No major Western country spoke for Taiwan or signed the proposal
A view shows The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
International news via Reuters:
Member states of the World Health Organization on Monday rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly in Geneva after China voiced opposition.
Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who are among just 12 remaining countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, spoke on behalf of a group of countries who brought a proposal to include it as an observer in this year’s WHO meeting.
Saint Vincent described Taiwan’s exclusion as “unfair and self-defeating” and Belize’s envoy said it “weakens our collective preparedness and response capabilities”.
No major Western country spoke for Taiwan or signed the proposal, and the United States, which plans to quit the WHO, left its seat empty.
But China, which regards the democratically governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and Pakistan opposed the motion and the assembly accepted Taiwan’s exclusion.
“The proposal openly challenges the authority of the U.N. and the post-war international order,” said Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu, who is part of a more than 200-strong Chinese delegation at the meeting.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Taiwanese authorities’ “separatist” stance has led to the loss of a political foundation for its participation in the assembly. It denied that there was any gap in pandemic preparedness due to Taiwan’s exclusion, calling that a “political lie”.
Between 2009 and 2016, Taiwan attended WHO assembly sessions as an observer under the administration of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark trade and tourism agreements with China.
The question of its participation recurs annually.
Taiwan is excluded from most international organisations because of objections by China.
A delegation from Taiwan campaigned for its inclusion in this year’s WHO assembly and a van has been driving through Geneva with images of bubble tea and the Taipei 101 skyscraper.
Reporting by Emma Farge; additional reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva, Ethan Wang in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; editing by Rachel More and Mark Heinrich
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the election result was a vote of confidence in his party
Portugal’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Democratic Alliance (AD) leader Luis Montenegro speaks following the exit polls, at his electoral night headquarters, in Lisbon, Portugal, May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura REFILE – CORRECTING DATE
International news via Reuters:
Portugal’s far-right Chega won a record vote share in Sunday’s snap election and was vying to become the main opposition party as the ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) again fell short of a majority needed to end a long period of instability.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro – whose grouping won the most seats – said the election result was a vote of confidence in his party. However, with votes from abroad still to be counted Chega could supplant the centre-left Socialists as leader of the opposition, ending five decades of dominance by the country’s two major parties.
“We’ve done what no other party has ever achieved in Portugal. We can safely declare in front of all the country today that bipartisanship in Portugal is over,” Chega leader Andre Ventura told a crowd of jubilant supporters in Lisbon.
“Nothing will be as it was,” he said, highlighting the fact that the continued rise of Chega, which he founded just six years ago, proved most opinion polls wrong.
Chega gained 8 seats for a total of 58 in the 230-seat parliament, winning a record 1.34 million votes, or 22.6%.
Montenegro, whose AD won 89 seats – up nine from the previous election – and 32.1% of the vote, has refused to make any deals with Chega and said he would form a new minority government.
Chega, which has allied with Europe’s hard-right, anti-immigration parties, such as Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National in France and Germany’s AfD, has proposed tougher sentences for criminals, including chemical castration for repeat rapists, and called for an end to “open doors” immigration. It has also accused mainstream parties of perpetuating corruption.
Continued political instability could delay structural reforms and major projects in Portugal, including lithium mining in the north, and potentially compromise the efficient deployment of EU funds and the long-delayed privatization of TAP airline.
The election, the third in as many years, was called one year into an AD minority government’s term after Montenegro failed to win a vote of confidence in March when the opposition questioned his integrity over dealings of his family’s consultancy firm. He has denied any wrongdoing.
“The Portuguese don’t want any more snap elections, they want a four-year legislature,” Montenegro said as his supporters chanted “Let Luis work,” his campaign slogan.
Voters appeared to punish the Socialists for their role in bringing down Montenegro’s government with the party falling to 58 seats from 78, prompting leader Pedro Nuno Santos to say he would step down.
In Lisbon, some residents were worried about what Chega’s surge could mean for Portugal’s democracy, comparing the party to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government.
Antonio Albuquerque, 65, said it was the first time in his life that he had not voted because he did not trust any of the parties.
“Look across the ocean and see if there is a risk or not. What is Trump doing? I think we are in danger, right?” he said.
Chega’s Ventura, who was hospitalised during the campaign after collapsing on stage with an esophageal spasm, said his health issues would not hold him back.
“There are moments in life during which God says, just stop a little bit,” he said. “This time I am not going to listen. I am not going to stop until I become the prime minister of Portugal.”
Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, Catarina Demony; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Toby Chopra
Upcoming events include the Family Centre’s Annual Public Meeting on June 11, 2025
Government update via press release:
In a show of Government support, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, and the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, attended the Family Centre’s Open House last Thursday to commemorate the charity’s 35th Anniversary.
Also in attendance were His Excellency the Governor Andrew Murdoch, US Consul General Antoinette Hurtado, and Deputy Police Commissioner Naimah Astwood.
The Family Centre plays a vital role in Bermuda by providing essential support and resources to children, teens, and families facing challenges. Its services are designed to foster resilience, emotional well-being, and stability, ensuring that young people have the tools they need to navigate life’s difficulties. In addition to direct services, the Family Centre advocates for systemic change to improve the lives of Bermuda’s youth. By working with policymakers and community leaders, the Centre helps shape initiatives that promote the well-being of children and families.
Thursday’s Open House provided an opportunity for Minister Lightbourne, Minister Furbert and invited guests to explore the Family Centre’s history, mission, and therapeutic spaces, where children, teens, and their families have found hope, healing, and connection for over three decades.
The two Cabinet colleagues engaged with the Centre’s Community and Counselling team members to gain insight into the organisation’s counselling services, community outreach programmes, and advocacy initiatives, which have played a vital role in strengthening Bermuda’s families.
Reflecting on the importance of the Family Centre, Minister Lightbourne said, “The Family Centre is a key stakeholder in our community providing crucial services to our families for the past 35 years. As we celebrate their milestone, we honour their legacy, and their commitment to offer services that heal our community and provide hope to our island’s most vulnerable.
“Government cannot do it alone, and we were never meant to. Our third sector partners, like the Family Centre, are essential in the shared mission of building a fairer, more prosperous Bermuda. The true measure of our success is found in the wellness of our people. That is why this Ministry is deeply committed to strengthening our collaboration with organisations who are embedded in community and committed to bringing relief to all Bermudians.
“Every child and family deserves to feel safe, supported, and have access to essential services. That is the standard we are holding ourselves to, and that is the standard the Family Centre helps us to achieve, they are to be celebrated by us all.”
Minister Furbert added, “What makes the Family Centre truly remarkable is not just the services they provide, but the way they walk alongside families through some of life’s most difficult moments. For 35 years, they’ve offered more than counselling, they’ve offered connection, dignity, and a sense of belonging. That kind of impact can’t be measured in numbers alone; it’s felt in the lives they’ve helped to heal and the communities they’ve helped to strengthen. As a Ministry, we are proud to partner with organisations like the Family Centre who share our commitment to protecting the well-being of every generation, from our youngest children to our most vulnerable seniors. Their legacy is one of heart, healing, and hope.”
And Dr. Sandy De Silva, PsyD, Executive Director of the Family Centre said, “Family Centre’s anniversary coincides with Bermuda’s Heritage Month where we celebrate our stories, our people, our resilience. Family Centre is proud to be part of that heritage. We are proud to be more than a human services nonprofit; we are a reflection of Bermuda’s deepest values: care, compassion, and community. We believe every child and family deserves the opportunity to thrive and live life to its fullest potential.
“As we look ahead to the next 35 years, we do so with hope, vision, and a continued commitment to our mission: to strengthen families and transform lives. The needs may evolve, but our dedication remains the same.
“We are deeply grateful to all who joined us for our 35th Anniversary Open House celebration. A heartfelt thank you to Minister Lightbourne and Minister Furbert for their words of encouragement and their visible support. It is this kind of collaboration that gives families across Bermuda the strength to move forward.”
The Open House is one of many events planned in celebration of the Family Centre’s anniversary. Upcoming events include the Family Centre’s Annual Public Meeting on June 11, 2025, the Family Centre Cup Match Tag Day on July 30, 2025, and the Family Centre 35th Anniversary Signature Event set for April 2026.
For more information on the Family Centre’s services and anniversary events, please visit The Family Centre.
The highest anti-dumping rates of 74.9% were levied on imports from the United States
FILE PHOTO: A truck carrying a container moves at the Yantian port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China April 17, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
China on Sunday announced anti-dumping duties as high as 74.9% on imports of POM copolymers, a type of engineering plastic, from the United States, the European Union, Japan and Taiwan.
The commerce ministry’s findings conclude a probe launched in May 2024, shortly after the U.S. sharply increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, computer chips and other imports.
POM copolymers can partially replace metals such as copper and zinc and have various applications including in auto parts, electronics and medical equipment, the ministry has said.
In January the ministry said initial investigations had determined that dumping was taking place, and implemented preliminary anti-dumping measures in the form of a deposit starting from January 24.
According to Sunday’s announcement, the highest anti-dumping rates of 74.9% were levied on imports from the United States, while European shipments will face 34.5% duties.
China slapped 35.5% duties on Japanese imports, except for Asahi Kasei Corp, which received a company-specific rate of 24.5%.
General duties of 32.6% were placed on imports from Taiwan, while Formosa Plastics received a 4% tariff and Polyplastics Taiwan 3.8%.
Hopes have risen that the U.S.-China trade war is easing after the two sides said on Monday they had agreed to slash reciprocal tariffs in a 90-day truce, a deal that state mouthpiece the Global Times said on Friday should be extended.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group of nations warned of “fundamental challenges” facing the global trading system in a communique on Friday after a meeting in South Korea.
Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and William Mallard
Vehicle involved in the collision found unoccupied when officers arrived on-scene
BPS update via press release:
Around 12:30 AM on Sunday, May 18, 2025, Police received a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision on Watlington Road East, near the junction with Jackson Drive, Devonshire.
Upon arrival, officers observed a motorcar overturned, resting on its roof and blocking the roadway.
There was no one inside the vehicle.
Subsequent checks at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, confirmed that the motorcar driver, a 50 year old female, had attended, seeking medical attention following this incident.
She did not appear to have suffered any serious injuries.
An investigation into this matter is now underway and anyone with information is asked to contact police constable, Asaph Rawlins on 717-2123 or, via e-mail arawlins@bps.bm.
You may also call the main Police number 295-0011, the non-emergency reporting number 211 or the Roads Policing Unit on 247-1788.
Dozens of abandoned shoes and the remains of the suicide bomber were visible at the scene
A general view shows a section of the skyline of Mogadishu, Somalia, November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Feisal Omar/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
At least 10 people were killed on Sunday after a suicide bomber targeted a queue of young recruits registering at the Damanyo military base in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Reuters.
Teenagers were lining up at the base’s gate when the attacker detonated their explosives, they said.
A military captain who gave his name as Suleiman described the attack as he had seen it unfold.
“I was on the other side of the road. A speeding tuk-tuk stopped, a man alighted, ran into the queue, and then blew himself up. I saw 10 people dead, including recruits and passers-by. The death toll may rise,” he said.
Dozens of abandoned shoes and the remains of the suicide bomber were visible at the scene.
Another witness, Abdisalan Mohamed, said he had seen “hundreds of teenagers at the gate as we passed by in a bus”.
“Abruptly, a deafening blast occurred, and the area was covered by dense smoke. We could not see the details of casualties,” he said.
Medical staff at the military hospital told Reuters they had received 30 injured people from the blast and that six of them had died immediately.
Government forces quickly cordoned off the entire area.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The attack echoed a similar incident in 2023 when a suicide bomber killed 25 soldiers at the Jale Siyad base, located opposite the Damanyo facility.
Sunday’s attack followed the assassination on Saturday of Colonel Abdirahmaan Hujaale, commander of battalion 26, in the Hiiran region, amid local reports of al-Shabaab militant infiltration into government and security forces.
Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by Isaac AnyaoguEditing by Gareth Jones
The three men charged will appear at a preliminary hearing at the central criminal court in June
FILE PHOTO: A general view of a signage outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, in London, Britain March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Three Iranian men appeared in court in London on Saturday accused of offences under the National Security Act and plotting violence following a major counter-terrorism investigation by British police.
The three men have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024, and February 16, 2025, police said, adding that the foreign state to which the charges relate is Iran.
The charges come at a time of intense scrutiny of suspected Iran-backed activities in Britain.
Interior minister Yvette Cooper said Britain would take “separate action” to address the serious issues raised by the case of the three men.
“Iran must be held to account for its actions,” she said in a statement. “We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil.”
The charges against the three men come after police arrested eight men including seven Iranians earlier in May, in two separate operations which Cooper said were some of the biggest investigations of their kind in recent years.
Police said in a separate statement later on Saturday that four other men arrested as part of the counter-terrorism operation had been released from custody but the investigation was still open.
“We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises,” the statement said, adding that they continued to provide the premises with support.
“Our investigation remains active and is ongoing.”
The eighth man was released without charge on Thursday.
SERIOUS VIOLENCE
Britain’s domestic spy chief Ken McCallum said last year that officers had responded since 2022 to 20 Tehran-backed plots that potentially posed lethal threats to UK citizens and residents.
The three men charged – Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55 – were remanded in custody and will appear at a preliminary hearing at the central criminal court on June 6.
The court on Saturday heard allegations that the three men had targeted Britain-based journalists connected with Iran International, a broadcaster which is critical of the Iranian government.
Sepahvand was also charged with surveillance and intending to commit serious violence against a person in Britain, while Manesh and Noori were charged with surveillance and the intention that serious violent acts would be committed by others.
The men arrived by irregular means, the government said, including via small boats across the Channel between 2016 and 2022.
Immigration is a major political issue in Britain, where many voters are worried over the high numbers of arrivals. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to reduce the number of small boat crossings by targeting people smuggling gangs.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has previously said he was “disturbed” to learn that Iranian citizens had been arrested by British authorities.
He said Tehran was ready to assist in investigations if “credible allegations of misconduct are established”, while another foreign ministry official rejected any accusations against Iran as “baseless”.
In 2023, an Austrian national was convicted of carrying out “hostile reconnaissance” against the London headquarters of Iran International. Last year a British journalist of Iranian origin who worked for Iran International was stabbed in London.
The British government has placed Iran on the highest tier of its foreign influence register, requiring Tehran to register everything it does to exert political influence in the UK.
Reporting by Sarah Young in London and Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Susan Fenton, Gareth Jones and Daniel Wallis
California authorities say her story is one of perseverance, determination, and survival
Press conference courtesy of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
Bermudian-American Tiffany Slaton shared her harrowing survival story during a press conference at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, where she appeared alongside her family and deputies who took part in the search effort.
The briefing followed her remarkable rescue on Wednesday, when the owner of Vermilion Valley Resort discovered her seeking shelter in one of his remote cabins near Lake Edison, after she was reported missing for weeks.
“I honestly do think that without Vermilion Resort, I would not be here,” Ms Slaton told reporters. “Because that was the 13th heavy snowstorm I had been in — and it was going to be the last one. If he hadn’t come that day, they would have found my body there.”
Ms Slaton recounted surviving an avalanche during which she fell off a cliff, lost consciousness for two hours, splinted one of her legs, and had to pop her knee back into place on her own.
She said she began to run out of food after just five days. Drawing on her training as a forager and nutritionist, she survived by eating wild leeks, brewing tea from local plants, and boiling snowmelt for water.
“…when you do manage to find food, the animals are also in competition with you — and on many occasions, I fought nature and lost,” she explained.
Ms Slaton estimated she had been missing for between 20 and 23 days — a significant stretch from what was originally planned as a simple three-day getaway to Mono Hot Springs.
She expressed deep gratitude to those involved in the search and recovery effort: “I really do have a new faith in humanity.”
During the press conference, Ms Slaton wore sunglasses due to prolonged exposure to snow glare and sunlight while in the wilderness.
Bermuda athletes continue to shine both locally and overseas
Bermuda’s Olympic Sailors get their World Championships underway, Bermuda’s future tennis stars compete at Port Royal and more high-scoring encounters in netball and softball.
Track and Field: Up and coming sprinters to showcase their talents at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Sunday
This Sunday, the National Sports Centre will host a powerful celebration of speed, spirit, and legacy. The 3rd annual Clevonte Lodge-Bean Sprint Challenge returns, honouring the memory of rising sprint star Clevonté Lodge-Bean, who tragically lost his life in a road accident in 2020 at just 18 years old. Founded by the Pacers Track Club, the event not only pays tribute to his legacy but also aims to spotlight Bermuda’s next generation of sprinting talent. Assistant meet director—and Clevonté’s former coach—Norbert Simons explains.
Positive news for Bermuda international goalkeeper Dale Eve. Following the end of their 2024/2025 season, Alvechurch Football Club have confirmed their retained list, and Eve’s name is on it.
The experienced shot-stopper will remain with the club for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign. Eve has been a key figure for Alvechurch, and his continued presence will be welcomed by the supporters.
His retention underscores the club’s belief in his abilities and his consistent performances throughout the season. Securing the services of the Bermuda international is seen as a significant boost as Alvechurch prepare for the challenges ahead.
Bermudian athlete Shayla Cann has made an impressive start to the postseason at the 2025 CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in North Carolina. Representing Elon University, Cann competed in the preliminary rounds of the Women’s 800 meters.
Cann showcased her speed and endurance, clocking the second-fastest time in the preliminaries with a mark of 2 minutes and 10.87 seconds. This strong performance has secured her a place in the Women’s 800m Final, where she will compete for the conference title.
Her excellent preliminary time indicates good form, and Cann will be aiming to build on this positive start as she competes in the final.
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