Kruger had been a welfare spokesperson for the opposition Conservative Party and was elected in 2019
International News via Reuters:
British Conservative lawmaker Danny Kruger has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, he announced at a Reform press conference on Monday.
“I have been variously a member, an activist, an employee of the Conservative Party for over 20 years, and I have many friends in the party, many good and decent people, which is why it is so personally painful for me to be doing what I’m doing today,” Kruger said.
“This is my tragic conclusion, the Conservative Party is over, over as a national party, over as the principal opposition to the left.”
Kruger had been a welfare spokesperson for the opposition Conservative Party and was elected in 2019. His previous jobs include serving as former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s speechwriter, he later worked for another former Conservative Prime Minister, Boris Johnson in 2019.
Reporting by Sarah Young and Sam Tabahriti, editing by William James
It was the first agreement to take effect at the WTO since 2017 after years of stalled debates and infighting
International News via Reuters:
A landmark agreement to curb billions of dollars in subsidies contributing to overfishing came into force on Monday, the World Trade Organization said – a move activists hailed as a step towards helping global fish stocks recover.
It was the first agreement to take effect at the WTO since 2017 after years of stalled debates and infighting on top of, more recently, a surge in U.S. tariffs that left some critics asking whether the Geneva-based body had a future.
The formal ratification by Brazil, Kenya, Tonga and Vietnam on Monday meant the deal, first agreed in 2022, now had the required support of two thirds of members, a WTO spokesperson said.
Governments are now prohibited from providing subsidies for overfished stocks and for fishing in international waters beyond their jurisdictions. Poorer states will be able to access a fund to help ease them into the deal.
“Fish stocks around the world will have a chance to recover, befitting local fishers who depend on a healthy ocean,” Megan Jungwiwattanaporn from the Pew Charitable Trusts said.
Governments around the world pay out roughly $35.4 billion annually to their fishing fleets, including fuel handouts that allow them to fish in distant oceans, a 2019 study in Marine Policy showed. It listed the top five subsidisers as China, the EU, the United States, South Korea and Japan – though not all of them are within the scope of the WTO deal.
Negotiations on further fishing rules covering divisive issues excluded from the first deal have floundered, as India and other developing economies seek carve-outs that many other states see as unworkable.
The first part of the agreement that came into force on Monday took more than 20 years of negotiations and will expire in four years if more comprehensive rules are not agreed.
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in an interview earlier this month that she saw grounds for optimism that the body could either conclude the talks or find a way to stop the first deal from expiring.
Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Andrew Heavens
Sterling rose to its highest level against the dollar since early July before paring gains
International News via Reuters:
Sterling gained against the dollar and the euro on Monday as investors braced for a week of pivotal central bank decisions in which the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates and the Bank of England to hold policy steady.
Sterling rose to its highest level against the dollar since early July before paring gains. It was last at $1.3583. Against the euro, the pound was up 0.2% to 86.33 pence but remained within its recent range.
Investors are focusing on this week’s key rate decisions in the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada and Norway, with the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday taking centre stage.
While the Fed is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points, the Bank of England is likely to keep its main interest rate on hold and announce a slow down in the pace at which it reduces its government bond holdings.
Commentary from the policy decision is unlikely to spur a meaningful reaction in sterling as attention remains on Britain’s autumn budget announcement, said Nick Rees, head of macro research at Monex Europe.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves will deliver her annual budget on November 26. UK public finances remain weak and analysts say Reeves will have to raise taxes by at least 20 billion pounds ($27 billion) – and possibly double that – to remain on course to hit her own fiscal targets.
Elsewhere, the dollar was a touch weaker against a basket of peers, with Goldman Sachs analysts saying the impending Fed rate cut should lead to fresh declines.
The dollar has fallen nearly 10% so far this year against major peers.
The U.S. economy’s reduced outperformance relative to the world and the lower cost of hedging U.S. dollar assets for investors in Asia are among the factors that could contribute to fresh weakness in the dollar, the Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note.
The cost, confirmed by Citi for the first time, is approaching the 1.2 billion pounds ($1.63 billion) the U.S. bank paid to acquire the building in 2019
International News via Reuters:
Wall Street bank Citigroup’s bill for refitting its tower in London has risen to $1.5 billion (1.1 billion pounds), the company told Reuters, highlighting the challenges of modernising workplaces to attract employees back to offices.
The cost, confirmed by Citi for the first time, is approaching the 1.2 billion pounds ($1.63 billion) the U.S. bank paid to acquire the building in 2019.
The budget was increased after Citi expanded its workforce and decided to upgrade additional space, a company executive told Reuters, without disclosing the original budget.
Citi said the investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to Britain, where it employs 14,000 people, including 10,000 in London.
Citi CEO Jane Fraser will visit Britain this week to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit, alongside other U.S. business leaders for meetings with Trump and British ministers, said Edward Skyler, Citi’s Head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs.
A Citi spokesperson confirmed that the 1.1 billion pound investment in its London office is the same figure referenced by the UK government in its statement on Saturday announcing commitments from U.S. companies in Britain.
Citi declined to specify how much of the budget has been spent so far on the project, which began in 2022 and is expected to finish next year.
The overhaul of the tower at 25 Canada Square includes adding new gardens and amenities, linking teams across multi-level “villages”, and upgrading energy and water systems.
The Financial Times reported in January that the project’s costs had exceeded 1 billion pounds.
Under CEO Fraser, Citi has bucked the wider Wall Street trend by sticking to a hybrid working policy, allowing staff to work up to two days a week from home.
After the COVID-19 pandemic led to more working from home, office property prices were pummelled and property owners were forced to rethink older, out-of-town buildings, with business districts like London’s Canary Wharf particularly hard-hit.
Landlord Canary Wharf Group has announced plans to overhaul a nearby 45-floor tower being vacated by HSBC.
Citi’s rival JPMorgan is assessing options for its own tower in Canary Wharf, including potentially revamping the office, building a new tower nearby, or relocating to central London, Reuters previously reported.
(1 British pound = $1.3556)
($1 = 0.7377 pounds)
Reporting by Iain Withers in London; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Louise Heavens
In the deadliest outbreak of political violence in Nepal for decades, mainly young Nepalis took to the streets of the capital and other cities early last week
International News via Reuters:
Authorities in Nepal have raised the death toll from last week’s unrest to 72 as search teams recover bodies from government offices, houses and other buildings set on fire during the anti-corruption protests, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
In the deadliest outbreak of political violence in Nepal for decades, mainly young Nepalis took to the streets of the capital and other cities early last week, prompting Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign on Tuesday.
Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, some of whom torched state buildings, including the Supreme Court, parliament, police posts, politicians’ homes and private businesses.
“Bodies of many people who died in shopping malls, houses and other buildings that were set on fire or attacked are now being discovered,” health ministry spokesperson Prakash Budathoki said.
The ministry’s previous death toll was 51, updated as of Saturday. The latest data showed on Sunday that at least 2,113 people had been injured in the violence.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has replaced Oli as interim prime minister, becoming the first woman to lead the Himalayan nation, and is tasked with holding a new parliamentary election called for March 5.
Karki, who formally took office on Sunday, said the government would pay compensation of 1 million rupees (about $7,100) to the families of those killed in the unrest and provide free treatment to the injured.
She began work in a building close to the prime minister’s office, which was set on fire during the protests.
“We must now engage in rebuilding the destroyed structures,” Karki told senior government officials, state television reported.
Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Helen Popper
Island Health Services is delighted to welcome Dr. Cassandra Pitcher, an accomplished internal medicine physician, to the Family Practice Group team. Dr. Pitcher brings years of experience in diagnosing, treating, and helping people manage a wide range of health concerns, and she is now accepting new patients at the Family Practice Group office on Victoria Street.
Dr. Pitcher is known for her patient-centred philosophy, and she is deeply committed to empowering people with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve long-term wellness. She says: “Many people don’t realise that an internal medicine specialist can act as their main doctor, someone who really knows their health history, coordinates care with other specialists, and helps them stay healthy in the long term.”
Internal medicine physicians are trained to care for adults with complex medical needs. They provide preventative care, annual exams, and ongoing wellness support for patients with issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and lung conditions. Dr. Pitcher is the second internal medicine specialist at Island Health Services, along with Dr. Jasmin Caines.
Dr. Pitcher earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica in 2018, before completing her Internal Medicine residency at the Connecticut Institute for Communities (CIFC). She went on to serve as a primary care physician and faculty member at CIFC before advancing to Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. In 2024, she became a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
In 2025, Dr. Pitcher returned home to Bermuda, bringing her clinical expertise, leadership experience, and compassionate approach to Island Health Services.
Throughout the month of August, Dr. Pitcher has been serving patients at Island Health Services on Dundonald Street. Starting on September 2, she will begin her permanent position at Family Practice Group on Victoria Street. Patients can request an appointment online at ihs.bm/request-an-appointment. Dr. Pitcher will also accept walk-ins.
About Island Health Services
At Island Health Services, we believe in providing personalised, accessible care that meets the needs of every patient. With a team of more than 20 doctors and specialists, on-site and mobile lab services, and convenient online booking, getting the care you need has never been easier. Plus, BF&M and Argus Health Insurance customers enjoy no copay for a variety of services, including annual physicals and specialist visits. Island Health Services — better health starts here.
Continued restrictions are necessary to allow structural investigations
GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDA PRESS RELEASE
The Ministry of Public Works and Environment advises the motoring public that a lane closure will continue on Harbour Road between Chapel Lane and Lover’s Lane in Paget Parish from Monday, 15 September 2025, until further notice.
This extended traffic measure follows a prior public advisory regarding an accident last week that caused significant damage to a roadside wall. The continued restrictions are necessary to allow structural investigations to proceed safely.
To maintain two-way traffic during this period, temporary traffic lights will remain in operation, with Ministry personnel managing stop-and-go signs during the morning and evening rush hours.
These steps aim to ease congestion during peak travel times, particularly for commuters heading to and from work.
Motorists are advised that trucks with IN, HA, and HC licences (except garbage trucks) are strictly prohibited from using this section of Harbour Road due to the narrow lane width.
Truck drivers should instead use Middle Road or South Road as alternative routes. These truck restrictions will be enforced as needed by the Bermuda Police Service.
Motorists should expect delays and are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes wherever possible.
The Ministry apologises for any inconvenience and appreciates the cooperation of the motoring public during this situation.
Please refer to the attached Road Traffic Notice for additional details.
World Athletics Championships: Bermudian sprinter finishes 5th in heat 3
Bermuda’s Caitlin Bobb has completed her debut in the Women’s 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, gaining valuable experience competing against some of the world’s top athletes.
Running in Heat 3, Bobb was in a formidable field that included two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The American superstar cruised to victory, winning the heat in 49.41 seconds to easily advance to the semi-finals.
Bobb finished fifth in her heat with a time of 51.72 seconds, missing out on a qualifying spot. Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley, who finished just ahead of Bobb in fourth with a time of 51.04, advanced to the semi-finals as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
Donnacha Smyth will become Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty
AXA XL has appointed Donnacha Smyth as its new Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty, effective November 3. Based in Bermuda, Mr. Smyth currently serves as Head of Casualty for the Americas region. As part of his new global role, he will relocate to Ireland in 2026.
Commenting on the appointment, AXA XL Global Chief Underwriting Officer Libby Benet said, “Throughout his tenure at AXA XL, Donnacha has demonstrated exceptional leadership by redefining the excess liability appetite and collaborating closely with underwriting and actuarial teams to execute portfolio transformations that lead to strong and consistent underwriting performance. His strategic vision and dedication to developing talent have helped him build strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and brokers, fostering a culture of underwriting excellence and innovation.”
“Donnacha’s commitment to talent development and relationship-building will be invaluable as he leads AXA XL’s casualty underwriting strategy on a global scale,” added Ms. Benet.
In his new global Casualty role, Mr. Smyth will work closely with regional CUOs to promote profitable growth, ensure underwriting consistency, and drive the development of innovative products. He will also oversee the professional growth of underwriters through targeted training and technical skill enhancement, ensuring the team adheres to the highest standards of quality, compliance, and best practices.
Having over three decades of industry experience, Mr. Smyth has been with AXA XL since 2007. Since 2018, he has led the Americas Casualty team, overseeing the casualty practice in our most profitable region, including Primary Risk Management, Excess Risk Management, Multinational Group Captives, Rail, and eight underwriting teams across the U.S. and Bermuda. He will continue to lead Casualty in the Americas until a successor is named.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson organised a march attended by around 110,000 people on Saturday
International News via Reuters:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said people have a right to peaceful protest after more than 100,000 demonstrators joined an anti-immigration march through London on Saturday, but he condemned assaults on police and said Britain was built on tolerance and diversity.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson organised a march attended by around 110,000 people on Saturday. Police said 26 officers were injured, while it made an initial 25 arrests with more expected to follow.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” Starmer said on X on Sunday.
“But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.”
Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims. More than 28,000 migrants have arrived in small boats across the Channel so far this year.
Many of those attending the march waved red and white English flags as well as the Union Jack flag representing the whole of the UK.
“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division,” Starmer added.
The size of the turnout appeared to surprise police, who said the rally was at points too big to fit into its approved route, and officers faced “unacceptable violence”, as they were kicked and punched and bottles and other projectiles were thrown.
Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012
International News via Reuters:
British boxer Ricky Hatton, a former two-division world champion, has died at the age of 46, the World Boxing Association said on Sunday.
Nicknamed ‘the Hitman’, Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012.
He had been due to make a comeback for an event in Dubai this year.
“A true champion, an indomitable spirit and a legend of the sport. Your legacy will live on in every fight and in the hearts of boxing fans around the world,” the WBA posted on Instagram.
Greater Manchester Police said that a body had been found on Sunday morning at an address in Hyde in the northern English city.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious,” a police spokesperson said.
Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his career but in the years after he retired he said he had tried to kill himself several times and had been open about his struggle with depression, drink and drugs.
“I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train,” he told BBC radio in 2016.
Hatton’s best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.
He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again.
Hatton’s second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.
“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former light-welterweight champion and fellow British boxer Amir Khan posted on X.
“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible … you’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.”
Manchester City said there will be a minute’s appreciation for Hatton before Sunday’s Premier League home game against Manchester United. Hatton, a City fan, wore sky blue shorts, matching the soccer club’s colours, in most of his bouts.
“Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters … everyone at the club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” City added.
Reporting by Sarah Young; additional reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Clare Fallon and David Goodman
Baroness Helena Morrissey to take part in Dive In Festival
As part of the Dive In Festival in Bermuda, financier, author, international diversity campaigner and keynote speaker, Baroness Helena Morrissey, will join Dan Burrows, Group Chief Executive Officer, Fidelis Insurance Group, in a fireside chat on Tuesday, September 16 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. AST at Chubb, 17 Woodbourne Avenue in Pembroke. The event will be sponsored by AIG, Chubb, Fidelis Insurance Group, KPMG in Bermuda and Sompo.
The Dive In Festival is a global event dedicated to promoting culture and talent in the insurance and reinsurance sectors. Now in its 11th year, Dive In continues to bring together industry leaders and professionals from around the world to explore how prioritizing belonging in the workplace helps attract, retain and maximize talent, driving innovation, resilience, and long-term business success.
This year’s theme, “Belonging Builds Tomorrow,” puts a spotlight on the role every organization plays in creating environments where people feel valued, heard, and able to succeed.
Baroness Morrissey, from London, UK, will discuss her extensive experience and efforts to promote gender equality and diversity in the corporate world. Her dedication to these causes, coupled with her leadership and advocacy, continues to inspire change and progress across industries. She will also talk about her role as Chair of The Diversity Project, which was created to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture in the investment and saving industry.
Baroness Morrissey is a distinguished TEDx speaker and former CEO of Newton Investment Management. One of her most notable initiatives is the 30% Club, which aims to increase female representation at the board and executive levels of major corporations. She is the author of influential books such as “A Good Time to Be a Girl” and “Style and Substance.” Baroness Morrissey’s exceptional leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition by Fortune magazine as one of the world’s ’50 Greatest Leaders’ and as a Life Peer in the House of Lords. This acknowledgment speaks to her ability to not only envision change but also to implement it effectively across global organizations.
To register for the event either in person or virtually, please visit: www.diveinfestival.com.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
