In tonight’s TV news, starting at 7pm:
Three locations hit by two suspects on a motorcycle
Three East End businesses fell victim to apparent attempted burglaries in the early hours on Friday. The suspects caused some damage, but got away with nothing.
Somers Supermart, Blue Hole Hill gas station and Dowling’s Marina gas station all reported that two individuals had tried to break in overnight. We understand the suspects were recorded on CCTV at all locations, riding a single motorcycle.
Bermuda Broadcasting asked if the same pair are suspected in all three incidents. Police have not confirmed at this time.
On Saturday, Blue Hole Hill gas station still had a shattered window next to the entrance from the attempted break-in.
Police are investigating the incidents. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Seymour Foote on 717-2282 or sfoote@bps.bm, the main police number 295-0011, Crime Stoppers on 800-8477, or report online at portal.police.bm.
Bermuda Police Service response to Bermuda Broadcasting query:
At 7:20 a.m. on Friday July 11, 2025, police received a report of an attempted burglary at Rubis Gas Station, 15 Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton Parish. Two unknown males attempted to gain entry into the premises but were unable to do so.
At approximately 8:35 a.m. on Friday July 11, 2025, police attended a reported attempted burglary at Dowling’s Marina, St. Georges. Initial information is that two were seen riding past the camera on a dark coloured motorcycle, before one began walking to the rear of the building. However no entry was gained.
Police attended an attempted Burglary at Somers Supermarket at about 6:21 a.m. on Friday, July 11 July, 2025, at 41 York Street St. George’s. Upon arrival, police were [told] two individuals showed up on a motorbike around 2:31 a.m. and attempted to break and enter Somers Supermarket. But were unable to do so.
These matters all remain under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant, Seymour Foote on 717-2282 or, via e-mail at sfoote@bps.bm. You may also contact the Criminal Investigations Unit on 247-1744, the main police number 295-0011 or the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477. The police Community reporting Portal is also available for providing information at https//:portal.police.bm
The contracts will enable the DoD to develop agentic AI workflows and use them to address critical national security challenges
International News via Reuters:
OpenAI, Alphabet’s Google, Anthropic and Elon Musk’s AI firm xAI have won contracts of up to $200 million each, aimed at scaling up adoption of advanced AI capabilities in the U.S. Department of Defense, the government agency said on Monday.
The contracts will enable the DoD to develop agentic AI workflows and use them to address critical national security challenges, the department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office said.
“The adoption of AI is transforming the (DoD’s) ability to support our warfighters and maintain strategic advantage over our adversaries,” Chief Digital and AI Officer Doug Matty said.
U.S. government agencies have been expanding their use of AI, driven by a White House order in April promoting adoption. President Donald Trump has also moved to soften regulation on the technology by revoking a 2023 Biden-era executive order, which sought to reduce AI risks through mandatory data disclosures.
Separately on Monday, xAI announced a suite of its products called “Grok for Government”, making its advanced AI models — including its latest flagship Grok 4 — available to federal, local, state and national security customers.
The Pentagon announced last month that OpenAI was awarded a $200 million contract, saying the ChatGPT maker would “develop prototype frontier AI capabilities to address critical national security challenges in both warfighting and enterprise domains”.
The contracts announced on Monday deepen the ties between companies leading the AI race and U.S. government operations, while addressing concerns around the need for competitive contracts for AI use in federal agencies.
In May, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren had urged DoD to ensure competitive AI contracting at a time when Musk’s Grok chatbot was gaining ground in the federal government.
Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
Overall demand has tapered as consumers deprioritize spending on smartphones, especially in low-end segments
International News via Reuters:
The growth of global smartphone shipments slowed in the second quarter as buyers, wary of U.S. tariff-driven economic uncertainty, curbed spending, especially on low-end devices, data from research firm International Data Corp showed on Monday.
Shipments increased by 1% in the April-June quarter to 295.2 million units, according to the preliminary data, slower than the 1.5% growth recorded in the previous quarter.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Demand in China declined in the second quarter, as subsidies failed to stimulate demand, with Apple seeing a 1% drop.
Overall demand has tapered as consumers deprioritize spending on smartphones, especially in low-end segments.
Sellers have continued to push higher price points to make up for the slowdown in unit shipments by offering AI in more affordable devices, IDC said.
KEY QUOTES
“In the face of ongoing political challenges, the impact of war, and the complexities posed by tariffs, the 1% growth in the smartphone market stands as a critical indicator that the market is poised to return to growth,” said Anthony Scarsella, research director for Client Devices at IDC.
“Economic uncertainty tends to compress demand at the lower end of the market, where price sensitivity is highest. As a result, low-end Android is witnessing a crunch weighing down overall market growth,” said Nabila Popal, senior research director for Worldwide Client Devices.
BY THE NUMBERS
Samsung saw the highest growth, with shipments increasing 7.9% to 58 million units in the quarter.
Apple roughly maintained its market share as the second-top smartphone seller, with a growth of 1.5% in shipments.
CONTEXT
IDC had in May slashed its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 0.6% from 2.3%, citing tariff-driven economic uncertainty and a pullback in consumer spending.
GRAPHIC
Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City
Buhari became the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box in 2015
International News via Reuters:
Nigeria’s late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London clinic on Sunday aged 82, will be buried in his northern home state of Katsina on Tuesday, the state governor said.
Buhari, a former military ruler after a coup in the 1980s, returned to frontline politics to become the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box in 2015. He was re-elected for a second term four years later.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and government officials were in London on Monday to organise the repatriation of the former president’s remains.
Katsina state governor Dikko Umaru Radda said after consultation with Buhari’s family it was agreed the body would arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday for burial the same day in his home town of Daura.
Among those who paid tribute to Buhari was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X platform that “his wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out.”
Buhari earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics, especially in Nigeria’s largely Muslim north.
He referred to himself as a “converted democrat” and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps.
Ibrahim Babangida, another former military ruler who toppled Buhari in a coup in 1985, said he knew Buhari as a deeply spiritual and humble man.
“We may not have agreed on everything — as brothers often don’t — but I never once doubted his sincerity or his patriotism,” Babangida said in a statement.
After leaving office in 2023, Buhari spent most of his time in Daura, away from the public eye.
His successor Bola Tinubu inherited a country grappling with double digit inflation, foreign exchange shortages, economic hardship, low oil production and insecurity that had spread to most parts of Nigeria.
Buhari’s supporters, however, viewed him as Nigeria’s conscience because he had a reputation for shunning the corruption and ostentatious lifestyles often associated with the country’s political elites.
To his critics, Buhari was “an absentee landlord — a leader who governed by delegation, who disappeared for long stretches (often to London for medical treatment), and whose aloofness felt like abandonment,” the local BusinessDay newspaper said.
Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by Ros Russell
The vast majority of people who died were over 65 and more than half were women
International News via Reuters:
High temperatures caused 1,180 deaths in Spain in the past two months, a sharp increase from the same period last year, the Environment Ministry said on Monday.
The vast majority of people who died were over 65 and more than half were women, the data it cited showed.
The most affected regions were Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria – all located in the northern half of the country, where traditionally cooler summer temperatures have seen a significant rise in recent years.
Like other countries in Western Europe, Spain has been hit by extreme heat in recent weeks, with temperatures often topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The 1,180 people who died of heat-related causes between May 16 and July 13 compared with 70 in the same period in 2024, the ministry said in a statement citing data from the Carlos III Health Institute. The number of deaths increased significantly in the first week in July.
The data shows an event “of exceptional intensity, characterized by an unprecedented increase in average temperatures and a significant increase in mortality attributable to heatwaves”, the ministry said.
In the period the data covers, there were 76 red alerts for extreme heat, compared with none a year earlier.
Last summer, 2,191 deaths were attributed to heat-related causes in Spain, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute.
The data from Spain follows a rapid scientific analysis published on July 9 that said around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during a severe heatwave in the 10 days to July 2.
It was not immediately clear whether the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was using the same methodology as the Spanish data.
Reporting by Pietro Lombardi; Editing by Alison Williams
Four public events spotlight fitted dinghy sailing, education and culture
Media release:
The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) is continuing to expand its outreach initiatives and partnerships with a variety of community stakeholders. BUEI is hosting four dynamic events this month that highlight the island’s maritime heritage, Bermudian culture, little learners and our beloved ocean.
Join us for a special Fitted Dinghy Racing event at 6:30pm on Tuesday 15 July. BUEI has partnered with the The Bermuda Fitted Dinghy Association and the Department of Culture to show the third instalment of a documentary series on Bermuda Folklife by the Bermuda Government’s Department of Culture. The film examines the unique history and vibrant culture of fitted dinghy racing in Bermuda, and includes a special panel discussion with racing experts. Tickets are $15 for general admission or $25 for the “Big Screen Package”, which includes a complimentary glass of wine or beer, and snack pack. Tickets are selling fast – go to BUEI.bm/events or PTIX.bm to secure tickets.
On Thursday 17 July, SJD World and BUEI are hosting an exclusive premiere event for the final screening of the international award-winning film ‘Thoughts Become Things’ and the debut of ‘Decoding Thoughts’, a behind the scenes short documentary exploring deeper meanings of the film. Doors open at 5:30pm and the film starts at 6pm sharp. Guests will be treated to an immersive journey through Bermudian culture, taking a look at who we are through a different lens. This is a special fundraising event with proceeds to support BUEI’s programmes and the film’s costs to complete its final journey leading up to its public release on YouTube in August. Tickets are $50 and
include complimentary drinks, good food and live entertainment featuring a special performance that recreates a key scene from the film. There’s also an up-close Q & A session with the filmmakers. Visit BUEI.bm/events or PTIX.bm and get your tickets today before they’re all gone!
BUEI’s very popular Kids Hour Saturday returns on 19 July for two sessions – one at 11am and another at 2pm. This month’s theme is the pufferfish and includes a short film called “Real Science: The Insane Biology Of The Pufferfish” and an interactive book reading of “How To Hug A Pufferfish” by Ellie Peterson. Space is limited – dive into BUEI.bm/events and RSVP now to save your seats for Kids Hour! The event includes fun and creative education activities for toddlers up to pre-teens, and complimentary admission to the Ocean Discovery Centre. It is free for BUEI members and $5 per child for non-members. Adults accompanying children are free! Kids Hour Saturday is a great way to beat the heat and create beautiful moments with your children.
Start your Cup Match celebrations early and jump onboard Zara with BUEI on Friday evening 25 July. Wear your favourite team colours, enjoy a themed welcome drink sponsored by Gosling’s, nibble on delectable small bites from Fourways Inn, and kick back for a two hour sunset cruise, departing from Hamilton at 6pm. This event is one of BUEI’s annual signature fundraisers and all proceeds support BUEI’s education programmes and maintenance of our Ocean Discovery Centre. Tickets are $150 per person and available online at BUEI.bm/events. Also note, BUEI members receive a special 10% discount for the Cup Match cruise! We look forward to seeing you on the water and celebrating your favourite team!
Former Chair of the Bermuda Business Development Agency and CEO of Mangrove Property, Steve Weinstein, will speak at the Florida Insurance Council Summer Symposium held from 30 July – 1 August
Steve Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Mangrove Property. Photo: BIOS
Full press release:
Mangrove Property Insurance Company (Mangrove) announced that Stephen Weinstein, its Founder and CEO, will be speaking at the Florida Insurance Council Summer Symposium being held July 30 – August 1, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Weinstein will moderate and participate in the discussion: “The Florida-Bermuda Triangle: How Innovation, Effective Regulation, and Long-Term Partnerships Support the World’s Peak Risk Market.”
Joining the discussion will be:
“We’re building Mangrove on a foundation of partnerships, and none are more important to us than our partnerships with global reinsurers, in the Bermuda market and worldwide. Fit-for-purpose regulatory oversight is also critical to support market functions, consumer protection, and actionable innovation.
“I’m honored to participate with George and John, market leaders and representatives of this critical stakeholder ‘triangle’ which ultimately serves Florida’s homeowners,” Weinstein said.
FIC is the premier advocate for insurer groups and insurance companies when it comes to policy and regulation in the state of Florida. FIC’s Summer Symposium is broadly attended by leaders from domestic and national insurers, regulators, reinsurers, and other market participants.
For more information about the FIC Summer Symposium, and to register, visit https://flains.org/conference-registration/.
Bermuda’s Under-19 Men’s Rugby team ended their 2025 Rugby Americas North (RAN) U19 XVs Tournament campaign on a high note, securing a dominant 36-7 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in the 5th Place Final.
After a challenging pool stage, Bermuda quickly asserted their authority. First-half tries from Rowan Stewart, Michael Barclay, and Jahkeel Smith, combined with two conversions from Brandon Sangster, gave them a comfortable 19-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw no let-up from the Bermudians, as Ramsey Souter and Jahkeel Smith added further tries, and Sangster chipped in with another conversion to seal the comprehensive win.
This convincing victory provides a positive conclusion for the young Bermudian squad, who will undoubtedly take confidence from this performance as they look towards future competitions.
Bermuda’s athletes have kicked off the 2025 Island Games in Orkney with several notable performances across various sports on Day One.
In football, both national teams secured victories. The Men’s Under-23s defeated the Western Isles 2-0 with goals from Joshua Joseph and Keyni Mills. The Women’s National team staged an impressive comeback, rallying from a goal down to beat Jersey 3-1, thanks to second-half strikes from Jaden Masters, Khyla Brangman, and Jya Ratteray-Smith.
Triathlete Megan Berry finished 18th in the Women’s event (2:47:51). On the track, Jake Brislane qualified for the Men’s 1,500m final with the second-fastest time (3:58.65), while Gayle Lindsay placed 5th in the Women’s 10,000m (38:28.29).
Bermuda’s bowlers started strong, with David Leach winning both his Men’s Individual matches. In the Women’s Pairs, Judith Barton and Tamara Leach secured a tight 11-9 victory over Falkland Islands.
While the Badminton team faced tough 5-0 defeats against Orkney and Isle of Man in their team events, the experience gained will be valuable. In Squash, Taylor Carrick began his Men’s Singles campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over Orkney’s Andrew Moar.
Overall, a busy and encouraging start for Bermuda’s contingent at the 2025 Island Games.
A new champion will be crowned in the Western County Cup! Challengers Somerset Bridge have staged an impressive upset, defeating cup holders Willow Cuts by 38 runs in a thrilling Second Round encounter at White Hill Field.
Somerset Bridge won the toss and elected to bat, posting a total of 158. Allan Douglas anchored their innings with a rapid 44 runs off 42 balls, including 5 fours and a six. Ras Solomon Burrows was the pick of the Willow Cuts bowlers with 2 wickets for 15 runs.
In reply, the now former cup holders, Willow Cuts, struggled in their chase and were bowled out for 120. While Deunte Darrell top-scored with 33, the day truly belonged to Allan Douglas. Following his crucial batting, he delivered a magnificent bowling performance, claiming 4 wickets for just 9 runs from 6.4 overs to lead Somerset Bridge to a famous victory and the Western County Cup.
After its initial postponement due to inclement weather, the “Run it Back” boxing event at The Shed in Dockyard ignited last night, with two Bermudian boxers delivering stunning performances.
In the co-main event, Adrian Roach made an explosive professional debut. He wasted no time, unleashing a torrent of body and head shots that put Canada’s Brent Coxworthy down on one knee in the very first round. Coxworthy’s corner swiftly intervened, handing Roach an emphatic TKO victory.
The main event saw Dash Simmons thrilling the home crowd against Jamaica’s Ian Darby. The pair traded heavy blows for four captivating rounds. However, in the fifth, Simmons landed a powerful right hand to Darby’s body, sending him to one knee in distress. Although Darby bravely rose, referee Tony Mouchette had no option but to stop the bout as Simmons continued his relentless assault, earning a decisive TKO victory.
The night was a resounding success for Bermudian boxing, with both Roach and Simmons showcasing their formidable talents in front of a passionate crowd.
