Bermuda’s own Kiwon Waldron was back in action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Indiana, continuing his busy harness racing schedule with three competitive races. The Bermudian driver secured a podium finish and two solid top-four placings on the night.
Waldron’s most successful outing came in Race 5, a Pace Class event. Driving Real Cool Cole, he navigated the sulky to a strong third-place finish, crossing the line with a time of 1:53&1.
Earlier in the evening, in the Trot Class, Waldron and Classy As Gold finished in fourth place in Race 3, clocking a time of 1:56&3. He then rounded out his night in Race 11, another Pace Class race, where he was in the bike of Ponda Lambo. The pair finished fourth, with a time of 1:54&4.
Waldron’s consistent performances continue to highlight his progress on the competitive US harness racing circuit, as he regularly secures top-five finishes against a tough field of competitors.
They were detained in February and freed after what an official with knowledge of the matter described as months of negotiations with the Taliban by Qatar in coordination with Britain
International News via Reuters:
Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, arrived in Qatar from Afghanistan into the arms of their daughter on Friday, after the British couple were freed from eight months in Taliban captivity.
Family members said they had been concerned for the health of the couple, who ran a charity in Afghanistan where they had lived for 18 years, staying on after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
They were detained in February and freed after what an official with knowledge of the matter described as months of negotiations with the Taliban by Qatar in coordination with Britain.
As they stepped off the plane in Doha, the couple waved to waiting relatives. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, ran toward her mother in tears, embracing her tightly.
COUPLE WOULD RETURN TO AFGHANISTAN ‘IF WE CAN’
Before boarding the plane at Kabul airport, Barbie Reynolds said she and her husband would return “if we can”, adding that they were Afghan citizens.
Speaking to reporters before being reunited with her parents, Entwistle said the family was “forever grateful to the Qatari and British governments for standing with us during this difficult time”.
“Thank you for giving us our family back.”
Their son, Jonathan Reynolds, who is in the United States, told Sky News the urgency of their release was critical: “Any longer would have been very detrimental to their health.”
The official with knowledge of the matter said the two were held separately throughout their detention. The Qatari embassy provided them with “critical support including access to their doctor, delivery of medication and regular communication with their family”, the official said.
Qatar has worked for the release of foreigners detained in Afghanistan, including helping to free at least three Americans this year.
TALIBAN SAYS COUPLE VIOLATED AFGHAN LAWS
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry posted on X that the couple had violated Afghan laws, without giving details. It said Afghanistan “does not view issues related to citizens from a political or transactional perspective”.
Richard Lindsay, Britain’s special envoy to Afghanistan, said it was “obviously up to the authorities here to determine why they were detained, but we are very grateful that at least, today is a very great humanitarian day, that they will be reunited with their family”.
British media have reported that the couple ran projects in schools, staying on with the permission of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers after the militant group returned to power in 2021 following 20 years of U.S.-led Western military intervention.
An American, Faye Hall, who was arrested with them, was released in March.
Western countries including Britain and the United States shut their embassies and withdrew their diplomats as the Taliban took over. Britain now advises its nationals against travelling to Afghanistan because of the risk of detention.
Reporting by Andrew Mills; Additional reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Sam Tabahriti in London; Writing by Yousef Saba and Jana Choukeir; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Kevin Liffey, Peter Graff
Two Bermuda FIFA listed Referee Assistants Stefan Maybury, and Clinton Hayward officiated the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, Group B match between Juventus des Cayes and Weymouth Wales FC at Cibao FC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Weymouth Wales FC earned a 2-1 victory over Juventus des Cayes, The visitors took the lead in the 20’ when Shaquille Stewart rose up to knock in a strong header off a corner.
Juventus des Cayes responded in the 26’, as a cross from Ronald Sylvain found Onelson Dorante for the equalizer.
The Barbadian side regained the lead right before halftime, as Stewart secured his second goal of the game in the 42nd minute with a cheeky flick off a low cross to beat the goalkeeper.
The Bermuda Football Association has officially released the full fixture list for the 2025/26 Premier and First Division seasons, setting the stage for another thrilling campaign of football on the island.
While the Premier Division schedule was unveiled last week, the BFA has now confirmed the full slate of matches, including the First Division, which is set to kick off in early October.
The First Division’s opening weekend begins on Saturday, October 4th, with Vasco entertaining Robin Hood at the BAA Field.
The action continues on Sunday, October 5th, with a triple-header of matches. Hamilton Parish will host the Southampton Rangers at the Wellington Oval, St. David’s will welcome Somerset Eagles to their home ground at Lords, and the Somerset Trojans will face off against Wolves at the Somerset Cricket Club.
The release of the full schedule has heightened anticipation among fans and teams alike for the start of what promises to be a competitive and exciting season.
Press release: The Ministry of Public Works and Environment advises the motoring public that Harbour Road in Paget Parish, between Chapel Lane and Lover’s Lane, has reopened to two-way traffic following last week’s emergency eastbound lane closure.
Bermuda’s rising basketball star Ralph Scott is heading to Abu Dhabi, having been named to the prestigious IMG National team for the inaugural NBA Academy International Showcase.
The tournament, which begins on September 25th at NYU’s Abu Dhabi Campus, will feature four teams of elite teenage prospects. It’s a key opportunity for Scott to showcase his skills in front of a host of NCAA coaches and NBA scouts.
Scott, a 6’8″ forward, has had a stunning rise in recent months. Virtually unknown on the national stage until recently, his stock soared after he was named MVP at the Basketball Without Borders Americas camp in June, followed by an impressive showing at the NBA Academy Games in July.
Now regarded as one of the fastest-rising prospects in the class of 2026, his recruitment has taken off. He has already completed official visits to major universities, including the University of Houston, Texas A&M, University of Tennessee, and Purdue.
The showcase provides a crucial platform for Scott to further establish himself on the global stage, with his versatility and powerful rim-attacking ability under the spotlight. A strong performance in Abu Dhabi could be the final piece in his rapid journey to the highest levels of collegiate and professional basketball.
The exhibition opens today from 5-7pm at the Bermuda Society of Arts at City Hall
The annual MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition, in which clients of the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) showcase their art, photography and poetry opens this Friday 19 September from 5-7pm at the Bermuda Society of Arts at City Hall.
The theme MWI clients responded to this year is ‘Comm_nity, where are u?’
Art Therapist, Rhiannon Fletcher, comments, “we are excited to be exhibiting art, photography and poetry from people who are clients of the MWI services, including mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services.
“This exhibition means so much to us and our clients,” she adds. “It brings the community together to appreciate and gain insight into the creativity and expressiveness of people who are journeys of recovery from mental illness or addiction, and those living with intellectual disabilities.”
Rehab Aide Zharia Bean says, “It’s really special to come to the exhibition’s opening night, when clients and their families have the opportunity to see responses to their work, and to feel included and celebrated in a public space. This is a powerful exhibition and if someone can’t make the opening, we encourage them to pop by before it closes on Monday 13 October.
“The comments and narratives that are supplied with the art and photos give an amazing appreciation of the creative power of the human mind,” Zharia adds. “I’d also note that the artists and photographers get a portion of any of their works that are sold, as does the art and photography programme at MWI, which goes back into supplies and putting on future exhibits.”
Executives, consultants, and analysts say this generation is harder to pin down than their predecessors
International News via Reuters:
Fleur Arbel and Christophe Kairouz, both from France, were lured into Louis Vuitton’s New York flagship recently by a colorful sculpture of a monogrammed giraffe and ostrich above the store’s entrance.
But the two 24-year-olds are more likely to spend their shopping dollars elsewhere, as Louis Vuitton’s heavy logos and styles strike them as passé.
“I think they failed to keep the luxury image in a way,” said Kairouz. “I think they need to create something new, original.”
Arbel and Kairouz are a tiny fraction of the Gen Z cohort born between 1998 and 2012: the luxury industry’s new frontier. The group made up 4% of global luxury spending before the pandemic; by 2030, they will account for 25%, according to Boston Consulting Group.
Executives, consultants, and analysts say this generation is harder to pin down than their predecessors. They are influenced by a global social media landscape and tend to mix-and-match goods from established names with trendier labels, shopping everywhere from TikTok to thrift stores. Legacy brands trying to attract Gen Z consumers have used influencers, pop-up shops, and affordable items like bag charms.
“There’s a lot of similarity between Gen Z in Shanghai and Los Angeles and London,” said Scott Roe, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Coach-parent Tapestry.
More affordable luxury companies like Coach and Ralph Lauren – whose revenue rose 6.8% in the 12-month period ended in March – are capitalizing on the generational shift. Coach has gained cache with Gen Z due to using influencers, personalization services, and focusing on sustainability, experts said. Coach’s total revenue rose 9.9% to about $5.6 billion for the 12-month period ended in June.
Tapestry’s Roe said Gen Z is not less brand-loyal than other generations, but it is harder for brands to reach these consumers because shoppers have more choices. “To break through, you need to have a strong share of voice.”
That voice is pricey: Tapestry increased its marketing spend from 3% of sales pre-pandemic to 10% this year, according to its May earnings call, but did not disclose how much it targeted Gen Z specifically.
Brands are contending with upstarts and smaller established labels like Collina Strada and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row, which climbed two spots to sixth place in the most recent Lyst Index of hottest luxury brands. Lyst, a global fashion shopping platform, tracks shopper behavior and social media engagement for more than 160 million users on its site and is the “biggest dataset in fashion,” according to the company.
Hillary Taymour, creative director of Collina Strada, said they started targeting Gen Z in 2020 with digital ads. Now, Gen Z and Millennials account for 58% of its business. “It mixes sustainability with a playful, meme-driven aesthetic,” she said, citing the brand’s “inclusive casting and diverse runway shows” that make younger audiences feel like part of a community.
AFFORDABLE ITEMS DRAW IN YOUNGER SHOPPERS
Not all fashion powerhouses are being left on the shelf. Luxury labels from Kering-owned Bottega Veneta, Prada Group’s Miu Miu, and LVMH-owned Loewe continue to do well with Gen Z, as Miu Miu currently ranks first on the Lyst Index, followed by Loewe.
Miu Miu sales rose 49% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, capturing first-time luxury buyers with leather bag charms, which retail in the range of $240 to $1,250. “Brands like Miu Miu succeeded because single pieces mirror the brand identity, allowing Gen Z consumers to buy into the brand without having to purchase a full look,” said Achim Berg, founder of FashionSIGHTS, an industry think-tank.
Less expensive items draw in younger luxury shoppers, who are still more budget-conscious than their elders. In August, spending among Gen Z and Millennials – those born after 1978 – rose by just 0.5% from the previous year, according to Bank of America, in comparison to a 2.4% increase for Baby Boomers.
“When I shop luxury, I think about ‘what’s going to last me a long time?’ I’m spending a lot of money on an item, I want something I’m not going to get sick of in five or ten years,” said Kendall Still, a 26-year-old Los Angeles native.
Some brands have struggled. Sales at Kering-owned Gucci fell 25% in the second quarter, and the company ousted CEO Stefano Cantino after just nine months on the job on Sept. 17.
Data from Gen Z researcher dcdx, which tracks mentions and interactions with user-generated brand content, showed Gucci suffered the sharpest decline on social media among top luxury labels over the past year.
Over the last two years, Kering shares have lost 43% of their value while Tapestry has more than tripled. Gucci did not respond to a request for comment.
“Legacy brands are splitting into clear winners and losers,” said Frederica Levato, senior partner at Bain & Company.
The next players to emerge globally could be Chinese brands like Uma Wang and Shushu/Tong. In Asia, newer Chinese companies are gaining traction with younger shoppers, due to their digital fluency and ability to capture China’s national identity, Chanel CEO Leena Nair said at The Economic Club of New York on Sept. 16.
“You cannot take the longevity of a brand for granted; you stay in the public consciousness and you have the iconicity because you’re relevant and timely, and constantly modern,” she said.
Reporting by Samantha Marshak; editing by David Gaffen and Anna Driver
Discussions on creating a digital equivalent of the euro currency, now used in 20 European countries, have been going on for six years
International News via Reuters:
European Union finance ministers will seek to reach a common position on Friday on how to set up a digital euro currency that could become an alternative to the now dominant U.S.-based Visa and Mastercard systems.
Discussions on creating a digital equivalent of the euro currency, now used in 20 European countries, have been going on for six years, but the debate heated up this year because the EU is now keen to reduce its dependence on other countries in key areas like energy, finance and defence.
“We need to go ahead with our own digital payment system to reduce dependency on other providers,” Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo told reporters on entering the ministers’ talks in Copenhagen.
“I think that’s a key area of progress where we need to advance and make progress quickly. And this is part of the urgency that we’ve seen in ministries, in the political environment, and this is driving also the agenda,” he said.
DELAYS TO LEGISLATION
While there appears to be widespread support for the digital euro on the political level, the European Parliament has not passed the necessary legislation, arguing that some of the details need more work.
Still, the ECB hopes that all legislation could be in place in the first half of next year for the project to go ahead.
EU Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis also stressed the need for Europe to have an independent payments system for online shopping as more and more business moves to the internet.
“It’s important to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, to not have to rely on foreign payment schemes, having a proper European, pan-European payment scheme,” he said on Friday.
The ECB has presented plans for a digital currency – essentially an online wallet guaranteed by the central bank – in part as an electronic means of payment that does not rely on dominant U.S. providers such as Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal.
Some EU countries have their own national digital payments systems, but none that would be accepted across the 27-nation bloc.
Though the European Commission proposed digital euro legislation in June 2023, not much has happened since. Some lawmakers and bankers are concerned that the digital euro would take away business from the banking sector and create stability risks, like digital runs on banks.
Once Parliament approves legislation, the ECB will still need around two-and-a-half to three years to actually launch the digital euro.
“The ECB can provide the basic architecture on which the private sector can then build the necessary solutions,” Dombrovskis said.
“We see it as an important project, both in terms of technological developments, but also in terms of EU strategic autonomy,” he said.
Reporting by Jan Strupczewski and Jacob Gronholt-Pederson; Editing by Aidan Lewis
The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, for the first time since December, while Norway and Canada also cut rates
International News via Reuters:
European stock markets made small gains on Friday, on track for a modest weekly advance after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate cut helped to push markets higher.
The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, for the first time since December, while Norway and Canada also cut rates.
Wall Street closed at a record high on Thursday but during Asian trading the Nikkei retreated from record highs after the Bank of Japan flagged a further unwinding of its stimulus policies.
At 0923 GMT, the MSCI World Equity index was little changed on the day. The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.1%, and London’s FTSE 100 was flat.
Investors are betting that central bank rate cuts will boost stocks further.
“For the next few weeks, our view is that we continue to keep risk-on orientation in our portfolios, we continue to overweight equities in the portfolio,” said Amelie Derambure, senior multi-asset portfolio manager at Amundi.
“Our stance is that the market should continue to creep higher in the coming weeks, with some volatility as always.”
The Fed stopped short of endorsing market expectations for a clear string of rate cuts, emphasising a meeting-by-meeting, data-dependent approach. The Fed’s tone, along with the wide range of views within the central bank, disappointed some investors, who had hoped the stock market would be boosted by a rapid shift to lower rates, analysts said.
Markets are waiting for any news of a call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, which is expected to cover the TikTok deal and tariffs.
The British pound fell, down 0.4% on the day at $1.3504, and UK gilt yields rose, after data showed a surge in public sector borrowing.
The Bank of England on Thursday kept rates on hold, but slowed the pace at which it is unloading the government bonds it purchased in previous crises.
The U.S. dollar, which hit its lowest since 2022 this week, was a touch higher, with the U.S. dollar index up 0.2% at 97.509.
The yen strengthened against the dollar, with the pair at 147.82.
European government bond yields rose, with Germany’s 10-year yield at 2.7361%. While shorter-dated bonds have benefited from expectations for rate cuts, longer-dated bond yields have risen on investor concern about government finances.
The Bank for International Settlements warned this week that record global share prices appear increasingly disconnected from signals in the bond market that investors are concerned about government debt.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield was at 4.1255%.
Oil prices were down, as traders’ worries about fuel demand outweighed the boost oil prices would typically get from a U.S. rate cut.
Gold was up 0.4% at $3,656.4, heading for its fifth straight week of gains.
Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft. Editing by Jane Merriman
The BoE’s widely expected pause on Thursday followed its quarter-point reduction in August, as it navigates sticky inflation and a murky outlook for growth and jobs
International News via Reuters:
Major brokerages including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and BofA expect no more interest rate cuts by the Bank of England this year after the British central bank kept its key rate on hold.
The BoE’s widely expected pause on Thursday followed its quarter-point reduction in August, as it navigates sticky inflation and a murky outlook for growth and jobs
Data on Wednesday showed UK inflation held at 3.8% in August, the highest among major advanced economies.
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley now project the next easing cycle to start in February 2026, with quarterly reductions thereafter, but say a December cut could be warranted if near‑term data deteriorate notably.
UBS and BofA Global Research also forecast that cuts will not resume this year, with BofA seeing the BoE start easing in February and April 2026.
Markets are pricing in just 7.5 basis points of easing by this year-end, according to data compiled by LSEG, implying roughly a 28% chance of another rate cut by BoE in 2025.
The BoE held its forecast for inflation to peak at 4% this month and ease slowly to its 2% target by mid-2027, with Governor Andrew Bailey warning the economy remains vulnerable and any rate cuts will need to be gradual and carefully considered.
“The MPC’s reactive approach leaves significant room for short-term changes,” analysts at Citigroup said in a note.
Meanwhile, British brokerage Barclays retained its base case that a November cut is possible because it expects upcoming data to be softer, which would support monetary easing, especially given the BoE’s data-dependent stance.
BNP Paribas sees the next cut in December, saying the delay offers the central bank a buffer against uncertainty.
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