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‘Work from Bermuda’ initiative draws to a close

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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‘Work from Bermuda’ initiative draws to a close

Government announces transition to Multi-Year Residency Applications following the conclusion of digital nomad scheme

The following statement was issued by Government.

“The Ministry of Economy and Labour advises the public that the Work from Bermuda (WFB) initiative will officially conclude on February 28, 2025. 

Launched on August 9, 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WFB initiative allowed remote workers (digital nomads) and university students to work and study remotely from Bermuda while benefiting from the island’s robust health and safety measures. The programme attracted approximately 1,800 participants, with around 250 individuals applying to extend their stay.  

The Ministry of Economy and Labour takes this opportunity to thank all past and present certificate holders for choosing Bermuda as their temporary home away from home and contributing to the local economy. We sincerely hope you have enjoyed your experience living in Bermuda and will return to visit us in the future. 

The Government will be transitioning back to multi-year residency applications for individuals who wish to reside in Bermuda. Effective February 28, 2025, no more Work From Bermuda applications will be accepted. Please note: 

  • Under existing policy, current WFB certificate holders will have 90 days from their certificate’s expiration date to settle their affairs and depart Bermuda. 
  • Those wishing to remain in Bermuda may apply for Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted 1-2 months before their WFB certificate expires, and permission may be granted for periods of up to five (5) years. 
  • Application details and forms are available at www.gov.bm. 

  This transition aligns with the Government’s long-term economic strategy and housing policies, which focus on ensuring that more housing is available for Bermudians.

The Ministry of Economy and Labour remains committed to supporting Bermuda’s economic growth and maintaining its reputation as a premier destination for living and working. We encourage those interested in making Bermuda their long-term home to explore the multi-year residency options available and take advantage of the island’s unique offerings. Bermuda continues to welcome new residents and visitors to experience our vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and warm community.”

Crockwell takes election loss in stride

Alisa Bernardo
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Crockwell takes election loss in stride

Undeterred by the result, Independent candidate Juanae Crockwell remains determined to push for systemic change

The overall performance of independent candidates in the General Election may have fallen short, but it has not discouraged some.

Independent candidate Juanae Crockwell, a community advocate and leader of the Women’s Resource Centre, has taken her loss in stride.

Despite a strong push for change, independents failed to secure seats, capturing less than 10% of the vote share.

However, Ms Crockwell, who stood for Constituency 31, Southampton West Central, sees the outcome as a step towards systemic change.

The numbers alone, however, raise questions. Did the independent movement have strategic shortcomings, or were voters simply not ready to move away from traditional party lines?

Ms Crockwell concedes that the latter may be the case.

“I think it was more; the voters were not ready… we still have work to do in helping the electorate to understand how a coalition government could work and what the benefits are. With the short timeline we had to do that, I think we did great,” she said.

In total, 26 independents entered the electoral race, but not one was elected to the House of Assembly.

Ms Crockwell remains optimistic, saying, “I don’t think that is a slight on any of the candidates or even, you know, the vision we have. Systemic change is a process, and I’ve said that throughout my entire campaign—that this is a process. So, if we’re looking only at the 2025 General Election result, we may view it as a failure for the ‘Independents Movement’, but I don’t look at it in that way because it’s so much bigger than February 18th.”

Some argue that having independents on the ballot may have split the Opposition vote, and while Ms Crockwell agrees, she suggests that, with more planning, the outcome could have been different.

“It split votes, it did. But I do think that with some more strategy, we may have been more successful or can be successful in the future,” she explained.

Ms Crockwell added that there is a growing number of people in the electorate who would like to see independent representation and expressed hope that it will gain momentum moving forward.

As for her own performance in C31, where it was a historic four-woman contest, Ms Crockwell secured 18.8 per cent of the vote share, coming in third place behind the PLP’s Crystal Ceasar and the OBA’s Linda Smith, who won the seat, flipping it from green to red.

Ms Crockwell took the loss in her stride, saying, “I felt really good because of what I was able to accomplish on the campaign trail. I came into this knowing that it would be an uphill battle, per se, as an independent candidate, and the relationships that I built or expanded on during the campaign—I look at that as the big success. To have 144 people put their X’s next to my name really meant something because I knew I worked hard for each of those votes. At the end of the count, of course, I was disappointed; it would be disingenuous to say I wasn’t disappointed, but not discouraged at all.”

Part of Ms Crockwell’s decision to enter politics was inspired by her late brother, Shawn Crockwell, who served as an independent in the House during his final months as an MP. She believes he would be proud of her choice to follow the independent route rather than align with a party.

Looking ahead, Ms Crockwell has pledged that her commitment to Southampton West Central will not falter. She plans to continue canvassing and is committed to pushing for systemic change and serving her country.

“I did make a commitment to the constituents of C31 that I would establish a community newsletter, which I have done. I have reached out to Linda Smith, who won the seat, and we do intend to meet so that I can continue to be active in the constituency. I also plan to get involved with the Southampton Parish Council. So really, for me, this is a way of life. Advocacy and service are just part of who I am and what I do, so I’m just going to continue to do that,” she said.

Bermuda College to hold gala for 50th anniversary

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda College to hold gala for 50th anniversary

The event will be held at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club on April 5

Bermuda College President, Dr. David Sam

Photo supplied

The following press release was issued by the Bermuda College today:

Distinguished alumni and past Presidents are to be honoured when Bermuda College holds a gala celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The event will take place at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club on April 5 with tickets on sale at Ptix (https://www.ptix.bm/Event/8156/Bermuda-College-Anniversary-Ga).

College President David Sam said: “The alumni we will be honouring are Bermudians who have been, or continue to be, outstanding leaders in their respective fields and who are a credit to Bermuda.

“That we have such a distinguished list is testament to the work done at the College, where we have outstanding staff.”

Dr Sam, who took up his role last August, added: “I am incredibly honoured to be President and to be part of celebrations to mark this momentous occasion.

“However, I must pay tribute to those who came before me who laid such solid foundations and worked tirelessly to make Bermuda College the success it is today.”

Since the College opened 50 years ago, thousands of students have passed through its doors, and it has established almost 40 agreements and partnerships with accredited colleges and universities in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the West Indies/Caribbean Islands creating transfer pathways for Bermudian students to further their studies abroad.

Under the partnerships, students can transfer credits from the College’s associate degree programmes to study two additional years at an institution abroad to complete their Bachelor’s Degree.

Mansfield Brock, the first CEO at the College, and past Presidents Dr George Cook and Dr Duranda Greene will be honoured at the gala.

Alumni being honoured are Dr Terry-Lynne Emery, Bermuda’s first female Bermudian obstetrician, Rees Fletcher who built an illustrious career at Chubb Bermuda, where he served as Chairman and President, and Larry Mussenden, the Chief Justice of Bermuda.

Dr Malcolm Brock is also being recognised for his exceptional academic and professional achievements, Dr Leslie Steede, the owner and director of research at Global Research, will also be recognised as will Gino Smith for his achievements in the global reinsurance industry.

Beza Dagnachew is being recognised for her sterling contributions to healthcare and education in Bermuda and the Minister of Economy and Labour, Jason Hayward has also been selected for recognition, after leveraging his education to become a leader in the community.

Andesha Busby, a qualified estates surveyor with the Ministry of Public Works, Taiyana Allen for her exceptional academic achievements and contributions to Bermuda’s actuarial and insurance sectors, and Craig Simmons for his outstanding contributions to education, economics, and Bermuda’s financial landscape complete the list of alumni who will be recognised.

Marie Franklin has also been selected for recognition for her outstanding service to Bermuda College over a remarkable 40-year career.

Dr Sam added: “Bermudians can be proud of what is being achieved at Bermuda College, and I hope people will attend the gala to show their appreciation of the work being done here.”

The gala website can be found here: https://www.college.bm/index.php/50th-anniversary-gala

Tearful parents of murdered teen appeal for information

Jasmine Patterson
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Tearful parents of murdered teen appeal for information

17-year-old Ethan Arruda was fatally stabbed at a Halloween party at a Devonshire Bay residence last October

Detective Chief Inspector Derricka Burns of the Serious Crime Unit with the parents of Ethan Arruda at the Hamilton Police Station on Victoria Street, Hamilton

The Bermuda Police Service is urgently appealing to the public, especially those who attended the party where 17-year-old Ethan Arruda, was fatally stabbed, to come forward with information in connection to the killing.

Detective Chief Inspector Derricka Burns told media during a new conference ‘approximately 50’ attendees from the October party have been co-operative in providing an interview with detectives.
Around 100 people were at the party at a residence on Devonshire Bay in Devonshire on the 27th of October 2024.

She said, “So far, the investigating team has interviewed approximately 50 persons which resulted in two people being arrested. I want to personally thank those witnesses and their families for coming forward.

“We know from the investigation that there were well over 100 people at that part that night.”

DCI Burns says there are still people that attended the event that have not been interviewed who police believe have “pertinent information” that could assist them in bringing the matter to a close and finding justice for the family of Ethan Arruda.

His father, Mr. AlvaroArruda, made a tearful plea standing next to his wife, for those with information to come forward.

He said, “We are hoping that any potential witnesses who were in the area will step forward. Your information can make a world of difference in ensuring justice for Ethan.

“His untimely death has left our family heartbroken.”

They further appealed for anyone with images or video footage of the incident on the night in question to supply it to police which can also be shared anonymously.

Mr. Arruda added, “Ethan was a kind, loving, quiet, shy boy. We had begun making significant and positive changes in his life. Ethan had a new found dedication to self-improvement.”

DCI Burns also told media that jewelry was stolen during the event that evening.

She concluded, “We will never know what this family is going through but what I do know that if it happened to any of our children, we would want persons who knew something to come forward and do the right thing.”

Police said they can be contacted on 211 or tips can be shared anonymously with the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers line 800-8477.

For the full news conference, click the video below.

Warning on ‘revenge porn’ issued by Ministry of Justice

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Warning on ‘revenge porn’ issued by Ministry of Justice

Victims often experience significant psychological distress and in severe cases, have contemplated self-harm

Think before you share: Distributing intimate images without permission is a crime. File image

The following statement was issued by the Bermuda Government today:
The Ministry of Justice wishes to remind the public of the Criminal Code Amendment (Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images) Act 2021, enacted to combat the distressing issue commonly known as “revenge porn.”
This legislation criminalises the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, aiming to protect individuals’ privacy and dignity.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, stated:
“The unauthorised sharing of intimate images is a severe violation of personal privacy and can inflict profound emotional trauma. The legislation is designed to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice for victims.”
The Act addresses various offences, including observing or recording individuals in private settings without consent and distributing intimate images without permission.
Penalties for such offences include imprisonment for up to three years on summary conviction and up to five years on indictment.
Minister Wilkerson emphasised: “Further, I urge anyone who receives such images to delete them immediately and under no circumstances forward such images”. 
This reminder is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to educate and protect the public regarding the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
Given the occurrence of such incidents within our community, it is imperative to reinforce awareness about the existing legislation and its implications.
Globally, the non-consensual distribution of intimate images has become a pervasive issue exacerbated by technological advancements and the proliferation of social media platforms.
Victims often experience significant psychological distress and reputational damage and, in severe cases, have contemplated self-harm. The rapid dissemination of such content online makes containment exceedingly difficult, underscoring the importance of preventive measures and robust legal frameworks.
Minister Wilkerson added: “The global rise of this malicious behaviour highlights the necessity for comprehensive laws and public awareness. We must remain vigilant and work together to prevent the spread of non-consensual intimate images.”
She further stressed: “Some may think that sharing intimate images of another person is harmless or done as a joke, but let me be clear—this is a criminal offence. Anyone caught distributing such images without consent could face prosecution and serious legal consequences.”
To learn more about the issue of non-consensual sharing of intimate images and how to protect yourself, visit https://stopncii.org/faq/ 

“We love the Quran, and we love God”

Gary Foster Skelton
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“We love the Quran, and we love God”

Emir Saleem Talbot talks about the importance of the Islamic month of Ramadan

Once the moon was visible over Bermuda on Friday night, the Islamic month of Ramadan began.

More than 2 billion Muslims worldwide will observe period of fasting, prayer and reflection.

To gain a better understanding of Ramadan, Gary Foster Skelton sat down with Emir Saleem Talbot, Imam of the Bermuda Islamic Cultural Centre in Harrington Sound.

Canada PM Trudeau says protecting independence is his priority in talks with King Charles

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Canada PM Trudeau says protecting independence is his priority in talks with King Charles

Following US President Donald Trump’s call for Canada to become 51st US state

International news via Reuters:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his priority in talks with King Charles on Monday will be protecting his country’s sovereignty after U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Trudeau said nothing is more important to his citizens than “standing up for our sovereignty and our independence”, ahead of the meeting with Charles, who is Canada’s head of state.

Last week, Charles invited Trump to what would be a historic second state visit to Britain, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer handing over the invitation during a meeting before the world’s media in the Oval Office.

Justin Trudeau, London, March 2, 2025. JUSTIN TALLIS/Pool via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, Belgium February 12, 2025. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo

“I look forward to sitting down with His Majesty tomorrow, as always we will discuss matters of importance to Canada and Canadians, and I can tell you that nothing seems more important to Canadians than standing up for our sovereignty and our independence as a nation,” Trudeau told reporters.

Trudeau, the outgoing prime minister, said last month that Trump’s talk about absorbing Canada “is a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.

Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada would be better off if it agreed to become the 51st U.S. state.

Trudeau was also asked about Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “I stand with Zelenskiy,” he said.

Reporting by Kate Holton and Andrew MacAskill; Editing by David Holmes

Trump will set exact levels for Mexico, Canada tariffs coming Tuesday, says US commerce chief

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Trump will set exact levels for Mexico, Canada tariffs coming Tuesday, says US commerce chief

Inflow of fentanyl across US border a point of contention in discussions

International news via Reuters:

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday, but that President Donald Trump will determine whether to stick with the planned 25% level.

“That is a fluid situation,” Lutnick told the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures.”

“There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada. Exactly what they are, we’re going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate.”

Lutnick’s comments were the first indication from Trump’s administration that it may not impose the full threatened 25% tariffs on all goods from Mexico and non-energy imports from Canada.

He said the two countries have “done a reasonable job” securing their borders with the United States, though the deadly drug fentanyl continues to flow into the country.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office of the White House on the day Lutnick is sworn in as U.S. Commerce Secretary by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The flags of Mexico, the United States and Canada fly in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo

Trump sowed confusion last week when he mentioned a possible April 2 deadline in connection with tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but later reaffirmed the Tuesday deadline and said he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods on Tuesday, effectively doubling 10% duties imposed on Feb. 4.

Lutnick said Trump is expected to raise tariffs on China on Tuesday unless the country ends fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.

Reporting by David Morgan, David Lawder and Leah Douglas; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell

Shadow Home Affairs Minister: Suspects some businesses are benefitting from housing crisis

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Shadow Home Affairs Minister: Suspects some businesses are benefitting from housing crisis

Argues Bermuda typically shuns innovation

One Bermuda Alliance Op-Ed:

The Government has done a Ministry restructure creating a dedicated Ministry of Housing and Municipalities since, per the Premier, housing “is one of the most vital issues that our island faces today” and “Given its importance the Government will dedicate a full ministry to housing, emphasising how critical affordable housing solutions are to Bermuda’s future.” 

It is an admirable move but is also a tacit recognition that after 21 years of PLP rule, there is still a housing crisis in Bermuda. I am grateful to the Leader of the Opposition in appointing me as Shadow Minister to this portfolio in addition to Home Affairs.

I have had a real interest in this area for years, first writing in the Bermuda Sun in 2008 about my desire to see the Bishop Spencer School be used for Emergency Housing. I will address this in another article.

During the 2025 election campaign the PLP touted a record of “delivering 70 homes”.  Columnist Bryant Trew largely addressed this claim in his excellent piece herein April 2024: Selective facts about housing figures – The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community | As such I won’t repeat the math.  Instead, what I will comment on is that the Bermuda Housing Corporation is simply nibbling at the edges of what is a serious issue and our housing issues are in fact far more than dealing with emergency housing.

One problem is there is just not enough stock, especially in the one and two-bedroom market at a reasonable rent.  Advertised rental units, if you can find them at all, come off the market faster than you can snap your fingers. On propertyskipper.com at the time of writing (Friday 28 February) there were 27 one- and two-bedroom properties listed island-wide with three-quarters listed at eye-watering rental sums. Why is that? 

The issues are well documented.   But in my view, we need to have a totally different holistic look at the entire matter.  Housing cannot be examined in a simple vacuum. I have written previously about changing  planning height restrictions and considering different  building materials is a start (see piece here:   What are we waiting for? Build higher! – The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, & Community | .  In short, if we are to encourage building for our future, we need to consider many things, not only renovating existing units for low-income needs. Admirable and absolutely required, yes, but it is a band aid approach.

I suspect there are a number of people and companies that benefit from maintaining the status quo, which has inhibited our ability to be innovative.  We typically say “no” in Bermuda to innovation and we need to end that now.  In order to make informed decisions about our housing needs, from emergency housing to suitable units for single people and small families, we need to undertake a census urgently.

We also need to consider how immigration policy has influenced our current housing crisis, which falls squarely on this government.  I say that since there was a fundamental shift in immigration patterns which has had a detrimental effect on availability of one- and two-bedroom units for Bermudians.  This began when term limits were introduced. 

In short, when longer term residents left the island who were renting family homes, they were replaced by guest workers who were single or married without children who then competed on a far larger level than ever in the one bedroom and two-bedroom market against Bermudians.    Equally, the now-ended digital nomad program had the same effect.  As our population ages, more and more seniors will be looking for one and two-bedroom units. All this drives up rental unit costs.

So, what should we do?  We need to have a very quick and serious look at numerous pieces of legislation to incentivize building of one- and two-bedroom units for rental and sale, firstly to Bermudians – families and seniors.  We need to build higher in the City of Hamilton and encourage city living.  We need to ensure new building codes include elements of clean and sustainable energy.  Most of all we need accurate figures to give us true insight into issues that can only currently be identified through extrapolation from out of date figures.

Over the coming weeks I will be reaching out to stakeholders in the community to get their perspectives, learn and share ideas for the betterment of Bermuda.

Michael Fahy is a former Cabinet Minister and is the MP for Constituency 20 and the Shadow Minister for Housing & Municipalities and Home Affairs.  He can be contacted at opedfahy@gmail.com.

Shadow Finance Minister: PLP ministers are shuffling deck chairs

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Shadow Finance Minister: PLP ministers are shuffling deck chairs

Calls on the Government to ‘Put their money where their mouth is”

One Bermuda Alliance Shadow Minister of Finance, Dr. Douglas De Couto

One Bermuda Alliance Op-Ed:

Normally at this time of year, the political class and close observers would be analysing the annual Budget Debate. This is when the Government delivers its taxing and spending plans to the legislature for scrutiny and challenge by the Opposition and is an opportunity for the public to learn more ab­out how the Government will spend the peoples’ money. Usually, this is all wrapped up and approved in time for the start of the Government’s financial year on April 1st.

In early January when the election was called, there was some concern by the public that the election would delay the budget process. However, Government stated that it did not expect any. However, that promise is out the window with the new, recently announced schedule delaying things by about two months. Meanwhile the Premier has shuffled the deck and the new Ministers are busy moving the deck chairs around.

The Throne Speech was delivered just two short months before the election, and Government’s preview of the budget, the Pre-Budget report, was delivered only in mid-December. Given that, it’s natural to think those plans were promises of what an ongoing PLP Government would do after the election. But the Premier has thrown that all out the window. Perhaps this was motivated by his Government earning less than half of the popular vote, the first time in Bermuda’s modern political history?

Speaking of promises, the Premier has pledged a new spirit of outreach and collaboration. So it was a surprise for the MPs in the One Bermuda Alliance to learn first of the new Parliamentary and Budget dates by reading about them in the newspaper. Can the Government do that? Sure.  Does it set a good basis for mutual respect? Not so much. Of course, there are many groups in Bermuda that are already familiar with this kind of approach from Premier Burt and the PLP Government.

Returning to the Budget, although it is now two months away, we look forward to seeing Government’s revised funding plans. As they say, “put your money where your mouth is”.

The Pre-Budget report pledged to keep all department budgets flat, except for a total increase of about 3% earmarked to increase Government workers’ pay. Given the agreement between Government and the unions the day before the election, we will have to see if the 3% is enough to cover what was promised, which we are still waiting to learn.

Absentee voting is another long-standing hot topic. The OBA prepared draft legislation and allocated funds for this in the 2016 and 2017 budgets. This was then removed from budgets by the PLP, so we will look to see if Government actually backs its election-time pledges on this.

Obviously funding for healthcare is critical, particularly for the hospital. My colleague Robin Tucker recently shared our thoughts on that, and we hope to see adequate funding returned to the hospital.

For people working today, the stability of Social Insurance and Government worker pensions remains a concern. The OBA pledged to reform these pensions so they can be relied upon by future retirees, and we are anxious to see what Government plans to do. We need the 2023 Pensions Actuarial reports to better understand the true state of the pensions (our guess: not very good), and are advised by Government we can expect to see these by the end of March.

And last but not least, we are carefully watching Government’s handling of the Corporate Income Tax (CIT). For example, how will the OECD view our approach, will we be penalized, and will business get the benefits they are looking for so Bermuda remains attractive? These are the sorts of things we will be paying attention to, among many others, in the upcoming Throne Speech and Budget.

Whatever happens, you should rest assured that the One Bermuda Alliance will continue to advocate for all Bermudians, and getting the best outcomes for our country.

END

Background note: Douglas resigned from the Tax Reform Commission once the election was called, as it was not possible to commit the time required for the TRC work at the same time as campaigning. Opposition Leader Jarion Richardson will be appointing a new OBA representative shortly.

UK launches investigation into TikTok, Reddit over children’s personal data practices

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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UK launches investigation into TikTok, Reddit over children’s personal data practices

Britain has passed legislation that prevents children from accessing harmful content

FILE PHOTO: TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

International news via Reuters:

Britain’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, on Monday launched an investigation into how TikTok, Reddit and online image sharing website Imgur safeguard children’s privacy.

Social media companies use complex algorithms to prioritise content and keep users engaged. However, the fact that they amplify similar content can lead to children being influenced by increasing amounts of harmful material.

The watchdog said it is probing how Chinese company ByteDance’s short-form video-sharing platform TikTok uses 13–17-year-olds’ personal information to suggest content in their feed.

Social media and discussion platform Reddit, and Imgur are being investigated over how they assess the age of child users, it said.

“If we find there is sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, we will put this to them and obtain their representations before reaching a final conclusion,” the Information Commissioner’s Office said in a statement.

In 2023, the ICO fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($16 million) for breaching data protection law by using the personal data of children aged under 13 without parental consent.

Reddit has been working closely with the ICO and intends to comply with all relevant regulations in the countries in which it operates, a spokesperson from the company told Reuters in an email.

“Most of our users are adults, but we have plans to roll out changes this year that address updates to UK regulations around age assurance,” the Reddit spokesperson said.

ByteDance, TikTok and Imgur did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Britain has passed legislation that set tougher rules for social media platforms, including a mandate for them to prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content by enforcing age limits and age-checking measures.

Social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are required to “tame” their algorithms to filter out or downgrade harmful material to help protect children under proposed British measures published last year.

($1 = 0.7933 pounds)

Reporting by Angela Christy and Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Gerry Doyle

UK net mortgage lending rises by most since September 2022

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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UK net mortgage lending rises by most since September 2022

Mortgage approvals for house purchase dropped to 66,189 from 66,505 in December

A row of residential houses is seen with the financial district in the distance in South London, Britain, February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

International news via Reuters:

British homebuyers borrowed the most in new mortgages since September 2022 in January, while approvals for new lending dropped less than expected ahead of the end of a tax break on property purchases, according to Bank of England data on Monday.

Net mortgage lending rose to 4.207 billion pounds ($5.31 billion) in January from 3.343 billion in December, the highest since September 2022 when the economic plans of former prime minister Liz Truss sparked turmoil in bond and mortgage markets.

January’s lending was well above economists’ expectations in a Reuters poll for 3.55 billion pounds of new lending.

Mortgage approvals for house purchase – a leading indicator for lending – dropped to 66,189 from 66,505 in December, a smaller decline than the fall to 65,650 expected in a poll.

The end this month of a temporary reduction in stamp duty land tax for first-time home buyers and for buyers of less expensive houses is likely to have boosted activity.

“Lower mortgage interest rates, rising real wages and a rush to beat changes to Stamp Duty in April supported net new mortgage approvals for house purchase in January,” Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said.

“But the rush to beat stamp duty changes seems to have peaked, so approvals will likely slow in the next few months.”

Some measures of Britain’s housing market, including house price data from mortgage lender Nationwide and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, have shown house prices picking up.

Other BoE data released at the same time chimed with official retail sales figures that had pointed to a pick-up in consumer demand in January against a subdued broader backdrop.

The BoE’s data showed annual consumer credit growth slowed to 6.4% in January from 6.5% in December, the lowest since May 2022.

But consumer credit jumped in cash terms by a net 1.740 billion pounds in January from 1.062 billion pounds in December – the biggest increase in a year and above the Reuters poll consensus for a 1.2 billion pound rise.

($1 = 0.7928 pounds)

Writing by Suban Abdulla; editing by David Milliken and Christina Fincher

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