Hospital summer students recently got a look at their potential future.
Throughout June, ten select students were able to watch ‘live surgeries’ on video as part of the work experience – and apeak with the doctors who performed them.
Through a partnership between Bermuda Hospitals Board and Liberty Science Centre in New Jersey, students watched a kidney transplant, robotic surgery and neurosurgery.
One student said the opportunity to witness live surgeries was “insightful and inspiring”.
Sanaa Simmons, a first year medical student at the University of Liverpool, also said they were “further educated on triage processes, organ rejection, and long-term lifestyle changes to patients – ultimately reinforcing how imperative it is to showcase empathy in the medical field.”
Bermuda Hospitals Board press release:
BHB partnered with Liberty Science Center for the first time this year to give a select group of its summer students the opportunity to watch ‘live surgeries’ as part of their work experience at BHB.
BHB’S Coordinator-HR Programmes Erin Basden explains: “We secured ten spots for a number of surgeries. It was great to be able to offer such ah meaningful experience as part of our summer student programme and we will be looking to continue this partnership in the future. It was very informative, eye-opening and offered our students another avenue to benefit their career journey.”
The live video events were held throughout June. The BHB summer students were able to peer into an operating room to see a kidney transplant, robotic surgery and neurosurgery, and were able to communicate with the doctors. There was also a Meet the Surgeon session with a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who joined live and presented students with recorded footage from one of her procedures and discussed her career path.
One of the ten BHB summer students who participated was Bermudian Sanaa Simmons, a first year medical student who is studying at the University of Liverpool, who worked in the Quality & Risk Department at BHB over the summer.
“The opportunity to witness live surgeries provided by the Liberty Science Centre was insightful and inspiring,” she says.
“I particularly enjoyed observing the paediatric ACL reconstruction, and Dr. Samara Friedman was eager to answer our questions and share her story. From growing up as an athlete, to employing her dexterous skills throughout her younger life, she explained how paediatric orthopaedic surgery was best fit for her.
“Moreover, the kidney transplant surgery was well delivered; the procedure was narrated in an accessible way.
“We became further educated on triage processes, organ rejection, and long-term lifestyle changes to patients – ultimately reinforcing how imperative it is to showcase empathy in the medical field.”
Church members deliver humanitarian aid to Ukrainian troops and villages near the frontline and nuns offer comfort to families and especially children fleeing the war
International News via Reuters:
About 25 miles (40 km) from a slowly advancing Russian frontline, a community of Ukrainian Catholics is tending to people exiled from occupied territory to the country’s eastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
Church members deliver humanitarian aid to Ukrainian troops and villages near the frontline and nuns offer comfort to families and especially children fleeing the war.
“When kids come, especially little ones, they feel safe and cling to us, needing hugs and warmth. New kids always need that embrace,” said Sister Lukia Murashko, the mother superior at Zaporizhzhia’s Order of Saint Basil the Great monastery.
The monastery provides a cheerful environment adorned with Ukrainian flags and greeting cards from soldiers. In June, Sister Lukia and two other nuns made a cake for the 15th birthday of Evhen, a boy who fled the occupied city of Melitopol with his mother and now lives in a drab hostel in Zaporizhzhia.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a Ukrainian denomination loyal to the Vatican named for its rites similar to eastern Orthodox churches, has over 4 million followers in Ukraine and is the country’s largest branch of Catholicism.
Orthodox Christianity remains the most popular religion but has declined during the past decade amid tensions over ties to Moscow. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has grown and its followers now make up 12% of the population, according to a 2024 study by the Razumkov Centre, a Ukrainian think-tank.
Catholicism is traditionally predominant in Ukraine’s West, but has been growing in the East of the country, much of which Russia claims as its own, including lands it occupied in 2014 and in the 2022 full-scale invasion.
Moscow does not control Zaporizhzhia city and it has become a centre for internally displaced Ukrainians from occupied territories. With membership growing, the wooden St. Volodymyr chapel is getting an extension in the city, where Roman Catholicism also has a small presence.
During a visit in June, about two dozen faithful and three priests in gold-brocade vestments observed a Divine Liturgy conducted by Father Andriy Bukhvak in the chapel, most of them among the displaced.
After Russia occupied most of Zaporizhzhia region in 2022, it installed an administration that banned the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Catholic charities in a December 6, 2022 decree, saying they worked in the interests of foreign intelligence services and stored weapons.
The decree accused parishioners of participating “in riots and anti-Russian rallies in March-April 2022.”
The office of the Russia-installed governor of the occupied area of Zaporizhzhia region did not immediately respond to a detailed request for comment.
Father Oleksandr Bohomaz, 36, served in Melitopol, a coastal city in Zaporizhzhia region, for nine months after Russia took the town on March 1 that year along with two other priests, caring for four parishes and faithful who could not flee after authorities cracked down on the church there, he said.
“We travelled around, serving as much as possible until they eventually deported us,” he told Reuters.
During his time under occupation, he said, the authorities stormed church services, collecting fingerprints from worshippers. In December 2022, he was interrogated and taken to a checkpoint where he was told to cross to the territory under Ukrainian control.
Other Catholic priests in the Zaporizhzhia region suffered harsher treatment.
In November 2022, Russia’s troops raided a Greek Catholic church in Berdiansk, a city about 100 km along the coast from Melitopol.
Two priests, Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, were arrested on illegal weapons charges. They were not freed until a June 2024 exchange of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners, according to a December 2024 report by the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The church denied the weapons charges.
HOLY STRIFE
Religion has become intertwined with the war. In Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Kirill has given his blessing to the invasion of Ukraine, which he calls a Holy War
Last August, Ukrainian authorities banned the branch of Ukrainian Orthodox Church loyal to Moscow and in 2023 placed its leader, Patriarch Pavlo, under house arrest.
The International Religious Freedom and Belief Alliance (IRFBA), a U.S. State Department-backed initiative of 43 countries promoting freedom of religion, has accused Russia of widespread religious persecution in Ukraine.
In a February report, IRFBA said Russian troops had killed 67 clergy of various denominations since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, without giving specifics. IRFBA said more than 630 religious buildings had been damaged during the Russian occupation, including 596 Christian churches.
Reuters was unable to independently verify IRFBA’s claims, which have been repeated by Ukrainian officials. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has described the alliance’s reports as based on partisan and biased information, and said any actions were taken in accordance with the law.
The Ukrainian Catholic Donetsk Exarchate, the body of the church in much of East Ukraine, has operated in exile in Zaporizhzhia since 2014. Out of 77 parishes, 36 are under control of the Russian authorities, it said.
Stepan Meniok, 75, who was the bishop heading the Donetsk Exarchate until his retirement in 2024, said that when Russia-led separatists took over the eastern city of Donetsk in 2014 they drove him from the diocese’s seat. He settled in Zaporizhzhia.
“Many displaced people pass through here, and I’ve heard countless stories of loss: property, lives,” he said, adding he hoped for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
Father Bohomaz said Russian authorities saw the Ukrainian Catholic church as a threat because it was outspoken against the occupation.
“We see our people being beaten, killed, robbed, and destroyed,” he said. “We stand with the people.”
Reporting by Thomas Peter and Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Alexandra Hudson
Lloyds shares rose 1.5% in early trading, outperforming a 0.3% gain in the benchmark FTSE 100 index
International News via Reuters:
Lloyds Banking Group reported an estimate-beating 5% increase in first-half profit on Thursday, driven by higher income from mortgages and unsecured consumer lending, but said corporate defaults rose in one sector.
The British lender said that statutory profit before tax for the first six months of the year was 3.5 billion pounds ($4.75 billion), above a forecast of 3.2 billion pounds.
The bank also said it would pay an interim ordinary dividend of 1.22 pence per share, equivalent to 731 million pounds, up 15% on the prior year.
Lloyds shares rose 1.5% in early trading, outperforming a 0.3% gain in the benchmark FTSE 100 index.
The strong performance update from Britain’s biggest mortgage lender showed that it grew income and managed costs, even as storm clouds gather over the UK economy.
Lloyds maintained its performance targets for the year, as improved house price expectations helped offset a decline in its economic outlook, including higher predicted unemployment.
The lender took an impairment charge of 442 million pounds in the first half, up from 101 million the year before, which it said included a small number of companies in one sector.
That was the fibre broadband sector, Chief Financial Officer William Chalmers told reporters on a conference call, where higher construction costs and lower subscriber numbers have hit some providers hard.
Overall, impairments were down quarter-on-quarter and not a major concern, Chalmers said, with the negative comparison to the first six months of last year due to a one-off credit in that period.
“The impairments picture as a whole is looking extremely benign off the back of retail and commercial performance,” he said.
The bank’s performance could be overshadowed in the coming days by the outcome of a landmark Supreme Court ruling on a probe into Britain’s motor finance sector.
Lloyds is among the lenders most exposed to an adverse ruling on the cases about how banks disclosed historical commissions paid on car finance deals, which analysts have said could cost the banking industry up to 30 billion pounds.
Conversely, a favourable ruling that banks were not culpable would remove a significant source of uncertainty for Lloyds.
Fleet growth and higher average vehicle rental values boosted revenue from motor finance, driving total income for the bank for the half-year to 9.4 billion pounds, an increase of 6% from the same period in 2024.
($1 = 0.7368 pounds)
Reporting By Lawrence White; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Rachna Uppal
The BoE is expected to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months
International News via Reuters:
British business activity grew only weakly in July and employers cut jobs at the fastest pace in five months, according to a survey that is likely to add to speculation about a Bank of England interest rate cut next month.
The S&P Global UK Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), published on Thursday, slowed to 51.0 points from 52.0 in June, not far above the 50.0 level that separates growth from contraction. A Reuters poll had forecast a smaller fall to 51.8.
The survey’s employment gauge dropped to 45.1, its lowest since February, with businesses in part blaming the decision by British finance minister Rachel Reeves to make them pay more in social security contributions for their staff from April.
“Particularly worrying is the sustained impact of the budget measures on employment,” Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said.
“Higher staffing costs have exacerbated firms’ existing concerns over payroll numbers in the current environment of weak demand, resulting in another month of sharply reduced headcounts in July.”
Worries about weak demand were also weighing on hiring decisions, S&P Global said.
The BoE is expected to cut interest rates for the fifth time in 12 months on August 7 as it focuses on signs of a slowdown in the jobs market, even as inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target and rose to 3.6% in June.
Williamson said Thursday’s survey suggested Britain’s economy was growing at a quarterly pace of just 0.1% with a risk that it could prove weaker.
However, the PMI underscored the BoE’s dilemma with growth in prices charged by firms speeding up for the first time since April as suppliers sought to offset some of the tax increase and higher wage bills.
The PMI for the services sector slipped to 51.2 in July from June’s 52.8. The manufacturing sector PMI rose for a fourth month in a row to 48.2 from 47.7 but remained in contraction territory for a 10th consecutive month.
Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Joe Bavier
The EU and United States appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal
FILE PHOTO: European Union flags fly outside the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
International News via Reuters:
The European Union’s member countries voted on Thursday to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of U.S. goods, which could be imposed should the bloc fail to reach a trade deal with Washington, EU diplomats said.
The 27-nation bloc’s executive European Commission had said on Wednesday its primary focus was to achieve a negotiated outcome with Washington to avert 30% U.S. tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will apply on August 1.
The Commission said it would press on in parallel with plans for potential countermeasures, merging two packages of proposed tariffs of 21 billion euros and 72 billion euros into a single list and submitting this to EU members for approval.
No countermeasures would enter force until August 7. So far the EU has held back from imposing any countermeasures, despite Trump’s repeated announcements of tariffs, the broadest of which have been postponed. EU member states authorised the first package of countermeasures in April, but these were immediately suspended to allow time for negotiations.
The EU and United States appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal, according to EU diplomats, which would result in a broad 15% tariff on EU goods imported into the U.S., mirroring a framework agreement Washington struck with Japan. Trump would still need to take any final decision.
Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15% rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing U.S. duties, which average just under 5%.
There could also be concessions for sectors such as aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, diplomats said.
Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its 50% tariff on steel.
($1 = 0.8501 euros)
Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Benoit Van OverstraetenEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Peter Graff
Governor says the research has ‘potential global significance’
Governor Andrew Murdoch and Dr Samia Sarkis position laboratory-grown coral near the base of the Causeway (photo supplied)
A pilot coral reef project, with potential global significance, could help to protect Bermuda’s Causeway during hurricanes.
The Causeway is the main island’s only connection to the airport and east-end, and the Living Reefs Foundation is pursuing a project which aims to strengthen its man-made boulder barrier by planting coral – creating a living, growing reef.
Governor Andrew Murdoch recently joined project leader Dr Samia Sarkis beneath the waves to attach laboratory grown coral to an underwater structure.
He also joined Dr Sarkis and her team at their Coney Island coral hatchery to learn more about the research.
Funded by the UK’s Dawin Initiative, the Living Reefs Foundation has produce young corals from seven boulder-form species at its land-based hatchery, before they are transferred to coral gardens.
Sr Sarkis says the funding has been instrumental in “the development of a scalable and cost-effective model in restoring damaged reefs and protecting the coast from storm and hurricane impact.”
Governor Murdoch says the work being done has potential global significance. “With the threat of sea level rise” he says, “and increasingly extreme weather events, we need to look to nature-based solutions to help protect our coastlines.”
“The work being done in Bermuda is critical to understanding how to promote coral growth in the laboratory for successful placement at sea.”
Dr Samia Sarkis shows Governor Andrew Murdoch some of her team’s work at their Coney Island laboratory (photo supplied)
A Department of Environment spokesperson affirmed their support for the operational needs of the Living Reefs Foundation since 2018, by providing the necessary licenses and laboratory space.
In a nod to the Governor’s visit, the coral he helped to place by the Causeway will be monitored under the name ‘Palmy’ – in homage to his cat.
Laboratory-grown coral, named ‘Palmy’ in homage to the Governor’s cat (photo supplied)
Government House Press Release:
Funded by Darwin Plus Local funds, and with the support of the Department for Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Works and Engineering, The Living Reefs Foundation (LRF) is pursuing a pilot project to use locally grown and rescue corals as a nature-based solution to enhance the protection Bermuda’s coral reefs offer during storm surges and hurricanes. The pilot project is focussed on Bermuda’s 1 kilometre Causeway, which is bordered by patchy reefs and a partial man-made boulder barrier. The ’Causeway’ project, led by Dr Samia Sarkis, aims to demonstrate the use of coral planting to strengthen man-made barriers by turning them into a live and growing reef. Using state of the art technology, LRF has produced young corals from seven boulder-form species. These are grown from microscopic larvae in the Foundation’s land-based hatchery before being transferred to and grown on its coral gardens. Rescue corals, corals which are identified by government officials as in danger of destruction from construction of docks or coastal activities, are also used by LRF. Initially moved to the hatchery to recover, they are then relocated to selected sites where they boost coral cover. Dr Samia Sarkis said ‘The Darwin Plus fund has given us the capacity to build our infrastructure using state of the art technology. This enables us to investigate the complexities of coral reproduction and reliably produce juveniles, independent of environmental changes and disturbances, and quantify our coral restoration impact at scale. Both awards, received since 2023, are instrumental in significantly advancing our vision: the development of a scalable and cost-effective model in restoring damaged reefs and protecting the coast from storm and hurricane impact.’ The Governor joined Dr Sarkis and her team to view the hatchery at Coney Island and learn about the research. He then joined Dr Sarkis in Castle Harbour waters to attach some laboratory grown coral to an underwater structure. Each coral is given a local identifier to help monitor growth: this coral was called “Palmy” in homage to The Governor’s resident cat Palmerston. The Governor said ‘The UK supported work being done by the Living Reef Foundation, in close partnership with Government of Bermuda environmental experts, has potentially global significance. With the threat of sea level rise, and increasingly extreme weather events, we need to look to nature-based solutions to help protect our coastlines. The work being done in Bermuda is critical to understanding how to promote coral growth in the laboratory for successful placement at sea.’ The data obtained from this study will inform officials on alternative strategies to build long term resilient breakwaters and increase their cost-effectiveness by reducing maintenance costs normally incurred by man-made barriers. It will also provide a powerful mapping tool which can be used to quantify impacts to the seabed by vessel groundings, and baseline mapping for Environmental Impact Assessments. One of the main outputs of the project is a technical manual on the restoration using photogrammetry – using overlapping photographs to create a 3D model – which will be made available through the Foundation’s website. A spokesperson for DENR said ‘Since 2018, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has supported the operational needs of the Living Reefs Foundation by issuing Protected Species Licences and providing laboratory space. The Foundation focuses on restoring coral reefs impacted by direct human activity, such as boat groundings and coastal development. Using lab-grown corals, Living Reefs aims to reduce pressure on natural populations and develop scalable methods to grow genetically diverse corals faster so that reef restoration and coastal protection can be done in an accelerated timeframe.’
Police hope public can help identify culprits who have struck over the last four months
Police today released video clips of burglaries in the east end.
They hope the public can help identify culprits, who have struck over the past 4 months.
Around 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25th, a home on Shell Point Road in St. George’s was burgled, and a water pump a power washer and a Ring camera were stolen.
The suspect is a dark complexioned male, wearing dark clothing.
At around 3:40 a.m on Friday, May 23rd, two suspects broke into the Rubis Gas station at Blue Hole Hill and stole cigarettes and other items.
One Suspect is of medium build, about 5 feet 5 inches tall. Suspect 2 is slim built and about 6 feet tall.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 4th, the St. David’s Quickie Lickie Laundromat was broken into and cash was stolen. The two suspects were caught on C.C.T.V.. footage.
…and around 4:00 a.m on Monday, July 7th, two suspects attempted to burgle the Hamilton Parish Quickie Lickie Laundromat, but left empty handed.
Anyone with information on these incidents should contact Detective Sergeant Seymour Foote on 717-2282.
These videos have been shared only a week after Bermuda Broadcasting reported on another series of attempted burglaries over the course of one night, also in the East End.
Full Police Press Release:
Over the last four months, there has been an increase in burglary offences in the eastern parishes. Businesses, as well as residential properties, have been targeted.
At present, there are several burglaries under investigation. CCTV of some of these incidents has been recovered. However, it is difficult to identify suspects in these matters from the CCTV images, as their faces are covered.
As inquiries continue, the Bermuda Police Service is hoping the public may be able to assist us in identifying the persons responsible for these four crimes.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY: SHELL POINT ROAD
Sometime around 9:20pm on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, a residence located on Shell Point Road, St. George’s was burgled and a water pump, a power washer and a Ring camera were stolen. CCTV footage was reviewed and a suspect was seen walking around the residence and then leaving the property with a number of items.
The suspect is described as a dark complexioned male, wearing a black hat, black jacket and matching black pants, with white stripes down the sides.
He is seen in the attached video clip labelled Shell Point Road.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: RUBIS, BLUE HOLE HILL
Sometime around 3:40am on Friday, May 23, 2025, two unknown suspects were captured on CCTV breaking into the Rubis Gas station at Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton Parish. The suspects stole a significant quantity of cigarettes and other items.
The video clip labelled Rubis Blue Hole Hill, shows the suspects on the premises committing the offence.
Suspect 1 – is described as being medium built, about 5 feet 5 inches tall. He was wearing a black helmet with a red and white design all over, black Helly Hansen rain suit, blue and white sneakers, rider type gloves and carrying a crow bar.
Suspect 2 – is described as being slim built about 6 feet tall, wearing a black helmet, black bubble type jacket, burgundy sweat pants, black sneakers and carrying a duffle type bag.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: ST. DAVID’S LAUNDROMAT
Sometime in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the St. David’s Quickie Lickie Laundromat was broken into and a quantity of cash stolen. The suspects, two males, were seen on CCTV footage from the establishment breaking into the laundromat.
Suspect 1 – is described as medium built about 5 feet 5 inches tall, wearing a black helmet, black jacket and blue sweat pants, with a stripe down the side, carrying a crow bar.
Suspect 2 – is described as slim built, in a grey helmet, black Helly Hansen jacket, blue pants and carrying a hammer.
The video clip labelled St. David’s Quickie Lickie, shows the suspects on premises committing the burglary.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: HAMILTON PARISH LAUNDROMAT
Around 4:00am on Monday, July 7, 2025, a burglary occurred at the Hamilton Parish Quickie Lickie Laundromat. The suspects attempted to break into the cash dispensing machine, but were unable to do so and left empty handed.
Suspect 1 – is described as medium built, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, wearing a black helmet, dark grey/black jacket, black pants with white sneakers, carrying a black bag and crowbar into the laundromat.
Suspect 2 – is described as slim built, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing what appeared to be a grey helmet, black jacket, blue workman type pants and work boots.
The video clips labelled Hamilton Parish Quickie Lickie 1 and 2, show the suspects on the premises committing the burglary.
Anyone with information on any of these incidents, is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Seymour Foote on 717-2282 or, via e-mail, sfoote@bps.bm.
Brazil declared itself free of the virus in commercial flocks after 28 days without any new outbreaks on commercial farms, and some importers have now reversed their bans
International News via Reuters:
An outbreak of bird flu in Brazil, the world’s largest chicken exporter, prompted countries to implement trade restrictions in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus after a first case was confirmed on a commercial farm in May.
Brazil declared itself free of the virus in commercial flocks after 28 days without any new outbreaks on commercial farms, and some importers have now reversed their bans.
The following is a list from Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry of countries maintaining their bans as of July 23:
SUSPENSIONS TARGETING ALL POULTRY FROM BRAZIL
China, the European Union, Chile, Canada, Malaysia, East Timor, North Macedonia and Pakistan.
SUSPENSIONS TARGETING RIO GRANDE DO SUL STATE
Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Angola, Namibia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Tajikistan and Ukraine.
SUSPENSIONS TARGETING THE CITY OF MONTENEGRO
Qatar
SUSPENSIONS TARGETING SPECIFIC REGIONS
Japan, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname and Uzbekistan.
Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu, Isabel Teles, Roberto Samora, Luis Jaime Acosta, Andre Romani; Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by Kirsten Donvoan
Dates set for Bermuda’s journey to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Statement from the Bermuda Football Association:
The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) is excited to announce the official fixture details for the Senior Men’s National Team (SMNT) in the upcoming third and final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Gombey Warriors are set to kick off their crucial campaign with two matches in the September 2025 international window. Bermuda has been drawn into Group B, a challenging group that also includes regional football powerhouses Jamaica, Curaçao, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The journey to the World Cup begins on home soil, and the BFA is calling on the entire island to rally behind the team. Our first match will see us face off against our Caribbean rivals, Jamaica, in what promises to be an electric atmosphere. We urge all Bermudians to come out and create a formidable home-field advantage for our national team.
SEPTEMBER 2025 MATCH SCHEDULE:
Friday, September 5, 2025: Bermuda vs. Jamaica Venue: Flora Duffy South Field, National Sports Centre Kick-off: 7:00 PM Tuesday, September 9, 2025: Curaçao vs. Bermuda Venue: Stadion Ergilio Hato, Curaçao Kick-off: 8:00 PM
Tickets for the home match against Jamaica will be available for purchase exclusively on GPass.bm in the coming weeks. Additional details regarding ticket tiers and prices will be released shortly via our Social Media platforms.
The rate, which could also extend to cars, would mirror the framework agreement the United States struck with Japan
International News via Reuters:
The European Union is heading towards a trade deal with Washington that would result in a broad 15% tariff on EU goods imported into the U.S., avoiding a harsher 30% levy slated to be implemented from August 1, two EU diplomats said on Wednesday.
The rate, which could also extend to cars, would mirror the framework agreement the United States struck with Japan.
Officials from the European Commission, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of the 27-nation bloc, briefed EU envoys on the state of talks with their U.S. counterparts. U.S. President Donald Trump would ultimately make any final decision on a deal, however.
Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15% rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing U.S. duties, which average just under 5%.
There could also be concessions for sectors like aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, the diplomats said.
Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its current 50% tariff on steel, they said.
The Commission said earlier on Wednesday that its primary focus was to achieve a negotiated outcome to avert the threatened 30% tariffs.
At the same time it planned to submit counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) worth of U.S. goods to EU members for approval. A vote is expected on Thursday, though no measures would be imposed until August 7.
Germany supported the EU readying countermeasures, a government representative said.
If Trump’s 30% tariffs are implemented, EU diplomats also said there was broad support among European governments to activate wide-ranging so-called “anti-coercion” measures, which would allow the bloc to target U.S. services and other sectors.
U.S.-JAPAN DEAL AS TEMPLATE?
The EU appears to be following in the footsteps of Japan, whose agreement with the United States is the most significant Trump has struck since launching his tariff offensive in April.
European shares climbed around 1%, led by automobile stocks, following the U.S.-Japan announcement.
One stand-out feature of that deal was that the same 15% rate applies to cars, compared to the current U.S. tariff of 27.5%, something the EU may want for its own auto exports.
The U.S. imported vehicles and automotive parts valued at more than $55 billion from Japan last year. EU exports were 47.3 billion euros ($55.45 billion). Far fewer U.S. cars were sold into the EU or Japanese markets.
EU officials say Washington has shown little sign of budging on car tariffs, but the Japan deal could hint at flexibility.
“Whatever the Japanese got will become the minimum for the EU negotiating objectives,” said Simon Evenett, professor of geopolitics and strategy at IMD Business School.
($1 = 0.8524 euros)
Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Josephine Mason; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Joe Bavier
The WTO requires full consensus from all 166 members for a measure to be included in its formal rulebook
International News via Reuters:
The World Trade Organisation suffered a setback at its General Council meeting in Geneva on Wednesday after a small group of countries again blocked an initiative designed to boost foreign investment, two sources told Reuters.
The Investment Facilitation for Development, which aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles to encourage foreign direct investment, particularly in developing and least-developed countries, was blocked by India, South Africa and Turkey, they said, asking to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The WTO requires full consensus from all 166 members for a measure to be included in its formal rulebook. The measure has been formally backed by 127 members.
Trade sources described the latest block as a “disturbing” signal, as WTO members weigh sweeping reforms to revitalise the global trade body, which has been challenged by a wave of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Proponents of reforms are pushing for changes to the consensus-based decision-making process in particular to stop countries from blocking measures and bogging down initiatives.
India, South Africa and Turkey were not immediately available for comment.
“The integration of the IFD into the WTO framework is a litmus test for members’ willingness to turn reform discussions into practical action,” a trade delegate told Reuters, describing it as disappointing.
The EU delegation told members that the IFD did not hurt anyone’s interest and that blocking it would “endanger” the multilateral trade system, according to a statement seen by Reuters.
India and South Africa previously opposed the inclusion of the measure at high-level meetings, including the 2025 ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi, where it failed to gain consensus.
Keith Rockwell, a trade analyst at the Hinrich Foundation and former WTO communications director, told Reuters that India’s continued obstruction of the IFD agreement is partly a tactic to gain leverage on food security negotiations.
“It signals very difficult times ahead for reform in other areas,” he added.
Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Sharon Singleton
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