The DSA requires companies to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms
FILE PHOTO: European Union flags are seen outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, prior to a meeting between Britain’s Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Dominic Raab and EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Belgium October 14, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
International news via Reuters:
The European Commission said in a statement it had decided to take the Czech Republic, Spain, Cyprus, Poland and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement the Digital Services Act (DSA) effectively.
It said these countries had failed to designate or empower a national Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) and to lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements under the DSA.
The DSA is a landmark law that requires online companies to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
Reporting by GV De Clercq; editing by Foo Yun Chee
Authorities arrested two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan national on April 5
Belgium nationals David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx with Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nyugen and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a sit in court during their sentencing, after they pleaded guilty of illegal possession and trafficking of garden ants, they were each fined U.S. dollars 7,700 or one year imprisonment, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, in Nairobi, Kenya May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi
International news via Reuters:
A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four men $7,700 each for attempting to traffic thousands of ants out of the country, in a case that wildlife experts say signals a shift in biopiracy from iconic animals like elephants to lesser-known species.
Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nyugen and Kenyan Dennis Ng’ang’a react during their sentencing after they pleaded guilty of illegal possession and trafficking of garden ants, they were both fined U.S. dollars 7,700 or one year imprisonment, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, in Nairobi, Kenya May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah MwangiBelgium nationals David Lornoy and Seppe Lodewijckx arrive for their sentencing, after they pleaded guilty of illegal possession and trafficking of garden ants, they were both fined U.S. dollars 7,700 or one year imprisonment, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, in Nairobi, Kenya May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah MwangiFILE PHOTO: Samples of garden ants concealed in syringes are presented to court as two Belgian nationals, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan national appeared for the hearing of their case, after they pleaded guilty to illegal possession and trafficking of garden ants, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo
Authorities arrested two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan national on April 5, accusing them of trying to smuggle roughly 5,440 giant African harvester ant queens, which Kenyan prosecutors valued at around 1.2 million Kenyan shillings ($9,300).
However, retail prices in the UK suggest the haul may have fetched as much as $1 million if it had reached European shores, where ant keepers maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums to observe their cooperative behaviour.
Magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered the traffickers, who all pleaded guilty, to pay the fine or face 12 months in jail.
Reporting by Humphrey Malalo and Monicah Mwangi; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Toby Chopra, Aidan Lewis
Attendees at Budget Breakfast get to dig in to Government’s fiscal plans
Ask me anything, the Premier and Finance Minister David Burt told the Bermuda business community on Monday – and they did.
From Corporate Income Tax to population numbers, increased spending to price controls, attendees at the Chamber of Commerce Budget Breakfast were given free – respectful – rein, to dig into Government’s budget plans.
( Full comments & Q&A above, Selected highlights of the Q&A below)
Video: Selected Highlights of the Chamber of Commerce Budget Breakfast Q&A
Corporate Income Tax
Questioned on potential revenues from the Corporate Income Tax, with 187.5-million budgeted for this coming year – Premier Burt is still confident in the estimates given early last year.
He said, “we haven’t adjusted the number since we got the first projections, I would say early in 2024… All the information that has come in since confirms that that number is a sound one.”
Future CIT revenues are budgeted at 600 million a year.
Attendees voting on how they would like to see CIT revenues used wanted debt repayment to be a priority, followed by eliminating payroll taxes, and investing in infrastructure.
The Premier responded, saying “I think that that is broadly reflective of where we’ll go… I came in for some criticism inside the Throne Speech, by saying that it is expected that Bermuda would be able to retire its debt in ten years… I stand by that statement.”
Price Controls?
While a pre-budget Government post heralded possible pricing controls on groceries, Premier Burt sought to re-frame the discussion around price oversight, saying “in 2022, we eliminated the customs duty on essential goods. But the reality is those savings have not gone through to consumers, and we’ve seen increases.”
“Importers will say that’s because our costs become higher – I’m not going to argue with that. But we don’t know.”
“The headlines will go ‘price controls, price controls, price controls’. I have said in Parliament on numerous occasions, price controls do not work if you put them on a broad measure. But, to ensure that cost savings from duty and zero rate duty is passed on to consumers, I think, is a very fair application of government oversight.”
Public Sector Salaries
On the increased expenditure, Premier Burt said there has been low capital spending since 2010 and there is a need to address infrastructure, along with investments in IT, and salary increases for public sector workers.
“Government workers are underpaid for what they do”, the Premier said. “Public sector salaries in 2008 were higher than the private sector. Now they are significant lower. We bleed some of our best people to the private sector.”
“We’ve been through a review. We are going to see more expenses on the line of salaries. However, the investments of which we make in technology will be able to make sure that we are not constantly increasing positions in those spaces.”
Population numbers
On the population numbers, the Premier conceded that Government’s system of estimating the population between census dates has not been accurate. I.T. updates will ensure more accurate numbers following the 2026 census.
He said, “one of the things of which we’ve done is put in place IT systems so that we can do population estimates… In so far as you just measure the amount of change of persons at your borders.”
“Unfortunately, right now we only in the population estimates put out measure births and deaths. We know that is not an accurate measure of population.”
“I think from 2024 we’re pretty good on the data. But the minister said that he’s not going to be releasing anything until we get to 2026 with a baseline, the census, and then we’ll be using those things are going forward.”
Organisers ask the community to bring candles, photos, flowers or any mementos to the vigil
A candlelight vigil is being held this Thursday at 21 Simmons Place on Somerset Road in honour of the victims and families affected by violence.
It will be held at the site of the recent double murder at the Legend’s Bar that claimed the life of two people, injuring at least four others.
Members of the public are invited to the event which organisers say is meant to encourage the community to come together to mourn the recent tragedy that has shaken the island.
They ask attendees to bring candles, photos, flowers or any mementos to remember those impacted by the shooting incident.
Tiffany Slaton, 27, was last heard from on April 20; her parents are pleading for her safe return
Credit: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
Search and Rescue teams are actively trying to locate 27-year-old Bermudian Tiffany Slaton, who went camping alone in the Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake area on 20 April and has not contacted her loved ones since.
According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, she was reportedly seen by members of the public on 24 April, but there have been no updates since – and now her parents are pleading for her safe return.
“Our children are our babies, no matter how old they are. I won’t wish this on anyone,” said Tiffany’s father, Bobby Slaton. “It’s really, really hard. It’s like time has completely stopped for us.”
Ms Slaton’s parents, who live in Georgia, say it’s not unusual for their daughter to travel alone – but what is unusual is the lack of communication.
“She is actually a travelling dialysis tech and she was working in Oregon but once that contract was over because it is a contracted job, she decided to knock off a few things off her bucket list and one of them is to see all 50 states and California was one of the last 4 states on her list,” explained her father.
He continued, “Tiffany has been accepted into medical school, and this was one of the things that she wanted to do before having to focus for the next eight years of her life in becoming an anaesthesiologist and she wanted to work on the Mercy ship.”
Tiffany embarked on her next adventure via electric bike, taking up work through a workaway programme in California, which led her to later visit the Mono Hot Springs in Fresno County.
Her parents began to grow concerned after they were unable to reach her by phone or text – something they say is highly unusual.
Authorities say she is believed to have been travelling with a green and grey tent and a trailer attached to her e-bike – none of which have been found.
The vastness of the area, combined with limited mobile service, has led authorities to consider the possibility that she may be lost.
Public Information Officer for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Tony Botti, said: “Area four as we call it, our mountain and our foot hill area – it’s the largest geographical area we cover in Fresno County. That is rugged terrain up there and we know that accidents can happen too so she may have lost her way and that’s something we have to consider – is she just not on the regular path that somebody would travel so that’s what’s going to take us time in order to scour those areas.”
At present, authorities say foul play is not suspected.
Tiffany’s parents also note that she is an experienced and capable camper, having developed a deep love for the outdoors.
She is also a world-class archer, having represented Bermuda in the NatWest Island Games, where she won a silver medal in 2017.
Mr Slaton said: “She is not just a silver medallist, she also loves nature, she enjoys plants. As far as a person, Tiffany has a heart of gold. We really just want her to come home and to know that there are people looking for her.”
Online, the response has been overwhelming. The Slaton family is receiving messages from people around the world who are rallying for Tiffany’s safe return.
Fredrina Slaton, Tiffany’s mother, said: “People are really digging into the internet and finding all kinds of information for us and trying to get Tiffany home – a lot of people we don’t even know, we’ve never even met – so we just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the help you are giving for our family.”
Search and Rescue teams continue to comb the area by helicopter, horseback, and snowmobile.
Ms Slaton is described as being 5’10” in height, with brown eyes and black hair.
Anyone with information or sightings of her is urged to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111, with reference to the case number 25-4458.
The tool will be offline this Wednesday and Thursday, as well as next week
The Doppler weather radar system will be offline this Wednesday and Thursday, as well as next week, due to scheduled preventative maintenance.
The Bermuda Airport Authority said the work is, “crucial for enhancing the radar system’s resilience and ensuring its functionality for many years to come.”
Next week, the tool will be offline Monday through Friday.
The provisional maintenance schedule is as follows:
08:00 7th May through 18:00 8th May – to conduct interior infrastructure refurbishment activities.
09:00 12th May through 17:00 16th May – to replace system components.
The Bermuda Weather Service will continue to use its other products while the radar system is down, and the public can visit weather.bm for any updates to the schedule.
Bermudian equestrian Ki-Juan Minors has concluded the prestigious Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Spring Series Five event in Wellington, Florida, in triumphant fashion, being crowned Champion in the fiercely competitive 1.40m Division.
Minors, aboard the talented mare Kylie VJ, demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill throughout the renowned series. Their partnership proved to be a formidable force in the 1.40m classes, culminating in the overall divisional title.
Riding Kylie VJ, owned by Marilla van Beuren and hailing from the esteemed Idle Hour Farm, Minors showcased exceptional horsemanship and a strong connection with his mount. Their consistent performances across the various competitions within the Spring Series Five underlined their quality and ultimately secured the coveted championship. This success in the highly regarded Wellington equestrian circuit marks a significant achievement for Minors and further highlights the talent emerging from Bermuda’s equestrian community.
Bermuda’s premier middle distance runner finishes 10th in competitive field in Wales
Bermudian runner Dage Minors has delivered a notable performance at the prestigious Cardiff 5K, securing a strong 10th place finish in a highly competitive field.
The unique event, held in the charming Whitchurch Village on the outskirts of Cardiff, is renowned as one of the United Kingdom’s leading 5-kilometre races, attracting top athletes from across the region.
Representing Bristol & West Athletic Club, Minors clocked an impressive new personal best time of 14 minutes and 30 seconds over the distance. This achievement marks a significant step forward for the Bermudian athlete and underscores his growing prowess on the road racing scene.
The victory in the Cardiff 5K went to James Heneghan, who crossed the finish line in a swift 14 minutes and 20 seconds, highlighting the calibre of the competition Minors faced. Minors’ strong top-ten finish and personal best time will undoubtedly provide a significant boost as he continues his racing season.
Narraway finishes 70th, gains valuable experience in gruelling Memorial Pascual Momparler race
Bermudian cyclist Nicholas Narraway completed the demanding Memorial Pascual Momparler (Spanish Cup) road race in Spain, finishing in 70th position after a gruelling test of endurance and skill.
Representing Tenerife-BikePoint-LaSede Bycicles, Narraway crossed the finish line in a time of 4 hours, 1 minute, and 56 seconds (4:01:56). The race, part of the prestigious Spanish Cup series, proved to be a challenging affair, with a tightly contested finish at the head of the peloton.
The victory went to Spain’s Samuel Fernandez Heres Samuel, who clocked a winning time of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and 51 seconds (3:59:51). Narraway’s effort saw him finish just over two minutes behind the winner in a highly competitive field of international riders.
Competing in such a demanding event on the European circuit provides valuable experience for Narraway as he continues his road racing season. The challenges of the Spanish Cup race will undoubtedly contribute to his development and preparation for future competitions.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
