A footballer was critically injured after sustaining horrific head injuries in an accidental collision at White Hall Field on Sunday. Somerset Eagles' goalkeeper Gabriel Wilkinson, 26, is said to have suffered a fractured skill and swelling on the brain and is now at Boston Lahey Clinic in critical condition. According to eyewitnesses, the incident happened when the knee of an opponent from Ireland Rangers struck Wilkinson in the head. PLP Senator Marc Bean, who saw the accident unfold, said: "The ball was going across the box and when he (Wilkinson) came out to collect it down low he was struck in the temple by the knee of an Ireland Rangers player." Wilkinson is a physical education teacher at the Berkeley Institute.

Grand Slam to move to Port Royal

Bermuda will keep the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for another two years, but the tournament will move from Mid Ocean Club to Port Royal, a public course in Southampton. The golf course, currently undergoing a $14-million renovation, will be the venue for the Grand Slam for 2009 and 2010. PGA of America president Brian Whitcomb described Port Royal as "one of the world's greatest courses". Explaining its selection in place of the Mid Ocean Club, Premier ewart Brown said: "This is a Government investment, a taxpayer-funded tournament and Port Royal is a public golf course, a Government golf course. So it's ideal that we would have the option of moving it to that course. We think that it gives yet another opportunity for people to see that Bermuda has more than one or two or three golf courses, and that Port Royal was worth the investment and now we are ready to show it off."

l The Premier, actor Michael Douglas, Works Minister Derrick Burgess and international business boss David Ezekiel were among the non-golf professionals who participated in the pro-am showpiece event (American golfer Jim Furyk, the Slam winner, is seen signing autographs) that kicked off this year's PGA Grand Slam event.

Schools' graduation rate hits 96%

Graduation rates rose by five per cent this year to reach 96 per cent, according to Government figures. Up to 87 per cent of public senior school students graduated at the end of June, which a further nine per cent attaining their BSC after the summer school in August. The figures are based on the number of students enrolled and pursuing their BSC in their S4 year as denominator, with 98 per cent graduating from CedarBridge Academy and 94 per cent from the Berkeley Institute ¿ at total of 96 per cent.

'We're in for a tough winter'

A Government report released this week shows that shoppers are buying less in local stores and spending more overseas. The Retail Sales Index for August shows that the volume of retail sales fell by 2.6 per cent while spending by residents abroad increased by 13.5 per cent from the same month last year to $8.4 million. According to Kristi Grayston, chairman of the retail division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the decline in local spending was of deep concern to retailers. "Everyone is seeing a drop in their sales figures. I think people are very nervous going into the holiday. A 13.5 percent increase on overseas spending is quite remarkable and remember that number only reflects what people buy when they are physically abroad. It doesn't include catalogues or internet shopping." She also said: "You don't want to make it sound like Armageddon but I think we are in for a difficult winter."