Bermudian equestrian Abby Bardgett has made a flying start to her campaign at the Global Amateur Tour in Brazil, delivering an outstanding performance in the opening round of the 1.20m/1.25m Championships.
Riding her borrowed mount, Lyon, Bardgett produced a stunning clear round, navigating the course with precision and skill. It was a performance that not only showcased her riding ability but also demonstrated a remarkable connection with her new horse.
To cap off the impressive debut, Bardgett was awarded the Highest Placed Foreign Rider in her division after the first round of competition. Her strong start puts her in an excellent position as the championships continue, and her achievement is a fantastic representation of Bermudian talent on the international equestrian stage.
A team of six of Bermuda’s top junior golfers has arrived in Aurora, Canada, to represent the island in the prestigious North America Cup, a three-way international match-play tournament.
The event, which pits Team Bermuda against Team Canada and Team Mexico, is being held from August 21st to the 23rd. It provides a unique and valuable opportunity for the young players to compete in a Ryder Cup-style format, fostering both high-level competition and international camaraderie.
Lachlan Soutter, Cole Graham, Fletcher Logie, Isaac Davis, Camilo Legere, and Darina Betschart make up the Bermuda squad, and they will be eager to test their skills against some of the region’s best young talent.
The team-based match-play format offers a different kind of pressure and excitement than traditional stroke-play events, and the Bermudian golfers will be hoping to make their mark on the international stage over the next three days of spirited competition.
Originally scheduled for this evening at 7pm, the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association 22nd annual Sportsmanship Award ceremony has been postponed due to inclement weather.
The new date for the ceremony is Thursday, August 28th, 2025 at Alexandrina Hall, Court Street, Hamilton.
Cricketer Zeko Burgess was selected as the recipient for this year’s BFSA award thanks to his good sportsmanship and fairplay at this year’s Cup Match Classic.
CONCACAF conducted the official draw for the 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifiers, the preliminary stage of the 2026 Concacaf W Championship.
Next year’s W Championship will serve as the Confederation’s qualifier for both the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 and the 2028 LA Summer Olympics and is the first of three major centralized tournaments in the Confederation’s revamped women’s national team calendar, unveiled in September.
Bermuda were drawn in Group C along with Costa Rica, Guatemala, Grenada, Cayman Islands.
At the conclusion of the Concacaf W Qualifiers, the six group winners will join the United States and Canada (the two highest-ranked teams) in the eight-team Concacaf W Championship. The match schedule for the 2025/26 Concacaf W Qualifiers will be announced at a later date.
Athene Life Re is proud to announce that Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick, Head of Pro Player Pathway at New York Red Bulls and former Trinidad and Tobago national team member, will be in attendance for the inaugural Athene Youth Kickstart Cup. The Athene Youth Kickstart Cup will be Sept. 26 to 28 at the National Sports Centre.
Fitzpatrick will deliver a keynote address and lead a skills and drills session for young athletes on Friday, Sept. 26, following welcome announcements and a parade of the teams. On Saturday, Sept. 27, there will be an opportunity for event attendees and players to meet Fitzpatrick.
“Tiger’s presence at the Athene Youth Kickstart Cup gives young athletes the chance to learn from a football professional who has built a successful career on the field and in the industry,” said Natasha Scotland Courcy, CEO and General Counsel of Athene Life Re. “Just as three-time Olympian Hazel Clark inspired so many at the Athene Life Career Expo, we hope that continuing to connect youth with accomplished role models will show them what is possible and encourage them to chase their dreams.”
Athene Youth Kickstart Cup is a pre-season 7-on-7 football tournament for boys and girls in the U7, U9 and U11 divisions. The event is designed to help young athletes develop skills, have fun and start preparing for the new season. Registration is free and closes on Aug. 29.
There will also be free giveaways for the players, food vendors, photo booths and a kids activities area to keep the entire family engaged.
WH Smith lowered its annual profit outlook on Thursday after a review revealed earnings had been overstated in its North America division
International News via Reuters:
Hedge funds and speculators picked WH Smith as their top target for short selling in July, before the British travel retailer announced an accounting error on Thursday that sent its shares tumbling more than 45%.
WH Smith lowered its annual profit outlook on Thursday after a review revealed earnings had been overstated in its North America division.
Speculators in July picked WH Smith as their top target among UK and European small-cap stocks for bets on a share price drop, a research report from Hazeltree also on Thursday showed.
Hedge funds that had to disclose such bets in August to the UK regulator’s public filings because of their size included Citadel Advisors and Man Group.
Analysts have cut target prices for WH Smith’s stock and have pointed to how mounting debt has weighed on the company’s cash reserves, compounding pressures from global economic uncertainty affecting the travel sector.
A financial review identified an overstatement of around 30 million pounds ($40 million) in expected headline trading profit, WH Smith said, mainly due to supplier income in North America being booked too early.
WH Smith, which in June sold its UK high street business to become purely a travel retailer, has been rapidly expanding in North America, which contributed about 20% of group revenue in fiscal 2024.
The retailer said it now expects group pre-tax profit for the year ending August 31 to be around 110 million pounds, compared to analysts’ estimates of 156.9 million pounds, according to LSEG data.
Entertainment ticket sales companies, luxury drinks companies and semi-conductor manufacturers saw large portions of their stocks borrowed for the purpose of shorting, Hazeltree’s Shortside Crowdedness Report showed.
It gathers data from 700 asset managers, covering 15,000 stocks globally.
Citadel and Man Group declined to comment. WH Smith did not immediately respond.
Reporting by Nell Mackenzie. Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe and Mark Potter
Bermuda’s track and field athletes have continued to impress at the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay, with a fantastic day of competition that saw the nation’s medal count rise.
Sprinter Caitlyn Bobb was the star of the show on Day 10, delivering a stunning performance in the Women’s 400m final.
Bobb secured the silver medal with a superb time of 52.14 seconds, her effort a new personal best. She finished just behind Canada’s Dianna Proctor, who clocked a blistering 51.97 to set a new Junior Pan Am Games record. The medal is Bermuda’s third of the competition, a testament to the talent on display.
On the men’s side, Nirobi Smith Mills took to the track in the Men’s 800m semi-finals. He put in a strong run, finishing 5th in his heat with a time of 1:51.82. The result was good enough to earn him a place in the final, qualifying as the eighth fastest athlete.
With the Games heading into their final stages, Bermuda’s athletes continue to make their mark on the international stage.
U.S. buyers of French Champagne, Irish whiskey and Italian Prosecco could face significant price rises
International News via Reuters:
The European Commission will keep pressing for a preferential tariff for wine and spirits exports to the U.S. that would spare the sector the 15% rate applied on most items under the EU-U.S. trade deal, the EU’s trade commissioner said on Thursday.
“This one we didn’t get in. But I can tell you that there is clear commitment from the European Commission to put it on the table,” Maros Sefcovic said when asked if a preferential rate for the sector had been secured.
Sefcovic spoke after the European Union and the U.S. detailed commitments made in the deal reached last month, which includes a 15% U.S. tariff on most imports from the bloc, including autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber.
The same rate also applies to EU wine and spirits exports, despite industry efforts to get a lower, or even zero rate.
That means U.S. buyers of French Champagne, Irish whiskey and Italian Prosecco could face significant price rises, with the tariffs impacting some $10 billion worth of alcoholic beverage imports each year, analysts say.
Brands affected include Diageo’s Guinness beer and Pernod Ricard’s Jameson Irish whiskey.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, an industry group representing spirits producers and marketers, has called for permanent zero tariffs by both sides and expressed disappointment that no preferential rate had been agreed.
“Without a permanent return to zero-for-zero tariffs on spirits, American distillers do not have the certainty to plan for future export and job growth without the fear of retaliatory tariffs returning,” it said.
It added that it was “determined to continue engaging with the Trump administration to urge for additional negotiations”.
That message was echoed by Herve Dumesny, director general of European industry group spiritsEUROPE.
“We urge both sides to remain at the negotiating table and deliver a swift, full return to zero-for-zero,” Dumesny said.
“This means reaffirming the support for our sector across the Atlantic by removing U.S. tariffs on EU spirits and lifting any suspended EU retaliatory measures on U.S. products.”
The EU announced a six-month suspension of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including distilled spirits and wine, on August 5, according to the U.S. spirits council.
Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Charlotte Van Campenhout;Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Helen Popper
Both Barrett and Epstein will be based in Houston, and are joining the bank as managing directors
International News via Reuters:
JPMorgan Chase has hired two bankers to boost its investment banking capabilities for energy companies, including one which will help the bank focus on coverage of middle-market clients in the sector, per a memo seen by Reuters.
The bank is creating a new vertical within its mid-cap investment banking unit to cover natural resources, with Max Barrett joining to support and build relationships with companies providing services and equipment in the energy space, the memo said.
Brad Epstein is being hired within JPMorgan’s natural resources investment banking coverage team, with a focus on serving companies in the midstream and downstream sectors.
A spokesperson for JPMorgan confirmed the contents of the memo, which was sent out by Global Co-Heads of Natural Resources Group Investment Banking Jonathan Cox, Jen Dooly and James Janoskey, and John Richert, the head of mid-cap investment banking at the bank.
Both Barrett and Epstein will be based in Houston, and are joining the bank as managing directors.
Barrett previously worked at TPH, the energy-focused investment banking arm of boutique adviser Perella Weinberg Partners, and also spent part of his career at private equity firm White Deer Energy.
Prior to joining JPMorgan, Epstein spent 13 years within Citigroup’s energy investment bank, working with companies in midstream, downstream and refining, and renewable fuels. He has also worked at UBS and Citadel, the memo added.
Reporting by David French in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul
AG urges anyone who experiences intimidation or harassment to go directly to police
Kim Wilkerson, Attorney General: “If members of the public feel harassed, threatened, or unsafe, they must immediately contact the police.” File photo
Government press statement: The Government is aware of reports circulating on social media of encounters with an individual who is a known sex offender.
The Government understands the concerns and distress that these posts have caused in the community, particularly for women who have described feelings of intimidation and harassment.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, stated: “The safety of our community is of the utmost importance. I want to assure the public that these matters are taken very seriously.
“However, it is vital that such encounters are reported directly to the Bermuda Police Service rather than being shared only on social media.
“Posting online does not create an official complaint or trigger an investigation. If members of the public feel harassed, threatened, or unsafe, they must immediately contact the police. This ensures that the proper legal processes can be engaged and that action is taken swiftly to protect the public.”
The Acting Minister of National Security, the Hon. Jache Adams, JP, MP, added: “We recognise that social media is often used to share information, but it cannot replace the official channels required to keep our community safe.
“The Bermuda Police Service can only act on reports that are made to them directly. If you have an encounter that causes concern, please call the police immediately.
“By making that report, you enable law enforcement officers to investigate, respond appropriately, and take the necessary steps to safeguard the public.”
The public is reminded that in any instance where they feel threatened or harassed, they should call 911 in an emergency or contact the Bermuda Police Service at 295-0011.
Oil futures advanced, bolstered by signs of strong U.S. demand and uncertainty over efforts to end the war in Ukraine
International News via Reuters:
Global equities were lower and gold prices eased on Thursday, as traders avoided making big moves and waited for the Federal Reserve’s three-day annual Jackson Hole symposium.
The symposium starts on Thursday and the focus will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday as traders look for hints about the likelihood of a September U.S. rate cut. U.S. Treasury yields inched higher as the meeting kicked off. [US/]
Oil futures advanced, bolstered by signs of strong U.S. demand and uncertainty over efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The U.S. dollar also gained, adding 0.35% against a basket of other currencies.
Stocks stayed near recent highs during Asian trading, and Australia’s benchmark hit a new record. But European and U.S. markets were under pressure, and the MSCI World Equity Index retreated 0.21%.
“People are sitting on their hands. You have a couple of big known unknowns coming, with Jackson Hole tomorrow and the Fed in September,” said Tim Graf, head of macro strategy for EMEA at State Street Markets.
“This is the time to send the message, if you’re going to ease, that it’s coming,” he said. “But I can also see them saying, we don’t know the full effect of tariffs and inflation pressure is still not quite out of the economy, and being a bit more balanced.”
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 was down 0.17%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.24% and the Nasdaq Composite eased 0.07%.
Traders had ramped up bets for a September cut following a surprisingly weak payrolls report at the start of this month, and were further encouraged after consumer price data showed limited upward pressure from tariffs.
But they lowered their expectations slightly following the release of minutes from the Fed’s July meeting. By Thursday, markets were pricing in a 79.6% chance of a September rate cut, compared to 83% on Wednesday, according to LSEG data.
The pan-European STOXX 600 lost 0.04%.
Analysts attributed a pullback in tech stocks this week to concerns that AI investments were not delivering returns.
Euro zone business activity accelerated in August, PMI data showed, with Germany registering its fastest growth since March and France’s downturn easing.
Euro zone bond yields were mostly higher, with the benchmark 10-year German Bund up 2.5 basis points at 2.751%.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 3.7 basis points to 4.334%.
The euro was down 0.32% at $1.1614.
U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his effort to influence the Fed on Wednesday, calling on Governor Lisa Cook to resign on the basis of allegations made by one of his political allies about mortgages she holds in Michigan and Georgia. Cook said she had “no intention of being bullied to step down” from her position at the central bank.
Deutsche Bank analysts in a research note attributed a rise in gold overnight to renewed concerns about the Fed’s independence.
“The news was a reminder of the lingering concerns over future Fed independence and risks of fiscal dominance, though the extent of the market reaction was fairly modest,” Deutsche Bank said.
State Street Markets’ Tim Graf said that although central bank independence was considered “sacrosanct” by markets, it was not yet problematic.
“Markets quite rightly look through this, price maybe a little bit of risk premium for sure, but it’s not something that I think really upsets the apple cart too much,” he said.
Spot gold prices edged lower, down 0.09% at $3,343.69 per ounce, while gold futures added 0.01%.
Elsewhere in commodities, Brent oil futures rose 0.49% to $67.17 per barrel and U.S. crude gained 0.48% to $63.01.
Reporting by Chris Prentice in New York and Elizabeth Howcroft in Paris. Editing by Sharon Singleton and Mark Potter
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