Thursday, October 29, 2026
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Rangers shooting: Third teenager arrested

A third teenager has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at Southampton Ranger Club on May 24th

Photo supplied by Bermuda Police Service

A third teenager has been arrested in connection with the shooting incident at Southampton Ranger Club on May 24th.

Police confirmed that a 19-year-old male was taken into custody after a warrant was executed at a Pembroke residence.

This follows the related arrests of a 17-year-old male in Warwick on May 30th, and a 16-year-old male on May 31st, also in Warwick.

The firearms incident occurred during an event at the Southampton Rangers Sports Club, at around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, 2026. No injuries were reported.

Police believe there are still others who could provide more information, and ask them to contact Acting Detective Inspector, Anneka Donawa, on 717-2250 or call Crime Stoppers on 800-8477.


Bermuda Police Service Press Release:

The Bermuda Police Service can confirm that a third suspect has now been arrested in relation to the firearms incident which occurred at the Southampton Rangers Club on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

The 19-year-old male was taken into custody when a warrant was executed at a Pembroke residence as part of the ongoing investigation into this matter.

Members of the public have provided reliable information which has helped to progress the investigation, and resulted in the arrests made so far. We wish to thank these individuals for their support.

However, investigators believe there are still members of the community who have information on the circumstances involved in this shooting. A situation which could have resulted in tragedy given

the number people in attendance at the club when the firearm was discharged.

We are once again appealing for those persons to contact Acting Detective Inspector, Anneka Donawa, on 717-2250 or, via e-mail, adonawa@bps.bm

You may also provide the information anonymously by calling the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477, as well as via the BPS reporting portal, portal.police.bm, or speak with a police officer you know

Indonesian parrot, seen once in a century, reappears in mountain forest

Endemic to the island of Buru – meaning it is found nowhere else on Earth – the small bird was spotted in April during an expedition led by an Indonesian mountaineering group

International News via Reuters:

For the past century, the Blue-fronted Lorikeet was one of Indonesia’s most elusive birds, known only from a 2014 photographic record and a handful of museum specimens, with a lingering hope that it had not vanished. After days of climbing through sharp limestone, biting insects and difficult mountain terrain, a flash of green feathers high on Buru’s highest peak showed that this dazzlingly colourful parrot was still there.

Endemic to the island of Buru – meaning it is found nowhere else on Earth – the small bird was spotted in April during an expedition led by an Indonesian mountaineering group. The team photographed the bird for the first time in 12 years and captured the first sound recordings of its high-pitched calls – sounds birds often use to keep contact in the forest canopy.

The lorikeet’s bright green body, orange bill, blue hindcrown and pointed tail helped the team identify it. 

The team was looking specifically for this species, but the odds felt slim. 

“When you are looking for a bird that has only been documented once in the past century it feels like a long shot,” said John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds at the American Bird Conservancy conservation group. 

First described from seven specimens collected in the 1920s, the Blue-fronted Lorikeet has been one of Indonesia’s avian mysteries. The bird went unrecorded for nearly 90 years despite searches in lowland and mid-elevation forests, before being photographed in 2014. 

There was a long-held suspicion that the parrot may not have been gone, but rather living higher up in the mountains than searchers had managed to look. The highlands landscape where the lorikeet was found had remained largely inaccessible until recently, when local climbers mapped a route into the mountains. 

Mittermeier said steep limestone terrain, cliffs, sharp boulders and no water make the area difficult to access. 

“There are no other birds on the island that look like the lorikeets, so when we saw them we knew immediately what they were,” Mittermeier said.

“We saw at least nine during the trip,” Mittermeier added.

James Eaton, a birder involved in the expedition, said the rain, jagged limestone, river torrents and lack of trails meant anyone trying to reach the peak needed “a strong – or crazy – reason to even attempt it.” 

“This bird was our reason for doing so,” Eaton said. 

After a gruelling week, “to actually photograph our holy grail suddenly made all the hardships disappear – it’s a feeling adrenaline junkies would know well,” Eaton said.

The sighting capped years of preparation for Eaton. 

“It makes all the researching, reading, plotting – some of which are years in the making, totally justified – it makes you feel alive, a justification for your dedication,” Eaton said.

The Blue-fronted Lorikeet was listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List and recognised in 2024 as a lost species by the Search for Lost Birds, a global partnership between American Bird Conservancy, Re:wild and BirdLife International.

Mittermeier said further work is needed to learn the bird’s population size and possible threats. 

“A finding like this … is the first step to being able to protect it,” Mittermeier said.

For Eaton, the rediscovery was a reminder of the beauty and surprise still far from public view. 

Amid unrelenting negative news, Eaton said, “these moments of joy and discovery are a healthy reminder of what a beautiful world is there.”

“This small green parrot,” Eaton said, “it was here long before humans stepped foot on the island, just like birds living in your garden at home – they have more right to be there than you or I.”

Reporting by Marta Serafinko in Gdansk; Editing by Will Dunham

Excitement builds ahead of Newport Bermuda Race

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club is gearing up for this year’s Newport Bermuda Race, as excitement continues to build around one of the world’s oldest and most recognized offshore sailing events. The 2026 race, which starts on June 19, also marks 100 years of partnership between the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America. 

Kendal Trott spoke with Hal Kempe, Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, who shared his excitement surrounding this year’s race and gave insight into the Newport lineup, including the Starting Line Festival taking place at Fort Adams, ahead of the fleet’s departure to Bermuda. 

KT

Regiment returns from urban training in UK

From responding to civil disturbance scenarios, to honing their skills behind the gun-sight, more than 100 members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment sought to sharpen their proficiency at the latest overseas training camp

Photo supplied by the Royal Bermuda Regiment

Royal Bermuda Regiment Press Release:

A packed overseas training camp for more than 100 members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment [RBR] upskilled soldiers, deepened bonds and enhanced battalion capabilities.

Exercise Active Shield 26 ended last week at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire, UK, after a programme of activities that included firing on a 300-metre range, urban operations exercises and target practice with baton guns.

Collaborating with the British Army’s The Royal Lancers meant that RBR troops benefited from lessons delivered by experienced instructors at purpose-built facilities.

Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Simons, the RBR’s Commanding Officer, said: “The Regiment’s annual camp is the focal point of the training year and the primary opportunity for collective training for its reserve soldiers.

“During my tenure as Commanding Officer, I have sought to strengthen ties with countries with which the Regiment has longstanding historic connections. Last year, we trained in Jamaica for the first time in nine years and this year we returned to the United Kingdom for the first time since 2019.”

He noted that the battalion secured access to Lydd Camp, known as one of the UK’s premier urban training sites, where phase one of the exercise focused on public order capabilities.

Photo supplied by the Royal Bermuda Regiment

Lt Col Simons said: “This demanding training was delivered by RBR training teams – who for the past decade have provided public order training across the Caribbean region.

“Officers from the Bermuda Police Service joined us to observe the training.

“On the final day in Lydd, we were privileged to be visited by our Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, who first visited the Regiment at Lydd in 2007.

“The second objective of the overseas exercise was to re-establish and strengthen ties with the UK Ministry of Defence [MOD]. We were well supported in this regard by The Royal Lancers, who assisted in resourcing the camp, and by British Defence Staff United States, who have helped facilitate discussions aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Regiment and the UK MOD. This effort culminated in a meeting between His Excellency the Governor, Andrew Murdoch, and the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns.”

The Commanding Officer highlighted: “Exercise Active Shield represents a significant collective effort by personnel at all levels of the Regiment. It serves as a reminder that we improve through experience – by making new mistakes, relearning hard-won lessons and refining our skills. Training shoulder to shoulder with our partners and with each other ensures that, should we ever be called to mobilise, we are prepared and ready.”

Photo supplied by the Royal Bermuda Regiment

Members of The Royal Lancers went from playing unruly mobs in civil disturbance scenarios to instructors and coaches in weapons lessons and on ranges.

Captain Nick Bennett, Second-in-Command of A Squadron, The Royal Lancers, noted how planning with the RBR for Exercise Active Shield 26 began months ago.

He added: “It’s been so much fun to work with the Royal Bermuda Regiment. From the start, all of the Regiment’s training team and support team were great at co-operating with us to get the training off the ground and since they came over to the UK it’s been great getting to know them all.

“The soldiers all entered quite difficult training with such cheerful spirits. Despite the intensity of the exercise, there was always a good sense of camaraderie and humour.”

Capt Bennett said: “Down in Lydd during the public order phase, it was clear to see the progression from day one to day four of the riot training. Towards the end, their drills were so slick and we had no chance as a rioting civilian population to exploit the opportunities which we could on day one and early on day two.”

He added that instructors from The Royal Lancers were also impressed with the levels of advancement seen among troops on range, urban operations – when soldiers had the chance to practise building-clearance techniques in a mocked-up town – and assault course serials in Catterick.

It is hoped that the two battalions can continue to foster a mutually beneficial working relationship.

Photo supplied by the Royal Bermuda Regiment

Private Shi-Shun Burgess, a 25-year-old from Sandys who has been in the RBR for five years, enjoyed the camaraderie of the overseas exercise.

“I feel like we grew a lot closer because we went through so many hard times,” he said. “It created opportunities to bond. We had fun learning about each other.”

The hospitality front desk agent added: “The opportunities for travel provided by the Regiment are amazing. Taking part in this training meant that we flew to England, it’s nice to be able to see different parts of the world.”

Second Lieutenant Kaje Matthie, a platoon commander in A Company, which made up the majority of exercising soldiers, highlighted the importance of teamwork.

He said: “The troops worked hard, they stayed focused, they stayed disciplined which meant a lot for me. It allowed me to execute what I needed to as a commander, which was great.”

For information on joining the Royal Bermuda Regiment, visit rbr.bm, call 238-1045 or contact the Recruiting Team at rbr.recruiting@gov.bm.

King’s Birthday Reception called off

Weather forecast prompts cancellation, with plans to reschedule later this year

The King’s Birthday Reception scheduled to take place at Government House on Thursday, June 4, has been cancelled due to an unfavourable weather forecast.

In a statement, Government House said the decision was made because forecast conditions would prevent the safe erection of tents required for the event.

Governor Andrew Murdoch is hoping to reschedule the reception later this year and will provide further details to invited guests in due course.

Government House thanked invitees for their understanding and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation.

Hayward addresses Bermuda Captive Conference 2026

Since its establishment in 2004, the conference has helped promote, support and grow Bermuda’s world-leading captive insurance sector

The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, on Tuesday addressed the 2026 Bermuda Captive Conference, held under the theme “Unlocking Markets, Commanding Risk.”

The event brings together captive owners, risk managers, regulators, service providers, industry partners and delegates from Bermuda and around the world to discuss captive insurance, risk management, innovation and the evolving global risk environment.

Minister Hayward welcomed delegates on behalf of the Government of Bermuda and said the conference reflects the Island’s long-standing role in the global captive insurance market.

“This conference continues to bring together some of the brightest minds in captive insurance and risk management, reflecting Bermuda’s long-standing position as a global leader in the captive insurance market,” said Minister Hayward.

The Minister noted that Bermuda has developed its captive insurance sector over more than six decades, supported by expertise, innovation, regulatory quality and close collaboration across the sector.

“For more than six decades, Bermuda has built a reputation for expertise, innovation, regulatory strength, and collaboration,” he pointed out. “Those qualities continue to distinguish this jurisdiction in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global environment.”

Minister Hayward noted that Bermuda remains one of the world’s leading captive domiciles, with a diverse and sophisticated market supporting organisations across a wide range of industries and regions.

He added that Bermuda’s position is supported not only by its regulatory framework and market infrastructure, but also by the people and partnerships that underpin the jurisdiction.

“It is not only our regulatory framework or market infrastructure that makes Bermuda successful,” the Minister stated.

“Just as importantly, it is the depth of talent, the quality of professional services, and the collaborative ecosystem existing between industry, regulators, government, and international partners.”

The Minister also highlighted the growing role of captives as businesses face increasing uncertainty, including economic volatility, cyber threats, climate-related risks and geopolitical challenges.

“Globally, as organisations face growing uncertainty, from economic volatility and cyber threats, to climate-related risks and evolving geopolitical challenges, captives continue to play an increasingly important role in helping businesses manage risk strategically and effectively,” said Minister Hayward.

The Minister also noted that Bermuda is well-positioned to support the continued evolution of the captive sector.

He said the market has consistently demonstrated its ability to innovate, including through new structures, support for emerging sectors and responses to global challenges with agility and expertise.

At the same time, the Minister said Bermuda remains focused on maintaining internationally recognised regulatory standards that promote confidence, stability and transparency.

“That balance between innovation and sound regulation remains one of Bermuda’s greatest strengths,” he stressed.

Minister Hayward also noted the importance of the Bermuda Captive Conference as a platform for dialogue and collaboration.

Since its establishment in 2004, the conference has helped promote, support and grow Bermuda’s world-leading captive insurance sector, attracting captive owners, risk managers, advisors and service providers from North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the United Kingdom.

Media release and images supplied by the Government of Bermuda.

US tells Europe, Canada to boost NATO air and naval forces

The statement by U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander and the head of U.S. forces in Europe, followed a decision by the Trump administration to shrink the pool of U.S. military capabilities available to NATO in a crisis

International News via Reuters:

The U.S. expects European NATO allies and Canada to swiftly increase the number of manned and unmanned aircraft and ships they contribute to the alliance’s defence plans as Washington steps back in these areas, a top U.S. general said on Wednesday.

The statement by U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander and the head of U.S. forces in Europe, followed a decision by the Trump administration to shrink the pool of U.S. military capabilities available to NATO in a crisis.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO and told its European members they will have to take over primary responsibility for the conventional defence of the continent.

The U.S. told allies last month of its decision to reduce its contribution to a framework known as the NATO Force Model, which includes a pool of forces that could be activated during a crisis. But it did not publicly disclose any details.

Grynkewich’s statement, issued after a meeting of NATO military planners on Wednesday, was the first public indication of what areas the U.S. plans to cut first and where it expects allies to step in.

Manned and unmanned aircraft and naval vessels are two areas where Canada and European allies “can step up now and in the near term – as the United States reduces forces ‘sourced’ to the NATO Force Model in Europe and refocuses them elsewhere,” he said.

“There has been an unhealthy co-dependence in the NATO Force Model on U.S. forces,” Grynkewich said in his written statement. “President (Donald) Trump, (Defense) Secretary (Pete) Hegseth and others have been clear that this needs to change, and it will change. The potential reality of simultaneous conflict in multiple theaters demands it.”

NATO DOES NOT EXPECT CHANGES TO LEAD TO DEFENCE GAPS

The NATO alliance is under unprecedented strain, with some European countries concerned that Washington may withdraw outright. A major adjustment to the forces the U.S. would make available during wartime will only intensify those concerns.

A spokesperson for NATO’s military headquarters, U.S. Army Colonel Martin O’Donnell, said the areas mentioned by Grynkewich were “where allies already have or soon will have sufficient capabilities, meaning no defence gaps are expected to emerge”.

“Nations just need to assign the capabilities they have to NATO,” he added.

O’Donnell declined to elaborate on when Grynkewich expected allied nations, whose leaders will meet at a NATO summit in Ankara in July, to have replaced the U.S. capabilities.

The number of U.S. fighter jets available to NATO is set to fall by a third, and the U.S. will also make fewer U.S. destroyers and no U.S. submarines available as part of the crisis pool, according to a report last week by German news outlet Spiegel.

Europe will also be forced to provide its own reconnaissance drones, while the U.S. plans to significantly scale back the provision of armed models, the report added.

Reporting by Sabine Siebold; editing by Bart Meijer and Paul Simao

Google must let UK publishers opt out of AI search under new rules

The country’s Competition and Markets Authority has flagged concerns about Google’s dominance in search, designating the company with the “strategic market status” that allows it to set targeted rules to increase trust and transparency

International News via Reuters:

Britain has imposed new conduct requirements on Google’s search services, including allowing publishers to stop their content being used to power the U.S. tech giant’s AI features, as the watchdog ramps up its oversight.

The country’s Competition and Markets Authority has flagged concerns about Google’s dominance in search, designating the company with the “strategic market status” that allows it to set targeted rules to increase trust and transparency.

Google accounts for more than 90% of UK queries and the regulator said in January it wanted to give publishers more control over how their content was used.

The CMA on Wednesday said the requirements imposed on Google under the digital markets competition regime gave “publishers more control and stronger bargaining power over the use of their content,” while securing a fair deal.

News websites and other publishers have seen click-through rates drop sharply as a result of users relying on overviews generated with the help of AI.

Google said it was providing “new resources, insights and control for website owners” to navigate the changes in how users find and understand information using generative AI.

It said it was testing a new control that lets publishers manage how their links and content appear in generative AI search features.

Sites that opt out would not receive traffic from AI Overviews and AI Mode, it said in a blog post, but the controls would not affect traditional search results.

It said it was also increasing the number of links in AI responses and it was starting to roll out new insights for publishers.

The CMA said Google would be required to make sure content from publishers, including news organisations, was properly attributed in AI‑generated search results, using clear links.

“Google has recently announced changes to its search business and the requirements we’ve introduced today are designed to respond to what Google is doing now and in the future,” CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said.

Google faces increasing regulatory scrutiny across the world, including in the United States and European Union, and the company in March said it was developing new search controls to address British competition concerns.

Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and paul Sandle; Editing by Janane Venkatraman, Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Louise Heavens

Roberts outlines strategic growth for Bermuda women ahead of Belize clashes

Bermuda Women’s National Team interim head coach Karl Roberts has emphasized that player development and continuous tactical progression remain his primary objectives ahead of an international friendly double-header against Belize.

Stepping into the technical hot seat for the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), Roberts faces a swift turnaround to settle a dynamic roster featuring an influx of fresh local talent. A central pillar of the upcoming matches involves assessing whether the island’s younger prospects can successfully transition to the senior international level.

The squad represents a complex logistical puzzle, with selections filtering into camp from overseas academic institutions, elite foreign clubs, and the domestic senior league.

“It’s a matter of bringing in a few new players and giving some young players an opportunity to experience the atmosphere,” Roberts explained to islandstats.com. “We want to see where a couple of our young players fit and if they can hold their own at the senior level. Being the interim coach, I just wanted to make this process for the BFA a little bit smoother.”

While managerial transitions can disrupt a locker room’s rhythm, Roberts believes his long-standing tenure alongside former manager Naquita “Coach Keta” Robinson has fostered immediate trust and continuity among the senior core.

The team enters the international window riding a wave of positive momentum following a dramatic performance in their previous competitive outing, where they overcame a daunting 3-0 deficit to register a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory. To ensure high-performance continuity, Roberts has fortified his staff, confirming that experienced coaches Calvin Dill and Farid El Karfa have joined the senior national setup.

Rather than fixating on rigid scorelines, the coaching staff’s ultimate metric remains incremental improvement.

“We’ve discussed it as a group,” Roberts concluded. “It’s just a matter of growing from that last game we played… in a nutshell, we want to be better and better after each match and show a better account of ourselves.”

Portugal general strike over labour reform halts trains, flights, shuts schools

Portugal’s minority centre-right government is likely to pass a bill with support from the far‑right Chega party proposing changes to over 100 articles of the labour code that aim to boost productivity and spur growth after talks with unions collapsed

International News via Reuters:

A second general strike in six months disrupted services across Portugal on Wednesday, halting trains, cancelling hundreds of flights and closing schools, as unions protested against the government’s labour reform plans.

Portugal’s minority centre-right government is likely to pass a bill with support from the far‑right Chega party proposing  changes to over 100 articles of the labour code that aim to boost productivity and spur growth after talks with unions collapsed.  

Tiago Oliveira, head of Portugal’s largest umbrella union CGTP, which called the general strike, told Reuters the reform would worsen workers’ conditions by entrenching precarious employment, deregulating working hours, easing dismissals and curbing strike rights and parental protections.    

The reform would leave young workers “stuck on precarious contracts for life,” forcing them to work 50 hours a week without extra pay instead of the current standard 40 hours, while making it easier to dismiss and replace them with cheaper outsourced labour, said Rodrigo Azevedo, a 30‑year‑old bank employee.

“The labor package is a major threat not just to the future of young workers, but to our present,” he said.

State-owned railway CP suspended long‑distance trains and most regional trains, while Lisbon’s metro shut. 

Schools closed nationwide due to staff shortages, and hospitals postponed most surgeries and appointments following a nursing walkout.

Portugal’s flag carrier TAP said it would operate just 79 of its usual 300-plus daily flights on Wednesday, while Iberia expected reductions of between 50% and 75%.

Labour Minister Maria do Rosario Ramalho said participation by private sector workers — who outnumber public sector employees by roughly five to one and to whom the reform is primarily directed — was marginal.

“The overwhelming majority of workers are working and the economy has not stopped,” she told reporters.

The reform envisions making just-cause dismissals easier, allowing companies to deny workers reinstatement in cases of illegal dismissal provided they pay compensation, and lifting limits on outsourcing.

An earlier strike in December was the first general shutdown since protests against austerity in 2013.

Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira; editing by Charlie Devereux, Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell

Resilient Daniel Phillips outlasts Derepasko in Turkish thriller

Bermudian tennis prospect Daniel Phillips made a triumphant return to professional action on the clay courts of Turkey, securing his first ATP Singles ranking points of the season in the main draw of the M15 Kayseri Tour.

Phillips showed immense mental resilience to outlast world number 648 Timofei Derepasko. The grueling victory on the European circuit marks a significant breakthrough for the young islander as he looks to re-establish his rhythm following a spell away from tournament play.

The opening exchanges belonged entirely to Phillips, who caught his Russian opponent completely cold with an aggressive, baseline-heavy approach. Breaking serve twice in quick succession, the Bermudian fluidly sealed a flawless opening set 6-1 in under half an hour.

However, Derepasko adjusted his depth in the second frame, cutting down on unforced errors and frustrating Phillips with heavy top-spin variations to level the match with a 6-3 response.

With the contest transformed into a tense war of attrition, Phillips showed great maturity under maximum pressure in the decider.

He locked in his first-serve accuracy at the absolute crucial moment to stem the rising tide. After securing a critical break of serve mid-way through the set, the Bermudian matched his opponent’s power from the baseline, holding his nerve to cross the finish line with a clinical 6-3 triumph. The victory books his place in the second round and kickstarts his international campaign in style.