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UK’s Starmer calls Trump’s remarks on allies in Afghanistan ‘frankly appalling’

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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UK’s Starmer calls Trump’s remarks on allies in Afghanistan ‘frankly appalling’

Britain lost 457 service personnel killed in Afghanistan, its deadliest overseas war since the 1950s

International News via Reuters:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about European troops staying off the front lines in Afghanistan insulting and appalling, joining a chorus of criticism from other European officials and veterans.

“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt for the loved ones of those who were killed or injured,” Starmer told reporters.

When asked whether he would demand an apology from the U.S. leader, Starmer said: “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.”

Britain lost 457 service personnel killed in Afghanistan, its deadliest overseas war since the 1950s. For several of the war’s most intense years it led the allied campaign in Helmand, Afghanistan’s biggest and most violent province, while also fighting as the main U.S. battlefield ally in Iraq.

Starmer’s remarks were notably strong coming from a leader who has tended to avoid direct criticism of Trump in public.

Trump told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Thursday the United States had “never needed” the transatlantic alliance and accused allies of staying “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan.

His remarks added to already strained relations with European allies after he used the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos to again signal his interest in acquiring Greenland.

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel condemned Trump’s remarks on Afghanistan, calling them untrue and disrespectful.

Britain’s Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also weighed in. “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” he said in a statement.

‘WE PAID IN BLOOD FOR THIS ALLIANCE’

“We expect an apology for this statement,” Roman Polko, a retired Polish general and former special forces commander who also served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told Reuters in an interview.

Trump has “crossed a red line”, he added. “We paid with blood for this alliance. We truly sacrificed our own lives.”

Britain’s veterans minister, Alistair Carns, whose own military service included five tours including alongside American troops in Afghanistan, called Trump’s claims “utterly ridiculous”.

“We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home,” he said in a video posted on X.

Richard Moore, the former head of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service, said he, like many MI6 officers, had operated in dangerous environments with “brave and highly esteemed” CIA counterparts and had been proud to do so with Britain’s closest ally.

Under NATO’s founding treaty, members are bound by a collective-defence clause, Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

It has been invoked only once – after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, when allies pledged to support the United States. For most of the war in Afghanistan, the U.S.-led force there was under NATO command.

POLISH SACRIFICE ‘MUST NOT BE DIMINISHED’

Some politicians noted that Trump had avoided the draft for the Vietnam War, citing bone spurs in his feet.

“Trump avoided military service 5 times,” Ed Davey, leader of Britain’s centrist Liberal Democrats, wrote on X. “How dare he question their sacrifice.”

Poland’s sacrifice “will never be forgotten and must not be diminished”, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Trump’s comments were “ignorant”, said Rasmus Jarlov, an opposition Conservative Party member of Denmark’s parliament.

In addition to the British deaths, more than 150 Canadians were killed in Afghanistan, along with 90 French service personnel and scores from Germany, Italy and other countries. Denmark – now under heavy pressure from Trump to transfer its semi-autonomous region of Greenland to the U.S. – lost 44 troops, one of NATO’s highest per-capita death rates.

The United States lost about 2,460 troops in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, a figure on par per capita with those of Britain and Denmark.

Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Elizabeth Evans in London, Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen and Terje Solsvik in Oslo, Malgorzata Wojtunik in Gdansk, additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Muvija M and James Davey in London and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Writing by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Gareth Jones, Andrew Heavens, Ros Russell and Diane Craft

RBR Coast Guard to host open house

Alisa Bernardo

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January 23, 2026

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The event runs tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at sea while serving your community?

The Royal Bermuda Regiment is inviting residents to an open house at its west-end facility tomorrow, offering a closer look at the unit’s role in protecting Bermuda’s waters and ensuring maritime safety.

Captain Jason Harrell, Second-in-Command of the RBR Coast Guard, outlines what visitors can expect.

For those interested in joining the battalion, a recruitment camp is also scheduled for next month. And as Captain Harrell explains, serving specifically with the Coast Guard offers valuable hands-on training and learning opportunities.

The open house takes place tomorrow at Scenic House, 35 Malabar Road on Boaz Island, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Minister Furbert calls on families to foster Bermuda’s children

News - Bermuda

Alisa Bernardo

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January 23, 2026

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Minister Furbert calls on families to foster Bermuda’s children

Government seeks to grow list of foster carers

“Open your hearts and your homes to foster Bermuda’s children.”

That’s the call from Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, Tinee Furbert.

According to the latest reporting cycle, more than 50 children are currently in foster care, and Government is urging more families to step forward to meet growing and evolving needs.

Alisa Bernardo spoke with Minister Furbert about the ongoing demand for foster parents and the impact they can have.

WATCH the report above.

Decision ‘not yet made’ regarding school tiers

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Education Minister confirms there was a think‑tank session with Parish Primary & Middle School Principals, but next steps of education transformation are still being determined

Minister of Education Crystal Caesar. File photo

Statement by the Minister of Education, Crystal Caesar

Minister Caesar said: “I want to make it abundantly clear that no decisions have been made regarding the critical next steps in Education Transformation. In December 2025, at my request, the Principals of Middle and Parish Primary Schools came together for a think‑tank session to review enrollment data, registration, and key data related to school readiness for September 2026. As the front-line leaders in schools, it makes sense to hear from them as we prepare for student transitions in September 2026.

In addition to meetings with principals, there have been discussions with school boards, unions, additional school principals, staff, and parents at affected schools, as well as with Department of Education staff, making for a total of 21 stakeholder meetings. We have received recommendations from principals on the intended student transitions which are aimed at ensuring schools have the right facilities and supporting students’ developmental readiness. We will continue stakeholder engagement and welcome feedback.

The 2026/2027 school year is a pivotal year in our education transformation and as such we are taking the time to consult widely, listen intently and expect that in mid-February we will be able to inform our internal stakeholders first, followed by a public announcement on agreed next steps.”

Are parents at odds with principals over school reform?

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Students and parents protest against school reform reversal; idea to go back to Primary 1-6 comes from principals themselves

Students from Francis Patton Primary staged a roadside protest this morning, saying they don’t want to see Government backtrack on changes already enacted through education reform.

The Royal Gazette reports that the gathering involved mostly Year 7 and 8 students – those who could be displaced if current concerns prove true.

Francis Patton was opened as one of the first two Parish Primaries in September 2023, and is now teaching students from Year 1 to Year 8 – retaining pupils for an additional two years than was done with the previous model.

Under the Government’s education reform, public middle schools would eventually be abolished, and senior schools would start receiving Year 9 students.

However, parents learned on Wednesday that consideration was being given to returning Parish Primary schools to the previous model of teaching years 1 to 6, and middle schools keep teaching years 7-9 as lower secondary schools.

Parents were also present at today’s protest, with students brandishing signs that read “Let us stay at Francis Patton”, and “Parents deserve clarity, not confusion”…

Notably, the proposal to physically reverse some of the school changes comes from Parish Primary and Middle School principals themselves, in discussion with the Minister of Education, Crystal Caesar.

Infrastructure, oversubscription and parental concerns were apparently cited as factors in the proposal. We understand further stakeholder discussions will take place before any decisions are made.

Meanwhile, parents of Year 6 and Year 7 students across Bermuda’s four parish schools have called for a meeting with government leaders to discuss the reforms.

In a statement, the parents said they are upset and frustrated by the constant changes being made to the education system.

Elliot Parish Primary School PTA will hold a Town Hall at the school, 6pm on Monday, to discuss ongoing education reform.

Teachers Union calls for pause and ‘genuine, structured consultation’

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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B.U.T: “Public education deserves clarity; it deserves honesty; and it deserves leadership that brings stability – not confusion.”

The Bermuda Union of Teachers is compelled to speak out following a deeply troubling sequence of communications by the Ministry of Education over the past 24 hours. These recent revelations have caused widespread confusion, anxiety, and frustration among principals, teachers, parents, and students.

School leaders were summoned to a meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice, and presented with a plan described as being “co-signed” by principals, when – in fact – it only reflected the views of a small subset of BPSS principals. On the same day, teachers and parents were called into emergency meetings where this proposal was presented – not as a discussion point, but as the confirmed new direction for education reform. Schools have been left to manage the fallout of these communications without clarity, documentation, or proper engagement after neither teachers nor their Union were properly consulted before these announcements.

This approach has created massively unnecessary disruption across the system.

Jonathan Tankard, President of the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) states:

“What we have seen over the past 24 hours is not leadership through clarity, it is confusion caused by rushed decisions and poor communication. Teachers and principals were placed in impossible positions, and parents were left anxious because information was shared without honesty or proper process.”

Following the Ministry’s subsequent public statement suggesting that the record needed to be “set straight,” the Union is concerned that the Ministry’s public narrative does not align with what teachers have reported directly to the Union, nor with what parents have publicly shared about how meetings unfolded.

The BUT General Secretary, Dante Cooper adds:

“If the Ministry’s public statements are accurate, then it should be quite straightforward to clearly explain what the plan actually is. To date, that has not happened. Instead, we’ve seen fragmented messaging that presents proposals as decisions and consultation as an afterthought.”

For nearly a decade, education reform, while challenging, has been grounded in engagement, co-design, and stakeholder feedback. Teachers and parents have continued to engage with the burden of reform because they were part of the process and because decisions, even when difficult, were communicated through established consultative structures.

That standard has not been met this week.

The President further states:

“Teachers did not create this mess. Parents did not create this mess. Students certainly did not create this mess. It is the result of a failure to consult meaningfully and to communicate responsibly.”

Meaningful consultation is not optional. It is required under established policy, procedure, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. It is also essential to maintaining trust in a public education system already under significant strain.

The General Secretary continues:

“Students, parents, and teachers cannot take another round of uncertainty driven by unclear leadership. If there is a plan, then lay it out clearly. If there is not, then stop presenting proposals as settled decisions. The people of Bermuda and its children deserve better.”

The Union is calling on the Ministry of Education and the Bermuda Government to immediately pause further announcements, correct the record where necessary, and engage in genuine, structured consultation with teachers, parents, and school communities before any further steps are taken.

Public education deserves clarity; it deserves honesty; and it deserves leadership that brings stability – not confusion.

Stocks edge higher, dollar dips with potential yen intervention in focus

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Stocks edge higher, dollar dips with potential yen intervention in focus

The yen suddenly swung from a loss to a gain versus the dollar, suggesting to traders that Japan may have run rate checks with banks – often a signal of readiness to intervene

International News via Reuters:

MSCI’s global equities index was rising modestly on Friday and benchmark U.S. Treasury yields edged down while the yen gained against the dollar as traders bet that Japanese authorities are close to intervening directly to support the currency.

The yen suddenly swung from a loss to a gain versus the dollar, suggesting to traders that Japan may have run rate checks with banks – often a signal of readiness to intervene.

Earlier in the day the Bank of Japan signaled its readiness to continue raising still-low borrowing costs in a politically-charged atmosphere, ahead of a snap election next month.

After two days of gains, Wall Street equities were making little progress, suggesting a muted ending for a week punctuated by a sell-off then a relief rally linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of tariff threats and ruling out seizing Greenland by force.

With a busy week ahead, including a Federal Reserve meeting, key economic releases and earnings reports, Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Investment Management in El Segundo, California said that investors were taking a breath and “in a wait-and-see approach.”

“There’s really no big drivers today and markets really benefited the last couple of days from easing geopolitical risks,” he said. “Stocks are taking a breather because of anticipation of a really big week.”

Fed funds futures are pricing an implied 97% probability that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hold rates steady next week, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.

With disappointing forecasts weighing on Intel shares after its quarterly update late on Thursday, investors were waiting for reports from Microsoft, Meta Platforms and industrial giant Caterpillar among others in the week ahead.

While global stocks have clawed back much of the ground lost in Tuesday’s sell-off, investors are still waiting for details of a deal being negotiated between the U.S. and European leaders regarding Greenland. As a result some big Northern European investors are increasingly wary of the risks of holding U.S. assets.

Investors are also watching for any signs of progress from U.S.-brokered trilateral talks over Ukraine, with its President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying on Friday that the vital question of territory in Ukraine’s war with Russia would be discussed in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday.

On Wall Street at 11:33 a.m. (1633 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average <.DJI> fell 286.46 points, or 0.57%, to 49,100.07, the S&P 500 <.SPX> rose 5.37 points, or 0.08%, to 6,918.72 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> rose 99.59 points, or 0.43%, to 23,535.61.

MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe <.MIWD00000PUS> rose 1.93 points, or 0.19%, to 1,037.96.

The pan-European STOXX 600 <.STOXX> index fell 0.21%.

In currencies, the yen was volatile with a sudden spike earlier on speculation of a potential intervention, while the dollar edged lower and was set for its steepest weekly decline since June.

The dollar index <=USD>, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, fell 0.25% to 98.06.

With the euro <EUR=> up 0.1% at $1.1766, the dollar weakened 0.47% against the Japanese yen <JPY=> to 157.65. Sterling <GBP=> strengthened 0.59% to $1.3577.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Friday she was watching currency markets closely, but declined to comment on the speculation.

In Treasuries, the yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes <US10YT=RR> fell 0.6 basis points to 4.245%, down from 4.251% late on Thursday, while the 30-year bond <US30YT=RR> yield fell 0.6 basis points to 4.8427%.

The 2-year note <US2YT=RR> yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations for the Federal Reserve, fell 1.2 basis points to 3.603%, from 3.614% late on Thursday.

In energy markets, oil prices rebounded after Trump renewed threats against Iran, raising concerns of military action that could disrupt crude supplies while there are outages in Kazakhstan.

U.S. crude rose 2.81% to $61.03 a barrel and Brent rose to $65.82 per barrel, up 2.75% on the day.

In precious metals markets, silver and gold set new records with silver prices rising above $100 an ounce for the first time and gold hitting another record and en-route to $5,000/oz as investors continued to pile into safe haven assets amid geopolitical turmoil.

Spot gold <XAU=> rose 0.94% to $4,983.11 an ounce. U.S. gold futures <GCc1> rose 0.55% to $4,936.00 an ounce.

Elsewhere in metals, copper <CMCU3> rose 3.08% to $13,148.50 a tonne. Three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange <CMAL3> rose 1.1% to $3,167.50 a tonne.

Reporting by Sinéad Carew in New York, Iain Withers in London and Gregor Stuart Hunter in Singapore, additional reporting by Naomi Rovnick; Editing by Jane Merriman, Kirsten Donovansinead.carew@thomsonreuters.com

Germany and Italy, EU’s top manufacturers, unveil pro-industry alliance

News - World

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Germany and Italy, EU’s top manufacturers, unveil pro-industry alliance

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz unveiled a joint plan to push regulatory simplification, stronger industrial policy and closer cooperation on energy, defence and migration

International News via Reuters:

Germany and Italy pledged on Friday to coordinate within the EU to promote deregulation of industry, a sign of the bloc’s two biggest manufacturers exploring closer alignment as their interests diverge from those of members including France.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz unveiled a joint plan to push regulatory simplification, stronger industrial policy and closer cooperation on energy, defence and migration.

The two governments said Europe must strengthen its ability to act in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and wider global challenges, while boosting growth and resilience in the EU’s industrial base.

Berlin and Rome see their industrial strength increasingly eroded by China and challenged by EU regulations, notably the so-called Green Deal which has upended the automobile market.

“Today I believe Italy and Germany are closer than ever,” Meloni said, speaking at a news conference alongside Merz, adding that the EU’s ecological transition had “brought our industries to their knees” and empowered China.

Recent transatlantic tensions have also highlighted policy gaps with France, whose President Emmanuel Macron pushed this week for a tough line against Washington. Germany and Italy, the EU’s two biggest exporters to the United States, have been more cautious in public.

Though Meloni’s party has roots in the far right, Merz sees her as a pragmatic ally who shares his focus on protecting Europe’s industrial base, such as managing U.S. pressure over Greenland without escalation.

“During this eventful week, the two of us have spoken with each other almost every day about how to deal with the difficult issue involving Denmark and Greenland,” Merz said.

SLOW MOVING EUROPE SLIPPING BEHIND

In their 19-page plan of action, Berlin and Rome called for a simplification of rules within the 27-nation EU and urged “legislative and regulatory self-restraint” to help cut red tape.

The two nations backed deeper single-market integration, especially in services, while highlighting industrial priorities, including automotive and energy-intensive sectors.

Their bid to improve cooperation underscores growing concern in European capitals that the EU will fall further behind the United States and China on technology, industry and economic security unless member states move in step.

On critical raw materials, they pledged to work together on securing supply chains, looking to counter China’s growing influence on prices. With an eye on cheap Chinese e-retailers, they called for the EU to move to ensure fair competition.

Meloni and Merz said they supported the swift entry into force of an EU trade agreement with South and Central American nations – another issue where they have diverged from Paris, which wants more protection for farmers. They also supported finalising Indo-Pacific trade deals.

The two countries also signed a defence cooperation accord to deepen joint work across land, air, maritime and electronic-warfare systems.

Writing by Crispian BalmerEditing by Peter Graff

Swiss court frees bar owner linked to fatal fire

News - World

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Swiss court frees bar owner linked to fatal fire

Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica are under investigation for suspected crimes including negligent homicide and the former was detained on Jan. 9 due to a perceived flight risk

International News via Reuters:

A Swiss court said on Friday that the owner of a bar that caught fire on New Year’s Day could go free after authorities received funds to bail him.

Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica are under investigation for suspected crimes including negligent homicide and the former was detained on Jan. 9 due to a perceived flight risk. Both of them have voiced grief over the tragedy which killed 40 people and injured over 100 and vowed to cooperate with prosecutors.

The court ordered measures to counter Jacques Moretti’s flight risk which included a 200,000 Swiss Franc ($253,485.42) bail payment and the obligation to report daily to a police station, it said in a statement.

Swiss prosecutors have so far conducted two sets of hearings with the bar owners, currently the only suspects in the case, they said earlier on Friday. The hearings lasted over 10 hours each and covered safety issues and renovations of ‘Le Constellation’ bar, they said.

They have ordered searches, secured evidence and seized assets, they said.

Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by James Mackenzie

Airbus nears deal to sell around 100 A220 jets to AirAsia, sources say

News - World

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Airbus nears deal to sell around 100 A220 jets to AirAsia, sources say

If confirmed, a deal including options for about 50 more aircraft on top of the main order could be announced within days as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier pursues a turnaround, the sources said, asking not to be named

International News via Reuters:

Airbus is closing in on a deal to sell around 100 A220 jets to AirAsia, marking the budget airline’s first foray into regional narrowbody aircraft, industry sources said.

If confirmed, a deal including options for about 50 more aircraft on top of the main order could be announced within days as Asia’s largest low-cost carrier pursues a turnaround, the sources said, asking not to be named.

Both companies declined to comment.

“We have no announcements to make at this time,” an AirAsia spokesperson said.

Discussions to become the first buyer for a potential high-density, 160-seat version of the A220 first emerged ahead of last year’s Paris Airshow, with Brazil’s Embraer also vying for a chance to break Airbus’ exclusive hold on AirAsia.

Reuters reported last week that Airbus had renewed efforts to close a deal with AirAsia for some 100 A220s, possibly as early as this month.

AirAsia is one of the European planemaker’s biggest customers with more than 350 larger A320-family jets already on order. In July it ordered 50 long-range A321XLR aircraft.

AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes told Reuters last June the airline was ready to broaden its fleet by picking smaller planes to support new destinations.

This week, deputy Group CEO Farouk Kamal told Reuters that AirAsia continued to work with planemakers for regional-type aircraft, as it considers ordering a further 150 jets.

AirAsia has led a boom in low-cost carriers in the region in the past two decades as incomes rose.

However, pandemic travel restrictions crippled the airline’s parent Capital A, prompting Malaysia’s stock exchange to classify it as financially distressed in a measure known as PN17.

Fernandes, who is CEO of Capital A, said in a statement on Friday that the group had finished its PN17 regularisation plan and was “now working towards the uplift”.

Consolidation of all AirAsia-branded aviation businesses under AirAsia X will allow the airline to focus on expanding operations and reducing costs, while Capital A focuses on reviving its finances.

Reporting by Tim Hepher; Additional reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by Susan Fenton

Greetings from the Sundance Film Festival

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk

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January 23, 2026

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Greetings from the Sundance Film Festival

Our Arts & Entertainment reporter Kendal Trott reports from snowy Park City

This year’s festival celebrates the legacy of Robert Redford — the actor, director, and co-founder of the Sundance Institute, whose vision helped create a global platform for independent filmmakers and bold, original storytelling.

Kendal Trott and her friend and mentor Zina Edwards are in Utah to share insights from the film and entertainment industry, and hopefully to connect Bermuda’s creative community to what’s happening on this world stage.

Watch this space for interviews and movies reviews in the coming days.