The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is inviting eligible applicants to apply for its Heavy Truck Driver Training Programme, scheduled to run from November 9 to December 18, 2026.
The programme will help participants develop the practical skills and knowledge required to operate heavy trucks safely. It welcomes individuals seeking to broaden their skillset, explore future opportunities or enhance their employment prospects in transportation, construction, logistics and related industries.
Applicants do not need to be employed in these industries or intend to pursue heavy truck driving as a career.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid Bermuda driver’s license and have a clean driving record. They must also be available to attend scheduled training sessions, including practical driving sessions.
Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, driving history and commitment to attendance and successful completion of the programme.
Successful applicants must attend all scheduled sessions, actively participate in practical training, comply with road safety and workplace health and safety requirements, and complete all required assessments.
Admission into or completion of the programme does not guarantee a Heavy Truck Driver’s License. Participants must meet all applicable Transport Control Department (TCD) licensing requirements.
Growing up, Jordan Swan dreamed of one day competing on the PGA Tour.
While his path ultimately led him away from professional golf, his passion for the game never faded. Instead, it inspired him to pursue a career in golf administration.
Today, he plays a key role in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Ian Rawlins caught up with the young Bermudian to discuss his journey and the role he plays in helping deliver this world-class event.
Nick Jones first picked up a golf club at the age of five and began a journey that would see him become one of Bermuda’s leading players.
Guided and inspired by his father, the late Erdley Jones, Nick developed a passion for the game that has shaped much of his life.
As part of our Butterfield Bermuda Championship series, Ian Rawlins sat down with Nick Jones to discuss what golf truly means to him and why he remains committed to striving for success at the highest level.
Hosting an event, the size of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship requires first-class amenities for players, fans and tournament officials across the entire 18-hole course.
That responsibility falls to Undercover Tent, which plays a key role in helping transform Port Royal Golf Club into a world-class championship venue.
Ian Rawlins caught up with team leader Mark Bell and his crew at Port Royal Golf Club.
Camiko Smith is one of Bermuda’s most talented golfers.
He spoke to Bermuda Broadcasting’s Ian Rawlins about what competing in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship means to him, and what the event represents for Bermuda’s golfing community and the island as a whole.
Bluefort and Smith lead recipients at annual BPS impact ceremony
“The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) proudly celebrated five outstanding members of its team during the 2026 Police Week Impact Awards, recognising individuals whose dedication, leadership and commitment continue to make a difference both within the Service and across our community.
Introduced in 2025, the Impact Awards shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who consistently go above and beyond, often without seeking recognition.
With 19 years of dedicated service, Mrs. Bluefort was recognised for her exceptional financial stewardship, resourcefulness and unwavering support for police staff. Her contributions behind the scenes have been instrumental in keeping the Service operating effectively.
Inspector Anthony Smith – Police Officer
With nearly 19 years of service, Inspector Smith was honoured for his outstanding leadership, operational expertise and hands-on approach to policing. Whether supporting his team or volunteering his time for community initiatives, he consistently leads by example.
Three equally deserving colleagues received Honourable Mentions:
Mrs. Julie Trott (Police Staff) – For her invaluable contributions to major BPS projects, procurement expertise and willingness to support others.
Acting Inspector Dominique Simons (Police Officer) – For his exemplary leadership, mentorship and commitment to developing fellow officers.
Reserve Officer Massimo Bernasconi (Reserve Police) – For his remarkable dedication, enthusiasm and selfless volunteer service to Bermuda.
The BPS extends heartfelt congratulations to all five awardees.
Their achievements remind us that making a difference isn’t always about being in the spotlight. Sometimes, it’s the quiet dedication, everyday acts of service and willingness to go the extra mile that leave the greatest impact.
Firms targeted by fraudsters impersonating Butterfield Bank investigators
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) is advising businesses and corporate banking customers to remain vigilant following a sophisticated telephone-based fraud campaign targeting Bermuda businesses between 20th and 21st October 2026.
The scam, known as vishing (voice calls), involves criminals impersonating bank fraud investigators to deceive customers into disclosing information, granting remote access to their computers, or transferring funds to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Information received indicates that the perpetrators spoofed Butterfield Bank’s main Bermuda switchboard number, 441-295-1111, making the calls appear to originate from a legitimate bank telephone number.
During these calls, the fraudsters claimed that suspicious international payment activity had been detected on the victims’ accounts. To establish credibility, they reportedly used customer account information and fabricated fraud case reference numbers.
Victims were then persuaded to speak with individuals posing as technical support personnel and, in some instances, instructed to install remote access software, including AnyDesk, through malicious websites.
The criminals subsequently used these methods to facilitate unauthorised international wire transfers or instructed victims to move funds to purported “safe accounts.”
How the Scam Works
The BPS wishes to highlight several tactics identified in this campaign:
Caller ID spoofing: Fraudsters manipulate the telephone number displayed on a recipient’s phone to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate bank. Impersonation: Callers claim to be bank fraud investigators responding to suspicious transactions. False reassurance: The use of customer information and fabricated case reference numbers is intended to make the communication appear genuine. Remote access: Victims are directed to fraudulent websites or instructed to install software that allows criminals to access their computers. Fraudulent transfers: Victims are persuaded to authorise international payments or move money to accounts described as “safe” or secure.
Two websites identified in connection with this campaign are:
These websites have been taken down. Members of the public are advised not to visit these sites or download software through links provided during unsolicited calls.
Protect Yourself and Your Business
The Bermuda Police Service reminds the public that a telephone number displayed on your caller ID is not proof of the caller’s identity. Businesses and individual customers are urged to follow these precautions:
End suspicious calls immediately. If someone contacts you unexpectedly claiming to be from your bank’s fraud team, terminate the call. Verify independently. Contact your bank using a trusted telephone number obtained from its official website, bank card or other verified source. Do not rely on a number supplied by the caller or on the number displayed on your phone. Never install remote access software at a caller’s request. Do not download applications such as AnyDesk or visit websites provided by an unsolicited caller to investigate alleged fraudulent activity. Never transfer money to a “safe account”. Legitimate banks will not require customers to move funds to such accounts to protect their money. Exercise caution with urgent payment requests. Businesses should ensure that employees responsible for initiating or approving payments independently verify unusual requests, particularly those involving international transfers or alleged account security breaches. Report suspected fraud promptly. If you believe you have been targeted or have disclosed information, installed remote access software or transferred funds, contact your bank immediately and report the matter to the Bermuda Police Service.
Anyone who has installed remote access software at the direction of a suspected fraudster should disconnect the affected device from the internet, where safe to do so, and contact their bank using a verified number from a separate, trusted device. The affected device should not be used to access online banking until it has been checked and secured.
A Message to the Community
The Bermuda Police Service recognises the potentially serious financial consequences of these scams, particularly for businesses handling substantial payments and international transactions.
Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated methods to make fraudulent communications appear legitimate. The combination of caller ID spoofing, personal or account information, and convincing impersonation can make these scams difficult to identify.
The public is encouraged to remain alert, verify unexpected requests independently and share this advisory with colleagues, family members and business associates who may be at risk.
If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from your bank, do not act on the caller’s instructions. End the call, verify the information independently and report any suspected fraud.
The Dr. Cann Park II development in Southampton has been cleared and technical work has begun to add 110 Homes, primarily for seniors, to the housing stock. At a press conference, Minister of Housing Zane DeSilva explained a Bermuda Commercial Bank Financing commitment for the project and others involved in the project fleshed out how it will be constructed.
Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, released the Department of Statistic’s 2025 Annual Gross Domestic Product report
Five consecutive years of growth but, inflation still poses the greatest risk to economic progress going forward.
This from Jason Hayward, Minister of Economy and Labour, as he released the GDP figures for 2025.
Total GDP in 2025 rose 6.5% in nominal terms, reaching $9.85 billion and exceeding the Ministry’s original estimates.
Minister Hayward said the international business sector expanded 0.8%, adding around $16.8 million in value and representing more than 5,000 filled jobs in 2025.
The construction and quarrying sector rose 5.9% and contributed $15.6 million to the economy.
The Minister also noted that the food and beverage sector contracted 5.6% and education fell by 3.4% or $4.2 million.
Asked what was the greatest obstacle to growth, the Minister responded this way.
Brent crude futures gained $1.14, or 1%, to $114.31 a barrel by 1006 GMT, having earlier reached $114.72 for the highest level since May 4
Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S. April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Drone Base/File Photo
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.
Brent crude futures gained $1.14, or 1%, to $114.31 a barrel by 1006 GMT, having earlier reached $114.72 for the highest level since May 4. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.65, or 1.7%, to $101.12.
The Brent benchmark is on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, of about 4% while WTI is poised to finish 0.3% down on the week.
Saudi Aramco on Thursday ordered the evacuation of its headquarters in Dhahran on the Gulf near Bahrain, Reuters reported, as fighting intensified between the world’s largest crude exporter and Yemen-based Houthis.
“The market remains concerned about a potential escalation, which, in a worst-case scenario, could trigger renewed supply disruptions,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that volatile oil flows and elevated freight rates have left the market undersupplied.
Clashes between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government have raged since the Iran-aligned Houthis pushed towards Bab el-Mandeb, a shipping chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea.
“The key factors to monitor now are the extent of actual disruption and the time needed to restore operations, as these will ultimately determine how much of a supply risk premium the market is willing to pay,” said XS.com analyst Linh Tran.
“If attacks persist and delay deliveries, elevated prices will have a firmer foundation.”
An oil spill from a tanker was detected off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, prompting containment operations and environmental assessments, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Friday. The ministry did not say what caused the spill and authorities have not identified the tanker involved.
In Libya, an oil pipeline valve from the Hamada and Tahara oilfields to Zawiya port has been shut, leading to a reduction in production at both fields, the head of the National Oil Corporation told Reuters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a Malta-flagged tanker with a cargo of 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel is heading towards New York, LSEG data showed on Friday.
Russia had agreed to lift a self-imposed ban on diesel exports and supply the fuel to global markets, including the US, in an effort to lower fuel prices after an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Reporting by Stephanie Kelly and Sudarshan VaradhanEditing by David Goodman
From Singapore and Shanghai to London and Berlin, demand was strong but with sales rationed, there were fewer of the round-the-block queues and overnight camp-outs that once marked new iPhone days
People use the new foldable Apple iPhone Duo, on its launch day at an Apple store, in London, in Britain, October 23, 2026. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
International News via Reuters:
Apple’s first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, hit stores around the world on Friday with a price tag of about $2,000 and less of the fanfare that accompanied previous iPhone launches.
From Singapore and Shanghai to London and Berlin, demand was strong but with sales rationed, there were fewer of the round-the-block queues and overnight camp-outs that once marked new iPhone days.
Competitors such as Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies have sold premium foldable phones for years and the Duo is a test of whether Apple can reinvent the small foldable mobile market the way the iPhone did for smartphones.
It is also an early challenge for Apple’s new CEO John Ternus, the former hardware chief who unveiled the phone barely a week after taking charge in September.
Apple’s estimated delivery dates for the Duo had slipped to late January within minutes of pre-orders opening a week ago, as demand outpaced supply. The US company called the response “nothing short of extraordinary”.
Apple capped pre-orders at two handsets per customer and limited sales to walk-in shoppers. In China, France, Hong Kong, India and Japan they were only available to those who had ordered online.
In Sydney, which was the first Apple store to sell the new passport-shaped phones on Friday, a queue formed outside before opening at 8 a.m. local time (2100 GMT).
“This is a bit of a luxury item for me, because it’s so expensive, but I just think, you know what? Life’s too short,” said Simon Krishnan, a 48-year-old engineer who paid A$3,899 ($2,734) for a 512GB Duo.
In China, a soft consumer market and rising memory costs have led to six straight quarters of declining smartphone shipments, although Apple’s market share has rebounded as some buyers trade up to premium devices.
Liu Wei, a 26-year-old healthcare professional, already has a foldable phone from Xiaomi, but still queued outside a Shanghai store from 6 a.m. for Apple’s first foldable.
“I’ve used Apple products for many years and I have more trust (in the brand), so I bought one on launch day to try it out,” he said.
Many queued to pick up pre-orders, while others hoped for limited stock or to browse display models.
Others were resellers.
In Hong Kong, May, 38, who declined to give his full name, bought a 256GB iPhone Duo, priced at HK$17,499 ($2,231.73), in an online pre-sale and planned to resell it for a profit of around HK$4,000. “A few meals’ worth of money,” he joked.
Paul Francis, 53, was one of several dozen fans who queued overnight outside London’s Regent Street store in pouring rain.
“Some people think it was mad. Including myself,” the charity manager said.
MIXED REVIEWS
Early reviews have praised the Duo’s design as well as its sturdy and barely visible hinge, a major feat for phones whose prominent creased screen has long been a drawback and potential deterrent for buyers.
But reviewers said camera compromises, including no telephoto lens, and third-party apps still to be reworked for the new display size could disappoint some buyers.
They also said the folded Duo is less handy for the quick tasks most users do daily and several prominent reviewers recommended against it for many Apple customers.
“It’s been a lot of fun trying the Duo out for a week, but it feels like I’ve gotten to use an extraordinarily polished prototype — not a finished product that I’d want to buy and carry,” wrote longtime Apple commentator John Gruber.
Tech commentator Marques Brownlee said in a YouTube review that for a regular person who mostly texts and browses, “it is probably a no. But if the $2,000 doesn’t mean much to you, and you like the idea, after the learning curve and getting used to not having facial identification, it is a really fun phone.”
In Berlin, YouTube content creator Patrick Wolter was impressed that the Duo works as a phone and an iPad in one.
“I’ve always found it a hassle to carry around a separate tablet, especially since I already have a laptop and other gear,” he said. “In the long run, this will likely end up replacing those other devices.”
TOUGH TO FIND
Apple’s entry into the relatively niche foldables market could bring the format to a much broader audience, said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at market researcher IDC.
IDC expects Apple will take 44% of the foldable market value in 2026 on 31% of units. By 2027, it will become the market leader both in value and units shipped, IDC forecast.
“Apple has made a convincing case for this form factor,” Jeronimo said after spending a week with the Duo.
“Now comes the next test: turning excitement into availability, adoption and a lasting new chapter for the smartphone market,” Jeronimo said.
($1 = 1.4257 Australian dollars)
($1 = 7.8410 Hong Kong dollars)
Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, Stephen Nellis in San Francisco, Nicoco Chan in Shanghai, Joyce Zhou in Hong Kong and Christine Chen in Sydney, Matthias Baehr in Berlin, Will Russell and Ben Makori in London; Editing by Will Dunham, Christopher Cushing, Kate Mayberry and Alexander Smith
At one point a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this year, Champi was still packing gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA)
Waves generated by Typhoon Champi crash against a seawall in Keelung, Taiwan, October 23, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
International News via Reuters:
Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday with the approach of Typhoon Champi, which was already bringing strong winds and torrential rain, and, while weakening, could still make direct landfall on the island.
At one point a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this year, Champi was still packing gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The storm was about 170 km (106 miles) east of Taiwan, the CWA said. The storm’s forecast track shows it will pass just off northeastern Taiwan late Friday, turn north toward the Chinese coast and eventually move into southern Japan.
One person was killed and 163 were injured – a number revised down from 171 – as powerful wind and driving rain hit Taiwan, where the government said 2,639 people had been evacuated from mountainous areas. Taipower said more than 77,000 homes had lost power, though electricity had already been restored to most.
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said operations remained normal with no significant impact.
CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Reuters that landfall could not be ruled out if it “stalls, loops, or wobbles from side to side” on approach to Taiwan.
“The storm’s wind radius is quite large, among the bigger ones in recent years,” Liu said. “If the storm slows down, the strong winds will affect Taiwan for longer.”
Coastal towns received mobile phone alerts warning of gusts exceeding 150 kph (93 mph) and urging residents to seek immediate shelter, while nearly a metre (3 feet) of rain was forecast for northern mountain areas, including around Taipei.
In the northeastern county of Yilan, where strong winds and heavy showers were intensifying and the typhoon was forecast to pass close by later on Friday, authorities distributed sandbags and put amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby.
“When necessary, the military will come in to help people, including using amphibious vehicles for evacuations or disaster relief,” said Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, which was badly flooded in previous typhoons.
In the northern port city of Keelung, boat owners hurried to secure their vessels.
“It’s not that severe; I’m just worried that there will be flooding. Keelung has seen a lot of flooding this year,” said construction worker Liu Yu-en, 18.
HUGE RADIUS
Taiwan forecasters said the storm’s radius was around 320 km (200 miles), large enough to cover most of Taiwan, and weather experts said its impact could last nearly two days.
Taiwan’s financial markets also closed on Friday, while only the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which sit next to the Chinese coast, opened schools and offices as normal.
The transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights were cancelled, along with 717 international ones. The north-south high-speed rail service was operating as usual.
In the capital Taipei there were squally showers, but public transport including the subway was working, albeit with reduced service.
Taiwan is generally very well prepared for typhoons, which keeps casualties low. Although more common in summer, the storms can strike in autumn too.
The typhoon is forecast to first pass over Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, Yonaguni, in Okinawa Prefecture.
Reporting by Yimou Lee in Yilan, and Angie Teo and Fabian Hamacher in Keelung, Taiwan; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Stephen Coates and Philippa Fletcher
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