In this conversation, Aaron Crichlow; founder of Bermuda is Love, discusses the mission and vision of the organization, which aims to create a community guided by love and focused on meeting basic human needs as rights. He shares his personal journey, the structure of Bermuda is Love, and the importance of collective action in addressing social issues. The conversation emphasizes the role of love in fostering community, the challenges faced in Bermuda, and the goals for the future, including advocacy for systemic change and the democratization of resources.
Motion to Adjourn with Anthony Santucci
In this conversation, we sit down with Anthony Santucci – the executive director of CADA to discuss the cultural and historical context of alcohol consumption in Bermuda and its impact on road safety. We also discuss the importance of family and community in addressing alcohol-related issues. He emphasizes the need for responsible drinking, increased police presence, and education to combat alcohol abuse. The conversation also touches on generational changes in attitudes towards alcohol and the significance of preserving cultural heritage.
Motion to Adjourn with Altonio Roberts
Bermuda Road Safety Council Chairman; Altonio Roberts joins us to discuss the pressing issue of road safety in Bermuda. He emphasizes the importance of changing behaviors, educating the community, and enforcing existing laws to reduce accidents and fatalities on the roads. The conversation covers various aspects of road safety, including the role of the Road Safety Council, the need for community engagement, the challenges of enforcement, and the importance of vehicle maintenance. Altonio also highlights future initiatives aimed at promoting road safety, including education programs for young people and campaigns focused on e-bike safety.
Truck explosion in Chile’s capital kills three and injures 10
Victor Vielma, head of the Carabineros police force, told reporters in a press conference that the truck lost control and crashed into a guardrail, for reasons still under investigation
International News via Reuters:
At least three people were killed when a truck transporting liquid gas in Chile’s capital of Santiago crashed and exploded, authorities said on Thursday.
Another 10 people were injured, they said.
Victor Vielma, head of the Carabineros police force, told reporters in a press conference that the truck lost control and crashed into a guardrail, for reasons still under investigation.
Seven smaller vehicles were also affected in the incident that took place in the northern part of Santiago early on Thursday.
Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; editing by Cassandra Garrison, Daina Beth Solomon
Mandelson’s consultancy firm set to enter administration after Epstein links
Staff were told on Thursday that the move followed a wave of client departures after disclosures about Mandelson’s past links to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
International News via Reuters:
Global Counsel, the consultancy firm co-founded by former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson, is preparing to enter administration as early as Friday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Staff were told on Thursday that the move followed a wave of client departures after disclosures about Mandelson’s past links to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the source said.
The firm did not respond to a request for comment.
Global Counsel cut ties with Mandelson in September last year, Reuters had reported, the day Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked him as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, who co-founded Global Counsel alongside Mandelson, stepped down as chief executive earlier in February.
Wegg-Prosser had met Epstein in February 2010 while the sex offender was under house arrest, according to documents in the Epstein files seen by Reuters.
Global Counsel said in a statement earlier this month that it had reached an agreement to divest Mandelson’s shares, bringing to an end “any connection” between the firm and the former British envoy.
The shares owned by Mandelson, whose role in the firm ended when he was named ambassador, were acquired by an existing board member, shareholder and the firm’s managing director.
Following more revelations of the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, KKR, Barclays, Klarna, Phoenix Group, Tesco and the Premier League have all cut ties with Global Counsel, while Vodafone said its contract was coming to an end in March and GSK said it had no plans to work with the firm further.
Being named in the files is not evidence of criminal activity.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, Editing by Paul Sandle
Robinson strikes gold as Carifta qualifiers heat up
The Bermuda National Athletics Association hosted yet another high-stakes Carifta Trial at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium, where the island’s rising stars pushed for their place on the regional stage. The evening was defined by a mix of jubilation and narrow misses, as one athlete successfully met the qualifying standard while two others fell just short of their marks.
In the Under 17 Women’s 1500 Meter Run, the spotlight belonged to Riana Robinson. With the qualifying standard set at 5:06.00, Robinson delivered a composed and clinical performance to touch the tape in 5:01.24, comfortably securing her spot for the upcoming games. Her success provided a stark contrast for Elena Bortoli, who fought valiantly in the same event but ultimately missed the qualifying time by a heartbreaking margin, stopping the clock in 5:07.31.
The sprinting events also saw fierce competition, particularly in the Under 17 Women’s 100 Meter Dash. Zakhya Scott led the field with a strong showing, but her time of 12.73 was not quite enough to reach the challenging standard of 12.35. Despite the near misses, the performances underscore the depth of talent currently developing in Bermuda’s track and field ranks as the road to the Carifta Games continues.
Insurer Aegon’s ‘messy’ capital creation beat, no UK update knock shares
Some analysts said the beat was messy, benefiting from non-recurring events, while the statement lacked detail on some smaller parts of Aegon’s business
International News via Reuters:
Aegon said on Thursday it generated more capital than the market had envisioned in the second half of 2025, mainly driven by U.S. insurance brand Transamerica, but failed to convince investors awaiting updates on its UK business review.
Some analysts said the beat was messy, benefiting from non-recurring events, while the statement lacked detail on some smaller parts of Aegon’s business. The shares fell 4% in early Amsterdam trading.
“Aegon has reported a typically messy set of results, with no update as yet on its UK strategic review or other parts of the business,” J.P. Morgan analysts said in a note to clients.
As part of a plan to relocate its head office and legal seat to the United States by early 2028, Aegon recently started a review of its business in Britain, a process that might lead to a sale of some parts of the business, though not the asset management arm.
Aegon CEO Lard Friese said on Thursday that the company would give an update on the review in the summer.
The group’s operating capital generation before expenses rose 8% to 711 million euros ($838 million) in the six-month period, above the median estimate of 654 million euros from analysts polled by the company.
Its U.S. business accounted for roughly two-thirds of the generated capital and continued to grow in the quarter, betting on its focus on middle and mass affluent markets.
The decision to fully relocate to North America was made last year, though Aegon has been restructuring its business and prioritising U.S. growth for much longer. The $4.9 billion sale of its Dutch business to ASR Nederland in 2023 was also a part of this strategy.
($1 = 0.8481 euros)
Reporting by Mateusz Rabiega in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak.
Maycock and Darrell excel as Bermuda Rendezvous Tournament concludes
The 44th Bermuda Rendezvous Tournament has come to a close at Warwick Lanes, with the island’s elite bowlers delivering a masterclass in precision and poise across four competitive divisions. In a field that saw massive participation, David Maycock emerged as the standout performer of the week, securing a rare double triumph to cement his status at the top of the sport.
Maycock first showcased his clinical accuracy in the Singles Handicap event, navigating a crowded field of 139 entries to claim the title with a total score of 804 pins. His momentum carried over into the high-stakes Men’s Scratch Roll Off, where he outlasted a staggering 172 competitors to be crowned the men’s champion. On the women’s side, Shereika Darrell proved equally formidable, rising above a competitive pool of 104 entries to claim the Women’s Scratch Roll Off championship.
The team events were equally hard-fought, with the Doubles Handicap title going to the duo of Ellsworth Bean Jr. and Quincy Bean. The pair demonstrated exceptional chemistry and consistency to post a combined total of 1493 pins, ultimately finishing at the top of an 89-team leaderboard. The tournament’s 44th edition once again highlighted the enduring popularity of the sport in Bermuda, with the massive turnout at Warwick Lanes reflecting a vibrant and highly competitive bowling community.
BoE’s Mann welcomes inflation data, wants improvement in underlying figures
Data published on Wednesday showed British inflation fell to 3.0%, its lowest since March last year, but a measure of price pressures in the services sector remained strong
International News via Reuters:
Bank of England interest rate-setter Catherine Mann said British inflation data published this week represented “good numbers” although there was not as much improvement in the underlying figures as the central bank had hoped to see.
Mann, in an interview with Kathleen Hays Presents: Central Bank Central, a podcast, said a recent rise in the unemployment rate was “very much of a concern” and the BoE was getting close “to some sense of where monetary policy is balanced between the inflation objective and full employment.”
Data published on Wednesday showed British inflation fell to 3.0%, its lowest since March last year, but a measure of price pressures in the services sector remained strong.
Asked whether she would back a rate cut at the March meeting of the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee, Mann said she was not sure that a projected fall of inflation to 2% in the coming months meant Britain had fixed its high inflation problem.
“It’s actually pretty hard to tell exactly what is the sustainable or underlying trend rate of inflation, and whether or not the 2% that we are … likely to see coming forward in the next few months is in fact a sustainable 2%,” she said.
Mann voted with the majority in a 5-4 decision by the MPC this month to keep rates on hold. She said at the time that the time for a cut was closer.
Investors were putting the likelihood of a quarter-point rate cut by the BoE in March at about 80% on Thursday.
Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Suban Abdulla
Elite team named for pickleball championships
Hamilton, Bermuda – February 19, 2026
The Pickleball Association of Bermuda (PAB) is proud to officially announce its Open Elite Team for the 2026 Caribbean Championships, set to be hosted in Bermuda.
The team was selected through PAB’s established performance-based criteria, including international results, National Championships performance, DUPR ratings, trials, and role-specific evaluation. The roster reflects competitive readiness, defined team roles, and alignment with Bermuda’s highperformance framework.
Open Elite Team
Men
Gavin Manders (Co-Captain)
Benjamin Jones
Jamie Stowe (Player & Coach)
Tom Mills
Mical Russell
Women
Sasha Fisher (Co-Captain)
Patricia Mills
Melisa Judd
Lily Hallett
Naphisa Smith
Assistant Coach: Jonny Singleton
Alternates (In Order)
Men:
- Jasper Thomas
- John Singleton
Women:
- Courtney Fisher
- Rachel Sawden
Hosting the Caribbean Championships presents a defining opportunity for Bermuda to compete at the highest regional level on home soil.
“As National Director and Co-Captain, I feel the weight of it — and I welcome it,” said Gavin Manders. “This isn’t just about hosting. It’s about defending our ground, raising our standard, and showing the Caribbean exactly who Bermuda is when we compete together with intention.
This team is battle proven at the highest levels and understands the task at hand. We are preparing with purpose. And we’re going to hold each other accountable, because that’s what moments like this demand.
And while we battle, we lead. There will be young players in the stands watching how we respond to pressure, how we support each other, how we carry ourselves when it gets tough. That’s legacy. That’s culture.
On home soil, we plan on setting the tone right from the beginning. This is bigger than a tournament. It’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation.”
Co-Captain Sasha Fisher emphasized the tactical focus required to compete at the highest level.
“Hosting raises the standard,” Fisher said. “Our focus is preparation, discipline, and execution. If we control the details in training, we give ourselves the best chance to perform when it matters most.”
PAB President George Thomas highlighted the broader significance of the moment for Bermuda.
“”This team has been forged through the highest levels of international competition. Our gold medal at the 2025 Caribbean Nations Cup and our performances at the 2024 and 2025 World Cup were not accidents — they are the product of a deliberate high-performance system built over three years.”
“When we welcome the Caribbean to Bermuda in March, we showcase what our community of 63,000 can achieve through commitment, structure, and belief. Every athlete on this roster carries that responsibility, and every young player watching from the stands will see exactly what’s possible.
“We are ready. This is Bermuda’s time!”
The 2026 Caribbean Championships will not only showcase elite regional competition but will also include developmental initiatives and junior programming designed to strengthen the sport across the island.
As Bermuda prepares to host the region, the focus remains clear: elevate the standard, compete with purpose, and continue building a legacy for the future of Caribbean pickleball.
Inside Sports with Oliver Bettschard & Ralph Scott
This week on Inside Sports, Nick & Butchy B focus on the journeys of young athletes Oliver Bettschard and Ralph Scott. Highlighting the importance of mental coaching, family support, Faith, and community involvement in sports development. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities faced by athletes as they transition to higher levels of competition, particularly in golf and basketball; and the significance of choosing the right university and the impact of sports on personal growth and community pride.
Khan and Benfica Residential Academy unstoppable in Florida showcase
Bermudian standout Riley Khan has helped the Benfica Residential Academy girls program reach a new milestone as they claimed the Female Under-17 Division title at the 25th Annual Weston Cup & Showcase. The prestigious event, widely regarded as Florida’s premier Presidents’ Day Weekend tournament, is the largest youth soccer competition in the United States. The victory in Florida marks the sixth tournament championship in just the first year for the Benfica girls program, which incredibly remains undefeated.
The Benfica squad produced a performance of utter dominance throughout the tournament, scoring 25 goals without conceding a single one. They opened their campaign in the Showcase/Gold division with a clinical 7–0 demolition of Fort Lauderdale United FC before maintaining their momentum with a 2–0 win over Strikers Miami FC. Khan and her teammates followed this up with a 5–0 shutout of SWFL Surge and a 3–0 victory in their final group match, again defeating Strikers Miami FC.
The knockout stages proved to be more of the same for the academy side. In the semi-final, they once again dispatched SWFL Surge with a 5–0 scoreline to book their place in the championship match. Facing Strikers Miami FC for a third time in the final, Benfica remained composed to secure a 3–0 win and hoist the trophy. The result further highlights the rapid development of Khan, whose move to the Florida-based academy in 2025 has seen her become a cornerstone of both her club and the Bermuda Under-17 national team.
