National Security Minister urges community cooperation at CCTV town hall, Travel clinic reports high demand for vaccinations and living cost surveys to remain open until July 8th plus all the latest sports news
Retailers liable for fines if selling nicotine-based products and vapes
Health Minister Kim Wilson said notice was given to all retailers of the government enforcement of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1979
Retailers and convenience store owners could be liable for a $10,000 fine if found to be selling nicotine-based products including vapes to customers.
Only registered pharmacies are permitted to dispense nicotine containing products as part of a Government clamp down to deter youngsters from picking up the habit.
According to the Health Ministry, “it is acknowledged that the emergence of newer product formats, such as nicotine pouches and lozenges, created uncertainty in how the law was interpreted and applied by some retailers.
“Importantly, the legal framework itself has not changed. However, it is evident that a number of retailers exploited this ambiguity, knowingly selling these products outside the scope of the law.
“At the same time, others appear to have been genuinely unaware of the existing regulatory restrictions, highlighting the need for enhanced education and consistent enforcement.”
More in this report.
Op-ed: PRIDE is Protest – Progress Interrupted. The Price of Partisanship
Op-ed from Juanae Crockwell:
As Bermuda marks this year’s PRIDE parade on July 5th, I find myself reflecting not just on the strength and vibrancy of our LGBTQ+ community, but also on how far we still have to go.
The road to marriage equity in Bermuda is one of the clearest examples of how party politics can obstruct, not accelerate, progress. It is also a sobering reminder of the power elected officials wield when legislation is guided by partisanship rather than principle.
From the outset, let me be clear: I stand on the side of human rights for all people. That is what I have told constituents who’ve asked me where I stand on marriage equity, and it is a position I hold with conviction. I have considered all sides of this issue, and each time I come to the same conclusion: equality is equality.
Over time, and especially through my work in advocacy, I’ve come to understand something fundamental: true advocacy must be inclusive. It must extend to the people and injustices that don’t directly impact me. Otherwise, it is not advocacy, it’s simply convenience.
Our legislators are meant to be advocates. Not only for their supporters. Not only for the people who look like them or love like them. But for all Bermudians.
And yet, the story of marriage equity in Bermuda tells a different tale.
A Timeline of Political Obstruction
As a student of history, I know the value of looking back to understand how we got here. So, if you’ll indulge me, allow me to briefly recap the timeline of events as it relates to marriage equity here in Bermuda.
In 2013, Bermuda took a critical first step by amending the Human Rights Act to include “sexual orientation” as a protected ground, an addition often referred to as “two words and a comma.” Though modest in language, this legislative change was monumental in its impact, making it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation.
In 2015, Bermuda’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of same-sex couples’ right to adopt. A year later, the Government held a referendum on same-sex marriage and civil unions. It failed to reach the required 50 percent voter turnout, rendering it non-binding. Still, a majority of those who did vote said no to both.
Despite this, in 2017, the Supreme Court once again acted in defence of rights, ruling in Godwin v Registrar General that same-sex couples could legally marry under the protections of the Human Rights Act. It was a moment of justice, and many believed it marked a turning point.
But that moment proved to be fleeting as politics soon intervened.
In July 2017, the Progressive Labour Party won the general election with a strong majority. Sadly, one of their early moves was to introduce the Domestic Partnership Bill, legislation that sought to replace marriage equality with a separate legal framework. The bill created a new category of “domestic partnership” available to both same-sex and heterosexual couples, but crucially, it revoked the right of same-sex couples to marry.
By February 2018, the bill became law, effectively stripping away marriage rights that had been affirmed by the courts just months earlier. Bermuda made global headlines as the first jurisdiction to legalise same-sex marriage, only to repeal it.
It’s important to highlight that the vote on the Domestic Partnership Bill in the House of Assembly was not a conscience vote. It was a whipped vote, with PLP Members expected to follow the party line. The bill passed 24 to 10, demonstrating how party politics, not personal conviction or public consultation, drove this regressive legislation.
Activists pushed back. The courts again ruled the ban unconstitutional in June 2018, affirming that the Domestic Partnership Act violated fundamental rights. The Government chose to appeal the decision, and in November, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling that same-sex marriage must be allowed. For a brief moment, equality was restored.
But the legal battle didn’t end there. The Government pursued a final appeal to the Privy Council, the highest court of appeal for Bermuda, at the public’s expense. In March 2022, the Privy Council overturned the previous ruling, declaring that the Domestic Partnership Act did not violate Bermuda’s Constitution. And just like that, after years of legal wrangling that cost not just dignity and time, but taxpayer dollars too, marriage equity in Bermuda no longer existed.
OUTBermuda, the island’s only LGBTQ+ charity, has called this repeal a grave injustice and urged the Government to restore marriage equality and repair Bermuda’s international human rights reputation. Their recent Policy Manifesto outlines not just the need for full equality under the law but tangible steps for how the Government can support and protect LGBTQ+ Bermudians today.
People Over Politics
This back-and-forth legal history is not just about legislation. It’s about people. About Bermudians whose lives, loves, and families have been treated like political footballs. This reflection has shown clearly how partisan agendas can delay and derail fundamental rights – rights that should never have been up for debate.
What this tells us, painfully and clearly, is that party politics is not always aligned with the people’s wellbeing. And when that happens, we all lose.
If we are to truly become a society that values justice and inclusion, we must start with leadership that puts human rights, dignity, and fairness above political calculations. Leadership that reflects the full diversity of Bermuda and governs in service of all its people.
A Call for Courage
I know that embracing inclusive leadership can be uncomfortable. I’ve had to confront long-held beliefs of my own. Beliefs that were shaped by culture, community, and faith instead of the lived realities of others. That process wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Because if we are serious about equality, we must lead with courage, even – or perhaps especially – when our decisions challenge the status quo. That is what leadership requires: doing what is right, even when it’s hard.
Marriage equity is not an LGBTQ+ issue. It is a human rights issue. And Bermuda’s treatment of it is a cautionary tale about what happens when our leaders are more loyal to their party than to the rights of their people.
May this PRIDE weekend serve as a call to action, because PRIDE is, and always has been, a form of protest. And because every one of us deserves to be represented, respected, and protected under the law.
Welfare cuts U-turn shows extent of UK’s fiscal challenges, S&P says
S&P has a “stable” outlook on its AA UK credit rating
International News via Reuters:
The inability of Britain’s government to make cuts to welfare spending this week underscores the extent of the challenges it faces in repairing its finances, credit rating agency S&P Global said on Friday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to scrap 5 billion pounds ($6.83 billion) worth of benefits cuts due to opposition from within his own government, reducing the already razor-thin margin it relies on to meet its self-imposed fiscal rules.
“We consider the inability to make modest cuts to welfare spending, which has ballooned in the UK since the 2020 pandemic, underscores the UK government’s very limited budgetary room for manoeuvre,” S&P said in an analysis.
S&P has a “stable” outlook on its AA UK credit rating and though it sees the fiscal position as “vulnerable” it said the direct effect of this week’s last-minute policy reversal was small in the context of the country’s “existing fiscal challenges”.
The now-cancelled 5 billion-pound-a-year of mainly disability allowance cuts would have amounted to 0.2% of 2025 GDP, by 2029. That compares with last year’s headline government deficit of 5.9% of GDP – equivalent to almost 170 billion pounds.
“Getting the deficit down to the pre-pandemic five-year average of 3% of GDP would require a roughly 70 billion pound consolidation effort,” said S&P, which is next due to review Britain’s rating on October 10.
“We expect that the UK’s fiscal consolidation will remain a slow process,” it added.
($1 = 0.7321 pounds)
Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Barbara Lewis
Stocks, dollar dip as Trump passes spending bill, trade deal deadline nears
The dollar also fell against major currencies
International News via Reuters:
Stocks slipped on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump got his signature tax cut bill over the line and attention turned to his July 9 deadline for countries to secure trade deals with the world’s biggest economy.
The dollar also fell against major currencies, with U.S. markets already shut for the holiday-shortened week, as traders considered the impact of Trump’s sweeping spending bill that is expected to add an estimated $3.4 trillion to the national debt.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.5%, with banks, mining-related stocks and retailers among the top laggards.
U.S. S&P 500 futures edged down 0.6%, following a 0.8% overnight advance for the cash index to an all-time closing peak. Wall Street was closed on Friday for the Independence Day holiday.
Trump said Washington would start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they would face on exports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals before a July 9 deadline when tariffs could rise sharply.
Investors are “now just waiting for July 9”, said Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG, with the market’s lack of optimism for trade deals responsible for some of the equity weakness in export-reliant Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea.
At the same time, investors cheered a surprisingly robust U.S. jobs report on Thursday, sending all three of the main U.S. equity indexes climbing in a shortened session.
“The U.S. economy is holding together better than most people expected, which suggests to me that markets can easily continue to do better (from here),” Sycamore said.
Following Thursday’s close, the House narrowly approved Trump’s signature, 869-page bill, which averts the near-term prospect of a U.S. government default but adds trillions to the national debt to fuel spending on border security and the military.
TRADE THE KEY FOCUS IN ASIA
Trump said he expected “a couple” more trade agreements, after announcing a deal with Vietnam on Wednesday to add to framework agreements with China and Britain as the only successes so far.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this week that a deal with India was close. However, progress on agreements with Japan and South Korea, once touted by the White House as likely to be among the earliest to be announced, appears to have broken down.
The U.S. dollar index had its worst first half since 1973 as Trump’s chaotic roll-out of sweeping tariffs heightened concerns about the U.S. economy and the safety of Treasuries, but had rallied 0.4% on Thursday before retracing some of those gains on Friday.
As of 1430 GMT it was down 0.1% at 96.94.
The euro added 0.2% to $1.1778, while sterling held steady at $1.3662 as British assets steadied following investor fright over the last two days at a tearful appearance by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in parliament on Wednesday.
The U.S. Treasury bond market was closed on Friday for the holiday, but 10-year yields rose 4.7 basis points (bps) to 4.34%, while the 2-year yield jumped 9.3 bps to 3.882%.
Gold firmed 0.4% to $3,336 per ounce, on track for a weekly gain as investors again sought refuge in safe-haven assets due to concerns over the U.S.’s fiscal position and tariffs.
Brent crude futures fell 57 cents to $68.23 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 66 cents to $66.34, as Iran reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation.
Reporting by Lawrence White in London and Kevin Buckland in Tokyo; Editing by Stephen Coates, Kim Coghill, Alexandra Hudson, Joe Bavier and Alex Richardson
In new threat to UK’s Labour, former leader Corbyn in talks to start new party
Corbyn, an avowed socialist who took control of the party in 2015, was its most left-wing leader in a generation
International News via Reuters:
The former leader of Britain’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, announced on Friday he was in talks to start a new political party because Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government had “refused to deliver the change” voters expected during its first year in office.
Corbyn, an avowed socialist who took control of the party in 2015, was its most left-wing leader in a generation, with plans for a sweeping programme of nationalisation. He resigned as Labour leader after the 2019 election when the party suffered its worst defeat since 1935.
Labour subsequently suspended Corbyn in 2020 and then expelled him from the party following a report into how complaints about antisemitism in the party were handled under his leadership.
Corbyn’s plans to create a new political party could further divide Labour’s traditional left-wing support at a time when the prime minister is haemorrhaging support and the century-long dominance of Britain’s two big parties is in jeopardy.
“The democratic foundation of a new kind of political party will take shape soon,” Corbyn said on X. “Discussions are ongoing – and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve.”
The announcement that Labour could face a new threat from a left came after the party suffered its most bruising week in government when it was forced to abandon key planks of planned welfare reform, which blew a hole in its budget plans.
Since comfortably beating the Conservatives in a general election a year ago, Starmer has seen his personal popularity slump. Labour now also consistently trails the insurgent, right-wing Reform UK party, which is led by pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
When voters were asked what Labour’s biggest achievement had been since winning the election, the most common answer was “nothing”, polling firm More In Common said on Friday.
A new left-wing party led by Corbyn would win 10% of the vote, reducing Labour’s share from 23% to 20%, the same polling company said last week.
Corbyn, who was elected as an independent member of parliament last year, said the “Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved”.
On Thursday evening, lawmaker Zarah Sultana said she was quitting the Labour Party and planned to launch the new party with Corbyn.
Corbyn congratulated Sultana on Friday on her “principled decision” to quit Labour and said he was delighted she will “help build us a real alternative”.
Reporting by Andrew MacAskillEditing by Alistair Smout and Frances Kerry
Bermuda Junior Squash Teams Face Tough Battles at CASA Championships
Bermuda’s promising young squash talents continued their campaign on Day Five of the 2025 Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships in the Cayman Islands, as the highly anticipated team competition got underway. Unfortunately for Bermuda, both the Boys and Girls teams went down in their respective opening matches.
In the Boy’s Team match-up, Trinidad proved too strong, defeating Bermuda 21-12 in points. The contest began with Trinidad taking an early lead as Seth Thong defeated Andrew Cox 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 in the Boys Under 19 Division’s top spot. Trinidad further increased their advantage when Anthony Allum defeated Eli Carpol 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 in the Boys Under 19 Division’s second match.
Bermuda managed to get on the scoreboard in the Boys Under 17 Division match, with Owen Rosorea defeating Matteo Felician 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 in a hard-fought encounter. However, Trinidad would extend their lead in the Boys Under 15 Division as Ross D’Juran defeated individual gold medalist Mason Smith 11-2, 11-3, 11-4. Bermuda’s Benjamin Sherratt secured another win for the island, defeating Vithala Chattergoon 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 in the Boys Under 13 Division. The Boys Under 11 Division match went the distance, with Trinidad’s Evan Ghuran narrowly defeating Kaiden DeSilva 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7.
The Girls team faced an even tougher challenge, falling 30-3 to a strong Barbados squad. Barbados took the lead in the Girls Under 19 Division’s top spot, as Gabrielle Turchiaro went down to Eboni Atherley 11-1, 11-4, 11-2. Tyler Komposch then went down in the Girls Under 19 Division’s second spot, falling 11-6, 12-10, 12-10 to Sarrayah Yearwood.
Barbados’ Lenna Hamati was taken to the wire by Somers Stevenson in the Girls Under 17 Division match, eventually winning a tight contest 4-11, 11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 17-15. In the Girls Under 15 Division, Mckenna Kyme went down to Olivia Watts 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6. Finally, Taylor Kyme went down in her Girls Under 13 Division match to Morgan Daniel 11-3, 11-6, 11-6.
While both teams faced initial defeats in the team competition, the individual wins for Rosorea and Sherratt in the boys’ division highlight Bermuda’s continued competitive spirit. The team competition promises more intense battles as the championships continue, providing invaluable experience for these young athletes.
Junior Golf League Tees Off at Five Forts, Nurturing Future Talent
Teaser Paragraph here…,
The inaugural Five Forts/GLA Bermuda Summer Junior Golf League has successfully teed off this week, bringing an exciting and competitive First Round to the scenic Five Forts Golf Club. The league gathers 13 promising junior golfers, providing a dedicated platform for development, sportsmanship, and enjoyment throughout the summer months.
Designed to give young golfers a structured and competitive environment to sharpen their skills while emphasizing steady improvement, the league is a collaborative effort between the Five Forts Golf Club and the recently launched Golfzon Leadbetter Academy Bermuda. This partnership aims to provide a welcoming space for juniors to grow both as athletes and individuals, aligning with the academy’s broader mission of using golf as a tool to shape future champions both on and off the course.
The First Round saw competition across three distinct divisions based on age and experience:
White Tee Division – 18-hole Stroke Play
- Winner: Freddie Jones
- Runner-up: Charlie Smith
Red Tee Division – 9-hole Stableford
- Winner: Lorcan McGlynn
- Runner-up: Thomas Smith
- Runner-up: Juliana Gakundi
Forward Tee Division – 9-hole Stableford
- Winner: James Thuell
- Runner-up: Heath Kemp
As the summer progresses, these young players will accumulate valuable experience and points across weekly rounds, with more competitive highlights and personal bests surely ahead. The league underscores Bermuda’s commitment to fostering its next generation of golfing talent.
Bermuda FA Celebrates Legacy, Awards Legends Scholarships to Future Stars
The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) proudly celebrated the rich heritage of the sport on the island last night, hosting its Legends Scholarship Presentation Ceremony at the Butterfield & Vallis Conference Centre, Bermuda College. The special event not only honoured esteemed figures who have shaped Bermudian football but also recognized five outstanding student-athletes who were awarded the prestigious Legends Scholarship.
These scholarships, first awarded in 2007, are specifically designed to support Bermuda’s aspiring football student-athletes who embody the spirit of the game’s legends, helping them pursue their academic and athletic dreams both on and off the pitch.
The recipients for 2025 reflect a diverse range of talent and commitment to the sport, embodying the qualities of the legends whose names grace these awards:
- Amir Brangman-Johnson was the proud recipient of the Andrew Bascome Legend Scholarship. Andrew Bascome is a well-known Bermudian footballer and coach, having managed the Bermuda national team and founded FC Bascome Bermuda.
- The Coolridge Bell Scholarship Award was presented to Dakari Smith-Davis. Coolridge Bell is a recognized figure in Bermudian football history, particularly known for his time with Somerset Trojans.
- T’syi Showers was awarded the Dennis Brown Scholarship Award. Dennis Brown is a former national team defender and respected coach, known for his work with various clubs and the Bermuda U-20 national team.
- The Sakena Clarke Scholarship Award recipient was Katherine Bean Rosario. Sakena Clarke is a celebrated former women’s footballer, known for her prolific goal-scoring and contributions to the women’s game in Bermuda.
- And finally, the Erskine Smith Scholarship Award was presented to D’Ari Coddington. Erskine “Choe” Smith is remembered as a tireless central figure for Young Men’s Social Club and a significant contributor to Bermudian football.
The ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the deep history of Bermudian football and the continued dedication to nurturing the next generation of players and leaders. The BFA Legends Scholarship program has a proud history of supporting talented individuals, with past recipients including current national team players and university graduates, underscoring its lasting impact on the development of football in Bermuda.
Czech Republic hit by major power outage
The outage began just before noon local time (1000 GMT) and had yet to be fully resolved by 1350 GMT
International News via Reuters:
A major power outage in parts of the Czech Republic on Friday trapped people in lifts and halted hundreds of trains, while authorities said a fallen high-voltage cable was the likely cause.
The incident is likely to add to concerns about the resilience of Europe’s power grids and infrastructure after Spain suffered the worst blackout in its history in April and a fire knocked out the power supply to London’s Heathrow airport in March.
“As a result of a fallen power cable, there was an outage of the V411 transmission grid line and the Unit 6 of the Ledvice power plant,” national high-voltage grid operator CEPS said.
This had knock-on effects, overburdening another line and substation, cutting off part of the country from the grid, it said.
The outage began just before noon local time (1000 GMT) and had yet to be fully resolved by 1350 GMT.
It halted public transport in several cities, including Prague, where the underground was briefly shut down and trams stood idle for hours.
The Czech Republic has dozens of substations – facilities that convert electricity into different voltages so it can be transmitted throughout a country and distributed locally.
CEPS had earlier said the fallen line on the 45 kilometre (29 miles) high-voltage line in the northwest of the country had affected eight of these substations and caused widespread blackouts in five of the Czech Republic’s 14 regions.
All affected substations had power back before 1300 GMT, CEPS said, but distribution companies were still working to restore supplies elsewhere.
Prague city transport was nearly fully restored after three hours, but trains in many places remained at a halt. Prague’s power distribution company said it expected full restoration by 1400 GMT.
Speaking on Czech Television, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said the authorities had no information to suggest there had been a cyber or terrorist attack.
Across the country, the outage caused 215 incidents involving people trapped in elevators, fire brigade spokesperson Lucie Pipis told Reuters, adding everyone had been rescued.
The justice ministry said 10 prisons had lost power, but that security had not been compromised. Three large hospitals in Prague temporarily ran on back-up power.
Orlen Unipetrol’s Czech refinery and chemical plant at Litvinov went into an emergency shutdown, the company said on X.
E.ON, which operates part of the grid in south and south-eastern Czech Republic, said its supply area was not affected.
Following the outage in Spain in May, analysts said that Europe’s ageing power grid and lack of energy storage capacity will require trillions of dollars in investments to cope with rising green energy output and increasing electricity demand.
Reporting by Jan Lopatka, Vera Dvorakova, Nina Chestney, writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Mark Potter and Barbara Lewis
Phillips Continues Impressive Run, Reaches Kayseri Quarter-Finals
Bermudian tennis sensation Daniel Phillips has continued his remarkable form on the professional circuit, advancing to the quarter-finals of the M15 Kayseri Tournament in Turkey.
Phillips, who successfully navigated the qualifying rounds and secured his first ATP Tour main draw win earlier this week, maintained his winning momentum in his Second Round match. He faced a significant test against the tournament’s number seven seed, Niklas Schell from Germany (ATP Rank: 839). Despite the challenge, Phillips delivered a confident and dominant performance, securing a straight-sets victory with a score of 6-4, 6-1.
This latest triumph underlines Phillips’s growing confidence and ability to compete against higher-ranked opponents. His journey in Kayseri has been a testament to his resilience and tactical acumen, building on the momentum from his recent Davis Cup successes.
Phillips has now advanced to the Quarter-Finals, where he will face his toughest opponent yet: the tournament’s number one seed, Nino Ehrenschneider from Germany (ATP Rank: 670). This match will provide another crucial test for the young Bermudian as he aims to continue his deep run in the tournament.
