The judges were kept working overtime at the National Equestrian Center as a thrilling afternoon of harness pony racing culminated in four photo finishes and the fastest times of the 2026 season.
In a day defined by razor-thin margins, the presiding official was called upon to settle multiple dead heats, starting in the 1:07&1 – 1:08&3 Time Bar Class. Victoria’s Secret, driven by Candyce Martins, and Reel Desire, piloted by Liam Stones, crossed the wire in an identical time of 1:06/2. After a careful review of the tape, Martins was awarded the win by the narrowest of margins.
The drama continued in the 1:03&1 – 1:04&1 Time Bar Class, where Rockeyed Optimist and Huntinforgold both clocked a blistering 1:04 flat. Maurice Raynor was eventually ruled the victor in a heart-pounding finish. History repeated itself in the 1:04&2 – 1:05&3 Time Bar Class, as Holy Grail went nose-to-nose with Inwood’s Realist. Both recorded a time of 1:05/2, with Jashaun Young securing the decision.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch for the elite 1:03 and Faster Time Bar Class. In a spectacular display of speed, Red October, driven by Philip Correia, and Smart Machine, with Candyce Martins at the helm, recorded the joint-fastest times of the day at a scorching 1:02/0. After a final consultation, Correia was awarded the win, capping off an afternoon of racing that saw the track record under constant threat.
The abductions last year had underlined the vulnerability of education facilities in a region plagued by criminal gangs and Islamist insurgents
International News via Reuters:
Schools across parts of northern Nigeria started reopening on Monday, after months of closure triggered by the abduction of hundreds of students in November.
The abductions last year had underlined the vulnerability of education facilities in a region plagued by criminal gangs and Islamist insurgents.
Schools resumed academic activities this term after the federal government said in a circular last month that enhanced security measures had created a safer environment for students to return. It did not provide details.
In northern Kaduna state, a 17-year-old student said it was difficult for her to return to school after two months away.
“What I love most about our school is being together at lunchtime and spending time with my teachers and friends. I miss it so much,” she said at her home before leaving for Federal Government College boarding school in the state.
Her father, Haruna Danjuma, said the decision to return his daughter to school was difficult, but fear of kidnapping should not deprive children of their right to education.
“A child is a gift from Almighty Allah, and it is my responsibility to educate her,” he said. “But it is the responsibility of government to secure the children.”
In Niger State, central Nigeria, where more than 300 students and staff were abducted in November, a majority of the schools remained shut for security reasons, state officials said.
Saint Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri hamlet was among those that would not reopen yet, the Christian Association of Nigeria said, citing a statement from the state government directing areas facing security challenges to remain closed until further notice.
Explaining the continued closure of schools, Niger commissioner for education Hadiza Mohammed said “the safety of students, teachers, and school communities remains paramount.”
Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi, Writing by Ben Ezeamalu, Editing by Alex Richardson
Bermudian cyclist Conor White delivered a resilient display on the boards this week, securing a hard-fought ninth-place finish overall in the Men’s Elite Omnium at the 2026 Canadian Track Championships.
Competing inside the high-tech Bromont National Cycling Center in Quebec, White made an immediate impact by powering to victory in his qualifying heat. The result served as a warning to a stacked field of North America’s top track specialists, marking the 26-year-old as a serious contender for the podium.
The Omnium—a grueling four-race discipline testing speed and tactical awareness—proved to be a rollercoaster. White opened with a solid seventh in the Scratch Race, but struggled in the middle stages, finishing 14th in the Tempo Race and 20th in the Elimination Race.
However, showing the grit that has defined his road career, White produced a standout finale. By relentlessly hunting sprint bonuses, he claimed fourth place in the concluding Points Race, catapulting him back up to ninth in the final standings.
The performance serves as a vital warm-up for White’s 2026 campaign with the British elite squad JAKROO Handsling Racing. He is slated to make history next month in Santiago as the first cyclist to represent Bermuda at the Pan American Track Championships, with his focus now shifting to a high-intensity training camp in Spain next week.
The tech giant on Wednesday surpassed Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019, becoming the second most valuable company in the world
International News via Reuters:
Alphabet hit a $4 trillion market valuation on Monday, as the Google parent’s sharpened artificial intelligence focus allayed doubts about its strategy and thrust it back to the forefront of the high-stakes race.
The tech giant on Wednesday surpassed Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019, becoming the second most valuable company in the world.
The milestones mark a remarkable change in investor sentiment for Alphabet, with its stock surging about 65% in 2025, outperforming its peers on Wall Street’s elite group of stocks, the so-called Magnificent Seven.
The stock has gained another 6% so far this year, and was last up 1.1%.
The shift was fueled by the company quelling concerns that it let an early AI advantage slip by turning a once-overlooked cloud unit into a major growth engine and drawing a rare tech investment from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.
Its new Gemini 3 model has also drawn strong reviews, intensifying pressure on OpenAI after GPT-5 left some users underwhelmed.
A Reuters report said that Samsung Electronics plans to double this year the number of its mobile devices with AI features powered by Google’s Gemini.
Google Cloud’s revenue jumped 34% in the third quarter, with a backlog of non-recognized sales contracts rising to $155 billion.
Renting out Google’s self-developed AI chips that were reserved for internal use to outside customers has also enabled the unit’s breakneck pace of growth.
Indicating the rising demand, The Information reported that Meta Platforms was in talks to spend billions of dollars on Alphabet’s chips for use in its data centers starting from 2027.
Meanwhile, the company’s dominant revenue generator – the advertising business – has largely held steady in the face of economic uncertainty and intense competition.
Alphabet is the fourth company to hit the $4 trillion milestone after Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple.
The stock has also benefited after a U.S. judge in September ruled against breaking up the company and allowing it to retain control of its Chrome browser and Android mobile operating system.
Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala, Shashwat Chauhan and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila
The YIR also covers efforts to strengthen the workforce, fintech education, and labour protections
Work to digitise immigration services, updates to work permit applications, and new apprenticeship training programmes.
These are some of the achievements and initiatives highlighted by the Ministry of Economy and Labour in their 2025 Year in Review.
The review covers modernisation, efforts to strengthen the workforce, data collection and publication through the department of statistics, Fintech education, and labour protections.
Minister Jason Hayward says, “As Bermuda navigates global economic change, our priority remains empowering Bermudians with the skills, protections, and opportunities needed to thrive”.
Read the Ministry of Economy and Labour 2025 Year in Review and accompanying press release below…
Today, the Ministry of Economy and Labour released its 2025 Year in Review, titled Advancing Economic Resilience and Service Modernisation in 2025, highlighting the Ministry’s continued progress in strengthening Bermuda’s economy, modernising public services, and expanding opportunities for Bermudians.
The report provides an overview of the Ministry’s work across its departments, Immigration, Workforce Development, Statistics, Economic Development, Registry General, and Labour, outlining key reforms, policy advancements, and service improvements delivered throughout the year.
“In 2025, the Ministry remained focused on building a resilient, future-ready economy while ensuring fairness, opportunity, and protection for Bermudians,” said the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP. “From modernising immigration services and strengthening workforce pathways, to enhancing labour protections and advancing our digital economy, this report reflects meaningful progress across our mandate.”
Key highlights from the 2025 Year in Review include continued progress toward the digitalisation of immigration services, expanded apprenticeship and national certification pathways, increased investment in youth employment and skills training, strengthened labour protections, including minimum wage adjustments, and significant advancements in intellectual property and trade mark modernisation.
The report also details the Ministry’s work to improve data quality and accessibility through the Department of Statistics, support innovation and fintech growth through targeted education programmes and grants and enhance regulatory clarity and service delivery for businesses and workers alike.
“As Bermuda navigates global economic change, our priority remains empowering Bermudians with the skills, protections, and opportunities needed to thrive,” Minister Hayward added. “This Year in Review demonstrates our commitment to modernising government services while fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Ministry’s achievements, priorities, and ongoing initiatives to ensure Bermuda remains competitive, equitable, and future-focused.”
The 2025 Year in Review can be viewed at The Ministry of Economy and Labour’s resources section on www.gov.bm.
Philip Woollins and Teresa Ruiz have been crowned the 2026 Goslings and Hamilton Princess “Rum to the Beach” champions, but the headlines were stolen by a dramatic navigational blunder that cost Dennis Mbelenzi a certain victory.
Mbelenzi had established a commanding lead as the 7.13-mile race wound through the coastal curves of Harbour Road. However, the contest took a bizarre turn in Southampton when Mbelenzi mistakenly followed a member of the public on a motorcycle. The motorist, who later admitted he was merely tracking the runner and found the lack of official marshals “strange,” led Mbelenzi up the punishing incline of Southampton Princess Hill instead of the required onto Lighthouse Hill.
Woollins capitalized on the confusion to defend his title, crossing the line at the Hamilton Princess Beach Club in 42:54. Jonathan Ball took second in 43:37, with Will Ellison finishing third in 45:28. A frustrated Mbelenzi was left to reflect on what might have been as the chasing pack surged past his detour.
In the women’s field, Teresa Ruiz delivered a tactical masterclass, finishing eighth overall in 47:05 to secure the title. She held off a fierce challenge from Stepanka Sprincova, who finished just 14 seconds behind, while veteran marathoner Rose-Anna Hoey completed the podium in 49:16.
The race serves as the final warm-up for over 100 athletes before the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge kicks off this Friday. Based on today’s gritty performances, the local contingent appears in prime form for the international field awaiting them on Front Street.
Registration open for NMB Teachers’ Circle, which aims to strengthen historical thinking and inquiry-based teaching practices in classrooms
Image supplied.
The National Museum of Bermuda (NMB) is excited to announce the expansion of its Teacher Professional Development programme with the launch of an innovative learning series: The NMB Teachers’ Circle. This initiative is a collaborative effort between NMB and the Department of Education, Government of Bermuda, designed to strengthen intercollegiate collaboration and historical thinking and inquiry-based teaching practices in Bermuda’s classrooms.
Launching on Friday January 23, 2026, the Teachers’ Circle is a five-part modular programme led by Lisa Howie, NMB Director of Learning and Engagement. Sessions will take place monthly from January through May at the Museum, engaging educators as learners in an experiential format. Participants will critically analyse primary and secondary sources, art, and objects, and museum exhibits to deepen their understanding of Bermuda history and engage with historical thinking and inquiry-based learning tenchniques to use in their classrooms.
“Learning history is fundamental to understanding our past, present and future. NMB is committed to empowering educators through workshops rooted in inquiry-based learning and museum education practices. The Teachers’ Circle was created to meet the needs of our local educators by fostering collaboration and providing opportunities to deepen understanding of Bermuda history and experiment with historical thinking and inquiry-based learning methods to use in the classroom. We look forward to building relationships, fostering the exchange of knowledge and practices, facilitating the co-authoring of resources, and serving as a reliable partner for Bermuda educators.
These workshops are free, thanks to our generous philanthropic partners and will take place on the NMB’s campus in Dockyard. We encourage both private and public-school educators of Social Studies, Bermuda Studies, English, Art and the Humanities from primary to high school to register today!”
— Lisa Howie, Director of Learning and Engagement, NMB
Programme Highlights:
Educators will:
Engage in inquiry-based learning to analyse, critically assess and interpret historical events with primary and secondary sources, objects and art
Increase confidence in using NMB assets to enrich classroom instruction, design field trips, and create meta-cognition routines for student reflection
Gain ‘behind the scenes’ access to Museum collections and staff, exploring objects, art and archival materials
Deepen understanding of Bermuda history, including strategies for addressing sensitive historical topics such as enslavement
Collaborate with colleagues, co-author tangible teaching resources to use in the classroom
Cross-Curricular Connections: Modules will integrate literacy, art, and history through art, objects and exhibits like the Hall of History mural, The Family Circle, and Shipwreck Island exhibit.
Reflect on the process and its impact through structured evaluation and discussion
The series of workshops will take place Fridays: January 23; February 27; March 27, April 17 and May 29. Participants will receive 7.5 hours of BEC approved TPD hours, a participation certificate and a complimentary one-year NMB family membership.
The registration deadline for workshop is Friday, January 16. A maximum of 15 participants has been set for the programme so interested parties are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Learn more and register at: https://nmb.bm/teachers-circle/
Participants must participate in all five parts of the programme.
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s swimming team, ranked No. 4 nationally, continued their clinical start to the new year with a hard-fought 50-39 dual meet victory over the York Lions at the Athletic Centre – Varsity Pool on Saturday.
In a meet defined by the dominance of youth, first-year standout Elijah Daley emerged as the undisputed star of the morning session. The Bermudian freshman secured a remarkable triple-win, claiming the top prize in the 50m breaststroke, the 100m breaststroke, and the 100m individual medley.
Daley’s versatility across the strokes has quickly made him a central figure in Toronto’s championship aspirations. His ability to deliver maximum points in both sprint and medley disciplines proved to be the difference-maker as the Blues fended off a resilient York squad.
The Varsity Blues coaching staff, led by the legendary Byron MacDonald, have been vocal about the impact of their new recruit. “Our coaching staff knew how valuable Elijah would be to our program and he’s proving us right,” MacDonald said following the meet. “He will be a player on the national scene and just as importantly his demeanour and attitude are great additions to the squad.”
The victory keeps the Blues’ momentum high as they prepare for a heavy mid-season schedule. While the No. 2 ranked Toronto women also secured a comfortable win over York, the men’s performance highlighted the depth and readiness of their underclassmen ahead of next week’s U of T Winter Invitational.
With the OUA Championships on the horizon in February, Daley’s early-season form suggests he will be a major contender for individual silverware as the Blues eye a sweep of the provincial titles.
Monday 12 January 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) will be having the exterior of its Acute Care Wing painted over the next few months. Scaffolding will be erected next week which will encroach on the through road at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital between Point Finger and Berry Hill Roads.
To safeguard motorists and pedestrians, BHB asks the public to exercise extra caution in the area. Clear signage will be posted, and the scaffolding will be lit at night.
The scaffold erection will start on Tuesday 20 January 2026. The traffic disruption is expected to last between six and eight weeks.
Powell said the Department of Justice had served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June
International News via Reuters:
The safe-haven Swiss franc and the euro rallied against the dollar after the Trump administration threatened Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with a criminal indictment, a move that could endanger the greenback’s safe-haven status.
Powell said the Department of Justice had served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was 0.31% lower at 98.82, snapping a five-day winning streak. Gold jumped to a record $4,600.33 per ounce after Powell released a video where he defended the central bank’s independence.
HIGHER RISK PREMIUM ON THE US CURRENCY
“The point is that the central bank’s response function is likely to change fundamentally and in the long term if the White House succeeds” in gaining control of monetary policy, said Thu Lan Nguyen, head of forex and commodity research at Commerzbank, after flagging that the Fed is already in a rate-cutting cycle and this scenario becomes relevant only if inflation risks rise.
“However, as the foreign exchange market is forward-looking, this already justifies a higher U.S. dollar risk premium today,” she added.
The Swiss franc was the best performer on Monday, rising 0.42% to 0.7976 against the dollar, while the euro continued to benefit as U.S. politics triggered a selloff in American assets.
The single currency rose 0.38% to 1.1680 in its biggest daily rise since December 22.
Some analysts said markets had not yet panicked because they expect U.S. President Donald Trump to appoint a credible successor to Powell and let that person steer policy.
BUT FED POLICY PATH STILL BASED ON DATA
The selloff in U.S. Treasuries hit the ultra-long maturities, with the 30-year yield up 4.5 bps at 4.86% and the 10-year up 3 bps at 4.30%. Yields on 2-year bonds, more sensitive to expectations for Fed policy rates, were slightly higher.
“Markets aren’t ready to price in a loss of Fed independence just yet, either on the view that Powell will indeed remain firm in his policy views,” said Francesco Pesole, forex strategist at ING.
Goldman Sachs’ chief economist Jan Hatzius said on Monday that a criminal indictment threat would reinforce central bank independence worries, but he expected the Fed to continue to make decisions based on data.
“If anything, this challenge to the Fed’s independence could prompt the FOMC to take a slightly more hawkish stance to defend the institution,” said Rogier Quaedvlieg, senior U.S. economist at Abn Amro.
“The latest labour market report can reasonably support holding rates steady for now,” he added.
YEN LITTLE CHANGED AS POLITICAL CONCERNS WEIGH
The dollar advanced in early Asian trade to a one-month high after Friday’s jobs report bolstered expectations that the Fed will hold interest rates steady later this month, while reports of hundreds of deaths during protests in Iran heightened geopolitical concerns.
Against the yen, the U.S. dollar was roughly unchanged at 157.92 yen, not far from its highest point in a year.
On Sunday, the coalition partner of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party said she might hold a snap election in February in a bid to capitalise on her strong public approval ratings since taking office in October. Takaichi’s policies, which favour big spending and a dovish Bank of Japan stance, have already weighed on the Japanese currency.
Geopolitical tensions were still in focus after Trump said the U.S. might meet Iranian officials and was in contact with the opposition, as he weighed a range of responses to the protests in Iran including military options.
Meanwhile investors are bracing for a busy data calendar this week, with Tuesday’s release of the U.S. consumer price index for December to provide clues on the Fed’s policy path.
A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on the legality of Trump’s emergency tariffs could also be released as soon as Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury has more than adequate funds to pay any tariff refunds ordered if the Supreme Court rules, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday.
Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo; additional reporting by Gregor Stuart Hunter; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Thomas Derpinghaus
Zahawi, who had a short spell in charge of the nation’s finances under former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022, becomes the latest in a long line of former Conservatives to switch to Farage’s populist Reform UK
International News via Reuters:
Former British finance minister Nadhim Zahawi defected to Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party from the Conservative Party on Monday, saying the country was broken and needed Farage as prime minister to fix it.
Zahawi, who had a short spell in charge of the nation’s finances under former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022, becomes the latest in a long line of former Conservatives to switch to Farage’s populist Reform UK.
Reform is currently leading the polls in Britain, far ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which has struggled to translate its landslide 2024 election win into popular change, against a backdrop of constrained finances and global instability.
“Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister,” Zahawi told a press conference announcing his defection. “Even if you don’t yet realize that Britain needs Reform, you know in your heart of hearts that our wonderful country is sick.”
Britain’s next national election is not due until 2029.
Farage’s party has five of 650 seats in parliament, but Reform’s surging popularity has come from tapping into public frustration over issues like immigration, crime and a perceived fall in the standard of public services.
Zahawi, in addition to a two-month stint as finance minister during a chaotic period for the Conservative Party, served in other senior party roles and was credited with driving British efforts to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine.
He was later sacked as chairman of the party by its then-leader Rishi Sunak after an investigation found he committed a serious breach by not being open about a tax probe.
Reporting by William James; editing by Michael Holden
The MV Logos Hope will dock along Front Street from February 11 – March 4
Often described as the world’s largest floating bookfair, the MV Logos Hope is returning to Bermuda more than a decade after its last visit.
The vessel operates under the non-profit organisation GBA Ships, which aims to promote literacy, education, cross-cultural co-operation, and social awareness.
Although the ship is currently in Trinidad and Tobago and has spent the last year cruising throughout the Caribbean, two crew members have arrived on island ahead of time to help prepare for its arrival.
The Logos Hope is scheduled to dock along Front Street from February 11 through to March 4.
Once here, there will be plenty in-store for locals.
The floating bookfair offers more than 5,000 book titles available for purchase, ranging from recipe books to children’s books and Christian literature.
Over the years, more than nine million visitors have been welcomed aboard the ship across visits to more than 140 ports worldwide.
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