With no signs of de-escalation in the Iran conflict, benchmark Brent futures prices have settled above $100 per barrel for the past four sessions
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after Iraq resumed crude exports via pipeline to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, providing hopes for some relief amid disrupted supply from Gulf producers.
With no signs of de-escalation in the Iran conflict, benchmark Brent futures prices have settled above $100 per barrel for the past four sessions.
After rising more than 3% on Tuesday, Brent futures were down 31 cents, or 0.3%, to $103.12 a barrel by 0902 GMT on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.56, or 1.6%, to $94.65.
In Iraq, North Oil Company sources said exports had resumed via pipeline after Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) agreed on Tuesday to restart flows. Two oil officials said last week that Iraq was seeking to pump at least 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) through the port.
“Despite this development, supply relief remains limited, with Iraq’s production at roughly one-third of pre-crisis levels and tanker traffic through Hormuz still largely restricted,” MUFG analyst Soojin Kim said.
Oil production from Iraq’s main southern oilfields, where most of its crude is produced and exported, had plunged by 70% to just 1.3 million bpd, sources said on March 8, as the Iran conflict effectively shut the vital Strait of Hormuz through which some 20% of global oil passes.
Iran confirmed on Tuesday that its security chief Ali Larijani had been killed in an Israeli attack. He is the most senior figure targeted since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war at the end of February.
A senior Iranian official said Iran’s new supreme leader had rejected de-escalation offers conveyed by intermediary countries.
The U.S. military said on Tuesday it had targeted sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz because Iranian anti-ship missiles posed a risk to international shipping there.
Larijani’s death and the U.S. military’s strikes on Iranian coastal positions near the strait raised some hopes that the conflict could end sooner, said Mingyu Gao, chief researcher for energy and chemicals at China Futures.
Meanwhile, Libya’s National Oil Corporation said early on Wednesday that flows from the Sharara oilfield were being gradually redirected through alternative pipelines after a fire broke out.
U.S. crude stocks rose by 6.56 million barrels in the week ended March 13, market sources said, citing API figures on Tuesday, well above a rise of about 380,000 barrels seen in a Reuters poll.
Additional reporting by Sam Li in Beijing and Siyi Liu in Singapore; editing by Jacqueline Wong and Jason Neely
It was slightly firmer against the euro, which dipped after two sessions of gains as traders awaited the start of a two-day European Central Bank meeting
International News via Reuters:
The U.S. dollar inched higher on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices steadied currency markets ahead of a series of central bank meetings.
The greenback was little changed against the British pound and Japanese yen, which pulled back from levels where traders had braced for possible intervention by Tokyo ahead of a meeting in Washington between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
It was slightly firmer against the euro, which dipped after two sessions of gains as traders awaited the start of a two-day European Central Bank meeting.
CENTRAL BANKS SEEN ON HOLD
The dollar has strengthened overall since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran almost three weeks ago, reaching a 10-month high late last week as the conflict and rising oil prices drove investors into safe-haven U.S. assets.
With no sign of de-escalation, Brent futures prices have settled above $100 a barrel for four consecutive sessions, though prices dipped on Wednesday after Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agreed to resume oil exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port.
Global stocks rose for a third day as steadier energy prices offered some relief.
“With the rise in crude oil prices appearing to pause for the moment, it’s not as though conditions have improved dramatically, but for now, markets across the board seem to be recovering somewhat,” said Hirofumi Suzuki, chief foreign exchange strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
“In the case of USD/JPY, you could say it has moved a bit in the direction of yen strength.”
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, edged up 0.1% to 99.61. The euro was down 0.1% at $1.153.
Sterling was little changed at $1.335, as was the yen at 158.95 per dollar.
Japan’s prime minister is due to depart on Wednesday for her meeting with Trump. Besides the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, Takaichi is likely to discuss a second round of Japanese investment in the U.S. as part of tariff deals.
The U.S. Federal Reserve will announce its policy decision on Wednesday, with the ECB, Bank of England and Bank of Japan following a day later.
They are all widely expected to maintain interest rates but traders will look for clues on where borrowing costs are heading amid a potential inflationary shock from the Middle East war.
Money markets broadly expect the Fed to cut rates once this year, compared with the two reductions priced in before the conflict.
“The focus will very much be on the potential implications on inflation stemming from the conflict in the Middle East,” Derek Halpenny, a senior currency analyst at MUFG, said of the Fed’s decision.
Yet he added: “We would be surprised to see any big rates or FX moves this evening given the likelihood of a balanced communication with no strong signals.”
The ECB is expected to raise interest rates in 2026, reversing expectations in February for the possibility of a further cut.
Reporting by Rocky Swift and Satoshi Sugiyama in Tokyo and Harry Robertson in London. Editing by Christopher Cushing and Mark Potter
Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army and neigbhbours Iran, said last week the alliance had deployed a Patriot system to its southeastern Malatya province
International News via Reuters:
NATO is deploying another U.S. Patriot missile defence system to the southern Turkish province of Adana, where personnel from the United States and other countries are located in the Incirlik Air Base, Turkey’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army and neigbhbours Iran, said last week the alliance had deployed a Patriot system to its southeastern Malatya province, near a NATO radar base, as part of steps to boost air defences against missile threats from the Iran war.
Adana hosts Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, where personnel from the United States, Qatar, Spain, and Poland are located, as well as Turkish troops.
“In addition to national-level measures taken to ensure the security of our airspace and our citizens, another Patriot system, commissioned by Allied Air Command in Ramstein/Germany, is being deployed in Adana, in addition to the existing Spanish Patriot system stationed there,” the ministry said at a weekly briefing.
Turkey, an emerging leader in the global defence industry, lacks its own fully fledged air defences despite development efforts, and has relied on NATO air defences stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to intercept three missiles it says were fired from Iran since the war began.
Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer
Worldwide, billions of users of Meta’s platforms have been exposed to ads for fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos and banned medical products
International News via Reuters:
U.S. tech giant Meta has repeatedly failed to stop illegal ads for high-risk financial products running on its platforms in Britain, despite committing to block them, according to a review by the country’s financial regulator.
Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority found that during one week in November, 1,052 ads for currency trading and certain complex financial instruments were posted on Meta’s platforms by advertisers not authorised by the regulator to promote them.
What’s more, 56% of those ads were from an unspecified number of unauthorised advertisers the FCA had already flagged to Meta, according to the results of the review seen by Reuters and reported here for the first time.
Worldwide, billions of users of Meta’s platforms have been exposed to ads for fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos and banned medical products, according to internal Meta documents previously reported by Reuters.
Britain’s FCA warned last year that people were increasingly being targeted on social media by online trading scams where fraudsters offer currency trades. Its review was an attempt to see how successful Meta has been at weeding out the rogue ads.
Asked about the FCA’s findings, Ryan Daniels, a spokesperson for Meta, said it fights fraud and scams aggressively on a global level and takes swift action on the vast majority of reports within days.
The regulator focused on Meta’s platforms – which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – because they carry a disproportionate amount of suspicious financial ads, a person familiar with the FCA’s work said.
“Fraud is the most common crime in the UK,” an FCA spokesperson said. “With over half of some scams originating on their platforms, it’s vital Meta steps up and uses its tools to protect users from scam content.”
The regulator repeated its review of posts on Meta for another week in December. It again found that a small number of repeat offenders were responsible for the majority of the illegal ads it discovered, the person familiar with the FCA’s work said, without giving a breakdown of the number of illegal ads or repeat offenders.
The person said that despite regular engagement with Meta over the issue of scam ads, the FCA has failed to see a material difference in its approach and will continue to test the company’s controls and monitoring systems.
“Any suggestion that we ignore FCA reports misrepresents our ongoing efforts to protect people,” Meta’s Daniels said.
The company said further that advertisers running financial services ads in Britain were required to be authorised by the FCA and were responsible for complying with applicable law.
LEGAL BLACK HOLE
Britain’s Online Safety Act, which allows regulators to fine social media companies up to 10% of global revenue for running illegal user-generated content, started coming into force in March 2025. However, the provision giving them power to take action over scam ads which have been paid for has been delayed until at least 2027.
In the absence of legislation, Meta made a voluntary commitment back in 2022 to only allow firms authorised by the financial regulator to run financial services advertisements and updated its UK policy to reflect that commitment.
The FCA has no power to take action against Meta itself, because it is regulated by communications watchdog Ofcom. When it comes to paid-for scam ads, Ofcom also remains powerless until the provision in the Online Safety Act comes into effect.
“We’re working at pace to implement this. The timeline has been affected by factors beyond our control, in particular a legal challenge against the government,” an Ofcom spokesperson said, adding that it had proposed social media companies use automated technology to detect and remove fraudulent content.
The FCA can take action against unauthorised advertisers for running financial ads on social media platforms, although many of them are outside Britain.
It issues alerts to consumers to avoid unauthorised firms, has charged and fined unauthorised influencers in Britain for promoting high-risk products on social media and regularly asks social media platforms to take down illegal financial ads.
Britain’s National Crime Agency, meanwhile, has successfully taken down financial scam networks targeting Britons on social media platforms from countries such as Nigeria.
Fraud Minister David Hanson said he would continue to raise the issue of the need for tech firms to do more to tackle scams with Meta and other platforms until the fraudulent ad provision in the Online Safety Act comes into force.
“In the meantime … I expect them to go further and faster in standing up to this threat,” he told Reuters.
The FCA’s review was limited to ads for foreign exchange trading and contracts for difference (CFDs) because it has identified such products as being of particularly high risk of harming consumers, the person familiar with the FCA’s work said.
CFDs are complex derivative products used to speculate on price movements on a wide range of assets, including currencies. Because losses can far exceed initial investments, the FCA mandates strict protections for investors, such as requiring firms to disclose what proportion of their clients lost money.
Reuters was unable to determine the total number of currency and CFD ads posted on Meta’s platforms during the weeks the FCA reviewed. Meta did not respond when asked for a weekly tally.
ROGUE AD RUNS IN BRITAIN, BLOCKED IN AUSTRALIA
To test how effective Meta is at blocking potential scams under different regulatory regimes, a Reuters reporter created a suspicious investment promotion to run on Facebook teasing 10% returns a week.
Reuters tried to run the ad in Britain – where Meta doesn’t risk any financial penalty for running scam ads – and Australia, where it faces fines of up to A$50 million ($35 million) if it fails to detect scams under that country’s mandatory approach to financial advertiser verification.
During the ad verification process for both countries, Meta asked Reuters to declare if the ad was for financial services by ticking a box. To try to emulate scammers, it didn’t tick the box in either case.
The ad ran in Britain without further scrutiny. Reuters pulled the ad shortly after it was approved by Meta.
In Australia, even though Reuters hadn’t flagged the ad as being for financial services, Meta blocked it anyway and asked the news agency to prove it was authorised by Australia’s financial regulator to run ads for financial services.
Meta said in emailed comments that the ad posted by Reuters in Australia was caught because of enhancements in its process in that country for financial services verification, without explaining what those enhancements were.
Meta said it was working to identify more effective safeguards that worked globally. It said it had increased the percentage of ad revenue globally coming from verified advertisers to 70% in 2025 from 55% at the end of 2024.
Martin Lewis, a consumer rights campaigner in Britain, said big tech companies needed to stop framing the fight against scam adverts as a technological problem.
“This is a financial problem. If you spend enough money, you can stop the scammers, and we need to change the economics so it is worth their while to spend the money to stop the scammers,” he told Reuters.
RESET TECH DATA
Reset Tech, a digital rights advocacy group, examined Meta’s ad library over a two-week period in July and August.
It looked for ads referencing three British banks – Barclays, HSBC and Revolut – and then looked at which of those ads had three or more “red-flags”, such as offers of impossible returns, suspicious domains or fake endorsements.
Reset Tech found 51.1% of the 2,913 ads it identified were likely scams, such as suspected fraudulent investments schemes, credit offers or government support schemes. It estimated Meta could host 29,068 scam ads referencing the banks over a year, translating into 53.6 million cumulative exposures across Britain and the EU.
Reuters couldn’t independently verify Reset’s findings, which haven’t previously been reported.
Meta said Reset Tech’s report employed subjective and unreliable classification criteria to determine “suspected scams” and “suspicious ads”, none of which the advocacy group could verify as being actual scams.
Meta said the report showed suspected scams had significantly lower reach than legitimate ads and that was proof its systems were successfully limiting the distribution of potentially violating content.
Barclays said a survey it commissioned last year of 2,000 people in Britain showed eight in 10 think tech firms should do more to stop scams. It said banks, social media platforms, tech firms and telecoms companies should work together to stop fraud.
Revolut said Meta’s platforms were the biggest source of authorised fraud reported to it. The bank said Meta must act urgently to improve the effectiveness of its verification systems and show its anti-scam initiatives were having a tangible impact.
HSBC declined to comment.
($1 = 1.4021 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Phoebe Seers and Tommy Reggiori Wilkes in London, Jeff Horwitz in San Francisco; Editing by David Clarke
The pan-European benchmark STOXX 600 was up 0.5% to 605.59 points by 0810 GMT
International News via Reuters:
European shares extended their rebound on Wednesday as retreating crude prices boosted sentiment, while investors also awaited an interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The pan-European benchmark STOXX 600 was up 0.5% to 605.59 points by 0810 GMT. The index gained for a third straight session, its longest such streak in a month.
Global markets rallied as oil prices paused gains, even as hostilities intensified between Israel and Iran following the killing of Tehran’s security chief.
Energy sector edged 0.3% lower, on track to snap an eight-day winning streak on crude’s pullback, while financial stocks provided the biggest boost to the benchmark.
Among individual movers, Diploma jumped 14.5% after the technical products and services distributor raised its fiscal year 2026 guidance.
Bollore jumped 15.7% after the company proposed an exceptional dividend of 1.5 euros per share.
On the macro front, the euro zone’s final reading for February consumer prices was due later in the day.
Investors will now closely parse the Fed’s outlook for new policy decisions post the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.
Reporting by Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman
Bermuda seeks regulatory alignment and innovation partnerships with US counterparts
The Premier and Minister of Finance, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, will represent Bermuda at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 17 – 18, 2026, in Washington, DC.
The Summit brings together federal lawmakers, regulators, and senior industry leaders to shape the future of blockchain and digital asset regulation in the United States.
Bermuda’s participation reflects the Government’s continued commitment to responsible innovation through practical policy and public-private collaboration, and to deepening partnerships with key international stakeholders at a pivotal moment for global digital asset regulation.
The Summit provides a structured forum for high-level dialogue on regulatory clarity, market integrity, consumer protection, and US competitiveness in financial innovation as the country progresses their market structure bill: The CLARITY Act.
It also presents a strategic opportunity to formalise cross-jurisdiction collaboration between Bermuda and U.S. stakeholders, with Bermuda positioned as a leading regulated hub for digital assets and financial innovation.
Premier Burt will engage US regulatory and policy counterparts on priority areas, including stablecoin frameworks, payments interoperability, tokenised markets, digital asset insurance, and financial market integrity, building on Bermuda’s established regulatory leadership under the Digital Asset Business Act (DABA) and the oversight of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA).
Premier Burt will participate in a fireside discussion with an executive from the Stellar Development Foundation, which is a key partner in Bermuda’s wider digital finance strategy. With Bermuda having publicly committed to transitioning to an on-chain economy, the Summit offers a timely opportunity to align domestic initiatives with the international standards being shaped by Bermuda’s largest trading partners, particularly on stablecoins, payments interoperability, AML compliance, and market integrity.
These engagements will advance the Government’s broader strategy to position Bermuda as a trusted, innovation-friendly jurisdiction for regulated digital asset activity, including through bilateral meetings with US federal agencies, policymakers, global asset managers, financial institutions, and technology partners.
The Government’s participation underscores Bermuda’s commitment to building the international partnerships and regulatory alignment needed to lead responsibly in the global digital economy.
Premier Burt said, “Bermuda’s leadership in digital finance has always been built on practical policy, strong partnerships and collaboration. This Summit is an opportunity to continue that work and share best practices with our U.S. counterparts at an important moment for the industry.
“As the United States advances its own regulatory framework, there is a clear opportunity to align our approaches on digital payments, financial innovation, and market standards. Bermuda has committed to transitioning to an on-chain economy, and the partnerships we build at forums like this are essential to ensuring that transition is responsible, aligned with international standards, and beneficial for both jurisdictions.”
Minister tells BPSU delegates to engage, empower and evolve, at triennial conference
The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, underscored the need for a modern, responsive labour movement as he addressed the Bermuda Public Service Union’s (BPSU) 9th Triennial Delegates Conference held on March 11.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Hayward urged delegates to actively shape the future of the union and Bermuda’s workforce, highlighting the importance of engagement, inclusivity, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world of work.
The conference, held under the theme “Engage, Empower, Evolve,” brought together union leadership, delegates, and members to reflect on progress and set priorities for the years ahead.
In his remarks, Minister Hayward pointed to the BPSU’s enduring role as a cornerstone of Bermuda’s labour movement and its continued advocacy for workers’ rights and protections.
“The story of Bermuda’s labour movement cannot be told without the BPSU,” the Minister said. “This organisation has played a central role in advancing the rights and well-being of workers across our country.”
Drawing on his personal experience, Minister Hayward described the union as instrumental in his own development, crediting it with shaping his leadership and commitment to public service.
“The BPSU is the institution that helped shape who I am today,” he said. “It instilled in me the values of leadership, good governance, and advocacy on behalf of workers.”
The Minister emphasised that the conference provides a critical opportunity for reflection and forward planning, enabling members to assess challenges and align on a shared vision.
“This conference is an important moment to evaluate where we are and where we need to go,” he said. “It is through honest dialogue and collective effort that we strengthen the organisation.”
Highlighting the conference theme, Minister Hayward encouraged delegates to ensure all voices are heard and valued, noting that empowering members is essential to building a strong and sustainable union.
“Every member has a role to play,” he said. “We must create spaces where individuals feel confident to contribute and are encouraged to participate fully in shaping the organisation.”
He also stressed the importance of evolution within the labour movement, particularly in response to technological change, shifting workforce dynamics, and global uncertainty.
“The world of work is changing, and our institutions must evolve with it,” the Minister said. “We must remain grounded in our principles while adapting to meet new challenges.”
Referencing past union-led initiatives, including efforts to address workplace bullying and harassment, the Minister highlighted the broader national impact of the BPSU’s work.
“These efforts demonstrate how the union’s work extends beyond its membership and contributes to improving standards across the entire country,” he said.
Minister Hayward concluded by reaffirming the importance of strong unions in supporting national development and encouraged delegates to approach the conference with purpose.
“A strong labour movement is essential to a strong community,” he said. “Together, we can continue to advance the rights of workers and build a fairer future for all.”
He also thanked outgoing executive members for their service and welcomed incoming leadership, wishing all participants a productive and successful conference.
‘The Story of Us’ campaign ‘invites Bermudians to explore the historical and cultural connections between Bermuda and the Caribbean’
‘The Story of Us’ campaign video features Bermudians talking about our connection with the Caribbean
Government is looking to get Bermuda on board with its CARICOM plans with a new public awareness campaign.
Following up on the release of the Green Paper on full CARICOM membership, the campaign is entitled ‘The Story of Us’.
A press release states that it “invites Bermudians to explore the historical and cultural connections between Bermuda and the Caribbean, while engaging directly with the Green Paper, which outlines the case, the questions, and the protections associated with full CARICOM membership”.
A video message accompanies the launch of the campaign, featuring Former Premier Dr Ewart Brown, Former Deputy Premier Walter Roban, Former MP Walter Lister,Reverend Nicholas Tweed, Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne and others.
“If you look at the history of Bermuda, you don’t have to go too far to find that there’s always been a very strong connection,” says Dr Brown.
Walter Roban adds: “When you look at all the facts, t shows that we are inextricably connected to the Caribbean’s economic development, its historical development.”
Alexa Lightbourne concludes: “Bermuda’s story is a Caribbean story. Remember who you are and who we are.”
The Home Affairs Minister encouraged Bermudians to read the Green Paper, reflect on the information, and share their perspectives.
So far, the survey indicates that out of 22 Bermudians who have responded, the majority consider stronger food security as the most important potential benefit of full CARICOM membership.
Government of Bermuda Press Release:
The Ministry of Home Affairs today launched The Story of US, a public engagement campaign designed to support informed national dialogue on Bermuda’s application for full membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The campaign invites Bermudians to explore the historical and cultural connections between Bermuda and the Caribbean, while engaging directly with the Green Paper, which outlines the case, the questions, and the protections associated with full CARICOM membership. The campaign engagement can be seen here:Remember – The Story of Us.
Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP, said, “This campaign is about grounding the conversation in who we are as a people. Bermuda’s connections to the Caribbean are reflected in our culture, our families, and our shared history.
“Deeper engagement with CARICOM is about building on those connections and bringing Bermuda into the centre of regional decision-making, ensuring our diverse community has a stronger voice on the issues that shape daily life, from food security and climate resilience to economic opportunity and skills development, while maintaining the protections and constitutional framework that define Bermuda.”
Since the release of the Green Paper on March 9th, there has been strong public interest across the community.
Minister Lightbourne added, “I have had meaningful engagement with Bermudians across the island. Some perspectives are supportive. Others raise important questions. That is exactly what consultation is about; thoughtful discussion grounded in accurate information.”
The Green Paper sets out key facts about what full membership would and would not change for Bermuda.
What does not change:
Bermuda retains full control over its immigration policy. There is no automatic free movement of labour. The United Kingdom remains responsible for defence and external security. Bermuda’s laws, identity, and institutions remain distinctly Bermudian.
What could change:
Bermuda could gain a voice and vote in regional decision-making. Access could expand to regional programmes, partnerships, and opportunities. Bermudians could help shape decisions on issues that already affect them and the island.
Any future steps would be measured and deliberate, consistent with Bermuda’s national interests and constitutional framework. The Ministry encourages all residents to participate in the consultation process by reading the Green Paper and sharing their views.
Members of the public can visit TogetherForCaricom to access the Green Paper, complete the public consultation survey, and learn more about upcoming engagement opportunities, including town halls and community discussions.
Minister Lightbourne concluded, “This is a moment for Bermudians to engage, to ask questions, and to consider what lies ahead. Read the Green Paper, reflect on the information, and share your perspective.”
The wide gulf in regional standings was laid bare in San Rafael today as the United States opened the Concacaf Under-17 Women’s Final Round with a clinical 18–0 victory over a resilient but overwhelmed Bermuda.
The American onslaught began almost immediately. University of North Carolina standout Deus Stanislaus found the net in the third minute to spark a first-half flurry. Amari Manning quickly added a double, while Stanislaus and Taylor Morrell ensured the United States went into the interval with a commanding six-goal lead.
Bermuda’s afternoon was further complicated when star striker Milan Gibbons-Thomas was forced off in the 35th minute following a heavy collision with US goalkeeper Alexis Fischer, leaving Daisy Langley to lead the line for the remainder of the contest.
Despite trailing at the break, the statistics told the story of a Bermudian side under constant pressure. The US commanded nearly 80% of possession and fired 11 shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half saw no reprieve as the United States found another gear. Mia Corona and Maddie DiMaria struck within minutes of the restart, before Stanislaus completed her hat-trick in the 53rd minute. The goals continued to flow with relentless precision as Morrell and Loradana Paletta added to the tally, while substitute Mak Whitham netted a late brace.
In the final ten minutes, Giselle Aguilar, Jordyn Heathcock, and Gianna Hanf closed out the scoring to seal a record-breaking result. While the final statistics showed 43 shots from the US, Bermuda’s young squad showed flashes of determination, slightly improving their possession numbers in the second period.
Gary Adams’ side must now regroup quickly as they turn their attention to a pivotal clash with Puerto Rico, where they will look to reignite their campaign for a historic World Cup berth.
Diplomats and political analysts had expected an easy victory for Sassou, 82, who was running against six little-known challengers
International News via Reuters:
Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected with 94.82% of the vote, state television said on Tuesday, extending his nearly 42 years leading the Central African oil producer.
Diplomats and political analysts had expected an easy victory for Sassou, 82, who was running against six little-known challengers, in an election whose run-up was tightly controlled by the ruling Congolese Labour Party.
The main opposition parties opted not to field candidates, citing a lack of transparency, and two of the best-known opposition figures, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and Andre Okombi Salissa, have been in jail for nearly a decade.
Human rights activists were arrested, several opposition parties were suspended and public gatherings were closely monitored in the run-up to the election, said Joe Washington Ebina, a Congolese human rights activist.
Voting on Sunday was marred by late openings at some polling stations and a nationwide internet blackout.
State television on Tuesday reported turnout of 84.65%, though many polling stations in Brazzaville on Sunday had short lines or no lines at all.
Defeated candidates have five days to file a challenge, and the Constitutional Court has 15 days to examine any challenges before publishing final results.
Reporting by Congo Republic Newsroom; Writing by Clement Bonnerot; Editing by Bate Felix and Robbie Corey-Boulet
Bermudian pageant queen Ms. Gina Swainson was honoured today with the unveiling of a new road in St. George’s in her name
‘Gina Swainson Way’ was revealed today named after historic Bermudian pageant queen, Gina Ann Swainson.
The ceremony was held Tuesday morning near the Government Hill Road in St. George’s parish were several government MPs, the Mayor of St. George’s Quinell Francis, community leaders and members of the public gathered to watch the unveiling.
Born June 6th 1958, Ms. Swainson was the first Bermudian to be crowned Ms. World in 1979 in London at the age of 21. She later went on to become first runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant held in Australia.
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