News

FROM screentime battles to monitoring social media, navigating parenting in the modern world can be difficult.

Safeguarding experts have shared the top tips for ensuring your child’s safety while online.

Getty

Safeguarding experts shared their top tips for protecting your child online (stock image)[/caption]

Getty

Parents should check in-app settings as well as device settings to protect their children online (stock image)[/caption]

Smartphones are a common place item in today’s society, with most adults and majority of teens owning one.

However, the rise in poularity of social media and the increased access to technology has left parents tackling new issues.

One such issue is how to ensure online safety for the younger generation.

Ofcom research found that by the age of 17, 100% of young people in Britain own a smartphone.

The Government’s Online Safety Data Iniative found that more than 80% of children aged 12-15 have had potentially harmful experiences online.

This can include anything from bullying on social media to grooming and exploitation.

A computer student in Northern Ireland was recently found to have tricked around 70 children into sending him initimate photos, which he then used to exploit them.

Safeguarding experts from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children shared their expertise on how to protect your child online.

First, they recommend chatting to your child about their online habits, including the sites they like to visit and their favourite apps.

“Listen to what they have to say and show an interest. They could give you a demo of their favourite app or show you their favourite YouTube or TikTok account,” the expert said.

The safeguarding pros pointed out that your children likely have additional information to teach you about the online world.

“This will also give you an opportunity to chat about any safety settings they might already have in place,” they explained.

According to the experts, it’s vital for parents to speak to their children about who they are chatting to online.

While most parents know to monitor social media and messaging apps, some may not be aware of the potential dangers of gaming apps.

Online chatrooms are available in most games and can provide easy access for predators, as often messaging is open to all users.

As well as talking to your child about these dangers, the experts recommend using settings to help limit who can contact them.

“Remind your child that they shouldn’t share personal information with people they don’t know online,” they advised.

They also emphasised the importance of creating open communication with your child, letting them know they can approach you or another trusted adult with anything uncomfortable.

Parents can also help manage what their child sees online using parental controls and privacy settings.

According to the experts, you should revise your child’s automatic device settings, inlcuding location sharing, screen time and in-app purchases.

PRIVACY

“Most tech and gaming companies have dedicated pages to support with setting these up,” they said.

As well as managing your child’s devices, parents should also look into individual apps or games.

“[There are] in-app tools that can help to keep your child’s account private and manage who they’re talking to,” the safeguarding experts explained.

“You can normally find information on these in account settings or directly on the platform’s website.”

Parents can also contact their mobile or broadband providers for help managing browsing access.

This helps to stop your child from visiting inappropriate sites or downloading apps that aren’t suitable.

HOME Secretary Yvette Cooper will today kick-start a review into the prosecution of cops after a firearms officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba.

The Cabinet Minister is reviving a probe which will weigh up whether armed officers have the right protections under the law – especially when making “split second decisions”.

Rex

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will today kick-start a review into the prosecution of cops[/caption]

PA

Martyn Blake was acquitted of the murder of Chris Kaba this week[/caption]

Ms Cooper will update MPs on the work first started under the Tory administration which could cut down on the amount of time investigating complaints against officers.

The statement to the Commons was confirmed by Sir Keir Starmer as he travelled to Samoa to meet Commonwealth leaders.

A proposal being considered included raising the threshold for sending cases to prosecutors which could lead to a possible court action.

Cop Martyn Blake who fatally shot Kaba is likely to face gross misconduct charges even though he was cleared of murder this week.

A jury took less than three hours to acquit Blake over the shooting after saying he feared the 24-year-old would use his Audi car to kill officers during the incident in September 2022.

The Prime Minister said it was essential that the legal rights in place allow the public to have confidence in police forces especially those impacted by police actions.

Sir Keir said: “I do think it’s a serious point on the accountability review that the last government started but didn’t finish.

“We are going to pick that up and complete that accountability review because it is important that the public have confidence in the police including of course the armed police.

“But it’s also important that the police know that we have confidence in them doing a very difficult job so we will pick that up.”

The PM added that he understood the pressures of firearms cops from his time as a prosecutor especially the four years he spent in Northern Ireland.

Sir Keir added: “I do understand the pressure that firearms officers operate under having to make split second decisions in difficult, fast-moving circumstances.

“I obviously saw that for myself when I was prosecuting. I obviously saw it for myself literally in Northern Ireland when I was working there for four years.

“I was in the control room on a number of occasions when those decisions were being made by the senior command, to pass the decision down to the officer on the ground and saw for myself just how difficult that is.

“In this particular case, I’m not going to comment on the CPS decision.

Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman launched the review last September after a revolt within Scotland Yard ranks following the murder charge.

The Ministry of Defence called upon soldiers for backup support after armed cops turned in their permits as part of a protest.

In an update to MPs back in March, then Home Secretary James Cleverly said many cops didn’t feel they were being treated fairly under the current system.

Mr Cleverly said: This is having a detrimental impact on morale and the willingness of officers to volunteer to take on the role of firearms officers. This is impacting police capability to do their job and protect the public. “

SNOOKER star Robert Milkins saw a crucial blue go down… while sitting in his chair.

The Bristolian, 48, was in action at the Northern Ireland Open, having endured a torrid season.

X @eurosport

Robert Milkins attempted to pot the blue[/caption]

Milkins’ last event had been at the Wuhan Open in China, where he squandered a 4-1 lead to lose 5-4 to Zak Surety.

In Belfast, the Milkman took on Northern Irish hopeful Jordan Brown in round one.

Leading 2-0, he looked to pot the blue for a commanding three-frame lead.

He initially appeared to have botched the shot, with the blue cannoning back off the bumpers.

Disappointed, Milkins didn’t even bother to see where the blue would land, immediately heading back to his chair.

Turning round as he sat down, his face was a picture of shock as he saw the blue fall into the middle pocket.

Looking slightly embarrassed, Milkins raised a hand of apology to his opponent for his flukey shot.

As it happened, Milkins three-frame lead went on to be crucial.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Brown, 37, went on to take the next two frames, reducing his deficit to 3-2.

Milkins then grabbed the sixth to win the contest 4-2.

Prior to his match with Brown, the Milkman had won just once so far this season, against world No112 Farakh Ajaib in Wuhan Qualifying.

At the World Championship back in April he beat China’s Pang Junxu 10-9 in round one before falling to Luca Brecel‘s conqueror David Gilbert.

After beating Brown in Belfast, Milkins went on to lose in round two.

He was soundly beaten 4-1 by Tian Pengfei, who will face Louis Heathcote in round three.

CHELSEA return to Conference League action and travel to Athens for Thursday’s showdown with Greek opponents Panathinaikos.

And brand new Betfred customers can claim a terrific £50 in free bets when they sign-up and stake a tenner on the European encounter.

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

• Panathinaikos vs Chelsea: Get £50 free bets HERE*

• Panathinaikos vs Chelsea: Get £50 free bets HERE*

New to Betfred? Then you can claim this incredible offer.

Simply visit the Betfred website using this link HERE* and register a new account using the Promo Code: BETFRED50

Then you just need to deposit and stake £10 on any football market at odds of Evens or greater.

When that first bet has settled — win or lose — Betfred will credit your account with the following free bets;

• 3 x £10 to use on any Sportsbook Markets
• 2 x £10 to use on Accumulators (4+ selections)

FREE BET SIGN UP DEALS FOR FOOTBALL

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk

---

*New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.

SHAKIRA looks stunning as she strips off for a sizzling new magazine shoot.

The age-defying Colombian pop superstar, 47, showcases her famous hips in bondage-style lingerie as she’s propped up by two men in boxer shorts.

Nicolás Gerardin

Shakira looks phenomenal in a new GQ Spain shoot[/caption]

Nicolás Gerardin

The singer looked much younger than her 47 years[/caption]

In another shot she reveals her tanned and toned legs in a black mini skirt and a blood red PVC top.

While her cover image sees the music icon wearing her hair in a big ponytail and her boobs are covered by the smallest slithers of black material

Shakira opens up about her new album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran [Women no Longer Cry], which documents her split from famous footballer Gerard Piqué.

She tells GQ Spain: “It wasn’t easy to recognise all the vulnerability I was feeling at the time I wrote this album, and then to lay it bare.

“For many months after my separation I had been silent, trying to begin my mourning, but I couldn’t really begin to grieve until I started writing music. It was my way of healing. And it continues to be. Grief is a process that is not linear. It is full of peaks and valleys.”

The former couple, who have two children, went their separate ways in the summer of 2022 amid allegations Piqué cheated on her with his current girlfriend Clara Chia Marti, 25.

Shakira has even likened her ex to Harry Potter supervillain Lord Voldemort and previously claimed she sacrificed her career for their relationship.

She told Jimmy Fallon earlier this year: “Now I’m husbandless. Yeah, the husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work.”

And the fallout continues to rumble on. Just yesterday former Barcelona ace Piqué called out Shakira’s version of events.

The 37-year-old told CNN: “‘In the end, the truth or what happens or occurs is not told in the way it was. I cannot control this.

“The best thing is that in the end I am surrounded by my loved ones, my family, my friends, the people who really know you. They know what you are like and what you do, and that gives me a lot of peace of mind.

“I am very happy, I have a great time and I feel privileged. The life I have had, being able to play for the club of my life for more than twenty years, wonderful children, an incredible family, lifelong friends, those from school that I still have.”

While a messy personal life might be the backdrop to Shakira’s tour, it won’t be a sombre, reserved affair, with Shakira confidently calling it her best production to date.

“It is the most ambitious tour of my entire career,” she said. “The biggest production I have had so far. Not because the public asks for it, but because I deserve it after so many years working in this world.

“I deserve the tour of my life. I am throwing the house out the window. I am happy because I will be able to go through the different stages of my artistic life, up to today.

“It will be the longest show I have done with the biggest screen and everything as big as you can imagine. More is more and better!”

Nicolás Gerardin

Shakira is rebuilding her life after splitting from Gerard Piqué[/caption]

Getty Images - Getty

The exes split in the summer of 2022[/caption]

Getty

Shakira called her ex ‘Voldemort’ after the Harry Potter villain[/caption]

INSTAGRAM/GERARD PIQUE

Piqué with current girlfriend Clara Chia Marti, 25[/caption]

He expanded that it’s a matter of "journalistic practice and newsworthiness."

The troubled One Direction crooner, 31, last week fatally fell from a balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.

Instead of stumbling through tough interview questions, hopeful new hires are sneakily typing them into AI and then reading responses from the side of their screen

ALPLA SA is inviting unemployed youth to apply for Mechatronics Technician Apprenticeship Programme 2024 / 2025. Apprenticeship Application Closing Date: Not specified Location: Lanseria, Johannesburg, Gauteng Mechatronics Technician Apprenticeship x6 Opportunities What You Will Enjoy Doing: What Makes You Great: What You Can Expect Working with Us: How to apply Click here to apply online ... Read more

The post 6 x ALPLA SA Mechatronics Technician Apprenticeships 2024 / 2025 appeared first on StudentRoom.co.za.

A SECOND “game-changing” Alzheimer’s drug shown to slow the progression of the disease has been approved in the UK.

Donanemab, developed by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, was today given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The ruling means the drug is deemed safe and effective for people in the early stages of the disease and paves the way for patients to be prescribed the drug privately for the first time.

It’s a major step and comes after regulators in the US gave the drug the nod, and two months after a similar drug, lecanemab was approved for use in the UK.

But there are fears that like Lecanemab it might not be made available on the NHS, according to reports from The Telegraph.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which decides what drugs are available on the NHS, is expected to rule that the drug is too expensive for NHS patients, the newspaper reported.

The decision is expected to disappoint charities and campaigners who have called for better access to newly emerging drugs.

The advent of the two drugs has been hailed as the beginning of a “new era where it [Alzheimer’s] could become treatable”.

Donanemab is an antibody-based treatment that works by removing amyloid – a protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.

Amyloid plaques have become a hallmark of the debilitating disease, which is the most common form of dementia.

The immunotherapy drug is given as an infusion into a person’s arm once a month.

Clinical trials have found it cleared these toxic proteins from patients’ brains and slowed mental decline by up to 60 per cent over 18 months.

It was found to be most effective in the earliest stages of the progressive disease, and slowed decline by 36 per cent on average.

In all those volunteers taking part in trials, donanemab reduced amyloid plaques on average by 84 per cent after 18 months.

That compared to a one per cent decrease for those taking a placebo.

It is estimated that 982,000 people in the UK live with dementia, and that number is expected to spiral to a staggering 1.4million by 2040, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death in the UK from 2012 to 2021. In 2022, it remained the leading cause of death in women, in England and Wales.

FIRST ‘GAME-CHANGER’ DRUG NOT AVAILABLE ON NHS

Lecanemab works in a similar way, helping to clear the build-up and slow cognitive decline.

The key difference is that while both target the amyloid proteins, they attack it at different stages.

Lecanemab targets amyloid as it begins to form fibres in the brain, while donanemab binds to the protein once the fibres have clumped together to become a plaque on the brain.

Lecanemab is already licensed for use in the US, China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Israel.

But in July the European Medicines Agency rejected the drug, saying the benefits of lecanemab did not outweigh the risk of serious side effects, such as bleeding and swelling in the brain.

In the UK, lecanemab is now approved to treat adults in the early stages of Alzheimer’s who have one or no copies of the APOE4 gene.

But in a blow to patients, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) advised that “the benefits are too small to justify the cost”, so the drug won’t be available to patients on the NHS.

No price for the drug has been publicly announced, but in the US it costs around £20,000 a year per patient.