Wednesday, October 28, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 861

Vivendi rejects EU charges it breached merger rules in Lagardere acquisition

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Vivendi rejects EU charges it breached merger rules in Lagardere acquisition

The Commission two years ago opened an investigation into the possible infringement of EU merger rules, which could result in a hefty fine

International News via Reuters:

French media group Vivendi on Friday rejected charges by EU antitrust authorities that it possibly breached merger rules by closing the acquisition of French publisher Lagardere before receiving the green light for the deal.

“Vivendi denies the allegations put forward by the European Commission. It will thoroughly review the statement of objections and respond with detailed arguments, with the aim of being cleared of all allegations and securing the closure of the investigation,” Vivendi said in a statement.

The European Commission earlier on Friday said it had sent a statement of objections to Vivendi, which it said might have broken merger rules by implementing the acquisition of Lagardere before receiving approval for the deal.

The Commission two years ago opened an investigation into the possible infringement of EU merger rules, which could result in a hefty fine.

It said it had now informed Vivendi of its preliminary view that the company breached the notification requirement and the ‘standstill obligation’ set out in the EU Merger Regulation, as well as the conditions and obligations attached to the Commission’s June 2023 decision to clear the transaction.

“This document sets out the provisional findings of the European Commission’s investigation and merely marks the opening of the adversarial phase of the procedure. At this stage, it does not establish any infringement, nor does it entail any sanction,” Vivendi said.

The company risks a fine of as much as 10% of its global annual turnover if found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules.

Reporting by Bart Meijer, Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

Lambe’s Needham Market Secure 3-1 Pre-Season Win

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Lambe’s Needham Market Secure 3-1 Pre-Season Win

Football: Bermudian international Reggie Lambe features in UK team victory

Needham Market continued their pre-season preparations with a commanding 3-1 victory over Ipswich Wanderers, in a match that saw Bermudian international Reggie Lambe feature.

The game started dramatically, with Ipswich Wanderers taking a shock lead after just 56 seconds from a corner. However, Needham’s response was swift. Just four minutes later, Luke Ingram coolly converted a penalty after being fouled in the box, drawing the scores level.

Joe Neal then put Needham Market ahead in the 21st minute with a superb chipped finish over the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Neal struck again, netting his fourth goal in two pre-season games after excellent build-up play from Jake Dye and Luke Ingram, sealing a 3-1 lead.

The comfortable win marks a positive step for Needham Market as they build towards the new season, with Lambe and his teammates continuing to gel.

Football: Men’s and Women’s Teams Strike Gold

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Football: Men’s and Women’s Teams Strike Gold

Bermuda’s women beat Isle of Man and later the men beat Ynys Môn to take gold at the Island Games

Bermuda wraps up its 2025 Island Games in Orkney with a flourish, adding 2 gold medals to its tally.
The Bermuda Women’s National Football Team captured the island’s first gold in spectacular fashion, defeating the Isle of Man 4–2 on penalties after a hard-fought final.


Not to be outdone, the Under-23 Men’s National Team struck gold of their own, besting Ynys Môn 3–1 in a high-energy final. Jace Donawa, Mason Christian and Andrew Armstrong each finding the back of the net for Team Bermuda.

Cyclist Hopkins Drops in Tour de Marie-Galante GC

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Cyclist Hopkins Drops in Tour de Marie-Galante GC

28th place finish in Stage 3 drops Bermudian Cyclist, Kaden Hopkins, to 29th overall in the standings

 Damien Urcel of Team Madras Capesterre Belle-Eau has once again demonstrated his sprinting prowess, securing his second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de Marie-Galante today. Urcel powered to the win in a demanding 157.7-kilometre third stage, crossing the line in 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 7 seconds. He outpaced overall yellow jersey holder Benjamin Le Ny and Cyril Bourdon in a thrilling sprint finish.

The stage, which featured eight challenging climbs including Morne la Vierge and Morne Lolo, proved a stern test for the peloton. Bermuda’s Kaden Hopkins, who had started the tour in the yellow jersey after his Stage 1 win, was part of an early quartet looking to gain an advantage. However, the relentless pace and formidable terrain eventually took their toll.

Hopkins ultimately finished the stage in 28th position, 10 minutes and 26 seconds behind Urcel, clocking a time of 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 33 seconds. This challenging day sees Hopkins drop to 29th in the overall standings, now trailing the new yellow jersey holder, Benjamin Le Ny, by 20 minutes and 7 seconds. Le Ny holds the overall lead with a time of 7 hours, 37 minutes, and 5 seconds

Cup Match Extravaganza rained off

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Cup Match Extravaganza rained off

The call was made to cancel the event by the Corporation of St. George’s due to persistent inclement weather

Press release:

The Corporation of St. George’s announces the cancellation of the Annual Cup Match Extravaganza Event, which was to take place this evening in the Town of St. George.

A spokesperson for the event said, “After speaking with a meteorologist, we’ve been advised that the rain is expected to continue until around midnight tonight. With that in mind, and for the safety and comfort of everyone involved, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the event.”

The Corporation stated to vendors that they truly appreciated all the effort and enthusiasm that went into the planning, and thanked them for their understanding.

To the public, the Corporation advises everyone to stay safe during this inclement weather.

The Corporation wishes everyone an enjoyable Cup Match holiday.

Human rights complaints rise; most involve the workplace 

Alisa Bernardo
-
0
Human rights complaints rise; most involve the workplace 

Employment issues made up 68% of cases handled by the Human Rights Commission in 2024

More than half of the complaints and queries handled by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) last year concerned employment.

In total, the HRC received 179 intakes in 2024 – a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, Tinee Furbert, laid the Commission’s annual report before the House of Assembly this morning.

In her statement she said, “The Commission observed significant increases in intakes that appeared to contravene the Act, with a higher volume of matters advancing through the complaint handling stages in contrast to previous years.”

According to the HRC, disability, sex, and ethnic/national origins were the most commonly reported grounds of discrimination.

Meanwhile, 68% of the overall intakes concerned employment and/or the workplace.

Minister Furbert told parliamentarians that the employment-related complaints recorded included, “… various individuals reporting that they were sexually harassed within the workplace, were denied employment because of a criminal record, were terminated because of their family status and experienced discriminatory treatment with respect to pay because of their place of origin and/or ethnic or national origins.”

Of all complaints and queries received last year, 84 per cent have been resolved, while 16 per cent remain ongoing.

The Minister’s full statement is available below.

250718 Annual Report Human Right Commission (002)Download

Drivers urged to slow down after heavy rain

Alisa Bernardo
-
0
Drivers urged to slow down after heavy rain

Police warn of localised flooding and reopened potholes posing road hazards

Credit: Bermuda Police Service

Police are urging motorists to exercise extra caution following recent heavy rainfall.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Bermuda Police Service said the downpours have led to flooding in some areas and caused potholes to reopen in others.

“Motorists are advised to drive with care, particularly when approaching areas where water has accumulated on the roadway,” the post read.

“These conditions can lead to reduced traction and visibility of hazards. Please remain alert, maintain a safe following distance, and reduce your speed.

“Your cooperation can help prevent collisions and keep our roads safer for everyone.”

Bobb Victorious at Harry Jerome Track Classic

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Bobb Victorious at Harry Jerome Track Classic

Caitlyn Bobb wins the women’s 400m in Canada meet

Bermudian track sensation Caitlyn Bobb delivered a dominant performance at the Harry Jerome Track Classic at Swangard Stadium, winning the Women’s 400m A Final.

Bobb powered to victory with an impressive time of 52.29 seconds, outclassing a competitive field that included Canadian specialists. Madeline Price secured second place with 52.91 seconds, while fellow Canadian Kyra Constantine finished third in 54.21.

This significant win at an international event further highlights Bobb’s growing stature in the 400m, where she holds Bermuda’s national record of 51.11 seconds. Her consistent strong showings against top-tier competition are a promising sign for her continued progression on the international stage.

HSBC agrees to sell $7.8 billion of French mortgages to Rothesay

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
HSBC agrees to sell $7.8 billion of French mortgages to Rothesay

The portfolio mainly consists of 25-year fixed rate mortgages for residential properties in France

International News via Reuters:

HSBC has agreed to sell 6.7 billion euros ($7.81 billion) worth of French home loans to British insurer Rothesay and consortium partner CCF Group, the latter said on Friday.

The portfolio mainly consists of 25-year fixed rate mortgages for residential properties in France, Rothesay said.

The proposed sale comes as HSBC has shrunk its presence in France in recent years as part of a wider pivot to Eastern markets.

The British bank completed the sale of its retail banking business in France in January 2024, to Crédit Commercial de France (CCF).

($1 = 0.8581 euros)

Reporting By Lawrence White; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

Island Games Glory: Two Medals, Double Football Finalists

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Island Games Glory: Two Medals, Double Football Finalists

Jake Brisland wins silver in 5,000m and Sienna Mosquera (pictured) wins bronze in golf

Day five of the Island Games has proven to be a truly historic one for Bermuda, with the island celebrating not one, but two new medals and seeing both its men’s and women’s football teams advance to their respective finals.

In golf, Sienna Mosquera delivered a superb performance on the greens to secure a bronze medal in the Ladies Individual event. Mosquera’s final round of 74 saw her finish with an impressive four-round total of 299, clinching Bermuda’s second medal of the Games.

On the track, Bermuda added another medal to its tally as Jake Brisland claimed silver in the Men’s 5,000m, finishing second with a time of 15:15.38.

It was a sensational day on the football pitch. The Women’s National team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Gozo in their semi-final, with second-half goals from Jaden Masters, Emily Cabral, and Symira Lowe-Darrell. The drama continued in the Men’s Under 23 National team semi-final, where Bermuda staged a remarkable comeback, winning 3-2 after extra time against Jersey, with Jace Donawa scoring the winner in the 120th minute.

Bermuda’s athletes will now be focused on their respective finals and final performances as the Island Games head into their concluding stages.

JP Morgan must stop Greek lawsuit against Viva directors, UK court rules

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
JP Morgan must stop Greek lawsuit against Viva directors, UK court rules

Both Werealize and JP Morgan claimed victory after Friday’s ruling, as the two sides also did last year

International News via Reuters:

JP Morgan must stop suing directors of fintech Viva Wallet in Greece, London’s High Court ruled on Friday, in the latest round of a bitter legal battle over the Greek startup.

The U.S. bank brought a lawsuit in Athens in January against Viva’s CEO Haris Karonis and three other directors, seeking 916 million euros ($1.1 billion) as part of a dispute over JP Morgan’s investment in Viva.

Viva’s majority shareholder Werealize and the Viva directors responded by applying for an anti-suit injunction in London to stop JP Morgan pursuing its case in Greece.

Judge David Foxton granted Karonis and the other directors an anti-suit injunction, on the grounds that suing in Greece was a breach of JP Morgan and Werealize’s shareholders’ agreement.

Both Werealize and JP Morgan claimed victory after Friday’s ruling, as the two sides also did last year when the High Court ruled on their respective call options to purchase the other’s Viva shares.

Werealize’s spokesperson called on JP Morgan to “engage in productive discussions” about Viva’s future, adding: “JPM must now step aside and allow Viva to continue growing and reach its full commercial potential.”

JP Morgan, however, pointed to the court’s rejection of many of Werealize’s arguments, including that the Greek lawsuit was hopeless or oppressive.

“While we will continue to address their litigious tactics, and many matters are still being resolved by the courts, our commitment remains steadfast to the business and our investment,” a spokesperson for the bank said.

JP Morgan bought a 48.5% stake in Viva Wallet, which is used by businesses in southern Europe, for nearly 810 million euros in 2022, while Karonis’ Werealize owns 51.49%.

In January, the Court of Appeal ruled that JP Morgan effectively had “one shot” at exercising its call option to acquire Werealize’s shares, though the parties’ dispute over whether that has taken place has not yet been resolved.

JP Morgan and Werealize and its directors have also filed defamation lawsuits against each other in Greece. Foxton said the business relationship has been “acrimonious, albeit a fruitful one for the legal community” in Britain and Greece.

Reporting by Sam TobinEditing by Mark Potter

Crypto stocks jump as ether scales six-month high

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
-
0
Crypto stocks jump as ether scales six-month high

Ether benefits from an increased usage of U.S. dollar-pegged tokens known as stablecoins

International News via Reuters:

Crypto-focused stocks rose on Friday, after ether hit a six-month high on the passage of a stablecoin bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill, expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump, marks a watershed for the digital asset industry, which has long pushed lawmakers to create rules for digital assets, arguing that a clear framework could drive a wider usage of stablecoins and other crypto tokens.

Ether benefits from an increased usage of U.S. dollar-pegged tokens known as stablecoins. Most stablecoins are issued and transacted on the underlying Ethereum blockchain, driving up demand for ether to pay for transaction fees.

Shares of BitMine, where tech billionaire Peter Thiel is the top investor and whose chairman is Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, soared 12.7%. Other ether holding firms Bit Digital and BTCS added 6.5% and 22.9%, respectively. SharpLink shares dipped 0.6%.

The $3.5 billion SharpLink Gaming, which has funded its ether treasury through stock sales in recent weeks, said on Thursday that it had added $5 billion to its current $1 billion share sale plan.

“The standout proposition of institutional Ethereum accumulation seems to be stablecoin growth which has been further accelerated by the recent success of Circle IPO,” said Matthew Dibb, CIO at Astronaut Capital, a Singapore-based crypto asset manager.

“Ethereum is by far the biggest beneficiary of stablecoin usage.”

Stablecoin issuer Circle Internet added 6%, while crypto exchange Coinbase Global gained 7.6% and hit an all-time high for the first since its IPO in 2021.

ETHER TREASURY STRATEGY

Ether climbed to $3,675.81, its highest since January 6, and was last up 6.6% at $3,643.09, outperforming bitcoin, which eased 0.5% to $118,870 after hitting a record high of $123,153 this week.

Ether has also got a boost from a number of companies adding the digital asset to their balance sheets recently, following the example of Strategy. Shares of the largest corporate holder of bitcoin have skyrocketed more than 3,000% since 2000 as its underlying asset has ballooned in value.

“Time will tell whether these treasury companies outperform the core ETH ETF, but given the success of (Strategy) in recent years, it won’t stop them from trying,” Astronaut Capital’s Dibb said.

While many companies have launched copycat strategies with bitcoin, which is capped at 21 million coins and is often viewed as a digital store of value, the pivot to ether has raised some eyebrows as it does not have a cap on maximum supply.

“It is hard to comprehend why so many speculators are denying themselves that cardinal benefit by buying their crypto exposure in an equity wrapper that issues new shares regularly,” said Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

“While the fixed supply cap is bitcoin’s cardinal trait, the cardinal trait of a digital treasury company business model is perpetual dilution through share issuance.”

Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Anil D’Silva

1...860861862...1,112Page 861 of 1,112

© Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited 2026 All rights reserved.
Careers →

Stream live

Popular news

SportsPoliticsJobs & EconomyCrimeHealthcareBusiness & Finance

Editor Picks