The only three European companies that deliver entire space systems rather than individual components – Airbus,Leonardo and Thales – are in talks to combine their satellite businesses
International News via Reuters:
A senior official from the European Space Agency said mergers could be needed to reach the scale to compete with U.S. and Chinese rivals, but that too much concentration could limit choice.
The only three European companies that deliver entire space systems rather than individual components – Airbus, Italy’s Leonardo and France’s Thales – are in talks to combine their satellite businesses.
“Having only one in the future is not too helpful,” European Space Agency Director of Operations Rolf Densing told Reuters on Thursday. “On the other hand, they need a critical mass of business, which I perfectly understand.”
The proposed 10 billion euro ($11.68 billion) satellite joint venture is designed to counter competitors, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, and an initial agreement is possible before the end of the year.
The space agency is the largest customer for satellites in Europe and the European Commission, which can block merger proposals if it finds them anti-competitive, is likely to consider its views along with those of other customers.
Despite investment in other aspects of spaceflight, Densing said Europe continues to depend on others to launch its astronauts into space.
It should instead strive to conduct space missions entirely independently, without relying on foreign partners or external suppliers for critical components or services, Densing said.
“Former good partners are now in a war,” he said. “And NASA is probably today not what it used to be a couple of years ago.”
The increased importance of space in defence has added to the need for independence.
“I’m convinced that the future of defence is in space, or at least that space plays a major role in this,” Densing said.
Reporting by Miranda Murray; editing by Barbara Lewis
Recent strikes have reduced power supply in the country but the effect has been minimal as France has been a net power exporter during the industrial actions
International News via Reuters:
French nuclear operator EDF said on Friday it had received notice of a labour strike to be held from late on October 1 through to October 2 as part of a nationwide protest.
Recent strikes have reduced power supply in the country but the effect has been minimal as France has been a net power exporter during the industrial actions.
Reporting by Forrest Crellin, Editing by Louise Heavens
Bermudian harness driver Kiwon Waldron navigated a demanding schedule at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, combining a crucial qualifying heat with four regular races, demonstrating his consistency on the competitive US circuit.
Waldron’s evening started brightly with a strong performance in the Qualifying Trot Class (Race 6). Driving Swanbrook Annie, he guided the horse to a third-place finish, clocking a time of 2 minutes and 3.2 seconds.
In his regular race card, Waldron secured multiple top-half finishes across the Trot and Pace classes:
Pace Class Highlight: Waldron’s best result came in Race 4, where he teamed up with Real Cool Cole to secure fourth place with a swift time of 1:52.2.
Trot and Pace: He finished sixth in Race 3 (Trot Class) with Classy As Gold in 1:58 flat, and again in his final race, Race 7 (Pace Class), driving Tellme U R Mydate to a 1:55.2 finish.
Waldron’s ability to secure strong finishes across his five drives highlights his busy and developmental phase in the US harness racing environment. The fourth-place finish in the Pace Class was a strong demonstration of his speed against a competitive field.
Starmer feels acute pressure to stop people entering the country illegally by crossing the sea in small boats from France
International News via Reuters:
The British government said on Friday it would require every employee to hold a digital identity document, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s latest attempt to tackle illegal migration and reduce the threat from the populist Reform UK party.
Addressing the Global Progress Action Summit alongside the leaders of Canada, Australia and Iceland, Starmer said his left-leaning Labour government, like others, had been “squeamish” about discussing voters’ concerns on immigration.
That had allowed parties such as Reform UK to gain popularity, Starmer said, acknowledging that the party led by Brexit veteran Nigel Farage was likely to be Labour’s main challenger at the next election, due in 2029.
“That is why today I am announcing this government will make a new, free-of-charge, digital ID mandatory for the right to work by the end of this parliament,” he said.
BRITISH RIGHT-WING PARTIES CAUSE ‘TOXIC DIVIDE’
“In the UK … we have got a right-wing proposition that we have not had in this country before … so the battle of our times is between patriotic national renewal … versus something which is turning into a toxic divide.”
Polling shows immigration is one of British voters’ main concerns after the cost of living, and Starmer feels acute pressure to stop people entering the country illegally by crossing the sea in small boats from France.
But his latest plan drew criticism from political opponents.
“It’s laughable that those already breaking immigration law will suddenly comply, or that digital IDs will have any impact on illegal work, which thrives on cash-in-hand payments,” said a spokesperson for Reform, which is leading in opinion polls.
The government said the digital ID would be held on people’s mobile phones and become a mandatory part of the checks employers have to make when hiring staff.
Over time, it would also be used to provide access to services such as childcare, welfare and access to tax records.
Identity cards are relatively common elsewhere in Europe, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain.
Britain, which has a poor track record in delivering major IT projects on time and on budget, said it would use the best aspects of digital IDs used in Estonia, Denmark, Australia and India in its design.
MOST BRITONS SUPPORT ID CARDS
More than half of Britons – 57% – support a national identity card scheme, polling by Ipsos found in July.
But around three in 10 were concerned about personal data being used without permission, followed by worries about information being sold to private companies and security breaches, Ipsos said.
Labour attempted to introduce an identity card when it was in power in the 2000s, but the plan was dropped on civil liberty concerns.
Identity cards were abolished in the UK after World War Two, and Britons typically use documents such as passports and driving licences to prove their identity.
Irish nationalist politicians in Northern Ireland, where many hold Irish rather than British passports and symbols of British rule are divisive, also criticised Starmer’s plan; the nationalist first minister, Michelle O’Neill, called it “ludicrous and ill-thought-out”.
Reporting by William James and Paul Sandle; Additional reporting by Amanda Ferguson and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Catarina Demony, Paul Sandle, Toby Chopra and Kate Mayberry; Editing by Kevin Liffey
The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) annual Back to School Tournament is officially underway at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium, with the opening evening of competition featuring eight matches and some dominant early performances from the island’s junior talent.
The spotlight fell on the older age groups as Tristan Pettit delivered a crushing display in his Boy’s 18 opening match. Pettit wasted no time in asserting his dominance, defeating Raul Maldonado Jaime in straight sets with a resounding 6-1, 6-0 scoreline. The result signals Pettit’s intent to be a major contender for the tournament title.
On the Girl’s 12 side, Lee Terceira battled through a tight first set before securing her opening victory. Terceira defeated Arianna Parra Delgado in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. After edging the fiercely competitive opening set, Terceira found another gear in the second to close out the match and advance to the next round.
The two matches were among the eight contested on the opening night, setting the stage for a week of junior tennis as the island’s rising stars compete across the various age categories. With players shaking off the summer break, fans can expect more intensity as the tournament progresses.
The dollar was down 0.18% to 149.52 against the Japanese yen, on track for a fifth consecutive week of gains and trading near its highest level since August 1
International News via Reuters:
The dollar edged lower but was still on track for its second straight week of gains against major peers on Friday after data continued to show U.S. economic resilience, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cut interest rates.
The dollar was down 0.18% to 149.52 against the Japanese yen, on track for a fifth consecutive week of gains and trading near its highest level since August 1.
The euro was up 0.27% to $1.1698. It was on course to finish the week lower, snapping three straight weeks of gains.
US DATA TAKES STEAM OUT OF FED RATE CUT PRICING
U.S. consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose 0.6% in August, slightly higher than the 0.5% estimated by economists polled by Reuters.
The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, rose 0.3% last month, in line with expectations, U.S. Commerce Department data showed.
“I think it’s pretty clear that stronger economic data has taken the steam out of the pricing for Fed rate cuts and that’s sort of narrowed the interest rate differential with other countries and pushed the dollar higher,” said John Velis, Americas FX and macro strategist at BNY in New York.
“We still think that hedging behavior is quite strong, so we still see lots of forward selling of dollars even while the U.S. assets, particularly U.S. equities, continue to gain influence from abroad, although that’s taken a little bit of a backseat this week as well to some degree. But I think it’s fairly clear that as Fed expectations go so will the dollar go in the short term,” Velis added.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, fell 0.3% to 98.28. It was still on track for the second straight week of gains.
The two-year note yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations for the Fed, fell 1.6 basis points to 3.647%.
Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin said he sees limited risks of a big rise in either unemployment or inflation, letting the Fed balance its two goals as it debates further interest rate cuts. Barkin is the latest Fed official to comment on the Fed’s decision last week to start cutting rates.
Traders are pricing in an 85.5% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut at the Fed’s next meeting, down from nearly 92% probability a week ago, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
Data had shown on Thursday that U.S. gross domestic product rose by an upwardly revised 3.8% from April through June, beating expectations.
The dollar was down 0.19% to 0.789 against the Swiss franc. It was still on track to finish the week higher, ending a run of six consecutive weeks of losses.
Logan Jimenez and his youthful Hibernian Development Squad teammates secured their first point in the KDM Evolution Trophy with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Cove Rangers at Balmoral Stadium.
Hibernian went into the match with a particularly youthful squad, featuring a number of changes from their previous outing, and faced a stiff test from their hosts. After a challenging start, the Hibees grew into the game.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Dean Cleland opened the scoring for the visitors. Cleland’s powerful first-time finish into the bottom corner gave the keeper no chance, capping off good work from the Hibs midfield and wingers.
However, Cove Rangers pressed hard for an equalizer, and it eventually came through Ryan Harrington, who headed home at the back post in the 74th minute following a free-kick delivery.
Despite a late offensive flurry from Cove, the Hibs Dev Squad, featuring Jimenez who was substituted at half-time, held firm. The draw is a respectable result in the North and represents a valuable point for the young squad in the league phase of the KDM Evolution Trophy.
Closest point could be Tuesday night, into Wednesday
Hurricane Humberto is headed in our general direction and has been declared a potential threat to Bermuda.
It is currently a Category 1 storm but is expected to strengthen to a Cat 4 by Monday morning. Humberto is likely to weaken slightly to a Cat 3 when it comes closest to Bermuda, to our west, late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
The Bermuda Weather Service says Humberto is packing winds of 65 knots, gusting to 75. It is moving slowly north-west, at three miles per hour.
Complicating matters is the likely formation of another storm, Imelda, to the west of Umberto. Experts say if one storm turns out to be much stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit the larger one and eventually be absorbed.
However, if Humberto and Imelda are similar in strength, they might either spin each other around or, in what would be a rare occurrence, merge to form one large storm.
One estimate is that Bermuda can expect winds of 30 to 50 knots, gusting to 65 knots, with torrential rain Tuesday night into early Wednesday.
Any fluctuation of Humberto to the east would bring much stronger winds, as Bermuda is on the stronger side of the storm.
Go online to the Bermuda Weather Service for detailed updates.
The goal is to tidy more than 60 beaches and coastal areas across the island
Press release:
Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) is proud to announce the continuation of its long-standing partnership with EY Bermuda for the 2025 Annual Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup. This year’s campaign runs from Friday, September 26 through Friday, October 5, with a goal of cleaning more than 60 beaches and coastal areas across Bermuda. EY Bermuda will kick off the cleanups on Friday, 26 September, with their staff tackling Horseshoe Bay Beach, one of the island’s most iconic and well-loved locations.
“KBB’s Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup has been a flagship event for over two decades, and EY Bermuda has proudly supported this effort for the past fifteen years. Together, we have made a measurable impact on protecting Bermuda’s marine environment while raising awareness about the global ocean pollution crisis. Last year alone, 706 volunteers participated in 46 cleanups, removing more than 73,000 pounds of marine debris, litter, and illegally dumped waste from 17.16 miles of coastline and 3.3 miles of seabed. This year, we already have 65 cleanup sites confirmed—and counting.”
“We at EY Bermuda are proud to call this beautiful island home and are dedicated to safeguarding its unique and fragile environment. At EY we are committed to shaping the future with confidence, and supporting KBB’s annual cleanup reflects that. Many of our employees eagerly anticipate the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, remove litter, combat ocean pollution, and contribute to KBB’s mission of keeping Bermuda beautiful.”
New Highlights in 2025
Largest marine conservation effort in Bermuda: KBB’s Coastal Cleanup remains the island’s most comprehensive marine debris removal initiative. Data collected locally contributes to the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), helping track global ocean pollution trends and shape long-term solutions.
Going paperless: This year, KBB is encouraging volunteers to use the CleanSwell App to record data digitally, reducing paper use while improving accuracy.
The Great Global Nurdle Hunt: After nurdles were first discovered during last year’s cleanup, Bermuda has officially joined this global monitoring project. Nurdles—tiny plastic pellets used in almost all plastic production—pose a serious threat to marine life worldwide.
Bermuda’s role in global research: Situated in the North Atlantic Gyre, Bermuda provides critical insight into how plastic and debris circulate globally. KBB works with local and international partners to study and combat these patterns.
Special World Tourism Day Cleanup – 27 September
A major highlight this year will be a community cleanup at Kindley Field Road from 9–11am, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Four pillars of Bermuda’s tourism industry—BermudAir, Skyport, Hamilton Princess, Bermuda Tourism Authority, and Bermuda Pilot Gig—will join forces to celebrate the day by cleaning together, showcasing national pride in protecting Bermuda’s beauty.
Each partner has expressed enthusiasm for joining the Coastal Cleanup on a day dedicated to recognising the value of tourism worldwide:
BermudAir – Founder and CEO of Adam Scott added:
“BermudAir is proud to call Bermuda home. Our island’s coastline never stops amazing me, and it’s a big part of why people fall in love with this place. On World Tourism Day, I’m reminded that the beauty visitors travel so far to see is the same beauty we get to enjoy every day. Taking part in the cleanup is just one small way we can give back—helping keep our shores as breathtaking as the welcome we want to share with every guest. Protecting what makes Bermuda so special is something that matters to all of us at BermudAir.”
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s Roydell Neverson, Chair, CSR & Sustainability Committee, said: “We are thrilled to take part in the 2025 Annual Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup, especially on a day that celebrates the global importance of tourism. At Hamilton Princess, we understand that protecting Bermuda’s natural beauty is essential—not only for the health of our environment, but for the future of our tourism industry. It’s an honour to join the community in preserving our coastline for generations to come.”
Erin Wright, Acting CEO, of Bermuda Tourism Authority “As Bermuda’s tourism stewards, we know that protecting and preserving our natural environment is essential to safeguarding the beauty and authenticity that draw visitors from around the world. The Island-Wide Coastal Cleanup reflects the very spirit of our community—working together to care for the places we all cherish. By supporting efforts like this, we not only strengthen our environment for future generations but also defend Bermuda’s position as a premier tourism destination. We salute KBB, EY Bermuda, and all of the volunteers whose commitment to sustainability reflects the Greener Pillar of the National Tourism Plan in action.”
Ciara Eve, Skyport’s Head of Brand Development & Communications, noted: “World Tourism Day is a celebration of the places we love and the people who help us experience them. We are proud to support KBB’s Coastal Cleanup as another way to honour Bermuda’s natural beauty and reinforce our commitment to keeping the island clean for residents and visitors alike.”
These voices demonstrate a shared commitment across Bermuda’s tourism sector to preserving the island’s natural environment while welcoming visitors and supporting sustainable practices.
Special Thanks
KBB extends heartfelt thanks to:
K. Margaret Carter Centre staff and clients for preparing hundreds of cleanup kits.
Charity Home staff and clients for repairing broken litter grabbers.
KBB’s dedicated team—Abby, Ashlee-Rose, and Alandra— for their tireless work in planning and executing the cleanups.
Angel Smith added:
“It truly takes a community effort to make the Coastal Cleanup such a success. From our sponsors and partners to our volunteers and staff, everyone plays a part in tackling the challenges of littering, illegal dumping, and marine pollution. Together, we can #SeaTheChange.”
Britain on Friday said it was pressing the United States on pharmaceutical tariffs in hope of a beneficial outcome
International News via Reuters:
Britain on Friday said it was pressing the United States on pharmaceutical tariffs in hope of a beneficial outcome, after President Donald Trump said a new 100% tariff would apply to firms unless they build a manufacturing presence in the country.
“We know this will be concerning for industry, which is why we’ve been actively engaging with the U.S. and will continue to do so over the coming days,” a British government spokesperson said.
“Sectors such as pharmaceuticals are critical to our economy… so we will continue to press the U.S. for outcomes that reflect the strength of our relationship and deliver real benefits for UK industry.”
Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by William James
The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act
International News via Reuters:
A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah too late, a London court ruled on Friday, throwing out his prosecution.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O’Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024.
The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
After a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Judge Paul Goldpsring ruled that Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged after the six-month limit to bring such a charge which can only be dealt with by the magistrates’ court.
“The charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge,” the judge said to cheers from the public gallery.
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