The stop in the Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa is a centrepiece of the pope’s week-long tour of Spain, in which he has also warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis
International News via Reuters:
Pope Leo arrived in the Canary Islands on Thursday for the final leg of his visit to Spain, where he will meet migrants who have braved dangerous Atlantic waters to reach Europe as he urges the world to treat immigrants more humanely.
The stop in the Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa is a centrepiece of the pope’s week-long tour of Spain, in which he has also warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo, coordinator of the Spanish Commission for Refugees in the Canary Islands, said that Leo’s visit to the Canaries, where the pope will meet with around 1,000 migrants on Friday, was a “significant milestone”.
“It will serve as a strong affirmation of the defence of human rights, respect, and the dignity that all people deserve, regardless of their origin,” said Lorenzo.
Leo landed on Gran Canaria, one of the main islands, where he will meet several groups that help recently arrived migrants before laying flowers at a memorial to migrants lost at sea.
More than 3,000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Leo, who has spoken forcefully against the direction of global leadership in recent months, told the Spanish parliament on Monday that a lack of help for the world’s migrants was challenging “the ethical foundation of the international order”.
In contrast to most of Europe, Spain has adopted a more open stance on migrants, introducing a programme to grant residency to more than half a million undocumented people.
The initiative, however, has drawn criticism from far-right leaders in Spain and across the continent, and the country is struggling with the slow pace of granting legal status to thousands in limbo.
Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Additional reporting by Corina Pons; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Alex Richardson
The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 10,316.05 points by 0917 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 was flat
International News via Reuters:
London’s FTSE 100 index edged up on Thursday, supported by a recovery in financials stocks, but gains were restrained by simmering tensions in the Middle East and concerns about surging corporate spending on AI.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 10,316.05 points by 0917 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 was flat.
• HSBC and Standard Chartered added 2% each, while Prudential rose 3.4% to lead gains on the blue-chip index.
• Hong Kong-exposed stocks were bouncing back from sharp declines over the past week after China tightened rules for cross-border investments — a lucrative business for UK companies.
• Software stocks Relx and Sage Group were down 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively, tracking losses in euro zone companies such as SAP and Capgemini.
• Oracle unveiled new debt-backed AI spending plans. UBS downgraded the broader European IT sector, as investors worry that enterprise clients may pivot from traditional software companies to newer AI models.
• Frasers Group inched up 1% after the retailer controlled by British billionaire Mike Ashley launched a €2 billion ($2.31 billion) takeover offer for struggling German fashion brand Hugo Boss.
• Wizz Air gained 5.3% after its operating profit beat analysts’ expectations. The carrier, however, forecast lower revenue per available seat kilometre for the first quarter, citing Iran war disruptions.
• British health and safety device maker Halma slid 12.6% after it forecast organic constant-currency revenue for fiscal 2027 to grow at a slower pace.
• The European Central Bank’s verdict and outlook on interest rates will be closely monitored later in the day against the backdrop of escalating Middle East tensions.
• Traders anticipate the Bank of England to raise borrowing costs by 25 basis points in September, according to data compiled by LSEG, to combat price pressures.
Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
The euro was last at 86.3 pence, steady on the day, but near the bottom of its trading range for the year so far
International News via Reuters:
The pound held firm against the euro on Thursday ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that should be the day’s main driver for the currency pair with little in terms of scheduled news due from Britain.
The euro was last at 86.3 pence, steady on the day, but near the bottom of its trading range for the year so far.
The pound has been supported against its nearest neighbour in recent months by broad risk sentiment as well as traders shifting their expectations for Bank of England policy moves from rate cuts this year to hikes due to the conflict in the Middle East.
ECB pricing has shifted from an expected no change this year to rate hikes, and Thursday’s meeting will help traders calibrate their bets on how many hikes to expect.
The ECB announces its rate decision at 1215 GMT. A rate hike is all but certain, but the question for traders is whether President Christine Lagarde offers any indications of how the ECB sees its policy stance evolving later in the year.
A raft of British economic data due next week and a Bank of England policy meeting will give traders in euro/sterling the other half of the picture.
Until then sterling is largely reacting to news elsewhere. It was also steady against the dollar at $1.3357.
“With the BoE not meeting until June 18th, sterling should therefore trade off external forces for another session, with the ECB decision, US PPI, and Middle East headlines the likely drivers,” said analysts at Monex Europe.
Rugged Rentals opened its newest location, making it the first rental company in Bermuda to offer rental minicars directly from the airport.
A landmark event took place at L.F. Wade International Airport today.
Rugged Rentals opened its newest location, making it the first rental company in Bermuda to offer rental minicars directly from the airport.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, along with other industry partners.
The new location allows visitors to collect their vehicle immediately upon landing.
Rugged rentals, founded in 2019, has a fully electric fleet.
“We’re excited to introduce a first of its kind experience for Bermuda visitors,” said Tallent Clark, Managing Director of Rugged Rentals.
“Being able to pick up your rental vehicle directly at the airport, next to arrivals, makes travelling around the island significantly easier.”
WATCH the press conference above.
Rugged Rentals Press Release:
Rugged Rentals has announced the opening of its newest rental location at L.F. Wade International Airport, becoming the first rental company in Bermuda to offer rental minicars directly from the airport.
The location was officially opened on June 10 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by The Hon. Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport, along with other industry partners.
The new location allows visitors to collect their vehicle immediately upon landing, creating a seamless and convenient start to their Bermuda experience.
Founded in 2019, Rugged Rentals offers visitors and locals a fun and safe way to explore the island. The company’s fully electric vehicles combine eco-friendly transportation with comfort, reliability, and modern features.
“We’re excited to introduce a first-of-its-kind experience for Bermuda visitors,” said Tallent Clark, Managing Director of Rugged Rentals. “Being able to pick up your rental vehicle directly at the airport next to arrivals makes travelling around the island significantly easier and more convenient from the moment you land.”
Rugged Rentals’ electric minicars are designed specifically for island driving and feature seating for two passengers, air-conditioning, Apple CarPlay, reverse cameras, parking sensors, and spacious trunk storage suitable for suitcases, beach bags, and shopping. Vehicles are capable of travelling the length of the island up to three times on a single charge.
The company also continues to expand its island-wide charging network. Charging stations are currently available at several hotels and properties across the island, including Rosewood Bermuda, Hamilton Princess, St. Regis, Coco Reefs, Azura, Royal Palms, and Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa. Drivers can locate charging stations through the Rugged Rentals Zap Map available on the company website.
In addition to the new airport location, Rugged Rentals currently offers public pick-up locations in Hamilton and St. George’s, along with hotel pick-up options for guests at several partner properties, including Rosewood Bermuda, St. Regis, Azura, and Coco Reefs.
Customers can book directly online through the Rugged Rentals website, with multi-day booking discounts available.
The Labour and Economy Minister provided an update on the GDP figures for the last quarter of 2025, and the latest Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics is released
Bermuda’s economy continues on a path of growth, according to Jason Hayward.
The Labour and Economy Minister provided an update on the GDP figures for the last quarter of 2025…
The quarterly bulletin of statistics was also released, showing that total annual employment income is up in almost every sector for 2025.
International Business continues to hog the stage, accounting for more than two-fifths of total earnings (see pie chart above).
However, for the first time since 2018, IB’s share of total income dropped slightly, as substantial earning spikes in public administration, construction and business services shared out the money ever so slightly.
Based on 2% year-on-year inflation in the Consumer Price Index, total earnings in the Transport and Communication and the Wholesale and Retail sectors risen less than inflation.
We will have to wait for the employment statistics to know if sector changes are due to changes to wages, or to the number of people employed.
Minister Hayward added that residents are spending more in some areas, but less in others…
Invited guests at today’s cable landing ceremony near Annie’s Bay included Governor Andrew Murdoch, other dignitaries and stakeholders from the business community
Minister of Home Affairs, Alexa Lightbourne signs the Nuvem-Google buoy along with other dignitaries to mark the ceremony
Annie’s Bay in St. David’s was the venue today for a landmark event in technological innovation.
Premier David Burt and representatives of Google hosted a Sub-sea Cable Landing Ceremony for ‘Nuvem’ and ‘Sol.’ Sol is a major trans-atlantic sub-sea cable system connecting Palm Coast, Florida, to Spain with intermediate landing points in Bermuda and the Azores.
Once completed, Sol will be the only direct in-service fiber-optic cable between Florida and Europe. It is designed to inter-connect with Google’s other transatlantic cable, Nuvem and will support growing A.I. and cloud services. One of the cables will land at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.
Driving the development, VP of Global Infrastructure for Google Cloud, Brian Quigley said the arrival of the two sub-sea cables together establish a resilient stable point in Bermuda. The two new cables are being landed tomorrow, depending on sea conditions, will transfer into manholes through an underground conduit exchange port currently under construction.
Mr. Quigly said one of Google’s key focus is on sustainability. He said, “We measure watts per bits served and make sure that we have the lowest energy footprint that we can.
“As a matter of fact, the digital exchange port that we have here uses the same amount of water as a single family home. We recycke and have a close looped cooling system.”
He also said its not just about building infrastructure but also, fostering local partnerships and building the communities where Google serves traffic.
Premier Burt said, “We are not even fully aware of what this may represent in the future; the amount of data and connectivity…but the reality is that Bermuda, through these cables are going to be so well connected, that we will be able to actually participate in the global information economy in a better space.
“It will support our future jobs in international businesss. And so from that perspective, it is excellent.”
The Bermuda Zoological Society is one local organisation that stands to benefit from the project with the announcement of a new initiative with Google, marked by an investment to support the expansion of science and technology-enabled learning across Bermuda.
They said through this collaboration, BZS is already enhancing its education programmes with the introduction of 25 new tablets, 6 drones, underwater cameras, classroom monocular microscopes and projection technology, enabling students to engage more deeply in science, technology and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.
“This initiative with Google represents a meaningful investment in Bermuda’s future,” said Philippe Bacon, BZS President.
“By integrating technology such as tablets and drones into our programmes, we are equipping students with the skills and curiosity needed to explore science and innovation in real-world settings,” he added.
Free Google courses are being offered through the Bermuda College that includes access to foundational Grow with Google Career Certificates in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, IT support, digital marketing and e-commerce, project management and user experience design.
The St David’s Island Historical Society (St DIHS) has formed an agreement with The Bermuda Land Management Company (BLMC) for permission to create a public park at Annie’s Bay including the beach and the memorial site, situated south of Orange Hole Road.
The Conservation Management Plan has approval of the BLMC, and the support of Google.
The bay is the only remaining natural bay of old Southside, St Davids out of 8 bays, the others destroyed by the construction of the US Base in 1941.
Richard Spurling, President of St DIHS said, “This park will join the many Parks and Nature Reserves in St Davids forming a continuous green belt full of history, views, beaches and nature trails.
“We are confident that the Islanders will join us with volunteer support to remove invasives and plant cedars and palmettos and other endemics/natives keeping the cost to a minimum.”
Bermuda Tourism Authority, in collaboration with Carnival in Bermuda, hosted an event today at the airport, welcoming international visitors arriving on the island and introducing them to the carnival festivities. Travelers were given the opportunity to learn more about Carnival events, and how they can take part in celebrations taking place across the island in the coming days.
The appeal came as a Sudanese man appeared in court charged with attempted murder and as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and politicians in Northern Ireland condemned the violence by “masked thugs” that had targeted ethnic minorities
International News via Reuters:
The family of a man who lost an eye in a knife attack appealed for calm on Wednesday after the incident triggered a wave of anti-immigrant violence in Belfast overnight, with masked men burning families out of their homes and torching vehicles.
The appeal came as a Sudanese man appeared in court charged with attempted murder and as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and politicians in Northern Ireland condemned the violence by “masked thugs” that had targeted ethnic minorities.
Hundreds of protesters, many with their faces covered, had attacked police and burned vehicles in a number of locations across Northern Ireland late on Tuesday after a video of the knife attack went viral.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward,” the family of the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, said in a statement.
“We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country… We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility,” it said.
Speaking in parliament in London, Starmer said the attack raised serious questions but that “driving people out of their homes is not… the right way to respond”, adding that all those involved in violence would face “the full force of the law”.
The suspect in the attack in north Belfast, a 30-year-old Sudanese national named as Hadi Alodid, appeared in court on Wednesday where he was remanded in custody.
Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, suffered significant injuries to his face and back, the court heard.
‘THAT’S MY PROPERTY’
Videos of the attack had circulated online all day on Tuesday, sparking calls on social media for violent protest.
Police had to help one family escape from a burning house. Several cars and a bus were set on fire and reduced to shells. Local politicians and a pastor said many of those who were targeted were Black.
Local resident Jamie Corry, 33, said he could only watch on as his house went up in flames.
“I was actually standing right there watching my whole house just go up, slowly but surely,” he told Reuters. “I told them and all, when they were lighting a car up on fire, that’s my property, that’s my property… and they still didn’t care.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the violence perpetrated by the masked men as “nothing less than disgusting cowardice”.
The attack, which is currently not being treated as terrorism, comes at a time of heightened tensions in Britain following the murder of a student who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer, a Sikh man, falsely alleged a racist attack.
It also follows repeated protests about immigration, with populist parties saying Britain’s asylum policy had allowed dangerous men into the country.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk reposted many messages denouncing the state of the United Kingdom following the Belfast incident.
‘BAD FAITH ACTORS’
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long told Reuters that “bad faith actors” who would have previously struggled to find the province on a map had sought to weaponise people’s understandable fear and anger over the knife attack to target those who had the same skin colour.
Amid calls from Musk, anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson and others for more protests on Wednesday, Northern Ireland’s police chief said an extra 200 officers were being deployed on the streets.
“These idiots didn’t just target ethnic minority groups… they targeted society,” Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said.
Belfast pastor Jack McKee told the BBC that some members of his church, who had lived there for 20 years, were “getting put out just because they’re Black”.
The disorder in Northern Ireland is the latest violence to flare in the UK in response to a crime, often believed to involve a migrant, which has led to calls from some prominent anti-Islam and anti-immigrant activists for people to “take to the streets”.
Immigration has historically been low in Northern Ireland due to the three-decade conflict waged between mainly Catholic Irish nationalists seeking Irish unity and predominantly Protestant pro-British “loyalists” wanting to stay in the United Kingdom, and the British military.
However, migration has increased in recent years, and there has been a hardening sentiment against it in both Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland.
According to the 2021 census, 96.6% of those living in Northern Ireland were white, while police statistics showed recorded numbers of racist incidents hit a record level in 2025.
Northern Ireland was also hit by anti-immigrant rioting last year amid anger over an alleged sexual assault. Charges against two boys were later withdrawn by prosecutors.
Reporting by Amanda Ferguson, Will Russell and Isabel Infantes in Belfast; Conor Humphries and Graham Fahy in Dublin; Muvija M and Sam Tabahriti in London; Writing by Kate Holton and Michael Holden; Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones
The United States and Iran have traded fire several times since a tentative ceasefire took hold in early April, even as negotiators have sought an end to the three-month-old war
International News via Reuters:
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States would strike Iran again if no peace deal is secured, threatening further escalation following one of the most significant exchanges of hostilities in two months.
“We’re going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard,” Trump told reporters at the White House, saying the strikes would come later on Wednesday.
The United States and Iran have traded fire several times since a tentative ceasefire took hold in early April, even as negotiators have sought an end to the three-month-old war. Trump has repeatedly said a deal is close, though there has been no sign of a breakthrough.
In the latest such incident, the U.S. military targeted air defenses and radar sites around the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S. attack helicopter was downed near the strategic waterway. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. A U.S. official said there was no significant damage.
Iran said the U.S. had violated international law by striking reservoirs that supplied drinking water to 10 villages. “This is not collateral damage — it is a calculated war crime and a flagrant violation of human rights,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghei said.
Trump, who has threatened before to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, did not say whether the coming strikes would target power plants and bridges.
The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, Ebrahim Azizi, warned in response that the “war won’t be limited to the region.”
Despite the belligerent language from both sides, there were signs of continuing diplomatic efforts.
A delegation from Qatar, which has been mediating between the United States and Iran, landed in Tehran on Wednesday to hold talks on the latest developments, Iranian media reported.
TRUMP CLAIMS A SECRET MISSION
The war has killed thousands and disrupted roughly one-fifth of the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, sending prices sharply higher. Iran has blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. has maintained its own blockade on Iranian ports.
Oil prices rose nearly $3 following Trump’s threat of escalation, to $94 per barrel.
Trump said vessels carrying 100 million barrels of oil have defied Iran to travel through the strait as part of a secret military mission. He said oil prices would be much higher without the effort.
Separately, the U.S. military said it disabled an oil tanker transporting Iranian crude in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday for a second consecutive day.
FIGHTING IN LEBANON CONTINUES
Fighting in a parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has continued. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Wednesday, Lebanese security sources said, while Hezbollah claimed fresh attacks against Israeli forces.
Tehran’s demands include an end to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets, and recognition of its control of the strait.
Trump says Iran must end its restrictions on shipping through Hormuz. He also says any peace deal must ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies any such ambition.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors passed a U.S.-backed resolution on Wednesday telling Iran to declare its remaining enriched uranium stocks and let inspectors verify them. Iran branded the resolution as “political”.
Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Andy Sullivan, Ros Russell and Gareth Jones; Editing by Peter Graff, Aidan Lewis and Deepa Babington
Gates also testified that he never witnessed any criminal conduct from Epstein
International News via Reuters:
Bill Gates told members of Congress on Wednesday that he “did not fully understand the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes when he associated with the late convicted sex offender to raise money for his philanthropic foundation.
Gates also testified that he never witnessed any criminal conduct from Epstein. He accused Epstein of blackmailing him over his extramarital affairs.
“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates said, according to a copy of his opening statement. “Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage with him.”
Congress has been investigating the U.S. Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case. The billionaire’s testimony concerned his contacts with the convicted sex offender who ensnared women and girls from poor or unstable backgrounds.
The Microsoft Corp co-founder testified privately to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is investigating possible federal mismanagement in the cases against Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and related issues.
U.S. Representative James Comer, the Republican committee chairman, asked Gates in a March letter to appear for an in-person transcribed interview.
Gates hired Jake Greenberg, who was the oversight panel’s chief investigative official until December, to help him prepare for the appearance, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. A committee spokesperson told Reuters the panel has not worked with Greenberg since his departure.
Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and served 13 months in jail.
Federal prosecutors charged him with sex trafficking of minors in 2019. Epstein pleaded not guilty to those charges and died in what was ruled a suicide later that year before his trial.
Documents released by the Justice Department this year indicated that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein’s 2008 prison term to discuss expanding the tech billionaire’s philanthropic efforts.
They also included pictures of Gates posing with females whose faces are redacted. Gates has previously said the relationship with Epstein was confined to philanthropy-related discussions and has said it was a mistake to meet with him.
Gates “took responsibility for his actions” in a February town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, a spokesperson for the philanthropic group told Reuters.
Gates’ relationship with Epstein has drawn in the Gates Foundation, which said in April it had begun an external review into its engagement with the late financier. Emails released in January by the Justice Department also showed communication between Epstein and the Gates Foundation’s staff.
The House committee’s probe includes authorities’ handling of investigations and prosecutions, plea deals, Epstein’s death, failures to combat sex trafficking, ethics concerns and delays in the release of government files.
The Justice Department’s release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein revealed his ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business, including President Donald Trump, who socialized extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, fired by Trump in April, faced sharp criticism for her handling of the case. Some critics accused her of trying to shield Trump from scrutiny.
Trump opposed releasing the files until shortly before Congress overwhelmingly passed a law ordering their release.
Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Nolan D. McCaskill; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and David Gregorio
The money will support preparedness efforts in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan, including for national emergency operations centers
International News via Reuters:
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday it would provide an additional $20 million to help fight the Ebola outbreak in Africa, bringing its total direct support to more than $220 million.
The money will support preparedness efforts in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan, including for national emergency operations centers, as well as surveillance, testing, border screening and infection prevention and control, the department said in a statement.
It will also help countries distribute critical commodities and manage Ebola patients, it said.
Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Costas Pitas; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani
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