Traffic diversions are in effect on North Shore Road at Barker’s Hill and Dock Hill
Image and media release supplied by the Bermuda Police Service.
Police and other first responders are currently on scene following a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcycle on North Shore Road Devonshire, near the Tynes Bay Waste Facility.
Details remain limited at this time. However, the male rider is believed to have sustained a possible head injury. Out of an abundance of caution, officers are conducting a forensic examination of the scene.
Traffic diversions are in effect:
North ShoreRoad/Barker’s Hill
North Shore Road/Dock Hill
Motorists are advised to avoid the area, expect delays, and use alternative routes where possible.
Nahki Wells and his Luton Town teammates suffered a frustrating setback on the road as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic. In a tightly contested affair, the deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute when Joe Taylor found the back of the net for the hosts. Looking to spark a late comeback, the Luton coaching staff turned to their veteran Bermudian striker, with Wells entering the fray in the 82nd minute. Despite his inclusion, the Hatters were unable to find a way through a resolute Wigan defense.
The drama continued in the Endeavour Auto Suffolk FA Premier Cup quarter-finals, where two Bermudian internationals faced off at the Flannery Stadium. Reggie Lambe and his Needham Market side emerged victorious, but the match was defined by a moment of indiscretion for Willie Clemons. The Leiston FC midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the 77th minute—just 18 minutes after his first—leaving his side a man down for the closing stages. Needham Market eventually capitalized on the numerical advantage in the 83rd minute when Luke Ingram struck the decisive blow to send his team through to the semi-finals.
In the women’s game, Kenni Thompson and AFC Bournemouth Women endured a difficult evening on their travels to face Oxford United. Following a scoreless first half, the deadlock was broken by Oxford’s Holly Manders in the 62nd minute. The hosts were later reduced to ten players after Nicole Barrett received a second caution, but despite the player advantage and Thompson’s creative efforts from midfield, the Cherries could not find an equalizer, ultimately losing 1-0.
Elsewhere, Ava Frazzoni was in action for AFC Sudbury Women as they visited the Nest Grounds for an FA Women’s National League encounter against Norwich City Women. It proved to be a tough outing for the Sudbury squad, who were unable to contain a clinical Norwich side. Despite Frazzoni’s presence in the lineup, the match concluded in a 3-1 victory for the Canaries, leaving Sudbury to reflect on a difficult result against one of the league’s top contenders.
The items include several Cow & Gate and Aptamil infant milk and follow‑on milk formula products
The Ministry of Health is advising the public that Danone has issued an urgent recall of several Cow & Gate and Aptamil infant milk and follow‑on milk formula products due to the possible presence of a toxin known as cereulide. This toxin may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
A number of the 15 recalled products are known to have been available for sale in Bermuda. Environmental Health Officers conducted inspections early this morning (February 18, 2026) and have removed affected products from shelves in several local stores.
Parents and caregivers who have purchased any of the recalled products are strongly advised not to feed them to infants. Instead, please return the product to the store where it was purchased. A full refund will be provided, with or without a receipt.
Customers can visit www.cgbabyclub.co.uk to check which batch numbers are included in the recall. For further information or assistance, please contact Cow & Gate through the same website.
The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Ben Smith questions Education Minister’s decision to temporarily halt education reform
Statement from Shadow Education Minister Ben Smith
It’s time for the Ministry of Education to take the future of students in the Bermuda Public School System seriously. After school closures, millions of wasted taxpayer dollars and false hope, Minister Ceasar’s announcement that there will be a temporary freeze on education reform is simply unacceptable.
Public schools have already been closed leaving members of the community displaced and stressed.
Parents have endured months of uncertainty and anxiety, with some opting to take on the added expense of paying for private schools. Others have felt they had no choice but to leave Bermuda in search of a better education for their children.
And now the public is told that everything is being paused? Does that sound fair to students, parents or educators?
By pausing the reform, is Minister Caesar admitting that the school closures, and the reform overall, is an error?
Is the Minister now suggesting those closures were a mistake?
If no schools are closing “in the foreseeable future,” what has changed in the Government’s thinking? What new data, analysis, or educational rationale has caused this shift? And what assurance can parents have that this position will not change again next year?
Education reform cannot be driven by reaction or pressure. It must be grounded in clear evidence, transparent planning, and consistent leadership. Families deserve stability. Teachers deserve certainty. Students deserve a system that is not constantly shifting.
I am calling on Education Minister Crystal Caesar to explain:
· Why were schools previously closed?
· What has changed to justify halting further closures?
· Is there a defined long-term structure for the system?
· How does the Government intend to rebuild the trust that has been lost?
Confidence in public education is fragile. It will not be restored through further announcements while questions remain unanswered.
The meeting comes as education reform appears to be hitting the pause button
Statement from Minister of Education, Crystal Caesar
As the Government continues to strengthen Bermuda’s public education system, our immediate priority is to ensure that students, parents, and school communities experience stability, clarity, and strong learning outcomes throughout this school year and into the 2026 academic year.
Minister of Education, the Hon. Crystal Caesar, JP, said: “Our focus is simple: every student in our classrooms today must feel supported, safe and able to succeed while we continue improving the education system for the future.
That means strengthening teaching and learning while giving families clear guidance about what to expect for the next school year.”
Over the past month, the Ministry has met with PTA executives of Parish and Middle Schools, the Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Bermuda Public Services Union, Department of Education staff, school principals, school boards, and affected schoolteachers and parents, among others. We are grateful for the frank, honest feedback shared in response to the recommendations from the four parish school principals, middle and senior school principals. That feedback has helped shape decisions to prioritise student stability while ensuring schools have the time and support needed to implement long-term improvements effectively.
For clarity, the Ministry confirms the following for the September 2026 school year:
School Stability
• No school closures are planned for the foreseeable future.
Senior School Transitions
• As with this year, students will not transition to Senior Signature Schools for Year 9 in September. • Current M3/Year 9 students’ selected Senior Signature School placements will be honoured.
Middle and Parish School Placements
• Current M2 will remain at their present middle school sites. • Year 8 students currently in parish schools may choose to attend Dellwood, Whitney, or Sandys Middle School. • All Year 6 students already registered for middle school will receive placement confirmations during the week of March 2, 2026. • Current Year 6 and Year 7 students in parish schools may remain there for Years 7 and 8 if parents prefer. Families who wish for their child to attend a middle school instead may request that option. Parents who have already registered for a middle school, that request will also be honoured.
Minister Caesar emphasised that alongside system stability, the Ministry remains focused on strengthening literacy and numeracy, improving teaching and learning, supporting student wellbeing, and maintaining safe and inclusive school environments.
“To maintain open communication and build continued trust, we are committed to providing regular updates to our stakeholders first, followed by the wider community, in accordance with our established communication protocol. We understand that parents want certainty and straightforward communication,” the Minister said. “When school resumes after the mid-term break, we will meet directly with parents of Year 8 and M2 students to review logistics and next steps. That meeting is scheduled for February 24. Our responsibility is to ensure every child can learn with confidence today while we build a stronger education system for tomorrow.”
Senator, The Hon. Crystal C. Caesar, JP Minister of Education
It said six unmarked police cars and around eight plain clothed officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate earlier on Thursday
International News via Reuters:
The Daily Telegraph said on Thursday that British police had arrived at the residence of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in eastern England.
It said six unmarked police cars and around eight plain clothed officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate earlier on Thursday.
Thames Valley Police said earlier in February they were looking at allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor had passed confidential government documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to recently released files.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets his friendship with Epstein, but he has not responded to specific requests for comment after the latest files were published by the U.S. government.
Thames Valley Police did not have an immediate comment on the report.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Kate Holton
Mountbatten-Windsor, celebrating his 66th birthday on Thursday, was arrested and questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police
International News via Reuters:
King Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was on Thursday arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor, celebrating his 66th birthday on Thursday, was arrested and questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police, which this month said it was looking into allegations that he had passed documents to the late convicted sex offender while working as a trade envoy.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,” Thames Valley’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement.
“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
The former prince, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, who is in police custody, has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.
But he has not responded to requests for comment since the latest mass release of documents by the U.S. government. Mountbatten-Windsor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
He becomes the first senior royal to have been arrested in this manner, and presents his elder brother with the biggest scandal of his reign.
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” King Charles said in a statement, adding the authorities had the royals’ “full and wholehearted support and cooperation”.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
UNMARKED POLICE CARS
British media published pictures of six unmarked police cars and around eight plain-clothed officers who arrived at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England where Mountbatten-Windsor now lives.
Thames Valley Police said officers were also searching a property in Berkshire, where the royal used to live on the king’s Windsor estate until he was forced out amid anger at the Epstein revelations.
While being arrested means that police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the royal is suspected of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.
A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which only deals with the most serious criminal offences.
In 2022, the former prince settled a civil lawsuit brought in the United States by the late Virginia Giuffre who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. The police investigation is not related to this or any other allegation of sexual impropriety.
The former prince was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties with Epstein and was then stripped by his older brother of his titles and honours last October amid further revelations about their relationship.
EPSTEIN FILES TRIGGERED FRESH COMPLAINT TO POLICE
Mountbatten-Windsor had been reported to police by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic following the release of more than 3 million pages of documents relating to Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
Those files suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had in 2010 forwarded to Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited on official trips.
Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have previously said that they were in discussions about the case. Police said allegations of misconduct in public office, which is a ‘Common Law’ offence and so is not covered by written statute legislation, involved “particular complexities”.
Were Mountbatten-Windsor to ultimately face criminal charges, he would join a very small group of senior British royals who have formally been accused of offences.
His elder sister Princess Anne was fined for speeding in 2001, and the following year became the first royal to be convicted of a criminal offence in 350 years when she appeared in court to plead guilty to failing to stop one of her dogs, named Dotty, biting two children.
King Charles I was tried for treason in 1649 towards the end of the English Civil War, found guilty and beheaded.
The misconduct investigation is not the only accusation against Mountbatten-Windsor into which police are looking.
Republic has also reported him over allegations he was involved in the trafficking of a woman to Britain for sex in 2010. Thames Valley Police said the force was assessing allegations that a woman had been taken to an address in Windsor, where the former prince lived until recently.
Buckingham Palace has previously said it was ready to support any police investigation, saying the king had expressed “profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct”.
“Their majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse,” the palace said.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also called for a police investigation into the extent of Epstein trafficking women without proper checks by the authorities through London’s Stansted Airport, saying this had been overlooked by previous inquiries into Mountbatten-Windsor.
Essex police said on Wednesday it was looking into the issue.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Lagarde planned to leave her job early, ahead of next year’s French presidential election, to give outgoing leader Emmanuel Macron a say in picking her successor
International News via Reuters:
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has told colleagues she remains focussed on her job and she would tell them first if she was about to step down, four sources told Reuters, in a private message the recipients took to mean she was not about to resign.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Lagarde planned to leave her job early, ahead of next year’s French presidential election, to give outgoing leader Emmanuel Macron a say in picking her successor.
Lagarde messaged fellow policymakers later that day to reassure them that she was still concentrating on her ECB role and that they would hear it from her, rather than the press, if she wanted to step down, the sources said.
Recipients of the message said this likely meant that Lagarde did not want to leave the ECB immediately although the message did not firmly close the door to such a step.
An ECB spokesperson declined to comment.
Reporting by Francesco Canepa and Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Toby Chopra
Craig and Lindsay Foreman had been charged with espionage after Iran accused them of gathering information in several parts of the country
International News via Reuters:
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Thursday condemned as “totally unjustifiable” the 10-year sentence given to a British couple in Iran for spying, saying the government would continue to press for their release.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman had been charged with espionage after Iran accused them of gathering information in several parts of the country.
“We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family,” Cooper said in a statement.
The Foremans were arrested on January 3 of last year while travelling through Iran on a global motorcycle journey. Iranian state media announced their detention the following month over espionage charges and they have now been held for more than 13 months.
TRIAL WITHOUT DEFENCE
Joe Bennett, Lindsay’s son, said in a separate statement the couple had appeared at a three-hour trial on October 27, in which they were not allowed to present a defence.
“We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage,” he said, adding that the family was deeply concerned about the couple’s welfare and the lack of transparency in the judicial process.
Bennett called on the British government to “act decisively and use every available avenue” to secure their release.
The Iranian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentencing.
According to a family statement, the couple have been held for extended periods without being able to communicate. They have had limited or delayed access to legal representation, periods of solitary confinement and delays in receiving funds for basic necessities. They also reported disrupted or cancelled consular visits.
Cooper, whose office did not comment on the disruption, said they would continue to provide consular assistance.
Lindsay Foreman has been held in the women’s section of Tehran’s Evin Prison, while her husband Craig has been held in its political wing.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have in recent years detained foreign and dual nationals, typically on espionage or national security charges.
Human rights organisations say the authorities use such arrests as leverage in disputes with other countries, a practice they describe as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated detentions. Tehran has rejected those accusations and said the cases involved legitimate security concerns.
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Kate Holton and Andrei Khalip
Unfavourable weather and tough market conditions have weighed on Centrica’s margins over the past year, and the company has been selling non-core assets to focus on liquefied natural gas-related infrastructure
International News via Reuters:
British Gas owner Centrica warned on Thursday that 2026 profit at its energy trading arm would miss its forecasts and paused its share buyback programme after reporting a 39% drop in annual profit, sending shares 8% lower.
Unfavourable weather and tough market conditions have weighed on Centrica’s margins over the past year, and the company has been selling non-core assets to focus on liquefied natural gas-related infrastructure.
The company expects 2026 core profit at its Optimisation energy trading unit of about 250 million pounds ($337.4 million), below its earlier estimate of 300 million to 400 million pounds.
Centrica aims to keep operating costs flat through 2030, delivering 500 million pounds in underlying cost savings that will offset inflation and fund business growth. The transformation programme, however, will cost about 600 million pounds to execute, it said.
Analysts at JPMorgan said the outlook cut and the transformation costs could lead to near-term estimate downgrades and drive weakness in its shares.
Centrica’s shares were headed for their biggest daily drop since July 2024.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
Centrica reported adjusted core profit of 1.42 billion pounds for 2025, ahead of market expectations.
The company is targeting core profit of 1.7 billion pounds by the end of 2028, growing to 2 billion pounds in 2030, supported by its transformation programme and expected nuclear life extensions that are yet to be approved.
“With major projects like Sizewell C, Grain LNG and our Meter Asset Provider laying the groundwork for more stable and predictable earnings, our long-term opportunities have never been better,” CEO Chris O’Shea said in a statement.
“Pausing the buyback enables us to prioritise investment.”
Centrica’s Rough gas storage facility is expected to break even in 2026 after the company paused operations last year due to an uneconomic seasonal gas price spread.
It is awaiting a British government consultation outcome on gas storage that could change the business model for facilities like Rough.
($1 = 0.7409 pounds)
Reporting by Ankita Bora and Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Jan Harvey
Investors were also nervous about a reported buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East and a potential U.S.-Iran conflict, which lifted oil prices and safe-haven assets
International News via Reuters:
The dollar dipped on Thursday, but held above its recent lows after minutes from the Federal Reserve showed policymakers did not seem to be in a rush to cut interest rates and that several were open to hikes if inflation proved sticky.
Investors were also nervous about a reported buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East and a potential U.S.-Iran conflict, which lifted oil prices and safe-haven assets.
The euro, meanwhile, held steady around $1.18, having fallen sharply the day before, following a report that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde planned to leave before her term ends in October next year.
Fed minutes released on Wednesday showed policymakers divided over where to take U.S. rates and suggested that the next chairman, due to start in May, will have a hard time pushing through rate cuts.
Several policymakers are expecting productivity gains to dampen inflation, the minutes said, but “most participants” cautioned progress may be slow and uneven. Several even indicated hikes are possible if inflation stays above target.
“This suggests there isn’t a great deal of urgency to cut rates again, at least not until after current chair (Jerome) Powell’s term ends in May,” said Peter Dragicevich, Asia-Pacific currency strategist at Corpay.
Data on Wednesday showed U.S. factory production increased by the most in 11 months in January and rises in capex and housing starts. Markets are looking ahead to global purchasing managers’ index figures and U.S. gross domestic product data, due on Friday.
EURO STABILISES AFTER LAGARDE CHATTER
The euro edged higher against most other currencies, having stabilised after the selloff triggered by speculation of Lagarde’s early departure from the ECB that would give outgoing French leader Emmanuel Macron a say in picking her successor, according to the Financial Times.
Her term is due to end in October 2027 and potential successors are not expected to transform monetary policy, yet the speculation has arisen just as a change of guard materialises at the Fed.
“Given the number of countries at the table and the various deputies at the ECB, it may be the case that a change to the Fed is more important than a change to the ECB in terms of the direction that policy will take subsequent to that change,” said Thierry Wizman, global FX and rates strategist at Macquarie Group.
“And she could be easily equally replaced by a dove as by a hawk. It’s not clear what, because there weren’t any front-runners effectively out there. I think that’s why the market is not putting that much into this headline,” he said.
The yen, meanwhile, took a knock overnight, weakening for a second day, as the Trump administration announced projects valued at $36 billion as the first investments under Japan’s promised $550 billion U.S. investment pledge.
It was last a touch weaker at 154.96 to the dollar, having lost 1.5% in value so far this week.
“Direct Japanese investment into the U.S. will be a key watch factor this year, and one which adds to the very mixed picture on USD/JPY,” said Chris Turner, global head of research at ING.
“The question for FX markets this year is whether this investment proves a supportive dollar flow or something like Japan’s FX reserves are used to guarantee new dollar loans and avoid pressure on the yen. The latter seems to be the preferred outcome for Tokyo.”
The Aussie dollar held at $0.7050 after employment data showed the jobless rate stayed at multi-month lows of 4.1%, while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.3% to $0.5982, having posted its steepest percentage drop since last April, after the central bank took a more cautious line about future interest rate hikes than many had expected.
Holidays for Hong Kong, China and Taiwan lightened Asia trade and the yuan was steady at 6.9 to the dollar in offshore trade in European hours.
Additional reporting by Tom Westbrook in Singapore and Dhara Ranasinghe in London; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Shri Navaratnam and Anil D’Silva
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said refugees must return to government custody for “inspection and examination” a year after their admission into the United States
International News via Reuters:
The Trump administration has given immigration officers broader powers to detain legal refugees awaiting a green card to ensure they are “re-vetted,” an apparent expansion of the president’s wide-ranging crackdown on legal and illegal immigration, according to a government memo.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in a memo dated February 18 and submitted in a federal court filing, said refugees must return to government custody for “inspection and examination” a year after their admission into the United States.
“This detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-admission vetting with that applied to other applicants for admission, and promotes public safety,” the department said in the memo.
Under U.S. law , refugees must apply for lawful permanent resident status one year after their arrival in the country. The new memo authorizes immigration authorities to detain individuals for the duration of the re-inspection process.
The new policy is a shift from the earlier 2010 memorandum, which stated that failure to obtain lawful permanent resident status was not a “basis” for removal from the country and not a “proper basis” for detention.
The DHS did not respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.
The decision has prompted criticism from refugee advocacy groups.
AfghanEvac’s president Shawn VanDiver called the directive “a reckless reversal of long-standing policy” and said it “breaks faith with people the United States lawfully admitted and promised protection.”
HIAS, formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, said the “move will cause grave harm to thousands of people who were welcomed to the United States after fleeing violence and persecution.”
Under President Donald Trump, the number of people in ICE detention reached about 68,000 this month, up about 75% from when he took office last year.
Trump’s hardline immigration agenda was a potent campaign issue that helped him win the 2024 election.
A U.S. judge in January temporarily blocked a recently announced Trump administration policy targeting the roughly 5,600 lawful refugees in Minnesota who are awaiting green cards.
In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis said federal agents likely violated multiple federal statutes by arresting some of these refugees to subject them to additional vetting.
Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington, Devika Nair, Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; editing by Lincoln Feast.
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