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Europe gas stocks could turn critical if Hormuz shut for 1–3 months, Equinor says

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Europe gas stocks could turn critical if Hormuz shut for 1–3 months, Equinor says

Gas caverns and tanks across Europe are currently just above 35% full, below a seasonal norm of around 50%, Gas Infrastructure Europe data showed

International News via Reuters:

Europe could face a critical shortfall in gas stocks if disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz lasts one to three months from now, as low inventories and distorted prices slow stockpiling, senior executives at Equinor said.

Gas caverns and tanks across Europe are currently just above 35% full, below a seasonal norm of around 50%, Gas Infrastructure Europe data showed.

Member states need to build a gas buffer during the northern hemisphere summer to reach an EU-imposed 90% storage target between October and the beginning of December.

“If the war stopped tomorrow, with free flow to the Strait happening quickly, we could come to an acceptable, but tight storage level of 75%, but if the closure continues for one to three months, it could become critical,” Equinor Senior Vice President for Gas & Power Trading Helle Ostergaard Kristiansen told Reuters.

Refilling gas storage for next winter already looked problematic at the beginning of March and little progress has been made since then due to current prices, with contracts for gas delivery in winter cheaper than summer.

HIGHER PRICES COULD CURB GAS CONSUMPTION

Governments could intervene in the market with incentives and rules or the structure of prices must change with a rise in contracts for gas delivery in the winter compared with summer deliveries, analysts say.

“We saw that in 2022, when the governments imposed regulation on storage filling… it was very costly for them. So the market itself can probably balance the situation through price signals,” Peder Bjorland, Equinor’s vice president for gas trading, said on the sidelines of the Flame energy conference in Amsterdam.

He added that elevated prices could curb gas consumption significantly – through fuel switching to coal, an increased use of renewable energy and a fall in fuel demand by the industry – helping a rebalance.

“If we have prices up to what we saw in the beginning (of the Iran war), around 60-70 euros per megawatt hour, then we have estimated that gas to power alone could actually result in a reduced demand of around 10 billion cubic metres,” Bjorland said.

European gas prices at the Dutch TTF gas hub were hovering around 50 euros/MWh on Thursday, having risen in March to 74 euros/MWh, their highest level since January 2023.    

Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Britain looks to boost tourist spots with temporary summer tax cut

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Britain looks to boost tourist spots with temporary summer tax cut

With Prime Minister Keir Starmer under intense pressure from challengers within his Labour Party, Reeves unveiled a temporary cut in the rate of VAT for attractions including theme parks, zoos and museums

International News via Reuters:

British finance minister Rachel Reeves on Thursday announced a temporary cut in value-added tax for tourist venues over the summer to reduce costs for families, one of a range of measures aimed at relieving some of the economic fallout from the Iran war.

With Prime Minister Keir Starmer under intense pressure from challengers within his Labour Party, Reeves unveiled a temporary cut in the rate of VAT for attractions including theme parks, zoos and museums to 5% from 20% between June 25 and September 1.

The tax cut will also apply to children’s tickets for cinemas and theatres as well as their restaurant meals, and Reeves also said bus travel would be free for children under 15 in August. 

Reeves told parliament that the move would “help families and support our hospitality sector”. 

HOSPITALITY SECTOR SAYS TAX CUT SHOULD BE EXPANDED 

Kate Nicholls, the chair of industry group UKHospitality, welcomed the move “as the quickest and simplest way to lower prices and boost consumer confidence”, and urged that it be extended to holiday accommodation and eventually turned into a permanent tax cut for the whole sector.

U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February have driven up energy prices, dealing a blow to Starmer’s efforts to help households struggling with the cost of living.

As part of the package of measures, Reeves also said that Britain would suspend import tariffs on dozens of types of food products including biscuits, chocolate and nuts. 

“I expect supermarkets to pass these savings (from tariff reductions) on in full to their customers,” Reeves said after a row over whether retailers would face price caps on key goods, adding she urged supermarkets to “do all they can to keep prices low”.

She said the measures would be paid for by an acceleration of planned changes to the way Britain taxes international oil and gas groups.

POTENTIAL TEMPORARY SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES

Britain’s regulated utility bills and previously announced measures to lower energy costs for households helped to keep a lid on inflation in April, but price growth is expected to rise to around 4% in the coming months.

Reeves indicated that she may act again if the energy crisis continues into the winter, saying she had been “leading cross-government contingency work on design of potential future targeted and temporary support for businesses”.

“We stand ready to act if (energy) market conditions worsen significantly later this year,” she told parliament.

She said that the chemicals and ceramics industries – major energy-intensive sectors – would get support packages, after a survey showed earlier on Thursday that British companies are suffering their most widespread drop in activity in over a year.

The government said on Wednesday that a cut in fuel duty for transport, which had been due to expire in September, would be extended to the end of the year, alongside other measures to help hauliers and drivers. It previously set out a £53 million ($71.25 million)package for households which rely on heating oil.       

($1 = 0.7439 pounds)

Reporting by Alistair Smout and Muvija M, additional reporting by Sarah Young and Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Dandy Stars edge out under-17s in gritty Bernard Park clash

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Dandy Stars edge out under-17s in gritty Bernard Park clash

The Dandy Stars solidified their credentials in the Bermuda Football Association Women’s Division with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Under-17 National Select. As the only fixture on the division’s schedule, all eyes were on Bernard Park for a fascinating contest of youthful exuberance versus tactical composure.

The Dandy Stars stamped their authority early on, breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute when Robin-Valana Pearman found the net with a fine finish. With the momentum firmly in their favor, they doubled their advantage just eight minutes later as Jenay Edness-Gomez capitalized on a defensive lapse to give the Stars a comfortable 2-0 cushion at the break.

The Under-17 National Select emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of urgency, and their pressure paid dividends in the 52nd minute when Daley Outerbridge breached the backline to pull a goal back.

Despite throwing everything forward in the closing stages in search of a dramatic equalizer, the young Select side could not find a way through. The veteran composure of the Dandy Stars shone through as they successfully managed the remaining minutes to lock down a crucial three points.

The Bermuda Half Marathon Derby will be live on TV, radio & online

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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The Bermuda Half Marathon Derby will be live on TV, radio & online

Bermuda Broadcasting’s extensive live coverage of tomorrow’s iconic event begins at 7:30AM

It’s one of the most popular sporting and cultural events in the calendar … and Bermuda Broadcasting Company will bring it to you live.

The Bermuda Half Marathon Derby starts at 8:30AM tomorrow, and runners will make their way from Somerset Village, through the western parishes and along Harbour Road, before reaching the finish line at Bernard Park.

Bermuda Broadcasting’s coverage starts at 7:30AM with a special pre-race show, live on ZFB TV7, Power 95 FM radio, online at bbc.bm – and on our free app, Bermuda Today.

Once the race gets underway, we will follow every step of the runners with multiple cameras and live commentary.

Our coverage will continue through to the finish line and beyond, with post-race interviews, prize presentations and analysis.

Stay with Bermuda Broadcasting for dynamic, live coverage of the Bermuda Half Marathon Derby, starting tomorrow at 7:30AM.

New rosé brand inspired by island lifestyle launches

Alisa Bernardo
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New rosé brand inspired by island lifestyle launches

Long Bay Rosé combines Provence wine with packaging designed for beach and boating life

A new rosé brand inspired by the island’s beach and boating lifestyle is making its debut just in time for summer.

Long Bay Rosé -created by four friends with ties to Bermuda – combines wine from France’s Provence region with innovative packaging designed for outdoor living.

More in the above report.

Bermuda braced for epic week of rugby in Triangle Series

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda braced for epic week of rugby in Triangle Series

The Bermuda Rugby Football Union has announced an action-packed few weeks ahead for the sport, with a thrilling lineup of international fixtures, special guest events, and vital community fundraising initiatives set to take over the island.

At the absolute center of the excitement is the arrival of the highly anticipated Bermuda Triangle Series. The tournament promises an epic week of high-intensity rugby at the National Sports Centre, bringing together three elite sides for three mouth-watering clashes. The round-robin tournament will see hosts Bermuda test their mettle against formidable regional opposition in the shape of USA South and the touring Atlantic Privateers.

With national pride and silverware on the line, the North Field is expected to draw passionate crowds as the local rugby community rallies behind the national team. The action kicks off this weekend, Saturday, May 23rd, when Bermuda face USA South at 3:00 PM. USA South then play the Atlantic Privateers on Tuesday, May 26th at 5:00 PM, before Bermuda wrap up the series against the Privateers on Saturday, May 30th at 3:00 PM.

Alongside the international matches, the Bermuda Rugby Football Union is rolling out community fundraising initiatives aimed at supporting youth development pathways across the island. With special guest events also on the itinerary, it shapes up to be a defining period for local rugby, showcasing the island’s premier facilities and its enduring reputation as a first-class host for international sport.

‘Bermuda should not sit at the kiddie table in CARICOM’

Gary Foster Skelton
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‘Bermuda should not sit at the kiddie table in CARICOM’

Upping our CARICOM membership fees to have a voice in regional affairs is worth it, panelists said at the latest Town Hall… although details on what benefits such a voice will bring remain vague

We need to deepen links with CARICOM so we can be ‘in the room where it happens’…

…that quote from the musical Hamilton encapsulates much of Government’s argument for pursuing full membership of CARICOM, and substantially upping our fees being paid to the Caribbean economic body.

At the latest Town Hall presentation in St George’s on Tuesday, former PLP MP Michael Scott said our current associate membership leaves us unable to shape regional policy.

“We cannot vote. We are excluded from discussions” he said. “Our aspirations are to participate around the table.”

Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne and Erica Smith, the BEDC’s Executive Director, said global instability is prompting us to create more regional partnerships now, for potential benefit in the future.

“There is a shifting time in our world that requires friendships before you need them”, Minister Lightbourne said.

Ms Smith added, “we’re influenced by British history, we’re influenced by our access to the United States… but could regionalism in the Caribbean provide us benefits, stability…?”

If and how Bermuda will definitively benefit from being a part of CARICOM policy meetings is still not clear, even after the latest public Town Hall.

The Green Paper published by Government highlights discussions on shipping routes and food production as places where Bermuda could be given a voice through full membership, but it remains to be seen how Bermuda would both contribute and/or benefit.

As for the increase in fees, which could shoot up to $2.28 million annually according to the Green Paper, Minister Lightbourne said that figure is still up for negotiation because, as a British Overseas Territory, we cannot fully engage with all aspects of full CARICOM membership.

“It is a bespoke relationship that we’re seeking to evolve”, she said, “because we would not be able to concede to all of the current treaty provisions…

“…and so that number was factually put out there to inform based on the current calculation that the Secretariat uses, but it does not contemplate the negotiations and the other things that must ensue prior, that would make that figure final.”

Reading the room, public opinion on CARICOM is heavily divided.

An attendee said this is not the time to make such a move to full membership, while another said a referendum is the best way for Government to truly represent the people’s interests on this matter.

One commenter said Government should do “whatever it takes” to become full members, and another said resistance to CARICOM is rooted in racism.

Moderator Malika Cartwright closed out the meeting by saying that Bermuda should no longer be sitting at the ‘kiddie table’ in CARICOM…

“Do we want to take a seat among our own people”, she said, “or do we want to keep explaining from outside the room, or at the ‘kid’s table’ is the way that I seem to see it sometimes…

“I don’t want to tell my daughter why we were never there… and all of us have asked previous generations why they didn’t do something, and why it’s been left to us to do.”

Christian Ebbin helps guide Tulane University to a podium finish 

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Christian Ebbin helps guide Tulane University to a podium finish 

The prestigious College Open Eastern National Semifinals have drawn to a dramatic close, with host South Florida delivering a masterclass in high-stakes sailing. Crews from across the region pushed their 420 fleets to the absolute limit, battling relentless coastal winds and shifting currents for a coveted spot in the upcoming national finals.

When the final tallies were settled, a spectacular finish from Christian Ebbin helped guide Tulane University to a podium finish, while PJ Rodrigues and Jordan Vieira endured a grueling regatta to place 16th with Eckerd College.

It was a regatta defined by tactical maturity and exceptional consistency for Christian Ebbin and the Tulane University team. Throughout the event, Tulane remained firmly in the upper echelons of the standings, accumulating just 90 points to secure a brilliant third-place finish overall. Ebbin was the undisputed catalyst for that podium charge. Competing in a relentless B Division, he navigated crowded start lines and heavy traffic with immense composure.

His crowning moment came in the final race of the regatta. Under intense pressure, Ebbin produced a flawless tactical drive to cross the line first, sealing a magnificent race win. That grand finale locked his boat into eighth place in the B Division with 42 points, providing the crucial mathematical edge Tulane needed to book their ticket to the national finals.

Further down the leaderboard, it proved to be an uphill struggle for the Eckerd College contingent. Facing the elite of collegiate sailing, the duo of Rodrigues and Vieira fought hard but ultimately concluded their campaign in 16th place overall. Rodrigues took on the daunting challenge of spearheading Eckerd’s A Division boat. It proved to be a punishing shift on the water, with Rodrigues fighting through a dense fleet to finish 16th in his division on 89 points.

On the adjacent course, teammate Vieira commanded the Eckerd ‘B’ boat campaign. Finding slightly cleaner air in the early exchanges, Vieira put together a battling performance to secure 16th place in the B Division with 74 points. While Eckerd will look to regroup and unlock more pace from their 420 fleet in the off-season, Ebbin and Tulane fly home with their heads held high and their eyes firmly fixed on the National Championship.

BBC Radio News: Thursday Noon – 21 May 2026

Jasmine Patterson
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BBC Radio News: Thursday Noon – 21 May 2026
Bermuda BroadcastingBBC Radio News: Thursday Noon - 21 May 2026
0:00
7:05
  1. BBC Radio News: Thursday Noon - 21 May 20267:05
SoundCloud

Gutsy Arnold battles to brilliant Rule of Three podium in Arkansas

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Gutsy Arnold battles to brilliant Rule of Three podium in Arkansas

While Crystal Anthony grabbed the headlines by defending her title in the grueling 115-mile SOLO race at the Rule of Three regatta, it was a monumental ride from Gabriella Arnold that stole the hearts of the chasing pack in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Tackling one of the most punishing tests on the off-road calendar—which forces riders onto tarmac, gravel, and singletrack on a single bike—Arnold put on an absolute masterclass in gritty endurance for the Velocio // Exploro team.

As Anthony checked out at the front to win in 7:02:59, Arnold found herself locked in a fierce, multi-rider dogfight across the dusty Ozark Mountains. Displaying incredible tactical pacing, she weathered the brutal climbs and chossy terrain that broke so many others in the field.

Arnold kept her composure through the punishing final singletrack sectors, crossing the line in 7:43:03 to secure a heroic and well-deserved third-place finish. Her clinical performance solidifies her status in the elite tier of mixed-terrain racing, capping off a spectacular weekend for the rising star.

2026 Census begins today

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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2026 Census begins today

Census data supports long-term planning and policy development in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, labour, infrastructure, and social services

The Ministry of Economy and Labour is reminding residents that the 2026 Census of Population and Housing officially begins tomorrow, May 21, following today’s Census Day.

Held once every ten years, the national Census provides a comprehensive snapshot of Bermuda’s population and housing as of May 20, 2026, and plays a critical role in shaping the island’s future.

The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, urges all residents to participate and make their voices count in this vital national initiative.

“Bermuda’s Census is one of the most important national exercises we undertake because it helps us understand who we are as an island and what our people need to thrive,” said Minister Hayward. “This year’s theme, ‘Fill the Gap,’ reflects the importance of closing the gap between assumptions and evidence and ensuring that decisions affecting Bermuda are based on accurate and reliable information.”

Census data supports long-term planning and policy development in areas such as healthcare, education, housing, labour, infrastructure, and social services. It also helps identify demographic trends, workforce changes, migration patterns, and shifts in housing needs.

Act now by completing the Census online using the e-Census platform at census.gov.bm. If you haven’t received your instruction letter, contact the Department of Statistics promptly.

To ensure accessibility for all residents, Census participation options also include telephone interviews and in-person assistance. Computers are available at the Department of Statistics for members of the public who may not have internet access at home, and field interviewers will assist seniors and others requiring additional support.

The Ministry also reminded residents that all information collected through the Census is strictly confidential and protected under the Statistics Act 2002. Individual responses will never be shared publicly, but collectively will be used for statistical purposes.

Residents should complete the Census based on where they usually live and sleep as of Census Day, May 20, 2026. One person may complete the Census on behalf of an entire household and should include everyone who usually lives in the home, including babies and household members temporarily overseas, hospitalised, or away for study or vacation.

Participation in the Census is mandatory.

Minister Hayward added, “Every household, every family, and every individual counts. By participating, residents help create a clearer and more accurate picture of Bermuda, one that will guide important decisions for years to come.”

For more information about Bermuda’s 2026 Census of Population and Housing, call 2977761, email census@gov.bm or visit census.gov.bm.

Bermuda Day Parade to be broadcast live

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda Day Parade to be broadcast live

Minister Owen Darrell is encouraging the public to take part in this year’s Bermuda Day celebrations as the island prepares for Friday’s annual parade through Hamilton.

Minister Darrell said this year’s Heritage Month theme, “For The Culture,” reflects Bermuda’s traditions and shared future, adding that the parade continues to unite the community through culture, music and performance.

Live coverage of the Bermuda Day Parade will begin at 1:15 p.m. on Friday and will air on Channels 2, 3 and 102, as well as on CITV Bermuda YouTube Channel and the Bermuda Government Facebook Page.

Owen Darrell is encouraging the public to take part in this year’s Bermuda Day celebrations as the island prepares for Friday’s annual parade through Hamilton.

Minister Darrell said this year’s Heritage Month theme, “For The Culture,” reflects Bermuda’s traditions and shared future, adding that the parade continues to unite the community through culture, music and performance.

Live coverage of the Bermuda Day Parade will begin at 1:15 p.m. on Friday and will air on Channels 2, 3 and 102, as well as on CITV Bermuda YouTube Channel and the Bermuda Government Facebook Page.

The broadcast will feature live commentary and interviews with Premier David Burt and other guests, while showcasing performances from the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band, majorettes, drumlines, dance groups, music trucks and Bermuda’s iconic Gombeys.

The parade begins at 1:30 p.m. from Albuoy’s Point, travelling along Front Street before ending at the junction of Marsh Folly Road and Dutton Avenue.

Motorists are reminded that roads into the City of Hamilton will close from 7:30 a.m. for Bermuda Day events, including the Half Marathon Derby, with the public encouraged to arrive early for viewing spots.

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