Bermuda has a new track and field star on the rise, as sprinter Caitlyn Bobb enjoyed a truly sensational Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Representing Virginia Tech, Bobb delivered a performance for the ages in the Women’s 400 meters, culminating in a stunning gold medal victory.
Bobb saved her absolute best for the final, not only winning the individual title but also resetting both the Virginia Tech program record and her own Bermuda National Record in the process. This came just a day after a blistering preliminary run where she clocked 51.57 seconds, breaking the national record of 51.84 she had set back in June 2022. That performance alone earned her a spot in the final, but what followed was truly breathtaking.
In a remarkable display of speed and endurance, Bobb powered away from the field in the final, capturing the gold medal by a significant margin of over half a second. Her winning time? An astounding 51.11 seconds. This incredible mark shaved a further 0.46 seconds off the national record she had set just 24 hours earlier, underlining the exceptional peak in her performance throughout the championships.
Caitlyn Bobb’s dominant performance in the 400 meters at the ACC Championships is a truly significant achievement. To break the national record twice in as many days, culminating in a gold medal victory by such a margin, speaks volumes about her talent, dedication, and the progress she is making on the collegiate track and field scene. This will undoubtedly be a moment of immense pride for Bermuda, and it firmly establishes Bobb as a force to be reckoned with as her athletic career continues to flourish. Her name is one to watch in the future.
The Super Stock Class at Cocoa Beach saw a thrilling spectacle, with a dozen teams battling it out just off the shoreline. Flying the Bermudian flag were two formidable entries. The first, S-25 GL Construction / S-25 Team Bermuda, was expertly piloted by the experienced duo of David Selley and Steven Bridges. The second Bermudian boat, S-12 NUFF SAID / Team Bermuda, had Luis Martins and Andy Stoneham at the controls.
The race lived up to its billing, with intense battles unfolding across the course. The powerful Super Stock boats showcased their speed and agility as they jostled for every inch of advantage. However, the fierce competition took a dramatic and unfortunate turn for one of the Bermuda teams.
Sadly, the race ended prematurely for Luis Martins and Andy Stoneham in S-12 NUFF SAID / Team Bermuda. With the event more than three-quarters completed, their boat overturned. Thankfully, we can report that safety crews were on the scene swiftly, ensuring the well-being of both Martins and Stoneham.
Following the incident, race officials concluded the event, with the final standings determined based on the positions at the time of the stoppage. David Selley and Steven Bridges in S-25 GL Construction / S-25 Team Bermuda had navigated the challenging conditions with skill and consistency. Their efforts saw them placed in a commendable 6th position in the highly competitive Super Stock Class.
While the early end to the race for Martins and Stoneham was undoubtedly disappointing, their participation alongside Selley and Bridges underscores Bermuda’s passion for offshore powerboat racing on the international stage. The 6th place finish for Team Bermuda in the S-25 boat is a testament to their skill and determination in a demanding class. We wish Luis and Andy all the best following their incident.
The five individuals are being recognized for their artistic, creative and innovative contributions to Bermuda’s heritage and culture
Today the Department of Culture formally shared the Grand Marshals of this year’s Bermuda Day Parade. This year’s five (5) Grand Marshals are being celebrated and recognized for their artistic, creative and innovative contributions to our heritage and culture. They are:
Glenn Jones Eugene O’Connor McKenzie-Kohl Tuckett Seldon Woolridge Coral Wells
The Government of Bermuda provided the below biographies of each Grand Marshal.
Monetary authority issues warning about ‘unregulated entities’
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Press release: The Bermuda Monetary Authority (Authority or BMA) has been made aware of a posting appearing on social media, including WhatsApp, in which someone claiming to be BMA Capital makes false claims about the Authority. The Authority notes that the fraudulent social media post falsely conflates the Authority with BMA Capital, Bermuda Finance, Pakistan BMA, and BMA International Platform, and further falsely claims that the Authority, in addition to being a financial regulator, is also the headquarters of this multinational financial conglomerate. Conducting business with unregulated entities carries increased risk for potential investors, particularly where the introduction has been made through fraudulent statements. Anyone who conducts business with such entities does so at their own risk.
Motorists should expect delays as paving work and inspections are carried out
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Press release:
The Ministry of Public Works and Environment today reminding the motoring public of ongoing and upcoming lane closures on key routes in St. George’s and Hamilton Parishes.
In St. George’s, preparation and paving work are underway on Mullet Bay Road, from York Street to Ferry Road. These operations began on Monday, 12 May 2025, and are scheduled to continue through Friday, 11 July 2025. Lane closures will be in effect on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
In Hamilton Parish, sequential lane closures are currently in effect for geotechnical inspections on Harrington Sound Road (near Shark Hole) and North Shore Road (near Shelly Bay Beach). The inspections began on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, and will continue through to Thursday, 22 May 2025, during weekday working hours of 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ministry representatives are managing traffic controls, including stop-and-go signs and traffic lights. Motorists are advised to proceed cautiously, expect delays, and plan accordingly.
Police say the man appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning
A suspect appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning in connection to the double murder at Legends bar in Somerset.
Acting Superintendent Jason Smith said the man was charged with a range of offences including, two counts of murder, discharging a firearm, and possession of a firearm with criminal intent.
He told media that the significant development came after a file review over the weekend which led the Director of Public Prosecution to approve the charges to one of the four men seen in the CCTV footage entering Legends bar.
In total, AS Smith confirmed that four people, between the ages of 23 and 27, have been arrested to date, with one still outstanding who is believed to be injured.
He thanked support from both members of the public and members of the BPS who are actively involved in the investigation for the individual being brought before the court.
Russian-born Durov is currently under judicial supervision in France
FILE PHOTO: Founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov delivers a keynote speech during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 23, 2016. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, has accused the head of France’s foreign intelligence agency Nicolas Lerner of asking him to ban Romanian conservative voices ahead of the country’s elections, adding he refused the request.
Russian-born Durov is currently under judicial supervision in France, holed up in Paris’ glitzy Crillon hotel after being placed under formal investigation for alleged organized crime on Telegram.
He said it was there that Lerner, who leads the DGSE foreign spy agency, approached him.
“This spring at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon, Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, asked me to ban conservative voices in Romania ahead of elections. I refused,” Durov wrote on X late on Sunday.
“We didn’t block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. We won’t start doing it in Europe.”
The centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, won Romania’s presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over George Simion, a hard-right, nationalist rival who had pledged to adopt a path inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump’s politics.
The Romanian result was a relief for centrist policymakers in Brussels where there is concern that popular anger with mainstream elites over migration and cost of living pressures could bolster support for far-right parties and erode unity on the continent over how to deal with Russia.
France’s DGSE said in a statement its officials had indeed met with Durov various times over the years “to firmly remind him of his company’s responsibilities, and his own personally, in preventing terrorist and child pornography threats.”
However, the DGSE “vigorously refutes the allegations that requests to ban accounts related to any electoral process were made on these occasions,” it said.
MUSK TAKES NOTE
Durov’s accusation was reposted on X by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, one of various powerful figures on the U.S. right who have accused European nations of suppressing far-right voices.
“Wow,” Musk wrote.
Durov had earlier on Sunday said he had refused a request by a Western government to silence conservative voices ahead of the Romania run-off vote.
“Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels,” Durov said, adding an emoji of a baguette that implied it was France.
The French foreign ministry denied any such interference and called on all to “exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy.”
The arrest of Durov last year ignited a debate about free speech online. Musk, who criticized the arrest of Durov, is also being probed by French prosecutors over alleged algorithmic bias on X.
Musk has used X to personally support right-wing parties and causes in countries including Germany and Britain, leading to concerns about undue foreign interference.
Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Juliette Jabkhiro, editing by Gabriel Stargardter, Alexandra Hudson
Housing has become a major issue in Spain as construction has failed to keep pace with demand
FILE PHOTO: Airbnb logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Spain has ordered Airbnb to withdraw more than 65,000 listings for holiday rentals that violated existing rules from its platform as part of a general crackdown on a business blamed for contributing to the housing crisis in the country.
Most of the Airbnb listings to be blocked do not include their licence number, while others do not specify whether the owner was an individual or a corporation, the Consumer Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy said his goal was to end the general “lack of control” and “illegality” in the holiday rental business.
“No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country,” he told reporters.
The Spanish government, as well as city councils and regional authorities, have launched a general crackdown on tourism rentals via sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com, which many Spaniards say are creating excess tourism, reducing the housing supply and making renting unaffordable for many locals.
Housing has become a major issue in Spain as construction has failed to keep pace with demand since a construction bubble burst more than 15 years ago.
According to official data, there were about 321,000 homes with holiday rental licences in Spain as of November last year, 15% more than in 2020. Many more operate without official licences.
The Consumer Rights Ministry opened a probe into Airbnb in December.
A spokesperson for Airbnb did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
In December, the company said it always asked hosts to confirm they have permission to rent their places and abide by all local rules. The company also said that the ministry had failed to provide lists of non-compliant accommodation, and that many owners do not need a licence to rent out their property.
The company said the ministry did not have the authority to make rulings over short-term rentals and was disregarding court rulings specifying that Airbnb was a digital, not a real estate company.
Bustinduy said Monday’s order had the backing of Madrid’s high court.
In January, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled a plan to raise taxes on income from holiday rentals through platforms.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni took Spain’s toughest move so far in June last year when he ordered a total ban on tourism rentals by 2028.
Other European countries such as Croatia and Italy have also acted to slow down the holiday rental business.
Reporting by Inti Landauro and Corina Pons, Editing by Ros Russell and Sharon Singleton
Biden’s diagnosis triggered an outpouring of supportive statements on Sunday
U.S. President Joe Biden holds an event at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
Biden, 82, was diagnosed on Friday after experiencing urinary symptoms, and he and his family are reviewing treatment options with doctors, according to the statement.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said.
Cancers that have spread, or metastasized, are considered Stage 4, the most advanced. Most prostate cancers are detected at an earlier stage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 236,659 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in 2021, 70% were diagnosed before the cancer had spread beyond the prostate. About 8% of new prostate cancer diagnoses that year involved advanced-stage disease.
Biden’s physical health and mental acuity drew scrutiny during his 2021-2025 presidency. He abruptly ended his bid for reelection last July, weeks after a halting performance during a debate against Republican Donald Trump prompted panic among his fellow Democrats.
President Trump, who has repeatedly berated Biden since taking office in January, expressed sympathy on Sunday for Biden and his wife, Jill, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote, referring to first lady Melania Trump. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Biden’s office said the cancer scored a nine out of 10 on the Gleason score grading system, which is used to help determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
Dr. Herbert Lepor, an urologist at NYU Langone, said a score of nine is “very high risk,” but added that many men can live “five to 10 years and beyond” even with metastatic prostate cancer.
“Over the last decade, there have been many advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer,” he said.
Dr. Chris George, the medical director of the cancer program for the Northwestern Health Network, said prostate cancer is no longer curable once it spreads to the bones but that there are treatments that can control it.
BIDEN, TRUMP OLDEST TO WIN PRESIDENCY
Biden was the oldest person to win the U.S. presidency at the time of his election in 2020. Trump, 78, broke that record when he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris last year.
Some prominent Democrats have recently acknowledged that it was an error to advance Biden as the 2024 nominee, given widespread concerns among voters about his age. Long before the debate last summer, Reuters/Ipsos polls showed a majority of Americans, including most Democrats, believed Biden was too old to serve a second term.
“It was a mistake for Democrats to not listen to the voters earlier,” Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, before Biden’s diagnosis was announced.
Biden has kept a low profile since leaving office, making only a handful of public appearances, including an April speech in which he defended the Social Security Administration against Trump’s planned cuts.
He has also defended his legacy in interviews and rejected reporting in two new books that he suffered from cognitive decline during his last year in office.
“They are wrong,” he said earlier this month on ABC’s “The View,” referring to the books’ authors.
Biden’s diagnosis triggered an outpouring of supportive statements on Sunday from Democrats and Republicans alike.
“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris said in a statement.
Biden lost a son, Beau Biden, in 2015 due to brain cancer.
In 2022, Biden revived an Obama-era program known as Cancer Moonshot, seeking to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years.
Reporting by Nandita Bose, Joseph Ax, Steve Holland, Kristina Cooke, Costas Pitas and Nancy Lapid; Editing by Paul Simao, Colleen Jenkins, Rod Nickel, Diane Craft and Lincoln Feast.
China’s contribution will rise from just over 15% to 20%
World Health Organization (WHO) logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Hundreds of World Health Organization officials will join donors and diplomats in Geneva from Monday with one question dominating their thoughts: How to tackle crises from mpox to cholera without their main funder, the United States.
The week-long annual assembly usually showcases the scale of the U.N. agency set up to tackle disease outbreaks, approve vaccines and support health systems worldwide.
This year – since U.S. President Donald Trump started the year-long process to leave the WHO with an executive order on his first day in office in January – the main theme is scaling down.
“Our goal is to focus on the high-value stuff,” Daniel Thornton, the WHO’s director of coordinated resource mobilisation, told Reuters.
Just what that “high-value stuff” will be is up for discussion. Health officials have said the WHO’s work in providing guidelines for countries on new vaccines and treatments for conditions from obesity to HIV will remain a priority.
One WHO slideshow for the event, shared with donors and seen by Reuters, suggested work on approving new medicines and responding to outbreaks would be protected, while training programmes and offices in wealthier countries could be closed.
The United States had provided around 18% of the WHO’s funding but it was not on the list of attendees released on Sunday, and on Monday as the assembly began, the U.S. chair was empty in the main hall.
“We’ve got to make do with what we have,” said one Western diplomat who asked not to be named.
Staff have been getting ready – cutting managers and budgets – ever since Trump’s January announcement in a rush of directives and aid cuts that have disrupted numerous multilateral pacts and initiatives.
The year-long delay, mandated under U.S. law, means the U.S. is still a WHO member – its flag still flies outside the Geneva HQ – until its official departure on January 21, 2026.
Trump – who accused the WHO of mishandling COVID, which it denies – muddied the waters days after his statement by saying he might consider rejoining the agency if its staff “clean it up”.
But global health envoys say there has since been little sign of a change of heart. So the WHO is planning for life with a $600 million hole in its budget for this year and cuts of 21% over the next two-year period.
CHINA TAKES LEAD
As the United States prepares to exit, China is set to become the biggest provider of state fees – one of the WHO’s main streams of funding alongside donations.
China’s contribution will rise from just over 15% to 20% of the total state fee pot under a pre-agreed overhaul of the funding system.
“We have to adapt ourselves to multilateral organisations without the Americans. Life goes on,” Chen Xu, China’s ambassador to Geneva, told reporters last month.
On Monday, host country Switzerland’s health minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider opened the assembly with a new voluntary donation of $80 million over four years.
Others have suggested it might be time for a broader overhaul.
“Does WHO need all its committees? Does it need to be publishing thousands of publications each year?” said Anil Soni, chief executive of the WHO Foundation, an independent fund-raising body for the agency.
There is also the urgent need to make sure key projects hold up during the immediate cash crisis. That meant going to donors with particular interests in those areas, including pharmaceutical companies and philanthropic groups, Soni said.
The ELMA Foundation, which focuses on children’s health in Africa, has already stepped in with $2 million for the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network – more than 700 labs which track infectious disease threats, he added.
Other business at the assembly includes rubber-stamping a historic agreement on how to handle future pandemics and drumming up more cash from donors at an investment round.
But the focus remains on funding under the new world order.
In the runup to the event, one WHO manager emailed staff asking them to volunteer, without extra pay, as ushers.
Additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Hugh Lawson
The two sides will now explore Britain’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market
FILE PHOTO: British and EU flags hang on the day of the meeting of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels, Belgium October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman
International news via Reuters:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed European Union leaders to London on Monday to help reset relations with the bloc, with both sides aiming to secure progress in specific areas from trade and migration to security and defence.
Below is a list of issues on the agenda.
DEFENCE AND SECURITY PACT
Britain’s Labour government and the EU are set to clinch a defence and security pact that previous Conservative governments opted not to seek when Brexit was first negotiated.
Both sides agree it is imperative for Europe to work more closely together on defence, given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for NATO’s European members to shoulder more of the burden of the alliance.
As part of the reset, Britain will consider taking part in EU civilian and military crisis management and be able to participate in joint procurement with the bloc, according to a copy of the pact seen by Reuters.
However, British companies’ access to a 150 billion euro ($167 billion) programme to rearm Europe is subject to further talks.
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY
Labour has positioned a veterinary agreement with the EU that is aimed at preventing unnecessary border checks as central to its planned EU reset.
Any deal would maintain high food standards, which Britain also insisted were not lowered in its discussions with the U.S. to remove tariffs.
Britain and the EU will work towards setting up common food and plant safety standards to reduce most of the existing red tape and smooth the flow of trade, according to a draft “common understanding” document seen by Reuters.
MOBILITY
A youth mobility scheme to make it easier for under-30s to travel and work between Britain and the EU is a priority for the bloc.
Starmer’s government has said this will not be a return to freedom of movement, but to a controlled amount of people, with a likely limit on how many can use it and how long they can stay. Campaign group Best for Britain said two-thirds of Britons support a scheme with a two-year limit.
The draft understanding document showed that the two sides will work towards a youth mobility deal, although the number of participants in any scheme will be subject to further discussion.
FISHERIES
Britain and the EU are set to extend full reciprocal access to waters to fish until June 30, 2038, extending by 12 years provisions that were due to expire in 2026.
The post-Brexit trade agreement transferred existing quotas to the bloc for a transition period, after which they would be negotiated on an annual or multi-annual basis.
Fishing has long been a source of tension. The EU has taken Britain to court over its ban of fishing for sand eels in UK waters.
ELECTRICITY
Britain left the EU’s internal energy market after Brexit, but the UK’s energy industry is pushing for more efficient and closer electricity trading arrangements with the bloc.
The two sides will now explore Britain’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market.
Britain imported around 14% of its electricity in 2024, a record high, through power links with Belgium, Denmark, France and Norway.
CARBON MARKETS
Many EU and British businesses have called for the EU and UK carbon markets to be linked. They already collaborate on charging power plants and other industrial entities for their carbon emissions to reach climate targets.
Britain and the EU will now work towards establishing a link between their emission trading systems.
Industry analysts have said linking the two carbon markets would probably drive up UK prices, which are lower than the EU, to EU levels.
But energy firms say it will save costs for consumers, improve market liquidity, and help Britain to avoid penalties under Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which from 2026 will impose fees on EU imports of steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
OTHER AREAS
The mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications, changes to ease travel for touring artists, and data-sharing are all areas where Britain and the EU may seek to pursue future agreement.
($1 = 0.8933 euros)
Compiled by Alistair Smout, Kate Holton, Philip Blenkinsop, Andrew Gray, Sachin Ravikumar and Susanna Twidale; Editing by Rachna Uppal, Barbara Lewis and Kate Mayberry
Says Amnesty’s London office was a “centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects”
The logo of Amnesty International is seen during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela February 20, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Jass/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Russia’s prosecutor general said on Monday it had banned human rights group Amnesty International Limited as an “undesirable organisation”, accusing it of backing Ukraine against Russia.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in London, Amnesty International campaigns for human rights across the world, including on behalf of those it designates prisoners of conscience.
In its statement, Russia’s prosecutor general said that Amnesty International Limited’s London office was a “centre for the preparation of global Russophobic projects”, and accused it of advocating of behalf of Ukraine, with which Russia is at war.
It accused Amnesty of: “doing everything possible to intensify the military confrontation in the region. They justify the crimes of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, call for an increase in their funding, and insist on the political and economic isolation of our country.”
Russian officials regularly accuse Ukraine of being dominated by “neo-Nazis”, an accusation seen in Ukraine, the West and other countries as baseless propaganda.
Amnesty did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Russia regularly designates organisations it says undermine its national security as “undesirable”. The designation mandates penalties of up to five years in prison for Russian citizens working with or funding designated groups.
Organisations previously banned as undesirable include U.S. government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL and international environmental organisation Greenpeace.
Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix Light; editing by Guy Faulconbridge
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