Meeting will discuss proposed legislation aimed at increasing workplace pay transparency and equity
The Ministry of Economy and Labour reminds the public to attend the upcoming town hall meeting on the proposed Pay Transparency Legislation, to be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul AME Centennial Hall in Hamilton.
The meeting is part of the Government’s public consultation on proposed legislation aimed at promoting greater transparency in workplace pay practices and helping address wage disparities. The proposal includes measures such as salary ranges in job advertisements, restrictions on salary history inquiries during recruitment, employee access to pay information, and protections for workers who raise concerns about pay equity.
The session hosted by the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, will also feature presentations from CURB Executive Director Stacey-Lee Williams and Human Rights Commission Executive Officer Lisa Reed.
Minister Hayward said: “This consultation is an opportunity for employees, employers, and members of the public to learn more about the proposed legislation and share their views. We want to hear directly from the community as we consider measures that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability in Bermuda’s workplaces. I encourage anyone with an interest in this issue to attend and participate in the discussion.”
Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback, and engage directly with the presenters.
Members of the public, employers, employees, business owners, human resource professionals, and other stakeholders are urged to attend.
To review the proposal and submit feedback on the consultation paper, visit forum.gov.bm.
Media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
System-wide gathering will focus on collaboration, planning and public school improvement
The Ministry of Education and the Department of Education will convene a system-wide meeting of education leaders this week as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen communication, collaboration, and alignment across Bermuda’s Public School System.
The meeting will bring together principals, senior education officers, school leaders, and key personnel from across the system to reflect on the 2025/26 school year, discuss priorities for the upcoming academic year, and ensure a shared understanding of the Ministry’s vision for continued improvement and transformation.
Minister of Education, Senator the Hon. Crystal Caesar, JP, said the gathering reflects the Ministry’s commitment to listening and responding to the needs of schools, educators, students, and families.
“Throughout this school year, we have engaged with school leaders, teachers, support staff, parents, students, and community stakeholders. One message has been consistent: strong communication, collaboration, and alignment are essential if we are to achieve meaningful and sustainable improvements in public education. This meeting represents our commitment to bringing the system together to listen, reflect, and move forward collectively.”
The meeting forms part of the Ministry’s broader approach to strengthening the foundations of the public education system while continuing to advance transformation efforts. During the session, participants will have the opportunity to review progress made during the academic year, identify areas requiring additional support, and contribute to discussions that will help shape priorities for 2026/27.
The Ministry noted that educational transformation is not achieved through isolated initiatives, but through ongoing collaboration among those closest to students and schools.
Commissioner of Education Kalmar Richards added:
“Our educators and school leaders possess invaluable knowledge and experience. Bringing the system together allows us to celebrate successes, address challenges openly, and ensure that our efforts remain focused on improving student outcomes. This meeting is an important opportunity to strengthen partnerships and reinforce our shared commitment to excellence.”
Topics for discussion will include teaching and learning, student support services, school improvement planning, leadership development, system priorities, and strategies to further enhance student achievement and wellbeing.
The Ministry emphasised that the meeting is part of a deliberate effort to ensure that future decisions and initiatives are informed by the voices of those responsible for delivering education every day.
As the school year draws to a close, the Ministry and Department remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue with educators and stakeholders while ensuring that planning for the next phase of public education transformation is thoughtful, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of Bermuda’s students.
“Strong systems are built through strong relationships,” Minister Caesar said. “This meeting is an opportunity to reinforce those relationships, learn from one another, and ensure that we enter the new school year with clarity, purpose, and a shared commitment to student success.”
Media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
Final upgrades underway before the facility reopens to the public
The Bermuda Post Office wishes to advise the public that the reopening of the Mangrove Bay Post Office has been rescheduled to July 6, 2026, to allow final refurbishment works to be completed.
As previously communicated, the project has involved extensive renovations to improve the safety, functionality, and overall environment of the facility for both customers and staff. While significant progress has been made, additional time is required to complete the remaining work and ensure the building is fully prepared for public use.
Once reopened, the upgraded Mangrove Bay Post Office will provide a substantially improved customer experience, featuring enhanced airflow, a secure and level floor, refreshed interior finishes, and a safer, more welcoming environment overall.
Minister Rabain stated, “The Government remains committed to investing in critical public infrastructure and ensuring that these facilities are completed to the highest standard. While we recognise the inconvenience caused by the extended closure, this additional time is necessary to ensure the Mangrove Bay Post Office is fully operational, safe, and ready to serve the community for years to come. We appreciate the public’s continued patience and understanding as work progresses toward completion.”
During the continued closure of the Mangrove Bay Post Office, the following arrangements remain in place:
Mail addressed to Mangrove Bay post boxes will continue to be redirected to Southampton Post Office for customer collection.
Owing to space constraints at the Southampton Post Office, the Warwick Post Office will continue to temporarily manage parcel deliveries ordinarily processed at Mangrove Bay.
Regular mail delivery services to all district residents will continue without interruption.
The Bermuda Post Office thanks the public for its continued patience and cooperation as these important improvements are finalised ahead of the facility’s reopening in July.
Media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda.
Eager to pivot from a divisive war in Iran, Trump plans to use the event on the National Mall to tout a country he often takes credit for restoring to greatness ahead of the Independence Day milestone on July 4
International News via Reuters:
President Donald Trump opens a 16-day celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary with a political rally on Wednesday, the start of festivities shaped by controversy over his polarizing approach to governing and efforts to remake Washington.
Eager to pivot from a divisive war in Iran, Trump plans to use the event on the National Mall to tout a country he often takes credit for restoring to greatness ahead of the Independence Day milestone on July 4.
The kickoff underscores how Trump has blurred the line between official commemoration and campaign-style politics, repackaging a public fair in the heart of the nation’s capital around the rally format that has defined his presidency.
The anniversary events have been marked by months of friction, including unconventional programming, the withdrawal of several musical acts and Trump’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool near the site of the celebrations.
A RECAST CELEBRATION
The festival initially was set to feature a broad lineup of performers, including Poison frontman Bret Michaels, Young MC and the Commodores, but those acts and others withdrew amid concerns about joining a potentially partisan event.
The revised program now includes musical performances by Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio, two artists favored by Trump, and military bands.
The event comes at a difficult political moment for Trump. The nearly four-month-old Iran war has pushed consumer prices to a three-year high and unnerved many voters, and the White House is working to counter perceptions that the term-limited Republican is becoming a lame-duck president.
Just one in four Americans believes the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran was worth its costs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, and only 34% approve of Trump’s overall performance in office 17 months into his second term.
Trump has taken a personal interest in the celebrations, installing statues and other features around Washington and ordering a $16 million repair of the reflecting pool. On Tuesday, he said six people had been arrested for damaging the pool.
Trump also hosted mixed martial arts fights on the South Lawn of the White House last week, a spectacle that drew millions of television viewers but most Americans found distasteful.
BREAK WITH PAST PRESIDENTS
Previous U.S. presidents also faced challenges that clouded anniversary celebrations, including a financial panic during John Quincy Adams’ presidency in 1826 and anger in 1976 over inflation, unemployment, the fall of Saigon and a decision to pardon former President Richard Nixon.
Many of those presidents nonetheless used the occasion to emphasize unifying themes. Gerald Ford’s top political adviser ordered speechwriters to avoid any “partisan insinuations” as they prepared for the 200th anniversary.
Ulysses Grant, marking the 100th anniversary in 1876, criticized “errors of judgment” by Southern rebels during the Civil War but also held out an olive branch by calling them courageous in their convictions.
Trump has often taken a different approach, turning remarks before service members, college graduates and sports teams into sharply political speeches, including taking swipes at his Democratic predecessors.
Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Nia Williams
Europe is sweltering in a record-breaking heatwave this week, part of a broader trend of hotter summers and more severe heatwaves in the continent, which has made many Europeans consider installing air conditioning for the first time
International News via Reuters:
Installers of air conditioning units will be obliged to tell customers how energy efficient these systems are, under a European Union law proposed on Wednesday, in an attempt to help people manage their energy bills.
Europe is sweltering in a record-breaking heatwave this week, part of a broader trend of hotter summers and more severe heatwaves in the continent, which has made many Europeans consider installing air conditioning for the first time.
The European Commission proposed rules that would require companies installing air con units, boilers and kitchen appliances in the EU to show customers the energy performance label of their products when sending a quote for an installation.
“If you, for instance, go home and call an installer to try to have an air conditioner fitted in your flat this afternoon, because you can’t stand the heat, you’re quite unlikely to get the label with the offers from the installers,” a Commission official said. “We want to change that.”
Many customers buy these appliances directly from a local installer, which means the buyer may not view the product in a physical shop first or be able to check its specifications online.
Such purchases are also often done in a rush, if an existing boiler breaks, for example, meaning customers lack time to research the new product to choose a more energy-efficient system to try to limit their energy bill.
EU countries and lawmakers must now negotiate the final rules, a process that typically takes around a year.
Air conditioning is historically less commonplace in Europe than in regions such as North America, but global warming is pushing some people to consider the investment or use existing systems more frequently. Stores in France and Spain have been reporting skyrocketing sales of air conditioning units this week.
Yandri, a 28-year-old plumber in the Spanish capital, told Reuters on Monday that he sleeps with air conditioning running through the night. “You will see the bill. It is going to be big,” he said.
Reporting by Kate Abnett; additional reporting by Guillermo Martinez in Madrid; editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak
In this episode of Think Pink, host Jasmine Patterson sits down with Dr. Doreen Williams-James, founder of Wild Herbs and Plants of Bermuda. Doreen shares her journey into foraging, the importance of sustainability, and the health benefits of local plants. She discusses the misconceptions surrounding veganism, the impact of plant-based diets on health, and how foraging can significantly reduce grocery costs. The conversation highlights the unique experiences offered through Doreen’s tours, emphasizing the connection between food, nature, and well-being.
The share of entry level roles advertised in Switzerland was 32% lower in 2025 than the average between 2019 and 2022, which the study defined as the “pre-AI” phase
International News via Reuters:
Fewer junior positions are being advertised in Switzerland than before 2023 as firms increasingly adopt AI, a study by Swiss job portal jobs.ch published on Wednesday showed.
The share of entry level roles advertised in Switzerland was 32% lower in 2025 than the average between 2019 and 2022, which the study defined as the “pre-AI” phase.
The study, which looked at over 7.3 million job advertisements, said marketing, administration, finance and IT were especially hit by the adoption of AI.
At the same time, AI skills were increasingly sought in positions outside of IT work and offers for senior positions rose 26% in AI-exposed roles in 2025 compared to the four-year period before 2023. Junior positions in AI-exposed-only roles, fell 16% in the same period.
Demand for junior positions outside of office and research spaces meanwhile remained strong, particularly in healthcare, construction and trades with persistent shortages.
When surveying more than 3,600 workers, 41% of under 25-year olds said they are worried about becoming less valuable in the workplace because of AI, or have what is known as AI “FOBO” – the fear of becoming obsolete.
Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier in Zurich, Editing by Linda Pasquini
In France, which on Tuesday recorded its hottest day since records began nearly 80 years ago, authorities sought to restore electricity to thousands of homes hit by power cuts in the northwestern region of Brittany
International News via Reuters:
Western Europe was in the grip of a deadly, record-setting heatwave on Wednesday that has killed dozens of people, closed schools, slowed trains, knocked out electricity and forced farmers to harvest grain at night.
In France, which on Tuesday recorded its hottest day since records began nearly 80 years ago, authorities sought to restore electricity to thousands of homes hit by power cuts in the northwestern region of Brittany. The recorded temperature peaked at 44.3 degrees Celsius (111.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southwestern town of Pissos.
Italy’s health ministry issued its highest heat alert for 16 cities, from Florence and Milan to Rome, Turin and Verona.
In Britain, on course for its hottest June day ever, the Met Office weather service issued only the second extreme-heat weather warning in history. Hundreds of schools stayed shut or closed early, as high temperatures could place even healthy people at risk.
At least 48 people have died in France from drowning as they attempted to seek respite from the crippling heat, while two young children were killed by heat in a car, authorities said.
Two elderly people died of heatstroke in Spain, which has experienced extreme temperatures since the weekend exceeding 40 C. Temperatures there were starting to ease on Wednesday.
HEATWAVE LOCK-IN
A rare weather pattern known as an Omega block was causing the record-breaking temperatures across Europe, as high as 18 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor.
The phenomenon resembles the shape of the Greek letter Omega, with a bulbous middle trapping in intensifying heat hovering over regions for extended periods, with cooler weather on its fringes.
Weather agency Meteo-France has said the conditions are comparable to a heatwave in August 2003 that lasted 16 days and caused an estimated 80,000 excess deaths across Europe.
Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, the World Meteorological Organization has said, which makes prolonged heat episodes increasingly likely.
MODELS, BUILDERS FEEL THE HEAT
In Paris, where the annual Fashion Week was under way, onlookers could be seen gasping and sweating during the Louis Vuitton show as male models showed off creations by pop singer Pharrell Williams. Labels including Dior and Rick Owens changed their schedules to hold shows in the morning, organisers said.
The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum shut early on Tuesday. In Switzerland, local authorities opened air-conditioned theatres for free daytime cinema screenings.
Construction contractors across the continent altered working hours so employees could avoid the worst, while retailers struggled to meet demand for fans and portable air-conditioners.
A French agriculture cooperative said farmers were introducing night shifts for harvesting to protect workers from afternoon heat and fields from fire risk.
In Britain, the grid operator asked generators to make more power available amid soaring temperatures poised to break records later on Wednesday.
Britain’s train operators have advised only essential journeys on Wednesday and Thursday, as the heat has brought speed restrictions.
In Italy, conditions were expected to worsen further, especially across central and northern regions, with the heatwave likely to peak between Sunday and Monday, meteorologists said.
Temperatures could reach 41 C between Tuscany and Emilia, while in coastal areas such as Liguria the combination of heat and extreme humidity could drive perceived temperatures as high as 45 C.
Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo, Tassilo Hummel, Olivia Le Poidevin and Cecile MantovanniEditing by Clarence Fernandez and Peter Graff
All EU members except for Denmark have a legal requirement to adopt the common currency but non-compliance is not penalised
International News via Reuters:
European Union nations outside the euro have made little to no progress in convergence in recent years and even Hungary, the nation most actively discussing accession, meets none of the key criteria, a European Central Bank report showed on Wednesday.
All EU members except for Denmark have a legal requirement to adopt the common currency but non-compliance is not penalised, so only a few are actively working on joining, with most others preferring to retain the leverage provided by an independent monetary policy.
“Progress towards compliance with the convergence criteria has been held back by external shocks,” the ECB said in a biennial report, echoing a similar conclusion made two years ago and suggesting that progress has essentially stalled.
“Public finances have deteriorated in most countries since the 2024 Convergence Report, with debt-to-GDP ratios in some cases rising significantly,” the ECB said.
While Bulgaria joined the currency bloc at the start of the year, the five prospective members — the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden — all appear many years away from membership.
Hungary’s new government promised to meet key conditions, commonly known as the Maastricht criteria, by 2030 but the country is among the furthest away.
It has the highest debt and interest rate level among the five, while its budget deficit, inflation rate and its currency’s volatility level are all outside reference values.
In addition, its central bank law does not comply with requirements and it needs to improve the rule of law and tackle corruption, the ECB’s report said.
“Further improving the quality of public institutions and ensuring that they are free from undue political interference, fighting corruption, implementing adequate product market policies and safeguarding the rule of law, are prerequisites for private sector-led economic growth,” the ECB said of Hungary.
Hungary also faces structural challenges related to ageing as well as emerging skill mismatches in the labour market, the ECB added.
Reporting by Balazs KoranyiEditing by Gareth Jones
Jones, chief secretary to Starmer, said he had discussed economic policy with Burnham after he alarmed investors last year by saying the country had to stop being in “hock to the bond markets”
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones walks outside 10 Downing Street before a cabinet meeting after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a timeline for his resignation, in London, Britain, June 23, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
International News via Reuters:
Darren Jones, an ally of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, endorsed Andy Burnham to take over on Wednesday after saying he had been reassured by the former mayor’s economic plans, including ways he could possibly borrow more.
Jones, chief secretary to Starmer, said he had discussed economic policy with Burnham after he alarmed investors last year by saying the country had to stop being in “hock to the bond markets”, comments he later said had been misrepresented.
Asked by Sky News if Burnham would borrow more, Jones said markets, trade unions and the governing Labour Party would accept targeted additional borrowing if backed by a credible plan to stimulate the economy.
Jones said there was “room to borrow a little bit more” but added that Burnham had not outlined specific spending plans in their talks.
“We talked … a lot about what he (Burnham) was thinking on the economy and what my thoughts were on that, and some of the potential ways forward for the new government,” he said.
Starmer said on Monday he would step down following months of pressure over the party’s poor poll ratings and setbacks in local elections, triggering a leadership contest to start on July 9.
Burnham is the only candidate to put his name forward and the party expects a coronation, meaning he could become prime minister by the middle of July. If appointed, he will be Britain’s seventh leader in 10 years.
“Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister. And if there was a contest of Labour Party members, he would win,” Jones said.
The euro fell to 86.03 pence overnight, its lowest since August 2025, and was last down 0.1% against sterling
International News via Reuters:
The pound rose to a 10-month high against the euro on Wednesday as UK markets focused on who might become finance minister under Andy Burnham, the likely successor to Keir Starmer as prime minister.
The euro fell to 86.03 pence overnight, its lowest since August 2025, and was last down 0.1% against sterling.
The pound has also fared better against the dollar this month, which has rallied as traders have bet on rate hikes from the Federal Reserve amid rising U.S. inflationary pressures and a strong American economy.
Sterling was last down 0.1% against the dollar at $1.319, while the euro fell 0.2%.
Burnham looked set to have a clear run at becoming the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years after minister Darren Jones said on Wednesday he would not run for the Labour leadership and backed the former Manchester mayor.
Current UK finance minister Rachel Reeves is likely to leave her role if Burnham becomes PM, media outlets reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, with pro-business former health secretary Wes Streeting among the names tipped for the job.
“The obstacles to a Burnham coronation are slowly being cleared, offering sterling support at the margin,” said Nick Rees, head of macro analysis at Monex Europe.
Rees said Streeting’s emergence as the favourite to become her successor, as reported by some media outlets, was likely to be supporting sterling.
“That said, we are still in the honeymoon period as far as Burnham is concerned, and economic realities remain challenging,” he added.
Strategists at JPMorgan on Monday said the clearing of political uncertainty, with Burnham likely to become PM without a contest, would allow “sterling positive themes” such as resilient growth to come to the fore.
Despite the slight rise against the euro, the pound has fallen roughly 2% against the dollar this month as markets have raised their bets on Fed rate hikes.
Traders were last pricing in around 38 basis points of Fed rate increases this year, versus 24 basis points for the Bank of England, boosting the relative appeal of the dollar.
Reporting by Harry Robertson; Editing by Sharon Singleton
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was flat by 0755 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 edged up 0.1%
International News via Reuters:
London’s domestically-focused midcap FTSE index rose on Wednesday as real-estate stocks rallied alongside Segro after the UK landlord rejected U.S-based Prologis’ $16.6 billion bid.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was flat by 0755 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 edged up 0.1%.
• The FTSE 350 real-estate investment trusts index jumped 6% and the real-estate sector gained 5.3%, with Harworth and Tritax up 5.6% each.
• Segro jumped 15.6% and was the top gainer on the FTSE 100 as Prologis urged the UK company’s shareholders to press the lanlord’s board to engage with the U.S. logistics firm. Prologis argued the FTSE 100 company is undervalued.
• Local politics is also in focus after prime minister Keir Starmer’s resignation earlier this week paved the way for a leadership contest that could potentially end in former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham taking the role in July or September.
• On the macro front, traders are anticipating the Bank of England to lift borrowing costs by at least 25 basis points before the year ends, LSEG-compiled data showed, to combat inflation pressures following the Middle East conflict.
• Policymakers such as Alan Taylor have flagged the right response would instead be an “extended hold”, in the face of data that suggests a cooling labour market.
• Among others, British fund manager Liontrust’s jumped 12.2% after saying net outflows- in the current quarter have slowed as it expands globally and institutional clients pour in more funds.
• Homebuilder Berkeley rose 5.1% after announcing a strong demand outlook
• Primary Health Properties gained 3% after saying it is in advanced discussions with an unnamed investor for a new joint venture involving the British healthcare REIT’s private hospital assets.
Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee
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