Bermuda’s athletes in action both locally and overseas
Dashun Cooper takes on new coaching responsibilities at Queens Park Rangers, while in harness racing, Kiwon Waldron returns to the winner’s circle. Details on these stories and more below in today’s Sports Round-Up.
Bermuda’s first padel courts, 4 pickleball courts, new club house and kids’ club
Bermuda now has its first padel courts, as two of the world’s fastest-growing sports take center stage at a brand-new, state-of-the-art racquet center unveiled today at Rosewood Tucker’s Point.
Part of a multi-million dollar investment at the resort, the new facility features two padel courts and four pickleball courts in addition to the existing four tennis courts as well as a new clubhouse lounge and kids’ club.
Chris Maybury and Alessandro Colantonio of Gencom, who were on hand yesterday for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony said the new facility is part of the company’s overall commitment to Tuckers Point and to destination Bermuda.
Describing the facility as a game-changer, Premier David Burt, along with Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Owen Darrell, spoke about the significance of private investment like this—both for Bermuda’s growing sports tourism sector and the broader economy.
Following their remarks, the pair even took a swing at the island’s newest sport, trying their hand at padel.
In tonight’s news at 7pm…
Lindo’s boss says the impact of new US tariffs, in effect from today, will be incremental
Will the new US tariffs, which came into effect today, impact Bermuda – and if so, how?
Well, it’s hard to say, as any impact may be incremental.
Lindo’s boss Zach Moniz is not losing sleep over it – but he is watching carefully.
He spoke to Gary Foster Skelton about the potential knock-on effect. WATCH above.
The court’s ruling is a setback for supporters, including most of France’s farming unions and conservative politicians
International News via Reuters:
France’s constitutional court on Thursday blocked the re-introduction of a pesticide accused of harming bees, in the latest twist in a fierce political battle in the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer.
The court said the re-authorisation of acetamiprid, part of the neonicotinoid group of pesticides banned in France, as proposed under a farming bill passed last month did not provide sufficient safeguards on the use of the crop chemical.
The planned relaxation of France’s neonicotinoid ban fuelled opposition to the legislation, with a petition against it gathering over 2 million signatures, a record for a petition on the website of France’s National Assembly.
The court’s ruling is a setback for supporters, including most of France’s farming unions and conservative politicians, including Senator Laurent Duplomb who gave his name to the bill.
They had argued that acetamiprid is authorised elsewhere in Europe, as it does not pose the same risks as other neonicotinoids banned at EU level, and without it crops like sugar beets and hazelnuts face severe disease losses.
However, the FNSEA and JA, two of France’s main farmer unions, welcomed the court’s approval of most of the legislation, including steps to simplify planning permission for livestock buildings and water reservoirs for irrigation.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist allies in parliament were divided over the legislation, would sign the bill into law “as soon as possible” in line with the court’s decision, the Elysee said.
Reporting by Gus Trompiz; additional reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Leslie Adler
The lawsuit stems from the collapse in 2015 of the Mariana dam in southeastern Brazil
International News via Reuters:
Global miners BHP Group and Vale have offered around $1.4 billion to settle a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom tied to one of Brazil’s worst-ever environmental disasters, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
The lawsuit stems from the collapse in 2015 of the Mariana dam in southeastern Brazil, owned and operated by the Samarco joint venture of BHP and Vale. The disaster prompted legal action from hundreds of thousands of people.
BHP is currently facing a London lawsuit that claimants’ lawyers have valued at up to 36 billion pounds ($48.29 billion).
The proposed settlement includes around $800 million in compensation for victims and $600 million to cover legal costs associated with the High Court proceedings, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The offer was reportedly made during a June meeting in New York with Pogust Goodhead, the British law firm representing the claimants, and their primary financial backer, U.S. hedge fund Gramercy, the report said.
BHP and Vale did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
In October last year, BHP described allegations that a focus on profit over safety contributed to the disaster as “far-fetched and unjustified”.
($1 = 0.7454 pounds)
Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi
Authorities said about 400 people stuck in Gangotri were being rescued by air
International News via Reuters:
Indian rescuers used helicopters on Thursday to pluck to safety people stranded by flood waters in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, two days after a sudden inundation and landslide killed four people, with more still missing.
With roads cleared as rain eased, rescue teams arrived in Dharali, where Tuesday’s wall of water had submerged in sludge homes and cars in the village on the route to the Hindu pilgrim town of Gangotri.
Helicopters were carrying to safety those who had been stranded, the state’s chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on X.
Dhami said the destruction was “massive” and that the number of missing persons was still being estimated.
“If the weather supports us then we will bring every single person by tomorrow,” he told Reuters, referring to rescue efforts.
Authorities said about 400 people stuck in Gangotri were being rescued by air, with nine army personnel and seven civilians among the missing.
Relatives of missing people gathered at the helicopter base at Matli village, desperately searching for their loved ones.
Mandeep Panwar said he wanted to reach Dharali, where his brother ran a hotel and is among those missing since Tuesday.
“If you see the videos, ours was the first hotel to be hit by the deluge. I have not heard from my brother and he has been missing since,” Panwar said.
Communication links with rescuers and residents remained disrupted, as mobile telephone and electricity towers swept away by the floods have yet to be replaced, officials said.
Earlier, army rescuers used their hands, as well as machinery, to shift boulders from roads turned into muddy, gushing rivers, visuals showed. More than 225 army personnel were drafted into the rescue, their Northern Command said on X.
“We saw Dharali falling before our eyes,” said Anamika Mehra, a pilgrim headed for Gangotri when the flooding hit.
The hamlet of about 200 people in the state’s Uttarkashi district stands more than 1,150 metres (3,775 feet) above sea level on the climb to the temple town.
Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides, which some experts blame on climate change.
Reporting by Saurabh Sharma; writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; editing by Clarence Fernandez and Mark Heinrich
Plumes of smoke rose over the forest area in the Aude region. Drone footage showed swathes of charred earth after the fire swept across an area one-and-a-half times the size of Paris
International News via Reuters:
A massive wildfire that has scorched through 16,000 hectares of forest and villages in southern France since Tuesday was spreading more slowly on Thursday but was still not under control, officials said.
France’s biggest wildfire in nearly eight decades has killed a woman who officials said had disregarded evacuation orders and destroyed dozens of houses, forcing about 2,000 residents and holidaymakers to flee.
“We don’t have water, internet and electricity anymore. We have nothing. It’s the apocalypse,” said resident and farmer Alain Reneau, who lives in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, a village hit hard by the fire.
“We saved the house, but we had to fight the whole night, for two days.”
Plumes of smoke rose over the forest area in the Aude region. Drone footage showed swathes of charred earth after the fire swept across an area one-and-a-half times the size of Paris.
The blaze, not far from the border with Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, has spread unusually rapidly, fanned by strong winds and very dry vegetation, following months of drought in the area.
“The fire’s progression is slowing down, but we are still dealing with an active fire,” the region’s deputy prefect Remi Recio told reporters.
“Compared to yesterday, the progression has significantly decreased because the weather conditions have changed, notably the wind direction,” Le Monde newspaper quoted Recio as saying.
Close to 2,000 firefighters were on the ground to fight any flare-ups. The territory the wildfire has gone through – around 17,000 hectares – was up slightly from the 16,000 recorded on Wednesday night.
“The battle isn’t over yet, the fire could reignite with greater force,” prefect Christian Pouget said earlier.
‘CONSEQUENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE’
Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said the fire was the biggest one France has experienced since 1949. “This is a wildfire that is a consequence of climate change, of drought in this region,” she told France Info radio.
Thirteen people have been injured in the fire, officials said. Two people, including a firefighter, are in a critical condition.
An investigation is underway to identify the cause of the blaze.
“Never in my life (have I seen) fires like this,” 77-year-old retiree Simon Gomez said in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse.
Scientists say the Mediterranean region’s hotter, drier summers put it at high risk of wildfires.
France’s weather office has warned of a new heatwave starting in other parts of southern France on Friday and due to last several days.
Local winemakers and mayors are also blaming the loss of vineyards for the fire’s rapid spread.
“We’re at war, but also, we will win the war,” said Xavier Guille, a local vinyard owner who was helping firefighters battle the blaze.
Guille lost woodland to the fire but his vineyard was unharmed. “My in-laws lost their home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, it was one of the first homes that burned.”
Reporting by Manon Cruz, Abdul Saboor, Horaci Garcia, Marco Trujillo, additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Zhifan Liu; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Alison Williams and Gareth Jones
Government aims to modernise transport while addressing service gaps without displacing existing operators
New transport legislation aimed at complementing the taxi industry is in the pipeline.
Transport Minister Owen Darrell says it’s part of Government’s broader efforts to modernise the sector and address ongoing concerns from both visitors and residents about getting around the island.
The update follows a July sitting of the House of Assembly, where Minister Darrell told MPs that a “ridesharing policy” had been approved by Cabinet.
At the time, he said the first draft of the regulations and accompanying bill would be ready by the end of the month for review and deliberation.
Speaking with us this week, Minister Darrell said the goal is not to replace taxi services – but to help improve availability and reliability.
Minister Darrell says he’s sharing the policy with key stakeholders, which, according to his ministry include: the Bermuda Hotel Association, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Dispatching Companies, Insurance Companies, the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board and Minibus Associations.
Notably, he did not use the term “ridesharing” when discussing the proposed framework.
When questioned on what exactly the legislation will include, Minister Darrell indicated that it’s too early to give specifics, but re-emphasized that taxi drivers will be given priority.
Abacus adds Nikka Galang to its team
Nikki Galang: ‘Accounting might seem dull to some, but to me, it is a challenge I embrace.’
Press release:
Boutique accountancy firm, Abacus Ltd. Has announced the appointment of Nikka Galang as Financial Solutions Consultant.
In this role, Galang will be responsible for delivering full-cycle accounting services to Abacus’ clients. Her responsibilities include managing accounts payable and receivable, payroll and payroll tax filings, budgeting, audit, tax support in relevant jurisdictions, and the preparation of annual financial statements and reports.
‘My work mantra has always been: what’s the point of doing something if you’re not going to do it right,’ said Galang. ‘Accounting might seem dull to some, but to me, it is a challenge I embrace. There is joy in knowing that I can deliver an invaluable service with grace while the client focuses on what they do best.’
Galang holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Rizal Technological University and is a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). Since 2019, Galang has worked extensively with Bermuda-based clients, contributing to successful system upgrades, payroll tax re-filings and process improvements. Her strategic and detail-oriented approach has consistently supported client success and operational efficiency.
‘We are so pleased to welcome Nikka to the Abacus team,’ said Megan Nesbitt, CEO of Abacus Ltd. ‘She brings both passion and precision to her work, which aligns perfectly with our client-first philosophy. Her expertise and proactive mindset will be a hugely valuable addition as we continue to grow.’
About Abacus
Abacus is a premier accounting firm based in Hamilton, Bermuda, specialising in a wide range of financial services, including bookkeeping, business advisory services, payroll tax preparation, and financial consulting. They have won the Best of Bermuda Award for Best Accounting Services for the past nine years. Committed to excellence and innovation, Abacus empowers businesses to achieve their financial goals through state-of-the-art solutions and expert guidance.
More than 2,500 workers will benefit from an hourly rate increase to $17.13 when it takes effect next month
Handle on the data: The new rate reflects the inflationary realities of 2023 and 2024, says Sen. Lauren Bell
Statement by Senator Lauren Hayward Bell, Junior Minister of Economy & Labour:
On 1 September 2025, Bermuda will implement a new statutory minimum wage of $17.13 per hour, in keeping with this Government’s unwavering commitment to fairness and economic dignity for all.
More than 2,500 workers, many in lower-paid sectors, will directly benefit from this increase.
This increase in the minimum wage is not just an economic adjustment. It is a recognition of the dignity of work, ensuring that full-time employment becomes a pathway out of hardship, not a trap within it.
The decision to increase the minimum wage was guided not by political expediency but by sound evidence, social responsibility, and international best practices.
The Wage Commission, established under the Employment (Wage Commission) Act 2019, has done critical work in assessing the realities of Bermuda’s labour market and cost of living. Their findings were clear: a minimum wage that stagnates risks entrenching poverty. This is especially true for workers in sectors like hospitality, retail, caregiving, and personal services; those who serve our communities every day but are too often left behind.These are real people with families to feed, rent to pay, and futures to plan.
The new rate is grounded in data, reflecting the inflationary realities of 2023 and 2024.
Future adjustments will follow a predictable, transparent process: biennial reviews based on objective measures, capped at 2.5% to safeguard both workers and business viability. This gives employers time to adapt and plan, while giving workers the reassurance that their wages will not erode with rising costs.
This approach aligns with global principles, particularly those advocated by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which underscore that fair and regularly reviewed minimum wages are essential to reducing inequality and building resilient economies.
There are those who worry about potential disruptions to business. That’s understandable. But let us be clear: lifting wages is not a threat to prosperity but a foundation for it. Economies are strongest when all participants can share in the growth that they helped to create. When workers earn more, they spend more; investing in their communities, their families, and their future. This, in turn, supports small businesses, stabilizes our economy, and strengthens the social fabric of our island.
This Government understands that economic justice is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing responsibility. By raising the minimum wage and committing to regular, transparent adjustments, we are building a fairer Bermuda – one where dignity is not reserved for the few, but extended to all.
Ultimately, this is about more than dollars and cents. It’s about the kind of society we want to be; one where everyone who contributes to our economy is afforded the opportunity to live with dignity.
As Junior Minister, I am proud to have played a part in this effort. Our commitment to fair labour practices and inclusive growth will continue, because a stronger, more equitable Bermuda benefits us all.
In a thrilling Race Day 17, Scatteraction has once again claimed victory in the Wednesday Night Sailing series, making it three consecutive wins.
The race saw boats navigating a course from Hamilton Harbour and out into the Great Sound. Crossfire was the first to cross the finish line with an elapsed time of 57:12, but their corrected time of 1:03:05 placed them third.
Scatteraction, despite a slower elapsed time of 1:06:01, secured the top spot with a superior corrected time of 1:02:29. This highlights the crucial role of handicaps in the series. Passion finished a close second with a corrected time of 1:02:55.
