The Royal Gazette

Bermuda's Camiko Smith and Nick Jones produced respectable performances on the opening day of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship as records were broken at Port Royal on Thursday. Smith finished his first 18 holes on even par, while fellow professional Jones came in at one over after starting his round on the back nine later in the day. Despite feeling as if he left a few shots out on the course, Smith was satisfied with his round.

Police have been attending a two car collision in Southampton tonight. There are no reports of any serious injuries following the incident which occurred when two vehicles were in collision on South Road near the junction of Harbourview Drive and close to the Southampton Princess entrance. The roadway is partially blocked and officers have installed a one-lane traffic system to allow other vehicles to pass safely.

The Global Economic Conditions Survey from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Institute of Management Accountants has shown a small decline in confidence among accountants globally in the third quarter. Confidence improved somewhat among chief financial officers but caution appears to remain the order of the day. Other key indicators remain consistent with a resilient global economy, a joint statement has concluded.

By Business Staff The Royal Gazette/BSX Index fell 97.87 points, or 2.61 per cent, to end the day at 3,653.35 on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Butterfield traded 200 shares with the price falling $1.70 (2.9 per cent) to close at $56.30. The turnover for the BSX was $11,260. On the New York Stock Exchange, Butterfield's shares rose 84 cents, or 1.41 per cent, to close at $60.31 with 125,470 shares moving.

Residents were urged to seal a deal in writing before going ahead with business. The Ministry of Home Affairs warned consumers and service providers to ensure expectations are mutually understood when engaging in agreements. Consumer affairs recently reported an upsurge in complaints involving services across a range of industries, provoking disputes from misunderstandings rather than intentional wrongdoing.

A subsidiary of Bermuda-based insurer Coralisle Group is in the news for accidentally sending payments to clients rather than their medical providers. The Cayman Compass has reported that the error impacted around 20 customers and delayed payments worth thousands of dollars. A spokesman for the firm told the newspaper that the problem is being rectified. "Impacted clients are being duly notified and corrective action is under way," CG Britcay said.

Mosaic Insurance, the Bermudian-based global specialty insurance platform, and Mitre, a non-profit organisation that leads US federally funded research and development centres, have released a series of reports examining how frontier artificial intelligence is reshaping the economics of cyber-risk.

Chubb has launched Chubb Life Bermuda as part of its strategy to deepen capabilities and expand its offering for private wealth clients. The new entity, through Chubb Tempest Life Reinsurance, now offers direct life insurance solutions for high-net-worth individuals, including life protection, savings and investment-linked products. The firm said this expansion builds on more than 40 years of operating experience on the island.

Proceedings against a man charged with two counts of manslaughter after an explosion at a Southampton apartment block four years ago have been abandoned. The Crown formally entered a nolle prosequi at the Supreme Court this morning in the case against Robert Tota, due to the refusal of a key witness. The blast at Hilltop Court in May 2022 claimed the lives of Oscar and Jove Mascarinas, a couple from the Philippines.

A contractor hired by the Government to undertake a housing development for seniors in Southampton said he is confident in the "technologically advanced" nature of the project design. Mark Maloney, executive chairman of the Barbadian-based Maloney Group, parent company of Preconco Ltd, said the "design-build" company promises a "durable" Dr Cann Park II housing project completed under strict specifications.