BUEI awards environmental science student $10k
The special one-time only bursary is in honour of Teddy Tucker’s centennial year
BUEI press release:
In honour of Teddy Tucker’s centennial year, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) Board of Directors is pleased to present a special one-time only bursary in the amount of $10,000 to Miss D’Angele Symonds. Teddy, an ocean advocate and one of Bermuda’s early underwater explorers, was a Founding Trustee of BUEI and would have turned 100 on May 8th. Many of the most precious artefacts Teddy recovered from shipwrecks around Bermuda’s ‘golden ring’ of coral reefs are proudly displayed in the Teddy Tucker Shipwreck Gallery at BUEI, which is a true testimony to his legacy and our island’s extensive maritime heritage.
D’Angele is entering her final year of studies for a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Physical Geography at Keele University in the UK with plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Geology Engineering. These fascinating
environmental science subjects are closely related to BUEI and Bermuda’s natural history. What makes this award
even more special is that D’Angele credits her participation in BUEI’s Youth Climate Summit (YCS) as the catalyst for her choice of academic and career goals.
D’Angele stated “YCS was my first relevant exposure to environmental sciences in a professional setting, engaging with the local community, global youth activists and subject matter experts. I remember thinking ‘I can do this for a living!’ Through YCS, I collaborated with like-minded students and NGOs equally committed to protecting Bermuda’s environment. YCS was my first experience applying what I had learned in a real-world context. The transition from learning to doing was almost immediate, and I gained an understanding of how much my actions can make a difference to our environment.”
BUEI’s Chair of the Board, Mr. Alan Gilbertson, said “D’Angele has been interning at BUEI throughout this summer and was nominated for this special centennial award by her managers. After meeting this phenomenal young lady and learning of the impact BUEI had on her educational experiences, it was evident that she was an ideal nominee for this special award. D’Angele is a well-rounded and composed individual who is driven and committed to excelling in her studies. She has made meaningful contributions to BUEI’s visitor services and education departments during her internship, and there is definitely a bright future ahead for her. On behalf of BUEI’s Board of Directors, Management and staff, I wish D’Angele all the best with her future endeavours and look forward to celebrating her successes.“
Ms. Wendy Tucker, Teddy’s daughter and Honorary Member of BUEI, added “My parents loved the ocean. They
were also advocates for education and provided numerous opportunities for generations of Bermuda’s youth to
learn about the sea, develop an appreciation for the marine environment and go forward with the knowledge to
protect our ocean. I am delighted that BUEI’s Board of Directors have chosen to recognise my father’s
contributions to BUEI and celebrate his centennial by making this generous award to D’Angele. BUEI was an
influence on D’Angele, which made it clear to me that she is a perfect candidate for this special award. Not only
would my parents have been pleased to support D’Angele’s development and university studies, but I am as well.”
After being surprised with the award at a private presentation held at BUEI last week, D’Angele said “I would like
to thank BUEI, Mr. Gilbertson, Ms. Tucker and my mangers for nominating me for this very special award. It was
a complete surprise and I am truly grateful for the support system I have gained through BUEI. They believe in my
vision of furthering my education in Engineering Geology, and I’m not sure I can say thank you enough for
encouragement. As I enter my last year at Keele University, the Teddy Tucker centennial bursary motivates me to
continue striving for academic excellence. I would also like to thank my family for their continuing support.”
BUEI, now in its 28th year of service to the community, is a pillar for ocean literacy and environmental education.
Together, in partnership with stakeholders across the island and beyond Bermuda’s shores, we are developing
ocean advocates and inspiring environmental stewardship.
Visit BUEI.org/education to learn more about our programmes and impact. We welcome everyone to connect,
explore, discover and inspire.
Google adtech fine on hold as EU awaits lower US car duties, sources say
Tariffs on cars were a big part of the negotiations that led to a trade deal between the United States and the European Union
International News via Reuters:
EU antitrust regulators have delayed fining Alphabet’s Google over its adtech business, while waiting for the United States to cut tariffs on European cars as part of a trade deal, three people with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.
Tariffs on cars were a big part of the negotiations that led to a trade deal between the United States and the European Union.
The executive European Commission last week proposed to scrap tariffs on imported U.S. industrial goods and it expects an announcement soon from the United States on its promised cut in U.S. tariffs on European cars to 15% from 27.5%.
At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to retaliate against the EU for any push against Big Tech.
Google was told on Friday that EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera would announce the fine on Monday but the announcement was not made and no explanation was given to the company, another source said.
One of the sources said the delay was not expected to last more than a month and three said it was caused by EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic asking questions about Ribera’s decision without commenting on the delay’s length.
They asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the issue.
Germany’s Monopolies Commission called the delay to the announcement an alarming precedent for the independence of European antitrust enforcement.
“The protection of competition must not become a pawn of the Trump administration,” its chairman Tomaso Duso said in a statement.
European Commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta told a daily news conference the Google investigation is ongoing and declined to comment further.
Google also declined to comment.
Google faces a modest fine for allegedly favouring its own advertising services over rivals following a four-year long investigation prompted by a European Publishers Council’s complaint, other people had told Reuters last week.
MLex was the first to report about the delay in the EU decision.
Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Barbara Lewis
Plea for help after landslide wipes out Sudan village, kills 1,000
A statement by the U.N.’s resident coordinator put the death toll at between 300 and 1,000, citing local reports
International News via Reuters:
An armed group that controls part of western Sudan appealed on Tuesday for foreign help in recovering bodies and rescuing residents from torrential rain, after it said at least 1,000 people were killed when a landslide buried a mountain village.
Only one person survived the destruction of the village of Tarseen in the mountainous Jebel Marra area of the Darfur region, said the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army.
SLM/A, which has long controlled and governed an autonomous portion of Jebel Marra, appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies to help collect the bodies of victims, including men, women and children.
“Tarseen, famed for its citrus production, has now been completely levelled to the ground,” the group said in a statement. Continuing rains have made travel in the region difficult and could impede any rescue or aid efforts.
“Nearby villagers are overwhelmed with fear that a similar fate might befall them if the … torrential rainfall persists, which underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive evacuation plan and provision of emergency shelter,” the group’s leader, Abdelwahid Mohamed Nur, said in a separate appeal.
A statement by the U.N.’s resident coordinator put the death toll at between 300 and 1,000, citing local reports.
Nine bodies were recovered by volunteers, said Abdelhafiz Ali from the Jebel Marra Emergency Room, who noted that the village had hosted hundreds of people displaced by fighting.
The SLM/A has remained neutral in the battle between the main enemies in Sudan’s civil war, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The two foes are fighting over control of al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur state, which is under siege from the RSF and has suffered famine.
Residents of al-Fashir and nearby areas have sought shelter in Jebel Marra, though food, shelter, and medical supplies are insufficient and hundreds of thousands have been exposed to the rains. Tawila, where most have arrived, is in the throes of a cholera outbreak, as are other parts of Darfur.
The two-year civil war has left more than half of Sudan’s population facing crisis levels of hunger and driven millions from their homes, leaving them especially exposed to the country’s damaging annual floods.
Sudan’s army-controlled government expressed its condolences and willingness to assist.
The prime minister of a newly-installed RSF-controlled rival government, Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi, said he would be coordinating with the SLM/A on the delivery of aid supplies to the area.
Pope Leo sent his condolences and said he was praying for those affected, according to a Vatican statement.
Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; writing by Enas Alashray and Nafisa Eltahir; editing by Andrea Ricci, Stephen Coates, Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich
UK pays high price to sell record 14 billion pounds of government debt
Britain has the highest inflation in the Group of Seven advanced economies as well as the highest government borrowing costs
International News via Reuters:
Britain sold a record 14 billion pounds ($18.9 billion) of new 10-year government bonds on Tuesday at the highest yield since 2008, after attracting over 141 billion pounds in orders from investors despite sterling heading for its worst day since June.
The UK Debt Management Office sold the 4.75% October 2035 gilt with a yield of 4.8786%, a premium of 8.25 basis points over the 10-year benchmark gilt that launched with a then-record volume of 13 billion pounds in February.
Shortly before the sale started at 0730 GMT, sterling slumped by more than 1% against the U.S. dollar and 30-year gilt yields hit their highest since 1998, as investors looked warily ahead to the government’s autumn budget plans.
Britain has the highest inflation in the Group of Seven advanced economies as well as the highest government borrowing costs – putting pressure on finance minister Rachel Reeves and likely requiring her to raise taxes again later this year.
Tuesday’s gilt syndication represented the biggest supply at a single event since the DMO began operations in 1998, but also the costliest 10-year borrowing since an auction in July 2008.
Total orders of 141.2 billion pounds were just short of the record 142.1 billion pounds received at February’s 10-year gilt syndication.
“For the government, this creates a paradox – market confidence in UK debt is robust, but financing that debt is increasingly expensive, constraining budget flexibility,” said Lale Akoner, global market analyst at investment platform eToro.
Later in the day, the yield on 10-year gilts rose to its highest since January at 4.835%, up nearly 8 bps on the day but in line with U.S. Treasuries.
Britain has historically issued much longer-dated debt than other countries, due largely to demand from domestic company pension funds.
But changes in the pension landscape mean that demand has mostly gone and a global rise in the cost of 20- and 30-year debt has prompted the DMO to shift its 299 billion pounds of issuance this year more towards short- and medium-dated gilts.
The DMO said domestic investors accounted for 60% of demand – low compared to previous syndications of longer-dated gilts.
DMO Chief Executive Officer Jessica Pulay called the reception for the gilt “very strong” despite what she described as a “challenging global market backdrop”.
HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Lloyds Bank, Morgan Stanley, NatWest and UBS acted as joint leads on the transaction.
($1 = 0.7402 pounds)
Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by William Schomberg, Alex Richardson and Tomasz Janowski
Bermudian driver Dyer continues comeback at Croft
Bermudian racing driver Donovan Dyer will continue his determined comeback to the circuit at the BRSCC 2025 Croft Autumn Race Weekend this weekend, September 6th and 7th. The event is a crucial step for Dyer, who has been working three jobs to chase his racing dream, which was put on hold by a major setback earlier this season.
Dyer, a passionate motorsport enthusiast since childhood, has been a strong contender for the top spot in the rookie class of the Kent Models Mazda MX-5 Championship. However, his season was derailed at a previous race weekend after a severe engine failure. The setback comes at a crucial time, and Dyer has launched a crowdfunding appeal to help him get back on the track and complete the season.
Despite the financial and technical challenges, Dyer has shown incredible resilience. He and his team successfully rebuilt his car’s engine, allowing him to return to the circuit in August, where he recorded a solid 13th-place finish. The Croft Autumn Race Weekend is the penultimate event of the 2025 BRSCC season, and Dyer will be looking to make up ground and push for a strong finish in the rookie class. His story of hard work, determination, and a refusal to give up on his dream has captured the attention of many in the racing community.
Spain’s government to assume up to $97 billion in regions’ debt
The idea was initially proposed as a sweetener for Catalonia as part of negotiations to form a government in late 2023
International News via Reuters:
The Spanish government announced plans on Tuesday to absorb as much as 83 billion euros ($97 billion) in debt held by regional administrations in a move aimed at freeing up more resources at a local level, Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero said.
The idea was initially proposed as a sweetener for Catalonia as part of negotiations to form a government in late 2023 when Madrid offered concessions to the wealthy northeastern region that had unsuccessfully tried to secede in 2017.
“Less debt means more welfare state, this implies the regions will be able to dedicate more resources to these policies that are so important for equality,” she said.
The measure, however, faces challenges in parliament, where the leftist coalition government lacks a majority.
The move does not affect Spain’s overall public debt, which stood at 103.4% of gross domestic product as of June, as regions’ liabilities are already included in the calculation, Montero told a news briefing.
When the plan to absorb between 18% and 50% of individual regions’ liabilities was first announced in early 2025, Fitch Ratings said the move would be credit positive and could lead to some positive rating actions on regional debt.
The conservative opposition People’s Party, which runs several regions, has said it would oppose the bill as it rewards the more profligate regions.
Montero also said the government would soon submit to parliament the so-called stability path proposal that is the first step towards coming up with a budget bill for 2026, and that ministries had been told to submit their spending plans.
Spain has rolled over its 2023 budget twice without even presenting a bill in the fragmented lower house, where the government faces a balancing act in every vote as it weighs concessions to several parties from across the spectrum.
($1 = 0.8542 euros)
Reporting by Inti Landauro and Andrei Khalip; Editing by Ros Russell
Postponed Dudley Eve double-header rescheduled
The opening night of the Dudley Eve Trophy was unfortunately called off after a waterlogged pitch at the BAA Field forced the postponement of both scheduled matches. The decision was made by officials who deemed the surface unplayable, prioritizing player safety.
The double-header was set to feature St. George’s Colts and X-Road’s in the first match, followed by a highly anticipated clash between the PHC Zebras and the Devonshire Cougars. Both matches were abandoned before kick-off, to the disappointment of fans and players alike.
The Bermuda Football Association has now rescheduled the matches for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, with the venue moving to Bernard Park. The kickoff times will be 7:00 and 9:00 pm. This adjustment will ensure the teams can compete on a safe and suitable surface.
Students awarded overseas scholarships
The Department of Workforce Development is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Overseas Undergraduate Scholarships. Six students were awarded $10,000 each to pursue studies in areas essential to Bermuda’s long-term workforce needs.
This year’s scholarships support students pursuing degree programmes in Political Science, Finance and Business Administration, Allied Health and Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism.
The Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward, JP, MP, stated, “These scholarships reflect the Government’s commitment to building a highly skilled workforce and ensuring that Bermuda remains well-positioned to meet future challenges. The recipients have demonstrated academic excellence, discipline, and dedication to serving their community. We congratulate them on their achievements and wish them every success in their studies.”
2025 Overseas Scholarship Recipients
- Pjhae-don Douglas – BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Sanjayah Ible Allwood – BSc Health and Social Care (Social Work), University of Greater Manchester, UK
- Jahkaida Francis-Hollis – BSc Nursing, Howard University, USA
- Yasmyne Smith – BA International Hospitality & Business Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- Malaysia Roberts – BB Social Work with Minor in Psychology, Barry University, USA
- Myeisha Sharrieff – BSc Finance, Howard University, USA
The Dame Jennifer Smith Scholarship
In addition to the Overseas Undergraduate Scholarships, the Department has reintroduced the Dame Jennifer Smith Scholarship.
Dame Jennnifer Smith served as Premier of Bermuda from 1998 to 2003, becoming the first woman to lead a political party to victory, guiding the Progressive Labour Party into Government, and the first female Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Valued at $10,000, this redesigned scholarship will inspire future generations to pursue excellence in Political Science, Public Policy and Administration, Communications or Education. These fields are central to Bermuda’s social, political, and economic development and reflect Dame Jennifer’s legacy of leadership and service to Bermuda.
The Department proudly announces Jayce Fraser as this year’s recipient of the Dame Jennifer Smith Scholarship. Ms. Fraser is pursuing a BA in Political Science at Clark Atlanta University, USA.
Ongoing Scholarship Support
In addition to this year’s awardees, the Department of Workforce Development continues to provide $10,000 scholarships to 21 students, pursuing undergraduate degrees in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom.
Malika Cartwright, Director of the Department of Workforce Development, stressed that student success is key to Bermuda’s future stability and resilience, saying, “The Department of Workforce Development is proud to provide opportunities that support the academic and professional growth of Bermudians. These scholarships represent an investment in our island’s future, ensuring that our students are prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce. Each recipient has demonstrated excellence and determination, and we look forward to the positive impact they will make.”
Bermudian cyclists do well at Green Mountain Stage Race
Kaden Hopkins and Nic Narraway concluded their campaigns at the Green Mountain Stage Race (GMSR) with impressive performances in the final Canaan Criterium. Both Bermudian riders finished with the same time as the stage winner, demonstrating their ability to compete at the highest level in the Men’s Pro/1/2 division.
The final stage was won by José Alfredo Rodríguez Victoria. Hopkins crossed the line in a strong sixth place, while Narraway finished 31st, a testament to their presence in the main bunch during the decisive finale.
In the overall standings, James Schurman was crowned champion with a combined time of 7:50:19. Narraway completed the race in an excellent 12th place overall, just 1 minute and 43 seconds behind the winner. Hopkins also secured a top-20 finish, closing out the event in 16th place overall, 2 minutes and 21 seconds adrift of Schurman. The results highlight the promising form of both riders as they now turn their attention to future events on the North American calendar.
Grant’s instant impact seals Gillingham victory
Nayan Grant and his Gillingham Academy teammates secured a solid 2-0 victory on the road against Cheltenham Town in their latest Youth Alliance fixture. The win was a testament to the young Gills’ defensive solidity and their ability to seize crucial opportunities.
Gillingham were already leading 1-0 when Grant was introduced from the bench in the 64th minute. The Bermudian made an instant impact, demonstrating his speed and skill just a minute later. A brilliant breakaway saw Grant sprint down the right wing, before delivering a precise cross to teammate Freddie Carruthers. The Cheltenham keeper spread himself well to make a good save, denying what would have been an instant assist for Grant.
The result is another positive one for the Gillingham Academy side, which has been in fine form early in the season. Grant’s ability to come off the bench and immediately influence the game will be a huge boost for his confidence and is a promising sign for his development within the club’s youth setup.
