The walkout, backed by 400 employees and announced by union representatives, comes at a particularly difficult time for the museum, which is still reeling from an October jewel heist worth 88 million euros
International News via Reuters:
The Paris Louvre museum will remain closed on Monday after staff voted in favour of a strike over pay and working conditions, disrupting access for thousands of visitors to the world’s most-visited museum.
The walkout, backed by 400 employees and announced by union representatives, comes at a particularly difficult time for the museum, which is still reeling from an October jewel heist worth 88 million euros ($103.30 million) and recent infrastructure problems including a water leak that damaged ancient books.
“Due to public strikes, the museum is currently closed,” Le Louvre said on its website.
The labour action, called by the CFDT, CGT and Sud unions, follows what they described as “increasingly degraded working conditions” and insufficient staffing. In their strike notice, the unions said employees are suffering from “an ever-increasing workload” and “contradictory instructions” that prevent them from carrying out their duties properly.
Union requests include hiring more permanent staff, particularly in security and visitor services and improving working conditions. The unions also oppose a 45% ticket price increase from mid-January for non-EU tourists. The hike is meant to help finance renovations.
The Louvre welcomes approximately 30,000 visitors daily.
($1 = 0.8519 euros)
Reporting by Benoit Tessier, Noemie Olive, Mathieu Rosemain and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten
S&P 500 e-mini futures rebounded 0.4%, after U.S. stocks had slumped on Friday over concerns about a bubble in Artificial Intelligence shares and lingering inflation in the world’s biggest economy
International News via Reuters:
European shares moved higher on Monday as Wall Street futures pointed to a recovery from last week’s sell-off, but investor caution capped gains at the start of a week loaded with big central bank decisions and economic data.
Europe’s benchmark STOXX index of 600 large companies gained 0.6%. S&P 500 e-mini futures rebounded 0.4%, after U.S. stocks had slumped on Friday over concerns about a bubble in Artificial Intelligence shares and lingering inflation in the world’s biggest economy.
Asia shares were less buoyant thanks to renewed worries in China’s property market. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan shed 1.2%, led by a drop of as much as 2.7% in South Korean shares, one of the world’s best-performing markets this year.
“The risk-off tone across Asia looks more like a spillover from last Friday’s selloff in U.S. momentum and tech than a region-specific catalyst,” said Marc Velan, head of investments at Lucerne Asset Management in Singapore.
“The unwind in the AI-capex trade weighed on global risk appetite, and in thin year-end liquidity those moves tend to travel quickly across regions.”
The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury bond was last down 3 basis points at 4.1645% as investors awaited a string of economic data releases and a slew of decisions from central banks.
CHINA PROPERTY WOES
Against the Chinese yuan trading offshore, the U.S. dollar slipped 0.1% to 7.0486 yuan, hovering around its strongest level in more than a year, after factory output and retail sales data slowed further in November.
Official data showed on Monday that new home prices extended a decline in November, indicating that a recovery in demand remains elusive despite the government vowing to stabilise the sector.
China Vanke said it would convene a second bondholder meeting, after the state-backed property developer failed to secure bondholder approval to extend by one year a bond payment falling due Monday, increasing the risk of default and renewing concerns about the crisis-hit property sector.
“If Vanke ultimately defaults, we think the ramifications on the China property sector can be significant,” said Jeff Zhang, equity analyst at Morningstar. “Investors may be more concerned about the balance sheet and government’s attitude towards bailout for even the ‘safe names’.”
CENTRAL BANK DECISIONS LOOM
Among the central banks making decisions this week, the Bank of Japan is expected to hike rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, while the Bank of England may make an equal-sized cut to 3.75%.
The European Central Bank is expected to keep interest rates on hold, alongside Sweden’s Riksbank and Norway’s Norges Bank.
Investors will also have the chance to catch up on economic data that was delayed by the U.S. government shutdown, including the jobs report for November and the monthly consumer price index.
“It’s worth taking this week’s data with a pinch of salt given problems collecting data as well as the direct economic impact of the government shutdown,” said Ben Bennett, head of investment strategy Asia at L&G Asset Management in Hong Kong.
“We’ll have to wait until 2026 to get a clearer reading on the U.S. economy.”
In Japan, stocks gained some support after the BOJ’s closely watched “tankan” survey showed on Monday that big manufacturers’ business sentiment hit a four-year high, suggesting the economy was weathering the hit from higher U.S. tariffs.
The Topix was last up 0.2%, while the yen appreciated 0.6% to 154.955 against the U.S. dollar, nearing its strongest level in a week.
The kiwi dollar slid 0.4% to $0.5781 after comments from New Zealand’s new central bank governor Anna Breman warning financial market conditions had tightened in recent weeks, leading investors to pare back rate hike expectations for next year.
In commodities, Brent crude was 0.5% higher at $61.44 as supply fears from U.S.-Venezuela tensions and elsewhere lifted prices.
Imperial Oil said on Sunday it had issued a fire alert at its 120,000 barrel-per-day refinery facility in Ontario, Canada. Meanwhile, Russia said that an oil refinery in Afipsky was undamaged by a Ukrainian drone attack.
On the geopolitical front, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said “a lot of progress was made” in peace talks to end the Ukraine war in Berlin on Sunday.
Gold extended its recent rally into a fifth day as it approaches a record high of $4,381.21. Spot bullion prices were last up 1.1% at $4,348.83.
Cryptocurrency markets snapped a three-day losing streak, with bitcoin last up 1.5% at $89,845 and ether rising 2% to $3,145.
Reporting by Gregor Stuart Hunter; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Sam Holmes and Louise Heavens
The incident has raised questions whether Australia’s gun laws, among the toughest in the world, need overhaul, with police saying the older suspect had held a firearms license since 2015
International News via Reuters:
Australia vowed stricter gun laws on Monday as it began mourning victims of its worst mass shooting in almost 30 years, in which police accused a father-and-son duo of killing 15 people at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach.
The incident has raised questions whether Australia’s gun laws, among the toughest in the world, need overhaul, with police saying the older suspect had held a firearms license since 2015, along with six registered weapons.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his cabinet agreed to strengthen gun laws and work on a national firearms register to tackle aspects such as the number of weapons permitted by gun licences, and how long the latter are valid.
“People’s circumstances can change,” he had told reporters before the cabinet met. “People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity.”
Of the two gunmen, the 50-year-old father was killed at the scene, taking the tally of dead to 16, while his 24-year-old son was in critical condition in hospital, police told a press conference.
The 40 people taken to hospital after the attack included two police officers in serious but stable condition, they added. The victims were aged between 10 and 87.
Police did not release the suspects’ names. Security officials said one was known to authorities but had not been deemed an immediate threat.
“We are very much working through the background of both persons. At this stage, we know very little about them,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters.
National broadcaster ABC and other media identified the men as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram. Home Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, while his son is an Australian-born citizen.
Police gave no details of their firearms, but videos from the scene showed the men firing weapons that appeared to be a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.
Two flags of militant group Islamic State were found in the gunmen’s vehicle, ABC News said, without citing a source.
Albanese said measures being considered ranged from curbs on open-ended licences to limits on weapons held by a single individual and the types that are legal, including modifications, with permits restricted to Australian citizens.
HERO BYSTANDER DISARMS GUNMAN BEFORE BEING WOUNDED
Witnesses said the 10-minute attack at the beach, crowded on a hot weekend evening, sent about 1,000 people attending a Hanukkah event fleeing along the sand and into nearby streets.
A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, captured on video tackling and disarming an armed man during the attack, has been hailed as a hero whose action saved lives. He went under surgery after being shot twice. A fundraising page drew more than A$1,000,000 ($665,000) for him.
Bondi resident Morgan Gabriel, 27, said she had been heading to a nearby cinema when she heard what she thought were fireworks, before people started running up her street.
“Their phones had been left down the beach, and everyone was just trying to get away,” she said, adding that two of the six or seven she sheltered turned out to be close friends.
“It’s a very sad time this morning,” she said, with the beach bare of the usual throng of swimmers, surfers and runners.
“So this is very, very quiet. And there’s definitely a solemn sort of vibe.”
Mourners paid respects and laid flowers at a makeshift memorial at the Bondi pavilion draped in Israeli and Australian flags as police and private Jewish security guards patrolled.
“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism,” Albanese told reporters after laying flowers at Bondi Beach.
“The Jewish community are hurting today,” he added. “Today, all Australians wrap our arms around them and say, we stand with you. We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism. It is a scourge, and we will eradicate it together.”
WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACK
World leaders from U.S. President Donald Trump to French President Emmanuel Macron had offered condolences and support, Albanese said.
Sunday’s shootings were the most serious in a string of antisemitic attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars in Australia since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had warned Albanese that Australia’s support for Palestinian statehood would fuel antisemitism.
In August, Australia accused Iran of directing at least two antisemitic attacks and gave its ambassador a week to leave the country.
Mass shootings are rare in Australia, one of the world’s safest countries. Sunday’s attack was the worst since 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people at the Port Arthur tourist site in the southern island state of Tasmania.
“You can very easily become very angry and try to blame people, turn on people, but that’s not what this is about,” said
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose brother-in-law Eli Schlanger was killed on Sunday.
“We need to step up at a time like this … And we will, and we will get through this, and we know that. The Australian community will help us do it.”
Jews number about 150,000 of Australia’s population of 27 million, with about a third estimated to live in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including Bondi.
($1=1.5035 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Renju Jose, Scott Murdoch, Christine Chen, Kirsty Needham, Alasdair Pal, Byron Kaye, Pete McKenzie, Stella Qiu in Sydney, Peter Hobson in Canberra and Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Michael Perry, Saad Sayeed and Clarence Fernandez
Bermuda’s female international footballers shine in the UK
Shaun Goater’s Aston Villa side signed off for the Women’s Super League winter break with a heavy 6-1 defeat against in-form leaders Manchester City. In cup action, Kenni Thompson’s Bournemouth advanced in the Women’s FA Cup, and Aaliyah Nolan found the net for Bradford City Women.
Assistant manager Shaun Goater’s Aston Villa faced a daunting task against the Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City. Although Villa took an early lead, City’s quality proved too much in a goal-laden affair at Villa Park in the 6 – 1 win.
Kenni Thompson and her Bournemouth Women’s FC teammates advanced to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round for the first time in the club’s history.
The Cherries secured a convincing 5-0 win over Fulham in their third-round clash. While Thompson, who is known for her free-kick expertise, was substituted late on, the victory was secured through goals from Sophie Quirk, Molly Barron-Clark, Jenna Markham, an own goal, and Amber Treweek.
In the North East Regional Women’s Football League, forward Aaliyah Nolan was on target for Bradford City Women as they secured a dominant 5-0 win over Ossett United at the Horsfall Stadium.
Nolan, an experienced striker who has been in fine form this season, helped her team to a crucial three points in the league battle.
Finally, in Spain’s Tercera Andaluza Malaga Senior Division, Brighton Morrison was an unused substitute as his Benamocarra FC teammates defeated Lower Caves 6-1. The comprehensive victory saw Benamocarra FC return to the top of the table.
Major cities including Berlin, London and New York stepped up security around Hanukkah events on Sunday following the attack on a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
International News via Reuters:
Major cities including Berlin, London and New York stepped up security around Hanukkah events on Sunday following the attack on a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Berlin police said they were ramping up measures around the German capital’s Brandenburg Gate, where a large electric menorah is being lit to mark the first night of Hanukkah.
“We have long planned comprehensive security for tonight’s Hanukkah event at the Brandenburg Gate – in light of the events in Sydney, we will further intensify our measures and maintain a strong police presence there,” a spokesperson said on X.
Meanwhile, New York Mayor Eric Adams said on X that extra protection was being deployed for Hanukkah celebrations and synagogues in New York City.
“We will continue to ensure the Jewish community can celebrate the holiday in safety — including at public Menorah lightings across the city. Let us pray for the injured and stand together against hatred,” Adams said.
In Warsaw’s main synagogue, armed security was doubled for its Sunday evening event.
Polish police also said they had decided to ramp up security.
“Due to the geopolitical situation and the attack in Sydney, we are strengthening preventive measures around diplomatic missions and places of worship,” a press officer for Poland’s National Police Headquarters told Reuters in a text message.
The officer specified this meant “intensified preventive measures in the area of diplomatic and consular missions, religious sites and other institutions related to Israel and Palestine.”
The event at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate will also include a prayer for the victims of Sydney’s Bondi Beach shooting, which left at least 11 people dead in what Australian officials described as a targeted antisemitic attack.
Germany has long followed a policy of special responsibility for Jews and for Israel, known as the Staatsraeson, due to the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust.
Security measures at synagogues and other Jewish institutions are the norm in Berlin, but a police spokesperson said these would be ramped up for the Hanukkah period.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it had also increased security, but did not want to give details.
“While there is no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London, this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days,” it said in a statement.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez asked local authorities to reinforce security around Jewish places of worship during the December 14 to 22 period, a spokesperson for the minister said.
Nunez called for increased deployment of security forces, with particular vigilance around religious services and gatherings that draw large crowds, especially when they take place in public spaces, the spokesperson added.
Reporting by Friederike Heine in Berlin, Justyna Pawlak and Karol Badohal in Warsaw, Suban Abdulla in London; Writing by Alexander Smith; Editing by Christina Fincher and Chris Reese
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said at a midday news conference that the suspect was in his 20s, but declined to share other details, citing an ongoing investigation
International News via Reuters:
Authorities detained a “person of interest” who was found in a Rhode Island hotel after the Brown University shooting that left two students dead and nine wounded at the Ivy League school as students took exams before winter break, authorities said on Sunday.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said at a midday news conference that the suspect was in his 20s, but declined to share other details, citing an ongoing investigation. Perez said earlier in the day that authorities were not seeking other suspects at this time.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the person of interest had been detained in a hotel room in the Rhode Island town of Coventry, a 30-minute drive from the Brown campus. An FBI team specializing in cellular data analysis used geolocation information to track the suspect, Patel said.
The mass shooting — the latest of nearly 400 in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive — shook the community at the university, one of the oldest in the United States. The school canceled exams and classes for the rest of the year and the campus was quiet on Sunday as a light snowfall blanketed the city.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that authorities, as of midday on Sunday, had not yet contacted all family members because some were traveling. He invited residents to a previously planned event on Sunday to light a Christmas tree and a menorah to mark the first night of Hanukkah.
“It is quite clear that if we can come together as a community and shine a little bit of light tonight, I think there’s nothing better that we could be doing,” Smiley said.
AUTHORITIES RELEASE VIDEO OF SUSPECT
Seven people injured at Brown University were in stable condition, Smiley said. One remained in critical but stable condition, while another had been discharged, he added.
Shelter-in-place orders at the university and nearby areas were lifted on Sunday. Smiley said earlier in the day that residents should expect a visible police presence across the city.
The gunman fled after shooting students in a classroom in Brown’s Barus & Holley engineering building, where outer doors had been unlocked while exams were taking place, officials said on Saturday.
Authorities on Saturday released a short video clip of a person of interest dressed in black walking near the engineering building. Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said on Saturday the individual may have worn a mask, but officials were not certain.
Brown President Christina Paxson told reporters that all or nearly all of the victims were students, adding: “This is the day one hopes never happens, and it has.”
UNDER DESKS FOR HOURS
Teaching assistant Joseph Oduro, 21, told CNN he was in a classroom that was attacked.
“The first couple of gunshots went straight to the chalkboard right where I was standing,” Oduro said. “Who knows, if I didn’t duck, maybe I’m not here today.”
A student next to him took two bullets to the leg and was due to undergo surgery on Sunday, he said.
Brown student Chiang-Heng Chien told local TV station WJAR he was working in a lab with three other students when he saw the text about the active shooter situation a block away. They waited under desks for about two hours, he said.
Jack DiPrimio, a graduate student at Brown, said he was initially not concerned when the university went on lockdown because he had experienced many active shooter drills over his lifetime. The drills have become more common in the U.S. as attacks targeting students have increased.
“I had faced so many lockdowns in high school and even a few at my undergrad, so I wasn’t that worried at first,” DiPrimio said in a TikTok video after coming out of a five-hour lockdown. “Maybe I was desensitized.”
Reporting by Maria Alejandra Cardona in Providence and Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Additional reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru, Katharine Jackson, Douglas Gillison and Jason Lange in Washington, Jessica DiNapoli and Chris Prentice in New York, and Svea Herbst and Keval Singh in Singapore; Writing by Ted Hesson; Editing by Sergio Non; Sharon Singleton, Alexander Smith, Christina Fincher and Bill Berkrot
Minister says absentee voting changes require consultation and bipartisan engagement
Statement from the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Diallo Rabain
“Since the tabling of the OBA’s Absentee Voting Act 2025, the Government reached out to the Opposition in writing and offered to sit and discuss the Bill. From the outset, we said clearly that we support absentee voting for students studying off-island. At the same time, we were equally clear that the Bill, as submitted, was not workable and could not be fixed through amendments on the floor of the House.”
“Unfortunately, the OBA chose not to sit down and discuss the Bill and instead decided to press ahead with it.
“The Bill was ultimately found not to meet the requirements necessary for it to proceed under the Standing Orders of the House of Assembly. That outcome did not change our position. The Government has already committed, in our election manifesto, to introducing absentee voting for students as part of a wider programme of electoral reform. That reform must, and will, include input from the people of Bermuda.
“The door remains open for the OBA to take part in that work. Electoral reform, including absentee voting, is not something that should be done by one party acting alone. It requires bipartisan engagement and serious policy development if we are going to change how our elections are governed.
“The Government will continue to move forward in the right order: listening to the public, engaging stakeholders, and developing clear policy before bringing legislation to the House. Bermudians will continue to have a voice in that process.
“Our democracy deserves careful work and good faith, not rushed gestures.”
If a pipe breaks in your house and causes a flood, the first thing you do is shut off the water. Similarly, if gun crime is out of control, a first logical step is to shut off the supply of weapons and ammunition.
Premier David Burt has recently made bold statements about the UK’s responsibility to do more to protect Bermuda and its residents.
However, fixing critical infrastructure that is necessary to protect our borders is the sole responsibility of the Bermuda Government and has been ignored for far too long.
The HM Customs and Immigration dock in St. George’s has not been usable since April 2024. The Minister of National Security has been aware that the dock was inoperable since October 2024. While the government spends money fixing public docks and posing for photo ops, the dock that can help protect Bermudians has yet to be fixed.
As a consequence only a small fraction of vessels are being physically inspected at a time when our murder rate is high, and the damage caused by drugs entering this community is not being addressed.
Premier Burt is also being disingenuous in suggesting that the UK government needs to do more to protect us when we don’t take advantage of our good relationship with the UK.
The previous Governor, Rena Lalgie was an expert on anti-money laundering, drug interdiction and anti-terrorism and crime – yet the Premier did not utilise the skills and expertise available because of the mindset that the UK should leave the Government to manage its own affairs.
The UK has consistently been available to provide assistance when requested by this government and it is also mindful of not overstepping its authority because of the rhetoric about “colonial interference” in the island’s affairs.
Evidence of the UK’s continued assistance to the island includes:
December 2009, at a meeting in London Bermuda requested UK/Overseas-Territories “foreign assistance” support from the UK and US to address gang and gun crime.
January 2010, Overseas (UK) senior investigators/consultants were brought to Bermuda to boost capacity and assist police, social services, the community and justice to target gang-related crime and violence. The contract ended in 2011.
Regarding the government’s responsibility to manage its own internal affairs, consider the fact that in November 2010 the Government created the Inter-Agency/Gang Task Force (AGTF), intended to coordinate multi-agency efforts.
The Government announced in 2011 that the anti-gang initiative Operation Ceasefire, modelled after a US based intervention strategy, should begin by spring 2012, with hopes of even holding a gang summit.
In 2012, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary provided an assessment and recommendations concerning the policing environment, specialist skill gaps and recommended developing specialist capacity and partnerships – demonstrating continued UK involvement on policing capability issues.
In 2017, Pastor Leroy Bean was appointed as the head of the government’s gang violence reduction team. Given the crime statistics since that time as relates to murders committed indicates that the current strategy to address this public health crisis needs to change.
In September 2025 the UK offered to fund development of specialist officers and equipment for up to six months after a deadly spate of gun violence. The Governor and local reports said the UK had offered funding to bring in specialist investigative officers, analysts and equipment (surveillance/drones) for an interim deployment to assist the Bermuda Police Service.
Blaming the UK for not doing enough is misrepresenting the truth and does nothing to resolve this issue or create a pathway towards collaboration and cooperation in saving young Bermudian lives.
The truth is that current interventions and approaches are not achieving the results we need.
The Government must utilise all available resources to address this community problem. All stakeholders and those persons, groups affected must be a part of the solution focused approach. The framework is already in place; however, input is required from:
Corrections: incarcerated persons, (to include families of), program providers, officers
Department of Child and Family Services:
Schools
Courts
Service Providers
Sports Clubs
Community Leaders
Churches
Youth Groups
Police
Playing the blame game for political gain while Bermudians continue to be shot and murdered is an indictment on the Burt government. They can fix our infrastructure issues, work with the UK government and local police and community to find solutions. The people of Bermuda deserve honest, effective leadership that puts the community first.
Dwayne Robinson, MP for Constituency 30 Southampton East Central, issued the following statement.
“While we are disappointed that the Absentee Voting Bill will be removed from the order paper for good, the One Bermuda Alliance is proud to have put this important issue on the public agenda,” says Opposition MP Dwayne Robinson.
“The Government was given an opportunity to collaborate on the OBA’s bill, but instead chose political mischief. We left the Bill on the order paper for two months in an effort to collaborate and there was time for amendments to be put forward, yet nothing was presented.
“Instead, we now learn that the Bill cannot be progressed because in order to action it, monies will have to be spent by the Parliamentary Registrar. Despite it being on the order paper uncontested for two months, as soon as we choose to go for a second reading, this letter appears.”
He continues: “We have no wish to question the independent office of the PR, however its budget is provided by the sitting Government.
“As the reason is budgetary this reflects on the Minister of the Cabinet office and the Premier who is the Minister of Finance. Minister Rabain allocated $55,000 via supplementary spending to electoral reform during the last session, making the point quite redundant.”
He concludes: “If the Government was serious about electoral reform, it would have funded it after the February 2025 election.”
Devonshire, Bermuda — Northshore Medical & Aesthetics Center (NMAC) is proud to announce the arrival of a long-awaited and urgently needed specialty to Bermuda: Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Medicine, provided by internationally recognized ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Davor Džepina.
Dr. Džepina will begin offering monthly in-person clinics starting January 12, 2026, marking a major advancement in local access to ENT and facial plastic services.
A Timely Solution to Bermuda’s ENT Care Gap
For years, Bermuda has faced a shortage of ENT specialists, forcing adults and children to wait for infrequent visiting clinics or travel overseas for necessary care. This has created significant strain for families managing chronic ENT conditions, speech-related concerns in children, airway and sinus issues, and post-surgical follow-up needs.
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions affect thousands of adults and children each year, yet delayed diagnosis can lead to chronic breathing issues, sleep problems, hearing loss, and developmental challenges in young patients. Early access to a specialist is essential for proper evaluation and treatment, especially for common concerns such as sinus disease, tonsil and adenoid issues, nasal obstruction, and hearing difficulties. With Bermuda’s long-standing shortage of ENT professionals, timely local care can greatly improve health outcomes and reduce the need for overseas treatment. Dr. Davor Dzepina’s arrival helps fill this critical gap for both pediatric and adult patients.
With Dr. Džepina joining the team at Northshore Medical, Bermuda’s residents now have access to ongoing, high-quality ENT care without leaving the island.
Languages Spoken: English, German, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian — providing inclusive care for Bermuda’s multicultural community.
A Message from NMAC’s CEO, Dr. Kyjuan H. Brown
“The arrival of Dr. Davor Džepina represents a tremendous milestone for Bermuda’s healthcare system. At NMAC, our mission has always been to expand access, reduce barriers, and provide innovative, more affordable, world-class care right here at home. ENT is one of the most needed specialties on the island, and we are proud to offer families a consistent, reliable solution that they have been waiting for.
Dr. Džepina brings exceptional skill, decades of global experience, and a patient-centered approach that aligns perfectly with our vision of holistic, compassionate, and preventative care. This is a major step forward for Bermuda, and we are honored to welcome him to the NMAC family.”
ENT + Facial Plastic Surgery: A Powerful Combination of Medical and Cosmetic Expertise
In addition to comprehensive ENT care for adults and pediatric patients, Dr. Džepina brings specialized training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, offering Bermuda safe access to advanced aesthetic procedures.
Featured Facial Plastic Surgery Services Include:
Under-Eye Bag Removal – Eliminates puffiness and rejuvenates tired eyes
Facelift & “Lunchtime” Mini-Facelifts – Natural results with modern techniques
Neck Lift & Neck Liposuction – Contouring for a smoother, refined neckline
Thread Lifts – Non-surgical lifting for sagging facial contours
These services will now be available locally, supporting Bermuda residents with convenient follow-up care and eliminating high overseas travel costs.
Patient-Centered Philosophy
When asked about his approach to care, Dr. Džepina stated: “Unquestionably, the greatest emphasis in my daily work is placed on a detailed, individualized approach, with complete and realistic information for every patient. I implement new medical technologies only after a critical assessment of their safety and efficacy.”
His patient-first philosophy aligns seamlessly with NMAC’s mission to deliver holistic, innovative, and compassionate healthcare for all.
Appointments Now Open – High Demand
Dr. Džepina will be available for monthly consultations beginning January 12, 2026. Early booking is strongly encouraged due to anticipated high demand.
Book Your Appointment:
Email:book@nmac.bm Phone: 441-293-5476 Online booking: www.nmac.bm In-Person Booking: Northshore Medical & Aesthetics Center, 7 Northshore Road, Devonshire DV01
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About Dr. Davor Džepina, MD, PhD, IBCFPRS, FEBORL-HNS
Dr. Džepina is a globally trained ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon specializing in:
Facial plastic & reconstructive surgery
Rhinology
Head & neck surgery
With extensive training in Europe and the United States — including certifications from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the European Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery — Dr. Džepina brings exceptional medical excellence to Bermuda.
He continues to lecture internationally, publish research, and serve as an examiner for European Board ENT examinations.
About Northshore Medical & Aesthetics Center (NMAC)
Northshore Medical is Bermuda’s leading integrated healthcare campus, offering family medicine, specialist care, dermatology, cardiology, rheumatology, naturopathic medicine, weight loss, aesthetics, hair restoration, laboratory services, pharmacy, and more — all in one convenient location.
NMAC is committed to expanding specialty access, improving patient choice, and advancing Bermuda’s healthcare landscape through innovation, compassion, prevention, and community outreach. NMAC is know island-wide for our free health clinics.
ACCA course aims to help Bermudians train or retrain for in-demand roles
The Bermuda College issued the following media release.
Bermudians are being encouraged to train – or retrain – for accounting roles through a new Bermuda College programme launching early next year.
With hundreds of accounting and support positions advertised annually, the College said its programme offers a flexible pathway into immediate employment across Bermuda’s business and financial sectors.
Programme coordinator Karen Smith said the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course provided routes from introductory certificates to advanced qualifications, allowing learners to upskill efficiently.
She said: “There are hundreds of accounting jobs in Bermuda. Just under 100 positions were advertised on the Job Board this year alone.
“There’s a real need for local qualified accountants and for people in accounting support roles.”
The ACCA curriculum covers accounting principles, financial reporting, taxation, audit, business law, ethics, and management, with a practical structure designed for workplace readiness and long-term growth.
Students can start at multiple entry points, earn stackable credentials, and attend evening classes, making the programme ideal for adults retraining or advancing while employed.
Ms Smith said learners can earn their first certificate within a semester. “With no entrance tests, the programme offers straightforward access to a profession urgently needing more qualified Bermudians.”
Entry-level certificates prepare learners for bookkeeping and support roles, while continued study leads to the internationally recognised ACCA designation.
Delivered with ACCA Global and supported by ACCA Caribbean, the programme maintains international accreditation. Funding support is available for eligible students pursuing accounting studies at Bermuda College.
The College will host ACCA information sessions on January 6 and January 13, 2026, providing guidance on entry routes, programme expectations, and career opportunities.
To register for sessions, which begin at 6pm on Zoom, click here: https://accaglobal.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NfQE9kiiSI-_rNVcEckUEg
Ms Smith added: “Accounting drives business in Bermuda, and demand for qualified Bermudians continues to grow. ACCA offers clear, flexible pathways that help residents build skills quickly and progress confidently into meaningful careers.”
Public Menorah lighting to continue in solidarity after Sydney attack
Image: Reuters
A public Menorah lighting scheduled to take place at City Hall this evening is going ahead “with even greater strength and purpose” following a terror attack that targeted the Jewish community in Australia.
At least 11 people were killed and 29 injured after two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach during an event marking the first day of Hanukkah, according to ABC News.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an “act of evil antisemitism.”
Rabbi Chaim Birnhack, Rabbi and Director of Chabad Bermuda, said: “Earlier today, during a Menorah lighting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, a horrific terrorist attack took place. Among those brutally shot and killed was my dear friend and colleague, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad rabbi who devoted his life to spreading light, kindness, and Jewish pride.
“Our hearts are broken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the injured, and the families whose lives have been shattered by this act of hatred.
“This evening, as we gather for Bermuda’s public Menorah lighting, our response is clear and deliberate. We are going ahead with the event, and we are doing so with even greater strength and purpose. Chanukah teaches us that when darkness strikes, the Jewish response is not to retreat, not to cancel, and not to hide — but to add light.
“This will be the response not only here in Bermuda, but by my colleagues across the world, and by Jewish communities everywhere. At the very moment Jews were gathering in Australia to spread light, they were met with darkness — and the answer, here and everywhere, will be to continue lighting, adding, and spreading even more light.
“Terror seeks to intimidate and silence. We respond by standing taller, lighting brighter, and strengthening one another. Tonight, every candle we light is a statement that darkness will not have the final word.
“May the light of Chanukah bring comfort to the wounded, strength to the grieving, and hope to a world that desperately needs it.”
The Chanukah Menorah lighting will take place on the steps of City Hall this evening at 5 pm.
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