Trade ties strengthened with the EU during Brussels visit
Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward travelled to Brussels recently to attend the Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) 18th Annual International Insurance Regulatory Dialogue
Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward in Brussels. Photo: Government of Bermuda
Full press release from the Ministry of Economy and Labour:
The Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, attended the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) 18th Annual International Insurance Regulatory Dialogue in Brussels on 4–5 September 2025, where he highlighted Bermuda’s leadership in international reinsurance.
Minister Hayward was also the guest of honour at the Government of Bermuda Brussels Office’s annual reception, held on 4 September in partnership with ABIR.
Alongside showcasing the Government’s strong support for Bermuda’s reinsurance industry, the visit was an opportunity to build new connections while strengthening existing ones within Belgium and the EU institutions, particularly in entrepreneurship and digitalisation.
The Minister held four high-level bilateral meetings, including with H.E. Anne Sherriff, the UK Ambassador to Belgium, where discussions centred on trade collaboration, pathways for Bermudian entrepreneurs and creatives, and potential youth mobility schemes.
Minister Hayward pictured with Anne Sherriff, UK Ambassador to Belgium. Photo: Government of Bermuda
He also met with senior representatives from the Belgian Federal Ministry of the Middle Class, the Self-Employed, and SMEs, the Belgian Federal Public Service Economy, and the Brussels Agency for Entrepreneurship (Hub.Brussels), to exchange best practices in labour market policy, entrepreneurs and SME support, and the digital economy.
Minister Hayward also attended a private lunch organised by the Government of Bermuda Brussels Office with stakeholders from the European Commission and the private sector, focusing on fintech and digital assets.
Minister Hayward reflected on his visit, saying, “It was a pleasure to be in Brussels supporting ABIR and Bermuda’s reinsurance industry, which plays an important role on the international stage. There are many untapped opportunities for partnership with the EU and Belgium that could benefit Bermuda’s international businesses, entrepreneurs, and SMEs. This visit marked an important step in opening new avenues for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and trade.”
Aliyyah Ahad, Bermuda Government Brussels Office, Minister Hayward and John Huff, President & CEO, ABIR. Photo: Government of Bermuda
Brazil’s Lula calls for tighter trade ties for BRICS as tariffs bite
BRICS members Brazil and India are among the countries hardest-hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs
International News via Reuters:
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday that more trade and financial integration between the BRICS group of developing nations would help mitigate the effects of protectionism.
“Tariff blackmail is being normalized as a tool for conquering markets and interfering in domestic issues,” Lula said in the government’s published remarks of a virtual meeting of BRICS leaders, without directly citing the United States.
BRICS members Brazil and India are among the countries hardest-hit by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, while new sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine are expected.
Lula had told Reuters in an interview last month he would raise the issue of Trump’s tariffs with BRICS.
The 50% levies on most Brazilian exports are linked to what Trump has described as a “witch hunt” against his ally and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for allegedly plotting a coup.
Tariffs on Indian goods were doubled last month to as high as 50% in response to India’s continued imports of Russian oil.
The virtual meeting, which lasted one and a half hours, brought together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, Brazil’s government said in a separate statement.
The group discussed the risks posed by the resurgence of unilateral measures, particularly in international trade, and explored ways to strengthen mechanisms for solidarity, coordination, and trade among BRICS nations, the statement said.
Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Alistair Bell
African leaders seek to offer climate model after US pullback
The continent, which has been buffeted by landslides, floods and droughts this year, is holding its second climate summit in Ethiopia
International News via Reuters:
African leaders aim to offer a global model for tackling the climate crisis through green investments, they said on Monday, after the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement deflated the fight against climate change.
The continent, which has been buffeted by landslides, floods and droughts this year, is holding its second climate summit in Ethiopia, seeking a common voice before global climate talks in Brazil, COP30.
“We are not here to negotiate our survival. We are here to design the world’s next climate economy,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the opening ceremony.
Africa’s development lenders and commercial banks signed a deal at the summit to mobilise up to $100 billion to power a “green industrialisation” using renewable energy, said Kenyan President William Ruto.
Participating institutions include the Africa Export-Import Bank, the African Development Bank and commercial lenders like Ecobank Transnational and KCB Group, Ruto said.
Abiy proposed a new Africa climate innovation initiative, funded by the continent, bringing together African universities, research institutions, startups, rural communities and inventors to deliver 1,000 solutions to tackle climate challenges by 2030.
“If we make the right choices now, Africa can be the first continent to industrialize without destroying its ecosystems,” said Abiy, who wants his country to host COP32 in 2027.
Leaders sought more financing at the inaugural summit in Nairobi two years ago to help governments to tackle climate challenges amid fiscal constraints and heavy debt burdens, but the continent is still badly short of funding, receiving just 1% of the annual global climate financing, officials say.
African countries, which are among the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of manmade global warming despite being among those least responsible for it, have long demanded that COP meetings yield more funds to help them adapt.
“Climate finance must be fair, significant and predictable,” said Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African Union Commission.
Leaders also expressed concerns about the potential damage from a fraying of the multilateral approach to tackling climate change.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration pulled out of the landmark Paris agreement on climate change for the second time earlier this year and has also withdrawn from clean energy partnerships with countries such as South Africa.
“Commitments are broken and international solidarity is dismissed as weakness precisely when the scale of the climate crisis demands enhanced cooperation, not less,” said Ruto.
Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw in Addis Ababa and Duncan Miriri in Nairobi; Editing by Kevin Liffey
China’s BYD to produce all EVs for Europe locally by 2028, executive says
BYD is building a factory in Hungary that should commence output this year, and is due to start production in Turkey in 2026
International News via Reuters:
China’s No. 1 automaker BYD will make its EVs for sale in Europe locally within three years, helping it avoid EU tariffs, while plug-in hybrids should dominate its European sales in the short term, a top executive said on Monday.
“We are training ourselves to be more European in production,” executive vice president, Stella Li, BYD’s No. 2 executive, told Reuters at the IAA Mobility car show in Munich.
BYD is building a factory in Hungary that should commence output this year, and is due to start production in Turkey in 2026.
The EU imposed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs last year because it believed China’s automakers benefited from government subsidies.
Asked how long it would take BYD to produce all of the EVs it needs to supply European demand, Li said: “Give us like two to three years.”
BYD originally sold only fully-electric cars in Europe, and late last year, announced it would also start selling plug-in hybrids. Those have proven popular with consumers and in Britain, for instance, the automaker’s top-selling model is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Li said that within the next six months, BYD will launch another three to four PHEVs and expects them to soon outsell fully-electric models in Europe.
“In the next one or two years, our plug-in hybrids will be dominating sales,” in Europe, She said.
Li said BYD would launch its luxury Yangwang brand in Europe in 2027.
BYD’s global sales soared to 4.2 million cars in 2024, up tenfold from 2019. But it has seen several months of falling sales and production declines at home in China.
This was normal after a prolonged period of growth, Li said.
“BYD is still the number one in China, we’re happy with the results,” she said. “Maybe in the past one or two years our share was too high as number one, so now we go back to living normal.”
The company’s sales are still up by double digits this year and she said BYD’s growth in 2025 will be driven by sales outside China.
Under new Chinese government policy, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu, who is 59, may have to retire in early 2027.
Asked if Wang had a succession plan and which executive might be tapped to replace Wang, Li said: “Let’s keep it a secret.”
Reporting By Nick Carey; Editing by Bernadette Baum
Kiwon Waldron wins Stake Race at Napanee Track
Bermudian harness driver Kiwon Waldron made a long journey pay off, driving over two hours to compete in the International Trotting & Pacing Association Stakes Races, where he secured a victory at the Napanee Track.
Competing in the Race 19 Pace 2 Year Old Filly Pace Class, Waldron was in the bike of Kickinwin Speed, guiding the young horse to a winning time of 1:06 flat. The victory is a significant one, as the International Trotting & Pacing Association (ITPA) Stakes races are a series of important events for developing horses.
The win adds to Waldron’s growing list of solid performances on the competitive US harness racing circuit, and the result is a testament to his dedication and skill as a driver. His ability to secure a win in his only race of the night after a long journey highlights his focus and determination to compete at a high level.
Britain could cut visas from countries that don’t accept migrant returns
Britain’s new interior minister Shabana Mahmood said counterparts from the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand agreed to the principles at a meeting in London
International News via Reuters:
Britain said on Monday it could cut the number of visas granted to countries that do not accept the return of migrants with no right to remain, after talks with allies including the United States on how to assert more control over borders.
Britain’s new interior minister Shabana Mahmood said counterparts from the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – a decades-old intelligence-sharing partnership collectively known as Five Eyes – agreed to the principles at a meeting in London.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Mahmood to the role on Friday in a shake-up of his government as he faces mounting public criticism over immigration and the arrival of migrants via illegal small boat crossings.
“This announcement sends a clear message to anyone seeking to undermine our border security. If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, we will deport you. If countries refuse to take their citizens back, we will take action,” Mahmood said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who has been a leading figure in the Trump administration’s crack-down on illegal immigration, said that the countries agreed to share background information on any criminal history of migrants, and work against cartels “utilising social media and technology companies to push their message”.
“We need to be just as aggressive in partnering together to push back on those kinds of new developments,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting.
Noem defended the detention of hundreds of mainly South Korean workers on a Hyundai Motor car battery facility under construction in Georgia last Thursday, saying the administration was following the law, and adding the tough U.S. measures might be an inspiration for other countries to do the same.
Starmer is a former human rights lawyer who took office in July last year after his Labour Party won an election landslide. His new-look government is prioritising a harder line on immigration – an issue that leads opinion polling as the public’s top concern and that has fuelled a poll lead for Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK.
Mahmood said she would take a strong approach.
“That does mean saying to countries who do not take their citizens back, that we’re not simply going to allow our laws to remain unenforced, that they do have to play ball,” she told broadcasters in an interview. “And if cutting visas is one of the ways to do that, then I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Reporting by Alistair SmoutAdditional reporting by William James and Sam TabahritiEditing by Frances Kerry
Mixed fortunes for Bermudian footballers in England
It was a day of mixed results for Bermudian footballers and coaches playing across the leagues in England and the United States, with some teams celebrating victories while others faced difficult defeats.
Mia Fishel’s Seattle Reign FC went down 2-0 to the Washington Spirit at Audi Field in a National Women’s Soccer League clash. The Bermudian forward came on as a late substitute but was unable to prevent the defeat. In a more positive result in the same league, Lielanni Nesbeth and her Chicago Stars FC teammates secured a 5-2 win over the Orlando Pride.
In the USL Championship, Khano Smith’s Rhode Island FC suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to league leaders Louisville City FC. Despite a weather delay and a solid defensive performance that limited Louisville’s attack, the Ocean State club was unable to find a way to score, falling to a lone first-half goal.
In the FA Women’s National League Cup, goalkeeper coach Dashun Cooper’s QPR Women secured a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Charlton Athletic, in a wide-open affair that saw them advance to the next round. Meanwhile, Kenni Thompson’s Bournemouth Women also advanced with a 2-0 victory over Moneyfields, with a double from Sophie Quirk sealing the win.
However, it was a more difficult day for other Bermudian players in the FA Women’s National League Cup. Camryn Lines and her Bridgwater United Women teammates went down to a 5-1 defeat against Plymouth.
In the North West Women’s Regional League, Keunna Dill and her FC United of Manchester Women teammates edged Poulton Vics Ladies 1-0, securing a hard-fought victory.
Jasmine Spence scored in Newport Pagnell Town Women’s 3-1 win at home to Biggleswade United in the Women’s FA Cup First Round Qualifier.
Finally, in the London & South East Regional Football League, K’Shaela Burch Waldron and her Sutton United Women teammates suffered a difficult 3-1 defeat to Brentford Women, condemning them to back-to-back losses.
Bermudian riders conclude Donington Park campaign
Bermuda’s young riders Aeziah Divine and Jediah Cumbermack have concluded their campaigns at Donington Park, with a mixed bag of results in the British Superbikes.
Competing in the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki British Superteen Class, Jediah Cumbermack showed his potential with two strong finishes. In the first race, he finished in a respectable tenth place with a time of 17:03.462. He built on that performance in the second race, finishing sixth with a time of 17:04.583. His consistent improvement and top-ten finishes are a very positive sign for his season.
In the R&G British Talent Cup, it was a more difficult day for Aeziah Divine. He unfortunately recorded a “did not finish” (DNF) in his race after completing just four laps. The result is a setback for Divine, but he will be looking to put the disappointment behind him as he prepares for his next event. The experience of competing at this level, even with a difficult result, will be invaluable for the young rider’s development.
St. George’s crowned BCB Premier Division knock-out champs
St. George’s Cricket Club has been crowned the 2025 Premier Division 40-Overs Knockout Cup champions after a victory over St. David’s Cricket Club in a final that was affected by rain and a revised target.
St. David’s won the toss and elected to bat in the match at Lord’s, which was reduced to 35 overs. They posted a strong total of 186 for 9, with Onias Bascome top-scoring with a knock of 42. The St. George’s bowling attack was led by Clay Darrell, who claimed three wickets for 39 runs.
After a rain delay, the target for St. George’s was revised to 134 runs in 25 overs. St. George’s got a promising start with Nzari Paynter top-scoring with 33, St. George’s was able to find a way to chase down the target, eventually finishing on 134 for 8 in their 21 overs. The St. David’s bowling attack, led by Justin Pitcher, was the difference-maker, with Pitcher claiming four wickets for 32 runs in a superb spell. His performance was crucial but it was unsuccessful in securing the championship for St. David’s.
Regiment launches 60th anniversary celebrations
A series of events will unfold over the coming months to mark the battalion’s enduring service to the island
RBR press release:
Serving and former soldiers took a trip through the decades last night as the Royal Bermuda Regiment launched its 60th anniversary celebrations at Warwick Camp. Dignitaries, including His Excellency the Governor and RBR Commander-in-Chief Andrew Murdoch, as well as Premier David Burt, were among the guests welcomed for an evening of fellowship and recognition.
It was the first in a series of events that will unfold over the coming months to mark the battalion’s enduring service to the island since its establishment on September 1, 1965. Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Simons, the Regiment’s Commanding Officer, told attendees last night: “Our 60th anniversary year is a year of opportunity.
Not only is this year an opportunity to draw attention to the Regiment as we celebrate this milestone, but it also presents an opportunity for the National Security and Defence Review, which will soon commence.
“It is my hope that this review brings greater clarity around Bermuda’s defence requirements on land and in our waters, and removes existing barriers so that we can deliver the most appropriate and efficient capability possible, and one that’s well resourced.
“It is also my hope that this exercise will chart our course for the next decade so that the service we provide to Bermuda grows stronger and becomes more attractive to volunteers, and that our Regiment, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, is increasingly valued by our people.”
The RBR is committed to providing a disciplined force dedicated to national security, civil support and community development, and speakers at the event shared their reflections on different decades of the battalion’s existence.
Major (retired) Leslie Lowe took guests back to the 1960s, telling them: “In 1965, two proud units – the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Rifles – were amalgamated to form a single, united force: the Bermuda Regiment.
“This was more than an administrative change, it was the start of a new identity blending traditions, skills and comradery into one body of service.”
He added: “The 1960s were also a time when Bermuda, like much of the world, was experiencing social change. The Regiment stood as a symbol of discipline, teamwork and shared purpose, welcoming members from all walks of life and providing a model of co-operation in a changing society.
“By the end of the decade, the Regiment had already established its reputation for professionalism at home and abroad. Those early years laid the foundation for everything we celebrate today – 60 years of honour, readiness and service to Bermuda.”
Major (retired) Barrett St Vincent Dill told attendees that the 1980s was a decade of “growth, discipline and international engagement” for the battalion.
He said: “We were, at that time, a fraternity, consisting of both conscripts and volunteers with long-lasting friendships, brotherhoods, commitments to common goals and aspirations united by the three Cs: conviction, commitment and courage.
“In keeping with future aspirations and ambitions, in 1981 we evolved from a fraternity to an all-inclusive organisation, welcoming women into the Regiment for the very first time, giving a further strength to the battalion.”
Maj Dill added: “The ‘80s proved that the Regiment was not just built to endure, it was built to excel, rivalling any uniformed services on the planet.”
Major (retired) Marc Telemaque, who spoke on the 2000s, said that the 21st century brought tremendous change.
He added: “Seeing the faces that are here this evening, it is clear that we are an enduring organisation, an organisation that engendered a level of pride and camaraderie that is unrivalled throughout this community.”
Guests were encouraged to participate in a legacy box project, whereby messages written by RBR members past and present will be sealed in a time capsule to be opened years from now.
Major Kenneth Wainwright, the Regiment’s Quartermaster, introduced the committee of RBR members that will facilitate a year of events to celebrate the battalion’s 60th anniversary, which will include a presentation of new regimental Colours next month.
For more information and to keep up to date with the RBR’s 60 Years of Service celebrations, visit the Regiment’s revamped website at rbr.bm
Minister Lightbourne attends Africa-CARICOM Summit
Government said the Summit is a pivotal event in its strategic pursuit of full CARICOM membership
Government press release:
The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne JP, MP, is leading Bermuda’s delegation at the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit, taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September 6 – 8, 2025.
Hosted by the African Union Commission, the Summit is a pivotal event in the Government’s strategic pursuit of full membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The event has brought together a distinguished gathering of global leaders, that includes UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, among other African and Caribbean Heads of Government/State.
And Minister Lightbourne’s presence in Addis Ababa underscores Bermuda’s commitment to not only strengthening its ties within the Caribbean family but also to engaging with Africa on a broader, more impactful scale. These include discussions with the Bahamas Prime Minister the Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis, K.C., Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Everard Gonsalves and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne.
About the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit:
This year’s Summit, under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” is the first in-person gathering of its kind.
It follows the inaugural virtual summit held in 2021, and provides a crucial platform for Afri-Caribbean leaders to discuss shared challenges and forge a common agenda on issues ranging from debt sustainability and climate change to food security and the establishment of a transatlantic air route.
While Bermuda’s current status as an observer limits formal participation in all plenary sessions, the Minister is attending key events to advocate on behalf of the island, demonstrating the value of a direct voice for Bermuda on the world stage.
Minister Lightbourne said, “As descendants of Africa, dispersed across oceans by history, our gathering in Addis Ababa carries profound meaning.
“The voices we carry from home, and the voices of the diaspora in places such as Shashemene, call Bermuda to build a future anchored in justice, equity, and solidarity, with our Caribbean and African brothers and sisters.
“The strength of this moment lies in connection. Connection between our island and the wider Caribbean family. Connection between the Caribbean and Africa. And connection between all the diaspora communities who keep alive the memory of our shared struggle and the possibility of our shared future.”
Minister Lightbourne is accompanied on this visit by the Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Pandora Glasford.
