Each year, Bermuda loses an average of three to five lives to suicide, according to the Ministry of Health.
It’s a tragic statistic, especially in a small, close-knit community like ours.
This Suicide Prevention Month, Dr. Anna Neilson Williams, Chief of Psychiatry at the Bermuda Hospitals Board, is reminding us that this is a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and challenge stigma.
Dr. Neilson Williams says recent violent events in the community may be contributing to rising emotional distress and people may be suffering in silence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the 24-hour crisis support line at MWI on 239-1111.
The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s annual event is expanded to three nights
Full press release from BUEI:
The annual Manhattan Short Film Festival is returning to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) for another great run of internationally-acclaimed short films that are nominated for the prestigious Oscars!
Due to popular demand, this year’s event has expanded to include three screenings, all starting at 7pm:
Thursday 25 September
Tuesday 30 September
Thursday 2 October
This extraordinary festival is a unique global film event and your individual vote counts!
Short-listed to a selection of top ten finalist films that are in the running for this year’s Academy Awards, the week-long Manhattan Film Festival is being hosted at over 500 locations spanning six continents.
BUEI is one of the participating venues and you have an exclusive opportunity to vote for the Best Film and Best Actor awards.
General Admission tickets are $15, or take up the Big Screen Package for $25, which includes one complimentary beer, wine or non-alcoholic beverage and a snack pack.
Tickets are selling fast!
Visit www.BUEI.org to learn more about the festival, explore the lineup of films and book your tickets.
You can also purchase tickets online at P-TIX.bm or in person at BUEI’s Oceans Gift Shop for tickets.
Police have a large presence on Court Street, with a number of officers inside the Spinning Wheel Bar.
We understand police have been at the scene since this morning.
Officers wearing rubber gloves have been spotted and it appears police are searching the interior of the building.
A police spokesperson confirmed, “As part of an ongoing investigation by the Bermuda Police Service (BPS) officers today executed a warrant at a location on Court Street in the city of Hamilton.
“The BPS can confirm that items liable for seizure were recovered during the search.”
The description of the items were not revealed.
Both entrances to the bar have been cordoned off and traffic flow was unimpeded along Court Street.
“No further information will be provided at this time as this operation remains in progress,” police said.
Owen Darrell says one of the top priorities is to increase airlift capacity
Ahead of the upcoming World Tourism Day this weekend, The Hon Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport is due to attend The State of the Tourism Industry Conference in Barbados. During the conference, ministers from across the Caribbean will discuss issues that are affecting them. He expressed that for Bermuda, one of the top priorities is to ensure that airlift capacity can continue to support both leisure and group travellers to the Island.
He continues that 2026 is shaping up to be an important year for Bermuda, with continued investment in property development across the island, supported by the Tourism Investment Act, which will be tabled in the House this Friday.
Bermudian sailor Stephen Dickinson has put in a solid performance at the Solo Inlands 2025, hosted by the Grafham Water Sailing Club. Competing in a competitive fleet of 49 boats, Dickinson finished in 11th place overall, demonstrating his consistency and skill over the two-day, six-race regatta.
Dickinson, who is no stranger to success on the UK circuit, accumulated a total of 46 net points. His scoreline, after dropping his worst result, included finishes of 6th, 9th, 15th, 12th, 17th, and a standout 3rd place in the final race of the event.
His performance was marked by three top-10 finishes, highlighting his ability to compete with the best in the fleet. The final race proved to be his best of the weekend, where he showcased his experience and tactical awareness to secure a podium finish.
The result is a positive one for Dickinson, who continues to be a regular and competitive presence in one of the UK’s most popular dinghy classes. His 11th-place finish among 49 competitors is a testament to his consistent sailing and a promising sign for the remainder of his season.
The probe will examine whether Spotify favors certain rights holders in its algorithms, and whether its subscription pricing in Turkey is set at levels that unfairly hinder competitors
International News via Reuters:
Turkey’s competition authority said on Thursday that it has launched an investigation into Spotify to look into possible discriminatory practices and predatory pricing in the online music streaming market.
The probe will examine whether Spotify favors certain rights holders in its algorithms, and whether its subscription pricing in Turkey is set at levels that unfairly hinder competitors and rights holders, the antitrust authority said on its website.
Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Daren Butler
The push into new territories is part of CEO Daniel Erver’s strategy to revive performance and boost profitability of one of the world’s largest apparel retailers
International News via Reuters:
Fashion retailer H&M is seeking to expand in emerging markets such as Brazil and India, its CEO said on Thursday, as consumer spending weakens in Europe, its core region, and U.S. tariffs weigh on demand in its second-largest market.
The push into new territories is part of CEO Daniel Erver’s strategy to revive performance and boost profitability of one of the world’s largest apparel retailers by improving its brand appeal and responding faster to fashion trends.
The company is working to fend off competition from Inditex-owned Zara and Shein.
BRAZIL EXPANSION MARKS LATIN AMERICA PUSH
H&M opened its first store in Brazil in August, in an upscale mall in Sao Paulo. Two more are planned by the end of November with an additional four for 2026 – including in Rio de Janeiro.
“In some of these markets that we haven’t really penetrated… we see a bigger opportunity for growth, Brazil being one, Latin America in general being one, and India being another,” Erver told Reuters.
Erver said he is cautious about consumer demand in the U.S. in the fourth quarter, as U.S. tariffs on imports have driven some retailers to hike prices amid declining consumer confidence.
STORE COUNT HITS LOWEST SINCE 2016
The expansion in Brazil and other emerging markets comes as H&M has sharply reduced its global footprint, closing stores rapidly since the pandemic.
H&M’s global store numbers are down 19% from the peak at the end of 2019, with 4,118 stores worldwide by the end of last month – its lowest since mid-2016. It plans to shut 200 stores during 2025 in total, primarily in mature markets. Zara-owner Inditex has also reduced its store numbers to 5,528 at the end of July.
In addition to entering new regions, H&M has opened flagship stores in prime tourist and shopping districts, including Paris’ Le Marais and Shanghai’s Huaihai Road, to appeal to style-conscious consumers.
Danske Bank analyst Daniel Schmidt said it was uncertain how quickly the Brazil expansion would translate into improved performance.
“It remains unclear how much this could affect sales growth next year,” said Schmidt. “But of course, it’s encouraging that they’ve been well received so far.”
PREMIUM BRAND COS TARGETS INDIA
H&M’s premium brand, Cos, which offers items such as $149 dresses and $299 cashmere jumpers, is set to launch in India with a store in Delhi during the fourth quarter, according to Erver.
“You see in many of the emerging markets that there are great opportunities for affordable luxury positioning, and India is one super interesting market to explore for Cos,” said Erver, adding that he plans to visit India in the coming weeks.
H&M also plans a broader expansion in Latin America, launching in Venezuela in the fourth quarter and Paraguay next year, having opened in El Salvador earlier this month.
Reporting by Helen Reid in London and Greta Rosen Fondahn in Stockholm, Editing by Louise Heavens
Lexington, Kentucky – Bermudian equestrian Nick Lopes has ended his summer season with a strong showing at the KHJA show at the Kentucky Horse Park, underlining his growing presence on the competitive US circuit.
Lopes delivered consistent, high-level performances with both of his mounts, Aquiles Del Caribe Z and G-STAR.
The highlight came in the Grand Prix National classes. Riding Aquiles Del Caribe Z, Lopes navigated a field of 38 entries to secure a respectable ninth-place finish in the Welcome Grand Prix. He then tackled his first-ever Grand Prix, finishing just outside the ribbons in 13th place against 30 top riders—an invaluable experience for the young Bermudian.
His success continued with G-STAR in the 1.40-1.45M Jr/Am Jumper Division, where the pair finished 10th in the main division and a fantastic fifth in the 1.45M Classic.
These top-10 finishes on both horses in high-calibre events cap off a productive summer for Lopes, who is clearly taking crucial steps forward in the world of show jumping.
The Irish airline, Europe’s largest by passenger numbers, had flights disrupted when Poland shot down several Russian drones earlier this month
International News via Reuters:
Drone disruption is likely to become an irritant for the airline industry but is unlikely to affect profitability, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said on Thursday.
It is governments rather than airports or airlines who should cover the cost of defending against them, he added.
The Irish airline, Europe’s largest by passenger numbers, had flights disrupted when Poland shot down several Russian drones earlier this month. Drone incursions this week have closed airports in Denmark and Norway, further exposing the vulnerability of European airspace.
In an interview following a news conference in Dublin, O’Leary said drones were less likely to cause persistent disruption than air traffic control worker strikes.
“It is going to be an irritant. I’m not sure it’s going to be constant,” O’Leary said. “It’s hard to believe it will impact the business in a significant way…. It disrupts our operations. We recover pretty quickly. You know, the airlines are used to dealing with that.”
Asked whether airlines or airports should cover the cost of protecting against drones, O’Leary said the issue was for governments.
“This is a security issue for national governments. It’s not something you’d ask airports to do.”
O’Leary said defensive technology around airports was improving but that governments would need to make significant investments to boost defences.
Authorities should assume that incidents like last weekend’s cyberattack that disrupted operations at several major European airports are geopolitical unless proven otherwise, he said.
“Our first instinct should be assume it’s geopolitical or it’s a bad state actor, unless there’s evidence to the contrary,” he said.
Reporting by Conor HumphriesWriting by William JamesEditing by Paul Sandle
Young Bermudian footballer Kai Sampson has successfully secured a move to Spanish club Fundación Deportiva Málaga CF, marking a significant step in his push toward a professional career in Europe.
The move to the highly-regarded academy is the result of Sampson’s efforts at a showcase event in Spain, where his talent was spotted by Fundación Deportiva Málaga CF staff. This opportunity came after he had already gained valuable international experience representing the Steven Gerrard Academy (SGA) at the prestigious MIC Football (Mediterranean International Cup) tournament earlier this year.
Sampson now joins one of Europe’s leading private residential football academies, which is known for its comprehensive approach to player development.
Fundación Deportiva Málaga CF prides itself on nurturing talent both on and off the pitch. The club offers its players unparalleled educational opportunities through its partnership with the Accelerator School (AS) network. AS specializes in providing tailored educational programs for middle and high school soccer players, ensuring athletes can pursue their footballing dreams without compromising their academic growth.
For Sampson, the signing represents the culmination of hard work and provides him with a professional environment, top-tier coaching, and a clear pathway to senior football in Spain. He now looks to immerse himself in the competitive Spanish football culture as he aims for the next level of his career.
The Institute of International Finance, a financial services trade group, said that global debt rose over $21 trillion in the first half of the year to $337.7 trillion
International News via Reuters:
Global debt hit a record high of $337.7 trillion at the end of the second quarter, driven by easing global financial conditions, a softer U.S. dollar and a more accommodative stance from major central banks, a quarterly report showed on Thursday.
The Institute of International Finance, a financial services trade group, said that global debt rose over $21 trillion in the first half of the year to $337.7 trillion.
China, France, the United States, Germany, Britain, and Japan recorded the largest increases in debt levels in U.S. dollar terms, though some of that was due to a waning dollar, the IIF found. The U.S. currency has weakened 9.75% since the start of the year against a basket of major trading partners.
GLOBAL DEBT SURGE COMPARABLE TO COVID-ERA INCREASE
“The scale of this increase was comparable to the surge seen in H2 2020, when pandemic-related policy responses drove an unprecedented buildup in global debt,” the IIF said in its Global Debt Monitor.
Looking at debt-to-GDP ratios – an indicator of the ability to repay debt by comparing to what is being produced – Canada, China, Saudi Arabia and Poland saw the sharpest increases. The ratio declined in Ireland, Japan, and Norway, the report found.
Overall, the global debt-to-output ratio continued to move slowly lower, standing just above 324%. However, in emerging markets the ratio hit 242.4% – a new record after a downward revision on the last report in May.
Total debt in emerging markets rose by $3.4 trillion in the second quarter to a record high of more than $109 trillion.
BOND MARKET PRESSURES
Emerging markets face a record high of nearly $3.2 trillion in bond and loan redemptions in the remainder of 2025, the IIF said.
It warned that fiscal strains could intensify in countries such as Japan, Germany, and France, urging caution over so-called “bond vigilantes” – referring to investors who sell off bonds of countries whose finances they deem unsustainable.
“While government debt ratios rose sharply across emerging markets in H1 — most notably in Chile and China — market reaction has been stronger in mature markets this year,” the IIF said.
IIF WARNS OF RISING SHORT-TERM BORROWING
The report also highlighted concerns over U.S. debt, noting that short-term borrowing now accounts for about 20% of total government debt and roughly 80% of Treasury issuance.
That rising reliance on short-term debt could heighten political pressure on central banks to keep rates low, potentially threatening monetary policy independence, the report said.
Reporting by Canan Sevgili. Editing by Mark Potter
Tara Roberts received a research grant from National Geographic to share the stories of Black scuba divers, Diving with a Purpose, who map slave ships in the Atlantic ocean and beyond
Tara Roberts on the cover of National Geographic. Photo: tararoberts_explorer/Instagram
Author, storyteller and explorer Tara Roberts detailed her unique travels with a group of Black scuba divers excavating the past by mapping historic shipwrecks traced back to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
During a recent public forum at the Bermuda College, Ms. Roberts shared her experiences from her book, ‘Written in the Waters’, where the journey led her to connect with the Diving with a Purpose group of black divers and archeologists through a research grant provided by National Geographic.
She followed the divers as they drew underwater archeology maps of historic shipwrecks found at depths off the coast of West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin and North America.
She said she discovered that uncovering stories of the past are not all about trauma and tragedy.
Necheeka Trott, Chapter President at Alpha Kappa Alpha who invited Ms. Roberts said they hoped her journey would inspire young Bermudian archeologists and explorers of the future.
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