Football: Bermudian international never afforded opportunity to extend his contract at Ashton Gate
Bermudian international striker Nahki Wells has revealed his deep disappointment regarding his recent exit from Bristol City, stating he was never afforded an opportunity to extend his stay at Ashton Gate. Wells left the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract.
In an interview with the One Stream in Bristol podcast, Wells, who spent five and a half years with the Robins, scoring 48 goals in 237 appearances, expressed his dismay. He explained that he had been led to believe a new offer would be forthcoming, only to be informed just days before pre-season that he was not needed.
Wells, who played under four different managers during his time at City, described the situation as “being stabbed in the heart,” clarifying that assumptions about his wage or contract length demands were inaccurate. He simply wasn’t given any option to remain at the club, a turn of events he never envisioned. His candid comments shed light on an upsetting summer for the experienced forward.
The inhaler, with an older propellant, is already approved in Europe for the treatment of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
International News via Reuters:
A panel of the European medicines regulator has recommended approving an eco-friendly version of AstraZeneca’s inhaler for the treatment of a chronic lung condition, the drugmaker said on Friday.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has backed the use of a new type of a pressurised gas in the company’s triple-drug inhaler Trixeo Aerosphere.
In this version, Trixeo Aerosphere, also called Breztri Aerosphere in some regions, will use a next-generation, medical-grade propellant from Honeywell to deliver metered-doses to patients’ lungs as part of AstraZeneca’s green push.
The inhaler, with an older propellant, is already approved in Europe for the treatment of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly referred to “smoker’s lung” as the disease typically affects cigarette smokers. But it can also be caused by air pollution and related occupational hazards.
Trixeo Aerosphere’s eco-friendly version was approved by British regulators in May, marking the world’s first, and is currently under review in other countries, including China.
CHMP’s recommendation for European Union’s approval is based on the results from trials, which showed the latest propellant was comparable to the current one in delivering doses, without any new safety risks.
“CHMP’s positive opinion of Trixeo Aerosphere with the next-generation propellant allows us to address the needs of both patients and the planet,” AstraZeneca executive Ruud Dobber said.
Honeywell’s new propellant offers up to 99.9% lower global warming potential compared to those currently used, leaving a lower carbon footprint.
If formally approved by the European Commission, which has the final authority, Trixeo Aerosphere would be the first in the EU to use the new delivery mechanism. The EC typically follows the advise of the EMA, but is not bound to do so.
The inhaler made $978 million in revenue for AstraZeneca in 2024. Rival therapies for COPD include Sanofi-Regeneron’s Dupixent, GSK’s Trelegy Ellipta and Verona Pharma’s Ohtuvayre.
AstraZeneca said it would now begin to transition its Trixeo supply to the new propellant in Europe, based on CHMP’s backing.
Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka and Unnamalai L in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
Euro zone companies are facing a slowing economy and increased competition from China as U.S. tariffs dent confidence and force rivals to seek new markets, a European Central Bank poll showed on Friday.
The ECB left interest rates unchanged on Thursday and offered a modestly upbeat assessment of the euro zone economy, raising doubts among investors about further policy easing even as U.S. tariff threats cloud the outlook.
But an ECB survey of 72 large companies operating in the euro area pointed to a slowdown in the manufacturing and services sectors, resulting in a more subdued outlook for employment and prices.
The ECB contacted the companies between June 23 and July 2.
“Contacts reported a slowdown in activity in recent months as tariffs, geopolitical tensions and the resulting uncertainty dented business and consumer confidence,” the ECB said. “The feedback from contacts was consistent with very modest growth in both the second and third quarters.”
The companies contacted by the ECB viewed U.S. tariffs – the extent of which is currently being negotiated – as a negative for growth and said competition from Chinese goods was playing an “increasing role”.
“The downward pressure on both activity and prices reflected reduced demand, in part caused by trade diversion from Asia (and China in particular) as exporters from the region sought alternatives to the U.S. market,” the ECB said.
This had mostly affected intermediate goods so far and had “little to no impact on final consumer prices,” but it was expected to broaden in the coming months and quarters.
“By contrast, contacts in the retail and consumer services sectors reported minimal, if any, impact on their activity or prices to date, and did not anticipate much impact in the near future,” the ECB added.
Wage growth was expected to slow from the 4.5% pace recorded last year, but by less than in the previous survey. Companies now forecast pay rising by 3.3% this year and by 2.8% in 2026.
Reporting by Francesco Canepa; Editing by Jamie Freed
The new treaty will underpin submarine programmes for 50 years
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s commitment to Australia is “absolute”, Defence Secretary John Healey said on Friday as both nations’ defence and foreign ministers held talks in Sydney on issues such as deepening commitment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.
Healey and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy were met by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney ahead of talks focused on boosting trade ties and advancing the AUKUS partnership to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarine.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reviewing the three-way deal struck in 2021, before he returned to power, and has pressed Australia to increase defence spending to counter China’s military build-up in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said a treaty to be signed with Britain on submarine production on Saturday was their most significant since Australia’s self-governing federation in 1901.
The new treaty will underpin submarine programmes for 50 years, creating tens of thousands of jobs, and is expected to be worth up to 20 billion pounds ($27 billion) to Britain in exports over the next 25 years, its defence ministry said.
It will also see increased port visits to Western Australia by Britain’s Astute-class nuclear submarines.
“Our UK commitment to Australia is absolute,” Healey said, adding that the militaries of the two countries were deepening ties to tackle growing uncertainty and threats.
A joint statement after the meeting said Britain and Australia “reaffirmed that the security, resilience and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions are interconnected”, and deeper Australian-British engagement would shape a favourable strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.
The treaty with Britain is “a shot in the arm for AUKUS”, said Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute think-thank in Sydney. “Support for AUKUS from the UK is particularly important at this moment,” he told Reuters.
“Australia’s relationship with the Trump administration is thin, so our ability to influence U.S. policies on important issues for us, including the AUKUS review, is limited.”
Healey told reporters he expected the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS to underline its benefit for the United States.
“The AUKUS partnership is one that does not cost the U.S. taxpayer any more. Indeed we are putting more in, Australia and the UK,” he said.
After their talks, the ministers are set to travel to Melbourne and the northern garrison city of Darwin, where the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has arrived for the Talisman Sabre war games.
As many as 40,000 troops from 19 countries are taking part in the exercises held from July 13 to August 4, which Australia’s military has said are a rehearsal of joint war fighting that contributes to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Britain has significantly increased its participation in the exercise co-hosted by Australia and the United States, with 3,000 troops joining in.
“While those aiding Russia, providing drones, supplying technology, supplying troops to the front line may be focused on Ukraine today, they could turn their sights to the Indo-Pacific next,” Healey said.
The joint statement criticised Chinese companies for supplying components to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, and condemned North Korea’s supply of munitions and troops to Russia.
Australia agreed to extend its contribution to training Ukraine forces in Britain.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the nations had committed to cooperate on critical minerals and cyber security in the Pacific.
They would also collaborate on protecting gender equality internationally, “countering rollback of rights”, the statement said. Australia has said gender equality will become a key part of its foreign policy and aid programmes, after the United States overhauled its international assistance.
Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez
A survey showed consumer confidence dipped this month
International News via Reuters:
London’s main stock indexes slipped on Friday as investors assessed a mixed bag of corporate earnings and awaited updates on EU-U.S. trade talks.
The internationally oriented FTSE 100 fell 0.3% as of 0939 GMT, pulling back from its all-time peak reached on Thursday, but was on track to register its fifth straight weekly gain. The midcap FTSE 250 index also lost 0.3%.
Data showed British retail sales rose by 0.9% in June, a partial rebound from May’s 2.8% plunge which was the biggest fall since December 2023.
A survey showed consumer confidence dipped this month ahead of possible tax increases later this year and households added to their savings.
Construction and materials stocks led the sectoral decline, falling 1.8%, dragged down by Marshalls, which tumbled 21.6%, on downbeat full-year adjusted pre-tax profit forecast.
Precious metal miners lost 1.7%, tracking a fall in gold prices. Hochschild Mining fell 2.8%, Endeavour Mining lost 1.3%, and Fresnillo down 2.2%. Automobiles rose 0.7%.
In corporate updates, NatWest rose 1.9% after the lender said its profit increased by 18% in the first half and the company announced a new share buyback worth 750 million pounds ($1.01 billion).
Wizz Air jumped 8.8% after Barclays upgraded the budget carrier to “overweight”.
Close Brothers surged 8.6% after announcing the sale of its execution services and securities business, Winterflood, to Marex for 103.9 million pounds.
On the flip side, Rightmove fell 1.2% after warning it expects sales growth in the second half of 2025 to be lower than the first half’s 10%.
Jupiter Fund Management fell 5.1% after the wealth manager reported lower half‑yearly pre‑tax profit.
Investors await to see whether the European Union can reach a trade deal with the U.S. before U.S. President Donald Trump’s August 1 deadline.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will lobby Trump to accelerate a final deal to cut tariffs on British steel, the Financial Times reported.
Reporting by Sukriti Gupta; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
The Belgian economist would now become Lagarde’s principal counsellor and the coordinator of the counsel to the ECB’s Executive Board
International News via Reuters:
The European Central Bank said on Friday it had picked Isabel Vansteenkiste as President Christine Lagarde’s new top adviser, replacing Roland Straub who would take up a new role at the ECB.
Vansteenkiste, currently director general for the ECB’s international and European relations, rose to prominence during the debt crisis of 2010-12, when she represented the central bank in the so called troika of institutions that bailed out Portugal, among other countries.
The Belgian economist would now become Lagarde’s principal counsellor and the coordinator of the counsel to the ECB’s Executive Board, a role that Straub had occupied since 2017.
The German economist was now set to become the deputy director general of the ECB’s market operations. Both appointments would become effective on 15 September, the ECB said.
Intel also halted or scrapped several fab projects in the U.S. and Europe, citing financial discipline
International News via Reuters:
Intel shares fell 5% in premarket trading on Friday after the chipmaker forecast steeper-than-expected quarterly losses and warned of a potential exit from its foundry business despite new CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s turnaround plans.
Tan on Thursday hinted at departing from ex-CEO Pat Gelsinger’s core strategy, warning that without demand-backed investment, Intel risks exiting the foundry business, jeopardizing $100 billion in assets and increasing its reliance on TSMC.
As part of its foundry business reform, the company may reserve the advanced 18A manufacturing process for its products and proceed with 14A only if a major external partner commits, Tan stated in a post-conference call.
“Intel Foundry is a big story, and currently people are questioning how successful 18A is. A failure in 18A would be a broken story,” said Hendi Susanto, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds.
Intel also halted or scrapped several fab projects in the U.S. and Europe, citing financial discipline.
Once a leader in American chipmaking, Intel has lost ground after years of strategic missteps, lagging far behind rivals Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.
The company’s stock has gained 12.8% so far this year, while Nvidia and AMD have jumped about 30% and 34%, respectively.
Since taking the helm in March, Tan has divested businesses, laid off employees and redirected resources as part of his strategic reset to revive the embattled chipmaker.
“There are no more blank checks,” Tan wrote in a memo to employees on Thursday, announcing further job cuts as Intel aims to reduce its workforce by 22% to 75,000 by year-end.
“I don’t think he’s scaling back… I think they’re maybe redirecting. I would prefer them to build it out, but only if they have customer commitments,” said Ryuta Makino, analyst at Gabelli Funds, who’s also an Intel shareholder.
Intel trades at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 42.55 versus 33.90 for Nvidia and 32.12 for AMD.
Reporting by Rashika Singh and Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru, Samuel Indyk in London; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Vijay Kishore
In June, a Dutch court confirmed the watchdog’s ruling saying that Apple had abused its dominant position by imposing unfair conditions on providers of dating apps
International News via Reuters:
Dutch antitrust regulator ACM said in a statement on Friday it has postponed a ruling on Apple over fees the iPhone maker charges dating app providers as it awaits the outcome of ongoing discussions between Apple and the European Commission over a similar issue.
It added that Apple recently adjusted its rates in light of these discussions and the U.S. firm has announced that it will make further adjustments later this year.
In June, a Dutch court confirmed the watchdog’s ruling saying that Apple had abused its dominant position by imposing unfair conditions on providers of dating apps in the App Store.
The pound was also down 0.4% against the dollar at $1.3456
International News via Reuters:
The pound dropped to its weakest level against the euro in four months on Friday as a weekly decline in gilt yields on soft British data contrasted with higher European yields on expectations the European Central Bank is done with rate cuts.
The euro reached as high as 87.27 pence, up 0.24% and approaching its April 11 peak of 87.38 pence, hit at the height of tariff-induced market turmoil. A break past that would take the euro to its highest since late 2023.
The pound was also down 0.4% against the dollar at $1.3456.
Data on Friday showed British retail sales for June were slightly below analysts’ expectations, albeit rebounding from a sharp drop in May.
They followed figures on Thursday showing UK business activity grew only weakly in July and employers cut jobs at the fastest pace in five months.
The jobs data is the most important aspect of this, said Derek Halpenny, head of research global markets EMEA at MUFG, as rate setters at the Bank of England are most focused on the labour market.
As a result, yields on British government bonds, or gilts, are set for small weekly falls across the curve, in contrast with European government bond yields, which are up sharply on signs of a U.S.-EU trade deal and hints from the ECB that it is done with interest rate cuts. [GVD/EUR] [GB/]
This “notable divergence” is sending euro/sterling higher, said Halpenny.
The BoE has hitherto been much more cautious about rate cuts than the ECB and most other European developed market central banks due to stubbornly high British inflation.
The ECB has cut by 200 basis points since last year, in contrast to just 100 bps from the BoE.
However, while ECB could now be done with easing, markets continue to anticipate two further 25 bps BoE cuts this year, and see around an 80% chance of the first of those at its early August meeting.
Analysts say should UK inflation slow, the pace of cuts could accelerate. Though with inflation hitting its highest in a year in June, they say the BoE has a difficult balancing act.
With less than a week before heading to SGCC for the Annual Classic Somerset to host trial on Saturday
(President’s Team vs Vice-President’s Team) for the upcoming Cup Match Trial to be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Somerset Cricket Club. The match will start at 10am.
Welcome to our Cup Match Style series — where we spotlight the shops, trends, and standout looks for 2025.
Lifestyle boutique Cassine is embracing the energy of the event and we caught up with co-owner Mia Chambray, who shared what’s trending this year—from vibrant new styles to returning favorites.
Jennifer Page, the founder of Cassine, shared what’s trending beyond the wardrobe. This year, it’s all about the accessories — and Saltwater Jewelry is leading the way. From ocean-inspired pieces to standout statement items, Ms Page says these looks are the perfect finish for any Cup Match outfit.
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