After a two-year absence, Bermuda Sloop Foundation (BSF) has announced the return of the popular Pirates of Bermuda fundraiser, calling on the community to help relaunch the charity’s residential youth voyages aboard Spirit of Bermuda.
Beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday 19 April, volunteer “hostages” from across Bermuda will walk the plank off Spirit of Bermuda into Hamilton Harbour, just off Number 1 Car Park. In the lead-up to the event, supporters are invited help ‘raise their ransoms’ and donate to either “sink” or “save” the hostage of their choice.
JP Doughty, BSF Executive Director, said: “After a period of strategic reorganization, the Foundation is actively focused on preparing for the relaunch of our youth voyages. Funds raised through Pirates of Bermuda will support crew recruitment and training, vessel readiness, and delivery of our revitalised experiential learning voyages.”
Mr. Doughty added: “This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Spirit of Bermuda’s arrival in Bermuda. Since 2006, over 8,500 students have sailed with us, developing life skills, resilience and confidence. We’ve seen many young Bermudians discover new pathways — including maritime careers — through this experience.”
Martha Kirkland, BSF Board Chair, said: “Spirit of Bermuda represents Bermuda’s rich maritime heritage and is a rite-of-passage for our young people. As a charity, we rely on community support to advance our mission. All donations will ensure more young people can benefit from these life-changing programmes.”
Members of the public are encouraged to watch the spectacle and support participating hostages from Number 1 Car Park on Front Street.
Bermuda’s elite cycling prospects, Kaden Hopkins and Nic Narraway, are entering the final phase of preparations for the upcoming Pan American Road Championships in Colombia. The prestigious event, running from March 17th to 22nd, will see the pair test themselves against the region’s finest talent in challenging high-altitude conditions.
For Hopkins, the journey has been a race against time as he recovers from a broken collarbone that threatened his early-season momentum. In contrast, Narraway arrives with competitive miles already under his belt following a strong showing at the Tucson Bicycle Classic for Competitive Edge Racing.
This transition comes as the cycling community still reels from Conor White’s historic solo performance at the Pan American Track Championships in Santiago. Now, all eyes turn to the Bermuda Bicycle Association to see who will be officially selected to join Hopkins and Narraway on the start line in South America.
The inclusion of these athletes underscores the continued growth of Bermudian cycling. As the championships approach, the focus remains on whether Hopkins can return to peak fitness and if Narraway can translate his early-season sharpness into a genuine podium threat.
It was a bruising afternoon at the Goldring Tennis Center as the Tulane University men’s tennis team fell to a commanding 6-1 defeat at the hands of a clinical Florida Atlantic side. Despite the home court advantage, the Green Wave struggled to find their rhythm against an Owls outfit that dictated play from the opening exchanges.
The tone was set early during the doubles competition. Bermuda’s Daniel Phillips and partner Lance Nisbet were handed the responsibility of the number one position, but despite a spirited battle, they succumbed to a 6-4 defeat against Mark Havlicek and Marek Pazdera.
Phillips returned to the court for the marquee singles matchup in the top spot, once again facing off against Havlicek. The Florida Atlantic standout—currently ranked 1,941 in the world—proved a formidable obstacle. While Phillips displayed flashes of his trademark resilience, he was unable to break Havlicek’s serve consistently, eventually going down in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
The result caps a challenging day for the Bermudian as his side looks to regroup for their upcoming fixtures.
Health Minister Kim Wilson said the rate has not been increased since November 2021 and additional financing will support the Mutual Reinsurance Fund
The cost of health insurance looks set to rise for many, following an announcement in the House of Assembly this morning.
The Standard Premium Rate will go up by 2.1% – which amounts to $39.24 per member, per month.
All health insurance premiums in Bermuda Include a Standard Premium Rate, which is comprised of a Standard Health Benefit premium and a Mutual Reinsurance Fund fee.
Today’s increase will be the first since 2021.
Health Minister Kim Wilson said the increase will not impact FutureCare policy holders and mainly exclude seniors on a fixed income.
During a Q & A, Minister Wilson said an independent review by actuaries had initially floated an increase of 10%, to match cummulative inflation over the past four years.
Minister Wilson explained how government arrived at the 2.1% increase, in the context of rising healthcare costs and salary uplifts for BHB staff.
As part of International Women’s Day festivities, residents are invited to join a wellness walk today starting at the Cabinet Office at noon
Images and media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
Earlier this week (March 4), the Public Service hosted an International Women’s Day (IWD) Wellness Fair at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI), bringing together women from across the Public Service for an afternoon focused on wellbeing, empowerment, and connection.
International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8, each year, celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” underscores the power of generosity, compassion, and mutual support in strengthening individuals, workplaces, and communities.
Held under the banner “The Power of Her Impact: Women Lifting Women,” the Wellness Fair featured expert presentations and discussions centred on mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. The programme included sessions on recognising burnout and protecting mental health, understanding menopause, planning for financial security through pensions, navigating Social Insurance benefits, and building healthier nutrition habits.
Attendees also participated in a fireside chat on managing overwhelm and making meaningful personal and professional changes, followed by a testimonial panel where women leaders shared personal stories of resilience, growth, and success.
Head of the Public Service, Cherie Whitter, who welcomed attendees and participated in the programme, spoke to the significance of this year’s theme and the collective strength of women in the Public Service.
She said, “Today marks another day in what has become an annual time of celebration on the public service calendar, a time to recognise the outstanding contributions of the women in the service. We gather today as equals, women supporting women under the inspiring theme, ‘Give to Gain.’
“This theme highlights the idea that generosity and compassion create a cycle of positive energy, growth, and reward, what we give to others comes back to us in the form of stronger relationships, deeper fulfilment, and shared success. To our families, we give time, compassion, and wisdom. To our careers, we give commitment, creativity, and determination. Within the organisations we serve, we give vision and support.”
Ms Whitter continued, “As we reflect on the many ways we support each other, it’s important to recognise another essential truth: in order to give wholeheartedly to those around us, we must first nurture and care for ourselves. Giving to ourselves is not selfish, it is necessary. Self‑care is not a luxury; it is a right and a responsibility. So today, I encourage every woman here to give herself permission, to rest, to grow, and to dream. Prioritise your health, your happiness, your finances, and your aspirations. Let us honour the importance of self‑care, not just for ourselves, but for everyone who looks to us for inspiration.”
And the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, who attended the health fair reflected on the importance of supportive relationships saying, “International Women’s Day is also about relationships. Men supporting women. Women supporting men. Women supporting women. The way you treat people is often the way they will treat you, at home, at work, and across this country. Today reminds us that when we choose respect, kindness, and understanding, we create spaces where women feel seen, valued, and empowered to lead. Our progress as a community is shaped not only by policies and programmes, but by the everyday moments when we lift each other up, speak life into one another, and stand together with purpose. When we honour each other’s journeys, we strengthen our own. And when we invest in the wellbeing of women, we invest in the wellbeing of Bermuda.”
As part of the continued recognition of International Women’s Day, the Government will host a second event today, March 6, the IWD Wellness Walk, taking place in Hamilton from 12.00 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. Interested participants are invited to gather at the Cabinet Office and join in the festivities as the Public Service comes together once again to celebrate wellness, connection, and community.
The Government of Bermuda thanks all speakers, panellists, and participants who contributed to the success of the Wellness Fair and reaffirms its commitment to promoting wellbeing, knowledge‑sharing, and support among women across the Public Service and throughout Bermuda.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 dipped 0.1% by 1130 GMT, while the FTSE 250 was flat, but both the indexes were on course for their worst weekly showing since the April 2025 rout
International News via Reuters:
The UK’s main indexes were on track for their biggest weekly decline in almost a year on Friday, as the escalating war in the Middle East fuelled concerns about a resurgence in inflation driven by higher energy prices.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 dipped 0.1% by 1130 GMT, while the FTSE 250 was flat, but both the indexes were on course for their worst weekly showing since the April 2025 rout triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.
Shares of oil majors Shell and BP rose nearly 2%, tracking crude prices as the conflict kept shipping and energy exports through the vital Strait of Hormuz blocked. [O/R]
Qatar’s energy minister expects all Gulf energy producers to shut down exports within weeks. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said the move could drive oil to $150 a barrel.
Soaring energy prices have prompted traders to sharply pull back bets of interest rate cuts this year, with money market futures pricing in just 15% odds of a 25-basis-point rate cut from the Bank of England this month, compared with 80% before the conflict began.
Halifax data showed British house prices rose in February at the fastest annual pace since October, up 1.3% year‑on‑year and beating economists’ forecasts. But the lender warned that geopolitical uncertainty and renewed inflation pressures could slow the pace of any interest‑rate cuts, tempering the outlook for the sector.
Among other movers, Flutter Entertainment inched up 1.1% after activist investor Parvus Asset Management doubled its stake in the FanDuel-owner.
IMI rose 2% after the specialist engineering firm forecast mid-single-digit organic revenue growth for 2026, citing resilient demand in its automation segment, and announced a 500-million-pound share buyback programme.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel
Two floors at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute have been identified to be used for additional beds needed to release acute care beds at King Edward Memorial VII Hospital, according to the Health Minister
Rooms will be converted into long term hospital beds .. at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute to help ease pressures at the hospital’s Acute Care Wing and end so-called ‘bed blocking.’
According to Health Minister Kim Wilson, additional funding will be used to re-develop a 30 bed transitional care unit at M.W.I. out of the Ministry’s $305.2 million dollar budget this fiscal year.
She stated today during at budget briefing that hospital beds are increasingly being occupied by those who are medically fit to be discharged however, cannot transition back into the community due to limited care options.
A ministry spokesperson said China will closely monitor the legislation process of the act and assess its impact and China and Beijing will resolutely defend Chinese firms’ legitimate rights and interests
International News via Reuters:
China commerce ministry on Friday expressed “grave concern” over the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) which imposes restrictions on foreign investment in batteries, EVs, solar PV and critical raw materials, according to a statement.
A ministry spokesperson said China will closely monitor the legislation process of the act and assess its impact and China and Beijing will resolutely defend Chinese firms’ legitimate rights and interests.
The intensely debated IAA, unveiled Wednesday, will set low-carbon and ‘Made in EU’ requirements for public procurement of, or subsidies for, making aluminium, cement and steel, and technologies including wind turbines, electrolysers or electric vehicles.
The Chinese spokesperson said the bloc’s use of industrial development and green transition goals to justify new barriers amounts to protectionism that will backfire, undermine global trade rules and fair competition, and disrupt supply‑chain stability.
Reporting by Shi Bu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Toby Chopra
Reykjavik in 2013 abandoned EU membership talks after four years of negotiations
International News via Reuters:
Iceland should hold a referendum on August 29 on resuming talks to join the European Union, the Nordic country’s government said on Friday, fast-tracking a pledge to hold the vote no later than 2027 at a time of geopolitical unrest.
Reykjavik in 2013 abandoned EU membership talks after four years of negotiations, but a rise in the cost of living and the war in Ukraine in recent years rekindled the island nation’s interest in joining the bloc, polls have shown.
Repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Greenland, located between Iceland and the United States, also made the question of EU membership more pressing for the North Atlantic country, home to almost 400,000 people.
Foreign Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir told a press conference the government’s decision on the proposal was unanimous, public broadcaster RUV reported.
The outcome of the membership negotiations with the EU will be subject to a second referendum on whether to join the bloc.
Reporting by Louise Rasmussen and Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces his first electoral test since taking office last May on Sunday, when voters go to the polls in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, offering his party a chance to reclaim dominance.
There will be four more state elections this year.
Baden-Wuerttemberg, home to Mercedes-Benz and a historic centre of Germany’s car industry, was for years a stronghold of Merz’s conservatives. But for the past decade, his Christian Democrats (CDU) have been the junior partner in a Greens-led coalition there.
Opinion polls suggest the partnership will continue, although it is unclear whether the CDU’s candidate – 37-year-old newcomer Manuel Hagel – or the more experienced Cem Ozdemir from the Greens will come out on top to replace the popular Green premier, Winfried Kretschmann.
With the latest poll for the broadcaster ZDF putting the two neck-and-neck on 28% support, a victory for the Greens could stir internal party discontent with Merz, whose own ratings have hit record lows.
Still, moderate former agriculture minister Ozdemir would be unlikely to cause serious problems for the government in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament that represents the states.
FAR-RIGHT AFD MAINTAINS STRONG SUPPORT
Aside from the choice of premier, there will be close attention to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has been polling at around 20%, maintaining the strong gains it has made across Germany in recent years.
Merz has ruled out any cooperation with the AfD, whose support in Baden-Wuerttemberg – one of Germany’s most prosperous regions – has been boosted by a crisis in the country’s car industry.
Also underlining the ongoing transformation in German politics is the possibility that the far-left Left Party will pass the threshold to enter state parliament, and the shrivelling in support for the centre-left Social Democrats to single figures in recent polls.
Overshadowing the election is the uncertainty caused by the U.S.-led conflict with Iran, which has already jacked up fuel prices and could stoke deeper economic problems if the war continues, although there is little sign of any direct impact on the vote.
“Voters are smart, they know that in Baden-Wuerttemberg, it’s about state political issues,” said Manfred Guellner, head of the polling group Forsa.
The Baden-Wuerttemberg election will be followed by a vote in the neighbouring state of Rhineland-Palatinate on March 22, then by ballots in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in September.
Reporting by James Mackenzie, editing by Andrei Khalip
Once among the most democratic and pro-Western of the successor states to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has turned increasingly authoritarian since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine
International News via Reuters:
The European Commission said on Friday it was suspending visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports in response to what it called a deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments taken under its visa-free regime.
“Representatives of Georgian authorities have to use their diplomatic or service passport when travelling to the EU for official and diplomatic purposes. Not doing so may result in the issuance of an entry ban,” the Commission said in a statement.
Once among the most democratic and pro-Western of the successor states to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has turned increasingly authoritarian since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and has deepened economic ties with neighbouring Russia.
Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Makini Brice
Halifax said house prices were 1.3% higher in the 12 months to February than a year earlier, above the 0.9% forecast in a Reuters poll of economists and up from 1.1% growth in January
International News via Reuters:
British house prices rose in February at the fastest pace since October, data showed on Friday, but lenders raised their mortgage rates over concerns the Middle East conflict could lead to higher inflation and halt a run of cuts to borrowing costs.
Halifax said house prices were 1.3% higher in the 12 months to February than a year earlier, above the 0.9% forecast in a Reuters poll of economists and up from 1.1% growth in January.
Prices rose 0.3% month-on-month in February, in line with the poll forecast but below January’s 0.8% increase.
An indicator for future borrowing costs for homebuyers has risen this week.
The average two-year fixed residential mortgage rate climbed to 4.84%, according to data provider Moneyfacts, which said rates had been gradually falling as an interest rate cut by the Bank of England had been priced in for March until the end of last week.
Swap rates, a key measure lenders use to determine the cost of mortgage borrowing, have also soared. Two-year swaps jumped as much as 0.42 percentage points over the course of this week.
GEOPOLITICAL RISKS CLOUD RATE OUTLOOK
Amanda Bryden, Halifax’s head of mortgages, said geopolitical uncertainty could influence the outlook for inflation and the wider economy.
Britain’s inflation rate fell to a one-year low at the start of the year, and the BoE expects it to drop near its 2% target in April.
Matt Swannell, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, said interest rates could stay higher for longer if the escalation in the Middle East conflict persisted, potentially affecting the housing market.
“The sharp rise in oil and, particularly, gas prices has caused financial markets to reassess the speed and extent to which the (BoE’s) Monetary Policy Committee will likely lower interest rates,” Swannell said.
Adam French, head of consumer finance at Moneyfacts, said some lenders started to raise mortgage rates this week.
The BoE is expected to keep interest rates at 3.75% this month after holding them in February.
Financial markets were on Friday no longer fully pricing in an interest rate cut by the BoE during 2026, down from expectations of two quarter-point cuts at the end of last week before the conflict began.
The BoE said on Thursday that the number of mortgages approved by British lenders for house purchases fell unexpectedlyin January to the lowest in two years.
MARKET GATHERS PACE BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN
February’s figures suggested some momentum in the housing market after a softer end to 2025, but affordability remained stretched and supply constrained, Halifax said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government wants to speed up construction of new homes, but a shortage of properties for sale is likely to keep upward pressure on prices.
Data from rival lender Nationwide, published on Monday, showed prices rose by 0.3% in February, taking annual house price inflation to 1.0%.
Separate figures from S&P Global on Thursday showed Britain’s construction sector extended its longest run of decline, with the PMI pointing to a sharp downturn in housebuilding.
Reporting by Suban Abdulla; Editing by Kate Holton, Catarina Demony, Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Alex Richardson
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