51-year-old motorcyclist, Keith Darrell, dies following collision in Sandys
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) has confirmed the identity of the victim in Monday night’s fatal road traffic collision as 51-year-old Keith Darrell.
The incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, on Malabar Road in Sandys, near Boaz Island. It involved a motorcycle and a car traveling in opposite directions when the collision took place.
Mr. Darrell, who was riding the motorcycle, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The female driver of the car was subsequently detained on suspicion of impaired driving.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Police Constable Asaph Rawlins at 717-2123 or via email at arawlins@bps.bm.
The Bermuda Police Service extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Darrell, noting that a Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to support them during this difficult time.
Partnership with Endeavour and Bermuda College empowers Bermudians
The Ministry of Economy and Labour, in partnership with Endeavour and the Bermuda College Athora Division of Professional and Career Education, celebrated the successful completion of the 2025 Maritime Career Springboard Programme on September 25.
The Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, Minister of Economy and Labour, congratulated graduates for completing the intensive seven-week training. “You have earned internationally recognised certifications, strengthened your employability skills, and gained the confidence and experience needed to thrive in Bermuda’s maritime industry and beyond,” he said.
The Programme provided hands-on certifications in sailing, powerboating, marine first aid, and radio communication, alongside mentorship and workshops in résumé writing, interview preparation, and professional networking.
Graduates are now equipped for opportunities across Bermuda’s maritime sector – including superyachts, watersports, logistics, and marine services – with qualifications recognised at over 2,500 training schools worldwide.
Minister Hayward noted the Programme as “a prime example of how partnerships between government, education, and industry can expand opportunities for Bermudians.”
Endeavour Executive Director Jennifer Pitcher added, “Together, we’re empowering Bermuda’s youth with the skills and confidence to succeed in the maritime industry and beyond.”
A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said that during the initial stages of his attack, he had made a call to officers to claim a pledge of allegiance to Islamic State
International News via Reuters:
The man whose attack on a synagogue in northern England last week resulted in the deaths of two Jewish worshippers phoned police to say he was acting for Islamic State, counter-terrorism police said on Wednesday.
Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, made the call after driving a car into pedestrians and attacking people with a knife the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district, the reports said, citing police.
Armed officers shot Al-Shamie dead at the scene, and police later said they had accidentally shot one of the two victims killed in the attack.
A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said that during the initial stages of his attack, he had made a call to officers to claim a pledge of allegiance to Islamic State.
Last week, the head of Britain’s Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said authorities believed Al-Shamie might have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology, but establishing full details would likely take time.
The attacker was not previously known to counter terrorism police, but he did have a criminal history and had recently been arrested for rape before being released on bail, Taylor said.
Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James
Bermudian racer Jediah Cumbermack ended his season in the R&G British Talent Cup with a demonstration of resilience, securing a competitive finish despite a challenging final race in the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki British Superteen Class at Oulton Park.
The weekend began on a high note for the young rider. Battling difficult conditions, including a wet track, Cumbermack showed impressive adaptability to qualify brilliantly in 6th place on the grid.
However, the final race proved a tougher test. Cumbermack had a disappointing start, dropping four places early on. He quickly recovered, finding a determined pace and steadily working his way back up through the field.
Cumbermack fought hard to regain his starting position, ultimately crossing the line in a creditable 6th place. The final lap saw him pushing for 5th, but he simply ran out of time to execute the pass.
Reflecting on his efforts this season, Cumbermack said: “I want to thank all my sponsors and my mom for helping me throughout the race season.”
While the final result may have been frustrating, Cumbermack’s pace and ability to perform well in adverse conditions underscore a promising season of growth in the challenging British Superteen Class.
Pill said a speech he was giving at the University of Birmingham was not intended to be a comment on the current stance of monetary policy
International News via Reuters:
Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill said on Wednesday that central bankers needed to make a “clear and credible” commitment to controlling inflation, including responding firmly if inflation gets out of hand.
Pill – who voted against the BoE’s most recent rate cut to 4% in August – said a speech he was giving at the University of Birmingham was not intended to be a comment on the current stance of monetary policy or the economic outlook.
But he said he backed what he called a “conservative” approach to setting interest rates.
“More weight should be given to robust ‘eternal verities’ in running monetary policy, at the expense of pursuing fragile optimising approaches specific to a given set of often ephemeral circumstances,” he said in a text of the speech released by the BoE.
“The credible commitment to an aggressive monetary policy response should inflation get out of hand induces behaviour that makes it much less likely that inflation will get out of hand,” he added.
Reporting by David Milliken Editing by William Schomberg
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) presented proposals to the European Commission, which is due to review its targets by the end of the year
International News via Reuters:
The European Union should ease its CO2 reduction targets for cars, vans and trucks, with longer compliance periods and a greater role for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels, the bloc’s auto association said on Wednesday.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) presented proposals to the European Commission, which is due to review its targets by the end of the year, taking into account the squeeze on the sector from U.S. tariffs and Chinese supremacy in electric vehicles.
ACEA’s premise is that cutting new car and van CO2 emissions by 100% by 2035 with intermediate 2030 targets is no longer feasible, with automakers facing fines for factors beyond their control, such as insufficient charging stations or low demand.
EVs have a market share of around 15.8% of new EU cars, with vans at 8.5% and trucks at 3.6%.
For cars, ACEA proposes that compliance with 2030 targets should be based on the average for the five-year period 2028-2032, that small EVs should be given a super credit towards meeting targets and that plug-in hybrids and range-extenders play a greater role.
It also wants vehicles using carbon-neutral fuels to be put on a par with EVs and incentives for decarbonisation initiatives, such as using green steel.
For vans, it recommends meeting 2025 CO2 emission targets over the period 2025-2029 and modifying the 50% reduction target for 2030. For trucks, ACEA wants a review earlier than the planned 2027 and urgent action to prevent manufacturers from being fined for missing current targets.
Transport and environment campaign group T&E said ACEA’s proposals would create loopholes, meaning carmakers would only have to achieve a 52% EV market share in 2035.
ACEA said this was a very premature assessment and that the clear majority of vehicles sold would be electric. Allowing flexibility would not slow down the transformation, it said, but would ensure the bloc’s economic security.
Reporting by Philip BlenkinsopEditing by Alexandra Hudson
Inspired by similar “Gen Z” movements in Kenya and Nepal, the protests that started on September 25 pose the biggest challenge to Rajoelina’s government since his re-election in 2023
International News via Reuters:
Youth protesters in Madagascar on Wednesday rejected an offer to join President Andry Rajoelina’s “national dialogue” with various groups, accusing his government of repression after weeks of demonstrations in the African island nation.
Inspired by similar “Gen Z” movements in Kenya and Nepal, the protests that started on September 25 pose the biggest challenge to Rajoelina’s government since his re-election in 2023, giving voice to widespread discontent over rampant poverty and high-level corruption.
Rajoelina fired his cabinet last week in a bid to quell the unrest, appointing a new prime minister and announcing plans for a national dialogue that started on Wednesday afternoon. He said the talks would be attended by spiritual leaders, students, youth representatives, and others.
“I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth. It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation,” he told the attendees.
POLICE DISPERSE STUDENTS
But the moves have failed to ease public anger.
On Wednesday, police dispersed about 200 medical students as they attempted to march after holding a sit-in at Antananarivo’s main government hospital, a Reuters witness said.
The so-called Gen Z movement said they would not hold talks with the government as long as authorities respond to their demonstrations with force.
“We reject this mockery of dialogue,” the protesters said in the statement posted on their verified Facebook page.
“We refuse the president’s invitation to talks. We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets.”
Although the demonstrations were initially sparked by water and electricity shortages, demands have now expanded to include calls for Rajoelina to leave office, apologise to the nation, and dissolve the senate and the election commission.
Maminira Ranoelisoa, whose husband Alain Mamisoa Randriambolamanana was shot dead on September 25 when he went to close his shop, said his death was “entirely preventable”.
“It is normal for the people to protest because the people are hungry,” she told Reuters.
Late on Tuesday Rajoelina appointed new ministers for defence and public security and asked them to restore public order, without elaborating further on possible measures.
At least 22 people have been killed while 100 others have been injured in the unrest, according to the United Nations. The government has rejected those figures, without offering any of its own.
Madagascar’s protests are taking place at a vulnerable time for its export-reliant economy. While the country is best known for producing most of the world’s vanilla, other exports including nickel, cobalt, textiles and shrimp are also vital to foreign earnings and employment.
The country’s per capita GDP plunged by 45% between 1960 and 2020, according to the World Bank.
Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; Writing by Elias Biryabarema and George Obulutsa; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, William Maclean, Aidan Lewis
Tropical storm Jerry is being monitored closely by forecasters. As of the latest 6am October 8th advisory, Jerry is located around 1,378 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at about 20 kts.
Conditions are expected to be favorable for gradual intensification, and Jerry is forecast to reach hurricane strength in the coming days. The projected track suggests Jerry will approach near the northern Leeward Islands by Thursday or Friday. Many models suggest that after that, Jerry will begin to curve northward – turning away from the U.S. coastline and veering into the open Atlantic.
Some forecast guidance indicates that Jerry’s northward turn could steer it well east of Bermuda. However, it’s still early in its development and track, forecast confidence is low, and small shifts in direction could change the risk profile for the Island.
It was an evening of contrasts for Bermuda’s players in the lower leagues of English football, with a stunning individual performance stealing the spotlight despite collective frustration elsewhere.
Forward K’Shaela Burch-Waldron grabbed the headlines in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to power Sutton United Women to a 3-0 victory over Brentford FC Women.
Burch-Waldron got straight to business, opening the scoring in the 4th minute before doubling the lead with a strike of “pure quality” in the 17th minute. She completed her decisive hat-trick in the 66th minute, sealing the win and ensuring Sutton United progressed in the prestigious cup competition. The goals marked her fourth in just three days, demonstrating clinical form.
Meanwhile, Ayleal Dill and his Southwell City FC side endured a maddening afternoon in the United Counties League Division One.
Despite a hugely dominant performance against Pinchbeck United, Southwell were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw. The visitors created numerous chances but were denied by bad luck and stubborn goalkeeping, which included a penalty save and hitting the post. Dill and his teammates will feel they deserved all three points.
Elsewhere, Qur’an Raynor and Binfield FC saw their Berks & Bucks FA Cup run end following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Slough Town. Binfield bowed out of the cup after failing to break down their opponents at Hill Farm Lane.
World Boccia Americas Regional Championships underway in Colombia
Bermuda’s Omar Hayward faced a tough baptism in the World Boccia Americas Regional Championships, suffering a heavy defeat in his opening match in the BC1 Male Division.
Hayward, who is competing at the elite continental event in Cali, Colombia, came up against a strong opponent in Eduardo Reyes of Mexico in Pool A.
Reyes, a highly-regarded athlete who has represented Mexico at multiple Paralympic Games, proved too clinical for the Bermudian. Hayward would ultimately go down with a 10-1 scoreline.
The defeat is a difficult start for Hayward, who will now need to quickly regroup for his remaining matches in the pool if he hopes to advance in the individual competition.
Meanwhile, attention now turns to Bermuda’s top boccia star, Paralympian Yushae DeSilva-Andrade, who is scheduled to begin her campaign tomorrow.
DeSilva-Andrade, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the recent Paralympic Games, will enter the BC2 Women’s Division with high expectations and is set to compete in her first match on the second day of the championships. The individual competition runs until Friday.
The Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association (BPA) will launch Pharmacy Week 2025 with a community-focused Pharmacy Health Fair under the theme “Creating a Healthier Bermuda”, taking place on Saturday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI).
The event marks the start of Pharmacy Week (October 11–18), a national observance highlighting the essential role of pharmacists and pharmacy services in healthcare delivery across the island.
Open to the public and free of charge, the Health Fair is designed to promote wellness, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and connect residents with pharmacists and other trusted healthcare professionals.
Visitors will be able to explore exhibits from pharmacies across Bermuda, alongside representatives from a range of health-related fields including cancer care, cardiovascular health, ophthalmology, skincare, and nutrition. Attendees can ask questions about medications, learn more about preventative care, and gain insights into managing everyday health challenges.
The event will also feature interactive presentations in the BUEI auditorium, where healthcare experts will offer practical advice on key health topics aimed at supporting long-term wellness.
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy giveaways, raffles, and healthy refreshments, making the event both informative and family-friendly.
“The Pharmacy Health Fair is about bringing the community together to learn, share, and take steps toward healthier living,” the BPA said. “We encourage everyone to come out, ask questions about medications and preventative care, and take advantage of the resources available.”
The BPA invites all members of the public to attend and take an active role in building a healthier, more informed Bermuda.
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