howie joined Bahamian artists and visionaries Antonius Roberts (I.C.E. Gallery) and John Cox (FUZE) for a panel conversation that echoed everything the week stood for: dialogue, visibility, collaboration, and lifting Caribbean Atlantic voices. Bermudian artist Nhuri Bashir flew in for Miami Art week and said: “Lisa’s panel at SCOPE articulated something I have been feeling with real clarity. She gave color and context to the growing and meaningful presence of artists from the Caribbean and the northern Atlantic family islands, including Bermuda and the Bahamas, and framed it as a collective wave rather than isolated success stories. She positioned our region as a serious contributor to the global art conversation, not as a trend, but as a sustained force.”
Bermudians Nhuri Bashir, Lisa Howie, Jevon Williams in Black Pony Gallery at SCOPE.
Authorities remind motorists to lock their vehicles
Police are reminding motorists to properly secure their vehicles in the wake of recent theft.
According to a post on the Bermuda Police Service’s Facebook page, three reports of thefts from vehicles were reported to authorities on Tuesday.
In each of these matters, the cars were left unlocked.
Police stressed the importance of locking your vehicle at all times, even if just running out to grab something quickly from a nearby store.
“Don’t make it easy for thieves to make off with your cash or valuables,” the post added.
Some tips offered by authorities include, parking in high trafficked, well lit areas … not to leave your purchases in plain view and always remembering to lock your parked vehicle before leaving it unattended.
Packed town hall hears concerns over proposed site selection, storm safety and consultation
It was a packed house at the Western Zone Community Centre in Sandys Parish on Tuesday night for Government’s Town Hall on the proposed installation of modular housing units in the Boaz Island area. Dozens of area residents gathered to learn more about the initiative, aimed at helping to ease the housing crisis. Alisa Bernardo was in attendance and filed the below report.
The European Central Bank also delivers its policy decision on Thursday and is widely expected to leave rates unchanged
International News via Reuters:
Global shares crept higher on Thursday, after the tech sector got hit by renewed concern over AI spending, and investors prepared for a series of central bank meetings that will probably reflect the divergence in worldwide monetary policy.
Geopolitical tensions are roiling commodities markets. Oil prices extended a rebound from five-year lows after President Donald Trump ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Silver hit a new record that helped pull up gold.
Sterling fell for a second day, after an unexpected drop in UK inflation on Wednesday all but guaranteed a rate cut from the Bank of England later on Thursday.
The European Central Bank also delivers its policy decision on Thursday and is widely expected to leave rates unchanged, while traders expect Japan to raise rates on Friday but are less certain about the pace of tightening next year.
Shares in Europe rose broadly, lifting the STOXX 600 by 0.1%, while U.S. stock futures rose 0.3-0.6%, suggesting there may be some respite for the benchmark indexes after Wednesday’s wash-out.
Concern over record AI spending resurfaced after Oracle announced an equity deal to support a data centre project would not include a key partner, Blue Owl Capital. Its shares tumbled 5.4%, meaning they have now lost 50% of their value since mid-September, when a deal with OpenAI sparked a 35% one-day rise.
“Oracle remained the primary source of anxiety … This latest setback deepened investor scepticism around Oracle’s aggressive AI infrastructure build-out,” said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG, adding that he has now moved to a more neutral stance on the Nasdaq 100.
“Worries over soaring capex, heavy debt, construction delays, OpenAI’s massive cash burn, and mixed Q2 earnings have eroded confidence, positioning Oracle as the poster child of fading AI infrastructure hype.”
INFLATION SURPRISE FIRMS CASE FOR BOE RATE CUT
On the monetary policy front, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, who is expected to be interviewed by Trump as a candidate for the next chair, said the central bank had room to cut interest rates, given the signs of job market weakness.
Trump said late on Wednesday the next Fed chairman would be someone who believed in lower interest rates “by a lot.” The Fed has signalled only one rate cut next year.
Investors are also waiting for a U.S. inflation report for November later on Thursday that is expected to show core inflation at 3%.
With the Fed focused on the jobs market, the inflation report may have less impact on rate expectations than it otherwise might.
“CPI, frankly, doesn’t matter too much, with the Fed’s reaction function tilting entirely towards supporting a stalling labour market at this stage, while jobless claims probably won’t especially move the needle either, even if the initial print does coincide with the December nonfarm payrolls survey week,” said Pepperstone strategist Michael Brown.
In the currency markets, sterling fell for a second day, dropping 0.16% to $1.3353, having hit a low of $1.3313 overnight after data showed British inflation slowed more than forecast to 3.2% in November, the lowest since March. That all but cemented the case for a rate cut from the BoE.
The euro eased 0.14% to $1.1724, not far from a three-month top of $1.18, ahead of the ECB decision.
Treasuries gained modestly in price, which sent two-year yields down 2 basis points to 3.464%, while benchmark 10-year yields dropped 1.8 bps to 4.133%.
Oil prices gained for a second day as Trump’s blockade of Venezuelan energy exports remained in place. Reports that the U.S. was preparing new sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow did not agree to a Ukraine peace deal also fuelled concern over near-term supply. [O/R]
U.S. crude rose 0.6% to $56.13 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 0.5% to $60 a barrel.
Additional reporting by Stella Qui in Sydney; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Stephen Coates and Kate Mayberry
He said Currys was planning for little change to the subdued consumer environment in 2026
International News via Reuters:
British consumer confidence and spending is muted heading into Christmas and the government’s budget last month did little to help, the boss of electricals retailer Currys said on Thursday.
“What we’re concerned about is consumers’ already high tax burden has increased further (in the budget) and that will weigh down on already muted consumer confidence and spending in the UK,” CEO Alex Baldock told reporters after Currys reported first half results.
He said Currys was planning for little change to the subdued consumer environment in 2026.
“We’re not counting on any improvement in the UK consumer outlook, confidence or spending, looking forward,” he said.
But he said he was confident Currys could still grow profit despite the tough macro backdrop.
The Taiwan arms sale announcement is the second under U.S. President Donald Trump’s current administration, and comes as Beijing ramps up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan
International News via Reuters:
The United States on Wednesday approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever U.S. weapons package for the island which is under increasing military pressure from China.
The Taiwan arms sale announcement is the second under U.S. President Donald Trump’s current administration, and comes as Beijing ramps up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The proposed arms sales cover eight items, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munition drones and parts for other equipment, Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement.
“The United States continues to assist Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self‑defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power and leveraging asymmetric warfare advantages, which form the foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” it added.
The ministry said the package is at the Congressional notification stage, which is where Congress has a chance to block or alter the sale should it wish, though Taiwan has widespread cross-party support.
In a series of separate statements announcing details of the weapons deal, the Pentagon said the arms sales serve U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting Taiwan’s continuing efforts to modernise its armed forces and to maintain a “credible defensive capability”.
Pushed by the United States, Taiwan has been working to transform its armed forces to be able to wage “asymmetric warfare”, using mobile, smaller and often cheaper weapons which still pack a targeted punch, like drones.
“Our country will continue to promote defence reforms, strengthen whole‑of‑society defence resilience, demonstrate our determination to defend ourselves, and safeguard peace through strength,” Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement, thanking the United States for the sales.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last month announced a $40 billion supplementary defence budget, to run from 2026 to 2033, saying there was “no room for compromise on national security”.
China’s foreign ministry expressed anger, as it does with all U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying it “severely undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” and demanded an end to such deals.
“By aiding ‘Taiwan independence’ with weapons, the U.S. side will only bring fire upon itself; using Taiwan to contain China is absolutely doomed to fail,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, said weapons like the HIMARS, which have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces, could play an essential role in destroying an invading Chinese force.
“This bundle of congressional notifications, a record in U.S. security assistance for Taiwan, is a response to the threat from China and the demand from Mr. Trump that partners and allies do more to secure their own defence,” he added.
FOREIGN MINISTER’S U.S. VISIT
The announcement followed an unannounced trip by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Washington-area last week to meet U.S. officials, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Reuters was unable to determine the agenda of the meetings and Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined to comment.
Washington has formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. The U.S. is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such arms sales are a persistent source of friction with China.
Trump’s penchant for dealmaking and his planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, have kindled fears in the region of weakening U.S. support for Taiwan.
But U.S. officials told Reuters at the outset of Trump’s second term this year that they had plans to ramp up weapons sales to Taipei to a level exceeding Trump’s first term as part of an effort to deter China.
The Trump administration’s national security strategy unveiled earlier this month said the U.S. aimed to deter conflict over Taiwan by “preserving military overmatch” against China in the region, language welcomed in Taipei.
The strategy also highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance due to its location dividing “Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theatres”.
China views Taiwan as its own territory, a position Taipei rejects.
Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael Perry
Premier among those in attendance for Izola Marie Harvey’s 100th birthday celebrations
Images and media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
Last Sunday (Dec. 14) Izola Marie Harvey was celebrated by family, friends, and members of the community on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
The event, attended by approximately 170 people, including the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, honoured her life, legacy, and contributions to Bermuda.
In 1959, alongside her late husband Gerald Harvey, Ms Harvey became one of twenty Bermudians who formed the Progressive Group. At a time when segregation was legal and deeply rooted in daily life, the Group took deliberate and courageous action to bring about change, culminating in the Theatre Boycott of 1959, an organised and nonviolent protest that led to the ending of segregation in Bermuda.
Ms Harvey is the mother of Donna Harvey Maybury and Lisa Harvey Simmons. Her grandson, Gregg Maybury Jr., is a well-known former cricketer.
Speaking at the event, Premier Burt reflected on Ms Harvey’s lifetime of service and her lasting impact on the country.
He said, “The change that has been achieved in and by the lifetime we recognise today is nothing short of remarkable. You were not a bystander. You were an integral part of a movement that changed Bermuda forever. Today we celebrate not only the milestone of reaching 100 years but the substance and meaning of those years. On behalf of the Government I say, a happy 100th birthday to you today, Ms Harvey. I know that all Bermuda joins with me in saying not just happy birthday, but thank you.”
A quarter-point cut would take Bank Rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, although that would still be almost double the equivalent rate of the European Central Bank
International News via Reuters:
The Bank of England is expected to lower interest rates on Thursday after a sharp slowdown in inflation and a weakening in economic growth, but a string of further cuts in 2026 looks unlikely given Britain’s lingering price pressures.
Investors think the BoE will reduce its benchmark rate to 3.75% from 4% for a fourth cut of 2025, welcome news for finance minister Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister Keir Starmer who are struggling to meet promises to voters of faster economic growth.
A quarter-point cut would take Bank Rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, although that would still be almost double the equivalent rate of the European Central Bank.
British inflation remains the highest among the Group of Seven economies – in part because of Reeves’ decision last year to raise taxes on employers – even after it fell sharply to 3.2% in data released on Wednesday.
Investors are fully pricing only one more BoE rate cut in 2026, most likely by the end of April, although bets on a second one rose after the November inflation drop.
ENTRENCHED POSITIONS ON MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE
Hetal Mehta, chief economist at wealth management firm St. James’s Place, said the different camps on the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee were unlikely to shift their medium-term stances significantly this week.
“There’s enough ambiguity around some of the numbers going into next year for there not to be back-to-back rate cuts,” Mehta said. “The data confirms the direction of travel. It’s the magnitude (of rate cuts) that is up for debate.”
The nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee have been almost evenly split in recent months. In November they voted 5-4 to keep rates on hold.
Analysts polled by Reuters last week forecast a 5-4 split in favour of a cut at their December meeting with Governor Andrew Bailey switching sides to tip the balance.
Wednesday’s bigger-than-expected inflation slowdown – which followed data on Tuesday showing a weakening jobs market including the highest unemployment rate since 2021 – might now persuade more MPC members to vote for a cut, Mehta said.
Britain’s economy shrank 0.1% in the three months to October amid reports that businesses put investment projects on ice in the run-up to Reeves’ budget on November 26.
INFLATION PRESSURES PERSIST IN UK
But Britain is not out of its inflation problem yet.
S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index, also published on Tuesday, showed rising inflation pressures and suggested businesses were turning a corner after the budget.
Relief at the BoE over the big drop in the headline inflation rate is likely to be tempered by only a small fall in the pace of price increases in the services sector.
Furthermore, the inflation-reducing impact of Reeves’ budget – which removed green levies from power bills and froze rail fares – is likely to be only temporary.
Other major central banks are believed to be close to halting their rate cuts – the U.S. Federal Reserve last week signalled one more in 2026 while the ECB has probably already come to the end of its monetary loosening cycle.
Economists are watching closely for any change in the BoE’s language in Thursday’s statement about the prospect of further reductions, including possible changes to its recent description of borrowing costs as being on a “gradual downward path”.
“Because inflation remains above target and services components still look sticky, policymakers are unlikely to deliver a deeply dovish message,” Daniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at trading platform Capital.com, said.
“Instead, the BoE is likely to frame any cut as part of a gradual, risk-managed shift rather than a full easing cycle.”
Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Catherine Evans
O’Neill, who will take over in April following the abrupt departure of Murray Auchincloss, will become BP’s first CEO appointed from outside the company
International News via Reuters:
Oil and gas major BP has appointed Meg O’Neill, the head of Australia’s Woodside Energy, as its next CEO to lead its effort to boost profits and refocus on oil and gas after a detour into renewables.
O’Neill, who will take over in April following the abrupt departure of Murray Auchincloss, will become BP’s first CEO appointed from outside the company in its more than century-long history and the first woman to head any of the world’s top five oil majors.
The second CEO change in just over two years is a sign that the British oil major is seeking a renewed push to improve its business after its shares and earnings for years lagged behind competitors like Exxon Mobil and Shell.
The company embarked on a major strategy shift earlier this year, slashing billions in planned renewable energy initiatives and shifting its focus back to traditional oil and gas. BP has pledged to divest $20 billion in assets by 2027 and reduce debt and costs.
“Progress has been made in recent years, but increased rigor and diligence are required to make the necessary transformative changes to maximise value for our shareholders,” new BP Chair Albert Manifold said in a statement.
When Manifold took up his post in October, he emphasised the need for a deeper reshaping of BP’s portfolio to increase profitability.
Manifold faced pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, one of BP’s largest shareholders, which called for him to urgently address the company’s shortcomings and put in place “decisive and effective leadership”.
‘HIGH-PROFILE HIRE’
O’Neill, a 55-year-old American from Boulder, Colorado, has headed Woodside since 2021 and previously spent 23 years at Exxon Mobil.
“This is clearly a high-profile hire, and probably some of the change that BP shareholders have been looking for,” said Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners.
Under O’Neill’s leadership, Woodside merged with BHP Group’s petroleum arm to create a top 10 global independent oil and gas producer valued at $40 billion and doubled Woodside’s oil and gas production.
The acquisition took the company to the U.S., where it has expanded into onshore Louisiana liquefied natural gas.
“What this to me signals is we (BP) don’t want to sell, we want to pursue a firm-wide push in natural gas,” said Michael Alfaro, chief investment officer at Gallo Partners. “O’Neill is definitely respected, has a good track record of execution.”
Woodside shares fell as much as 2.9% after her departure was announced.
BP’s executive vice president, Carol Howle, will serve as interim CEO until O’Neill assumes the position. Auchincloss, 55, will step down as CEO on Thursday and serve in an advisory role until December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
BP said O’Neill’s appointment was part of long-term succession planning, but it had not publicly announced a search process before it flagged his departure late on Wednesday evening.
Auchincloss became CEO in 2024, taking over from Bernard Looney, who was fired for lying about personal relationships with colleagues.
After an ill-fated foray into renewables under Looney, BP has vowed to increase profitability and cut costs while re-routing spending to focus on oil and gas.
BP in August launched a review of how best to develop and monetise its oil and gas production assets.
During BP’s third-quarter earnings call last month, the company did not give an update on the closely-watched sale process for its Castrol lubricants unit, the centrepiece of its $20 billion asset-sale drive to slash its debt pile.
Woodside said in a separate statement that O’Neill was leaving the Australian company immediately and it had appointed executive Liz Westcott as acting CEO, while intending to announce a permanent appointment in the first quarter of 2026.
Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru, Sheila Dang and Arathy Somasekhar in Houston, Helen Clark in Perth and Stephanie Kelly in Chicago; Editing by Simon Webb, Peter Henderson and Jamie Freed
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