Government welcomes Explora I on maiden voyage with traditional plaque exchange ceremony
Images supplied
The Government of Bermuda issued the following media release:
On Saturday, April 5, Explora I, captained by Diego Micelozzi, marked its inaugural visit to Bermuda with a warm welcome and a traditional plaque exchange ceremony. The Hon. Tinee Furbert JP, MP, Acting Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, was joined by Stacey Evans from the Ministry Headquarters, Harbourmaster David Simmons, and Host Port representative Tabia Butterfield from Bermuda Land Management Corporation for the occasion.
Minister Furbert extended greetings to Captain Micelozzi, his crew, and passengers, highlighting Bermuda’s hospitality and charm. Explora I had arrived from Miami and was en route to Europe, with Horta, Azores as the next port of call. Despite inclement weather during its overnight stay, numerous passengers embraced the opportunity to explore Bermuda on guided tours and strolls through the historic Royal Naval Dockyard.
Launched in August 2023, Explora I represents the forefront of luxury ocean cruising, offering unparalleled service and intimate dining experiences. The ship’s sister vessel, Explora II, soon followed, further enhancing MSC’s reputation as a leader in high-end travel.
Although classified as a small vessel with 705 passengers onboard, Explora I’s size exceeded the capacity of Bermuda’s Hamilton berth, underscoring its grandeur as a luxury liner.
A “properly resourced police service” could lead to quicker crime investigations and an increased visible presence, says Police Commissioner
The Bermuda Police Service currently has 340 deployable officers, and their ranks will be boosted in May when 24 rookies complete training school.
A cohort of around a dozen is to follow suit as part of ongoing recruitment that will continue through next year, aimed at strengthening the force.
It has previously been reported that the target number for a fully staffed police service is 420 – but is that figure still accurate?
In the Throne Speech, the Government and the Governor committed to refreshing the 2014 Internal Security and Defence Review, which Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons says will offer an opportunity to reassess how many officers the island truly needs.
He explained: “A number of years ago, under a previous Minister, we agreed – due to financial pressures – that 420 officers would be the number required to properly police the island. That number doesn’t include things like two officers per parish for community policing, or a full-time presence in schools – those are just two examples off the top of my head.
“So, as we go through this Internal Security and Defence Review, these are the types of questions we need to ask and answer. What level of service do you want from the Bermuda Police Service, and what numbers will it take to deliver that?”
According to the Commissioner, having more officers would make a tangible difference in tackling crime.
He said: “Obviously, we would be able to investigate more crimes more quickly. Investigations are taking place now, but we have a smaller number of officers dedicated to each case.
“One of the key things the public continues to ask of me – or challenge me on – is providing a visible police presence. Unlike some communities, ours is saying, ‘We want to see more of you,’ and I absolutely want to provide that.
“Increased presence would be a key benefit of having more officers. Our ability to address quality-of-life issues would improve, and without a doubt, it would have an impact on the levels of violence we see in the community.”
The Commissioner added that increased staffing would also boost morale within the service.
“I suspect if you asked any police officer what needs to improve within the Bermuda Police Service, their number one answer would be staffing.
“How that plays out is, firstly, officers can’t always access leave, so they miss out on holidays or don’t get to take them as often, because we simply can’t absorb the absence.
“Secondly, officers want to move into different areas of the service, but we often can’t spare them from frontline duties. That’s another immediate benefit of having a properly resourced police service.”
Showcased stories of Gary Burgess, Stan Seymour, Brian Burland, and Gina Swainson
Government update via press release:
Some of Bermuda’s most notable individuals were recently featured in the Gold Bermudians Documentary Series, which premiered on March 29, at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) Auditorium.
Hosted by the Department of Culture, the event featured four compelling short documentaries, each highlighting the lives and achievements of Bermudians who have left an indelible mark on the island’s cultural and artistic landscape.
The premiere showcased the stories of Gary Burgess, Stan “Lord Necktie” Seymour, Brian Burland, and Gina Swainson.
Each journey was brought to life through the lens of local filmmakers, Milton Raposo, 7 South Productions, Antoine Hunt, and Marq Rodriguez.
Their works helped to amplify the artistic, literary, and musical contributions of these Gold Bermudians, offering an inspiring glimpse into Bermuda’s rich cultural heritage.
The Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, the Hon. Owen Darrell, JP, MP, praised the event, saying, “The Gold Bermudians Documentary Series continues to serve as an important platform for celebrating and preserving Bermuda’s cultural history. These films not only honour our cultural icons but also serve as an inspiration for future generations to follow in their footsteps. The Department of Culture is proud to support this project and highlight the rich artistic and creative legacy of our island.”
Shadow Tourism Minister sees an upside to the Trump backlash
Would-be travellers to the U.S. who have been scared off by Donald Trump’s policies should be lured here to Bermuda instead, it has been suggested.
Shadow Tourism Minister Dwayne Robinson says we should use the upheaval surrounding Trump’s actions to our advantage.
The BBC in the U.K. reported last month that President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the U.S., with the recent detention of Canadian and European tourists, has led to some calling for a boycott.
Now with President Trump’s new tariffs on imports into the U.S., there are concerns that prices may go up for travellers to the U.S.
The United States Tour Operators Association released some predictions about the the new tariffs, citing a near-term impact on potential tourists’ opinion about traveling to the United States.
In the long term, there are concerns that the tariffs could bump costs for hotels, airlines and cruise ships – even imported beverages for restaurants and event venues.
All these costs could be passed on to travellers to the U.S..
Dwayne Robinson, the OBA’s Shadow Tourism Minister, said in a statement today that “anti-American travel sentiment continues to grow as President Trump engages in trade conflicts with his country’s closest allies.”
“This can be an opportunity for Bermuda to re-introduce us to travelers on both sides of these global trade conflicts as a destination of choice.”
Mr. Robinson suggests Bermuda focuses on “disenfranchised Canadian, European, and African travelers who are not looking to enter the U.S.A. at this time”, and aggressively markets to Latin American travellers.
“We can also provide a quick trip for Americans who may want to keep their travels close to home”, he says.
“By tapping into these regions, we can create new visitor pipelines that diversify our tourism base and provide sustained economic growth.”
“This travel sentiment will most likely endure throughout the current President’s term, giving us some time to invest in a long-term facelift of our tourism product.”
Mr. Robinson said we can build on the higher visitor numbers and spending that the BTA reported for 2024, but highlighted a need to invest in world-class customer service training, and more events that bring global attention to Bermuda.
He also suggests the re-opening of the Fairmont Southampton is not eneough to ensure the industry’s growth…
“Expanding our tourism product means more than hotels—it means culinary tourism, adventure tourism, wellness retreats, and sustainable eco-tourism that will attract a new generation of travelers.”
Dwayne Robinson also called for more stakeholder representation in the Bermuda Tourism Authority – including voices from taxi drivers, tour guides, performing artists alongside hotels and restaurants.
Finally, Mr. Robinson says there is no unifying method to minimise service gaps in the tourism and transport industries, with Bermuda Governments being reactive rather than proactive…
“If we invest strategically, we can create a tourism ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship, fosters innovation, and provides career pathways for Bermudians beyond seasonal jobs.”
“Tourism is worth so much more than one sentence in a throne speech—it could provide a safety net for what is to come.”
Seven Bermudians among artists starting work today
Images show murals that were painted during last year’s Bermuda Walls event. Photos supplied
Media release: Bermuda Walls returns this week for a spectacular celebration of street art which will see the creation of more than 10 new murals across Hamilton in a collaboration between local and international artists. From today, the public are invited to keep their eyes peeled for the 11 international and 7 Bermudian muralists who are hitting the streets, and to tag them in photos on social media to help document the creative process. The festival aims to paint the town multicolour in a celebration of all things Bermuda.
On Sunday, April 13th, the public is invited to witness the finished murals while enjoying a fun (and free) family day out at Woodlands Road. Attendees can look forward to live DJ music, a pop-a-wheelie competition hosted by Mr Fotogenik, bouncy castles and much more. For those looking to make a day of it, food and drink will be available from a wide array of local food trucks, including Ashley’s Lemonade and J&B’s Wood Fired Pizza. Those attending the celebration will also have a chance to grab an exclusive goodie bag, including a limited run tee-shirt and a selection of products from Butterfield & Vallis.
Locations for the new murals are Parson’s Road (where four containers have been set up), Belvin’s on Happy Valley Road, the side of Par-La-Ville Parking lot, the Royal Gazette building on Par-La-Ville Road and Butterfield & Vallis on Woodland Road – where the final celebrations on Sunday will also take place. A map of the various sites will be shared later this week. For the real-time updates and news on the works happening, the public is encouraged to check out the festival’s Instagram at @bermudawalls. The local artists featured this year are: Robyn Hooper; James Cooke, Keile Rabain, Shanna Hollis, Alshante Foggo, Jabarri Wilson and Carlos Santana. The local artists featured this year are: Robyn Hooper; James Cooke, Keile Rabain, Shanna Hollis, Alshante Foggo, Jabarri Wilson and Carlos Santana. They will be joined by international muralists Hiero; Bacon; BK Foxx; CP1; CHNK; Binho; Karol Stefanini; JEKS; Nico; MRB Baby and Grabster.
‘Last year made it clear – Bermuda Walls belongs here,’ said Spencer Butterfield, CEO of Butterfield & Vallis and Co-Founder of Bermuda Walls. ‘Seeing the community embrace this festival of the arts was incredible, and we’re excited to keep building on that energy. This year, we invite everyone to come out, celebrate art and support the artists while enjoying a one-of-a-kind day out with friends and family.’ Nhuri Bashir, co-founder of Burnt House Productions and Bermuda Walls, said: ‘Bermuda Walls might only be a year old but already it feels like we started something that’s gonna last. This year, I’m especially excited about the new murals that are taking place in North Hamilton, the neighbourhood where I grew up. Art has the power to transform spaces and bring people together, and we can’t wait for everyone to see what’s coming.’ Glayson Leroy added: ‘I want to thank the people of Bermuda for welcoming this festival with open arms. Seeing the island come alive with colour and creativity has been inspiring. We’re so pleased to be bringing even more talent this year, and I for one can’t wait to see the magic they make.’
The Bermuda Walls festival celebration will take place this Sunday, April 13th, from 11am until 4pm. No tickets are required. Parking is available at the Bermuda Athletics Association and at Bull’s Head car park. Follow @BermudaWalls on Instagram for more updates. The event is made possible by further sponsorship and support from Butterfield & Vallis, The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Monster Energy, BermudAir, Burnt House Productions, Galera Collective, BEDC, Montana Cans, World Wide Walls, BDA Spirits, Current Vehicles, All Rise Ltd., TFL Hospitality, SISL, BAA, Isolated and Masterworks.
Asian stocks saw steep losses in early trading on Monday
Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
International news via Reuters:
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday foreign governments would have to pay “a lot of money” to lift sweeping tariffs that he characterized as “medicine,” prompting further carnage in global financial markets.
Asian stocks posted steep losses in early trading on Monday and U.S. stock market futures opened sharply lower as investors registered concerns that Trump’s tariffs could lead to higher prices, weaker demand, lower confidence and potentially a global recession.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated he was not concerned about losses that have already wiped out trillions of dollars in value from share markets around the world.
“I don’t want anything to go down. But sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,” he said as he returned from a weekend of golf in Florida.
Trump said he had spoken to leaders from Europe and Asia over the weekend, who hope to convince him to lower tariffs as high as 50% due to take effect this week.
“They are coming to the table. They want to talk but there’s no talk unless they pay us a lot of money on a yearly basis,” Trump said.
Trump’s tariff announcement last week jolted economies around the world, triggering retaliatory levies from China and sparking fears of a global trade war and recession.
FILE PHOTO: Trucks loaded with shipping containers pass over Donghai Bridge to exit Yangshan Port outside of Shanghai, China, February 7, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo/File Photo
Investors and political leaders have struggled to determine whether Trump’s tariffs are here to stay, or part of a permanent new regime or a negotiating tactic to win concessions from other countries.
On Sunday morning talk shows, Trump’s top economic advisers sought to portray the tariffs as a savvy repositioning of the U.S. in the global trade order.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more than 50 nations had started negotiations with the U.S. since last Wednesday’s announcement. “He’s created maximum leverage for himself,” Bessent said on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on CBS News’ ‘Face the Nation’ the tariffs would remain in place “for days and weeks.”
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett sought to tamp down concerns that the tariffs were part of a strategy to pressure the U.S. Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, saying there would be no “political coercion” of the central bank.
JPMorgan economists now estimate the tariffs will result in full-year U.S. gross domestic product declining by 0.3%, down from an earlier estimate of 1.3% growth, and that the unemployment rate will climb to 5.3% from 4.2% now.
Billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman, who endorsed Trump’s run for president, said Trump was losing the confidence of business leaders and warned of an “economic nuclear winter” unless he called a time out.
TARIFF DEALMAKING
U.S. customs agents began collecting Trump’s unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries on Saturday. Higher “reciprocal” tariff rates of 11% to 50% on individual countries are due to take effect on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT (4:01 a.m. GMT).
Some governments have already signaled a willingness to engage with the U.S. to avoid the duties.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Sunday offered zero tariffs as the basis for talks with the U.S., pledging to remove trade barriers and saying Taiwanese companies will raise their U.S. investments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would seek a reprieve from a 17% tariff on the country’s goods during a planned meeting with Trump on Monday.
An Indian government official told Reuters the country does not plan to retaliate against a 26% tariff and said talks were under way with the U.S. over a possible deal.
FILE PHOTO: Containers are stacked on the deck of cargo ship One Minato at Port Liberty New York in Staten Island, New York, U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – a Trump ally – pledged on Sunday to shield businesses that suffered damage from a planned 20% tariff on goods from the European Union.
Italian wine producers and U.S. importers at a wine fair in Verona on Sunday said business had already slowed and feared more lasting damage.
Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Daphe Psaledakis, Steve Holland, Douglas Gillison, Ted Hesson, Kanishka Singh and Susan Heavey in Washington; Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Sara Rossi in Verona, Italy; Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio in Hanoi; and Shivangi Acharya and Aftab Ahmed in New Delhi; Writing by Andy Sullivan and Ted Hesson; Editing by Ross Colvin, Chizu Nomiyama, Diane Craft, Nick Zieminski and Lincoln Feast
Resulted in reduced staff numbers, closed facilities and supply chain disruptions
FILE PHOTO: A view shows The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
Cuts to aid budgets are threatening to undermine years of progress in reducing the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth, and could lead to a rise in deaths, the United Nations has warned.
Globally, there was a 40% decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, a report by UN agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO) showed on Monday, largely due to better access to essential health services.
That could now go into reverse, the WHO said in a statement accompanying the report which did not mention specific cuts but came in the wake of a foreign aid freeze by the U.S. government and the ending of funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for many programmes.
Other donor countries including Britain have also announced plans to cut aid budgets.
“One of the headline messages is that the funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backward,” said Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage at the WHO.
The cuts have had “pandemic-like effects” on health systems globally and could have a “more structural, deep-seated effect,” Aylward added.
The WHO said the cuts were already rolling back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health in many countries, reducing staff numbers, closing facilities and disrupting supply chains for supplies including treatments for hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia.
Cuts to other areas, such as malaria and HIV treatment, would also impact maternal survival, the UN said.
Even before the aid cuts led by the United States, things were backsliding in some countries, and progress has slowed globally since 2016, the report said.
In 2023, despite recent progress, a woman still died roughly every two minutes – around 260,000 in total that year – from complications that were mainly preventable and treatable, it added.
The situation was particularly bad in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster, although the U.S. itself is one of only four countriesto have seen its maternal mortality rate increase significantly since 2000, alongside Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact, the report said: 40,000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth in 2021, bringing the total number of deaths that year to 322,000.
“While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The report itself was part-funded by USAID.
Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Mariam E Sunny; Editing by Andrew Heavens
The EU is looking to boost military spending by 800 billion euros over the next four years
FILE PHOTO: Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets fly alongside an aircraft simulating aerial interceptions, during a media day illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies’ airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
European Union finance ministers will discuss this week the setting up of a joint intergovernmental defence fund that would buy and own defence equipment, and charge members a fee for its use, a paper prepared for the ministers’ discussions showed.
The paper, drafted by the Bruegel think tank, was commissioned by the Polish presidency of the EU and could generate large defence funding without boosting national public debt levels – a worry of many high-debt countries.
The paper is part of an EU discussion on how to finance preparations against a potential attack from Russia as European governments realise they can no longer fully rely on the United States for their security.
The EU is already looking to boost military spending by 800 billion euros ($876.40 billion) over the next four years by loosening its fiscal constraints on defence investment and jointly borrowing for large defence projects against the security of the EU budget.
The defence fund, to be discussed on Saturday during an informal meeting of EU finance ministers in Warsaw, would come on top of the already announced financing initiatives.
The fund, called the European Defence Mechanism (EDM), would be established under an intergovernmental treaty and have substantial paid-in and callable capital, allowing it to borrow on the market.
The EDM, which could also issue loans, would admit members from outside the European Union, like Britain, Ukraine or Norway.
The added benefit of the Bruegel idea would also be to promote a single European market for defence equipment to lower costs and pool resources.
Defence procurement and production in the 27-nation EU is highly fragmented with at least seven different types of tanks, nine types of self-propelled howitzers and seven different types of infantry fighting vehicles, which increases costs, reduces interoperability and hinders economies of scale.
FOCUS ON “STRATEGIC ENABLERS”
The Bruegel proposal said the fund could focus on “strategic enablers” – costly military infrastructure and equipment armies need to operate, now often provided by the United States.
These include joint command and control systems, satellite-based intelligence and communication, development of expensive new weapon systems such as fifth- or sixth-generation fighter jets, integrated weapon systems needed by multiple countries like strategic air defence, strategic large-scale air transport and maritime logistics, missiles and nuclear deterrence.
“The European Defence Mechanism … would serve as an exclusive procurement agency in specified areas, as planner, funder and potentially owner of strategic enablers, and as a legal commitment to observe defence single market rules within the jurisdictions of its members,” the Bruegel proposal said.
Bruegel said Europe had a chance to reduce its military dependence on the U.S. by 2030 only if it pooled procurement to the greatest extent possible and created a common European defence market including Britain as a major industrial defence player to boost competition.
To boost Europe’s own defence industry, the EDM would buy only from contractors from EDM countries, or from consortia with a defined minimum degree of participation by contractors headquartered in EDM countries.
A majority of the EDM board could override this rule to accommodate circumstances in which the desired military capability cannot be bought from an EDM country, or only at a much higher cost.
Crucially for high-debt EU countries, the EDM would allow them to keep their public debt from increasing because as the owner of the defence assets, the debt incurred to acquire those assets would remain on the EDM’s books, rather than national accounts. This is important for countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium, Portugal or France.
Bruegel said that when lending to its members, the EDM could apply a standard rate, and a subsidised one for “frontline states” with contributions from a trust fund replenished periodically by all members.
Frontline states are those with a common border with Russia or Belarus, a high level of national military spending, or both.
($1 = 0.9128 euros)
Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Richard Chang
House prices fell by 0.5% last month from February
FILE PHOTO: A general view of Whitstable Heights a new housing development, as the UK government aims to build 1.5 million new homes, in Whitstable, Britain, September 11, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
British house prices unexpectedly fell in March, according to data from mortgage lender Halifax which represented the latest sign of a cooling in the market after a rush to buy homes ahead of the expiry of a tax break.
House prices fell by 0.5% last month from February, Halifax said on Monday.
A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a rise of 0.1%.
Halifax also revised down its estimate for a fall in house prices in February to a drop of 0.2% from an originally reported 0.1% decrease.
However, prices in March this year compared with the same month last year were up by 2.8%, the same pace of annual increase as seen in February.
The expiry at the end of March of temporary tax incentives for buyers of less expensive homes as well as for first-time buyers encouraged buyers to move ahead more quickly with their plans in the months leading up to the change.
Last week, another mortgage lender, Nationwide, said its measure of house prices was flat in March and it expected the market to remain soft in the coming months.
Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Halifax, said demand was returning to normal levels after the rush created by the tax change deadline and new applications for loans were slowing.
“Looking ahead, potential buyers still face challenges from the new normal of higher borrowing costs, a limited supply of available properties to choose from, and an uncertain economic outlook,” Bryden said.
“However, with further base rate cuts anticipated alongside positive wage growth, mortgage affordability should continue to improve gradually, and therefore we still expect a modest rise in house prices this year,” she said.
Reporting by William Schomberg Editing by Kate Holton
About 200 foreigners arrived on Friday and Saturday in Pyongyang for the event
International news via Reuters:
North Korea on Sunday held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, hosting foreign runners in the reclusive country that has largely closed its borders since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes from China, Ethiopia and other countries participated in the event, according to state TV.
The marathon is one of several events held to celebrate the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.
About 200 foreigners arrived on Friday and Saturday in Pyongyang where those running practiced at a hotel for the Sunday race, said Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, in Instagram posts.
The Koryo Tours is an official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, aiding the sign-up process for international competitors.
The isolated state sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023.
It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital remains closed to regular tourism.
The marathon is a return course running through central Pyongyang, passing major landmarks and heading out into the countryside before coming back through the city to a stadium filled with 50,000 spectators, Koryo Tours said.
At the stadium, a huge crowd of North Koreans – some wearing masks – greeted the runners, and foreign participants took pictures of the spectators with mobile phones, state television footage showed.
A North Korean runner was the first to cross the finish line, according to state TV.
Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by David Gregorio, Christopher Cushing and Clelia Oziel
Government’s new measures include a reduction in fines for car manufacturers
FILE PHOTO: A person works on the production line of the eDrives used in a variety of Ford electric vehicles, during a media tour of the Ford Halewood transmissions plant in Liverpool, Britain December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo=
International news via Reuters:
Britain softened demands on automakers to switch to production of electric vehicles on Monday, seeking to alleviate pressure on an industry left reeling from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The sector welcomed the move, but said the government needed to go further to protect it from the fallout of the 25% U.S. tariff on car imports imposed on April 3, as markets plunged on worries of a global trade war and economic slowdown.
British car manufacturers mainly sell luxury and premium cars to the United States – their second largest export market after the European Union.
More than 1 million British-made cars worth about 7.6 billion pounds ($9.79 billion) were shipped to the U.S. last year.
Jaguar Land Rover, one of Britain’s biggest producers, sent shockwaves through the industry on Saturday when it said it was pausing car shipments to the U.S. for a month to consider how to mitigate the costs of the tariffs.
The government’s new measures include a reduction in fines car manufacturers must pay if they cannot comply with EV sales targets and will also exempt micro-volume manufacturers including Aston Martin, Bentley and McLaren.
It said the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars would not change.
But under the new plan, it will allow full hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles and cars – like the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power – to be sold until 2035.
Mike Hawes, head of UK auto industry group SMMT, said a package of measures was now needed to support manufacturing and the supply chain in order to properly bolster carmakers, which employ some 200,000 workers directly and many more indirectly.
“Given the potentially severe headwinds facing manufacturers following the introduction of U.S. tariffs, greater action will almost certainly be needed to safeguard our industry’s competitiveness,” he said.
The European Commission set out plans to soften its rules earlier this month, giving automakers three years, rather than one, to comply with its CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans.
Transport minister Heidi Alexander said on Monday that the U.S. tariffs had given urgency to a government consultation on electric vehicle rules that had already been underway.
“We are absolutely seized of the fact that this government needs to do absolutely everything it can to shelter British businesses,” she told the BBC.
Starmer said on Saturday that the government’s priority remained to try and secure a trade deal with the U.S. that could include tariff exemptions.
While overall EV sales rose last year in Britain, they were driven by commercial buyers, with only one in 10 individual car buyers choosing to go electric.
EVs made up 19% of sales last month, well short of the 28% that carmakers would have needed to achieve in 2025 to meet the government’s EV mandate.
($1 = 0.7765 pounds)
Reporting by Sarah Young in London, Janaki Venugopalan in Bengaluru and Sachin Ravikumar in London; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Joe Bavier
The NZ$9 billion budget is a significant boost to the 2024/25 NZ$5 billion budget
FILE PHOTO: Crew members of the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) prepare to dock upon arrival at the South Harbor, for a four-day goodwill visit in metro Manila, Philippines April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo
International news via Reuters:
New Zealand said on Monday it would boost defence spending by NZ$9 billion ($5 billion) over the next four years, and aim to nearly double spending to 2% as a share of GDP in the next eight years, at a time of rapidly growing tension worldwide.
The details came in remarks by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who called for more spending on defence to ensure prosperity.
“New Zealand and our allies and partners across the world are no longer in a benign environment,” he told a press conference at the release of the Defence Capability Plan.
“My primary focus is the economic importance of this country. However, there can be no prosperity without security, and defence is one vital component of that picture.”
The Defence Capability Plan maps out new funding of NZ$9 billion over the next four years to boost defence capability. It comes on top of baseline spending set to be announced in May.
The new spending is a significant boost to Defence Force spending of just under NZ$5 billion in 2024/25.
New Zealand’s first national security review in 2023 called for more military spending and stronger ties with Indo-Pacific nations to tackle issues of climate change and strategic competition between the West, and China and Russia.
New Zealand’s Defence Force has struggled with systemic underspending over the past several decades, which amounts to just over 1% of GDP now.
High attrition in recent years has seen the force idle three of its ships and put on ice plans for a new vessel designed for patrol of the Southern Ocean, though attrition has fallen in the last year.
Over the next four years, the plan envisages the defence force will invest in projects such as boosting strike capability, buying an uncrewed aerial system, replacing helicopters and extending the life of its frigates.
It also plans to replace the Boeing 757 fleet after some embarrassing breakdowns that grounded delegations abroad.
Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Clarence Fernandez
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