PLP MP Jason Hayward urging the energy giant to put long-term solutions in place
In a press statement PLP MP Jason Hayward expressed his solidarity with his constituents, urging BELCO to quote: ” to accelerate the implementation of a long-term solution that eliminates these harmful emissions”
Press Statement by MP Jason Hayward August 4, 2025:
As the elected representative for the people of Pembroke Central, I am deeply concerned by the ongoing environmental disturbances affecting our community, particularly those stemming from emissions and soot deposits believed to be originating from BELCO operations.
On the dates of July 20, 21 and 22, 2025, residents reported a significant accumulation of soot on their properties, this is in addition to reported incidents in June. These recurring incidents are not only disruptive but also distressing, as they compromise the cleanliness of homes and the well-being of families.
I stand in solidarity with the residents who have voiced their frustrations and urge BELCO to accelerate the implementation of a long-term solution that eliminates these harmful emissions.
The health and safety of our community must be prioritized without delay. Furthermore, I call on BELCO to:
• Engage more transparently and frequently with affected residents, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed.
• Restore damaged property and provide support for cleaning efforts where soot accumulation has occurred.
• Guarantee access to clean drinking water and take proactive steps to prevent any contamination risks.
Environmental justice is not optional—it is a fundamental right. I will continue to advocate for accountability and action, and I encourage all residents to remain vocal and vigilant, so that we ensure our community remains a safe and healthy place to live.
Jason P. Hayward Member of Parliament, Constituency 17 Pembroke Central
On the track, Jessica Lewis continues to shine on the global stage
Bermuda’s young footballing talent got their 2025 CONCACAF Boys’ Under 15 Championship underway with a scoreless draw with Antigua and Barbuda in Aruba. Meantime wheelchair racer, Jessica Lewis, struck gold twice on the track in Canada. And on home soil, inclement weather meant that Cup Match 2025 ended in a draw.
Misleading promotions appear across various digital platforms
BOGUS: One of the false online posts
Government press release: The Government of Bermuda is urging members of the public to be vigilant in response to a series of fraudulent online posts and advertisements that falsely use Mr. Wayne Caines’s image to promote illegitimate investment schemes. These misleading promotions appearing across various digital platforms, including social media, falsely suggest that Mr. Caines is speaking on behalf of the Bermuda Government and endorsing financial offers that claim to guarantee significant returns. The public is reminded that: – These advertisements are scams designed to deceive users into providing personal or financial information; and – All official information, updates, and advisories are communicated through the Government of Bermuda’s official communication section, the Department of Communications.
BOGUS: Another false ad
“We strongly urge the public not to engage with these fraudulent posts or click on any associated links,” said a spokesman for the Department of Communications. “These scams are becoming more sophisticated and often use familiar faces to lend false credibility.” If you encounter suspicious content claiming to represent the Government of Bermuda or its officials, please avoid providing personal information or financial details to unverified sources and report it immediately to the platform on which it appears.
The airline said it worked swiftly to restore access for staff and resume normal services as quickly as possible
A number of BermudAir flights were delayed today.
TNN reporting that staff members were reportedly denied access to Skyport facilities.
The Bermuda Flyer reporting on social media that flights 902, 603, 706 and 301 were all delayed this morning.
The disruption comes after Skyport recently confirmed to the Royal Gazette that legal action is being taken against BermudAir due to alleged unpaid airport charges.
The Bermuda Flyer, however, noting it is unclear whether the limiting of airport access today is related to Skyport’s legal action.
A spokesperson for BermudAir told Bermuda Broadcasting today that the airline, ” … worked swiftly to restore access for our staff and resume normal services as quickly as possible. BermudAir deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers today and appreciates your patience and understanding as we address this matter.
In a statement this evening, Skyport said: “There are currently legal proceedings involving BermudAir underway, regarding outstanding airport fees … As this matter is before the courts, we won’t be commenting further at this time.”
Meanwhile, a Government spokesperson added, “The Ministry is aware of the matter, which is before the courts and involves two private companies. As such it would be imprudent to comment on the matter.”
The upsurge will be a relief to bankers who began the year with expectations the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump would lead to a wave of consolidation
International News via Reuters:
Global dealmaking has reached $2.6 trillion, the highest for the first seven months of the year since the 2021 pandemic-era peak, as a quest for growth in corporate boardrooms and the impact of a surge in AI activity has overcome the uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs.
The number of transactions to August 1 is 16% lower than the same time last year, but their value is 28% higher, according to Dealogic data, boosted by U.S. megadeals valued at more than $10 billion.
They include Union Pacific Corp’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of small rival Norfolk Southern and OpenAI’s $40 billion funding round led by Softbank Group.
The upsurge will be a relief to bankers who began the year with expectations the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump would lead to a wave of consolidation.
Instead, his trade tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty made companies pause until renewed confidence in corporate boardrooms and the U.S. administration’s anti-trust agenda changed the mood.
“What you’re seeing in terms of deal rationale for transactions right now is that it’s heavily growth-motivated, and it’s increasing,” Andre Veissid, EY Global Financial Services Strategy and Transactions Leader, told Reuters.
“Whether it’s artificial intelligence, the change in the regulatory environment, we see our clients not wanting to be left behind in that race and that’s driving activity.”
Compared with August 2021, when investors, rebounding from pandemic lockdowns drove the value of deals to $3.57 trillion, this year’s tally is nearly a $1 trillion, or 27%, lower.
Still deal-makers at JPMorgan Chase JP Morgan Chase have said there is more to come, with companies pursuing bigger deals in the second half of the year as executives adapt to volatility.
“People have got used to the prevailing uncertainty, or maybe the unpredictability post-U.S. election is just more predictable now,” Simon Nicholls, co-head of Slaughter and May Corporate and M&A group, said.
Nigel Wellings, Partner at Clifford Chance said the market was moving beyond tariffs. “Boardrooms are seeing the M&A opportunity of a more stable economic environment and positive regulatory signals. But it is not a frothy market.”
FROM HEALTH TO TECH
While the healthcare sector drove M&A in the years after the pandemic, the computer and electronics industry has produced more takeover bids in the U.S. and the United Kingdom in the last two years, according to Dealogic.
Artificial intelligence is expected to drive more dealmaking. M&A activity has increased around data centre usage, such as Samsung’s $1.7 billion acquisition of Germany’s FlaktGroup, a data centre cooling specialist.
Palo Alto Networks $25 billion deal for Israeli cybersecurity peer CyberArk was the largest deal in Europe, Middle East and Africa so far this year as rising AI-driven threats push companies to adopt stronger defences.
Private equity, which had been sitting on the sidelines, has once again been active, with Sycamore Partners’ $10 billion deal to take private Walgreens Boots Alliance and a sweetened $6.4 billion offer from Advent for UK scientific instrument maker Spectris.
The U.S. was the biggest market for M&A, accounting for more than half of the global activity. Asia Pacific’s dealmaking doubled over the same year to date period last year, outpacing the EMEA region.
Reporting by Emma-Victoria Farr and Amy-Jo Crowley in London, writing by Anousha Sakoui. Editing by Barbara Lewis
Boaters soaked up the sun and excitement on Sunday during the annual Non-Mariners event — a popular highlight on the Cup Match to-do list. Dozens of vessels rafted up at Mangrove Bay, amid music and a festive atmosphere.
Musk can claim the new award if he remains in a top executive role for another two years and a court does not reinstate the 2018 package currently on appeal
International News via Reuters:
Tesla has granted CEO Elon Musk shares worth about $29 billion in a new pay deal aimed at keeping the billionaire entrepreneur at the helm during a crucial pivot from its struggling core auto business to robotaxis and humanoid robots.
The company described the “interim award” of the 96 million new shares as a first step, “good faith” payment to honor Musk’s more than $50 billion pay package from 2018 that was struck down by a Delaware court last year.
Musk can claim the new award if he remains in a top executive role for another two years and a court does not reinstate the 2018 package currently on appeal.
He has to hold the shares for five years and can buy them for $23.34 per share, the same as the exercise price of the 2018 award. Tesla will also put to vote a longer-term CEO compensation plan at its annual investor meeting on November 6.
The move is meant to keep Musk, the public face of Tesla and architect of its robotaxi strategy, focused on the electric-vehicle maker as it navigates a shift to cybercabs and robotics from its mainstay auto business.
It also seems to quell any speculation that the board’s patience with Musk could be wearing thin because of the recent tumultuous months, including the CEO’s foray into politics.
The move to give Musk greater control of the company suggests that directors still see him as best-suited to tackle Tesla’s growing list of challenges in the years ahead.
Sales have been falling at the company due to its aging vehicle line-up, tough competition and Musk’s right-wing political stances that have tarnished its brand.
S&P Global Mobility data shared exclusively with Reuters showed on Monday that Tesla’s brand loyalty had plunged since Musk endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump last summer.
Musk’s involvement in politics and his wider business empire, including AI startup xAI, have also sparked concerns about his devotion to Tesla, the main source of his wealth. Musk has threatened to leave unless he gets more control over Tesla.
The new stock award will take his Tesla stake, already the largest, to more than 15% from the 12.7% currently, according to Reuters calculations based on data compiled by LSEG.
Before Monday’s grant, Musk had no active compensation plan and Tesla said he had not received meaningful pay since 2017. With the legal fight over his 2018 package expected to continue, the board said it moved to retain Musk’s “extraordinary talent.”
TALENT MAGNET
“While we recognize Elon’s business ventures, interests and other potential demands on his time and attention are extensive and wide-ranging… we are confident this award will incentivize Elon to remain at Tesla,” said a special committee Tesla formed this year to consider Musk’s compensation. It consists of chair Robyn Denholm and independent director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson.
The company said it would not record compensation expense for the award as it does not currently expect the performance condition to be “probable of being met.” It will re-evaluate and recognize the expense if it determines the award is likely to be met, including after the two-year vesting period.
Last year, the company said a new compensation package for Musk on par with the 2018 plan would result in an accounting charge of more than $25 billion. While the plan unveiled Monday is about one-third of the size of the 2018 plan, the share price has nearly doubled in the past year, increasing the potential cost.
“The compensation expense to Tesla here is going to be ferocious,” said Lawrence Fossi, who publishes a newsletter critical of Tesla.
The new shares will also be forfeited or offset if the Delaware courts fully reinstate the 2018 stock award, ensuring there is no “double dip,” the special committee said.
Investors and analysts welcomed the news, with Tesla shares rising nearly 2% in early trading. The stock has lost a quarter of its value this year, as of last close.
“Under normal circumstances, a compensation package in the billions would raise some eyebrows. (But) clearly investors have benefited from Musk’s stewardship of Tesla,” said Camelthorn Investments adviser Shawn Campbell, who owns Tesla shares. “This stock grant will bind Musk to Tesla for the next two years.”
BATTLE FOR PAY
The Delaware ruling on Musk’s 2018 pay package, the largest in Corporate America, had cited flaws in the board’s approval process and unfairness to investors. Musk kicked off an appeal against the order in March, claiming a lower court judge made multiple legal errors in rescinding the record compensation.
He has argued that the package resulted in spectacular growth for Tesla and yet was determined by the lower Court of Chancery to be unfair to shareholders, who voted twice to approve the plan.
Tesla shares have risen nearly 2,000% over the past decade, far outperforming the around 200% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index in the same period.
“This is simply a repackaged version of what was done years ago and was ruled improper by a judge. It renders the Delaware court decision effectively meaningless,” said Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware.
“You don’t have to incentivize him to stay. If he leaves, he throws away 13% of the company, which is still a huge part of his net worth, said Elson, who had filed amicus briefs supporting the court’s decision to void Musk’s 2018 award.
Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Tom Hals, Zaheer Kachwala, Jaspreet Singh and Akash Sriram; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Alistair Bell
The Bacchanal Run took place on Saturday over the weekend as part of the Cup Match festivities. Hundreds filled the streets with energy and color as they danced their way from Frog Lane in Devonshire to Bernard Park. Here are some highlights.
Klingbeil said there needed to be a quick solution to the trade conflict with the U.S. as companies needed planning certainty
International News via Reuters:
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the European Union had been too weak during trade negotiations with the United States and it should become stronger, as much still needed to be clarified on the deal the two sides struck last month.
“Overall, as Europeans, we must become stronger,” Klingbeil said in Washington ahead of a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“Then we can also stand up to the U.S. with more self-confidence. Not against the U.S., but in dialogue with the U.S.”
Klingbeil said there needed to be a quick solution to the trade conflict with the U.S. as companies needed planning certainty.
“Even though I am not the one negotiating today — that is the task of the European Commission — a close line of communication between me and Scott Bessent can help clarify things,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the Transatlantic relationship.
Apart from tariffs, Klingbeil and Bessent will discuss how to deal with cheap Chinese goods that are flooding the markets in both the U.S. and Europe, as well as the G20 presidency that the U.S. will take at the end of the year.
“I believe it is important that we, from the German side, keep sending a clear signal: We want to work closely with the American government, we seek dialogue, we do not shy away from difficult topics and are looking at how we can solve problems together,” Klingbeil said.
The EU’s trade deal with Trump in July was greeted with a mix of relief and anger, with tariffs set at 15% for most products but negotiations continuing for certain sectors, including steel and aluminium, which carry tariffs of 50%.
Klingbeil would advocate for a quota system on steel exports to be included in the trade deal, he told reporters.
Reporting by Maria Martinez; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson
The stadiums were packed and it was a series that featured all the best things that make test cricket such compulsive viewing
International News via Reuters:
England v India 2025 will go down as one of cricket’s greatest test series of all time, five matches crammed into seven weeks of unrelenting, see-saw drama ending in a 2-2 draw after India’s extraordinary six-run win in the final game on Monday.
Over 7,000 runs were scored, including a record-equalling 21 individual centuries, the sun shone most of the time and every match went into the fifth day.
The stadiums were packed and although tensions flared at times on the pitch – perhaps inevitable given the immense pressure – it was a series that featured all the best things that make test cricket such compulsive viewing.
With more and more one-day cricket around the world, it was a timely boost for the longest format of the sport which many people believe is fighting for its existence.
“It’s been an incredible series, all five games going down to day five, so much has been put into this series from both teams,” England captain Ben Stokes said.
“The commitment and energy has been outstanding. Stood here now, we’re bitterly disappointed we couldn’t get the series win but, being a massive advocate of the game of test cricket, this series has been an unbelievable advert for it across the world.”
It all started at Headingley where three India batsmen made centuries, before a collapse that was to become a feature of the series, as they posted 471 and England replied with 465.
Rishabh Pant’s second hundred of the game led India to 364 before Ben Duckett’s stroke-laden 149 inspired England’s textbook chase of a huge target of 371 to complete a five-wicket win.
ONE-SIDED TEST
The second test at Edgbaston was by far the most one-sided.
India captain Shubman Gill made a brilliant 269 in his side’s first-innings 587.
Harry Brook’s 158 was the foundation of England’s 407 in reply, but Gill made 161 to take his match tally to 430 runs and the hosts could muster only 271 as India levelled the series with a crushing 336-run triumph.
On to Lord’s and as if to prove how well matched the teams were, they posted identical first-innings totals of 387, only the ninth time in test history that has happened.
Joe Root’s 104 and KL Rahul’s 100 were the major contributions on a tricky wicket devoid of pace.
England could manage only 192 second time around but, as happened so often, the pendulum swung when they then reduced the touring side to 58-4 at the close on day four.
At lunch on the final day, India were teetering on 112-8 but Ravindra Jadeja batted for well over three hours, and it was deep into the last session when spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj to complete a 22-run England win.
BAT DOMINATED
At Old Trafford, the bat dominated once more.
India made a respectable 358 before England racked up a massive 669, highlighted by Root’s 150 and 141 from Stokes. Chris Woakes then took two wickets in the first over to reduce India to 0-2 before Rahul and Gill led a brilliant recovery.
Gill made another hundred but when they both fell on the final morning England had plenty of time to take the six remaining wickets with India facing a seemingly impossible run chase.
Jadeja and Washington Sundar had other ideas, however, and doggedly resisted, both reaching three figures after England effectively gave up and were reduced to bowling part-timer Harry Brook to allow the batsmen to get to their milestones quicker.
The draw left England 2-1 up going into the final game at The Oval with the exertions of the series taking a heavy toll on both teams.
England were missing all-rounder Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer while India were forced to leave out Pant and the world’s top-ranked bowler in Jasprit Bumrah.
England skittled India for 224 before eking out a narrow first-innings lead of 23.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s second century of the series lifted the touring side to 396 and left England needing 374 for victory with two days remaining.
TWIN CENTURIONS
The hosts stumbled to 106-3 before twin centurions Root and Brook shared a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 195 to put England firmly in the driving seat with only 66 runs required.
Brook’s reckless dismissal, however, gave India hope and, led by the tireless Siraj, they picked up two more wickets before bad weather forced an early close to leave England needing 35 runs on the final day.
The Oval was packed for an incredible one-hour cameo that encapsulated the entire series as England began the day with a more than 80% chance of victory, according to the Winviz predictor.
But Siraj was inspired again and with England’s batsmen losing their heads and their wickets, Woakes arrived at the crease wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder.
Even then, England edged towards their target as Gus Atkinson farmed the strike and hit Siraj for six, only for the abrasive fast bowler to end proceedings with a brilliant yorker.
It was just reward for India, who lost the toss in all five matches, as they claimed their narrowest-ever test win.
“All the doubters saying test cricket is dying a death, this series has said the opposite,” Stokes added.
Bermudian footballers in England have had a busy weekend as the season begins, pre-season preparations continue and early cup ties got underway, with a mix of wins and challenging results for the island’s players.
Nahki Wells made an impactful debut for Luton Town, who secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon. In a game of few clear-cut chances, it was a late own goal that sealed the win. The decisive moment came when a ball from Wells was headed into his own net by a Wimbledon defender, giving Luton a fortunate start to their new season.
There were victories for Keziah Martin and Deniche Hill, whose Buxton side secured a 2-0 win over Warrington Town. Reggie Lambe’s Needham Market also claimed a 1-0 friendly win over Lowestoft Town, while Milan Butterfield’s Halesowen Town took home the Brookes-Clark Charity Shield with a 2-0 victory over Stourbridge.
In competitive action, Harry Twite and Loughborough Student FC battled to a 1-1 draw against Barton in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round and will face a replay on Tuesday.
It was a tough day for some of the other Bermudian players. Justin Donawa had a difficult time in Brackley Town’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Stratford Town, unfortunately scoring an own goal in the 88th minute. Willie Clemons’ Leiston FC went down 3-0 to Norfolk in their final friendly, and Remy Coddington came off the bench for Bracknell Town as they were defeated 3-1 by Dulwich Hamlet.
Meanwhile, midfielder Roger Lee has made a move, leaving Quorn to join UCL Premier North side Heanor Town, making his debut in a 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Dudley Town.
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