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East Timor lawmakers agree to scrap lawmaker pension allowances that sparked student protests

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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East Timor lawmakers agree to scrap lawmaker pension allowances that sparked student protests

East Timor is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and is dependent on dwindling reserves of oil and gas

International News via Reuters:

East Timor’s lawmakers have agreed to scrap plans to provide lifetime pension allowances for themselves, they said on Wednesday, bowing to pressure from thousands of students who have staged demonstrations against the plans since Monday.

East Timor, commonly known as Timor-Leste, has a population of 1.3 million people living on an island slightly bigger than Qatar. It is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and is dependent on dwindling reserves of oil and gas.       

Earlier, more than 1,000 students protested for a third day in front of East Timor’s parliamentary building in the capital Dili, demanding that the government cancel plans to provide lifetime pension allowances for lawmakers.

Parties in the East Timor parliament said they would abolish the plan as an understanding they had struck with the students.

Lawmakers had previously abolished plans to buy 65 cars for themselves, which also triggered anger.

Students had ceased their demonstrations, the parties said.

Protesters this week damaged government buildings, burned tires, and threw rocks at police, leading authorities to fire tear gas at them.

East Timor officially gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after a landmark ballot overseen by the U.N. in 1999. 

Protests over lawmaker allowances and police brutality have also raged across Indonesia since late August.

Reporting by Nelson Da Cruz in Dili; Writing by Ananda Teresia and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Sharon Singleton

Russia developing Starlink rival at ‘rapid pace,’ space chief says

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Russia developing Starlink rival at ‘rapid pace,’ space chief says

Starlink says it operates the world’s largest satellite constellation with more than 8,000 satellites

International News via Reuters:

Russia will soon have a rival to Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink, as it tries to shift away from outdated thinking that has allowed SpaceX to win the crown of satellite dominance, Russia’s space chief said on Wednesday.

Starlink says it operates the world’s largest satellite constellation with more than 8,000 satellites, and Musk is credited by Russian officials with revolutionising the launch of space vehicles – to Russia’s cost.

Dmitry Bakanov, the new 39-year-old head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, admitted in an interview with Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov that the space agency had to move away from “inertia” and attract more young talent.

Russia, he said, was moving ahead on creating an alternative to Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, which provides internet services via a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites and is widely used in remote areas and conflict zones.

Starlink is heavily used by Ukrainian forces in the war with Russia.

RUSSIA TESTS ALTERNATIVES TO STARLINK

“Several test vehicles in orbit have already been inspected and the production ones have been modified accordingly,” Bakanov said. “We are also moving at a rapid pace in this direction.”

A Russian aerospace company, known as Bureau 1440, is developing a low Earth orbit satellite system for global broadband data delivery.

Russia, Bakanov said, had learned from its mistakes – including from an episode in 2002 when it dismissed Musk’s attempt in Moscow to buy an intercontinental ballistic missile for space launches.

According to Ashlee Vance’s 2015 biography of Musk, the Russians dismissed Musk in 2002 as if he was simply not credible – spurring Musk to find a way to undercut Russia’s space launch fees.

SOVIET UNION SATELLITE WAS FIRST TO ORBIT EARTH

The Soviet Union spooked the West in the early years of the space race by being first to launch a satellite to orbit the Earth – Sputnik 1, in 1957 – and then Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to travel into space in 1961.

But after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s space programme grappled with massive funding shortages, corruption and complaints from young engineers about poor management.

Russia’s ambitions to lead in space exploration suffered a massive blow in August 2023 when its uncrewed Luna-25 mission smashed into the surface of the moon while attempting to land.

Bakanov is the former head of a company called Gonets, which operates a Russian satellite communications system that is much smaller in size and used mainly for government purposes.

Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva and Gleb Stolaryov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Bernadette Baum

UK’s Barratt Redrow warns budget uncertainties heighten fiscal 2026 sales risks

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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UK’s Barratt Redrow warns budget uncertainties heighten fiscal 2026 sales risks

With inflation still elevated, interest rates high, and consumer sentiment shaky, UK homebuilders have had to contend with a cooling market and renewed affordability concerns

International News via Reuters:

Britain’s largest homebuilder Barratt Redrow on Wednesday said uncertainties from the UK’s upcoming November 26 budget have added to sales risks for fiscal 2026 in a market already weighed by weak buyer confidence.

With inflation still elevated, interest rates high, and consumer sentiment shaky, UK homebuilders have had to contend with a cooling market and renewed affordability concerns.

Fears of potential hikes to stamp duty in the budget are also adding to the pressure, raising the risk of a deeper slump in new home sales.

“While the housing market remains challenging and we anticipate limited growth in FY26, the long-term fundamentals of the sector remain compelling,” said CEO David Thomas in a statement.

The company, which is reporting annual results for the combined group for the first time since its merger with Redrow last year, reported revenue of 5.58 billion pounds ($7.61 billion) for the year ended June 29 from 4.17 billion pounds a year earlier.

It reported adjusted pre-tax profit and charges of 591.6 million pounds for the period, ahead of market expectations of 515.7 million pounds according LSEG data.

($1 = 0.7334 pounds)

Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman

Guinea to vote on constitution that would let coup leader run for office

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Guinea to vote on constitution that would let coup leader run for office

Wednesday is the final day of campaigning for the referendum

International News via Reuters:

Guinea is set to vote on Sunday in a referendum on a new constitution that would permit junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president, something he vowed not to do when he seized power four years ago.

Wednesday is the final day of campaigning for the referendum, the latest attempt at a political transition in West and Central Africa, where eight coups between 2020 and 2023 reshaped the regional political landscape.

A transition charter adopted after the September 2021 coup said junta members would be barred from standing in the next national and local elections, but the new constitution does not include that language.

Doumbouya has not said what his plans are. His critics have criticised the referendum as a power grab.

Exiled opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo on Monday urged Guineans to boycott what he called a “masquerade”.

Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces party is currently suspended, along with ousted President Alpha Conde’s Rally of the Guinean People, for failure to comply with administrative and financial disclosure requirements imposed by the junta. The parties have not been permitted to campaign against the new constitution.

Human Rights Watch has accused Doumbouya’s government of disappearing political opponents and arbitrarily suspending media outlets. The government has denied any role in disappearances but has vowed to investigate such allegations.

The government missed a December 31, 2024 deadline it set for a return to a civilian administration. The presidential election is currently expected to take place in December.

The new constitution would lengthen the presidential term from five years to seven, renewable once, and create a Senate. The president would directly appoint one-third of senators, with two-thirds selected by municipal and regional councils.

More than 6.7 million voters are registered, and the new constitution would be adopted if more than 50% of those voting approve it.

Ibrahima Camara, a civil servant, has changed his social media avatars to a picture featuring the word “Yes”, signalling his support.

“It’s the most clear-sighted choice,” he said. “We need a vote so Guinea can be governed by a constitution, a first step towards normalising the country.”

But in opposition strongholds, scepticism runs deep.

“I won’t vote because the process isn’t transparent,” said Abdoulaye Diallo, a resident of Hamdallaye, also in Conakry. “You can’t talk about voting in Guinea without the main parties. In the long run, this will create unnecessary tensions.”

Reporting by Guinea newsroom; Writing by Ayen Deng Bior; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Alex Richardson

AI set to transform global trade, says World Trade Organization report

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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AI set to transform global trade, says World Trade Organization report

Lower trade costs and enhanced productivity could drive substantial increases in trade and GDP by 2040

International News via Reuters:

Artificial intelligence could boost the value of trade in goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040, but without adequate policies it could also exacerbate economic divides, a new World Trade Organization report warned on Wednesday.

Lower trade costs and enhanced productivity could drive substantial increases in trade and GDP by 2040, with global trade projected to rise by 34-37% under various scenarios, according to the WTO’s World Trade Report.

Global GDP could also increase by 12-13%, it said.

“AI could be a bright spot for trade in an increasingly complex trading environment,” said the Deputy Director General of the WTO, Johanna Hill, commenting on the annual report that analyses trends in the multilateral trading system.

Acknowledging current turbulence in the world trading system, Hill noted that AI was reshaping the future of the global economy and international trade, with the potential to reduce trade costs and boost productivity.

Global trade rules, governed by the Geneva-based watchdog, have faced major disruption this year following a slew of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

The report highlighted how businesses could reduce costs in logistics, regulatory compliance and communications.

“AI-driven translation technologies can make communication faster and more cost-effective, particularly benefiting small producers and retailers by enabling them to expand into global markets,” the report said.

Such advancements could help increase export growth in low-income countries by as much as 11%, provided they improved their digital infrastructure.

However, the report cautioned that without targeted investment and inclusive policies, AI could deepen existing divides.

“The effects of the development and deployment of AI are raising concerns that many workers, and even entire economies, could be left behind,” the report said.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said policy makers needed to carefully manage the transition to AI.

“AI could upend labor markets, transforming some jobs whilst displacing others. Managing these shifts demands investment in domestic policies to enhance education, skills, retraining and social safety nets,” she said during the launch event for the report in Geneva.

To ensure the benefits of AI were shared widely, predictable trade supported by WTO rules and lower tariffs on raw materials essential for AI technologies, including semiconductors, were crucial, the WTO added.

Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin. Editing by Alex Richardson and Mark Potter

European shares edge up as investors await US Fed decision

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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European shares edge up as investors await US Fed decision

The Fed is expected to deliver a 25-basis-point rate cut after its two-day policy meeting concludes on Wednesday

International News via Reuters:

European shares inched up on Wednesday, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision and its Chair Jerome Powell’s speech later in the day for clues on the pace of potential future easing. 

The pan-European STOXX 600 was 0.1% higher at 551.58 points, as of 0824 GMT, after hitting a one-week low in the previous session as rate-sensitive financial stocks took a hit.

The session’s gains were underpinned by technology stocks, with SAP recovering 4.1% after Jefferies analysts saw scope for shares to regain lost ground on resilient cloud intake and free cash flow outlook. Shares of the company had been falling recently on concerns over slowing cloud growth. It hit an 11-month low on Tuesday.

European stocks have been trading in a tight range so far this month clouded by political turmoil in France and uncertainty regarding the impact of U.S. tariffs on earnings. 

The Fed is expected to deliver a 25-basis-point rate cut after its two-day policy meeting concludes on Wednesday, a move largely priced in by markets on signs of a weakening labour market. Investors will also focus on Powell’s comments for clues on the bank’s rate trajectory.

“It’s going to be between two and three (rate cuts) this year,” said Roland Kaloyan, head of European equity strategy, Societe Generale.

“The idea is not to say that the Fed will move from tightening conditions to super easing. I would say when you compare to inflation, it’s more a kind of normalization.” 

Expectations of lower U.S. rates have weighed on the dollar, while on the other hand the Euro has rallied more than 10%, a move Kaloyan said could trim export-focused companies’ earnings by around 4%.

Meanwhile, management changes in major European companies were also in the spotlight.

Nestle slipped 0.4% after the Swiss consumer goods giant said that Chairman Paul Bulcke will step down, just weeks following its CEO’s ouster.

In the UK, ice cream unit Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quit the company after a rift with parent Unilever <ULVR.L>. Shares of the company struggled for direction.

Among others, PostNL rose 5% after the Dutch postal operator unveiled its new strategy as part of its Capital Markets Day.

Drugmaker Novo Nordisk rose 2% after Berenberg raised its rating to “buy” from “hold”. UK’s Centrica gained 3.3% after Morgan Stanley called the energy firm a top pick.

ProSiebenSat.1 slid 6.2% after the  German broadcaster cut its 2025 forecasts. 

Reporting by Tristan Veyet in Gdansk and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru, editing by Rashmi Aich and Harikrishnan Nair

UK house prices rise 2.8% in 12 months to July

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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UK house prices rise 2.8% in 12 months to July

Growth in property prices slowed sharply after hitting a two-year high in March when buyers rushed to complete sales before an expiry of a tax break on many house purchases

International News via Reuters:

Average house prices in the United Kingdom in July were 2.8% higher than a year earlier, down from a 3.6% rise in the year to June, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.

Growth in property prices slowed sharply after hitting a two-year high in March when buyers rushed to complete sales before an expiry of a tax break on many house purchases.

Private-sector rental growth slowed to 5.7% in the 12 months to August from 5.9% in July, the ONS added, and the smallest annual increase since December 2022.

Reporting by Suban AbdullaEditing by Ros Russell

Sterling steady after UK inflation data and ahead of Fed

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Sterling steady after UK inflation data and ahead of Fed

The pound was little changed at around $1.3638, having hit its highest level since early July on Tuesday against a broadly weaker dollar

International News via Reuters:

Sterling held steady against the dollar as UK inflation data reinforced expectations that the Bank of England will keep rates unchanged this week, in contrast to the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is expected to cut rates later on Wednesday.

The pound was little changed at around $1.3638, having hit its highest level since early July on Tuesday against a broadly weaker dollar.

The BoE is widely anticipated to keep interest rates at 4% when it meets on Thursday. Official figures on Wednesday showed inflation at an annual 3.8% in August, in line with a Reuters poll, reinforcing market expectations that further rate cuts are unlikely soon.

“In line inflation print is unlikely to move the needle on the BoE’s interest rates decision tomorrow,” said Emma Mogford, fund manager at Premier Miton Monthly Income Fund.

“Consumers and businesses will have to wait a bit longer for an interest rate cut.”

Economists polled by Reuters expect one more rate cut by the end of the year.

High inflation remains a challenge for Britain’s government as well as the BoE. Finance minister Rachel Reeves said last week that fellow ministers should focus on helping the central bank to slow price growth, as well as boosting economic growth.

Sterling edged up against the euro, which slipped 0.07% to 86.89 pence.

“The good news is that August inflation data has corrected some of the upside surprise seen last month, but the bad news is that CPI may have a little further to go before hitting its peak,” said Deutsche Bank chief UK economist Sanjay Raja.

Focus meanwhile turned to the U.S. Federal Reserve, which is expected to lower its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a 4.00%-4.25% range later on Wednesday.

The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged last week, highlighting that big central banks are moving in different directions.

Reporting by Canan Sevgili; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe and Sharon Singleton

Serious Road Traffic Collision in Paget

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Serious Road Traffic Collision in Paget

Rider sustains a serious leg injury after a car and motorcycle collide, traffic diversions in place

Police Statement:

There has been a serious two vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcar and a motorcycle, on Middle Road, Paget, just west of the junction of Manse Road.

Details are limited but it appears the motorcycle rider sustained a leg injury.

Traffic diversions are in place at Middle Road and Cobbs Hill as well as at Middle Road and Manse Road.

A community shaken by a brazen, senseless act

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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A community shaken by a brazen, senseless act

Police Commissioner assures public that woman’s murder is being treated with ‘utmost urgency’

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons issued this statement following today’s shooting:

Today, our community has been shaken by a brazen yet senseless act of gun violence. A woman was shot just a little more than a month after two men tragically lost their lives in similar fashion, less than fifty metres from the scene of this latest incident.

I want to assure the people of Bermuda that the Bermuda Police Service is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and urgency.

This afternoon I met with His Excellency, The Premier, Minister of National Security as well as government representatives to discuss the ongoing challenge of gun violence. I can attest that we are united in our determination to confront this threat and pursue every possible avenue to keep our community safe.

Many of you will feel frustrated, apprehensive and angry at these events. I share those emotions. It is against the backdrop of our mostly peaceful community, that a small group chooses senseless violence that undermines our way of life. We, the community, must prevail.

Let me stress that the Bermuda Police Service remains steadfast to doing everything in our lawful power to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent further violence. We are working closely with our community partners and making full use of intelligence-led policing, to identify and apprehend offenders.

I want to thank those members of the public who have already called and provided us information on this incident. Your support is invaluable and I strongly encourage others with knowledge of this or any other crime for that matter, to please make contact with us. What you share with us may well be what is needed to bring offenders to justice.

Together, with courage, trust and cooperation, we can meet this challenge head on. My staff and I, along with Government House and our colleagues across government, remain committed to ensuring Bermuda is a place where residents can live free from the fear of violence.

Woman dies after brazen daylight shooting

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Woman dies after brazen daylight shooting

Investigation underway, police appeal for witnesses

A woman has died after being shot early this evening inside a beauty shop near the Place’s Place parking lot on Dundonald Street at the junction with Court Street.
A lone gunman entered the business and opened fire.

Ambulances were seen leaving the scene as media arrived.
Police Commissioner Darrin Simons was on site, underscoring the seriousness of the incident.
He described it as a “tragic, heinous action” – adding that he would expect some community outrage as a result.
CCTV cameras are installed in the area … but are not yet operational.
Today’s shooting comes just a month after the double murder of Natrae Everseley and Nakai Robinson, in the same area.

An investigation is underway and police issued this statement as they appealed for witnesses to today’s shooting:

At approximately 4:50 pm on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Police along with Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to a report of a shooting incident at a business near the junction of Court and Dundonald Street, Pembroke, next to Place’s Place.

Upon arrival, officers and EMTs immediately commenced life saving measures on an unresponsive female found inside the business.

The victim was transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH). However, she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Reports are that a male suspect dressed in a black jacket, light coloured pants and wearing gloves exited the business and rode off on a dark coloured motorcycle.

An investigation into this incident has now begun and anyone with information is asked to contactChief Inspector Derricka Burns on 717-0921 or via e-mail at dburns@bps.bm<mailto:dburns@bps.bm>.

You are also encouraged to call the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477or speak with a police officer you know.

ReFramed: A highlight of Bermudian art at the People’s Gallery

Kendal Trott
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ReFramed: A highlight of Bermudian art at the People’s Gallery

The Bermuda Society of Arts recently showcased its vibrant ReFramed exhibition at the People’s Gallery, featuring a diverse array of artwork—from paintings and aerial photography to mixed media and more. Executive Director Nzingha Ming encouraged the public to visit and support local artists, as the exhibition concluded on September 17th.

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