Barry University’s Cameron Basden has been named the Sunshine State Conference track athlete of the week following a record-breaking performance at the 2026 Embry-Riddle Classic.
The sophomore secured the program’s first weekly honor of the season after a display of remarkable versatility and speed. Basden’s weekend was defined by a relentless assault on the school record books, highlighted by his effort in the 200 meters where he clocked a career-best 21.55 seconds to tie the all-time program record.
The Bermudian standout was equally clinical in the 100 meters, posting a personal best of 10.63 seconds—the third-fastest time in Barry University history. Not content with dominating on the track, Basden then transitioned to the sand, recording a mark of 6.88 meters in the long jump to claim the fourth-longest leap in the school’s history.
Presented by Pollo Campero, the award recognizes a week in which Basden established himself as one of the premier dual-threat athletes in the conference. With personal bests falling in every event he entered, Basden’s momentum provides a significant boost for the Buccaneers as they head into the heart of the 2026 outdoor season.
20-year-old Parris Mitchell Robinson of Pembroke parish was charged with two offenses in connection to the death of Kawaje Raynor
A second man has been charged today in connection to the murder of Kawaje Raynor.
Appearing in Magistrates’ court, 20 year old Paris Mitchell Robinson of Pembroke Parish was charged, along with others not in attendance at court, with the unlawful killing of Kawaje Raynor. He was also charged with cruelly killing a domestic pet dog.
The offenses are said to have occurred on the 15th of March in Southampton parish.
Mr. Robinson was not required to enter a plea as the charges must be heard in the Supreme Court. Jalen Smith Lightbourne was also charged with the same offenses last week.
Both defendants are due to reappear in court during the Supreme Court Arraignment session on the 2nd of May. Senior Magistrate Maxanne Anderson remanded Mr. Robinson into custody until then.
Elsewhere, a Dominican Republican national was charged with using fraudulent Bermudian currency.
Anabel Martinez, a visitor pleaded not guilty to passing off a $50 note known to be counterfeit currency on the 18th of January and on the 21st of January in Pembroke.
With the assistance of an interpreter and duty counsel, Ms. Martinez said her return flight has been booked for June.
She requested her bail amount to be reduced to $3,000 from $5,000 and said Police had withheld her passport.
Magistrate Anderson allowed the reduced bail amount with the condition that her passport is submitted.
Ms. Martinez is due back in court on the 11th of May.
Following a landmark week at the 53rd Carifta Games, the latest NACAC outdoor rankings confirm Bermuda’s Miles Outerbridge has officially broken into the regional elite.
Outerbridge headlines the local contingent after a performance that altered the Bermudian record books. His gold-medal 100m sprint in Grenada has propelled him to 10th in the regional rankings with a time of 10.21 seconds. Crucially, he is now the second-fastest Under-20 competitor in the entire North American and Caribbean region, trailing only top-tier professional prospects.
The young sprinter’s impact extends to the 200m, where he sits 12th in the region following his national record-breaking 20.54. It marks one of the highest regional positions held by a Bermudian sprinter in the modern era.
Bermuda’s distance pedigree also remains strong; Ryan Outerbridge holds 14th in the 3000m rankings with a time of 8:29.45, while veteran Tyler Butterfield maintains 14th in the Marathon standings following his 2:25.32 performance.
As the Carifta cycle concludes, these rankings provide a formidable platform for Bermuda’s athletes as they eye qualification for the major summer meets across the NACAC circuit.
Trump announced the ceasefire less than two hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices sank below $100 a barrel and stocks and bonds surged on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran that brought some relief to markets on hopes for a resumption of oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump announced the ceasefire less than two hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure. Iran said it would cease counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway if attacks against it stop.
The market rally revived investor talk of the ‘TACO trade’ – or ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ – after past policy reversals, although some noted the damage to energy infrastructure across the Middle East over the month-long conflict would inflict long-term strains on the global economy and the prospect of a lasting peace were far from certain.
“It’s a huge relief to see that we finally have a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran,” said Nabil Milali, portfolio manager at Edmond de Rothschild, adding he believed Trump had calculated that further escalation would likely backfire.
“So he did the only other option he had in front of him, which is a unilateral TACO,” he said.
Oil prices would likely remain “structurally higher” for a while, he added.
Brent oil futures were last down 13.7% at $94.29, while U.S crude futures were down 16% at $94.93 a barrel, but were still well above pre-war levels.
European stocks rose 4%, following strong gains across Asian markets. Wall Street futures pointed to gains of 2.7%-3.5%.
The U.S. dollar fell broadly, having been the haven of choice during the tumult, with the index against other major currencies easing to 98.842. [FRX/]
“Markets can worry about the complexities later. For now, they’ve been given the green light to rally,” said Matt Simpson, a senior market analyst at StoneX.
TWO WEEKS OF RELIEF
Beyond the immediate relief, investors were keen to see whether the ceasefire leads to a broader resolution before placing major bets.
“Does it mean people are going to take new risks? No, it doesn’t,” said Martin Whetton, head of financial markets strategy at Westpac. “It would have to actually be a lasting peace (to change things). People aren’t actually taking risk.”
Gold prices climbed 1.7% to $4,783 per ounce. [GOL/]
U.S. Treasuries surged after the announcement with traders putting the prospect of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve later in the year back on the table, although doubts about whether oil prices will go back to pre-war levels kept enthusiasm in check.
The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note dropped to 4.2438%, the lowest since mid-March, while the U.S. 2-year Treasury notes sank to 3.7318%.
Euro zone government bond yields also dropped sharply, as the ceasefire prompted traders to dramatically scale back their bets on future rate hikes from the European Central Bank.
“The evolution of oil would determine if this rally (in bonds) continues or gets faded which of course depends on how the negotiations go,” said Rohan Khanna, head of euro rates strategy at Barclays.
“In the very short term, it may remove the impulse for the ECB to hike rates in April and the market has repriced that meeting accordingly, but the meeting is still three weeks away and that’s a long time in these markets.”
Reporting by Iain Withers, Tom Westbrook and Ankur Banerjee; Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Jamie Freed, Chris Reese, Shri Navaratnam, Kevin Buckland and Kim Coghill
Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda Third Sector Spotlight: The Friends of St Peter’s Church
By Alison Outerbridge, Manager, The Friends of St Peter’s Church
At the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Town of St George stands a building that quietly tells the story of Bermuda itself. St Peter’s Church, Their Majesties Chappell, is more than a historic landmark – it is a living record of the island’s past and an enduring symbol of the community that has grown around it for more than four centuries.
Recognized for its exceptional architecture and craftsmanship, St Peter’s Church reflects key phases of Bermuda’s history and holds outstanding universal value. Preserving such a site is not simply about protecting a building; it is about safeguarding the stories, traditions, and shared identity that shape our island.
This is the mission that guides the work of The Friends of St Peter’s Church.
For our organisation, preservation is both a responsibility and a privilege. St Peter’s stands as a tangible link to Bermuda’s past, offering residents and visitors alike an opportunity to experience history where it happened. Maintaining the church ensures that future generations will continue to learn from and connect with this remarkable place.
St Peter’s occupies a singular place in Bermuda’s story. It is the island’s first institution, its first church and the site of Bermuda’s earliest meeting of government. Few historic buildings carry such significance, and none face quite the same level of public engagement. and no other community church bears comparable public access demands welcoming visitors six days a week.
Today, the church welcomes approximately 35,000 visitors each year. These include more than 600 local students who participate in on-site learning experiences, along with over 100 international students who arrive aboard visiting college training vessels. Every guided tour of the Town of St George led by certified Bermudian guides includes a stop at the church, underscoring its significant role in Bermuda’s cultural landscape.
For students especially, St Peter’s offers an unmatched opportunity for place-based learning. Thanks to funding from The Friends of St Peter’s Church, Government P5 classes visit the site as part of the Bermuda National Trust Learning Journey, “The Development of Slavery in Bermuda.”
Within the church and its surrounding grounds, students explore topics such as early settlement, architecture, military occupation, enslavement and emancipation, and key moments including the American War of Independence, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. These experiences strengthen students’ understanding of Bermuda’s history while fostering a deeper sense of identity and belonging.
Yet caring for a structure of such age and significance is an ongoing challenge. Maintaining a structure of such age and importance requires ongoing care and specialised expertise.The Friends of St Peter’s Church works year-round to ensure the site remains preserved and accessible. Our efforts include identifying and funding conservation projects, providing ongoing maintenance, supporting educational programming, and fostering community engagement. Recent restoration work has included repairing blinds and windows, servicing the historic 18th-century clock, maintaining exterior cedar elements, rebuilding collapsed graves, and restoring and painting the churchyard walls.
A key part of this work involves collaborating with skilled Bermudian artisans. Their expertise in traditional masonry and carpentry is essential to preserving the authenticity of Bermuda’s built heritage. By engaging local craftspeople, we not only safeguard historic structures but also help sustain the knowledge and skills that keep these traditions alive.
The church also remains a place where history and community continue to meet. Each year, the Friends host two commemorative services, including the Pilot James Darrell Commemorative Service. This event honours a remarkable Bermudian who gained his freedom through his extraordinary skill as a pilot, later becoming one of the first King’s Pilots and the first Black Bermudian to own property. Held in the church he attended and where he is laid to rest, the service brings together community leaders, Bermuda’s Branch Pilots, the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps and descendants of Pilot Darrell to celebrate a legacy that speaks powerfully to resilience and achievement.
The work of The Friends of St Peter’s Church benefits the entire community. Bermuda’s students, residents, and international visitors all gain from the preservation of this historic site. Our trustees are St Georgians and Bermudians with deep personal connections to the church and a shared commitment to heritage preservation.
Preserving St Peter’s Church is about more than maintaining a historic structure. It is about protecting a place where Bermuda’s story continues to be told, where past and present meet, and where future generations can discover the roots of the island they call home.
He said he hoped the ceasefire would hold and that the region could return to peace after suffering from conflict and instability since late February
International News via Reuters:
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday welcomed a ceasefire declared in the Iran war, urging its full implementation on the ground and warning against any provocations or acts of sabotage.
He said he hoped the ceasefire would hold and that the region could return to peace after suffering from conflict and instability since late February, adding that Turkey would continue to support efforts towards a lasting peace.
Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler
In a video message addressed to young people, Mitsotakis said children spending long hours in front of screens do not allow their minds to rest
International News via Reuters:
Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
In a video message addressed to young people, Mitsotakis said children spending long hours in front of screens do not allow their minds to rest and face growing pressure from constant comparison and online comments.
The Greek prime minister said he had spoken with many parents who reported that their children do not sleep well, become anxious easily and spend long hours on their phones.
An opinion poll by ALCO published in February showed about 80% of those surveyed approved of a ban. The Greek government has already outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to limit teenagers’ screen time.
“Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative,” Mitsotakis said. “I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well.”
Australia became the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
Meta, Snapchat and TikTok have said they continued to believe Australia’s ban would not protect young people but committed to complying with it.
Other countries are also tightening rules on social media with the United Kingdom, Malaysia, France, Denmark and Poland either considering a ban or in the process of legislating one.
Writing separately to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Mitsotakis called for coordinated European Union action, arguing that national measures alone would not be sufficient to protect minors from internet addiction.
In the letter, he proposed establishing an EU‑wide “digital age of majority” at 15, mandating age verification and regular re-verification for all platforms, and setting up a harmonised enforcement and penalty framework, urging the bloc to put a unified system in place by the end of 2026.
Reporting by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Janane Venkatraman
The increase reflects mounting security pressures from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and growing uncertainty over U.S. commitments to NATO under President Donald Trump
International News via Reuters:
France plans to add a further 36 billion euros ($39 billion) to its defence spending between now and 2030 under an updated military planning law that expands its nuclear arsenal and boosts missile and drone stocks.
The increase, proposed despite one of the euro zone’s biggest budget deficits, reflects mounting security pressures from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and growing uncertainty over U.S. commitments to NATO under President Donald Trump.
The revised 2024–2030 law would lift defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade from about 2% now, with the annual budget reaching 76.3 billion euros in 2030, almost double its 2017 level.
“The deep and brutal shift in the balance of international geopolitics forces us to go harder and faster,” Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin wrote in a summary of the bill issued on Wednesday. “France has acknowledged the global shift toward enduring and multidimensional conflict.”
EXPANDING FRANCE’S NUCLEAR DETERRENT
France complies with NATO’s 2% target but the range of defence commitments it funds is broader than most, from a nuclear arsenal to an aircraft carrier. Meanwhile it is aiming to cut its budget deficit from around 5% of GDP to the European Union ceiling of 3% by 2029.
Central to the defence update is the strengthening of the nuclear deterrent, announced by President Emmanuel Macron in March when he also opened the door to allowing European partners to host French aircraft on nuclear deterrence missions.
The draft law proposes an increase in the number of nuclear warheads, whilst maintaining nuclear arms spending at about 13% of the overall defence budget.
France spends roughly 5.6 billion euros ($6.0 billion) a year to maintain its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched weapons — the world’s fourth-largest arsenal.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has highlighted major gaps in NATO allies’ arsenals, shortages that the conflict in the Middle East has compounded. The bill sharply increases investment in conventional capabilities.
An extra 8.5 billion euros will be earmarked for rebuilding stocks of artillery shells, air defence interceptors and long‑range missiles.
The draft also emphasises the importance of deep-strike capabilities, with studies launched for a new conventional ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles), alongside upgrades to cruise missiles.
Air and missile defences will see additional funding of 1.6 billion euros to accelerate delivery of SAMP/T NG systems, co-produced with Italy, and expand counter‑drone capabilities on land, at sea and around critical infrastructure.
Drone and robotic warfare will receive another 2 billion euros, including expanded naval and MALE (medium-altitude, long-endurance) capabilities, with a view to replacing U.S.-made Reaper drones by 2035, as well as robots that dive to the ocean floor.
Highlighting concerns over Europe’s reliance on the United States for its security, France also plans to develop an early‑warning system capable of detecting missile launches.
That would include ground‑based radar and a planned European infrared detection satellite by 2035.
Reporting by John Irish; editing by Richard Lough and Kevin Liffey
The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington’s European allies in recent weeks
International News via Reuters:
President Donald Trump welcomes NATO chief Mark Rutte to the White House on Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed U.S. relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.
The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington’s European allies in recent weeks for what he said was inadequate support for the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran. Trump said on Tuesday the attacks would be paused after the two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
Trump has called for countries that depend on oil from the Gulf region to break Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, but European countries are unlikely to join mine-clearing or other missions to free up navigation as long as hostilities continue, according to two European diplomats.
Iran has vowed to obstruct the vital chokepoint with mines until the war ends.
A ‘DANGEROUS POINT’ FOR THE ALLIANCE
Rutte, known in Europe as a “Trump whisperer,” has cultivated a warm relationship with Trump despite the tensions and referred to him last year as a “daddy” handling a schoolyard brawl between Israel and Iran. Another European diplomat described Rutte’s approach to Trump as deferential but effective.
Conflict over Iran has worsened transatlantic anxieties over Ukraine, Greenland and military spending, although senior U.S. officials have privately reassured European governments that the administration remains committed to NATO, according to one of the two European officials, who was involved in such conversations.
“This is a dangerous point for the transatlantic alliance,” said Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokesperson now at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.
When the two men meet, Rutte is likely to express a shared interest in restoring normal maritime trade after hostilities caused energy prices to spike globally, the first two diplomats said. He is also expected to attempt to sway the U.S. leader away from public criticism of the alliance, while touting steps European countries are taking to increase defense spending.
A NATO official said Rutte would seek to increase defense-industry cooperation and to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
But it is unclear whether NATO, a defensive alliance focused on North America and Europe, would play an extensive role in the Middle East. Rutte has not been tasked by European leaders with committing to an operation in the Strait of Hormuz when he meets with Trump, according to one of the diplomats.
“I expect he will keep up the dialogue on Ukraine and burden-shifting within NATO,” another senior European diplomat said, adding that the former Dutch politician has said alliance members “should lean into opening Hormuz” after a ceasefire.
Trump’s Oval Office meetings with foreign leaders are often a spectacle, with both praise and grievances aired publicly before television cameras. The White House has not said whether Trump and Rutte’s meeting would be open to the press.
TRUMP CALLS NATO A ‘PAPER TIGER’
NATO, which includes European countries, the U.S. and Canada, was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West’s security ever since.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly called NATO a “paper tiger” that is unhelpful in times of need. Asked by a Reuters reporter earlier this month about withdrawing from NATO, Trump said: “Wouldn’t you if you were me?”
His focus on the Middle East has also further threatened to divert U.S. weapons from Ukraine, whose defense is a major priority for most of NATO’s European members. Trump’s criticism of Ukraine, engagement with Russia and threats to take over Greenland from NATO member Denmark have alarmed those allies.
“He has been disappointed by NATO and other allies’ unwillingness to be helpful throughout Operation Epic Fury, even though his effort to destroy the threat posed by Iran is to their benefit,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “As he said, the United States will remember.”
Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Lili Bayer in Brussels; Additional reporting by John Irish and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Edmund Klamann
One attacker was killed and two others were wounded in the extended gun battle with police outside the tower building in Istanbul’s main financial district that houses the consulate
International News via Reuters:
Turkish authorities have detained 10 people in connection with Tuesday’s gun attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul as the investigation widened, Turkish media reported on Wednesday.
One attacker was killed and two others were wounded in the extended gun battle with police outside the tower building in Istanbul’s main financial district that houses the consulate.
Those detained include the two wounded assailants, who are being questioned in hospital as they undergo treatment, state-owned news agency Anadolu reported. The remaining eight suspects were arrested in operations in Istanbul and the nearby province of Kocaeli following the attack, it reported.
The interior ministry declined to comment on the detentions, while Istanbul police and the prosecutor’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.
Authorities have not detailed a motive for the assault, and the investigation is ongoing. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack in a post on X called it an attack on the Israeli consulate and condemned it.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci has said the three attackers had links to a group that “exploits religion” without specifying further. Two of them were brothers, who had travelled in a rented car from the city of Izmit, he added.
The attacker killed at the scene was identified as Yunus Emre Sarban, according to an interior ministry source.
Sarban had previously been linked to financial networks with ties to the Islamic State militant group, leading to his assets being frozen in 2021, according to the government’s Official Gazette.
Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler and Joe Bavier
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