Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the Commission welcomed OpenAI’s proactive engagement, including its intent to grant access to its new AI model
International News via Reuters:
The European Commission is in ongoing discussions with U.S. artificial intelligence giants OpenAI and Anthropic, a spokesperson said on Monday.
Spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the Commission welcomed OpenAI’s proactive engagement, including its intent to grant access to its new AI model. He added that the Commission has had a four or five meetings with Anthropic though no discussions on a possible access to its AI models have taken place yet.
“With one (OpenAI), you have a company proactively offering to give access to the company. With the other one (Anthropic), we have good exchanges though we’re not at a stage where we can speculate on potential access or not”, Regnier said during a daily press briefing.
Reporting by Inti Landauro, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout
Memory chip prices doubled in the first quarter alone from the previous quarter and are forecast to climb up to 63% in the current quarter due to AI data centre demand
International News via Reuters:
Nintendo and Sony both flagged the impact from surging memory prices on their games businesses on Friday, as the artificial intelligence boom constrains chip supply and deepens disruptions across the tech sector.
Memory chip prices doubled in the first quarter alone from the previous quarter and are forecast to climb up to 63% in the current quarter due to AI data centre demand that has impacted supply for smartphones, laptops and automobiles. While top producers Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have pledged to boost output with billions of dollars of investment, it takes at least a year for a new production line to come online, experts say.
“Super Mario” maker Nintendo said that higher component costs, particularly memory, and the impact of tariffs is expected to add roughly 100 billion yen ($638 million) to costs in the current financial year.
“The very fact that Nintendo felt compelled to act (price increase) suggests the rise in memory costs has become severe enough that it could no longer be absorbed internally – and, crucially, that there is little prospect of those cost pressures easing in the near term,” Morningstar analyst Kazunori Ito said.
“This decision likely reflects a sober assessment that waiting for market conditions to improve is not a viable option.”
President Shuntaro Furukawa said the higher component costs, along with factors including exchange rates, were reflected in Nintendo’s decision to hike prices of its Switch 2.
The price of a Japanese language Switch 2 Japan model will go up by 10,000 yen to 59,980 yen, with the gaming device in the U.S. to cost $50 more at $499.99.
With the price hikes, profitability will be roughly unchanged from last financial year, Furukawa told an earnings briefing.
Sony announced in March it would increase prices of the PS5, with the standard version of its gaming device jumping $100 to $649.99 in the U.S.
NINTENDO USERS SEEN AS PARTICULARLY PRICE SENSITIVE
For Nintendo the hikes have risks as the Switch 2 is early in its lifecycle and its casual user base is particularly price sensitive, said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.
“Nintendo is now under more pressure than ever to get more first-party blockbusters out this fiscal year” to boost demand for the system, Toto said.
The firm’s games pipeline is seen as thin, although it has scored a recent hit with “Pokemon Pokopia” and upcoming titles include “Star Fox”.
Nintendo also hiked prices of its older Switch and online gaming services and said its playing cards will move from a listed price to an open price set by retailers.
The company expects to sell 16.5 million Switch 2 units this year, compared to 19.9 million units last year, and 60 million software units.
Sony and Nintendo’s shares have been under pressure in recent months as investors fret about the impact of disruption to supply chains from the AI boom and Iran war on electronic manufacturers’ margins.
Sony, which plans to spend up to 500 billion yen buying back shares, said it sees lower sales but higher profits at its gaming business this financial year.
Sony has secured memory supply for this financial year but prices are expected to continue to be high next year, CEO Hiroki Totoki told an earnings briefing.
The company is looking at ways to reduce costs outside of memory, he said.
PS5 hardware sales are based on the amount of memory Sony can secure at “reasonable prices”, with hardware profitability expected to be similar to a year earlier.
With the PS5 in its sixth year on the market, the profit forecast incorporates investment in Sony’s next-generation platform.
Sony is expected to receive a major boost from the launch of Take-Two Interactive’s delayed “Grand Theft Auto VI”, which is scheduled for release in November.
“Sony’s bottom line stands to benefit significantly from the high-margin software sales and ecosystem engagement this launch should trigger,” Amir Anvarzadeh of Asymmetric Advisors wrote in a note.
($1 = 156.7000 yen)
Reporting by Sam Nussey; Additional reporting Kritika Lamba and Anton Bridge; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle
In a speech that was light on new policies but filled with pleas to his party and personal attacks on his opponents, he said he would build closer ties with the European Union
International News via Reuters:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to quell a mounting rebellion in his party with an impassioned speech on Monday in which he vowed to prove his doubters wrong and said he would not walk away to avoid plunging Britain into a new political crisis.
Fighting for his survival as potential leadership rivals circle, Starmer pledged to deliver more radical change to the country, an admission that he had been too timid in the face of two decades of economic stagnation and mounting social tensions.
In a speech that was light on new policies but filled with pleas to his party and personal attacks on his opponents, he said he would build closer ties with the European Union, create better job opportunities for young people and nationalise British Steel.
“I’m not going to walk away,” Starmer said.
STARMER APPEALS TO ANGRY LAWMAKERS
Starmer was seeking to appeal to a growing number of Labour lawmakers who have turned on him after his party suffered the worst local election results for a governing party in more than three decades last week.
That prompted a little-known former junior minister to threaten to seek a leadership contest, a move that could force a wider leadership race if she can get the backers.
Starmer warned his centre-left Labour Party could not afford to turn on each other, confronted by the “very dangerous” populist Reform UK and left-wing Green Party, which he said wanted grievance and division: “looking not for solutions but for someone to blame”.
“I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain. Frustrated by politics, and some people are frustrated with me,” he said in a speech in London. “I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong. And I will.”
TURMOIL PUSHES UP BORROWING COSTS
Starmer won one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history in 2024 with promises to expand the economy, lower illegal immigration, and cut waiting lists in the state-run health service.
However, progress has been hampered by policy U-turns, perceptions among some voters that he is weak, and a series of political scandals, contributing to some of the lowest approval ratings of any British prime minister.
The uncertainty has pushed up borrowing costs as investors fear that Starmer could be replaced by a more left-wing leader willing to borrow more – a rerun of the chaos that ensued in the latter years of the previous Conservative Party which struggled to govern.
Reform UK, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has now led national opinion polls for more than a year and at the local elections last week the Greens also made large advances in British cities.
Starmer sought to show he had got the message from his angry lawmakers, saying in his London speech that “incremental change won’t cut it” and pledging to deliver more urgent action to tackle the country’s many problems.
His future will depend on whether his despondent party agrees to give him time to do so.
“Part of leadership is knowing when it is time to pass on the baton,” one Labour lawmaker, David Smith, said in a statement following the speech.
“I therefore believe that now is the time for the prime minister to set a clear timetable for his departure.”
Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Elizabeth Piper; additional reporting by Alistair Smout and Sarah Young; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Michael Holden and Alex Richardson
A French passenger who was evacuated from the MV Hondius tested positive for the virus and her condition is deteriorating, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Monday
International News via Reuters:
Two people have tested positive for hantavirus after being evacuated from a luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak, health authorities said, as Spain prepared on Monday to evacuate and repatriate the last passengers remaining on the vessel.
A French passenger who was evacuated from the MV Hondius tested positive for the virus and her condition is deteriorating, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Monday.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Sunday that one of the 17 Americans being repatriated had tested mildly positive for the Andes strain of the virus, while a second had shown mild symptoms.
The last 24 passengers still on board the MV Hondius are set to be evacuated on Monday afternoon from the cruise ship, now anchored near Spain’s Atlantic island of Tenerife, according to Spanish authorities coordinating the evacuations.
The move will cap a complex operation that has so far resulted in 94 people being evacuated and repatriated to their countries of residence, 41 days after the MV Hondius set off from southern Argentina and nine days after the first positive test result for the respiratory viral infection.
Three people have died since the start of the outbreak – a Dutch couple and a German national.
LAST FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA, NETHERLANDS
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia told a press conference late on Sunday that a plane would leave for the Netherlands on Monday with 18 passengers from countries which did not send their own repatriation aircraft.
A second and final flight will depart for Australia around 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) on Monday with six passengers, Garcia said, including one from New Zealand and others hailing from unspecified Asian countries.
After the evacuations, the ship will sail for the Netherlands, its flag state, Garcia said, adding that around 30 crew members would remain on board. Reuters footage on Monday showed the ship refuelling at Tenerife’s port of Granadilla ahead of the voyage.
Once there and with everyone disembarked, including the deceased German national still in the ship’s onboard morgue, the vessel will be thoroughly disinfected.
‘THIS IS NOT COVID’
The MV Hondius was carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses among passengers was first reported to the WHO on May 3.
By then, 34 other passengers had departed the vessel, which first sailed from Argentina in March with stops in the Antarctic and other locations before heading north to waters off Cape Verde west of the African continent. The vessel was briefly held there last week after news of the outbreak emerged.
The outbreak of the virus, usually spread by wild rodents but also transmittable person-to-person in rare cases of close contact, was first detected by health officials in Johannesburg on May 2 treating a British man who was taken into intensive care after disembarking the ship. That was some three weeks after the first passenger, the Dutchman, had died.
The luxury cruise ship left for Spain’s Canary Islands from the coast of Cape Verde on May 6 after Madrid agreed – at the request of both the WHO and the European Union – to manage the evacuation of passengers.
The WHO has recommended a 42-day quarantine for all passengers from the boat from May 10, its director of epidemic and pandemic management, Maria Van Kerkhove, told a briefing.
Health officials have urged calm, reminding a public scarred from the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic that this virus is far less contagious and poses little risk to the general population.
“This is not COVID and we don’t want to treat it like COVID,” acting U.S. CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya said in an interview with CNN on Sunday, adding that the 17 U.S. passengers from the ship would be given the choice of isolating at home or at a facility in Nebraska.
Spain’s health ministry also downplayed the risk to the broader population. It added that rodents had not been detected aboard the ship.
Reporting by Reuters bureaus, Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and David Latona; Editing by Stephen Coates and Gareth Jones
Experts conducted an initial forensic analysis of the damage to the port stern, a Blue House official said
International News via Reuters:
South Korea’s presidential Blue House on Monday condemned in the strongest terms an attack against a cargo ship operated by a Korean shipper this month in the Strait of Hormuz and said it plans to respond once the source of the attack is identified.
Experts conducted an initial forensic analysis of the damage to the port stern, a Blue House official said. The attack had led to a fire in the vessel’s engine room.
Namu, the vessel operated by the shipper HMM Co., was not in violation of any rules in effect at the time in the waters off the United Arab Emirates and it was a case of an attack against a commercial vessel that cannot be justified, the official said.
“We condemn this in the strongest terms,” Wi Sung-lac, the South Korean presidential national security adviser, told a news briefing. Damage to the vessel was identified in the forensic inspection by South Korean officials and experts at a port in Dubai, Wi said.
The damage was not known earlier following the attack due to its position in the lower port stern, according to a Blue House official.
It was not known what role, if any, Iran may have had in the attack, the official said. Tehran has previously denied any responsibility for the attack that involved a strong impact on the side of the vessel.
On Monday, the Iranian embassy in South Korea said in a statement it did not have any position on the matter but would announce if there is any update or official position.
U.S. President Donald Trump said soon after the incident that Iran had fired at the South Korean vessel, and urged Seoul to join U.S.-led efforts to secure shipping through the strait.
Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim, Jack Kim and Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was little changed at 97.995
International News via Reuters:
The dollar was steady on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal, sending oil prices higher and prompting renewed concerns that the conflict in the Middle East will drag on.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was little changed at 97.995.
Oil prices, meanwhile, jumped, with Brent crude up 3.6% at $104.94 a barrel, after President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal for peace talks, raising worries that the 10-week-old conflict may drag on.
Yet, markets still seem to believe that the conflict will be resolved, said Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research for FX and rates at Societe Generale.
“I think the reason for that may be the involvement of China,” he said. “The summit with China and the U.S. later this week is, for me, the main event really,” Broux said, pointing to the influence the two countries have in the Middle East.
TRUMP IN CHINA CLOSELY WATCHED
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to discuss Iran, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons and critical minerals when they meet, according to U.S. officials.
Inflation and growth worries linked to higher oil prices, as well as any potential reaction from central banks, also continue to play on the market’s mind, Broux said.
U.S. inflation data for April is due this week after the U.S. jobs report released Friday showed that non-farm payrolls increased 115,000 in April, almost twice as fast as expected. Those figures reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve would keep interest rates unchanged for some time.
The Fed held rates steady last month as expected, but the decision exposed its deepest split in decades, with three officials dissenting against signalling future rate cuts.
Factors that could weigh on the dollar “have become more elusive after hawkish Fed dissents, resilient U.S. data and continued stalemate in the Middle East,” said Alex Loo, senior macro strategist at TD Securities in Singapore.
Elsewhere, China’s yuan reached its strongest level against the U.S. dollar in more than three years at one point on Monday. The offshore yuan was last steady, trading at 6.7928 yuan per dollar.
Data earlier in the day showed China’s producer prices smashed expectations to hit a 45-month high in April on rising global energy costs. That followed figures released over the weekend showing China’s export growth accelerated last month as factories raced to meet AI-related demand.
The euro was down 0.1% at $1.1774, the yen slipped 0.3% to 157.11 yen per dollar and the British pound was 0.23% lower at $1.36.
In the UK, markets are closely watching any potential fallout from last week’s local elections, which saw heavy losses for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
“While Labour losses were not quite as bad as feared, they have failed to quell speculation over a Labour leadership contest and a clear leftward drift in government policy,” Chris Turner, ING’s global head of markets, said in a note.
Reporting by Sophie Kiderlin in London and Gregor Stuart Hunter in Singapore; Editing by Sam Holmes and Shri Navaratnam
The SailGP fleet in action on Race Day 1 of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in Bermuda. Saturday 9 May 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 2026 Season. Photo: Simon Bruty for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
Bermuda’s Great Sound delivered another spectacular weekend of SailGP racing as Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos claimed victory at the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on Sunday.
Competing in ideal foiling conditions mixed with tricky, shifting breeze, Tom Slingsby’s Australian crew defeated Spain’s Los Gallos and Germany by Deutsche Bank in a tense three-boat final to secure back-to-back SailGP event wins and a third title of the 2026 season.
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP on stage as Tom Slingsby, driver of BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team, holds the winners trophy wheel during the presentation ceremony after winning the final race on Race Day 2 of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in Bermuda. Sunday 10 May 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 2026 Season. Photo: Mike Lawrence for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
But beyond the Australian victory, Bermuda also showcased what is quickly becoming SailGP’s premier rivalry. Across two days of racing on the Great Sound, Australia and reigning champions Spain consistently separated themselves from the fleet with superior tactics, cleaner maneuvers and remarkable consistency in Bermuda’s challenging conditions.
Spain entered Championship Sunday level on points with Australia after a strong opening day and briefly seized momentum with a dominant Race Five victory. But the Flying Roos responded immediately, taking control in Race Six before delivering a composed, clinical performance in the final.
The packed waterfront crowds were also treated to a breakthrough performance from Germany by Deutsche Bank, which reached its first final of the season after mastering Bermuda’s unpredictable breeze.
With New York next on the calendar, Australia leaves Bermuda firmly in control of the championship standings — but Spain’s performances on the Great Sound suggest the battle for the 2026 SailGP title is only heating up.
BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team driven by Tom Slingsby crosses the finish line to win the final race of the event on Race Day 2 of the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix in Bermuda. Sunday 10 May 2026. Rolex SailGP Championship Event 5 2026 Season. Photo: Jason Ludlow for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
Most customers restored within three hours; crews continue work in remaining areas
Update (10:00pm): Power has been largely restored to the west end following an outage caused by a fault at the Belmont substation.
BELCO President Wayne Caines said: “On Sunday evening, a fault occurred at the Belmont substation that caused an outage in the West End of the island. BELCO crews were immediately dispatched and identified an underground cable fault as the cause. Crews worked to restore power as quickly and safely as possible and, as of 10 pm, the majority of customers had been restored within 3 hours of the initial fault.
Two localised areas in the West End remain affected, with crews on site working to restore those customers now.
A full investigation will commence Monday morning. BELCO thanks all affected customers for their patience during this outage.”
Residents in the west end of the island are without power this evening following a fault at BELCO’s Belmont substation.
It is unclear how many utility customers have been impacted, but Bermuda Broadcasting understands the outage extends from Warwick west to Dockyard.
BELCO President Wayne Caines said: “At approximately 7pm on Sunday, May 10, the Belmont substation experienced a fault which caused an outage in the West End of the island. BELCO crews were immediately dispatched to determine the cause of the outage and are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
“Please note that BELCO’s online outage map may not reflect current conditions. Updates will be provided on BELCO’s social media channels. BELCO thanks customers for their patience while they work to restore power.”
Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda Third Sector Spotlight
By: Ann Spencer-Arscott, Executive Director, Bermuda Red Cross
At Bermuda Red Cross, we see the answer more clearly than most – and it should concern us all.
Vulnerability in Bermuda is often hidden in plain sight. It is the senior quietly rationing medication to make ends meet. An individual managing a chronic illness without reliable access to essential equipment. The family that has not prepared for a storm – not because they do not care, but because they do not know how or cannot afford to.
These are not isolated stories. They are warning signals.
More people in Bermuda are living closer to the edge than we might think – where a single disruption can quickly become a crisis and undo stability built over years.
Emergencies do not impact everyone equally. A hurricane, a prolonged power outage, or a sudden health crisis can be manageable for some but devastating for others. Those already facing health challenges, financial strain or limited mobility face a very different reality. Without preparation, a reliable support network or understanding of the resources and support available to them, recovery becomes harder – it can quickly become overwhelming and can spiral into a long-term setback.
What is most alarming is the growing gap between risk and readiness.
Too many people in our community are simply underprepared. They do not have an emergency plan and lack basic supplies and understanding of services and resources available to them. In a place where we are exposed to hurricanes and strong winter storms, this is not just a personal risk, it is a community-wide vulnerability
At the same time, an aging population and rising rates of chronic illness mean more individuals depend on stability to maintain independence. When that stability is disrupted – whether by disaster or personal crisis – the consequences can be immediate and severe.
But this is not inevitable.
We can keep reacting after the fact. Or we can do more, as a community, earlier, to make sure people are prepared.
This is where Bermuda Red Cross plays a vital role. Our work extends well beyond emergency response. We equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to prepare. We provide access to medical equipment that allows people to live safely and independently. And when emergencies occur, we deliver timely, targeted support to those who need it most.
In the past year alone, more than 1,300 people were trained in first aid and emergency response. Over 900 individuals accessed medical equipment through our programmes, helping them recover safely at home. And for those affected by crisis, psychosocial support helped individuals and families begin to stabilize and move forward.
Still, no single organization can close this gap on its own.
This work depends on strong partnerships across Bermuda. We work closely with government, healthcare providers, community organizations and businesses – from the Ministry of Health and Child & Family Services to organizations like HOME and Family Centre, as well as private sector partners supporting preparedness and response. These relationships help ensure we reach those most at risk, coordinate effectively in moments of crisis, and build support systems that reflect the realities people are facing.
We also operate a community thrift shop, which provides affordable access to essential goods – and, in moments of crisis, can be a lifeline for individuals and families starting over.
Building a more prepared Bermuda takes all of us. It means putting real focus on prevention, not just response. And it means recognizing that preparedness is not an extra, it is part of how we look after each other.
It also means being honest about how these systems work. The support people rely on in a crisis does not just appear. It exists because it is built, maintained, and supported over time.
And perhaps most importantly, we need to let go of the idea that vulnerability belongs to someone else. It does not. It can affect any of us – through illness, job loss, or an unexpected turn. Strengthening support for those most at risk ultimately makes all of us more secure.
So, the question is not whether Bermuda will face another emergency.
It is whether we will be ready – and whether we will make sure that no one is left to face it alone.
At Bermuda Red Cross, we see every day what preparedness makes possible. It protects independence. It preserves dignity. And in difficult moments, it gives people something simple but powerful – a sense that they can get through what comes next, together.
Because resilience is not built in the moment of crisis. It is built in the choices we make today.
Joint initiative with Government House will assess national security risks, defence capabilities and future investment needs
Government House and the Government of Bermuda have formally commenced work on the Security and Defence Review (SDR), a joint initiative that will help update Bermuda’s national security framework and guide future planning and efficient targeting of budgets across key areas of risk and resilience.
The start of this work delivers on the Government’s commitment in the 2025 Throne Speech to revisit the 2014 Security and Defence Review and ensure Bermuda’s security arrangements remain fit for purpose in a changing environment, with appropriate consideration of those areas reserved to the Governor and those delegated to the Government of Bermuda.
His Excellency, the Governor of Bermuda, Mr Andrew Murdoch CMG, in partnership with the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, have developed a review mechanism that will undertake a coordinated, cross-domain assessment of Bermuda’s security and defence posture across land, maritime, air and overlapping domains, the last of these including cyber and critical national infrastructure.
The review will bring together key stakeholders from across Bermuda’s national security architecture, including representatives from the uniformed services, air and marine operations, and cybersecurity.
The review team will also be consulting with UK military and security experts and will hold discussions with the US authorities. The process is intended to support a coherent, inclusive approach that reflects established international standards and best practice.
The Security and Defence Review panel is chaired by Dr Derrick Binns, and panel members include: Ms Catherine Duffy, CPCU, Michael DeSilva, Ombudsman for Bermuda, Capt. Alan Brooks MNI, RN, Calvin L. Smith OTPM Ret. Chief Insp., Maj (Ret) Stephen Caton, ED, CPA, CA, and intern Seon Tatem, LLB.
The review’s primary mandate is to:
Validate and assess existing risk registers and strategic risk documentation provided by agencies and the Ministry of National Security.
Assess and make recommendations across key operational domains (land, air, sea, and cross-cutting issues), focusing on the uniformed forces and their ability (including capacity, capability) to respond to Bermuda’s strategic security and defence risks.
Identify and recommend options for strategic investments, organisational reforms, and capability and capacity enhancements.
Review national security and defence governance and oversight, and as appropriate, make constitutionally compliant recommendations to improve structures.
Prepare a final report with, as appropriate, clear costed recommendations
The SDR will provide recommendations to Government House and the Cabinet for consideration. The process will conclude with a final report setting out strategic priorities and key implementation considerations for the future. The final report is due for delivery in September 2026.
Media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
Programme pairs restored Dockyard–St George’s service with live guidance, boosting access and experiences in the East End
The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) through the Bermuda Visitor Service Centre has launched a new Visitor Ambassador Programme aboard the Orange Route ferry service, further strengthening the visitor experience and improving access to the historic Town of St George.
The initiative follows the recent announcement by the Marine & Ports Unit within the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport confirming the return of the 2019 Orange Route ferry schedule, restoring direct service between Dockyard and St George’s. This enhanced route provides a significant boost for visitors travelling east, supporting long-standing calls from the St George’s community to drive traffic to attractions, businesses and properties within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As part of this coordinated effort, the BTA will place a dedicated Visitor Ambassador onboard the Orange Route ferry. The proposed schedule includes coverage Monday through Saturday on the 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. departures from Dockyard, with a return on the 2:00 p.m. ferry from St George’s. The programme is expected to run through the end of September.
Positioned at the lower-level ferry kiosk, ambassadors will engage directly with passengers, providing tailored recommendations and real-time guidance to enhance the complete on-island experience, with a particular focus on St George’s and the East End.
“Our goal is to make the visitor journey as smooth and effortless as possible by providing a friendly face with local knowledge at key moments of travel,” said Jasmine Furbert, Director of Experiences at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “All of our team members are AnchorBDA certified and equipped to answer questions, support excursion planning and guide visitors toward experiences that best suit their interests. Importantly, this initiative allows us to highlight options on both ends of the route, ensuring travellers can make the most of their time in St George’s as well as Dockyard on the return journey, and the rest of the island.”
Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport, Hon. Owen Darrell JP, MP, emphasised the collaborative nature of the initiative. “The return of the Orange Route and the introduction of onboard Visitor Ambassadors reflect strong collaboration between the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Marine & Ports unit and the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport. Together, we are enhancing connectivity, improving the visitor experience and supporting the continued growth of St George’s as a key pillar of Bermuda’s tourism offering.”
On select high-traffic days, the visitor experience will be further enhanced with the introduction of live musicians at ferry ports, adding a cultural touchpoint for travellers arriving and departing along the route.
In keeping with sustainable practices, the programme will not utilise printed materials. Instead, visitors will be directed to Bermuda’s official tourism experience calendar via QR codes, providing easy access to up-to-date information on events and activities across the island.
The BTA is also exploring opportunities to feature Bermuda content on the ferry’s digital screens. A curated selection of video assets, including St George’s-focused promotional content, may be incorporated into the onboard rotation, alongside QR-enabled visuals that link directly to experiences and itineraries.
The combined approach of enhanced ferry service and onboard engagement represents a strategic effort to increase visitation, support local businesses and ensure a more seamless and enriching experience for travellers exploring Bermuda.
Fire officers and industry representatives completed specialised training on inspections, code standards and life safety practices
The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) recently completed a two-day training course focused on fire inspections, code application, fire protection systems and building life safety.
The training was held from April 29 to 30, 2026, in collaboration with a visiting representative from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States.
The NFPA is an internationally recognised organisation that develops fire, electrical, building and life safety codes and standards used by jurisdictions, fire services, building professionals and safety practitioners around the world.
The NFPA states that its codes and standards serve as a foundation for fire, electrical and life safety globally.
The BFRS adopted the NFPA code in 2014, and the training supported the Service’s continued work to apply those standards consistently in Bermuda.
The course brought together the entire Fire Protection Division, members of the Operations Division, and community industrial stakeholders.
The aim was to build a shared understanding of practical fire prevention requirements, including how fire safety codes are applied during inspections, how hazards are identified, how fire protection systems are assessed, and how compliance supports safer buildings, workplaces and public spaces.
Building on participants’ existing familiarity with NFPA standards, the session focused on further strengthening their understanding and practical application, particularly in relation to NFPA 20 and 25 and the inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems.
The training also covered areas linked to plan review, field inspections, water-based fire protection systems, inspection, testing and maintenance, occupancy safety and life safety requirements. These are recognised areas of professional focus within NFPA’s fire inspection and fire protection training framework.
The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, greeted the participants at the start of the course and congratulated them on completing the training.
Minister Weeks said: “This training entails the principles of practical public safety. It helps ensure that the people inspecting buildings, reviewing safety requirements and working with industry have a clear and consistent understanding of the standards that protect lives and property.”
The Minister added: “I was pleased to meet the participants and thank them for their commitment. Fire safety is more than emergency response. It is involves prevention, preparation and ensuring that risks are identified before they become tragedies.
“I commend the BFRS, the NFPA instructor and the participating stakeholders for taking this work seriously.”
Chief Fire Officer Dana Lovell said the training was especially important because BFRS has followed NFPA standards for more than a decade.
Chief Lovell stated: “The BFRS adopted the NFPA code in 2014, and our firefighters and fire protection officers are ambassadors to this code. That means we must understand the standards, apply them properly and explain them clearly to the people and organisations with whom we work.”
He added: “The training given was not abstract. It dealt with the practical work our officers face when inspecting buildings, reviewing fire safety measures, assessing fire protection systems and helping property owners and industry partners understand what compliance looks like.
“It also helps ensure that the Fire Protection Division and Operations Division are speaking the same language when it comes to prevention, response and life safety.
“Fire safety is a shared responsibility. When the BFRS and industry stakeholders receive the same guidance and discuss the same standards together, it reduces confusion and supports more consistent application across Bermuda. That is important for inspections, maintenance, emergency planning and the overall safety of the community.”
The Ministry said the course forms part of the BFRS’s ongoing professional development programme and its continued commitment to fire prevention, life safety and safer built environments across Bermuda.
Media release and images supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
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