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Anyone born after January 1 2009 will be prevented from legally smoking if the Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law. The Bill faced criticism during its second reading, with Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell arguing that people should be able to make their own choices, and the Liberal Democrats claiming it “raises issues of civil liberties”. On Tuesday, the Bill cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons, with MPs voting 415 to 47, majority 368, to approve it. The division list showed Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was among the MPs to vote against the Bill at second reading. There was a free vote for Tory MPs, with former health secretary Victoria Atkins among the 23 Conservatives who voted in favour of the Bill while 35 Tories were listed as voting against. The legislation includes a total ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, including displays seen by children and young people such as on buses, in cinemas and in shop windows, bringing them in line with tobacco restrictions. Opening the second reading debate, Mr Streeting said: “This Bill will come down on the vaping industry like a ton of bricks to prevent a new generation of children and young people from getting hooked on nicotine.” Conservative MP Bob Blackman called for the legislation to go further to include a levy on tobacco companies’ profits to hold them responsible “for the blight on our population’s health”. “Both of my parents died from smoking-related cancer. My late mother was only 47, and she was a very heavy smoker all her life. I was then left as a 23-year-old with three younger sisters to bring up as a family,” he said. “I don’t want any families in this country to have to go through what our family went through then. So this for me is personal, as well as political.” The MP for Harrow East, and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for smoking and health, called for the “implementation of a polluter pays tobacco levy on the profits of big tobacco, addressing issues of both market prices and limiting the profitability of the industry”. Romford MP Mr Rosindell said “banning things very rarely works”, adding: “Surely we should be promoting the concept of freedom with responsibility and allowing people to make choices about their own lives?” Responding to the intervention, Mr Streeting said tobacco is “uniquely addictive, uniquely harmful”, adding: “There is no liberty in addiction. There is no freedom in addiction, and the logical extension of the libertarian argument he puts forward would be the end of the ban on indoor smoking.” The Liberal Democrats’ health spokeswoman Helen Morgan said: “The introduction of a phased smoking ban is problematic and not because Liberal Democrats want to see people smoke themselves into an early grave – far from it – but because it raises issues of practicality and raises issues of civil liberties.” She warned that the Bill “raises the prospect of an ID card, because those people who do choose to start smoking will potentially be forced to carry an ID card or some other form of ID with them for the rest of their lives, and that is a concern for a Liberal Democrat who is strongly opposed to requiring people to carry their ID around with them for various issues of privacy and personal liberty”. Health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Most retailers already follow recommended practice and regularly ask customers for ID. “We are stopping people from ever starting smoking and 83% of smokers start before the age of 20, this means that someone who has never previously smoked is highly unlikely to want to take up smoking later in life. “And our published modelling shows that smoking rates in England for 14 to 30-year-olds could be close to 0% as early as 2050, with the measures in this Bill.” Reform UK MP James McMurdock (South Basildon and East Thurrock) urged the Government to “think very carefully” about its “remit”. He said: “I would just ask everyone in the room to consider what kind of world and country we actually want to live in, one where we could send one of the kids down to the shop, pick something up for us, or one where we literally are forced to police people’s behaviour in parks? “And I think we should think very carefully about what our remit is as a Government.” Earlier in the debate, Mr Streeting told the Commons that the Government “will consult on banning smoking outside schools, hospitals and in playgrounds, protecting children and vulnerable people from the harms of second-hand smoke”, as part of the Bill. He also confirmed the consultation will not be extended to pubs and other outdoor hospitality spaces. The Bill also includes powers to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Shopkeepers found to be selling to anyone under age will receive on-the-spot fines of £200.
Haitian authorities have struggled to address rise of powerful armed gangs, and accountability for violence is rare. Armed men have opened fire on a group of journalists in Haiti who had gathered to cover the reopening of the capital’s largest public hospital. While authorities have not offered details on casualties from the attack on Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reported that two journalists and a police officer were killed, citing a journalist who witnessed the attack and asked not to be named. “We express our sympathy to all the victims’ families, in particular, to the PNH [Haiti’s national police] and all the journalists’ associations,” Haiti’s transitional presidential council stated in a social media post. “We guarantee them that this act will not remain without consequences.” The attack is the latest to roil Haiti, where continued political and economic instability have helped fuel the rise of violent armed gangs that have grown more powerful since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Law enforcement authorities on the island nation have struggled to counter the criminal groups, which have exerted control over an estimated 80 percent of the capital, Port-Au-Prince, where widespread violence has hammered civilians and disrupted vital services . One institution forced to close in March was the General Hospital, the country’s largest public hospital. Journalists had gathered on Tuesday morning to cover the facility’s reopening when gunmen opened fire at about 11am (16:00 GMT), Reuters reported. Government officials had convened to reopen the hospital in downtown Port-Au-Prince in July, but that event was also targeted by gunfire, which forced former Prime Minister Garry Conille to flee the scene. An unverified video posted online on Tuesday appears to show three journalists lying wounded on the floor of the building. A recent report by the United Nations stated that only 24 percent of health facilities in the Port-Au-Prince area are operational. Johnson “Izo” Andre, a powerful gang leader in a coalition known as Viv Ansanm, posted a video to social media on Tuesday taking credit for the attack.Wednesday, December 25, 2024 South Australia is bracing for a sweltering Christmas with temperatures soaring and strong winds increasing the risk of bushfires across the state. The extreme heatwave poses significant challenges for holiday travel and necessitates heightened awareness for both residents and visitors. Adelaide, the state’s capital, is forecast to experience its hottest Christmas Day in eight years, with temperatures expected to reach a scorching 37 degrees Celsius. In some parts of the state’s south, temperatures are predicted to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, creating a significant fire danger. The heatwave will be compounded by strong winds on Boxing Day, with gusts of between 50 and 80 kilometers per hour expected across the region. These strong winds will significantly elevate the fire danger, creating a heightened risk of bushfires spreading rapidly. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the extreme weather conditions, stating that Christmas Day would be “a belter” in terms of heat. This acknowledgment underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for heightened vigilance from residents and visitors alike. Impact on Travel The extreme heat and bushfire danger are likely to have a significant impact on holiday travel within South Australia. Travel Advisories and Warnings Travel Industry Response The travel industry in South Australia is likely to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat and bushfire danger. Conclusion The extreme heat and bushfire danger facing South Australia this Christmas season pose significant challenges for travelers. By staying informed, planning accordingly, and taking necessary precautions, travelers can minimize the impact of these weather events and ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday experience. It is crucial for travelers to prioritize safety and be mindful of the potential risks associated with extreme heat and bushfires. By working together with local authorities and the travel industry, South Australia can effectively navigate these challenges and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors. Discover everything and anything about travel , tourism , trade shows at the Travel And Tour World , including breaking travel news and weekly travel updates for travel trade , airlines , cruise , railways , technology , travel association , DMCs, and video interviews and promotional videos .Academic performance remains stagnant. Most Popular Trending Nationally
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LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14.
Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk's X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner's support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta's Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter's core mechanic. That's unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky's growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It's not just human users who've been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil. “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users, such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta's platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who've grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots' messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn't respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won't be Bluesky's only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they're “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren't — see Meta's platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news.
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The kitchen dos and don'ts of Thanksgiving turkey preparationPredators are using artificial intelligence apps to “nudify” children using regular family photographs taken from social media, while a fifth of schools have reported that pupils as young as eight are accessing nude content online. MPs are pushing the government to ban the apps and websites used to create the deepfake content, after it was found that more than 24 million people globally accessed the nudification tools every month. Head teachers and school leaders have said that they are unable to keep up with the technology and are now regularly dealing with deepfake images depicting children in sexualised settings. Labour pledged in opposition to tackle deepfake content. Alex Davies-Jones, the justice minister, said this week that the government would introduce legislation during this parliamentary session
PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Hamilton Re, the Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance underwriting platform of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: HG) (“Hamilton” or “the Company”), today announced its expansion into Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance with the appointment of Sergio Lottimore to the role of Vice President, Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/en/ Sergio Lottimore, Vice President, Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance, Hamilton Re. (Photo: Business Wire) Based in Bermuda, Lottimore will report to Peter Riihiluoma, Senior Vice President and Head of Specialty Reinsurance at Hamilton Re. Hamilton Re offers a wide breadth of reinsurance solutions across multiple Property, Casualty and Specialty lines of business to meet the demands of its clients worldwide. The new Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance offerings will be incorporated within the Specialty Reinsurance portfolio, and further expands our offerings to clients. “Our expansion into Credit, Bond and Political Risk Reinsurance marks a significant milestone for Hamilton Re in its commitment to building a globally diversified reinsurance offering,” said Hamilton Re CEO Megan Graves. “This exciting development is bolstered by Hamilton’s AM Best financial strength rating upgrade to “A” (excellent) announced earlier this year. “I’m delighted to welcome Sergio to Hamilton. He brings dedicated expertise and experience in Mortgage, Trade Credit, Surety, Political Risks and Structured Credit lines to our already strong Specialty Reinsurance team.” Lottimore has 18 years of specialty and financial lines market experience. He joins Hamilton from Validus Re where he was Vice President, Credit Lines Underwriter for three years. Prior to that, he spent 15 years in roles of continuous progression at MS Amlin. About Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. Hamilton is a Bermuda-headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company that underwrites risks on a global basis through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Its three underwriting platforms: Hamilton Global Specialty, Hamilton Select and Hamilton Re, each with dedicated and experienced leadership, provide access to diversified and profitable business around the world. For more about our company, visit www.hamiltongroup.com or find us on LinkedIn at Hamilton View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/en/ CONTACT: Media contact Kelly Corday Ferris kelly.ferris@hamiltongroup.comInvestor contacts Jon Levenson and Darian Niforatos investor.relations@hamiltongroup.com KEYWORD: CARIBBEAN UNITED STATES BERMUDA NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INSURANCE FINANCE SOURCE: Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:16 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125313447/en
The Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit will compete for the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) Championship at CPKC Stadium on Saturday. The Pride is searching for its first title in franchise history, while the Spirit is looking to capture its second title. Barbra Banda and the Pride entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed and have an overall record of 18-6-2 (60 points). Banda leads the team in goals (13) and assists (6). Trinity Rodman and the Spirit produced similar success with an 18-2-6 (56 points) record to earn the No. 2 seed. Rodman is tied for a team-high eight goals this season and is second with six assists. The Pride got the best of the Spirit with a 2-0 victory in their last meeting on Oct. 6. Soccer: All the news, scores and analysis in one place Here's everything you need to know: NWSL Championship Game: Time, TV and streaming We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.Mutual of America Capital Management LLC boosted its position in MARA Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MARA – Free Report ) by 112.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 203,975 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 107,963 shares during the period. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC owned 0.07% of MARA worth $3,308,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MARA. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of MARA by 121.1% in the first quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,269 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in shares of MARA by 74.8% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,975 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 1,273 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of MARA during the third quarter valued at approximately $50,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale bought a new position in shares of MARA during the first quarter valued at approximately $105,000. Finally, Tobam lifted its stake in MARA by 173.0% in the third quarter. Tobam now owns 7,701 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $125,000 after acquiring an additional 4,880 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 44.53% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of MARA in a report on Thursday, October 10th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $21.00 price objective for the company. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $28.00 price objective on shares of MARA in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on MARA from $14.00 to $12.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 23rd. Macquarie raised their target price on MARA from $22.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Compass Point cut MARA from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $21.00 to $25.00 in a research note on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $22.88. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Frederick G. Thiel sold 27,512 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.70, for a total value of $431,938.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 4,278,309 shares in the company, valued at approximately $67,169,451.30. This trade represents a 0.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CFO Salman Hassan Khan sold 16,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.70, for a total transaction of $262,190.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 2,103,347 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,022,547.90. This represents a 0.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 135,622 shares of company stock worth $2,399,805. 0.97% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. MARA Trading Up 7.7 % Shares of NASDAQ MARA opened at $26.03 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $17.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.70. MARA Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $10.76 and a 52-week high of $34.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 4.00 and a current ratio of 4.00. The company has a market cap of $8.38 billion, a PE ratio of 33.00 and a beta of 5.52. MARA ( NASDAQ:MARA – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 12th. The business services provider reported ($0.42) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.38) by ($0.04). MARA had a net margin of 27.48% and a negative return on equity of 8.40%. The business had revenue of $131.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $140.26 million. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.05) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 34.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that MARA Holdings, Inc. will post -0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. MARA Company Profile ( Free Report ) MARA Holdings, Inc operates as a digital asset technology company that mines digital assets with a focus on the bitcoin ecosystem in United States. The company was formerly known as Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc and changed its name to MARA Holdings, Inc in August 2024. MARA Holdings, Inc was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MARA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MARA Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MARA – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for MARA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MARA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Kuwait hosts Gulf Weeks ahead of 45th GCC summitInternet and digital rights advocacy organization, , as well as other rights advocates in Cameroon have hailed the country a dedicated personal data protection draft legislation, but believe there are gaps and inadequacies that must be addressed before the text is operationalized. Government tabled the bill at the National Assembly on November 13. On November 19, Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Minette Libom Li Likeng, defended the draft bill before members of the Committee on Constitutional Laws, explaining the content of the text and the crucial role it will play in driving the country’s digital economy growth. Beyond the potential gains of the law which is expected to be examined during a plenary debate session in the National Assembly this week, Paradigm Initiative points out a few aspects which have to be considered. The organization said in a news release that while the bill represents “a critical step forward in protecting privacy in an era dominated by data-driven technologies,” it also raises concerns about certain provisions, questioning potential effectiveness of the bill whenever it is enacted. One area of concern for Paradigm is the independence of the Personal Data Protection Authority, as outlined in Section 53. It says the appointment of the Authority by the Head of State raises questions about its ability to operate without political influence, which is crucial for impartial enforcement of the legislation. In the same vein, it also mentions the provision under Section 9(2) of the bill which says consent of a data subject may not be required for tasks deemed in the ‘public interest,’ including matters of health. “Without judicial oversight or clearer definitions, PIN warns that this clause risks being misinterpreted or misused. Paradigm Initiative believes there is a unique opportunity to address these gaps during parliamentary deliberations, ensuring that the law is not only progressive in theory but also practical and effective in protecting citizens,” the organizations says. “Cameroon’s Personal Data Protection Bill is a significant achievement and demonstrates a growing recognition of the need for strong data protection frameworks across Africa,” said Khadijah El-Usman, senior programmes officer, Anglophone Africa, at Paradigm Initiative. “We urge legislators to address the ambiguities in the bill and ensure its implementation is backed by adequate capacity to monitor compliance and protect citizens from data exploitation which includes but is not limited to financial independence,” she added. Paradigm mentions that because tech companies continue to mine data on a global scale, Cameroon’s progress in the area of data protection “signals a promising step toward greater accountability in the digital age.” “Its provisions lay the groundwork for enhanced personal data protection and align Cameroon with global efforts to address the risks of data misuse. With proper implementation and oversight, the country could join others in holding violators accountable and protecting the digital rights of its citizens.” In another reaction to the bill, Cameroonian digital rights advocate and one of those who campaigned for the introduction of a personal data protection legislation in Cameroon, , called the move a “proactive” step against “unlawful data exploitation,” but nonetheless picked some holes in the draft legislation. He told in a message that “it’s always a nice day to see that what you have been advocating for years comes to pass,” but quickly noted that the bill “comes with its own shortcomings, including the fact that the legislator intentionally gives broad definitions to some terms which may be subject to varied interpretations.” “The bill also misses out on a major aspect of personal data which is metadata. It also fails to provide guarantees for whistleblowers that may disclose information or data for public interest. Another shortcoming, which must quickly be addressed before the bill finally goes through Parliament, is the neutrality of the Data Protection Authority, given that the bill allows for the President of the Republic to create the body and appoint its members,” Gwain says. He further notes: “We haven’t seen enough of judicial and parliamentary oversight weaved into the bill. Plus, the chilling fact that most of the articles of the bill need separate instruments to activate their application. Also, for those living in the two English Speaking regions of Cameroon, the bill doesn’t address the thorny issue of defense and security officers unlawfully and arbitrarily infringing on their privacy under the pretext of national security and public order. This is usually exemplified by frequent phone searches that usually lead to the incrimination of citizens.” While Gwain believes the bill is a good step forward, he however holds that it will make more sense if the government considers the introduction of a comprehensive digital rights bill, to guarantee certain freedoms online. “Cameroonians’ right to internet access and affordability are not yet guaranteed. Without a comprehensive digital rights bill for Cameroon that prohibits internet shutdowns in the whole or parts of Cameroon, as obtained in 2017, where the internet was shut down in the two English-Speaking regions of Cameroon under the pretext of national security and public order, the personal data protection draft piece of legislation will have no value,” Gwain argues. “The internet must not only become a public good but we must have a bill that expressly stops Cameroonians being held Incommunicado from becoming a norm. I also expected our legislator to be foresighted enough to begin to align our digital legislation to the decentralization process that Cameroon is currently involved in. What about proposing a forward-looking legislation that gives powers to municipal authorities to create bandwidth centers and only purchase internet from ISPs, rather than allowing individual internet users to purchase expensive internet?” he wonders. “We need a legislation that could decentralize internet services the way roads, water, and education services are being decentralized to regional and local authorities.” | | | | |Class 4A Rank School Total Points 1. Gurnee Warren (5) (4-0) 76 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (2) (4-0) 67 3. Kenwood (2-0) 63 4. Quincy (1) (3-0) 62 5. Bolingbrook (3-1) 55 5. Moline (1) (4-0) 55 7. Marist (5-0) 23 8. St. Ignatius (5-0) 20 (tie) Waubonsie Valley (4-0) 20 10. Lisle (Benet Academy) (3-1) 16 Others receiving votes: 11, Rich Township 12. 12, Lincoln Park 11. 13, Simeon 7. 14, Bradley-Bourbonnais 4. 15, Alton 3. 16, Edwardsville 1. Class 3A Rank School Total Points 1. Chicago Mt. Carmel (2) (4-0) 80 2. DePaul College Prep (5) (3-1) 78 3. Mt. Zion (4-0) 64 4. Peoria (H.S.) (2) (4-0) 61 5. Brother Rice (4-0) 56 6. Kankakee (1-0) 49 7. St. Laurence (2-1) 34 8. Morton (1-3) 17 9. St. Patrick (4-0) 16 10. Metamora (3-2) 10 Others receiving votes: 11, Lake Forest 9. 12, Fenwick 9. 13, Lemont 4. 14, De La Salle 2. 15, Centralia 2. 16, Richwoods 2. 17, Deerfield 1. 18, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) 1. Class 2A Rank School Total Points 1. Peoria Manual (8) (3-1) 80 2. Columbia (4-0) 69 3. Benton (2-0) 65 4. Williamsville (1-0) 42 5. Pinckneyville (4-0) 39 6. Bismarck-Henning (5-0) 34 7. Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (3-2) 20 8. Warsaw West Hancock (2-1) 18 9. Chicago (Christ the King) (3-1) 15 10. Chicago Dyett (3-1) 9 Others receiving votes: 11, Rockford Christian 8. 12, Warrensburg-Latham 7. 13, Rockridge 6. 14, Nashville 6. 15, Clark 5. 16, Kankakee (McNamara) 4. 17, Auburn 4. 18, IC Catholic 3. 19, Quincy Notre Dame 2. 20, Teutopolis 2. 21, Elmhurst Timothy Christian 2. Class 1A Rank School Total Points 1. Pecatonica (7) (0-0) 88 2. Hope Academy (2) (2-2) 81 3. Mounds Meridian (3-1) 61 4. Lanark Eastland (1-0) 56 5. Tuscola (2-0) 37 6. Waltonville (3-0) 32 7. Springfield Calvary (1-2) 28 8. Effingham St. Anthony (3-2) 25 9. Yorkville Christian (3-2) 22 10. South Beloit (4-1) 13 Others receiving votes: 11, Calhoun 10. 12, Peoria Christian 9. 13, Aurora Christian 9. 14, Jacksonville Routt 7. 15, Chicago (Fenger) 6. 16, Annawan 5. 17, Goreville 2. 18, Providence-St. Mel 2. 19, Brown County 1. 20, Lexington 1. Class 4A Rank School Total Points 1. Gurnee Warren (5) (4-0) 76 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (2) (4-0) 67 3. Kenwood (2-0) 63 4. Quincy (1) (3-0) 62 5. Bolingbrook (3-1) 55 5. Moline (1) (4-0) 55 7. Marist (5-0) 23 8. St. Ignatius (5-0) 20 (tie) Waubonsie Valley (4-0) 20 10. Lisle (Benet Academy) (3-1) 16 Class 3A Rank School Total Points 1. Chicago Mt. Carmel (2) (4-0) 80 2. DePaul College Prep (5) (3-1) 78 3. Mt. Zion (4-0) 64 4. Peoria (H.S.) (2) (4-0) 61 5. Brother Rice (4-0) 56 6. Kankakee (1-0) 49 7. St. Laurence (2-1) 34 8. Morton (1-3) 17 9. St. Patrick (4-0) 16 10. Metamora (3-2) 10 Class 2A Rank School Total Points 1. Peoria Manual (8) (3-1) 80 2. Columbia (4-0) 69 3. Benton (2-0) 65 4. Williamsville (1-0) 42 5. Pinckneyville (4-0) 39 6. Bismarck-Henning (5-0) 34 7. Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (3-2) 20 8. Warsaw West Hancock (2-1) 18 9. Chicago (Christ the King) (3-1) 15 10. Chicago Dyett (3-1) 9 Class 1A Rank School Total Points 1. Pecatonica (7) (0-0) 88 2. Hope Academy (2) (2-2) 81 3. Mounds Meridian (3-1) 61 4. Lanark Eastland (1-0) 56 5. Tuscola (2-0) 37 6. Waltonville (3-0) 32 7. Springfield Calvary (1-2) 28 8. Effingham St. Anthony (3-2) 25 9. Yorkville Christian (3-2) 22 10. South Beloit (4-1) 13