Bermuda’s footballing talent is getting crucial pre-season minutes in England, with Nahki Wells, Harry Twite, and Milan Butterfield all featuring for their respective clubs.
Wells’ Luton Maintain Perfect Record
Bermudian international Nahki Wells played a key role as Luton Town maintained their perfect pre-season, securing a 3-1 victory over Gillingham. After conceding an early goal, Luton responded swiftly with a penalty from Luke Ingram. Jordan Clark then struck twice in a dominant first-half spell, with Wells, playing as a lone striker, being denied a goal by a last-ditch Gillingham intervention. Luton held on for their fourth straight pre-season win.
Twite’s Loughborough Secure Win
Defender Harry Twite was in action for Loughborough Students FC, who earned a 2-0 win over Ashby Ivanhoe FC. After a scoreless first half, two second-half goals sealed a positive start to their pre-season campaign for Twite’s side, securing a clean sheet in defence.
Butterfield’s Halesowen Edged Out
Meanwhile, Milan Butterfield and his Halesowen Town teammates were involved in a five-goal thriller, ultimately falling 3-2 to Hednesford Town FC. Despite the loss, these pre-season friendlies offer valuable playing time as Butterfield and his team prepare for the upcoming season.
Bermudian cyclist Kaden Hopkins has concluded a memorable performance at the 47th Tour de Marie-Galante, showcasing his talent on the international stage.
In the challenging 139.490-kilometer final stage, Hopkins crossed the line in an impressive fourth place, finishing just over two minutes behind stage winner Julien Chane Foc. This strong finish capped off a productive tour for the Bermudian.
Overall, Hopkins secured a solid 20th position in the general classification, with a combined time of 17 hours, 53 minutes, and 41 seconds, approximately 25 minutes behind the overall victor, Benjamin Le Ny.
Hopkins’s Tour de Marie-Galante campaign was marked by several standout moments, including two stage wins, a second-place finish, and his strong fourth in the final stage. These results highlight his versatility and ability to compete at the sharp end of international road races. His consistent form bodes well for the remainder of his season.
The investment builds on a previous commitment made in 2023
International News via Reuters:
Britain said on Monday that it had secured a 2 billion pound ($2.70 billion) investment into the country’s financial services sector from the Republic of Korea’s oldest banking firm, Shinhan Financial Group CO Ltd.
The investment – aimed at supporting energy, digital assets and infrastructure projects over the next five years – builds on a previous commitment made in 2023 under the former UK government.
($1 = 0.7412 pounds)
Reporting by Muvija M, writing by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Catarina Demony
Bermuda’s presence on the international triathlon stage continues to grow, with two of the island’s rising stars making their mark at the Americas Triathlon Cup Montreal.
Hawley’s Podium Success
Erica Hawley delivered a fantastic performance, securing a commendable third-place finish in the women’s race. The Bermudian triathlete crossed the line in 57 minutes and 36 seconds, just 24 seconds behind the dominant winner, Canada’s Desirae Ridenour. Hawley’s impressive splits included a 10:05 swim, a swift 29:26 on the bike, and a solid 17:13 run. This podium finish underscores her consistent form and growing reputation on the international circuit this 2025 season.
Pilgrim Gains Valuable Experience
In the Elite Men’s field, Nicholas Pilgrim gained crucial experience, finishing 39th overall with a total time of 53 minutes and 57 seconds. Pilgrim showcased his all-around proficiency, completing the swim in 9:17, the bike in 26:54, and the run in 16:43. While outside the top tier in a highly competitive field, Pilgrim’s participation at this level is vital for his ongoing development.
Their combined efforts in Montreal highlight Bermuda’s increasing talent in the sport, with both athletes poised for further progress in their respective triathlon careers.
A government source said examinations of the plane’s recovered engines found that no defects had been present before the bird strike and crash
International News via Reuters:
The South Korea-led investigation into Jeju Air’s fatal plane crash in December has “clear evidence” that pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after a bird strike, a source with knowledge of the probe said on Monday.
The source said the evidence, including the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a physical engine switch found in the wreckage showed pilots shut off the left engine instead of the right engine when taking emergency steps after a bird strike just before it was scheduled to land.
“The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change,” the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because investigators have not released an official report including this evidence.
A government source said examinations of the plane’s recovered engines found that no defects had been present before the bird strike and crash.
The December 29 crash of the Boeing 737-800 jet at Muan Airport killed all but two of the 181 passengers and crew members on board and was the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil.
Investigators told victims’ family members at a briefing on Saturday that the right engine had been more severely damaged by a bird strike than the left, and there was circumstantial evidence that pilots had turned off the less-damaged left engine, according to a third source who was at the briefing.
South Korean media outlets including MBN and Yonhap reported that information on Saturday and Sunday.
South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), which is leading the investigation, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Boeing referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Engine maker CFM International, a joint venture between GE and France’s Safran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jeju Air said it was actively cooperating with the ARAIB’s investigation and awaiting the official announcement of the results.
Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident.
A preliminary report released in January said duck remains were found in both engines of the Jeju Air plane after the flight from Bangkok crashed at Muan Airport, but did not give details about the extent of remains or damage found in each engine.
OBJECTIONS FROM VICTIMS’ FAMILIES
South Korea’s investigation body on Saturday cancelled a planned release to media of an update on what is known so far about the engines.
Families of the crash victims were briefed on the report ahead of its planned release, but objected to its publication, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other contributing factors, lawyers representing the families said.
The Jeju Air flight overshot Muan Airport’s runway as it made an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment, leading to a fire and partial explosion.
Representatives of victims’ families and the Jeju Air pilots’ union said over the weekend that the investigation needs to also focus on the embankment, which aviation experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll.
The Jeju Air pilots’ union said the ARAIB was “misleading the public” by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given traces of bird remains were found in both engines.
The union accused the ARAIB of trying to make pilots “scapegoats” by failing to provide scientific and technological grounds that the plane could have landed safely with only the left engine turned on.
Air accidents are complex incidents that occur due to a number of contributing factors, and investigators have not produced evidence so far to support the implication that the accident was a result of pilot error, the union said.
Investigators are so far “silent about organisational responsibility”, the union said.
A body representing bereaved families said in a statement there were some phrases related to the cause of the accident in the planned press release that could be interpreted as if a final conclusion had been reached, and all facts surrounding the incident must be clarified.
Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Lisa Barrington; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Jamie Freed
Earlier this month, the UK announced plans to invest 163.3 million euros in Eutelsat
International News via Reuters:
Eutelsat said on Monday it has signed a strategic agreement with the UK government to offer connectivity services through its LEO network for diplomatic missions, law enforcement activities and military operations and critical interventions.
“Under the agreement, Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO’s constellation will provide high-speed, low latency connectivity for British embassies, high commissions, and consulates as well as broader UK government activities globally,” the French satellite group said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the UK announced plans to invest 163.3 million euros ($190.72 million) in Eutelsat, which is often presented as the European rival to the American giant Starlink.
($1 = 0.8562 euros)
Reporting by Johan Bodinier; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
A diverse new generation also wants their specific concerns to be heard and addressed
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s move to lower the voting age to 16 launches the political battle for teenagers’ votes, with campaign groups warning no one should make assumptions about their allegiances and parties must address the issues that affect them.
For decades, election trends and polls suggested younger voters tended to lean more to the left in Britain, but recent evidence from Europe shows young voters, particularly men, backing right-wing parties, including the far-right.
“Don’t take them for granted. Don’t assume that their vote has already been cast before an election,” Dan Lawes, co-CEO of youth-led charity My Life, My Say, said of young voters.
“Young people want to be sold policies. But politicians have to reach them.”
A diverse new generation also wants their specific concerns to be heard and addressed.
According to a tracker by pollsters YouGov, the economy is the most important issue concerning the 18-24 age group, followed by housing and immigration. Data for 16- 18-year-olds was not available.
A poll of 500 16-and 17-year-olds last week found that 33% said they would vote for the centre-left Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while 20% would support the right-wing Reform UK Party led by Nigel Farage, which leads polls of the wider population.
“We are going to give this Labour government the shock of their lives. We’re going to get 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for us,” Farage said following the move.
The new cohort would add around 1.6 million potential voters to the roughly 48 million eligible to vote at the 2024 election.
In last year’s European Parliament elections, many young voters shifted toward far-right populist parties that used social media highly effectively to address their concerns.
In Germany, where 16- to 18 year-olds voted for the first time in European elections in 2024, their support helped boost the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In Austria, where 16- and 17-year-olds have been able to vote since 2007, polls showed that most voters under 35 voted for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in a 2024 parliamentary election, helping it secure first place.
“It’s quite scary how many… people (my age) are following him (Farage). He’s not my favourite person,” said 17-year-old student Matilda Grace.
However, Anki Deo, from campaign group Hope Not Hate, said follows on social media did not directly lead to votes.
“Many young people are mistrustful of the political system and politicians – it’s going to take a lot more than funny TikToks for any political party to win them over,” she said.
“Reform UK can ramp up their social media efforts, but their policy platform is still far out of line with the attitudes of the majority of young people.”
BOOSTING TRUST
Labour pitched the reform as a way to boost participation and trust after the lowest turnout at the 2024 national election since 2001, hoping to encourage a lifelong habit of voting.
Britain’s democratic system has endured a turbulent decade, marked by the divisive Brexit vote and the political upheaval that followed, including an unprecedented turnover of prime ministers and ministers.
Some critics say 16- and 17-year-olds lack the maturity to vote, and the main opposition Conservative Party called the plan inconsistent, noting the new cohort still can’t buy a lottery ticket, drink alcohol, marry, or join the military.
Younger voters have reacted to the announcement with excitement, but also with some caution.
“Young people can be very impressionable. Some people obviously can make their own decisions and they know what propaganda is, but I think education is the most important thing,” said Ana Fonseca, a 17-year-old student, who called for mandatory lessons on politics and democracy.
Rita Patel, vice chair of Operation Black Vote, which advocates for greater political representation, said the reform needed to lead to meaningful democratic participation for groups like young Black voters, who face distinct challenges and want issues like racism tackled.
“Young Black people are politicised from birth because they have no choice in this world and in this country to navigate that system that is often hostile to their needs,” Patel said.
Reporting by Catarina Demony and Marissa Davison, additional reporting by Dave Graham and Francois Murphy, writing by William James, edited by Kate Holton and Alexandra Hudson
The First Round of the Eastern County Cup delivered a low-scoring thriller at Lord’s in St. David’s, as cup holders Bailey’s Bay narrowly defeated challengers Flatts Victoria by just 10 runs. After a rain delay, Flatts Victoria won the toss and elected to bowl, quickly reducing Bailey’s Bay to 6 for 4. However, a defiant 57 from Derrick Brangman, who faced 87 balls, rescued their innings as they were eventually bowled out for 106. Flatts’ bowling was spearheaded by Kamau Leverock, who claimed five wickets for 52, supported by Kevin Hordle’s four for 43. In reply, Flatts Victoria also faltered early and were eventually bowled out for 96, falling just shy of their target. Kamau Leverock was again their top scorer with 22. But the hero of the day was undoubtedly Derrick Brangman. After his vital batting contribution, he tore through the Flatts batting line-up, taking an exceptional six wickets for 33 runs from 13.2 overs. Brangman’s all-round masterclass earned him the Man of the Match award and secured a hard-fought victory for Bailey’s Bay, ensuring they retained the coveted Eastern County Cup. The match was covered live by Bermuda Broadcasting on television, radio and online.
Police said the four men were found in an unlicensed vehicle at Astwood Park
Astwood Park sign, Warwick. Photo: Bermuda Yellow Pages
Four men were arrested at the weekend at Astwood Park after being found with an unknown amount of drugs, cash and a knife.
A police spokesperson said officers were on patrol in the Warwick area when the spotted a vehicle with illegible license plates parked at Astwood Park.
It happened around 6.20pm Saturday, July 19, 2025.
One man attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended and officers found the car’s registration had been cancelled.
A search of the car resulted in officers seizing cash, a bag of controlled drugs and a scale, in the glove compartment.
A knife was also recovered from the trunk.
The four men were arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station.
They were bailed and are expected to appear in court, according to police.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said on Monday he had accepted the proposals and that Ofwat would be abolished
International News via Reuters:
Britain said on Monday it would overhaul water regulation to better protect the environment, investors and consumers, after an official report recommended a new structure that could also ease up on pollution fines to prevent companies from collapsing.
The privatised water industry in England and Wales has provoked public fury by releasing record levels of sewage into rivers and lakes, prompting the Labour government to promise major reforms when it was elected last year.
Symbolising the failure of the sector, Thames Water, the country’s biggest water supplier with 16 million customers and 17 billion pounds ($23 billion) of debt, is teetering on the brink of nationalisation, and warning that it cannot pay the sewage fines it owes.
Former Bank of England Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe, who led a review of the sector published on Monday, said water regulator Ofwat should be scrapped and the work of three other bodies merged into one new powerful regulator.
He also suggested that a formal turnaround regime should be established, giving struggling companies space to recover under so-called “regulatory forbearance”.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said on Monday he had accepted the proposals and that Ofwat would be abolished, with a new consultation and legislation put forward.
While Cunliffe called his proposals “significant”, critics said they did not go far enough. Environmental campaigners blame water companies for prioritising profits over sewage, and want more radical change such as nationalisation.
“Abolishing Ofwat and replacing it with a shinier regulator won’t stop sewage dumping or profiteering if the finance and ownership structures stay the same,” said Giles Bristow, the CEO of campaign group Surfers Against Sewage.
Cunliffe’s remit was set by the government and did not allow him to consider nationalising the water sector, which has been privately owned by regional water companies since 1989.
INVESTMENT NEEDED
Under plans already set out by Ofwat, British water companies will get more than 100 billion pounds of investment in the next five years to respond to population growth and climate change, funded by an average 36% increase in customer bills.
Cunliffe told the BBC that the major leap in bills would not have been needed if the industry and regulator had steadily increased investment over the years.
The government wants to avoid Thames Water entering special administration, a form of temporary nationalisation, because it does not want its huge debts on the national balance sheet.
Thames Water has warned that under the current regime it is facing 1.4 billion pounds in pollution fines and penalties over the next five years, pushing it towards financial collapse.
In a last ditch attempt to avoid administration, a group of Thames Water senior creditors are trying to take over the company. It welcomed Cunliffe’s report.
“It is in the public interest to recognise that regulatory support is needed to reset struggling companies and return them back to compliance and performance while retaining long-term investor confidence,” a source close to a Thames bondholder said.
Under Cunliffe’s recommendations, the government would direct the new regulator to set out returns, improving investor confidence, while also protecting consumers and the environment, and setting up regional water planning authorities.
($1 = 0.7460 pounds)
Reporting by Sarah Young and Michael Holden. Editing by Kate Holton, Rachna Uppal and Mark Potter
The crew leader on an Oregon blaze said her team went hungry for several days
International News via Reuters:
The U.S. Forest Service faced criticism from current and former employees who say federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration have left fire teams understaffed, as the country grapples with decade-high U.S. wildfire numbers this year.
The agency, which oversees the nation’s largest wildland firefighting force, rejected those claims, saying it has sufficient resources.
However, more than a dozen active and retired U.S. Forest Service employees told Reuters that the agency is struggling to fill critical roles after approximately 5,000 employees – roughly 15% of its workforce – quit in the past five months.
Accounts from firefighters in Oregon and New Mexico, as well as a fire chief recruiting support staff in the Pacific Northwest, said the vacancies have led to personnel held back from supporting frontline firefighting because of administrative duties.
The crew leader on an Oregon blaze said her team went hungry for several days, ran short of medical supplies and had to scrounge for chainsaw fuel after support staff quit the agency during two rounds of “fork in the road” buyouts.
“I had guys who were going to bed hungry after working 16 hours,” said the crew leader on the Alder Springs Fire, who asked not to be named for fear of losing her job.
National and local USFS officials say, however, the force is ready for what is expected to be a worse than average fire year in California, the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies, according to National Interagency Fire Center forecasts.
“Our fire staff feels very confident in our staffing levels going into this fire season,” said USFS Public Affairs Officer Isabella Isaksen, who represents USFS operations in central Oregon.
Isaksen said food problems on the Alder Springs Fire were due to a new caterer and were quickly resolved. She said medical, chainsaw and other supplies were available on the 3,400-acre blaze that triggered evacuations in two counties.
‘THEY ARE READY’
The Trump administration pledged not to cut firefighting positions and other public safety jobs in firings, voluntary resignations and early retirements meant to raise efficiency at the USFS which manages 193 million acres of land (78 million hectares), roughly about the size of Texas.
USFS employees that Reuters interviewed for this story said the loss of thousands of foresters, biologists, trail builders and campground managers was having a knock-on effect on firefighters.
Not only are firefighters having to cover empty positions at ranger stations but they also have lost hundreds of peers who each year switched from regular jobs to take on firefighting support roles during the fire season, which typically runs from spring to fall, these people said.
USFS Chief Tom Schultz on Wednesday told agency managers to make all of these fire-qualified, so-called “red-carded” staff available for what he called an “extremely challenging” fire year, according to a memo seen by Reuters.
Year to date, wildland firefighters have been called to nearly 41,000 blazes, by far the highest number in federal data going back to at least 2015.
Last month Schultz told a U.S. Senate committee he was trying to temporarily hire back some 1,400 fire-qualified, “red-carded” support staff who took buyouts.
“I do believe they are ready,” Schultz said when asked about preparedness for the 2025 fire year.
FIREFIGHTERS MOW LAWNS
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who oversees the USFS, said in June at a meeting of Western state governors in New Mexico that the agency was on target to hire 11,300 firefighters by mid July, outpacing hiring over the past three years.
As of June 29, 11,236 or 99% of that number had been hired, slightly below last year’s level, according to the most recent USDA data.
The USDA disputed claims that staff shortages are endangering communities, forests, and firefighters.
“We are providing the resources needed to ensure the Forest Service has the strongest and most prepared wildland firefighting force in the world,” a USDA spokesperson said.
New Mexico U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich has criticized the Trump administration’s firing and rehiring of 3,400 USFS probationary staff, three-quarters of whom were red-carded, as well as what he called its indiscriminate, agency-wide staff buyouts.
“Wildfire season is well underway, and thanks to DOGE and Donald Trump, the U.S. Forest Service is being gutted, leaving communities ill equipped to fight deadly wildfires,” Heinrich said in a emailed statement on July 11.
The Forest Service says it does not have enough wildland firefighters for the country’s “wildfire crisis” and relies on red-carded staff to “boost wildland firefighting capacity.”
Yet, not everyone close to the Forest Service sees problems.
Steve Ellis, chairman of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, said his checks with fire staff in Oregon turned up no reports of firefighters going hungry or other support issues.
But Riva Duncan, a fire duty officer on a New Mexico blaze, said even firefighters were being used to plug gaps left by job losses, exacerbating longstanding shortages of personnel to operate fire engines.
“They’re answering phones at the front desk, or cleaning toilets at campgrounds or mowing the lawn at administrative sites,” said Duncan, a retired USFS fire chief who reenlists during fire season and helps run Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a federal firefighter advocacy group.
The fire staff officer in the Pacific Northwest said support staff had been told by managers they had to meet the Trump administration’s increased timber sales and oil and gas production targets, with fewer employees, before helping firefighters.
“They can claim we get all the support we need, but in reality, it isn’t even close,” said the fire chief, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation.
Reporting By Andrew Hay; editing by Donna Bryson and Diane Craft
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