Timeline imminent for online work permit processing
We should have a roadmap to digitisation during Q3 2025, according to Minister Jason Hayward
The time it takes to process work permits has long been a bone of contention between Government and the business sector.
However, a timeline on getting a fully digitized permit application process may be right around the corner.
Jason Hayward, Labour and Economy Minister, expects an update from his team this month, and says Government also wants to do the same for passport applications.
Gary Foster Skelton recently sat down with the Minister to discuss proposed amendments to the Work Permit process.
WATCH the interview above.
Volvo Cars to start mid-size SUV production at US plant next year
XC60’s sales in the United States rose by almost 23% in the first six months of 2025
International News via Reuters:
Sweden’s Volvo Cars said on Wednesday it would start producing its XC60 mid-size SUV in its plant in South Carolina, United States from late 2026.
XC60’s sales in the United States rose by almost 23% in the first six months of 2025, the Gothenburg-based company said, adding that the model was most popular among U.S. customers.
Volvo Cars, which is owned by China’s Geely Holding, had said earlier this week that it was booking an impairment charge of 11.4 billion crowns ($1.17 billion) in the second quarter related to its ES90 and EX90 models due to tariffs and launch delays.
Most of Volvo Cars’ vehicles for the U.S. market, which last year accounted for 16% of group sales, are imported from Europe. The company only produces its high-end SUV EX90, at the Charleston, South Carolina factory. CEO Hakan Samuelsson has earlier said that a popular hybrid model was needed to be added to the plant.
($1 = 9.7057 Swedish crowns)
Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru and Marie Mannes in Gothenburg; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Shailesh Kuber
Citi hires senior JPMorgan bankers to strengthen financing business
The appointments are part of Citi’s broader strategy to grow its investment banking division
International News via Reuters:
Citigroup has hired two senior executives from JPMorgan to strengthen its leadership team and expand its financing business, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
Aloke Gupte, previously co-head of international equity capital markets (ECM) at JPMorgan, will join Citi as global co-head of ECM alongside Doug Adams.
Alex Watkins, who held the same role as Gupte at JPMorgan, will take over as head of technology financing.
The appointments are part of Citi’s broader strategy to grow its investment banking division, following the recruitment of Viswas Raghavan from JPMorgan as head of banking in February last year.
JPMorgan has also been strengthening its ranks, recently hiring Anthony Diamandakis from Citi as vice chair of its strategic investors group, and former HSBC dealmaker Kamal Jabre as vice chair of mergers & acquisitions for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Bloomberg was the first to report the news.
Reporting by Aatrayee Chatterjee in Bengaluru and Andres Gonzalez in London; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi
Endeavour alumni power maritime workforce
Charity marks 10 years educating and inspiring Bermudian youth
More than half of Endeavour’s Maritime Career Springboard Programme alumni are now working in the maritime industry, according to new figures from the charity.
The course offers professional training, internationally recognised certifications, and career exposure for Bermudian youth.
This year, Endeavour is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and since its inception has engaged more than 8,000 young people.
Alisa Bernardo spoke to a sibling duo who have risen through the ranks, from student to instructor.
WATCH the full report above.
Seven arrest warrants issued in global swoop on suspected Russia-linked hackers
Germany issued six arrest warrants, five of them public, and Spain issued another
International News via Reuters:
Germany and Spain issued arrest warrants for seven suspected members of a pro-Russian hacking group accused of carrying out cyber attacks against critical infrastructure, arms makers, power companies and public authorities.
The warrants resulted from an international operation involving law enforcement and judicial authorities including the U.S., France, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland, German prosecutors and pan-European police agency Europol said in separate statements on Wednesday.
German prosecutors said they had helped to coordinate the swoop on Tuesday in multiple countries in which 24 premises linked to the hacking group – which calls itself NoName057(16) – were searched, including one in Berlin and two in Bavaria in southeastern Germany.
Germany issued six arrest warrants, five of them public, and Spain issued another.
The NoName group had used the Telegram messaging app to enlist over 4,000 volunteers who made their systems available for swamping critical institutions’ servers with so-called distributed denial of service attacks, the German prosecutors said.
The premises searched included those linked to volunteers in the Telegram group, they said.
In the past years the NoName collective, known for promoting Russian interests, has allegedly carried out successful cyberattacks in Ukraine and on government, infrastructure, banking, health services and telecom websites in European countries that have backed it against Russia.
European authorities are increasingly concerned at the scale of the hybrid threats they say emanate from Russia, which is in the third year of its invasion of Western ally Ukraine.
Those threats, which have included killings and alleged bomb plots against institutions and cargo aircraft, have largely been attributed to state actors. Russia has denied the accusation.
In this case, prosecutors did not specifically link the suspects to the state.
MEDIA ATTENTION
“The aim of the attacks on German targets was to garner media attention and thereby influence political and social decision-making in Germany,” prosecutors said in the statement.
The prosecutors and Europol published names and pictures of five of the people they were seeking, all of them Russian citizens and presumed to be residing in Russia. A further German arrest warrant remains sealed.
Prosecutors identified one of the Russian citizens as one of two leading figures in the group it was seeking.
Europol said volunteers were recruited through Russian channels, chat groups, social media and messaging apps and that they often invited contacts from gaming and hacking forums.
Italian authorities added in a separate statement that sympathisers were given lists of Western targets to hit and provided with the software needed to participate.
They added that the organisation – which paid with cryptocurrencies – had a “central line of command and control in the Russian Federation”.
The group also ran its own botnet – a network of private computers infected with malware and controlled by hackers – of several hundred servers to amplify the impact, they said.
Authorities in the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania and Poland contributed to the investigation, said Europol, which helped to coordinate it.
Reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin and Giulia Segreti in Rome; Editing by Miranda Murray and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Mirrors Programme honours outstanding volunteers
The occasion coincided with the opening of the 9th Annual Art and Digital Competition
Government media release:
On July 11, 2025, the Mirrors Programme held its annual volunteer appreciation event at Masterworks Museum, celebrating the dedication of its volunteers and service partners. The event, hosted by the Mirrors Alumni and Friends Association (MAFA), coincided with the opening of the 9th Annual Art and Digital Competition.
The Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, sent her gratitude to the volunteers, stating, “Mirrors continues to impact the lives of Bermuda’s youth and make a difference in our community. This is the ninth year that Mirrors has formally honoured volunteers and service partners. Each year, the Mirrors Programmes receive support from community members to produce successful programmes, and each year The Mirrors Team and MAFA work to acknowledge those outstanding volunteers who go beyond their commitment to ensuring the focus of ‘Transforming Our Community One Person at a Time’ is met.”
Prevention Services Coordinator, Mrs. Letitia Washington, also commended the volunteers:
“Thank you for giving unselfishly, for we can never repay you. Your dedication has made a difference. Thank you for honouring your volunteer role; your impact is appreciated. The Mirrors Programme couldn’t have been as successful without your contribution. With our deepest gratitude for your commitment to serve, we say thank you.”
The following individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions in 2024-2025:
- Outstanding Life Coach – 8 Keys of Excellence Award: Eric Bean
- Balance Key Award: Joshua Wilson
- Flexibility Key Award: David Stubbs
- Commitment Key Award: Naquan Smith
- Outstanding Administrative Volunteer: Delores Thompson
- Village Keeper Award (Wellbeing Volunteer):G. Rosheena Masters
- Stakeholder Appreciation: The Money Shop, Maxcem Bermuda and Orbis Limited
The event also marked the opening of the 9th Annual Art and Digital Competition, themed “Faces of Bermuda”. The public is invited to view the exhibition at Masterworks Museum and cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award until August 5, 2025.
For more information on volunteering with the Mirrors Programme, please contact 294-9291 or visit www.mirrors.bm.
BBC Radio News: Wednesday Evening – 16 July 2025
Latest news and sports briefing with reporters Alisa Bernardo and Earl Basden
Reactions to the European Commission’s new EU budget proposal
An agreement on the new EU budget requires backing from all 27 member countries and sign-off from the European Parliament
International News via Reuters:
Following are some reactions to the European Commission’s proposal on Wednesday for a 2 trillion euro ($2.31 trillion) EU budget for 2028-2034. The proposal places a new emphasis on economic competitiveness and defence while aiming to reform the rules around farm and economic development subsidies.
An agreement on the new EU budget requires backing from all 27 member countries and sign-off from the European Parliament.
SWEDISH GOVERNMENT, IN A STATEMENT
“We can never accept that common EU funds go to countries that don’t respect basic democratic principles and European values”
“We won’t solve the EU’s problems with a bigger budget and increased EU contributions, rather through using current resources in a smarter way and putting money where it is really needed.”
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN
“Brussels’ proposal can be summed up as a pro-Ukrainian budget, and its aim is clear as day: to send the money of the European people to Ukraine. This Brussels plan is weak even as a basis for negotiation, and we suggest that it be withdrawn and a new one drawn up, not in the interests of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy and Ukraine, but in the interests of the people of Europe and European farmers.”
DUTCH FINANCE MINISTER EELCO HEINEN,
“The proposed budget is too high. We should not always focus solely on how the EU can spend more, but rather on how existing funds can be spent better”
“This requires tough choices. The financial contribution of the Netherlands to the EU is already significant. We therefore want to see an improvement in our net payment position … As far as the Netherlands is concerned, new instruments for joint debt are therefore not on the table.”
FRANCE’S EUROPE MINISTER, BENJAMIN HADAD
“I welcome the ambition for the new multiannual financial framework presented today by the European Commission”
“I will be … in Brussels on Friday to defend our priorities: the rearmament of the European continent, supporting our competitiveness and technological sovereignty, the income of our farmers, and the creation of our own resources.”
EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ANTONIO COSTA
“I welcome the presentation of the proposal on the EU long-term budget by the European Commission, a step which will allow the Council to start working. A budget is not just about numbers— it is the ultimate political decision, a choice about our future, and we need to approach this debate with an open mind and spirit of collective responsibility.”
LEAD MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: SIEGFRIED MURESAN, CARLA TAVARES, SANDRA GOMEZ LOPEZ AND DANUSE NERUDOVA
“This draft budget does not leave sufficient funds for critical priorities including competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture, defence, climate adaptation and the investment necessary for a sustainable economy that works for all.”
“Parliament stands ready to use all its powers to their full extent to ensure that the next long-term budget matches the Union’s ambitions and challenges.”
LINDA KALCHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PAN-EUROPEAN THINK TANK STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES, ON CLIMATE BUDGET
“The inclusion of a 35% climate mainstreaming in the new budget shows the Commission is still serious about supporting decarbonisation efforts across the continent… This is essential to make the 90% climate target by 2040 achievable. It is however a wasted opportunity not to strictly exclude fossil fuel funding from the budget.”
FAUSTINE BAS-DEFOSSEZ, POLICY DIRECTOR AT EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL BUREAU
“A long-term budget based on short-term thinking is a dangerous mistake. There is no competitiveness, security or prosperity on a dead planet. This isn’t just about repealing and merging what’s left of LIFE into a catch-all fund – it’s about dismantling Europe’s only dedicated tool for nature and climate action.”
ANOUK PUYMARTIN, HEAD OF POLICY, BIRDLIFE EUROPE
“This is a devastating blow for European citizens. We are facing a worsening nature and climate crisis, and the proposed long-term EU budget offers no clear path to tackle it. Worse, biodiversity is losing its place in the EU budget with no dedicated funding or clear prioritisation.”
NGO EUROPEAN NETWORK ON DEBT AND DEVELOPMENT (EURODAD)
“The restructuring of the budget puts at risk the EU’s central role in fighting poverty, responding to global crises, and supporting those living in the Global South. The Commission is proposing to merge existing external action instruments into one called Global Europe. This move increases the risk that funding is diverted to serve short-term political gains, rather than used to tackle poverty and inequalities.”
COPA-COGECA, ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING NATIONAL FARMERS’ AND COOPERATIVES’ ASSOCIATIONS
“Unprecedented budget cuts, the dissolution of the two pillars, a loss of communality and the Commission’s disengagement from its historic agricultural policy, can they be interpreted as anything else than a message of abandonment, indifference, and lack of strategic priority for agriculture and rural communities? With the looming Mercosur deal how can the
European Commission expect to still be heard and trusted by the agricultural community in the years ahead?”
ARNAUD ROUSSEAU, HEAD OF FRANCE’S BIGGEST FARMING UNION FNSEA
“Madame President, your budget and CAP proposal are nothing more or less than a provocation towards the agricultural world. Rethink your approach! There will be no rise in Europe’s power without food rearmament!”
Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Kate Abnett, Simon Johnson, Anita Komuves, Sybille de La HamaideEditing by Frances Kerry, Aidan Lewis
Administrator goes the extra mile – and earns recognition
Bank Reconciliations Administrator Ziafra Wade-Davis has won a public sector award
Ziafra Wade-Davis, pictured with Premier David Burt. Photo supplied
Press release:
The Government of Bermuda is pleased to announce that Mrs. Ziafra Wade-Davis from the Accountant General’s Department has been selected as the June recipient of the Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA).
In her role as Bank Reconciliations Administrator, Ziafra (pictured with Premier David Burt), has been recognised for her exceptional commitment to innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement in public service.
In preparation for the upcoming Consolidated Fund audit, Ziafra volunteered to complete nearly half of the year-end reconciliations for the Accountant General’s cash portfolio, an area outside of her formal training. Despite the complexity of the work, she delivered results two months ahead of schedule, consistently demonstrating initiative, diligence, and integrity. Her proactive efforts not only received glowing feedback from client departments but also delivered valuable insights and solutions aligned with international best practices, Financial Instructions, and relevant legislation.
Ziafra’s performance goes beyond routine expectations. During a recent training exercise, she dramatically improved the reconciliation process for the Traffic Control Department (TCD). By taking a big-picture view and applying advanced Excel techniques, she streamlined a task that once took over four weeks into one that now takes under an hour. This accomplishment reflects her ability to think critically, solve problems efficiently, and lead innovation within her unit.
Her actions clearly align with the mission of the Government’s Public Service Strategic Plan to “build a more capable public service that is accountable, citizen-focused and prepared for the future.”
Ziafra exemplifies our core values of accountability, integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Premier David Burt offered his congratulations, “Ziafra’s efforts to streamline processes have helped save time and reduce costs to taxpayers. I enjoyed speaking with her and learning more about the impact of her work. These are the kinds of skills we want to see shared across the Public Service to improve efficiency. She has demonstrated a level of leadership in her role as Bank Reconciliations Administrator that makes her truly deserving of this award.” Head of the Public Service, Cherie Whitter, added, “Ziafra’s initiative and problem-solving mindset highlight the talent within our public service. As public officers, we must be proactive, innovative, and focused on preparing for the future. She is a great example of what it means to go above and beyond.”The PSEA is a programme that recognises a group or individual within the Public Service who has made significant achievements in service delivery in the last 60 days.
Rosewood Bermuda has a new GM
Patrick Graham previously held senior hotel roles in Europe
Patrick Graham: “… Our vision is not only to deliver exceptional guest experiences, but to lead with purpose, deepening our ties to community and culture.” Photo supplied
Rosewood Bermuda has a new Managing Director.
Patrick Graham most recently served as Hotel Manager at Rosewood London.
He has also worked at Claridge’s, The Bulgari Hotel & Residences and Nobu Hotel London Portman Square.
Here’s a press release from Rosewood:
Rosewood Bermuda, the premier luxury island resort within the exclusive Tucker’s Point community, has appointed Patrick Graham as the new Managing Director. In this new role, Graham will oversee all facets of Rosewood Bermuda’s operations, ensuring the property continues to deliver the exceptional service, world-class amenities, and immersive local experiences for which it is renowned. His leadership will be instrumental in continuing to strengthen the resort’s connection to the local community while guiding its next era of innovation under the Rosewood 3.0 vision.
Graham joined Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in 2022, most recently serving as Hotel Manager at Rosewood London, where he led operations at one of the brand’s flagship European properties. He has also held key pre-opening and interim leadership positions at Rosewood Munich and Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, where he served as Opening Ambassador and Acting Managing Director. His ability to lead high-performing teams through critical phases of hotel development and brand integration has made him a trusted asset across Rosewood’s global portfolio.
“As we look to the future for Rosewood Bermuda, our vision is not only to deliver exceptional guest experiences, but to lead with purpose, deepening our ties to community and culture,” states Patrick Graham, Managing Director at Rosewood Bermuda. “Our Juniper Initiative was launched in 2024 to support education, sustainability, and inclusivity across the island, its habitat and its people. This powerful platform allows us to work side by side with local philanthropic organizations, and I’m committed to evolving the program in my new role to further resonate with today’s conscious traveler.”
Throughout his career, Graham has held senior roles at some of the most respected luxury hotels in London, including Claridge’s, The Bulgari Hotel & Residences and Nobu Hotel London Portman Square. Known for his ability to balance operational precision with genuine hospitality, Graham has consistently delivered elevated guest experiences while fostering long-term relationships with stakeholders and team members alike.
For more information and reservations, please visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/bermuda
About Rosewood Bermuda
Rosewood Bermuda is a renowned residential and resort community with breath-taking vistas of Castle Harbour, Harrington Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Opened in 2009 as Rosewood Tucker’s Point, the property is one of Bermuda’s premier luxury resorts and was the island’s first-ever property to offer private residence club in addition to whole ownership homes. Rosewood Bermuda reopened in April 2018 following a comprehensive renovation that included a complete refresh of the resort’s guestrooms, new and elevated food and beverage outlets, expanded meeting spaces, and enhancements to Sense®, A Rosewood Spa, the Beach Club and the Golf Clubhouse. Upon reopening, the landmark property debuted to offer guests, homeowners and members new opportunities to relax, unwind and immerse themselves in the local culture.
Visit https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/bermuda for additional information or follow the latest news through the hotel’s social media channels on Instagram @RosewoodBermuda or on facebook.com/rosewoodbermuda.
Britain’s life sciences plan gets mixed reception from pharma industry
Industry figures have voiced dissatisfaction with Britain’s tough pricing regime
International News via Reuters:
Britain launched a life sciences sector plan on Wednesday to a mixed response from the pharmaceutical industry, which welcomed proposals to boost R&D but warned it would fail to keep firms competitive unless there was a deal on drug pricing.
Life sciences is one of eight priority sectors under a new industrial strategy launched by the government last month, but the publication of a sector-specific plan was delayed as the pharma industry and government failed to agree a deal on how much revenue from UK sales firms must return to the country’s health service.
Industry figures have voiced dissatisfaction with Britain’s tough pricing regime which they say prioritises low costs over investing in innovation and securing access to the latest medicine.
While there was still an impasse on drug pricing, the government released the sector plan, which noted “intense competition for investment” and pledged to reform the regulation of medicine so more drugs get to the state-run National Health Service quicker.
However, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said the plan was “not enough to turn around the UK’s decline” and Britain still needed to address “the long-term disinvestment in innovative medicines.”
“For too long, the UK has sought to be the place where innovation happens, but not the place where it is used,” said Richard Torbett, chief executive of the ABPI.
The government cited supportive comments from pharma firms GSK, Moderna and BioNTech for its plan, even as industry sources said the unresolved drug-pricing talks were an “elephant in the room.”
AstraZeneca, the UK stock market’s most valuable company, was not quoted in support of the sector plan in the government’s statement. Earlier this month, the company declined to comment on a Times report that it was considering shifting its stock market listing to the United States.
Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, said he welcomed reforms to incentivise more clinical trials and create a new lab network to accelerate drug discovery and development.
But a GSK spokesperson added it was “critical that the UK also takes action with this new plan to recognise the value of innovative new medicines and vaccines for patients.”
Torbett said ABPI was in the “final stages of an intensive discussion” on drug pricing, to “get these issues out of the way and allow our sector to deliver on its potential.”
Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Bernadette Baum
