Friday, 27th February 2026 — The Bermuda Hotel Association members are pleased to acknowledge and welcome the changes to the Closed and Restricted employment categories specific to Bartending and Housekeeping positions, as recently announced by the Minister of Economy & Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward JP MP following the recent Hospitality Industry Summit which took place earlier this month.
With the referenced categories having been moved from closed to restricted effective the 1st March 2026, this will ensure that the Hotel industry is better positioned and able to ensure that we can recruit and onboard key staffing resources to fill these critically important guest service positions, which historically we have been challenged to fill, as we collectively prepare for the upcoming tourism season.
Stephen Todd, the BHA CEO stated “It remains our overall goal as an industry to recruit, train and retain as many Bermudians as we can, who are genuinely interested in pursuing a long-term career, given that there are a number of opportunities for them to do so. Additionally, we will continue to pursue this important objective and in keeping with the request of the Minister, plans are already underway to host a Hospitality Careers Fair on Wednesday 18th March 2026 at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, in conjunction with our industry partners, with additional details to be forthcoming and announced very soon.
We are committed to continuing to work in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy & Labour, the Department of Workforce Development, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Bermuda College as well as with that of our Hospitality Industry partners at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce to attract Bermudians to our industry.”
Police reported a serious single vehicle road traffic collision around 11:20pm on Friday, near the junction of Cedar Avenue and Angle Street
Photo supplied by Bermuda Police Service
Police reported a serious single vehicle road traffic collision around 11:20pm on Friday.
The crash involved a motorcycle, and occured near the junction of Cedar Avenue and Angle Street, Pembroke.
A police spokesperson said “Details are limited at this time however, initial information suggests the male motorcycle may have sustained a head injury after he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree.”
“He has been transported by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for further treatment of his injuries, the extent of which is unknown at this time.”
New rideshare laws give taxi operators first dibs on digital fares – but if they don’t respond fast enough, new seasonal operators will get them
‘We can’t stagnate’, says Owen Darrell – therefore, a new rideshare law is coming that will enable 150 new ‘seasonal taxis’ to shore up the industry.
The Tourism and Transport Minister tabled rideshare legislation today, saying its not about replacing taxis, but reducing wait times and strengthening our competitiveness as a tourism destination.
The amendments give taxi operators first dibs on fares – but if they don’t respond fast enough, new seasonal operators will get them.
In an interview with Gary Foster Skelton today, Minister Darrell acknowledged that the Bermuda Taxi Owners & Operators Association do not agree with this move.
However, if the 150 new PSVs successfully claim fares before licensed taxi drivers, despite taxi drivers getting the call first, he suggests that will be proof that more transport options were needed.
The container shipping group last month announced a gradual return of some services to the Suez route, seen as a key step towards ending two years of global trade disruption caused by attacks on ships in the Red Sea
International News via Reuters:
Denmark’s Maersk said on Friday it will temporarily reroute some of its sailings around the Cape of Good Hope, and thus away from the Suez Canal, after experiencing unforeseen constraints in the Red Sea region.
The container shipping group last month announced a gradual return of some services to the Suez route, seen as a key step towards ending two years of global trade disruption caused by attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
But Maersk on Friday said it was experiencing unforeseen constraints arising from the wider operating environment in the Red Sea region.
“After conversations with our security partners, it is clear that these constraints are making it challenging to avoid delays in regard to passage through the area,” Maersk said in a statement.
The company did not elaborate on what had caused the constraints.
Maersk declined to provide further comment.
Reporting by Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Louise Heavens
Minister says many gained employment as strategy continues to expand
More than 320 young Bermudians took part in Youth Employment Strategy programmes last year through the Department of Workforce Development.
This according to Economy and Labour Minister Jason Hayward, who said the initiative remains a central part of Government’s effort to build what he called a “resilient, future-ready workforce.”
The programme saw 72 high school students secure summer internships, while 100 university students were placed in summer employment.
In addition, 182 young people completed structured job-readiness workshops focused on resume writing, mock interviews and professional communication – with 67 per cent obtaining employment within three months of completing the programme.
Seven participants were placed in hospitality roles, three of whom secured full-time employment.
The strategy also included targeted support for at-risk youth in collaboration with the Gang Violence Reduction Team, providing individualised employment planning and trauma-informed coaching.
Minister Hayward added: “One participant secured employment, while another is progressing toward certification in the HVAC sector.
“These targeted interventions reflect the Strategy’s commitment to inclusive access and wraparound support for vulnerable youth.”
Overall, Minister Hayward described 2025’s outcomes as “tangible and results-driven,” adding that the strategy will continue evolving to meet the needs of both young Bermudians and the industries that power the economy.
Britain imposed sanctions on Tuesday on Imedi and another Georgian channel, PosTV, accusing them of promoting false narratives about the war in Ukraine
International News via Reuters:
A major pro-government television channel in Georgia, sanctioned by Britain for spreading “Russian disinformation”, defended its editorial policy on Friday against what it called an attack on free speech amid souring relations between Tbilisi and the West.
“Censoring the Georgian audience is simply unthinkable, and no revision or change of editorial policy is planned,” Irakli Chikhladze, deputy director of the Imedi broadcaster, told Reuters.
“We are doing objective journalism and no sanctions or labels will apply,” he said.
Britain imposed sanctions on Tuesday on Imedi and another Georgian channel, PosTV, accusing them of promoting false narratives about the war in Ukraine. It singled out Imedi for portraying the Ukrainian government as illegitimate, or a puppet of the West.
The move drew condemnation from Georgia’s ruling party, and Tbilisi raised its concerns with the British ambassador, who was summoned to the foreign ministry on Thursday.
Once seen as one of the more democratic and pro-Western former Soviet states, Georgia has grown more authoritarian since the war in Ukraine began and has expanded economic ties with Russia. Relations with Western governments have slumped.
Chikhladze rejected claims that Imedi is pro-Russian in an interview with Reuters at the channel’s Tbilisi offices. The founder of PosTV also condemned the sanctions.
Imedi has broad reach, with around 30% of Georgians tuning in regularly, according to Natia Songulashvili, head of its information service.
The broadcaster was until recently owned by Irakli Rukhadze, a Georgian-born U.S. citizen based in Britain, who sold his shares this month to an entity called Prime Media Global.
Chikhladze did not address how Imedi will operate under the sanctions, which freeze any assets or properties it holds in Britain and bar its owners from running other UK-based companies.
Reporting by Reuters. Writing by Lucy Papachristou. Editing by Mark Potter
Madrid wants to impose a ban on under-16s accessing social media and criminal liability for platform executives who fail to remove illegal or hateful content
International News via Reuters:
A Spanish women’s rights activist who suffered online abuse, including AI-generated fake nude images, said the government’s pledge to regulate social media does not go far enough, calling for anonymous accounts to be made traceable to end impunity for digital violence.
As Europe’s push to rein in U.S.-based tech giants is shifting from fines and takedown notices to stiffer measures, Madrid wants to impose a ban on under-16s accessing social media and criminal liability for platform executives who fail to remove illegal or hateful content.
France, Greece and Poland are weighing similar measures after Australia became the first country to block social media for children under 16 in December.
Carla Galeote, a 25-year-old lawyer and prominent online feminist commentator, told Reuters governments were reacting only now because digital violence had become impossible to ignore, although the problem predated AI.
“Social media isn’t new – and the violence is brutal, systematic, 24/7,” Galeote said. “What hit me hardest wasn’t the deepfake, it was going to the police and being told it wasn’t even a crime.”
She dismissed plans to ban children from social media as “paternalistic”, arguing all users, regardless of age, need protection from digital abuse.
Spain’s proposed law has sparked backlash from tech company executives, who accuse Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of threatening free speech. Galeote, however, believes regulation and freedom of expression can coexist.
“It’s impossible to think that a man on the street could shout that they’ll rape you and nothing happens, but that’s what we’re seeing online,” she said.
Instead of imposing easily absorbable fines, Galeote advocated barring platforms from major markets, like the European Union, for repeated violations.
While defending pseudonymous online use, Galeote emphasized the need for traceable identities behind all accounts.
“Call yourself ‘PeppaPig88’ if you want – fine. But there has to be a real identity behind that account,” she said.
Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Andrei Khalip
Shares of Barclays fell 4.2% and Jefferies dropped 10% after reports that they and other lenders face potential losses tied to the collapse of mortgage lender MFS
International News via Reuters:
London’s FTSE 100 climbed to a record high on Friday, boosted by heavyweight miners and defensive stocks while Barclays slumped on concerns over its exposure to collapsed UK lender Market Financial Solutions.
Shares of Barclays fell 4.2% and Jefferies dropped 10% after reports that they and other lenders face potential losses tied to the collapse of mortgage lender MFS, which has been placed into administration following allegations of financial irregularities.
The blue‑chip FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 10,910.55 points, notching a record close for the third straight day, while the mid‑cap FTSE 250 closed up 0.2%.
The FTSE 100 index advanced 6.7% in February, its eighth monthly climb in a row and its longest monthly winning streak since 2012–2013. The index outperformed U.S. and European benchmarks this month as optimism around a potential Bank of England rate cut in March lifted sentiment.
At times, however, gains have been tempered by worries that emerging AI tools could disrupt established business models, as well as trade-related uncertainties from U.S. President Donald Trump’s fresh tariffs earlier this month.
Precious‑metal miners and industrial‑metal miners rose as demand for gold and copper increased, with investors flocking to safe‑haven assets amid uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies and heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Mining stocks have been among the biggest contributors to the FTSE 100’s gains over the past year, supported by soaring metals pricing. [GOL/] [MET/L]
Shares in drugmaker AstraZeneca and food group Unilever firmed 2.9% and 2%, respectively.
Among others, shares of IAG dropped 7.5% after the airlines owner failed to provide profit guidance for this year and expressed concerns about potentially higher fuel prices.
Hays slumped 10% to the bottom of the mid-cap index after the recruiter announced the departure of CEO Dirk Hahn and slashed its dividend by 84%.
On the political front, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered a defeat to the Green Party in a Manchester ward it had dominated for nearly a century, underscoring the fragmentation of Britain’s traditional two‑party system.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Minister says shipment is pending but offers no firm production date
File image.
Months after a reported shipment delay, Government’s new $5.2 million asphalt plant remains in the United States.
Responding to questions in the House of Assembly today from OBA MP Linda Smith, Public Works and Environment Minister Jache Adams said the plant is currently located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is expected to be shipped to Bermuda “shortly” … but he could not commit to a date for when it will become operational once here.
“While we are hopeful that the plant will be operational at some point this year, I cannot provide a precise production date at this time,” said Minister Adams. “Shipping timelines, installation, logistics and commissioning requirements must first be completed and once those processes are finalised, the House will be updated accordingly.”
It was reported back in November that the shipment of the new asphalt plant had been delayed by approximately three months to allow an independent assessment to be completed regarding the potential relocation of the Government Quarry’s operations. That delay would have placed the expected arrival in the first quarter of this year.
MP Smith, who is also Shadow Minister of Public Works & Environment, further asked what increase in road paving output the Ministry expects once the new plant comes online.
Minister Adams said initial production will mirror current levels, with the capacity to increase output over time.
“Once operational, we intend to begin production at approximately 100 tonnes of asphalt per day, which is roughly what we’re doing currently with the capacity to triple that output over time, as efficiencies are realised.”
“The key improvement in the first 12 months will be greater consistency and increased output. You see, the existing plant is prone to breakdowns which disrupt paving schedules. The new plant will significantly reduce downtime and allow us to accelerate resurfacing in a sustained way. This means more reliable paving schedules, faster rehabilitation of major corridors, and smoother, more durable roads for the public.”
Barclays, Santander, Wells Fargo, Jefferies and Apollo Global Management-owned Atlas SP Partners are among the lenders to MFS, which had borrowed more than 2 billion pounds ($2.69 billion)
International News via Reuters:
Barclays and Jefferies shares fell sharply on Friday after media reports they and other banks face potential losses related to the collapse of UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions Ltd, amid wider concerns about lending standards and the fast-growing market for private credit.
London-based MFS specialised in complex property-backed loans. It had applied for administration, a form of UK insolvency protection, after it ran into difficulties, according to previous media reports and court documents seen by Reuters. Creditors who successfully applied to have the company put into administration on Wednesday cited financial irregularities and mismanagement in court documents.
Barclays, Santander, Wells Fargo, Jefferies and Apollo Global Management-owned Atlas SP Partners are among the lenders to MFS, which had borrowed more than 2 billion pounds ($2.69 billion), Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
Creditors warned there may be a shortfall of 930 million pounds in collateral backing their loans, Bloomberg reported on Friday.
The banks declined to comment.
Atlas SP Partners, the structured credit arm of Apollo Global Management, said it has roughly 400 million pounds of exposure to the mortgage provider, or about 1% of its balance sheet. Atlas is one of the senior creditors to MFS, alongside other bank lenders.
“Following a breach of contractual terms by Market Financial Solutions, Atlas proactively put two warehouses into default last week and is pursuing all legal avenues to maximize recoveries,” a spokesperson for Atlas said in a statement to Reuters.
Shares of Apollo and other asset managers were down on Friday on broader investor concerns around stress in the private credit industry.
Investors are on the alert for any sign of deteriorating lending standards and cracks appearing in credit markets, with some of those fears centred on a boom in private credit, in which specialist funds lend directly to companies.
The collapse last year of U.S. auto parts supplier First Brands and subprime auto lender Tricolor heightened those concerns, although traditional banks were among the most exposed.
Shares in Jefferies fell nearly 8% in early U.S. trading, adding to Thursday’s 3.5% decline, as reports of the New York-based bank’s exposure to MFS rattled investors.
Jefferies disclosed last year that its Leucadia Asset Management division, through its credit fund Point Bonita, held about $715 million in receivables linked to First Brands, although it later said its exposure was limited.
Barclays shares were down 5% by 1500 GMT, underperforming the broader FTSE 100 index, which rose 0.5%. Santander shares dropped 3%.
‘REAL AND SERIOUS CONCERNS’
MFS, based in London’s Mayfair, described itself as a specialist provider of buy-to-let mortgage lending and bridging finance, with net assets of 15.9 million pounds and 149 employees as of December 31, 2024, according to its most recently filed accounts.
The company, founded by CEO Paresh Raja, said it had a loan book of 2.4 billion pounds at the end of 2024, the accounts show.
MFS did not respond to a request for comment.
MFS creditors Amber Bridging Limited and Zircon Bridging Limited had separately filed for an administration order against MFS, court documents dated February 24 and reviewed by Reuters show, citing “real and serious concerns about the mismanagement of the company” and entities in its wider MFS Group.
Amber Bridging and Zircon Bridging, cited as creditors of MFS in the court documents, said there were irregularities in payments due to their accounts and applied for independent administrators to be appointed.
The Times reported Barclays has a 600 million pound ($809.70 million) exposure to MFS. Bloomberg said Barclays was among the banks that arranged the loans for MFS.
Analysts from Citi said that the figure may warrant some caution, given banks typically sell on some or all of their exposure when arranging such loans.
“Arranging a loan is very different to retaining that risk on B/S (balance sheet),” Citi said.
“Also not clear if/how much could already be provisioned against (if anything).”
($1 = 0.7428 pounds)
Reporting by Samuel Indyk, Lawrence White and Sam Tobin; Additional reporting by Jesus Aguado, Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azhar, Writing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; Editing by Amanda Cooper, Jane Merriman and Lisa Shumaker
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
