Latest news with #ARCOM
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aurania Reports on ARCOM Announcement in Ecuador
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 11, 2025) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") reports on a resolution recently put forth by the Ecuadorian Control and Regulation Agency ("ARCOM" for its Spanish acronym) related to a new administrative fee on the mining sector. This resolution has not yet been published in the Official Registry, and therefore, to our knowledge is not yet in effect. The intention of this resolution is for all participants in the mining/exploration industry in Ecuador to fund ARCOM's efforts to stop illegal mining, strengthen oversight, and enhance the operational capacity of ARCOM. The document provides assessments of the amount each mining/exploration company is expected to pay based on the type of regime, size of concessions and stage of exploration. As presented, this proposed fee would require the Company to pay approximately US$24 million this year by July 31st. This figure is insupportable and represents approximately ten times the amount the Company pays for its annual concession fees in Ecuador. The Company is collaborating with the Mining Chamber of Ecuador's legal commission and all other mining/exploration companies in Ecuador, to ensure that relevant authorities understand that this fee is not feasible and will likely place the whole mining/exploration industry in Ecuador at risk. If the resolution is implemented as currently outlined, the regulation would result in an unsustainable cost burden for companies operating within the sector and may undermine confidence in Ecuador's regulatory consistency and commitment to mining development. The Company has reached out to the Ecuadorian Government at the highest levels and will continue in discussions with the Mining Chamber of Ecuador and the Company's respective legal counsels as joint industry efforts are taking place to prevent this regulation from being implemented. The Company will assess options for further courses of action. About Aurania Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador. Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at and as well as on Facebook at Twitter at and LinkedIn at For further information, please contact: Carolyn MuirVP Corporate Development & Investor RelationsAurania Resources Ltd.(416) Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes statements regarding the ARCOM resolution, its impact on the Company and the mining sector in Ecuador, and Aurania's objectives, goals and future plans in light of the ARCOM resolution. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the current status of the ARCOM resolution and the interpretation of the application of the resolution. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things, the failure of efforts to dissuade the relevant authorities to proceed with the ARMCOM resolution, the publication of the ARCOM resolution in its current form, an application of the ARCOM resolution of more severe consequences than currently understood and a lack of options for further courses of action, including legal action which would not provide appropriate relief and, generally, the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (available at Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities regulations, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Colman Noctor: France pulls the plug on underage access to pornography
In a significant stride toward safeguarding its children, the French government has enacted stringent age verification laws targeting online pornography. Aimed at curbing underage access to explicit content, the move has sparked a global conversation on the balance between child protection and digital privacy. As of June 4, 2025, all adult websites accessible within the country are required to implement robust age verification systems. These systems must ensure that users are at least 18 years old, using details such as a credit card or ID document, before granting access to their content. In a novel move, the law introduces a 'double anonymity' mechanism, involving an independent third party overseeing the age verification process. These measures combined ensure that pornographic sites do not access the user's personal data. The regulatory authority ARCOM is responsible for enforcement and has warned that non-compliant websites will face significant penalties, including fines of up to €150,000 or 2% of their global turnover, as well as the potential for indefinite blocking in France. In retaliation, Aylo — the company that owns most of the major adult websites such as Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube — has threatened to suspend access to its platforms in France citing concerns over user privacy and data security. From last Wednesday (June 5), French-based visitors to Aylo-owned adult sites have been greeted with a message denouncing the country's age verification requirements. The company has indicated that if these laws continue, it will cease operating in France. The French authorities are standing firm against these threats. Free to leave The impetus for this legislation arises from disturbing statistics indicating that approximately 2.3m minors in France access pornographic websites monthly. Exposure to such content at a young age has been linked to distorted perceptions of sexuality, an increased risk of developing unhealthy relationships, and potential desensitisation to sexual violence. The French culture minister Aurore Berge wrote on X that it would 'so much the better' if Pornhub and other Aylo sites cut off access for French users rather than 'conforming to our legal framework'. She went on to say that 'There will be less violent, degrading and humiliating content accessible to minors in France.' Clara Chappaz, France's junior minister for artificial intelligence and digital technology, wrote on X, 'If Aylo would rather leave France than apply our laws, [it is] free to do so.' The ministers seem to have broad public support. A study by the eSafety Commissioner found that a significant majority of adults in France support age verification measures to protect children online, and those objecting to it seem to be a loud minority. Similar sentiments have been echoed in other countries, with a 2017 YouGov survey revealing that 83% of British adults agreed there should be an age limit for accessing pornography online. This view was particularly strong among British parents, with 83% supporting the introduction of age verification processes for access to pornographic websites. In New Zealand, a 2023 poll conducted by Curia Market Research for Family First NZ found that 79% of respondents supported a law requiring age verification on pornographic websites. Despite widespread support, the global implementation of age verification systems raises concerns in certain quarters about user privacy and data security. Critics of this new French law argue that requiring users to submit personal identification could lead to potential data breaches and misuse of sensitive information. It would seem the law's 'double anonymity' approach, which seeks to minimise data exposure by separating the verification process from the content providers, is not reassurance enough for some. Aylo representatives say the 'double anonymity' system is an ineffective mechanism because people's data could still be at risk of being divulged through hacks or leaks. They argue countries should be targeting developers of operating systems like Microsoft's Windows, Apple's iOS or Google's Android, rather than pornography platforms. French authorities have acknowledged Aylo's concerns about potential data breaches. However, they have emphasised that the 'double anonymity' system is designed to safeguard user privacy and ensure that neither adult content websites nor age verification providers can identify users or know which specific sites are being accessed. Making it a movement France's decisive action on age verification highlights the urgent need to protect children from premature exposure to explicit content in the unregulated online world. While maintaining a delicate balance between safeguarding children and preserving individual privacy rights, the implementation of thoughtful, privacy-conscious, and robust age verification systems represents a crucial step forward in our collective effort to protect children. As technology continues to evolve, our strategies must also adapt to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the younger generation online. As countries worldwide observe the impact of the legislation, it could catalyse a broader movement toward stricter online age verification protocols. It is encouraging to see that the European Commission has confirmed the introduction of an EU-wide age verification app, or mini-wallet, in July 2025, aimed at enhancing online protection for minors. Ireland is also making progress in promoting online safety for children and young people by offering educational programmes and resources, helping children, parents, and educators to be more informed. These initiatives include interactive talks in primary and secondary schools, which focus on topics such as protecting privacy, managing digital footprints, and understanding cyberbullying. Organisations like CyberSafeKids provide information sessions to raise awareness about online risks and practical advice on safeguarding children in the digital world. These and other similar initiatives have led to the implementation of voluntary codes regarding the delay of smartphone ownership in primary schools and the potential introduction of smartphone pouches in secondary schools. In addition, Ireland has introduced a new Online Safety Code, in October 2024, which marks a significant development in ensuring safer online experiences for children. Released by the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, the code sets binding rules for video-sharing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X. Platforms that fail to comply with the code's standards, including prohibitions on harmful content and the implementation of age verification measures, could face fines of up to €20m. The code aims to end the era of self-regulation by obligating social media companies to protect users from harmful content, including promoting self-harm, cyberbullying, and other illegal activities. These combined efforts reflect Ireland's commitment to creating a safer digital environment for its younger population. By integrating educational programmes with regulatory measures, the country is taking a comprehensive approach to online safety, ensuring that children are equipped with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world responsibly. However, sometimes education and awareness can only go so far, and collective action is required. If we were to follow the bold actions of France and institute a compulsory age verification system, this initiative would lead to significant progress in protecting the safety of our children in the online world. Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist Read More Colman Noctor: Using a sports psychology game plan to manage exam stress
El Chorouk
11-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
French Channels Warn Against Further Criminalisation of Colonialism
The official position on France's colonial past in Algeria is marked by considerable confusion, embodied by the positions issued by French institutions, such as the Media Regulatory Authority (CSA), which demolished everything Macron had built in the file of memory, in a moment of madness in escaping forward because the matter concerned Algeria. About two and a half months after the bold and unprecedented statements made by French journalist and history researcher Jean-Michel Aphatie, in which he likened France's colonial crimes in Algeria to Nazi crimes, the French Media Regulatory Authority (CSA) issued a statement expressing its rejection of these statements and warning French channels and radio stations against broadcasting these descriptions in what appears as a severe blow to the freedom of expression that Paris claims to uphold. Jean-Michel Aphatie accused the French occupation army of committing atrocities in Algeria hundreds of times ugglier and larger than those perpetrated by Nazi Germany in France. He was referring to the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, in which the Nazi army annihilated an entire French village. The journalist and historian said on RTL radio that the French army committed hundreds of massacres similar to Oradour-sur-Glane in Algeria. The authority justified its decision, which was unveiled just one day after Algeria commemorated the May 8, 1945 massacres, by claiming that it constitutes a 'form of Nazi relativization,' an attempt to minimize the seriousness of the Nazi regime's crimes by comparing them to other crimes or justifying them by presenting them in a context that obscures their brutality. The statement by the French Media Regulatory Authority (ARCOM) shows that the French authorities, under Emmanuel Macron, continue to deny the brutal crimes committed by their colonial army in Algeria, in a desperate attempt to escape the situation. This comes amidst a context marked by the former president's retreat from his commitments in Algeria in 2017, when he was a presidential candidate. The statement of the ARCOM, as the French abbreviate it, can be read as a blatant and racist discrimination against human blood, regardless of race or identity. What the Nazi army committed against the French was considered a brutal and unforgivable crime. However, when it comes to France's crimes in Algeria, which exceeded the brutality of the Nazis (approximately seven million martyrs in 132 years), they remain less criminal and less brutal than the Nazi crimes, in a position that falls within the category of 'denial,' or what the French call 'La negation,' the French president's seriousness in going too far with the issue of memory is simply a marketing exercise. The French media regulatory authority's announcement is fully consistent with leaks reported more than a week ago by the newspaper 'Libération,' which stated that France had decided to suspend recognition of the May 8, 1945, massacres due to the escalating diplomatic crisis between the two countries. This was confirmed by the fact that Paris did not undertake any initiative to commemorate this anniversary this year, except for a visit by the Chargé d'Affaires of the French Embassy in Algeria to the crime scene in Setif (eastern Algeria) to lay a wreath near the statue of Bouzid Saâl, considered the first martyr to die in those brutal massacres. The French authorities, based on the ARCOM decision and the leaks from Libération, clearly approach the issue of colonial memory from an opportunistic political perspective, rather than from a humanitarian and ethical perspective. By pursuing a policy of evasion, they will be unable to cleanse their slate of the brutal crimes they committed in Algeria. Algeria will continue to demand that Paris assume full responsibility, causing it embarrassment that will continue to burden it until it decides to acknowledge its crimes and apologise to the Algerians. These developments further complicate the task of the Memory Committee, whose activities have been suspended until further notice following the expulsion of diplomats from both sides following the show-off arrest of the Algerian consular official in France more than a month ago.
