Hayward: PLP colleagues are confident in leadership bid
October will see the de facto election of Bermuda’s next Premier. Only one contender… for now
The PLP Leadership contest is so far a one-horse race – but it’s a long time until the party election in October.
Gary Foster Skelton spoke to Jason Hayward about his recent claim to the throne, so to speak.
However, Gary was unable to pry any plans out of another perceived potential contender – Curtis Dickinson…
WATCH the report above.
Airlines raise fares as Middle East conflict lifts fuel costs, disrupts flights
Jet fuel prices, which were around $85 to $90 per barrel before U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, have soared to between $150 and $200
International News via Reuters:
Australia’s Qantas Airways, Scandinavia’s SAS and Air New Zealand announced airfare hikes on Tuesday, blaming an abrupt spike in the cost of fuel caused by the Middle East conflict that is rattling global aviation.
Jet fuel prices, which were around $85 to $90 per barrel before U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, have soared to between $150 and $200, New Zealand’s flag carrier said as it suspended its financial outlook for 2026 due to uncertainty over the conflict.
The war has disrupted a key oil-export corridor, driving up airline costs, pushing fares higher on some routes and deepening concern about a broader hit to global travel.
“Increases of this magnitude make it necessary to react in order to maintain stable and reliable operations,” an SAS spokesperson said, adding it had implemented a “temporary price adjustment.”
The largest Scandinavian airline last year temporarily adjusted its fuel hedging policy due to uncertain market conditions and said that it had no fuel consumption hedged for the following 12 months.
Several Asian and European airlines, including Lufthansa and Ryanair, have oil hedging in place, securing a part of their fuel supplies at fixed prices.
Finnair, which had hedged over 80% of its first-quarter fuel purchases, warned that even the availability of fuel could be at risk if the conflict dragged on.
“A prolonged crisis could affect not only the price of fuel but also its availability, at least temporarily,” a Finnair spokesperson said, adding that this was not happening yet.
Kuwait, a major jet fuel exporter to north-west Europe, has faced output cuts.
AIRSPACE CHAOS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Highlighting the airspace chaos in the Middle East, planes arriving in Dubai were briefly placed in a holding pattern on Tuesday due to a potential missile attack, flight tracking service Flightradar24 said on X. The planes eventually landed.
Airlines are already adjusting networks and prices in response. Qantas said it was exploring redeploying capacity to Europe as airlines and passengers seek to evade disruptions in the Middle East, while Cathay Pacific said it would add flights to London and Zurich in March as airspace closures and capacity constraints drive up fares on Asia-Europe routes.
Air New Zealand said it has raised fares across domestic, short‑haul and long‑haul routes, warning that further price or schedule changes may follow if jet‑fuel costs remain elevated. Hong Kong Airlines also announced it will increase fuel surcharges by up to 35.2% starting Thursday.
Air India said on Tuesday it would begin a phased increase of fuel surcharges on its domestic and international routes, citing rising jet‑fuel prices.
Some European carriers said they saw no immediate need to raise prices. IAG, the owner of British Airways, said it was well hedged for the near term and had no plans to adjust fares. British Airways, however, said it had brought forward the end of its winter-season flights to Abu Dhabi because of the “continuing uncertainty.”
AIRLINE SHARES STABILISE AFTER SELLOFF
Some airline stocks rose as oil prices fell to around $90 a barrel on Tuesday from a high of $119 on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the war could be over soon.
In Europe, airline shares were up between 4% and 7%. Shares of major U.S. carriers Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines were down between 1% and 2% in afternoon trade.
Most major U.S. airlines no longer hedge their fuel costs, unlike European and Asian carriers that continue to maintain active hedging programs. Fuel is typically their second-largest expense after labor.
Without the protection of fuel hedges, airlines have little choice but to lean on higher fares to offset rising costs. Deutsche Bank’s latest data shows U.S. airfares climbing quickly, with both last-minute tickets and advance-purchase fares surging over the past week.
With passenger traffic continuing to outpace the growth in airline seat capacity, and some carriers forecasting record spring break demand, analysts say the backdrop should help the market absorb higher fares.
Rising fuel costs are also expected to push airlines to slow their growth plans, effectively boosting their pricing power. Still, it remains unclear whether these steps will be enough to fully protect profit margins.
Major U.S. carriers are widely expected to update their outlooks ahead of an industry conference next week, but some analysts have already trimmed their profit and capacity forecasts for the current quarter and the full year. Analysts at Melius, for example, have cut their net‑income estimates by 10%.
CONFLICTS SHRINKING AVAILABLE AIRSPACE
In addition to high fuel costs, tightening airspace also threatens to derail the global travel industry, as pilots reroute to avoid the Middle East conflict and capacity on popular routes fills up.
Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad typically jointly account for about one-third of the passenger traffic between Europe and Asia and fly more than half of all passengers from Europe to Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, according to Cirium.
European airlines have already struggled with the shortage of available airspace created by the war in Ukraine, with many avoiding Russian airspace and flying longer international routes. Now, with even less available airspace, they say their business has become even more challenging.
($1 = 7.8236 Hong Kong dollars)
Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri, Shivansh Tiwary Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru, Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago, Julie Zhu in Hong Kong, Heekyong Yang and Hyun Joo Jin in Seoul, Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Essi Lehto in Helsinki, Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok, Sam Tabahriti and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree, Joanna Plucinska and Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Jamie Freed, Tomasz Janowski and Nick Zieminski
Europe stocks mark biggest daily jump in months on Gulf de-escalation hopes
The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 1.9% higher, after closing on Monday at its lowest level in more than two months
International News via Reuters:
European shares marked their biggest one-day jump since April last year on Tuesday as global markets bet that U.S. President Donald Trump would call off the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran soon, lifting investor sentiment and sparking a broad-based rally.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 1.9% higher, after closing on Monday at its lowest level in more than two months.
Bank stocks, which have been among the worst hit as a result of recent investor concerns, recovered 3.6%, led by HSBC and Santander and giving the biggest boost to the STOXX 600.
Spain’s financial-heavy index outperformed major peers with a 3.1% rise, followed by the export-heavy DAX in Germany. Both logged their steepest one-day gain since April 2025.
Industrials gained 2.8%, while travel and leisure stocks jumped 2.5%, on prospects of flights and tourism returning to normal operations.
Although the U.S. and Israel pounded Iran with what the Pentagon and Iranians on the ground said were the most intense airstrikes of the war, investors were encouraged by Trump’s saying on Monday that the war was “very complete, pretty much”.
“For now, we believe the shock is likely to be short-lived. We see disruptions measured in weeks, rather than in months or days,” said analysts led by Jean Boivin at BlackRock Investment Institute.
“In Europe, we like the financial, pharma and infrastructure sectors,” they added.
Oil prices remained in the spotlight, as Iran said it would block shipments from the Gulf until the attacks cease. They swung widely, falling 11% to below $90 a barrel and energy shares reversed declines to close 0.3% higher.
The spike in oil prices since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran has revived inflation fears globally, putting central banks in a tough spot. Europe, which is heavily dependent on energy imports, remains vulnerable when growth is already fragile.
Three European Central Bank policymakers said that it should take its time to reassess policy and stay on its present course for now. Investors are now pricing in at least one ECB rate hike by the end of the year, LSEG data shows.
“In the escalation scenario, the ECB could think to hike once in the short term,” said Michele Morganti, equity strategist and head of insurance at Generali Investments.
“The risks continue to be high, and Europe has much to lose from the energy … and growth point of view.”
Among notable individual stock price moves, Volkswagen climbed 2.6% as the German autos group forecast a margin recovery after a tough 2025.
Persimmon jumped 4.5% after the British housebuilder beat expectations for fiscal year 2025 revenue and adjusted pretax profit, while Rotork slumped 13% to the bottom of the STOXX 600 after it published annual results.
Reporting by Avinash P and Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Maju Samuel and Alexander Smith
Polish president’s rival bill heats up spat over EU defence scheme
Poland was the biggest beneficiary of the EU’s 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative
International News via Reuters:
Poland will be able to use profits from central bank gold and foreign exchange reserves instead of EU loans to boost military spending, according to a bill proposed by the president on Tuesday that drew a rebuke from Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Poland was the biggest beneficiary of the EU’s 150-billion-euro Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, but the nationalist opposition Law and Justice party (PiS) labelled it a German plot to meddle in Polish affairs that would saddle Warsaw with debt and limit its flexibility regarding arms purchases.
President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of PiS, has proposed a plan to use Polish funds instead of the European Union loans.
“The funds generated by the National Bank of Poland, resulting from the market valuation of Polish gold and currency reserves, are to be allocated directly to financing defence purposes through a newly established fund,” according to Nawrocki’s bill, which was submitted to parliament on Tuesday.
Parliament, where Tusk’s pro-European government has a majority, is unlikely to approve the bill, but the row highlights the deep divisions at the top of the Polish state.
Tusk says the cheap financing provided by SAFE is essential to Poland’s security in the face of what it views as a rising threat from Russia.
“This (presidential) bill has no money – it has a new body, a council, new bureaucracy, and dozens of unnecessary regulations,” Tusk told reporters.
Nawrocki has criticised the government’s own bill, which creates a mechanism by which the 43.7 billion euros ($50.86 billion) made available to Poland under ‘SAFE’ would be disbursed. He has not yet said whether he will veto it.
If Nawrocki does veto that bill, the government is preparing a “plan B” that would still allow Poland to access SAFE funds, Tusk said earlier on Tuesday, without elaborating.
Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Marek StrzeleckiEditing by Gareth Jones
Canada boosts security at US, Israeli diplomatic buildings after consulate shooting
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said the consulate shooting is being investigated as a “national security incident,” although it’s too early to determine the motive
International News via Reuters:
Canada is increasing security around U.S. and Israeli diplomatic buildings after a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, a Canadian police official said on Tuesday.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said the consulate shooting is being investigated as a “national security incident,” although it’s too early to determine the motive.
Leather said the U.S. and Israeli consulates in Toronto, the country’s most populous city, and embassies in the capital Ottawa will be seeing a change in the security posture in response to the shooting.
“These consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance and security at this time in the hopes that we can bring the temperature down in the coming days and weeks,” Leather told reporters at a press conference.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said police were called to the U.S. consulate in Toronto around 5:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, where they found spent shell casings and damage to the building.
Barredo said witness evidence indicated that two men exited a white SUV that was stopped outside the consulate around 4:30 a.m. ET, shot a handgun at the front of the building and then drove away.
While there were people in the building at the time of the shooting, police say no one was injured.
SYNAGOGUE SHOOTINGS
The consulate shooting follows three separate incidents last week where gunshots were fired at synagogues in the Toronto area. No one was injured in those shootings. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attacks “criminal antisemitic assaults.”
Barredo said it’s too early to draw a connection between the consulate shooting and those at the synagogues.
“We definitely will be looking at any possible connections. Obviously, it is far too early in this investigation, but we do not look at them in isolation,” he said.
Canada’s public safety minister described the consulate shooting as an unacceptable incident.
“The shooting … is absolutely unacceptable. Canada will never tolerate intimidation and violence of any kind, including towards our American friends in Canada,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a post on X.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was aware of the incident and was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local law enforcement.
Separately, on Sunday, an improvised device exploded in Norway at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, and police were still searching for a suspect, with a possible link to the Iran war among the lines of inquiry.
In New York City, two men have been charged with terrorism after throwing a homemade bomb at anti-Islam protesters over the weekend.
Reporting by Caroline Stauffer and Bhargav Acharya in Toronto, Susan Heavey and Katharine Jackson in Washington and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Andrew Heavens and Sharon Singleton
Elite talent celebrated at Bermuda Triathlon Association Annual Awards
The Bermuda Triathlon Association gathered at the picturesque Cambridge Beaches to celebrate a year of remarkable athletic achievement at their 2025 Annual Awards presentation. The evening served as a tribute to the island’s burgeoning talent and seasoned veterans who have made significant waves on both the local and international circuits over the past twelve months.
Naomi MacGuinness was crowned the Best Female Junior Triathlete after a sensational campaign that saw her secure double gold at the Carifta Games in Tobago. Despite being just twelve years of age, MacGuinness proved her mettle in Clermont, Florida, by finishing thirteenth against competitors three years her senior. Her male counterpart, Rory Shepherd, took home the Best Male Junior Triathlete title following a consistent season that included a sixth-place finish out of seventy-one competitors at the US Nationals in Ohio.
In the senior categories, Jackson Langley was recognized as the Best Local Based Male Triathlete. Langley, who served as the Carifta Team Captain, finished second only to professional Nick Pilgrim in the Liberty Mutual Sprint National Championships. Maddie Durkin was named the Best Local Based Female Triathlete following a season of dominance where she secured a prestigious spot for the 70.3 World Championships in Spain.
The awards for overseas-based athletes went to professional standout Nick Pilgrim and Olympian Erica Hawley. The ceremony also highlighted specific season successes, with Sanchez Smith and Sofia Leclerc crowned champions of the Super Sprint Summer Series, while Marie-Lynn Dore and Ashley Couper received Special Achievement Awards for qualifying for the iconic Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Scholarship applications open to support future Bermudian nurses
Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship now accepting submissions until 30 April
The Ministry of Health advises that applications for the Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship are now open for students pursuing nursing, with submissions accepted until 30 April, 2026. Students may apply online here.
“The Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship continues to play a vital role in strengthening Bermuda’s healthcare workforce,” explained Kim Wilson, Minister of Health. “It eases some of the financial burden for young people pursuing nursing degrees, helping them enter a demanding yet deeply rewarding profession. By supporting those who choose a career of service to our community, we are investing in the long‑term resilience and quality of Bermuda’s public health system.”
This year, the scholarship criteria have been updated by the scholarship committee to focus solely on nursing. The decision reflects the need to bolster Bermuda’s nursing workforce in the years ahead and recognises the importance of investing in prevention and community health. Training in this field can involve substantial educational costs, often requiring multiple funding sources, and the committee aims to help address this need by directing support to those pursuing nursing.
The Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship is awarded annually to Bermudians with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing careers or professional development in public health. Eligible applicants must be residents of Bermuda, hold Bermudian status or possess PRC status with permission to reside and seek employment, be accepted into an approved nursing programme at an accredited institution, and hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 (UK 2:2, IB 30).
Dr. Barbara Bertha Ball was the first‑Bermudian-born woman to practise medicine in Bermuda. She graduated from Liverpool University Medical School in 1949 and worked in the United Kingdom before returning home in 1954. She devoted her life to providing care and advocating for fairness and dignity for all. The Government of Bermuda is proud to continue this legacy by supporting future healthcare professionals. Students and interested persons may also visit https://www.gov.bm/dr-barbara-ball-public-health-scholarship for further information.
13 trainee Customs officers join frontline service
Minister Weeks attends training completion ceremony as recruits prepare to help protect Bermuda’s borders
The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, recently attended a basic training completion ceremony for 13 Trainee Customs Officers at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.
The ceremony marked the successful completion of an intensive training programme designed to prepare the officers for frontline service within the Customs Department.
The new officers began their journey on 10 September 2025, undergoing several weeks of structured classroom instruction before being assigned to operational units across the Island.
They later returned to complete additional training, with the ceremony representing the culmination of six weeks of formal instruction as part of their two-year trainee officer contracts .
Minister Weeks congratulated the recruits and underscored the importance of their role in protecting Bermuda’s borders.
“You are entering a profession that has the weighty responsibility of not only collecting revenue for the Government, but also for protecting our borders,” said Minister Weeks.
“That is not a small feat. That is serious work. Work that demands uncompromising integrity and principles. Work that demands physical and moral courage when performing your duties.”
“Now, go out there and serve with pride and honour, knowing that your country is counting on you.”
The Minister also acknowledged the wider Customs team for their commitment to training and mentorship, noting that strong standards and consistent supervision are essential in building public confidence.
Collector of Customs Lucinda Pearman said the completion of training strengthens the Department’s operational capacity.
The Collector stated: “These officers have completed structured classroom training and practical placements across our operational units.
“They now move forward with a clear understanding of enforcement procedures, examination protocols, and the legal authorities that govern Customs operations.”
The newly appointed Trainee Customs Officers are:
Sole Tucker, Jordan Trott, Teji Simons, Kendrick Richardson, Antonia Raynor-Bailey, Sade Adams, Allan Martin, David Little, Collise Allen, Wanay Bartley, Seth Hayward, Zorie Eve and Dendrick Durrant.
Collector Pearman added: “Border protection is not theoretical. It requires vigilance, attention to detail and consistent application of the law.
“The addition of these officers increases our ability to detect prohibited and restricted goods, disrupt illicit activity, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel in a secure and controlled manner.”
Bermuda names nineteen-strong squad for CARIFTA swimming challenge in Martinique
The Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) has officially named a talented nineteen-strong squad to represent the island at the 2026 CARIFTA Swimming Championships. The prestigious regional meet is set to take place in Martinique from April 4th to 10th, 2026.
This year’s selection represents a significant expansion from the compact five-athlete team that competed in 2025, signaling a robust step forward in Bermuda’s current rebuilding phase. The 2026 team will be looking to build on the foundations laid last year in Trinidad, where Bermuda’s small but clinical contingent secured multiple podium finishes.
Leading the charge are three standout swimmers who secured medals for Bermuda during the 2025 CARIFTA Games:
- Marleigh Howes: A seasoned competitor who was part of the record-breaking group in 2024 and continued her strong form with finals appearances in 2025.
- Connor Hupman: Regarded as a rising star after reaching the podium in all seven of his individual events in 2024, Hupman maintained his elite status last year by qualifying second-fastest for the 400m freestyle final.
- Katherine Wheddon: The 2024 Junior Female Athlete of the Year remains a vital asset to the squad after achieving the fastest qualifying time in her signature 400m freestyle event during last year’s championships.
Notably absent from this year’s roster is Thomas Cechini, who claimed Bermuda’s first swimming medal of 2025 with a Bronze in the 1,500m freestyle.
The full team traveling to Martinique includes a mix of experienced regional medalists and emerging debutants:
Gabby Cechini, Colette Durkin, Madison Fox, Elanna Fulton, Marleigh Howes, Connor Hupman, Logan Jones, Joseph Lau, Noah Maranzana, Gabriel Maranzana, Maggie Mewett, Teagan Mewett, Rory Shepherd, Scarlett Spurling, Violet Smith, Axel Wernbo, Katherine Wheddon, Jorgia White, and Dominic Wright.
British warship HMS Dragon departs for Eastern Mediterranean
Britain’s government has been criticised for not being able to send a warship to the region sooner, with military vessels from allies Greece and France arriving within days of Iran launching retaliatory attacks across the Gulf
International News via Reuters:
British warship HMS Dragon departed for the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, more than a week after Britain’s air base in Cyprus was attacked by a drone in the aftermath of the United States and Israel launching attacks against Iran.
Britain’s government has been criticised for not being able to send a warship to the region sooner, with military vessels from allies Greece and France arriving within days of Iran launching retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.
On March 1 RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by an Iranian-made drone, thought to have been launched from Lebanon or Iraq.
The decision to deploy the destroyer was made a week ago but it has taken days to prepare it for the journey, adding to scrutiny of Britain’s military readiness.
The government has defended its response, saying it had pre-deployed other assets to the region including radar systems, air defence, and F-35 jets.
HMS Dragon is a Type 45 air-defence destroyer equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and advanced radar designed to track and neutralise airborne threats, according to the Royal Navy’s website.
The government has also cited its close cooperation with the United States in preparation and in response to the conflict, despite criticism from Trump over Britain’s support.
Trump has lambasted Prime Minister Keir Starmer for limiting Britain’s military support for the strikes on Iran, plunging the relationship between the historically close military allies into crisis.
Starmer has allowed the U.S. to use British bases for defensive action but has said that he would not approve UK involvement in offensive actions unless he was sure they were legal and were part of a clear plan.
Reporting by William James; Editing by Alistair Smout
Sony fighting $2.7 billion UK lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices
The Japanese conglomerate is accused of abusing its dominant position by requiring digital games and add-ons for its console to be bought and sold only via its PlayStation Store
International News via Reuters:
Sony is fighting a London lawsuit worth almost 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) that alleges the PlayStation maker’s “monopoly position” inflated prices for digital games, in the latest mass consumer case to go to trial in Britain.
The Japanese conglomerate is accused of abusing its dominant position by requiring digital games and add-ons for its console to be bought and sold only via its PlayStation Store, making prices higher than for physical games.
Sony says it has “invested years and billions” in an integrated gaming platform that benefits consumers in a competitive market, where rivals Nintendo and Microsoft’s Xbox use similar models.
Its lawyers also argue the margin Sony earns on sales of games and additional content is not excessive, saying the lawsuit ignores the company’s costs and the value of its brand.
The case, brought at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) on behalf of around 12 million people in the United Kingdom, is the third against a major tech company to go to trial since the start of 2025.
SONY ACCUSED OF EXCLUDING COMPETITION
Alex Neill, who is leading the case, said in a statement that “gamers have paid too much and they should get some money back”. The case was previously valued at up to 5 billion pounds, but has since dropped to 1.97 billion pounds.
Her lawyer Robert Palmer told the tribunal: “Sony can and does set the retail prices … without facing any retail competition for digital content. It allows it to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution.”
But Sony, which sold 8 million PlayStation 5 consoles between October and December, says the lawsuit amounts to arguing that third parties should be allowed to set up a store for the PlayStation and “free-ride” on Sony’s investments.
Other cases relating to app stores are pending. Last year, the CAT ruled against Apple in relation to its App Store, a decision Apple is seeking to appeal.
A trial of a lawsuit against Google is due to begin in October. Fortnite maker Epic Games, which would have been involved in that case, withdrew its claim on Monday after Google announced sweeping changes to its Play Store practices.
($1 = 0.7446 pounds)
Reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Mark Potter
