Five cultural trailblazers honoured under this year’s Heritage Month theme, “For the Culture”
The upcoming Bermuda Day Parade will honour five cultural icons as this year’s Grand Marshals under the Heritage Month theme “For the Culture.”
Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport has announced the honourees, and said while they “may come from different paths and disciplines … they are united by a shared commitment to community and cultural pride.”
Tawana Lee, Demeka “Tiny T” Tacklyn, Jules Roberts, Sonya Smith and Allan Warner (posthumously) are the individuals to be recognised.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Minister Darrell said the Grand Marshals “epitomise this year’s theme, “For the Culture,” through the way they have preserved traditions, uplifted others, and contributed meaningfully to the cultural and sporting life of Bermuda.”
The Bermuda Youth National Karate Team has completed a landmark weekend at the Miami Open International Karate Championships, walking away with a prestigious team trophy and multiple individual medals from Florida Memorial University.
In a definitive statement of the island’s growing martial arts pedigree, Bermuda was awarded the 3rd Place Team Trophy, a major milestone reflecting both the size and the high competitive standard of the delegation at this elite international tournament.
The final day of competition focused on the technical disciplines of Kobudo and Kata, where Talia Fox set the tone early in the Female 16+ Intermediate/Advanced Kobudo division. After a dominant opening performance, Fox delivered a poised second-round routine to capture a phenomenal Silver medal.
In the Male 16+ Kobudo bracket, Tony Cabral faced one of the most heavily stacked divisions of the day. Despite a display of remarkable power, the sheer depth of the international field prevented him from advancing. However, Cabral found redemption in the afternoon, displaying exceptional precision to secure a well-deserved Bronze medal in the Kata division.
The squad’s younger members also faced a “trial by fire,” with Chan Simons and Giovanni Vianello competing in massive, talent-heavy brackets. Simons displayed particular grit by pulling “double duty,” transitioning from Kata to Kumite, embodying the fighting heart of the Bermudian delegation.
The 3rd Place Team Trophy serves as a powerful reminder that Bermuda is no longer just participating in international karate—they are contending for the top spot on the world stage.
Commonwealth Games-bound athlete Tiara DeRosa-Williams has sent a clear message to her international rivals, securing a commanding victory in the Oklahoma Throws Series as her preparations for the global stage intensify.
Competing at the specialized Millican Field in “Throw Town,” Ramona, Oklahoma, DeRosa-Williams demonstrated the explosive power and technical poise that have made her one of Bermuda’s most exciting prospects in the field events.
In the Women’s Discus Open Division, the contest was effectively decided from the very first rotation. DeRosa-Williams wasted no time in establishing her dominance, launching a massive opening effort of 50.40 metres.
The distance proved insurmountable for the rest of the field, allowing the Bermudian star to dictate the pace of the competition from the outset. In an event often defined by finding rhythm over six attempts, her ability to deliver a winning mark on her first throw highlights a level of psychological readiness crucial for major championship environments.
The Millican Field facility is renowned among the world’s elite throwers for its unique conditions and specialized wind patterns, often referred to as a “thrower’s paradise.” For DeRosa-Williams, consistently clearing the 50-metre barrier in such a technical environment is a significant milestone as she builds toward the heavy schedule of the 2026 season.
The result in Oklahoma serves as a vital tune-up for her Commonwealth Games campaign. By testing herself against the rigours of the US circuit, she is refining the consistency required to challenge for a place in the finals on the world stage.
Bermudian para-athlete Jessica Lewis has etched her name into the history books once more, shattering the Para Pan American record for the second time in four days during a momentous final day at the 52nd Swiss National Championships.
In a career-defining performance at the renowned Stacherholz track in Arbon, Lewis achieved a lifetime goal by dipping under the 16-second barrier for the first time, cementing her status as one of the world’s elite T53 sprinters.
The assault on the record books began on Thursday at the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial, where Lewis clocked a blistering 16.02 seconds. That time officially lowered her own Para Pan American Record, but the Bermudian star was clearly not finished with her pursuit of speed.
Returning to the track just four days later, Lewis found another gear. Competing in a high-octane T53 Women’s 100m final, she crossed the line in a staggering 15.55 seconds. The result represents a massive leap in performance, marking the first time she has ever broken the 16-second threshold in her storied career.
The race was a masterclass in top-tier para-athletics, led by home favorite Catherine Debrunner. The Swiss sensation utilized the fast Arbon surface to secure victory in 15.36 seconds. Lewis’s record-shattering 15.55 earned her a well-deserved silver medal, while Belgium’s Joke Stragier completed the podium in third with a time of 20.29.
The consistency Lewis has displayed over this Swiss residency is a testament to her technical refinement and power output. By consistently lowering her marks in both the 100m and 400m disciplines, she has sent a definitive message to her international rivals ahead of the season’s major championships.
As the Swiss campaign draws to a close, Lewis returns home not just with silverware, but with the momentum of an athlete currently operating at the very peak of her powers.
The “Arbon double”—breaking the record twice in a single week—places her in a prime psychological position as the focus shifts toward the global stage. With her starts looking sharper and her mid-race acceleration reaching new heights, the sub-16 club now has a new, formidable member.
Bermudian powerboat duo David Selley and Stephen Bridges have claimed a historic victory on Florida’s “Space Coast,” masterfully navigating treacherous Atlantic swells to secure the top spot at Thunder on Cocoa Beach.
The final day of the three-day IHRA Offshore Racing Series spectacle saw thousands of fans line the shoreline to witness the fastest boats in the sport battle the elements. However, it was the technical precision of the Team Bermuda S25 crew that stole the show, as they adapted to conditions that forced race officials to shorten the contest.
With the Atlantic delivering its trademark unpredictable “chop,” officials made the tactical decision to limit the Super Stock Class to a grueling five-lap sprint. The shortened distance placed an immediate premium on the start and initial positioning—a challenge Selley and Bridges met with clinical execution.
While rivals struggled to keep their hulls settled in the turbulent water, Selley and Bridges found the ideal trim to maintain maximum velocity, crossing the line to take a commanding win.
It was a tougher afternoon for the island’s second entry, the Nuff Said S12 boat. Crewed by Lewis Martin and Nick Imprescia, the team found themselves entrenched in a punishing mid-pack scuffle from the opening buoy. Despite the physical toll of the five-lap sprint, Martin and Imprescia displayed immense grit to battle through the spray and secure a sixth-place finish.
U.S. special envoy Jeff Landry, appointed by Trump last year to push for American control of Greenland, arrived in Nuuk on Sunday and met on Monday with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Foreign Minister Mute Egede
A person cycles past a poster in Nuuk, Greenland, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Barsoe
International News via Reuters:
Greenland’s government said on Monday that progress has been made in high-stakes talks with the United States over the territory’s future, but that the giant island sought by President Donald Trump will never be for sale.
U.S. special envoy Jeff Landry, appointed by Trump last year to push for American control of Greenland, arrived in Nuuk on Sunday and met on Monday with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Foreign Minister Mute Egede.
“We believe there is progress, and from Greenland’s side we are focused on finding a solution that is good for us all, and most importantly that threats of annexation, takeover or a purchase of Greenland and the Greenlandic people does not occur,” Nielsen told reporters after meeting with Landry.
There was no immediate statement from Landry who told local media on Sunday he was there to “listen and learn”.
Trump’s assertion that the U.S. must acquire or control Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, has sparked tension between Washington and Copenhagen, both founding NATO members, and more broadly across Europe.
“They asked for a meeting, and we’ve explained our situation and standpoint, and that we have some red lines – we will not sell Greenland, we will own Greenland for all time,” Egede said.
Seeking to calm tensions, Greenland, Denmark and the U.S. earlier this year agreed to hold high-level diplomatic negotiations to resolve the crisis, although the outcome of those ongoing talks has yet to be presented.
The United States wants to boost its military presence in Greenland and make it part of Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” system of defence against nuclear attack.
The U.S. currently has one active base in Greenland, the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, down from around 17 facilities in 1945 when thousands of U.S. personnel staffed facilities around the island.
Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Soren Jeppesen in Copenhagen; Writing by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Andrew Heavens
The Transport Sector Alliance said on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would stop operating from midnight in protest, while police said they would act to tackle any disruptions
Kenyan comedian and social activist Eric Omondi offloads empty plastic cans along the central business district as he protests rising fuel costs, linked to global supply pressures following the war in Iran, in Nairobi, Kenya May 18, 2026. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
International News via Reuters:
Four people were killed in protests against fuel price hikes prompted by the Iran war in several Kenyan towns on Monday, its interior minister said, after a nationwide public transport strike stranded commuters.
The Transport Sector Alliance said on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would stop operating from midnight in protest, while police said they would act to tackle any disruptions.
“We lost four Kenyans in today’s violence, which also saw more than 30 people injured,” Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told a televised press conference.
Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority last week raised retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5% – after hiking them by 24.2% last month – as the conflict in the Middle East squeezed global oil and gas supplies.
On Monday morning, roads into the capital Nairobi were blocked by striking transport operators and scattered groups of protesters.
Police fired tear gas in some areas while some protesters lit tyres to cut access to key roads, worsening congestion and leaving many commuters stranded.
In Mombasa, Kenya’s main port city, the strike raised fears of supply-chain delays.
Murkomen said the finance, transport and energy ministers were meeting with public transport operators later on Monday to discuss a solution, while Finance Minister John Mbadi had said earlier on Monday that the current prices were already subsidised.
Kenya imports nearly all its fuel products from the Middle East via government-to-government deals with Gulf suppliers. The fuel price hike has sharply raised transport fares and pushed up the cost of basic goods, deepening pressure on households already struggling with the high cost of living.
Public relations worker Gabriel Odhiambo, 24, said his transport costs had doubled and that food prices had also risen. Four tomatoes now cost 60 shillings (50 U.S. cents) – a threefold increase.
Kenya raised the pump price of super petrol in Nairobi to 214.25 Kenyan shillings ($1.66) a litre from 206.97, and diesel to 242.92 shillings from 196.63 for the May 15-June 14 cycle, while kerosene was unchanged at 152.78 shillings.
($1 = 129.2000 Kenyan shillings)
Reporting by Humprey Malalo; Writing by Vincent Mumo Nzilani; editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Kevin Liffey and Chiara Rodriquez
Greene voted with the majority of her colleagues on the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee to keep rates on hold in April but said at the time that an increase might be needed in upcoming meetings
International News via Reuters:
Bank of England interest rate-setter Megan Greene said central banks should not assume that the Iran war’s inflationary hit will be temporary and that policymakers cannot wait to see all the evidence of the impact before taking a stance on rates.
“This is our third negative supply shock in five years. We do have to worry about wage and price setting,” Greene said at a Financial Times event on Monday.
“Traditionally you look through negative supply shocks, but I think when you have successive ones, actually that’s outdated folklore and we shouldn’t be looking through them anymore.”
Greene voted with the majority of her colleagues on the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee to keep rates on hold in April but said at the time that an increase might be needed in upcoming meetings.
In her comments on Monday, Greene said the second-round effects from the energy price surge – such as workers demanding more pay or companies raising their selling prices on a broad basis – would take a year to become apparent.
Separately, another MPC member Catherine Mann said she was awaiting data – including official April inflation figures due on Wednesday as well as more forward-looking indicators – to help her assess the upward risks to inflation.
Uncertainty over the future of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could weigh on economic growth, Mann told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Budapest organised by Hungary’s central bank.
“Instability of a variety of types is deleterious to decision-making by firms and households, and so it does tend to be associated with … ‘let’s wait and see’, and so that’s not good for growth,” she said.
Investors are pricing at least two BoE rate hikes before the end of the year but most economists polled by Reuters last week forecast no change in borrowing costs.
Reporting by William Schomberg in London and Gergely Szakacs in Budapest; editing by William James and David Milliken
The World Health Organization on Sunday declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern because of the high risk the disease could spread further beyond DRC’s borders
People at Bunia General Referral Hospital following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2026. REUTERS/Victoire Mukenge
International News via Reuters:
Medical personnel were rushing on Monday to the frontlines of a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo whose late detection and quick spread have alarmed health experts.
The World Health Organization on Sunday declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern because of the high risk the disease could spread further beyond DRC’s borders after two cases were confirmed in Kampala, the capital of neighbouring Uganda.
The outbreak is suspected to have killed around 80 people in recent weeks, with eight cases confirmed by laboratory testing and 246 suspected cases reported in eastern DRC’s Ituri province.
Another case was confirmed in neighbouring North Kivu province’s capital, Goma, according to the M23 rebels who control the city. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said on Sunday that it was supporting partners withdrawing a small number of directly affected Americans.
A delegation led by DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba arrived in Ituri’s capital Bunia on Sunday with tents to set up treatment centres to support strained local hospitals.
“This is not a mystical disease,” he told Reuters. “Make yourself known so that you can be taken care of and so that we can prevent the disease from spreading.”
WHO’s representative in DRC, Anne Ancia, said WHO had emptied its stocks of protective equipment in the capital Kinshasa and was now preparing a cargo plane to bring additional supplies from a depot in Kenya.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Monday it was deploying an expert to its African counterpart’s headquarters in Ethiopia to support operational planning, and the U.S. CDC said it planned to send more people to its offices in the DRC and Uganda.
On Monday, the U.S. embassy in Uganda said it had temporarily paused all visa services in Uganda in light of the Ebola virus outbreak in the East African nation, effectively restricting travel. And a Reuters witness said Congolese people trying to cross into Rwanda from Bukavu were stopped by authorities at the border.
PREVIOUS OUTBREAK RESPONSE WAS COMPLICATED BY INSECURITY
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, has no approved virus-specific therapeutics, or vaccine.
An outbreak of the Zaire strain from 2018-2020 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces was the second deadliest on record, killing nearly 2,300 people. The response to that outbreak was complicated by widespread armed violence in eastern Congo that continues today.
Jean Pierre Badombo, the former mayor of Mongbwalu, a mining town in Ituri at the epicentre of the outbreak, said people started falling ill in April after a large open-casket funeral procession arrived from Bunia.
“After that, we experienced a cascade of deaths,” he said.
The WHO has said it was informed of an unknown illness with high mortality in Mongbwalu on May 5, including four health workers who had died within four days, and dispatched a rapid response team.
Several subsequent missteps, including an initial failure by personnel in Bunia to escalate samples for further testing after they came back negative for the Zaire strain, meant the virus was not detected until May 14, Congolese health officials told Reuters. An outbreak was declared the next day.
Lievin Bangali, IRC’s senior health coordinator in DRC, said declining funding from international donors had also weakened disease detection.
“When surveillance networks break down, dangerous diseases like Ebola are able to spread further and faster before communities and health workers can respond,” he said.
UGANDA POSTPONES MARTYR’S DAY HOLIDAY
Congo has experienced 17 outbreaks of Ebola since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The disease spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials.
According to WHO, the average fatality rate from Ebola is around 50%, varying from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
Uganda on Sunday postponed next month’s celebrations of Martyrs’ Day, a national holiday that typically attracts thousands of pilgrims from eastern DRC, because of the outbreak.
Kithula Haggai Sunday, a doctor at Uganda’s health ministry, told an online briefing that several people from western Uganda who had recently gone to a burial in eastern Congo and then returned home were under observation, with some who developed symptoms taken to the city of Fort Portal.
Additional reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London; Additional reporting and writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Sharon Singleton
The Bermuda Equal Justice Initiative and Trevo Academy have announced a new sponsorship programme that will provide two fully funded summer football scholarships for Bermudian boys and girls aged 8 to 13.
The scholarships, valued at a combined $1,400, will cover participation costs for Trevo Academy’s summer football programme, which runs in four cohorts from June through August and focuses on skill development, discipline, teamwork, confidence, and character building.
The initiative aims to support young Bermudians facing financial barriers while helping develop the island’s next generation of football talent.
Eron Hill, Founder and Executive Director of the Bermuda Equal Justice Initiative, said the partnership reflects the organisation’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity for young people.
“Too often, talented young people miss out on opportunities simply because of financial circumstances,” Mr. Hill said. “We wanted to partner with Trevo Academy to help ensure that two young Bermudians who are passionate about football have the chance to participate and develop their skills.”
Remy Coddington, one of Trevo Academy’s founders, said the academy hopes to encourage young athletes both on and off the field.
Applications opened today and close on May 29, with successful applicants expected to be selected by June 5.
Applicants are required to submit a two-to-three-minute video explaining their story, football inspiration, role model, and why they should be selected. Video applications should be emailed to trevoacademy@gmail.com.
David Burt has praised the dedication of public officer Christopher Williamson after he was named the April recipient of the Public Service Excellence Award.
Mr. Williamson, the Sites Management Officer at Marsh Folly, was recognised for creating an interactive field trip experience for Primary 6 students from Somerset Primary School and for supporting the Department of Parks ahead of the busy Good Friday holiday period during staffing shortages.
According to Government, Mr. Williamson received multiple nominations highlighting both his educational outreach efforts and his operational support in helping maintain public spaces and coordinate additional staffing resources.
Premier Burt said Mr. Williamson demonstrated the “highest standards of public service” through his willingness to support both the community and fellow public officers where needed.
Jache Adams said the recognition highlighted how public officers can use their expertise to benefit the wider community, while Head of the Public Service Cherie Whitter described his work as a strong example of teamwork, reliability and effective service delivery.
The Public Service Excellence Award recognises individuals or teams who demonstrate exceptional service and achievement within the Public Service over a 60-day period.
The proposed framework is the final stage of policy development under Bermuda’s National Space Strategy
The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced today that it has opened a public consultation on a consolidated framework for the licensing of Earth Stations in Bermuda.
It is a decisive step in strengthening Bermuda’s position in the global space and satellite economy.
The proposed framework is the final stage of policy development under Bermuda’s National Space Strategy. It was developed in consultation with the Regulatory Authority and sits within Bermuda’s existing legal and regulatory regime.
The framework sets a proportionate, internationally aligned approach to satellite communications infrastructure, including gateway stations, teleports, and user terminals. It pairs that approach with strong oversight, disciplined spectrum use, and clear cybersecurity obligations.
The Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, Minister of Home Affairs, said, “This moment speaks to where we are and where Bermuda is going. We are building on regulatory strength and credibility while taking deliberate steps into a growing global industry. Our responsibility is to ensure Bermuda remains a trusted jurisdiction. One that enables innovation, attracts investment, and creates meaningful opportunities for our people.”
The proposed model includes a two-tier licensing structure, distinguishing between blanket authorisations for standardised user terminals and individual licences for more complex infrastructure such as teleports and tracking facilities. It also sets out clear requirements for spectrum licensing, equipment standards, cybersecurity, and compliance with Bermuda’s data protection framework.
The framework positions Bermuda to support the next generation of satellite infrastructure and services without compromising on oversight. It is part of the Ministry’s broader work to diversify the economy, attract responsible investment, and open pathways for skills development in technical and emerging fields.
Stakeholders, operators, and members of the public are invited to review the consultation and submit feedback at forum.gov.bm. Consultation closes June 19, 2026.
Submissions will inform the finalisation of the National Earth Stations Licensing Framework. A summary of responses will be published after the consultation closes.
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